Chapter Nine

Jasper was aware that he was dreaming. He’d always had that ability and assumed it was just another way his magical side made itself more aware. He didn’t even realize other people didn’t have that same dual awareness until he talked to his mother about it when he was young. Her quiet shake of her head and a gentle finger over his lips let him know that was another thing he shouldn’t mention to others.

Unfortunately, that awareness didn’t stop him from reliving the horrors of his incident night after night. It’d been almost two months now since he’d first been taken and there hadn’t been a night when he’d slept, where he hadn’t found himself in the cave. The long dark shadows, the smell of smoke and herbs in the air that covered him like a blanket he couldn’t get free of… and those faces… As soon he became aware he was dreaming, Jasper saw the mountain area where the caves were, over in the distance from where he was apparently standing.

“You’d think, after four days of being awake, and having that sip of wine, that my brain could take me to somewhere different, just for a change of scenery. Maybe I should’ve stayed awake long enough to drink the whole glass. Total oblivion must be fun for those who can achieve it.” Folding his legs, Jasper sat down on the dusty yellow ground, not keen on going anywhere.

It wouldn’t change anything, him sitting down. Jasper knew he’d end up in that cave sooner or later. He could see the flicker of the huge fire from where he was sitting and imagined the distinct spice blend in the air as he breathed. But for now, he was conscious of his body’s need to heal. Nightmares jolted him awake, and Jasper was determined to stay asleep as long as physically possible. After staying awake for so long…

There was a sense of inevitability and a weird form of comfort in knowing his dream space hadn’t changed when his life had been upended in such an unusual way. Closing his eyes – his dream state restored his stolen eye every time he slept - Jasper consciously focused on those changes. There was his new husband, the ship, the crew, and the everchanging sea that was such a different visage to the dusty landscape of his dreamscape.

Jasper had never been drawn to the water. As a child he had been fascinated by it, but then he’d been warned away from the sea he could barely see from his bedroom window, and that urge to explore it disappeared over time. Jasper could appreciate the irony, given how his mother was so desperate to see him married off, that she actively invited his marriage contract with a man who, if Princess Felicity was to be believed, spent more than half his life on his ship. If I ever fell overboard, I couldn’t even swim to save myself.

Time passed differently in the dream realm. Jasper distracted himself and his increasing awareness of the cave by imagining what it would be like to be completely surrounded by water. All of his body, even his head. He was aware that humans couldn’t breathe under water. Personally, he’d never been in water deeper than it took to bathe, but Jasper had spent much of his life engrossed in books and dreams were supposed to be where the impossible became possible.

All those incredible creatures. Jasper wrapped his arms around his legs, resting his chin on his knees, his eyes still closed. That cave wasn’t going anywhere.

But in his head, Jasper thought about the greens and blues, the murky depths of the water that surrounded Avalon’s ship. It would be deep enough to house every creature I’ve ever read about.

Brilliant colors and slivers of silver filled Jasper’s mind as he imagined the illustrations of the creatures he’d only read about. He could see the long sleek shapes of sharks with sharp teeth, and yet the pictures Jasper had always seen showed an uncanny intelligence in those eyes. Whales were larger still and yet had that same knowing look in the illustrations artists had made of them.

Then there were the beings with tentacles. Jasper was always fascinated by those – their different colors, so bright in what was usually depicted as murky water. He’d often wondered if the creatures were lit up in some way through their biology, or if it was the reaction of their skin against the salt in the sea.

Stingrays were another creature that captured Jasper’s imagination. They appeared to move in such graceful ways, at least in Jasper’s imagination. It was almost as if they were flying through the water. Indeed, anecdotal accounts he’d read about the creatures that were as wide as Jasper was tall, suggested they were an aloof creature that didn’t come close when divers… divers. How can that be? It had to be magic, Jasper decided. How else could men, who breathed the air on land, not want to instantly choke on the water with their faces submerged.

So many incredible creatures. Would they accept a being like me…?

/~/~/~/~/

“It’s as if every sea creature from miles around is being drawn to this ship,” Merlin said in a hushed whisper. Avalon appreciated the caution. It was late, most of the crew were sleeping, but Jose and Hugo, who were holding aloft the lamps as Avalon had ordered, looked decidedly uncomfortable leaning over the ship’s railings with so many creatures swimming below. As soon as Avalon had seen the extent of the visitation, he’d ordered the ship to stop and drop anchor as well. He didn’t want to hit anything without knowing what had caused the creatures to come so close.

“Has this got something to do with the Consort?” Duncan asked bluntly. “Is he some form of siren, one who calls to the creatures of the sea and lures men to their death?”

“If he is, he clearly wouldn’t know about it. He’s never been out on a ship before. Besides, I’m not hearing any siren songs the legends speak of.” Rather than alarmed, Avalon found himself fascinated. In all his time spent on the waves, he’d seen many things. But to see the waters literally churning with life, completely surrounding the ship, was something he doubted he’d ever see again.

“I’m more concerned about whether or not they mean us any harm.” Merlin seemed just as intrigued although a lot more cautious. “Admittedly, I’m not seeing any creature, at the moment, that could cause the ship any damage, but if there’s some sort of a call going out...?” His tone rose at the end, clearly asking the question, looking at Avalon expectantly.

“This has to be coincidence.” Although Avalon didn’t believe that was the case, and clearly neither did Duncan and Merlin. “Jasper’s been asleep for hours. This phenomenon has only just arrived.”

“If your consort is calling the creatures in some way, or if they are drawn to his magic, then that could give us a clue as to what happened to him and his true heritage,” Duncan muttered.

Avalon glared at his friend. “Are you suggesting my husband’s father was a pirate, and this is pirate magic? That type of magic is not even a fact. It’s folklore and tales told in the taverns at night at most.”

“This situation is highly irregular.” Duncan could be stubborn. “You can’t tell me that on the one night out at sea, when your husband finally gets to sleep, that it’s a coincidence that we’ve attracted an entourage of sea creatures.”

“Sire,” Jose called out. “Sire, should we prepare the cannons? There’re larger beings coming – big enough to scuttle the ship. Look.”

Following the direction of Jose’s outstretched arm, Avalon peered through the darkness. It wasn’t easy – the waves splashing against the side of the ship were louder due to the disturbance caused by the creatures around them and seeing beyond the swirls of the water was difficult. For a moment Avalon couldn’t see anything unusual, but then he caught the flash of a large white underbelly, and then another and another.

“Whales,” Merlin said, keeping his voice low. “Sire, I’m not saying he’s responsible, but I think you might have to wake your husband up. This area of the sea is getting a little bit too crowded to be safe for any of us.”

“Jasper needs his sleep,” Avalon insisted. “You said so yourself. No one is hurt. The creatures aren’t attacking the ship. Even the whales appear to be moving slowly and they’re not heading for us directly. It’s as though they just want to be in the vicinity of the ship.”

“Man overboard. Man overboard.” Another member of the crew yelled from the other side of the ship.

Crossing the planks at a sprint, Avalon peered into the murky water. “Hold up your lamps. Boost their brightness. You there. Who fell? How? I can’t see anyone splashing around.”

“I saw a person.” The man’s face was white under the glow of the lanterns. “Swimming with the creatures, not breathing or anything. He was completely submerged in the water.”

“Who?” Avalon felt a shaft of fear stab him in the chest. “Was it a crew member? One of the guards. Was it anyone you recognize? Duncan, quickly. Do a check on all of the crew.”

“I swear on my mother’s grave… I know what I saw.” The man looked petrified. “I swear it was the consort.”

It took a moment for Avalon to connect the dots. “The consort?” Then he clicked. “My husband, you mean? You saw him swimming with the creatures? Damn it, why didn’t you dive over and save him? I am sure you can swim, but I know he can’t. Damn it. Show me where you saw him last.” Avalon started stripping off his coat.

“He waved at me as he went past.” The man sunk to his knees. “He didn’t look like a man who needed saving. He looked like…”

“All of the crew and guards are accounted for.” Duncan materialized at his side, slightly out of breath. “The only room I didn’t go in was yours.”

Where Jasper is supposed to be sleeping. “Watch the sea for any signs of human life. Post someone with lamps front and aft and both sides, too. The moment you see anyone… not anything, but anyone, then call me.”

“We could lower the longboats,” Merlin suggested. “We might be able to see better from there.”

“Let me check my cabin first.” Patting Merlin’s arm, Avalon ran across the deck and down the small hallway to his suite. Tapping lightly on the door, Avalon opened it, moving inside, and closing it behind him.

The lamps cast a soft glow in his sitting room, and with the door to his sleeping chamber ajar, Avalon could already see the shape of his husband, still on the bed, the covers Avalon had covered him with, moving gently with every breath.

Feeling as though he was intruding, even though it was his own space, Avalon moved quietly across the room, and into his bedroom, until he was standing by the bed. Jasper wasn’t wearing his patch – that was resting on the bedside cabinet. In sleep, his features relaxed, there was something ethereal about his husband. Avalon felt a stir under his ribs, and then another lower down and shook himself firmly.

“Jasper,” Avalon called softly. “Jasper, are you dreaming about sea creatures, by any chance? Only I think they’ve come to visit you.”

“Hmmm. What was that?” Jasper rolled and stretched and that didn’t do Avalon any favors. “I was having a lovely dream. The first I’ve had since…” As if suddenly realizing where he was, Jasper shook himself, bolting upright and reaching for his eyepatch. “I’ve never seen sea creatures outside of books before. Are you telling me you can see some in the water now?”

“One of the crew swore on his mother’s life that he saw you in the water swimming with them,” Avalon teased. “It might do him good to see you standing on the deck completely dry, if you don’t mind.”

“He claims he saw me?” Flinging back the covers, Jasper scrambled off the bed. “How is that possible? You mean he thought I was in the water?”

“It caused quite a stir, although most of the guards and crew have turned in the for the evening.” Avalon held out his arm.

“I can’t even swim,” Jasper confided as his hand slipped easily around the bend of Avalon’s elbow. “I mean, I was dreaming I was swimming. My dreamscape’s pretty dusty as a rule, but I was only dreaming. You don’t think…?”

“Perhaps the crewman concerned had too many wines with his supper,” Avalon suggested although he wasn’t sure himself. “Now you’re awake, let’s go and see if the creatures that decided to visit the ship are still there…” or if they’ve disappeared now that you’re awake.