Book II: Leaving the West

Chapter X: Max the Mariner

Sheena Fujibayashi cursed as she entered Izoold. Her Rheaird was back on the Ossa Trail, which besides being a considerable distance away, was being inhabited by a demon from hell. The would-be assassin’s luck was running thin.

“This is just wonderful,” Sheena grumbled to herself. “I barely even meet them and I already screw up. I should have known this would happen. All my supplies and money were by the Rheaird too. Great.” She kicked a stone and went on to try and resolve her problems.

His traveling companions however did share his exact mood. Yes, Genis had a grin on his face, and Colette was practically skipping, but the three adults lagged behind. Their eyes drooped while yawning constantly, and they simply were not alert. Kratos however managed to mask this for the most part.

So, Lloyd, oblivious to his companion’s moods urged them to hurry up. “C’mon guys were almost to Izoold! Stop lagging behind so much.” He was impatient and wished to see the sea.

“Lloyd, if you haven’t noticed, we’re tired and need sleep.” Raine said grumpily, her eyes red. “We haven’t had any gels unlike some people.”

“So why don’t you just use a gel?”

If Raine wasn’t so tired, or out of range, she would have smacked Lloyd. “It would just be a waste not to use the gels full healing capabilities. We’re not wounded or anything.”

“But-,” Lloyd protested.

“No buts lad,” said Aberos. “Once we get to Izoold, we’re finding an Inn and sleeping until tomorrow.” His eyes blinked wearily. “We’ll have to find a willing sailor to sail us across to Palmacosta.”

“It will be difficult to find someone willing to take us across the sea, as many perils now lurk in its murky depths.” said Kratos.

“It’s the quickest way across, we don’t have any other choice.” Aberos replied irritably.

“There is always the continental route,” Kratos retorted.

“Do you know how long that road takes? Weeks! And then we’ll have to go all the way back up north and around. We’ll simply-,”

“For once, both of you shut up?” groaned Raine. “For the love of Martel both of you are always arguing like children!”

The group stopped dead in their tracks. Raine was never one to shout, at someone else besides Lloyd.

“Psst, Genis,” whispered Lloyd. “Is this normal?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” answered the elf boy. It may not happen often, but when Raine doesn’t get enough sleep she gets cranky. It’s only happened during a school day once or twice but…”

“I guess I always just thought it was Raine being normal.”

No one else had a response to Raine’s outburst. They continued walking to Izoold.

“We’ll be fine Professor, don’t worry.” Colette assured her.

“Yeah, you guys go get some sleep, we’ll be fine, I promise.” said Lloyd as they reached the room door.

Raine turned to Genis. “Look after him will you?”

Lloyd gaped at the Professor. “But, but I’m five years older then him!”

“But he acts older then you,” Raine clinched Lloyd’s argument. “Anyway, when you want to get into your rooms, ask the innkeeper, it’s all been arranged. Good night.” She unlocked the door with the brass room key. She pushed open the door and closed it.

They stood there for a few seconds in prevailing silence, before heading out the inn doors.

“So…what do you guys wanna do?” Genis asked.

“I don’t know,” Lloyd kicked a stone and put his hands behind his head. “The Professor went and made a stupid rule not to leave the city. What are we supposed to do? I was hoping to fight monsters.”

“We’ll just have to find something else to do then,” Colette said optimistically. “I know! Why don’t we find someone to take us across the sea? I bet that would make the Professor really happy.”

“Yeah, I bet it would.” Lloyd replied. “Any ideas on where to start?”

Genis walked past the teen swordsman. “The docks, duh.” He continued on his way.

“Genis! Wait for me!” Lloyd called to his elf friend. He turned to the Chosen. “Come on Colette!”

They both ran after Genis.

“Lyla Wern! You had better not be daydreaming about that boy again!”

A pity her grandmother and the rest of the village didn’t see it the same way.

“Why should I not?” Lyla protested, her rash nature and temper flaring up again. “Aifread and I are meant for each other!”

“Get such thoughts out of your head girl!” the short old woman said sharply. “That man was a con artist and a thief.”

“He was a gentlemen!”

Lyla’s grandmother scoffed. “Whatever. Do what you want. It doesn’t matter anyway, Aifread has gone back to Luin.”

“What? He went back to his hometown without telling me?” Lyla shouted. “This cannot be! I must send him a love letter at once!”

The lovesick girl was out the door before her wise grandmother could respond. “The folly of the young,” the old woman muttered, and went on with preparing the noonday meal.

As Lyla approached Max, he looked up from his work, and she stuck out the sealed letter in her hand. “I demand you take this to Luin at once!”

Max rubbed his temples, and glanced at the letter. “Let me guess, Aifread the con artist right?”

“He’s not a con artist!” said Lyla. “He’s a true perfect, gentle-,”

“Stop it, I already know,” Max said bitterly. “I cannot take you or your letter across the sea. These days are dangerous Lyla. There are monster prowling the once safe waterways. Perhaps next month or so when the convoy comes from Palmacosta.”

“Love conquers all!” Lyla half-shouted with naivety.

“Not that again,” groaned Max. “Look, can’t you just wait, or send it over the bridge?”

“Love waits for no one Max.”

“That I already know,” he muttered under this breath.

But Lyla was listening. She was scouting around, looking about the pier. She spotted a trio of teenagers nearby, bearing weapons.

“You there!” she called to them. “If you require passage across the sea, this man will take you across for free with a very small catch attached!”

An older one, in his late teens, look at them, thought for a few bare seconds then walked over.

“Free passage across the sea?” Lloyd asked. “That’s great! We need to get to Palmacosta.”

“Wonderful, wonderful,” said Lyla, eyes shining. “Max here will take you across.”

“Hold on a minute lady,” said Genis warily. “What’s this small catch of yours?”

“Oh it’s nothing, just a teensy errand,” answered Lyla in desperation. “I just need you to take this letter to Luin.” She held out the letter.

“Well, I guess if that’s all…” Genis trailed off.

“Good, here’s the letter,” Lyla handed them the letter. “And Max will take you across right now.”

“Actually, we have some friends that are still sleeping,” said Colette. “Could we possibly start tomorrow?”

“Perfectly fine,” Lyla was just happy to get someone to take the letter.

“Now way just a minute Lyla,” Max began to object. “Whoever said I would take them across for free?”

“Oh, Max,” said Lyla sweetly. “You’ll do it for me won’t you?”

The mariner opened his mouth to speak, but closed it and simply mumbled. “Fine, I’ll take them and the stupid letter to Palmacosta tomorrow morning.”

“Perfect,” Lyla smiled at him. “Well, just make sure you deliver it to Aifread in Luin. Ok? Bye!” She left, skipping merrily back into the streets of the village.

“Ugh,” groaned Genis when she was well out of earshot. “She was a bucketful of girl hormones and naivety.”

“Well, yeah, but at least we managed to find a boat across to Palmacosta.” Lloyd said, pointing out the positive aspect.

“But Lloyd, she wants us to take this letter,” he waved the envelope. “All the way to Luin. Do you know how far away that is from Palmacosta?”

“Umm, a few miles?” Lloyd guessed.

“It’s more then that Lloyd, it’s halfway across the continent!”

“But hey it’s a way across!”

Genis strangled the air. “Sure Lloyd, whatever.”

Colette tilted her head and asked. “Why is Genis attempting to grab hold of the air?”

They stood on the dock in front of Max’s ship. The young mariner was standing with his arms crossed on the deck.

“Are you sure this is the only way?” Raine asked nervously.

“Raine, unless you expect us to fly there, this is the only way,” replied Aberos.

“But it looks so unsafe.” Raine protested.

Max scoffed. “Ha! My vessel unsafe? Hardly! If my vessel is unsafe I’ll eat my hat. Now come aboard, I want to leave while the wind is still in my favor.”

Raine peered over the dock. “I don’t know, I’m still a little unsure.”

Genis sighed and started forcing his sister to walk over the wooden gangplank. “C’mon Raine, there’s nothing to be scared of, it’s just a little water.”

“Just a little?” Raine said quickly.

Lloyd blinked, and said. “You know, the more I’m with those two, the more I’m unsure if they’re either geniuses, or just plain crazy.”

“No time for stupid questions now lad,” said Aberos, following after the Sage siblings. “Let’s go, the more I stay on this dock, the more I’m afraid the birds will be using my hat as their next nest.”

Once everyone settled on the small ship, Max lowered the sails and they were off. It was still fair weather, with a good breeze blowing eastwards. Soon, the village of Izoold was simply a blue azure of mist behind them, and they were well on the way to their destination.

It was a small vessel, unlike the huge bulky warships from Palmacosta, that not only required several sets of sails, but a pair of oars as well before it could set sails, no, this was a small ship, with a single mast, a single white sail, a single cabin, and only a single rudder. The ship was kept in fine shape, though it was an old boat, in still ran like a new one. Max was correct; the ship would indeed safe.

Lloyd, Colette, and Genis stood by the prow, watching in amazement as the ship made it’s way through the sea.

“So, what do you think Palmacosta will be like?” asked Lloyd.

Genis wrapped his arms around the rigging and stared ahead in front of them, the wind batting his hair. “It’s the largest city in all of Sylvarant. Which, isn’t saying much lately with the Desians cutting back on large populations.”

Colette smiled. “Oh I’m sure it will be great! In fact, most if it is actually on the water, or so the Professor has said in class…”

“It probably is, when has the Professor ever been wrong?” said Lloyd. “I hear it’s got it’s own army to fight off the nearby Desians.”

“Actually, I think it’s more of a militia,” corrected Genis, turning back to his friends. “But, either way, it has the same purpose, to fight off the Desians.”

“Well, they can relax for the rest of the year can’t it?” said Colette. Lloyd and Genis just stared at her dumbly. “I heard a rumor back in Izoold that the ranch nearby had already reached its limit for the year.”

“Wow really? That’s a bit unbelievable though, summer’s just begun hasn’t it?”

“Just about I think,” Lloyd agreed. “But, nothing’s impossible right?”

“That’s right,” said Colette. “But, isn’t that one of the dwarven vows?”

“Not them again!” Lloyd complained. “Being the corny saying it is, it is probably a dwarven vow. So, any idea where the next seal is?” He said quickly, changing the subject.

“Remiel said it was across the sea,” replied Colette. “So, maybe there’s one near Palmacosta.”

“Palmacosta is the only major city on that part of the continent,” added Genis. “Most villages have vanished due to the Desians, so the area isn’t too populated, except for Thoda Dock, which leads to the Thoda Geyser.”

“So, we really have no clue where it could be?” Lloyd asked.

“No, not really,” Genis said nonchalantly. “But, with our luck, we’re probably stumble across in the middle of the road or something.”

“Yeah,” Lloyd chuckled. “Probably.”

So, she resigned herself to leaning over the rail of the ship, and ducking down towards the water whenever stomach contents felt regurgitation was needed. It did not make her feel better, but at least she wasn’t making a mess on the ship.

Someone came over; she didn’t know whom, as she was splashing green chunks into the sea. “Feeling better Raine?” Aberos asked briskly, his back against the rail, arms crossed.

Raine slowly dragged her head up and faced him. Her face had a slight green tinge to it; anyone could see she was feeling under the weather. “No, not really,” she answered weakly. She ducked her head down rapidly again to throw up.

“Eh, Max says you’ll get used to it. But the passage across the sea should only last until tomorrow, or even this evening, if the weather stays the same.”

The professor acknowledged the response with a raise of her hand, a raise which drooped quickly again over the side.

“You’re a healer Raine,” said Aberos. “Don’t you know anything to make you feel better?”

He could she her head shake.

“Oh well. Wish I could help, but not many people I know get seasick, and they usually don’t go out on boats.”

Raine groaned. This was as bad as being poisoned by a scorpion, or another monster.

“I’ll leave you be then,” said Aberos, removing himself from the rail. “You’ll probably feel better as the day wears on.”

Raine didn’t respond, as several coughs of vomit decided to hack it self up.

“Max, I say, Max!” Aberos vied for the mariner’s attention. He pointed to the northwest. “What do you make of those clouds?”

Max walked over, and squinted into the direction he had pointed. “Unsettling weather, unfavorable towards us, knowing my luck. We may be in a for a slight storm.”

“Wonderful,” said Aberos with sarcasm in his voice. Just wonderful…

Max laid down some extra bedrolls for the rest of the ground. They might as well make themselves comfortable. The group sat down on them. The bedrolls were arranged around a lantern in the center of the cabin. There was nothing to do, but talk. Raine lay on her bedroll, moaning and groaning, sometimes throwing up into a bucket, which was emptied out a window, but still was faring somewhat better.

“So, how long will the storm last?” Colette asked Max. She was startled by the storm, and extremely concerned about everyone’s safety, not to mention the delay of the journey.

“It depends on the storm,” Max explained. “Some only last for a few days, then dissipate. Others last for weeks. Judging by the size and ferocity of this one, it could last for some time.”

“So, how much food did we bring?” Lloyd said, thinking of his stomach.

“More then enough,” said Kratos. “You need not worry about supplies. I doubt the storm will really last ‘for weeks.’”

“Hey, it does vary,” Max said, feeling a bit insulted. “This one may be done in a few hours, or by tomorrow morning.”

“Hopefully, by tomorrow morning,” Aberos commented. “It’s not healthy to stay cooped up inside here for too long.”

Max nodded. “You’re right, but if it does continue, there isn’t much that can be done about it.”

“Hmm, yes,” murmured Aberos. “Still, we should hope for the best. Not much to do, but sleep, eat, and talk.”

“Does anyone know what time it is?” asked Genis.

“Mid-afternoon, I would assume.” Kratos said.

“Ooh I know! Why don’t we eat now, and Max can tell us some of sailor stories!” Colette suggested.

“Uh,” Max was taken aback. “I’m not the best story-teller. Besides, nothing interesting has ever really happen to me.”

“Oh come on, there must be something.” Lloyd encouraged him.

“Well… there was the time I attempted to catch Big Mack….”

For the next hour, the group ate, and listened with rapt attention to Max’s tale of Big Mack; a legendary fish that had dashed boats and skewered sailors with its massive teeth and fins. Big Mack was a fish swimming in a remote cove up near the port of Grasha, not far from the bridge that linked to the other continent. Max had sailed up there, hoping to land the fish, and the small fortune that would be rewarded for whoever could catch him. It was a comical tale, which was mostly made up on Max’s part, but Lloyd, Genis and Colette were entertained all the same. Aberos gave a light chuckle, a grin here and there, but Kratos was stoic as usual.

By the time Max was finished, they were all tired, and full. Genis had already fallen asleep, and Colette was drifting in and out on Lloyd’s shoulder. Aberos had begun to nod off, and Kratos… well, Kratos was Kratos. So, Max turned off the lantern, and they all went to sleep.

The storm persisted all the next day with calamitous lightning and thunder, and more rain. Max dug up a deck of cards, and a few old books. So, most of the day they were stuck playing Sailor’s Wife. It was played by first distributing some cards to everyone. One card was the Sailor’s Wife, and you often had to hope you didn’t get the Sailor’s Wife card. It had a few more complicated rules, but it was enjoyable, except for Aberos who seemed to have a knack for landing up with the Sailor’s Wife. Raine started to feel better, as her seasickness stopped affecting her a little past noon. She felt better, and was finally able to eat, but she stayed most of the day lying down, not wanting to take chances. She did not throw up for the rest of the day. So, the second day holed up in the small cabin came and went, and they went off to sleep hoping for good weather tomorrow.

Aberos tossed and turned. He was restless; it was time to get up, but what was the point? The storm was most likely still raging, although he couldn’t hear any rain or wind, and there was a blinding light shining in his face. Wait a minute, a blinding light?

The Wanderer shielded the light from his eyes with his hand; he slowly opened his eyes, and they adjusted. Sunlight was reaching through the window. He turned around and shook Max next to him. The mariner was difficult to get up, but once he noticed the sunlight, he was on his feet. “Hey everyone,” he shouted. “Storm’s over!” The rest, however begrudgingly, got up, and went outside to sea the storm’s after affects.

It was magnificent. The sky was smeared with some grey from the clouds, but yellow and orange blended in between. Sunlight pierced through the veil that blocked them like holes in a shirt. A few seagulls darted overhead; the waves and wind were gentle. It was innocence, it was silence, it was perfect.

“This is true beauty,” they could hear Max say under his breath. “The most beautiful thing in the world is the world itself, and others look for it too much in people.”

They stared in awe and silence at the picturesque world, before Genis broke it. He looked to the east and his eyes opened wider then before. “Hey,” he tugged on Raine’s sleeve. “Look, it’s Palmacosta!”

It had to be Palmacosta. A city built on stone walkways on the sea with neat rows of houses lining on it. They could see the tall masts of the Palmacostan warships, sailors climbing the rigging; the stalls open for business. They had left the Western Continent, and now had reached the Eastern one: at Palmacosta.

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