Under Fallen Stars - Mel Odom [70]
"Some damned demon device," Hullyn growled as he made the sign of Tymora over his chest.
"A chair," Tynnel stated. "I don't know where Vurgrom got it, but I saw it being set up before they put me in the hold. Sabyna and Vurgrom's own ship's mage take turns using it. The chair pushes Breezerunner far faster than any normal wind would. That's the strangeness you feel about the ship's movements. When we come to a sharp bend in the river, you can feel her shuddering through the turn, chopping across the water, but she doesn't slow down. Whatever course and destination Vurgrom's got laid out, we're going to get there damned fast."
Jherek thought desperately while Hullyn continued cleaning his head. "How far have we come?"
"We're two days from Baldur's Gate, boy," Tynnel stated gruffly. "You've been unconscious that whole time. It's anyone's guess as to how far we've come. I don't know this territory."
Jherek couldn't believe it. In two days time with the speed he felt the ship was moving at, they would be miles from Baldur's Gate even having to sail against the current. As he recalled, the shores along the River Chionthar inland were virtually empty of ports or towns. The countryside was infested with ore and goblin hordes who'd staked out territorial claims.
"Bastard could have died," Aysel said, glaring at Jherek. "Maybe should have." The big man sneered, shifting gingerly around his injured foot. "Always sensed something about you that reminded me of a bad copper that keeps turning up."
"Stow that bilge," Tynnel commanded sternly. "Whatever problems the two of you have with each other, they're not allowed on my ship."
"Begging the cap'n's pardon," Aysel said, "but things ain't quite the way they were aboard old Breezerunner. I'm thinking part of that is because of this snot-nosed pup here."
Tynnel glanced at the man with his burning gaze. "If I want any lip from you, Aysel, 111 let you know."
The man looked like he was going to say something further, then apparently thought better of it.
"That goes for both of you," Tynnel finished. "Whatever problems existed back at Athkatla stay at Athkatla."
Jherek nodded tightly, his thoughts centering on Khlinat and the old bard who'd appeared so mysteriously. He'd left them waiting back in Baldur's Gate. He wondered how the dwarf was.
"That's odd," Hullyn said, peering closely at the back of Jherek's head. "I looked at the split you took back here earlier and I could have sworn you'd needed some healer's stitches, but as I get it cleaned up now I see it's not bleeding anymore and seems to have closed up more than I'd have expected. You're a fast healer, lad."
Taking another breath, Jherek realized he did feel better. He attributed it to Hullyn's ministrations, then turned his attention to Tynnel. "So, what are they going to do with us?" Jherek asked.
Tynnel shook his head. "I don't know."
Sitting up straighter, Jherek went through his clothes, wondering if there was something he could use. Unfortunately, Vurgrom's pirates seemed to have been quite thorough. He'd been robbed, of course. They'd even found the fishing knife he kept tucked inside his boot.
Frantically, he searched his clothing again, having remembered the pearl disk the Lathander priest had given him.
"What's wrong?" Hullyn asked.
"There was a disk," Jherek said. "I had a pearl disk with a carving on it." Thinking about the priest's words, of how an important destiny was tied to the disk, made him grow even more afraid. He tried to remember if he'd lost it somehow during the fight on the dock.
"Aye," Hullyn said. "Them pirates went through your clothing out in the hold when they brought you down. They robbed us all, but I remember seeing that piece you describe. Vurgrom spied it himself as one of his men tried to be off with it without notice."
"Vurgrom has it?"
Hullyn nodded. "Was it worth much? Something that belonged in your family?"
Jherek wondered what destiny cost, what price could be placed on it.