Small Gifts

The field of gods was always strangely empty, I decided. Where did all of the souls go? Were they just hiding until I was free of this massive field, trying not to sneeze in all of the blooming flowers?

Andrena, are you eating them?

I paused, halfway to the hall of the gods. Wait. I didn’t have to walk to her. If I could only convince her to show up-

“Andrena,” I shouted. “I’m going to leave if you don’t come out of there. I have other dreams to be enjoying.”

You’re lying. This time, she was wading out to meet me, down the steps in a moment. The roll of her gait was almost human, and the annoyance on her face certainly was. I’ve seen your dreams. They’re all about drowning. Not very original, are you?

“We’re sailing in dangerous waters.” I folded my arms. “What exactly am I meant to be worried about? Bees?” Three days. It had taken us three days to finally push out of Clam Cove, everyone huddled into this horrible boat after Unnr had chased down what felt like endless people to get a sail and enough provisions to take us north. I thought I could feel it sloshing me around even in my sleep. We still had two days to go.

I didn't care how it happened, but I wasn't going south in a boat. If I had to, I'd tie myself to a bird and fly there.

It would be nice for you to dream about bees for a change, said Andrena. But enough of this foolishness. I must discuss with you this plan of yours.

“Not my plan,” I corrected. “Unnr’s plan. We’re just… going along with it.”

I do not like the way you say ‘we’. I am still against this. You truly think you can sneak onto that island without anyone noticing?

Had the entire field pitched, or was that the ship underneath my sleeping body? I swallowed a hint of nausea. “It’s the best plan we have. I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just stomp around the north waiting for a better opportunity to show up.”

Andrena pursed her lips. Before I could continue, something had been shoved into my hands. A… drink?

“What do you want me to do now?” I recognized a bribe when I saw one. I still took a drink. It was very nice. Bubbly, somehow, even though it didn’t taste alcoholic.

I have secured help for you, she said. You should leave this plan with the beetles and go to shore, where you can wait for the rest of your team.

“Who exactly did you summon?” I squinted over the rim of the glass. “If it’s the voice of Teuthida, I don’t want her.”

I’d endured enough of that woman for the rest of my days. Andrena just waved off my complaint. No, no. I contacted someone actually helpful. Follow me. It's easier to show you.

I supposed I didn’t have a shortage of time. I turned and followed her, past the unchanging temple and towards a divot in the field. When Andrena approached, she knelt. I leaned down next to her, feeling self-conscious.

Here, she said, pointing towards the water. I cannot conjure much. But her face is familiar to you, is it not?

I stared at the reflection with impending dread. As I looked down, it quickly swirled, the water rippling and revealing a very familiar face indeed. A stout girl, with bright red hair. This time, she was huddled on the deck of a ship, annoyed and surrounded by what looked like... armor?

Who was arming teenage girls? Hadn't they ever met one before? “The voice of Celeres? Isn’t she a teenager?”

You never appreciate my gifts, snapped Andrena. Before I could respond, my eyes snapped open. The ship lurched.

I closed my eyes and tried to steady my gut. It wasn’t helping. “I shouldn’t have had that drink.”

There was a shuffling on the bunk above me. After a few minutes, Katla peered down. “If you’re ill, as I requested when we decided to share this bunk, please-”

“I’ll leave the room,” I muttered. “Please stop talking.”

~*~

“Well, we’re through Cabellus’s knuckles now,” said Gorm, the next afternoon. He leaned on the wheel, fumbling for his pipe. After watching him struggle for what felt like a year, I finally lit it for him. “After this it’s only the rock of death, the rock of more death, and the rock of I can’t believe you’re still alive. We’ll take a left at the Bay of Night, and-”

“No more,” I groaned. I was still feeling ill from the previous night’s dream, and it didn’t help thinking about the scenery. Just past us, the shore drifted by. Trees. Endless trees, broken up occasionally by snowy mountaintops and a hint of movement. I had yet to see any further human settlement. How could people survive up here? Didn't they like warmth? Sun?

At least it was a little calmer than it had been on the way up. Perhaps it was because we were closer to shore this time; if the water had been warm, I might have been able to swim over. As it was, I preferred to stay on the ship.

“You have to tell me the truth,” I said, leaning towards Gorm when the worst of the nausea had passed. “Is-”

“Is the ship going to make it? Sure, don’t see why she won’t. Although we still have two days left.” He squinted at me. “You think you’ll make it that long?”

I held up a hand to stop him. “Not about that. Is Harald actually helping?”

We both turned to face the goat. He was, as usual, sleeping on deck. I didn’t know how he managed. Maybe it was another skill from the goat. “Of course he is!” Gorm tapped his pipe out, chuckling. “We sailed together for many years, before we both stopped being part of, ah, private establishments, and went our separate ways. I became a perfumer, and he, ah….” He coughed. “Well, before he died, he was fishing for the Big Ones.”

“…Beasts?”

“Tuna.” He took another drag on his pipe. “Good to see him again, really. Although I wish he’d explain why he’s a goat now.”

As another swell danced under our feet, I tried to focus on a point in the horizon. Apis said it helped.

It didn’t.

“You were part of private companies?” I’d heard that terminology before. “So you were- pirating?”

“Not technically pirating.”

Definitely the same terminology. “Have you ever met a man named-” I stumbled, then tried to take a deep breath. I had to focus. To stay steady. What kind of paladin was I if I was easily defeated by the sea? “I’m going back under,” I muttered.

Belowdecks, Apis, Duran and Katla were engaged in a game of cards. I leaned in the doorway and tried to figure out who was winning. I couldn’t see any money on the table.

“Double pair, spear gets top score,” said Apis. He held out a hand. Katla swore under her breath, rummaged in her cloak, and gave him what looked like a piece of jerky.

“Don’t enjoy it all at once. I’ll be winning it back shortly.” She straightened her cloak and sat back. “Duran, your deal.”

“How many cards in a hand again?” Duran fumbled through the shuffle, dropping the cards once before he managed to gather them up.

I watched Apis win two more rounds and get accused of cheating once before the ship rolled under my feet again and I decided I had to lie down. I had yet to decide what was actually best for the seasickness, but I couldn't stay here trying to pay attention.

“You’re sure you don’t want any food?” offered Apis as I turned to leave.

“Can’t bear the thought. I’ll eat something else later.”

As I stumbled down the hallway, I heard another cry of annoyance from Katla. "I'll find out how you're doing it somehow, bee man. And then you'll regret the day you ever cheated me."

"Another round, then?" said Duran. "I think I understand how the numbers work now."

Staring up at the bottom of Katla’s bunk again, I closed my eyes and drifted into a half-sleep. Hours or minutes could have passed, as far as I cared. It was all just part of the sea. I was still mostly asleep when I heard someone step into the cabin. There was a quiet tap, like something had been set on the side table.

I only checked what had been left when the door had been firmly closed behind the intruder with a click. A small pouch I thought looked familiar was sitting there, half-closed with a ribbon. Inside were four pieces of jerky, the pepper thick and the meat tough.