Free Sea Queen by Michael James Ploof

cliff face and noticed an opening not too high up. “That the cave you meant?” he asked Tyson.
    “Yeah, that’s the one. Let’s go check it out.”
    They climbed up to the mouth of the cave and Chief ran inside.
    “Akkeri! Akkeri!” Talon yelled into the darkness. Judging by the echo, the cave was rather vast. He listened closely but no one answered.
    “We can start a fire inside and search the cave with torches. We need to cook the deer anyway,” Tyson suggested.
    Chief returned shortly and continued sniffing about outside. He spun in circles and then went back to the tattered sail, looking out at the ocean. He gave a quick sneeze and came back to the cave entrance.
    “What you got, boy?” Talon asked. Chief only whined and resumed his search.
    “I think if she was here he would be leading us to her,” said Tyson. “Let’s get a fire going and search the cave. We got to cook the venison anyway.”
    Talon nodded as he watched Chief.

Chapter 7
The Cave of Dreams
     
    His gifts will catch many eyes and tempt weak hearts. –Gretzen Spiritbone, 4992
     
    They hung the deer, using Talon’s rope, and made the trek to the nearest trees. After five trips with armfuls of deadwood, they started a fire near the entrance to the cave. Talon fashioned a torch and went about searching the vast cavern. What he found astounded him. Upon the walls were murals of elaborate artwork. He was overcome with a strong foreboding as he recognized one of the scenes upon the walls—a boy and a wolf pup watching a girl with a red ribbon, standing alone in a snowy field. His mouth went dry. “Bring another torch!” he yelled to Tyson.
    Tyson hurried over. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a krellr .”
    Talon noticed another mural and gasped at what he saw. “It can’t be…”
    The mural depicted a woman on her deathbed, her skin discolored with the sickness. In another, a boy played in a field with a wolf pup. There was one with the boy standing well under the Miotvidr stick—all around him, giants laughed and pointed. The next showed him being nursed to health by the girl with flowing red locks…
    Talon fell to his knees, stunned. He stared at the mural of his mother—he had never seen her before.
    “Feikinstafir, Talon! You’ve got to see this one.”
    Talon was dizzy. What did all this mean? Why was his life depicted here on these cave walls? He made his way to Tyson and stared, wide eyed.
    “Now, that is the strangest shyte I have ever seen in my gods forsaken life,” said Tyson.
    The wall portrayed the two of them looking up at a picture of themselves, looking up at a picture of themselves.
    “What the hells is going on here, Talon?”
    “I’ve no idea.
    Chief barked and they both jumped with a start.
    “What is it, Chief?” Talon asked, his voice shaky.
    Chief was on his hind legs waging his tail and staring up at the wall. Talon raised the torch and tears welled in his eyes. Tyson came up beside him and patted him on the shoulder.
    “She was here,” said Talon.
    The painting showed a weary looking Akkeri sitting in the cave, holding herself as though she were cold. A smeared handprint of wood ash had been placed beside her picture—Akkeri’s handprint? Talon raised his own hand and pressed against it, shuddering.
    “Akkeri!” his tortured voice echoed throughout the dark cave. He had to scream or else fall apart.
    “Is she here somewhere, Chief? Can you smell her?” asked Tyson, but Chief only lowered his head and stopped wagging his tail.
    Talon wiped his eyes, angry at his tears, and scoured the walls for more information. “Why wouldn’t she just wait for me if she found the picture of…”
    Talon’s voice trailed off as he found another mural. This one depicted a group of rugged looking sailors standing at the mouth of the cave—McGillus among them. Beyond him, out on the open waters, sat the big slave ship.
    “Godsdamnit! She’s been on the slaver the whole time,” Talon yelled.