Dynahla leaned against the rail on a quiet part of the orcs’ ship, head in hands, crimson locks flowing in the breeze.
“Hey.”
There was no response.
“ Hey. Dynahla!”
The shape-changer stirred and slowly turned.
“You all right?” Stryke asked. He was accompanied by Jup.
“Yes. I’m… fine. I didn’t know you were-”
“What were you doing?” Jup said.
“Communing.”
Stryke frowned. “You better explain that.”
“I was in touch with someone. Mentally, that is.”
“Who?”
“Serapheim.”
He was nonplussed. “You can do that?”
“Under certain circumstances. Though it’s not easy.”
“How do you do it?”
“We have a psychic link, you might say. It’s hard to explain.”
“You said Serapheim couldn’t talk to us directly,” Jup recalled. “That’s why you brought his message.”
“He can’t communicate directly with any of you. There has to be the link, and even with it, it’s difficult. But none of that’s important. What he told me is.”
“So spit it out,” Stryke demanded.
“He has an idea where Jennesta is, and it’s not far. We have to change course.”
“An idea?”
“More than that. A… sense.”
He slowly shook his head. “I don’t know…”
“I thought you wanted to find your mate more than anything.”
“I do. But I don’t know if I want a wild-goose chase based on a hunch.”
“Trust me, Stryke, this is more likely to be right than wrong. Besides, what other option do you have?”
“You said that about us going to Serapheim,” Jup reminded him. “And you said we needed him to help fight Jennesta.”
“Ideally, he’d be there. But she’s nearer than he is, and we need to seize this opportunity before she’s on the move again. What do you say, Stryke?”
“I thought we needed Serapheim’s magic to stand a chance against her.”
“We’ll have to make do with mine, and your band’s undoubted martial skills.”
He thought about it. “All right. But this better not be a waste of time. I’ll get Pepperdyne to alter course.”
“I was just on my way up to take a turn at the wheel,” Jup said. “I’ll tell him.”
“All right, go ahead.”
“ What am I telling Pepperdyne? About the new course, I mean.”
Stryke looked to the shape-changer. “Go with him, Dynahla. I’ll brief the band.”
Jup and the shape-changer made their way to the bridge in silence. As usual, Coilla was there alongside Pepperdyne. They were told of the change of direction and why it came about.
“Where exactly are we going?” Pepperdyne asked as he took out the well-thumbed chart.
“We need a southward bearing,” Dynahla explained, tracing a line with his finger. “In this direction.”
“There’s nothing there. Just like the last time we looked at this map, before setting our present course. You have a thing about invisible islands?”
“I don’t think anybody’s ever fully mapped out this world. There’s a lot more to it than this chart shows. Believe me, our objective lies there.”
Pepperdyne shrugged. “If that’s what Stryke wants.” He began spinning the wheel.
“I’m supposed to have a turn at steering, remember,” the dwarf said. He glanced at Coilla. “And yes, I can reach it.”
“I wasn’t going to say a thing!” she protested. “You’re confusing me with Haskeer.”
Jup smiled. “Yeah, I guess he’s the one who’d offer me a box to stand on, the irritating bastard.”
“I don’t think this is a good time for your lesson,” Pepperdyne said, “given the change of course. Sorry.”
“It’s all right. The prospect of a fight appeals to me more than playing sailors, to be honest.”
“I need to leave you,” Dynahla stated, as though their permission was needed. Nobody blinked, so he added, “See you soon.”
They nodded and the shape-changer left.
“What do you think, Jode?” Coilla asked in a low tone. “Is he on the level?”
“Dynahla? I don’t know.”
“This new course seems rum,” Jup said.
“And again we’re heading for somewhere the map says doesn’t exist. Though I can’t see what he’d get out of lying. We’d find out soon enough if there really isn’t anything there.”
“Might do to keep an eye on him though,” Coilla suggested.
“I’m already doing that,” Jup told her.
“Good idea,” Pepperdyne said. “There’s always a chance that-”
Coilla shushed him, finger to lips. She flicked her head to indicate the stairs. Someone with a heavy tread was coming up them.
Haskeer clambered into view. When he saw Jup his features lit up with something it took them a moment to recognise. It was a smile.
“Jup!” he boomed. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“If it’s a scrap you’re after,” Jup said, instinctively balling his fists, “forget it. I’m not in the mood.”
“ A scrap? You wound me, old friend. Why would I want to hurt you?”
“Old friend?” Coilla mouthed.
“You couldn’t hurt me if I was a nail and you had a hammer,” Jup assured him. “What’s the game, Haskeer?”
“Is it a game to want the best for a friend?”
“You appear in an unusually good mood,” Pepperdyne commented dryly.
“And why not?” Haskeer boomed. “I’m surrounded by good companions, not least our human comrades.” He lifted a hand. Pepperdyne tensed. But instead of the expected blow he was rocked by a hearty slap to his shoulder that made him stagger.
“I thought you hated humans,” Coilla said.
“How’d you get that idea? Aren’t we all brothers in arms under the skin, ready to lay down our lives for each other?”
“You been drinking sea water?” Jup asked.
“Ever the joker, aren’t you, old pal? My Jup. My little Juppy Wuppy.”
“That does it,” the dwarf decided. “He’s gone insane.”
“If I’m insane,” Haskeer intoned gravely, “it’s with the passion of the fondness I feel for you.” He broke into a broad grin and lurched forward, arms outstretched. “Come on, gimme a hug!”
“Keep him off me!”
Haskeer stopped and began to chuckle.
“Just a minute,” Coilla said. “There’s something fishy about all this.”
Haskeer nodded. “Caught me.”
A change came over his features. They softened, shifted and reformed themselves. An instant later, Dynahla stood before them.
“Sorry,” he said. “I couldn’t resist that.”
As their astonishment wore off, the others laughed.
“That was… impressive,” Pepperdyne admitted.
