A Spoiled Rule

Chapter 21

Leaving the palace for the ports on foot was not a trek Liam would ever like to repeat. With a full stomach and growing pain in his bones, he became very tired and nearly regretful of declaring their immediate leave from the palace. Nevertheless, it had to be done.
Christopher was the only chef who decided to leave with Liam; the other two chefs felt Liam treated them unfairly and decided to stay at the palace, where Liam wished them well from the bottom of his heart. He couldn't accuse those who were angry with him. The entire situation that he was in was cause for anger. Zombies were relentless in their running, and thus, Liam and his friends were stopped many times. There came a point where Liam didn't sense a zombie running from behind, and had it not been for Jackson's exceptional knife-throwing talent, he would have perished.
Finally, when they reached the ports, they didn't need to search long, for a suitable ship sat ready across from the portmaster's house. They hurried onboard, which proved even more difficult, as Theo stepped on a piece of glass and alerted many zombies to their position. Quickly, they were able to scramble atop and cut the ties, sending the ship into the sea just as the nearest zombies reached them.
At the wheel, Liam studied the mechanics. He realized just how skilled Harvey was, for Liam was slightly clueless as to how to start up the propellors. After a very hesitant attempt to pull a wooden lever, the ship lurched with tremendous speed. Liam sighed with relief and smiled at the thought of Harvey chasing his hat.
The ship they occupied was smaller than the royal vessel, though it did have a staircase leading down to a narrow hall which was home to a bathroom and two bedrooms. Prima took her brother into one of the bedrooms, and Stephen followed to give Gresham medication for his wound.
Liam examined a small compass embedded into the center of the wheel. He was headed east. The waves constantly nudged the wheel, so Liam had to maintain a very strong and precise grip, else he'd lose course. Yet the waves were also quite calming, their sound rhythmic, and Liam closed his eyes.
"Liam," said Christopher.
Liam opened his eyes and nodded at the chef. He knew what was to come.
"I apologize for Ewinn and Alex," said Christopher quietly, his head slightly bowed. "They do not respect you."
"I don't blame them," sighed Liam. "Thank you for coming. Most would not."
"Most are dead," mumbled Christopher in reply. "This Coulím... What if he has perished?"
Liam took a breath. "Then we will meet his successor."
Stephen and Prima returned from the lower deck, and Prima greeted Liam with a nod. Christopher casually leaned against a railing.
"How is your brother?" asked Liam gently.
"He is doing alright. Stephen has given him some pain medication, though nothing to help him fall asleep," said Prima.
Liam sensed Jackson near. Liam knew Christopher could hear if he strained, and Jackson would surely overhear the coming conversation, but Liam could see no better opportunity. He had been waiting to ask this for a while, as his sickness had previously prevented him from doing so. "How is it that Gresham knows of the drug?"
Prima's smile faded, and she folded her arms over her chest. Her black hair flew in the wind. "When he was eighteen, a cave he was digging collapsed. Fear prevented all the workers from speaking to Mettiam, so he had all the workers drugged. Gresham was not at fault, but still, he underwent the tortures of the drug."
"I'm sorry," said Liam quietly.
"It was for the better. It taught us to tell the truth, even if we're afraid." She narrowed her eyes. "What made you ask such a thing?"
Liam didn't reply. He wasn't prepared to confess that Gresham caught him in a moment of pain and weakness on the roof of the bathhouse. It wouldn't be appropriate, with the others able to overhear. Besides, he was not yet healed from his sickness, so it was not time to reflect on his previous pain. "How is Theo's foot?"
Prima sighed and grabbed onto a railing below the wheel. "He is fine. Stephen removed the glass from his foot, though I don't know how, as his hands are bandaged." She shook her head, and Liam suspected her mind was elsewhere. Prima gazed at the sea, her hair whipping her face. She turned her face back toward Liam but couldn't lift her eyes, for silent tears were rolling down her cheeks. She wiped them away and sniffed. "Tears don't fall as often in Dínam as they do in Harksgold," she said quietly.
Liam's heart ached.
"Beneath all of the stubbornness accompanying Theo is a sad boy. He's not like us in his heart. No, he's a boy in his heart. He's a hurt boy who longs for his parents, though he cannot see that they left him to save themselves." She gazed at Liam, the waves reflected in her eyes. "Now that you have enlightened him on other names, he will never stop changing his own. I believe it is not because of his projects but because he is afraid."
"You fear what may happen if he finds his parents?" asked Liam quietly.
Prima gave a stiff nod. "I think he is afraid of what they might think of him. So he continues to change his name, hoping a new identity will make his parents proud."
This deeply saddened Liam. A story as such could be found only in Chroal, but the notion that an entire kingdom such as Dínam could be full of such stories troubled him. Yet he would continue to give the thief the respect of calling him whatever he wished. Whether Theo did so because of his thieving or his sadness made no difference to Liam. "There is more to his thieving than you assume."
Prima frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Theo has designed a safe house that we will be building after our visit to Dínam," said Liam quietly. It was the first time he had spoken of this, and for a strange reason he felt an urge to stay quiet. "It will be in Harksgold, and it shouldn't take long to build. He has created a place for us to live safely, together."
At this, Prima's jaw dropped.
"Your Highness-My apologies-Liam, slow the ship!" said Christopher, who was leaning on the right side railing, pointing into the distance. Liam pulled a wooden lever up and through a series of mechanical clicks and booms and sputters, the ship slowed to a drift. Liam abandoned the wheel and headed for Christopher's side. He spotted a nearby ship that appeared idle, drifting in the sea. When they were close enough, Liam recognized the sails of Harksgold. He called for Harvey, but there came no reply. The ship was empty. Fear settled in. Perhaps Coulím turned before they could reach Dínam and killed Harvey.
"Look!" exclaimed Christopher, pointing below them. Liam leaned over the railing, adrenaline waking his bones. Far beneath the waves, there was a shimmer that couldn't have been from any natural cause.
"It isn't treasure," declared Theo, who had come from the lower level, his foot bandaged. "We are far from the Shamaland."
Liam leaned from the railing and took a breath. "Someone will need to stay behind," he said. As king, it was his duty to assess the state of his ally, so he knew he must go down into the waters.
"Gresham and I will stay behind," said Prima after a moment's hesitation. "I don't want to hurt Gresham by going down there."
"And I wouldn't want your shoes to get wet," said Theo with a sly smile. Prima shot daggers at him.
"I will also stay behind," said Christopher, taking cautious steps away from the railing. "I am not yet ready, but I shall be soon."
Liam nodded, then looked to Stephen. Though he loved the doctor as a friend, he must voice his opposition. "Water will not do your hands good, Stephe," said Liam.
Stephen sighed. Though his curly hair covered most of what could be seen of his eyes, he seemed frustrated. "Then you better return with something that will heal them quickly."
Though Liam detected a joke in Stephen, he nodded seriously. Liam took another breath before turning to Theo. "We cannot be down there too long," he said. "I don't want to leave those up here in worry."
Theo nodded. "I shall be as quick as a thief."
"How will you make it without a mask?" asked Prima.
"If people are down there, they'll see us, and they'll come." Even as Liam said it, he recognized the dangerous trust he was putting in strangers. Yet, they were the same people who'd helped ward off zombies during the battle with Mettiam. Besides, he had no other choice.
Liam stepped up onto the railing, butterflies in his stomach. He wasn't sure if he would be entering the new Dínam correctly, but he didn't see many other options. If he were to drown, someone down there would find him. He leaned forward, and in the moment of air he imagined suspensors catching his weight. But then the water engulfed him and he was swimming faster than his mind could recover from the shock. It was much different without a mask, for he could hardly see and could hear nothing at all, save for the swishing of water.
His fingertips grew numb. Within each stroke, deeper toward the gleam at the sea floor, Liam felt his adrenaline wane. His lungs were tight, panic began to flood his mind. Pins and needles stabbed his chest.
Something appeared before him. It appeared to be the silhouette of a blurry person.
Liam couldn't breathe. At any moment, water would gush through his nose and mouth.
Something was placed forcefully into his mouth. Before he could stop himself, his teeth clamped down. Immediately, a warm, bubbly feeling spread from his mouth through his throat and chest, and he thought he was drowning, until he realized his mouth was open and he was breathing. He still could not see clearly, but somehow, with each breath he took, air filled his lungs. He followed the blurry figure before him, swimming deeper and deeper, and the light before his eyes grew brighter all the more. The cold soon became warm, until he took his next stroke and felt a hand grasp his wrist. He was suddenly pulled through some sort of barrier and found himself stumbling on a floor of wooden planks. Someone caught him, and when he regained his balance, he saw none other than Harvey. Harvey was beaming at him, and he tilted his hat. "It's about time you came down here!"
The odd feeling in Liam's chest evaporated. He gathered his surroundings. He was standing at the edge of a very large space with a wooden floor atop sand. The length and width of the space appeared to accommodate three royal vessels, and sheets of woven seaweed served as a ceiling, hanging from one large rock to the next. A hole in the ceiling allowed for the deep blue to penetrate, though water was being held at bay by some sort of force. They must not have been as deep, for rays of sun poked through the seaweed ceiling. In the far side, a wall of dark blue rock was carved into, extending the space into some sort of shop and housing area. Liam could feel that this Dínam held much more advanced magic than the old.
A man and a woman pulled Theo through the barrier, and immediately he shivered, looking down at his soaked clothes. He then touched his tongue and looked at his fingers, as if he'd find the odd substance that had been there just before. He looked to Liam. "I don't like the heavy feeling of being soaked."
"How long has it been?" asked Harvey eagerly, rubbing his black beard.
"Two days," Liam replied, attempting to mask the growing fatigue in his voice.
Harvey frowned. "That's it?" He then focused on a man and woman who stood pushing each other around. "Oy, get back with the crew! We've got work to do!"
The two sighed and dragged their feet toward a large space carved into stone. It had elegant carvings on its walls. There were a few curtains of seaweed inside and yellow lighting.
"That's where the crew sleeps," said Harvey. "It's better than the inside of my house." He frowned. "Liam, what has happened to the others?"
"They're safe," he replied. "They are on a ship over this spot. I will fill you in, but first, you must show me around this place."
Harvey winked and gave a nod. "Well, to the left sits the crew houses, and in that huge carved-out space o'er there is refugee houses and shops, and across to the right is the clinic. There's a bathhouse over there, a-and... Oh, the food here's not too bad." They walked toward a large wooden pavilion decorated with seaweed and shells. Inside were shining tables and a long desk upon which sat plates of food free for anyone to grab. The meal was cooked fish with some sort of black seasoning, and a soup.
Liam gazed around once more. There weren't too many people in the community, but those he saw seemed content. There were women and children, men and elderly. The houses in the carved rock were differentiated by different-colored shells and curtains. Some displayed colorful hangings while others had simple chairs and lamps-none of which were rotting. Liam gazed above at the ceiling of blue and seaweed, and he noticed a glowing room from high above. It was carved into the wall of rock, near the ceiling. There was a large balcony and a large staircase that spiraled down to the floor, and Liam suspected that was where a king would be. "What of Coulím?" he asked quietly.
Harvey's smile froze and he dropped his head, his hat covering his eyes. "He's alive, but... I can take you to him. That's why you've come." He started for the stairs. His crew momentarily stopped and gazed at him as he headed for the stairs. In fact, many people seemed to stop and stare.
Liam followed, but he paused when he noticed Theo staring very obviously at a house with a lantern and bench outside. A shorter man had just entered, and though Liam couldn't see the resemblance, he recognized the importance. "Theo, will you be alright?"
Theo nodded and started for the house.
Liam and Harvey climbed the stairs. The steps were wide and smooth, and small lanterns lit the way. After a brief moment during which Liam struggled to maintain pace with Harvey, he said, "I didn't come only for Coulím. I'm sorry it took me a few days to return."
Harvey shook his head. "That's alright. It's given me time to think... To grieve for Ryan.... I'd like to go back to the rubble and bury his bones someday. That is, if there are any left."
"We shall do so," said Liam. He paused, catching his breath. "You have found a crew?"
Harvey nodded. "They're a crew of four. They know the workings of a ship. Two of them are refugees, two are born from here. There's a magic to this place. I only see such magic in ships, but this place... it holds the same magic. Some of the natives are interestin'. They have an accent I can't place but they're friendly folk."
"Do you like it here?" asked Liam.
Harvey glanced back at Liam before continuing. "My heart lies with Harksgold, but I'm beginning to like this place, too. The only thing is that we don't see as much of the sun, and I miss the sun. This place is small once you know everybody, too. It only takes an hour to become a citizen like everyone else."
"I'm glad," said Liam. "I'm glad you could see this Dínam and not the other." He also thought of how well Harvey conversed with the people of the sea. What a true advisor.
"They talk of that, too," said Harvey beneath his breath. "The other Dínam. I've only heard one or two people speak of it, but they have. I think they keep quiet out of respect for Coulím. According to them, he saved their lives, and they his. They don't want to mention the mess he came from."
They reached the balcony. Liam stopped and caught his breath, gazing down at the community. It was a very peaceful, close-knit group. He was interested to hear their stories, but that would have to be for another time.
Harvey removed his hat and pressed it to his chest. He took quiet steps inside, and Liam followed. There were soft, white hangings all around the room, with soft lamps and a door on the other side. In the center sat a woman behind a desk of stone sprinkled with specks of blue. The woman peered at them with large eyes. "Harvey," she said quietly, standing. She shook his hand. "It is good to see you. I still can't thank you enough for bringing Coulím here." She then caught eyes with Liam and took a small step back. "Who's this?" She had a small accent that Liam couldn't place.
"My name is Liam," he replied. "I'm a friend from Harksgold. I would like to see Coulím."
The woman's eyes widened and she flattened her smooth hair. "The king of Harksgold! Oh, what an honor!" She shook hands eagerly with Liam. "I am Gína, one of the doctors here."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," said Liam with a faint but warm smile. "How is he?"
Gína cleared her throat and sat back down in her chair. She folded her hands together. "He is still... still fighting the virus. He was almost completely infected when he got here."
"I had to bind him," said Harvey quietly. "He nearly drowned."
"Well, it was very difficult for the checkpoint leaders to give him the potion to breathe, so they... they had to pull him through without any. But he survived that," said Gína quickly. "We gave him the blue medicine, and he has mostly been asleep."
"Mostly?" asked Liam. He recalled his own moments of pain and lethargy. Then he realized that he was awake when he shouldn't be. Gína didn't need to know that.
Gína shifted uncomfortably. "Well, he wakes, though I don't know how. The medicine is very powerful; it is very difficult for one to wake under its influence. What's more, when he wakes, he is... He is not himself when he wakes."
"Thank you," said Liam with a nod. "I only wish to see him." He started for the door at the back of the room.
"Harvey, will you go in there with him?" pleaded Gína. Fear shook her voice.
"Liam?" asked Harvey.
Liam nodded. "You may come, Harvey." He waited for the man to reach him. Then, he opened the door. Harvey shut it rather quickly behind them. He was afraid.
A bed sat to the left, opposite a small dresser. The bed itself was concealed with curtains. The walls were carved and decorated with glowing gems, and a soft yellow light sat above. Liam pulled back the heavy curtains around the bed. Coulím lie bound to the mattress, under many embroidered blankets. There was a rag on his forehead to fight a fever. Under his eyes sat black circles, and he was very pale, almost gray. But his chest rose and fell steadily. Liam took a seat next to the bed and stared at the cuffs around Coulím's wrists. They were made of smooth rock and clasped to the frame of the bed. There were red lines on Coulím's wrists from the rock. Liam imagined himself appearing almost as such when he was most incapacitated by his sickness. He wondered what he looked like at the present moment.
Coulím's eyes opened very slowly. His wrists dug into the restraints. Liam didn't move at first, for he was shocked by Coulím's awakening.
"Coulím," said Liam softly, standing.
For a moment, Coulím didn't look at Liam. He stared at the ceiling, his jaw clenched. Then, slowly, he turned to look at Liam. His eyes were red.
The rag fell from Coulím's head.
Liam reached for the rag. Coulím's head jerked and he snapped his teeth at Liam's arm, and immediately Liam pulled away, his heart racing. He heard no snarls from Coulím, yet the man was acting like a zombie. He turned toward Harvey. "I thought he hadn't fully turned when you reached this place!"
"He... He hadn't!" said Harvey, whose knuckles were white. "I promise you, Liam, he hadn't turned completely!"
"Liam."
Coulím's voice was a strangled whisper. Liam turned back to look at him, and his eyes were squeezed shut.
"Coulím!" said Liam, unable to control the relief in his voice. "You are not gone!"
"I will not open my eyes," said Coulím very quietly. His hands were shaking. "How long..."
"It's been two days," said Liam. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner. Coulím, I don't understand what's happening..."
"Neither do I," said Coulím, gasping with the effort to keep his eyes shut. "I'm afraid..." He raised his voice, as if he were speaking over someone. "I'm afraid if I open my eyes... I will..."
"You don't need to explain yourself," said Liam. "Coulím, is there anything I can do?"
There was a pause before Coulím replied. "No," he said. "If this medicine doesn't heal me... Don't let me turn," he begged.
"Never," said Liam quietly. A striking thought occurred to him, but he was afraid to mention it. He looked to Harvey, who seemed to see his uncertainty and gave a reinforcing nod. "What if you took another dose?"
The pause that followed was monumental. Liam remembered Coulím mentioning that if one were to take two consecutive doses of the medicine, they would die, yet the virus eating at Coulím was no ordinary virus. It was even stronger than the one that had been inside Liam.
Coulím opened his eyes and spoke quickly. "Tell Gína I wish to take a second dose. Do not let her in here alone. If I die, will you watch over this place?"
Liam nodded. He had asked Coulím to take care of his kingdom, so it was his duty to take care of Coulím's. "Harvey, may you please get Gína?"
Harvey placed his hat on his head and left the room. Coulím closed his eyes, and Liam noticed very dark blood seeping into a bandage on his wrist. Liam gently returned the rag to Coulím's forehead.
Gína hurried into the room with a blue syringe in her hand. She stepped to Coulím's bedside and gently gathered his pulse. Coulím didn't budge, and Liam assumed he had fallen asleep.
"I cannot administer the medication through drink," said Gína as she sunk the needle into Coulím's vein. When she was done, she left momentarily to dispose of the syringe, then returned, taking a seat at the bedside. "I must watch for at least an hour," she said quietly, her leg shaking.
"Have you known Coulím since he came here?" asked Liam, leaning against the wall.
Gína nodded, gazing at Coulím with worry. "I treated his wounds when he found us. I was designated as his personal doctor, and when I realized I was the doctor of a king, I... I was deeply honored. Coulím didn't treat me as his personal doctor. He treated me as a friend, and we value that very much here."
"I only wish the people of my kingdom could have seen this truth," muttered Liam.
"Harvey says you ended the war," said Gína, her eyes now planted on Liam.
Liam shifted uncomfortably, remembering his moment of weakness before Mettiam. "I only brought Mettiam near; Coulím did the rest."
"Still, I am very glad to hear that you are a fair king," she smiled. "I was worried the rumors of Harksgold wouldn't be true." She returned her attention to Coulím.
"Has the plague reached this community?" asked Liam quietly.
Gína frowned. "There was one man who grew very sick after eating one of the meals. He passed away, and if we had not relieved him of his suffering, I feel he would've become a zombie. It is all around us. The chefs are trying to be careful but they can't see the plague inside the fish. It is only a matter of time..." After a brief pause, she stood abruptly, the chair smacking against the wall. "He isn't breathing!" She knelt on the edge of the bed and placed her hands over Coulím's chest. "He can't receive more medication! I must revive him this way!"
Liam was not prepared to see or hear her push against Coulím's chest. Immediately, he felt weak with fatigue and a heaviness settled in his gut. He couldn't look in Coulím's direction. He met eyes with Harvey, who also turned pale, and Liam left the room. He took a few anchoring breaths.
Outside the room, Harvey slapped Liam on his shoulder. "I believe I've become friends with death," he said quietly. He removed his hat. "What's odd is that recently, death has been lettin' those around me go. No, death didn't let go of Ryan, but... he let go of Gresham, and you. Every time we pass near one who's infected and are unscathed, death lets us go."
Liam wondered what scared Harvey so much that he thought of death often. Harvey seemed to think death brought a curse, and perhaps it did, but Liam was sad Harvey had to see so much death. He could hardly imagine the dangers of the sea.
"I wish to return to the land," said Harvey quietly. "I need a new hat, and though I'm growing used to this place, I don't have an appetite for fish. But if you require me here, then I'll stay."
"Harvey," said Liam, "You may do whatever you wish, so long as it is kind."
Gína greeted them with glossy eyes and shaking hands, which she hid behind her back. "He's alive," she said faintly.
Liam exhaled with relief, his knees about to buckle.
"I don't know when he will wake. No one has taken two doses of the medicine; not since we found it to be possibly fatal. I will monitor him more frequently."
Liam nodded. He entered the room once more and gazed at Coulím's sleeping form. His breaths sounded slightly strangled. "I will be back," said Liam quietly. He gave one last look to Coulím before turning. "All here are welcome in Harksgold at any time," he said to Gína.
"How kind of you," said Gína with a small smile.
"Don't come in here by yourself, Gína," said Liam. He bid her farewell and made his way down the long spiraling stairs. Harvey followed, and for a majority of the walk they refrained from speaking. It was when Liam reached the bottom that he paused, looking around while catching his breath.
Theo was sitting underneath the central pavilion, though he wasn't eating. He sat alone, and those near glanced at him. Liam had never seen the thief so down, but he also hadn't known Theo for very long.
Theo noticed Liam and stood, taking long strides. His expression was one of pain and anger. "We should leave," he said firmly.
"It's good to see you too, fellow thief," mumbled Harvey.
Liam nodded. "We are leaving." He turned to Harvey. "How do we leave, exactly?"
Harvey blinked. "Oh! Just follow me!" He started for the house of his crew.
Liam sensed tension in the air, and he knew there was an internal battle that Theo was fighting. He also knew that it was not his place to wonder what had happened, but Prima's words rang in his head. Perhaps Theo needed to talk to someone. Perhaps he had never before had anyone to talk to. "If they did not greet you with open arms, they are no parents of yours," said Liam quietly.
Theo spoke in a mocking high-pitched voice. "Why are your clothes so big? Your teeth are crooked. You're not a collector, you're just a thief! 'Theo' is what you are calling yourself? Why didn't you find us sooner?" He shook his head, his eyes glossy. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out an earring and a watch embroidered with gems. "I hope we leave before they realize what's missing."
"Do you have a new name to accompany that theft?" asked Liam, slightly amused.
Theo shook his head and stashed the stolen goods. "I didn't plan on stealing these."
They reached the house of the four crewmates. Two of them greeted Harvey casually while the others gave a small nod. "I will be leaving shortly, though not for too long," Harvey announced. "Who is ready to come?"
Only two of them agreed.
"That's alright, two will do just fine," said Harvey, adjusting his hat. "It only takes one crewman to help the captain." He clapped his hands together. "We need the drink!"
From a wooden cabinet, a woman pulled five small vials. She handed each to all who were leaving.
"Right," said Harvey quietly. "Well, see you two soon! Don't make too much trouble, you'll give me a bad name!" he warned. He then turned and walked hurriedly toward the wall of water from which Liam was pulled through. Liam wanted to reach out his hand and touch the shimmering water, but he was afraid of what could happen.
"Bite down on the vial when you most need it," said Harvey. "From my understandin', you bite down on it the whole thing?"
The two crewmen nodded. "The vial is made of organic material that will dissolve once the potion inside is released. Don't swallow it." The two jumped into the wall of water.
"Hey! You stole our jewelry!"
Theo immediately jumped into the water. After a moment's hesitation, Liam followed. Once more the sting of cold water bit at his skin, but he expected it. He swam from the glowing community, though he found it harder with each stroke. He was growing very tired, and he knew he was moving more slowly. His ears ached from the water and his hands grew numb.
When Liam could no longer handle the pain in his lungs, he bit down on the vial. It became like a cloud in his mouth it, warm and bubbly and dissolving into nothing. He could breathe. The surface of the water grew near, along with the sun above. After a moment more, he broke the surface and gasped, and the bubbly feeling disappeared. He was only a couple of feet from the ship. Christopher spotted him and a ladder was thrown from the side of the ship. Liam grabbed its rungs and painfully climbed up. He wanted to collapse on the deck, but he forced himself to remain standing.
"Liam!" said Stephen, hurrying over to him. Harvey and Theo climbed onto the deck, followed by the two crew members.
Prima smiled at Liam, then frowned at Theo. She seemed hesitant to approach him, for he didn't look happy at all.
"It's good to be here!" said Harvey, beaming.
"Harvey, it is indeed good to see you," said Stephen. He looked to Liam with a questioning stare.
Gresham came from the lower deck, leaning against the railing.
"Death," said Harvey simply, his hat dripping like a waterfall.
"I got you an earring," said Theo flatly to Prima.
"You look cold and tired," said Stephen to Liam. "You should rest."
Liam took another breath. He spoke loudly. "Coulím is-"
A giant boom sounded from a distance away. The sound was so great that even the sea trembled, and the boat itself wobbled. It was as if a giant beast was awakening from deep within the waters. Liam thought he heard a roar, or some sort of screech.
Harvey removed his hat. "The sea is awakening."
Gresham and Prima exchanged odd glances. Prima then looked to Liam. He could see fear within her dark eyes as she said, "Mettiam's inventions!"
The trembling ceased. The ship creaked. Liam exchanged glances with all. He wasn't prepared for another battle, yet Oliver wanted one. So be it, he thought despite his fatigue. So be it.