Starfinder: A Novel of the Skylords (12 page)

The man squatted down and held up his hands. Moth’s sleepy eyes could barely make him out. “No harm, no harm,” he said quickly. “Don’t be afraid.”

“What do you want?” hissed Fiona. “We don’t have anything to take.”

Moth saw a grin open on the stranger’s face. “I’m not here to rob you, girl. No, no. I’m a friend, here to help . . .”

He spoke quickly, too quickly for Moth’s drowsy brain. All Moth knew was that he looked unsavory. “Go on!” Moth ordered. “Leave us alone! The others will be back soon. If they catch you here . . .”

The man cackled. “Am I an idiot, boy? I didn’t know that!” He stood up, the moonlight catching his weathered hat, its wide brim shadowing his grizzled face. “You’re alone. I know you are because I’ve been watching you.”

Fiona let go of Moth’s hand and stepped toward the stranger. “Watching us? Why? I’m the granddaughter of Governor Rendor. If anything happens to me you’ll—”

“No!” said the man, covering his ears. “No names! The less I hear the better for us all.”

“Who are you?” Moth asked again. He was less afraid now, but growing wildly curious. “Why were you watching us?”

“To help you,” said the man. A tall, lanky fellow, he stooped down to face them, his long, threadbare coat brushing the grass. “You need help, don’t you? You’re lost.”

“We’re not lost,” said Fiona hotly. “We know exactly where we’re going. We have—”

“A map,” Moth jumped in, hoping Fiona wouldn’t mention the star machine. “Besides, it’s not your business where we’re going. How’d you get here anyway?” Moth squinted for a better look him. “You’re a human, aren’t you?”

Once more the man laughed, an unsettling, mad giggle that made Moth cringe. “Oh, yes. As human as the day I stepped through the Reach! And proud of that I am, too. But we talk too much . . .” He scrunched his head on his shoulders and listened to the night. “We should go now.”

“Go? With you?” Fiona folded her arms. “We’re not going anywhere.”

For the first time the man seemed genuinely annoyed. “I know where you’re going,” he said in a dangerous whisper. “You’re looking for Merceron.”

“Who told you that?” said Moth. He slid toward his coat to protect the star machine, then saw Lady Esme already guarding it.

The man shook his head. “No names, no questions.”

“Moth, we only spoke to that mermaid,” said Fiona. “She must have told him.” She glared at the stranger. “Is that right? Did she tell you about us?”

“We’re running out of time,” said the man. His voice was almost pleading. “In a few more hours the sun will be up. Walking to the hills will take too long.” He hoisted a thumb over his shoulder. “I have a boat ready to go. I’ll row you there, but we have to leave now.”

“Why?” asked Moth. “What are you afraid of?”

The man’s face twisted under his wide hat, as if considering how best to answer. “No,” he said finally. “We can’t talk about it.”

“What do you mean, can’t?” said Fiona.

“Can’t! Can’t!” raved the man. “As in
cannot!
We can’t speak of any of this. I wouldn’t even be here if Serana hadn’t begged me. The more we talk the more time we give them to sniff us out.”

“Who are you talking about?” asked Moth. “Please, you’re not making any sense.”

“No, that’s it,” snapped the man. “Close your mouth and move your legs. Do it now or I’ll leave without you. I’m risking too much helping you.”

He turned his back and started walking toward the river. Moth and Fiona glanced at each other, stunned by what was happening. They were in danger, probably, but Moth had no idea what kind. Or maybe the man was just a lunatic.

“That mermaid told him to help us,” said Moth. “But why?”

“He’s leaving,” said Fiona. “Should we call him back?”

Moth couldn’t think straight. They hadn’t expected to see another human here, and it was still a long, exhausting walk to the hills. A boat ride would make that a lot easier. And if the man knew Merceron . . .

“Wait!” Moth called after him. “We’re coming!”

THE FIRST HINTS OF DAWN greeted Moth as his eyes fluttered open. He was in the little boat, and didn’t even remember falling asleep. Lady Esme clung to the prow like a figurehead. Near her, Fiona remained blissfully asleep. And there was the stranger in the middle of the boat, positioned between Moth at the bow and Fiona at the stern, rowing slowly and tirelessly toward the hills.

Moth lifted his head and rubbed his forehead. “How long have I been sleeping?” he asked groggily.

“Couple of hours,” the nameless man replied. “You and your friend must be dog tired. You both dropped off talking to each other.”

Moth glanced past him toward Fiona and Esme. Both seemed safe and content. Hadn’t he expected them to be? Moth wasn’t sure. He was grateful for the stranger’s help, but he still had no answers. Remembering the star machine, Moth groped in a panic for his coat. It was right where he’d left it, in the bottom of the boat.

“I told you,” said the man softly, careful not to wake the others. “I’m not a thief.” Then he grinned, adding, “Well, not anymore.”

He had taken off his hat and laid it in the boat, freeing his face of shadows, yet he remained a mystery. He’d simply taken them aboard and shoved off down the river, which wasn’t green anymore but a typical, boring shade of blue. There wasn’t anything magical about the man, either. No tail, no wings; just a man, thin and ragged, like the vagrants that sometimes got off the train in Calio. A wiry brown beard covered his chin and his hair hung limply down his forehead.

“Look there,” whispered the man, craning his neck toward the hills. They’d made good progress while Moth was sleeping. “Another hour or two,” he guessed.

“You’re sure we’ll find Merceron there?” asked Moth.

“Maybe. It don’t really matter. What you’ll find is the sunken forest. That’ll keep you hid.”

He was still talking in riddles. “So you don’t know where Merceron is?”

“Just rumors. That’s all anyone knows. Me, I never seen a dragon in my life. Don’t care to, either.”

Moth slumped. “Great. So what’s so important about this forest?”

The man went on rowing. “Let’s just get you there, all right? I told you—too many questions.”

Moth felt uneasy again. What did he mean, he wasn’t a thief
anymore
? “Why are you helping us? It makes no sense. Who are you? How’d you get here?”

“If I tell you,” the man whispered, “then you can’t tell another living soul about me. Do you hear? And don’t tell me about yourself either. That would be even worse.”

“I won’t,” said Moth. “I promise.”

“My name is Raphael Ciroyan,” said the man. “From Outer Berne.” His brow crinkled. “Feels good to say it. Been a long time. This boat—made it myself. Didn’t know the first thing about boat making when I got here. Learned it all on my own.”

From the look of the boat that was easy to believe. “Raphael . . . I never heard that name before.”

“It was my father’s name,” declared the man proudly. “He’s dead now. My mother too. I had a brother when I left the world, but never had much use for him anyway.”

“And you live here? Through the Reach, I mean? By yourself?”

“Not quite by myself,” said the man. A grin stretched across his face. “You know anything about mermaids, boy?”

Moth shook his head. “I didn’t even know they existed till yesterday.”

“And I bet you nearly lost your mind when you saw her, eh? That’s their magic, to turn our heads the way they do. They’re crazy about human men. Whenever one comes through the Reach they try and keep him for themselves. Beautiful creatures, but lonely. Forget what you’re thinking about mermen; there’s no such thing. Just maids. Makes them real hungry for companionship.”

Moth imagined what that was like, loving the idea of living with the mermaids. “So that’s why you came here? For the mermaids?”

“Nah. I didn’t even know they were here. I came across the Reach because I had to. Wasn’t anything left for me in the world. Had folks chasing after me, too. Law types.”

“Oh,” said Moth darkly. “So you are a thief.”

The accusation made Raphael bristle. “You ever been to Outer Berne?”

“No,” Moth admitted. “I’ve never been anywhere but Calio.”

“Calio? Calio’s as soft as the queen’s garters compared to Berne. Real hardscrabble there. Nothing but dead industries, hopelessness. Would you blame a man for stealing to feed himself? That’s all I did.” Raphael’s smile was roguish. “More than once, I admit.”

“So you ran,” said Moth. Raphael’s story wasn’t so different from his own. “When was that?”

“Oh, a long time ago. So long I can’t even remember. Mermaids make a man forget a lot of things. I ran from the noose right into those tender arms. Didn’t make much sense to think about going back.”

“She’s the one that told you about us, right? That mermaid we saw?”

“Serana’s her name,” said Raphael. “Yeah, she told me. Humans aren’t supposed to come through the Reach. Been a long time since the last one. And there’s never been children come across.”

“So there’s others? Where are they?”

Raphael’s face darkened. “It’s not safe for humans here, and it’s not safe for you. That’s why I’m helping you, because you’re just kids. And because you know Merceron’s name.” Seeing Moth about to speak, he put up a hand. “No, don’t tell me how you know it. Don’t tell me anything. Let’s just get you to that forest.”

Frustrated, Moth leaned forward. “Raphael, what are you scared of? What are we hiding from?”

Raphael shook his head, rowing deliberately. “Find Merceron. He’ll be able to answer your questions.” At the front of the boat, Fiona started to stir. Raphael smiled. “She’s the one with the temper, eh? Not you, though. You’re easygoing.”

“She’s my friend,” said Moth.

“Older than you, I’m guessing. Tall girl.”

“Careful,” warned Moth. “Don’t let her hear you say that.”

“Too late,” groaned Fiona. She sat up, blinking and scratching her red head, searching the river. “We almost there?”

“Hold tight, little gal,” said Raphael. “We’ll be there soon.”

 

The sun was over the top of the trees when the little boat coasted into the bay. Raphael stored his oars, letting the craft drift toward shore as his passengers marveled at the forest. Sugar-white sand pushed up against the trees, forming a gleaming beach, but the trees themselves were like nothing Moth had ever seen. He and Fiona crowded the prow for a better look.

“The sunken forest,” Raphael announced. “The end.” In fact the river did seem to end here, spilling out into a broad lagoon that broke past the sand in spots to flood the forest. Enormous tangles of roots erupted out of the sand like the gnarled hands of giants. There were places where the sand had gathered in ribbons through the forest, making little pathways. In other spots the roots were submerged. The sight of it made Moth shrink.

“How are we supposed to get through that?” he groaned. Lady Esme hopped onto his shoulder with a cry of distress.

The boat drifted to shore, beaching itself on the brilliant sand.

“Is Merceron far?” asked Fiona.

“Don’t know,” said Raphael. “Maybe.”

With little comfort from their guide, Moth and Fiona glanced at each other.

“I can take you back, if you want,” said Raphael. “But you can’t stay with the mermaids. You’ll have to head home through the Reach.”

“No,” said Fiona. Determined, she hopped over the gunwale to splash ashore. “We’ve come too far. We’ll find Merceron. I know we will.”

Moth made to follow her, pausing to consider his strange new friend. “Is there anything else you can tell us?”

Raphael smiled sadly. “Yeah,” he said. “Move fast.” He pointed to the top of the forest, which was so thick it formed a roof of leaves and branches. “That’ll hide you,” he said. “Just keep your mind clear. Forget about me. Don’t even think about me. Don’t think of home, don’t think of anything. Just keep on moving.”

Moth nodded, as confused as ever. “Thanks,” he said, and reached out to shake Raphael’s hand. “And don’t worry—I’ll keep my promise. I won’t tell anyone about you.”

“Does that go for you too, little gal?” Raphael asked Fiona.

“Promise,” said Fiona. She added wistfully, “I wish you could stay with us.”

“Can’t,” said Raphael. “But you don’t need me. You got each other, and you got each other this far. Just remember what I told you—keep moving and don’t think about anything.”

Moth grabbed his coat, felt the bulge of the star machine in its pocket, and leaped out of the boat. Together he and Fiona trudged to shore with Lady Esme, then watched as Raphael Ciroyan shoved off with his oars, heading back to his mermaids.

SERANA RETURNED TO HER ROCK the next day, happy to be alone once again. She was worried about Raphael but not
too
worried; he would find his way back to the lagoon, she was sure. And they had done the right thing, helping the human children. Serana was sure of that, too. She reclined lazily on her rock, her tail gently swishing the water, and closed her eyes against the hot sun. The warmth felt good on her skin and scales. Her family’s waters extended only a few miles, but they were wonderfully quiet waters, and except for Raphael Ciroyan no other humans had ever disturbed them until the children arrived.

Forget them,
Serana told herself.

It wasn’t helpful to think about them. Thoughts like that could only bring trouble. And it was such a beautiful day . . .

Serana wasn’t like her sisters, who preferred the deep waters of their caves and never went exploring. They were musical, while she was quiet. They were sound, but she was dreamy. Someday, she would even explore the sunken forest itself.

“Someday,” she vowed softly.

A group of egrets floated nearby, picking at insects with their long beaks. Serana watched them with mild interest, until she noticed another bird near them, wading close to shore. Her lips pursed with surprise. Slowly, silently, she slid down the rock into the water.