ã€ŠThe Questã€‹


 Chapter 1

    ~Di~

    Di stood inside of a poor man''s home. She could see evidence of his wife''s love and work scattered around. It was a small cottage that held a plain table, four chairs, a large bed, and a stove as furniture; there was also a pile of hay with an old quilt lying on it in one corner and small pillows and tapestries¡ªall made by the same hard-working hand strewn about the place. Di knew children slept on the hay instead of beds and the chairs were rickety but that didn''t stop the place from having its own charm as humans often made with homes.

    The man lay on the bed, feverish and sweaty. His wife, Halia, wrung her hands as she stood by the table, watching Di unveil the contents of her basket. Di put a hand on the man''s chest to feel his heart beat¡ªit was fast. She checked his left arm for the wound she''d bandaged only two days prior.

    "Why didn''t you call sooner?" Di asked Halia. As she did, he grumbled and moved to sit up. She laid a hand on his shoulder to push him back and quiet him.All men are idiots,she thought. Sensing his reluctance to show weakness only made her irritated and reminded her of her own husband.Just one more patient after this and then I must see Matis.

    "We wasn''t sure ''twas serious." Halia''s lower lip trembled as she spoke.

    Di sighed but nodded.If only my own husband was bedridden. Perhaps then I could talk some sense into him.Di looked back at the man, Corinth. His arm was slightly red and still inflamed but it looked like the inflammation was going down. She raised her hand and let a light emit, running it from his shoulder to his fingers.And there''s the infection!Di smiled to herself as her magic clung onto the reddest part of his arm, so red it was nearly purple. The rest was lightly inflamed around it. She cast another light with her other arm, this one much brighter and actually burning, before laying the hand on his arm. He hissed in pain.

    He would be fine. She finished and rebandaged the wound, accidentally ripping some fresh skin from the top as she did. Di internally sighed. She was so distracted by her own problems at home, it was seeping into her work. Usually she was very careful not to hurt her patients.

    "Stop your fretting, my friend." Di smiled at Halia. She took out a small, red pain relief potion and left it on the table. Di stood taller than her neighbor and if Corinth stood, she would be taller than him as well. She looped an arm around the basket and went to Halia, hugging her lightly. "He will be fine. If you see any changes besides betterment, please knock on my door at once!"

    "Yes." Halia gripped her harder in thanks. "I''ll get m'' boys to yeh for payin''."

    Di nodded and left their home, only turning to raise a hand in the sign of health toward their door. She made her way past the dusty, dry land of Halia and Corinth''s, down an open path back to the closer edges of her village. On either side of her land were vast and mostly green in pastures. Her village was the closest to the castle walls, the only village on this side of the Goore Mountains for miles.

    Many marked the village as a final resting spot before entering the castle walls to meet with royalty and fine merchants; it had not one but three inns competing for tourists and immigrants alike, and was known for mixing cultures. Humans, the fae, dwarves, and any other sort would come through their village before the central town of Difavose inside the castle walls. It was the perfect village for those on quests.Quests! To all-mother with them!Di shook her head as she continued walking. She wanted to focus on her last patient before thinking about anything like quests or Matis.

    Most of the village was made of squat wooden buildings and always kept the air of welcome around; many were adorned with plants or decoration from several cultures and a few were brightly painted with stark contrast to the white and brown. Many were merchants who lived in this place, although on the outskirts lived farmers, like Halia and Corinth, and among them were those who did some kind of work for the royals.

    Di walked past the bakery, the first building to welcome a traveler, and straight to the last inn, The Red Keep. She waved at the bar patron and walked directly up a flight of stairs to the rooms, where another man waited for her. She opened the third door to a room sparsely decorated. Only a bed and a desk and chair, where a man sat, staring at some papers. He looked up with a frown.

    "I''d appreciate if you cared to knock," he mumbled. Di always forgot to knock. "I could be doing any manner of things!"

    "I''m sorry," she huffed. "I must hurry, though. My husband will be home soon."Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    "Get on with it," he said, eyes rolling. The only thing she knew of him was that he was an adventurer, in search of fulfilling a prophecy, hoping to get back to the trail. She didn''t really care about any of that, only to fix his broken leg and go home finally, to confront Matis.

    He turned, showing one stiff leg bound straight and the other bent beneath his chair. He had been here for three weeks, and she was tired of him, but he paid well. She cut open the bandage, wrinkling her nose as the smell of dank sweat rolled out. The smell was always the worst part. One could expect to see bad things but when it came to the horrid smells of wounds and earth, Di would hardly be prepared.

    She wiped the front dry from the sweat of being in a cast for so long, then carefully gripped his leg from knee to ankle. No bumps. Just hard bone it seemed. She exhaled. Di took another potion from her basket, this time a dark green one in a round jar, her own cocktail for bone strength.

    "This must be taken with food for the next two nights. It''s only to strengthen your bones." She left it on the desk and stood, grateful that this visit did not require her magic to test for further injuries.This man was intent on healing properly, unlike Corinth. "Taken with ale and you will throw it up. ''Tis no matter to me what you eat with it¡ªcan be bread, just remember to walkcarefullyover bridges from now on."

    He huffed. "Oh for fuck''s sake. Is it healed yet or not?"

    "Of course it is; go running if you must." She disliked his tone but kept her insults to herself. Hopefully he would leave first thing tomorrow, and she''d no longer have to even look at him. A whiny adventurer if she ever met one! Nonetheless, he smirked and handed her a few silver coins as payment.

    "I never caught your name, friend." He stood with triumph. She shook her head and walked out.

    Finally, she was able to return home. She left in haste, leaving a coin for her friend the barkeep as tip for always recommending her, and strode straight home. Hers was flourishing in plants of all kinds, and two quails that often went off on their own adventures, all in the gated garden of her front yard. Hers was another plain brown-and-white wooden cottage, but inside there was a fireplace, as well as two rooms more than Halia''s.

    One was the main, holding a stove and counter space, a bearskin rug, and a table for two; the one directly to the right was her workroom, that held a table full of books and jars, another with various plants and liquids, and along one wall rested her husbands weapons and alternate armor; the last room, past the work room, was her bedroom that kept their bed and clothes in separate trunks. Each room had large, open windows; Di loved light and air streaming in.

    She sighed, placed her basket in the workroom, and left her apron on the bed. The bed itself had Halia''s work, with a beautiful blue quilt laid over. It was her gift the first time Di came over to treat Corinth''s wound, and Di made sure her own husband knew to treat it with care. She appreciated the payment knowing it was one of Halia''s finest works.

    When her husband came, right before sundown, she had vegetables cooking over a buttered ham shank. He slightly clanked in his armor and went to kiss her, ignoring her wrinkled nose because of the scent of metal and sweat on him. Matis was a very large man with dark brown hair all over his tan skin. His eyes were kind, and very brown like a puppy''s. Most importantly, his heart was pure. Matis was a knight, the best she''d ever met¡ªand living in this village, Di had met a great handful of knights. He was the prince''s personal guard, and head of the Royal Guard.

    Matis was silent as he went about, changing and prepping his armor for the next day. She knew he was preparing for their continuation of the fight they''d been having for the past week. She tried to instill a calm within her.

    Di set up the table with the food in the middle and places set for two. She waited for him to grow some courage and come to sit with her. Matis stayed silent as he sat, taking a drink of water from his cup.

    It was a few minutes before either tried to speak.

    "Look¡ª" Matis began as Di started to say, "Please¡ª"

    They both quieted. Her heart beat quickly, and she could feel the tips of her ears redden in frustration. She stayed quiet, instead scooping vegetables onto her plate. He frowned.

    "Di," Matis began, "I want you to understand how necessary this is."

    "Necessary for you," she quipped. Her face was stony as she ate, waiting for him to continue.

    "The prophecy calls for a specific group of people and the timing is within the year. The likelihood of another half-elf Healer taking residence in Difavose within the year is quite low. You are one of the few components we were so sure of our decipherence of this prophecy."

    "Explain the prophecy then!" She shouted. Di never shouted, so Matis winced. "Why can''t I know? Why must I go?"

    Matis sighed and put his hand open-faced on the table. His voice was much softer when he replied, "You just can''t, Wife. Di. You know how these things work. Sometimes we must trust the Golden Priest to know what''s best."

    Di scoffed.

    "Does it matter not whether Iwantto go?" she responded. He sighed again. His brown eyes twinkled and softened, his hand reached for hers. Di hated how he could turn her heart so simply. One soft look and she was his.

    "Of course it matters." His response was low. He looked down at his empty plate, then back at her, piercing her with his gaze. "I know we have bad memories from our last quest but one cannot fight fate. We would never have met if I had never gone! Besides, won''t you miss me terribly?"

    Di smirked.What a fool I must be.She nodded. Matis grinned and leapt up, rushing over to hug her tightly. Her heart was pounding in fear, but if it meant this much to Matis then something must be fateful about it. He was not one to lead her astray. She hugged him back, trying not to recede her acquiescence.

    "We leave tomorrow!" Matis said, still holding her in his bear hug.

 Chapter 2

    ~Di~

    Di wasn''t sure how, but the next week she found herself standing with a packed bag on her back with a group of adventurers: Matis, Prince Alquorien, two of Matis''s fellow King''s Guard, a young squire, and the worst of them all: a dwarf mapmaker.A dwarf mapmaker.The prince could have chosen any other director, yet unfortunately, they stood to leave with the dwarf.

    Matis stood tall in light metal armor, with leather and cloth beneath it and heavy terrain boots. His own pack was considerably larger than Di''s, but he carried a variety of weapons and their clothes. Di only carried their rations, money, and any necessary basic ingredients and potions. In contrast to her husband, Di wore a simple cloth dress and boots, with her long black hair tied up with a cloth tie. She was slightly uncomfortable with her ear tips showing¡ªone of her only markers of being part elf, but she knew it would be a warm trip. They were mid-Blossom, the rains would last perhaps a few weeks on and off before the hottest part of the year began. All the others were men who dressed similar to Matis, except the prince, whose armor wore that of the family crest. It was a raven nestled in a wreath of figs. The crest was one of the oldest in the country and represented Difavose''s values of their people. A sort of representation of gathering groups and good health; it may not have been a warrior''s insignia but its age spoke more to their royal claim. The family had been on the throne for centuries.

    The group was gathered at the edge of the village, in The Red Keep. As its name stated, it was painted a bright red, with brown windows wide open and a stream of people inside and out. Many well-wishers came to see them off, including the queen and her consorts who stood smiling by the hearth. Matis stood by the royal family, lightly sweating in his armor, while the prince seemed unfazed by the humidity. Di leaned on the bar, taking a long drink of water, and feeling the sun all around her.

    Prince Alquorien was beaming proudly as he shook the hands of his people. This was also his second quest, which gave him great standing. Difavose was a traveler''s town, the capital of adventurers. To go on another was pride the royal family could not hide.

    "We may be small, but let it be known how we are destined for strength!" the prince said. "Two quests for one prince is a mighty endurance!" The crowd cheered. Matis heavily patted Quo''s back, causing his curly blonde hair to rustle and his dimples to show as he laughed. "One prince, his knight and his Healer, I mean!"

    Di let a small frown furrow her brow but kept quiet.I am part of this now. She''d agreed and couldn''t let the village or royalty down now¡ªanother unfortunate part of prophecies that must come to pass. She watched the crowd speak again in excited whispers and murmurs, while the crew tightened their bags or changed their stance.

    The dwarf did nothing but stare into space, like the stupid imp he was. Di huffed. Bringing the wretched creature could only be our downfall. She turned and got more water from the barkeep, a large smile on his face; Di tried to smile back before downing this cup as well.

    "May we be home before the harsh rains again." The prince bowed his head. He made his way to his mother, kissed her cheek, and then waved a hand to signal the group''s leave. The queen held his other hand with a tight squeeze, a small smile on her delicate face as her son and his crew left rather unceremoniously. They joined on a cart with two workhorses to pull them. It wasn''t a grand royal carriage, but rather a small space that would likely last in many conditions due to its metal harnesses and frame. It lightly jostled as they settled in their spots.

    "My name''s¡ª" The squire was about to start but Di threw her hand out to stop him.

    "No names!" she hissed. "If you must, let us call each other by names for this prophecy only." She gave a harsh stare to all in the group. "Even you, Prince."

    He grimaced, but a look from Matis called him to acquiesce.

    "You know nothing of the fae, boy," Di continued to the squire. "Trust me, we shall not know each other''s names and it will be for your sake." Di brought her hand back down. The boy swallowed. She noted his fear and set down her pack before taking a seat.

    "Alright, then. I am Po," he said with much less confidence. Po sat back in his seat of hay, deciding to quiet. He was a small boy; she could hardly believe him as thirteen. Then again, thirteen was so young. Di herself was fifty-six, although she hardly looked older than twenty-five. Another gift of the Moon Elves. Po had freckles galore and a light smattering of pimples on an otherwise childish face; though slightly red, he seemed to be able to mostly keep his composure for a man so young.

    "Pleased to have you, Po." Matis forced a handshake with the boy. "You can call me Ban."

    Di raised an eyebrow at that but said nothing.As in Corban the Seafarer?Matis is saying something. I hate that story.

    "Alright. Although many may know my name already, refer to me as Riardon," Prince Alquorien said with a devilish smile, showing off his dimples. "Seems fitting to go by the first known prophesied if I am to make history." He went to sit in front, gesturing at one of the swordsmen to join him.

    "Long Boar," said the guard with reddish hair, yet tanned complexion.

    The other, with cropped blond hair, gave a small smirk before adding, "Fine! That makes me Waterwell." He went to sit in front, dropping his pack by Di.

    "Shit on ya!" Long Boar said, laughing with Waterwell in their secret joke. It created an awkward silence before the dwarf spoke up.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    He was a standard thing, short as a child, but with the face of an old man. His hair was loose, and running past his shoulders in dark brown locks, half-braided and wild as dwarfs often preferred and his skin was a light green. Di felt her skin crawl as his gravelly voice spoke. "Treth. And you?"

    Di felt his eyes on her, but she couldn''t bring herself to look at the dwarf. She would have to pull herself together somehow eventually.

    "Just call me Girl," she said, voice low and serious. She felt the general discomfort as everyone else had chosen unique nicknames, but she didn''t want anything to tie her down if they came across a powerful fae. Di could fight as well as any man, but once the fae knew her name they''d become deadlier than snake''s venom.

    ~Matis~

    The ride began mostly silent. Everyone was only becoming accustomed to sitting for long periods of time and had yet to truly settle together. Matis knew everyone else was mostly jovial in this coming adventure, but his heart was torn. He used every last ounce of patience to get his wife to join the crew, not because he wanted her to come, but because of the true importance of her spot on the crew. He knew she would despise him until time''s end if she ever found out why he forced her to come, but it was in the prophecy. Thankfully the only people who knew were himself, Quo, Treth, and the High Priest who ordained the trip.

    He was glad to have her, a warmth by his side, but adventures were always dangerous. He met Di in the middle of a fae trial against her. She wasn''t welcomed in her own blood because she was half-human.

    He kissed the top of her head, feeling her nod off to sleep. All around them, the hills rolled and shrubs waved in the light wind. Green pastures swept the immediate area, giving the world a fairly peaceful look. Their hometown seemed to close off, with the last buildings slowly fading from view. Matis forgot how long the traveling could feel. They''d only just begun! They had weeks to go, perhaps months; one could never know for sure with a quest. His eyes settled on the surrounding green pastures, hypnotizing him nearly to sleep.

    "My friend, why in this lifetime would you ever choose the name Ban?" Quo asked, incredulous. Matis chuckled back to full awareness.

    "Oh come on! ''Til be funny when it comes to the sea," Matis said with a lazy punch to Quo''s arm. "Wife will think I''m clever with that one when she sees."

    "She''ll think plenty of you by trip''s end," Quo said pointedly. Matis''s heart clenched. "Of course that''s only a probability, Ban."

    "Shut it," Matis growled. He looked away at the countryside slowly rolling past them again. The prince was fond of seeing how far he could tease Matis. He knew Matis would always hold back. As much as they were friends Alquorien was the High Prince first and Matis was his personal guard. Matis was a steady man; he always knew his place foremost in all of his relationships -- especially in his friendship with the prince. They''d practically grown up together. Matis''s father was a lord with good rank, but Matis rejected his title when he chose to join Quo''s first prophesied adventure. Matis had trained well with the army and chose to become a knight, leaving the land and small castle to his younger brother, Marwick, who was a better fit for that anyway.

    He looked at Di''s sleeping face again. In sleep, she was mostly human. Her normally sharpened edges seemed softer, including her ears. Her open eyes were always carefully watching around her, seeming calculating in their gray coldness. He knew there was more to Di than that, though, and always sought to find the human aspects in her nature. She was never cruel or held grudges as many expected of her, being Half-Elf, if anything Di was the kindest soul Matis had ever known save his mother. She didn''t care about payment for her Healing and always sought after the village children and elderly first -- if anything she was the human Matis expected more full humans to be like! She fit in Difavose as well as anyone else. The land was made for kindhearted misfits and lost souls looking for a community.

    Matis took a good long look at his companions. Quo chose well, in his opinion. The guards were known in his ranks as loyal and were two of the best swordsman in their army; Long Boar was also an archer, one of the best in their league as well. Po was only a boy, yet he had promise. He was the son of Alderman house, a known loyal family to the throne and often sent at least one of their sons to join the army in good faith. He was this generation''s chosen son and a damn fine choice of a son indeed. Po could train harder and longer than most other boys his age and never begged to quit.

    And then Treth. Treth was the final part of the prophecy. The High Priest was discussing future endeavors for them when Treth came forward and reminded him of the prophecy. It wasn''t often an elvish prophecy was chosen and immediately worked upon but the High Priest insisted Treth, Quo, and Di were all parts of it. Elvish prophets were known to be fickle and choosy with their words; often one thing meant another, but Treth suggested the time would be soon, having studied most of the unfulfilled prophecies and maps in their town.

    If only Di could know. She''d hate him by the end. She may have been patient and ultimately understanding in nature, but going back to the fae and their brethren would be the hardest thing for Di to do. Di was despised amongst them and hated them just as much for it. Their first meeting was a harsh reality come true for Matis. All humans were aware of the general way of the fae, or elves, depending on where one lived. Magical creatures. All were sneaky, plotting things, that could hold grudges for eternities to come and vengeful to the bitter end. They absolutely hated any half-fae.

    At the time, Di was strung up in a high forest. Matis and Quo were not even sure how their crew encountered the trial. They were searching for a way out of the forest, but the magic must have been too strong. He could never forget the way she looked: no clothes, but all strapped in vines and the roughest look on her face. He now recognized that look as bitter anger. She was being tried for her heritage. Her mother had already been tried and killed years long before, and her father escaped before they could catch Di as well.

    Unfortunately for her father, Di was still found and tortured. That was when Matis and crew came in, stumbling and unable to properly speak with the horrors before them. Matis didn''t need words. He knew within the next minute what the fae were speaking, without needing a translator, and rushed forward to rescue her. Their battle was uneven and skewed against them, but eventually, when Matis was able to free her, the urgency in Di''s magic made her stronger against her kin. She and the men fought back with their might. It was just enough to escape. She stayed with him ever since.

    Never again had she used her magic in a fight. Only to heal. As a Moon Elf, that''s what was intended for her type of magic, but that didn''t mean one could never wield it in other ways -- she simply hated to use it any other way. He never attempted to understand. Matis understood that what she did best was healing, and she earned plenty by doing just that, he could be the fighter in their relationship.

    He glanced at the men around them again. Only Quo and Treth could understand the true dangers ahead of them. Warriors were best in mid-battle anyways and not a single one of them could prepare against the fae.

 Chapter 3

    ~Di~

    The path made for an uncomfortable sleep. That and sleeping on Matis''s legs made Di''s back quite sore after a few hours. She decided to get up when the sun began to set, stretching as the cart bumped along with the stray rocks and pebbles. Only Po and Longboar slept, both somehow looking incredibly more comfortable than she felt in her own nap. The heat had mostly dissipated into a comfortable stillness.

    Di looked up. The sky was a fascinating purplish-blue, the sun setting far past the hills. Some stars shone, some clouds floated past, but it was mostly clear. And vast. And far. She felt more at peace again, despite being among four men and a wretched dwarf. The moon would soon rise, and her soul would too; she could feel her pulse slow and steady and her skin ripple. Moon rise was the best part of the day, even in her sleep.

    Matis rubbed her arm, sensing her calm washing over the cart. Di saw Quo turn his head from the front, and smile at her in appreciation. Anyone could feel the height of an elf''s power when it came around and that night Di would be at her strongest -- full moon with a clear and a steady sky. Quo pulled the reins and the horses softly pulled off the path, onto the grasses. No trees were around to hide them from robbers, but in many ways, their night would be safer this way. They all knew they were to pull watches in turn and trees usually meant any sort of fae could be lurking, especially elves; Longboar and Po would be the first to pull watch which is why they were the first to sleep in the cart besides Di.

    As the cart rolled to a stop Di began to stand up, carefully not touching anything or anyone beside Matis''s guiding hand and the side of the cart. She jumped over the rail, Matis behind her, while the others got up slowly.

    "Girl? You mind caring for these maidens?" Quo held out the reins to her. She smiled and silently took them. She took care to unlatch the mares and took two of the stakes from the pile in the cart where Quo had been sitting on, making her way by a gathering of bushes. Di checked the leaves, noting the utter greenness of it and deemed it safe to set the mares by. Then, she took the pack for them and began the process of setting out water and brushing them, letting the men and dwarf put the camp together. They had water for another seven days, she wondered how they''d get more.

    Once finished, she joined the others about fifteen feet away. They cleared a space for a small fire, made by some bushes somehow, and more space to lay out their bedrolls. She sat next to her husband, leaving a hand on his arm, a familiar touch of hers.

    ''What''re we eatin''?'' Po asked, rubbing his stomach. Matis smirked. Probably remembering how it was to be a growing boy with hunger pains. Waterwell rummaged around until he found a pack with bread and dried pig, taking some for himself before passing it around. Di grabbed two pieces of the crumbly bread and two of the salted pig before handing it to Matis. She sighed.A terribly dry meal, but at least this time they remembered to add some pepper to the meat.She remembered, with a smile on her face, how she introduced the idea of other spices on their meats in their last adventure.How simple men could be.

    Po seemed pleased enough, choking on the bread. Di chuckled.

    "Finally! A smile from you!" Quo excitedly pointed at her. She rolled her eyes and took her hand from Matis''s arm, deciding to lean on him instead. Quo smiled infectiously. He looked around, "Someone tells a story. NOT one about ourselves, an actual story!"

    "Oh just let us eat in peace!" Matis waved a hand. Po sat a little straighter at the thought. Waterwell and Longboar shared a look.

    "Corban the Seafarer?" Waterwell questioned his friend.

    "Nah, too close to ''Ban'' o''er there. Tamlin, Witch of Hardwest." Longboar urged.

    "No everyone knows Tam. Yrtel!" Waterwell''s brown eyes shone at whatever Yrtell could be. Both men looked for any sign of knowledge of Yrtel in the group. Di surely never heard of a Yrtel, and she was certain neither had Matis. Waterwell nodded, "Yrtell."

    "Do go on," Quo said. He plopped onto his stomach, looking eager to listen. Di always enjoyed the childlike passion in their prince.

    "Right," Waterwell cleared his throat. "In the old days, in the lands beyond the seas, called Hastos, were poor and trodden people. Unlike here, they never got rains and the sun was blazing fucking hot every damn day. They had to make do with ocean waters, though we never knew how they figured out ways to drink it, but them bastards did! Anyways, poor people. They couldn''t harvest much besides cactus plants and spiked bushels that honestly probably caused more fires to dry out the land more than providing food for the Hastoans. They begged their gods for sky water but never got an answer. It was a hundred or so years of begging before a man named Yrtel from the nearby city Hastosasi visited. He wasn''t much but an apothecary, but he was well enough as one. He could make many cures, and he was a very curious man-"

    "He''s telling it stupid. Yrtel-" Longboar interrupted.

    "Oh for fuck''s sake man, let me tell it!" Waterwell hit the side of his friend''s head. Longboar''s eyes narrowed but he shut up. Waterwell brushed some crumbs from his chest before resuming. "Right Yrtel. Apothecary. So he was always curious about anything and thought he should see why his sister city was so depressed. As he arrived he saw how terrible it was. There was hardly any grasses alive and the people looked very tired. Probably from the saltwater. So Yrtel, right, sees his brothers and cries for them. He cannot begin to think why his city could be so abundant in green and rains and why these idiots never left their city. I mean it was really dead besides the damned cactus and bushels. So he asked around.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "Well sir, they said, we belong here. We only know this land. Your people always looked down on us, and we really rather not be judged. So we stay here and live with this brown place, They said. Yrtel cried again. He was a real sensitive type. He began to knock on every door and see if anyone else would have new answers but not a single soul could say a different word. Then Yrtel went to the local bar to drown in sorrows with them, but they only served fucking saltwater drinks.

    "Yrtel would not have it. So he took his last sip of freshwater and headed to the local temple. He saw many different gods than his own and realized they were worshiping demons. The stag gods and goat gods and just all the nasty one. These idiots had it all wrong. Yrtel took it upon himself to use his skills as apothecary to make potions in order to please his gods. Then he put drops of the potions in every nook and cranny. He burned down the temple, which was honestly his worst idea because then the people went to stone him. And while tied on a rock, with everyone''s hands carrying more rocks to kill him he shouted his words to the right gods. And then the heaviest rain he''d ever seen befell them. It was just a right flood of waters. The people all had to stop -- none of this generation had ever seen rain, so they were right shocked.

    "Sir, how did you do it? They begged him and cried and freed him from the rock. He smiled and told them of his gods. Slowly the demons curses were rotted out by the water and the people would get a lake right in the center of town. Right where they were about to stone Yrtel. So they proclaimed him king of the town, and he became Yrtel the Wise."

    No one said a word. Longboar eyed the group, taking care to smile at every person. It was an unexpected story for a man of the sword to come up with, or so Di thought. Yrtel.A man of beliefs and gods and water.

    "What''re the right gods?" Po''s eyes scrunched up as he spoke; his head tilted like a puppy''s.

    "Well for Yrtel they were the of the Four Heavens," Longboar replied with a grimace. Most people of Difavose held little religious beliefs besides in that of prophets. "It doesn''t mean much, I think. Who knows what god is good and all? My mother''s side came from Hastos, and they all believed in the Four Heavens. This story is like my own."

    Matis nodded and went back to eating his meat.

    "What did the prophets believe?" Po asked quietly, almost breathless. Di sat up. This poor boy was going through a visible crisis, it seemed. A man so young could never have his systems so moved if he were to develop a discipline in him. Di could sense the urgency in Matis then. He was a trainer and could not help if a man changed his beliefs so quickly unless he could hinder the change in its tracks.

    "Boy, the prophets are from everywhere. We fight for the crown, correct?" Matis said, leaning forward to create eye contact with Po. Di had seen this move many times over. It was Matis''s way to create a connection with trainees, and force them to surrender to his words. "The crown believes in the prophecies. Only those have ever come true for Difavose. Perhaps you can learn now what to believe. Just know that the only order you have is to protect and serve."

    "It''s all theory anyway," Prince Alquorien waved his hand in dismissal. He shoved his bread into his mouth before saying more.

    "The only truth in life is death," Treth uttered. Di''s ears pricked. She said nothing, although she knew everyone could feel the wave of warmth wash over them. She would need to control her feelings against the dwarf, or else her magic would constantly affect the group. Matis rubbed his hand on hers, taking it with a squeeze. Treth didn''t show any effect by her magic and simply downed his canteen.

    Wasteful monster.

    Po didn''t seem convinced by anyone''s logic, yet the dwarf must have said something close to home because a light went through Po''s eyes as he scarfed down the rest of his meal.

    Di gave the rest of her second bread to Matis before laying down. She had nothing to say about gods or truth and could only hope they spoke of things other than this or magic. Feeling the moon rise and focusing on only breathing calmed her down. She heard the others murmur around her, but felt only sleep as it washed over her; right before she could really sleep, Matis softly took her hand again, holding it as she went to bed.

    ~Quo~

    Quo watched, a slight twinge of jealousy coming through, before he swatted it away in his mind, as his friends held hands in peace. Matis was always a steady man, and of course, he''d marry first. Though women flaunted after himself for his future reign, Matis was genuinely adored by females all around. He''d always carried that rugged, safe-man-charm about him. Quo had many loves in the past, but he continued to court in an effort to find whatever Matis had with his wife.

    He could never hate Matis for this. He loved Matis. They were friends since childhood and all the way through their knight trials together. Matis threw his claim to a lord''s title to fight by his side and Quo could never ask for anything more than their friendship. He just could never understand how Matis chose one person to sleep by every night. He wished he could be so steady in mind.

    Quo took a long drink of wine. The boy seemed much more alert after hearing the dwarf speak, thankfully.

    "My lord, how''s your water?" Quo smiled at Matis with a gleam of humor in his eye. Matis held up a rude gesture.

    "Least I won''t be under the weather come tomorrow," Matis said with a low chuckle. Quo shrugged and drank more wine. The taste was lightly sweet, just enough to overcome the horrid food.

    He turned to the dwarf, "how much further until the next stop?"

    Treth grunted.

    "That long?" Quo said in false shock with a long gasp. The dwarf eyed him but brought out one of his maps.

    "The ocean lies three days from here," he replied. The other men and Quo all leaned forward to look. It was a very plain map, hardly any illustration besides the lines to separate land and water. They were an inch from Difavose and about three from the Hastoan Sea. Between them were mostly open fields and some small villages, just one river to cross -- if one could even call it a river. Quo liked the outlooks. They could go and be home before four months pass and be on time for his father to return as well.

    "And from there?" Longboar asked. Quo and Matis shared a look.

    "The quest is guiding us along," Matis said first, while Quo responded with, "Just trust the dwarf."

    Quo gulped. The other three looked around with so many questions in their eyes, but as good swordsman they said nothing.Just trust the quest. And dwarf. And me, Quo thought.

 Chapter 4

    ~ Di~

    Three days later and the crew came to a seaport city. Where there was once a sea of green there now was sand and before them the actual sea. Di hated the oceans, her body detested sea water, and she hated the idea of what lurked in the deep sea.

    The city was so unlike Difavose in looks, but the consensus of people was not. Thankfully. Traveling cities and villages were often marked by trade routes and that meant plenty of different type of people, just like in Difavose. She could see more than a few fae around. This allowed her some safety in keeping her hair tied up, ear tips proudly showing.

    The buildings here were all white. No splashes of color except in the stalls for sellers, and the ocean, but they were immense. Unlike Difavose, this city was home to many-roomed buildings; where she was used to cottages and small inns there were complex multi-family homes and the largest inn she had ever seen. It must have had a hundred rooms.

    It was there that she, Po, and Treth sat, in the bar accompanying the inn. The others had gone off to store the horses and cart, as well as find new transportation that gave Di a slight yet constant chill in her stomach -- joining a ship crew.

    Di said nothing and simply watched the surrounding crowds, as they sat at a table. Po nursed a water, feet dangling as much as Treth''s from the ground. She made sure to sit closer to Po, doing her best to ignore the dwarf''s beady eyes dart around the room. His greenish skin almost seemed to darken since they''d begun their travels. It was more of a sickening dark green now.

    She looked away. Everywhere people talked and squished past each other. It seemed this was a lounging city as well as a trading port because among the sellers were those in leisure clothing. She''d never seen this many travelers, not on quests. She could hardly fathom the idea of traveling with nothing to prove -- no prophecy to unveil. They came forfun.

    Finally, Matis found them in the center of the bar. He was alone and seemed to have dropped their packs with the others, as he was empty-handed in his approach. Di''s stomach curdled.

    "There you are!" He made a huge smile at the little trio. "Let''s go! The ship leaves in three hours and I know you want to see the living quarters."

    Di took his guiding hand and grabbed Po''s as they jumped off the bar stools and waded through the crowd. She could feel the heat of the bodies pushing against them but held on to both hands tightly. Treth could not be seen, but perhaps that was a good thing. Until they made it out of the inn and in the middle of a crowded street when it seemed he was right behind Po all along. Shame.

    The ship they walked up to was like any other. Large, brown, and teeming with people coming and going. The crew had a lot to bring up it seemed. Matis squeezed her hand. She squeezed harder. He led them down the dock and up the bridge onto the boat. Once again her stomach curdled and she wondered how uncomfortable could she be? First, a dwarf and now open seas travel, as if Matis could have found theperfectprophecy to put her through.

    Di was careful to walk around the working men as they carried what looked like barrels of supplies and luggage. The boat slightly swayed under her feet, making her stomach turn again, a chill going up her spine. Matis led them through the middle until they reached a stairwell that led to several rooms squashed under the first floor of the boat; it seemed they were managing about four to a room, although she could hardly guess how. It seemed Matis paid for her and him to have their own room, though it was half the size of the others, and right next to a similar-sized one for the prince. The rest of their squad had a room across the way.

    Di eyed the small space. It only had enough room for a twin-sized bed and their packs with a foot of walking space between. It, like the rest of the ship, smelled horrendous. She''d nearly gagged walking in, as the smell of sweat, wood, seawater, and fish overcame her, along with the feeling of claustrophobia. She swayed. Matis caught her arm and helped her to sit on the tiny bed, the other hand carefully pushing her waist down as she went.

    "My dear!" He looked startled as he spoke. "Are you alright?"

    "I''m not meant for the sea, Husband. You''ve known this," She sighed but allowed a small smile on her face. "It will take me a long time to get acquainted with this... Entire thing. The sea, the boat, the small spaces... I''m meant for roaming plains in moonlight."

    He grimaced, then nodded, "I understand. I... I''m sorry for making you endure this, but I promise it''s the only way!"

    Di chuckled. She patted his hand before laying down.

    "Perhaps just some water, and rest," She said. She heard his grunt in response and closed her eyes, trying to quell constant nausea that only seemed to worsen the longer her eyes were open.

    ~Matis~Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    After setting the jug of water on the floor by Di, Matis decided to leave her alone. The trip seemed to make things worse between them, and he was not in the way of fighting his wife. He found himself, and his fellow quest-mates, below in the mess hall, with a gaggle of crew loitering around. The hall itself wasn''t much besides a set of tables and some hammocks on the walls for more men to sleep, as he''d expected to see in any ship. Or not see. He almost chuckled to himself, thinking of how dark it was, with only candles lighting the tables and a few along the walls.

    He and his group sat right in the middle of the tables, ship crew on either side. Matis and Quo shared a smile, as they watched some play a card game known as Briggs in Difavose, although it was probably called something else at sea.

    "How much for a couple of lads to join?" Quo fingered a gold coin, somehow making it shine in the dark hall. One of the men snatched it and grinned toothily. He handed Quo and Matis six cards each, making sure to place them face down so not to see them. Matis quickly picked them up. An elf, two queens, a bard, and two peasants. Not great, but nothing he couldn''t work with...

    "Par," a man further down said, throwing his cards at the table. The next parred, but the one after asked for a new card exchange. It went this way for each player. Quo traded in a card, making Matis the last player. He stared at his hand, trying to ignore the stares of his crew and the ship crew playing around him. He could switch the bard and hope for another peasant but that didn''t make for a winning hand, just a better one. If he traded the elf he was truly gambling, but trading a peasant could be beneficial. The likelihood for either the bard or peasant exchange was low considering there were only seventy-two cards in the deck and now eight players left. The other cards, including discarded, were continuously shuffled back together to create worse odds for each new player.

    "Git on!" The dark man who''d allowed them to join remarked. Matis smiled and handed him a card. He looked again. It wasn''t a losing hand... Matis kept his face square as each player unveiled his set while looking at previous sets to compare. Quo set his hand and Matis, as well as other men, hissed through his teeth. One swore loudly. Quo always won! Somehow, someway, the man was given the gift of luck it seemed.

    Matis lamely put his hand face-up, showing he also lost, although if they were placing he would be second.

    "Thas cheatin'' that is!" One of the men threw his cup at the table and stormed off.

    "Gentlemen, gentlemen!" Quo smiled toothily and took the pile of money, "Another round shall we? I''m only lucky, and luck can get a man so far."

    "One more," the dealer replied, giving everyone else a look to see if they''d join in or not. Most returned. Some stayed to watch, but others just left to find other games, without lucky princes or first guards. Matis nodded and took a new deal. He looked over at their questing crew; they were in their own conversation. Good. It would be hard to live up to his prestige as an ethical man and leader while gambling his time away on a boat with strangers.

    ~Po~

    The young man watched his superiors play a game he couldn''t begin to understand, and tried to listen to the other men talk stories again. His father never allowed stories to invade his studies, not even the bedtime ones from nannies and maids; his only knowledge of them was from his friends back home. They told the worst ones. He hardly ever got to hear about adventures like Yrtle. The other boys only liked to tell the scary ones and ones about girls'' bums. He enjoyed listening to Long Boar and Waterwell argue and disrupt each other through the adventures they discussed.

    "Alright boys, it''s time to pick one more story before it''s off to bed with ya!" Long Boar smirked. The boy sighed. He wished he was only a little older to stay up and drink like a real man. Being under sixteen meant he was still carted to bed unless it was for a night watch, which he was hardly allowed to do, only on the safest nights with clear skies and open clearings that even he couldn''t miss an intruder.

    He thought for a little bit.

    "Well, since we''re at sea and all, can you tell me of Corban the Seafarer?" The men had mentioned Corban more than a few times and it was itching him to know the story. He''d yet to hear of a sea adventure.

    "Oho!" Long Boar rejoiced with a belly-filled laugh. "This can only be told in song!"

    "Now you''ve done it!" Waterwell pretended to throw his empty mug at the boy. "Long Boarover here sings good as any old maid from the High Prestian Church."

    The boy drank the last of his water and waited with anticipation. Long Boar ran a hand through his hair, downed his ale, and burped extremely loud before smiling widely again. He started with a high-pitched whistle.

    "An old maid once told me, a story to be told. Just listen this once, and watch what unfolds.

    "He lived at port, he worked night and day,

    That was until, his wife ran away." Long Boar winked at Po. "And so it began, the tale of Corban!

    "Corban the myth, Corban the legend

    The man of perils and travels destined.

    "Corban the man, Corban the pirate

    The man of fair fights and many a riot!

    "He went out to sea, with as many as twenty

    And searched high and low, yet never found Jenny.

    "He found quest after quest, and fulfilled each new travel, yet poor Pirate Corban only found battle.

    "Corban the myth, Corban the legend

    The man of perils and travels destined.

    "Corban the man, Corban the pirate

    The man of fair fights and many a riot!"

    A hollering went through the room, as more men both quieted down and began singing along. The boy started to become nervous again, seeing the others slosh their drinks and dance like fools. He''d seen his fair share of evil drunks.

    "He defeated the Coolots and Westreen and Fairies,

    He found ancient crowns and rings and the Golden Canary!

    "With every new win, the lad come unstoppable,

    It was said to win ''gainst Corban was nearly impossible.

    "Corban the myth, Corban the legend

    The man of perils and travels destined.

    "Corban the man, Corban the pirate

    The man of fair fights and many a riot!" A great hush went across the room. Slowly a rattle started. No, a thumping. The boy looked around and noticed men stomping in unison, building to the final verses.

    "He left Gorre for the sea, and set a sail for nowhere,

    And Jenny was found! In the king merman''s lair.

    "She laughed, and she laughed, oh Jenny with mirth,

    So he cut off her tail, right up to the girth."

    It seemed the song ended because that set nearly the entire room into laughter. The boy saw only the high prince and his guard not joining in.

 Chapter 5

    ~ Di ~

    She awoke, alone. Again. Although this time, there was sunlight bursting from the window above her head. She groaned in pain, slowly gathering her surroundings while a headache formed right in the middle of her forehead. As she tried to sit up, her stomach lurched, causing her to dry heave. The heat, the sun, the constant motion -- it was all unbearable! Di had never felt so annoyingly miserable in her life. She''d been in all kind of unique pain both physically and emotionally, but this sick feeling was a new level of discomfort.

    She squeezed her hands over her eyes and let out a wail. Someone came crashing in the door -- the prince.

    "Di, are you ok!" His blue eyes were wide and his legs nearly tripped on themselves as he pushed the door wide open.

    "My name is Girl," she muttered, falling back into bed. He let out a huff. "I''m fine. I''m fine, good friend. My body was not made for any of this."

    "Right." She felt his body sit right next to hers. "Your husband told me about your seasickness. I''ve seen it bad on a few others this morn as well."

    Di felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Alquorien meant well but physical touch in her situation only made her skin crawl more. Yet she didn''t say anything, lest she hurt his feelings.

    "I''ll get the wretch to come to take care of you. He and the others have been high on their merry songs since last night! You''re lucky you were asleep, far away from them. Pitchy tunes and bad song choices altogether seem to be the only status quo around here."

    She opened an eye to see him smiling at her, causing them both to laugh. Matis was always a horrible singer. Di grasped his hand at her shoulder and forced herself back up.

    "Just take me with you." Her breath was loose and her head ached, but she was starving. Alquorien gently pulled her up, holding her hand and put his other arm around her waist. The boat seemed to stop swaying for a moment. It let her breath.

    Slowly, he led her down the corridor and then down more stairs to another floor. This one was mostly a large room. There were benches to sit and pillars to hold the room together neatly sorted throughout. Di gathered, with a slight turn of her head, that torches lined the walls and between those were hammocks. Amongst all of that was a huge array of people. More than she''d expected to be on the ship, or on any ship.

    "There he is!" Alquorien sped their pace and nearly dragged her to a table near the other end of the room. At the other end actually stood an open window and two doors on either side, where she assumed the kitchen stood. But finally, in front of them, stood Matis and the rest of their crew save the boy, Po. Matis grinned and leaped over the table to take her from the prince.

    "You found my lady!" He kissed her cheek. Di blushed. So many people were watching! "Sit, here."

    He placed her on the bench by Waterwell then scurried off to the open window in the wall. She saw eyes all around her. Very few females seemed to be on this boat and no fae of any kind. She took a deep breath and quietly listened as the others started speaking again while ignoring the voices and open stares from those nearby.

    After a breakfast of plain bread and salted meat, Matis led her above deck. The sway was a little more obvious, but the people were too busy with their work to stare. As of the time, she only counted four other women aboard and one seemed to be the ship whore. Di previously thought men were superstitious of females onboard ships but it seemed that was a past notion.

    "I beg you to tell me a little of why I''m here," Di said, looking up at Matis. His skin was so brown in the sunlight, it gave him a glorious glow. He gulped. It took a walk around the starboard of the ship before he stopped and led her to gaze out at the sea, opposite of where the sun was rising. The water was green but the sky had a rich pinkish-blue that seemed to compliment the morning. Unfortunately, she couldn''t find the moon for comfort against the swaying.

    "''At night, she breathes, by day she cries, the maiden will unite the elven ties,''" he responded not once looking at her.

    "How do you know it''s me?" She turned fully to face him. The sun was in her eyes and the boat seemed to rock, but she ignored it, to stare him down. He turned his brown eyes, then his full face to read hers.Stolen novel; please report.

    "How do you know with any prophecy? There''s more about Quo and the dwarf, plus you''re a Night Elf!"

    "Moon."

    "Ok, Moon Elf. The Golden Priest assures us this is the most likely grouping, Wife," Matis shrugged and leaned forward to rest on the ship. "This prophecy is likely over a century old, and we may be wrong but there aren''t many Moon Elves in Difavose and even fewer princes. Do you trust me?"

    "Of course," her eyes softened. Di trusted him since the day they met.

    "I know we are meant to be on this trip," he half-whispered. He took her hand in his and kissed the palm. "I trust the Golden Priest. He has yet to steer us wrong."

    "Fine. Then what are we looking for?" Di felt sweat beads begin to form on her brow as the sun slowly rose higher. Matis bit his lip. "You don''t know?!"

    "They aren''t exactly spelled out! We just know we''re looking for something at sea," Matis shamefully bit his lip again and looked down. They were at sea with no clue what to look for. They were going to the middle of the ocean looking for anything. Di felt her stomach curdle and her forehead glisten seemed to become more of a sheen. She hated the ocean, she hated dwarfs, and she absolutely despised not having a plan.

    ~Matis~

    Matis quickly gathered his wits as his lady''s eyes fluttered closed, and she nearly fell onto herself, catching her at the very last moment. His shame was upon him and in a great wave of came.

    He saw her heavy sweat on her brow and seeping through her dress, more than normal. He cursed inwardly. Di was never meant for the ocean or high sun, and he was sure the idea of open plans made her anxious. He practically fed her this concoction of anxiety with this quest.

    With his other arm, Matis swept her up and took her back to their bed. Her face looked troubled, even asleep. He knew she would wake up soon but what would she need? He looked through her pack -- there! Essence of wildflowers. He knew that usually calmed her around her Moon flow and any time she''d felt nauseated.

    Part of Matis wavered in his belief in the Golden Priest. He sometimes did but now it seemed the priest truly got this part wrong! His wife was of the night and grass; she was a Healer and a thoughtful woman. The only thing applicable to this quest for her could be her healing powers. How in any world would she be fit for a quest like this? He wondered if he was blinded by his feelings for her. Usually, the priest was right about these things, even when all odds were stacked against the quest.

    Di blinked. He leaned forward, putting a hand behind her back to help her up. Her right hand instantly went up to her head, and she hissed in pain, closing her stormy gray eyes.

    "Here," he handed her the essence and her leftover cup of drinking water. She groaned and shook her head, lying back down instead.

    It was hours later when she came back out. He and Quo were drinking on the starboard, ignoring the slight rainfall around them. They decided they were too good at betting on cards and creating more enemies than friends by doing so. The rest of their crew was drinking the night away with song again, and Matis hated to sing, so he and Quo went up to talk. Matis felt her warm hand on his shoulder and instantly rose to greet her. Quo grinned at her.

    "Perhaps I''ll just be a lady of the night," She joked, taking a seat next to Quo, resting her head on his shoulder. Matis felt better about her stay. She seemed more at peace, and he could feel her magic''s presence, once again. Her skin looked back to its pale tone and her hair was illustrious in its dark glow.

    "Day time is for chaps any way," Quo replied, swigging his ale. "Say, can you play with the water out here or is that not your style?"

    Di playfully pushed his shoulder. Matis sat next to her and took a swig of his ale as well. It was nice, despite the rain, to sit like they used to. It brought back fond memories of their first time sitting out on a night like this, just the three of them. Di had only begun trusting them, and was still obviously wary of drinking ale, but she sat with them and talked for hours. That night was rainy as well, but on that night the moon was still bright amongst the clouds.

    She put a hand out and light a light golden glow emit; she playfully sent it around Quo before sending it in him, probably relieving his oncoming queasiness from drinking too much.

    "I love that!" Quo kissed her head and finished his mug. She pulled another light out, this one with a blue haze around it and this time made it bound around Matis before sending it in him. He chuckled and sighed. It felt like a warm light inside. Like it wasn''t raining, and they didn''t have a bad together, like a true contentedness. It made him smile goofy and lean back onto his elbows.

    "That must have been a good rest," Matis said, still smiling.

    "Remember those nights when we crossed the Plains of Evershire?" Quo asked.

    "Yes! I was just thinking of them," Matis replied. The rain slowed to a stop, and the clouds began to part, showing a half-moon.

    "You two were as incorrigible as you are now," Di replied with a laugh. "Both of you! Trying to see who could get the elf-girl to talk first."

    "I won that challenge!" Quo replied with a hearty laugh. "You were so uptight! I was afraid we rescued you just to see you flit off and never thank us. You''ve done more than that now."

    Quo nudged her head suggestively towards Matis.

    "Oh shut it!" Matis laughed. Back then, Quo would talk about anything to crack Di''s closed demeanor. Now, both he and Matis recognized that she was simply quiet. Her entire being rested on peace.

    "Back at it again," Quo sighed and laid back. "I don''t know what I''d do without you Goldfinches."

    Di hit his head.

    "Ow! Sorry, Girl and Ban." Matis closed his eyes. Perhaps they could have a better trip than so far, they could just live their lives after the moon rose.

 Chapter 6

    ~Di~

    By day she slept, and night she awoke. It was her best bet to getting any sense of peace and contentment. It also allowed her plenty of space from the horrid dwarf, but that meant various sights of other people. The ship crew had its own schedule for night and day workers but her questing crew took random shots at who would also be awake to patrol the night with her. Usually, it was Matis or Quo, but they had to change it up sometimes to give them some rest.

    Di was fine with that. She always understood that most humans were not able to change their schedules to hers. Humans were always creatures of the sun, like clockwork. It gave her respite from the same old conversations and inner knowledge about their crew. For some reason, humans loved to divulge themselves in the moonlight. Long Boar confessed his love for a married woman in Difavose and Po confessed his love for eating, amongst other things.

    She also got to learn more about the ship. It seemed the other women mostly worked at night as well. None of them were allowed in the kitchen or armory, as it turned out the ship men were slightly superstitious. Thankfully, the other four women were open and even kind to her. As she''d suspected, one was a whore but she was the only lover to the captain. The other three were working maidens.

    In four weeks, Di learned their names, and learned how to work around the ship. It didn''t make her completely fine with the waters, but it definitely put her at ease to know she could work to fix the ship should problems arise. She knew how to latch the masts and turn the hulls. She also learned the secret path behind the kitchens that allow her to scurry past everyone else. The ship was huge. She learned it was the largest ship ever made. The only one to feature both rooms and a mess hall. The only one to have two rows of canons; one above the mess hall and one below it.

    Week eight of being at sea and Di was walking around with one of the ladies, Lana, with Waterwell far and away. Lana was normally quiet as she and preferred working nights with Di. She was the only one just fine calling her Girl.

    "I have a secret, " Lana murmured. Her eyes were cast down but her head was still facing forward. Of course, she has a secret. Di nearly expected another confession. It had been a week since Lioni, one of the other maidens, confessed her feelings for Waterwell. Di was due for another.

    "What is it?" Di asked, looking at the girl. She was young, perhaps only nineteen and her face showed it. It was rounded and soft, with a small nose and a soft chin that made her seem very naive.

    "Well," Lana turned her large brown eyes upwards and stopped mid-walk. "This isn''t a cargo ship."

    "I don''t understand," Di replied. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. The very day she and her men came aboard there was plenty of cargo being loaded.

    "I mean it has cargo!" Lana chuckled nervously. "These men, they''re pirates."

    Di turned her full self towards the girl, imposing her tall stature on her, "Pirates?"

    Lana slightly cowed under her. She ducked and walked forward again, making Di catch up.

    "They''re not like the stories say! They mostly gamble and look for lost treasures. I''ve never seen them even use those canons!" Lana''s voice was high-pitched but she sounded confident.

    "How, in all-mother''s name, is this a pirate ship?" Di looked around. The masts were white, the ship was clean, and the mates were very kindly. This was nothing like any pirate ship she''d ever encountered, although she''d only seen the one and it was from quite a distance.

    "We wanted to tell you, before!" Lana pleaded. "But you were so frightening and towering! And always asleep. And the men seemed to get along just fine. Now that I know you, Girl, I thought you must know."

    "It''s so clean!" Di smiled. This was yet another unexpected turn in their journey, yet not entirely an unpleasant turn. Not like the dwarf.

    "Not all pirates are dirty scoundrels," Lana laughed again, this time more sure of herself. With the moon high and clear, Di could keep her emotions better in check, thus allowing some sense into her speaking. She thought carefully before responding again.

    "I''ve never met pirates such as you," Di said softly. Lana smiled. "Do you never steal from the poor or murder witches?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    "No!" Lana replied with a horror-stricken face. "No, no! We''re more of the treasure hunters! And we''re quite good! We found the lost treasures of Queen Altisia''s reign, only four weeks before docking at Coolot and finding you."

    She smiled prettily at Di. This created another long silence for them, something they were both used to. With Lana''s confession fresh in mind, Di took a closer look at her surroundings. There really wasn''t much to decipher the differences between this ship and a regular cargo ship, she supposed. Although, having stayed as far from the sea as possible her entire life she couldn''t be sure. Was it possible all ships have a giant carving of a woman''s head with snakes at the front or just pirates''? How would she know if they dressed like working men or looters?

    With the moon lowering, she started to grow less confident in her new knowledge.

    "Does Ban or Riardon know?" Di asked.

    "Oh yes," Lana nodded assuredly. "They came seeking for us, actually."

    ~Waterwell~

    He watched the ladies from afar, taking measure to walk some distance from them. He honestly didn''t care to be near them, he''d rather patrol alone, but the elf-maiden was a creature of the night and so she was part of their night watches.

    He''d grown accustomed to her silence. It was refreshing after dealing with his friend Long Boar who chattered until the sun went down. And Po! That boy had more questions than a judge confronting his criminal. No, this was fine.

    He was able to lounge around in the cool night air and stare down the waves. This was his first quest. Before this, he was mostly a knight in the King''s personal guard. Leaving his majesty behind wasn''t a great pain, as Difavose was a very safe country, it was simply strange. Over thirty years of his life devoted to service and not once was he chosen for quests. Instead, he often went hunting at the lodges and leaving on council trips with his king and sometimes the queen.

    Matis chose him because he knew he was the best. With the wife along Matis would spare no one, even if it meant at the expense of his king.

    So, Waterwell dutifully came. He learned the new names and tried his best to feel comfort in his cot. Open-air nights like this were the best part of his quest so far.

    He could see the black and blue ocean for leagues. He could feel the cold air, the bite of the salty wind, and breath a little. His wife would miss him, but not by much. She was a talker, worse than Longboar! It pleased her to talk as a laundress, and even more so when he was home to hear her stories over and over.

    This was nice.

    Waterwell sensed this ship was unusual from the get-go, so hearing the confession from Girl''s friend was affirming in his mind. They had too many canons, no uniforms, and the captain was always so secretive about their landing. It was so nearly aimless, the way they drove this ship about. They left the Coolot docks and went straight past the Isles of Hastos, to nowhere. The next piece of land this way wouldn''t be but three months'' trip.

    He sighed and did his best to wait and walk. Wait and walk. Keep the distance. Look at the ocean, hear the crashing and constant howling of the wind. Wait. Howling.

    Should the wind be howling?

    The boat seemed to rock a little more. He turned his head up and looked to see if anyone else could sense it. Some of the men''s heads turned and Girl''s ears seemed to prick instantaneously. She whipped her head at him.

    "Waterwell!" Her voice rang out high and clear against the winds. He ran to them, sensing the fear in her friend. "Something isn''t right about this place."

    "The middle of nowhere?!" He shouted. Of course, he sensed it too, but what in four heavens would that mean?

    "Something very wrong is here. Take Lana down! Get the men!" She shoved the girl at him, not giving him a chance to argue. Waterwell recognized an order when he heard it and trusted her inhuman senses to know she was right.

    The howling seemed to be louder, and the clouds covered the moon. He grabbed the girl''s soft arm and yanked her away, possibly a bit too roughly. She yelped. The girl followed anyway, stumbling along as they tried to keep their footing. The ship was definitely rocking more. It took twenty paces before finally, they reached the landing, and he took the stairs before her, jumping at the end. Waterwell trusted Lana knew where to hide in safety and left her. He ran down more steps and finally half crashed into the hallway. No one else was up, except probably those drinking or working. No matter.

    He yanked open the door to his room and gruffly swatted at Long Boar.

    "Mate!" Long Boar crowed.

    "Up! Something is coming!" He left before Long Boar could utter another word, letting the other two slowly rise as well. He then pounded on Matis''s door.

    "Sir! Sir!"

    "What the fuck are you doing?!" The prince shouted from behind him. Matis opened his door with wide eyes. Both men stopped and seemed to feel the boat sway.

    "Something isn''t right. Girl sent me here for ya, bad magic it is!" Waterwell said, heaving a little. It just hit him that he ran down two flights of stairs and all the across the boat to meet them. His legs were a bit wobbly, straining to meet the wobble of the boat.

    "Right," Matis ran a hand through his hair. Waterwell could see some calculations going behind those eyes. "Grab your swords, and let''s go up. The dwarf and boy should stay behind. We have to find Did."

    "I can lead, sir," Waterwell replied with a tap to his forehead. The sign of salute to his leader. He rushed back to his room to inform Long Boar.

    "Po, Treth, stay here! Orders from the King''s Guard!" The boy''s face fell but the dwarf''s didn''t change. "Come on you. Grab your sword."

    For once Long Boar had no words. They both took their bows as well and met Matis and Quo back in the hallway. No one was properly dressed but how does one quickly dress to fight water? Waterwell felt his blood pumping. His mind began to clear, and he could ignore the slight pains in his upper thighs. This would be the time of battle.

    Their first battle at sea. Their first battle on a quest.

 Chapter 7

    ~Quo~

    Alquorien had a massive headache blooming just above his right eye. Unfortunately, he would have to do his best to ignore it, as he and his crew ran up the stairs, trying to be fast. It was hard, what with the boat beginning to sway like a swing from left to right.

    Once they reached the deck, he took a pause to swig from his flask. A rush of mead swam down his throat and warmed him up a bit. Much better. His head still throbbed but his brain became loose, clear even. He could relax. He took another swing for good measure.

    Quo bounded off again, trying to see where his fellows went. It was hard with the night so dark, not much light seeping through and the waves crashing about! Water seeped around his feet. There were ship men everywhere, shouting orders and pulling ropes but alas his own crew must have been across the deck already. He could not miss this. It was his destiny.

    Quo fought to stay upright as he continued his way, nearly falling over as men bumped into him. No one gave him a second glance, how rude. Eventually, he saw Matis and then Di. Waterwell and Long Boar not far off, staying back it seemed. Best fighters my ass. Staying back like nancies!

    "Well?" Quo shouted over their impending storm. Di looked troubled and pointed out. There was nothing ahead. Just feral waves crashing over and over, practically asking to wreck the ship. If they had gone on any other boat it would likely have been wrecked, but this was no ordinary boat. He and Matis sought them out, after hearing stories about them living through worse.

    Quo looked back and saw Matis take her hand. A pang of jealousy hit again. Now really isn''t the time, you fool. He wanted to slap himself. He felt suddenly quite alone. Just look back at the water. She''s got magic, she knows something is coming.

    He felt something hit him from behind and turned his head before the howling wind seemed to slap him as well. All around him was a light glow, from Di. A protection spell. Nevertheless, Quo stumbled backward, into Matis, unprotected from the wind. Matis held him up with his other arm, before pushing up back upright.

    The howling grew into a vibrating sensation.

    "What the fuck is it?" Quo yelled at Di.

    "I''m not sure," she shouted back. "It''s not good!"

    "No fucking way," he grumbled.  A large being crashed out from the waves and slammed into the boat. It was larger than four mean at least and there was another right across -- tentacles. Neither of the monster tentacles broke anything or hit anyone, but they were certainly frightening, what with the storm happening around them and people running around.

    Quo wielded his sword and ran to the tentacle closest to him, watching as it released, only to slap the ship again, harder. He and a few others went forth and stabbed at it. It barely cut the first layer of skin. Quo didn''t care, he hit it again, lengthwise, going for a slice instead. It bled more, a sickly black ooze, but still, it was just a nick in the skin. The tentacle receded again, flying into the air. It seemed to know who he was as it charged down towards him.

    The protection spell barely worked. The tentacle tried to hit, but ever so slightly, it rebounded to the floor next to him, still causing him to lose some footing. He backed up, but still went at it, this time hacking at the tentacle. He couldn''t tell who was with him, but other men around him hacked at it, too. Quo didn''t care. He knew he needed to fight, he needed this.

    The tentacle was beginning to look a little ravaged, but it was still intact. As was the other one. Quo backed up even more as it seemed to be angry, clutching at the boat and receding once again. The floorboards began to show some damage as it went, with one sticking into the crevice he made. Quo looked up to see Matis and the other two staring back at him, Di staying back by a pillar.

    "This is shit!" Long Boar hollered.

    The tentacle completely receded with its twin, back into the water. Quo felt his heart pound. From experience, he knew only something worse was coming for them.

    Suddenly, something whipped the boat, making a large cracking noise but not causing any damage. Not any tentacles or any physical object, it was lightening. A fire started, creating a barrier between the port, his side, and the starboard, where most of the pirates fought.  Quo ran forth to the edge of the ship.

    "No!" He heard someone shout behind him, but he couldn''t be bothered to find out whom. Looking down caused a fantastic feeling. The boat stopped swaying and the wind wasn''t howling. No. It was singing. The song was graceful and sweet, better than anything he''d ever heard. He laughed in complete joy.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    He felt hands around him, but he whacked at whomever they were. Something -- the spell -- slid off him. He didn''t need it anyway. This was safe. This was peace.

    And then, a beautiful person rose up in the waters. They had a glow that simply sparkled in the harsh green water. It was a man. He smiled at Quo.

    "My prince," he called out. Quo felt a blush come over him. The man was beautiful. Even with only the light of the growing fire behind him, Quo could see he was tan, with short curly black hair, and well-toned. He reminded Quo of someone he knew, although he couldn''t think of anyone else''s face with the man in front of him. Lovely dimples.

    Quo heard some splashes and immediately thought he''s waiting for me! He flung himself in too. The water was biting but the man swam over. Quo heard the song emanate from around him. Bliss.

    "I have something for you," the man''s voice was deep and burly. Quo took his hand and let the man bring him forth, below the crashing waves. The man had the strength of ten horses, or so it felt as he pulled Quo down the to the depths of the ocean, water rushing into his system.

    ~Di~

    She watched in horror as the men around her jumped right into the sirens'' waiting arms. Her magic mattered not. She could pull and pull on her safety spells, yet they each were able to fight against it. Only Matis stayed, but that was because Di held onto his arm for dear life. She braced her feet on the side of the boat, having slid forward from trying to hold him back, using all of her might and power to hold him in. The moon was gone, but she knew it was up there, it had to be. She tried to wield her magic around him, like a rope on the water it kept sliding off.

    All around her the howling had turned into screeching, yet she knew that''s not what the men heard. It was the screams of her evil siblings- the sirens. Mermaids. The fae from the other half of the coin. They were nasty and powerful beings, able to use their magic in almost any setting, but especially in the water. She was no match, as a halfling Moon Elf. Her magic was not strong enough to fight whatever powers they were using. It was completely warded off Matis.

    Her husband whipped his head around, black ringlets swishing in the air. His eyes were fierce, angry orbs.

    "Husband! Please! Listen to me, hear me!" She pleaded, trying to make her voice higher than the screeching. He either didn''t hear her or didn''t care, because he took one of her hands in a crushing grip and pulled her up. Dangling in the air, she wailed.

    Matis was completely gone. The irises in his eyes had become massive and turned them from brown to black. The song must have sounded so lovely in his head, she couldn''t bear to look at the siren in the sea waiting for him. She already knew it would look like herself, but perhaps with red eyes and a tail for legs.

    He threw her into one of the mast poles and dove so quickly Di could only scream. He was the last one. The last man. The storm slowed and the boat''s crashing became a gentle rock again. Di laid for a long time, thinking as the fire seemed to quell on its own around her.

    By the time the moon was beginning to set and the sun rose, she felt a small hand on her head. She looked up -- Lioni, Lana, Harrien, Saydree, Treth, and Po had finally come up. Each as shocked as the last, save for the dwarf whose face hardly ever changed. Saydree looked the most melancholy, probably as lost without her captain as Di was without Matis. Her beautiful red hair was matted down by water and brown eyes were glistening. Harrien, the elderly maiden kept an arm around Saydree. The only survivors were them -- the women, the boy, and the dwarf.

    "What was it?" Lana asked. The boy ran across the deck as if he could find anyone else. He seemed frantic, searching in the debris of wood and smoke and water.

    "They were sirens," Di replied tiredly. The sun was beaming as if nothing had just occurred hours prior.

    "Infested waters," Saydree mumbled. Harrien shushed her and pet her head. Saydree shook it angrily before continuing, "No! He called these infested waters! He knew! That fucking idiot drove us right into this, he knew."

    Di raised an eyebrow.

    "They all knew," Treth replied, his voice scratchy and irritating as ever. "It was part of the agreement. Find the sirens, find the treasure."

    "What else do you know, gruk?!" Di''s fists balled in anger. How dare this creature be so secure in his knowledge. How dare he know everything and leave her in the dark.

    "We must save them," he looked up at her. His beady eyes were harsh, but the truth was in them. Di looked at everyone again. She had four kitchen maids, one of which was elderly, a boy barely in his teens, and a fucking dwarf. The most useless people she could have in such circumstances.

    Di stood up. Her body was beginning to feel the weariness and tiredness as it did when the sun rose, but she could not stop. She thought carefully before speaking again.

    "Who knows how to man this ship?" The other four women raised their hands. Po was not in hearing range, having sat down in a pile of black ash, head in his hands. Di continued, "And who knows any magic?"

    Not one.

    "Dwarf?" She hated having to do this, but she no other choice.

    "I can swim, and I can take any potions an elf may," he responded. No anger or resentment in his voice. They had to work together. All the fibers in her elf instincts wanted to tell him to stay behind, but she couldn''t go after them by herself. Even just the two of them, it wouldn''t be easy. Di nodded in reluctance.

    "My maidens, please watch after our boy," she gestured towards him. Lana was the one to nod and rush over to him to gently calm him down. Di trusted them to watch him, she had no other choice. "Come, dwarf. Let''s find my stocks and see if we can concoct something to breathe."

    The air was so still, she couldn''t believe this turn of events. Even the boat was still. For once, the only thing making her somewhat ill was the sun, well that and the thought of trusting a dwarf to watch her back.