When Aqua started pulling on his shirt. He swatted her away. But she wouldn't let it stop at that. She had liked the boy, and didn't know way he was leaving. "What's wrong with you? We don't know anyone here, so how could there be a friend going that way?" but she wouldn't stop. "Alright, let's go take a look. It had better be something, because I have no idea what your talking about." following her, she took him down a dark ally. "What are we looking for?" she chirps at him and flies over to a pile of garbage. "You have got to be kidding. Look I want to get to the inn and to bed. I don't have time for this." She just chirps at him again and starts digging in the trash. "What are you_?" he starts to ask before he can hear yells coming from the trash.
After a bit, more digging Aqua pulls a small boy from the trash pile. At least, he thought it might be a boy under all that dirt. "Hum," looking him over. "She seems to recognize you," he says to the boy. "Wouldn't know why sir." he says in a small voice. Kneeling down to get a better look at him, the boy shuffles back. "How do you know him girl? I don't recognize him from anywhere." He asks curious. The lizard starts a serious of chirps at him, and the boy looks at them both fearfully.
"He was WHERE?" looking back at the boy with a fierce expression. "So you almost got away with it huh?" "What sir?" "My little friend here tells me you were on my ship. Have been for a while now. Why she didn't decide to tell me until now, I will find out later." looking hard at the little dragnet. "So how long were you a stowaway for?" he asks making sure to silently add in the punishment should he catch him lying. "Since the Isle of thieves." He admits scared. "Hum thought you'd use my ship to get yourself out of there, hu." "Please don't take me back there." The boy begs looking at him almost horrified. "Now why shouldn't I?" he asks interested. "Because he'll kill me if he finds me." "Oh, and who would that be?" "The same guy you got those eggs from." "Oh, so you know where he got these little guys from then do you?" looking at his lizards. "Yes, from an Island. The place was full of them. He tricked the caretakers into giving him the eggs. Wouldn't let him touch the big ones though." The boy says spilling his guts. "Big ones?" "Yes, eggs of these giant things. About the same size as your boat."the boy tells him.
He takes a moment to think about what the boy has told him. Not even sure whether he should believe him. But the story seemed almost to far fetched for the boy to have made it up. Turning back to him "What's your name boy?" "Eien." "Well, Eien you get to pay for the free passage." grabbing him by the arm and lifting him off the ground. Turning his head away at the smell: "But first we'll give you a bath." and starts dragging him away kicking.
* * *
"Let me go, let me go." he says going down the street. "Alright, I'll let go, but you promise not to run, because if I have to catch you I will be most unhappy." He threatens. "Alright, I won't run." letting go of his arm slowly, the boy keeps his word "Probably to scare to think about running." He thinks to himself. "Alright, now lets go." and they head toward the inn.
When they get in a plump man welcomes them, "Welcome, welcome." Shaking Crows hand, but frowns when he sees the boy. "Innkeeper, I need one room and two hot baths." Crow tells him harshly. Smiling again: "Yes sir. Yes sir. Right away." and he bustles off, shouting at the inn girls. In minutes two baths are ready for them "Alright, I assume you know how to take a bath?" Crow asks. "Of course I can take a bath." "Good, so do it right, because if you're still dirty after you come out. I'll come in and clean you myself." and goes to take his own bath. He ended up having to carry out his threat, but in the end the boy was clean, and some clean cloths, a little too big, were given to him by one of the inn girls.
* * *
They slept that night and in the morning set out. Eien had tried one or two attempts to escape during the night, but was quickly stopped by the lizards. Now he was stuck on ship, and slowly sailing away from shore, his chance of escape gone. "Well, now that you're stuck here, what way is it to that Island you told me about." Crow asks his tone letting the boy know not to be smart about it. "We have to go back through the portal." he says looking at him nervously. "Don't worry I'm not going to throw you overboard or anything. Yet. You can get to work though." Throwing him a mop and setting down a bucket. "Give it a mop up." and leaves the boy alone.
He comes back an hour later, surprised to find the work done and Eien sleeping against the side. Shaking his head he leaves him there. That evening he shook Eien awake. Jumping up the boy looked terrified. Crow laughed "Calm down. Come on, time for dinner." Going down into the galley Eien stares wide eyed at the food sitting on one of the tables. Running to it he starts grabbing food out of the dishes. "Hay, calm down. It's not going away. Keep eating like that though and you're going to get sick." Heeding his word Eien slows down, his manners don't improve though. "Look try using a plate and a fork huh." pointing at the utensils on the table. Looking at them, Eien takes a swallow emptying his mouth. "Sit. We got all night." Taking a seat he starts pilling food on the plate, and shoveling it his mouth. "You're going to be sick, and I'll laugh when you do. I told you, we got all night." finally he does slow down "What were you doing in a place like that anyway." "I belonged to the man. Had to do what he asked me to." he says with a full mouth "Didn't you eat." "Not much." "I take it he beat you too." "Yeah, he could do what he wanted." and nothing more is said.
When they're done, "Come on." Crow says having him follow. Taking him through a door on deck, they end up in the captain's quarters. "You can sleep over there." pointing to a bed in the corner. "Would give you your own, but I don't know if you'll try to slip away in the night." "Right, where would I go." chuckling a little Crow gets into bed.
That morning they make their second trip through the portal. And head toward the Isle.
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