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Chapter Sixteen

Nolyn was sitting with Dukuat when Terae entered. She laid eyes upon the sleeping red head and gasped. “He’s the Chyannka’ prisoner.”

“You know him?”

“I saw him when they take him out to stretch.”

“He is my father.”

She glanced at him. “You look nothing alike.” Then the anger returned. “Why did it take you so long to come and get him?”

Nolyn’s eyes lowered and his hands clenched into fists where they rested in his lap. Terae watched him, then turned to Dukuat. “What’s his name?”

“Dukuat.”

“He needs bathed. I’ll do it, get me clean water.”

Nolyn stood just as the ship jerked as it set sail with the tide. Both lost their balance and crashed into each other. After they were both steady, Terae suddenly realized that Nolyn’s arms were wrapped loosely around her waist and her own were resting on his chest. Again a faint blush stained her copper skin. She pulled away and rushed to the door.

“I’ll get the water.”

Nolyn watched her go, blinking.

“That is what took you from my side in my time of greatest need?”

“Dukuat.” Nolyn leaned over his mentor, holding the hammock steady.

“She’s cute, all fire and stuffiness. I like her.”

“Good, because I think she hates me and will take to hiding behind you.”

Dukuat’s eyes widened in mock fear. “Oh no, I don’t want that anger directed at me.” He smiled, “Besides, I think she likes you.”

Nolyn snorted. “I should leave before she returns so you can have a kind lady wash you.”

“Wait.” Nolyn turned, hand on the door. “Where are we going?”

“Teriti.”

“They will look there.”

“I know, but you lived there for years before they found you. We can do it again, just keep you out of sight. With your wounds, you’ll be laid up for a while.”

“I’m not that weak. Which reminds me, what’s going on with you?”

Nolyn’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know. I-I’m changing.” He quickly stepped out of the room and almost bumped into Terae. He caught the pitcher of water before it crashed into the floor. She gasped, then glared and snatched the jug from his hold and entered the room, slamming the door behind her.

For the next two nights, Nolyn slept on deck, having given his hammock to Dukuat and the floor of the room to Terae. The first night he laid on the bow, gazing up at the night sky, the stars glittering happily, refusing to divulge their secrets to his ignorant self. On the second night, he woke at the sound of careful footsteps approaching. Cracking only one eye open, he spotted Terae coming closer with a blanket in her arms.

He waited as she settled the blanket over him and watched as she walked away, a smile curving his lips. Maybe she didn’t hate him as much as he’d suspected.

They arrived on Teriti midday.

Right away, Nolyn spotted Ira gambling on the docks with a group of men. It looked like he was winning, judging by the grin lighting his face. Nolyn leaned against the rail and smiled as the wind lifted his hair from his neck.

Rama leaned against the rail beside him, watching the busy port. “I say let Dukuat stay on board until you can get him a place to stay. Then we can move him under the cover of night. Who knows what spies are out there.” Nolyn nodded his agreement and Rama was off again to see to his duties. With a final look at the group gambling, Nolyn went to Dukuat’s room.

Just outside the door, he could hear Terae’s voice mix with Dukuat’s laugh. She hadn’t left the cabin, save when he entered. No more than a few words in passing had passed her lips when he was around.

She really didn’t like him.

Smiling, he knocked before entering. Silence immediately filled the room as she turned her glare on him, her chin raising a notch. Nolyn smiled kingly, like a puppy hoping for a kind word from its master.

She stepped around him so that at no point did they touch, and quit the room.

Nolyn’s shoulders dropped with the slamming of the door then he turned to Dukuat. The red head was grinning. Nolyn rolled his eyes and sat of the swaying floor.

“Tell me how you came to be wanted by the Chyannka.”

Dukuat turned on his back and looked up at the wooden ceiling. “What do you remember about As?”

“As? The city of sorcerers on Tharôn?”

“The very one. Once, I lived there. As you know, I’m immortal. I came from Tharôn close to three hundred years ago, when the Emperor took over.

“Long ago, after Dar was slain, the Emperor came from Eggak to Tharôn and began a war. Without Dar to protect us, it was only a matter of time before all the kingdoms in the land fell under his power. The last to fall was the city of As. We were betrayed by one of our most powerful sorcerers. His name was Lorrin and he now stands at the side of the Emperor. All of our power was suddenly being used against us in this war we were so sure of winning. Our defenses were useless and we had no army to fight against his numbers. We were overpowered and many were killed. In the end, it was King Cary that surrendered. He came to us and he was a horrible sight. Worn and tired, the war had taken its toll on him. He told us that he had come to the decision to submit to the Emperor, but he would not make us, his sorcerers follow. Those that wanted to, could escape.

“I chose to leave Tharôn and make a new life on Eggak. Others also left and came here. I’ve since lost all contact with them, but every now and then, I can feel their presence when they use a great deal of magic. I’m not the strongest of sorcerers, and I fear, I’ve become even less so with so many years of living without magic.”

“So, why did the Chyannka come for you now?”

“I really don’t know. I’m not an important political person, nor am I worth any note as a sorcerer.”

“In my thinking, if you were of no use to them, they would have either ignored you and let you be, or killed you. Why did they seek you out?”

Dukuat stared at him with tired eyes as Nolyn rubbed the back of his hand along the underside of his chin, thinking. “Maybe you know something you don’t know you know?”

“I couldn’t think of what that would be. If they were so set on information, they would have gone after Tan Shou. He came here, also. He now lives in the south, in the Eggakian kingdoms. Had they attacked him, caused him to use an excess of magic, I would have felt it, even this far away. He is powerful, and held the highest position in As.”

“Do you think that they will come back for you?”

“They will. They are Chyannka, if they are nothing, they are known for their determination.”

Nolyn nodded and stood. “I’ll have to get you a hotel room until we get another cabin built in the woods.” Dukuat smiled.

“Really? Another cabin? You’re going to finance this how?”

Nolyn opened the door and grinned at Dukuat over his shoulder. “Oh, I have my ways.”

---

The next morning found Nolyn holding a trey of food and knocking on Terae’s room’s door.

Stubborn silence greeted him.

“Ms. Terae? Will you eat?”

“I’m not hungry.”

He blinked at the terse reply. This was new. Shrugging, he turned away from the door. “I’ll take this tray to Dukuat’s room, then. If you get hungry, it’ll be there.”

Silence.

Once in Dukuat’s room, he settled on the plush chair. “Why does she hate me?”

“I’m quite sure it is not hatred she feels toward you.”

“Could have fooled me.”

Dukuat laughed around a mouth full of breakfast food. He speared a grilled fish with his chopstick. “I hate fish.” Nolyn merely raised his brow at that familiar phrase. Moments later, there was a knock on the door, then Terae entered. When she saw Nolyn sitting there, she made to leave.

“No, don’t,” he said while rising. “I’ll leave. You eat.”

She frowned. “Is that an order?”

Nolyn gaped at her. “What? Why would I order you to do anything?”

She flicked back her hair, her chin raising another notch. “Am I not your slave?” She put a sneer in the last word that had Nolyn cringing.

“No! Never. You’re free to do as you wish. Eat or don’t eat, stay here, or leave for parts unknown, do what ever you want. I would not make you a slave.”

Her eyes widened at the vehemence in his tone. A quick glance to Dukuat showed the man studiously studying his food. She turned her gaze back to Nolyn.

“Then why did you take me from my island?”

He frowned. “You were about to be a meal for demon birds. Do you really think I could let that be? You’re life may not be important to you, but I feel differently.” He brushed by her and left the hotel. His feet carried him to Issina’s shop several blocks down. The tailor was with a customer so Nolyn sulked behind bolts of fabric, replaying Terae’s words.

How could she think that of him? Had he done something to give her that impression? Shaking his head, he pushed those thoughts away and glanced up to find that Issina’s customer had left and she was staring at him intently.

“We didn’t expect you back so soon.”

His lips curved up slightly before the smile was gone. “I have two companions that need clothes right away.” She nodded and gathered her supplies. After giving her the direction for the hotel, he set off in search for Ira.

He was found at the dock, loading a net into his small fishing boat. He grinned at Nolyn. “Did you win?”

“What?”

He laughed. “Nothing. You’re back sooner than expected. Did all go well? Did you get far?”

Nolyn smiled. “Not far at all, but I did what I had to do. And acquired more than I bargained for.”

“That sounds like you. Are you going to just stand there, or help me? Cyrn hasn’t showed up yet, and I’m going to have to leave without him if he doesn’t show his ugly face soon.” Nolyn nodded and helped his friend prepare the supplies. “You don’t seem too happy.”

“There’s a lot on my mind. I’ve made a mess of things somehow and have no idea how to fix them.”

Ira snorted. “When have you ever made a mess of things? Everything always works out for you in the end.” Nolyn shook his head, knowing that Ira didn’t know the half of it. After the supplies were loaded, Ira caught sight of Cyrn coming down the dock.

“You filthy, piece of rotten fish filet! I ’otta drown you while we’re at sea and save the world a lot of trouble. I’ll bet you were hanging around the shops, thinking to get out of helping set up! I’ll-”

Nolyn laughed at Cyrn’s face and quickly bid the squabbling fishermen adieu. He visited several shops to begin the process of rebuilding Dukuat’s home. He was almost finished with his chores and was thinking of a way to get into Terae’s good graces when there was suddenly a man standing before him.

“Hallo, again, young one.”

After being filled with question for so long, suddenly, Nolyn found himself speechless. There was so much he wanted to ask and everybody had seemed to have sealed lips. Then there was this man that there was so much mystery about. Nolyn opened his mouth to ask, but he could think of nothing that seemed to ask it all at once.

The man smiled. “Yes, I know all about your problems. Come, we’ll talk over food. That’s the best talk there is.” He started down the road, leaving Nolyn to follow. Once the man had filled Nolyn’s hands with plates of food bought from street venders, he led him to a secluded beach, not far from the busy docks. They sat and Nolyn waited while the man ate and forced Nolyn to sample the fare.

The food was gone and the purple haired man was laying on his back, gazing up at drifting clouds when he finally began to speak.

“My name is Estaz and I come from As. I was the student of a man named Ranulf. During the war, he died, was killed by Lorrin. Ranulf was like a father to me. He taught me so much, not only sorcery, but about life. He also taught Dukuat. And I doubt Dukuat knows this, and I find this very funny that Ranulf chose this, but you are his reincarnation. The soul you house is the same soul of Ranulf.”