The creature lunged forward at Blink. His whole body was frozen in place unable to move. He forced his legs to do something, willing them to anything other than seizure in terror. As the creature came down on him, he managed to sidestep it. His movements were rigid and clumsy, but he now lifted the dagger up in front of him. He was holding it with the hand of his healed arm, it was harder to use but at least he wouldn’t be hindered by the pain of the remaining burns. Holding the blade pointed at the creature he felt his limb loosen a little and a warmth of confidence to fight back grew. He swung it back and forth trying to get the creature to back away. The creature gave out a gargled screech and slashed at him and the dagger, trying to knock it loose. Blink moved back slowly, each swing and footstep a desperate attempt to keep those sharp claws at bay. He felt something hard against his back and realised the creature had been driving him against a taffrail to prevent his escape. The creature saw the surprise on his face and took advantage of the moment and clawed for the dagger. The claw raked through underside of his arm catching the dagger causing it to fly from his hand and skitter across the boards. He was trapped by the creature now, with no weapon and no way out. I can’t move like Ra with these burns, and I don’t have any magic like Danu… I’m useless… worse than that I’m a hinderance to everyone around me and now I’m going to die, sorrowful thoughts collided through his mind. All the things he had been told all his life about being a tool, being property with value only so far as he was useful, these memories found proof in his moment of fear. It is a wonder how much can pass through a mind in those moments of dread and nearness to death. So much so that they spun in succession like a twister gathering debris until he found himself again thinking of Horrog’s office, and strange box and figurine that had forced his escape. The fear he had felt then, the absolute certainty that his life was about to end. His thoughts raced across all the times he had almost died at the hands of that dwarf, the beatings he endured from Demera, and longing and craving he felt for a family. Family… Those people with the caravans. A mother. The images of the roaring flames of that village filled him. The sight of the of all those lying dead around him. He thought of the woman with her gentle smile and warmth. He thought of the battle that raged between the bestial man and Horrog. That woman and man… a mother… and… a father, he thought apprehensively. To hope they were real was far scarier than any monster. Hope could a gentle killer when it remained unfulfilled. Blink felt white hot heat surrounding his body. The images in his head turned to white nothingness, a place devoid of existence. The fear within him subsided and he felt his heart race and pound inside his chest. Blink let out a screaming roar at the creature, an exaltation of the pain in his heart. Blink could feel his skin shifting, stretching, and contorting. He felt his teeth turn to long white fangs, his ears elongated and grew thick wiry brown hair, his hands too buckled and bent as the bones shifted within. It should have been excruciatingly painful, but he felt nothing in that white void of fury. He felt nothing but the overwhelming desire to tear flesh and devour anything in his path. The burns along his arm released searing heat and, in his hand, appeared a blade. The same blade from the night when he unlocked the box. The sword hilt was wrapped tightly in leathers with a thick mane of fur around the guard. The blade itself was like steel in its hardness but made of sharpened bone that curved upward into a terrible fang. Sharpened by means beyond his own understanding for he had never seen something so refined of bone.

The creature before Blink stopped in its movement and began to back away. Whatever Blink had become was beyond what it was willing to risk a fight with. Blink roared again and drove himself forward. The bone blade slashed through the air in a great arc cutting through the shoulder of the creature. It met the resistance of bone as it hit but Blink’s muscles screamed and pushed harder driving the blade down and through the other side of the creature. It’s two halves sliding apart and landing in a thudding slosh of blood and entrails. Blink looked around and the fighting had subsided with both crew, creatures, and his companions looking at him. He let out another roar and charged at the creatures that remained. He pushed off with powerful leg muscles moving with a speed that rivalled the litheness of the alley cats in Bonny. He managed to kill two of them, rending them with the blade. Sounds of gulping death knells came from them as the slumped to the deck with a hard wooden thud. The remaining creatures turned and fled over the taffrail of the ship, somehow managing to show fear on those empty fish-like faces.

‘Blink!’ A gruff voiced called form behind him. He knew that voice, it was familiar somehow. He turned and saw a woman there with black hair and small tusks protruding from the bottom lip. Monster! I won’t die. I won’t! Blink lunged forward at the woman slashing with his sword. She lithely bobbed and weaved around each slice through the air. Blink’s rage grew wilder and his movements more erratic. I’ll kill you before you can kill me! Blink’s thoughts came in these same desperate prostrations with each lunge of his blade. Each slash just missing its mark, the woman was too light on her feet for the desperate attacks to land. Blink growled as he put his full force into the next swing, bringing the sword down from above. The woman raised her dagger and caught the bone blade above her head with a grunt of tremendous effort.

‘Blink! It’s me! Ra!’ She yelled at him; her face bent in a hard contortion of strain. ‘Please stop!’ Blink could feel something at the edges of his mind and memory tugging at him. She said her name was Ra. Why was that important? Do I know her? Ra? He thought to himself. He wanted to yell at her to be quiet, but the words only came out as animalistic growls deep in his throat. ‘Blink please!’ Ra’Handa called again through gritted teeth. Blink felt some of the strength in his arm yield slightly. It was just enough for Ra’Handa to strike as she pushed the bone sword to the side twisted in one fluid motion driving her elbow hard into his stomach. The blow knocked the wind out of Blink and as he tried to draw a desperate breath afterward, he felt his whole-body freeze in place unable to move. Ra’Handa moved away from him quickly standing back, a look of concern marked her face. She whipped her head around to see what had happened. Standing there behind them was what appeared to be a young woman. She wore a loose dark high-collared shirt and a cloak both embroidered with elaborate golden weaves of interlocking shapes. The tunic was met with colourful silken skirts that overlapped with different patterns and designs. Her neck was decorated with thick metal plates encrusted with a single round amethyst at the centre and their arms clanged with many bracelets at the wrist. The woman’s eyes glowed with a purple arcane energy against their dark skin. Black braids streamed in the wind with ornaments catching the light of the lanterns. She held out her hands before her creating a circle with her gloved thumbs and fore fingers; the rest fanned out like wings. Her glowing purple eyes stared down directly at Blink and pulsed with a menacing rhythm. After several pulses of her glowing purple eyes they erupted with light, and the young woman slammed her hands together into a tight knitted prison of fingers. Blink felt unimaginable pressure from every part of his body. He choked for breath and felt the sway of the ship spin uncontrollably. He wanted to be sick, if only he could find the air to do so.

‘Stop it! You’re killing him!’, he heard a gruff call from nearby. The young woman blinked and released her hands and looked around. She was dazed and more than a little embarrassed. She nodded and stepped back. Blink felt the spell release and he collapsed to the deck of the ship against the hard wood. He took a deep breath and felt himself wretch. He felt a hand on his back and saw the woman with the tusks. Ra’Handa? I’m so sorry, he thought to himself. I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough, Blink’s world whet dark.

‘You awake yet?’ Someone asked and shook him roughly. He opened his eyes to find Ra’Handa sitting by him on a stool. He looked around and realised he wasn’t in the cabin anymore but in a bed. The room swayed slightly and the sound of the wood of the ship creaked with every motion. Well at least we haven’t been thrown overboard, he thought gratefully.

‘You gunna keep making a habit of passing out on me?’ Ra’Handa said and slapped him on the shoulder. He flinched expecting the pain from his burns to still be there, but no vicious sting came. He looked at his arms and the burns were completely healed. If not for the scars that branded his arms, he could have imagined it had never happened at all.

‘How…’, he began but then noticed a branch of large, long rounded leaves and tufts of fluffy white flowers. They looked like white caterpillars had burst from the wood itself. ‘Ash wood? Danu was here?’ he asked picking up the flowers.

‘She said she wouldn’t leave you all broken and battered if you’re gunna help her get into a guild later. That came right outta her staff,’ Ra’Handa shivered at the mention of it. ‘Fixed up what was left of my own burns from Demera while she was at it too,’ she added pulling back her shirt enough to expose healed green skin. Unlike Blink there was no scar to be seen on Ra’Handa. It truly was as if nothing had ever been there. Blink wondered why his skin was still marred with the taught twisted flesh of scars when Ra’Handa’s was not. Could it be because of the box and the sword? Maybe those aren’t as easy to heal, he thought ruefully, his mind wincing away from such memories.

Blink looked around the room again and asked, ‘Why are we in a cabin? Why haven’t we been thrown overboard?’

‘We aren’t totally outta the brush just yet. There’re guards at the door outside. Nothin’ much, just a coupla burly rigging guys, but enough to keep watch,’ she said looking at the door. ‘After everythin’ that happened the Cap’n had us put down here. Said he weren’t the type to thrown people overboard when they had saved his ship. Said he’d come talk to us when you were awake.’

‘So not free exactly, just a comfortable kind of cell,’ said Blink.

‘Ya could say that. Better than being in the water with those fish-man things,’ said Ra’Handa.

‘I don’t want to think about those things ever again,’ he said. ‘Did…did anyone get hurt?’ he said tentatively avoiding the real question. He hoped that he hadn’t hurt anyone. There were blurs of memory of what occurred when he became a monster himself. Ra’Handa regarded him a moment and seemed to change her mind about something.

‘A few of the crew were badly hurt. Danu was able to help tend to their wounds. They’re alright really,’ she said.

‘Danu huh? She’s pretty amazing,’ he said thinking of how she had not hesitated to protect others. He thought of how even Ra’Handa had charged into the fray. All he had managed to do was almost get himself killed.

‘Amazin’ is one word for her. But all that healing really took its toll in the end. She near fainted from exhaustion and hasn’t been seen since. Sleepin' it off in her room,’ she said.

‘I’ll have to find a way to thank her then I guess,’ said Blink, though he had his doubts about their prospects at this point.

‘Wouldn’t worry ‘bout it too much. She seemed to be havin’ fun if you asked me,’ she said smiling a little.

‘More like you were having fun, Ra,’ said Blink returning her smile.

They talked some more and after some time had passed one of the ship mates brought them food. They were given plates of cheese, bread, preserved meats, and some fruits to finish. A jug of spiced wine and bronze cups came with it. Ra’Handa greedily went for the wine and began drinking it right out of the jug. After some jibes and complaints from Blink she stopped and filled a cup for him and went back to the rest of the jug for herself. It was more food than they had eaten in days and certainly more lavish than anything Blink was used to in his old life. My old life. It’s only been a few days. We aren’t even able to let our guards down too much. It could hardly be called a new life, could it? Blink questioned between mouthfuls of food. He thought of playing at being a hero with the other younglings as a child. It had all felt so much simpler then. When faced with an actual fight it hadn’t been what he had thought. Instead of heroics he had accidentally kill Demera, he’d frozen when faced with those horrible creatures, and worse still, he had almost taken the life of his oldest friend. It seemed more like hopeless scrambling than anything of the heroic stories they envisioned for themselves.

‘Ra?’ He said guiltily and stopped eating. ‘I’m sorry I lost control.’ Ra’Handa too stopped eating and stared at him. ‘I don’t know what happened. When that… that sword appeared I just lost myself.’ There was a pause in the air between them and Ra’Handa continued to look at him. He looked like the same old Blink, shaggy brown hair, lean muscles, golden brown eyes. She sighed audibly blowing the silence away.

‘You’re still Blink. Yer my mate and my brother. And I know it wasn’t you or your fault.’ Blinked looked back at her still feeling guilt but relieved. ‘Besides… even goin’ berserk you couldn’t hit me if you tried,’ she teased. He smiled and gave himself permission to laugh.

‘So… d’ya know what happened to the sword?’ he asked, although he wasn’t sure he really wanted to know.

‘End’a the bed. Wrapped up in cloth,’ she said nodding in the direction. ‘That mage that stopped you in ya tracks picked it up and bound it in cloth,’ there was something in the way she said the word mage that was accusing. Accusing of what, Blink wasn’t sure, but he was certain he had heard something in that tone. Blink stared ominously toward the end of the bed. He couldn’t see the bundle on the floor, but he stared nonetheless as though at any moment a terrible dire wolf was about pounce and tear at his throat.

‘Where’d it come from anyways?’ she asked distracting him from his imaginings. He realised then he had been staring and saying nothing.

‘Oh! Well… It was in that case you picked up on the ship. Horrog made me open it. I don’t know how it got here.’ Blink’s ears prickled and he turned toward the door. He could hear heavy foot falls approaching. His senses were always sharper than most others around him. Before Ra’Handa could ask any more questions, a knock came at the door and a man immediately opened it and entered the room without invitation. He was an aged man with combed back grey hair, bushy eyebrows, and a long, curled moustache. His moustache still held some of his original hair colour and they could see flecks of faded black dispersed. He wore leather breeches and a silk shirt, with ornate embroidery around the collar and golden buttons with anchors on them.

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‘It is excellent to see you awake my boy. I am Captain Rollain De’Vastrick. My guests and the crew just call me Rollo.’ He spoke with a musical kind of accent, one that suited his name well. The words seemed to roll and flick off the end of his tongue as he spoke. Although he didn’t look strong or dangerous the crewmen guarding the door bowed and showed him great respect. He waved them out of the room, and they complied eagerly. He stood expectantly waiting for a courteous response.

‘I… ah… I’m Blink and this is Ra’Handa,’ he stammered.

‘Wonderful to make your acquaintance and my deepest gratitude for protecting my ship and all those aboard her.’ Rollo placed one hand in front and another at his back and bent gracefully at the waist. Neither Blink nor Ra’Handa had had anyone genuinely bow to them in their lives. They sat aghast unsure of what do to and shared confused looks with one another. Noone would ever knowingly bow to a slave or a thief. Either way it made them more uncomfortable, their inexperience showing severely.

‘Ah… We’re glad we could help Captain Rollain,’ Blink managed to get out.

‘Please. Call me Rollo,’ he said standing up straight. ‘Now it is my understanding you were hurt in the fighting, yes?’

‘I guess you could say that. A friend took care of my wounds,’ said Blink trying not to look at the scar along his arm.

‘Ah yes! The lovely mistress Danu. I believe Nessus also came your aid.’ Blink and Ra’Handa gave Rollo quizzical looks.

‘Nessus?’ Blink asked.

‘Yes. I had thought you may also be acquainted but I see this is my mistake,’ he sighed and shook his head in disappointment of himself. ‘Nessus is the young mage that bound you and that sword you held.’ Blink did his best to hide any expression on his face at the mention of the sword. He felt the eyes of Rollo searching his face. There was also a hint of something in the way he said it, was it distrust? Fear? Knowing? Whatever the case Blink certainly felt afraid of the sword, why shouldn’t this man?

‘I’ll be sure to thank Nessus then,’ said Blink trying not to avoid Rollo’s eyes. Ra’Handa let out a grunt of disdain at that. She looked as though she wanted to say more but decided against it.

‘Those things that got on board… what are they?’ asked Ra’Handa. Blink was grateful or the change of subject and Ra’Handa was happy to be veering talk away from the mage. Rollo’s face grew stern and serious at that. It didn’t suit him at all despite being the captain of the ship. He seemed like he would be far better suited to laughter and the ease of good company.

‘Salacia wash us clean,’ he said as he spat on the wooden floorboards. It was a superstitious ritual Blink had seen many times before in the shipwrights and dock workers. Salacia was their patron deity of the sea and travel winds. Many seafaring folks often wore medallions depicting a dolphin as her totem. It was said she would send these playful creatures to watch the waters below and leap out of the water to check the air above. Sailors would return with outlandish stories of these playful creatures guiding them to safe harbour.

‘They are Sluaghmen. Our drowned brethren. Folk lost at sea that refuse to let go of their life flame and return to The Torrent that bore all life, and so become these creatures. Their calls for salvation are heard and are twisted to become something else, something that the sea cannot devour, they become Sluaghmen. Have you truly not heard of such tragedies?’ he asked surprised.

‘You mean… those things are people?’ said Ra’Handa incredulously.

‘No! They are people no more.’ Rollo said sharply and regathered his composure. Blink and Ra’Handa had heard stories about the creatures. He had thought them only stories stretched to the limit rather than having any truth in them. It was said that ships became waylaid by them from time to time. Blink had always thought all the stories he heard had been tall tales; he now wondered just how many of those stories Fisk had told were true. There were more than enough of them to make Blink shudder at the thought.

‘I’ve not seen them be so brazen as last night. They are normally more cunning than that, grabbing a child or distracted ship’s hand when opportunity presents. They are opportunists and avoid direct confrontation. ‘Strange times bring strange change’ as the sore toothed elder mothers do say. The Corruption of the south can be found in many places across Haydellon, especially in these darkening times,’ said Rollo in thought.

‘They take children,’ Ra’Handa asked incredulously from deep within her throat. Rollo realised he has been lost in his thoughts. He curled at a moustache and made a rumbling sound looking at them both.

‘Yes, they do. It is why we do not allow the young ones out on the decking this far out at sea. But that is enough of dark talk, such terrors should not be spoken of out here. Tell me… what has brought you aboard my ship, without paying for passage no less?’ he said dismissing the conversation gravely. His question about their presence held an air of threat about it. It dared them to lie at great cost should the try.

‘We are looking for work in Dayargain. We thought we might try out the guild there,’ Rollo gave Ra’Handa a curious look as she spoke.

‘Which guild would that be then?’ he said distrust in his voice.

‘The Iron Lioness, same as Danu,’ she said. Rollo nodded to himself thoughtfully.

‘Do you know much of the other guilds there then? It is interesting that you should all three of you be seeking that one in particular,’ he said with curiosity.

‘Truthfully, we don’t know much about any of them. It was Danu that suggested The Iron Lioness. As for not paying for passage we didn’t have the coin but intended to pay you back,’ Blink offered, though he didn’t truly think the Captain would believe his offer of future payment. ‘Do you think there is another we should go to instead?’ Rollo searched Blink’s face for any sign of deceit. Blink hoped it would be enough of an explanation. Since Rollo had not thrown them overboard thus far it seemed a safe enough response.

‘We shall yet speak of payments owed. As the for the guilds you’ll find none better than The Iron Lioness by character of members though it is not much loved on Dayargain’s council. Daybreaker is only for members of the ancient noble blood, The Watchdogs are glorified mercenaries turned peacekeepers, there are then the scholarly Tomb Bearers, and zealous Isle Keepers; though you do not strike me as religious fanatics, and lastly the Trade Winds that protect all investment in and out of the city,’ said Rollo going through them one by one. Blink was surprised there could be so many and it seemed they all had their own purpose.

‘Since you do not seem to be nobles, scholars, or of holy virtue, I suppose that leaves the traders, peacekeepers, or the Iron Lioness,’ he added. It was clear he had no love of the religious order of the city. Or perhaps it was of any that proclaimed virtue in the service of a god. Though sailors paid homage to their superstitions and deities of the sea, it was more about safe passage than any loyalty of religious fervour.

‘Captain Rollo… I notice you didn’t say what the role of The Iron Lioness guild is,’ Blink said cautiously.

‘Isn’t it obvious? Beside I thought you would know since Mistress Danu shared it with you. Whilst all the guilds are tasked with protection of the borders with the southern continent and the golgeists, it is The Iron Lioness that does much of that work. Though their master is known to have other agendas within and without the city,’ he said as in possession or more intimate knowledge. Though he did not to share it with them no matter the pause between them.

‘You mean we will be sent to the borderlands? To fight the… the corrupted undead?’ Blink said horror stricken. This was not what he had in mind. He would much rather find other work in the city itself far away from the nightmares that ran through his mind.

‘Oh no! They would not send new or young folk there. Besides they have assistance from the other guilds in that regard also. Most likely you would run some errands or such for the Master I should think,’ he said.

‘Do you know him?’ asked Ra’Handa.

‘Him? No, no, no you are mistaken my little bird. The guild master Innais is a woman,’ he said not answering her question. ‘Now to the issue at hand. Payment for passage. You tell me you are seeking work?’ Rollo’s tone said he knew they weren’t quite telling the whole truth. He seemed to pause on this for a time and decided not to push the matter further. ‘If it is work you seek then perhaps, I can assist. I could use a couple of guards on the ship deck at night. There is no glory in this though important work nonetheless.’

‘We could certainly do that… for the right price.’ Ra’Handa said coolly. Blink gave her a look that attempted to run through her like daggers. What are you thinking Ra? Don’t push him. Rollo’s smile stretched across his face before bursting into a raucous bellow of laughter. It echoed through the room and down the corridor and completely drowned out the sound of the sea and ship.

‘Why a room and a daily meal my dear greedy Magpie. Or would you rather stay in your nest with the cargo stealing sweet cakes from the kitchen?’ He winked as he said this. Blink was shocked and couldn’t believe his ears. He knew we had been down there this whole time. What else does he know? Blink looked at Ra’Handa and saw her grinning. Had she done that on purpose? Ra that’s a dangerous game you’re playing at.

‘Bargaining when I ought to be done with you and give you to the ocean. Bargaining indeed,’ he said with another bellow of laughter.

‘We don’t come cheap, and this is business an’ nothin’ else right?’ said Ra’Handa with a brazen disregard for their situation. Blink would have dragged her by the ear from the room had he not been frozen with shock.

‘Aye true we are talking of business now. I’ve some curiosity about what really brought you aboard, but then to know a thing may mean I will have responsibility for it,’ he said, still grinning like a cat that had cornered two mice.

‘You knew we were down there all this time?’ asked Blink finding his voice at last.

‘Nothing happens aboard by ship I don’t know about or by my say so,’ he said. He gave a little rolling chuckle and added, ‘the ships’ cook wanted me to haul you in to scrub out the pots for all the honey cakes you made off with,’ Blink couldn’t help but feel himself sinking at that. He’d have earned far more than a few days of scrubbing pots if Demera had caught him stealing from Horrog or the kitchens.

‘And as for you my little magpie, you had best hide your markings from here. That leather and your guild of brigands are known upon this ship and in Dayargain. I’ll have my crew bring you a shirt and breeches.’

‘It doesn’t bother you then? That she’s one of the Magpies?’ Blink said surprised. Whilst the work of the thieves was sanctioned and lawful within the confines of Bonny it would certainly not be tolerated in other lands.

‘Oh he’s alright with it,’ said Ra’Handa with a knowing smile across her face. Rollo returned the look with a wry wink and a flourishing bow.

‘I will take my leave. There is much for a Captain to do and ever little time to do it. After that, he turned and walked toward the door. ‘Your first watch begins at sundown’, he said without looking back at them. He opened the door and left.

‘What on Haydellon were you thinking Ra? Are you trying to get us killed or worse found out and sent back to Bonny?’ said Blink when Captain Rollo had left. He was seething and wanted to throttle her for all her foolish gambling of their lives.

‘Calm brotha, everything is goin to alright. Didn’t you see all those rings on his fingers?’ she said dismissing him.

‘Rings on his fingers! You’re not thinking of robbing him now, are you?’ his voice was rising with incredulity and frustration.

‘No nothin’ like that. You need to pay more attention to the detail mate. Them rings on his fingers are parley rings, an’ one of ‘em was for black-market trading with the Magpies. He’s more than a Captain of a passenger ship. He’s not about to mess that up by gettin’ rid of us,’ she added finally and settled on the bed.

‘Are you sure it was a parley ring?’ Blink asked surprised. He had been so caught up in what might become of them and Rollo’s theatrical demeanour he hadn’t noticed the signets of his jewellery. Parley rings were used throughout Haydellon to protect parties of interest with various guilds, factions, and even governments. Horrog himself had some that allowed his actions within piracy and sale trade to continue, at least within countries or cities for which his parley rings indicated a truce.

‘Oh they were parley ring alright. I’ve not seen so many of them before though. He near had one on every finger of his hands,’ she said confidently. Blink supposed that if there were one thing in this world Ra’Handa would not mistake it would jewellery of value.

‘So we just go along with things then?’ said Blink with a nagging unease.

‘Seems like it. We just keep our heads low, do some watch duty, get to Dayargain, and join that guild with Danu,’ there was a smug self-satisfaction to the way she simplified their journey ahead. It annoyed Blink terribly.

‘You make it all sound so easy,’ he said glaring at her. After a moment he let it pass and said, ‘I don’t think we should join that guild with Danu. Wouldn’t we be better off with the merchants or peacekeepers, staying far away from the Borderland?’

‘I know what you mean. Even I’m not too keen on facing The Corruption and those walking dead things. But I think it’s our safest bet right now,’ she said not looking at him.

‘Safest bet? We could be sent to fight in a losing defence that’s been going for over a thousand years and you think that’s safest?’ he said incredulously.

‘I said right now, didn’t I? You really think we’d be able to avoid notice as peacekeepers in a city full of them Daybreaker? Or that working for the merchants we’d be out of Horrog’s influence? We’d be up to eyes in shit without a drop a rain to wash it clean brotha,’ she said driving every point home. Blink knew she was right; it would certainly be harder to remain unnoticed and Blink knew all too well Horrog’s reach beyond Bonny.

‘Fine Ra. I take your point. But I don’t have to like it. Not one bit,’ he said almost childishly.

Before long a crewman brought them a change of clothes and a short sword for Blink to use. He left the bone sword at the end of the bed and did his best to avoid looking in that direction. It was getting close to sundown when they made their way aboard the deck. They were to take shifts at opposite ends, Blink near the prow of the ship and Ra’Handa at the stern. There was enough light out to see the vast ocean before them. The waves sloshed against the side of the ship and extended far out into nothingness on all sides. Blink let the wind whip past his face and over his ears. The howling sound drowned out everything around him. He closed his eyes and let it envelop him. His mind began to wander and think of the field and people from his dreams. Their joy and happiness as they danced around the fire. He felt warmth spread from his chest outwards. Who were they? Or was it just some feverish dream? I’ve never heard Horrog or even Demera speak of these people before. Whenever anyone asked about Demera’s scars, they were silenced quickly speaking of an accident from poaching wild beasts long ago. Noone ever asked her directly; they all knew far better than to do that. The memory of her tried to draw him toward their escape, the image of her laying in the alley bleeding. It was his fault. He pulled away from the thought and tried to focus on the others. If the people in that dream had been his family wouldn’t Cookie or Fisk have told him about them? His mind wandered into distant memories of the people he thought he knew. He had spent his life working, cleaning, and trying to stay out of trouble. He considered just how well did he know them? To an extent Cookie and Fisk had protected him and cared for him, but then they had done the same for any of the younger slaves in Horrog’s household. Why should he be any different? Why should he think himself special? It was better that he let these dreams go and dismiss them from his mind. He needed to think about what lay ahead; of how he and Ra’Handa were going to stay out of trouble once they reached Dayargain. It was in his past now so why think on it? Why let his pains come with him? Although, he may wish them gone Blink knew it would not be as easy as that. As much as he wanted to forget all horrors of his childhood it was foolish to think he could simply cast them into the wind or the ocean. His thoughts were soon broken by a hand grip his shoulder. His eye flashed open and before he could think he found himself grabbing the figure behind him and hurling them to the ground with himself perched atop them. He breathed hard as he realised, he held the bone blade in his hand with it pressed up again the dark throat of the person below him.