Read Tales of Noreela 04: The Island for Free Online Page B

was rushing back out to sea. It carried with it the evidence of the violence it had wrought on the village: smashed timbers, a couple of machines rolling along, uprooted plants and trees, and a body, facedown but obviously broken and twisted.
    Namior gasped, and Kel held her close. “Listen to me,” he said. “We’ll see lots of death down here. The entire seafront and harbor have been washed away. All the boats are smashed or gone. Are you sure you want to go on?”
    She pulled away from him slightly, and in the weak light he could see her eyes flash with anger. “This is my village,” she said. Kel nodded. He admired such unflinching loyalty. And envied it.
    The rain had lessened, as though the wave had been the culmination of the storm. The wind was weaker too, still liftingspray from the violent waters, but no longer strong enough to have to lean into.
    Ahead of them, the hill curved around until it faced out to sea, and this was where Kel had thought they could be of most help. Those living right down on the coast would be dead and washed away, but farther up the hillside, where the force of the water’s impact had been less, there would be people trapped in collapsed buildings and perhaps wounded in the streets. The bleeding woman they had seen was evidence of that; he only hoped that others were less shocked and more open to aid.
    “We’ll need machines here, and Practitioners,” he said.
    Namior raised an eyebrow. “With all your love of magic?”
    “It has its uses. This is one of them.”
    Namior was looking across the expanse of flowing water and debris.
    “Namior, we can’t get over there yet. The bridge is out, and—”
    “The central span’s gone, that’s all. The rest of it held. And Trakis and Mell will be trying to get over there, looking for Mell’s parents.”
    A hundred steps downriver, the remains of the old stone bridge held on valiantly against the backwash of water. Even in the darkness, Kel could see the shadow of debris piled up against its upriver side. It was crazy, but perhaps those uprooted trees and tumbled rocks could provide a way to cross.
    He looked back down the slope at the ruins of the lower parts of Pavmouth Breaks.
    “Kel?” Namior said. “We’ve seen how bad it is here. Wherever we go tonight, there’ll be people to rescue. And they’re our friends.”
    Kel nodded. “Okay. Back past your house, then we can cut down through the Moon Temple grounds to get to the bridge.”
    “Maybe we’ll find some Practitioners on the way.”
    “Can’t you do it?” With all her witch training, communingwith the land, drawing of magic and using it to cure and mend, he was sure she’d be able to control some lifting machines. But she seemed doubtful.
    “I could try. I use them, just like anyone. Ride them. But I’ve never
instructed
a machine, not like that.”
    “Always a first time for everything.” He hugged Namior and she smiled back, warming him through. “So come on,” he said. “Or by the time we get there everyone will be rescued.”
Or dead
, he thought. In which case Mourner Kanthia, if she was still alive, would have a busy night ahead of her.
    They hurried back the way they had come, and Kel could not help thinking that they were just another part of the confusion. They passed the path to Namior’s home and soon drew level with the entrance to the Moon Temple gardens. The heavy metal gate was open, and there were several people gathered around the ornate, half-moon entrance to the Temple. Kel knew that the moon priest lived around the hillside where they had just been, close down to the small beach, so it was doubtful that he had survived. He’d locked up his temple before returning home that evening.
    Kel looked up at the open viewing area on the Temple’s roof, and there was a naked woman up there. He paused in surprise and sensed Namior standing beside him, looking up as well.
    “Who
is
that?” Kel asked.
    “I’m not sure,” Namior said.