Chapter 799 (1/2)

Three days later, Randidly stood on the bow of his longship and looked at the foggy shore of the Death School. Some of the more seafaring among the crews had warned that the Death School was an inhospitable place to land, but Randidly was still surprised by the shore; it looked to him like the exposed bottom jaw of some long-dead monster.

“Not a great first impression,” Randidly muttered to himself. Flexing his hands, he reached out through his inner connection to reach Acri and Sulfur.

Immediately, Randidly could feel Acri’s joy. And it was clear why; they were close. If Randidly wrecked his ships against those exposed stone teeth and sprinted for the rest of the day, he didn’t doubt that he would finally be able to seize Acri before dusk. It wasn’t what he planned on doing, but it being a possibility was nice. Truly, he missed his equipment.

It was easy to forget the small, understood things he had relied on Acri for when the two were working together. But when all he wielded was cold wood…

Truly, it made Randidly appreciate the equipment he had made. Not only for the convenience of always having it there, but their connection was so intuitive that Acri would stretch when it needed to in order to strike a target that was attempting to dodge.

But seeing the shore reminded Randidly of the end of his conversation with the Oracle.

“Thank you for the story, but how is that relevant to what I am doing right now?” Randidly had asked.

Cackling, the Oracle answered. “Well, you are right. Not directly. Perhaps I warn about the folly of plans? But mark my words, Mr. Ghosthound. Should you land on the Death School land, neither you nor your Crown will be able to return to the Spearman School in time to see your Master. By that time… he will have passed from this world…”

Which, Randidly reflected, was a very ambiguous statement. Based on what he understood about the Second Calamity from both his acquisition of the Ashen Image and then this story, after defeating the Second Calamity a portal would appear. This “Ascension” through the portal was somehow part of passing the Second Calamity. But of course, all the details that would be actually helpful to know were absent.

Still, if Shal truly was gone by the time Randidly returned, it was possible he simply had ascended rather than died.

Gritting his teeth, Randidly threw his hands up to the sky. Which brought him right back around to wondering why the Oracle was attempting to prevent him from making landfall on the Death School. Randidly turned and glanced behind.

Like a hungry whale following a school of minnows, the huge cruise liner of the Oracle loomed behind his longboat caravan. Since hailing Randidly the first time and speaking with him, the Oracle made no attempt to interfere with his group's journey. At least not in any way that Randidly could detect. And likely not at all. The voyage here was rather uneventful. A starving child could have navigated the placid seas that Randidly had faced.

That ominous wind after his meeting with the Oracle had turned out to be nothing.

Honestly, the fact that it had been so easy made Randidly nervous. It made it seem much more likely that the trouble was waiting out beyond the edge of his vision. Randidly’s hand went up to his chest. There was a budding pain there.

Sighing, Randidly best to ignore the pain. He already knew that his Soulskill was approaching the end of its viability. Alta was preparing to force his hand. And Randidly was not looking forward to attempting a remaking of himself while this boat loomed over him. In addition, Randidly’s plans wouldn’t be possible on the sea.

Which was why, no matter how intimidating it may be, the rocky shoreline was a relief.

What was also weird was that it wasn’t that the Oracle wanted to stop him, per se, she just warned of the costs of landing…

“Well then,” Randidly announced to the salty air. Time was growing short. “No more waiting around. Time to make landfall.”

*****

Even Ophelia’s face was smudged with dirt and ash. “Let’s not panic. There’s been an attack, but the damage is not as serious as it appears-”

“This is not an attack,” Shal growled. He gestured out the window to the haze of thick black smoke that wafted up from a dozen sizable fires. “There were Wight forces within the city. Strike forces, true, but that doesn’t it mean it will not be difficult. Even if we are not truly fighting the Wights, this-’

“You are right, of course. I must go speak with Aylwind immediately.” Ophelia picked up her spear and spun it. Even from the casual movement, the air hummed with a strange note. “Your girlfriend is already here, is she not? Safe. Therefore, go out and pacify any rogue elements within the city. They spread chaos. End it. Start with the Southern portion.”

Shal grunted, not pointing out that it was Ophelia’s meddling that he and Rumera were still in their squat base rather than exploring the city. For the third time this month, Ophelia had demanded a dinner. She had even allowed Shal to invite Rumera.

Allowed, Shal thought sourly. Convenient.

Yet, if this was truly all according to plan, why was Ophelia’s generally perfect hair messed up? Where did the smudge on her face come from? Shal was aware that Ophelia had moved immediately when the attack came. He was sitting with Rumera before the decided upon mealtime.