Balthazar wasn't entirely sure about how to go about finding an apprentice. One didn't just place an ad in the Neopian Times. While he would probably have gotten plenty of replies, exactly why would he want anyone to know that he required help? Besides, the idea of actually paying for such a thing grated on his nerves. "Pretentious, over charging…" He muttered under his breath.
He glared back down at the map speared to his desk. It was covered in red circles, indicating that these were the main places that the faeries had once lived but were now not worthwhile to bother searching. He could just feel the mocking laughter they had to be voicing at his predicament. He jabbed his pen down and another red circle was added. His thoughts drifted again to his as yet unknown apprentice. It would have to be a Lupe, of that he was certain. No other Neopet species in Neopia had the superior physical qualities that made Lupes stealthy and great searchers.
He leaned back in his chair and looked at the trophies on his wall. Yes, the law abiding Neopians might despise both him and what he did, but they just could not resist the rewards that the faeries offered them in their gratitude. He grinned; his life was so much more interesting than any of theirs.
He remembered, a long time ago, the faeries had truly begun to hate him. They decided to be rid of him once and for all and began a war that spanned three of the miniature lands of Neopia. Queen Fyora had led them, and they had expanded to their full size. Balthazar had led his army of disconnected Lupe packs, each devotedly following his leadership. It had raged for years and the only result was an uneasy stalemate that still continued. The faeries may have had the magic, but his army had had the sheer determination.
It was unusual for a Lupe to live alone, and while almost any pack would have accepted him not only into their pack but as the dominant leader, he had his reasons for not accepting.
He stretched once more and went back to his problems, leaving behind his fantasy of reliving that old war, if only just for the moment.
– – –
The creaking of the timber all around him was beginning to get on Rayden's nerves. Sneaking aboard the Prancing Waves had been much easier than he could have hoped for. He couldn't have been the first to try stowing away, on any ship, so why was the security so loose? It was beginning to worry him.
Being small was an advantage in that the space he'd managed to wedge himself into under the main deck was practically invisible from below, though it was incredibly uncomfortable, which was why he was trying to distract himself by listening to the noise of the ship, but that irritated him further.
It was almost dawn before Rayden heard the crew returning. He tensed as some came below deck and passed below where he was hiding, but not a single Neopet glanced upwards. He exhaled the breath he was holding quietly and grinned. They'll never find me here.
Because he had received so little sleep the night before he fell asleep to the sound of the captain bellowing, "The tide has turned! Mount those ropes and get us moving!"
– – –
Another impatient Neopet strode through the door to his small office, the line that could be seen waiting outside the door looked as long as ever. This one was a Rainbow Kyrii. Under one arm she carried a squirming Baby Pteri that was squawking in an annoying high pitched voice and the other she carried a sack of what was presumably neopoints.
"Good morning Madam, how may I help you today?" It paid to be polite to the customers, despite the annoyed look that flashed across her face. While they would keep coming back regardless of how he behaved, they tended to be more pleasant if he was.
The Kyrii let her sack clank down hard on to his patterned brown plastic desk. "Find me some bottled faeries, I don't care what kind, as long as they are under 3000NP." She said, very frustrated. At these words the Pteri calmed down enough to be quiet.
"Please wait a moment Madam, I'm conducting the search now." The Shop Wizard turned to his computer and set the search going; Bottled Faerie, Under 3000NP. Almost immediately the search ended. No result. "I'm sorry Madam, there are no bottled faeries for that price in Neopia Central market place. Would you like me to search the other markets?" The Pteri suddenly looked like it was going to start crying again. The Kyrii took one look at her and replied almost immediately.
"Yes! Corany insists that she have a faerie ability like her friends to show off. I haven't had a moment's peace since."
The Shop Wizard frowned as he again turned to his terminal and started the search. Again, nothing. He tried again. "The faeries are living creatures Madam and don't like being stuck in bottles, they only bless a 'Pet because they are grateful for being released. Don't think of them as commodities." The JubJub glanced at his customer, it did not appear that she appreciated the lecture.
Nothing.
He tried the last market, that over in the Haunted Woods. Once more there wasn't anything. "Sorry, there are no bottled faeries in Neopia for 3000NP or less."
"Fine, do an unrestricted search, all market places."
Ah finally, a hit. He almost couldn't wait to be rid of this Kyrii. "The cheapest price I've found is 6000NP."
"What! I checked the prices on the Notice Board only three days ago and 3000NP was the asking price. Why would the prices have changed so dramatically in such a short period of time?" She was beginning to look quite frantic, especially as Corany had started screeching again.
He patiently decided to explain, perhaps she would be satisfied with what he had found. "If you read the Neopian Times you would have discovered that Balthazar has reduced the number of captured faeries that he has been giving to the money tree. No one knows why. Consequently the prices have risen as they become scarcer."
He heard murmuring in the corridor. He sighed. There was nothing he could do about the prices, he only looked them up.
The Kyrii hesitated for a moment more and then replied, "Fine, give me the address and type of faerie. I'll take it."
He printed out the information, and took the required amount. "It should be in your inventory now. Good day Madam."
She nodded once sharply and strode out, "Oh, thankyou Mummy, now all my friends can envy me too!" Corany's voice was heard following her mother.
"Next!" He called. And so his day continued. He wasn't the only Shop Wizard in Neopia, but they all looked identical so one was hard pressed to notice this fact. However sometimes he felt that he was.
– – –
A small green Lupe wearing a fake eye-patch cackled, throwing his mug into the air, as he recited the last of the story, "And that is how you know never to trust Red Koi!" In the murky bar, answering laughter greeted him. He downed his drink and grinned as he leapt from his perch on a bar stool.
Loharn enjoyed making up stories for the benefit of others, especially this crowd as they were easier to please. If he did say something that had offended another 'Pet, they all soon learned never to pick a fight with him. Despite his size he fought well and he also fought dirty. He placed his mug on the counter and accepted the 5 neopoint coin the bar tender flicked at him. He gave a false salute on his way out.
He loved Krawk Island. It was the place he grew up. After a lot of effort he'd managed to secure himself a spot on the 90 foot long Dragon's Bane. The exact ship his great grandmother has served on. He was a ship's boy, which involved having his nose to the deck and soap up to his elbows most of the time, but he was honouring his ancestors and his Lupe pack which was what mattered. Besides, he was allowed to fight.
He wound his way through the narrow streets closer to the docks. Shore leave was pretty much over and you were never late returning to Captain Horat's ship. He yelped wildly in laughter when he thought about what had happened to the only crew member he'd known who came late. Several onlookers stared at him. Let them.
Lupe packs on Krawk Island were organised differently to other places since so many of them were involved in the pirating trade. Many of them actually obtained the treasure but a lot were involved in selling and distributing it safely. Because the packs were so disconnected, each member had that much more freedom, but when it came down to your ship or your pack, the pack usually won. The other main difference was that the pack leaders lived in houses on shore instead of out in the woods.
He reached the ship and scurried up the gang plank. "Ah there you are, Loharn. You missed a few spots last time you were aboard, better soap up and join the other boys." A female blue Zafara called down to him from the bow, watching as everyone returned back to the ship.
"Yes, Cap'n." He replied. He sighed as he began to work, but it was worth it. They sailed on the evening tide.
– – –
He awoke when the seas began to really roll the ship. Rayden was beginning to regret his hasty decision slightly when he realised that he didn't have any food or water. Not that he had any to bring with him, but that was irrelevant now. It was going to be hard to steal anything on a ship this size, which had fifty crew members and he wasn't exactly sure where the… galley was anyway. At least that's what he thought the kitchen on a boat… ship was called.
He probably was going to have to risk it soon though as his stomach was going to give him away if he didn't manage to stop its grumbling even though he could last a while without eating. He hadn't eaten for about six hours now, at least not anything decent.
Actually, now that he thought about it, it was a lot noisier on the top deck all of a sudden, and he couldn't hear anyone else below deck with his sensitive ears. The ship lurched abruptly which startled Rayden, though he was too secure to fall. He wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but this was his chance.
As quietly as he could he dropped to the wooden deck below and winced at the fact he'd managed to get splinters in his front paws from where he was gripping the beam. His rear paws had not suffered the same fate for the deck had been worn smooth by so many feet running over it. He crouched quietly while he removed the worst of the splinters and glanced up to the corner where he had managed to wedge his possession. It would have clanked had he jumped down with it and since it would only hamper his movement from now on he left it where it was. It'll be safe there, he reassured himself.
Now, where is the food… Rayden sniffed the air and then began to make his way to where his stomach would be happy, just as the Prancing Waves seemed to jump underneath him.
– – –
"Cap'n, I don't like the look of those waves or the feel of this wind!" A yellow Wocky called from the crows nest, cupping her hands over her mouth. Exactly why chance had decided that she had to be the one on watch so that she could deliver news about a possible storm, Droake wasn't sure. She was getting the feeling that someone didn't like her.
"Aye Droake, looks like a storm!" Captain Terius replied. He wasn't happy about the news, especially after all his plans had been working so well. Up until this point. The weather was not something he could control however and so he began to yell orders to deal with the situation. "First Mate! Reef the sails and release the storm sails. Relieve the tillerman, I'll be taking the helm."
"Aye, sir!" The white Flotsam saluted and then scrambled to follow the orders.
The Captain shook his head slightly and muttered, "It's all very well to show respect, but only for parade. On my ship, obeying orders immediately is plenty of respect." He went to the stern, barely noticing the movement of the ship and grabbed the wheel as the red Acara released it.
Aim 45 degrees down the waves, that's the safest route.
– – –
Unlike the crew of the ship, Rayden was not navigating the changing landscape that was the deck all that well. It probably didn't help that it was gloomy; what little light there was barely penetrated. He'd already hit a number of the crates of cargo and half tangled himself up in a sleeping hammock, and from what he could tell, it was getting worse. Luckily the noise on deck was enough to cover the sounds. Finally he reached the ladder that would take him to the main deck. There was no direct route that remained under the deck. When he glanced out briefly there was so much running around there would be no way that they would notice him.
He took a deep breath, hit the side of the opening as the ship jerked again and ran for it. It wasn't far and he was halfway down the stairwell before he stopped and listened to see if anyone was left in the galley. Hearing no one he completed his journey to the deck and stumbled to the ground. His palms throbbed when he hit the floor, in the spots he couldn't remove the splinters. He let out a slight gasp of pain and realised he was wet. It was raining.
He shook himself off and dashed into the galley, grabbed the nearest thing that smelled like food, gobbled it down and partly gagged. It was awful! No matter, he grabbed a bit more and swallowed that as well. That settled his stomach and would probably last a while.
Rayden then repeated the manoeuvre, noticing that not only was it raining, but spray was breaking over the rails. I hope we don't sink. He stumbled past the cargo hold but as he reached the sleeping quarters he realised that two sailors were behind him. Probably anyone who wasn't needed was being sent down to batten down the hatches.
He looked for somewhere to hide. He wouldn't be able to get back to his spot in time. There wasn't much. Two layers of hammocks, three deep. A few wooden chests, probably for personal items, all visibly locked and some spare rope and a little debris piled up in some of the corners. He raced to the back and hid himself under a hammock in the corner. It was tightly woven and was close to the ground. It was also dark. Hopefully they wouldn't notice him under it. His heart rate began to increase.
One of them was a Korbat. His vision was not impaired by the gloom and his ultrasound soon picked a lump where there wasn't supposed to be a lump. He gestured to his partner and approached Rayden's hiding place.
Rayden was trembling. Please, oh please. No luck, a purple claw reached down and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. He stared into the angry eyes of a female Draik. "And what do we have here? Looks like a stowaway to me." The deck heaved but not one of the two even stumbled.
"We'll take him to the Captain after the storm passes. He'll decide what to do with him."
Rayden glanced at the blue Korbat, utterly rigid with fright. What would the Captain do to him… And how would he get his artefact back?