Distant Lands

Although their presence in the city of Kaimhuyt had been short it has felt to the pair as if centuries of their life had been spent here. Now it was time to leave and continue their journey to strange new lands and new adventures.

“Ready up!”

“Aye capt!”

Lim perched himself on a ledge that overlooked the port listening into the sounds of dock workers and the splashing of waves that gently tug onto the hull of the ships. Seagulls chirped above as they flew in the clear blue skies.

“Urendyr was a much grander port than this.”

Estra walked by tapping her hand on Lim’s head softly. She carried in her hand some meat sticks that she recently bought. It was fresh steaming and oozing with meaty goodness.

“Gimmie!”

“Woah, hold your horses there princess. Here.”

Lim grabbed the meat stick and tore it off with his teeth.

“Ahh how I envy your fangs… Mhmm. Mhmm.”

Lim munched on his food with teary eyes as he took in the flavours.

“Ah, I haven't eaten since ages.”

“You had some a few minutes ago ya pig.”

“Shut up! I was hungry then and I am hungry now.”

Estra perched herself next to Lim as she looked down towards the port as well.

“Do you miss it?”

“A bit, it's still my home after all. Maybe one day we’ll return.”

“Maybe. Yeah.”

“So where to next?”

“I am not quite sure yet. We can just drift with the winds from one place to another. It doesn’t matter where really.”

“How about your hometown of Kilnranthe. We can go there.”

Estra smacked her fist into the palm of her hands.

“You’re right! Then off to Kilnranthe we go!”

“But first let me finish.”

“Yeah sure. I’ll grab some more to go.”

***

The portside of town was always busy with workers going about their days filling in ships with cargo. Merchants from all walks of life arriving and leaving like a well oiled contraption. Everyone has their place, they are cogs to the greater machine of life.

Estra and Lim walked down the steps towards the dock and while Lim immersed himself in his food Estra was busy in her head. It was clear that she and Lim were not a part of that contraption any longer. They were pieces of sand that had drifted in. A contradiction to the whole system but whether fate agrees or not that sand is forever a part of the machine.

“Lim turn here.”

The pair walked down to the docks with a giant ship that awaited them. It was a fine piece of craftsmanship of black painted wood and white patterned sails. All around the ship it was decorated with golden ornaments with a name that read: “Sea’s Devine.”

A sailor in a leather jacket and thick black beard walked out from the ship to greet the two.

“Oh you must be Estra, Captain Alguia has entrusted me to be your charter. I am the captain of this ship. Timothy Rye is the name.”

“Thanks for having us. We will be in your care.”

“GET UP! You filthy ingrates, we got guests on board! Treat them with respect! Prepare for departure!”

They both stepped on deck seeing the organised chaos of the sailors as they hurried to leave. Estra and Lim had to dodge and move out of the way of the workers.

“Amazing, I've never seen anything like this. Not in person at least.”

“First time on a boat?”

“Yes, I guess it's not the most hygienic place but I'll do.”

“You talk about hygiene but I once stowed away for months on end to just reach Urendyr.”

“That trip was honestly wasted.”

“Ha.ha.ha.”

***

Captain Rye came back to the pair and gestured to them to follow.

“Here’s your quarters, we only got the one bed… so?”

“I’ll be fine. It's perfect.”

Lim and Estra smiled nervously. The captain chuckled in response.

“I hope y'all are close… or get ready to get close.”

Lim and Estra couldn’t help looking at each other. Their gaze was short lived when the captain asked them to follow again.

They stood atop the ship with the open seas beckoning them further.

“So where to?”

“Kilnranthe.”

Captain Rye looked at them with a face of confusion as he wiped his eyes.

“I’m sorry I’m not hearing y'all right. Kilnranthe. You want us to go to goddamn Kilnranthe?”

“Would that be a problem?”

“A big problem it’s enemy territory. This ship would be sunk the moment they see us in their waters. I’m not sure if Miss Estra being here would stop them either.”

“So what's our options?”

“As far as I know we can’t take you directly there so your best bet is to find a location close and hire a ship from there… hmm let’s see. I think Olgur would be a safe bet.”

“Oh Olgur? That's perfect! It’s an island inhabited mostly by my kind. It’ll be easy to find a ship to hire.”

“Alright that settles it. Helmsman make way for Olgur!”

Sails unfurled as the large old ship knuckled under its own weight. It slowly turned with the sails catching the winds. The ship now moved, splitting the ocean below with a frothy wake that trailed behind.

Lim ran down towards the deck with Estra not far behind. They looked towards the grand city of Kaimhuyt as they waved their final farewells.

“Bye! Bye!”

Estra yelled out.

“UNTIL NEXT TIME!”

Estra and Lim felt the cool ocean breeze on their faces. It was the refreshing feeling that was nostalgic, it was the feeling of freedom. A new beginning.

“WOOOOOO!”

“AHAHAHAAAAAH!”

Estra and Lim crazily yelled out any words that would come out. They were free once more to do whatever they want, damned what the world may say.

‘To new beginnings’

End of Volume 1.