Ch 2 - Island Voyage.
At the coast they had to pay for their own passage this time. After Danielle composed a letter to the temple in Krom, sending it on a different ship than they would be on, they boarded and settled in. Danielle went outside where she found Lavitz already with a new arrangement of girls and Tolqwist looking over the side. She went over standing next to Tolqwist purposely ignoring Lavitz, as the ship cast off.
"Can you believe how cute he is?" The two jumi looked over to see a small group of girls by them talking and pointing at Lavitz.
"At least they didn't have to live with him," Danielle muttered.
"You live with him?" The girls over heard, their faces going dreamy at the thought. "You're so lucky." The other girl sighed.
"No, no," Danielle stated. "I didn't mean it like that I mean-"
"She is not worthy," Lavitz cut in. The girls looked at him and sighed. Danielle bit down on her lip and clenched her fist.
"You see when I saved my masters life-"
"Not again!" Danielle threw her hands up in the air and stormed away. He continued ignoring the fact that she left and that Tolqwist edged away. Travel was about the same as before. Danielle avoided Lavitz, except for the few seconds when he was silent, not counting when he was asleep. Even then she wouldn't have been surprised to find he still talked about himself. With the sun rises and sun sets, Tolqwist could be found lingering in the sunlight or some times practicing. A few people would watch him practice and some would spar with him. Sometimes Danielle and Lavitz, with his fan girls, would watch though usually not in each others company.
Nearly a week before the month was out, a terrible storm started brewing, driving all the passengers below into their cabins. Some settled down to sleep, with sounds of the storm outside echoing in their ears.
The next awakening was accompanied by a painful throbbing in everyone's head. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves shackled to a wall on a lower level of a ship. Too disoriented to speak, the only thing noticed was their armor and weapons were taken. The artifacts worn by Danielle and Lavitz remained, only because they could not be pulled off but Knoff, the sword was gone. A guard who was half orc, was nearby keeping an eye on everyone.
Sounds of the storm still ranged on outside while loud creeks and groans were heard. Steadily, the creaking got louder until the crunch of wood breaking was heard. Water rushed in with such a force, everyone was knocked back into unconsciousness.
Waking first, Tolqwist raised his head and the first thing he saw was a beach through the hole the water crashed through. Sandy dunes, with some large stone in the background was as far as he could see at the moment through the hull. A steady drizzle was lightly spraying the shore outside and from the dankness feeling, he assumed it must be raining. Moving he found one shackled hand was no longer attached to the wall, the other seemed to feel loose. He had to tug and pull for a few minutes but Tolqwist was able to finally pull the chain of the other shackle out of the wall. Another look around he could see the orc guard staggering around outside, and a set of keys hanging on the wall.
Ignoring the pirate, Tolqwist grabbed the keys and tried each one until the shackles came off. He then proceeded to unlock Danielle and Lavitz, who were both still out and a human girl who was just waking up. Once he made sure that she was okay, he turned back to Danielle, and lightly slapped her face splashing some water on it. As a result she gasped inhaling some of the water and coughed as she opened her eyes. Turning her eyes to Tolqwist ready to scold him, he made a silencing motion with his hand and pointed to the orc guard outside. Peering out, Danielle saw him and nodded, then turned seeing that Lavitz was starting to wake up.
"What is your name?" Tolqwist whispered leaning close to the human girl.
"I am Melisana," she said a little loud then quieted down as Tolqwist made a quieting motion. "I was traveling home to my father Melkeras, he is a merchant, on the island of Ventris, when the pirates attacked taking us prisoners."
"Possibly for slaves," Danielle whispered. Lavitz was simply looking disappointed at his clothes, which like everyone's been soaked. Further investigation they found a chest, which Tolqwist started to try the keys on. Danielle sat down and felt around her neck and gave a slight jump at finding nothing. Looking down she saw that her holy symbol was gone and felt a moment of panic. With out it, she couldn't do any spells or healing. Turning when she heard a light click, she joined Tolqwist at the chest. Inside he found his sword, Knoff, and Danielle's bronze holy symbol. Tossing it over to her, she caught it and put it on giving a sigh of relief. There was also a crossbow and forty bolts which Tolqwist gave to Danielle. Being quiet at this point Melisana kept looking over to Lavitz, just watching not really saying anything.
Sword drawn, Tolqwist headed out to question the half orc pirate. Bitter wind cut through his wet clothes like tiny daggers making him wince. Trying to be silent wasn't too successful as the half orc whirled around hearing him. The orc tried to say something but started to loose his balance and took a moment to steady himself.
"Wha're ye doin outta ye chains?" He slurred and stormed forward to attack. In response Tolqwist tried to simply knock the half orc out, but had no luck. His blow ended up landing on the sensitive area on the back of the head, killing the orc instantly. Scowling in disgust as the body fell to the ground, he shook his head and walked away from the fumes of alcohol drifted up from it. Looking at the ship he could see something the others didn't know. Hurrying back he jerked his thumb behind him.
"This thing is sinking we got to get everyone out." Tolqwist said. Giving a groan of frustration, Danielle strapped the crossbow onto her belt and like Lavitz, grabbed a broken piece of wood to use as a club as needed then followed the others. Stopping at the half orc, Tolqwist stripped off its dirty yet dry cloak and tossed it to Melisana, she was shaking the worst. Lavitz sat down attempting to meditate while Tolqwist went back pulling out wood to burn.
The girls surveyed the landscape. Close by, up some rock if climbed was a ledge while further down the beach it sloped down until you could walk around the rock formation. Danielle and Melisana looked at the rock and found it was too slippery to climb, mostly because of the light rain that was falling. With a sigh the girls turned and headed down the beach, with Lavitz and Tolqwist soon following behind them. Tolqwist caught up and urged them all to jog; they reached the bend in no time. The ringing of metal hitting against metal was heard on the other side, sounds of battle.
The top of the ridge could be seen, along with very little sight into the valley that sloped down on the other side of the beach. Tolqwist edged over getting a better look and saw a battle indeed going on between orcs and goblins. Looked like pirates. A little distance away from the battle was an old man who was watching the battle, but tied up. Returning to the others, Tolqwist explained what he saw.
"If I attack, both will turn against me," Tolqwist said. Danielle and Lavitz both looked at their make shift clubs and grimaced. Not much damaged could be done with these things and no one was really in the shape to take on a small army, not to mention two at this point. With a sigh, Danielle turned to look out of the ridge once more and her eyes grew wide with realization.
"Guys," Danielle reached out to the nearest companion. "Look." Following where she was pointing were boulders, sitting on the ledge.
"Perfect," Tolqwist said, putting Knoff away. "I need something for leverage."
"Here," Lavitz handed him the club. "This should help."
"Yes," Tolqwist nodded. "I'll get it back to you." Lavitz simply shrugged.
"I'm going with you," Danielle loaded the crossbow. "Just in case." Lavitz and Melisana hid, while the other two slowly crept forward. Positioning herself where she couldn't be seen, Danielle watched Tolqwist go over and ready a boulder. Edging the club for leverage, Tolqwist pushed against the boulder until it gave way. Below the orcs and goblins looked up in surprise as the boulder fell, half too shocked to jump out of the way. It rolled down smashing the unprepared pirates leaving very few alive. All that remained were six goblins, who charged up to the slope and started to climb up. Pushing on another boulder, Danielle held the crossbow ready, as she watched it fall into the valley crushing the six goblins, the way to the old man was now clear.
"Lavitz, Melisana, it's clear," Tolqwist called. They headed out and all walked over to where the old man was. They could hear him mumbling to himself as Tolqwist untied him. Danielle knelt in front of him looking him over.
"What's your name?" She asked gently. The old man looked at her for a moment, like he was expecting her to disappear.
"My uh, name" He started slowly. "I haven't needed it in a long time – is Keestake, and you're the first human, well, human like faces, I've seen in more years than I can remember, it's true." He looked over Danielle and then the other three around him. She helped him to his feet finding nothing wring with him other than him being really skinny, and having bad breath. As the wind blew harder each wrapped their arms about themselves.
"Is there any shelter?" Danielle asked.
"Yes, yes," Keestake nodded. "The temple of Shiva, I have been staying there. I can show you the way. Pirates have pillaged and destroyed much, that's when the weather turned bad. But something scared them out, and they have not ventured to it ever since. It should be safe, that's where I have been staying." They let Keestake lead them to where the temple was. Shiva was a Goddess once, but was demoted to a demigod because she interfered too much in the lives of mortals, for her parents liking. Her parents, God of water and Goddess of air, gave her control of those elements making her one that many sailors worship. Danielle went over this into in her head while they walked along.
"And you wouldn't know it to look at me, but in my day, in my day, I was a personal groom to himself – to Viledel, the Sea King. Yes this is the island of Viledel, you didn't know that?" Keestake paused as the others shook their heads.
"But he was killed when the pirates crushed the island, years and years ago when my hair was still black and my face unlined," Keestake continued. "I didn't fight the pirates, just hid in an overturned boat no one looked under. And finally the pirates were gone, and I have been here alone since, living in the house of the Sea King.
"The orcs came a few says ago, then came the goblins. I ran and took shelter in the temple until they took me prisoner and took over the manor." Keestake shook his head then seemed to brighten up a little.
"The temple is just over looking the manor, and no one should bother you if you want to take shelter there." As the temple started to become visible, it was no doubt a beauty in its day. It stood two stories high crafted with well fitted planks brought from the main land. The windows were spacious and cheerful with once brightly painted shutter to close against the wind. The gate made of wrought iron once stood before the front door and a trellis for ivy once stood on the right side of the temple. But now after sixty years, the wood is pitted, cracked and decayed. The still spacious windows were missing most of their shutters, save for the few that remained banging in the wind or hanged crookedly. The wrought iron gate, now rusted badly was still in place and the ivy now covered the entire right wall.
Keestake led the group up to the gate and pulled it open a little. It squeaks but nothing too loudly. Inside the main hall they find it's protected from the wind, and the doors are sound. Evidence of the destruction Keestake described was evident around the main hall of the temple. Gashes were in the walls, while smashed furniture lay in pieces all around. Walking further into the temple, more smashed furniture was about, but this area had a set of stairs leading to the second floor, blocked off by now moldy tapestries. Tolqwist started a fire in the middle of the floor, with the high ceiling it shouldn't choke them out.
Going ahead, Danielle looked behind the tapestries and gasped at the sight. The room was in utter chaos. A statue of Shiva was seated one hand resting on the arm of her seat, the hand was broken off onto the floor, and the other arm had the hand extended out. The nose was also broken off and dried blood and mud was all over the statue. Thankfully the altar was untouched.
"I'll be back, Danielle whispered and continued explorations. There was a kitchen with a fireplace, a few empty storage rooms, but one had crates. Closer inspection revealed they were clothing but they were nested by rats and moths. Giving a sigh, Danielle was about to leave when another crate caught her eye. Going over she was please to find not one, but three crates sealed. Praying the nothing would jump out at her, she pried them open and found clean clothes. Digging through them, Danielle found a pair of clothes she liked and a new cloak. Changing quickly, Danielle then gathered her wet clothes and went back to the main hall. She said hi and passed everyone to get to the altar room while everyone stared at her clothes.
"Hey!" Danielle turned hearing Tolqwist call out. "You holding out on us?" He asked indicating her clothes. Looking down at her now clean clothes Danielle smiled to herself.
"There's a storage room I found with three crates of clean clothes. "Danielle said. "There's plenty so everyone can change."
"I haven't had clean clothes in a long time," Keestake muttered.
"Well now would be as good a time as any," Danielle stated then turned to go into the altar room and dropped the wet clothes to the ground. Grabbing the wet cloak, she went to work to clean the statue of the Goddess as best she could, then would do her daily ritual she was so late on. If the sun could be seen through the rain clouds, it would shine at mid-day, a gloomy haze seemed to be around the island.
Lavitz went with Melisana to the storage and let her change first. Going in when she bid enter he started to rummage through the clothes not all too happy with what he was finding. Turning to go to the next crate, he saw Melisana looking at him again, who turned a slight blush at being caught. Flashing a smile at her he waved her over.
"Help me with this," Lavitz said and handed a few articles of clothing he liked. "Hold these for me so I don't mix them again."
"Okay," She nodded. It took several minutes but Lavitz found clothing he approved of and changed once Melisana exited. Meeting her outside, they went back to the main room, to let Tolqwist and Keestake go get a change of clothing.
"Took you long enough," Tolqwist said. They were back in a few minutes changed and saw that Danielle still wasn't back. They sat by the fire warming themselves, still feeling chilled even though they had dry clothes on.
"What's Danielle doing?" Tolqwist wondered out loud.
"She's fine," Lavitz said. "Don't waste time worrying on her." Danielle didn't appear until later that evening.
"I didn't find any food while looking around," Danielle said.
"Oh I've been surviving by eating rats and onion roots," Keestake spoke up. Everyone's eyebrows went up.
"Well we can take care of that in the morning," Lavitz grimaced, along with the others. During the first watch, Tolqwist polished Knoff and kept an eye out but nothing happened. Lavitz and Keestake were the only ones that wouldn't take watch, because Lavitz needed to rest for his spells. Melisana took second watch, and was told to wake Tolqwist if she heard anything.
"Tolqwist," Melisana whispered as she shook him. "I heard something squeak."
"It's just a rat," Tolqwist said after listening for a moment.
"But it's squeaking," Melisana said.
"That's fine," Tolqwist nodded and rolled back over going to sleep. Melisana woke Danielle for the last watch and fell quickly to sleep herself. While Danielle sat there she heard a whisper in the air.
"Danielle…"
It wasn't Guhe. Getting to her feet, Danielle slowly walked up to the altar where the sound came from.
"Danielle…"
As she reached the stairs a light shone from behind the tapestries, which moved slightly like a breeze was blowing behind them. Slowly walking up the stairs Danielle pushed back the tapestries and stepped in. The statue now cleaned was glowing. As Danielle stood there amazed, the broken nose rose from the floor and sealed itself. Then broken hand then rose and sealed itself. She watched in amazement as all the cracks sealed until the statue looked like it was just sculpted. What took Danielle by surprise was when the statue of Shiva stood up.
"You see about you the results of the raid of the Hak-kubra, the pirate orcs. They have defined my sanctuarty." The statue of Shiva spoke looking at Danielle. "When men came hither three generations ago, they slew the men of this island but let me temple be, as is proper. Since then my sanctuary has been subject to wind, storm, age and rot, but I was not offended for that is natures right, to beat down what men have raised.
"But the acts of debasement you see about you have offended me. I chose to destroy this island, and all living upon it; a proper cleansing of the stain by the Hak-kubra.
"I see no reason for you to die in another's offense, however. So I will not cleanse this island this night, as I had planned, but stayed my hand another day, and lay wasted to this place at nightfall tomorrow. If you are fled by then, I will adjudge you fit to survive, and the storm which destroys this place will do no harm to your craft." As she spoke, her volume of voice rose louder and louder until it boomed through out the whole temple, waking the others.
"Where's Danielle?" Tolqwist asked looking around
"I don't know," Lavitz shrugged. Sword drawn, Tolqwist ran towards the booming voice, with Lavitz and Melisana behind him. Reaching the altar room, everyone pauses after they enter hearing the last bit of what Shiva said.
"It is a difficult task, one that you have not chosen," Shiva continued. "But take care in your choices and by choosing wisely you may find your way." At this she sits back down and remains the still statue once more. No more imperfections were shown upon the statue however.
"So we have until sunset," Tolqwist said. Danielle spun around surprised to see the others there but excited.
"Did you see that?" She gushed. "First the nose reattached itself, then the hand and all the cracks sealed, it was incredible!" She chatted all the way back to the hall telling them what Shiva said and found Keestake had gone into the kitchen. They entered in and found him looking up as they entered.
"So you're looking for a way off the island?" Keestake asked. All nodded. "Well in his majesties manor, he kept an emergency vessel underground. When the pirates attacked, he didn't get to it in time resulting in the death of himself, wife and son. It's still there under the castle."
"Great, lets eat now so we can go," Tolqwist said. It was still a few hours until dawn but no one refused. Tolqwist left then returned later with some rats and onion roots and dropped them on the floor as he started to prepare them. An unhappy look was on his face as he did this then pass the cooked rats around for everyone. Keestake had no problem eating while the others gingerly picked at their food. A few bites into a rat, Danielle put hers down.
"I can't do this." She said standing up.
"Eat Danielle," Tolqwist said.
"I can't I'm going to get sick." She turned intent on leaving the room when something stood in front of her path.
"Nobody but me eatss, my presciouss ratss." The creature hissed. A ghoul, Danielle realized, where did he come from? Calling on a natural ability she had as a cleric, Danielle tried to turn him, which would cause him to flee in fear. The only problem was it sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. The creature simply looked at Danielle who had her hands outstretched, and attacked. She got out of the way of his bite but both claws made contact, slashing her arms and upper chest.
Tolqwist jumped up to attack while Lavitz shot the ghoul with a magic missile. Danielle tried to turn the creature again, but it only hissed and slashed at her again catching her fatally with one claw. Danielle fell as Tolqwist reached the creature and with the help of Lavitz using the magic missiles, the ghoul was defeated.
"Danielle?" Tolqwist fell to his knees next to her to look her over. She was bleeding badly and unconscious. He tried to bind the wounds but was having no luck, the blood kept seeping through.
"Let me try," Lavitz knelt on the other side, but wasn't having much success himself.
"Out of my way," Melisana said walking over. The guys moved and Melisana got to work, stopping the bleeding and stabilizing her. But she was still unconscious.
"She needs to heal but we don't have time," Lavitz sighed frustrated. The sun had not risen yet but they knew by sundown if they weren't off the island they'd be dead.
"BRING HER TO ME!" The booming voice of Shiva commanded making everyone jump. Lifting Danielle, Tolqwist walked up to the altar room, with the others.
"Put her on the altar, she has done great service to me." Placing her where directed, Tolqwist stepped back as a bright white light filled the room, blinding everyone. Once it subsided and everyone blinked the spots away, they saw Danielle blinking and slowly sitting up.
"What happened?" Danielle asked.
"The ghoul hit you pretty bad." Tolqwist said then gestured his thumb behind him to Melisana. "She helped heal you then Shiva told us to bring you in here."
"Thank you Melisana," Danielle said getting up. "Thank you Shiva," she said to the statue, she was feeling great except for her clothes.
"We should probably get going but first," Danielle gestured to her clothes which were now torn and bloody. "I'm going to change." Once that was done and Danielle completed her ritual, they all set out towards the manor, Keestake in the lead. Pausing at the top of the hill, you could see the manor was in the shape of an H. Orcs were guarding one half while goblins was on the other half.
"Down there," Keestake whispered pointing to a small dip in the ground. "We can get in that way undetected. The ship is in the catacombs below the castle. The king and his family died before they could escape, so I buried them, properly you know or they'll rise. The king had a wish ring I buried with him, and prepared the bodies so they wouldn't decay."
"The others simply nodded and followed him down. Keestake crawled in the dip first, followed by Melisana, Lavitz, Danielle and then Tolqwist. Moving as quietly as they could, they all paused hearing a goblin.
"Did you hear that?" A goblin came close, possibly looked around though they couldn't see, and then turned walking away.
"Give me the crossbow," Tolqwist whispered. Danielle pulled it out and tried to twist around to give it to him, but dropped it making a loud clattering noise.
"There's something over there!" Came a shout. All stood up, and Tolqwist turned to face the goblins as Danielle readied the crossbow. Four goblins stormed in on Tolqwist. Tolqwist took the first one down but was not able to hit the others as they kept dodging out of the way. Lavitz cast his last magic missile for the day at one, which Tolqwist finished when he hit it with his next swing.
One goblin staggered as a bolt, Danielle fired hit it in the chest, distracting Tolqwist. The other goblin clubbed him on the head, knocking Tolqwist down and smiled as they charged, one at Danielle and one at Lavitz. Both pulled out their make shift clubs to defend themselves. Not use to this type of combat, Lavitz was having a hard time hitting them but was able to stay out of its reach. The one who charged Danielle took a wild swing while she hit it with her club. Hitting it a second time finished it off and she turned to help Lavitz with his. Running over, she saw him close his eyes and swing hard, bashing the goblins head in.
"Good job Lavitz!" Danielle quietly cheered as she knelt over Tolqwist. Danielle concentrated doing a few healing spells and waited for Tolqwist to wake up which took a few seconds.
"Damn it!" Tolqwist cursed not happy that he was knocked out.
"Yeah, shh," Danielle patted his shoulder and got up.
"We should go in before more arrive," Lavitz said. Agreed, Keestake got to the window where he was able pull out the bars, they were loosely set in and climbed inside. The others followed and then waited as Keestake put the bars back. Going through the manor they followed him to the lower level stopping at a big door.
"In the catacombs, there's a lever I can push that will collapse the entrance so we can not be followed." Turning Keestake entered and pointed to a high lever next to a book shelf. "That will open the door, but I can not reach it." Tolqwist walked over and grabbed the lever, resulting in the sound of a clunk, then nothing.
"Looks like we'll have to push it open," Tolqwist sighed. "Danielle guard the door while I push this." Nodding she pulled out the crossbow and stood ready. As it was pushed the door emitted a loud metal upon metal screech that could be heard for miles. Once opened shouts were heard with footsteps running towards them. Waiting for the others to enter first Danielle ducked through, as the clear voices were heard of orcs and goblins. Keestake ran down the passage and waited until the others reached him before pulling the lever. The sound of crashing rocks was heard then screams of the enemies as they were crushed. As it got quiet, everyone waited watching Keestake as his smile got bigger and bigger.
"Well?" Melisana asked.
"There is no ship," Keestake stated, smile still in place.
"What?" Lavitz responded while everyone's mouth dropped open.
"There is no ship," Keestake replied. "But I needed to trap you in here. Can't have strangers running around on his majesties island." As he finished saying this, he pulled out a dagger and grabbed Melisana by the arm. Jumping forward, Tolqwist made a grab at Keestake trying to restrain him. Spotting this, Keestake redirected his dagger and stabbed Tolqwist deeply in the side. Seeing this Danielle pulled out her club smashing it over Keestake's head making him slump over dead.
"Tolqwist hold still," Danielle healed him as he sat there fuming. "What's wrong do you still hurt?"
"No I wanted to question him," he pointed at Keestake's body. Melisana leaned down checking his pulse then shook her head to indicate that Danielle did finish him off.
"Sorry," Danielle stated feeling a little defensive with how Tolqwist was talking to her. "I simply saw you get hurt and wanted to help." He shrugged her off and walked by. She glared at him, this she expected from Lavitz, but not him. She thought he'd be different.
"Better find a way out, lets go," Tolqwist said going down the path. He led the way with Lavitz following, then Melisana and Danielle taking up the rear. Besides a well they past, where the sound of rushing water could be heard, they found that the end of the cave was collapsed. Going back a few steps they gathered around the well.
"You think this is the way out?" Tolqwist asked.
"Only one way to find out," Danielle said looking in and grabbed the bucket. "Lower me down and…"
"No!" Lavitz interrupted. Danielle and Tolqwist had a surprised look on their face. "You can heal us and if you get hurt, we'll have no more magical healing," Lavitz continued completely serious. "Lower me instead." Now Danielle was not only surprised she was astonished. Watching Tolqwist lower him she thought, he's actually thinking of some one else besides himself, who would have thought?
"All I see is water," Lavitz called up. "There are no nooks or any other exits."
"Pull him back up," Danielle sighed. Once Lavitz was out he looked at them.
"The rushing water went under some rocks, but how far it goes, I don't know," Lavitz added.
"Melisana, what do you think?" Tolqwist asked. All looked at Melisana, the merchants daughter, who happened to be caught by pirates and is now trying to find a way to escape an island with three jumi. A way out of here before Shiva destroyed it.
"With the way Keestake looked, I don't think this is the way he would have gotten out from," Melisana peered over the well before straightening back up. "Maybe there's a door and we just missed it." Same formation, they headed back up the tunnel searching carefully for any secret door that might be around. Indeed closer to where they started was a hidden door in the wall. Through the doors was a set of stairs, descending farther down into the depths of the catacombs. Just when it seemed they go forever, they saw another set of stairs ascending.
Going up is when they found it, the dock, but there was no boat, like Keestake said. There were three caves though and a strange brick wall. The third cave had nothing inside it but the strange brick wall continued over into that area. The second cave had the body of the prince, who was pale in death and had bruises all over his body. A chest was against the wall in the back. The first cave had the king and queen, same state as their son, both eyes open.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Danielle whispered as Tolqwist stepped near the king seeing the ring glow and to his surprise the king sat up. Drawing his sword, he engaged the king in combat, when the others heard a sound behind them. Danielle was the closes to the entrance when she saw the prince advancing holding a bastard sword. She attempted to turn him but it failed and the prince slashed at her with the sword, slashing her upper body.
"Why doesn't this work?" Danielle staggered back as she shouted this in frustration and tried to turn him again. In response, he ran this sword through her side, knocking Danielle into unconsciousness.
"No!" Melisana and Lavitz shouted. Tolqwist turned as he finished the king to find Lavitz attempting to hit the prince while Melisana tried to tend to Danielle. Seeing Tolqwist heading over, Lavitz jumped out of the way letting Tolqwist trade blows with the prince until he swung high, severing his head.
"How is she?" Tolqwist asked panting slightly.
"She's unconscious but she'll live," Melisana said. "Let me see to you, Lavitz hold her." Kneeling next to Melisana, she put Danielle's head in his lap, as he gently shifted to get more comfortable, he sighed. Once Melisana tied up his wounds, Tolqwist went over and picked up Danielle. They eyed the queen as they left but she didn't move. In the room the prince was in the chest was full of gold but nothing else note worthy. Stepping up to the brick wall, Tolqwist put Danielle down and hit it hard with Knoff. It shattered a bit leaving a small hole. Peering inside, Tolqwist could see something but wasn't sure what, and hit the wall harder. Having a hole big enough to go through, the stepped in and found he was standing on the galley of a huge ship.
"I thought there was no ship," Melisana said from the hole as she looked around.
"Keestake either didn't know about it or was lying," Lavitz said as he looked through. Tolqwist stepped out gabbing Danielle and laying her on the galley and then stepped out again returning with the chest. The other two followed him in and looked around.
"How do we get it out," Lavitz questioned out loud. "Who knows how to sail?"
"I do," Melisana said raising her hand. "Know how to sail at least but as for getting out?" She shrugged.
"How about this lever?" Tolqwist asked looking at a lever in the wall. No one was sure but didn't have much of a choice, so he pulled it. In a flash the boat was at the dock they saw earlier. Ahead was a cave exit, they could see the ocean from there, it was about two hours past noon.
"All right first we need," Melisana started but was stopped by Tolqwist.
"Wait," he said. "Shiva said that our vessel would not be touched. If we leave now the pirates could follow. We should probably wait until just before sunset."
"Sounds good to me," Lavitz sat down and stretched.
"But we still need to get ready to said," Melisana said. First they toured the ship and found that there were enough provisions for a voyage, and several nice sized rooms, one in which they put Danielle. On deck, Melisana was barking orders having the guys help make the ship, seaworthy. As the sun touched the water, they were ready to sail and set off.
Wind blew and rain started but none of it seemed to touch the ship as it cut effortlessly through the water. Well away from the island at sundown, the three looked over at the island. Waves were rising and crashing over it, until one rose high in the air and took the form of a hand. The hand grabbed the island and picked it up crushing it, then letting the pieces splash back into the water.
"Wow," Melisana said. The trip to her home, Ventris took two and a half weeks. Melisana tended to Danielle every night and she woke the day they were pulling into port. They described what happened to the island as Danielle gasped and listened.
"Why did I have to miss that?" Danielle gasped. "The hand must have been so amazing to see."
"Well you just happen to miss all the good things," Lavitz said brushing his nails on his shirt. Danielle closed her gaping mouth and glared at him, which he simply gave her a smile for. Reaching Melisana's house, her father Melkaras, was thrilled that she was home safe and offered the jumi lodging at his home. They rested there doing some trading and getting better armor and weapons, and spent two weeks getting over the small adventure. Lavitz got a set of clothes specially made for him. Danielle saw him wearing the clothes as they got caught on a nail making a small hole in it. Before she could question him she saw the clothes, mend themselves up.
"I want some clothes like that!" Danielle gasped as she got a better look. They were nobles clothes, in shades of blues, with rune over them.
"I made these," Lavitz said proudly. "The inscription of spells at least and time and effort was put into these. They will mend and clean themselves all the time."
"Can you make me a set?" Danielle asked and inwardly grimaced. Great know he would be able to boss her around, but she really wanted those kind of clothes!
"Sure, I'll just need to you to pay for your own set," Lavitz shrugged.
"Really?" Danielle couldn't believe what she was hearing. "That's it?" Lavitz nodded. She gave him the money and clothes once they were retrieved, hers in shades of soft purple and lavender. The next day the clothes were ready and Danielle immediately put them on. When she saw Lavitz later that evening she couldn't help but go up and thank him.
"Not a problem," Lavitz shrugged. "You need all the help with your looks that you can get." That shut Danielle up as she backed away and went about her business, all waiting for further instruction on where they were to go.