The Womamel was just short of
a week at sea and Squints had yet to leave the top deck. He ate, drank, and
slept as close to the open water as he could get. On the sixth day Trent found
him watching the wake as they passed through the water. Squints was standing on
a box so he was tall enough to see over the side. Trent smiled as he leaned on
the rear railing of the ship. “I still cannot believe how quickly you took to
the sea.” He commented.
Squints didn’t take his eyes
off the turmoil in the water behind them. “It’s like a part of me I never knew
existed. Just waiting to be set free.” He sounded hopeful and renewed.
Trent nodded. “I’m glad
someone is getting something positive out of this at least. We’re not likely to
have such good fortune every step of the way.” Trent sighed.
Squints looked at his friend.
“Each of us knows what’s at stake. We all have our own reasons for doing this.
And contrary to what ever fantasy is rolling around your little pea brain.” He
ruffled Trent’s hair and Trent shoved him back playfully. “It’s not out of some
sense of misguided loyalty for you.” He assured.
Trent nodded. “I know that
everyone has their reasons.” He started. “But none of this would have happened
if I had just settled things with the king thirteen years ago.” He said.
Squints looked to the
starboard side where on the edge of the horizon you could just barely make out
the eastern most Gnomish islands. “Look, one of those is my ancestral home.” He
said. “Before I stepped foot on this thing I had less than no desire to ever
find out where my family came from or what they left behind when they came to
Lidarion.” He watched the horizon in silence for a moment. “You left for
thirteen years. And everything that happened while you were gone could have
been stopped multiple times.” Squints looked back at the ships wake. “The only thing
you could have done back then was love her in the privacy of night and die a little
more every day once she was married off to the prince of another house.”
Squints sighed. “Personally where we are now is a situation far better suited
for the talents we’ve come to possess.” He smiled.
Trent looked at the water but
did not see the same majesty that Squints clearly did. All he saw was the
swirling churn of counter currents crashing into each other and bubbling to the
surface before they faded away back into the glass like uniformity of the rest
of the ocean. “I hope that fate has as high a regard for our plans and skills
as you do.” Trent pretended to pray. “But that’s not why I came up here.” He switched
gears suddenly. “With all the excitement I never got a chance to ask you what
is supposed to be in this book that were going to collect.” He asked.
Squints shrugged his
shoulders. “All the book I found said was where the book that mentioned the sigils
was located.” He admitted.
Trent tried not to look surprised.
“Located on the continent, located in the building, located on the shelf
between this book and that book? Where is this thing? I can read, what the hell
did we just sail across the world to get Squints?” He was getting excited.
Squints held up his hands. “Relax
I have the name of the book we’re
looking for, and where in the library to look for it.” He assured.
Trent nodded. “Ok and where
on the continent is the library?” he asked.
Squints smiled awkwardly. “We’re
traveling with royal gold, I’m sure when we dock it’ll be a simple matter to
find someone who knows where the library is and take us there.” Trent was so
mad he was turning red in the face. Squints hopped off his box. “Oh what? Like
you were going to suggest we not go and let those people die? It’s more than
nothing to go on so keep your pants on!” He shouted as Trent chased him into
the hold.
