The sea is furious, Diego thought as he listened to the fierce barrage of the Atlantic waters slamming across the ship, hearing the storm's howling winds masking the yelling of most of the sailors aboard the main deck. They were all risking their lives battling the elements, protecting the various fabrics and an adequate supply of spices aboard this vessel. Matia, as the captain called it.
He could have warned them of this storm days prior; after all, he sensed it way before the birds flew past this ship; but ultimately decided against it— with the numerous tales of the harshest storms these men have encountered throughout their years sailing across the Atlantic sea. Diego assumed this weather would be no different. Yet, this storm almost seemed surreal. Like the torrent was working in tandem with the ocean to drag the ship into its depths. Almost as if, Trident himself was retaliating against him for staying quiet and inferred that he was perhaps cowering in the captain's quarter for his fear of the sea.
It wouldn't surprise the young man if both of those notions held some truth. Spirits and even deities tend to have a twisted sense of humor at times. The idea that oceans or even magical fishes, such as mermaids themselves, were willing to drown this old carrack filled with the most unruly men aboard; in hopes to snatch him into its grasp. Well, that all just seemed crudely fitting for such a person. At least, that was what Diego always selfishly believed to be his end.
"Would she even embrace me, despite all of my mistakes?" Diego thought, sitting on a wooden chair grasping onto a silver pendant around his neck, containing a large E engraved. Only to stop as he placed a firm grip on his wooden staff, trying to steady himself from heaving out his lungs during the loud irritable fits of his coughing, which in turn, seemed to awaken his small companion from her deep slumber under the captain's desk.
" I think it's time you took your medicine." He nodded his head in response, swiftly pulling out a green murky liquid vile inside my dark ragged pants.
"I should have made more than five of these before we left Alcazar." Diego croaked out. He soon felt the stems of a bright red rose-colored Amaranthus flower that sat atop his staff slowly wrap themselves around his dirty leather-gloved hand.
"You didn't have the strength to grow more of the necessary components." The Little Flower, who went by the name, Caera, spoke.
"I foolishly chose to allow the queen to play me for a fool, and now because of my ignorance. I'm stuck with her 'minor blight' inside me. I get what I deserve." Diego started shamefully.
"We only have two days aboard this old carrack," Caera said. " That remedy should hold you over for a week, remember?" Again, Diego let out a harsh cough, holding the vial close to his chest; to ensure that he didn't drop it on the wooden creek floor.
"That's if, Trident would ever allow us to make it across his sea." He uttered as his eyes stared somberly at the murky blue vial in his hand.
"Don't say things like that, sweetheart," Caera said firmly. "You and I know that this storm has nothing to do with you."
"I don't know if you noticed, Carea, but I'm the most contagious thing adored this ship. So, I don't think Trident shares your sentiment. Diego said, struggling to keep his nerves together as he listened to the ocean's constant collision with the ship. "
"You need to hold it together, sweetheart," Carea said. We have talked about this; The Ocean is not trying to get you or mermaids!"
"Then why does this all feel like one bad omen? Diego asked. "Like a sign. Telling me that I should have never gotten aboard this ship in the first place." Carea let a low sigh.
"We made it too far for you to start relinquishing yourself now." She answered truthfully. "You and I both know that as long as you remain covered and no one touches your bare skin, that brat's plague won't affect anyone."
"What if the island doesn't exist, and we just reach a dead end?" Diego asked wearily.
" It wouldn't have been written in her journal if there wasn't any truth," Carea spoke softer. Before Diego could say anything else, he soon felt something soft snuggling between his legs. He smiled as he realized who it was. It was his little companion. Afina. A small snow fox, With fur as white as snow and bright blue eyes gazing up at him.
"I guess you're right." He answered. A smile slowly appeared on his face as he began to pet his little companion below her chin before quivering in disgust as he sipped the bitter contents inside the vial.
A door slammed open, causing Caera to cease her vines atop the staff. As Afina leaped onto Diego's lap, they felt the immediate cold breeze pass through the room.
" This calls for a celebration, Niño!" A rugged voice boomed.
"What's the occasion, Salvador?" Diego addressed formally to the captain. His eyes gazed up at the large man, with a grizzly black beard, wearing a dark blue heavy coat, drenched from the salty waters of the heavy rain.
" For surviving and securing my cargo against the sea's wrath!" The captain boasted, his heavy footsteps heading towards his desk near Diego.
"It's still terrible out there. Isn't it?" Diego solicited as he panicked upon hearing another current.
"Ha! It's not as bad as your making it out to be, niño. A couple of scraps on the cargo, sure, but nothing severe that I'll have to undercut my men." Salvador said. Before, the bearded man promptly pulled out a half canteen of whiskey, along with placing two small yellow-tinted glass shots in front of the two of them.
"I'm good," Diego muttered. As he let out a cough, clearly indicating to the big man that he was in no mood to engage in another one of El Salvador's 'celebrations' for tonight. Let alone have any more desire to drink more of this man's never-ending dull whisky, for that matter, as he has been for this long approaching month.
"Come on, Niño. You look like you can use the glass more than me. Seeing as how you nearly had a visit from Muerte herself." Salvador urged, Noting the sickly appearance that seemed to dawn upon Diego.
" As I've told you before, I'm just not very fond of sea travel; It upsets my stomach."
"Because you once fell overboard, and yet. Here you are." Salvador recounted. "Cheers" The captain raised his glass. Diego hesitated, momentarily forgetting about the gloves he was wearing.
"It wouldn't be the first time I've danced with her," Diego said grimly, petting Afina atop her head, only to hear the Captain burst into a hardy laugh, taking his words as a joke.
" You know, for a ragged thief, whose scared of the sea. You probably would have a made fine Caballero if you genuinely managed to dance your way out of Muerte's grasp as you have done again tonight." Salvador said, Sliding Diego a whisky shot. Diego sighed. As he soon realized where the conversation was heading.
" I told you and your men countless times before that I didn't steal the Queen's gold." The captain let out a hardy laugh once again. As he swiftly placed a bag filled with gold coins on his desk.
"Come on, Niño. We've known each other for a good while now. I shared a few stories with you, and you're still keeping me in the dark here, right in front of your own Mamá. No less." Salvador said as the man dropped a few gold coins right in front of the two of them.
"I'm not lying," Diego said, looking down at his pendant. "I would never lie in front of her. Besides, we had agreed that you wouldn't ask any questions about how you and your crew earned your way into early retirement."
"That was under the impression that I'd have to hide you from that greedy queen's search party. Yet, it was all smooth sailing; no sort of dispute within the queen's walls."
" What are you getting at?" Diego asked wearily.
"How did a scrawny niño like you manage to steal all of this right under that bruja?" Diego sighed.
"All you need to know is that I tend to 'create' my opportunities, and that's it," Diego answered vaguely.
"Ah. So, you know the Queen?" The captain guessed.
"I did," Diego answered plainly. Which seemed to pique the captain's interest."
" Were you a bitter servant of hers then?" He asked.
"No," Diego responded.
"Were you an old flame?" The captain continued.
"No."
"Did she have anything to do with your legs?"
What?! No! I just happened to know the senorita, and that's it." Diego answered, swiftly drinking the bitter drink. Salvador huffed in frustration.
A month of traveling together, and yet. You are still choosing to be a mystery aboard my ship, Niño?"
" I will never understand why you and your men seem to think I have such a mysterious presence to entail upon you," Diego said. As he pulled out a small bag of blueberries from his cloak, petting his furry coated friend.
"You came aboard my ship, thoroughly covered in rags, with a pretty fox behind you; toss these gold coins my way in hopes that I wouldn't betray her majesty and allow you to sail away from one kingdom to another. I say. That does involve such a story.
" Easiest money you and your crew ever made. Why question it?" Diego asked.
" I'm not known for smuggling ragged thieves away from the queen, especially when it comes to her gold, Ñino." The captain said seriously. Diego sat upright, keeping a stern face.
" Yet, here I am," Diego said. Both men locked eyes on each other for a brief moment. Only to see the captain break into laughter, with Diego breaking a moment after.
"Like I give damn about that, Bruja." The captain said. "If anything, that woman has robbed me more times than I'll ever admit.
"You almost had me there for a second, Sal!" Diego said.
"Just giving you a hard time, ñino. You were looking a little stiff." Salvador said.
"I'll drink to that." Diego Said—both men, clinking their glasses together.
"Can you at least answer my next question, then?" The man asked Diego.
"That depends on the question," Diego said. As he slowly began to feed his companion a blueberry.
"With all the gold you've stolen." The captain began.
"I did not steal it." Diego retorted.
"Why waste it all on a ship only heading to a barren icy kingdom?" The man finally asks. Diego took a moment to consider his answer.
" I wanted to get away from all of the chaos in the Kingdom of Alcazar and have a fresh start, I suppose?" Diego admitted.
"Well, with the strange stunt you no doubt pulled. I, for one, would have fled as far away from that kingdom as well." El Salvador said. " Although, I wouldn't have picked Arendelle as a place to lay low. Too cold for my liking, especially if there is an ice spirit, genuinely living up in those snowy mountains, and is the reason behind the never-ending snowy landscape."
"I just thought it would be a suitable environment for this little one right here," Diego said as he started to nuzzle Afina's fur, feeding her blueberries. "And you can't blame the spirit's nature for simply doing their job, for the planet," El Salvador soon let out a hardy laugh.
"And here I thought you were only going there to see the beautiful queens of that land, or should I say, Queen now. Since the eldest one decided to step down a few months ago."
"No, I have no such interest in meeting either of them. After all, Royals tend to have their hands full. Spoiling themselves with their riches, hosting lavish parties, and viewing their people as" Diego stopped himself for a moment. "I...would be no interest to them, that's all I'm trying to say."
"To each its own." Captain Salvador said as he began to pour some more whisky into Diego's glass. Only for El Salvador to raise his glass for a toast.
"As our time together draws near, niño!" Salvador declared. "I pray that you find what you're looking for in the snowy kingdom. Diego couldn't help but wonder that same sentiment.
"I hope so too."
"I also pray that you don't steal too many señoritas hearts while you're there." The man added wholeheartedly.
" I'll take that as a compliment," Diego said. As he reluctantly held up the bitter drink towards the captain.
" As you should, niño. A fine Caballero in the making is bound to cause trouble in a new land he stumbles upon." Diego let out a chuckle hearing that.
"Maybe, but I hope not," Diego whispered.