Quick and Important Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of activity and updates on Wattpad. I had an emergency during the holidays and had to move out of my apartment. I'm back in my hometown but sadly don't have internet at the moment. I uploaded this chapter with my phone through a document transfer from my laptop and a downloaded app. So I apologize if there is any weird formatting. If there is, let me know, and I'll try to fix it.

20.

Sailing Bones

The captain was excited when he realized a Gabard had boarded his ship. He claimed to be a distant cousin from one of the bannermen under the Gabard name. If the truth, Sianna felt his toothless grins and poxy face probably made his cousins think he wasn't distant enough.

Captain Theerio, as he introduced himself, dragged Sianna and the rest-minus Iari and Kota that boarded the ship separately-through the deck, pointing out which staircases lead to which dwelling.

Deckhands were scattered throughout the whole ship. They worked on deck, bringing up the anchor, and aloft, tying the sails. Whenever a sailor would scuttle by them, the captain would shout at him in his native tongue. Sianna was impressed at how many languages the gritty looking captain knew. Once the ship was adrift, dozens of oars thrust out from the sides of the hulls and dipped into the water, pushing the ship out of the port.

As soon as movement was felt, Deneck's jaw set and his eyebrows furrowed under his blindfold. It wasn't till Deneck gripped the railing with the movement of a moderate wave that Sianna realized he was seasick. A laugh almost slipped out from her at the absurdity of it: such a human thing for a Rhokin to feel ill.

"Are you feeling sick as well, Reth?" Sianna asked him as they continued to follow the captain's long, salt-eaten coat.

"No, ser, but I feel Deneck's sickness is quite strong," he answered without looking at her.

The dark-haired Rhokin was on one knee, both his hands clutching the railing so tight, Sianna felt she could see the white of his knuckles though his black gloves. Aldermeck was standing by him, a hand on his back.

The captain gave them a sympathetic look. "You alright there, Brother?"

Aldermeck turned to him. "Would you mind taking us to our quarters? Brother Han does not do well on the sea."

Captain Theerio looked at Lycin as if asking for permission. He smiled and nodded. The captain returned the gesture and took them belowdecks to a hallway of cabins lit by lanterns nailed to the walls. The wooden doors were widely spread apart, suggesting the rooms were spacious. At the end of the passageway was a set of stairs that probably led to less savory parts of the boat.

"My cabin shall be yours, Lord Gabard," the captain said, pointing to the double doors to the right.

Lycin smiled as he eyed the deep and elaborate carvings on them. "And your bed?"

He gave a toothless grin. "Wide and large, m'lord."

"Excellent. I thank you for your services, Captain Theerio. My House shall remember your hospitality towards me. Have my things brought up here, but leave them outside for now. I'm going to be busy." Lycin opened one of the doors with one hand and pulled on Calera's arm with the other. The door closed behind them and the sound of a sliding lock was heard.

Sianna crossed her arms, staring at the carved swirls and leaves on the double doors. The captain's chuckle caught her attention.

"You can pick any three rooms for yourselves," he said to them.

"No need for an extra room," Aldermeck said, holding up the slouched Deneck. "I will be staying with Brother Han."

The captain gave them an odd look. Only sisters could sleep in the same room. Brothers slept alone, not even able to sleep in the same room with another Brother.

"Brother Han is ill enough that he will require my aid during the night," Aldermeck said and without waiting for a response, opened the door nearest to her.

Sianna watched as the two staggered into the room. Deneck's head was bowed, occasionally rolling to the side to rest on Aldermeck's shoulder. What awed Sianna the most was not how sick the Rhokin appeared but Aldermeck's actions. Her usual sharp and long strides were stifled down to shuffled, patient steps as she helped guide Deneck. Her lips moved as she murmured unheard words to him, some that made him smile. Each of his shaky grins put a pleased smile on Aldermeck's lips.

Tender. Not how I thought I would ever see Ser Aldermeck. And towards a Rhokin. Sianna glanced up at Reth by her side. He too was looking at Deneck, and she wondered if he thought if she would ever treat him like that.

"My sers, I have to take my leave and tend to my ship, but know she is yours," Captain Theerio said and, glancing at Sianna's sheathed sword by her side, walked away.

"Ser, shall this be our room?" Reth asked.

He had walked down the hallway and stood next to the door neighboring Aldermeck and Deneck's. She also noted it was the room furthest away from Lycin's. For a moment, she thought of taking a separate room. The captain had offered three rooms, but there was something within Reth's face that made Sianna reconsider.

"That is fine," she said with a hesitant smile.

He seemed to notice her reluctance. "Ser? Is there something wrong?"

She placed a hand on her sword. "No, Reth. I need you to do something. See if you can find Iari and the Nayichi and bring them to my room."

"Yes, ser," he said with the usual jut of his chin.

As Sianna watched Reth disappear up the stairs, his cloak bouncing with his steps, she suddenly felt the urge to leave instead of entering her cabin like she had planned. It wasn't till she heard a faint slapping sound coming from Lycin's room that Sianna ascended the stairs.

The deck appeared less hectic, the sailors reporting to their designated spots. Sianna saw a group of men hauling their trunks towards the cabins as she made her way to the stern. She passed by identical sun beaten faces that gave her the same suspicious expression.

A Guard member on a cargo ship was an odd sight. Even if those giving her a strange look were foreigners, she figured they had sailed long enough to know the Guard of Dracarr had their own navy and personal ships to transport them. Sianna's story of having to escort Brother Han was probably one that was not believed, but the captain accepted their money all the same.

The top of Aldermeck's head appeared from a hole in the floor. She was climbing up the stairs that, if Sianna remembered correctly, lead to the kitchens. She caught sight of Sianna and walked up to her.

"What are you doing out here, Sianna?" she asked.

"I actually don't know, Meryl," she answered.

Under her hood, Aldermeck gave a big smile. Her crooked teeth made it appear even wider.

"What?"

"Nothing for you to worry about, Sianna. You simply said something that made me very happy. Actually, it was more in the way you said it."

Sianna frowned at her, but before she could say anything, Aldermeck spoke.

"Our journey should not be too long. It takes three days to reach Fenris Island and we are supposed to find this Ayodite place before that," she said.

"Yes, but I still don't understand how. There's a lot I don't understand that happened when we met Vulharis. I told Reth to find Iari and bring him to my room. There is much I need to ask that damn boy."

Aldermeck chuckled. "I leave it to you, then, Leitnant Rayoss. Poor Deneck needs someone to hold his hand in order to take a piss."

Sianna laughed. "You really care for him, don't you?"

She smiled. "What a silly question, Sianna. You should know." Aldermeck pulled out a bottle of wine she was hiding in her robe. "I got this from the cook for Deneck. How friendly of him to have given it to me."

"We do have such friendly sailors here."

"So you've seen how they stare at us too?"

They grinned at each other.

Aldermeck nodded. "You know where to find me. Our trunks have been delivered, by the way."

As Sianna watched her walk away, she grinned. She knew the cook hadn't given Aldermeck the wine; Aldermeck had demanded it.

She turned towards the sea and leaned her elbows on the thick, wooden rail, coated brown-orange with noheilo, the substance that allowed ships to cut through frozen waters and floating ice. She saw the coating was also on the oars that rowed them further away from port. Sianna listened to their synchronized dips and pulls, smelling the frigid salt air that bathed her in goose bumps. A melody danced in her throat and emerged as a hum, the words playing through her head.

More sea wives than the next
A mermaid's tale o'er land legs
Calm and blue as she rests
A clam's kiss to ward her wraths

O' oar, oar, oar! No rest!
I shall live to hundred and three
For my mistress is the sea...

Sianna finished the hundred and three verses, surprised at how little effort it had taken to recall the entire song. Her thumb and forefinger were rubbing her mother's necklace, something she hadn't noticed she was doing until she looked down. The smile on her lips had also astonished her.

She heard footsteps approaching her.

Sianna turned around expecting Reth, but Lycin grinned at her. He was out of his Guard uniform and in a long, violet tunic, slashed at the chest to expose the silver cloth underneath. Despite his attire, his wavy hair was unkempt.

"Sianna," he said as he stood next to her, his back towards the railing.

She scowled, her joyous mood soured. "It's Leitnant Rayoss, Centurio Lycin Gabard. Why are you out of uniform?"

"Because I am sure whatever it is that you are doing here will kick you out of the Guard or if not demote you and take away your pretty Rhokin. As far as I'm concerned, you're no longer my superior." He smiled at her.

Sianna sucked in air through her teeth. He never would have spoken to Aldermeck like that, even if she had stumbled into the same situation as her. In fact, Lycin seemed to still address Aldermeck as a Leitnant despite her sister disguise and fall from the Guard-the latter unknown to him.

"I could say the same to you, Lycin. You chose to come with us even thinking that, but it still doesn't change our positions. I still am above you. You should be in your uniform."

The only reason Lycin was with them was because in exchange for paying for their voyage he asked to come along. It seemed his notion of making Sianna "quite grateful" was for him to be with her.

He shook his head. "I have yet to be told what is going on. Though it must be interesting since there's a Nayichi with you, a companion the Guard would never dream of assigning to anyone. So why should I oblige when I have not been told of what's going on?"

She clamped her teeth shut inside her mouth. It had been Calera who had discovered Kota. When Sianna and the rest went to meet up with her, waiting by their desired boat, Calera was standing next to her as if she had been keeping watch over the Nayichi.

If that meant Lycin knew about Sianna being Marked, she didn't know. Even if he figured it out, she would make sure he didn't find out about what Vulharis told them. She planned to enter Ayodite without him.

Sianna gripped the rail. "You didn't ask to be told what was going on. You only asked to come along."

"I'm asking now." Lycin leaned on the guardrail with his elbows and crossed his ankles.

She met the slyness in his eyes for a moment and turned around to walk away but Lycin's hand shot out and caught her wrist. Sianna felt as if his touch went through her armor. She whirled around to face him, anger twisting her face to bare her teeth.

"Let me go," she warned.

He chuckled and pulled her towards him. Sianna tripped over his feet and landed on his chest. Lycin wrapped an arm around her waist, spun, and pinned her between the rail and himself. "Even after having Calera, you still entice me, Sianna," he said, his fingers in her hair.

She remembered Torm's teasing words that claimed Lycin was probably thinking of her while he was with Calera in bed. Sianna's stomach felt like it had been punched and it wasn't from Lycin crushing her.

"Why don't you come with me to my room, Sianna? You already know I want you." His lips moved on her ear.

Sianna saw red. The entirety of her being was focused on her fist as it connected with Lycin's jaw. The sound of lobstered plate catching skin satisfied her. Lycin hissed and stepped away from her. Red vines dripped between his fingers as his hand held back the blood on his face.

She had expected to see spite and anger in his eyes, but they kept their cool slyness. In fact, Lycin smiled at Sianna as he handed something to her. It was a red key.

"It is for your room. The captain just gave them to me. The color on the key matches the doorknob," he said. His voice was strong and audible for someone who seemed to have an injured jaw.

She took it, too stunned at his peculiar behavior to question how he knew which room she had picked, but the tink of the key hitting her armor summoned her anger. Sianna glared at Lycin's bloody face before walking away.

She found the stairs to the cabins on her third try, and by the time she entered her room, she felt her wrath as a ring of fire around her.

"Sianna!" Iari smiled and bound towards her, but he stopped when he saw her glower.

She closed the gap between them. "No more lies, Iari!" Sianna grabbed his collar and shoved him on the bed.

"Sianna, what are you doing?" Kota asked from the corner of the room. She was in her human form dressed in a plain white and green dress.

"Getting the truth. Stay out of it, Nayichi. You too, Reth."

"Ser, you won't hurt him?" he asked.

Sianna faced him. She had heard the question, but she was having trouble understanding it. The fog lifted and she recognized Iari's scared and confused expression looking up at her. She sighed. "No. I'm sorry." She stepped away from the young man.

"Sianna?" Iari said. His young face now showed his usually hidden scars, and he towered over her as he stood. "You're still angry 'cause of w'at 'appened with Vulharis. When I summon' fire. But I already said I didn't know I 'ad that power."

"Well then what do you know that you can do? And why did you pretend to use a channeler when we all saw you clearly don't need one?"

He hesitated, appearing sad. "I'm no' sure. I know I 'an 'eal really good 'an I know I 'an do little things like tell if someone is lying or 'ide my magick or the magick of others. But I promise, Sianna, I didn' know I 'ad the power of fire."

Sianna scrutinized him. Iari could be telling the truth, for once, but she had already made up her mind not to trust him. He was given an artifact by a wizard Sianna trusted even less to open up a gateway to a homeland of magickal creatures she just found out existed yesterday. Of course Sianna wasn't going to trust him. Or Kota.

"This item you're looking for, The Eye of Artemis, what is it?" Sianna asked the Nayichi.

Kota narrowed her human grey eyes and pushed the messy red hair out of her face. "I need it in order to be accepted into my tribe again."

Sianna blinked at Kota's forwardness. It was a welcome surprise. She decided to take advantage of it. "What made you think Vulharis had it?"

She shrugged. "It was through searching. I've been searching for decades."

Back to her usual vagueness. Sianna frowned.

She had hoped to get answers. Her mind was still whirling from the event at Vulahris' tower, but she felt it was too much to hope that Iari and Kota had answers just because they used magick. More than likely, they were just as lost as she was, though better at dealing with it than her.

They were dealing with royal secrets. Sianna knew they were being used to clean up a mess. The only thing she believed in was the existence of the necromancer. The skeleton that attacked her so many nights ago was all the proof she needed, but why it had attacked her was another reason. The only thing that had changed in her life was the arrival of Reth.

Her eyes landed on the Rhokin as he stood in the room, his own silver stare on Kota. She grinned. At least she knew her Rhokin didn't trust the Nayichi either.

"Are you done glaring at us?" Kota said, moving to the door.

"No," Sianna said and cut off her stride by standing in front of her. "I need to know how we're all going to enter Ayodite. We don't know where the gateway is or where we will be on this boat when it is time to enter it, assuming we all have to be together to enter it."

Iari gripped the bound charm hanging from his neck. "I'll take care of it. Vulharis said I coul' do it."

"We don't know what it is."

"I can gather us together if it needs to be done. I'm quite fast," Kota said and sidestepped past Sianna and opened the door.

Sianna sighed. "You should probably go too, Iari. I punched Lycin earlier. You might want to fix that."

He had a puzzled look but nodded and left the room.

Sianna sat down on the feather mattress, impressed by the fact there was a bed in a cargo ship that wasn't in the captain's room, but it was the only notable thing. On the walls were countless shelves full of broken, wooden ships, colorful bottles, and dust. Piled trunks took up a quarter of the floor while another quarter was full of brass instruments used at sea.

Reth came up to her. "Ser, I was hoping to see how Deneck was fairing."

She gave a single chuckle. "That's fine. Stay as long as you please. When you return, bring in our trunks that were left outside, and take this key. We'll see if it works."

He nodded as he took the red key Sianna handed him. Once Reth left, she stripped off her armor and sword, adding more scratches to the floor as she let them drop. She slipped into the sheets that smelled of salt and mildew, but they were comfortable and warm. Sianna closed her eyes, feeling there was nothing else to do but sleep. She felt like it only lasted a second.

Reth was shaking her shoulder. "Ser, it is dinner time. We have been invited to sup at the captain's table."

Sianna didn't bother opening her eyes. Her desire to fall back asleep enveloped her as a second blanket. "I am not hungry, Reth," she mumbled through her grogginess.

"Ser?"

She heard the concern in his voice but it sounded far away. Sianna opened her eyes. "I said I don't want to go, Reth."

She sat up in an empty room. Dim, evening light entered through the single oval window. She never slept this long; time had disappeared on her. Sianna brushed her loosened hair away from her face, the sweat on her brow cool to the touch.

Goosebumps spread down her neck and back like a waterfall. A familiar sense of dread washed over her. Even before she stood up, she knew she was going to see it standing there. Sianna picked up her sword and turned towards the window. She was half right. It was there, but it wasn't standing.

The skeleton had wings of bone that jutted out from a lengthened rat tail spine that curled in the air. Instead of ivory fingers reaching towards each other, the ribs were curved down like falling arrows. Housed between them was a silver flame that wrapped around the bones like veins of platinum blood. Curled within its eye sockets was the same silvery fire.

Sianna took a step back. The skeleton floated towards her, and she saw it was a hovering, winged torso and nothing more.

"Not your first encounter, is it?" it spoke, its skeleton smile unmoving. The voice rang out as two: a male and a female's.

Sianna froze, the grip on her blade loosening. Her mouth worded out something, but no noise left her throat.

"You are on your way, yes?"

"Are questions the only way you can talk?" She lifted her sword higher, feeling a fire awakening inside of her too.

The skeleton made a sound that sounded like laughter. "Reth's magick is growing rapidly, too fast for a freshly assigned Rhokin. Everyone notices it. You have noticed it."

"Reth? What does he have to do with this?" she asked.

"I need to confirm, Sianna. I've waited so long..." It raised an arm. Mist enveloped around it like flesh and skin.

The sweat on Sianna's forehead was dripping into her eyes, but she didn't dare blink as she saw the skeleton move its hand to her face. It stretched out a finger, the haze around it streaming out and into her parted lips. Sianna tasted cold and dirt. Her throat ached to cough and her arms tensed to swing her sword but she was frozen from the inside.

"Oh, Sianna," it sighed.

Her sight left her and when it came back, she was back in the bed. The room was lit by candles held in tall stands nailed to the floor. Reth and Iari were by her side. The Rhokin was standing over her while Iari sat on the bed next to her.

"What the hell?" she whispered, her throat a dry desert.

"Ser?"

"Sianna!"

She put her arms up to wave away Iari's lean that suggested he wanted to hug her. "What happened?" she asked in a stronger voice.

Iari looked at Reth and then her. "We were 'oping you woul' tell us. Reth return' to the room to find you on the floor and he wen' to go get me only..." He shook his head. "I couldn' find anything wrong with you. We were worried, waitin' for you to wake up."

Sianna stared at the blackened floor, the skeleton's bizarre feminine and masculine voice ringing in her head. The taste of dirt coated her tongue as she spoke, "Are you two the only ones that know about this?"

"Would you like for me to bring Ser Aldermeck?" Reth asked.

"No. This stays between us three, do you hear that, Iari? Don't tell your Nayichi about this."

His hesitation was evident but he nodded with resolve.

Sianna licked her lips, welcoming the taste of sweat. "Another skeleton came. This one could fly."

Iari's eyes widened as much as Reth's narrowed.

"Are you sure you don't wan' to tell Meryl this? She-"

"No," Sianna cut off Iari. "Tell no one, Iari. Nothing."

He bowed his head. "Okay."

"Good. You can leave now."

"Are you sure? I can' look over you again."

Sianna saw the concern on his features and felt a faint tinge of guilt from when she had pushed him away. She also saw he donned on his younger brother's face again. Why he insisted on hiding behind it was a mystery to her.

"I feel fine now, Iari," she said in a calmer tone. "Thanks but leave."

He stood up and looked at Reth. "If something 'appens, you know where to find me."

The Rhokin nodded.

"Ser, do you need anything?" Reth asked when Iari had left.

"Yes," she said sitting up, resting her forehead on her palm. "Water."

As Reth went to fetch a cup, Sianna noticed her change of clothes. She was dressed in her linen shirt she reserved for sleep. "Did you change my clothes?"

Reth returned with her water. "Yes, ser. They were soaked with sweat. I thought you were running a fever, but you were cold to the touch."

She laughed. "You changed me in front of Iari?"

He also gave a small smile. "He turned away, ser."

Sianna devoured the water, soothing her throat and her nerves. She gazed at the Rhokin that stood over her, waiting for her orders. She wondered why the skeleton had mentioned him and why it had chosen to talk at all when the first one had attacked her. There were endless questions buzzing in her mind, but for once she kept her silence. Despite her long nap, her ordeal with the skeleton left her drained and her body craved sleep.

"Reth, blow out the candles. I need for tomorrow to come quickly," she said and fell back on the bed.

"Ser, will you be alright with our sleeping arrangement?"

"What?"

"We will be sharing a bed. I know of you distaste for me. I could sleep on the floor."

Sianna hadn't thought of that. There was only one bed and it was big enough for two. The thought of sleeping next to Reth didn't revolt her as much as she though it would.

"I won't make you sleep on the floor, Reth. You're welcome to sleep up here. Now blow the damn candles," she said.

"Yes, ser." His voice betrayed his amusement.

◌-◌-◌

Reth's blond hair shining in the sunlight caught her attention first. There was a dance of color waving through his locks and on his sleeping face. Sianna sighed. She knew she would rise early considering the extra hours of slumber she had taken. She was tempted to wake Reth, but found herself staring at him.

His stubble was longer. Reth would no doubt shave as soon as he woke up. His lips were chapped and had a pinkish hue to them she never noticed. Sianna had to admit there was some fascination towards the Rhokin. They appeared so human. She felt a constant need to remind herself they weren't.

It was when Sianna turned around that she felt the fur beneath her. She was certain the mattress was a featherbed but the undeniable itch of fuzz scratched at her skin. That was when she noticed what she thought was sunlight on Reth's face was a floating, yellow orb the size of an orange.

She sighed. "I'm getting fucking tired of not being able to wake up to a normal sight," she said under her breath.

The orb fluttered up to her face and Sianna realized it wasn't an orb. Inside the yellow aurora was a tiny body with wings, but the flesh on the petite physique was decayed. Its head was a clean picked skull. A high pitched hiss was heard as it zoomed away.

Sianna jumped to her feet, kicking the blankets away from her. She turned around to find dozens of the floating balls of light, each one a different color, bright enough to light up the entire area and keep the darkness that surrounded them at bay. She saw human bodies on the ground, asleep, and recognized them as Aldermeck and Deneck. A few feet away from them were Lycin and Calera, both appearing nude under their sheets. Sianna frowned.

"Sianna."

She turned around to see Iari. He was without his disguise, scars displayed.

"Iari. Are we...?" She choked on the word she wanted to say.

"We're in Ayodite. It 'appened during the night. Everyone was asleep, but I still did it. It-"

"Then why is Lycin here?" She pointed at him. "He wasn't supposed to come with us!"

Iari looked stunned. "Well I didn'...you never said..."

"No, out of all the places it had to be this one," Kota said.

Sianna and Iari turned to the sound of her voice to see the Nayichi rising from her sleep. She was in her original form but still wearing her green dress.

"What are you saying? We're in Ayodite, no?" Sianna asked.

"Ayodite is not just simply one place. This world is bigger than your own. Its smaller sections alone can seem endless. That we can see these fairy revenants around us means we're in the middle of...of..." She frowned like she was trying to remember something.

"Of where?" Sianna didn't hold back the irritation in her tone.

"Loosely translated to your language, we are in The Fresh Corpse." Kota smiled at them but it was replaced with a frown. "Which means we have to deal with him to get out of here."

"Him?"

"With Zerahdin, the Lich King and ruler of this entire corpse. You should know that is what we are standing on. This is not land."

Sianna looked down to see the golden-brown fur she thought she was sleeping on continued as far as she could see and into the horizon's blackness. A corpse of some creature?

Iari gaped at Kota. "You mean we're going to be walking on a corpse as big as a country?"

The Nayichi sighed and placed a hand on her hip as if annoyed by the entire situation. "Welcome to Ayodite."