Fire Island: Book 3 of The Chatterre Trilody (Chatterre Trilogy) (20 page)

She sighed and realized that aside from rustic clothing and lack of technology, they were very similar and each of them was doing what he thought he needed to do.

Cameron could accept that.

She needed to accept it, too.

And maybe, she needed to learn to accept Larwin's loss. Learn to be grateful that she could occasionally catch hazy glimpses of him in the skull. After all, he had lived far longer than most in his graduating class, and one of her most vivid memories from her childhood was overhearing her parents talk about how grateful they were that her talents had been in the area of science, not warfare. For a long time, she had secretly thought she was better than her brother, but as she grew older and realized how dangerous being a Stardust Warrior was, she understood that her parents were relieved to know she was safer.

Yet in a way, being a geologist had landed her in the same situation as her warrior brother. What were the odds on that happening?

Tem-aki followed Cameron outside and listened to him direct the novices. "Work fast, but still take as much time as you need to do it right the first time." He concluded, "Everything must be ready in ten days."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.

His gaze raked the tables before he shook his head. "Sorry."

She nodded in understanding.

Just as she had turned to head for the beach, she heard a familiar voice call, "Good Morning Draco Cameron."

His hand closed on her upper arm. "On second thought, could you keep Annosha occupied?"

"Of course." With a smile of welcome pasted on her lips, Tem-aki reversed direction and went to meet the woman she had often wondered about.

Chapter 25

Until she set foot on the stable deck of the craft Raine had designed, Nimri had felt sorry for her having to spend the majority of her life living on Kalamar. Now, she realized that with ingenuity and a bit of work, even living on water could be comfortable.

In fact, sailing down the river was not only interesting, it was peaceful.

Kazza sprawled on the open front deck, which Raine called 'the bow' and promptly went to sleep.

Though she had imagined taking a boat this large downriver would be a lot of hard work, with everyone paddling and working hard to make any progress, very little work seemed to be involved. At least as long as they were moving with the current and had a bit of a boost by the wind.

For the first time since she'd set foot on board, Nimri wondered if it would be possible to get the boat back upstream. Clearing her throat, she asked Raine.

"It would be faster and easier with a motor, but it's possible only using wind power."

Since she seemed confident, Nimri was able to relax. "Thanks. I'm wary of boats."

"Because of when you were young." Raine nodded. "Thunder told me." She visibly shivered. "I can't imagine how horrible that was, or having to grow up with some horrid old man."

Nimri swallowed and wondered how much Thunder had told Raine, then realized that it didn't matter. Both of their tribes knew what Rolf had done, why shouldn't Raine, who was probably going to become Thunder's mate, know?

~o~

A hand clamped around Cameron's bicep and spun him around. Instinctively, he went into a defensive posture. "Relax," Nolan said, "And walk with me."

"I didn't expect you back until tomorrow."

"We wouldn't have been, if we could have taken care of everything by ourselves."

Cameron stopped walking. "How bad is it?"

"Do you know the clearing where we always hold the ceremonies?"

"Of course." Cameron narrowed his eyes. "Why wouldn't I know that? Everyone knows where the top of Shaka-uma's head is where we hold the ceremonies."

"Well, it's no longer there."

"What do you mean, 'it's no longer there'?"

"Exactly that. In fact, most of Dragon Ridge has collapsed into a crevasse."

"That's impossible."

Nolan shook his head. "The facts say differently." He looked around the patio, then pulled Cameron over to the bench overlooking the sea. "We don't have enough manpower to clear it before the solstice. So, we need to consider alternatives."

"Like what?"

"Like maybe at the shore. There was minimal damage there." Nolan looked earnest as he rested his elbows on his knees. "Since this is a special year, we could claim it needed to be held at a special place... as close as possible to where Shaka-uma originally nested."

"Do you really think it's a good idea to have a crowd that includes non-believers that close to the Protected Place?"

"No, and I'm not so sure about having them that close to the hot, thin areas, either, but I figured that if three or four of us started tomorrow, we would have time to rope off the dangerous areas and somehow camouflage the Protected Place."

"If you think that's our best option, then do it." Cameron glanced around the patio. "To haul that much rope, you'll either need pack mules or to load The Sirocco."

Nolan's expression brightened. "Four of us could manage The Sirocco, but are you sure about that?"

"Can you think of a better option to meet the deadline?"

Nolan shook his head. "No one but the high draco has ever captained it."

"Have we ever been forced to relocate where the festival would take place?" Nolan shook his head. Cameron raised a brow. "I can not be in two places at once, and we'll be doing good to move all the supplies necessary and get set up if you take the ship... Do you think we could meet the schedule if you didn't take her?" Again, Nolan shook his head. Cameron nodded. "It isn't as if you don't know how to handle her, so why should I be the only one allowed, it isn't as if you would be taking her just for the fun of it."

"Fine, I'll do it, but realize, people will talk."

"They always do."

Nolan rose, "Well, I'd better get started collecting and loading materials." He rushed away.

Voices were raised at one of the tables. A glance verified that Varlet was trying to bully them into doing things his way. Cameron sighed. Sooner or later, he needed to find a solution for the problem Varlet's attitude was causing, but right now, Tem-aki was moving toward him with a purposeful attitude. "I need to ask a favor."

Cameron motioned for her to continue.

"You are sending Nolan and some others back to where we were." Cameron inclined his head, as he wondered what she was getting at. "I would like to go with him."

Surprise ricocheted through him. "Why? I didn't think you liked sailing."

She made an odd gesture with her hand. "I don't, but the place interests me. I'm a geologist and there was some really strange stuff there. If you don't think I'd be in the way, I would like to go and study it."

"Who am I to tell you what you may and may not do?"

"So you agree?" She asked, as if she needed the approval of a mere mortal.

Cameron ran his hand through his hair. "Who am I to stop you?"

Tem-aki blinked, as if surprised by the thought. "Well, good, then." She bit her lower lip. "Would you mind if GEA-4 came with me?"

Cameron exhaled in frustration. "I have no say over her, either, so why ask?" Varlet's voice was getting louder and the tone more dictatorial. "Look, do whatever it is you and GEA-4 think you need to do. I have other things I need to deal with." He turned his back on her and hurried over to where Varlet was holding a knife in a menacing way, while Tristan and Emmet stood shoulder to shoulder and glared at him. Malin's eyes shifted to Varlet.

"Is there a problem here?" Cameron asked.

"No!" Varlet snarled.

"Yes," Emmet said.

"Interesting," Cameron said. "But this won't settle anything." He deftly snatched the knife out of Varlet's hand. "Since you aren't having a problem, get back to work on the candles, while I have a chat with this pair." He put a hand on Tristan's shoulder and the other on Emmet's. "Walk with me." Malin snickered as they walked away.

"You shouldn't have interfered," Tristan growled. "That blowfly needs to understand that he isn't the dragon's gift to mankind."

"I am sure he will learn soon enough, but it isn't your job to teach him."

"Then why are you punishing us?"

Emmet silently chewed his upper lip, but apparently he, too considered their 'chat' to be punishment. Dealing with Varlet head-on was a waste of time, that he didn't have the luxury to spend. Worse, it was an exercise in frustration, but Cameron couldn't explain that to them. "I need your help with a bigger problem."

"What could possibly be bigger -"

"Or worse," Emmet interrupted.

"- than Varlet?" Tristan concluded.

Cameron told them about the earthquake's destruction and the need for him to split the novices into two groups in order to pull off the celebration. "Nolan is going to need the best help possible. Can you do it?"

They nodded vigorously. "Will Benji be going back with Nolan, too?"

"Yes."

"So you're sending all the best workers there."

Cameron nodded.

"But what if we aren't finished in time?" Tristan asked.

"A few hundred less candles won't make as big a difference as having someone step on a thin crust of lava and fall to their death," Cameron said. Their eyes went round at the thought, but they also seemed to finally understand that they were being asked to do something even more important.

Just then, Nolan, quickly followed by Benji, Tem-aki and GEA-4 carried large baskets toward the stairs. "Better grab supplies and go with them," Cameron said.

Hours later, after the Sirocco had been packed, they hoisted anchor to catch the evening's breeze, and passed through out of the harbor, Cameron went inside and realized that not only were his most trusted allies gone, so were the skull and staff of power.

Even stranger, he couldn't find Saphera.

Was that bad or good?

~o~

Nimri woke from a peaceful sleep to the strangest dawn she had ever imagined. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, but it didn't change the fact that the sun appeared to be rising out of water. In fact, it was difficult to tell where the water stopped and the sky started. She looked from left to right, but could not see the river banks anywhere.

Turning around, she couldn't see any sign of land in the shadows behind them, either.

So much for only going as far as the end of the river. Nimri realized that she wasn't as upset about going along for the entire journey as she imagined she should be.

And it certainly wasn't as frightening.

At least, not at the moment.

Looking closer, she realized that Mica, Larwin, Raine and Thunder were all asleep, so that explained why no one had woken her when she still had a chance to get off.

In fact, Kazza was the only one awake. Though he was still sprawled on the bow, he was staring forward, eyes gleaming and whiskers thrilling in anticipation.

Nimri rubbed her eyes, again, then went to sit next to Kazza and watch the sun climb from the sea to warm the day. When she put her arm across his massive shoulders, he began to purr. Though she didn't know why, she was certain that he was excited about this trip and it had very little to do with rescuing Tem-aki.

Though she did not feel any wind and there was nothing but water and sky, she sensed that they were traveling at a high rate of speed. Even as she thought that, she realized it was a ridiculous thought. How could they be moving fast, when there was nothing to either push or pull them?

A groan from above made her look up at the sail, which looked rounded and smooth, but how could it be holding wind when she couldn't feel any? She would have to ask Raine, when she woke.

The sun was completely out of the water by the time that Mica awoke. His cries woke the others, who all seemed as surprised as she had been to realize they were in the middle of the unknown.

As Nimri took care of Mica, Thunder and Raine made morning meal for the adults and Larwin checked the sail, then consulted the lumpy black box, which he seemed to think held the answer for just about anything. His posture straightened. "Unbelievable!"

"What is?" Nimri asked.

"We're more than halfway to our destination."

"But you said it would take weeks." She blinked in confusion.

"I know what I predicted with this form of transportation, and I don't know why we seem to be moving so fast."

"I wondered about that, too." She pointed to the sail. "It looks like the wind is pushing us, but I don't feel any breeze."

Larwin frowned. "If we were moving at the same speed as the wind, theoretically we wouldn't feel it."

"I hadn't thought of that," Nimri admitted. Then, after thinking it through, she brightened. "So that means that we can get home."

"How so?"

"Do you remember what Raine said about tacking being able to zig-zag to get anywhere, as long as there was a good wind?"

"Didn't she call it tacking?"

Nimri nodded. "If we can go this direction on the wind, surely we can tack our way home."

"Is that why you weren't sure that you wanted to come all the way? The fear that you could never get home?" She nodded. He knelt next to her and kissed her forehead. "We will get home. I promise."

She kissed his bristly cheek. "Thank you."

~o~

As the ship's momentum slowed, Tem-aki looked out the window and saw a golden speck on the horizon. She blinked, certain that it was either her imagination or a trick of the light, but it was still there, when she looked a second time.

She lunged out of her hammock and went to find GEA-4.

Arriving on the upper deck, she found GEA-4 gazing toward the rising sun. "I need you to scan something for me. It will only take a minute."

The eerie silver gaze turned toward her and Tem-aki pointed to the golden speck. "What is that?"

"It is another craft."

Not a madrox! She heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks, GEA-4, I was worried that it might be a dragon, after all, these people seem to worship them."

"Not a problem." The silver eyes were already locked on the first rays of dawn.

Nolan and the rest were adjusting the sails and seemed to be waiting for something. Had they come all this way to meet the other boat? She had thought they were returning to the original harbor-area, and she would have a chance to examine the strange hexagonal structures. A look around confirmed that they were standing off outside of an opening, so perhaps she had misunderstood their destination. Or, perhaps they were just waiting for the other ship because more than one was going.

The sails began to fill and The Sirocco groaned as she picked up speed toward the narrow passageway into the circular harbor.