~Chapter 10~

Joel

After regrouping after the storm, Eric kindly gave me a dry change of clothes. He offered me a room inside his palace, which I politely refused. The conditions of the palace didn't interest me the slightest. Sleeping out among the stars was my thing and I preferred it. It was far from the end of the night and so Eric hosted a bonfire for all his crewman. Three separate fires were made spread out down the beach. Some of the men gathered up together playing some music. I took notice of several sailors specifically one who played the accordian and another who strummed on a guitar. My whole life I always wanted to learn to play an instrument. It didn't matter what, but the desire had always been there. Being the son of a farmer, I never once had the opportunity. The group of sailors gathered around both of the fires closest to the palace. I opted to go to the smaller of the three and where there were less people. I stretched my arms out toward the flames and watched the waves come in and out across the shoreline feeling mesmerized by the sound getting lost in my thoughts. I placed Noella's pack beside me hoping her magic black box would still work amidst being submerged in water for a time. Then I got to thinking about when we parted ways earlier. Noella certainly had magical capabilities that I was never aware of. How did she possibly pull off growing a mermaid tail? I would certainly like to know how she did that. I wished I knew why Corissa was so threatened by her, but I wasn't entitled to such an opinion. I thought I lost her back on the ship afraid that she had drowned. Two thoughts entered my head immediately in that moment. First, was relief knowing that I no longer would be the one to end her life since the ocean did that for me, but second, was immediate sadness that I wouldn't see her again. I was getting too close. I wore the queen's bow almost like a badge of honor, but I wanted to rip it off my back and cast it into the fire. There was nothing honorable with what I would have to do to her.

Eric joined me soon after pulling me out of my troublesome mind set. He threw some more wood into the flames and the wood crackled upon entry.

"Mind if I join you?" He asked.

I nodded as he quickly sat down. My knees were scrunched up and I comfortably draped my arms across my knees staring into the flames.

"It's been a day, huh?" Eric shrugged. "I'm sorry about what happened. I shouldn't have sailed through the storm."

"You can't blame yourself." I replied, "You got everyone off the ship safely into lifeboats."

"Not everyone…" Eric muttered glumly.

I know to whom he was referring and I was brought back to that moment when Noella foolishly leapt from the lifeboat and got back on the ship. I tried to go after her, but the sailors blocked me saying the ship was going down to the depths. I tried to push my way through them, but they resisted. When I saw the ship go down, I felt sick. Noella was gone….drowned. My job would then be over and I wouldn't have to use that wicked bow.

"She's alive." I reassured him.

"Truly? That's the best news I've heard today. How did she survive?"

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you…" I shrugged.

Eric smirked.

"I told you I'm a fan of long stories, but I won't force you. The important thing is Noella is safe."

I nodded, but deep down I didn't know for sure what she was facing beneath those waves out on the ocean. Sharks and Killer whales alone are a formidable threat. I just hoped she would find the mirror quickly for her sake.

"So how long have you and Noella known each other?"

"Not long at all." I shrugged, "I'm just helping her on her journey to find her mother."

"Yes...I remember you mentioned that on the ship when we first met…" Eric replied raising a curious brow.

"What?" I said feeling like I was being interrogated.

"I'm just surprised." Eric commented nonchalantly, "You seem to really bend over backwards for her for not having known her very long…"

His comments were starting to get to me, but why were they? I had already been fighting feelings of guilt and this conversation wasn't helping.

"Eric, I'm just the son of a farmer and it was ingrained in me at a young age to be helpful toward people who cross my path." I explained casually.

My answer seemed to satisfy him. I felt like I was not only convincing Eric of this, but myself as well.