Ink sea
The sailor looked up at us as we drew close. "Hope Itz no trouble?" He said with a strange accent.
"Ceeder?" Kina asked.
"Don't ya no alot?"
"Can we sit?"
"Not me city," He shrugged.
We sat around the table, Kina and I directly next to him while the girls sat farther. "We want a ship sailing east this moment," my mother's maid said.
"I don't," Pontchi shrugged again drinking his ale from a tankard.
"This might change your mind," Kina slid a fat purse forward on the table.
Pontchi picked it then opened the purse. His eyes flashed with greedy light as he saw what was inside but he quickly concealed the look. He sat back on his sit, toying with his drink as he studied each one of us. Celestine was looking at him unblinking with curiosity but Cvela was nervous, while me and Kina had no expression on our faces.
"How far east?" The veteran sailor finally questioned.
"V'alkre,"
"The land of wonders," Pontchi nodded with a pondering expression. "Is there any ill I should worry of?"
"Nothing the purse can't clean,"
"Ah Fuck, but I just got here, tha mermaids bless me, tho I might never return I might take thiz offer,"
"Don't worry, we did not break the law," Kina told him but the man did not seem to believe her. That's how suspicious we looked; trying to flee a city desperately in the night, even ready to pay a fortune for it. I wouldn't believe us too if I was in his shoes. No wonder he felt like he can't return to the city after transporting us unless he risks arrest by the authorities.
"I'll do it dame southerners!" Pontchi continued, "but again a purse just as fat when we reach Halr!"
"You are stretching your luck sailor,"
"Am I si? Maybe you should try finding someone fool as me,"
Kina exhaled deeply as if trying to control her temper. I have never see her like this. It intrigued me. This woman is of high quality. The hair, the face, the teeth. Hmm... "Half," she said through gritted teeth.
"Sure si, let'z go," Pontchi rose to his feet and shouted. "Jov, Nard, here'z a job, we go catching them fish, yez, come on, we go catching some fish,"
Across the room two boys in their late teens, one tall and muscular, and the other short and stocky rose to their feet and followed us as we went out of the inn. "Why did you shout and draw attention to us?" Outside Kina scolded Pontchi.
"But I said we'd catch fish," the sailor replied looking offended.
"And what's that suppose to mean?"
"A misdirection," I answered in his place.
The two turned to me then Pontchi grinned. "It iz, the boy got it!"
"That's stupid," Celestine said looking at me. I ignored her.
Pontchi frowned looking troubled. "Sharp tongued girl, them mermaids forgive you!"
Celestine just gave him a deep sullen look but said nothing.
That's how we found ourselves boarding a small ship in the dead of the night. I think this day will remain with me for the rest of my life. There was a surreal feeling to the night and event, I had this deep calm in my heart as I entered the ship taking me to war, to home, it depends which was more important.
The ship was called Soarer, a faded red vessel with two sails bellowing in the air. Under the expert hands of Pontchi and his boys, Juv and Nard, it stirred us away from the docks. A harbor guard noticed us and hurried over calling Pontchi for his taxes but the captain just waved his hat at the guard and threw him curses.
As we swiftly left Tarin and the screaming guard behind us Kina turned to the captain. "Was that wise?"
"What lady?"
"Offending the guards,"
"Don't know, I'll not be returning here for a very long time,"
"If you do they might recognize you,"
"I mean a very long time, when all men are dead. And only their grandsons man the ports," The sailor grinned suddenly looking very old under his heavy beard.
We were giving rooms below deck. The ship was not that big so sleeping space was scarce. I don't know how the girls did but I was to sleep in the captain's room. The past three days was hectic so Kina advised me to go to sleep. I lay in bed for hours still before I fell asleep.
I awoke last the next day. The captain didn't like it, he felt I was lazy, I could see it in his eyes. Breakfast was something dried he had Jov hand us, butter and bread. I think the dried thing was meat but I wasn't sure, I teared through it like a wolf and mopped the rest of the butter in my plate with the last of my bread nonetheless. Then went to the side of the ship to look into the water. The water was purple color like someone poured enough ink into a hole to make an ocean. There was no sign of land all around as far as the eye could see. It felt like we were the only people remaining in the world, we and the ship. It was a lonely terrifying feeling.
I waited till Celestine walk into the cabin before I walked up to Cvela. The girls had been talking to each other so I hadn't approached cause I didn't want to fight with Celestine. I know her anger at me is just to cover her guilt that she was the reason I almost died but I didn't appreciate it. "Strange thing," I said leaning forwad beside Cvela my hand holding the ship's railing as I looked out.
She looked at me then turned nervously away. "Ma..." She started then abruptly stopped, frowning. She didn't want to call me 'that' any more does she?
I ignored her and continued. "They said the Ink sea is no different from other waters, I say there's bound to be something as the color is different." Cvela was still silent, finally I sighed and asked. "How have you been doing?"
"Fine.... I," she froze again mid sentence. The way she treated me irritated me so I decided not to free her immediately we return yet. Sad, I decided to let her be. "Master," she called suddenly. I glanced at her but still she said nothing. I quested to her and could instantly feel the mess of emotions her mind was.
I walked turned back to her and pulled her into a hug. She started crying. "How is my little princess is doing?" I asked, my voice hoarse. Thank god we were the only once atop deck at the moment.
"She's tearing herself up, she cries herself to sleep. She's unfair to you master, but more unfair to herself,"
"I know," I said. That scared me, as she was becoming her self hating self I am all too familiar with in the novel. "Don't worry, we are going to help her,"
Cvela continued weeping and I continued holding her, even as she wet my cloth with tears and snot. And the ship continued taking us ever away.
Arc ends
Posted 2morrow's chapter 2day's night so no chapter 2morrow.
Anyway a short arc. A sort of filler arc but in the next arc we'll get everything back full swing. Thanks for reading. I haven't asked this for a while but pls leave reviews. It helps this story more than you could imagine. Thanks again Crimson for the votes.
Thanks everyone for your support. See you in the next arc.