Alright, alright, I know, I know, I haven't updated in ages, and I also know that I'm kinda dragging the chapters in the game along. I'm sorry I took so long to update, but I do plan to try and write more often. I know this one's dialogue heavy, but I thought it was, at the least, a little funny.

I do thank you guys for your continued support. Read and review, as always.

"Alright, let me get this straight—we're going to somewhere known as the Dread Isle?"

I posed my question while we were traveling along, trotting to the port city of Badon. I was on my own horse, trotting at an almost leisurely pace between Eliwood and Hector, both riding. Lyn was ahead, which didn't really surprise me.

"A place called the Dread Isle, and this doesn't bother any of you at all?" I added, admittedly a little nervous about the whole escapade. "And that we have to sail? Gentlemen, I've never sailed before. It's not my forte. It's my biggest weakness!"

"Jason, this fear is really unlike you," Eliwood quipped, looking at me and looking, well, downright concerned. "The Jack of all Trades, Master of One is scared and helpless? Can't you at least act the part, show some bravado? I might take a little amusement in your fear, but others wouldn't take it so well."

Hector laughed a little. "I thought it was our job, now, to show the bravado. He stays on the sidelines, now, isn't that correct, Tactician?" He looked ahead as Lyn came back to report to us—again. "How are the roads, Lyndis?"

"Clear, for once. The port town is just ahead. We'll be there before the sun sets—if you boys start going my pace." She had almost an uncharacteristically coy look on her face; I hadn't known her to jest, although she challenged Hector to more than one competition of sorts.

Watching the two of them spar was funny, but that's a story for another time.

"So now all that's left is conning some near-suicidal sailors into taking us to that supposedly cursed place," I said, staring blankly ahead at the port town. I shuddered at the sight of the big ships resting on the water. To think I was actually going to get on that thing. "Well… that, and conning me into agreeing to get on it. I mean… how do those things float? How do they build them so the water doesn't seep in? It just seems… potentially dangerous."

"Just about everything we do is potentially dangerous, Jason," Lyn added.

"Well… I mean… yeah, yes it is… but damn it, if I'm going to die because of unnatural causes, I would rather it be someone's blade in my chest than several pounds of water there… and then there's that… that sickness that they say people get on those things…"

"Scurvy?" Eliwood asked.

"No! Seasickness! It's so incredibly simple to get, they say, that it makes me wonder why sailors live as long as they do!"

"Jason, my friend, seasickness isn't fatal. Just eat very light when we get on the boat, and try not to move around." Eliwood grinned at me a little, another uncharacteristic kind of glance. Apparently they were all really starting to like me—that I was getting under their skin. "We're going to be fine, Jason. Nothing wrong is going to happen."

My stomach sank a little, however, upon realizing what he had just said. "Wait… eat? We have to eat on those things? How long is this trip going to take?"

Hector fielded that question. "If I had to guess, I'd guess about four to seven days."

I stopped moving, stopped my horse, and grimaced. Apparently, the expression on my face was rather priceless, as it merited grins from the two Lords, and a slight giggle on Lyn's behalf (I know; I know you're thinking, 'when does she giggle'. She did). "We're going to be on that boat for a week!" I yelled, sounding absolutely terrified. "That's going to do horrible things to us! We're all going to go mad with cabin fever! We won't be able to train, and I don't see much room for exercise, and think of it!" The tone of my voice, I'm guessing, slowed my companions down. "On top of that, we're going to be spending a week on top of water, my friends. Water! Not safe, solid land, but deep, dangerous, who-knows-what's-living-in-it water!" I shook my head, still a bit panicked. "I would rather take my chances flying with Florina than sailing on that thing!"

"Jason…" Lyn began, looking a bit stern. "Do you really think that Florina would let you touch her to hold on, let alone get on Huey as it is?"

"Hence why I said 'take my chances', Lyn. Come on, you're best friends with her… you could talk her into something, can't you? Please?"

"If it makes you feel any better, I've never sailed, either. But I've heard about some of the splendors of being on the open sea, as they say. Please, please calm down. It really upsets me to see you this worried."

I paused again. It upset her that she saw me worried. It upset her that I was worried in the first place.

"Besides," she continued, "I wouldn't let you get hurt." She smiled a bit, a warm, charming smile, when she said it. "Remember when I first found you on the plains of Sacae? I didn't let you get hurt then, did I?"

I had to confess I smiled a little then, too. I thought back to waking up in that warm bed, seeing her for the first time. I was a little startled; all I had remembered was running, running, running…

…but I suppose that's a story for another time…