Free Bridgeworlds: Deep Flux by Randy Blackwell

fast that it took his breath away.
    Myles waited until they neared the docks before taking the
Pontiff off his back and tying him to the top of the transportation tube. That ought to keep them busy long enough for me to get out of here. He
got off at the docks right before the tube took off again.
    He spied some motorized boats that looked like they belonged
to Gauntmen. They were very technological and advanced, but there
was also one sail boat that was docked at the pier. Myles snuck forward
to see a Gabad with a red bandana and a missing eye on the sailboat. By
his stance and the way the others deferred to him, he looked to be the
captain of the ship. His crew was made up of Akana, Gabad, and even an
oriental looking Yaarma.
    Myles blinked. These were different than the species on
Soterion, though. They all had wings and flew from one post to another
looking like they were getting ready to set sail. The captain barked
orders at them, “Abaft! Get your dungbie back there and untie us from
the deck you idiots. We going to take the whole lot with us?! Its east we
go to the cursed lands of Tanniyn’erets!”
    Myles nodded with a smile. How convenient! This will do. He
jumped on deck, found a set of stairs and went below deck finding a
cluster of ale barrels to hide behind.
    Fatigue had set in. Almost miraculously, he had been able to
escape the Gauntmen and the island while starved and weak with
exhaustion. Myles had never been imprisoned before this but he had
known plenty of other cons who had. He was very lucky that fatigue had
not set in and that he was able to ride his adrenaline out for the extent
of the whole charade of escaping. Most prisoners would have buckled in
the first fight having been stuck in such a small space for so long without
movement. Myles wasn’t sure if it was luck, adrenaline, or miracle but
he was thankful to be away. He now felt the full pain of all the wounds
he had taken.
    It would be nice if the Doc was here to patch me up or even
Kasey was here to tell me how stupid I was for trying to tangle with
Haylale. But Myles was in a position he had become quite accustomed
to over the years. He was alone and on his own.
Myles was tired and wiped out and as he sat there trying to
figure out his next move he passed out from hunger and deep fatigue.
    As Myles woke he could feel the hard wood deck push against
his face as if he had been sleeping there for hours. Rough waves crashed
against the ship and the wind blew the smell of salty ocean water past
his nose. Gulls squawked above his head and Myles cracked his eyes
open to see them flying above the ship. He realized he had been tied
and brought above deck while he was passed out. He immediately shut
his eyes again hoping his captor hadn't noticed he was awake yet.
    He squinted a few times to see the contents of his many
pockets emptied onto the deck into a large pile a good fifteen feet away
from him. They had even emptied the compartments in his boots. Myles
felt naked stripped of all his tricks. I must know if I can mold the world
around me now that I am away from that forsaken island. Nothing
obvious. Something small. He imagined one of his knives back in his
pockets and suddenly felt it there. Yes! I'm back!
    Myles immediately imagined the same food he had eaten on
Musterion, the food of the water dwelling race of the Am Mayim. He
imagined the first bite in his mouth already. I hope this works to heal me
like it did on Musterion. Almost immediately Myles felt rejuvenated and
full of life. The string that he had sewn his shoulder up with fell away
within his shirt. He smiled slightly with his eyes still closed.
    Feeling self-confident and revitalized, Myles sat up and looked
around. His breath was taken by the sight. He had been too hurried to
study all of the intricate details of the boat when jumping aboard, but
now he took it all in. The ship was ornate and beautiful obviously made
by a master woodcraftsman. It was majestic!