Calliope [Book 2]
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The days turned into weeks as the boat continued onward towards their destination. The journey began to take it’s toll on the men on board. They grew cranky and irritable towards one another. Mido and Ian had broken up four fights within the last week, and Mido threatened to throw the next guy overboard should anyone step out of line.

Mido knew it wouldn’t be long until they reached the shores of Re’iam, and he grew more and more anxious with each passing day. The captain expected to be at Re’iam in two days time, should the weather hold up.

He knew the sea well and had anticipated an approaching storm. Mido could see the black clouds grow in the distance. It didn’t seem that they would make it to shore before the storm arrived. The captain called to his men, instructing them to ready themselves for the storm. Men hurried about the ship, battening down the hatches and readying themselves for the worst, as what was expected out at sea.

Mido and Ian watched as the storm clouds drew nearer, threatening them with their long, steady rolls of thunder. Lightning split the sky as their world grew dark and the storm drew closer and closer. The rain began to fall on their heads, slowly at first. Single drops splattered on the floorboards, followed by more and more, quicker and quicker, until the sky opened up. Rain fell heavily on the crew, plastering their hair to their faces as they shouted to one another over the rumble of thunder.

Mido pulled Lucas and Jon to his side, keeping them near and out of the way as the sailors did their work to keep the ship afloat and steady. The wind whipped through the sales and the thunder boomed angrily above them.

“Get below deck,” Mido shouted to the two young men, pushing them towards the door. Lucas didn’t dare argue, but Jon hesitated, catching Mido’s gaze. “Don’t argue with me,” he warned him. Maria pulled them toward her and they disappeared to the safety below deck.

The sails continued to whip fiercely in the wind, stressing the ropes that held them in place. The ropes pulled and stretched, threatening to snap at any moment. Water spilled over the edges of the ship as the waves grew larger and larger in the wind. They grabbed at the ship like the hands of a sea monster, threatening to pull the ship over and into it’s watery domains.

Mido and Ian held onto the rails, turning their heads as water splashed over the ship and onto them. The ship leaned and groaned as the waves battled against it’s wooden sides. Mido watched as the ropes trembled under the force of the sails against the wind. Just then, the rope snapped and flew back in the wind. The rope whipped through the air and the sail, without its attachment to the boat, flapped around with the storm.

Mido climbed onto the rail, reaching out in an attempt to retrieve the broken rope, but it was too far out of reach. He felt a hand on his leg pulling him backwards.

“Are you mad?” Ian shouted to him as he pulled him back onto the ship.

Soldiers and sailors hurried to the sail in an attempt to mend the ship as it continued to bounce against the waves. The jerking ship tossed them around, the storm showing no mercy. Men climbed the mast and balanced themselves as the boat continued to throw them around. They reached for the rope and sail, but the wind was too strong.

The captain shouted orders to his men as he gripped at the wheel, his knuckles turning white. The ship moaned and cracked threateningly. Soldiers hurried to Mido, yelling to him and pulling at his arms.

“King Mido, get below deck,” they ordered him. Ian grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door.

“I’m not going down there,” Mido shouted to him as the storm raged on.

“Just get down there, you stubborn ass,” Ian said, pushing him towards the door, but Mido stood his ground.

At that moment, there was a large crack. The two men turned in horror as they watched the mast snap and fall towards them. Ian dived toward Mido, pushing him out of the way as the mast came crashing down.

Mido rolled across the floor and onto his knees. He searched frantically for Ian, calling to him, but there was no response. He examined the remains of the mast, snapped in half after colliding with the top deck of the ship. The other half lay just where it fell on the ship. Mido peered through the sheet of rain and hurried to the broken mast. There, Ian lay, groaning at the weight of the mast on his legs.

“You stupid, stupid shit,” Mido muttered as he let his hands run along the mast. He tried to lift the mast, but it did not budge. He called to his soldiers and they hurried to join him, heaving at the mast until it lifted just enough for Ian to be dragged out from under it.

“You couldn’t just go below deck,” Ian muttered as they propped him against the wall of the ship. Mido pulled his pant leg back and inspected the injury.

“Shut it,” Mido hissed.

Ian moaned as Mido tended to his leg. He ripped at his shirt and wrapped the leg as best as he could.

“Some healing magic would be nice right about now,” Ian groaned as Mido worked.

“Drink something,” Mido muttered. “You’ll feel better in no time.”

Ian laughed lightly, wincing at the pain. Mido pulled him to his feet and guided him across the rocking ship and below deck where Maria waited. She hurried to him and inspected his leg as Mido sat him down. Lucas sat in the corner, his face pale as he leaned his head against the ship.

“That boy better toughen up,” Mido muttered.

“I’m takin’ care of ’im,” Maria assured him.

Mido hurried back up the steps to the deck of the boat, but the door was jammed shut. He banged on the door and threw his weight against it, but the door remained closed. Mido sighed and rejoined his friends below. He listened as soldiers dashed about on the deck above them. He could just barely make out voices shouting to one another as they battled the storm.

He lost track of how much time had passed since he was down there. Maria kept a watchful eye on Ian, periodically checking on his leg as he lay quietly on the floor. Mido eventually realized that the ship’s rocking had slowed. It seemed quiet above them. He ventured back up the wooden steps and attempted the door once more. This time, the door gave just enough for him to squeeze through and onto the deck.

The rain had slowed and the thunder rumbled quietly in the distance. The storm had moved on, tired of tormenting them. Mido inspected the scene and watched as the sailors worked to mend the ship as best as they could. The ship’s captain joined him at his side, his arms crossed over his chest.

“She’s gonna need some real help,” he muttered.

“Will we make it to Re’iam?” Mido asked.

The captain nodded. “Aye, we’ll get there. We’ve got another sail still standing, and I don’t ‘spect any more storms passin’ through. It will take us some time, but we’ll be able to bring you back home, Yer Highness.”

Mido nodded absentmindedly. He didn’t care about getting home. He didn’t even know where home was anymore, despite his banishment being lifted in Librona. But it wasn’t a concern to him. He just wanted to get to Re’iam in one piece.