The Eternal Darkness (20 page)

They had made good time for the first few days after leaving port, moving rapidly thanks to a strong tailwind.  Since then, though, the wind came and went, almost becalming them on several occasions.  The temperature had fallen as well, as the ocean seemed to absorb the heat of the day, leading to chilly and damp nights.

As he straightened to stretch, the sword on his back shifted as well, the leather-covered hilt pressing gently against his head.  He felt soft warmth radiating from it.  Pulling on the leather strap that crossed his chest, he shrugged his shoulders and readjusted it. It had become such a familiar part of him that he often forgot about it.

After they had left dock, he had given it to Jonas to study, after sharing Tomaris’ warning with him.  His eyes burning with curiosity, Jonas had reverently taken it.  For the better part of two days, other than when he was eating or sleeping, he had simply sat on his bunk with the sword, still in its protective leather case, across his lap.  Resting his hands on it with his eyes closed, his face calm and relaxed, he had drawn in his power, his body shining brightly, his might magnified by the sword’s presence.

When Jake had asked him what he was doing, Jonas smiled and said, “This was created by the One Himself; it came from His eternal kingdom.  To be able to hold it, even wrapped in leather, is such a blessing.  It may sound fanciful, but I wondered if the sword would bring me closer to Him.  So, I simply held my power and drifted into the quiet of my mind.”

“Did it work?” Jake asked, curious.

“I did not hear His voice directly, Jake, if that is what you are asking,” Jonas said with a laugh.  “I don’t believe that is His way.  There is a mystery to His purpose, revealed only when we need it.”

The next day, Jonas had given the sword back to Jake.  When Jake protested, knowing Jonas’ affinity with the sword, Jonas had insisted.  “You recovered the sword and it was entrusted to you by Tomaris,” the cleric told him.  “I have come to trust his judgment.” With a smile, he had pushed it into Jake’s hands.  “Also, you need it more than I.  I have my staff and Hailyn has her bracelet to enhance our power.  The sword is your only option.”  The smile had fallen.  “I believe that we will all need as much power as we can wield in the days to come.”

Without anything to do on the ship, Jake and Hailyn took whatever opportunity was presented to find a private place so they could have time alone with each other.  However, no matter where they went, privacy never seemed to last for long, as a sailor would always appear shortly after they settled in.  Whenever they returned to the deck, Norai would have a deliberately uninterested look on his face.  Hailyn grumbled about it and confronted Norai, but the man smiled and claimed that he had no idea what she was talking about.

By the third day at sea, Jake had begun to leave the sword in his room, along with his armor and weapons.  At dinner the night before, Norai, with an appraising look on his face, had suggested that he learn some basic seamanship by working with the crew and the armor and weapons would get in the way.  Hailyn had pointedly challenged Norai regarding his true intentions, but the man had laughed and claimed that he was simply teaching Jake some useful skills.  Jake was anxious to leave a good impression with Hailyn’s uncle, so he agreed. 

When they had returned to the cabin they shared, he had asked Dominic if he had any qualms about it.  The warrior had shrugged his shoulders and said, “Just don’t make me have to fish you out of the sea, boy.”

So, for several days, Jake was set to work.  He helped mop the deck, pull sails and tighten ropes.  He had stood watch in the crows’ nest and climbed into the rigging near the top of the masts to help adjust them.  There was something both scary and exciting being that far above the deck and water that Jake enjoyed.  He began to make friends with the other crew members, feeling part of a team.  The work was hard, but it made the days go by.

But all of that had come to an abrupt end when they were a week out from port.  The watch called down that they had spotted a sail on the horizon.  Jake had scrambled below decks to get his armor and weapons while the crew took up positions to defend the ship.  There were a few tense hours while they waited to see if the ship had been noticed.

When Norai had declared an all clear and sent the crew back to their posts, Dominic had come over to Jake.  “Playtime is over,” he said firmly.  “We have a mission to accomplish.  You will wear your armor and weapons, as well as the sword, from now on.  We must be ready to react if a threat appears.”

Shaking his head at that memory, he sighed and turned away from the rail.  Bored, he slowly walked towards the stern of the ship, where Hailyn was standing next to Norai on the bridge.  He gazed wistfully up at the rigging and crows’ nest on the main mast. 
I wish I could be up there or at least doing something,
he thought sourly.

Responding to their greetings, he spoke with the sailors as he made his way to the bridge.  As he reached the stairs to the bridge, Jonas and Dominic appeared from below decks.  Jonas had a calm and determined look on his face, while Dominic’s radiated disapproval.  They stopped Jake.

“Jake, I have come to a decision,” Jonas said.  “I wish to understand this new power you discovered.”

“I’ve told you everything I know about it, Jonas,” Jake replied.

“I know that,” Jonas stated, then paused for a moment.  “What I seek is for you to use this power on me.”

“Why do you want me to do that?” Jake exclaimed.

“I agree with Tomaris that you may have no other choice but to use it, but I cannot in good conscious have you use this power on others without knowing what it does,” Jonas said calmly.  “I simply want to experience what someone would see and feel if you were to use it on them.”

“I don’t know,” Jake said, wary.  “What if I hurt you or something?”

“I know that you would not harm me deliberately, Jake,” Jonas replied soothingly.

“And if he does, even unintentionally?” Dominic demanded, anger in his voice.  “This seems a silly risk for you to take, Jonas.  You do remember what happened the last time you experienced this power?  It could have easily killed you.  We will need your strength for what lies ahead.”

“We have discussed this, Dom,” Jonas stated calmly.  “I do see the same risk that you do, but remember that Jake did it unconsciously last time.  He had no control over what happened.  In this, he will be in control.  Further, Jake was subjected to this power by the other one from his world and he has suffered no lasting effects.  Besides, Hailyn is close to render assistance in the unlikely event that any harm occurs.”

Dominic did not seem satisfied with that answer, but he gave a sharp nod.  “It’s your neck, but don’t expect me to nurse you back to health if something goes wrong.”

Jonas smiled at that and turned back to Jake.  “Well, Jake?” he asked.  “Will you do this for me?”

Jake wrestled with it for a time, but could not think of a good reason to say no.  “If you really want to do this, Jonas, then I will try.”

“Let’s go to the stern where we will have some privacy,” Jonas said.  He called to Hailyn to join them as they went to the small area behind the bridge that overlooked the stern of the ship.  On the other side of the wooden railing, the white wake of the ship on the water did not extend far since it was moving so slowly.

“What are we doing?” Hailyn asked Jake quietly when she joined them.

“Jonas wants to have me try my power on him, so he can understand what it does” Jake said.  “You are here to heal him if something goes wrong.”

Hailyn frowned at that, but only said, “I trust Jonas knows what he is doing.”

There was a small bench built into the wall of the bridge structure.  Jonas sat down on the bench and rested his hands on his knees, his face calm and relaxed.  Jake faced him while Hailyn and Dominic took up positions on either side of Jake.  “I am ready whenever you are, Jake,” Jonas said with a confident smile.

Jake nodded and took a deep, calming breath.  He reached out with his mind to locate that point of energy radiating from Jonas.  When he found it, he was surprised that it radiated more strongly than he had felt on anyone else.

Gently, he began to pull on that energy, feeling it surge into his body.  Jonas’ eyes became slightly unfocused as Jake drew on his life force.  It was enticing, that sensation, Jake thought.  It made him feel more alive.  He had to resist pulling in more.

With it came Jonas’ emotions.  Jake felt them gather in him as well.  Unlike the bandits in the forest, these emotions were calming.  There was curiosity, confidence and an abiding serenity that soothed Jake.

“What now?” Dominic asked, watching Jonas closely.

“Stand up,” Jake said to Jonas.  The cleric stood.  “Sit down.”  Jonas sat.  “Stand up and turn around.”  Jonas followed his command.  “Hop on one foot.”

When Jonas began to hop, Jake felt Dominic’s hand suddenly seize his arm, his fingers like steel as they squeezed down.  “Enough!” Dominic growled.  “Let him go.”

Startled, Jake released Jonas at once.  The cleric stumbled back and went to one knee, his hand on his stomach and made retching sounds.  Hailyn immediately went to his aid, her form glowing brightly as she sent her healing power into Jonas.  The retching stopped and Jonas lifted his head, his eyes clear and focused.  Waving off Hailyn, he stood on his own.

“Are you all right, Jonas?” Dominic demanded as he released Jake’s arm.  Jake rubbed the area that Dominic had squeezed; he had not been gentle.

“I’m fine,” Jonas said as he studied Jake.  “The discomfort when he released me was as Jake described it, but that was the most unusual experience I think I have ever had.  There was a slight sensation of something being drawn out of me.  I was aware of everything going on, but when Jake told me to do something, I simply reacted.”  He kept his gaze on Jake.  “Tell me to do something, Jake.”

After a quick nervous glance at Dominic, Jake simply said, “Turn around.”

Jonas simply nodded and did not move.  Apparently satisfied, he said, “So it appears that the compulsion only works when you have tapped into the other person’s life energy.  That may be helpful if you need to use it again.”

“Should I, though?” Jake asked seriously.  “Hailyn and Tomaris both have concerns about me using it.”

I share their concerns, Jake,” Jonas replied calmly.  “You should only use it when you have no other options.  You also have to be mindful of why you are using it.  It can be easily misused; you may find simply compelling others an easier way to do things.  To compel a person like that to satisfy your wants or needs is a moral wrong.”  He smiled as he reached out and grasped Jake’s shoulder.  “However, I believe that you have the strength of character to resist using it to harm others.”

“Let’s hope so,” Jake muttered.  Hailyn came over and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Thank you for satisfying my curiosity, Jake,” Jonas said as he went over and picked up his staff.  “I would be happy to advise you on when to use this power, if you will let me.”

“I appreciate that, Jonas,” Jake said.  Jonas nodded as he and Dominic went back towards the main deck.

When they had disappeared, Jake led Hailyn over to the bench.  He sat down and pulled her close.  They sat there quietly for a while, simply gazing out over the ocean and enjoying each other’s company.  Jake leaned in and kissed her, which she returned with surprising passion.  Holding each other tightly, they lost track of time and their surroundings.  That reprieve from reality ended when Norai’s voice intruded.

“Hailyn, Jake, come up to the bridge,” the man’s voice said from above them.  “You need to see this.”

“I swear that I’m going to throw that man over the side one of these days,” Hailyn said in mock outrage as they broke their embrace and stood.  After straightening her robe, she took his hand and laughed lightly.  “Apparently, he promised my father he would keep me out of trouble and Uncle Norai has determined that you are trouble.”

Hand in hand, they went around and climbed the stairs to the bridge.  Hailyn took his hand again as they went over to where Norai was standing with Jonas and Dominic.  Jake started to release her hand when Norai glanced down at their clasped hands, but Hailyn kept a tight grip.  She looked at Norai with a challenge in her eyes.  After a moment, he smiled slightly and gave her a slight bow.  The smile faded as he gestured them to come closer.

“That will make travel interesting,” he said as he pointed towards the bow.  When they followed his outstretched arm, they saw a black wall of clouds roiling on the horizon.  “When the storm reaches us, you will need to go below decks and stay there until it passes.  This ship is stout, so it should withstand whatever the sea sends against it.”

“Should?” Jake asked nervously, looking at the approaching storm with trepidation.

Norai laughed.  “Nothing is ever guaranteed on the water, Jake.  ‘Should’ is the best you can hope for.”

…

That night was the worse Jake had ever endured.  When the storm arrived, with winds howling and large waves crashing against the hull, Jake could only cling to his bunk as the ship rolled and pitched violently.  He heard the ship’s timbers groan against the stress.  There were times that the ship shook so hard as it slammed into the waves that he was certain that it would be torn apart and sink.  With the waves overtopping the deck, seawater found its way down into the cabin area, making everything feel damp.

To make matters worse, his stomach, which had been fine until then, betrayed him.  Hanging onto his bunk with one hand and a bucket with the other, he spent most of the night throwing up.  The smell only added to his misery.  Dominic made his way to Jonas’ cabin and returned with some herbs to calm Jake’s stomach, but the effect was short-lived.

In the late morning, the sea finally calmed.  Jake grabbed the herbs and crawled out of his cabin to get some fresh air.  When he reached the deck, his stomach still sensitive, he immediately noticed that a thick mist hung on the ocean, surrounding the ship in a light gray fog.  There was a slight wind that caused the mist to swirl and flow.  He chewed on the herbs as he wandered the deck, where the crew was making repairs to damaged rigging.