Chapter 2: The island

Colton grew more angry as he constantly attempted to catch fish but after each try ended up with an empty net.

''Ah, why is it that I cannot catch any fish'', yelled Colton, his anger beginning to get the best of him. Kira watched as he prepared the net for another attempt but she could see that he was close tearing the net. They both were on a tiny fishing boat far from Karga's docks. This was the first time that they were allowed to go on a boat without their father.

''Colton please calm down, we could always try another spot'', suggested Kira.

''I have already tried many different spots already'', snapped Colton. Kira was always frightened when Colton was angry and always tried her best not to show it. She remained silent as Colton cursed the god of the sea for taking away the most valuable resource that Karga had away from him. He eventually gave and slumped on the small boat that continued to sway on the waves.

''Look at me I'm a fisherman of Karga in the country Trosys, which is said to have been blessed by the sea god himself and yet I cannot catch a single bloody fish'', said Colton. An hour went by as the two siblintgs sat on the boat in silence, Colton just staring at the endless ocean that was glittering with the light from the sun and Kira trying to come up with a way to break the silence and make their first time without their father so miserable. Colton's vision turned away from the horizon and to the little island that stood some distance from Karga's shores. He stared at it for a moment and thought that there was bound to be a few animals and fruit within the small palm forest.

''Kira''

''hmm?''

''Lets go to that island over there and look for other food for a change. It might do us good since we really have only been living on fish for most of our lives''

Kira looked at the island that Colton was pointing to and suddenly the thought of even sailing near it was a bad idea. She had no idea but something about that island frightened her.

''I don't think thats a good idea, m-maybe we should head back to shore'', said Kira, fear starting overcome her senses.

''Don't tell me your scared of a tiny island, are you?'', asked Colton.

''I-I dont know Colton but its something about that island that just dosent seem right''

''Come on we won't be there for long I promise'', said Colton patting his sister on the head attempting to comfort her.

He grabbed the oars that hang off the side of the boat and rowed toward the island. As they got closer Kira seemed to calm down a little but was still keeping a focused eye on the island. Their fishing boat touched down on the white sand and Colton immediately jumped out of the boat into the warm and soft sand Colton found the feel of sand pleasant as it touched his feet. He grabbed his sandals from the boat and placed them, a precaution just in case there were any sharp thorns sticking from the ground inside the forest. Kira remained in the boat and continued to stare at the forest trying to see past the dense vegetation.

''Well are you coming or not?'', asked Colton. Kira didn't respond but began to make her way off the boat. ''Wait bring me that knife over there!''

Kira picked the small knife that was really only used for gutting the fish and handed it to Colton. Kira trusted Colton so she stayed by his side while they walked in to the dense forest.

Meanwhile back at the village John was trying to spot his two children from the beach but couldn't see their boat anywhere. He was slightly worried but then thought that they must be fishing in a different spot.

''Ahh I should have more faith in Colton, after all he isn't irresponsible'', John thought to himself. He walked over to the village and was headed for the tiny inn called the ''Jumping Fish''.

The place didn't get much business as the village was quite far away from the greater cities and countries and therefore it was rare for them to receive a visit from the occasional traveller. The inn was located in the middle of village with many houses most of which were made of sandstone and looked like boxes. Since the village was small everyone knew each other and everyone was quite friendly to each other which was a great benefit to the welfare of the village in various ways. John could smell raw fish as he walked, an all too common smell in the village of Karga. He could also smell the strong of herbs and spices that were collected by others and sold to the marketplace near the inn.

John heard the clanking of iron being struck by a hammer, he looked in the direction of the sound and saw Garva the village's blacksmith. She wore her blacksmith apron which was covered in black soot from the forge. Her face and her hair was also dirty, she had a hard face but displayed kindness and her hair was curly and had a sort of copper colour to it.

She looked up from her work and waved at John that passed by and returned the gesture. He then reached the inn and entered and was immediately hit with the smell of fish cooking on the stove. ''I am starting to get sick of fish now. For at least 20 years all I have really had is fish'', thought John. He had been to many inns in his days as young traveller but they were all bigger than this. The inn only had two small guest rooms for visitors, a fire place with large pot hang from above in the centre of the large room that divided the guest rooms. The fire place was surrounded with many chairs and only one was occupied by someone that John didn't know. There was a barkeep at the back, which contained the innkeeper behind it just staring at the fire place not moving a single muscle. He was a short man with hazel eyes and short black hair that had started to turn silver due to his age.

John sighed at the sight before him ''poor lad'', he thought to himself. The sound of John's foot steps seemed to snap the inn keeper out of his trance. ''Ahh John can I get you a drink?'', asked the short man

''Yes a little ale should suffice, thank you Dale''

''One ale coming right up milord''

As Dale started to prepare John's drink he began to wander whether his children were back at the docks or not. His thoughts were interrupted when Dale placed the drink in front of John.

''Usually an ale would cost 10 coins but since you come in here very often and keep me company you can have the ale for 3 coins'', said Dale.

John accepted the generous offer and handed him 3 coins from the pocket of linen cloth clothes.

''So what has been happening of late my friend, you seem to be very quite this morning?'', asked Dale.

''There are many things on my mind, it's complicated'', replied John as he drank his ale. It had a bit of a sour taste to it but he didn't mind.

''Come now you can talk to old Dale about anything my friend I'm sure he could point you in the right direction'', said Dale trying to get John to talk about something so that he could save himself from more boredom. John smiled in amusement, Dale may not get many visitors but he definitely knew how to get people to talk.

''I've been thinking about the village's safety. I have this uneasy feeling that something bad is about to happen''

''What makes you say that?'', asked Dale.

''Well nothing really its just what I feel and now I fear my son and daughter going too far out from the docks to fish. I'm starting to think that perhaps this village needs a few guards''

''Well I know this village's history and don't seem to recall even a single guard or soldier for that matter in this village ever'', said Dale.

''Yes but... what if the inhabitants of Marcannar decide to pay our village a visit, then what can we do?'', asked John.

''I assume that you are talking about orcs am I right?'', John nodded. ''Please, no human hasn't seen an orc in over 50 years when the war ended. We don't even know whether the orcs still reside on Marcannar. Even if they were still inhabiting the island I'm sure those savages would have made a move years ago''

John considered Dale's words as he continued to consume his ale, what the old man had said was defiantly true. The chances of orcs even showing up was very low but after what Agarth had told him last he began to question the safety of Karga. He had read many accounts and stories from the war of the three races each one describing the orcs as mindless, brutal and barbaric. John only believed that they were barbaric and brutal but he didn't think them mindless or stupid. They sounded well organised when they attacked the humans and the elves, mindless beasts would not have been able to do that.

''What if that is exactly what they want, for us to think that they are gone just so they can surprise us with gods know what. I mean look at the evidence, you have surely witnessed a few travellers leave for Marcannar haven't you and did they ever return?'', asked John.

''My friend you worry yourself too much about what could be when you should be thinking about your two children'', said Dale.

The mention of his children quickly made him off his seat leaving the ale with Dale. John had completely forgotten about Colton and Kira and rushed to the docks to see if they had arrived with the fish they caught.

Kira sighed as they weaved their way in between the towering palm trees above them that rejected much of the sun's light from touching the ground. Her and Colton have been doing for quite a while and Kira was beginning to grow tired and wanted to return to the boat and leave the island and hopefully will never have to return. She hated the island more than anything but as she was walking with Colton she continued to ask herself the same question ''why am I so scared?''

''Look a crocodile!'', said in an excited voice. Kira looked to where he was pointing and saw the giant creature just lying near a little pool and seemed to be unaware of the two humans behind it.

''Let us be off then, this thing can snap up and swallow you within a few seconds'', said Kira even more eager now to get off the island.

''There used to be lots of them near Karga but I guess we drove them out'', said Colton not listening to his sister's pleas. ''I could catch it and bring it back to father, imagine the look on his face'', said Colton getting more excited and adrenaline pumping through his body.

''Are you mad? You have absolutely no experience in catching a crocodile what makes you think you are able to do it now'', said Kira speaking in a hushed voice to Colton.

''Don't worry Kira I have seen how to do it plenty of times father even told me a bit about it too''. Colton without warning sprang onto the back of the crocodile pinning it to the ground with his body weight. Before he could get a grip on its huge jaws it tried to shake Colton off. Not Colton's body weight could hold down the beast ''if I can remain on his back he will hard time biting me'', Colton thought to himself as he attempted to grasp it jaws and clamp them shut. Kira from out of now where came and struck the beast on the head with a large stick that she had found. The crocodile was stunned, Colton noticed this and seized this opportunity to get it's jaws. Colton used all his might to shut the beasts mouth and succeeded, he quickly used an old device that he had kept close to himself it was called a 'muzzle'. Colton placed it at the appropriate spot on the crocodile and the mechanism looked itself sealing the beast's mouth shut.

The crocodile still tried shake Colton off it's back while being constantly hit by Kira who kept her distance. It eventually gave and lay down being patient so that it could strike the humans at the right time. Colton cheered in victory but Kira was angry and very scared but she then heard something unusual coming from the other side of the island. Colton also heard the strange roaring and it was growing louder and louder as whatever was making the noise was approaching fast. Colton dashed for his sister and pulled her away from the area. Colton and Kira were curious to find out what was coming and watched from their hidden position. The roars subsided and was replaced by the sound of rustling leaves and the mystery then emerged from the bushes.

''What in the name of Ragnar is this?''