Excerpt: White Mist

Ilona slowly opened her eyes, and then wondered if she had opened them at all. She could see nothing. She tried to conjure some light, but the light did not come. She tried again. The element had always been there, ready to respond to her wish, to her slightest command. And yet nothing came, even when she thought as hard as she could about light.

She tried to move and found that she could not. Her wrists and ankles had been bound to something with linen cords. She strained against the bonds, but the cloth was too tightly woven and too well tied. Ilona let out a cry of rage and fury.

“Sounds like the little one’s awake,” said a nearby voice.

“Best go tell the captain,” said another, this one deeper and more gravely.

Ilona breathed heavily in and out, still struggling to escape. She thought of fire that could burn through the cords that held her. Yet again, there was no magic. No fire sprang to life, and no sparks burned through the bonds.

Everything swayed back and forth, and Ilona felt slightly sick to her stomach.

Then a door opened, and a man walked in. Ilona turned her head, which was almost the only part of her body that could move. She had expected to see the thief walk in, but instead another man came and stood before her. He was stockier in build with dark brown hair and deep brown eyes. A short beard covered his chin, and he wore a straight sword at his hip. He carried a lantern in one hand, which he hung up on a hook on the low ceiling. Then he sat down on a stool and peered at her.

Ilona blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light. Her dark cloak had been stripped from her, leaving her clad in only her plain white shift that only fell to her knees.

“So, little one, you’re awake,” he said. “Welcome aboard the White Mist. My name is Avram Sylvan, and I’m the captain of this fine vessel.”

Vessel? Captain? Ilona now understood what the swaying motion meant. She was held on board a ship, likely one of the many vessels that sailed up and down the Great River and its major tributaries.

“What’s your name, girl?” Captain Sylvan said in an almost cheerful voice.

“Ilona,” she said shortly.

“Well, Ilona, you’re part of my crew now, so I hope that you agree to cooperate. The sooner you do, the better things will be for you. What we do is track down other vessels and we take their cargo from them for redistribution.”

“Meaning you’re a thieving river pirate,” snapped Ilona.

“That’s certainly one way of putting it,” said Sylvan brightly. “Listen, little one, I heard how they took you by force, and I can’t say I agree with their methods. Still, you’re here now, so you might as well make the best of it. They drugged you before you were brought on board, because you used magic against us. As soon as I feel you’re trustworthy, you won’t have to take those drugs anymore, but in the meantime, I don’t want you calling down lightning either. Do you understand me? Are you ready to agree to be part of the crew?”