Chapter 44: Planning a Debate
Nathan looked out over the wide ocean, marveling at how calm it was given the craziness of the last few hours. The clouds behind them were gray and frothy but bore none of the threatening weight they’d had before. Soft waves lapped at the hull and the only sign of the giant monster they’d just defeated were some bubbles welling up from the sea behind them.
“By the dawn’s light.” Aarl breathed out, clapping Stella on the shoulder. “That was strong magic.”
She grinned widely, but dipped her head towards the rest of them. “I couldn’t have won this battle on my own. Khachi’s magic of binding is beyond me, and Sarah’s class has shown her power. We couldn’t have held the ship without Aarl, and Nathan…” She trailed off, gesturing vaguely in his direction. “You carried the weight of this battle on your antimagic.”
He snorted lightly. “I didn’t do much against the hydra eel.”
She rolled her eyes. “You won the fight against the Maelstrom. They would have lashed us from afar with magic and storm without you.”
“Indeed.” Eolinne broke in, finally standing from the captain's chair she’d sat in for the entire battle. “Ours would have been a song of driftwood and red waters if you hadn’t called them to battle.” She cocked her head at Nathan. “How did you find the Maelstrom ship? They are invisible inside their own storms.” She hesitated. “Unless this question has a valuable answer, of course.”
“It was in the air. Flying.” Nathan said, smiling wryly. “The ship had enchantments that let the storm mages keep it aloft. It was also invisible and behind stealth skills.” He shrugged. “But I’ve dealt with that before.”
Eolinne’s lips parted. Nathan had never seen her at a loss for words before, but she was now. She gazed off into the distance, then her eyes refocused on him. “And how far were they, for you to detect them?”
“Some distance. About three or so miles and a thousand feet in the air.” Nathan’s response was even, and he watched for her reaction.