Chapter 3

               

 

                “I don’t like the dark.” The wanderer said as they ran through the woods, trying not to impale themselves on branches.

                “Me either.” Will chimed in. “Can’t we take a break? We’ve been running such a long time already! We must be near Verca by now.”

                “Look, we have to be out of Betamy soon! Avery will be after our blood for what I did and he’ll stop at nothing to keep me safe.”

                “…It must be terrible to have someone concerned with your safety.” Will said sarcastically. Tella nodded, not picking up his sarcasm.

                “Well, I don’t know much about this world but,” the wanderer said, “if we charge into a town at daybreak it will be obvious we’ve been running all night to get there. Won’t that be a little suspicious?” Tella paused at this.

                “Yes. You’re right. Alright! We take a break. We’ll go into town after the sun is up and blend in with the morning crowd.”

                “Yay!” Will said sitting down happily. “I think the harbor is only a mile or so away. I an smell the sea.”

                “What, from this far away?” Tella asked. “I don’t smell anything. Didn’t you say you were Iyokian?”

                “Yep.” Will said proudly.

                “Ah, that explains it.” Tella said leaning back against a tree trunk.

                “What do you mean?” the wanderer asked.

                “Iyokians tend to have better sense of smell and hearing than Betamians.” Tella said. “They live in the jungles where they have to be careful not to end up as some predators meal.”

                “Yep. But we can’t hear as good as the Hailians.” Will said. “They have really good hearing, because their ears are so much longer than everyone else’s.”

                “Huh. All I know is that Avery uses his sense of hearing to track me down when I escape from my room. He told me he could find me by the sound of my heartbeat.” Tella said.  “Isn’t that awful?”

                “You’re weird.” The wanderer said laughing.

                “Huh, you’re one to talk.” Will said. “Well, I’m tired. I’m gonna try and get at least an hour of sleep in.”

                “Yeah. Me too.” The wanderer said laying down.

                “As if you haven’t slept enough.” Tella said.

The wanderer closed her eyes and reflected on the two friends she had made. They were a bit weird, and maybe not the sanest people she had ever met, but they seemed nice enough and it seemed they sincerely wanted to help her. But help her do what? The wanderer wondered about what she was actually trying to do. Azrael had told her to go to Avrai, the capital of Area, a country to the south, she gathered by their talk. But what was she to do once she got there? How would just going there help this world? He had said they couldn’t know too much, but why not? What was the harm in knowing something? But then again, she couldn’t judge that. This world was completely alien to her, and she didn’t know what was safe and what was dangerous here. Once again she was glad to have her new friends with her.

“Hey! Whose there?!” she heard Tella shout. The wanderer sat up, frightened and looked to where Tella was watching.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” A voice said. A small boy came out of the shadows.

“What do you want?” Tella asked studying him.

“N-Nothing. I was just curious about what you all were doing out in the woods when town is just a few minutes away. You don’t like sleeping in beds?” he asked. The wanderer studied this boy with fascination; she had never seen someone like him. He had blond almost white hair and pale eyes and skin. He didn’t look to be more than about ten years old.

“We’re just here, that’s all.” Tella said. “We’re camping if you must know.”

“Oh I see.” The boy said sitting down beside Will and looking at him. “What wrong with him?”

“Nothing. He’s asleep.” Tella said, obvious by her tone that she thought the boy should go mind his own business. The sun was coming up and Tella was about ready to get going. “Well, little boy, I think it’s time you went home. Won’t your mom be worried?” the boy frowned at her.

“Haven’t got a mom.” He said.

“Well, leave us be you little street rat orphan.” Tella said standing up taking her staff.

“Tella, be nice!” the wanderer said, shocked at her friend’s cruelty. Tella glared at her, annoyed that the wanderer had used her real name in the presence of this stranger. The boy stood up and met Tella’s anger.

“I’m not a street rat!” he shouted. “I’ve got a master, I’m an apprentice!”

“Well go run back to him!” Tella growled. “We have to get going.” The boy smiled mischievously.

“Right you are. Get going the both of you.” And with that he grabbed their food sack and dashed off.

“Hey!” Tella shouted and ran after him.

“Tella!” the wanderer called and dashed after her. Will slept on, oblivious to their departure.

 

               

 

The town was just starting to get crowded when they ran into it. The people of Verca were early risers and many were fishermen who had been up for hours already. The little boy dashed through the streets playing his naughty little game with the travelers he had found. The villagers laughed at him, knowing the little boy had done something mischievous. Tella raced after him relentless. The boy stuck his tongue out at her and flew into one of the shops that lined the harbor. Tella cursed and ran in after him. The wanderer saw her enter the shop and jogged to catch up. She was already very tired…

“Collin, what are you doing running in here like that?” the shop owner asked. The little boy sat down on a stool in the far side of the room and dropped the bag.

“Nothing.” He said. Tella glared at him and opened her mouth to shout but was cut off by the man.

“Are you up to something? Are you playing some game with this girl?” he asked. The wanderer opened the shop door and came in panting and watched the scene unfolding.

“This boy stole our food bag!” Tella growled finally able to get a word in. The man looked shock and appalled.

“Collin?! Is this true?” the man cried angrily. Collin blinked, surprised by his master’s anger.

“I-I umm…” he stammered.

“Collin have I taught you nothing? Travelers are our customers! We must always treat them as royalty! Do you understand?” he demanded. Collin nodded, his lip trembling. The man shook his head and turned to Tella. “Forgive him. This boy is my apprentice, you must place the blame upon me. Perhaps I could do something to apologize for this boy’s bad behavior? Ah, how about I refill your supplies, free of charge? You must need bread and food?”

“W-Well… Yes. That would be great.” Tella said.

“But we need to hurry… Should we get back to Will-” the wanderer started.

“We need food.” Tella interrupted. “Free works for me.”

“I guess…”

“Hey!” Collin cried jumping up from his stool, “Will you play with me?”

“I think we’ve played enough with you, you scamp.” Tella said glaring at him.

“Be nice.” The wanderer nudged her. “We’re getting free food. We ought to be kind enough to play with him at least.”

“Fine…” Tella said looking down at the boy, “What do you want to play?”

“Oh!” Collin smiled happily and ran into the back room, “Come back here! I’ll show you! We can play hide and seek or what ever you want. I’ve got some toys back here…” Tella and the wanderer followed Collin into the back room and looked around. It was a mildly dusty storage room with boxes piled around. Tella glanced behind her back I the store and saw the man move to the window and turn the open closed sign around so that now on the street the sign now read closed. She wrinkled her brow in confusion as she felt a strange foreboding feeling creepy over her.

“I know a game you can play.” The man said following them into the back room. The wanderer turned around and watched him curiously wondering why he was following them back there.  The man closed the door behind him and locked it. Tella’s eyes widened in alarm.

“What are you doing?” the wanderer asked innocently.

“I did get the right girls didn’t I?” Collin asked his master. The man nodded.

“Yes I quite certain these are the girls.”

“They had a boy with them, but they left him asleep in the forest.” Collin continued.

“Strange. The report didn’t say anything about a boy.” The man said. Tella growled suddenly realizing who these people were.

“Arean scum!” she hissed. “How dare you! Deceitful arrogant-” she began. Collin turned an annoyed eye to her and lifted his hand. A small burst of light grew from his fingers and rushed to Tella’s throat. Tella grasped her throat trying to speak but found that she couldn’t. Collin lowered his hand, satisfied for the moment. Tella stared at him in amazement. It was impossible what he had done. Magic, even simple spells, needed to be channeled through an object. If the magic user tried to use their hands they would overload their bodies, speeding up their hearts and blood flow until they died. But this boy…

“W-What’s going on?” the wanderer asked frightened.

“Nothing to worry about dear.” The man said. “I’m afraid though, that you both won’t have the chance to enjoy that food I was preparing for you.”

“May I kill them master?” Collin asked. But the man shook his head.

“Keep your soul clean Collin.” He said. “I’ll take care of this.” Collin blinked disappointed and let his head droop.

“That… Surely,” the wanderer said, “Surely you can’t be serious… You, Collin, you couldn’t really kill us, could you?” Tella glared at her companion’s naivety. The man laughed.

“It is you who are mistaken dear. Collin could kill both of you easily. Do not under estimate his magic ability just because he is a child. In fact, he is much more powerful than myself.”

“Master…” Collin looked up at him embarrassed. They both turned back toward the girls and watched them a moment.

 “Collin,” the man said, “Let that girl have her voice back. It doesn’t do to kill someone who can say nothing in their defense.” He said. Collin nodded and reluctantly flicked his fingers. Tella opened her mouth and suddenly found that she had a voice once more.

“-Evil, stupid, hypocrites that-” she began again resuming her tirade.

“There is no reason for you to have your voice if you won’t say something intelligent.” Collin said.

“Enough of this.” The man said and took out a small carved wooden rod. The wanderer stared in fascination as the stick began to glow. It was only then that she realized he was about to kill them.

“I wish I had my staff!” she cried. Foolishly she had left it with Will in the woods in her hurry to follow Tella. However, Tella had not forgotten her staff. She reached hurriedly for the container around her waist and drew out her staff, aiming it at the man. She shouted something loud and ferocious and fired bright blinding light off at the man. He jerked back in surprise as his spell collapsed and Tella’s light hit him. Collin screamed as the light exploded blinding everyone but Tella who had closed her eyes. The wanderer stared blindly ahead in a confused wave of panic. Something grabbed her from the side and pulled her foreword.

“Come on idiot!” Tella growled pulling her to the door, blasting the door with yet another spell and running through it. Collin was shouting and blinking rapidly to dispel his blindness and find his master. The man lay on the floor, propped against shattered box remains. Kneeling beside him Collin began crying but tried to regain control.

“I-I’ll heal you… D-Don’t worry…” Collin tried to say, though it was more to comfort himself than the man before him, for Collin’s master was unconscious. Unsteadily Collin spread his hands and tried desperately to find enough focus within his muddled mind to construct a healing spell. A small glow built around Collin’s hands and he sighed I relief as the spell began to work.

“Stop it.” The man said opening his eyes.

“Ah, your alright!” Collin said.

“Collin what did I just say? Stop healing me.” The man repeated. Collin frowned.

“Why? I have to, otherwise with these injures-”

“They aren’t that bad.” The man said, “Just a little bruised up I’ll be fine, but you shouldn’t be worrying about me. Where did those two girls go?” Collin gasped and bit his lip, afraid he had failed.

“Go find them.” The man said. “But don’t attack them. If you did you’d blow our cover.”

“I might could get them alone!” Collin said. “I bet they’ll head back to the woods where that boy was to get their stuff, if I head them off then I can-”

“The boy would be a witness.”

“Then I’ll kill him too.” Collin said. The man shook his head.

“You’ve become so blood thirsty…” the man said almost sadly. Collin raised an eyebrow. The man sighed. “No. This is my mission. I don’t want you attacking those girls or the boy period. Just find them and follow them. When I get on my feet I’ll find you. Alright?” Collin nodded uneasily and stood up.

“Alright. But Becarful. Those aren’t just bruises like you said. You’ve got internal bleeding.” Collin said.

“I know. I’ll take care of it. Go on and hurry. And no matter what keep your eye on them constantly until I find you. Don’t let them slip away.”

“I won’t.” Collin promised. He turned and ran out of the shop in search of the girls.

 

“I can’t believe we fell into that! I can’t believe how stupid I was!” Tella ranted as they walked along the docks, trying to keep out of sight.

“I bet that boy will be after our blood now. We have to watch out.” Tella growled looking around suspiciously.

“I can’t believe someone so young and sweet looking could hurt us…” the wanderer murmured.

“Oh you are naïve. Annoyingly so.” Tella complained.

“Shouldn’t we find Will?” the wanderer asked. Tella shook her head.

“That idiot isn’t much use to us.”

“But he said he could get us a ship!” the wanderer said, “Besides, that would be awful to leave him after he’s promised to help us. And he’s been so nice.”

“Humph.” Tella grunted. “I’ve got money. I can pay for a ship. I bet whatever rig Will’s got is some heap that will sink the minute we leave harbor.”

“Why are you so mean?” the wanderer asked. “Will’s trying to help!”

“I don’t like guys like him.” Tella replied.

“What do you mean ‘guys like him’?” the wanderer asked.

“I don’t know.” Tella muttered trying to end the conversation. “Let try and find a boat. Besides,” she said finally coming up with a somewhat stable excuse, “the first place that boy Collin will look for us will be where he met us in the woods. So we defiantly shouldn’t go back there.”

“Then he’ll find Will!”

“If Will’s got any brains on him (which I’m not saying he does) he’ll clear out of there.” Tella said.

 “But what about our stuff?” the wanderer asked. “My staff is back there.”

“What?!” Tella shouted. “You left it back there? Idiot! You take your staff with you everywhere! I even gave you a carrying case so its not so cumbersome but could you use it? No!”

“I’m sorry. I wanted to sleep and it wasn’t comfortable so I took it off.”

“Great!… I don’t know what the great soul of this world was thinking when he gave something so important to someone like you!”

“… So we need to go back and get it?” the wanderer asked. Tella closed her eyes in exasperation.

“No need for that.” A voice behind them said. Tella and the wanderer turned to find Will standing beside them, their bags in his hands.

“You guys forgot this.” Will said handing them their bags looking at them quizzically. “… do you still want my help?”

“Yes! We’re very sorry we left you we-” the wanderer started.

“You don’t have to tell him anything. Let’s go.” Tella said, pulling the wanderer by the arm away from Will.

“Wait! Will! We didn’t mean to leave we-”

“We don’t need your help.” Tella said as they moved away from Will. The wanderer jerked her arm out of Tella’ grasp.

“Yes we do!” she shouted. Tella glared at her. They stood, the three out on a deserted part of the docks, the sea rolling behind them and the birds flying overhead. The wanderer glared back at Tella.

“Will is a part of our mission. Maybe a small part, but he is a part. Azrael, the soul of this world, as you call him, brought Will into this. So Will has a right to be with us and help us if he wants to… though I don’t know if he will want to after the rude way you’ve treated him. I don’t blame him one bit.” Will watched all this silence, then stepped forward.

“I will still help you both, if you want it.” He said, letting his eyes move nervously to Tella, dropped her eyes immediately away from his. “… My uncle’s boat is around the corner.”

“… We have money. We can find passage on another boat.” Tella said. “I don’t mean to sound so cold, but we really don’t need your help.”

“Tella!” the wanderer shouted. “What’s wrong with you?”

“No its fine.” Will said. “Don’t worry about it…” he smiled and waved. “Well, good luck you two. I hope your journey goes well.”

“B-But…” the wanderer started.

“Come on Wanderer.” Tella said lightly as she walked away. The wanderer lingered a moment, watching Will as he smiled back at her.

“S-See you Will. Bye bye…” the wanderer said, still uncertain and confused to the turn of events. Why was Tella being so mean? Why couldn’t they go on Will’s boat?

“Tella!” she called, catching up with her friend who had by that time walked a good ways away. “What, why are we-”

“I told you, we don’t need him. There’s not reason to burden him anymore than we have. Besides, if he stays with us for even a bit longer, he’ll be put into even more danger. You heard those Areans. They want us dead. We can’t have anyone stay with us for long.”

“O-Oh. That’s why…” the wanderer said sorrowfully.

“I’ve got enough money to buy us passage across the sea. We’ll just find a good passenger ship… Like this one here.” Tella said as they came up to a nice large yellowy boat. A man stood at the helm, barking orders to a cabin boy who was mopping the deck.

“Go on Kili, hurry now…” the man was saying.

“Excuse me sir.” Tella said loudly.

“Eh?” the man said turning around. “Who are you? What do you want little girl?” he asked.

“I was wondering if I might book passage on you boat. You are a passenger boat correct?” Tella asked. The man snorted.

“Yeah I used to be a passenger boat. Haven’t you heard? Because of this war, we boaters can’t take any more passengers. It’s all because of that stupid princess. She’s the one who passed the law. Ha! She doesn’t realize what that’ll do to us! We’re already poor, doesn’t she know that passenger voyages are how we make a living? It certainly aint from hauling the fish around.” He glared down at them, “So get lost! You’re in the way!” Tella’s temper flared but she managed a smile and a bow then quickly hurried away.

“Amazing how disgusting men can act when the people they’re talking to no longer pay them… He’ll regret it!” she fumed.

“What did he mean ‘It’s all because of that stupid princess’… He was talking about you, wasn’t he.” Tella stopped walking to think.

“Yes. He must have been talking about me, but I never passed any laws like that. Humph the dogs at the castle won’t even let me pass laws anymore. I wonder what this means. Did someone tell the captains that lie for a purpose? Must have… It must have been the Areans. They’ve got some plot. It could even be directed at us…”

“You’re paranoid. The Areans can’t be responsible for everything.” The wanderer said. Tella stopped and glared at her suddenly reached out and grabbing the wanderer’s wrists tightly.

“You have no idea.” She snarled. The frightened wanderer tried to pulled back but Tella’s grasp was strong. Then realizing the attention she was drawing, Tella released the wanderer’s wrists. The wanderer backed away and tried to change the subject.

“If that’s so,” the wanderer mused, “Then how are we going to get across the sea?” Tella shook her head unhappily, forgetting her anger moments before.

“HEY!” she shouted, suddenly realizing something.

“Wh-What?” the wanderer asked.

“So!!! That’s why he let us leave so easily!!!” Tella shouted. “Come on!” and she began running.

“Tella!” the wanderer called, “Wait!!”

 

Will bent over the ropes laying on the dock and began working through them, making sure there were no breaks. He smiled slightly as he heard rapid footsteps coming from behind him. That hadn’t taken long, he reflected.

“Will!” Tella shouted, “You knew! You knew we couldn’t get passage on any other boats!” she fumed. Will slowly turned around and stood up.

“Oh…? Oh! That new law… Right. I’d forgotten about that.” He said.

“You forgot huh?” Tella asked glaring at him. Will smiled innocently. Tella growled.

“Will,” the wanderer said, “What can we do? Will your uncle take us if we ask?” the wanderer asked. Will shrugged.

“Uncle won’t risk losing his boat either.” He said. “But, it wouldn’t hurt to talk with him…”

“But you said you could take us across the ocean!” Tella protested.

“I said I’d try.” Will said. “That is if you still want to try and get across on my uncle’s boat.”

“Yes we do! Lets try!” the wanderer said. “Right Tella?” Tella rolled her eyes.

 “You’re the leader as appointed by Lord Azrael. I’ll follow you.” She said. Will smiled slightly at her. Tella winced internally in disgust. How dare he smile victoriously? What did he want anyway? He had known all along they would have to come back! What a jerk. Fairien wouldn’t have liked someone like this idiot. Will was too stupid and he kept looking at her. Looking at her. Tella longed for Fairien to beat this little boy up… Of course that would never happen, even if Fairien was still alive. Fairien wasn’t violent and in reality, Tella realized, Fairien probably would have made friends with this idiot just because he was nice. Ugg! But she didn’t want to think that. Instead she filled her head with images of Will being beaten up. But that lost its fun. Will wasn’t looking at her anymore. He was leading them to his uncle’s boat and telling them things they should keep in mind if they wanted to please his uncle. As if they cared! Well, maybe the wanderer did. She was adamant about this mission. But so naive! Disgustingly naive! … Just like Fairien…

Tella pinched herself. She couldn’t think about him! She could think about him anymore, or else she would drive herself mad. Instead she tried to focus on what will was telling them.

“…And be very careful about wiping your feet before you get on the boat…” Will was saying. Boring mess. Who cared? Of course they would wipe their feet. Did this idiot think she was raised in a barn?

“Alright! Here it is!” Will cried as they came up on the boat. It was massive, with white coverings that gleamed with the sunlight. The wanderer gasped and Tella looked at it with awe. Maybe this idiot had a classy boat after all…

“… Guys…? Come on, its this one.” Will said walking past the nice boat. “Here she is!” he said pointing. Tella gagged and the wanderer couldn’t help but flinch.  Before them stood an old boat that looked as though it only stayed together from force of habit. Its sides were rust colored as were the poles. The ropes were dirt and the whole thing smelled as though the ocean had gotten sick and thrown up on it.

“Uncle!” Will called. Immediately there was a loud crash from the other side of the boat, followed by cursing and grunted. Will flinched slightly and then smiling turned back to the girls. “Well, now you get to meet my uncle.”

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Captain Kapino ambled around the deck shouting at the top of his lungs,

“What ye be awaken me op fer Will?! And where have ya been boy? Been looking all over te blasted city fer ya!” his uncle complained.

“Aww, come on Uncle, you know I’m always back by them time we leave port.” Will said. “Anyways, I wanted to introduce-”

“Aye aye, well you little rambunctious rankle-snapper, if you’ve upset Bessie I’ll skin ye! She don’t like to be kept awaiten!”

“I know, I know.” Will said. “But I wanted to show you these two-”

“Whose Bessie?” the wanderer asked. Will flinched, turning pail and tried to silence the wanderer, but the captain had heard. He clasped his hands together and let his eyes glazed over.

“Bessie? My love! My passion! The only woman for me! Ahhhh what a beauty she be! Never has thar been another like her! Nor will thar ever be another!”

“You’re wife?” the wanderer asked. The captain’s face took on a silly grin as he nodded and blushed.

“My beautiful wife! She be a wonderful one Bessie be!”

“Excuse me sir,” Tella interrupted, “We wanted to talk to you about passage.” The captain blinked a few times, returning to real world. He coughed.

                “They’ll be not allowing any passengers on these boats now adays lass. Sorry.” He said.

                “But sir we thought-”

“Aaaaaaah AH!” the captain said eyeing the girls interestedly. “I SEE!”

“Aaa… Wha-”

“Hmm Mmm Hmm Ahhmm…” the captain said inspecting the girls. Tella and the wanderer stared nervously at one another. Will blinked, watching in confusion.

“YEP! Yep yep!” the captain finally proclaimed. “Ye be fit! I’ll hire ye! Hehe! I will hire you, as you requested. You will both be paid according to the money our cargo makes over in Hailia. Understood?” he asked. Tella and the wanderer stared opening mouthed a moment I surprise.

“Y-you mean you’ll hire us as crew members?” Tella asked. The Captain nodded, thoroughly pleased with himself.

“Yep yep! Get on bard with ye!” the captain cried. Will jumped for the boat, grabbing on to one of the poles.

“Come on girls! When he says now, he means NOW!” Will called. Tella and the wanderer looked around to find that the captain had disappeared.

“Wha-”

“AHAHAH!!!” came the captain’s loud laugh as the boat began to move. Tella and the wanderer jumped on quickly as the boat moved away from the dock. “Come on Bessie my girl! Let’s steer left and get going faster! We’re on our way now my girl! WAHAHAH!!!”

Tella blinked, then realization struck her. She turned to Will.

“B-Bessie wouldn’t be the name of this boat would it?” Slowly Will nodded.

“…But he said Bessie was his wife… Surly he named the boat after his wife?” the wanderer asked. But Will shook his head.

“No. This boat is his wife.” They stood in silence a moment.

“That’s really creepy.” The wanderer said.

“I’m having second thoughts about this.” Tella said.

“I can see why there is no other crew.” The wanderer said.

“Right,” Will nodded, “They’ve all heard about uncle. No one will join on with him. So its usually just me and him.”

“Wow.” The wanderer remarked, staring off into the horizon. “That must be hard.” Will sighed and smiled.

“Its not so bad. You get used to it.”

“Well,” the wanderer said looking out over the blue horizon, “At least we’ve got a ride across the sea.”

“Even if it is on a boat named Bessie.” Tella laughed.

“We’re on our way to Hailia!” Will chimed in, looking over the water to the west where miles upon miles away lay the land they sought:

Hailia.