Chapter 3

Storm

A few days latter in the hull of the ship, Hat sat looking out of a small window watching as the seagulls flew past on their way home. For him and Will Halt knew that there was every possibility that they would never see home again. Will for now was asleep Halt could tell by the way he had placed himself that he was still in pain from the pirate last night taking pleasures with him.

Halt had tried to step in and stop them but from a blow he received he blacked out, only to wake a little latter in a rage and he saw Will next to him curled in on himself his clothes torn in places and when Halt touched him the boy's response was a scream of pain.

Halt felt a small shaking hand touching his own. Halt gripped it.

"Halt why did they do that to me? I tried to fight back and I knew you did but still it did not matter to them. They wanted to do that so they took me and they did it so many times last night" Will whispered. Halt gently ran a hand through the boy's hair, to keep him comfortable and calm as he was sure the memories would hit soon.

Halt could see that the boy had suffered and although he did not have an answer for him he could tell him some thing "Will I doubt you were the first boy they used as they traveled and I doubt you will be the last but I will do my best to make sure that you don't suffer too much for it" Halt said kindly, for he could see that Will's eyes were full of pain now as he realized that last night would be repeated and some confusion.

"I understand Halt" Will said sitting up a little now and leaning against the wall "but Halt when they were doing it, even though I did not want it, it felt right. How can that be Halt? I mean are we not suppose to like girls?" Will said now looking at Halt in the eyes. Halt's eyes now widened and then he sighed and said "Will yes we are suppose to like women but some times that is not the case, I myself am like this. Meaning I like men but do not be afraid of me Will, I will never try anything with you unless you ask it of me"

"Okay, my god, is that why you have not had a wife before and I could never be scarred of you Halt and do you really think I like men?" said Will now curling up against Halt's body. He needed the comfort this man could bring.

"It is possible Will. Many people in Araluen will not understand that. Many hide it. The only people I have told besides you, are Gilan, Pauline and Crowley no one else knows. They like you don't have a problem with it and if you are like me I am sure your friends once we get back to them Will will not have a problem with it either" Halt told him.

Then suddenly they heard shouts from up on the deck, as Svengal came down and took them up to the deck and tied them to the mast. The wind was blowing and they could see a dark line of clouds on the horizon. A storm was on its way.

Will huddled close into Halt as the wind blew now like a savage beast, that was trying to push them over board. It howled and screamed at them in raw animal fury, unlike any thing they had ever know before.

As the first mountainest wave hit, Will screamed and Halt just tightened his grip on the mast and the boy and thankful that they were not going to be seasick. As the waves kept hitting the boat one after the other the ship just rode them out. Then one wave broke onto the ship that sent one of the pirates over board, that had Will screaming in absolute terror and nothing Halt could do to stop it.

For now Halt was trying to be strong for Will, he had to believe that the Skandians knew how to handle a storm. He could see Will looking at him weakly and he knew he should say something but he knew that until the storm past Will would not believe him.

Halt heard Will say "oh no, please, please, let it end" the boy was moaning and Halt knew like Will that he just wanted it to stop too. To end, no matter how that end was met.

Will and Halt heard Erak say "now pull together and she is taking it well" as the movement became more controlled and the ship was not fighting the sea any more.

Halt and Will's arms went around each other finding comfort and courage from each other. Will was softly calling to him as wave after wave hit the ship but Halt now knew that the worst was over and they would survive it. After more days, they past from the narrow sea into the edge of the endless ocean. Will and Halt, wet, exhausted and cold finally slept.

When they awoke the next day, they found they were in a natural harbor with a rocky headlands and a beach, that now as they looked on it had huts on the shore.

"Halt is this Skandia?" Will asked and Halt just raised an eyebrow at him. How could this boy be so stupid Halt thought. And shook his head at the idiot.

"Will this isn't Skandia. It must be Skorghijl, the ship must need fixing after that storm we just went through" Halt told him.

Some how Will knew that this place was not going to be a safe harbor for him.

An: like it? I had to up the rating for what is coming up is pretty could and I was not so sure that it could come under the rating it once had.

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