| "The Adventures of Kat and Clara" Part XVI: The Adventure Continues "You're trying to tell me that my wife has the gems to the sword?" Jervin asked, completely surprised. "I gave her those bands as a wedding gift! How could they possibly be part of the sword?" Kat sighed. "Again, your majesty," she said, "let me show you the writing on the parchment." Clara and Salem stood with Kat, Jervin, and Ophelia in the great hall as they presented their case of taking Ophelia's jewelry. As described upon the parchment that Keilich had given them, the Sword of Many Parts had sockets in the hilts made to accommodate six small gems, exactly the type that Ophelia had. Moreover, the number of facets on each gem seemed to match in both Ophelia's jewels and the descriptions in the drawings. "Are you positive?" Jervin asked, insistently. "My wife will be horribly upset if you must take away her beautiful bracelets." "Perhaps, good king," Clara said, "but when the sword is completed, she will be overly joyful." "Jervin, dear," Ophelia interrupted, "they may take them, by all means. If what Kat, Clara, and Salem argue is correct, and the construction of the sword will be further completed by the gems, let them have my bands. You gave me a beautiful gift, Jervin, but you must let them take it from me." Jervin sighed. "Very well," he said. "Take them if you must. But at least let me insist that you travel safer this time, better than you were when you landed here." "But that our flying machine, your majesty," Salem argued. "Your machine will be kept here for now," Jervin said. "I have arranged for all of you to travel by sea." "That will take quite a bit of time, your majesty," Kat said. "We may have the jewels, but the remaining half of the sword's blade still wanders." "Long time or not," Jervin said, "I want you to take your time, and not endanger your lives. Recall that you've traveled quite long distances in only a matter of days. You need not enervate yourself. Instead, I have arranged for you three to travel on the great ship Covenant." "The Covenant?" Ophelia repeated, confused. "You've arranged for them to sail with Captain Hermione?" "Sure," Jervin said. "Hermione is one of Trillan's greatest seafarers; surely she will be able to transport Kat, Clara, and Salem anywhere they wish safely." "We will go, then, your majesty," Kat said. "We will not let you down, and we will not abandon our honor and our Guardianhood." "Then be on your way, Guardians," Jervin said. "Go to the shores and find the fourth pier; there, you will find the Covenant and Captain Hermione." Kat, Clara, and Salem started off towards the door. "We will not fail you, king," Clara said. "May light guide you!" Jervin called out, as his heroes left the great hall. Kat, Clara, and Salem strode down the grassy hills to the piers. Early in the day as it was, there was quite a bit of activity; Trillanians were everywhere, loading and unloading the many ships and selling goods. The three panthers walked along the docks for a while until arriving at a rather large fourth pier, as Jervin had described. There was anchored a great ship with the name Covenant on the side. As they walked along the dock, they periodically encountered deck hands loading equipment onto the ship. "Excuse me, sir," Kat said, stopping an older man, a red fox. "We are looking for Captain Hermione; might we find her on this ship?" The red fox was aged about 30 years or so, and he dressed in white shirt and black leather vest. He also wore blue cloth pants, held to his waist with a black belt. On his feet were a pair of black, ankle-high boots with buckles. He appeared handsome and well distinguished. "Ah, yes, of course," he said, smiling. "I am her first mate, actually. My name is Barton. You must be Kat and Clara, the first of the female Guardians. I am honored." "Thank you, sir," Clara said. "This man is Salem; he is traveling with us." "Of course," Barton said. "I know you, in fact. I see you every now and then walking through Trillius. You Whitebelts are wonderful people indeed." "I'm glad you feel that way," Kat said. "Now, I was wondering if you can take us to the captain." "Sure, I can," Barton said, turning to walk up a large plank to the ship's deck. "Follow me." Next page >> |