Chapter 4
The sun rose early, too early, a sign that they were reaching their destination. George was leaning against the border of the ship, looking at the waves crashing against it. He hadn't been able to sleep the whole night.
"Are you ready?" asked Carol, emerging from the waves.
He inhaled deeply.
"I don't know... Are you?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"You are not going to back down now, are you?"
"No! Not at all!" said Geaorge finally releasing his breath. "I am just... Scared."
"We are." She corrected him.
"Get ready ladies! We're arriving in three hours! Get ready for the unloading!" the Captain shouted from his cabin door.
"That's it Carol. We are going." said George and a chill run up his spine and he doesn't knew if it was cold or fear.
The Captain was laughing hard.
"So, you're leaving?" he said, amused. "And where do you think you're going?"
George looked right at the other's eyes, showing more determination than he really had.
"We are leaving."
"OK, then!" the Captain still laughed "Go on!"
He pointed George the unloading ramp, his face showing an ironic grin.
"I need my payment."
The other raised an eyebrow. But tucked his hand in his coat's pocket and handed him five gold coins.
"Thank you." said George, swallowing his pride. He turned his back to the Captain an gave one step foward, than another, and slowly he got out of the ship, leaving a mouth-oppened Captain behind.
"So, what now?" asked Carol.
George was walking at the port's sidewalk with his deamon swimming as close as she could. People looked at them as if they were from another world.
"We need to ask someone for a witch."
"I don't think there will be any witches in this town, not at any town, actually."
"Still, we need to find one."
"She is right. You won't find a witch inside a city." said a low voice comming from deep shadows behind them.
"Do you know where we can find one?" asked George giving one step at the stranger's direction, but suddenly stopping, feeling his chest twists as he got away from Carol.
"That will depend on what do you want with a witch."
George hesitate, he wouldn't trust a stranger this matter, it was too personal.
"I want to make a deal."
The shadow made a low noise that could be a laugh.
"A deal, uh? Well, I guess you should speak with their Prime Minister. But looking at you, I suppose you won't make it to his house."
"Where is it?"
"Two blocks inside the town, walking from here."
"Is there any way I can get you to go there and call him for me?"
The stranger made that low noise again.
"No, not me. Unless..."
"Unless?"
"Unless you answer my question. Why a witch?"
George sighted.
"We... we want to ask... see if they can... help us."
"You need favours from a witch?" the stranger came out of the dark and George could take the whole view of him.
He was a large man, his body strong and marked with long, red scars. His hair was brown, dirty, as his ripped clothes, and his eyes were small and dark. His daemon was nowhere to be seen.
"Yes. We do. Can you ask the Prime Minister to come here." said George, swalowing hard with fear, but still managing to speak.
"Well, you are determined, fellow. Or you have a pretty bad problem."
"Are you going to help me?"
"George, back off!" shouted Carol from the water.
"You should really listen to her, you know?"
"Where is your daemon?" asked George, not bearing to hold the question any longer.
The other laughed. From the shadows came a black panther with wet messy fur and blue eyes looking straight to him, who cautiously took a step back.
"You're quite a brave man. But I guess I can't help you..." the stranger started to turn his back on him, but then George shouted.
"How much? Tell me your price."
The other turned to him again.
"How much can you pay me?"
"Two gold coins."
"I'm sorry." He shruged.
"Three! It's all I have!" it was a lie, but if he offered anything else, he would probably starve before getting to talk with any witch.
The stranger seemed to reconsider.
"Let me see."
George took three coins and showed to the stranger.
"I guess we have a deal then." He said, getting the coins and tucking them into one of his pants pockets.
The stranger and his daemon turned their backs and started to walk away from the street, leaving George considering if it had been a good idea trusting so desperatly on a stranger.