Chapter 34

The sky above seldom offered anything intriguing to the observer’s eye. A relentless deluge rendered the heavens a monochrome tapestry, the overcast sky as listless and lifeless as a sea shrouded in mist. Occasionally, the sun would muster the strength to pierce the cloud cover, offering a fleeting glimmer of warmth that would momentarily fracture the pervasive gloom.

For Carrack, these ephemeral flashes of light were as enigmatic as they were elusive, never fully revealing the brilliance that others might bask in for a season. On this day, he found himself striving more than usual to catch a glimpse of that elusive light, peering through the rain’s veil and the briny mist carried by robust sea winds, all from the solitude of his lone window. But his efforts proved futile; dusk had already claimed the sky, draping the world in a deeper cloak of darkness.

Aware that the sun had retreated, Carrack’s gaze yet sought the elusive light, or rather, the lights. His thoughts had become increasingly preoccupied with the enigmatic glow of those ethereal lights that had once pierced the heavens above when the statue had so distorted his reality. Brief though his encounter was, the intensity of the lights had etched themselves into his memory, and in his quiet reflection, he could feel their oppressive weight upon him once more and seemingly clinging to his skin like tiny hooks. He peered into the darkness, searching the empty sky for any sign of them, seeing nothing, but harbored the unshakable feeling that they were still out there—lingering, observing, waiting.

A low knock at the door broke Carrack from his deepening trance. “Enter!” he called out, as a cool draft tinged with mint wafted into the room, causing him to shiver. Alaina appeared in the doorway, a small cup of steaming brew in hand, her expression etched with worry. Carrack quickly adjusted his attire, the loose garments meant for sleep, to ensure he presented himself decently.

He gestured toward the desk, offering her a seat as he made his way to the bed. “Please, come in,” Carrack invited, with a welcoming nod.

“I was wondering if you were actually asleep—I was hoping so. But I guess that was a fool’s hope,” Alaina said, her smile tinged with warmth. “Regardless, I’ve brought a small tea that might help soothe the nerves that seem to be troubling you.”

Carrack’s fingers twitched involuntarily as he accepted the cup, inhaling the earthy scent of the brew. Ordinarily, he would have welcomed such a concoction and savored it by now, seeking its promised relief. Yet, he found himself pausing, an uncharacteristic hesitation taking hold. With a grateful smile, he acknowledged her gesture, placing the tea on the bedpost beside him. “Your concern is heartening, Alaina. I’ll enjoy the tea as I wind down. But something tells me there’s more on your mind than just tea service.”

“No, you’re not wrong,” Alaina conceded, her posture shifting to indicate a change in the conversation’s direction. “Sergeant Crow and I have come up with a plan that we’re ready for you to review.”

Carrack raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised Crow isn’t here to lay it out himself.”

“He’s not, and there’s good reason,” Alaina said, a note of assurance in her voice. “He believes, and I agree, that the plan is solid enough that it likely only needs your final touch. Meanwhile, he’s already mobilizing the garrison, getting the men ready. Although I’m no soldier, I’m confident I can walk you through what we’ve devised.”

Carrack, with a knowing smirk, acknowledged Crow’s soldierly foresight. He nodded for Alaina to proceed, intrigued by the tactical balance of caution and decisive action outlined in their plan. The timing was set to coincide with Lady Matilda’s daily gathering. Alaina’s concern was that the statue’s entity or power might lie dormant, eluding a true reading of its intent. The assembly provided the perfect backdrop not only for investigation but also to address the illegal conclave of sorcery and to scrutinize those who partook of the mystically cultivated food.

Alaina would prepare enchanted shackles, imbued with enough nullifying magic to detain any mage who defied their authority. Additionally, they planned to pivot the fort’s cannon—usually reserved for maritime defense—toward the city square, a contingency against potential escalations. And, as a final measure, a detachment armed with dynamite would be on standby, ready to reduce the statue to rubble should the need arise.

“I want to bring the Soma with us as well,” Alaina declared with a sense of purpose, “as a means to provide for those from whom we’re about to strip a source of sustenance.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“That’s a prudent measure,” Carrack responded, nodding in agreement. He then leaned in, his voice taking on a tone of earnest concern. “But what if we’re wrong about the statue? What if it’s harmless? What if it poses no threat?”

Alaina reclined slightly, her expression reflecting a brief consideration of Carrack’s query, yet her stance remained firm. “Even if the statue were benign, it’s the perception of power and the resulting turmoil that concerns me. Caution would still dictate we proceed with its destruction.”

“Are we so resolved to destroy it? Could its power not be harnessed to aid in your efforts to grow food?” Carrack proposed, seeking alternative solutions.

Alaina paused, weighing each word with deliberate caution. “I … I simply cannot place my trust in it. But if indeed the statue is harmless and you’re inclined to spare it, I would then suggest we remove it from the square. It should be secured in a place where its influence is nullified, out of reach for all.”

All except for yourself, he thought to himself, but decided not to say.

“And you would endorse its removal, even from those who might seek comfort in its presence?” Carrack pressed, probing her conviction.

Alaina met his gaze squarely, her tone underscored by the seriousness of her belief. “The essence of the arcane, whether ensouled or inert, is inherently potent. Without its own agenda, others may impose one, particularly Lady Matilda,” she elucidated. “Such a source can become a weapon. We’d confiscate any armament discovered on the island for safety’s sake, wouldn’t we? This situation bears no exception.”

“So it seems,” Carrack said with a nod. “The plan appears comprehensive. I have no major concerns, and I trust your capabilities in the confrontation ahead. Crow is adept at improvising, so he’ll fine-tune the details as needed.”

Alaina’s question then came unexpectedly. “And what role do you envision for yourself in this undertaking, sir?”

Carrack’s response was immediate, as though the answer was self-evident. “Alongside you, naturally. I intend to be involved at every juncture.”

“Oh,” Alaina rubbed the back of her neck nervously, “I guess this is where the sticking point is going to be.”

“You … both of you wanted me to stay back? Stay out of it?” Carrack’s voice carried a mixture of disbelief and rising irritation. “The absolute gall of such a suggestion, I’m the commander of this island!”

Alaina extended her hands in a placating motion. “We understand that, truly,” she asserted, her voice a soothing counterpoint to his indignation. “It’s just that you seem … wearied. The toll of these events, the relentless pressure since our isolation began—it’s been immense.”

Carrack’s reply was laced with a stubborn resolve. “I’m well within my capacities,” he retorted, his tone dripping with frustration. “I’ve weathered far harsher ordeals than this.”

There was a measured pause before Alaina spoke again, her words floating through the tension like a specter. “Yes, I’m well aware you have.”

Alaina’s words hung oddly in the air, simultaneously quelling his frustration and kindling a disquiet within him. As their eyes locked in what felt like a silent battle of determination, Carrack’s attention was drawn to a faint luminescence that seeped into the room, filtering through the window behind her. There, in the night sky, he was sure of it—the lights, those elusive beacons, were slicing through the dark veil overhead with their otherworldly gleam.

A shiver ran through Carrack’s hand, his restlessness growing palpable as he felt his breaths quicken. With sudden urgency, he leapt up, his hand jutting towards the window, gesturing wildly to the spectacle outside. In his haste, he brushed past Alaina, nearly toppling her in his eagerness to get a clearer view of the celestial phenomenon that beckoned him once more.

“There! There!” Carrack’s voice boomed as he pressed his face against the window, his finger tapping urgently on the glass. “The lights!”

Alaina, caught off-guard, steadied herself. “What lights?” she asked, her voice a mix of concern and confusion.

“The ones I mentioned before—the ones revealed by the statue!” Carrack spun around, intent on making her understand, but as he returned his gaze to the sky, a cold dread washed over him. The vast expanse before him was void of any light, an abyss of darkness that swallowed his hope. “But they were just there,” he stammered, disbelief etching his features.

“Carrack?” Alaina’s voice was a gentle anchor in the tumult of his thoughts as she reached out to him by the window.

Rooted in place, Carrack’s gaze remained fixed outside, futilely searching for the celestial light that had plunged him into a vortex of anxiety and obsession. As the realization set in that the lights were no longer there, a wave of self-doubt crashed over him, casting shadows on the very reliability of his perceptions. Why, he pondered, would he even yearn to witness such a troubling phenomenon again? The internal conflict tightened his throat, flushed his skin with heat, and stirred an unease that blurred his vision with the onset of tears. In that solitary moment, his breaths became sobs, each one barely more than a whisper, as he murmured to himself, “I saw them, I saw them.”

“Sir,” Alaina attempted once more, her hand tentatively reaching toward him. He dismissed the gesture with a determined shrug, signaling his desire for space.

Carrack’s words came through clenched teeth as he struggled to regain control, his resolution firm. “I’m going,” he declared. “I’m going tomorrow, goddammit, and that’s final. Now get out.”