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Legend of the Maņana, Chapter 12 |
| Written by Jonathan | |
| Tuesday, 22 July 2008 | |
Eight feet high in Athens "Blimey what a ride that was," Sally said as she looked at Rome from the stern. The Mañana had sailed as fast as possible from Rome, but the crew was allowed to relax now that the city was only a memory in the horizon behind them. Sally turned back to the ship and walked down to the main deck joining Ayafre who was just beginning to prepare a meal. But other then Ayafre there was only Scarlet at the wheel and no one else on deck. "Where is everyone?" Sally inquired. "Oh getting their equipment in order, it's amazing they just left all of our things on the Mañana," Ayafre stated. "Maybe they were going to sell it all and would just use the Mañana for transport, but still odd. What do you make of it Captain?" "Me? Not sure really, perhaps just luck, we'll have to ask Jortunde about it once we find that bastard," Scarlet said sternly. "So...after all that we are really going back after them?" Ayafre said with concern. "What do you mean child?" Scarlet asked. "Well we just escaped, we don't really need Jortunde. Can't we, I dunno. Can't we just go home?" "Where's home Ayafre?" Sally questioned. "Well..." Ayafre started. "Ayafre, are you not happy on the Mañana? I would hate to lose you," Scarlet said with a worried tone. "No, that's not what I'm saying. No I love you all and could never leave, you're all my family now but... it just seems like we're throwing ourselves into trouble, there's no need for this vengeance. Let's just carry on with our lives and forget this whole mess. Who cares why Jortunde crossed us, it won't solve anything by storming in to find him," Ayafre explained. There was silence among the three. Ayafre bit her lip and began to stir the warm water in the pot, hoping it would boil soon. "Ayafre... I see what you're saying but it's my responsibility to the crew, to find out why," Scarlet stated. "I will follow where you lead but...I'd rather not get into meaningless fights. Just make sure that's you talking Scarlet, not Yasac or anyone else," Ayafre said slowly. "I understand Ayafre, but this is something we must do," Scarlet declared. Ayafre nodded and forced a smile. "Do you have something against Yasac Ayafre?" Sally questioned. "Me? No, well I don't really like how he is toward Scarlet. He is fascinating but he has a violent nature about him that is...frightening," Ayafre murmured. All the sudden Yasac leapt up the stairway from the deck below all flustered. "Has anyone seen it! Oh the misery and pain! I can't find my katana! Oh God, has your finger left my side!" Yasac screamed as he rushed around in a fright. "Is that the violent nature you speak of? Cause I only find it amusing," Sally whispered to Ayafre and the two giggled. "Ayafre! Sally! You have to help me find it!" Yasac pleaded. "Yasac I don't even know what you're talking about," Sally said through a chuckle. "My katana! Godfinger, you know the sword that I carry on my back!" The two girls shook their heads to Yasac's displeasure. "Oi! Yasac I found this wedged in the wheel," Scarlet waved a katana above the stern. "Would this be yours?" Yasac's eyes lit up as he saw it and he bounded up to the captain to retrieve it. "Thank you so much Scarlet! So you just found it in the wheel?" Yasac questioned. "Aye must have been trying to keep it from turning in the wind," "They used my sword as a wheel lock!" "Apparently," Scarlet said with a smile. Yasac threw a silent tantrum quite insulted. "Any who Yasac, you said Athens was where we needed to go?" "Yes...although that's as much as I know and it's a big city. We'll have to do some leg work once we get there." "How do you mean?" "We're looking for a big palace." "Oh, that shouldn't be too hard." "You'd be surprised."
A day later the Mañana arrived with the sun high in the sky. A crying flock of seagulls followed the ship into the Athens harbor which was bustling with people. The smells and sounds of the city could be experienced even a few miles out of dock, from the exotic to the downright disgusting. "Is that his place up there on that mountain?" Revloc asked. "No that would be the Acropolis we're looking for a criminal not a god," Yasac stated. Scarlet brought the Mañana up to the docks and the crew tied her down. "Sally love, get everyone assembled on the main deck," Scarlet said as she fixed her hat and hair. "Oi! All hands on deck! All hands on deck!" Sally cried. "Alright! Listen up me hearties. We're not havin any more incidents like we had at Rome; we're all goona stay on the ship and send scouts out. So! Yasac Ayafre and Sally take a look around and see what you can find. The rest of you let's get to work on this ship it's starting to look filthy. So! That's all lovelies ta!" Scarlet said.
The crew followed orders and the scouts quickly became one with the crowded streets, just another few pedestrians. The three split apart in the streets not necessarily by choice but there was no reason for them to stay together. Ayafre however fought the crowds trying to keep up with Yasac who seemed to flow through with greater ease. "Yasac! Where did you go?" Ayafre said as he disappeared from her sight. Ayafre bit her lip disappointed and not excited about searching the city alone. She looked around for Sally but she had disappeared too. Ayafre moved to the side of the road brushing up next to the many vendors who were quick to hawk their wares. Ayafre kindly tried to turn down them all but the more she stayed in one place the more each vendor would attempt to haggle with her. She put on a polite but frightened smile as she tried to work her way to an alleyway past the vendors. All the sudden a man shoved a giant urn in her face and jabbered in Arabic too fast for Ayafre to keep up. Ayafre shook her head while trying to remember the language. As Ayafre began to moan she was pulled backwards and whisked into the alleyway. Ayafre screamed her heart racing as person was still behind her. She fought the hands on her shoulders violently. "Just who are you looking for?" Ayafre gasped and turned around to see Yasac. "Oh! It's you," Ayafre said with rosy cheeks. "Yes." "I uh, got caught up there," "I noticed." Ayafre bit her lip not sure what to say to Yasac's simple answers. "Shall we go then?" he suggested. "Oh of course!" "Alright then, how about we try the highway?" "Highway?" Yasac with his mighty leap hopped up onto the flat topped casa in front of them. He turned around and reached down to help Ayafre up. "Are...you sure the owners won't mind?" "We won't stay long at all trust me," Yasac said with a laugh. She took his hand and he pulled her up. "Whoa it was impressive from the ship but when it's all around you..." Ayafre said in awe. "Yeah, let's look for a higher building." "Higher?" "Yes, mansions don't normally consist of single floors," "Oh, of course," "Oh what's that large building with the columns?" Ayafre wondered as she pointed at it. "Temple probably maybe even a bath, we're looking for something with statues and most likely plant life, that's the standard wealthy landscaping around here." "Do you know every city this well?" "Mmm no, my family frequented Greece in trading, it was supposedly where our ancestors were from," Yasac said softly. "Oh? Who's all in your family?" "You know you're quite the curious one," Yasac said as he walked over to the other side of the house. "Hey! Don't dodge the question by just moving away." "Dodge the question? What if I didn't want to answer it, haven't you interrogated me enough these past months?" "Well..." Ayafre cut off a bit unsure of herself. "I ask everyone, I'm just curious like you said." "Well when is your curiosity satisfied?" Yasac asked as he crawled onto the edge of the casa. He leapt over the alleyway to a similar house. He turned around and spread his arms ready to catch Ayafre. "Well, is it a sore subject? I apologize if so," she said. Not sure if she could make the jump. "Just jump." Ayafre sighed and backed up. She ran to the edge and gave a mighty leap. Yasac caught her as she landed at the other side. "Thanks," She said. "Well?" "It's not a sore subject alright, but you must understand I am a normally secretive person, I don't know what it is about you that I am compelled to reveal so much to you but, just understand you are fortunate," He explained. "Fortunate? Aren't we friends? What's wrong with you!" She said insulted. "I..." Yasac was taken aback by her sudden hostility. "No need to get upset, I...I dunno it is just different for me." "Different? Are you really as strange as you let on? Or do you just have something to hide from me? Or do you just not like me?" she said annoyed with his foolishness. "Uh...no I think you are a...wonderful friend Ayafre. I just...yes, yes I am that strange alright. Perhaps the best words are...I am not as socially proficient as I would like to be." "Very well, where are we going next?" she asked impatiently, still disappointed she never got to learn about his family. "It may be time to look around the taverns, it might take us all day if we just looked for the building itself.
The two continued to building hop around, asking each tavern and pub they came across. But the two were fairly silent when talking to each other. They came across a rather large tavern house, but outside they spotted Sally. "Oi! Sally long time no see!" Ayafre hailed excited to be with another woman in place of the quiet Yasac. "Yasac! Ayafre! Been a few hours now, found anything?" "No, not really, Yasac is being an idiot and being increasingly paranoid at every bar," Ayafre stated with disgust. "Well we can't just tip of Jortunde that we are here, we'll lose our element of surprise," Yasac explained. "Yes but that doesn't mean we can't ask any questions at all. Just watching them doesn't help us learn anything!" Ayafre sighed. "You have better luck I hope Sally?" "Well just one tip that this cantina here holds organized fights, I guess we'll see what we can find," Sally said. "Better than nothing, let's go." They approached the tavern when Ayafre pushed Yasac aside. "Yasac! You stay outside," She ordered. "What! Why?" Yasac exclaimed surprised. "They don't serve your kind," She stated coldly. "Well Yasac, you could keep watch out here in case we have some surprise attack." Sally suggested, trying to appeal to both sides. "That's unlikely and what do you mean my kind?" Yasac asked annoyed. Ayafre gently pushed Sally inside. "Pigs! Selfish annoying pigs!" Ayafre exclaimed and went inside with a huff. Yasac didn't know what to say as he had no idea what riled her up so much. "It's Greece but I'm sure they serve bacon," Yasac said. Ayafre and Sally worked their way through the crowded smoky place and took a seat at the bar on the far side. A small band was playing in the circle in the middle of the cantina. "What kin I get for you two lovelies," Said a raspy deep voiced bartender. "Noth..." Sally started before Ayafre slapped her hand on the table. "Rum! And quick!" Ayafre shouted. "Aye aye maiden!" The bartender responded a bit frightened. "Not getting along with Yasac today?" Sally asked. "Oh, no not really. He's so inconsiderate, to me, and Scarlet too," Ayafre said with a sigh. Sally placed her elbow on the bar and cupped her chin. "Well, he isn't as bad as my brother but I suppose Chives has a lot more respect for Scarlet then Yasac seems to," Sally stated. Ayafre did the same with her own arm and nodded. "I just don't understand him, what does that lunatic have to hide?" Ayafre wondered. Two full tankards of rum were laid in front of the girls and Sally set down a pair of gold coins in return. "Oh thanks," Ayafre said after she had already taken a swig. "Who knows Ayafre," Sally said. "Whatever I don't want to think about it, see anyone worth looking into?" "Excuse me?" Sally said confused. "Were we talking about men or suspects?" "Well there's no reason our suspect couldn't be a woman," "Eh? Ayafre are you that desperate?" Sally asked a bit shocked. "What are you, medieval? The underground could have women easily!" "What! Oh, no I thought you were talking about lovers still." "What the devil! When were we talking about lovers?" "Oh...I assumed, wait what?" Suddenly a crash sounded behind them. The whole tavern turns to a pair of monstrously tall men grappling in the center, knocking over's the band's harp. "Excuse me," The bartender said as he hopped over the bar between Ayafre and Sally with a pistol in his hand. "Oi! Knock it off!" The bartender roared and fired the pistol at the ceiling. "It's bad enough I got Jortunde stomping around here, but you two cause more trouble than this whole thing is worth!" The bartender shouted at the two men. "That settles it, let's go back and bring the whole crew here," Yasac said walking from a shadowy table in the corner. Ayafre gasped aloud at Yasac's sudden appearance. "How did you? Never mind let's go," Sally said quickly.
The three rushed back the Mañana and informed the rest of the crew. Scarlet had the crew arm themselves well unsure of the opposition. They packed extra pistols, and each took a musket save Yasac and Ayafre who were loaded with plenty of powder. A couple hours later the whole crew arrived back at the tavern just as the sun was setting. "Alright Chives and Sally go around back while Ayafre and Yasac head on into the tavern. The rest of us will stay out front trying to look normal," Scarlet ordered as they approached the tavern. "Aye, what do we do if he enters or leaves through the back door?" Chives asked as he adjusted the two musket straps on his shoulder. "Hmm," Scarlet paused. "Have Sally follow him and Chives comes to warn the rest of us, she'll appear less intimidating," Yasac stated. "What are you trying to say Yasac?" Sally asked playfully. "Uh...well who would you rather have following you? A mysterious young girl or a big burly Scotsman with two rifles on his back?" "Point taken," Sally said with a laugh. "We aren't going to flat out assassinate him right?" Ayafre asked looking worried and a bit overwhelmed by the large coat full of powder and medical supplies hidden under it. "No, no dear I want him alive, he needs to answer for putting you all in danger, we're going to find out why we were double-crossed." Scarlet declared. "Alright! Get to it and good luck me hearties." "I still don't like the looks of this," Ayafre whispered in Jane's ear. Jane shrugged her shoulders and hugged Ayafre before she and Yasac entered the tavern. The two entered the tavern and quickly took a seat in a dark booth. The crowd wasn't nearly a lively as last time but there was a much more potent stench about the place. As the two looked around for any sign of Jortunde, Yasac noticed Ayafre seeming less than satisfied. "Don't be nervous at least this time we're prepared," Yasac said trying to relieve her. "It's...not that I just don't like the idea of us getting all military and hunting Jortunde down, and your coat is too big on me." "Well yes, it's even a bit big on me, I forgot I had it stored away in the hold, but it suits are purposes." "I'm afraid I'm not sure exactly what our purpose is tonight." "Ayafre..." Yasac said suddenly sounding serious. She turned to him unsure what he was going to say, but his sudden tone made her fix on his hazel eyes. "No matter what happens tonight I will not let Jortunde die. We're not assassins we're barely even pirates. Jortunde tried to kill us but I am in no business of murderous revenge," Yasac mandated. Ayafre's jaw dropped slightly, almost completely relieved at Yasac's strong words. "Thank you..." Ayafre said ever so softly. "It's what friends do." Ayafre smiled and wished there was not a table between them as she outstretched her arms casually. A half hour passed and there was barely anyone entering or leaving the tavern. "This is getting tiresome," Ayafre said with a yawn. "Let me go ask around," Yasac stated as he started to get up. "You? You're going to ask around?" "Well...I'm going to try and it's going to involve a lot of eavesdropping, you do the same." "Right." Ayafre said as she curled up in the booth next the rough wooden wall. She let her tired eyes close as she laid her head on the wall. A cold burst of air rudely woke her and her eyes burst open annoyed. She looked around to see where it came from until she noticed a small hole in the wall. She reached her neck to it and peered through. She saw outside the tavern into the darkening streets of Athens. As she looked around more, to her surprise she saw the two giant men who were fighting earlier at the tavern standing outside next to very close to the wall. She abruptly straightened up to listen to what the two were saying. "Listen you're being stupid, we should never have even gotten involved." "You were the one taking on more jobs and more fights; I just figured I'd do the same." "Are you daft! Jortunde will have our heads when he hears we didn't do the job." "It's a big city..." "No not big enough...hey what's that?" The taller one said turning to the wall. Ayafre gasped and ripped her head from the wall and scrambled away. "Oh no you don't!" One of them roared All the sudden two arms burst through the wood and caught Ayafre as she tried to get away. Ayafre screamed as they pulled her out through the wall. "That's a hell of rat!" The shorter one said as the taller on raised Ayafre into the air screaming bloody murder. "Shut her up!" The taller one roared. The shorter one grasped Ayafre's head and kept his hand over her mouth. "Not that way! Knock her out!" It wasn't long before the crew came to Ayafre's aid and surrounded the two large men. "Oi! Let her go, no need for this to get ugly," Scarlet said as she brandished her pistol. Yasac kept his hands poised over his swords ready to cut them down. "This loud thing is yours? I don't suppose Jortunde sent ya? Cause we ain't backin down if this is the way ya wanna go." The taller one said. "What? What do you mean Jortunde sent us?" Sally inquired confused. "If yer not with Jortunde then why is your shrew spying on us!" The shorter one said. "Cause...we're looking for Jortunde, care to put her down?" Revloc stated. The two giants looked at Ayafre carefully. She looked back quite frightened but had ceased her screaming and nodded. They gently put Ayafre down and the crew put away their weapons and approached the giants more kindly. "I am Navlac the Giant and this is my brother Nivlac the Whirlwind," Navlac said "Call me whirlwind if that makes it easier on you," Nivlac said with a smile. "I think I'll do that," Jane said already forgetting which one was which as the two giants looked quite similar. They both had short blond hair and light blue eyes and stood at an astounding eight feet tall. Navlac was dressed in a black long sleeved tunic with large boots and thick pants, he also sported a pair of iron bracers on his wrists He had a deep voice with a slight German accent. His brother Nivlac wore a worn leather shirt without sleeves showing off his strong arms, but his pants and shoes were made out of simple and ragged wool. He had a pair of gloves which hid brass knuckles under them. He was a few inches shorter than his brother and had a much fairer face. "Let's take a walk," Navlac said as he noticed some of the tavern patrons staring at the group. "Well we'd love to avoid any misunderstandings with the bartender but we are waiting for Jortunde to show up here," Scarlet explained. "What's your business with Jortunde?" Navlac asked still suspicious of the crew. "I think we should be asking you that ya Finn McCool freak," Chives said rudely. "Heh says the one eye," Navlac uttered not impressed with Chives' boldness. "That's fair though, we brothers are fighters in the underground arenas. We recently signed a deal that made us mercenaries for the underground," Nivlac explained. "What my idiot brother failed to mention is that it's a binding contract, we're hired for life or else," Navlac sternly pointed out. "I didn't realize they wanted us to extort the poor and beat rich children," Nivlac said disappointed in himself. "Tiz! I knew these underground people were no good," Revloc said and spit on the ground. "We never even got the chance to deal. When we met with Jortunde he double-crossed us for no reason and had us executed. We made after him by the skin on our backs," Scarlet said. "Really? And just what do you plan on doing now?" Navlac questioned. "I'm going to find Jortunde and make him tell us why he double-crossed us," Scarlet stated. "It would be much easier for both of us if you just killed him," Nivlac said coolly. "It was a sure thing, there's no explanation for why he crossed us, he has to know why. "Well, if you're going to catch him you better do it tonight, he's leaving first thing tomorrow," Navlac stated. "That soon? We don't have much time to find him," Sally said. "Find him? Consider him found, we'll show you were he is," Nivlac stated. "Hell, you know what brother? If they're serious about this let's help them squash this bug." Navlac announced. Chives tossed one of his muskets to Navlac. "Oh we're serious," Chives said with a growl. Copyright 2008 Jonathan |
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