Chapter 4 – A Turn of Events
It was a lazy night on Pirate's Isle. Though the wind was beginning to become almost gale force, in the young lookout Daiyan's opinion. He didn't like being up on the smaller lookout island. He felt as if the whole thing might just float off one day, with him on it, a thought which his mother had cemented in his head for the past four years. He had the job only because he had the best eyes out of all the crew, a trait he was seriously beginning to hate about now.
He shivered as the wind blew down his shirt and pulled his scarf tighter around his neck. The weather was unusually chilly for mid ocean. Usually his slit-up pirate's uniform would be hot, but now her were wishing he'd not put the strategically placed rips into it.
He was so chilled that even his keen eyes didn't notice the small silvery object streaking its way toward Pirate's Isle. Until there was nothing he could do about it that is…
***********************************
Ryne snorted and fell out of his bed, flailing about on the floor, wondering what happened.
"Jeez Kid, I only opened the curtains."
Ry pulled the tangled sheets off of his face and blinked groggily. Leos was kneeled down beside him and looked him in the face.
"Awful clumsy for an Air Pirate." He said, smirking. "Here, let me help you with that." He said, pulling an end of the sheet, freeing the boy from his silky prison.
"Thanks…" Ryne said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I've been kind of uptight the past couple of days…" Leos held out his hands.
"No need to explain to me, Kid." Ryne smiled appreciatively, as Leos got up and turned toward the door. "Though you might want to put some clothes on before my sister comes down to take a peek."
Ryne felt his face grow hot and nodded as Leos closed the door behind him, shaking his head as he went. Ry sighed as the older man left him alone, and searched for his shirt and pants, which ended up being under the bed. He wasn't sure how they got there, being as he didn't exactly remember undressing and going to bed. Ry pulled the black sleeveless undershirt over his head and tucked it into his pants, then looked around for his thicker white over shirt. As hard as he looked though, he couldn't seem to find it. Finally, he gave up and left the room, finding his way back to the cabin. No one was there, though through the window he could see Leos working at pulling the anchor up. Without a second thought, Ryne joined him on the deck taking one of the posts and helping Leos push. Finally, after when seemed like an eternity, the anchor clicked up against the hull of the small boat. Ryne wiped the sweat off his brow, breathing a little deeply. Leos however, didn't even look as if he'd been doing anything.
"How the heck do you manage that thing by yourself?" Ryne said, between breaths. Leos grinned and flexed his muscles.
"Years of practice." He said simply, turning on his heel and heading back inside. Ryne trailed him.
"Need help with anything?" he asked as they entered the boat, the door slamming behind him.
"Yeah, go get Jaycera. I think she's below decks working on the laundry. Tell her I need her at her post."
Ryne nodded as Leos split away from him and entered the cabin. Ry wasn't exactly sure how to get below decks, but he wasn't about to admit it. A boat this size couldn't be too hard to explore. After a few moments of looking around, he saw a set of stairs leading downward and walked down them with a slow, quiet gait. As his head cleared the last floor, he could see a row of clothes hanging from the ceiling and he heard a soft grinding noise. Quietly, he pulled away the blue shirt that was obstructing his view. Jaycera was kneeling next to a large bucket, rubbing his shirt against the washboard.
She was wearing a tight, dark blue, formfitting shirt with a white vest over top of it, and baggy brown pants. Her curly hair was pulled behind her in a large ponytail, though snarls were pulling loose and hanging in front of her face. Ryne watched silently for a moment, unable to say anything. Finally, as she brought her head up to brush away some rogue curls that were tickling her face, she noticed him. Startled, she dropped his shirt into the soapy water.
"What, are you doing?!" She yelled defensively. "How long have you been standing there?" Ry's face turned more shades of red than he knew were possible, his white hair making it stand out all the more.
"I…I'm sorry." He stammered. "Your brother said he wants you at your post." Jay sighed and pushed herself back onto her feet, brushing the hair out of her face.
"And how long ago was that?" She asked venomously. Ryne merely shrugged apologetically. Jay rolled her eyes. "Fine, you can wash your shirt on your own." She said as she whisked by him, on her way up to the cabin. Ryne sighed deeply, still embarrassed, and slipped his hands into the soapy water to find his wet shirt.
Why do I have to be such a moron…?
**********************************
Why did I have to be so mean to him…? Jay thought, as she swiftly made her way up the stairs. Because he's an Air Pirate, that's why, another part of her mind answered. Jay sighed. Not all Air Pirates had to be bad did they? Jay shook her head, not believing the things that were going through it. Of course all Air Pirates were bad! They stole from people. It didn't matter whom they were stealing from, it was still stealing.
Jay finally made it to the bridge of the ship, silently taking up her spot. Leos seemed not to notice for a while, then looked back at her, an eyebrow raised.
"What took so long? Trying to seduce our meal ticket?" He asked, in mock seriousness. Jay sighed and gave him her death stare.
"Yeah, I'm now pregnant with a hero's grandson. Now, if you're quite finished I'd like to get to work planning our course." Jay said, grabbing a pencil and studying the map that was laid out on the small table next to her. Leos made a ffsstt, sound through his teeth.
"I can find Pirate's Isle, no sweat. I don't need you to plan us a course." He said, waving her off with his arm. "I just need you to keep an eye on the engine. The wind's been pretty harsh since yesterday, and it'd eating away at our fuel, not to mention the wear."
Jay sighed. She hated this part of the job. It was so boring. She didn't complain though. Her mind kept replaying the recent events under decks, trying to figure out how she could of made herself come off a little less harsh. Finally, she gave it up. What chance did she have anyway? He was the son of Vyse the Legend, and she was the orphan of merchants. Finally, she settled herself down in a chair, keeping her eye on the engine gauges. Besides, he's an Air Pirate…
****************************
Ryne sat on the edge of the boat, his legs dangling over the edge, and his arms propped up on the edge of the railing. His shirt was still damp from this morning, the wet sleeves flapping in the wind. He'd been rather reclusive since the incident this morning, though Jaycera hadn't exactly been seeking him out. Ryne sighed and bit his cheek. He'd never understand women.
Being the son of a celebrity, he'd acquired a bit of a fan base with teenage girls. Not that he wanted any of their attention. He taken after his mother, being shy and quiet, which only served to strengthen their resolve to crack him open. It was an endless cycle that would probably follow him until the day he died.
Ryne ran a hand through his hair, trying to get some semblance of order into it, then turned his green eyes onto the misty horizon. Finally, he spotted the familiar fish shaped island that he'd used as a landmark when traveling with his father. Pirate's Isle should be in sight soon.
Ryne focused on a quickly darkening spot, becoming slowly visible, his heart pumping quickly in anticipation. But something was wrong. Something was horribly wrong.
Finally Pirate's Isle became fully visible to the young Silvite… though he wished it hadn't. The remains of the small island floated, solitary and without any signs of life. The only thing left recognizable was the windmill, still pumping on the largest piece of earth, working at water that was no longer there. Ryne stared out in to the rubble, his face straight, showing no emotion. He heard the small creak and slam of a door behind him, though he paid it no heed. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore. All that he'd known and loved was being stripped away from him and there was nothing he could do about it.
Suddenly he was aware of a soft touch on his shoulder. He didn't turn to see who it was. He already knew who it was. Slowly, he lowered his head, gripping the railing fiercely and supporting all of his weight on it. His chest heaved in great sobs, though no tears came, or would ever come again.
He didn't know how long Jay stood there with him. It had seemed an eternity to him, but still she was there. Finally, her hand left his shoulder and pointed off into the sky, past the wreckage of Pirate's Isle. A small ship was limping toward them, black smoke billowing from the aft engine in a lazy trail floating high into the atmosphere. A faint glimmer of hope was restored in Ryne's mind, though he could see it was not a ship he grandfather had owned.
It was Nasrulian in design, its flamboyant gold and purple colors beaconing any and all who wanted to pilfer it. Ryne watched it with a steady gaze as it neared them, until he could see the old captain behind the wheel, wrestling with the wheel, which only seemed to want to make a left turn. Soon, he pulled his larger vessel parallel to theirs and came out on deck with a long rope.
"Here, Catch!" He yelled, tossing one end of the rope over to him. Ryne caught it and following the man's lead, started to pull the two ships together. The two ships slowly moved toward one another, until they finally met, rocking gently together. The dark, bearded, turbaned man tied the two railings together then hopped over the rails. His thick white mustache half-hid his wide toothy smile and he walked briskly over to him and shook his hand vigorously.
"I cannot tell you have glad I am so see you Young Vyse." He said still threatening to tear Ryne's arm off. "We thought you were lost like your father…"
Ryne's heart sunk.
"M…My father?"
"Yes, your father was lost last night in the explosion." He said, finally letting go of his arm, an air of sadness around him. "Come, I shall tell you what happened…"
******************************
The four of them sat around a small round table in a room which Ryne hadn't been in yet. He assumed it was a dining room or a lounge, but he wasn't sure given the erratic nature of the captain. The bearded Nasrulian sipped on some hot tea, which Jay had just warmed up. Ryne was getting impatient. He'd lost too much of his family to wait for this old man to finish his tea. Besides, it tastes like motor oil… He thought glancing down at his own cup. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the old man set his cup down.
"My name is Yaelmir." He said with a thick accent. "I am a Nasr merchant, working under your grandfather, making weapons runs. I was on such a run when my tale begins. Are you certain you want to hear it?" He asked politely, offering to spare Ryne the pain of detail. Ryne only nodded curtly, his green eyes boring a hole right through him. Yaelmir tilted his head in an odd kind of nod and continued.
"Last night I was making a shipment of Nasr Stonecutters to Dyne and his crew. I could tell something was wrong, for Dyne seemed to be rather absentminded and wasn't prepared to pay me for the shipment. In all my years of trading with him he has never done so. He was very apologetic and asked me to stay a night and he would have money and fuel for me to recompense. I agreed, and stayed the night on my ship. During the night however, I was awakened by a deafening roar.
Being a man of great curiosity, I got out of bed and went out on the deck to see what it was. What I saw chilled me to the bone. In the middle of the island was a great silver egg shaped object, glowing radiantly. I saw many pirates and their families surround it, including your father and grandfather. Then I saw a man shape step out of the object, though not by use of a door. Instead it came right through the side, as if it were a liquid! It was clad in armor, which seemed to be of the same material as the ship, though I could not see any facial features. Vyse and Dyne stepped out of the crowd and confronted the creature, though it said nothing. It only looked at Vyse, as if studying and sizing him up. I could see that Dyne was getting frustrated by it's silence and seeming interest in his son, and I saw his hand go for his gun. I never saw a weapon, though I did see a great flash, and then I saw Dyne hit the ground, unconscious. Vyse, in a great rage, withdrew his cutlasses and jumped at the creature moving more quickly than I though was humanly possible. In a split second he was upon the creature, blades hacking wildly. Though it was no use. The creature simply grabbed his neck and threw him at his ship, which I had supposed the silver egg shape to be, and he disappeared into it. The creature followed passing through the wall of this ship, while the women and children ran toward the underground shelter, while the men attacked the walls of the ship, though it was now solid and unbreakable. It was about that time I decided to leave. The last thing I saw was the Albatross leaving the underground shelter as well, and a great flash. I looked back to see the silver ship streak off into the sky, and a million pieces of Pirate's Isle coming after me. A large piece hit my aft engine and I had to set down on a small island to do some repairs."
Yaelmir took another sip of his tea, his hands shaking violently and uncontrollably.
"I do not know how many survived. I did see the albatross moving south toward Ixa'Taka, though that's all I know." He finally fell silent, his eyes unfocused and staring off into the distance.
Ryne stared at the man, not knowing what to believe. His tale was crazy, no doubt about it, but didn't he lose his mother the same way? Could the Silver object from Shine Isle be the same that had destroyed Pirate's Isle? Ryne was about to say something, but was cut short by Leos, who'd been sitting silent the whole time.
"What a load a Bull…" he said under his breath. The Nasrulian sighed and stared at the table.
"I knew my story would be hard for children to accept…"
Leos stood up and stared hard at the old man
"I am NOT a child." He said forcefully. "I just have a hard time believing fairy stories of a mysterious flying egg. Tell anyone, any age, you want and they'll still call you a freak." Leos shoved his chair back under the table and started to walk out the door.
"I believe it." Jay said quietly. Leos stopped dead in his tracks and spun around to see his sister, who was sitting in her chair with arms crossed staring back at him.
"Jay, don't tell me you believe this crap…"
"I do believe this crap." She said, her deep blue eyes staring daggers at him. "I saw Domingo himself tell the Sailors Guild that The Temple of Pyryn had disappeared overnight. The same thing just happed to Pirate's Isle, and my guess is it'll happen again."
Leos just shook his head and walked out the door. Jay hunched down in her chair a little and looked over at Ryne. Ryne looked around the room and noticed that the man from Nasr was also looking right at him. They were waiting for his opinion.
Ryne ran his tongue across his teeth. He wasn't sure what to believe anymore. His whole world had come crashing down around him in a matter of a week. What he said had made a lot of sense, though it still sounded crazy. Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"How long to Ixa'Taka?"
It was a lazy night on Pirate's Isle. Though the wind was beginning to become almost gale force, in the young lookout Daiyan's opinion. He didn't like being up on the smaller lookout island. He felt as if the whole thing might just float off one day, with him on it, a thought which his mother had cemented in his head for the past four years. He had the job only because he had the best eyes out of all the crew, a trait he was seriously beginning to hate about now.
He shivered as the wind blew down his shirt and pulled his scarf tighter around his neck. The weather was unusually chilly for mid ocean. Usually his slit-up pirate's uniform would be hot, but now her were wishing he'd not put the strategically placed rips into it.
He was so chilled that even his keen eyes didn't notice the small silvery object streaking its way toward Pirate's Isle. Until there was nothing he could do about it that is…
***********************************
Ryne snorted and fell out of his bed, flailing about on the floor, wondering what happened.
"Jeez Kid, I only opened the curtains."
Ry pulled the tangled sheets off of his face and blinked groggily. Leos was kneeled down beside him and looked him in the face.
"Awful clumsy for an Air Pirate." He said, smirking. "Here, let me help you with that." He said, pulling an end of the sheet, freeing the boy from his silky prison.
"Thanks…" Ryne said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I've been kind of uptight the past couple of days…" Leos held out his hands.
"No need to explain to me, Kid." Ryne smiled appreciatively, as Leos got up and turned toward the door. "Though you might want to put some clothes on before my sister comes down to take a peek."
Ryne felt his face grow hot and nodded as Leos closed the door behind him, shaking his head as he went. Ry sighed as the older man left him alone, and searched for his shirt and pants, which ended up being under the bed. He wasn't sure how they got there, being as he didn't exactly remember undressing and going to bed. Ry pulled the black sleeveless undershirt over his head and tucked it into his pants, then looked around for his thicker white over shirt. As hard as he looked though, he couldn't seem to find it. Finally, he gave up and left the room, finding his way back to the cabin. No one was there, though through the window he could see Leos working at pulling the anchor up. Without a second thought, Ryne joined him on the deck taking one of the posts and helping Leos push. Finally, after when seemed like an eternity, the anchor clicked up against the hull of the small boat. Ryne wiped the sweat off his brow, breathing a little deeply. Leos however, didn't even look as if he'd been doing anything.
"How the heck do you manage that thing by yourself?" Ryne said, between breaths. Leos grinned and flexed his muscles.
"Years of practice." He said simply, turning on his heel and heading back inside. Ryne trailed him.
"Need help with anything?" he asked as they entered the boat, the door slamming behind him.
"Yeah, go get Jaycera. I think she's below decks working on the laundry. Tell her I need her at her post."
Ryne nodded as Leos split away from him and entered the cabin. Ry wasn't exactly sure how to get below decks, but he wasn't about to admit it. A boat this size couldn't be too hard to explore. After a few moments of looking around, he saw a set of stairs leading downward and walked down them with a slow, quiet gait. As his head cleared the last floor, he could see a row of clothes hanging from the ceiling and he heard a soft grinding noise. Quietly, he pulled away the blue shirt that was obstructing his view. Jaycera was kneeling next to a large bucket, rubbing his shirt against the washboard.
She was wearing a tight, dark blue, formfitting shirt with a white vest over top of it, and baggy brown pants. Her curly hair was pulled behind her in a large ponytail, though snarls were pulling loose and hanging in front of her face. Ryne watched silently for a moment, unable to say anything. Finally, as she brought her head up to brush away some rogue curls that were tickling her face, she noticed him. Startled, she dropped his shirt into the soapy water.
"What, are you doing?!" She yelled defensively. "How long have you been standing there?" Ry's face turned more shades of red than he knew were possible, his white hair making it stand out all the more.
"I…I'm sorry." He stammered. "Your brother said he wants you at your post." Jay sighed and pushed herself back onto her feet, brushing the hair out of her face.
"And how long ago was that?" She asked venomously. Ryne merely shrugged apologetically. Jay rolled her eyes. "Fine, you can wash your shirt on your own." She said as she whisked by him, on her way up to the cabin. Ryne sighed deeply, still embarrassed, and slipped his hands into the soapy water to find his wet shirt.
Why do I have to be such a moron…?
**********************************
Why did I have to be so mean to him…? Jay thought, as she swiftly made her way up the stairs. Because he's an Air Pirate, that's why, another part of her mind answered. Jay sighed. Not all Air Pirates had to be bad did they? Jay shook her head, not believing the things that were going through it. Of course all Air Pirates were bad! They stole from people. It didn't matter whom they were stealing from, it was still stealing.
Jay finally made it to the bridge of the ship, silently taking up her spot. Leos seemed not to notice for a while, then looked back at her, an eyebrow raised.
"What took so long? Trying to seduce our meal ticket?" He asked, in mock seriousness. Jay sighed and gave him her death stare.
"Yeah, I'm now pregnant with a hero's grandson. Now, if you're quite finished I'd like to get to work planning our course." Jay said, grabbing a pencil and studying the map that was laid out on the small table next to her. Leos made a ffsstt, sound through his teeth.
"I can find Pirate's Isle, no sweat. I don't need you to plan us a course." He said, waving her off with his arm. "I just need you to keep an eye on the engine. The wind's been pretty harsh since yesterday, and it'd eating away at our fuel, not to mention the wear."
Jay sighed. She hated this part of the job. It was so boring. She didn't complain though. Her mind kept replaying the recent events under decks, trying to figure out how she could of made herself come off a little less harsh. Finally, she gave it up. What chance did she have anyway? He was the son of Vyse the Legend, and she was the orphan of merchants. Finally, she settled herself down in a chair, keeping her eye on the engine gauges. Besides, he's an Air Pirate…
****************************
Ryne sat on the edge of the boat, his legs dangling over the edge, and his arms propped up on the edge of the railing. His shirt was still damp from this morning, the wet sleeves flapping in the wind. He'd been rather reclusive since the incident this morning, though Jaycera hadn't exactly been seeking him out. Ryne sighed and bit his cheek. He'd never understand women.
Being the son of a celebrity, he'd acquired a bit of a fan base with teenage girls. Not that he wanted any of their attention. He taken after his mother, being shy and quiet, which only served to strengthen their resolve to crack him open. It was an endless cycle that would probably follow him until the day he died.
Ryne ran a hand through his hair, trying to get some semblance of order into it, then turned his green eyes onto the misty horizon. Finally, he spotted the familiar fish shaped island that he'd used as a landmark when traveling with his father. Pirate's Isle should be in sight soon.
Ryne focused on a quickly darkening spot, becoming slowly visible, his heart pumping quickly in anticipation. But something was wrong. Something was horribly wrong.
Finally Pirate's Isle became fully visible to the young Silvite… though he wished it hadn't. The remains of the small island floated, solitary and without any signs of life. The only thing left recognizable was the windmill, still pumping on the largest piece of earth, working at water that was no longer there. Ryne stared out in to the rubble, his face straight, showing no emotion. He heard the small creak and slam of a door behind him, though he paid it no heed. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore. All that he'd known and loved was being stripped away from him and there was nothing he could do about it.
Suddenly he was aware of a soft touch on his shoulder. He didn't turn to see who it was. He already knew who it was. Slowly, he lowered his head, gripping the railing fiercely and supporting all of his weight on it. His chest heaved in great sobs, though no tears came, or would ever come again.
He didn't know how long Jay stood there with him. It had seemed an eternity to him, but still she was there. Finally, her hand left his shoulder and pointed off into the sky, past the wreckage of Pirate's Isle. A small ship was limping toward them, black smoke billowing from the aft engine in a lazy trail floating high into the atmosphere. A faint glimmer of hope was restored in Ryne's mind, though he could see it was not a ship he grandfather had owned.
It was Nasrulian in design, its flamboyant gold and purple colors beaconing any and all who wanted to pilfer it. Ryne watched it with a steady gaze as it neared them, until he could see the old captain behind the wheel, wrestling with the wheel, which only seemed to want to make a left turn. Soon, he pulled his larger vessel parallel to theirs and came out on deck with a long rope.
"Here, Catch!" He yelled, tossing one end of the rope over to him. Ryne caught it and following the man's lead, started to pull the two ships together. The two ships slowly moved toward one another, until they finally met, rocking gently together. The dark, bearded, turbaned man tied the two railings together then hopped over the rails. His thick white mustache half-hid his wide toothy smile and he walked briskly over to him and shook his hand vigorously.
"I cannot tell you have glad I am so see you Young Vyse." He said still threatening to tear Ryne's arm off. "We thought you were lost like your father…"
Ryne's heart sunk.
"M…My father?"
"Yes, your father was lost last night in the explosion." He said, finally letting go of his arm, an air of sadness around him. "Come, I shall tell you what happened…"
******************************
The four of them sat around a small round table in a room which Ryne hadn't been in yet. He assumed it was a dining room or a lounge, but he wasn't sure given the erratic nature of the captain. The bearded Nasrulian sipped on some hot tea, which Jay had just warmed up. Ryne was getting impatient. He'd lost too much of his family to wait for this old man to finish his tea. Besides, it tastes like motor oil… He thought glancing down at his own cup. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the old man set his cup down.
"My name is Yaelmir." He said with a thick accent. "I am a Nasr merchant, working under your grandfather, making weapons runs. I was on such a run when my tale begins. Are you certain you want to hear it?" He asked politely, offering to spare Ryne the pain of detail. Ryne only nodded curtly, his green eyes boring a hole right through him. Yaelmir tilted his head in an odd kind of nod and continued.
"Last night I was making a shipment of Nasr Stonecutters to Dyne and his crew. I could tell something was wrong, for Dyne seemed to be rather absentminded and wasn't prepared to pay me for the shipment. In all my years of trading with him he has never done so. He was very apologetic and asked me to stay a night and he would have money and fuel for me to recompense. I agreed, and stayed the night on my ship. During the night however, I was awakened by a deafening roar.
Being a man of great curiosity, I got out of bed and went out on the deck to see what it was. What I saw chilled me to the bone. In the middle of the island was a great silver egg shaped object, glowing radiantly. I saw many pirates and their families surround it, including your father and grandfather. Then I saw a man shape step out of the object, though not by use of a door. Instead it came right through the side, as if it were a liquid! It was clad in armor, which seemed to be of the same material as the ship, though I could not see any facial features. Vyse and Dyne stepped out of the crowd and confronted the creature, though it said nothing. It only looked at Vyse, as if studying and sizing him up. I could see that Dyne was getting frustrated by it's silence and seeming interest in his son, and I saw his hand go for his gun. I never saw a weapon, though I did see a great flash, and then I saw Dyne hit the ground, unconscious. Vyse, in a great rage, withdrew his cutlasses and jumped at the creature moving more quickly than I though was humanly possible. In a split second he was upon the creature, blades hacking wildly. Though it was no use. The creature simply grabbed his neck and threw him at his ship, which I had supposed the silver egg shape to be, and he disappeared into it. The creature followed passing through the wall of this ship, while the women and children ran toward the underground shelter, while the men attacked the walls of the ship, though it was now solid and unbreakable. It was about that time I decided to leave. The last thing I saw was the Albatross leaving the underground shelter as well, and a great flash. I looked back to see the silver ship streak off into the sky, and a million pieces of Pirate's Isle coming after me. A large piece hit my aft engine and I had to set down on a small island to do some repairs."
Yaelmir took another sip of his tea, his hands shaking violently and uncontrollably.
"I do not know how many survived. I did see the albatross moving south toward Ixa'Taka, though that's all I know." He finally fell silent, his eyes unfocused and staring off into the distance.
Ryne stared at the man, not knowing what to believe. His tale was crazy, no doubt about it, but didn't he lose his mother the same way? Could the Silver object from Shine Isle be the same that had destroyed Pirate's Isle? Ryne was about to say something, but was cut short by Leos, who'd been sitting silent the whole time.
"What a load a Bull…" he said under his breath. The Nasrulian sighed and stared at the table.
"I knew my story would be hard for children to accept…"
Leos stood up and stared hard at the old man
"I am NOT a child." He said forcefully. "I just have a hard time believing fairy stories of a mysterious flying egg. Tell anyone, any age, you want and they'll still call you a freak." Leos shoved his chair back under the table and started to walk out the door.
"I believe it." Jay said quietly. Leos stopped dead in his tracks and spun around to see his sister, who was sitting in her chair with arms crossed staring back at him.
"Jay, don't tell me you believe this crap…"
"I do believe this crap." She said, her deep blue eyes staring daggers at him. "I saw Domingo himself tell the Sailors Guild that The Temple of Pyryn had disappeared overnight. The same thing just happed to Pirate's Isle, and my guess is it'll happen again."
Leos just shook his head and walked out the door. Jay hunched down in her chair a little and looked over at Ryne. Ryne looked around the room and noticed that the man from Nasr was also looking right at him. They were waiting for his opinion.
Ryne ran his tongue across his teeth. He wasn't sure what to believe anymore. His whole world had come crashing down around him in a matter of a week. What he said had made a lot of sense, though it still sounded crazy. Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"How long to Ixa'Taka?"