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    A Selkie's Prayer: A Novella
    A Selkie's Prayer: A Novella
    A Selkie's Prayer: A Novella
    Ebook94 pages1 hour

    A Selkie's Prayer: A Novella

    By Julie Bihn

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    About this ebook

    A Selkie's Prayer is a standalone novella in the world of Kinyn.

    When Jedrey's selkie wife accuses him of stealing her sealskin and leaves him, his world is shattered. A mysterious goddess puts a magical map in his head to help him search for his lost love--but his wife may be closer than he thinks. Will Jedrey continue to serve the goddess he's worshiped for five years, or will he save the woman he loves?

    Also contains the first chapter of The Healer and the Pirate, Book 1 in the Kinyn Chronicles.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJulie Bihn
    Release dateMar 20, 2015
    ISBN9781310672552
    A Selkie's Prayer: A Novella
    Author

    Julie Bihn

    Ever since discovering the wonders of Narnia, Julie Bihn has been dreaming of other worlds and the people that inhabit them. An Arizona native, she's always been drawn to ships. Julie is the author of A Selkie’s Prayer and co-author of The Healer and the Pirate. Her current project is a romantic time-travel story set in a fictional Arizona amusement park. She hopes to keep sharing stories until the Savior calls her to a new world.

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      Book preview

      A Selkie's Prayer - Julie Bihn

      A Selkie's Prayer

      A Tale of Kinyn

      by Julie Bihn

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2014, Julie Bihn

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      To all who were born with challenges, or who acquired them in life, and to all who have ever lost something important...or found it.

      Jedrey clung to the rigging with his knees and reached up toward the knot that had loosened. His fingers skimmed it, prompting him to stretch a little farther.

      His task would have been easier if he were a span taller, or if Cook didn't feed the crew so well.

      Jedrey!

      Thirty feet below, Captain Ciro turned his attention from the wheel. His crisp blue jacket, embroidered with sea serpents and Sespin, snapped in the wind. I told you to take care of the streamers.

      I am, sir. Jedrey tied a stopper knot. What fool had tied the streamers with bowlines? Half the knots had already loosened. He untangled the bundle of red and gold ribbons tied to the topgallant stay. Ten done; a dozen more to go.

      The captain glared up at him. I meant, take them down.

      Surely he wasn't serious. We're not far from port, sir.

      We're two weeks away! the captain huffed. And I never wanted them on for departure. It was all the work of those fool dockhands.

      If the captain had seen her power firsthand, he wouldn't speak such foolish words. "S--sir, Wyvin can see us to Maston sooner, if she wills it. And the Hope should proclaim her splendor, even to any vessels that may pass us. It's not every ship that carries a goddess."

      That's true enough. Captain Ciro scowled. Fine. Leave them be. But don't you risk your neck another moment up there. Better the ribbons fall than you. Less mess.

      Though Jedrey had no fear of falling from the rigging, he climbed down out of deference to his captain. Perhaps Tiron, the first mate, would let him check the rest of the streamers during his watch after the first evening meal.

      As Jedrey's feet touched the deck, the captain muttered, "I don't understand. I've never met a human glad to be cursed by the Elves."

      Surely he'd misheard. Cursed, sir?

      The captain pointed to the blue starburst inked by magic onto Jedrey's palm. You enjoy having a map of the world and the stars in your head? I'd wager it takes up half your brains. Never mind the seasickness.

      How could the captain speak ill of the blessing Wyvin granted him? The occasional bout of seasickness is a small price to pay for such a gift. His stomach only quaked when the weather changed and after five years, he was used to it.

      The captain raised an eyebrow.

      Besides, sir, there's not a ship anywhere that wouldn't love to have me, should the need arise.

      Captain Ciro's other eyebrow arched up to match the first. If the Elves don't conscript you first.

      If the rest of the Elves are as kind and good as Wyvin, I'd be honored to serve, whatever they ask.

      The captain shook his head. Why did she choose to 'gift' you?

      Jedrey swallowed. To explain, he'd have to tell the captain that his wife was a selkie. And if the captain were like most people he'd met, then he'd laugh at him--if not for marrying a seal-woman, then for believing that she might return someday.

      He cleared his throat, then shrugged. Wyvin's a goddess. It's not our place to question her ways. Our job is to serve her.

      Bah. Serve your goddess by checking our bearing, will you?

      Yes, sir. Pressing back his worries about how Wyvin might punish the captain, Jedrey bowed his head as if in prayer. He took a few deep breaths, the salt air tickling his nose. Behind his closed eyelids the sea spread out, vast as the sky. It formed a brilliant map, green shores glistening at its edge, winds forming white threads atop the sapphire waves. The mark Wyvin's magic etched on his palm throbbed warm. Smooth seas ahead. From the wind, I reckon we should shift our course five degrees starboard.

      Captain Ciro called the orders. The other sailors scrambled to haul the lines and shift the sails for the best path to Maston. The streamers fluttered like royal banners.

      Jedrey bit back a smile.

      What's so funny? the captain growled.

      The man could read him almost as well as Wyvin could. Not quick-witted enough to make up a lie, he gazed down at the deck. It's just--as much ill as you speak of the Elves, you don't seem to mind relying on Elven 'curses.' Sir.

      Two breaths passed, and then Captain Ciro cracked a smile. "I rely on you, Jedrey."

      It was kind of the captain to say that, but Jedrey would be worthless if not for Wyvin's gift.

      The map in his mind appeared again, unbidden. He'd checked mere moments before. What could have changed? What did his gift want him to see?

      An indentation moved in the water, as if pressed there by a giant, invisible finger. The watery depression lay within firing distance, keeping parallel to them. He winced. Sir?

      Still at the wheel, the captain frowned down at him. Don't tell me you meant five degrees port instead of starboard?

      No, sir.

      Then what?

      Jedrey climbed to the poop deck, squinting to the port side. I don't know. It's not a whirlpool. If we were on land, I'd call it a hole, except holes don't move. Whatever it is, there's a hazard moving alongside us. He pointed. See that low spot in the water? I think it's getting closer.

      Captain Ciro squinted. You're pointing at waves.

      How could he miss it? The moving pit was the size of the Hope.

      Exactly the size of the Hope.

      His breath caught in his throat. An invisible ship!

      Captain Ciro looked him up and down. Did the Elves addle your brains?

      He felt a fool but the Hope--and Wyvin--depended on him. I wouldn't have spoken if I hadn't seen it, sir.

      Well. The man gazed at the sea ahead before turning to Jedrey again. This magic ship--friend or foe?

      A friend would have no need to be invisible, sir. He couldn't take his eyes off the spot where the other ship wasn't.

      But who's ever heard of an invisible--

      The thunder of a cannon blast swallowed the rest of his words. The sternward corner of the port railing exploded and a cannonball flew across the deck, narrowly missing two sailors.

      The captain's jaw dropped. "All hands! Ready the guns! Percin, take the wheel. Jedrey, you know where the enemy is. Go down to guide

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