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

at his sailor. "Do you want to die, man?"
    Wild-eyed, Warkist replied, "Hellas, no! But look, Captain. We can't beat that!"
    Warkist pointed off to the east. Amired didn't follow his gaze--he didn't need to--but what he did need to do was keep his eyes on where the ship was heading. And so did Warkist.
    "Warkist, obey my orders. Get your attention on the wheel. Now!"
    Warkist obeyed, but under his breath, he muttered, "Why don't they help? They could do something."
    Knowing to whom he referred, Amired said, "Because I've not asked them."
    "Hellas, why not?"
    Amired didn't bother to answer. He wasn't sure he knew what to say. Was he just letting his pride get in the way of common sense? The muscles in his right arm were quivering with strain. Lords, what am I doing?
    He was about to call for Aldous to send a sailor down to the cabin when a short ways ahead he spied the coast edging west, only a little, but enough to make the channel between the land and the maelstrom that bit wider. Amired saw the map of the coast in his mind's eye and knew just where they were. The large bay of Hootsmais was just around the headland and the Horologue would be safe from there on. By the time they cleared the bay, the maelstrom would be left behind and then it was plain sailing north.
    As relief flooded him, Amired said to Warkist, "There's your answer."
    "Captain?" Warkist didn't understand.
    "That's Hootsmais Point," Amired explained. "We're safe once past there."
    "Thank the Lords!"
    "Indeed." Amired was filled with pride that he hadn't needed to rely on the magi after all.

 

Chapter 5
     
    There was a knock on the door, to which Ninian called, "Come on in."
    A smiling Amired entered. "I trust you weren't too disturbed by our close run in with the maelstrom?"
    "Ah, so that's what it was. The Maidoloss maelstrom. I gather you didn't take the long route around the islands," Ninian said.
    "You made it quite clear you needed to reach the north in the shortest possible time. Though I admit the maelstrom appeared much closer to the coast than the last time I saw it, and it made the passage more dangerous than I expected."
    "It's not just closer; its size has increased," Jhond said absently, his concentration still on the metallic library in his hands.
    "How can you know that?" Amired asked, immediately flushing as Jhond glanced at him with an eyebrow raised. "Ah, of course. I wish you could've warned me before I made my decision," he said, almost under his breath.
    "You didn't ask," Ninian commented, and Amired looked embarrassed again.
    "I thought to let you alone to do..." Amired frowned. "Do whatever it is you're doing."
    Jhond laughed. "To be honest, I didn't know it was larger until we were passing it by and I sensed the growing energy."
    Amired looked alarmed. "Are you saying the maelstrom is being influenced by something, someone?"
    "No, no. I wasn't sensing any outside source...just that nature is never static. The vortex was surging, growing in power. It may fade and again be how you knew it or it may remain as it is now."
    "I could wish it chose another time to surge," Amired muttered.
    "How much longer do you think you'll be able to keep sailing north?" Ninian asked.
    "Hard to be certain until I have more information about what's happening with the northern wastes," Amired said. "Your comment about nature not being static is what's been on my mind about the ice sheets. I want to put in at Ordisk. I'll be able to gather more accurate information there." Amired glanced from one man to the other. "Unless you want to use your power to look? Save us the time?"
    "Bypass Ordisk and sail on to Waildon. We'll leave the ship and travel on from there," Jhond said.
    Amired looked confused. "Waildon? But I can get you farther north than that by sea. Not only that, but Waildon is on this side of the northern highland range. You don't want to travel over there if you don't have to."
    "Yes. I've traversed that range before, and it's not something I