Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
FINLEY
Finley blinked her eyes a few times and had no idea of where she was. The last thing she remembered was Rafe being stabbed then him dragging her and Ai away from The Mystic.
The Mystic. It was under the control of that zombie bastard Dusan because he took her magic.
Finley pushed herself up and felt cool stone beneath her fingers.
She heard waves as they broke along the shore in soft whispers.
It was a seaside cave of some sort, but when her magic would usually be dancing and swimming beneath her veins by being so close to the water it was a mere soft drip she could barely feel.
Her exhaustion was a weight being pressed against her body and she struggled to sit straight.
Where was she? Where were Ai and Rafe? She needed to get back.
“Fin! You’re awake!” Ai’s light voice echoed across the cave walls.
“Where are they? We have to get back,” Finley said, her voice weaker and cracking more than expected.
She stretched out her arms as though she might be able to see her magic on them.
She took in a deep breath and when she focused she could feel it a little more keenly than before.
Dusan hadn’t taken everything. Most. But not all. Praise Colma for that small mercy.
Ai sat so close Finley was able to lean against her to support her aching body.
As her eyes adjusted, she saw Rafe sitting on the other side of the cave with his back against the wall.
A strange shadowy smoke seeped out of his arm and pulsed unnaturally in the sunlight that streamed in from the cave’s mouth.
“I don’t think getting back is going to be possible right now,” Ai said gently and rubbed Finley’s back in soothing circles.
Finley shook her head and attempted to get up, but the moment she started to rise, her head spun and she collapsed back to the ground.
Ai caught her before her head hit the wall and guided her back into a sitting position.
Her shoulders slumped, and Finley hung her head.
This wasn’t the time to fall apart. Not now. Maybe later.
“Did we lose anyone?”
Her companions were silent for a few moments, which was never a good sign after a question like that. Then Rafe drew a deep breath. “I saw a few crew members fall. Thistle, Raven, Alvara, maybe Hale.”
Finley’s heart sank, and she said a silent prayer to Stula that their spirits found peace. Crew members had died through the years; this wasn’t anything new. It was part of the life they had chosen. But it was different this time. This could have been prevented.
“I did what I could when we were there,” Rafe went on. “Even pirates deserve a proper escort to Stula’s realm.”
Finley swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat.
Easing the transition from life to death was the most sacred of acts for Stula’s followers.
Some with exceptional power — like Myra — could see a spirit leaving their body and were able to ensure they were sent to the afterlife properly.
Others might not be able to see the spirits yet still knew the ritual words.
Because of this, people — ignorant people — were afraid of Stula’s followers and thought they caused death.
It was a wide misconception and didn’t stop people from always having Stulan followers around for those on their death beds or to accompany them in battle.
Finley would hire someone for The Mystic for times such as this when she could.
There hadn’t been one on the latest voyage, and they were fortunate Rafe was there.
Finley nodded. “Thank you.”
“Would you like to give them a send-off?” Ai asked. Tears pooled in her eyes and, Finley’s heart ached for her friend. It was evident Ai wanted the send-off.
“We can do that,” Finley answered.
Rafe and Ai helped Finley to her feet, even though they had their own wounds.
Both of them had bruises and scrapes across their faces and the seeping smoke coming out of Rafe’s wound sent shivers across Finley’s skin.
Otherwise, they seemed to move well at least. Better than Finley.
They each took a side, and she flung her arms over their shoulders as they wobbled their way out of the cave and to the shore.
By the time they got to the shore beyond the mouth of the cave Finley had enough strength to remain upright on her own, at least for the few minutes they would have their make-shift burial ceremony.
She hoped those still on The Mystic would be able to have their own too.
Who knew if Amelia and Dusan would allow it?
Usually, the crew would shoot a cannon for each fallen sailor and read from a torn-up prayer book.
But not having either at the present, they each took one of the Shadow Slayers and held them in the air in honor of the fallen, and Rafe was better than a prayer book since he was connected to the goddess herself.
Rafe stood straighter and held his chin high. His golden eyes were focused and while the smoke from his arm still seeped and filled the air. He looked full of power and mystery. Almost like one of Stula’s priests.
“Even to her closest followers, Stula doesn’t share many of her secrets.
We don’t know what lies ahead in her realm.
But I do know she wants a place for all people once their time has passed.
Stula honors the cycles and phases of the world.
Day and night, life and death. They all have their place.
So, she asked Luana and Ray if she could take the fallen.
The sick. The injured. The disabled and chronically ill.
The dead. They let her take them as her children and find a place for them all to go.
She brings comfort to them while still alive then embraces us all when our time in this world is over.
She honors those who have sacrificed themselves for others, for those who have done good in the world even if they haven’t been perfect.
Not much is said regarding what lies ahead for those who have performed evil, and it’s what makes us fear her.
From what I know of her, I think it is a good place, and we will all find rest and peace. ”
They stayed at the cave’s entrance and watched the waves for a long time without speaking a word.
Quiet tears flowed down Ai’s cheeks, and Rafe seemed lost in thought.
Finley was at a loss. She had hardly any magic or energy.
It was as though any emotion she would have had at this moment had been taken along with her magic when Dusan attacked her.
She kept hoping being near the water would revive her, and she did feel bits of energy and magic returning, but nothing in comparison to what she used to have…
even in her most tired of states. It was like he’d sucked it all away, leaving no more than a few small drops to keep her alive — barely.
Eventually the trio returned to the cave as the sun began to set and made a fire to keep them company for the evening.
“At least we have the Shadow Slayers,” Ai said as they sat around the fire eating what provisions they could scavenge along the beach.
Her voice was still soft, as though if she spoke too loudly it would break some sort of spell or be disrespectful to those they’d lost and what had happened.
There wasn’t any joy in her statement even though it was a success on their end.
They lay off the side of their little circle, the flames glimmering in the metal of the sword.
“But we were supposed to have The Mystic and the mirror too,” Finley said and raised her head.
She didn’t feel dizzy anymore. Moment by moment she was regaining energy, even if it was in small pieces.
But Ai was right, it wouldn’t be possible for Finley to be able to get back to The Mystic right now even if she knew where she was and how to get there.
“And I was able to get us closer to Luana’s Castle,” Rafe added. “We’re in a cave off the coast near the Paravian Mountains. We can be there even tonight if that’s what you wish.”
Another small victory even if it didn’t feel like one.
“I’m sure Princess Eira has heard of our exploits already, I doubt she will be a willing hostess knowing we’ve conspired with Amelia. Besides, we need our rest. I’m shocked we even survived what Amelia and Dusan and their minions did to us.”
“We almost didn’t,” Rafe said darkly. “You particularly.”
Finley swallowed the bite of fish she’d been chewing and it went down like a rock. Nothing tasted or felt good. “Like you’re one to talk. Care to explain that cut on your arm and the smoke?”
Rafe glanced at his wound like it was a bothersome bug then shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
Ai gave a small grunt indicating she didn’t believe him, and against her better judgment Finley didn’t either. Rafe was immortal and she had to remind herself of that each time the smoke caught her eye. But while he was immortal, was he immune to injuries? And if he wasn’t, how far could they go?
She didn’t push the subject, though, and tossed a fish bone to the side. But Rafe was right about one thing, Finley almost hadn’t made it this time. She’d had a lot of close calls in her life, but this had been the closest and all because she had tried to plan their escape on her own.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to get us away on my own,” she finally admitted.
Ai coughed and almost choked on her dinner. “I’m sorry, I think I must have been dreaming for a moment. Did you just admit you made a mistake and you can’t do it all alone?”
Finley grimaced. Of course, this was the sort of reaction she’d receive. That was what she got for being honest. “I’m just saying I should have told you what I was planning to do.”