The Heart of Alchemy by James E. Wisher

Author:James E. Wisher [Wisher, James E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945763861
Publisher: Sand Hill Publising

Otto sat up in bed and groaned. He’d fainted again. This was getting to be a habit. Judging from the sound of rushing water outside the hull, they were still making progress. And from the darkness outside his window, he assumed he’d slept the entire day.

A light appeared and he turned to see Corina sitting in his leather chair. She had shed her heavy cloak and judging from the bloodshot eyes and dark circles, she hadn’t slept in a while.

“How long this time?” Otto asked.

“It’s a little after midnight, so I’d say sixteen hours. Not as bad as last time you wore yourself out. I don’t know how you do it. Just maintaining the five threads’ worth of ether I kept at the ready nearly killed me. You used about five times as much.”

“I did what was necessary, nothing more. How is the ship?”

“According to the captain, three of the timbers cracked, but we’re in no danger of sinking and we’re not taking on water. They braced the hull to reinforce it, he said. I didn’t actually watch the process. Figured I’d be more in the way than a help. Besides, I didn’t want to leave you alone.”

Otto grunted and swung his legs over the side. “Did any of the men get hurt by the magic?”

“No, though they did complain of tingling in their hands for a few hours afterward.” Corina shook her head. “Given the alternative, that didn’t seem so bad.”

Otto shuddered to think what would have happened had the Black Wind gotten in. Those insects would have eaten them down to the bone in seconds. “Is there anything to eat? I’m starving.”

“I figured you would be.” Corina handed him a plate covered with a white linen napkin. “I’ll let you eat in peace. Hans is probably still up waiting for news. He worries like a mother hen. We would both appreciate it if you stopped giving us fits.”

“You sound like my mother. Go on. I’m going to eat and sleep again. I should be fine in the morning.”

Corina gave him one last, long, searching look before ducking out into the hall. Otto tossed the napkin aside and looked with distaste on the cured ham, biscuit, and apple on the plate. Unappetizing or not, he ate it all and washed it down with tepid water from the pitcher beside his bed.

The next two weeks were as peaceful as the passage through the Narrows was harrowing. The weather warmed as they turned back northeast and everyone was glad not to have to wear their heavy cloaks anymore.

Otto’s strength quickly returned, more quickly, in fact, than he expected. Perhaps constantly pushing himself to the point of exhaustion was building his stamina a little more each time. He liked to think there was at least some benefit to be had beyond survival.

The only downside to the whole event was the men looked at him even more warily now. Before they had hid their nerves whenever he was around, but now they didn’t bother.

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