Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 22 - Looking for Ava

Following the trail left by the Serthana, Harvan, Svonman, and Lanonir sprinted toward the southern banks of Lake Mor. The tracks led them to the water's edge, where they vanished into the lake. In the distance, a ship bearing the queen's ominous banner was already cutting across the lake's surface, heading toward the Miwynd Mountains.

"We must reach the other side before them! Quickly, to the north!" Harvan's voice was resolute as he altered course along the western shore. The three Naitseers immediately broke into a rapid stride, their powerful legs carrying them swiftly over the terrain. Naitseers were renowned for their ability to run tirelessly for great distances, and now they pushed themselves to the limit.

They skirted the outskirts of Kamwler and Dajeau, avoiding potential conflicts with the suspicious and hostile inhabitants. As they approached the borders of Dajeau, a desperate cry for help pierced the air. "My child! Please, someone help!" The plea echoed across the docks, halting them in their tracks.

Naitseers, bound by their nature as guardians, found it near impossible to ignore such cries, even with their urgent mission. Lanonir was the first to catch the cry, raising a hand to signal the others to stop. His sharp ears pinpointed the source beneath the fishing piers, hidden behind a cluster of weathered crates.

Though driven to aid those in need, they were ever wary of deceit. The queen's minions were known to use treachery, employing villagers or disguised guards to lure Naitseers into traps. With this in mind, they approached cautiously, discovering a young woman in distress, her gaze fixed on the water, eyes wide with terror.

"My lady, speak clearly. What troubles you?" Lanonir asked, his voice calm yet commanding as he took her trembling hands. The woman, too stricken to form words, could only point toward the lake where bubbles surfaced ominously. Beneath the pier, tangled in a web of ropes and nets long forgotten by the fishermen, a child struggled against the suffocating grip of the lake.

With a swift nod to each other, Harvan and Lanonir shed their outer garments, passing them to Svonman before plunging into the murky depths. Svonman stayed with the mother, offering what comfort he could while keeping a vigilant watch for any sign of treachery. Moments later, Harvan and Lanonir resurfaced, pulling the child from the water's deadly grasp. The boy gasped for air, coughing as life returned to his small body. The sound was like music to his mother's ears, and she rushed forward, cradling her child with tears of relief streaming down her face.

Harvan scanned the child for injuries, finding him shaken but unharmed. Without pausing for thanks, the three Naitseers gathered their belongings and resumed their relentless pace northward, driven by the urgency of their mission. The mother stood on the pier, torn between expressing her gratitude and comforting her sobbing child, forever thankful for the silent heroes who had vanished as swiftly as they had appeared.

The men sped out of Dajeau, racing northward along the western banks of Lake Mor, their focus sharp and unwavering. The towering peaks of the Miwynd Mountains soon loomed before them, casting long shadows over the land. The three Naitseers pressed on, their strides swift and determined as they skirted the southern hills, all the while expecting to intercept the queen's ship that had departed from Kamwler.

When they reached the midpoint of the Miwynd Mountains' southern wall, they paused, their keen eyes scanning the vast expanse of Lake Mor. The water stretched out before them, calm and deceptive in its serenity. Yet, even with their enhanced sight, they could detect no sign of the ship—neither on the water nor near the distant shoreline.

"Did we arrive too late?" Svonman asked, narrowing his eyes as he strained to see any trace of their quarry.

Harvan's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his expression grim. "If we had missed the ship, it would still be visible, either approaching or departing. My concern lies not with time, but with what may dwell beneath these waters." His voice grew more somber. "The creatures of Lake Mor are not to be taken lightly. If they intercepted the ship, our task has become far more perilous."

The tension in the air thickened as the men continued their search, the weight of uncertainty bearing down on them. The Miwynd Mountains loomed ominously above, silent witnesses to whatever lay ahead.

As the men stood contemplating their options, Lanonir's eyes suddenly lit with inspiration. "Harvan! Your gift!" he exclaimed. "Use the Eyes of Miwynd to scan the lake. If a ship sails those waters, even on the farthest shore, you will find it!"

Without hesitation, Harvan reached into his supply bag and pulled out the small vial containing the Eyes of Miwynd. As he uncorked it, a soft blue vapor rose, filling the air with a fragrance that reminded him of the gardens from his youth—lush and serene, a stark contrast to the tension of the moment. With steady hands, he placed a drop in each eye and closed them, allowing the potion to take hold. When he opened them again, the light of the setting sun felt like blades piercing his vision, but he blinked through the discomfort until his sight sharpened, as clear and precise as a hawk's.

He began his search along the southern shoreline, then swept his gaze across the waters of the lake. His eyes roved over the distant waves until they fixed on a grim sight: the queen's ship, listing heavily to one side near the eastern banks, beset by one of the lake's fearsome beasts. Just as he was about to call out to the others, another movement caught his eye—a second vessel, further north, its deck alive with commotion. His heart leaped as he scanned the ship, but then his stomach clenched—he could not make out who was aboard. The vessel was in distress, tossed by the lake's treacherous waters, but whether Ava was on board remained a mystery.

Harvan turned back to his companions, his expression grave. "I see the queen's ship," he said, his voice steady. "It's sinking, near the eastern shore, attacked by one of the creatures that dwell in these waters."

Svonman and Lanonir tensed, ready to spring into action, but Harvan raised a hand, forestalling them. "But Ava is not aboard that ship."

Lanonir frowned in confusion. "How can you be certain? She could be trapped below decks!"

Harvan shook his head, frustration edging his voice. I knew that she was still alive. Though he could not explain why his heart felt so certain, he was determined to keep watch for Ava to appear. "I saw another ship further north, but I couldn't see who was aboard. It's in trouble, but whether Ava is there or not—I cannot say."

Silence fell over the group, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on them. But then, Harvan hesitated, as if reluctant to speak the next words. "There's something else... I saw a Copheles aboard."

The color drained from Svonman's face. Lanonir's eyes widened in shock. "The Copheles?" he whispered, his voice just more than a breath. "If that's true... then everyone on that ship is as good as dead."

The gravity of the situation sank in, casting darkness over the group. Harvan's jaw clenched, his resolve hardening. "We don't know that for certain. We'll hold our position here. We'll watch the lake through the night and wait for dawn's light to reveal what we cannot yet see."

The men set up camp, their mood somber. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world into shadow, they took turns keeping vigil by the water's edge. Every ripple, every shift of wind, was scrutinized as they waited—hoping against hope that the next ship they spotted would carry their dear Ava and praying that she was not on the ship with the Copheles.

But as the hours passed and darkness deepened, the tension only grew. The lake remained still, as if holding its secrets just beyond their reach, leaving them with nothing but the gnawing uncertainty of what the morning might bring.

Harvan refused to rest, maintaining a constant watch on the ship fighting the creatures, not sure whether to hope to see Ava or wish her to be on another vessel.