Author's Note:
Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter, and maybe some of the hints for future plot points. We're back with the crew at Eredar, so enjoy! This is more of a filler chapter, since we need some time to develop Ava as a character. As always, thanks for reading!
-Tangent
Water splashed up the side of the boat, creating a spray that caught the light of the morning sun. Ean was leaning against the rail of the boat, contemplating the dream he had seen the previous night. He had not yet shown it to Vincent, unsure of how he would react. He had not slept at all, and so he was somewhat tired as he looked out over the ocean.
"I've never seen something so vast." Iya said, stepping up to him holding a cup of tea. The boat was big enough that it did not rock overly much, meaning they could eat and drink without food flying everywhere. She offered him a second one, which he took gratefully.
"Thanks." He said, turning to look at her. "Everyone else sleeping?"
"Just Jack." She said with a small smile. The slight breeze whipped her blue hair around her. "Rye and Gavin are eating breakfast, and Ava's on the wheel." Ean turned to see the purple-haired woman standing at the helm of the ship, on the other end of the vessel. Every now and then, she would make a small correction to the wheel and check a compass that was nearby. "Did you eat?"
"No." Ean muttered. "I didn't have the stomach."
"What do you mean?" He looked at her slightly concerned face and sighed.
"I had a dream last night. I should probably tell the whole group, come on." She followed him across the deck, clutching her cloak to make sure it did not blow away. He opened the door to the lower decks and entered the ship.
The inside was made entirely of wood, and Ean thought it was a little bit too small for comfort, but it had enough space for all of them. Ava and Iya slept in their own cabin, being the only females on board, while Gavin, Ean, Rye, and Jack shared another. The rest of the crew had a barracks at the bottom of the ship where they slept in rotations. They went down a flight of stairs and entered the small cafeteria of the ship, where Gavin, Rye, and Jack were sitting.
"Good morning." Rye said. "What's going on?"
"Ean has something to tell us." Iya said, sitting down. The other elf sat as well, but he had a frown upon his face.
"Should we wait for Ava?" Gavin asked.
"She's manning the helm right now. I'll tell her when we land. Besides, she doesn't exactly know what I can do." According to the pirate captain, Eredar was less than a day away. Ean had chosen to keep the beast spirits a secret for now, unsure how Ava would react. He summarize his dream to them, and by the end of it, Rye's mouth was slightly ajar.
"So you're telling me that… that Vincent was really human in the first place?" Ean looked up, surprised.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it seems like this witch went after him and the others for a reason. I thought maybe he'd always been stuck like that, but this is interesting." He frowned. "What do you guys think?"
"It sounds like this witch might be the same person as the one who's been attacking Ean through the spirits. The red light matches up, right?" Jack said, but Ean shook his head.
"I don't think so. The voice was male, at least it was in the vision. Perhaps they're working together?"
"Witches don't like to share, especially magic." Gavin said darkly. "I should know."
"I guess we're still lost, then." Iya said. "Perhaps freeing another beast will tell us more."
"Oh, that's right!" Ean said. "I forgot to mention, Horace knew another mage named Cigne. She was a healer, and I'd bet she's been turned into one of the spirits." The others absorbed this information in silence. Suddenly, the first mate burst into view, looking alert.
"We've spotted Eredar. Ava wants everyone up there as we approach."
"Got it." Ean said, rising from his chair. "Let's go." They were well acquainted with the ship, having spent almost fourteen days on it. Iya had spent much of the time mastering her new magic, and she could often be seen hurling magic weapons out into the ocean. Gavin had been absorbed in some new scrolls, leaving Rye and Jack often by themselves. Fortunately, the two had become a little bit closer, and Rye had been teaching Jack to use a knife more efficiently.
The party opened the door and stepped out into the sunshine and cool air of the ocean. Immediately, they could see that the first mate had been telling the truth: Eredar was near. In the distance, they could a massive landmass that stretched up into the sky and out of sight. It tapered off to the south, revealing more ocean, but stretched as far north as they could see until the massive spires of rock vanished.
"Wow." Iya said, openmouthed. "You can't even see the top! How are we going to get up there?"
"There's a passage to the top of the cliffs, according to some of the books I brought." Gavin said. "I've got a few on geography and ancient history, and Eredar is mentioned in both subjects. It's the only way in, unless you can fly."
"The warlock is correct." Ava said from behind them, joining them on the bow of the deck as Eredar grew nearer. "The dock for visitors is on the south tip of the island. I suppose it's more of a continent, but still…" She trailed off as the boat sailed even closer. "Let's hope some of them are still around to help." Ean suddenly felt a disturbance within his mind, and closed his eyes to concentrate.
"Hey, what's going on, kid?" Vincent was pacing the confines of Ean's mind while Amari and Edward watched.
"We're approaching Eredar." Ean said. "We should land in a few minutes." Vincent turned to look at him.
"That's not what I meant." Ean raised an eyebrow.
"Then what is it?"
"Last night, were you having some sort of vision?" Amari asked. "All of us felt our connection to you warp and distort as though you were being taken away from us. We tried to contact you, but we could not." Ean looked at the giant chicken, a frown upon his face.
"I did see something. You all need to hear this." Opening his mind to them, he showed them the vision that he had seen the previous night. The spirits were silent for a few minutes, absorbing the information numbly. Amari visibly twitched at the sight of her own twisted spirit, and Edward shifted uncomfortably. Vincent did not move an inch, his red eyes wide.
"What… my daughter… Anna?"
"I'm sorry, Vincent." Ean said quietly. "But at least she seemed to be safe."
"And that man? Horace?" Amari said. "I have no recollection of him at all."
"Nor I." Edward rumbled deeply. Vincent was still frozen, and Ean knew that he must be in shock.
"There is more to the story." Ean said. "For one, I don't know who the witch was, or why she targeted your village. I have a theory, though."
"Proceed." Vincent said tightly.
"None of you are from the Land of Man." Ean said calmly. "You must be from some other realm that made you targets for her magic. Horace said he found the amulet in the Land of Man, but he never mentioned where the village was in relation."
"That makes sense." Amari said. "Vincent, do not despair."
"How can I not?" He snapped angrily, turning on her. "If the memory is true, I turned my back on everyone, even my own daughter!"
"You don't know the whole story." Ean pointed out. "I would advise withholding your judgement for now."
"I'll think about it." Vincent muttered. "I need some time." And he vanished silently, leaving Ean with the other two spirits.
"He'll be okay." Amari said. "But Ean, we all need to be more careful now. I get the feeling that the witch is still around somewhere."
"Me too." Ean said. "Be on your guard. She might be able to reclaim your spirits for herself. I still don't know anything about the Horace, or the other woman, Cigne."
"The name rings a bell." Amari mused. "I'll try to remember."
"Thanks." Ean said. "I have to go, so we'll talk later?" The beasts nodded, and he vanished from the chamber inside his own mind.
He opened his eyes to see that they were much closer to Eredar now. The ship was about 500 yards away from the rocky shore, and he could see no suitable spots to land.
"How long?" He asked, and Iya looked at him.
"Maybe twenty minutes. How'd they take it?"
"They were definitely shook. It's not easy, seeing your own deaths." Ean murmured sadly, and Iya looked out across the ocean.
"We'll figure it out." She said finally. "Just like everything else." The ship was currently aiming to swing around the tip of the island, where there would hopefully be a suitable place to land. The others were still gazing at the massive piece of land in front of them, awed. As the ship rounded the corner, Ean saw the dock of Eredar for the first time.
It was completely abandoned. There were no ships in sight, and the dock itself was in a state of disrepair. Years of erosion had destroyed the stone bridge, leaving nothing but a hunk of marble jutting out into the ocean. The beach itself was a mess of rubble, both wood and stone everywhere. Past the sand, the earth turned to trees and then, nothing but stony mountains.
"What… happened?" Rye said. "Ava, take us in!" The pirate was already giving the order to land, and the boat slid up onto the beach within seconds. Several pirates leapt from the stern and tied roped around large rocks to prevent the ship from being taken out with the tide. The party jumped down onto the beach, looking around.
"There's nobody here." Jack murmured, hand on his knife.
"Be alert." Ean said shortly. "I see a path leading up the cliffs over there." They moved across the beach, picking their way through the sandy rubble. As Ava passed a larger pile of various objects, she stopped.
"Look." She pulled an object from the sand, revealing a circular piece of wood with handles on the outside. The others looked at it in confusion, but Iya's eyes widened.
"Is that… a ship's wheel?" Ava merely nodded. "So then…" The elf turned around slowly, looking at the beach. "All of these… are remains of ships?"
"They must be." Rye said. "But how did they get destroyed like this?"
"Eredar is an ancient empire." Gavin said. "Did they have weapons that could do this." Ean was still looking around, but he shook his head.
"I don't think so. Nobody has been here for decades, at least. All the wood is rotting, and the very dock has broken apart. And there's no bodies." He pointed to the path leading away from the beach. "I think Eredar has closed itself off from the world, like Iya's book suggested."
"Only one way to find out." Jack said. The six individuals kept moving, stumbling over the uneven ground until they reached the tree line. The trees here were similar to the ones on the main continent, but they grew far thicker than normal ones did. They moved along the edge of the dense forest until the ground finally opened up, and they saw a road leading upwards into the mountains until it curved out of sight. It had likely once been paved, but now the rocks that composed the road were broken and cracked. As the path entered the mountains, a crumbling arch made of marble seemed to stand over the entrance to the lost empire.
"Let's go check it out." Ean said, and the others nodded. They began hiking up the incline, listening for the sound of anybody besides themselves. But the only sound that returned to them was the echo of their footsteps on the rocks, and Ean felt a growing sense of panic.
What happened here? After a few minutes the road turned, and they rounded a corner to see…
"A dead end?" Gavin said. The party was facing a sheer rock wall, as tall as any of the mountains around them. The road continued up to the wall, but vanished underneath it.
"No, no…" Ean said, and he ran forward. Running his hands over the rocks, he searched for any sort of way that would allow them to pass through. "There must be a switch, or…" He did not know why the panic was rising, but it fueled his desperate search even more, while the others watched in despair.
"Ean…" Jack said. "I don't see a way through here."
"I'll find one!" He said, the words spilling from his mouth. "We have to get through here, we have to!" Nobody else moved, and Ean stepped back for a moment, looking up at the rock that disappeared into the heavens above.
"Hello?" He bellowed suddenly, making Iya jump. "Can you hear me?" There was no answer. "We need entrance to Eredar! Please, it is a matter of life and death!" His panic was beginning to fade, replaced by despair.
"Looks like everybody is gone." Rye said quietly. "There must have been a collapse, or…"
"No." Ean said. "The Snow Queen knew we'd come here. I'd bet anything that she's responsible for this." The rest of the party was silent, and the elf took a deep breath. "I'll try something else. Back up, everyone." The rest of them knew what was coming, and stepped back, except for Ava.
"What are you-" she said, but Jack intervened.
"You'll see." Frowning, the pirate moved back a few steps. Ean turned around and faced the wall, eyes closed.
"Edward? I could use some help."
"Of course." The cyclops's voice resonated in his mind, and Ean transformed with a burst of red light. The monster roared as it appeared, and Ava leapt backwards in shock.
"What the-" She looked at Iya, who seemed calm. "Since when can he do that?"
"Since the beginning." She said, watching as the cyclops raised a fist. With a resounding smash, it punched the wall as hard as it could, making a small dent in the stone. It continued smashing away, filling the air with noise and small pieces of rock.
"We should move farther!" Gavin called, and the group retreated about thirty yards to behind a clump of boulders. Ava still looked stunned.
"He never mentioned that!"
"Well, he likes to keep it quiet." Jack said. "I mean, it's not really endearing to most people, is it?" Ahead of them, the cyclops kept roaring and pounding away at the rock, each attack chipping off a few more pieces of stone. However, the cliff in their way stood firm, and Iya's eyes widened.
"Can he really not get through?" As if in response, the cyclops bellowed again and let loose another flurry of blows. But even though it was striking with all its might, the rock would not break. After another thirty minutes of pounding, the cyclops finally paused and let out a somber growl. With a cry, it morphed back into the form of an elf, who slumped upon the rubble he had created. He did not stir.
"Stay here." Iya said, and leapt over the boulders towards Ean. The others tried to follow, but Rye gestured for them to stop. The female elf approached the male from where he lay on the rocks. His clothes were covered in dust.
"I thought…" He rasped, sounding defeated. "That I'd be able to break it." The cliff had barely any signs of damage, barring a few craters and cracks. Iya knelt next to him. "I'm sorry."
"You tried your hardest. We'll find another way."
"What if we can't?" Ean said despairingly. "If we can't get to Nuha, then everything is lost." Iya hesitated, then reached out and touched his hand as he sat up, staring at the rocks.
"Don't think about that right now. Focus on what we should do next." He turned to look at her, and she saw a gleam of red light lingering in his eyes.
"What do we do now, then?" He asked quietly, looking down at his feet once more.
"We return to Thais." Iya said. "Perhaps Uthar or Ella have a way." Ean looked upset, but he did not say anything for a time.
"I suppose we have to." He said. He looked at her suddenly, eyes locked with hers. And then, quite unexpectedly, he smiled slightly. "Thanks, Iya." The elf blushed slightly, surprised by this.
"For what?"
"Making me feel better." He said, standing up and offering her a hand. "We'll focus on the other nymphs first, then." The two of them rejoined the party.
"What's the plan, then?" Gavin asked, and Ean looked at Ava, who nodded.
"We go back to Thais and speak to Uthar. But let's camp here for tonight, just in case anything happens." His tone was melancholy, and Rye clapped him on the shoulder reassuringly.
"No way you could have known. We'll figure it out." Gavin and Jack chimed in with similar sentiments, and Ean smiled again.
"Thank you."
They returned to the beach, where the crew had set up a basic camp. There was a sleeping space for each member of the party, as the crewmen would sleep on the ship. It was about midday, which meant that they had some time to kill. The air was slightly chilly, and Rye started a fire in the middle of the camp using the bountiful wood.
"So," Ava said when they all had a plate of food in front of them. "You seem to have left out a few details about your abilities, kid." Ean looked at her, but she did not seem angry.
"Sorry about that, but I didn't know if you could be trusted yet." She quirked an eyebrow.
"But you trust me now?"
"We sailed across the world with you." Rye pointed out. "Honestly, I think we had to." She grinned at him.
"Hey, I promise not to rob you unless I need money." Jack snorted from his place next to Iya. Ean leaned forward, placing his plate on the ground.
"To be fair, I don't know much about it myself, but…" He filled her in on the spirits and the details he knew of how they came to be. "So it's a possibility that we might encounter another very powerful person who doesn't like us." He looked her straight in the eyes. "I know you already said you'd help, but if you want to back out when we return to Thais, I understand."
"You think I'm that weak-willed?" Ava snorted. "Kid, if I quit every time things got hard, none of us would be here today." Gavin looked at her, seeing the fire burning behind her eyes.
I can respect that.
"Fair enough." Ean said with a smile. "Then welcome aboard, Ava." The rest of the afternoon passed amiably, with the party sharing various details and stories from their past lives. Gavin and Ava were notoriously tight-lipped, but the warlock was willing to let slip a few details.
"Wait, so where are you actually from?" Rye asked. "Were you born in Bogwood?"
"Nope." Gavin said. "The world's a lot bigger than you'd think. I came from another village in a distant land, and then I came here." Iya noticed his expression falter, and did not ask a follow-up question. They were silent for a moment until Jack asked Ava another question, and the tension was broken.
That night, Gavin moved away from the camp to get a breath of fresh air before going to sleep. As he walked along the beach, he looked towards the ship that was moored on the beach, lanterns glowing. Even from a distance, he could see the figure of Ava standing on the deck, issuing orders to the crew.
"She certainly has earned their loyalty." He muttered, turning his gaze back to the ocean. He did not know why the concept seemed to hurt him so much. After all, he had been in the group for far longer than she had been. And she was just as mysterious, if not more. But still, Gavin had noticed something: she refused to directly speak to or acknowledge him.
Does she know something. No, she can't… He was centuries older than her at least, and he had left New Witchwood about one hundred and fifty years ago. As always, the thought of his hometown caused his emotions to stir up within, and he closed his eyes.
Jack won't tell them, I don't think. Rye wouldn't care much, but if Ean and Iya ever found out, they'd never trust me again. But still… The warlock glanced back towards the camp, where he could see the others silhouetted against the fire. I think… I really want to be a part of the team, if only to make up for my past mistakes. He turned around and began heading back towards the fire, passing the ship in the process. Just as he was passing beneath, a figure leapt down onto the sand with a thud, purple hair rippling.
Uh oh. Ava One-Eye stood up and looked at him, her face seeming to turn to stone.
"What do you want, warlock?" Her voice was cold, and he took a step towards the camp. None of the others seemed to have heard, and he kept his voice down.
"Did I do something to you?" Ava sneered at him.
"I've met plenty of your kind. Arrogant, stuck up in their own magic… You've got the same look." Without another word, she moved off to the fire, leaving Gavin standing in the darkness, alone.
But what happens if they don't want to be around me anymore? When he returned to the fire minutes later, Iya was looking at him with concern. He ignored her, moving to his bedroll and laying down, facing away from the fire.
If that's how she wishes to be treated…
The next morning saw the ship off, sailing northwest from the shores of Eredar. There was a strong wind blowing in the same direction, which apparently meant that they could travel much faster, according to Ava.
There was not much to do on the ship, but Iya and Gavin contented themselves by studying and practicing magic, sometimes collaborating. Whether this involved asking the other's opinion or looking through some books, both seemed content to help. When he was around Iya and the others, Gavin found it easier to forget that Ava glared at him every time their eyes met.
"So…" Iya finally said about three days into the journey. "What's up with you and Ava?" Gavin looked up at her quickly.
"Nothing." He said. Iya raised an eyebrow, and Gavin looked back down at the table. "It's… really nothing, Iya. I'm used to it."
"Sounds like she doesn't like you." Iya said. "Don't know why though. I mean, you can be a bit rough around the edges, but you're a good man." The warlock looked her, at a loss for words.
"I… Thanks, I suppose." Iya smiled slightly.
"Just be polite to her. I'm sure she'll come around eventually." And she did not mention it anymore, which Gavin appreciated. At one point, they heard a commotion coming from the deck and rushed up to see what was happening. Iya's eyes widened when she opened the door. Rye and Jack were circling each other in the middle of the deck, each wielding a wooden knife. Evidently, they had moved from training to sparring. Ean was watching from the side, eyes riveted on the fight as Rye stabbed at Jack.
"What's going on?" Iya said.
"They're trying out a practical lesson." Ean said. "I thought it might help."
"I suppose so." Gavin said from next to Iya as Rye managed to slip past Jack and nick his ribs. The boy leapt back, clearly stung by the impact. He went forward again, and but to no avail. Rye seized him and swept him to the deck, eliciting applause from a few sailors watching the bout. Jack rolled to his feet, breathing hard.
"Take a break." Ean said, and Jack nodded gratefully.
"I'm learning, at least. Not enough to really fight, but self-defense is good too." Ean tapped his head with his finger.
"Improvement is always good, and you certainly are improving." Jack grinned at the statement, and Iya had to suppress a smile. Ean treated the boy like he would a younger sibling.
He always was like that to the kids in the village too. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised.
"You drop your knife hand too low." Ava interjected, walking down onto the deck as the first mate replaced her on the wheel. Jack turned to look at her.
"If I put it higher, he'll stab me in the leg, won't he?" She smirked.
"Not likely, but I suppose it's possible. But that's better than getting stabbed in the head or chest, right?" Her tone was strict, but Iya could see that she was amused as well.
"Listen to her, Jack." Ean said. "Uthar told me she's the best warrior he knows." Jack turned back to look at the pirate with newfound respect, and she rolled her eyes.
"That doesn't mean much, coming from him." And then, just as suddenly, she pointed at Ean, who looked at her in surprise. "But what about you, kid?"
"What about me?" Ean said calmly.
"I've got a measure of just about everyone else in the group but you. How good are you really?"
"I get by." The elf said quietly, and Ava's brows furrowed.
"We'll see." She said, stepping into the middle of the deck. Several of the crew murmured excitedly, and even Gavin seemed interested. None of them had really seen Ava fight before. Ean smiled as well, stepping forward to face her. She retrieved a wooden sword from one of the pirates, and Ean unstrapped his claws, handing them to Jack.
"First touch?" She asked, and the elf nodded. Iya looked at both of them. Ean was good, but Ava had the advantage of decades of fighting. All of Ean's experience seemed to be given by the spirits, and there certainly was a limit. Still, she couldn't help but root for the other elf as he squared up against the purple-haired woman.
"Begin!" Rye said, and the two leapt at each other with ferocity. They exchanged a flurry of strikes, Ean blocking with the back of his hands. Obviously, he would not transform on the ship, but he was still able to make use of his enhanced speed and strength to keep up. His hands were blurred as he deflected the powerful strikes that Ava flung at him. She certainly was an excellent fighter, giving him few openings to retaliate or move away. As such, he was forced to leap and dart around her, deflecting every movement of her sword.
Ava was equally impressed. For a boy who had no previous experience with fighting, he was holding up remarkably well against her. The thought cost her, and Ean slammed a quick kick into her thigh before backing away warily. She smiled and raised her sword.
"Keep going." He nodded and leapt forward, body spinning to deliver a crushing kick that undoubtedly would have hurt if it had landed. He followed up with several rapid moves, but she dodged or deflected all of them with her blade. Finally, his guard wavered, and she acted. Seizing his arm, she flung him to the deck and placed her sword at his throat. The scene froze for a moment, and then the sailors began cheering. The other members of the party joined in, impressed by the display of power from their newest member.
"Well fought." Ean said as Ava helped him up. "I think Uthar was right."
"I doubt you were using your full potential." She said. "After all, you're at a disadvantage when you can't transform." Ean nodded. "Still, your reflexes are good. Another perk?"
"Yep." He said, turning to the other members of the party. Gavin seized the opportunity and vanished back into the depths of the ship, while Rye and Jack took up positions once more. This time, Ava gave Jack a few pointers on how to effectively hold the knife, as well as analyzing your enemy's stance. Ean went over to stand by Iya, who gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Maybe we should find a healer in Thais." She said, and Ean looked up. "If things just keep getting worse, we might need somebody with experience on board."
"It's a fair point." Ean said. "We can ask Uthar when we get there. On an unrelated note, how are you doing with your new song orb?" Iya held up her hand, and a yellow orb began shimmering over her palm.
"I've got some basic abilities down, but the more complex ones elude me." She made a gesture, and several spectral arrows shot from her palm and vanished into the ocean. "But anything like the cannon isn't possible right now." She had told Ean about her clash with the song master in Seri already, and he nodded.
"Don't worry, you'll get it." She nodded and glanced over towards the stern of the ship, where the sailors were bustling around. The crew had been very respectful to them, which was unusual for people who also called themselves pirates. There had been an incident where a sailor had made a rather… suggestive remark about Iya. Unfortunately for him, Jack had overheard him and reported it to Ava, who had chosen to act upon it in a rather straightforward fashion.
Iya smiled at the memory of the woman kicking in the door to the cafeteria, seizing the sailor by his neck and dragging him out to bail water out of the ship for 12 hours straight.
"Don't you ever treat a guest like that on my ship again." She had snarled angrily, and the man was only too willing to apologize after that. There had been no more incidents afterwards, either because of Ava or Iya's magical abilities being on full display to every person on the ship. Turning back, she saw that Ean was staring at her with an odd expression on his face.
"Can I help you?" She asked, and he blinked.
"Oh, sorry. I was just…" He trailed off, looking embarrassed. Across the deck, Iya caught Ava's eye, and she smirked slowly.
What… Oh! Ava was looking at the pair of elves with interest, and she winked at Iya before vanishing below deck.
That could be a problem.