Mystery of the Forgotten (The Arcane Ascension, Book 1): An imaginative fantasy thriller. (The Arcane Ascencsion) by DK Ranger

Author:DK Ranger [Ranger, DK]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy
Publisher: DKR Publications
Published: 2017-02-05T07:00:00+00:00

After breakfast they sailed north for the rest of the day. The sea was littered with icebergs, and it snowed incessantly. Tamlin let Alyssa take the helm while he scouted for icebergs and adjusted the sails. Luckily, a powerful wind came up, and they made good progress. They anchored the boat again at sundown; it was far too dangerous to continue in the dark.

Despite his protestations, Alyssa insisted that he take the bed. He lay awake for a while thinking about her story. She was a year younger than him, but she had experienced so much trouble in her lifetime. It was a miserable tale, but Tamlin had come to realise that hardship, not prosperity, was what built character.

They awoke the next morning to stormier seas. The wind had changed direction, and Tamlin had to adjust the sails. It was growing colder by the kilometre. The icebergs, which had been sparse initially, were all around them now. The sea spray splashed onto the deck as the prow broke through the waves and turned to ice beneath their feet.

They were both shaking from the cold, especially Alyssa, who had grown up in the desert. She said that her ability as a snake animalist also made her more susceptible to the cold. As the hours wore on, Tamlin could see that she was struggling.

“Go inside and wrap yourself in blankets. I can manage on my own for now,” he said.

She disappeared inside but came out again with a blanket. To his surprise, she stood directly behind him, resting her chin on his shoulder. She wrapped them both in the blanket. He felt her arms snake around his waist, and she put her hands into the front pockets of his parka.

“It will be warmer this way,” she said into his ear.

He didn’t argue. The heat was noticeable almost immediately. He also liked the way her body felt pressed against his back.

They remained that way while they sailed, talking about anything they could think of. Tamlin steered them expertly through the icy world. She had given him a map to the islands, and he estimated that the journey would take another week to complete.

That night when they anchored the boat, they finished the bottle of whisky. Tamlin was sad to see it go. It had been an undeniable ally against the cold, and it had broken the ice between them. They played a game of cards, in which Alyssa thrashed him convincingly.

“I think I am going to turn in,” Tamlin said afterwards. “Tonight I’ll take the bunk.”

“It’s fine,” Alyssa said, “you take the bed. I don’t mind sleeping on the bunk.”

“No,” Tamlin said. “This is my boat, and you will do as I say, or I’ll throw you overboard.”

“Aye, aye captain,” she said, chortling. “Sleep well.”

Tamlin rose with the sun and went out on deck. Alyssa was still asleep, but he wanted to get an early start. He went to pull up the anchor, but it wouldn’t budge. He tried using Su to force it up, but the more pressure he applied, the more precariously the boat tilted.

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