Gone But Not Forgotten, page 8
part #2 of The Jaxon Grey Chronicles Series
“To be honest, I don’t know much about them at all,” he admitted. “I’ve only encountered them in passing, but from what I remember they are about your size, perhaps a little smaller, and they have fur too, but not as much as my people. Still, they have a lot more than you.”
“And they live in the Okala Mountains?” I asked with obvious interest.
“That is the only place I know of, yes,” he replied. “They are very private creatures though, so they could be in other places too, I guess.”
“Where did they come from?” I asked him.
“I don’t know, and I’m not sure if anyone else does either,” he replied. “They’ve been here for as long as we have, I assume, but they are terrified of us and hide themselves away. They don’t seem to be able to speak or learn languages though, so we haven’t been able to learn much about them; nothing, really.” He paused for a moment, pondering a thought. “Perhaps you would have better luck,” he then suggested.
“Perhaps,” I replied, but I knew I’d most likely never get the chance. My mission was to get to the Aramis and then back to Earth, and the Okala Mountains were well out of the way from our path. The mystery of the humanoids would have to go unanswered for now, and possibly forever.
"It is called trolling," said Svix, standing at the stern of the ship. Montaug and I stood close by with our fishing poles. "All you need to do is bait your hooks, cast your lines, and allow the boat to pull the bait along, as if it were a live fish swimming."
"The boat is moving a little too fast to catch fish, isn't it?" I asked.
"Not in the least," said Svix. He pulled a small chunk of meat from his bucket and reached for my line. "It all depends on the bait. Some types of bait attract slower fish, those generally being the larger, more hesitant prey. The bait you will be using, however, attracts faster moving fish, so you will have no trouble catching something today." He finished placing the bait securely on my hook. "Just be sure not to get your lines tangled with one another. It would be best to position one of you at the bow, and have the other remain here at the stern, or one on either side of the stern," said Svix.
We both nodded.
"I must return to my duties now," said Svix, glancing over at his busy shipmates.
"We will find you later to show you what we catch," I said.
"I would like that," said Svix, and then he turned and left the deck.
Montaug and I did as Svix suggested, positioning ourselves on either side of the stern. We both cast our lines, and then sat back to relax while we waited for the first bite. Near us, Lorthredo sat at a bench, tutoring Demtrius and Mya in Tatoran.
"Lagra," said Demtrius, pointing to the river.
The word 'Water' repeated from his translator.
"Yes, good," said Lorthredo.
At that moment, I felt a tug on my line, but it was only a nibble. A second later, though, I felt a harder tug. At this, I jerked back hard on the reel, trying to sink the hook in the fish and get it caught on the line. My attempt was successful, and I felt the fish fighting furiously to escape the line, but I had hooked it well. I reeled in quickly; first pulling back with the pole, and then reeling in the slack as I lowered the pole toward the water. All the while, the fish swam back and forth in a zigzag, struggling to break free from the line; but it was only tiring itself out. I was also getting tired, but I was not about to give up now. There is something about the thrill of a catch that I always love, with my adrenaline pumping and my senses fully activated. It makes me feel alive, and truly connected with nature.
Altogether, it took me about fifteen minutes to reel in the large fish. When it was thrashing about at the side of the ship, Montaug reached down with a long-handled net and scooped it inside. In another moment, the large fish, which must have weighed at least fifteen to twenty pounds, lay flopping around on the deck.
"Scarp," said Mya, pointing at the fish.
'Fish' repeated from the translator.
"Yes, Mya," Lorthredo praised her. "Excellent."
Mya sat back, very much pleased with herself. She had initially been having some difficulty with the language while we were still walking on the plains, struggling with the guttural pronunciations. Demtrius, on the other hand, had picked it up rather quickly. This frustrated Mya, but she had remained determined to learn the language regardless, and now she was just as good.
Another week passed by as we traveled west aboard the River-Rapt, and the crew seemed to grow tense and agitated the further west we went. I dare say I sensed fear in some of them. Remembering what Borburous had told me about my enhanced mental capacity, I tried again to read the minds of the crewmen to figure the cause of this change, but still nothing. I couldn’t explain it. Borburous did say it would take time for my mental muscle to build strength, but I had already killed that panta high in the jungle canopy. If I could do that then, why couldn’t I read someone’s thoughts now? At any rate, telepathy wasn’t working for me, and I was still curious to know why the crew was on edge.
"Montaug," I asked, since Lorthredo was busy tutoring Demtrius and Mya still, "what is wrong with the crew?" But before he could answer we were interrupted by a shout from one of the crewmen.
"Ho there!" called the sailor from the crow’s nest. He was pointing further up ahead, and when we looked we saw a massive stone bridge with giant arches spanning the width of the river. The arches were tall and wide enough to accommodate large ships, but the turbulent water at the base of the bridge seemed like it could be troublesome.
"That," said Montaug, "marks the beginning of the Ruby clan's territory. That is their bridge. They built it many years ago so that their caravans could travel to the People's Fair easier, and now it acts as a border to their land."
“Is the passing difficult?” I asked.
“Not particularly,” he responded, “though ships have been known to miss the gap from time to time. Do not worry. We will be fine under Captain Ellios' leadership.”
“It's not that I'm worried,” I replied. “It just seems like the whole crew is on edge. Are we going to be in some sort of danger? Does the Ruby clan not like travelers?"
"No, trading and traveling are very much encouraged," Montaug replied.
"Then what is it?" I asked.
"Law and justice are not enforced here as they are in other places," Montaug replied. "The Ruby clan leaders enforce little outside of their own private compounds, leaving their citizens to live in chaos. And for the sailors, piracy is all too common in this region.”
“Sounds like it could be dangerous,” I commented.
"Quite possibly," Montaug replied lightly, "but you will be below deck, and Captain Ellios is a master with words and manipulation. It is why he has never been caught smuggling in all of his life."
That was somewhat reassuring, but, like the rest of the crew, now I was beginning to get nervous too.
We approached one of the gaps in the bridge, and I watched as the water seemed to speed up just before entering the archway. If we missed, we would collide with the support column at a considerable speed. Captain Ellios had already ordered for the sail to be furled and had his crewmen at the oars. They rowed to the constant and steady beating of a drum, and Captain Ellios stood at the helm ready to make any necessary course adjustments.
“Oars in!” shouted the first mate, Kinto, and the rowers pulled their oars into the ship just before we entered the archway. The tunnel through the archway was at least fifty feet long, but the current of the river carried us through with ease.
Now we were in Ruby territory.
Chapter Eight
Ruby Territory
After entering the land of the Ruby clan, my group was forced down into the secret holding much more often. The Ruby clansmen were highly suspicious of any foreigners traveling into their territory, and we encountered several patrol ships and outpost stations along this new stretch of the vast river. Our ship was hailed twice by these patrol ships, and both times the River-Rapt was subjected to thorough searches. Captain Ellios spoke to the patrolmen tactfully, trying to persuade them he was on a strict time schedule and assuring them there was nothing of interest on the River-Rapt, but still they came aboard, making the floorboards creak as they walked right above us. Mya was so nervous; I could feel her trembling beside me. In the end they left without incident, satisfied that Captain Ellios and his crew were merely simple traders.
Besides the guard outposts and patrol ships, we occasionally encountered fishing or trading vessels, though I noted there were very few settlements. The landscape seemed fertile and plentiful, but, for some reason, the lands we passed were mostly empty of inhabitants. The settlements we did see, no matter how small, were all protected by tall, nigh impregnable stone walls that stretched around the entirety of the communities. The only entry point to the river-front of these walled settlements was through a series of massive gates, which effectively prevented any unauthorized access. We occasionally saw spectators on the parapets, but generally the walls were barren.
"Where are all the people?" I asked Montaug.
"They do not like to build their settlements on the water front," he replied. "Piracy has always been a problem in these waters. The pirates come fast and undetected, and when they are seen, it is already too late. The villages that were once upon these banks were quickly overrun and plundered. The few remaining settlements built the grand walls that you’ve seen to help protect themselves from the pirate raids, and they also implemented the series of guard outposts to deter the pirating. In the past few years this section of the river has become safer because of these measures, but the pirates still strike fear throughout the area."
I felt a chill run down the back of my neck. I remembered learning of the fierce cruelty that pirates often utilized on Earth, like the Viking raiders of medieval Europe or the often romanticized pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries. I also remembered my brief encounter with Captain Banes and the Serpent of the Sea while on my way to the People’s Fair, and those pirates had been the most savage Tatorans I had seen yet. I would hate to encounter any more of them.
"Ho there!" shouted the sailor in the crow's nest.
I jumped, thinking he had spotted one of those pirate ships that would spell our doom.
"Starboard side," he shouted, "on the riverbank!"
We looked over the railing to see a small family of wild hoffa rooting in the rich soil. The sailors looked to Captain Ellios excitedly. He said nothing, but turned the wheel at the helm, steering us toward land. The crew cheered at the course adjustment; and the hunt was on.
I was somewhat surprised that the crew would push aside their worries to go hunting at a time like this, but, as it was explained to me, these sailors loved a good hunt and it helped to calm their nerves. It was a morale booster and helped them to do their jobs better, so even in Ruby territory, Captain Ellios would authorize a hunt every so often.
Within minutes, the River-Rapt was anchored close to shore and a landing party was assembled in the two row boats stored aboard the ship. One boat carried Lorthredo, Montaug, Demtrius, Pharon, and myself, as well as nine long, sturdy spears. The other boat held four crewmen from the ship; Laxiter, Quiva, Fitch, and the first mate, Kinto. They were all seasoned sailors and veteran warriors, as were most aboard the River-Rapt. Their row boat also held my rapt, Tzula, while my serpent swam between the boats racing for the riverbank. Captain Ellios, Mya, Nadina, Svix, and the rest of the crew remained aboard the ship.
The moment we touched land, Tzula darted from the boat and took off into the forest. The giant lizard had been extremely restless aboard the ship, cramped in the cage below deck. Its long tail wagged happily as it ran free, skittering across the land quickly until it was out of sight. I just hoped it wouldn't frighten the hoffa we spotted and send them scattering.
The serpent, I should mention, was still growing at an exponential rate. It had already shed its skin for a second time, and was now too big to perch atop my shoulder. I never had to feed it, for it was an efficient hunter on its own, and it required very little attention; the perfect companion for a man like myself.
We walked a short distance toward where we had seen the wild hogs and formed our plan of attack. Montaug suggested that we spread out around them in a semi-circle, pinning them against the river. Then we would close in on them slowly with spears in hand, ready to strike. It was a simple plan, but I had been hunting for boar on Earth, so I knew the possible dangers. A charging boar could easily impale one of us with its long tusks, or trample us if they charged in numbers. When the time came, we would have to strike fast and hard, and with considerable accuracy.
It was now nearing dusk.
Our hunting party had been very successful. The hoffa, once they caught our scent, ran, scattering in a panic, but they didn't know we had them surrounded. A few were able to escape through the gaps in our line, and others jumped headlong into the river, but Kinto still managed to spear one of the larger boars. Demtrius also took down a hog, a sow, though it wasn't nearly as big as Kinto's. Now we carried them on large sticks over our shoulders, heading back to the ship in the fading light.
My serpent had left us in the beginning of the trip, and returned shortly after Demtrius made his kill. There was a small amount of blood dripping from its mouth, and I knew that it, too, had made a fresh kill recently. It had gone somewhere ahead of us in the direction of the River-Rapt after that. Tzula was still off on its own, gone for a couple of hours now, and I was beginning to worry. Maybe I should have stayed with the large lizard; but it had never strayed too far before, so I hoped it would return soon.
I suddenly felt a familiar tingle in the back of my head. While still walking with the group, I blinked my eyes, and then I was seeing through the eyes of my serpent. It was moving down a small incline, looking upon the River-Rapt, where another, larger ship had apparently laid anchor next to it. The serpent was still far off from the new vessel though, and I couldn’t make out the ship’s flag or any of its crew.
I focused my vision, magnifying my sight as I had learned to do. Now I could see the flag; a snake with a head at both ends of its body, set in a horse shoe shape around a red flame. It was the Serpent of the Sea! I instantly remembered seeing that same flag when Demtrius and I were on our way to Mount Xar'roc for the People's Fair. We had been aboard the Tulipa, a small trading vessel owned by a veteran sailor named Captain Tarq, and we had narrowly managed to escape the wrath of the pirate ship; but now Captain Banes had found us again.
The pirates were aboard the River-Rapt, vastly outnumbering the remaining crew, who knelt in a line down the center of the ship. The pirates had drawn swords and were holding them at the back of our crewmates' necks. I could see Captain Ellios and Svix among them, while Mya and Nadina were being tied up and led aboard the Serpent of the Sea.
One of the pirates was standing in front of our kneeling crewmates, questioning them and pointing to our row boats on the riverbank. They must have been asking where we were and how many of us there would be, but I saw no response from the crew. They would not give us up.
I had taken in the scene at a glance, and I quickly blinked, changing my sight back to my own eyes. Demtrius looked at me, already expecting an account of what I'd seen.
"The ship is under attack!" I exclaimed, almost shouting with concern. "It’s the Serpent of the Sea!"
I started running for the ship, but Lorthredo caught my arm. “How many of them are there?” he asked in a very serious tone.
Laxiter, Kinto, Quiva, and Fitch looked at us with puzzled expressions.
“I couldn't count them all,” I answered quickly. “Perhaps four or five to our one!”
"You speak of things you cannot know," Fitch said dismissively, suspicious of my claim.
"You are wrong," said Demtrius to Fitch. "Jaxon can see through the eyes of his anacari."
He said this in Tatoran, and the sailors seemed surprised by his grasp of their language. They were equally surprised by what he had said, and they remained in disbelief.
"It is true," Lorthredo confirmed, hoping they would believe one of their own kind. "He has the snake's sight."
They were still skeptical, but Kinto, first among them, decided it would be prudent to heed our words and make an investigation.
“If they are wrong,” he said, “then it won’t matter, but if they are right,” he paused, looking at his crewmen, “Captain Ellios will need our help.”
We started toward the ship at a brisk pace, but it was still at least a mile downriver.
“What can we do against so many of them?” Laxiter asked as we ran.
"We should sneak aboard the ship and then spring upon them while they least expect it!" Quiva suggested energetically.
"Yes," Kinto agreed. "There would be much glory in that."
"A glorious dead Tatoran is still a dead Tatoran," Montaug sneered.
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Quiva.
"He means it would be suicide," Lorthredo responded. "Consider the numbers involved. Even if you could free your comrades, we would all perish in the ensuing melee."
"We must try anyway," said Kinto. "We cannot just sit idly by!"
“I’m not saying we should,” Lorthredo responded, “but we’ll need to be cautious.” Lorthredo turned to me, “Jaxon, what is happening now?”
"Hold on," I said, stopping, and then flashed back into the eyes of my serpent, watching as it crept down into the water, entering quietly and without a splash. It swam silently toward the River-Rapt and slithered up the side of the ship. Quite unexpectedly, the serpent then lunged for the first pirate it saw. It wrapped around the pirate's head and neck, constricting tightly. The pirate flailed about wildly, trying to get the anacari off of him, but the life was squeezed from his body a moment later.
The other pirates, shocked by the suddenness of the attack, stood staring at their fallen comrade.
"Kill it!" cried a burly Tatoran, who wore a black tricorn hat and walked with a thick cane. On his shoulder was perched a vicious-looking panta, with its long tail dangling down and twirling about. The way the crew responded, I knew he must be their leader, Captain Banes. I remembered hearing of him during our first encounter with the Serpent of the Sea, now months ago, when he had tenaciously pursued the Tulipa in the Sea of Aspuron. In that encounter, the captain of the Tulipa, Captain Tarq, was able to elude the pirates by leading them into a sandbar and getting them stuck in the sand. This time, however, we would have no such luck.
