Read Online Dead Stars - Part Two (The Emaneska Series) by Ben Galley - Free Book Online Page B

rope overboard and put his hands in his pockets. He moved to stand beside the older god. ‘Any sign of them?’
    Heimdall flicked his eyes to the cliffs now retreating behind them, up to where their crumbling tops were fringed by spiky grass and teetering pebbles, where two creatures sat like clouds of smoke, grinning right back at him. Nobody had seen them but him. ‘Still they watch us.’
    ‘Why do they not strike?’
    ‘They are biding their time. This ship and its crew are strong. They will not risk it, until…’ Heimdall’s words faded away.
    ‘Until she tries again.’
    Heimdall nodded.
    ‘And is there any sign of her?’
    ‘A faint echo, to the east. Heading north still. I will climb the mast at sunset to make sure.’
    Loki turned his head to look towards the bow, where the forecastle offered a small platform to the sky. Ilios lay on it, curled up in a big, feathery ball. The gryphon had slept through all the excitement.
    ‘Do you think Farden’s plan is a sound one?’ Heimdall asked him.
    Loki looked back as if surprised that he was being asked that question, or any question at all for that matter. It was the first time Heimdall had asked his advice since they had fallen. He sucked at his teeth, making Heimdall narrow his eyes. A most human expression. ‘Save the maid, chase the girl. I think the priorities are backward, but if she is heading where you think she’s heading, then I suppose we might just have time.’
    ‘Precious little.’
    Loki shrugged. ‘For immortal souls, we have such trouble with time-keeping.’
    Heimdall nodded and turned away, squinting into the distance. He couldn’t help but think of it, but that was the fourth time Loki had mentioned souls in the last two days. A strange occurrence, nothing more, he told himself, but it nibbled at his mind nonetheless.

    The sun died and with it the winds.
    As the bruised sky darkened to black and purple, the Waveblade found itself floating on a millpond sea, like a knife sliding gently through the glass of a mirror. It was a stillness that would have been peaceful, had it come at a different time. Not for Farden. Not on this journey.
    The mage stood at the stern of the ‘ Blade , busy glaring at the star-speckled sky as if he were eyeing a crowd of thieves, hunting for the one that had stolen the wind away. They were as silent as the sea, and after a few minutes more of accusatory squinting, Farden relented, and decided to blame the sun instead. He sighed. The culprit was already long gone. He would have to take it up with him in the morning.
    A silver sickle-moon hovered in the east, looking for all the world as if some great creature had taken a bite of it. The stars clustered around her, concerned and fretting as they sparkled. Farden could imagine them wailing and crying at the plight of their silver cousin, as she tumbled slowly through the sky. But moons heal. She would be whole again soon. Farden shook his head at his abstract mood. Anything to distract him from his impatience.
    It was then that he felt a sudden warm breeze on his cheek. He heard the sails crackle behind him as they billowed outwards. Farden moved to where he could look down on the deck. There, below him, standing just a few feet from the base of the mainsail, was a trio of blue-tunic mages. They were silent and still, yet they had their arms raised to the white sails above them. Farden could see their clothes flapping and their hair shivering. Wind mages. Beloved of all sailors, and now of a certain Written. Farden smiled. He could already feel the ship starting to move. The sound of the mirror-sea splintering underneath the keel was like music to his ears. Finally.
    Farden sauntered back to his railing and poured himself one last drop of wine before bed. It was on nights like these that the never =mar used to call to him. The bottle gurgled at him as he poured. At least he had his alcohol , he thought. Small mercies.
    A sailor came to man the wheel behind him.