Chapter Seventeen: The Ship Ride
"Can I die yet?" Beau groans to Iymp and Duryss, as the boat sways side to side. His disguised blue scales glitter from the little sunlight the grates above offer. His face is pale as he struggled to move as he feared he will vomit.
The three dragons are cramped inside a small stall. Each dragon is tied to a rope and post. Duryss in annoyance broke his on the first day. Much to the captain's dismay, with Mali saying he will pay for the damage the large bull dragon caused.
"Not a dragon for the ocean... Did the herbs that Aaron give you help?" Iymp asks worried.
"A little..." Beau says weakly. Since eating them he has not vomited. His stomach still gurgles and churns. Beau burps as there is nothing to regurgitate.
"Don't vomit on me again or I will stomp on your claws.
Steps from the stairs can be heard as Aaron enters the small stable on the lowest level of the ship. Aaron carrying Iolenes bag full of useful medicines.
"Hey..." Aaron says softly stroking Beau's forehead. "Come on open your mouth." He says with a firm tone.
Beau opens his mouth as Aaron opens a jar. The dark green paste smelt of seaweed and salt. As he smears it on top of Beau's tongue. It tasted overwhelmingly bitter as Beau heaves and the taste is revolting.
"Ugh... Gross... But hopefully, this will help." Aaron says, wiping his hand and arm clean, with a towel. Beaus' breath stank so horrid, Aaron himself almost vomited. He later added mint paste to hopefully make it easier to bear. Iolene told him a trick to use the mint paste on his top lip. Underneath his nose, so bad smells are hidden.
The ship sharply tilts to the left for a moment as Aaron almost loses his footing. Iymp using his mag abilities to steady the human. Aaron thanks Iymp as he regains his footing while Duryss laughs.
"How long do we have before we arrive at Ramel?" Iymp asks. Worrying for Beau as they have been sailing for a week and Beau has not eaten much.
"The wind is in our favour, so hopefully in a few days. We are going to stay in Ramel for a while to let Beau recover." Aaron looks down at the sick dragon. "He is going to need it..."
"Thanks, Aaron," Iymp says for Beau. As Beau cannot speak the human tongue.
Aaron walks up to the deck as the sea breeze is strongly felt. A slight chill went through his body. He rubs his arms to warm himself up. He never liked the ocean, the last time he journeyed was on the slave ship which took this very same passage. The waves are strong, but the ship can easily handle it.
Mali sits on a tied cannon so he can have a stable view of the ocean. "How are you doing Aaron? How is your eye today?" He asks sincerely.
"It's fine. Iolenes medicine helps with the pain..." Aaron says sadly. Touching the scar on his face. The most loving gift a brother can give you... He thought. Mali has been soft with Aaron ever since the attack. Apologising multiple times that they should have done the long sail, from Aquarius City. It would have been rough and less safe. But Aaron was in danger regardless of the situation. He knew Aaron's family did not approve of the bastard. But the lengths to make him miserable and almost murder... Mali even struggled to fathom.
"I also needed to ask... When you, Iolene, and Lei were at the meadow what were you doing there?" Mali gave him a fatherly tone.
Aaron thinks twice not to say that he kissed Iolene. But gave him half of the truth, Aaron used to take her there when they were kids. Iolene just wanted to remind him of their place. It is beautiful and serene. The different varieties of wildflowers and nothing like the mud and dirt in Watersgate.
Aaron despised Watersgate and after what happened he will happily never set foot there again. His father and brothers will also agree... His father is at death's door, and he will not even apologise for anything. Alphonse and Hugo want him dead... Watersgate was never meant to be his home and never will be. Aaron shakes his head to shake away their faces from his mind's eye.
"Alright." Mali accepts with a small suspicion. "Do you want to play poker with Fred, Iymp, and Duryss? I am so bored..." Mali jumps off the cannon as he stretches his short arms and legs.
"About Fred..." Aaron wants to think of something else. "The man has an ego the size of a mountain. He will struggle in Dominus Sahara. Is it wise to bring him with us? He is a Prince after all. I mean... A man like him. Every interaction I have with him has been civil at best."
"I know Frederick is an ass. But hopefully, he can be useful... His family, owned slaves for thousands of years, so he will know how to talk to high-status slave masters."
"Really?" Aaron raises his eyebrow. Doubting Fred's knowledge of anything. The only thing that Prince cares for is himself.
Mali sighs and accepts that Fred could be useless in that regard. "It is one of those situations I wish I took his other brother instead. Xavier... His older brother, the smart one. But he is still in the Blue Empire, and he voted for Fred to go with me. Preferring to hide and work as a servant."
"Voted?" Aaron asked.
"Yes... I could not take all his siblings. Too obvious and dangerous. It was best to separate them all... They all voted Fred to go with me, them knowing being with me is dangerous. His own siblings don't even like him..." Mali admits.
"That is... Kind of sad..." Aaron replies. "I know how that feels. Your family is just so annoyed they don't want you around."
"Difference between you and him. Is that you are a good man. Fred's circumstance is his own doing. He adored and loved his father. So, he tries to be like him as much as possible. Which meant he became an ass."
"What was his father like?" Aaron asks. Only hearing basic knowledge that he is Emperor Arman Kaiser and is known to be a dictator.
"Emperor Arman Kaiser... The once powerful leader of the Green Empire... Met him a few times so I did not know him personally. But he was arrogant, selfish, dangerous and very loud... Massive bulging muscles and is TALL. Let us just say I looked like a baby compared to him..." Mali says with sadness in his voice and sighs. "He called me a pebble at Aelius and Laelia's wedding."
"So not a nice man..." Aaron says not surprised. "No wonder Fred is the way he is."
Later that night, Aaron walks to Fred's cabin, knocking on the door. The exiled prince opens the door as he rolls his eyes at Aaron.
"What do you want?" Frederick said annoyed.
"Want to play cards?" Aaron smiles as he shows him a simple deck of cards. Aaron learning from Mali how to play poker and go fish.
Fred agreed as he follows Aaron down to the stable where the dragons rest. Iymp and Duryss lie waiting. Beau still looking pale keeps his head down. Followed by Mali as he drags a small stool to place wooden chips
"I know how to play poker," Duryss says gruffly in human tongue. "Bring it on humans!"
"Not if I beat you first!" Iymp jests in human speech.
"Alrighty then! I play as the dealer." Mali smiles his cheeky grin as he takes the cards from Aaron and begins the game.
"I swear you are cheating Mali," Aaron said vexed as he lost four games and Mali won all of them. Mali's pile of chips has grown into a baby mountain.
"You dare question my integrity boy?!" Mali jests as he pulls in the chips. "You are all just shit at playing."
Iymp groans as he is now out of chips, Duryss laughs as he still has a considerable amount.
Fred stays quiet as he throws his cards down in frustration. "I have nothing..." Looking down he has no more chips. He despised losing... And all that has happened to him since leaving his home is losing. In a quick movement, Fred stands and tips the stool over. Chips pour all over the floor as Fred storms off. Leaving the dragons, Mali and Aaron to clean it up. Aaron once finished cleaning the chips tries to talk to Fred. The prince told him to go away and Aaron obeyed.
A Few days pass as Beau is managing to tolerate the waves. Praying that the ride will soon end.
Gulls can be heard as Iymp smiles. The sailors begin to race around the ship.
"Beau! We are almost there!" Iymp announces to him happily.
Beau wanted to cry with relief. He has had enough of the ocean and never wishes to go by sea again. Aaron gave another dose of seaweed paste. He will be happy never to have it again.
The ship docks as the massive bull dragon, Duryss had to carry the ill dragon off the ship as sailors laughed.
Mali opens his arms as he sees the orange dragon statues that lead into the city. "We have made it to Ramel!"