Chapter Four

 

Days passed. No longer could any land be spotted on the horizon. All around, the blue water encircled them, leaving one feeling as though nothing else could exist in the world. Such a funny thing the sea can do to a person. No longer did the wanderer worry about their mission. Nor did Tella. All that seemed to melt out of their minds. It was replaced by their daily routines. Wake up, eat, clean the boat, rest, eat, watch Will’s Uncle’s antics, eat, then go to bed. It was not until nearly two weeks later when suddenly they were reminded of the troubled world from which they had escaped.

 

On this particular night the sea air had become thick, turning into mists that swirled ominously around the small boat. Tella and the wanderer sat out on the deck watching the mist silently. Will joined them when his duties were finished, but neither he nor the girls spoke. The night did not permit it. Suddenly the air seemed to ripple with a low bellow. Will sat up suddenly.

“A ship.” He said, the first one to speak that night.

“Will! Ship starboard side. Greet em while I rouse me self to the top deck!” the captain called form below.

“Yes sir!” Will shouted back, then turned toward the mists, straining to see the approaching vessel. Tell stood up also watching intently.

“Halloooooooo there!” Will called, in the tradition seaman’s greeting. An answering call came back faintly. One moment the mist swirled alone, the next a large bow plowed slowly through it.

“Ah, the Kemlp…” Will muttered, and cursed.

“What is it? Who are they?” the wanderer asked. Will turned to them.

“Just let me do all the talking.” He said and turned back to the approaching vessel. A face appeared from atop the bow and whistled down to their small craft.

“Parmission ta bard ya?” called the stout voice.

“Permission granted.” Will responded. A ladder was thrown down the side of the other boat. As soon as it unfurled someone was scampering down it and soon standing on the deck next to them.

“Hallo Will.” The man said. He was tall and well built with an air of arrogance and superiority. He smiled but behind it desire could be plainly seen. What did he want? The wanderer asked herself.

“Hello Fredrik. What can we do for you this night?” Will asked, echoing the wanderer’s thoughts. Fredrik sighed.

“Well, it seems we have a bit of a problem. You see, last night we found a stowaway on board and you know how I am about stowaways.” At this Will narrowed his eyes slightly but continued to listen. “Usually we dump the bums over but,” he smiled, “This one was just a child and well, you know how my soft heart is.”

“Yes.” Will said cutting off his train of thought, trying to get the point out of Fredrik, though he could already guess just what it was that he wanted.

“Well, yes, and you know about how we conserve fuel by only allowing a certain weight on the boat-”

“Yes.” Will said again.

“Well, we didn’t want to dump him so we looked on our charts to see what boats were nearby, and which ones wouldn’t mind taking him on. When I saw your boat I naturally thought you were perfect! You don’t mind trash-” he glanced around at the small boat and then at the girls- “and you don’t have much of a load, am I correct? So I thought you could take him and dump the child off at the nearest port! Wonderful idea? Correct? I was sure you wouldn’t mind. So now,” Fredrik turned up to his boat and yelled a command to the crew. Immediately a small form was pushed over to the ladder and began to climb down. “Well see you later Will! And tell your dear uncle hello for me!” with that Fredrick climbed up another ladder that had seemed to materialize from the side of his boat. When the child had finished climbing down from the ladder the larger boat bellowed once again and moved quickly away from the smaller boat.

“Hello.” Will said turning to the child. Tella slowly turned around.

“Hello Collin.” She said watching him. Collin bowed slightly.

“Hello. So sorry for troubling you at this later hour.” He said.

“So ah you know each other?” Will asked. Only silence met him. Collin stared and Tella and she stared back. Just then the captain came clambering up to the top deck.

“Hallo to ye!” he said greeting Collin, then looking around he noticed the larger boat had departed. “Hey! Wherev they got off to?” he asked Will. Will shook his head.

“Sorry sir, it was Fredrik Kemlp. You know how he is. He dropped off this stowaway.”

“Wot?!” the captain yelled. “Dropping his trash on to us is he? That youngun has no respect for his elders does he? He doesn’t even respect how sensitive Bessie is, you can’t just be puten strangers on her she gets rowdy.” He nodded knowingly.

“Yes sir I know.” Will answered.

“Yes yes yes yes yes, you do know don’t ye Will? A smart boy you be. Yes a smart boy ya be.”

“Thank you sir.” Will answered. The captain nodded and then suddenly lashed out and struck Will hard in the face.

“It ye so smart ya should know not ta let strangers on me Bessie!!” he screamed. By now Collin had stopped staring at Tella and instead stared at Will and the Captain.

“So sorry sir.” Will said, steadying himself.

“So ya should be so ya should be!” the captain ranted. “Bessie don’t take kindly to strangers. You know better Will!”

“Forgive me.” Will said.

“Yer a good one Will! Yes ya are!! Harharharahar!!” the captain laughed and then went below retiring for the night.

“Will, your uncle is insane.” The wanderer said quietly.

“Yes he is.” Will answered smiling as he rubbed his head where he had been struck. “Hmm,” Will turned and looked at Collin. “Hey, Collin’s your name? Nice to have you on board. Please try to avoid my uncle for a while. Soon he’ll think you’ve always been here.” Tella watched Collin intently. What was he doing? Why didn’t he just kill them all then? He certainly could if he wanted to. But instead he-

“Okay.” Collin said simply. “Where may I sleep?” Will thought a moment.

“We don’t have much space, you can either sleep with me in my quarters or with the girls, ah, if they don’t mind.” Tella blanched. Collin noticed watching her though his upturned eyes.

“I can sleep out here.” Collin said.

“It gets cold out here. Are you sure?” Will told him. Collin didn’t answered but walked over to a crate and laid down to sleep. Will shrugged.

“At least have a blanket.”

“I am fine.”

“Okay, if that’s what you want. But the cabin doors are open if you get cold.” And he left to find his own bed. Tella and the wanderer stood in silence watching Collin, who turned away from them, staring out into the sea.

“How did you find us?” Tella asked.

“It was easy to find you.” Collin answered, not turning around. “I wouldn’t forget a stench like yours.”

“I see.” Tella answered, glaring at him curiously.

“So what do you want?” the wanderer asked. Collin did not answer. Instead he silently lay down near some boxes. They waited but still he revealed nothing. Finally, tired of waiting, and knowing that Collin would reveal no more, at least tonight, Tella and the Wanderer left for bed. Collin heard them go, but paid no attention. Instead he stared out into the endless depths of the night mist, and allowed the rocking of the boat to lull him into sleep.

 

Collin’s following days were spent in complete silence. Will sometimes gave him work to do, but the tasks only lasted so long and then once again, Collin would stare out into the horizon, silently watching the day slip away. Tella kept a wary eye on him, but soon lost interest when never said anything. The captain informed than that the journey would soon end, perhaps spotting shore the very next day. Tella hadn’t been looking forward to this. It meant an end to peaceful day away form reality. Now reality would swallow them and she wondered if they would ever resurface. Night came as it always did, creeping over the vast ocean, covering everything in it darkness. Tella and the wanderer retreated to their little room were they bedded down for the night. The Wanderer sighed contently and relaxed against the sheets under her, allowing sleep to come. In a matter of minutes her breathing became a slow rhythmic sign in the darkness. Jealously Tella listened to her breathing, wonder how she could fall asleep so effortlessly. Slowly Tella let her eyes drop, and tried to rest. Surprisingly she felt her consciousness sliding away, sleep coming so rapidly. She welcomed it, her thoughts slowing down and becoming submissive to the peacefulness that enveloped her body.

A dream.

And another. Tella wandered around the world created by her dreams, slipping in and out of roles and places unconsciously. But then something clear amongst the fog of sleep. Fariean. Fariean? He stood watching her dreaming.

Please go away…

Please…

He looked at her one last time and was gone. Tella sighed gratefully and tried to go back to her oblivious dreams. She wasn’t ready to think.

Instead she turned her mind to the mission they had been given. She had many questions but knew no answers. One thing was certain: this mission was a blessing. The simple gift of a goal was a glorious distraction. That, was all she needed for now.

   But again Fariean resurfaced in her dream this time closer and in more detail. He looked sad. Why? And something else. Fear? No. Fariean wasn’t like that. It was something else that was like fear. But he felt close. That was comforting enough for Tella. His eyes again. What did he want? Something obviously. But…. As Tella tried to reach for him, sleep began to dispel from her mind. No! Not after he was so close… But it was better this way. She would only go mad if this kind of thing kept up. But that didn’t ease the pain.

 Awake now.

And just when I thought I could get to sleep early for once… Tella thought unhappily. No. Something was wrong. Tella shook her head, wondering if it wasn’t just some lingering feeling of sleep, but no… It seared along her senses even now that she was fully awake. Tella sat up slowly, warily and reached for her staff at the bedside. With it she prodded the Wanderers side.

“Hey!” she whispered fiercely. “Wake up!” but the wanderer did not move. Tella stopped poking her as a cold heavy feeling filled her stomach. Quickly in her mind Tella analyzed the situation. The wanderer was not dead, just seemed to be in a very deep sleep, in which she could not be roused from. It was probably true for the others on the ship. Which meant that either Tella was lucky somehow, or, more likely, who ever had done this had some kind of purpose for her. Tella shivered and gripped her staff tighter. 

“Are you going to keep me waiting Princess?” called a voice from outside her door. Tella stiffed as she spotted a figure through the window.

“What do you want?” Tella asked. “Who are you? I don’t recognize your voice.”

“You’ve forgotten me already?” the voice was falsely downcast but calm. “And I remember you so well.” Tella’s mind whirred. It wasn’t Collin’s master. And it couldn’t be any of the higher up Arean officers. They wouldn’t go to this extent to trickery. They would just blow up the boat and be done with it.

“Mahito.” She said.

“Ah so you do remember me?” he called. “Will you please come out then? I wouldn’t want to break into a ladies sleeping quarters.” Tella rose watching closely.

“You never were polite, as I remember.” She opened the door and walked out onto the deck to face him. She knew she couldn’t remain inside, he would only break in, and besides, he didn’t want to kill her. At least not yet, or else he would have already done so. Mahito shrugged at her earlier comment.

“Ah I suppose that is because every time you and I meet I am surround by Arean solders. Stupid creatures but they are amusing, and sometimes useful. You have to be rude when you‘re around them or they won’t obey you.”

“I see.” Tella said trying to control the hatred in her voice, “So just what are you doing here? You haven’t killed me yet and I assume you didn’t come to show me your softer side.” He laughed lightly and turned to look out into the ocean.

“But that’s just it, I did come to kill you.”

“Then why haven’t you done it?” Tella asked. “Just blow up the ship and kill us all.”

“Oh no,” Mahito said shaking his head slightly, “That’s too boring. Besides, there is some information I need from you first.”

“From me?” Tella repeated. “You know I won’t help you.” He smiled and lowered his eyelids.

“Maybe not willingly.”

“Yes, I’ve heard you enjoy manipulation people’s minds.” Tella spat, feeling the overwhelming presence of Arean around her. He laughed. Such a likable laugh. Sweet and gentle. But Tella knew better that to fall for that.

“I suppose that’s right.” He said. “…Why don’t you tell me about that girl, that travels with you. What is her name?” he asked. Tella was silent glaring at him defiantly. “And,” he continued, “What about the staff she caries, I can tell its not an ordinary one. Such a shame someone like her ended up with it. I’ve been observing you two also. You didn’t know that did you? I’ve seen you working here on the boat in the peaceful days and sleeping during the black velvety nights…” Tella suddenly felt light head and peaceful. His voice began to run together into a hypnotic stream, “I’ve seen all of this so I know already what I need to know. I know the girl’s name. You all call her the wanderer. But nothing else.” Tella knew he was doing something, somehow trying to enchant her. It annoyed her mildly, but nothing could be done….  “I find it interesting. You don’t even know her real name. I wonder if she does? No, I think its been wiped from her mind when she came here. Yes, I know that too. She was summoned here wasn’t she? Yes I can see that too….” He finally turned and looked at her. “So,” he said, “tell me about where you’re going.” To Tella it suddenly seemed as though he were a friend trying to make small talk. No reason not to respond.

“To Area.” She said. He nodded knowingly.

“Yes, I figured that much out, but don’t you know anything else, like what you’re going to do once you get there?” Tella pondered this, slightly confused.

“No.” she answered.

“You’re not very valuable to me.” Mahito remarked. Tella blinked as the fog began to clear from her mind, awaking back to reality.

“Don’t you know anything?” he asked again. Tell growled and held her staff in front of her. “Hmph! You don’t. Do you? You’re just blindly following the whim of that Hailian deity.” Tella yelled out raged.

“Whim! How dare you!” she screamed and flung a spell at him. It was a clumsy one, fired too quickly with too much rage. Mahito swatted it away angrily.

“You Betamians are too simple minded.” He spat. “And don’t try to argue otherwise, a moment ago your mind was mine.” Tella silently watched him. He smiled, but with no hint of gentleness now. Mahito rose into the air looking down on her.

“Blowing up this boat might not be so boring as I thought.” He said pulling out a small staff from the folds of his cloak. Tella felt the power of his will in the staff and shuddered slightly, knowing she could never block anything from him. So this was how she would die. She’s failed so it was only what she deserved. Fariean. He wouldn’t like this. He wouldn’t want me to die alone. Mahito was firing now. Hot flames ready to incinerate her. She felt them. And now she would die.

……… But not yet apparently. The flames were gone. Was this some kind of sadistic game Mahito was playing? No, he had been serious. Tella opened her eyes. A shield surrounded her, glowing slightly. Mahito stared in surprise, but was not looking at her, but past her. Tella turned around and saw…

“Collin…” Mahito said in surprise. “What are you doing?” he demanded. Collin lowered his hand, staring at Mahito coolly.

“Carrying out my orders.” He answered. Mahito pondered his words a moment then laughed softly.

“I see. I’ll deal with you later then.” He said. Collin’s eyes widened.

“Stay away from me.” he said coldly. “Or I will destroy you.”

“Empty threats Collin.” Mahito said and turned back to Tella.

“Good by for now, princess.” He said and faded away into the night. Tella stared as he disappeared. What was he doing? Didn’t he want to kill her? Tella had always suspected he was a bit insane, but now she knew it. Tella turned to face Collin. He stared a moment, then turned to go back to bed.

“Hey Collin.” She said. He stopped but did not turn around. “Why would Arean trash like you do anything to help me?” she asked. Collin’s shoulders stiffened but he said nothing and walked away. Tella was left alone with the silent swirling mists of the night on the ocean.