Chapter 24 #2
The male’s expression grew concerned, and his gaze shifted to the dock.
To me. Dark eyes flashed gold, bright and challenging even across the distance.
The two of them moved out of view as two more faces appeared in the porthole.
Both were older, and one I recognized as being the wolf I had seen through my hedge.
The second was harder, with the unmistakable bearing of authority.
He had to be the alpha. His calculating eyes locked on mine, and I saw exactly what sort of creature I faced.
Unlike me, he had not been born into his role but had clawed and gored his way to power, holding onto it with an iron paw.
He would fight without honor.
The ship turned, removing the wolves from my view. I focused on the direction they headed, appreciating my húskarl’s foresight in obtaining a map.
“Something is in the water,” Tyrin said.
I barely registered his words before the creature hit the ship, nearly capsizing the vessel.
Fear punched me in the chest as a giant sea serpent wrapped around the ship like a constrictor intent on strangling the life out of its prey.
I prepared to shift. Whatever happened to the wolves, I could not lose the artifact to the sea.
Before I could decide whether to reveal my scales or wait, fire spat from the figurehead on the prow, blasting the snake. After a few more attacks, the serpent uncoiled and fled. Then unfamiliar music reached my ears, and moments later the ship raced out of sight.
Perplexed and overwhelmed by the scene, I turned to Tyrin. He appeared as surprised as I was.
“We should determine where the ship is headed.”
“Yes, m’lord.” He retrieved the map from his bag and kneeled to unroll it on the concrete pier, using rocks to keep the corners flat. Pointing at the coast of Yemen, he said, “We are here.” His finger traced south over the water. “Socotra is the only landmass in their path before open ocean.”
I studied the island, but it offered no answers as to the wolves’ intentions. “Does the island hold any significance?”
Tyrin’s expression turned contemplative. “Some believe it was the Christian Garden of Eden. Whether that holds true or not, the island was rumored to contain great magic before the war. I would assume it holds even more power now.”
I considered the distance and found it favorable. “We fly. We will be waiting when they arrive.”
With a nod of agreement, he rolled the map and secured it before retreating to the shipping containers to give me room to shift.
Banishing my bags and weapons, I welcomed the magic flowing through my veins and released my true form.
Stretching out my wings, I leapt into the sky.
Tyrin joined me, and we turned south, catching the thermal currents.
We flew high enough to avoid the ship, catching a glimpse of it as we passed, coming down for a closer look when we spotted the slug-shaped island.
I expected the Socotra terrain to resemble the Yemen desert, but we flew over an otherworldly tropical paradise.
Inviting sandy white beaches backed up to narrow coastal plains overgrown with unfamiliar, colorful, fragrant flora.
Bizarre umbrella-shaped trees and white shrubs with pink flowers littered the cliffs and mountains.
Even the avian creatures defied my expectations of normalcy. I had to circle back for a second look at a flock of yellow-faced abominations that bore the unfortunate hallmarks of both seagull and vulture lineage. They possessed enough intelligence, at least, to clear my flight path.
Camels and livestock grazed near the few small, sparsely populated villages dotting the coastline. After a quick sweep of the island, I landed on the north end beside the only pier I found. Due to the galleon's size, it would have to dock there if it were to dock at all.
The sun was setting by the time we touched down on an earthen ledge overlooking the pier. My talons dug into the earth, and I shook out my sore wings, relishing the ache of a lengthy flight.
Shifting into my human form, I summoned my trousers, bag, and weapons as Tyrin did the same beside me.
He rifled through his belongings as I leaned against a tree, positioning myself to watch both the sea and the narrow coastline as I drank deeply from my canteen.
Between the rhythmic roar of the surf and the temperate evening breeze wafting off the sea, my overtaxed muscles relaxed, and my eyelids began to droop.
“How far out is the ship?” Tyrin asked.
I cracked an eyelid and focused on the artifact, considering the distance.
The ship had slowed to a more sustainable speed after the initial burst and was therefore still a considerable distance away, giving us plenty of time to rest up, investigate the area, and find somewhere to hide before the wolves arrived.
“Unless they hit another burst of speed, I do not expect them until morning.”
“Good. Are you hungry, m’lord?”
My stomach growled in answer. Several hours of exertion had passed since lunch, and I had caught sight of some animals I was interested in sampling. “Have you ever eaten a camel?” I asked.
“Yes, and I wouldn’t recommend it. Tastes like beef but leaner, tougher, and more gamey.” He grimaced. “Not enough fat to flavor it properly.”