Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

Liam weaved between two sailboats. He led them to a strange-looking twin-hulled craft bridged by a wide deck with a suspended central cabin. Scanning the repairs made by the boat master, Liam ran his hand down the side and smiled. “The man does great work.”

Continuing around the ship, Liam inspected everything. His hands rubbed the dark wood in small circles. “What is this?”

Kai came around the side and caught sight of a scorch mark on the left hull. “Lucca did this.” Liam seethed, placing his hand over the odd-shaped hole. “These burn marks are about the size of a man’s hand. This entire section is below the waterline and will need to be replaced. It will take days.”

Rayna ran her hands around the blackened section. “I could patch this—in a fashion. We cut trees down, but they still carry energy. I’m sure the wooden planks still have some life left in them.” She cupped her hands around the cavity. Her green crystal bloomed with light as she pressed at the wood.

Beneath her touch, root tendrils and bark grew together, sealing the void. The spot looked like the core of a tree had grown into the damaged area. “How did you know how to do that?” Ryker asked.

“One of the lessons Imani taught me. Consider everything is possible, and maybe it will be.” She smiled and leaned into Yulia, who beamed with pride at the young Kodama.

Chapter 25

The Gemidi

Bag in hand, Kai nodded and joined the others on Liam’s newly repaired skimmer. His double-hulled craft bobbed on the tiny waves next to the pier. Everyone helped Liam stow their supplies into the various compartments within both hulls. Rayna stretched out on a hard wooden deck in front of the main cabin.

Liam untied his boat and pushed off the pier. With a few minor adjustments to the twin red sails, the ocean breeze set them in motion. Gracefully it sliced through the tiny waves. Yulia perched on her knees in the middle of the rope netting. Her sleight of hand tamped down the waves in front of the boat. Unhappy with her current location, she moved to the solid decking in front of the mainsail beside Rayna.

Excitement stirred Kai’s imagination. Salty mist sprayed alongside them. The hull bounced steadily across the water. He had never sailed on the ocean. His most recent trip across Baden Lake against twenty-foot waves made him wonder if the ocean’s wild nature would be more than they could handle on such a small ship.

Ahead of them, Kai saw large waves break; they formed a barrier around the mainland. Each one crested over and crashed into a whitewash of power. Towering rocks jutted on either side—the very same rocks Liam claimed to have crashed his boat on months ago. Liam worked the sails, angling the vessel. Yulia’s movements intensified.

The first of three waves rolled upwards. Liam’s ship climbed up the wall of water. Water splashed the decks. Yulia slammed the heel of her hand down and her magic smacked the crest smooth. Gently they rolled over and down its slinking back. They raced up the second upsurge, and Yulia increased their speed. The skimmer soared up and over the second wave before it could break.

The third and final barrier wave swelled. The top began to spill over in spray of white. Their ship rose with the water. The wind pushed them higher. Yulia spun the wind to give them lift. Even Liam gasped in amazement as his hulls floated a few inches above the sea, the rudder the only part still cutting through the water.

Liam adjusted the sails. The wind propelled them faster. Everyone but Yulia clung to the vessel. They were still not high enough. The crest of the wave threatened to crash over their deck. With both hands, Yulia split the surf apart. Whitewash crashed away from them. Liam’s boat slipped through the opening and floated into calmer waters. The ebb and flow of the ocean unfolded into a limitless horizon.

“With the help of a Weathervane, it normally takes two days in open waters to reach the edge of the Mystic Islands. If we stand any chance at catching Lucca and Basil, we need to press harder,” Liam instructed. “It will make for a tougher ride, but I don’t think we have much choice.”

Everyone agreed it was a sound plan. Rayna tossed the remaining bags down the stairs and climbed into the suspended cabin. Kai followed. He dropped his pack in the tiny cramped cabin. It offered a place to sit out of the sun, two long planks on either side for sleeping and storage compartments. Unable to stand upright, he bent his back to keep from knocking his head. “Not much room to relax.”

Rayna nodded, stowing the rest of their supplies. “You are going to save your mother, and all this,” she motioned to their situation, “will be worth it.”

It was good to have her near. He’d known no matter what, she was not about to stay behind while he risked his life chasing after Lucca and the fulfillment of his lifelong dream to find his mother. “I am glad you’re with me.” He pulled her close and bumped his head. “Ugh, I am going up top. Too cramped down here.”

She patted his arm and led the way. Back on top, Kai listened to Liam explain how his quick skimmer was best used for racing. “While they were not really the best on the open sea during a storm, we use these vessels to traverse the distance between the islands and the mainland quickly. With a Weathervane at your side to calm the sea and supply ample wind, it turns a four-day cruise into a two-day race.”

It was easy to see Liam loved the thrill of riding the waves, even if his ship was taking a pounding with a faster pace. All around him his friends supported him. He was