Part 42 (2/2)
”I'm Rain. What's your name?”
”Mate of the Key,” the redhead muttered.
”Mate of the Key!” Rain snapped. ”What the h.e.l.l is that supposed to mean, Blaze?”
”My name's Lock.”
The redhead cast Rain a knowing look. ”As I said, Mate of the Key.”
”You'll get used to Blaze,” Rain told Lock. Again, he glanced at his redheaded companion who was murmuring to himself as he st.i.tched a gash in the head of an unconscious Knight. Rain added, ”No. I lied. Most of us never get used to Blaze, but he has a good heart and is the best healer in our Order. Lock's your name? Why does that sound so familiar?”
”Erik's acquaintance,” Blaze supplied.
”Sir Erik?” Lock asked. ”I met him and another Knight, Warrant, in Begonia.”
”Oh, right.” Rain nodded. ”He told us about your skill in the ring and how you killed Miska.”
To Lock, it seemed so long ago that he and Sparrow had lived in Begonia. It had been the best and worst time of his life. He thought it was strange how he and the Knights of the Ruby Order had crossed paths twice.
Sparrow stepped inside carrying two buckets of water. She glanced at Lock with curiosity as he helped Blaze set Rain's broken leg.
”Good,” Blaze said. ”You'll be a fine addition.”
”To what?”
”Pay him no mind.” Rain waved his hand in Blaze's direction.
”Ignore what you don't understand and you'll understand it no better next year,” Blaze told him.
”I've known you over fifteen years, Blaze, and I still don't understand!”
Sparrow filled a bowl with water and brought it to Blaze so he could clean blood from his charge's face. The redheaded Knight smiled at her. ”Thank you, Little Bird.”
She giggled. ”How did you know my name?”
”Thought your name was Sparrow,” Lock muttered.
Blaze shrugged. ”Sparrow. Little Bird.”
”I like that,” Sparrow said. ”What can I do to help?”
For the next several hours, they cared for the injured. Afterward, Sparrow prepared a quick meal of bread and fruit. Just as they were about to eat, Torn and Crag returned.
”That was an admirable display of courage,” Torn said to Lock. ”But I wonder what you were doing out in the middle of a storm?”
Blaze glanced at Lock. ”Guided by the Spirits.”
”In a way I guess I was. I dreamed your s.h.i.+p was sinking. I've had dreams before that came true, and I knew this one was the same.”
”You risked your life to help us,” Crag said. ”And simply for a dream. Few people would have done that.”
”Lock's a rare man.” Sparrow rested a hand on her husband's arm.
”Not really. I understand the sea, that's all. I've been in enough storms and wrecks to know what to expect.”
”In a half built fis.h.i.+ng s.h.i.+p?” Rain looked skeptical.
”No.” Blaze stared at Lock. ”The blood on his hands is not from fish alone.”
”I've never heard it put quite that way.” Lock raised an eyebrow. ”I've sailed all over the world and seen my share of battles. I'm not proud to say I caused most of them. I was a SothSea pirate.”
”I see. ” Torn's eyes swept Lock. ”How did you end up here?”
”Striving for redemption.” Lock winked at Sparrow, a gesture of affection without humor.
”Well, you've made a h.e.l.l of a good start,” Rain said, tearing a chunk of bread with his teeth. ”You're-”
”Lock the White,” Crag said. ”I've heard of you.”
”Lock the White?” Torn narrowed his eyes. ”I thought you were dead. Apparently Erik must have thought so, too. He spoke of a man called Lock whom he wanted to recruit, but evidently didn't realize you were the pirate.”
Sparrow said, ”Lock the White is dead. My Lock is alive.”
”I can't erase what I've done, Sparrow.”
”None of us can,” Crag told him. ”But just because we can't change what we've done doesn't mean we can't improve what we do. You're lucky to have realized that.”
”I had some help.” Lock slid his arm around Sparrow and drew her to his side. ”From my...little bird.”
Sparrow smiled at him.
”Why were there so few on board?” Lock asked. ”That was a good sized vessel.”
”We went to lend aid to a small southern island Zaltana was invading.” Torn shook his head. ”They never give up.”
Crag took a swallow of tea and said, ”They never will. Trust me.”
”What about you?” Rain nodded in Lock's direction. ”How did a SothSea pirate end up in the ring at Begonia and on a fis.h.i.+ng s.h.i.+p out here?”
”It's a long story.”
”We have time.” Blaze's blue eyes were wide with interest. In spite of the man's strange ways, Lock liked him.
He sighed and began, ”My s.h.i.+p went down off the coast of Lower Kenna. The crew died at sea, but the last thing I remember is swimming...”
The Knights exchanged glances when Lock finished his story.
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