Traci Hickman - Swept Up by the Sea

To Matthew Lampros

Who taught us that the book is the souvenir
we keep from the journey of our story

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hickman, Tracy, author.

Swept up by the sea : a romantic fairy tale / Tracy & Laura Hickman.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-60907-661-0 (hardbound : alk. paper) 1. DragonsFiction.
2. StorytellersFiction. 3. Sailing shipsFiction. I. Hickman, Laura, 1956 author. II. Title.

PS3558.I2297B57 2013

813'.54dc232013001723

Printed in the United States of America

Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, UT

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Prologue

Come in! Come in! So you have come to Madame Zoltana, have you? The fates have led you here to me at this most auspicious conjunction! Step inside, for here in the darkness the past and the future merge as one.

You say that you are only passing by, but this is not so... it merely appears that way because one cannot see ones own future. Only the Gifted of the Third Eye can divine such ends. Surely a learned youth such as yourself... and with such a handsome cape... and a scholar, I see, by that book which you carry... can learn wisdom from a woman who sees beyond learning and written words to the spirits and powers that govern our lives.

Come closer! Do not fear Madame Zoltana or the powers that I possess. I see you are a seeker of knowledge and adventuretroubled, perhaps, and longing to know what is to come. You have chosen wisely, for my talents are connected to the roots of the world and extend upward to the stars! All the powers are in alignment and destiny opens up before you... all for the very low price of twenty Imperial coins...

Wait! Do not leave... for the fates have chosen you above all others. You are indeed unique among the travelers in this world, and for you there is a special price of ten Imperial coins...

No? Then at least rest a while within the shade of my tent and tell me of your travels... of what you have seen and where you have been and those of your acquaintance whom I might meet along the way. Madame Zoltana wants to hear all about your friends. Tell me of their families and their loves... perhaps of some recently departed relatives? No detail is too trivial. Who might have given you that book, perhaps, or...

Will you repeat that? No... not about the dead uncle... who gave you the book?

The Dragons Bard? Do I know him?

Whatever makes you ask such a ridiculous question?

Oh, that! No that twitch is just a manifestation of my powers. No, I do not know the Dragons Bardnot really, I mean, it was such a very long time ago and Ive forgotten all about it. Im sure he wouldnt remember me at all... not after all Ive done for him, the ungrateful thief! Tell me, is he still wandering about the countryside as the pet story-dog of that old dragon Khrag, or has the monster gotten tired of his sorry tales and eaten him at last? No? Pity.

Your fortune? Oh, so now you want your fortune read, do you? Well, that is why Madame Zoltana is here on your behalf. Now, set your fine-looking satchel down here next to me and stare at the deck of mystic cards! Place your hands palm down on the table, the thumbs touching each other. Now close your eyes and think hard. No, harder! And close both eyes! Keep them closed until I tell youfor the spirits are here and will be angered if you open them while they make a little noise about your bag.

I am sensing something... it is coming through... something about a tailor... your name? Yes, I see it now... Percival Taylor. And you are worried about money... no... a woman... yes! A woman! A woman you want very much... no, wait, it is coming clearer to me... a woman you want to leave you alone... no, thats not it... er, the spirits are still a little obscure...

Wait. Does this have something to do with the Dragons Bard?

Ah, of course it does... that lousy son-of-a-... good friend of mine! And it would involve a woman in a small town...

Is her name... Vestia? The spirits have divined it! I take it that this Dragons Bard has seduced this poor village girl and... oh, you say he is arranging a marriage between you? Ah, the spirits are clearing now above the cards! I have divined it all!

Yes, you may open your eyes now.

Your satchel? Ah, the spirits were most agitated by the power of your destiny and kicked all your possessions out of your bag and across the floor! Do not concern yourself with that right now... watch closely as I reveal your destiny in my cards! This is the fabled Mystic Deck of Zoltana. We shall see your future as we play Zoltanair: the game of fates! I deal your fates in turn to the four winds! Now you take the Fate-dragonthat small carving on the tableand place it before one of the five Towers of Destinythose stacks of tiles in the middle of the table! Do not think about it... just let the spirits of fortune be your guide!

Now, pick up the cards in front of you and we shall each play a card! Well played, Percival! The first fortune is yours... now move the dragon again and play another... drat! Are you certain youve never done this before?

Never mind, the cards are speaking to me anyway.

I see a long journey... a very, very, very long journey... far away from Vestia and the Dragons Bard. A terrible fate awaits you if you remain at home. Something with plague and disease and maybe some poison. You must flee at once to the sea... prove yourself strong and courageous, wealthy and successful... only then can you fulfill your destiny and become great in story and song! Your future is at sea, young man! There on the vast ocean you will prove yourself heroic and great... a hero worthy of any womans love and the envy of all other men.

No, I do not jest! Look for yourself. The cards do not lie! You will find your destiny at sea. You must go... now... right away.

No! Dont tell the Dragons Bard! Dont tell anyone! Just leave now! Remember? Plague... disease... poison... bad things if you stay and wonderful things if you run away to sea.

Where? Well, the fates dont particularly give an ogres toenail where you... how about Blackshore? I feel like the fates want me to leave town as well, and Blackshore would be just the kind of place where I would not be seen.

What? No, you heard me wrong. I said... Blackshore is just the place for a boy to go to sea!

Bad Impressions

Chapter 1

Sheets of rain fell hard against the windows. The downpour sounded as though sand was being tossed against the thick glass. Beyond, the wind moaned mournfully in the darkness, interrupted from time to time by the spectacular, resonant growl of thunder rolling up the channel of Mistral Sound and across the waters of Blackshore Bay. Lightning occasionally ripped the air, replacing the distant rumble with an explosive crack and boom, each instance occasioning a renewed vigor to the waterfall outside that put to shame all gentler precipitation.