A Dream of Mortals

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Thor stood at the bow of the sleek, black pirate ship, now in their control, grasped the rail, and looked out at the fast-moving seas beneath him, wondering. Somewhere out there, he knew, was his child, Guwayne. Somewhere out there was his destination, was what would put an end to this mission and return him to Gwendolyn.

But where?

As their ship rose up and down on the high seas, the ocean spraying his face, they cruised at a fast clip, their sails full, faster now than they ever had, given this powerful ship. It was what they’d needed to have from the start. It was still, of course, not nearly as fast as Thor could have traveled with a dragon beneath him and, missing Mycoples, Thor searched the skies for Lycoples, hoping beyond hope that she would return to them, help him.

But she was nowhere to be found.

Thor reflected. He had felt so certain of finding Guwayne when he had first set out, so certain that he was just around the bend. He had felt clear on where he was, knew that he was so close to finding him.

But now, after the trek through the underworld, after that storm, after the battle with the pirates, Thor was not so sure; he felt as if he were picking up the pieces, starting from scratch again. Yet this time, he had no idea where to search for his son. None of them did. He could not help but feel as if now, even with the faster ship, they were sailing this boat aimlessly.

Thor did not know where they were going, but at least they were going somewhere; after all, sitting still in those seas would not yield his boy. This ship, faster and bigger than any he’d ever ridden on, cut through the water like butter, and Thor thought it ironic that pirates, renegades, should have the nicest boats for themselves. At least some measure of justice had been done.

It felt good to finally be in a substantial ship, one that would take them easily across the seas, that could weather any storm—and one stocked with provisions. Thor and his brothers had been pleasantly surprised to discover, after they had taken over the ship, the hold was filled not only all manner of loot, of jewelry and gold and priceless artifacts, but also barrels of rum, of wine, of fresh water, of beer, and box after box filled with canned foods, jams jellies, crackers, and other goods. These pirates clearly did not starve. God knows who they stole it from, but Thor no longer cared. It was theirs now, all of it, and Thor finally felt equipped to cross the world if he had to, to find his boy.

“Look here!” came a young girl’s voice. “Look what I found!”

Thor snapped out of it and turned to see Angel tugging on his leg, standing beside him. He knelt down and looked at her, she so proudly holding out some sort of delicacy she had found. It was long and red and appeared to be soft.

“What is it?” Thor asked.

She beamed.

“Candy!” she exclaimed. “It’s soft and chewy. It tastes like raspberries. Taste it!”

She held it out to Thorgrin with her arm covered in the white leprosy, and he winced inside, seeing her condition. He had grown to love Angel more than he could say, just like his own daughter, and it pained him to see her suffering from her affliction. Thor inwardly resolved to find a cure for her—even if he had to cross the world to find it. There had to be a way; he would not let her die.

But Angel did not seem pained—on the contrary, she was so joyful holding our her candy.

Outwardly, Thor smiled. He held it to his mouth and took a bite and it was delicious, tasting like raspberries exploding in his mouth.

“Those pirates,” she said with a giggle, “at least they had good taste!”

Thor was delighted to see Angel in such good spirits, and he turned and surveyed the ship. He saw all of his men were in good spirits, all of them looking relaxed and relieved for the first time since they had embarked. He understood. Finally, after all they’d been through, they had the comfort and safety of a big, luxurious ship, all the food they could eat, all the wine they could drink, and for the first time in as long as he could remember, they were not in danger. Thor started to feel relaxed, too, and would have been completely at ease were if not for the knowledge that his son and wife were out there somewhere, waiting for him—and possibly in danger.

With little to do, the others lounged on deck, Elden sharpening his ax, O’Connor polishing his bow and adjusting the aim, each man engaged with their weaponry, each lost in his own world. Thor was elated to have their weapons back, and most of all, he was grateful for Angel, who had saved his life more than once now. The funny thing was, he realized, that he thought he’d been saving her—but it was she who was saving him.

He turned to her, intent on showing his gratitude.

“As long as I live, I shall protect you. I shall always put your life before mine. Stay close to me, and I promise you no harm shall ever become you.”

Angel looked back at him, tears in her eyes, and she rushed forward and hugged him.

“You have already given me back my life,” she said, “when you took me from that island. You are the only one I’ve met who was not afraid of me. Not afraid to touch or hug me. You treat me like a normal person, as though nothing were wrong with me. And that is what has made me want to live again.”

Thor held her back and looked at her meaningfully.

“And that is because there is nothing wrong with you,” he said. “You are perfect. And whatever the cause of your affliction, I vow to you, I shall find a cure. Do you trust me?”

She nodded back, and he could see the hope welling in her eyes, and she hugged him again, wrapping her little arms around his legs.

“I love you,” she said.

Thor felt shocked at her words, and they went right through him, especially after all he’d been through.

“I love you too,” he said back as he held her, and he meant every word of it.

Reece made his way over, coming up beside him, and Thor turned and looked out at the sea with him.

“It looks like we sail north,” Reece said to Thorgrin, clasping an arm on his shoulder. “Have you any destination in mind?”

Thor slowly, sadly, shook his head.

“Wherever my son may be,” he said. “I suppose I am waiting for the fates to point the way.”

“Since that storm,” Matus chimed in, coming over, “we’ve been blown so far off course—none of us even know where we are now.”

“We weren’t even on course when that storm hit,” O’Connor added, joining them. “Once we picked up Angel, once we left the Isle of the Lepers, we had no real destination anymore.”

“Perhaps we should give up the search,” Elden said, joining them, “and set sail for the Empire. Try at least to find a place we know exists. We can reunite with Gwendolyn and the others and decide from there. Perhaps they’ve heard something—perhaps they have an idea.”

Thor grimaced as he slowly shook his head.

“I cannot return without my boy,” he said gravely.

The others fell quiet, understanding, and a heavy silence blanketed them, broken by nothing but the howling of the wind. Thor sighed. Deep down, he knew the others were right. They were sailing aimlessly now in a vast sea, and it was bringing them no closer to Guwayne.

Thor left the group, walking alone over to the rail; he lowered his head as he stared down at the waves, the spray hitting him in the face, and closed his eyes. He became very quiet within himself, trying to focus, to center himself.

Please, God, he prayed. Give me a sign. Any sign. Show me. Where’s my boy? Where shall I go next?

As Thor fell silent, he felt a slow heat begin to well up inside him. It burned stronger and stronger, and he could feel it throbbing his palms, and then on his forehead, between his eyes. He felt he was getting a message.

Thor opened his eyes and looked out at the horizon and as he felt the universe talking to him, he expected to see a sign. Yet he was confused to see nothing but the endless clouds, rolling on the horizon as far as he could see.

Then, suddenly, as he waited, there came a lone screech, high up in the air.

At first Thor was not even sure if he heard it or it was just his imagination. He looked up and searched the clouds and saw nothing.

Then it came again, a lone, piercing screech.

Thor searched the skies again and this time his heart leapt to see Lycoples, circling high overhead, flapping her wings. He could not believe it: she was really here.

“A dragon!” Angel called out in amazement.

Angel came running over, as did the others, all looking up in awe as Lycoples came swooping down, flying impossibly fast. She dove down lower, swooping down right for them, so close that right before she hit them they all had to duck to miss her long talons.

She then rose up again, swooping up over the mast of the ship, and flying in the other direction. She flew, this time, in the opposite direction from where they were sailing—heading south. She let out one final screech, then she disappeared from view.

As Thor watched her go, he felt a heat within his palms. He felt it was a message. She was giving them a hint, trying to lead them where to go.

As Thor closed his eyes, he sensed the mind of the dragon, and he had a sudden flash of awareness. Someone he loved was in danger.

Thor turned to the others.

“Turn the ship around,” he commanded. “And follow her.”

They all looked back at him in shock.

“Is she leading us to Guwayne?” Reece asked.

Thor shook his head slowly as he watched her disappear into the horizon.

“No,” he replied. “She leads us to my sister.”