“Are you sure you want to do this?” the lieutenant asked Zollin. “It’s highly irregular. I’m not sure the captain would allow it.”
“Just let me see what I can do for him. If the captain objects, send him to me. Now, all of you, get out. Eustice and I will see to his needs.”
“Very well,” said the lieutenant. “I’ll be on the command deck if you need anything.”
“Thank you, but we’ll be find,” Zollin said, shooing everyone out of his cabin.
Once he had the door shut, he turned to Eustice.
“Make sure no one comes in until I’m finished.”
The mute servant nodded and Zollin sat down beside his friend. He let his magic flow into Mansel’s body. Mansel had lost consciousness on deck, so Zollin first let his magic sweep through the entire body. Three ribs were broken and two others were cracked. There was some minor internal bleeding, and Mansel’s collarbone was broken. Zollin’s first job was to mend the bones. It was a simple process now that he was accustomed to doing it. It took longer to relax the muscles that were in spasm and to remove the buildup of fluids that was causing the bruising. Zollin decided he couldn’t heal the bruising completely-if he did, the crew would discover his powers. Zollin wasn’t ashamed of being a wizard, or afraid of the crew for that matter, but he didn’t want to send the sailors into a panic of fear. Rumors of the sea monster attack had included his magic, and there was no need to deal with superstitious sailors if he could avoid it.
The internal bleeding keep Zollin busy the longest. He had to delve deep into the tissues around Mansel’s ribs to find exactly what was wrong. Once he isolated the bleeding, however, he was able to repair the damage. He could feel the hot wind of his magic coursing through the containment field he had surrounded it with. Soon, everything about Mansel seemed to be okay.
“I’m done,” he said, sagging back against the opposite bunk.
Eustice had a small goblet of wine ready and handed it to Zollin.
“Thanks,” he said, then took a long drink. “He’s going to be fine. I couldn’t heal him completely without giving away-”
Wham! Wham! Wham!
“This is the captain,” came an angry voice. “I’m coming in.”
Eustice started to hold the door closed but Zollin waved him off. The captain stepped boldly into the small cabin. The lieutenant waited outside with two other sailors.
“Has he said anything?” the captain asked.
“No, he’s resting,” Zollin said. “I’ve inspected his injuries. There’s nothing serious about his wounds. Just some minor cuts and bruises, but he was covered in filth. I’d like to watch him and make sure he doesn’t get sick.”
“That won’t be necessary,” the captain said. “I won’t let the crew be a burden to our passengers.”
“It’s no trouble,” Zollin said.
“No, it won’t be. Thank you for your help…”
“Zollin, my name is Zollin Quinnson.”
“Very well, Zollin,” the captain said. “Alright, get him up,” he said to the sailors out in the passageway.
Zollin stood back and watched as two men in threadbare clothes came into the room. One had a livid scar across his cheek and shot Zollin a baleful glance before grabbing Mansel roughly by the arms. They pulled him off the bunk and he slowly came to.
“What’s going on?” he mumbled.
“You’re in for it now,” said the man with the scar. “The captain don’t abide fighting on board his ship.”
“Stow that talk, Ulber, and get him down to the surgeon.”
“Captain, may I have a word with you?” Zollin asked.
“Of course,” he said, waving his men away.
“I get the impression that you aren’t happy with that sailor.”
“Yes,” the captain said, with a trying look on his face as if he were indulging an inquisitive child.
“Is there a reason? The man was obviously accosted by someone.”
“No, I’m afraid that’s not how he came to his injuries. He’s a new member of the crew. I’ll see to it that he knows his business from now on. And I’ll get our carpenter up here to repair this furniture.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Are you saying he wasn’t attacked?”
“Master Quinnson, it isn’t my practice to share details of the crew with passengers, but if you must know, your patient attacked one of the other sailors with a mallet. There was a scuffle and your patient fell down the bilge shaft. It was an unfortunate break in shipboard discipline and I shall see that it is corrected immediately. Good day.”
Zollin was so surprised that the captain was out of the cabin before Zollin realized it. He hurried after the man.
“Captain, I don’t think you have the whole story,” Zollin said, hurrying up behind the officer.
“No, I’m sure I don’t. But I will very soon. Please don’t continue to worry about that sailor. He’s my responsibility, and I’ll see to it that he’s dealt with in a fashion that befits the dignity of this ship.”
“I’d like to go with you if you’re going to question him,” Zollin said.
“Absolutely not. Now excuse me,” the captain said gruffly.
Zollin started to push a magical suggestion toward the man when a voice spoke up from behind him.
“Let the captain deal with his men as he see’s fit,” said the icy voice. “And be so kind as to remove yourself from the passageway.”
Zollin turned and found the woman he’d seen the day they’d set sail. She was tall and fine featured, but her face was pinched in a look of complete disdain. Her narrow nose was held high and there were two brutish looking armed men behind her.
“Excuse me?” Zollin said.
“Stand aside, if you please,” the woman said angrily. “It seems you are always in the passageway. I wish to go on deck.”
Zollin glanced back toward the captain, but he had already ascended the stairs to the main deck. Zollin turned back to Eustice, who was waiting in the doorway to their cabin.
“Come on, Eustice, this isn’t over.”
They hurried out of the passageway and came out on deck. The sky was dark with heavy, gray clouds hanging low overhead. In the rigging the sailors were busy taking in the sails. The captain and his lieutenant were walking quickly back up to the command deck.
“Ahem!” came the woman’s voice from below them. “Once again you are blocking the way.”
Zollin realized he was standing at the top of the stairwell. He took Eustice by the arm and they stepped aside. The woman walked briskly past and went straight to the command deck, followed by her bodyguards and then Zollin.
The woman ascended the stairs and then went immediately to the ship rail. Zollin watched her go and then turned to the captain.
“Sir, I must protest-”
“No, sir, you must not,” said the captain angrily. “There is a storm coming, in case you hadn’t noticed. We have perhaps half an hour before we’re in the thick of it. I suggest you go back to your cabin, make sure your belongings are stowed away safely, and latch the shutters on your porthole.”
“I’m not going to stand aside-” Zollin started, but once again he was cut off.
“You shall stand aside,” shouted the captain angrily. “You will not interfere with this ship in any way. Nor shall you continue to plague me with your questions. Now go below, or I’ll have you locked in chains and taken below. Is that clear?”
Zollin felt his magic raging and he wanted more than anything to set it loose on the captain, but he knew better than to push his luck. He could fight the captain and the sailors on board the ship, but he couldn’t sail the vessel in calm waters, much less through a storm.
As he turned to leave the deck he wondered exactly what kind of mess Mansel had gotten himself into this time.
Chapter 7
Rain began to fall before Zollin got back down to the passenger deck. He turned to look at the woman on the command deck, expecting to see her hurrying after him, but she was still by the ship rail. Her hair was expertly combed and held in place by expensive ivory combs. She wore a beautiful silk dress and dainty shoes that Zollin had only seen on the wealthiest nobles in Orrock, yet she stood with her face pointing up toward the sky, a look of rapture on her face.