The Mark of Aether

Aboard The Ship~Part I

After Areles's snake sailed all the way from the drowned city to the first lands of Arelesia, it left us on the shore, near the main port.

Unlike when we were in Rimelia, this haven was still awake, regarding the late hours of night. The place was not bustling with life, but occasionally some sailors or travelers would appear.

Our ride took around an hour until we reached this point, and depending on Carter's words, the snake could not carry us to Nevora because the magic of each god was limited inside his continent. To reach the fire continent we had to sail all the way, which would cost us enormous time.

Time we couldn't afford to lose.

I stared at the glistening snake that poised inside the third key before sliding the ring around my thumb, gazing at the three golden bands on my right fingers.

"Do you think there are still ships that will accommodate us?'' I asked, looking around us.

Luckily, when we arrived, no one was present, so no questioning looks or fearful expressions greeted us.

"There should be some, let us check," answered Carter, searching the landscape with his eyes.

I stared at the countless ships and fishing boats lining this anchorage. It was the main trading post in Arelesia, where most of the exchanging happened due to the warm weather, vast opening on the sea, and the easy traveling. I was in awe at the sight of one enormous ship with humongous sails when Leon spoke.

''There,'' --he pointed to a much, much smaller sailboat that looked like a pirate ship--''it is directed to Nevora.''

As of feeling the weight of our stares, a man emerged from behind the boat, his face covered underneath an exaggerated big, dirty blue tricorne. He came to us, revealing a murderous look in his eyes that were buried under thick, bushy eyebrows. He was short, his head merely reaching my shoulders, with fiery, curly hair lost between a shade of red and orange. In the place of his left leg was a wooden prosthetic.

A black patch covered one of his cavernous blue eyes, while his golden tooth peeked as he talked, contrasting with the color of his untamed beard.
"What are you doing here?'' he asked with a deep, booming voice, his hand reaching threateningly for the greasy cutlass strapped around his round potbelly, trailing on the floor behind him.

''We need a ride to Nevora," said the shadow, meeting his eye with an equally dangerous look.

''This is not a cruise ship," growled the man with his dusting breaths, slowly unsheathing his weapon, the deadly look augmenting in his eye like growing fire. ''Now, get lost before I'll have your heads decorating the walls of my cabin.''

Like the shadow he was, Leon rapidly pulled something from his pocket before it could be seen by anybody, and shoved it straight at the man's chest. I stared at the curious eye that was fixated on the brown leather pouch, his wurst-like fingers undoing the tie. Instantly, a look of rapaciousness traced his facial features, an unctuous gleam appearing in his eye.

"Come this way, younglings,'' said the pirate, leading the way, forcing a fictitious smile all the way.

Bipolar, much?

''I am Captain Moby, but you can call me captain for short.''

We walked behind the captain as he led us to the sail, passing between mobs of bustling workers transferring cargos from one side of the ship to the other. The place was busier than a beehive!

While the rest of the port was less active, this side was oozing with life. The sail was more of a trading ship than a normal transport watercraft, but it was more than enough.