The Eynan 2: Garileon by L. S. Gibson Read Free Book Online Page A

They're not important now. Later." Jhond flipped his hand to indicate their irrelevance. "You said you felt the crystal's power. Tell me about that."
    Ninian frowned. Hadn't he already done that? He thought back to what he'd said, glanced at Jhond and saw the intensity in his young friend's expression. "I felt the power immediately when I touched it, knew how strong it was, that it was special. I knew I could channel the power, knew it was meant to be." Ninian's eyes widened as he spoke. "How can I know that when I don't know what it's for?"
    Jhond cocked his head to one side. "When the time comes to use it, you'll understand what it's for."
    Not for the first time Ninian acknowledged their places had switched. He was older, with much more experience, but Jhond consistently showed his strength. Ninian wasn't happy to be left in the dark about the crystal's purpose, but he understood what Jhond meant. There were times when the effect of magistry was only known at the time of need. If anyone knew that, it was Jhond, whose talent only manifested when he had first visited the Temple of the Magi with Ninian, the very mage searching for him.
    The ship suddenly rocked, and Ninian and Jhond both gripped the table, looking at each other. Abruptly, the ship slammed sideways, and with a cry, Jhond got to his feet, stumbling toward the cabin door.
    Ninian grabbed his arm. "Hold, Jhond. Where are you going?"
    Jhond looked confused at the question. "Why on deck, of course, to help."
    "Don't you think if Amired wanted our help he would've asked for it?"
    Even more puzzled as the ship rocked violently again, Jhond asked, "Why should I wait? I could've stopped this by now."
    "Because you can't do everything for everyone," Ninian said, his grip tightening.
    Jhond glanced down at Ninian's hand on his arm before lifting his gaze to meet Ninian's questioningly.
    "Save yourself for when you are really needed. If the Eynan is always available, people will learn to rely on you, then when you're no longer at their beck and call, they'll have forgotten how to cope."
    Frowning, Jhond replied, "This is not 'people;' this is Amired!"
    Knowing full well what Jhond meant, Ninian raised an eyebrow as he asked, "And Amired is incapable of handling his own ship?"
    Jhond made as if to reply, but instead he closed his mouth without uttering a word. He glanced down at Ninian's hand again, and this time Ninian released him. Jhond returned to sit at the table, taking up the metallic library and beginning to read again.
    * * * *
    On deck, Amired held fast to the wheel as he yelled orders at his crew, trusting Aldous to carry them through as he fought his own ship, forcing the Horologue through the narrow passage between the roiling seas and the shelves of rock that rose to form the coastline. Too close for comfort. It had been some years since Amired had sailed in this direction. It had been shortly after he'd joined the crew, when his uncle was captain of the Horologue, but he could've sworn the maelstrom wasn't as close to the shore as it was now. Amired had already ordered Warkist to add his strength to the wheel, and the man was braced at his side. Amired prayed he hadn't made a fatal miscalculation bringing his ship on this route.
    Amired had half expected the magi to come on deck by now. He was tempted to send a sailor below and ask for their help, but pride stayed his hand. He knew that if it became a matter of life and death, he would call for their help, but this was his ship and his responsibility.
    His muscles were screaming for release, but instead he tightened his grip on the wheel and re-doubled his efforts to fight the currents pushing his vessel closer to the shore. Occasionally, a yelled order from Aldous would reach him over the thunder of the pounding waves, and Amired was profoundly grateful he had such a reliable first mate.
    "I can't hold on much longer," Warkist suddenly cried.
    "You damn well will! If I can, you can." He spared a quick glance