Trent stood on the water side
of the walkway where the Womamel was docked. Nearly a dozen hands were loading
the ship, walking Cargo on board and stashing it in the hold. He watched as the
carts full of supplies were loaded with an intensity that he remembered his
recently past life in the military. He sat on a wooden box and watched with a
sense of fascination.
Alex made her way down the
dock and stopped next to Trent. “Brooke and Lisa are on their way. Squints is –“
Squints appeared from behind
Alex. “Already regretting his decision to get on that floating monstrosity.” He
grumbled.
Trent smiled. “Why not just
stay here? I have the door knob. When we get to the library I can just bring
you through.” He offered.
Squints shook his head. “No
good, the only thing I trust less than boats is magic.” He shuddered. “Technology
is so much more, civilized.” He lamented.
Alex laughed. “Well then
little man, you best get on the ship and claim a comfortable bunk before its
filled with cargo or a drunken sailor.” She gestured to the ship as a deck hand
walked up the walkway.
Squints walked up to the
walkway and watched it sway for a second. He hesistated and another deck hand
came up from behind him. “Move it little man!” The human shouted. Squints
flinched in surprise and started up the walk way without thinking. Before he
realized it he was on the ship, the deckhand made his way onto the ship and
went into the lower decks. Squints walked around the main deck with his jaw
slack in surprise.
Brooke and Lisa appeared at
Alex’s side. “How is Squints already on the ship?” Brooke asked. “I thought he
hated the ocean.” She watched as Squints ran back and forth on the deck
avoiding the actual working sailors.
Alex shook her head. “He didn’t
hate the ocean, he’s just never been near it really. Sailing in the blood of
his people. I’ll bet by the end of the voyage he’ll be driving you all mad with
is love for the open sea and sailing.
Squints stepped up on to a
box so he could see over the edge of the ship. “How come no one told me how awesome
this was going to be!” He shouted at them with a huge smile on his face.
Brooke shook her head. “Or
His blood will kick in the second he steps foot on the vessel and he’ll fall in
love with it and bug us endlessly for the ENTIRE trip.” She laughed. “Come on
Lisa, lets find our cabin. She waved her hand and the pair make their way up
the walkway and onto the ship.
Alex looked at Trent. “You
ready for this?” She asked watching the last of the gear get loaded on board.
Trent shook his head. “No,
but if I waited until I was ready I’d never get anything done.” He said
standing up. He turned to Alex. “I owe you more than I can ever repay.”
Alex hugged him. “Says the
man about to save countless lives and go on a quest that most likely will turn
out to be nothing but could change the future of our entire kingdom.” They
separated. She wiped a tear from her eye. “I expect near constant updates. You
understand me?” She tried to glare at Trent.
He nodded as Dean rang the bell
letting everyone know it was time to board and shove off. Alex waved her hand
at the ship. “Now go on, get out of here.” She said as Trent made his way up the
walk way.
The dock crew un did the
lines holding the ship to the dock, setting it free. Dead spun the wheel as the
crew moved the sails to catch the wind they needed to get out of the port.
Trent looked back at Alex as the ship pulled away from the dock a saw her waving.
He waved back until the ship turned toward the open ocean.
Alex stayed and watched until she could no longer make the ship out against the horizon.
