Chapter 2

Jakob and Luass stood before Master Stitches, he paid them no mind though. He spoke quickly with a few of the men who hurried off in another direction. Only then did he glance at them and with a jerk of his head he motioned them to follow. They wandered through the cavern hold for a few moments, working their way towards the docks.

“Kal’ray! Come here a moment won’t you?” Master Stitches called out upon reaching the docks. One of the men stepped away from the group and hurried over towards Master Stitches.

“Yes sir?” Kal’ray asked quickly, an eager light shone in his eyes.

“Well Kal’ray, you’ve done quite well recently, maybe even better than Redson.” That light sparkled now. “Perhaps even well enough to warrant being Wave Guide of ship one. Perhaps. But then that raises the question, who to take over for ship three?”

“Redson or Garret sir?” Kal’ray suggested, just a hint of eagerness in his voice.

“Garret shall stay with ship two, and Redson may become unreliable for a time after being deposed.” Master Stitches spoke as if to himself, tapping a finger on his chin. Turning his attention back to Kal’ray he continued, “Perhaps if you could find another, maybe a new Wave Guide. They would have to be trained of course, and only by the best. What say you Kal’ray? Do you think you could teach a new recruit?”

“I can certainly try sir, but did you have anyone in mind?” Kal’ray leaned forward intently now. Master Stitches gestured towards me and Luass. “Slave boys sir?” Kal’ray rocked back on his heels, turning a disgusted glare on them.

“I have reason to believe at least one of them could make a decent Wave Guide. Provided they are trained properly of course.” Kal’ray stilled look skeptical, but with a glance behind him to ship one—the best ship, the ship Master Stitches himself rode when he came with the men—he nodded. Master Stitches clapped him on the shoulder, “Excellent Kal’ray! I shall leave them in your care until then.” Kal’ray looked at the boys, but just as he opened his mouth Master Stitches spoke again, “Oh, and Kal’ray, do be sure that they can handle the task before coming to me.” His spoke lightly, but a deep chill settled before Master Stitches turned and walked away.

Kal’ray turned back to the men he had been speaking with before. They, along with almost everyone else around the docks, were paying close attention to them, and to Master Stitches. All of the men were talking amongst themselves. Kal’ray yelled a few orders to some of the men then marched off with a few sharp words to Jakob and Luass to follow him. Kal’ray led them around one of the tunnels just off the docks in the cove. Just a little ways down, they came to a large pool of water.

Kal’ray looked around, eyes coming back to the two boys frequently. After a moment he mumbled something to himself before speaking.

“Alright,” he crouched down to get eye level with them, “what do either of you know of water Shaping? Anything you’ve heard, seen, or have done, anything at all mind.”

Luass’ face scrunched up as he thought. Jakob spoke quietly, “I can move the water, sir.”

Kal’ray leaned closer, “Speak up boy!”

“I can move the water, sir.” Jakob said more loudly.

“Is that so now? Well then step up to the water and show me.” Kal’ray wore a curious expression now. He stepped to the side a bit to give Jakob room. Jakob showed no hesitation, he walked right up to water, knelt down and thrust his hands in. He could feel the awareness of the water, how deep it went, and the small creatures that lived in the pool. The feeling paled in comparison to what he had felt just the night before, but thinking of it made him shiver. He pushed the thought down and did as he had been told to do.

The water began to swirl, picking up speed as it went. In moments a small whirlpool had taken shape. Kal’ray and Luass both looked stared at him now, Luass in awe, and Kal’ray curiously. Kal’ray stepped up to the water and dipped his fingers in and closed his eyes for a moment.

“Not bad kid, but all you’re doing is moving the water on the surface. You need to go deeper, like this.” Jakob felt the water below his whirlpool move, shooting across the whirlpool’s vortex and breaking it. “Think you can do that kid?”

Jakob’s face tightened in concentration…and nothing happened. “I can’t do it sir.”

Kal’ray thought for a moment, “Alright, try starting from the top and working your way down. Like this.” Jakob felt the water moving, a current started from the surface of the water and dropped steadily down. When it hit the bottom of the pool it stopped and swirled for a moment before dissipating.

“Think you can do that?” Kal’ray no longer looked at him condescendingly. Jakob again did as he had been asked. As he pushed the current deeper Jakob felt it pulling at him, like he was falling in. He jerked back instinctively.

“You’ll get some vertigo for awhile doing that. Don’t worry though, you get used to it eventually.” Kal’ray helped Luass pick up Jakob, who had fallen over. “For me I would dive down into the water as I brought it lower, then as I came back up. Go ahead and see if that works a little better.”

Jakob doffed his shirt and jumped into the water, with one good breath he dove down. He made it only a few feet down before he became disoriented again and came back up. Jakob popped back out of the water sputtering. As he came up, Jakob felt himself being pulled towards the side. The water moved slowly but it pulled him steadily towards the side. Luass rushed over and helped pull his friend up out of the water. Jakob laid himself flat on the ground taking slow, shallow breaths.

“It takes a bit to get used to. I don’t have the time to sit here and wait for you though. You’ll just have to keep at it.” Kal’ray had knelt down next to Jakob. He thought for a moment, “Come back here every evening so I can see how you’re doing and help you along. You can spend the rest of the day practicing.”

Jakob took one long, deep breath before slowly sitting up and nodding assent.