Later that same day, one of the kitchen cooks came into find Kersearge
Flint out cold on the stone floor. He kneeled down and tried to wake up the
snoring villain, but his stage on unconsciousness was too deep to bring him
out of naturally. So the cook ran to find and alert the Razorbacks. Almost
immediately upon hearing the news, the entire company of the Flint's
bodyguards was awake and seething for action, for blood, for battle, for
anything that was amiss and unusual. The cook led the way to the galley
where several guards attempted to revive their charge. "Wake the whole
compound, block all the entrances and exits, call up the watchtowers!!!"
shouted the Captain-of-the-Guards, "Garson, inform the other Admiral's
[what the Flint brothers were addressed as] at once and round up all the
slaves and servants who were here last!!!" The majority of the vile and
fearsome warriors scattered to do their captain's bidding. And by the time
the sun was above the horizon, the every black-hearted creature within the
castle and even outside was notified and ready for trouble or whatever was
happening. Everybody that is, except for the young servant girl; nobody had
seen her since yesterday and she was nowhere to be found. "If that scrappy
little twig had anything to do with my brother, it'll be the dungeon and
irons for her," threatened Pekerth Flint. Gray Flint thus ordered a massive
search for the girl. "Take her alive, ye all hear me, ALIVE!!!" And so,
more than 300 of the Flint's band of renegades set out across the barren,
rocky and treacherous landscape and began to look in every crevasse, hole,
cave, ravine and lifeless tree.
Unbeknownst to the searchers, their quarry was on the other side of the mountains touching her bare feet to cool, fresh, pure mountain water. Beth gave a cry of joy and excitement as the translucent liquid swirled around her submerged ankles. What a refreshing feeling that tingled across her skin! Slowly, she let go of Jim, who had been supporting her by the arms, and began to wade further into the small river. Jim took off his boots and socks as well and relocated his 50-caliber revolver to his hip. After scanning the area to be certain no one else was nearby, he walked in after her. Beth stopped in the middle of the waist-high current and slowly began to let herself down. Her breath came quicker as the cold water reacted with her warm skin. Finally, she stopped when her shoulders were fully under water for the first time in her life. Jim came and stood nearby but didn't immerse himself.
"So, uh...", Jim's thoughts tumbled over each other as he tried to say something. "...how...come you live with those beasts?" Beth looked at him and rose up with her waterlogged dress clinging to her well-formed body but Jim wasn't paying attention to that. She was silent and downcast for a minute and then spoke. "I...don't know. All I can remember is that I have lived in the castle a long time; I don't know...who my real father and mother are, or...were. Ever since I was very little, I was taught and cared for by my only friend; his name was Mr. Skept , or, at least that's what he was called...and told me to call him." She paused with a sad look in her gentle brown eyes before going on. "I know...that I don't look like anyone else that I've ever known or met—except for you." She turned her gaze to him and smiled happily. Jim returned her smile as well even though his heart was breaking for her. She looked down and continued. "Mr. Skept always told me that he was not my true father and that...he did not know-who my parents were." She sniffled as her eyes began to tear up again. Jim moved closer and put his arms around her shoulder. Beth began to sob heavily again but Jim didn't mind at all. His abandonment by his father had torn down his world, his dreams and his hope as well. Thus, he could only shed tears for her himself as she held on to him like a long-lost child. Jim and Beth held on to each other for a long time. After a while, Jim opened his eyes and stared at her long, wavy, deep-reddish hair. "Beth?" "Mm-hmm?" she answered. "Have you ever been outside of this planet? I mean, have you ever seen the Etherium from a sailing ship?" Beth pulled away and shook her head. "I...don't know what an Etherium is. I've-heard others talk about it and I've know what sailing ships look like. But...I've never traveled on one." She sniffled again. "I've never even been outside of those black mountains a long way over there." Jim followed her gaze and saw the terrible-looking range of ink-black jagged peaks covered over by enormous dark gray and black clouds. He shivered as he remembered zooming over and past them as he fled with then-unconscious Bethany between his arms as he gripped the sail-bar of his surfer. Turning back to face Beth, he sighed. "Have they hurt you before, like that ugly creep did?" She shook her head. "no, I've never been treated like that. But then again, no one except Mr. Skept ever really noticed me: to them, I was just a.....servant who does whatever they expect. Mr. Skept was my only friend until...well, one day..." She couldn't go on and dropped her head. Jim slowly moved his hand so that he wouldn't frighten her. He touched the side of her baby soft face and spoke to her in a quiet voice. "It's okay, Beth, I'll be your friend." Beth suddenly stood still and looked at him with a puzzled look. "You...sniff want to...be like, like...Mr. Skept...to me?" He nodded. "Yeah! Hey, I can be anyone that you want me to be—except a female like you!" Beth giggled at the thought; she definitely liked this boy so much—maybe even more than Mr. Skept. "I'm getting cold." She said as her body began to shake from the loss of heat. "Here, let's go dry out on the shore.", Jim offered. He held her left hand so she wouldn't slip and fall on the smooth rock on the riverbed. They made it to shore and lay back on the soft grass as the late morning sun began to dissipate the coolness of their skin and sopping clothes.
Beth was suddenly was curious about her rescuer. "Jim.", she said. "Yeah?" "Where did you come from and how did you get here? And how in blue blazes [she picked up phrases like these from the pirates] where you able to sneak up and...you know...what you did to, hmm, what was his name...oh yes, Kersearge Flint?" Jim grinned a little. "Well, I'm from a planet called Montressor. It's very far away from this planet we're on now. I got here from a ship that was attacked by several of the pirate's ships themselves." The truth suddenly dawned on Beth. "Ohhh, so it was you who destroyed all those crews and their vessels!" "No, no, no, I said I was on the ship that did the attacking. I wasn't fighting against those pirates with the crew of the ship." "But, if you won and defeated all the ships that attacked yours, then why, or how did you get away and come here?"
Jim was silent for a while. He had been sworn to secrecy and had not revealed his actions or mission purpose until now. He trusted Beth full- heartedly, but if the pirates got suspicious and started looking to Beth for answers, then she might be in great danger and maybe even lose her life. But on the other hand, he wanted to be her friend to the fullest extent and not lie to her; if he did and she later found out the truth, she might never believe him again. No, secrecy or not, Jim really did need her trust right now. Besides, those pirates were doomed no matter what took place. So Jim went for broke and threw all caution to the wind.
He cleared his throat and began. "Well, I was—No wait, let me start from the beginning. Beth, I'm a soldier, to be more exact, I've been trained to fight enemies like pirates, outlaws, bandit and other bad guys. I was ordered to come here by the ship that you heard about and get to this planet." He went on to describe what had happened before & during the attack, how he came through the secret portal and had hidden himself in the castle. "I actually took cover in a ground crevasse which was really a vent that led to a big, underground cave. I found that it was filled with a lot of food and drink so I assumed that being a storage room that it would be mostly deserted. So I hid there and listened to what was happening and being said from small crack or porous holes in the rock. In fact, there's more than a few holes, niches and even empty magma tunnels that run through this part of the castle's foundations and walls." Beth nodded for she herself had seen deep depressions in the ceilings and high walls but never explored or looked closer. "And this morning, I was catching a little bit of sleep in one of the small tunnels when I was awakened by some loud yelling. I crawled towards the sound and found it led to a wood cabinet at the end. And I could see through the small crack between the two doors. That's how I saw what was, you know, happening." Beth nodded approvingly. "I'm so glad that you did, for I don't know what that, that...monster would have done to me. And, I...well, if it is enough...Thank-you...very much...for rescuing me from him and from there." Jim just smiled with a tender gaze that Beth was finding very contagious; in fact, Jim's entire countenance made her feel warm and tingly all over.
The two of them just lay there staring at each other for a very long time. Neither of them said a word. Then, Jim lowered his gaze for a few moments and then turned it back to the still-sodden Beth, who appeared to be so lovely to him. Her now wet and clumped hair was still magnificent around her rapturing white face with her dark red eyebrows and eyelashes. Beth turned them down for a moment too and then lifted them back up. Jim smiled deeply upon seeing what he liked most about her: those tender, soft, sometimes-sad-yet-devastatingly-beautiful chocolate brown eyes. His gaze fell over her frock-covered figure and noticed her white, calloused hands that were still petite and cute as well.
Jim pushed himself back up so that he was kneeling on his right leg. Beth saw and sat up with a curious look upon Jim. He turned to her and reached out his hand Beht hesitated for a little bit and then slowly, timidly, she reached out her right hand as well and laid it upon Jim's. "Beth," he began and she lifted her steady gaze to his face. "I...well, I know that there's a lot that I have to tell you about myself, but...for know, let me just say this: What I did, you know, to..." "Rescue me?", she completed his thoughts. "Yeah, I...did it so that, because...um...you're worth it. And I know that I'm pretty much a stranger to you. But I really want you to know that I care for you. And I promise- to do everything I can to make sure you're never hurt again. And someday, when all those pirates, including the one who hit you, are over with, I promise that I'll help you find your real family. I think that they're still out there so...when I'm done, getting everything taken care of, I'll help you out and bring you home and help you get back what you were...taken from."
Beth looked up at him as the tears returned. To her mind, It meant one thing: He was going to help her! At last, she had found a true friend who truly wanted to help her and bring her to her real family and home. She was so overcome with emotion that she didn't know what to say. So she just reached up, wrapped her arms around Jim's back and pulled him to her as his arms did the same. They were silent for a while and then Beth whispered with a slight catch in her throat. "Th-tha-thank...You...J-j-j-Jim!" With that, she lapsed into another round of happy grieving. As she stroked his strong, muscular back, Beth closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of Jim's body, his warmth and soft hair. "Jim...promise me, please, promise...that...you'll never leave me. I don't want to be alone ever again." Jim was silent and thought for a while. He pushed himself back as a Beth appeared worried and a little frightened. "Beth, I wish I could say...I mean, I wish I could really promise that. But, I 've lived long enough to know that...I can't dictate or control everything that's going to happen or guarantee that nothing will separate us forever. But I can promise this: No matter what happens to either You or me, I'll always come for you, fight for you, defend you, help you, care for you and guide you as long as you and I are alive—anywhere, anytime and in anyway!"
Beth smiled deeply as one final tear ran down here face. Now, she was satisfied and well-assured that someone she now-loved would take very good care of her. Now, she felt that she could do anything without fear or concern because this boy would be hers and her only friend like no one else. Now, her long years of solitude, hidden feeling & longings were no more; instead, the days ahead of her seemed filled with hope and bright promise that could only come true one day.
Unbeknownst to the searchers, their quarry was on the other side of the mountains touching her bare feet to cool, fresh, pure mountain water. Beth gave a cry of joy and excitement as the translucent liquid swirled around her submerged ankles. What a refreshing feeling that tingled across her skin! Slowly, she let go of Jim, who had been supporting her by the arms, and began to wade further into the small river. Jim took off his boots and socks as well and relocated his 50-caliber revolver to his hip. After scanning the area to be certain no one else was nearby, he walked in after her. Beth stopped in the middle of the waist-high current and slowly began to let herself down. Her breath came quicker as the cold water reacted with her warm skin. Finally, she stopped when her shoulders were fully under water for the first time in her life. Jim came and stood nearby but didn't immerse himself.
"So, uh...", Jim's thoughts tumbled over each other as he tried to say something. "...how...come you live with those beasts?" Beth looked at him and rose up with her waterlogged dress clinging to her well-formed body but Jim wasn't paying attention to that. She was silent and downcast for a minute and then spoke. "I...don't know. All I can remember is that I have lived in the castle a long time; I don't know...who my real father and mother are, or...were. Ever since I was very little, I was taught and cared for by my only friend; his name was Mr. Skept , or, at least that's what he was called...and told me to call him." She paused with a sad look in her gentle brown eyes before going on. "I know...that I don't look like anyone else that I've ever known or met—except for you." She turned her gaze to him and smiled happily. Jim returned her smile as well even though his heart was breaking for her. She looked down and continued. "Mr. Skept always told me that he was not my true father and that...he did not know-who my parents were." She sniffled as her eyes began to tear up again. Jim moved closer and put his arms around her shoulder. Beth began to sob heavily again but Jim didn't mind at all. His abandonment by his father had torn down his world, his dreams and his hope as well. Thus, he could only shed tears for her himself as she held on to him like a long-lost child. Jim and Beth held on to each other for a long time. After a while, Jim opened his eyes and stared at her long, wavy, deep-reddish hair. "Beth?" "Mm-hmm?" she answered. "Have you ever been outside of this planet? I mean, have you ever seen the Etherium from a sailing ship?" Beth pulled away and shook her head. "I...don't know what an Etherium is. I've-heard others talk about it and I've know what sailing ships look like. But...I've never traveled on one." She sniffled again. "I've never even been outside of those black mountains a long way over there." Jim followed her gaze and saw the terrible-looking range of ink-black jagged peaks covered over by enormous dark gray and black clouds. He shivered as he remembered zooming over and past them as he fled with then-unconscious Bethany between his arms as he gripped the sail-bar of his surfer. Turning back to face Beth, he sighed. "Have they hurt you before, like that ugly creep did?" She shook her head. "no, I've never been treated like that. But then again, no one except Mr. Skept ever really noticed me: to them, I was just a.....servant who does whatever they expect. Mr. Skept was my only friend until...well, one day..." She couldn't go on and dropped her head. Jim slowly moved his hand so that he wouldn't frighten her. He touched the side of her baby soft face and spoke to her in a quiet voice. "It's okay, Beth, I'll be your friend." Beth suddenly stood still and looked at him with a puzzled look. "You...sniff want to...be like, like...Mr. Skept...to me?" He nodded. "Yeah! Hey, I can be anyone that you want me to be—except a female like you!" Beth giggled at the thought; she definitely liked this boy so much—maybe even more than Mr. Skept. "I'm getting cold." She said as her body began to shake from the loss of heat. "Here, let's go dry out on the shore.", Jim offered. He held her left hand so she wouldn't slip and fall on the smooth rock on the riverbed. They made it to shore and lay back on the soft grass as the late morning sun began to dissipate the coolness of their skin and sopping clothes.
Beth was suddenly was curious about her rescuer. "Jim.", she said. "Yeah?" "Where did you come from and how did you get here? And how in blue blazes [she picked up phrases like these from the pirates] where you able to sneak up and...you know...what you did to, hmm, what was his name...oh yes, Kersearge Flint?" Jim grinned a little. "Well, I'm from a planet called Montressor. It's very far away from this planet we're on now. I got here from a ship that was attacked by several of the pirate's ships themselves." The truth suddenly dawned on Beth. "Ohhh, so it was you who destroyed all those crews and their vessels!" "No, no, no, I said I was on the ship that did the attacking. I wasn't fighting against those pirates with the crew of the ship." "But, if you won and defeated all the ships that attacked yours, then why, or how did you get away and come here?"
Jim was silent for a while. He had been sworn to secrecy and had not revealed his actions or mission purpose until now. He trusted Beth full- heartedly, but if the pirates got suspicious and started looking to Beth for answers, then she might be in great danger and maybe even lose her life. But on the other hand, he wanted to be her friend to the fullest extent and not lie to her; if he did and she later found out the truth, she might never believe him again. No, secrecy or not, Jim really did need her trust right now. Besides, those pirates were doomed no matter what took place. So Jim went for broke and threw all caution to the wind.
He cleared his throat and began. "Well, I was—No wait, let me start from the beginning. Beth, I'm a soldier, to be more exact, I've been trained to fight enemies like pirates, outlaws, bandit and other bad guys. I was ordered to come here by the ship that you heard about and get to this planet." He went on to describe what had happened before & during the attack, how he came through the secret portal and had hidden himself in the castle. "I actually took cover in a ground crevasse which was really a vent that led to a big, underground cave. I found that it was filled with a lot of food and drink so I assumed that being a storage room that it would be mostly deserted. So I hid there and listened to what was happening and being said from small crack or porous holes in the rock. In fact, there's more than a few holes, niches and even empty magma tunnels that run through this part of the castle's foundations and walls." Beth nodded for she herself had seen deep depressions in the ceilings and high walls but never explored or looked closer. "And this morning, I was catching a little bit of sleep in one of the small tunnels when I was awakened by some loud yelling. I crawled towards the sound and found it led to a wood cabinet at the end. And I could see through the small crack between the two doors. That's how I saw what was, you know, happening." Beth nodded approvingly. "I'm so glad that you did, for I don't know what that, that...monster would have done to me. And, I...well, if it is enough...Thank-you...very much...for rescuing me from him and from there." Jim just smiled with a tender gaze that Beth was finding very contagious; in fact, Jim's entire countenance made her feel warm and tingly all over.
The two of them just lay there staring at each other for a very long time. Neither of them said a word. Then, Jim lowered his gaze for a few moments and then turned it back to the still-sodden Beth, who appeared to be so lovely to him. Her now wet and clumped hair was still magnificent around her rapturing white face with her dark red eyebrows and eyelashes. Beth turned them down for a moment too and then lifted them back up. Jim smiled deeply upon seeing what he liked most about her: those tender, soft, sometimes-sad-yet-devastatingly-beautiful chocolate brown eyes. His gaze fell over her frock-covered figure and noticed her white, calloused hands that were still petite and cute as well.
Jim pushed himself back up so that he was kneeling on his right leg. Beth saw and sat up with a curious look upon Jim. He turned to her and reached out his hand Beht hesitated for a little bit and then slowly, timidly, she reached out her right hand as well and laid it upon Jim's. "Beth," he began and she lifted her steady gaze to his face. "I...well, I know that there's a lot that I have to tell you about myself, but...for know, let me just say this: What I did, you know, to..." "Rescue me?", she completed his thoughts. "Yeah, I...did it so that, because...um...you're worth it. And I know that I'm pretty much a stranger to you. But I really want you to know that I care for you. And I promise- to do everything I can to make sure you're never hurt again. And someday, when all those pirates, including the one who hit you, are over with, I promise that I'll help you find your real family. I think that they're still out there so...when I'm done, getting everything taken care of, I'll help you out and bring you home and help you get back what you were...taken from."
Beth looked up at him as the tears returned. To her mind, It meant one thing: He was going to help her! At last, she had found a true friend who truly wanted to help her and bring her to her real family and home. She was so overcome with emotion that she didn't know what to say. So she just reached up, wrapped her arms around Jim's back and pulled him to her as his arms did the same. They were silent for a while and then Beth whispered with a slight catch in her throat. "Th-tha-thank...You...J-j-j-Jim!" With that, she lapsed into another round of happy grieving. As she stroked his strong, muscular back, Beth closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of Jim's body, his warmth and soft hair. "Jim...promise me, please, promise...that...you'll never leave me. I don't want to be alone ever again." Jim was silent and thought for a while. He pushed himself back as a Beth appeared worried and a little frightened. "Beth, I wish I could say...I mean, I wish I could really promise that. But, I 've lived long enough to know that...I can't dictate or control everything that's going to happen or guarantee that nothing will separate us forever. But I can promise this: No matter what happens to either You or me, I'll always come for you, fight for you, defend you, help you, care for you and guide you as long as you and I are alive—anywhere, anytime and in anyway!"
Beth smiled deeply as one final tear ran down here face. Now, she was satisfied and well-assured that someone she now-loved would take very good care of her. Now, she felt that she could do anything without fear or concern because this boy would be hers and her only friend like no one else. Now, her long years of solitude, hidden feeling & longings were no more; instead, the days ahead of her seemed filled with hope and bright promise that could only come true one day.