Now there was a new part of the situation he had not considered. He realized Jamison had been ready to run if Kellic took over, and he should have considered the reason why. He had heard that there was an underground movement against the Prince, but that sort of thing was common in almost all capitals. This group had seemed benign since they made no demands and certainly never tried to assassinate the man.
Now Rory suspected they were too smart to do the usual things.
The wind came up with a sudden roar, and Rory could hear distant shouts on other ships. It seems likely that more than the ones that intend to go would be torn loose tonight, which would make a mess out of the dock while they tried to get away.
And that would be where he could do his most good. When the Captain came back up into the little room with them, the world outside had gotten dark and wet, and no one would see them unless they created light here, which they were not stupid enough to do.
"I can help us get out of the dock and keep the other ships away while we escape," Rory told him. "It will be easy, and I probably won't be able to hold back all the ships, but I think I can give us a better chance."
"It will not be easy for you or safe," Jamie replied. Rory was starting to get used to thinking that name. "But I don't say it isn't a good idea. I'll just go with you to make sure you don't fall into the water."
Rory didn't argue. He was already weak enough that this would be a challenging undertaking. Besides, Rory could glue Jamison more easily to the deck than Rory could keep himself there since his mind would be on other spells. Putting a spell on Jamison and linking himself to his companion would help. So he and Jamison went on out, already drenched and hit hard by the wind. Rory took tight hold of Jamison's arm and already ran a fine link of magic between them. He also ran a line between them and the deck that kept moving in odd directions. It made walking feel strange, but they didn't so much as slide towards the edge of the railing.
Soon they were at the bow of the boat. It wasn't a large craft, and that would help Rory keep some control. He could already see three other ships moving haphazardly away from the dock. None of them dared to use sails, and Rory wasn't even sure the masts were going to survive.
The storm grew worse almost immediately. Lightning flashed across the sky and then downward, hitting the dock itself with enough force to send wood flying. That tore several ships free, and there'd be no doubt that this exodus had been unplanned.
With any kind of luck, it would even look as though the ship had gone down in the deeper waters. Rory intended to make sure that did not happen, but if they did start to list, he was sure he could get all four of them to land.
Should he purposely sink the ship?
No, that was the sound of insanity in his head. Instead, he reached out the little magic and brushed the first of the ships out of the way. With the chaos out there, no one would notice a few ships moving in a strange direction.
Jamison kept tight hold of him, and they both knelt, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. Rory continued his work with a single-minded determination. He dared not watch the storm over which he wouldn't have much control even if he tried. It was hard work, but he reminded himself that he desperately wanted out of the city and away from all the doubts and mistakes he'd already made.
He'd failed his own people, but he would not fail Jamison and his wife.
The wind howled louder, and at that moment, lightning struck the ship just to the right of them. Parts of it exploded into the sky, and Rory did his best to knock those aside, but he could not get them all. Something hit him across the head, and another cut into his arm. Jamison cursed and must have been hit, though perhaps not as seriously as Rory. The blow to his head leaked warm blood running down his face, and he had trouble pulling back his scattered mind. Something was still embedded in his arm, and he'd lost his link to magic. When Jamison started to slide away, his panic brought back at least that spell. Rory drew the man back to him and planted them both on the deck. That was all he could manage.
Then he saw that the ship that had been hit was burning and floundering, but would not go under before it hit them. Not for the first time in the last few days, Rory silently asked Etek for more power than see them through this trouble. At least he knew his God was not xenophobic, and the fact that Jamison was not a believer was not going to be a problem.
They had to get out of this area and into the deeper center of the river. From there, it was either upriver or down, and Rory would decide when he saw what sat in the way. Upriver would be better for reaching Jamison's land, but he suspected trouble would be waiting along that path. Heading down the broad path of the river to the sea might be the wiser course but no less dangerous in other ways.
Nothing would be safe, and Rory would not make this decision for the rest of them.
"Find out which way we go," Rory ordered and nudged Jamison away.
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