Nightchild

Jevin at last smiled. 'Now you're getting it,' he said.

Hirad turned and headed down the ladder, hearing Jevin's voice ring out across the ship.

'Bo'sun! I need more sail forward. Let's run this bitch of a storm! Let's show these ignorant humans what sailing really means!'

The barbarian shook his head, laughing as he strode across the main deck to the forward cabins and heading for the galley. The cook handed him his Lemiir wordlessly and he let himself quiedy into the cabin where both mages sat watching the sleeping forms of The Unknown and Thraun. The cabin was stuffy despite the part- open window and the stale air merged with the smells of urine and strong soap to make an unpalatable mix.

He poured water into a tankard and added the Lemiir powder, swirling it once and handing it to Ilkar.

'Surprised you can stand the smell in here,' he said.

'No choice really,' said Ilkar, accepting the tankard and continuing to mix its contents. 'Thanks. It's good stuff this. I wonder why I didn't get it earlier.'

T have a feeling it's both expensive and in short supply,' said Hirad. 'Lucky you're an elf or I reckon Jevin'd let you suffer.'

'Believe me, I'm still suffering,' said Ilkar. He drained the tankard in one swallow, screwing up his face in disgust. 'It's good but it tastes rank and sweet at the same time. It's like swallowing sugared tree bark.'

'So, are you fit to cast?' asked Hirad. Denser looked around and Hirad grinned broadly at him, clapping him on the shoulder. 'Because we've just sighted a ship ahead:'

'Is it the Elm?' Denser brightened, a light growing in his dull eyes.

'How many other single ships do you reckon are round here?' said Hirad.

'Precious few,' said Denser, nodding his head vigorously. 'So, Ilkar, what's the verdict?'

'Well we've got all day. I'll rest up, if you don't mind, but so long as it's simple stuff, I should be all right. Just don't ask me to frame a MindMelt.'

'ShadowWings?' asked Denser.

'Borderline but probably,' replied Ilkar.

'You'd better be able to,' said Hirad. 'Because I'm coming with you.'

'Has it occurred to you, Hirad, that these are not the conditions for carrying someone of your bulk any distance at all?' said Ilkar. 'Sorry, but this is going to be just me and Denser alone.'

Hirad shook his head. 'No, it isn't, because I've had an idea.'

Chapter 30

By the time darkness had fallen, Hirad could see the Ocean Elm through the murk of the rain and low cloud. The wind had abated just a little, the swell had settled and Jevin had ordered the bo'sun to deploy as much sail as he dared, knowing the skipper of the Elm would dally as long as he could.

But as the night began to obscure their quarry, it was clear they still had a long way to go and, at current speeds, would not catch them for another day at least. As the sea softened, the sleeker Elm could pull away from the wider merchantman on which The Raven travelled, and Hirad found himself hoping for another storm. In the middle of the night his prayers were answered but far more violently than he'd wanted.

Taking a rest along with Denser and Ilkar to prepare for their attack, he was flung awake in pitch dark as the ship rolled sicken-ingly, almost throwing him from his bunk. Ilkar, lying on the edge of his, wasn't so lucky and tumbled to the floor, cursing. The thundering of feet and the echoes of shouted orders floated down.

'Doesn't sound good,' said Hirad, just about seeing Ilkar's outline and dropping to the floor to help him up.

'What time of night is it?'

'Gone midnight, I think,' said Hirad. 'How's your stomach?'

'Bearable,' said Ilkar. 'We should have been woken before now-'

They were thrown together as another wave struck the ship broadside, shaking figures out of the shrine and throwing their blankets off their bunks.

'Let's get topside, then,' said Hirad. 'You get Denser and meet me on the wheel deck. I hope we've closed enough on the Elm for you.'

'So do I.'

They half ran, half stumbled from the cabin, Hirad feeling his way back to the doors to the main deck, Ilkar going next door to fetch Denser. The Unknown and Thraun would just have to be all right for the time being. Besides, Darrick was sitting with them and the spells would keep them asleep.

On deck, there was bedlam. Jevin and the bo'sun were screaming orders at the crew. Above on the main mast, one sail was torn in half, its shreds flapping in the gale. All around, the seas were huge and Hirad could see the helmsman fighting to turn the ship head-on to the worst of the swell. Rain hammered down on to the deck and, up in the rigging, elves grappled with sail, trying to furl enough to give them back control.

Hirad raced for the wheel deck, making it out in the gloom. There were no lights anywhere on board. They wanted to remain hidden and the elves didn't need them anyway. Halfway up the ladder, another wave struck the forward port side, water pouring across the deck. Hirad lost grip with one hand but clung on with the other, smacking backwards into the wood above the aft hatch.

As the ship righted, he swung himself back on to the ladder and scrambled up the last few rungs.

'What the hell happened?' he shouted, not releasing his grip on the deck rail. The ship lurching, thundering down into a trough.

'It came from nowhere,' answered Jevin. 'Are you ready?'

'Why, how close are we?' The rain became hail, drumming on to the decks and tliudding painfully on their heads. Hirad dragged his furs up over his skull.

'On the sea, more than a day, still. For you on your wings, I don't know. But we'll get barely closer tonight. If the Elm has any sense, she'll have hove to by now, trying to ride it out. I'm dropping all but topsail. Either that or we'll founder.'

Hirad nodded. 'Thank you for all your efforts,' he said.

'Perhaps there'll be bonus pay in this.'

'Count on it,' said Hirad.

Ilkar and Denser were heading up the ladder. Ilkar looked pale but better than he had on the first day, the Lemiir buying him the time to rest and eat what he could keep down. Denser had a savage light in his eyes, a determination edged with desperation. Hirad had seen it before. It would make him powerful, but changeable.

'This is it,' said Hirad, voice barely less than a shout. 'Jevin says we'll get no closer tonight and The Unknown can't wait any longer.'

'Can you see the Elm? Denser asked Ilkar. The Julatsan peered forward, the hail like a sheet in front of them. Hirad could barely see the prow of their ship. Beyond, it was just raging darkness. The wind howled across the open sea.

'No. We'll just have to fly high and hope.'

'Terrific'

'Stay close to me,' said Ilkar. 'I'm your eyes.'

Denser beckoned them both close and put an arm around each shoulder.

'We'll need wings trimmed for speed, not mass, so I'll be unstable with Hirad hanging off me. Don't you take your eyes off me for long because, if he falls, you'll be getting him. And remember, Ren said Erienne's cabin was aft. We'll have to assume she's not been moved.'

'If she has, this could be a very long night,' said Hirad.

They broke. Hirad fetched a length of rope he'd had tied round his waist all night. Ilkar tied one end around his left wrist and then he lay fiat on the deck while the elf attached the other end to Denser's left ankle. One thing Hirad couldn't risk was- fouling Denser's wings.

'Just you get there safe, all right?' said Ilkar.