Ashen - Chapter 9: Desolation

 Chapter Nine: Desolation

Descriptions of the barren world did it no justice. Ceru stared, and in every direction, she saw only ruin. Jagged rocks and dust, with the Pyre in the sky, not quite as large as Bob had made out; but massive, and brighter than anything Ceru had seen before.

    All hands congregated on the weather deck and were given instructions. The Black Ophelia was secured, exactly as if it were moored to a dock back home, only it sat in the loose sand, which gave Ceru the uneasy feeling that the ship was scuttled. It was pointless, but a life at sea filled her with the inescapable dread that they were stranded. Anchor posts were driven into the ground at even intervals around the ship, and tents were erected over the anchor lines. Gear and equipment were hauled down from the hold and by nightfall the Black Ophelia resembled a small village.

    As the Pyre sank slowly past the horizon, Ceru was eating with Mookee and some of the other Quelyans, by Cook’s campfire. They were all staring at the sunset. The whole of the world looked to be on fire, just beyond the horizon, and the sky had turned purple and red against the faintest hint of the black beyond.

    The ship’s officers, along with the elf, Oquee and a handful of others, were poring over Adovar’s maps and discussing their plans for the expedition.

    When the flames on the horizon had died down to embers and the night sky had turned almost to black, Ceru was reclining on her bedding, looking for some familiarity in the faint stars above. She could see the Dragonstar, of course, and the Fhar Star, and the faint red glow of the Red Star. The constellations were all there or, at least, she could name the constellations she could find. She imagined she might be able to navigate under this sky. She was likely to get lost, sure; but she was confident about the cardinal directions, and she thought she could find her way back to the ship, so long as she paid attention when she was leaving.

    “Excuse me,” Adovar said, appearing at her side as if from nowhere. Ceru sat up and glanced at the elf’s face before averting her eyes again. He crouched down beside her and cocked his head.

    “When you came aboard in the City of Brass, you wore a cutlass,” he said. “Do you know how to use it?”

    Ceru squinted at him, nodding. “I do.”

    “I expected as much. Given that you survived your history with the pirates of Quelya you were likely to have some skill in combat; and I’ve come to ask you to join our expedition.”

    “What?”

    “Well, you know how to fight, and I have enjoyed your company.” He sat down in the sand and dust, his gaze looking out toward the horizon. “There is evil here. It won’t likely cross our path; but I’d rather have a warrior I know by my side and not need her than need her and have her here wasting her talents maintaining the ship.”

    “I- I’m signed on with the crew,” she said; but she really did want to go now that it was an option. “I can’t just abandon-”

    “I’ve spoken with Captain Coalbrand. On my word, you’re to be made a marine, and your duties will include accompanying me and my party into the depths and the ruins. It means no actual pay raise, but a larger share of the spoils.”

    She was smiling now.

    “It also means you’ll need to get some sleep. Our scouts will be back by sun-up and I intend to set out as soon as possible. Someone will come and wake you.”

    “Goodnight,” she said, as the elf stood and returned to his maps and candlelight.