The only problem was there wasn’t any concrete proof of the Tetrad or the Temple. He was basing his entire plan on myth. His own father had laughed in his face whenever he mentioned the Tetrad and the Temple, telling him to stop daydreaming about fantasies.
If anyone had information about them, where they were, if they were still alive and hidden in the realm, it would be the Brothers of the Spring. The Brothers were a known religious cult buried deep in the forested hills of the North. They weren’t Sorcerers, but Ungifted who believed Sorcerers to be the children of the old gods, and beings to be worshiped. The Brothers believed the old gods to have birthed the Sorcerers from the Spring of Zjanoak, an underground water system full of rich minerals and supposed healing properties. They bathed and drank from the Spring in sacred rituals, believing it to grant them gifts of their own as well as a longer life span. Doraan had learned all about them in his history classes. They were hunted just as rigorously as the Sorcerers because of their beliefs.
“We need to find the Spring of Zjanoak and speak to the Brothers. We need answers, Cormac.”
The quartermaster’s nostrils flared, the only show of emotion he would ever let slip. “We cannot, Doraan. It’s on land. And even if we could, no one knows its exact location. It might not even be in the North like your history books have told you. There are also rumors that it’s buried beneath the ruins of Barrum, in the sand dunes just above Aksahri. No one actually knows where it is. ”
“We have to try.”
“Even if we were to try, to attempt to find someone to help us, we wouldn’t be able to speak with them. We have never been able to interact with anyone on or off this ship except for…”
“Zev,” Doraan finished for him. “Do you think we can use her, Cormac? Maybe she could go on land and speak to someone? Somehow extract the information we need.”
“There’s no way to tell if she has fallen under the curse. She might not be able to anymore.”
Doraan shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
Cormac cast an uncharacteristic smirk at him.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I like the lass. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty and she’s worked as hard as any of the men since she’s been here.”
Doraan snorted and turned toward the cabin door. “I think I liked her more as an unruly boy than a headstrong woman.”
Cormac laughed. “I’ve always known she was a woman, since the very moment you brought her out from below deck.”
Doraan spun, nearly losing his balance and toppling over, “Come again?”
“Honestly Doraan, most of the crew knew. You would have to be blind not to have noticed. She’s a sweet thing with a lovely face and a petite stature. Young boys don’t typically have curves like a woman. She attempted to hide hers under those baggy clothes, but it didn’t cover her frame fully.” Cormac chuckled, shaking his head at Doraan’s bewildered stare. “Plus, I’ve never known a young lad with as quick a wit and sharp a tongue as her.”
“And none of you thought this might be important information to tell me?” he grumbled.
“It didn’t matter. She wanted us to think she was a boy, and what we saw was a truly frightened woman who needed a place to stay. Lucky enough for her, she stumbled upon the only pirate ship that would have the heart and honor to help her. So we played along, letting her pretend to be a boy, hoping she would feel safe and comfortable around us.”
Doraan listened to Cormac’s words, realizing the truth of them and the kindness he had been surrounded by all these years. He was thankful for them, for this crew he didn’t deserve by his side. These men who didn’t deserve what had happened to them.
He watched as Cormac’s face transformed into a look of sorrow. “She reminds me of Fiona.”
Doraan frowned at the change of tone in Cormac’s voice as he mentioned his daughter’s name. Fiona had only been ten at the time the curse took root, pulling them away from their former lives. Cormac had missed practically every important moment of his daughter’s life. He knew that was a big reason why Cormac had taken Doraan under his wing and been a father to him during his time of need. He was forever grateful that Cormac was the one on the docks that day Forcina cursed them. He couldn’t imagine the last ten years stuck on a ship with one of his father’s cocky admirals or lazy naval captains.
During their visit home, Cormac had been able to go and see his little girl for the first time. Although Doraan supposed she wasn’t little anymore. She was a grown woman now.
“She’s getting married,” Cormac said with a weary sigh, hands clasped tightly behind his back as he looked down at his boots. “I’ve not wanted to give you any false hope, Doraan. I don’t want to see you hurt any further or completely dejected if there is no other way to break the curse.”
Doraan held his breath as Cormac lifted his head and ice blue eyes bore into him.
“But if we can do it, if the girl can help us… I want to be able to walk my little girl down the aisle.” He closed his eyes for a long moment, and swallowed hard before opening them once more and continuing, “For the first time since the curse bound us all together, I feel hope. I don’t think the girl being here is by chance, Doraan. I think it’s fate.”
His words wrapped around Doraan like a warm blanket, melting a layer of tension from his shoulders. Cormac was the most important person in his life, and he was giving Doraan his full support. It wasn’t until this moment that Doraan even realized how much he needed those words to come from Cormac. The weight of his previous disapproval had been so heavy, but now he felt so much lighter. He felt energized for the first time in forever.
Doraan reached out his hand as a wide smile spread across his face. Cormac returned the smile in full, the corners of his eyes crinkling and grasped Doraan’s forearm before pulling him in for a crushing hug. Doraan laughed, returning the embrace just as firmly before they both broke away and Doraan said, “It’s settled then. Set a course for Torheim. It’s the closest northern city to us. Let’s hope we find what we are looking for there.” His chest rose with a heavy sigh before he added, "I’ve an imposter to question."
14
Kamira
Kamiramoanedassheforced her eyes to open. She felt like she had been tied to a team of horses and dragged through the cobbled streets of Aksahri. Every muscle in her body ached.
