Chapter 6: A Well Deserved Repose
The morning sun's bright rays shone lightly throughout Kaeryd's hotel room, the same room in the same inn as yesterday, a day that seemed so distant now. Kaeryd had just awoken and was unsteadily dressing, pondering about his lost friend. No, not friend anymore…not a true friend ever, right? Sighing, he left the room, soft boots silent upon the hardwood floor. He was disconcerted and jaded by the previous night. Confusion ran through his head like thunderous horse hooves. Kaeryd had never even suspected Etherian…in fact, he had trusted him with his life. But not anymore…Kaeryd abruptly found thoughts of anger and revenge swarming inside his mind.
Attired in his usual apparel, Kaeryd made his way down the hall to Enterran's door. He knocked with his gloved hand.
"Hey, you awake? Let's get breakfast," Kaeryd pressed his ear to the door. No response.
"You there?" Kaeryd asked. Nothing.
"I guess he's already down there," Kaeryd thought.
Kaeryd strode farther down the hall and descended three spacious floors to the lobby and diner. Sure enough, Enterran, Hale, Eclipse, and Tysan lounged about a round table in the northwest corner of the room. The room was brightly lit, by natural and artificial sources, and crowded. Men and women strolled everywhere across the room, chatting.
"Hey guys," Kaeryd greeted them after he made his way through the congested clusters of people.
"Hey you're finally awake," Hale replied as he spooned some porridge into his mouth.
Kaeryd sat down and a waitress brought him breakfast, for which he thanked her and started to eat.
"So what are we doing today?" Sonic asked Kaeryd.
"We need to talk. All of us…tonight in my room," Kaeryd answered a bit dejectedly.
"Okay, but for now, can we look around Ardougne?" Tysan requested optimistically.
"Why are you asking me for?" Kaeryd asked between bites of his crisp bread.
"Well because you're the-" Tysan started.
"No I'm not," Kaeryd interrupted, "The Silver Chaos is over, do as you wish."
"Umm, okay," Tysan mumbled quietly.
Awkward silence ensued for a full minute.
"I'm done," Hale announced hurriedly and stood up.
"Me too, let's explore," Enterran wiped his mouth and stood up as well.
"Sounds good," Hale agreed and led the way out of the inn.
"Wait for us," Sonic called after them and left.
"Yeah," Tysan walked toward the door slowly glancing over his shoulder. Finally, he stopped, "You coming?" he asked the lone boy left at the table.
"Nah," was all Kaeryd gave him, without turning around.
"Suit yourself."
Tysan left the inn, leaving Kaeryd alone in the corner.
Good Morning.
Sifias! Kaeryd jolted, having completely forgotten about the Ancient.
You forgot about me? How could you forget about an Ancient inside your head?
Sorry. There was just a lot going on.
I know. It must be hard for you to accept Etherian's betrayal.
Yeah…it is.
"What are you doing all alone over here?" a well-known voice declared from behind Kaeryd. Kaeryd answered again without turning, "Talking."
"To…whom?" Jasmine questioned sitting down across from him.
"Sifias," Kaeryd replied.
"Ah," Jasmine acknowledged, swiping a lock of hair from her face. She looked a bit bedraggled.
"You should eat," Kaeryd said to his friend, forcing his voice to sound normal and not dismal.
"Not hungry," Jasmine responded offhandedly.
Kaeryd could tell that Jasmine was troubled by Etherian's defection as much as he.
"All right then, let's go find the others," Kaeryd suggested after a while.
"Where did they go?"
"I don't know, they said they were going to go sightseeing," Kaeryd remembered.
"Okay."
The two young warriors left the inn and started on a path going south. They strode along the street, enjoying the laughter and playfulness that still lingered from the previous day, somehow untainted by the violence. Ardougne was resigned to be peaceful always, unlike Falador. Kaeryd then remembered he hadn't told Aghamand, Zac, Dysann, and Auranus about the meeting.
Sifias let me have control of your powers real quick.
Of course.
Thanks.
Kaeryd concentrated on Aghamand and the others. He thought about the meeting at the same time. And, just like that, Aghamand, Zac, Dysann, and Auranus now knew about the conference.
That night, the survivors of the Silver Chaos gathered in the crowded hotel room of Ardougne Inn.
"What did you call us here for?" Tysan asked sitting down on a chair.
"Well we need to pursue that traitorous king." Jasmine answered him.
"Yeah, and I know exactly where to find him," Enterran replied.
"What? Where?" Kaeryd asked Enterran.
"Do you guys remember when we were coming here? From the mountain?" Enterran reminded everyone.
"Oh yeah! While we were coming here, Etherian told us that Zarin would go to Crandor," Auranus remembered now. Crandor was a remote island in a vast sea southeast of Ardougne. The island was legendary. It was said to be home to a giant emerald green dragon named Elvarg.
"Why would he go there?" Kaeryd puzzled.
"Etherian said Zarin needed to go there to recharge the talisman's power. He said that if he got there, and wasn't stopped…he'd be able to cleanse the world of all its inhabitants," Enterran explained.
"Wait a second," Zac spoke up, "Etherian is evil remember? He was probably lying," Zac thought aloud.
"Maybe, but it's the only plan of action we have…we might as well take it." Kaeryd said.
"Okay, assuming Zarin is going to Crandor. How the heck do we get there?" Dysann asked.
"How about a boat?" Jasmine suggested.
"That could work. We'll go tomorrow," Kaeryd concluded.
"Good, then it's settled. I'm gonna go to bed. I'm sleepy," Hale said and sluggishly left the room.
"Same here," Enterran followed Hale out of the cramped room.
"I'm going to get some food. I'm famished," Sonic made his way out and down the flights of stairs.
"I'll be outside for awhile…I need fresh air," Jasmine wiped her forehead with a white cloth and stepped out.
Zac, Dysann, and Aghamand left without a word. Tysan yawned, indicating he was tired as well, and got up from the chair.
"See ya tomorrow," Tysan looked at Kaeryd.
"Bye."
"Later," came Kaeryd's brother's voice.
"Later," Kaeryd replied.
Kaeryd was alone now. He opened up the window for a breeze. Looking out, into the night sky full of stars, Kaeryd thought about Etherian. He remembered all the good times they had and how he, Etherian, and Jasmine overcame so many obstacles. And then he thought about his betrayal. Why did he betray them? Etherian was like a father to him. "He's gone," was all Kaeryd could think about. He had lost one of his dear friends, and now, he was his worst enemy. He lay down on his soft mattress. And, finally, under the cover of darkness, he cried.
The next morning Kaeryd and company woke early and assembled outside the inn. After everyone had greeted each other, they started down a road going southeast. Kaeryd, who was groggy when he left the inn, was now wide-awake. He gazed around at his surroundings. The sky was clear and the sun shone just as it did yesterday. There was a gentle breeze that cooled them as they strolled down the dirt path. Everyone conversed jovially as they made their way through Ardougne. After about 10 minutes of walking, they came up to a port. People and sailors jostled around hauling crates and wooded beams. There wasn't a boat in sight. Everything seemed to be in chaos. The group made their way through the crowd and Kaeryd found a man with a captain's hat on. He approached him.
"Excuse me, captain," Kaeryd said.
"Yes?" the captain answered with a tone of authority.
"My name is Kaeryd. My party and I need a ride," Kaeryd introduced himself.
"Greetings traveler. My name is Captain Renarr. I'm afraid we don't have any ships ready at the moment," The black bearded man said with a sad tone in his voice.
"You don't? Why not?" Kaeryd inquired.
"Because we're rebuilding our boats," The captain told him.
"Rebuilding? What happened to them?" Kaeryd asked inquisitively.
"They were destroyed."
"Destroyed? Completely? By what?"
"It was a man. A wizard by the looks of him," Renarr explained.
"What was his name?" Kaeryd asked, dreading the answer.
"Zarin," Renarr replied.
"Damn," Kaeryd swore.
"He took a ship to Crandor. The reason? I don't know, but he paid good money for it. Once he was aboard, he destroyed the other ships…all of them…with the water. He manipulated it and destroyed the boats with powerful waves of the sea,"
"That's Zarin all right," Kaeryd gritted his teeth.
"It will take us about a week before we are finished with any boats," Renarr told Kaeryd.
"Hmm. Thank you for the information. I'll see you in a week then," Kaeryd said and waved goodbye.
"No problem."
"A week?" Hale yelled throwing up his arms in despair.
The party had returned to Kaeryd's room in Ardougne Inn. Kaeryd had just announced how long it would take for the boats to be rebuilt.
"Yes. A week," Kaeryd echoed.
"Zarin will be way ahead of us by that time! He could already be there right now!" Hale fretted.
Not necessarily. The trip itself would take about 2 days and the talisman needs at least 48 hours to recharge, meaning we would have 4 day,. Sifias explained aloud to everyone through Kaeryd's mouth.
Sonic looked at Kaeryd reproachfully. "Okay…so, umm, we have 4 days. That's still not a week," Sonic said obviously.
"It's better than nothing," Jasmine countered.
"Maybe we can do something to help," Tysan suggested.
"Yeah, maybe we can assist them with the building," Auranus agreed.
"Fine. It's settled. We'll go back tomorrow and help. For now though, I'm tired," Kaeryd took off his cloak.
"All right Kaer. We'll leave now," Jasmine assured him and left. Everyone followed her out.
"Move that wooden beam over there!"
Captain Renarr was shouting orders at his men and some unexpected help. Renarr stroked his beard. The travelers were doing a great job. They had great strength, agility, and motivation. With their help, he thought, they would get the repairs done in about three days time. Hammering sounds could be heard from a mile away. Kaeryd and the others had asked if they could help with the repairs around midday. Naturally, the captain had agreed and they had been working since. Storm clouds loomed ominously overhead but that did not deter them from working.
"Hand me that hammer would you?" Tysan asked Kaeryd.
"Sure," Kaeryd tossed Tysan a small iron hammer from a toolbox next to him.
Tysan started to hammer at a nail on the side of the ship's hull. Kaeryd stood up from his crouching position and surveyed the progress. They had come a long way from this morning and Kaeryd was determined to finish the rebuilding. As he looked around he saw Dysann and Eclipse lugging an extensive and massive wooden pole over to a boat. He turned around and saw Jasmine moving huge crates with her magic. Kaeryd wiped the sweat off his forehead. The temperature was burning but the sun wasn't even out. Kaeryd crouched back down to help Tysan with the hull but Tysan had already finished.
"Hey Ty, do you wanna get something to eat?" Kaeryd asked the small boy.
"Sure, let's get the others," Tysan answered. Kaeryd and Tysan rounded up the rest of the party, told the captain they were taking a break, and headed off toward a restaurant.
"That's it boys! We're done with the first boat!" Renarr boomed to everyone at the park. Cheers erupted from all directions. It was the next day, around 3:00.
"Thanks, you guys, it would've taken us a much longer time without your help," the bearded captain said as he turned to Kaeryd and his friends.
"It was our pleasure. We needed a ride as quickly as possible," Enterran told him.
"Yes, I've been meaning to ask you about that. Why do you need a ride to Crandor? And why so quickly?" the captain asked suspiciously.
"We have…special business there," Kaeryd explained.
"Hmm. Works for me as long as you pay," The captain answered jovially.
"Of course. When do you think you will be ready to set sail?" Kaeryd asked Renarr.
"Well, we can go tonight if you like," the captain told them.
"Great! We'll go get packed," Hale smiled.
A few hours later, the survivors of the Silver Chaos boarded the ship that they had worked so hard to rebuild.
"Ready the sails!" Captain Renarr barked at his crew. The sailors hurried to follow his directions. Kaeryd and Jasmine were standing at the top of the boat overlooking the dark blue sea that stretched for miles.
"Looks like we'll make it after all," Jasmine said hopefully.
"Yeah, It does," Kaeryd agreed.
Look out defiler…we're coming.