The Hero’s Right Hand

The streets of Sespik smelled of salt water and fish. The market near the gate opposite the docks was no exception. We left our carriage with the local branch of Felix’s Transports and carried our bags while looking around town. Avant stayed nearby and kept a wary eye on any passerby. The busy streets reminded me of home. Merchants shouted for our attention to sell us their wares. Residents passed judgment on our merry band without approaching us. But we ignored everything and focused on the port.

Wooden planks were tightly bound together to create a massive platform on the edge of town. It stretched further than I could see with ships of various sizes anchored nearby. Workers yelled to sailors as they loaded and unloaded cargo. Aisha examined every large vessel we passed. None of us were experienced enough to sail and we’d need a crew. Unfortunately, anytime we approached a captain they made an excuse to leave the conversation.

“We’re looking for passage to Balur,” Aisha said as we approached another sailor.

“Already got a job to do,” the captain replied abruptly.

“We’ve got the gold to cover an alternate route,” Sariel said persuasively.

The captain sneered. “Don’t matter. I’ve got a route and our ship is full.”

“Looks rather empty. Not a single crate is being loaded onto it,” Vofric said while looking at the crew on the ship. They stared back while whispering amongst themselves.

“I said it’s full!” the captain barked. “Go pester someone else! I ain’t got time to waste with you!”

Before we could reply, she walked away. Aisha swore under breath and huffed. With another ship in sight, she proceeded forward.

“The sailor’s won’t help ya,” a person said from the railing dividing the port and town. They wore an ironed deep blue uniform and shining boat shoes. The cap on their head was marked with the sigil of Vethyea, only an official related to the world government was allowed to display.

“Why would a marine be bothered by adventurers seeking passage?” Aisha asked.

“It is a local branch’s duty to check anything out of the ordinary at their location,” the marine explained. “The chosen one and her party fall into that criteria, wouldn’t ya say?”

Aisha sighed and nodded. “Just Aisha is fine.”

“Bailey Lakelet. Please follow me.” They pointed behind me and said, “Ya should stop your pet from stealing or it could cause problems.”

I quickly turned to see Avant with his head in an open crate of fish. The young sailor nearby looked panicked. He hesitated to approach the owlbear. I apologized and paid him a couple silver before grabbing my cub. He stayed tucked under my arm while happily feasting on his ill gotten gains. I apologized to Aisha but she didn’t accept.

“I was getting frustrated with the sailors. Avant’s antics gave me a second to calm down,” she whispered.

The port had its own entrance to the marine base. Their dock was similar to the rest of Sespik’s except for the rocky overhang covering it. A large ship was being cleaned by a crew dressed similarly to Officer Lakelet. Few of them paid us any mind as we entered the main part of the base. A large field connected the port to a building similar to Neves’ guard tower.

Once we entered, people took notice of our party. Some ogled at Aisha while others saluted. For her part, Aisha walked with her head held high and exuded confidence. I followed behind her looking as competent as I could with a baby owlbear under my arm. Sariel’s natural haughty stance matched the high ranking officials we passed. Without trying Vofric fit in perfectly in his shining armor and stoic demeanor.
On the highest floor of the building, Officer Lakelet waved us into an office and shut the door behind us. A woman adorned in regalia sat inside. Interlocked fingers rested steadily with elbows planted firmly on the desk in front of her. Sharp eyes examined each of us as we approached the table.

“I heard only two of you left Neves. It hasn’t been very long yet you have a respectably sized party,” she said. “I am Captain Julian Stormclaw of the Vethyean Marines.”

Aisha introduced us and asked, “I thought Sespik sailors were talented. Why do they all refuse to help us?”

“Pride is an unfortunate trait and the sailors here are drowning in it. They refuse to admit they can’t sail the seas around Balur. It’s more appealing to just reject helping you,” Captain Julian explained.

“What makes the Balur Sea so trecherous?” I asked.

“It’s enchanted by the elven conclave. To make matters worse, we don’t know what the enchantments do exactly. The few ships that have returned from the area are heavily damaged. Mysteriously, every sailor forgot what happened between them entering the Balur Sea and exiting.”

I furrowed my brow. “Are you saying we can’t go there?”

Aisha shook her head and answered, “The captain is saying only the marines are willing to take us.”

“If you’re willing to travel with us,” Captain Julian amended.

“What do you gain from this?” Sariel asked.

Vofric nodded, “I doubt we have the gold to hire you.”

Captain Julian stood up and walked to a map on her wall. Dated pins across the board marked when bodies of water were discovered. Different colors represented different crews. The waters surrounding the continent of Tepram were heavily explored. All except for the Balur Sea.

“My crew is judged harshly for choosing to join me in Sespik. Defending a small town doesn’t garner respect,” the captain huffed. “But let me tell you, they’re some of the best marines I’ve seen in my century-long tenure. They deserve recognition and sailing the Balur Sea will get them just that. Having the Hero’s party on board would be a blessing.”

“I didn’t know sailors were so superstitious,” Aisha replied.

I chuckled. “Shows what you know.”

Aisha rolled her eyes and approached the captain with an outstretched hand. “When do we set sail?”

The captain smiled and shook our leader’s hand heartily. “Dawn.”

Cheers and hollers erupted in the hall. Officer Lakelet peeked outside to see half a dozen marines excitedly congratulating each other. They smiled back, unashamed of their antics. Aisha pushed me to join them as they went to deliver the news. She would handle the logistics with Captain Julian and the others.

The joyful eavesdroppers patted my back and welcomed me. I was surprised by how many were half-breeds. Like children excited by a gift, they ran through the halls calling for attention. Some others joined us as we descended the building, ran across the field and back to the ship.

“The expedition for the Balur Sea sails at dawn!” someone hollered.

The roar from everyone on the dock shook me to my core. Avant’s fur stood on end and he trilled happily. Some officers who’d led us here cheerfully gave him a snack. Others who’d just heard the news gave me a tight hug and lifted me in the air. After a dozen hugs I could barely feel my arms but it didn’t let up. I saw no reason to dampen the mood of the officers and hugged them back.

Throughout the next few hours the ship's final preparations were completed. Our party’s bags were stowed in a room that could easily fit all of us. The captain’s quarters were across the hall. Other high ranking officers’ rooms surrounded ours. The moment the ship was ready, the marines went out to celebrate. Vofric and Sariel joined them. Aisha met with the captain to discuss plans. I opted to sleep on the docked ship to get accustomed to the water. Avant had eaten double his weight in gifted fish and snored softly. The ship rocked lightly and quickly put me to sleep.

 

***

 

The morning sun reflected on the surface of the water. Captain Julian warned us it would be blinding but we were still ill prepared for it. Tears flowed for longer than any of us would ever admit. But once we regained our vision, it was apparent why people lived to explore the seas. Aquatic life of all shapes and sizes could be seen through the clear waters. The sound of soft waves calmed my nerves. Even the scent of fresh salt water was distinct from what was in the air of Sespik.

It was clear to me I was not meant for sea exploration. Salt air and soft waves quickly lost their beauty on me. After two days of sailing, I was antsy to do something. I couldn’t steer the boat and the crew was so efficient they didn’t need extra hands for anything. My only option was to meditate. I was able to lower my temperature without much effort but couldn’t understand how to burn more fiercely. Though attempting to do so would likely set the ship ablaze so I avoided it. In the back of my mind I heard Vofric’s words nagging me. I knew my magic. I could immolate. Not once had I manifested an astral projection. Then again, Vofric was right about my magic before.

I held out my hand. Master Avant used to say magic was about the ability to create a vivid image in one’s mind. I imagined a hand floating in front of my own. Muscular fingers and worn palms like mine levitating a few feet above ground. There should be no body, only the strong pressure from disciplined hands. I sat — arm outstretched — for what felt like an hour. Pain shot through it but I fought to keep it aloft. That was until the boat began rocking violently.

“We’re entering the Balur Sea!” Captain Julian’s voice boomed throughout the ship.

It was as if the calm seas never existed in the first place. The sun still brightly shone over head but the waters roared like an untamed beast. Even the clear skies became a mesmerizing reflection that repeated in every direction. Logically the ship was still moving forward, yet we felt it spinning uncontrollably. 

“—OFF THE PORT BOW!” I heard someone scream.

“Man the cannons!”

I frantically looked around until Aisha grabbed me and pointed towards the front of the ship. Scales protruded from the water trailing along a massive serpentine body as it slithered towards us. The leviathan moved swiftly, leaving giant wakes behind it. The ship rocked as the beast leapt over it and landed heavily back in the water. Its gargantuan head alone was nearly the size of the vessel. The creature let out a guttural screech that shook the hull.

Cannonballs collided into the scales, revealing a soft underbelly. The leviathan swung its head down at the deck. The grotesque sound of crushed bones alerted us to marines getting caught in the impact. Aisha barked a spell and a jolt of lighting blasted the opening on the creature. It opened its mouth and lunged at her. She leapt out of the way but more marines were caught and swallowed whole. 

“Stay back and focus your fire!” Aisha ordered.

Sariel moved along the masts and fired arrows into any openings. Vofric threw his light hammer with divine blessings that erupted on impact, shattering scales and flinging the hammer back to its wielder. While it returned, Vofric rained holy fire on the beast’s open wounds. Meanwhile, I helped load the cannons for another volley. 

I tried to keep track of Avant but he dashed between everyone and centered himself. Others quickly grew exhausted or trembled with fear. The cub let out a roar unlike any I’d heard before. A faint blue glow emanated from his body. The light expanded outward and wreathed the bodies of all our allies. The weakness of their mind and bodies washed away. They didn’t dare question it and continued the onslaught of attacks.

It wasn’t enough. The leviathan snapped its jaws repeatedly, catching marines with every bite. Some caught on its teeth, leaving bloody corpses. Officer Lakelet tried to turn the ship around but to no avail. The beast coiled its body around our vessel. It hunted for another snack and zeroed in on Sariel. She was fast but the beast’s size allowed it to encompass the main mast within its jaw. It clamped down but Sariel survived. A moment before the beast attacked, Vofric used his warhammer to break the mast and force Sariel to fall. They nodded to each other and continued to fight. But from afar I could see our numbers quickly dwindling.
The leviathan slowed its attacks and stared at us. A cruel grin stretched across its face. No one slowed their attacks. I assisted the few remaining marines with firing cannons. Even with Avant’s assistance they were quickly running out of energy. As the last cannonball erupted against the beast’s face, it roared. No one else seemed to matter, it was focused on Aisha and the others. It lunged at them, mouth agape. The Hero knew what was coming. She drew her sword and sliced into the bottom of the creature’s mouth. It hesitated enough for everyone to retreat before continuing the attack.
The monster reared back and lunged again. Vofric followed Aisha’s lead and cracked one of the beast’s teeth. Again, the group stepped aside before attacking. We found themselves with the remaining marines. But unfamiliar terrain provided the leviathan an advantage. We had no more ways to dodge or escape. The violent waters were no better than the beast. It opened its maw and lunged again.

Master Avant’s voice whispered in my mind.

“The mind’s eye is most clear when one’s senses are heightened,” 

Muscular fingers wrapped around jagged teeth. Worn palms held back monstrous force. Dozens of feet separated myself and disciplined hands keeping the leviathan’s maw open around us. I could feel the pressure in my own limbs as my body quaked under its weight. Sweat dripped from my forehead as I pushed back against the monster. But a sudden revelation didn’t guarantee power. The astral hands were fading fast. I needed the others to move. As long as Aisha survived, everything would be okay. The beast roared as it slowly overpowered my hands.

I screamed, “Fall back! I can’t—”