Raidon's roundhouse kick broke the first one's ribs even as it propelled him diagonally into the water. The second attacker, wielding a chain, spun and released.
The half-elf dipped his head back just enough to avoid the iron ball at the chain's end, then cut forward inside the radius of the swing. Before the chain wielder could whip the chain around a second time, Raidon stomped his instep, kneed him in the groin, and punched him in the throat. The fellow crumpled, losing his grip on his chain, which sailed backward toward the dock.
The plank shuddered, sending three more attackers into the bay. The monk retreated to solid ship decking. With a rending shriek, the gangplank suddenly ripped free of its pier mooring. Those closest to the dock leaped back to safety, but the remaining would-be boarders fell into the chop.
Green Siren had caught some wind in its deployed sails and was heading out of dock. A cheer leaped from the mouths of the crew. Thoster grinned and raised his sword.
Raidon watched Morgenthel. The man was livid. He yelled across the widening gap, 'I'll find you again!' He raised his dagger, on which green fire still glimmered, and pointed it at Seren. 'I have your scent!' Seren's eyes narrowed with concern. But she raised her chin. 'The regent doesn't accept failure from his underlings, Morgenthel, no matter how insignificant they are in his hierarchy. I'm proof of that. This marks your first failure. How many more before he replaces you?'
She sniffed and turned away.
Raidon stayed on deck. He watched the furious bounty hunter and Veltalar slowly recede as Green Siren sailed west.
The man's revelation concerning Seren disturbed Raidon. She hadn't been forthright with him. He couldn't do anything about it now, he didn't want to take the time trying to replace her with a spellcaster shadowed with less history and fewer enemies. Also, Seren had a strategy for reaching Xxiphu. How many wizards could do the same, especially given how many had lost their spells altogether? There was nothing for it but to move ahead with the plan.
Besides, if they reached Xxiphu, Seren's history wouldn't matter. In Raidon's estimation, neither she, nor he, nor anyone aboard Green Siren was likely to survive the trip.
CHAPTER TEN
The Year of the Secret (196 DR), Xxiphu
The women walked away from the luminous face of trapped dreams. They pressed forward into a darkness that settled on them like layers of weightless black gauze.
Anusha gripped Yeva's shoulder. The metal of the woman's pauldrons bit her palm with a chill sting.
'Do you know where you're going?' Anusha asked.
'No,' Yeva returned. 'We walk until we find the far wall. Then we trace it around until we find the exit.'
They continued forward through a gloom whose depths seemed more unfathomable with every step.
The woman she'd liberated from the ice dressed oddly, more so than anyone she'd previously known. At that thought, Anusha realized her own dream form was wearing the party gown she apparently unconsciously preferred.
Anusha imagined herself wearing the golden dream armor she had mentally fashioned to face down the watery hag aboard Green Siren. The smooth tumble of her gown stiffened, becoming steel hard. Solidity flowed across her body, encasing her in a Arm shell of protection. She flexed her gauntlets, articulated with flawless joints.
She was fitted in her golden panoply, a suit of armor that enjoyed, she imagined, breathtaking strength and beauty.
Anusha raised her free hand and called for her sword. Light burst upon them, glowing from the slender blade.
Its shape was the same as the one hanging over the fireplace in the great room of her family estate. In life, it was too heavy for her to wield. In her dream, she raised it as easily as a switch of hazel.
Yeva said, 'Light! Why didn't you summon that earlier? And I see you've changed your likeness…'
Anusha asked, 'Do you like it?'
Yeva laughed in her curt manner, then grew serious. 'Your dream is stronger than mere fancy, I sense. What is the secret of your power, Anusha?'
Anusha said, 'If I knew that, perhaps I could figure out how to get us out of here.' Her thoughts darted to Japheth, and how he'd tried to pull her free. And failed. She knew his game, and it offered her nothing except her current circumstance. She wouldn't let her guard down again, regardless of his charm. And good looks. She frowned and tried to shove thoughts of Japheth from her mind.
They walked on in silence. Even their footsteps made no sound. Because we're not really here, of course, Anusha thought.
Then her sword's light revealed a wall. It was carved from obsidian, obsidian that was not merely glassy black but stained with reflective hues of red, brown, gray, and green. The wall receded to the left and right, and upward.
'Which way?' said Anusha.
Yeva trudged right. Anusha kept pace.
They walked along the slightly curved wall for some time, though it was probably much shorter than it seemed.
Suddenly the mottled woman stopped and said, 'By Diomar's Black Ring. We're walking in circles!'
'What?' 'This is the second time we've passed here. See how the red splotch on this outcrop makes a shape like a tree? I noted it last time we passed-it reminded me of an old shadowtop. And here it is again.' The woman traced the line of color on the wall. Anusha saw that the pattern in the stone resembled a sprawling, shadowtop tree.
A new thought came to Anusha. She slapped her forehead. 'Why are we letting a simple wall stop us? We've no bodies to be trapped!'
Anusha made as if to walk into the glassy surface, but Yeva grabbed her armored arm.
'Wait! What are you doing?'
Anusha smiled and said, 'We're dreams, Yeva. We can pass through doors and walls as easily as thinking about it.'
Yeva gave a half shake of her head but said, 'I suppose that must be true. But isn't it dangerous? What if the wall is like the ice?'
Anusha paused. She said, 'I don't get that feeling. Nor do I see any shapes of people stuck inside…'
Yeva took a deep breath and slowly nodded.
Anusha grabbed the woman's hand. 'Don't worry. We'll go through together.'
They walked into the opaque obsidian. She pushed through what felt like the filmiest of veils, drawing her companion behind her.
After just three paces, they were through.
There was no ground beyond the wall, and Anusha fell. She screamed despite herself. She released her hold on Yeva and her sword, scrabbling for purchase on the surface from which she'd just emerged. That turned out to be as easy as wishing it-Anusha immediately stopped sliding.
Yeva popped out of the wall and reacted similarly, though she didn't scream. Anusha had collected herself just enough to reach out and snag one of Yeva's flailing wrists before the woman dropped away. She yelled, 'Grab onto the wall! It will hold you if you believe it can!'
Yeva slapped her other hand to the slick, obsidian surface. Whether because of her own force of will or Anusha's, the woman stopped sliding.
Anusha's shining sword was gone, but it would return if she imagined it. However, the area was illuminated by a dim, directionless light.
Open air stretched away around them. Grinding, scraping noises echoed through it, and after a moment, Anusha saw their source.
