Haven was in full sail with a good tail wind. Everyone knew their job. Gabb was on the foredeck talking to the watch.
“Reporting for duty,” Cousin said.
“Report to the crow.” Gabb looked her over, a muted shine in his dark eyes. “Doing better this time? Didn’t pass out.”
“Yes, Sir. No, Sir. My memory returning helped. Easier ways of directing power. Less strain.”
“Good. Hop to. Up you go.”
“Aye, Sir.”
Cousin climbed into the crow’s nest ready to relieve the watch. She found Kraken. He motioned her to his side. They stood long minutes watching the distant horizons. The day was clear, and the sea had an easy flow to it. Haven made good time.
“I set course back the way we came,” Kraken said. “I want to dock at Laver’s Gull, three days out. We’ll stir the pot and see what floats up.”
Cousin looked a Kraken. The sunlight flamed his hair to a deep burgundy-orange. She swam in his green ocean eyes.
“What?” Kraken asked.
“I love you,” Cousin said.
Kraken stilled, his breath held.
“Don’t worry,” Cousin said, “I don’t need you to say it back. You’re right that I don’t understand all it means. Emotion was repressed during my training. Most of what I knew before Gabb and you and the crew was pain, fear, cruelty, and sorrow. Kindness and love and compassion were alien to me. I think that is why the Hunters left me on A’Yhno, so I would learn hate and retribution. I’m happy here. That’s enough to give me a greater Depth.
Kraken blinked. He breathed through parted lips. “Love. Greater Depth.”
Cousin laughed and gazed over the vast blue. “I don’t understand it. I only know I feel stronger, have more reserve than before. I should be weaker, have less after the damage – even with the memory that has returned. It can only be this ship that is my home, this family. Things worth dying, and killing for.”
Kraken put his hand over hers. A current ran between them. “You need to continue sword lessons.”
“I don’t like the sword,” Cousin said. “I was trained to the Sor-von.”
“Sor-von?”
“I’ve heard it called the Con-re.”
Kraken laughed, a sharp short sound. An image of Cousin with bloody hands and razor nails after the last battle came to sharp focus. “Why-on-the-great-waters-would-someone-teach-a-child-the-Con-re?”
Cousin shrugged. “The peoples of the Al’Ri don’t often use martial weapons. They expect their powers to be all they need. I was taught close combat as a element of surprise, and last line of defense. I’m small. Close quarters works for me. The sword is unwieldy, and even smaller, lighter ones are awkward.”
Kraken looked up into the sky. His body shook with silent laughter. “Gabb!”
“Aye, Captain”
“Do we still have that stash of enchanted weapons from that merch last year?”
“Aye. Still locked up, waiting for us to sort them.”
Kraken un-clipped the keys from his belt and tossed them down. “Take Cousin to find a weapon that suits her.”
“Aye.”
Kraken squeezed Cousin’s hand. “Be careful. We’re not sure about what is imbued into some of those.”
Cousin squeezed back, and leaped from the crow. She slid down a rope to the deck, and jogged to catch up with Gabb. They descended through the ship, passing crew quarters and storage to the brig. At the very last cell, Gabb took a key and opened the door.
A wave of mingled energies washed over Cousin. A shiver danced over her skin.
“We warded the room,” Gabb said.
“It’s strong. I never knew this was here.”
Gabb shrugged. “That’s the idea.” He reached in the lit a lamp on the wall. Boxes and crates of various shape, size and markings were stacked along the walls. Several types of blades lay in piles on the floor. “What are you looking for?”
“A Sor-von”
Gabb whistled. “There are a few. Couldn’t say exactly where.”
Cousin took the lamp. She touched each container. When she tapped one Gabb pulled it from the stack. Soon there was a small stack in the middle of the room. Each box was opened in turn. Cousin looked at the contents rejecting most and setting a few aside. Half way through she opened a crate to find an ornate box packed in straw. The air hummed. Cousin studies the symbols on the box. Old knowledge came back. She pushed a series of points, and the lid popped open. She lifted the box from the crate, and placed it on a stack of boxes.
“Can you hold the light for me, Gabb?”
He took the lamp from where it sat and held it high.
Cousin raised the lid and let it fall back on its chains. Gleaming, on the deep blue silk, was a set of Sor-von etched with runic symbols. A glowing aura flowed over the weapon.
“Can you read it?”
“Yes. The spell is one used often to make something belong to one person only. Al’Ri use it on books and instruments of power. Other peoples use it on weapons and tools. These look to be of Heran origin. I’ve never seen a set like this.”
“Makes sense. The Heran are always in one war or another. Can you use those?”
“If I can make them mine.”
“The catch?”
“They’ll try to kill me if I try.”
Gabb nodded. “I’ll step out and close the door so the ward will activate. I’ll keep Kraken out.”
Cousin watched the door close, and felt the ward bounce back into place. She took a deep breath. It was time to gaze into her Depth.
The claiming was quick and brutal. The spell attacked, and Cousin shut it down with one thought: “Mine.” A shock wave hit the ward and rebounded. Cousin was caught in the center. She pulled the erratic power into herself, and added it to the Sor-von’s reserve.
When she opened the door, Gabb restrained Kraken with webbed hands, a hint of blue showed on his neck and around his ears. Cousin showed the Sor-von, a pair of delicate silver filagree gloves on her hands. Kraken and Gabb froze in place.
“All is well,” Cousin said. “Sorry, I scared you.”
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