CHAPTER 6: A Lantern in the Dark - Part 2

  Eiran leaned against the fence, both elbows resting on it. “What brings you here?”

  “My father wants me to visit an old friend in the east. For training.” To avoid the conscription – he could not say that.

  “The east... Some time ago, Terzion managed to land troops at the eastern tip of the mainland and seize some territories. But don't worry. If Terzion comes to our island by sea, the Southern Shields will take care of them. If they land troops, we have a cavalry captain who fought in Kargad’s War of Unification. I’ll also fight for our island.”

  “You? The military? I thought you were looking for your parents.”

  “The ocean currents of the Inner Sea are unique, Varn. At certain times, they swirl in one direction, and at other times they go in the opposite direction. The wind direction is even more unpredictable and doesn't always align with the currents.”

  Eiran coughed once before continuing. “There are also places that can only be reached during certain seasons. It's said that it takes seven years to visit all the shores around the Inner Sea. I need to have my own ship if I want to find them. Joining the military is my way there.”

  “Your parents in a port city?”

  “My uncle used to work as a hired hand at a port, and met my mother there. Ports are good places to start.”

  “But a ship? Without rank or position, you'll just be a grunt forever.”

  “Not if I'm a Decima. I'll take the Mana test and succeed. Don't forget about my reading and arithmetic skills.”

  “You can't win by counting how many times you get punched, or by writing the names of your enemies on a curse paper.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Ha ha ha, with letters and numbers, I can make plans. Haven't you ever heard the saying that captains talk strategy while generals talk logistics?”

  “No. Never heard of it. You’re just making things up.”

  Eiran laughed and then talked about his friends, how to retain body heat when falling into water, how to safely relieve oneself during a storm, how to tie knots with three broken fingers, and his girlfriend.

  Varne only had his training to talk about. He slashed, stabbed, slashed, stabbed. He got scratched, bruised, calloused, scratched, bruised, calloused. It had to be admitted that it was less exciting than learning how to turn his own turd into fishing bait.

  A flock of dark clouds intruded their conversation like curtains drawn to cover the sky. Raindrops fell without warning.

  “Dang!” Eiran said. “I need to get my horses to the stables.”

  “I should head back too. I'll be taking a carriage before–”

  Eiran turned away from Varne. He doubled over, coughing until his shoulders rocked. Both hands covered his mouth.

  “You doing well?” Varne placed a hand on his shoulder. Eiran's hands waved to signal he was fine, but his cough worsened.

  “Eir!” Varne pulled on Eiran's shoulder too hard, spinning him around. Between Eiran's fingers, blackish blood seeped.

  “Quite something, huh?” Eiran grinned. Blood stained his row of teeth. “I couldn't pass the physical test without the help of my friends, no one wanted to be my partner, and I still thought I could get my own ship.”

  “Hey, I'm sure you'll–”

  Eiran slapped his hand away. “Don't! I don't need pity or encouragement! I will succeed! Just watch!”

  He was stunned. Eiran had always been strong, indomitable. He had never seen him so… crippled. The rain poured down in a deluge, Eiran's black hair wilting, the blood from his mouth and hands washed clean.

  “Sorry, Varn,” Eiran said, his voice almost drowned out by the rain. “The military is strict about health issues. They don't want to waste resources on a dead weight. And so far, I’m worse than dead weight since dead weight doesn’t need food...”

  Eiran walked toward the stables a few steps. Without turning, he said, “I know where the carriages gather. I'll go there.”

  ***

  Varne's carriage moved away from Fhon. Each bump sent his body slamming into the carriage walls. Through the window, his eyes were fixed on the city wall, a dark stroke against the night sky.

  Eiran might be lying feverish in bed right now. He often did that.

  He was about to pull his head back when he caught a glimmer of light from the corner of his eye. A lantern. A lantern used to send signals. The figure behind it was not visible, even though he had sharpened his vision using Prana.

  However, seeing is not the only way to know. Varne returned to the carriage, smiling. Eiran did not need anything from him. He should just wait and see the outcome.