Part 23
Pixie Dust
He handed her his sheathed sword and took off. Silently, she watched him before he disappeared beyond the alley. She readjusted her hair and leaned against the wall letting out a sigh. “Did that count as my first Dance?” the girl muttered, her face flush.
Looking back into the dim alley, the girl’s hand tightened around the sword which she had been handed. The alley was much brighter than it had been just moments ago. The long sword in her hand was still in its dull white sheath, which reminded her of the color of eggshells. The handle was a similar color but was accented by a light silver.
“He’s far calmer in this form,” Ranin said. “And more talkative.”
“The nature of the form may have an impact on that,” Namic pondered.
The girl drew the blade out an inch form its sheath. The blade itself, was made of a pristine metal yet it seemed to glow with its own light. She sheathed it and looked at the evil collector. He was facedown, almost motionless, except the faint and slow cadence of his breathing. Despite the relatively small amount of blood issuing from his wound, the girl still felt uncomfortable.
Removing herself from the entrance of the alley, she returned her attention to the sword the Vassal of Light had given her. She held it as if ready for battle, though she dared not unsheathe it. Taking up the battle stance, she had briefly learned from the sailor, she made a single practice swing with the blade.
“Be careful, it is not something to be casually played with,” the Vassal of Light said, leaning over her shoulder.”
“That was quite fast,” Ranin said.
The girl’s eyes darted to the Vassal the moment he began speaking, and her body tensed.
“Not bad form,” the Vassal continued, holding out his hand, “And your reflexes are not bad either.”
The girl, not meeting his eyes, gave him the sword.
“So this is the man you apprehended?” A voice said as the Vassal walked by the girl.
“Indeed,” the Vassal said.
The man to whom the voice belonged was looking at the collector. He was tall even by the standards of the people of Calta and quite broad too. “Are you the master of this Kazan?” the man asked.
“Yes,” the girl replied, giving Sworder a curious look.
“I’m the Marshal of this city,” the man said answering her look. Using his foot he then flipped the collector over. The girl looked away as the blood still slow seeped from the collector’s shirt. “Still alive,” the Marshal continued.
“He has a Kazan, which controls chains,” the Vassal of Light said. “It seems it used Darkness to control them as I was able to stop them with my light. They also seemed to have strength sapping abilities.”
“Interesting,” the Marshal said. “But how do I know you did not just attack him and are covering your tracks.”
“We wouldn’t do something like that!” the girl said.
“And why would I bring you here when it would be more simple to just dispose of him and move on,” the Vassal of Light said.
“Fine, I believe you,” the Marshal said.
“That was surprisingly easy to convince him,” Ranin said.
“I think he has a reason to take their word so readily,” Namic said.
“Oh?” Ranin said, but Namic did not explain.
“He talked about a collection of people,” the Vassal said. “I don’t know exactly what he meant but he may have others he has attacked.”
“I’ll look into it, he will not be able to hide anything from me right, Dusk,” the Marshal said looking up.
“You can count on me!” a tiny man with transparent wings said, as he flew over to the Marshal’s shoulder. Then smiling, he crossed his leg as he sat on the Marshal. “Nice to meet you.”
“Who’s this,” Ranin said.
“Meet, Dust,” the Mashal said. “Dust Pixie would be a proper name.”
“Yep,” Dust said. “In fact people find it difficult to lie when I spread my dust, which, if you where paying attention, you would notice is all around you. Cool isn’t it?”
“Don’t mind him,” the Marshal said. “He sometimes does not know when to stop talking.”
Dust’s cheeks puffed out and he put his arms at his sides angrily. “That’s not nice to say,” he said. “You could at least say something positive while you’re at it like how good I am in combat, flying around confusing enemies with my pixie dust. I have quite a few cool forms you know I would…”
He was silenced by the Marshal who casually knocked him off his shoulder, before saying, “You may go, I’ll deal with him,” gesturing at the collector.
“See ya!” Dust said, floating in the air waving his arms.
The girl smiled and waved back as the Vassal of Light grabbed her other arm and led her away, stopping only to grab their belongings.
“You sure you want to let them go?” Dust asked the Marshal, “Don’t you have more questions.”
“I couldn’t think of any while you talked,” the Marshal retorted.
“Wait, Sworder,” the girl said after they had traveled a distance, forcing the Vassal to stop, “What’s with this form?”
“I am the Vassal of Light,” he replied.
“You said that already,” the girl said, and then lowering her head, she continued. “You were about to turn, but you stopped.”
“You told me too,” the Vassal said. “I am sorry, but when he spoke of taking you from me, I only wanted to see him dead.”
“You can’t let go of yourself like that,” the girl said. “I don’t know if I’ll be there to stop you.”
“Indeed,” the Vassal of Light said. He began to move on and the girl followed.
“She has control of his actions but not his will,” Namic said.
“Her control is still shaky, though,” Ranin said.
“She relies on her words,” Namic said.
“So in the end her words have to reach him,” Ranin said. “And in the midst of battle that may be difficult.”
“It may just be a matter of time.”
“So depressing,” Ranin teased.
“You handled that well. No?” the short sailor said.
“You!” the girl said.
“What are you doing here?” the Vassal asked.
“Don’t be so suspicious,” the girl said. “He is part of the crew after all and he helped us back in Saghaven to get to the ship.” Then to the sailor, “But what brings you out here.”
“Minding the Captain’s interests,” the short sailor said. “You should be far more careful, yes?”
“You saw us?” the girl asked.
“I did, yes,” the short sailor. “I saw little reason to enter. You seemed able to handle him.”
“It is nice to know we had backup,” the girl said. “Thank you.”
“We should hurry back,” the Vassal said.
“Hurry then,” the short sailor said. “I have something to see.”
“Okay,” the girl said. “See you back at the ship.”
“Where do you think he is going?” Ranin asked.
“Likely, this mystery may later be unraveled,” Namic said.
“You’re probably right,” Ranin said.
When they arrived back on the ship, the girl ran up the gang plank. “We’re back,” she said.
The Captian turned as she came up, “I am glad to see you, did all go well?” he asked.
“Well, we ran into some trouble,” the girl said. “But we were able to handle it. I am thankful for the man of yours who was watching us.”
“What is this?” the Captain said. “Ah, yes, I wondered where he had gotten to. I will have to reward him for watching my interests. Where is he now?”
“He said, he had something to see,” Sworder said.
“Wastes no time, that one,” the Captain said. “Come. There is someone you should meet. He is a skilled Trapper. I have the pleasure to be an acquaintance of.”
The Captain led them over to a corner of the ship, where Uncle Ben and a large, stocky man talked.
“Ah, so this is the young lass. I’ve heard so much about,” the Trapper said. “Seems your old man and me have struck a deal.”
“He has agreed to guide us over the mountains and further inland,” Uncle Ben said.
“Thank you,” the girl said curtsying.
“My pleasure,” the Trapper said, with a bow. “The captain here has quite a few good things to say about you, ya know.”
The girl looked at the captain, who failed to hide a small smile before he began. “Word does get around sometimes, and I thought well to explain my thoughts.”
“I can not take credits, though,” the girl said. “Sworder.”
Sworder stepped forward; against the Trapper he was surprisingly short, but he carried a presence which allowed him to easily stand up to the Trapper. The head of Sworder’s cloak was thrown back and his hands rested idly by his side, one laying on his sword.
“Aye, what a fight the young laddy would make,” the Trapper said, heartily.
“I fight when my master calls,” Sworder said plainly.
“That is not the only reason he fights,” Namic said.
“He did not say only,” Ranin jested.
“T’be expected,” the Trapper sighed. “A good fight it would be.”
“If it does come to that,” the captain interjected. “Please do it off my ship.”
“I am sorry, sir,” the girl said with another curtsy. “I prefer not to have Sworder fight unnecessarily.”
“No need to apologize, lass,” the Trapper said. “Any contest would hold no joy if your heart was not set on it. Now then, onto further business; we shall start off tomorrow. With winter approaching, we need to cross the mountains as soon as possible. I’ll guide you as far as Belfor. There you should winter if you are able.”
“Thank you,” the girl said. “Where shall we meet tomorrow?”
“I’ve arranged that with Goodman Ben,” the Trapper said. “I’ll be back here before the sun rises. We’ll leave as quickly as possible. I see no reason to delay.”
The Trapper scratched at his stubbled face, as he looked at the girl. “Ya know, I just can’t size you up,” he said. “Quite a few of your opponents have underestimated ya, haven’t they?”
“As things stand,” Uncle Ben said, “most of our stuff is already packed so we should be ready when you arrive.”
“Splendid,” the Trapper said clapping Uncle Ben on the back, “I should go then and complete my own preparations.”
The Trapper strutted off and Uncle Ben turned towards the girl and Sworder. “Get some rest tonight. I think it will be a long day tomorrow.”
“Okay, Uncle Ben.”
“Are you all right with all this?” Uncle Ben asked the girl, putting a concerned hand on her shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
“I never asked you for your opinion on my plans,” Uncle Ben said. “And it may be too late to turn back but I want to make sure you really want this.”
The girl stared at her feet for a long moment before a smile slowly lit her face. “This may be the only way for me to stay with Sworder,” the girl said looking up to meet Uncle Ben’s eyes. “Thank you for coming, I could not have gotten this far without you.”
“I am just an old man with many regrets. I did not want to add one more.”
“This man,” Ranin said, “I just can’t read him.”
“It makes one curious about him,” Namic said. “But do not raise your hopes. Such men talk little about their past which has long past and been forgotten by most, rarely rising back.”
“True,” Ranin said. “I guess his story is over.”
“Yet he still plays a lead role,” Namic said.
“So what do you think will happen next?” Ranin asked, as they watched the group retired below deck to ensure they were ready to depart the next morning.
“We shall see,” Namic said.
My Stories 