Chapter Thirty-Six

Rhylix

But you’re the only one who can end me.

Something was wrong with Raimie. While sailors and pirates alike watched a bloodied head soar overboard, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the kid, too busy figuring out what was wrong with him to do otherwise. It was only as my friend made for an access point below deck that I noticed Dim alone was trailing him.

“Oswin! Line the prisoners up, and gather their weapons, please,” Raimie shouted. “I will return in a moment.”

As he slid down the ladder, Dim caught my eye. Surprisingly, the Daevetch splinter didn’t recoil from me or act as if it was disgusted. It stared at me, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think the splinter was silently begging me for help.

After a moment, it slumped, shaking its head, before jumping into the hole after its human.

“Has Raimie chosen a side?” I said under my breath.

“I’m not certain,” Creation said, “but he has vehemently rejected doing just that several times. Plus, such a significant change should have rippled through the whole to me.”

Humming, I chewed on my lip for a moment.

“Then, where’s Bright?” I asked.

“Hence, why I’m not certain,” Creation said.

Someone climbed over the railing beside me, and I stepped aside to give him room. Leaning on his knees, Eledis fought to catch his breath.

“Frustrating child,” he gasped. “What was he thinking, running into a fight alone like that?”

“I’m not sure if he was thinking,” I said. “After I pushed him toward the enemy ship, he seemed to be running on instinct.”

Slowly, Eledis straightened, staring at me with cold eyes.

“You pushed him,” he said.

Nodding, I said, “Anyone who was watching could see that he wanted to help, but he needed someone to nudge him into it, which I did. He was never in any danger. I had my eye on him throughout the fight.”

That wasn’t strictly true. My heart still stuttered when I remembered watching Raimie lose his hold on his Ele source. It was a rookie mistake for a primeancer to make, one that wasn’t often repeated, and seeing it happen then, surrounded by people who’d been out for his blood, had almost had me fully revealing myself.

Fortunately, I hadn’t needed to intervene. Our ship’s captain had appeared from out of nowhere—most people couldn’t sneak up on me like that—to save Raimie.

Mentioning that near disaster to Eledis wouldn’t be a good idea, though.

“I won’t touch on why you thought that you alone could protect Raimie on a ship full of hostile pirates,” Eledis said. “Instead, you can tell me why you ‘encouraged’ him in the first place.”

“Oh, that’s easy,” I said. “I wanted to improve his standing with the soldiers.”

Giving me a blank look, Eledis said, “What?”

Huffing, I waved a hand over our surroundings. Around us, sailors and soldiers, those unoccupied with watching prisoners at least, were whispering and chattering with one another.

“What do you suppose they’re talking about?” I asked. “I’d guess it’s the royal who led the charge, distracting the pirates so they could safely board. The royal who danced with his enemies, using a simple length of wood. How much more do they respect him now, do you think?”

Eledis opened his mouth, probably to make a scathing comment, but thankfully, Raimie jumped above deck at that moment, interrupting him. Bending down, he extended a hand to help the people coming after him.

They emerged into the sunlight, squinting and furiously blinking, with scabs circling their wrists and ankles where shackles had once chaffed their skin. Although their arms and shoulders were well-defined, as one would expect of galley slaves, their gaunt faces and stomachs told the truth of their treatment. Where rags didn’t hide their skin, welts from the lash covered it, and it was so pasty that it made the tans of sailors and pirates look much darker than they were.

After the last of them was standing on deck, Raimie made his way to the confiscated weapons, picking through them, while the sailors shot questioning glances between themselves. Meanwhile, the former slaves held themselves perfectly still, as if unsure what to do. After selecting a few blades from the pile, Raimie turned his attention to the people around him, although he solely addressed his new prisoners.

“You have been found guilty of piracy,” he said.

Drawing a dagger, he discarded its scabbard before offering the weapon to a former slave, a spindly man who hesitantly took it.

“But worse, I find you guilty of enslaving others, people who no doubt have friends and family back home.”

Raimie handed a sword to a woman with frazzled hair and tears streaming over her cheeks.

“By doing this, you have uprooted and destroyed their lives, but my hope is that having been freed of your clutches, they will take this chance at making new lives for themselves.”

As he gave a man another weapon, he smiled before gesturing to the weapons he’d left behind. Haltingly, the former slaves armed themselves, which banished a measure of their skittishness. While they made their choices, Raimie stood between them and their once masters, turning such a stern countenance on the latter that a chill crept into my core. What was he doing?

“By maritime law, I am within my rights to leave you in a rowboat until the closest authority retrieves you for sentencing,” Raimie said, raising his voice. “This will sure lead to a slow and lingering death as the closest authority at the moment is Doldimar, and I doubt he cares what happens to you.

“Fortunately for you, I will not be the one deciding your punishment, as I can assure you that death by dehydration is the kindest one I am inclined to give. No, I will leave choosing your fate to your victims.”

Deadly silence followed this declaration, one that I found appropriate. What had gotten into the kid?

As they shifted in place, the sailors seemed to be asking themselves the same question, but they’d face another conundrum as well. Would they let Raimie decide the proper punishment for their prisoners?

As for the pirates, they were, understandably, terrified.

“You said you’d let us live!” one shouted.

“No. I said that I might let you live,” Raimie said, lifting a finger, “and that is true. These people you have abused might show you the mercy that you never gave them. Then again, they might not. It is up to them.”

With a fierce grin, he strode to starboard, where the ships were aligned against one another. Every eye followed him, and once he was balanced on the ship’s railing, he paused as if a thought had just occurred to him.

“Now that I think of it, the closest authority is not Doldimar, is it?” he said. “That would be me.”

Slowly, he turned his smile on the sailors, Eledis, and finally, me. When our eyes met, that smile faltered, but Raimie quickly shook it off.

“See it done,” he shouted.

Then, he started the perilous crossing to our ship.

The soldiers standing guard exchanged glances before stepping to the side. Some of them stayed where they were, presumably to ensure that no harm came to the former slaves, but most sheathed their weapons, ignoring the pirates’ disbelieving cries.

“That was… well done,” Eledis said. “Extremely unlike Raimie but… well done.”

“You sound shocked,” I said.

Casting a sharp glance at me, Eledis said, “And you’re not?”

No, I very much was, but it wasn’t at the outcome of the afternoon’s proceedings. I’d watched scenes like this unfold too many times to count, but I’d never expected something like it to happen while in Raimie’s company.

Ignoring Eledis, I turned my back on the former slaves, who were still struck immobile by their change in fortune. Intimately aware as I was of what was about to happen, I’m didn’t want to witness the coming violence.

Instead, I focused on my internal conflict while transferring ships. Everything Raimie had done was perfectly legal by all of the known kingdoms’ laws. I’d even argue that my friend’s decision had been the right one.

Slavers on the Narrow Sea were the scum of the earth, subsisting on the pain and suffering of others. Raimie’s prisoners were lucky that he’d shown such restraint, as most crews would have executed them without question.

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Even still, I didn’t know what to think about leaving the pirates’ fates in their victims’ hands. Those people had suffered enough, and while some of them would never question the chance for justice that they’d been given, a few would agonize over taking a life once their blood lust left them.

Then, of course, there was the fact that the behavior I’d seen in my friend didn’t fit the Raimie I knew.

After reaching the other side, I headed for the quarterdeck, pausing once there. Raimie was speaking with Commander Marcuset, and I didn’t want to interrupt them.

“-sure they are treated for malnutrition and dehydration,” my friend was saying. “They may choose to join us or go free, and any of them who decide to leave will be given what they need to start their new lives from their former masters’ property.”

Clearing his throat, Marcuset said, “That’s a noble gesture, Your Majesty, but what about us? We need the supplies that the pirates will leave behind, and their ships could save us from this becalming.”

“We will, of course, take what we need from the ships’ holds, leaving the rest for their new owners,” Raimie said before cocking his head. “As for the ships themselves, do you really want to cram our soldier onto our newly commandeered, small ships? You will have to explain your reasoning for this suggestion, as I find it impractical at best.”

Furrowing his brow, Marcuset said, “I-”

“I thought not,” Raimie interrupted. “What we will do instead is send a unit of your men with these ships when they depart. They will get help from anyone, and I do mean anyone, who would choose to assist us. Do you have any further questions or comments?”

As Raimie cocked his head to the other side, I shivered. Cold. He was so. cold.

Bowing, Marcuset said, “No, Your Majesty. By your leave, I will ensure that your orders are carried out.”

“See that you do,” Raimie said.

Finished with the commander, he strolled to the port railing with his hands clasped behind his back.

Marcuset shook his head, rising from his bow, and when he spotted me on the sidelines, he made a beeline for me, which had me shifting. Since first seeing the commander outside of Sev, I hadn’t spoken to the commander, too uneasy to stay in his presence for long. Even weeks later, I wasn’t sure why he screamed wrong to me, but I’d avoided him precisely because of it. Now, though, I could no longer stay out of his way.

“You’re his friend, right?” Marcuset said when he’d come closer.

“To my continual surprise, yes, he claims me as such,” I said.

“Good. Maybe you can help.”

Marcuset glanced at Raimie with his face pinched.

“That battle hit him harder than I thought it would,” he said before meeting my eyes. “Have you seen much combat?”

A flood of unwanted memories rushed through me, making me wince.

“More than I’d like,” I said.

Nodding in understanding, Marcuset said, “Then, you know what it’s like. The aftermath of a fight, I mean. He needs a friend right now. Can I… can I trust you to help him?”

I fully faced the commander, holding his gaze.

“I will always do everything in my power to help and protect him,” I said.

A deep anxiety in Marcuset relented, and he slowly breathed out.

“Good,” he said. “That’s good! Thank you, Rhylix.”

“Of course.”

“Now, I have to help my men give away supplies that are rightfully ours,” Marcuset said before shaking his head. “Alouin, that kid… that kid…”

With nothing else, he left to follow his orders, letting me approach my friend.

“Raimie?” I say.

When the kid didn’t respond, I winced. This would be bad.

Stepping closer, I glanced at what was holding Raimie’s attention, and on seeing the blood-soaked deck opposite us, I wanted to smack myself.

How many times had the kid mentioned his wish to avoid killing people? I’d known the desire would be untenable, especially in Auden, but still, I’d been dreading the day when my friend would have to take another life, and here it was.

Gods. How many people had Raimie cut down before he’d stopped the fight? And even the way he’d done that had required someone’s death. What must he be feeling right now?

Remembering my friend’s reaction to the first time he’d ended a life, I cautiously reached out to him.

“Are you ok?” I asked. “I understand if you-”

When I rested my hand on his shoulder, Raimie spun, swinging a shadow-coated fist at my face. Without thought, I pulled Ele to my feet, but before I could dodge the incoming strike, Raimie froze. As he narrowed his eyes, black streaks fled from his fist, although he left it raised.

“Rhylix?” he asked, as if unsure of who I was.

“Raimie, your eyes!” I gasped.

Grabbing my friend’s head, I peeled back the lid of one eye, ignoring how much he’d tensed. I had more important things to worry about, like the fact that his pupils had dilated to the point that a delicate ring of blue was rimming them. What could have caused this?

“That explains why you’ve unnerved everyone you’ve spoken with,” I said to myself before asking. “How do you feel?”

I released my hold on the kid, and he slowly lowered his fist.

“I am fine,” he said.

Well, that was obviously false, but maybe he thought it was true. Maybe…

He had hit his head pretty hard during the battle.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “Maybe your ears are ringing? Or perhaps you’re nauseous?”

I really shouldn’t suggest symptoms to my patient, but I was fairly confident about my diagnosis, and if I was right, I needed to get Raimie into a bed. Now.

“I…” he started, screwing up his face.

He stumbled a bit, catching himself on the railing.

With a short laugh, he said, “I am a little dizzy.”

“I knew it! You have a concussion,” I said. “We need to get you below deck so you can rest.”

Raimie shook his head, swaying in place.

“I cannot rest, not when so much needs to be done,” he said. “I will not dump my responsibilities on others.”

“Trust me, Raimie, these people will understand if you leave the rest to them, especially once they learn you have a concussion,” I said. “Most of them are familiar with that state. They’ll know that if you’re to heal quickly, you need rest now.”

“I do not…” Raimie started.

But then, his sway got violent enough that he slammed into the ship’s railing.

Grimacing, he said, “Ok. I will be in my cabin.”

“And I’ll let everyone know what’s happened,” I said.

“Thank… you,” Raimie said with his face twisting.

He started for a ladder to the main deck, and I moved as if to steady him. When I touched his elbow, however, he recoiled several steps away from me, panting with wide eyes. With my hand still raised, I cocked my head while focus returned to the kid, and he swallowed.

“I do not need help,” he said. “Please, let me do this on my own.”

Lowering my hand, I said, “O… k…?”

I watched Raimie retreat until he’d disappeared. What had that been about?

Really, I shouldn’t let my concussed patient wander about on his own, but considering how many allies were surrounding him here, I’d be shocked if lasting harm came to him on this ship.

Still.

“That was strange,” I said to myself.

“Excuse me?”

Jumping, I spun, reaching for my sword until I recognized the man in front of me. Captain Oswin watched me with a laugh in his amber eyes.

How the hell had he snuck up on me? That hadn’t happened in… I couldn’t remember the last time it had happened.

“Yes?” I said, trying to slow down my racing heart.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Oswin said. “I just wanted to ask after… Raimie. Is he ok?”

Odd. Not even Aramar had checked on his son yet.

So, why was this random soldier concerned about him? Then again, he’d been the one who’d saved Raimie’s life. He’d probably seen how hard the kid had been shoved into the pirate ship’s mast.

“He’ll be fine eventually,” I said. “No need to worry. He just has a concussion.”

“I see,” Oswin said.

Frowning, he looked at his feet, and if I hadn’t known better, I’d think the conversation was over, but as I’d suspected, Oswin soon lifted his head.

“If I may… when you were examining him, his eyes…”

Licking his lips, he looked away, folding his arms behind his back.

“Were they more black than blue?” he asked.

“They… were extremely dilated, yes,” I said. “Why do you ask?”

Shaking his head, Oswin slowly took a breath.

“It’s not important,” he said. “I saw something during the battle… I just wanted to confirm. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Lost in his thoughts, Oswin wandered away, muttering under his breath, and if I weren’t so focused on him, I might have missed what he said.

As it was…

“Has he forgotten me too?” Oswin said to himself.

And once he was gone, I was left alone on the quarterdeck, once more plagued with far too many questions.

----------------------------------------

The next day, I accompanied a rowboat to another ship in the fleet. I was hoping one of the people quartered there could help me with my quandaries. At the least, she could consult with me on Raimie’s concussion.

When I was finished climbing to the main deck, however, Gistrick waylaid me before I could find Chela.

“Welcome aboard the Second Chance,” he called.

I raised an eyebrow. The Zrelnach had given their ship a name?

“It had a Queen’s given name before,” Gistrick said in answer to the unspoken question, “but we thought a new one was in order, especially given who’s quartered here.”

That made sense. Since our departure, the Zrelnach had been separated from the soldiers who came from Daira. It seemed little trust had grown between the two groups, despite Raimie’s best efforts.

“It’s a good name,” I said. “You don’t know where Chela is, do you? I’d like to speak with her about a few of Raimie’s symptoms. Nothing bad! Just a little outside the norm.”

“From what I hear, outside the norm is normal for that kid,” Gistrick said, “but I was hoping to speak with you, actually. Do you have a minute, or do you need to see Chela now?”

I’d prefer to see her now. I didn’t like being this far from Raimie, given how much he attracted trouble, but staying on the Zrelnach commander’s good side was for the best.

When I nodded, Gistrick led me to the captain’s quarters. Inside, several bedrolls and jumbles of cloth had been jammed into corners, speaking to the close quarters found here. Fortunately, none of those spots were currently occupied.

Still, I was grateful the windows had been opened, otherwise the smell of so many people living together would have been overwhelming.

Gistrick stopped in front of those windows, biting his lip as he stared out over the sea. After a while, I decided to break the quiet first.

“How did your first battle in command go?” I asked.

Shaking himself, Gistrick turned toward me.

“It went well. We took minimal losses: three dead and a handful wounded,” he said. “You could take a look at them while you’re here, if you like.”

“Why would I do that?” I asked. “Chela should be more than enough for them.”

Shrugging, Gistrick said, “It was just a suggestion. How did your ship’s crew fare? Any casualties?”

“None,” I said.

When Gistrick’s eyebrows rose, I huffed before leaning out a window.

“Look. What can I tell you?” I said. “Raimie distracted them, long enough that our people boarded the enemy ship with minimal resistance, and when he refused to fall by their blade, the pirates lost their nerve. Many of them abandoned their own ship. Strategy-wise, what he did wouldn’t have worked in a real battle, but with how small-scale this conflict was, Raimie could have taken the ship by himself if he wanted.”

“Does that mean the rumors are true?” Gistrick said. “He leapt across the gulf between the ships?”

Glancing at the Zrelnach commander, I frowned at his shocked state.

“Yes, he did,” I said, “but it wasn’t that wide of a gap. I jumped it right after him.”

“You’re an Eselan, though. You could have shape changed as needed,” Gistrick said. “Raimie is decidedly human.”

Something brushed the back of my neck, making me slap at it. A bug this far out at sea? How had that happened?

“Gistrick. Why does it matter?” I snapped. “Raimie is Raimie. What he is has no import. Who he is and how he acts are the qualities that you should consider.”

Gods, this was taking too long. I needed to speak with Chela so I could return to my friend. Knowing him, he’d probably stopped resting, insistent on helping his people in some way. I had to make sure that didn’t happen.

Slowly breathing out, Gistrick rubbed his face.

“You’re right, of course,” he said. “It’s just… I can’t help but think about the possibilities. Hell, if I’ve sworn my loyalty to a primeancer…”

With a short laugh, I said, “Then, Alouin help us all, yes?”

Again, fingers brushed the back of my neck, rifling through my hair, and I straightened.

“Are we done?” I said.

But Gistrick was paying me no mind, staring toward the Tear’s ever-present storms, and when I joined him in his inspection, a breath of fresh air smacked me in the face.

“A breeze…” I said.

Spinning, Gistrick marched toward the door with me hot on his heels.

“Release the sails, and raise the anchor!” he shouted once outside. “And someone raise that rowboat.”

As Zrelnach scrambled to follow orders, I grabbed Gistrick’s arm.

“I should return to my post,” I said.

With a sympathetic look, Gistrick said, “I’m sorry, but standing orders are to take advantage of the wind when it returns. You’re stuck with us.”

Shaking me off, he raced into the crew’s bustle, and I threw my head back with a groan. Of all the people to be trapped with for the rest of this journey, it had to be men and women who’d once despised me.

Even knowing this, I hurried to help them. The sooner we reached Auden, the sooner I could be with my friend again.