Chapter 9 - Merrily, merrily life is but a dream.

"Hopefully-wopfully they'll make it back safey-wafey" Bollo said breaking the silence as the 3 looked out to sea seeing nothing as the boat had sailed out of view.

"I'm sure they'll be fine. I mean the crew wasn't competent so I doubt the captain was any better." Bootus said reassuringly

"Yeah but he did manage to kidnap Vivli." Voldos reminded Bootus

"Ah yes but that wasn't due to incompetence it was due to Vivli's incompetence." Bootus replied, reassuring Bollo of their, mostly Zinkata's, competence and general ability to kick ass.

"Makes sense I suppose." Voldos said as he turned back to look towards the horizon.

"Could you row faster?" Vivli was restless and bored. The adrenaline that had been released during her kidnapping still remained in her blood stream which made her body and mind in the need to do something, however this was not possible if she remained confined to the rowing boat. Unless she wanted to capsize the boat most probably killing both her and Zinkata. Luckily for Zinkata she didn't.

"If I rowed faster I'd get worn out faster meaning after a couple of minutes we'd be going slower than our current speed to eventually stop so I can have a break." Sometimes Zinkata could see why Bootus used to dislike Vivli ad nowadays constantly make fun of her. Unfortunately these times came when they were alone. This got Zinkata thinking about his attraction for her. Was it just physical? Or was it the fact that Vivli was the only female non-family member Zinkata really knew. Looking towards her he decided that yes she was attractive. Very attractive. But how about personality wise? He defiantly liked her general attitude of kindness and being loving towards all the people she met. Except Bootus, but there are circumstances to that. The part he didn't like was her childishness. Zinkata put this down to the sheltered life she led. Vivli had once told the group, notably when Bootus wasn't there, that she had spent her life in a cathedral with a few other orphans learning the ways of white magic and religion. She only ventured out to the gardens until she was 12 where she went out with a high priestess to the town for supplies. She didn't even see a male of any species till 16! So Zinkata could forgive her for this. Unfortunately this didn't make it any less annoying.

"You do know that bodies going to start smelling soon don't you? Especially in this heat." Voldos had turned away from the sea to take a look at the ship. This is when he remembered Vivli's saviour.

"Hmmmm? Oh yeah. The body. I had completely forgotten about that in the whole fighting and kidnapping. Suppose we had better get rid of it."

So Bootus went across the deck, picked up the lifeless corps ready to through it over the edge.

"Wait a moment!" Bollo called after Bootus. "Shouldn't we give him some kind of service-wervice? I mean he did risk his life to save Vivli."

"Good point …wonder who he is any way."

"Warrior, young, good looking. I'd say it was Vivli's new love interest … what's his name?" Voldos replied to Bootus's question with observation that though characteristic of a ranger it was out of character for Voldos.

"Milliano." Bollo had been the only one interested or not in a state of shock when Vivli had been discussing the new man in her life.

"Well what do you want to do? He is actually bleeding all over me at this moment." Bootus said seemingly cold but with Milliano dead Bootus wasn't exactly going to hurt his feelings.

"Say a few words. You were a Monk remember. Didn't learn about religious ceremonies?" All Voldos knew about Bootus's Monk job was that he could do a lot of damage.

"Your thinking of Priest Monks. I'm a fighter Monk." Bootus filled the other two in on the situation.

"Surely you can do some kind of ceremony? Though not a Priest Monk you're still best qualified." Voldos wanted the poor guy who had given his life so readily a proper ceremony. For this reason he didn't want to be the one to do it.

"Fine. I'll give him a funeral service. But only the short version. He did save Vivli remember." The real reason was that Bootus never bothered, so didn't know the proper version.

"We are gathered here today to say farewell to Milliano and to commit him into the hands of the Gods. We thank the Gods for the life that they give us. It is full of work and responsibility, of sorrow and joy. Today we thank you for Milliano, for what he has given and received. Help us in our mourning and teach us to live for the living in the time that is still left to us. Thank you for eternal life that can give life and joy to our days and years already here on Earth.

"Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. I commend his life to the sea and give him passage to the next life. Amen"

"Amen"

"Amen"

With the respect the young warrior deserved Bootus dropped his body into the sea. A silent minute of reflection was about to be started, the other adventurers and merchants travelling on the ship who had bared witness to Milliano's sacrifice had stood with Voldos and Bollo, even the captain considered it until he noticed Mhaura and decided to tell the passengers of this.

"We are now in Mhaura everyone. Please collect all of your belongings and prepare to depart. On behalf of Vana'deil sails I'd like to thank everyone for sailing with us and apologies for the earlier inconvenience."

While annoyed with the captains disrespect Bootus decided to let it go and just get off the boat. They'd hopefully be in Jeuno before to long and start to sort out the mess that had befallen Bastok.

Finally on stable non-rocking ground the 3 adventurers heaved a sigh of relief. That was until a familiar voice was heard.

"VOLDOS! Is that truly you?"

"Oh no. Please don't let it be …" Voldos's despair was realised as a tallish man in his late 20's in dark armour ran up to Voldos and gave him a hug.

"Hello Fred." Voldos said putting in as much enthusiasm as was possible in the situation.

"It is so good to see you again! How have you been?" Fred on the other hand was extremely excited at seeing the adventurer who he appeared to know, but not well liked by Voldos.

"Good thank you Fred." Voldos said in the same monotone voice he used for the greeting. He had hoped Fred would one day notice his lack of liking towards him one day . So far he had, had no luck.

"And how are you little Bollo." Fred said this while leaning down and giving him a little pat on the head. Unlike Voldos Bollo liked Fred and replied with a response that reflected this.

"I'm super-wuper thank you Freddy! How have you been?"

"Oh same old, same old." Fred replied while standing up to meet Bootus. "And how are you ya big lug?"

"I'm good thanks. That's possibly because I'm having a break from Vivli." Bootus said shaking Fred's hand a smile on his face. Bootus also liked Fred. Mainly due to how uncomfortable he made Voldos.

"Where is Vivli? And Zinkata for that matter." Fred asked more concerned for Zinkata than Vivli.

"Oh she got kidnapped so Zinkata went and saved her."

"Oh he is such a brave person." Fred answered seemingly have forgotten the Vivli part of the story. "Anyway I had better be off or I'll miss my boat. I'll see you guys alter. Bye Voldos." After giving Voldos a good-bye hug he was off with 4 other adventurers who had previously been standing a little away from the group.

"With any luck a competent band of pirates will come along and kill him."

"Awwwww Voldy-woldy not like freddy-weddy?" Said Bootus being as patronising as it was possible for any species.

"Shut up." Voldos said not impressed in the least.

"What did ever happen between you two?" Bootus asked he question that was always asked after a Voldos-Fred confrontation.

"Shut up"

"You two use to be so close. Then one day he just up and left giving no explanation and you were pissed off at him for 3 weeks."

"I SAID SHUT UP!" Voldos had reached the end of his tether as he always did in this discussion.

"So what are we going to doey-woey?" Asked Bollo

"Wait I guess."