SHORT FICTION

Thursday, 16 August 2018

ASENIA OF THE BLUE ISLES-CHAPTER 6

And so we continue on this adventure. Hope you enjoy!





Chapter 6

 

Karina bit her lip. Damn, was he out looking for her too? She couldn’t be found and the problem was going around these mountains were tricky. She presumed that’s why they hit. It’s too tight. She sighed. They would have to go through.

Kit came bounding up beside her to take a look at the ship. She turned to Karina. “Going to be tough for them not to notice us.”

“I know.” Then she spotted the clouds coming down settling into the mountains. “We could hide ourselves in the cloud.”

“We wouldn’t be able to see anything or where we were going. We have to keep moving to get clear of that cloud or we will be in the same position as them.”

Karina nodded. “Then go tell Simon to get us moving faster and clear out of here.”

She scampered off. Karina leaned over the rail to get a closer look. Out of her pocket she pulled her little telescope to see if she could see him.

There he was, Captain Delphia, giving orders to his crew. He peered up and almost seemed to be looking her straight in the eyes through the telescope. She held still until he turned away and jumped down to help.

Karina quickly put her telescope away and went to find the crew to help manoeuvre their way out of here without being seen.

Simon met her. “If we want to avoid the Captain, we will have to raise ourselves above the clouds, just past the peeks of the mountains. We risk being seen by them but they couldn’t catch us. The only thing is we don’t know what or who lurks up on the tops of the mountains. Could be more trolls out there.”

“I’ll take my chances. Let’s rise up then.”

Everyone went to their stations with Karina at the wheel steering them away from the rocks as best as she could. That cloud was now starting to settle down and it was soon going to be tough to see. They kept it steady.

Then a voice shouted out from the foggy white mist. “Ahoy there, Asenia. This is Captain Delphia, could I ask for your hand in a bit of help?”

Karina never answered back, just kept steering upward. She could not let him board her ship. She was guessing he had a small ship on the side of his own for emergencies. She always wanted one of those and was planning on it when she made this delivery. Get her ship fixed and get another smaller one.

There was silence now so she was hoping that they lost him. Karina looked up and could see the open sky and it felt like a race to make it but she yelled out to blow the sails out. She could feel the warm air. That was a good sign.

Only thing was, Captain Delphia heard her. He had to be close by and suddenly she saw this small ship catch the air current and float right up above them. Now she panicked.

The air current was strong though and for a small ship, it was hard to control. The air current lifted them way above them to almost nothing but a speck in the blue sky.

With any luck she thought, they could catch that draft and sail off before he could gain control.

Finally they broke through the clouds to the open sky. It was like breaking water and being to breathe again. The current like hands grabbed hold of the sails and pulled them along. Karina smiled. They were once again on their way to the Orox mountains. If they could avoid the Captain and any more chasers, they would make their destination in the next couple of days.

All the crew enjoyed the wind taking care of the work. It gave Simon time to do some repairs and keep them going until they could so some proper repairs. Karina felt confident now that there would be no more major problems. But she knew that could be false hope.

And she was right. The Captain had regained control of his small ship. He was ahead of them flying along at a good speed like them.

There was no changing course. This was the fastest and best route for now. There was only one more set of mountains to pass through and they were far safer than what they had just passed through. Their only threat was a head of them.

Karina stayed up front with her telescope keeping an eye on him. What she didn’t expect was when they were flying just above the mountains that riders would be circling around them like vultures. They were griffon riders. Karina had forgot about them living in these regions. They were thieves of the best kind. She could see them reaching the small ship first.

Karina saw fire balls being fired into the air at them. Damn, that small ship of his had everything on it! Maybe that would chase them away with any luck. But more of them showed up and now she had to defend her ship.

Silver Fox fired her flame arrows at them but they were pretty smart flyers. One came down and landed right on the ship’s bay. A muscled young blond haired man jumped down with his spear tightly held in his hand. His blond hair was tied in a braid that went down his back to almost his knees. His eyes were painted and glaring. Karina and Kalzan met him. “Get off my ship.”

“Give me something and I will gladly leave.”

“I don’t have anything to give. I just delivered my shipment. I’m empty.” Given that he was a thief, she didn’t know if he would fall for her lie.

“Nice try. You wouldn’t be flying through these mountains unless you are hiding precious cargo.”

More riders were flying above them, ready to land. Karina had to do something to get rid of them. Suddenly the small ship came into view and he was aiming his guns at them. “Get off the ship or I’ll blow you all to the other side of the mountains.”

He growled at the ship hovering above them. He climbed on his griffon and lifted off with the others. He yelled down. “We are not finished yet.”

They all flew off with just the small ship now next to them.

Captain Delphia leaned over the rails grinning. “Hello my dear. Are you alright?”

Karina cringed but gave him a small smile. “Thanks, we are okay.”

Without permission, he leaped on board and marched right up to her. He pulled her close and she was ready to hit him but he let go, knowing Kalzan was right behind him. “How long has it been dear? How I missed you. That was a close one, I was glad to be here to help you.”

Karina wanted to yell but it would do no good. She stood there and nodded. “Well, you can go back to your ship. We will be on our way.”

“What’s the rush dear? I would love to know what you have on board to. I agree with that griffon rider. You must have some precious cargo on board to be flying here.”

She looked at him. “Is that why you are flying here? To see if I do have something or do you have something that is worth something?”

He laughed. “My ship ran into some trouble as you saw. But no, I have no precious cargo unlike what I heard you have. Want to make a deal and I’ll protect you from anymore attacks. You heard that griffon rider. He will be after you and how many more?”

Karina shook her head. She was not making any deals. “Sorry to disappoint you but the stories you have been fed were indigestible.”

“Really now. That’s too bad. Well, I will be on my way. Have to get that ship off the mountain. But I assume we will meet again before you reach your destination which is?”

Karina had already turned away from him pretending not to hear his question. She could hear a laugh behind her. He flew off in his ship to her relief.

Karina held a meeting with her crew. They would have to make haste. There were too many after them. It was decided they would work in shifts to keep going.

 

Gatoy and his griffon Pata, were watching form the peak of the mountain. Another rider came up to him. “Did you find where they are going and what they have?”

“They are going to the Orox Mountains with a shipment of sapphire ice.”

Gatoy smiled. “I thought so. We attack and if that small ship shows up? Blow him out of the sky. We attack at midnight.”

 
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