Chapter 23: Manaket

Aluuna

They had been surfaced for the past two days and Aluuna couldn't be more thrilled to breathe fresh air again. They are a few miles off the coast and were planning to depart today. This was good news for all since Eris was still seasick, making it more difficult for her to recover. The others were getting antsy being confined to a ship for so long. Especially, Kith and Ren. Though Aluuna suspected the latter just wanted to get away from the elven leader who rescued them a couple of days ago. The tension and animosity that filled the room when they were together was stifling. Aluuna's patience was wearing thin. She was grateful to Kessindra but damn, she was a real bitch. Ren didn't help things either. Dramina and Hlydi were kind enough. Dramina meditated a lot when she wasn't helping around the ship, which they both had in common. Hlydi, Kosh, and Kith spent most of their time sparring or telling overly embellished stories of their past adventures. Or at least she hoped they were embellished. For the past few hours though, Kosh and Milli spent time saying goodbye to each other in the room. Aluuna shakes her head. They were almost as bad as Eris and Kith, made more awkward when one had to share a room with them. Aluuna blushes as she thinks of them. Okami nudges her arm demanding she pet the furry red wolf. She sits down on the deck floor and Okami all but lies in her lap.

"Oof!" Okami immediately responds to her reaction by licking her fervently.

Aluuna laughs, pushes Okami off and stands to a crouch. Okami lowers herself in a crouch and pounces around yelping and growling. The two stalk each other playfully.

Aluuna couldn't remember the last time she was able to do this. It seemed like they were in danger and on high alert at every corner. It was nice to have a reprieve from all the fear and death. But right there on the edge of her subconscious, she knew it wouldn't last long.

They were leaving soon for another unfamiliar adventure. The thought of them getting closer and closer to the death tome didn't sit well with a holy priest. She'd prayed for hours on end for the safety and wellbeing of her friends.

Aluuna shakes her head. "No, I need to be here in this moment and enjoy it," she says to Okami, who is back to sitting in her lap.

"I agree, Peace Shield," Harrin says, sitting next to her.

Aluuna rolls her eyes at the name given to her long ago when she broke up an escalating argument between Harrin and his father. Things were rough even before his maternal grandmother, Elain passed away. But once she died, any semblance of peace died with her. All Harrin knew from then on was his father's fists.

She puts her head on Harrin's shoulder. "We'd be getting married soon."

"A week from now." She replies

Do you have those…" Harrin clears his throat, "kind of feelings for me?"

She continues to stroke Okami. Life got in the way and things didn't happen the way she'd hoped growing up. She knew he rebelled against the idea of an arranged marriage even if it was with her, maybe because it was with her.

"You know I do," she says lifting her head to look away.

"Aluuna…"

Flig joins them and Okami languidly rises for her blissful perch that was Aluuna's lap. "We are ready to go."

Harrin and Aluuna stand and he bends to look at her. "We will talk later, betrothed." He says with a small smile. He runs his thumb across her lips.

Aluuna stiffens. He has never shown that kind of affection for her before. Instinctively, she licks her lips when he moves his hand away and he smiles coyly at her and walks past Flig. They both look after him in shock.

Aluuna shrugs, Flig grins and nudges her with his elbow. "I'll go finish packing up some of the equipment the queen left for us. Flig says with a knowing smile. She hears him start whistling a lover's tune.

Aluuna is beside herself, thinking of all the things this could mean for her and Harrin. Calm, Aluu, she wills herself. Walking over to the group, Kosh hands her a fresh pack with replenished supplies. The bag is nondescript and barely weighs anything at all.

Aluuna steps on the creaky board leading from the ship to land. She surveys the city of Manaket. There are at least a thousand miles away from their destination and obtaining mounts are of the utmost importance.

Many of the buildings are carved into the sand mountains that made up this once green and vibrant city. Now, only scattered palm trees and cactus populated the territory. Most of the buildings, though various heights, were pretty similar in structure save for one large building off to the east coast of the town. It wasn't fully built and workers are busy building among the scaffolding. The city is lively as it is midday and all the vendors are about selling their wares.

The air is hot, almost suffocating.

"From one shit to the other," Ren says, fanning himself.

"Oh, can the pretty little elf not stand the heat?" Kith says in a mocking tone.

Ren looks at him, feigning shock. "Did you just call me pretty, Orc? You jealous?"

Aluuna and the others laugh. It is nice to see Ren back to his old self.

'Now then Renimil, your fancy cloak, and robes won't help you compensate for any little and underwhelming issues. Harrin adds.

"You too Harrin?" Ren smiles. "No need to be so hostile. You'll become a man, eventually. He says, nodding his head towards Harrin's appendage.

"Yes, Harrin, Kith. One day you'll understand". Kosh nods his agreement with Ren.

They all laugh harder.

"STOP." A severe human woman says. "All religious contraband must be forfeit here."

All look to Aluuna, now heavily annoyed. She hands her things over to Hlydi. "Could you please look after these?"

"'Course." the black-clothed gnome replies. Don't know the next time I'd see ya."

"Better you than them," she says exasperated.

The woman looks at her impatiently. "I don't have all day."

You can... Kith starts, his hand sliding to his falchion.

Kosh holds out his hand. "We appreciate your patience, miss"

Kith clearly miffed, mumbles to himself and eases his hand, as does the woman.

Aluuna is pretty certain there weren't many people in this world that could stop the half-orc. And despite her extreme annoyance, she didn't want to land up in an unnecessary brawl, jail, or worse.

Once they were through the checkpoint, Ren makes a sarcastic comment about god worshipping.

Most of the party split up to purchase things they need that were not given on the ship.

Aluuna enters a merchant's stall draped with vivid shawls and linens. One table holds potions and perfumes, carefully organized into rows by their properties. The other table is just as neat with salves and other like mixtures. On the floor, a heavily tanned woman sits in front of a boiling pot. The scent that rises is lovely. Aluuna peruses the merchant's goods longer, then makes her purchases.

She meets up first with Flig, Okami, and Kosh. They all share their reluctance to hiking across this desert to el-Amara. The heat is

getting worse as the day progresses and she was forced to spend much of the group's money on Salamander Elixirs. Though, she has to admit she is eager to use the anointed waterskin she also purchased.

"Let's wait over by the east gate. They should be there by now." Kosh suggests.

REN

Ren makes his way about town.

"Sir, can you spare some change?" A little boy asks. His face is dirty with small cuts. His clothing, if one is to call it that, is torn and heavily stained. Most of his skin burned from the sun.

"No, but I'll buy you lunch for you and your friends."

The boy looks at him with surprise. He was supposed to be the distraction as the others would sneak up from behind to steal Renimil's coin purse and any other valuables.

Ren doesn't wait for their response, walks to a nearby food vendor to order all the kids Venison Stew and berry juice.

He bids the kids to sit and wait for their food. "I must go. Behave." Ren smiles, "well, not too much." The boys laugh.

A half-elf girl is the smallest and youngest of the human bunch. "You know not your clan, girl?"

The girl hugs her knees in the chair and shakes her head. She looks remarkably like his sister. Her features are softer due to her human side. Her face is bruised, with her bottom lip sporting a nasty cut.

"Who did that to you?" Ren asks. A slight, black wind billows at his feet, softly rustling his cloak.

"She don't talk." A chubby boy says.

The food is placed on the table and they don't waste time grabbing the bowls and drinks. Liquid sloshes over the table as they eat with gusto.

The half-elf girl is the only one to eat gingerly due to the damage to her face.

Between bites, the chubby boy looks back at Ren.

"Pretty sure it was the potter's son. He ain't no good."

The girl dips her head.

"Something wrong?" Eris asks walking up to Ren. Kith is behind her, carrying a few bags and growling at the numerous people looking at him with either curiosity or suspicion.

Ren grabs the bags from Kith and shoves them at Eris. "We'll be right back." He says.

"Wait, what?! Kith, Ren?!" They leave ignoring Eris.

Ren knows that he is behaving illogically and he owed that girl nothing. But, he couldn't get over her resemblance to his kin. His guilt of killing his sister eats away at him as memories send him spiraling. He asks a merchant further up the road where the potter's store is. They walk towards the way the merchant indicates.

"Damn," Kith says and pulls Ren to a stop. He looks at Kith with surprise. "I'm sure what you are about to do is reckless. So, to cover my arse with Eris. I'll ask once. Are you sure about this?"

"They busted up a wee girl's face. Kith's face took a swift change to anger.

The decision was made.