The Melaki Chronicle by William Thrash Page B

tasks and performed them with little direction.
    “Two up,” said the captain. His voice was quiet, but carried
in the brightening mist of morning. He was a blocky man, squat and bearded. His
head was shaved bald.
    A smaller sail was raised and Melaki felt Talin begin to
work weather magic.
    The crew busied themselves coiling the mooring ropes.
Everything was accomplished with almost no noise.
    The boat began to move and the captain spun the wheel.
    Looking out to the dock, he spied three figures watching the
departure. Watching him. Elet Abisin was there, arms folded, frowning.
Frustration radiated from him. Wizard of the tenth rank Rashilla was there,
head tilted, standing still. Curiosity radiated from her. Headmistress Renta
was there, pacing back and forth, wearing a scowl. Irritation radiated from
her.
    He slowly shook his head so that all three could see it –
his message to each.
    Rashilla lowered her head and turned to leave. Her figure
moved into the mist and out of sight.
    The other two stayed until the boat was far enough out that
they could no longer see each other.
    Had Rashilla come to watch his departure due to the same
frustration as Abisin? Had she come because she had suspicions about his magic?
Had she come because his hug had awakened something in her she ignored?
    He never saw any of them again.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Melaki twisted off his bunk.
    The knock came again.
    “Yes. Yes.” he opened the small door.
    A crewmember was there. He spoke quietly. “Master Talin asks
you to relieve him.”
    He rubbed his face. “Very well.” He lowered the wick on the
lamp to almost nothing and left his room. He passed the center table of crew
off their shift. They were dicing and drinking from small mugs.
    Looks like fun. “Maybe I will join you later.”
    Those at the table had been talking quietly. The sounds of
their cups settling back to the table were making more noise than their voices.
But all noise died. Eyes looked back and forth and then regarded him and his
robes.
    He shook his head and left them behind.
    Climbing the steps to the upper deck, the bright refraction
from the waters above told him it was late in the day. Had Talin worked magic
for this long? He still felt the oily workings around him.
    They ceased. The strong wind died down to a steady wind.
    “Make your magic.”
    “Speed the ship along?”
    “Of course,” Talin said. His sneer was not hatred but
arrogance.
    How was I supposed to know? I've never been a wizard on a
ship before. He frowned.
    “Are you having problems?” Talin leaned in. His eyebrow rose
on his forehead.
    “No.” He formed the oily pattern in his mind first.
    Talin straightened, satisfied, but waiting. “Be quick. We
have a reputation to uphold.
    He glanced at the captain. The man was watching him, also
waiting.
    Melaki sighed and did something different. He remembered the
weather draining him fast. If he was expected to help the ship for as long as
Talin did, he doubted he would be able to do it. He doubted he could even
perform weather for half of what Talin did. He formed a different pattern in
his mind, summoning.
    “What are you doing? Bring wind.” Talin said.
    He ignored the other wizard. He drew his hands in, helping
shape the pattern, strengthening it. Slowly, he walked past the captain.
    Both were looking at him with shock. A wizard casting seldom
ever moved.
    Walking was difficult, but not distracting. Stopping at the
aft rail, he drew in his arms as if he was drawing in a rope. He muttered
beneath his breath, not in incantation as they suspected, but in the focusing
of his pattern. He felt it then.
    “Melaki, I do not know what you are doing, but on ships we
bring wind, or strengthen it.” Talin was annoyed.
    The captain stayed silent behind him.
    A whale breached close astern and blew. Then there was a
gentle bump. And then another. The ship began gaining speed.
    “By the gods.” The captain gripped the wheel and shook his
head. “Pushed by a