Okay, so maybe I kind of like the pirates. They're not as bad as I thought them to be. In fact, they kind of intrigue me. I don't know, but now I find myself busing the majority of my days talking to the few women in the crew.
There's Etta, who is obsessed with everything blue and only has a wardrobe full of it, only a few splashes of either white or black to break up bits and pieces here and there. She even dyed the bottom half of her hair a deep blue, and she always smudges her eyes with the same shade beneath the black kohl all the pirates seem to wear along the borders of their eyes. Etta explained that it keeps the sun out of their eyes while they're at sea and need to be able to always have clear eyesight to keep watch of the horizon or spot other ships.
Vasilisa and Arlene are both archers who enjoy drinking day and night. A fact that I could've made well enough on my own without having them tell me when I first met them. It was the first thing they said upon our introductions right after their names. I thought it was a rather strange thing to add, but then I realized that it was more of a warning than a friendly attempt to make conversation. They have strong kidneys, I'll say that, but once they've had their fill they're rather...to put it nicely: entertaining.
Then there's Thyra and Toya who claim to be sisters with two years in between, but they look more like twins. I approached them one night after they broke out in song, sitting in front of one of the fires the pirate's light every night to fight of the winter chill. The song wasn't one I had ever heard before, but it wasn't the song that made me walk through the camp to find the melody's source, it was their voices. They can harmonize seamlessly with any song the rest of the crew throws at them. They smiled when they sang, and everyone around them either stood up and danced along to a quicker tune if they set it, or sat quietly and fell into their spell if they slowed it down and told a story.
Watching them for a while had me missing Fauna. I remember her singing that one night when we were all gathered together and Darius was playing the guitar. No one looked like they were going to sing anytime soon, but she didn't hesitate to jump in and shock us all with her voice.
Thrya and Toya's voices were both higher whereas Fauna and Henry's had two contrasting tones still finding a way to blend and weave in and out of one another. I had to run to Claritia to find out what the name of that song was, and then I ran over to the women and begged them to sing it.
After a little convincing, they agreed, and I felt my eyes start to burn. Hearing it sung in two different voices made it sound wrong even when the sisters never faltered or did it an injustice. They sang beautifully, but it wasn't the same. If anything, my attempts to live once more in a happy memory of Fauna failed miserably, and I found myself wandering the dark forest alone for an hour. Then I hated myself for getting so worked up over one Godsdamned song, then I felt guilty, and then it all just became too much. When I found myself in Darius's clearing, I looked up at the dancing lights that still lived overhead, and then I screamed at them.
Cliff was the one to find me. He said he saw me leave alone and got concerned when I headed east rather than back to the cabin. He waited until I was done screaming before approaching me, and when he did, he scared the living shit out of me because I had thought I was alone. Then he proceeded to say my scream sounded worse than a wailing seagull. If he wasn't so damn funny, I probably would've picked up a rock on our walk back to the cabin and chucked it at his head. I do have to admit it though. Cliff's quick comedic wit was refreshing.
He isn't a female, but he sure does enjoy our company compared to that of his fellow males. It wasn't hard to tell that he has no sexual interest in women, as he paid Thea no heed when she practically jumped in his lap. She's been pouting about it ever since, and I've been holding in a laugh just as long. The look on her face when he shoved her off and she landed in the still runny mud from the rain the night before with a very audible splotch was priceless. I wish I could've had it painted if only to show Darius.
Not that I entirely blamed Thea for her attempt. Cliff is quite a handsome pirate. He's got dark hair that looks silky, brown eyes that pop out against the dark kohl around his eyes, and I've found out that he never ties the strings on his shirts closed. Thea said it was an injustice for the Gods to make such a man so dangerously handsome, and yet not be inclined to join her in bed. Not even pointing out to her that she shares a room with several other people stopped her from being persistent. She only gave up on him after Siscilla pointed out another pirate whose perfectly single and "quite the catch."
She moved so quickly, yet smoothly, and instantly ditched us for him. They've been talking all day, and the female pirates and I have been listening as Vasilisa and Thyra try to read their lips from afar. I don't think they're anywhere close to what they're actually saying, but it's still funny to hear what the two women can come up with.
"I've pictured you kissing me like a hundred times," Thyra squeals dramatically, impersonating Thea.
"That's cute," Vasilisa says in a lower mocking tone, trying to read Charley's lips with a partially drained cup of ale in her hand. Compared to the sisters who have gone through too many for me to keep count of, her half-empty one seems gentle.
"You're cute," Thyra mimics seductively.
"Oh stop it."
"I can't help it, you make my legs clench like this." Thea brings her legs together, unknowingly playing directly into Thyra's script and making the rest of us break out into loud laughter that has a few others turning around to see what the commotion is about. I close my mouth and turn my head, feeling my cheeks warm with embarrassment. Much as I may have come out of my hermit shell, I'm still weary of full-on attention at times.
"There's nothing in this world like a bad lip reading," Toya sighs. The other two turn away from the new love birds, ending their games.
"Gods what Svenja would say if-"
They all stand up abruptly, Vasilisa and Arlene have their arrows knocked and aimed at something behind me. Etta, Thyra, Toya, and Cliff drew their swords, causing a wave of it to go throughout the whole crew and having the forest echo with the sound of steel slicing out of their cages.
I stand, spinning around to see what they spotted and why it's here. At first, I don't see anything but the trees, and then movement catches my eyes, and I find a hooded figure on top of a horse headed right for us. For a moment I think that Xaxias found us and that we're all going to die, but then I catch the color of the inner lining of the cloak that bucks in the wind and my heart drops.
"Don't shoot! Stand down!" I yell, already running towards him.
I know it's not Lance. Please, like I'd hesitate at seeing him coming back. No, it's one of the Bhaltayr, but that doesn't mean that I'm about to let them get shot by an arrow. I will if he ends up telling me that everyone else died and he's the only one who made it out, but that's highly unlikely.
I hope.
He dismounts his horse, and just as his foot touches the ground, I throw my arms around his neck and he stumbles back but manages to keep us upright. "Thank the Gods you're alive."
"It's good to see you too, Kitty."
I sigh in relief. Alex. It's Alex - and Gods how much I missed the Bhaltayr's cheesy nickname for me. Kitty Kat. They gave it to me before they left for their search, teasing and prodding whilst trying not to make it sound like they were saying their final goodbyes. A goodbye formed by fear that they wouldn't return.
"Where's everyone else?" I ask, pulling back far enough to see his face and scan him for injuries. He looked unharmed which relieved me more. No injuries meant no fights, which meant that they were safe.
"We found her."
My heart skips a beat. "What!"
"No, I mean we know where she is," he says once I start searching the forest behind him. "We haven't gotten her yet."
"And why the hell not," I yell, shoving him as hard as I can. It catches him off guard and he ends up bumping into his horse.
He holds his hands up in innocence, asking me to let him explain. I glare at him harder but make no move to shove him again. Or punch him. I really want to punch him.
"We ran into a few problems, and we need Neven and Melody."
"What for?"
"That's a long story." He looks over my shoulder, and I turn to find Svenja and her first mate Hough waiting. "Good to see you again, Pirate Lady."
"Forgive me if I don't return the sentiment," Svenja retorts just as evenly. "I assume that you traveling on your own should be a red flag for the rest of us."
"I wouldn't go that far, but-" he slides a quick concerning look my way "-yes. I'll be taking King Neven and Melody – and only them," he adds when I open my mouth. I stare at him in disbelief. Then the anger kicks in and I suddenly find myself wishing I hadn't stopped the archers from releasing their arrows.
"For what reason would you need the King?" Svenja questions before I can tear off his head for the fucking audacity.
"According to our allies, he plays a role in deciding if our future is beneficial, or doomed."
"What allies?" I demand. I have to dig my nails into my palms to keep
"Uh, well..." He rubs at the back of his neck nervously. "Aracely who's actually a witch, and Gretel, who was another Thralian hiding in Fernweh."
"Aracely's a witch!"
He winces at my shriek and looks out at our very big audience who still watches with caution. I ignore them, too far into shock to give a fuck who or what hears me at this point.
I didn't even know witches existed. I thought they were children's stories. Some of which warned you away from them and their evil spells, and others that neared more along the lines of fairies with how gentle and kind and caring they were to be. Though, let's be honest, people with magic are scary. I mean, they can do whatever they want whenever they want. Piss them off? Great! They'll just turn you into a rat. Or a beetle they can step on. I probably shouldn't be so surprised that they're real, all current situations considered, but - Aracely?
"I told you, it's a long story."
"And one we can hear another time," Siscilla interjects. I didn't even see her make her way through the crowd, but I gape at her nonetheless. How is she so calm about Aracely being a witch? "Melody has been ready to run for cycles, and Neven won't need to pack," she tells Alex. "You can be on your way within the hour. Come now, you're probably hungry and sore. You can give us a brief update while you eat."
Forty minutes later, Alex rides off with Neven on Melody's back. We got the gist of the whole saving Fauna situation, and if I'm being honest, he didn't make it sound very convincing that they'd be able to pull any of this off.
He told us about how Melody is the only one who can find the Ginerva, and then he explained who the Ginerva were and why we needed them because I sure as shit didn't have clue who they were. If you ask me, I don't know why we didn't let the mare run free a long time ago. We could have had this supposed elite group of Thralians with powers sacking the castle right now to get Fauna out.
And that's the other thing, she's been in Fernweh this whole time?
I suppose the water wolves should've been a dead giveaway, but considering that none of us had been back there to see them, I assumed they were long gone by now. Thomas said that they didn't leave that one day he stayed there, but that was one day, who could've known whether they stayed or left? I mean, it's not like there's a book written about all things water wolves. Two months ago, those two words were very separate. Water. Wolves. Now they're actual things that exist and I don't necessarily entirely know how I feel about them.
I stay sitting on the front porch steps,and watching as Thomas walks around with Mira on one leg and Levi on the other. He's become somewhat of a child magnet to them lately. He doesn't seem to entirely mind keeping them content, though Gods know that he had no idea what to do with them during those first initial cycles. He looked as lost as I felt, though the children I had no problem managing.
Roseia sits down next to me, another one of those weird foreign language books in her lap. She usually doesn't associate with me often, so it's nice to have her company. It also means that Reynald is too busy to give her attention, so I'm her second choice. I don't mind me being the second option, it's nothing that bothers me. I grew up going unnoticed, which means I don't recognize when I am being ignored, but I greatly appreciate the time and the people who offer me attention. I suppose it makes me more grateful for my time with them than anything.
"Kat?"
"Yeah, Rose."
"If you could change one thing about you, what would it be?" I turn toward her, wondering how a twelve-year-old girl came up with this question to ask. I suppose it's a good getting to know someone kind of question, but knowing my own thoughts, I wonder if perhaps she's asking for her herself, not out of curiosity.
"Well, If I had to change one thing about me, it would probably be to change the voices in my head."
Her brows pinch tightly. She shuts the book instantly, twisting her body to give me her full attention. "What do you mean? Isn't the voice in your head your conscience?"
"Uh-well, yes, but everyone's conscience is different," I answer carefully. "Some tell you what's right versus wrong, others make you believe in things that aren't true."
"Which one is yours?"
"Mine...mine tells me things that no one should have to hear," I admit sadly. After the whole tree and thorn bush incident, it's not much of a secret to most in the cabin. I honestly think that I tried getting to the tree because of curiosity at first, but then curiosity turned into envy because Fauna and Lance and the Jades and even the tiny children could do it. Everyone seemed capable of doing it but me and that made me jealous and then mad at myself. Then it was just a matter of my mind doing what my mind does and - bam! Thorn ass for days.
Roseia's too smart to have missed anything. She clearly knows more than she lets on, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to protect her from what I am. It's gotten better, and I was getting better before Lance came to the castle, he just helped speed up the process, I guess. I know that the traitorous thoughts won't ever fully go away, but making them quieter is all I want. With all the stress and distracting events that have happened recently, it's easier to turn my mind's head another way.
"If you believe you deserve better, then why can't you change your conscience?" Roseia asks. Her keen eyes stay calm, but I notice the way her hands drum on the book's hardcover. She only does that when she's trying to solve a problem. The problem is me, of course.
I smile softly at her hands. "That is a good question, and one I would pay anyone to answer for me."
"Can I answer it? You won't have to pay me."
I sit here a moment, trying to debate whether this is something a twelve-year-old should think about. Depression isn't something I'd want someone to have to explain to me. Sure, life can get tough once you hit your teens, but it's the people around you that influence who you'll become, and if you ask me, Roseia's got too many caring people for her to end up like me. I grew up with no one but a cranky old lady slapping me with a plaque of wood every time I did something wrong, or telling me how useless I was. Roseia won't have to worry about that, not while she's surrounded by us. Not while I live.
Her knees start bouncing next, and I'm too much of a people pleaser to tell her no. I roll my eyes and curse at my head again for being so useless against the girl's eager expression. "Alright. Educate me, young professor."
She smiles widely at the name and tugs the book to her chest as if doing so will transfer its knowledge to her. She takes a few minutes to think it through, contently watching as her eyes skitter on the wood platform of the porch, mapping out her answer and turning those gears in her brain. Some part of me thinks that the girl is so observant and soaks up whatever knowledge she can get as a defense mechanism. I don't know too much about her situation, but she was an orphan caring for her two younger siblings. Survival was all she knew then, and after seeing how lonely and cold and dark the world could be, she wants to find the way out of everything. She wants to be the light at the end of the tunnel.
When she has her conclusion, she straightens her back and lifts her chin, confidence oozing from her in waves. I smile again.
"A conscience is no more than your own voice speaking what you think you want to hear," she starts. "Whether you notice it or not, conscience doesn't have its own voice, it's yours, but you purposely give it a different voice in your head so that way you feel as if it's someone else telling you right from wrong because you, yourself, think that you're always wrong. That's why everyone's conscience is different, because everyone is different, and therefore, it's their own definitions of what's right and wrong, and it's their own thoughts that try to persuade them into believing in something. If you so desperately want to believe, then your so-called conscience will try and convince you to believe in it. If it tries to convince you otherwise, then it's because deep down, you know you shouldn't. Your conscience is pretty much the deepest of your thoughts and beliefs. Nothing more."
She stops and stares at me, waiting for a response. I open my mouth to do so but nothing comes out. My jaw just hangs there like a freaking idiot.
"Rose...maybe we should take you off these drugs you call books, for a little while." I reach for the one still clutched in her arms.
She whirls her whole body around, putting her between me and the book. "The books have nothing to do with my philosophical realizations. I'm just smart," she snaps sharply.
"Considering I don't know what the word means, I don't doubt that." I give her a smile and relax when her mouth twitches upward at my stupidity. "You know if anything you should be learning Thralian, although I think it's more commonly referred to as Lithian."
"I want to," she sighs dramatically, "but Clarice doesn't have any books on it in her room."
"Wait, those were in her room? How come I didn't notice them before?"
"Oh, they're hidden under a floorboard under her bed," she says, waving a dismissive hand through the air. "This is the last of them."
I look at the cabin's front door in question. I'm not sure if I do or do not want to know how she knew they were under the floorboards. "How many were there?"
"Ten books, three languages."
"You learned three new languages." I gape at her, feeling my jaw slacken once more.
"Yeah," she says nonchalantly, looking at me like I'm the crazy one.
"A-and you're fluent in
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net