Wynter's Edge by Lucas Pederson

Author:Lucas Pederson [Pederson, Lucas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-27T22:00:00+00:00

NINE

The cold lake mist dampens my face and clothes.

Ahead is only gray nothingness.

I don’t know how close I am. Can’t see shit. For all I know I’m about to crash into some island or the other side of the lake. What if the lake isn’t as large as it appeared from the beach? What if the mists obscured everything? Questions abound, worming their way into my chest, writhing in my mind, feeding doubt and worry.

I shake my head, breathe deeply, forcing myself to calm down even as my heart whip-cracks against my ribs.

Under me, the floor of the ferry creaks, boards rising and falling while the motors grumble. If any of them breakdown out here, I’ll be stranded. Adrift and helpless for gods know how long. I could attempt magic, of course. Though magic doesn’t always work on some things. Some things…just can’t be touched, regardless. Especially if there’s a counter charm that has been placed.

For now, though, everything seems fine. This does little to ease my nerves, though. The mist is too damn thick to relax. Too—

A large wave rolls into the ferry from the right. I barely have enough time to hold onto a rusty rail before it crashes into the side and splashes into me. The force is enough to bend the metal rail and for one god’s awful second, I think I’m going overboard. Then it’s over. Water sloshes over the wooden floor. Water drips from everything, including me. And I’m utterly soaked, head to toe.

I straighten and wring out my tunic. “Perfect. This is just—”

I glance to the left, spot another swell rolling toward me. “Oh, for gods sake.” I find a different rail on the left side of the ferry and crouch just as the wave bombards the ancient vessel. Water sprays, pounds onto the floor. In a few seconds, it’s done. I stand in water now above the tops of my boots. I tap the water and whisper, “Bailious controne.”

All the water in the ferry shifts to the bow, rises into the air and crashes back into the lake.

I’m a little surprised. Water created by magic rarely behaves to the bailious spell. Heh, well, at least I know it works here.

Ahead, the mists finally begin to part. A gradual thing, like slowly pulling a cloud of bubbles apart.

Without the mist I won’t feel so damn suffocated. Maybe the worry will—

It rises out of the lake, cleaving the mist. The ferry rocks, water splashing over the sides to the floor. I hold on, gaping at the sheer size of the thing. Massive doesn’t cut it. The dragon from the ruins was massive. This thing…holy hells, it’s goddamn titanic. It rises, body rearing like a snake. Water drips from black and silver scales. Its triangular head lowers, blazing purple eyes fixed on me. A deep rumble shakes the very air around me.

I go for my sword and the monster serpent’s maw opens, expelling a roar. The breath has enough force to send me back peddling until my butt slams against the back rails of the ferry.

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