“With a sword, and with that voice of yours,” he revealed as his fast pace covered the ground. “Ramaro told me you sang me a song yesterday. It was a lullaby.”
I blushed and turned my face away. “So he heard that.”
“I heard it.” I whipped my head up to him. He had turned his face so his bright eye stared at me. “Ramaro just confirmed my suspicions later.”
Some of the color drained from my face. “So you were awake?”
He lifted his chin slightly and furrowed his brow. “Not exactly. I knew I was sleeping, and then your song wrapped around me. I could feel something change inside my body. Some of the weariness left me.”
My eyes widened. “And you thought my singing did that?”
“We can find out.”
We soon scooted down the rocky path and onto the smooth sandy beach. Night had nearly fallen, and the city was alive with twinkling candles and oil lamps. The busy wharf was now nearly a ghost town, and revelry drifted down from the hills that dotted the city.
Torvus turned to me and jerked his head over his shoulder at the gentle bay waters. “Sing something loud and sharp.”
I cocked my head to one side. “Why that?”
“I’ve heard you sing soft and low. Now let’s see what happens when you sing loudly.”
To say I was nervous was a lie. I was trembling as I walked past him and within a foot of the gentle rolling waves. Their constant rhythm provided me with an opener, so I took a deep breath and sang.
The song I chose was one of Tim’s favorites, not least of which because it had been one of the first ones he’d written. He loved to hear me belt it out, giving my all as I sang of treachery and vengeance.
The tune in the waves began to change with every note I sang. The gentle splash turned into a sharp crash and kept rising. I faltered and scurried back, intimidated by the rising tide as it now lapped against my toes.
Torvus came up to my side and caught my eye. “Keep singing.”
My face drooped, and I stabbed a finger at the waves. “I don’t want to drown.”
“They’re already retreating. Try again. You need to see what you can do.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean you need to see what I can do?”
He grasped my shoulders, and a teasing smile danced on his lips. “Aren’t you a little curious to know why you were brought here? What can you do?”
I slumped in his grasp. “I’m more afraid than curious. . .”
He brushed a finger over his eye patch. “If the water becomes too much, I have a way to tame it.”
My eyes flickered over his cover. “You still haven’t told me how you got that.”
“Later,” he assured me as he pointed me at the bay. “Now try again.”
I sighed, but took in a deep breath and began my song. The waves quickened again, and this time the air filled with its own frenzy. Like on the ship, little crystals formed around me. The coming starlight cast its light over the air gems, reflecting their glory like stars themselves.
I couldn’t help but smile at the glorious sight that cast its soft glow over us. Torvus held out one hand and cupped a crystal in his palm. The water twisted into a helix that floated above his hand and slowly turned, sprinkling its light across the sand like a primitive film lantern.
My joy was interrupted by a sudden exhaustion. I stumbled, and my singing ceased. The crystals crashed down around us as Torvus caught me. He lifted me into his arms and against his chest.
I cupped my forehead in my hand. “I’m. . .I’m sorry. I just suddenly felt tired.”
“You’ll get better with practice,” he assured me as he adjusted my position. “Let’s get back to the ship.”
“Did I do okay?” I wondered as he carried me along the beach.
He grinned. “You made the heavens jealous.”
