The Long Journey Home (The Legend of Vanx Malic Book 8) by M. R. Mathias Page B

disappeared from where he was and landed on his belly, right in the grass bed full of dog shit.
    An argument between him and Master Ruuk ensued about the choice of his landing place. But everyone else gasped, drawing Vanx away from the Zythians to what their eyes were locked on.
    It was a ship. A big, three-masted, cargo vessel, and it looked to be adrift.
    Vanx was curious, but he was suddenly feeling a bit of Master Ruuk’s survival reluctance as the
Adventurer
drew them nearer to it anyway.

Chapter Sixteen
    From a castle way up high
,
    we can watch the world pass by
.
    Sweet dreams of kings and queens
,
    can you tell me what they mean?
    T he ship was named the
Ada Rosamond
. Vanx knew the name meant honorable protector of horses or something like that. His suspicion that this was a ship carrying animals was strengthened by the foul smell that wafted over them on approach.
    “Leave it,” Master Ruuk said firmly. “Disease, or something, has taken the crew. Look. No one is alive, and we could contract the same ailment.”
    Vanx was just about to agree when Poops heard something and started barking. There were still horses alive, more than two; Poops could tell.
    Vanx told the others what Poops heard, then stood at the bow of the
Adventurer
and used a wind wish to blast the derelict vessel with fresh air. The tattered sails caught some of the wind, and they had to move to intercept the larger craft, but at least it didn’t smell like rotten death anymore.
    “This could be a pirate trap,” Castavonti said matter-of-factly. “We should be very careful.”
    “I’m bored as all the hells,” Chelda said, brandishing her war hammer. “I hope there
are
some fargin’ pirates on that ship.”
    “Nah, nah,” Zeezle said from his place about halfway up the rigging. “Pirates would run after seeing the magic Vanx just used. Master Ruuk, can you get me there?”
    “I can, but I’m against it.” The Zythian mage pursed his lips and put his arms across his chest.
    “I think he meant now.” Chelda reached up and grabbed Zeezle’s ankle.
    “You sure you want to go?” Vanx asked the two of them, allowing Zeezle to climb down and get his feet on the deck.
    “I am,” Chelda answered, but Zeezle just gave him a look that said, why are you asking?
    “I’ll have to put you a few feet above the deck to compensate for the waves.” Ruuk sounded reluctant. Vanx had been at first, but after hearing the horses, trapped, starving, and dehydrating, he had lost all worry of trouble.
    “Search for their stores,” said Vanx. “They probably have water and grain, but the animals can’t get to it. A disease that killed the men may not have killed the horses.”
    “I’ll shield us and stay clear of dead men.” Zeezle nodded.
    “I have the Glaive, Vanxy.” Chelda brandished it, and he shook his head again over how small it looked in her big hand. “I’ll heal the horses that can be healed.”
    “We can’t carry horses on this boat,” Castavonti said.
    “No, but we can tow that one in, and probably get a hefty fee from the owner, or its sale.” Ronzon said. “We are only a week or so away from Cold Port.”
    “Yup.” Vanx nodded. “I’d feel better if you took Ronzon, too. He will know how to rig the ships together, and after we are underway, Master Ruuk can use spells to fully cleanse the
Ada Rosamond
.”
    The older Zythian mage groaned, but after they grabbed some gear, he grouped Zeezle, Chelda, and Ronzon on the deck and teleported them, as best as he could on a rolling sea, over to the deck of the larger ship.

    They appeared ten feet above the
Ada Rosamond’s
main deck, and Zeezle saw that it was rising as they fell.
    “Blasted wizards,” Chelda cursed as she slapped against the planks.
    Zeezle saw Ronzon impact and winced. His legs struck a rail on an upper deck, and he was flipped so that the side of his face struck before the rest of him.
    A few seconds later, he looked at Zeezle.
    “That wizard makes