Sea Queen (21 page)
Talon had set out to rescue Akkeri and ended up freeing more than a hundred Skomm from slavery. He asked himself which he would rather have done and was ashamed of the answer. His amma said he was destined for great things, and surely this was one of them. Rescuing your lover was far less noble than freeing so many, yet he would have simply rather found her, ran away, and lived a peaceful life. As much as his life had scared him before, the thought that he had a larger part yet to play scared him even more. He was no hero, no warrior. He was just Talon, a runt of a Vald who had been spared the Skomm village by his amma just to end up there anyway.
Though he had Chief and Kyrr, power does not a hero make. He had looked up to tales of heroes his entire childhood, and to think that he could be mentioned in the same breath as some of them was absurd. But Argath had been right. It was mostly due to him that the Skomm were free.
The last of the Skomm left on the rowboats and Talon turned to find Crag standing behind him, looking apprehensive.
“Crag…why haven’t you gone with the others?” Talon asked.
“Talon stays on the ship, so does Crag,” he said stubbornly, as though he knew there would be some objection.
“I appreciate that, but my path leads far away.”
The giant broke down and began to cry.
Talon glanced to Argath, who only shrugged.
“It’s not that I don’t want you, Crag. I would love to have you with me. But it’s too dangerous for you where I’m headed.”
The big man wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand repeatedly. “They took Forrest up top. I can’t find him anywhere. He was my folkhagi—he helped me. Sometimes…sometimes you know, I need help.”
Argath stepped forward and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Forrest was my father. If he was your friend then you have a place on my crew…if you want it.”
Crag stopped wiping his eyes and stared. “You Forrest’s boy?” he asked with a sniffle.
Argath nodded.
Crag suddenly reached out and gave the new captain a big hug. “Where is he, where’s your fadir?” he asked excitedly.
“He was killed trying to free the slaves,” Argath told him.
Crag nodded as if he knew, and lowered his head and shuddered.
“It’s alright Crag,” said Talon, “he died for what he believed in. He was an honorable man.”
Crag nodded and wiped his nose. He regarded Argath hopefully. “You say I can stay on with you—be a sailor like you?”
Argath chuckled. “Indeed. But there will be work to do. I could use a man your size.”
Crag nodded dramatically. “Crag can do big work,” he said seriously. Then a shadow crossed his face. “But…I don’t have to hurt no one, do I?”
“It may come to that. I expect you to defend yourself and this ship if we’re attacked.”
“Alright,” said Crag reluctantly.
“Go on down to the mess hall, sailor. Get yourself some grub.”
“Yes sir, Captain Folkhagi,” said Crag. He turned to Talon. “You gotta eat?”
“You go ahead, Crag. I need to talk to the captain.”
Talon and Argath looked out over the harbor and watched the last rowboat make landfall as Crag made his way below deck.
“What will become of them?” Talon asked.
“Thodin knows,” said Argath, leaning on the rail to take the weight off his injured foot. “But the governor of the city ensured me they would be safe. They’re a hard working lot—they’ll find their way.”
“And the slaver?”
“She ain’t a slaver no more, and she ain’t called the Sea Queen no more either. I’ve renamed her Freedom. Like I said, I’m headin’ back to Volnoss and buyin’ as many Skomm as I can, then I’ll be bringin’ ‘em back here.” He glanced at Talon. “You stayin’ on?”
Talon nodded. “As far as Shierdon, if you don’t mind having me.”
“Goin’ to find your lass, eh?”
“She was sold to the royals—that’s where I’m headin’.”
“Well then,” said Argath tapping the rail and putting his crutch under arm. “Let’s get this ship sailin’. We got a long trip yet before we reach Shierdon.”
They set sail shortly after.
Talon worked alongside the other Skomm who had decided to stay on. His spirits were high. He had freed the slaves—given them a chance at a good life.
And he now had a solid lead to find Akkeri.
His journey had taken him halfway across Agora. He had become a gladiator, a sailor, and now he was likely a wanted pirate.
“If only you could see me now, Jahsin,” he said into the wind.
He watched the big wide world open up before him from his perch in the crow’s nest, and smiled to himself as they made their way into the unknown.
He had Chief and Kyrr, and sailed on a ship of liberated Skomm gladiators, every mile bringing him closer to Akkeri.
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Michael James Ploof