Chapter Nine
“Land ahead!” Kayne shouted.
Garos raised his bloodied hand. “You’ll need my help.”
Kayne lifted Garos up and supported him. He moved a little to the side so they could share the wheel. Garos looked at the wolves and smiled. “Oars ready. We’re home!”
The wrecked ship limped toward the sandbar. Kayne looked in horror at the many masts protruding from the water. Garos laughed. “Yes, Your Highness, they’re Methuselan. Some of the many that have attempted this passage.”
“Is this the Forbidden Straits?”
“Is that what you call it? Well, it’s a little more than a passage. I trust you’ll keep our secret.”
“Of course, my friend. On my honor, I will never speak of this,” Kayne replied solemnly.
“Thank you. Now, let’s head in.”
With Kayne’s help, Garos fired a flaming arrow. Despite his injury, his aim was true. It tumbled onto the top of a large cliff. Seconds later, a small signal fire erupted, answered by the sound of many horns. The men turned the wheel and began their approach. Kayne smiled and watched as several small boats approached from the opposite side of the sandbar.
“Clever.”
On the deck below, Jack clutched Raymond’s hand between both of his. “Hang on. You’re going to be alright. The Druids are coming.”
Apothecary Raymond didn’t respond.
“Raymond?” Jack called. He shook him gently. “No! Just a few minutes more!” He closed his eyes. Silent tears fell unbidden down his cheeks. The wolves walked over to the dead Apothecary. They sniffed him and whined softly at his side.
The small boats arrived at the side of the ship and fastened lines to the damaged hull. A Druid, from one of the small boats, walked up the broken steps and tended to Garos’ wounds. Another knelt beside Raymond and tried to heal him. The men gathered around their unlikely hero and knelt. The Druid’s hands dimmed as he stood. “I’m sorry, Apothecary. He’s gone.”
A Ranger stood beside Kayne and smiled warmly. “Sir, my name’s Namorn, and I need to take it from here. Perhaps you would like to join your men?” Namorn asked, tentatively.
Kayne nodded in appreciation. “Thank you, Namorn.”
Namorn looked down at his old friend. “See what happens when you leave me behind, Garos?”
Prince Kayne moved through the men gathered on the deck. A small space separated them from the wolf pack. He walked over to the wolves and gently petted the leader. Namorn watched in wonder as the wolf accepted the Methuselan’s touch. “I guess we’re gonna have to take them in after all.” He looked down at Garos and grinned. “Dalynia will never let us forget this. And all I did was respond to your blasted signal!”
Garos cried out in pain as he tried to laugh. The Druid tending him glared back at Namorn, who grimaced an apologetic smile.
One of the men turned to look at the prince. “Your Highness, he needs last rights… and the only Subjugator…” Kayne looked at the man who fidgeted beneath his gaze. “Sire, the only Subjugator is you.”
The men all nodded in agreement and bowed their heads, waiting for the prince to commence the prayer for last rights. Kayne walked up to where Raymond lay. He looked to Jack, who sat holding Raymond’s hand. A deep sadness filled his protector’s eyes. The journey to Whetu seemed to have aged him.
Jack looked at Kayne. “I guess we can’t escape our destiny.”
Kayne knelt, gently removed Raymond’s helmet, and placed it on his chest. His heart raced as he tried to remember his mother’s teachings. With slow, deliberate actions, he placed his hands on Apothecary Raymond’s head and closed his eyes. He spoke the soft, gentle words, “With our faith, we serve. With our faith, we love. In our mortal day, we work for peace. In our eternal night, we rest with thee.”
A golden light filled the deck around Apothecary Raymond, blinding everyone. They shielded their eyes, as the light seemed to infuse with his armor, turning it golden. It dissipated into thousands of miniature glowing stars that rose high into the sky. Jack stood in awe, his faith and purpose restored. Kayne and the men stepped back as the stars rained on Jack. His armor began to heal. The dents and cuts disappeared in a golden glow. The gray of his armor brightened, taking on the golden hue of the magic that surrounded it. Moments later, the magic dwindled, and the light dimmed. The men took a step away from Jack. Murmurs of wonder traveled through those gathered on deck. Jack looked down at himself in incredulity. His gray armor was gone, replaced with magnificent, golden armor.
Kayne smiled at Jack and folded his arms. “I guess we can’t escape our destiny.”
“So it would seem.”
Jack turned to the men, sensing their trepidation, and cleared his throat. “Please, let me introduce myself. My name is John, and I am an Apothecary.”
The End
Other books by this author
Please visit your favorite eBook retailer to discover other books by Adrian L Juhl:
Drift Worlds Novellas’
Kayne - Crown of Dominion
Dalynia – Nature’s Slaughter
Drift Worlds Saga (Tentative Release 2015-2016)
Kassidy- The Dark Queen
Kassidy- Rituals
Kassidy – Men of Iron
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