Air and Ashes by Kevin Mclaughlin & Michael Anderle

Author:Kevin Mclaughlin & Michael Anderle [Mclaughlin, Kevin & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2024-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Halgrim got the ship up and running again, and the journey back to Kortall began smoothly. There was tension in the air as our vessel drifted through the sky. Wind rustled the sails. Laurel, Hayes, Adam, and Garreth looked downcast as they silently walked across the deck.

Our group gathered in the small galley for a meal. Things felt somber, and neither I nor my friends spoke much. I glanced out the window of this small room, watching the sky above us. The clouds were thick, obscuring the night.

We waited around a wooden dining table. Hayes tapped his foot against the floor. Laurel gazed up at the ceiling. Harken leaned close to me. Adam passed some rations to Garreth. He popped a few nuts into his mouth.

I knew everyone was worried. I wished I had something more positive to tell them. I’d failed to keep the stone safe. There wasn’t too much to feel good about.

Finally, Laurel looked at Hayes, who was still tapping his foot. Rap, rap, rap. Rap, rap, rap.

Laurel broke the silence. “Will you stop that?”

Hayes jumped, startled. He nodded. “Uh. Yes. My apologies.”

Laurel snorted. “I’m getting a headache.”

Harken leaned forward. “Like Charles said before, it’s only one stone. We still have two more chances.”

Laurel laughed. “Did you not see the queen? She took that stone from him as easily as my Aunt Tilda used to take away my toys when I was eight.”

Harken bit her lip. “Yes, that’s true, but⁠—”

Laurel raised her hand. “Sir Duncan! Where’s the booze? You told me you were getting it ages ago!”

Sir Duncan wobbled over, juggling about five or six bottles of alcohol. “I’m bringing it. Calm your horses or griffons, whatever you dwarves do. I had to get on my hands and knees to find this stuff. Halgrim had it stacked way in the back of the stowage. I encountered a few mice guarding the stuff. Phew. What an adventure.”

Duncan set the bottles on the table. They clinked.

Laurel picked one up and poured herself a glass. “Not griffons. Never griffons, except that one oddball tribe. Few of us keep foxes, ferrets, or rodents as pets. That’s it, normally.”

Laurel passed the alcohol around. Adam poured a glass next. His eyes widened, intrigued. “Oh? What kind of rodents?”

Laurel shrugged. “Pet rats or mice. Moles. Our people are fond of the mole. The dwarven god Bestelles frequently appears with the face of a mole.”

I leaned forward. “It won’t take us long to reach the next stone. We all need to be in fighting shape when⁠—”

Laurel interrupted me with a loud burp. “Sorry, not sorry.”

I chuckled. “Anyway, we can drink a little. Let’s make sure that none of us overdo it. We’ll be there in a few hours, most likely, and I’m sure we’ll have to do quite a bit of fighting to get and keep the⁠—”

Laurel rolled her eyes. “What does it matter if the queen takes the stone again?”

Harken squeezed my hand, offering reassurance—likely because she could see me getting frustrated.

“She won’t take the stone again.

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