"Alright, pull them up!" the captain of the ship that I rented was shouting orders as I was standing by the dock, the dawn was upon us. Most of the citizens of Niapachad Island would prefer to do business when it was night time. That's when the gentry started to go around.
But not us. We're explorers, there will be no time limit for us when and what we can do.
"Alright?" I asked when I saw my group of men were here. Harold was looking fresh but the others were grumpy as usual.
"Glad that you pulled us out of bed when it was nearly night time," Robin grunted before I was laughing at them. The circulation of day and night here was different from around the world. We strive to get anything done before dawn approaches. Don't ask me why we're preferring to be working at night.
Perhaps it was because the whole world was asleep and we don't.
"Is everyone here?" the voice of the young captain that I met when I was renting this ship. His name was Raphael Night but we called them Captain Rafe.
"Captain, meet my crews. Harold Davenport, Robin Douglas, Jeremy Ortiz, Logan Cavendish, and Ronny. We will be leaving for Chentersea now if you're ready," I said before Rafe was nodding at us.
"Gentlemen," he said before my crew nodded at him. Rafe turned his eyes on the sails and smirked before he was looking at us.
"We should get going. The wind's picking up and the tide is on our sides. Let's go," Rafe said before I was following him onto the gangplank to get onto the ship. The young lads followed and we were embarking on our journey as Rafe barked for his crew to pick up the anchor and dropped the sails.
"Brace yourselves," he said before he was turning the ship out of the port and we were on our way to East Island which was also known as Chentersea. The waves were crashing against the ship as I was laughing where the winds carried my laughter. It has been so long since I felt alive and I can see that some of my crews were not having the best moment.
Robin was gripping the rail tightly until his knuckles were white.
Jeremy was holding his mouth from barfing.
Logan was…smiling as he was looking at the stars in the sky.
Ronny…well, let's just say that he was born on a ship and Harold was looking nonchalantly around the sea.
"So, how long do you think we will be arriving at the island?" he asked me before I shrugged.
"I don't know but the captain said that we will be there in 2 hours at the latest if the winds were slow. But I think one hour should be enough for us to reach the island," I said looking at the horizon where St Betown, the port that we left, was gleaming in the dark.
"Let's just hope we got there before any of the lads were going insane," Harold said as he was nodding at our friends. I laughed with him, knowing that not everyone was born for seafaring.
*****
"We will be waiting at the dock for you then," Rafe said before I was nodding at him. I told my friends to get their traveling packs and we were off the ship. The dock was called New Aphors. It was located on the north side of the island and we were exploring to get to the Old Winton, the Forbidden Land's forest.
"So, what are we doing now?" Harold asked me before I was looking around. There were so many people that were frequent to this island as well as the locals. But the docks were busy today.
"I think we should find a horse for our travels then," I said as I was nodding at the stable at the far side of the road. Harold nodded before the others were still trying to balance themselves on the ground.
I pitied them for seasickness.
"I really hate the sea," Robin said before Jeremy nodded.
"Oh, come on! That was not so bad. After all, we got on that ship for free and the King was paying for our lodging as well. Can you believe it?" Logan asked before I was laughing at his enthusiasm. I was looking around the docks before we were walking toward the stables. The groom saw us coming and he instantly perked up.
"What can I do for you today, my lords?" he asked us as I was looking at the horses. They were old but good enough for travel. I asked them how much for a day rental and the groom said a shilling.
"That's a reasonable price. We will take 6 then," I said before I paid it. The young lads chose their horses and so was I. I took a mare with golden fur and he neighed when I touched his nose.
"Easy boy, easy," I said before the groom chuckled. I arched my eyebrow at him.
"It's a she, my lord,"
"Well, he cannot distinguish that he was a she, right?" I said as I was smirking at the boy. He smiled before we mounted ourselves and moved out of the stables.
"So, what's next?" Ronny asked me before I was producing the map that I got from my father's study. It was the map of Chentersea and I was smiling when I was tracing my father's drawing.
"We will be heading south. That's where the Forbidden Land will be," I said before I was putting the map back into my pack. I nudged the horse with my feet before we were moving toward the final destination.
I just hoped nothing will ambush us in the forest.
*****
The lads were relentless. They don't know if an expedition would be this boring. Harold grunted, saying that he will be missing operas now if he had to stuck in this expedition for weeks.
"What was it with you and opera? Don't tell me that you are fancying the new rising star? What was it her name again? Lara, Sara—"
"Verity Goodman," I said before Harold grunted as Logan chuckled.
"Well, don't you know everything, professor?" he said before I was rolling my eyes. The night was only beginning to fall on us as we were looking around. I did not think that the forest could be quite creepy when I heard something moving on the ground.
"Hold," I said as I stopped my horse. The others followed before I was jumping off from the mare. I was moving as quietly as I could before I was listening to it again. I took my bow and arrows before I was pulling it, aiming at the sound that was coming from the bush. It stopped and everyone was holding their breaths.
Then, it showed itself.
I released the arrow before I was looking at the small rabbit that died instantly the moment my arrow shot through him. I released my breaths before the others were mumbling about my shot. I turned to look at them before Logan smirked.
"Nice shot," he commented before I went to pick up our dinner for the night.
"Let's eat," I said as we were settling near the creek that ran along on our left side.
The others were moving smoothly as they popped up the tents that we will be sleeping and the fire was burning. I went to scout for more food and found 5 more rabbits with Logan's help. We cooked it over the fire and ate it.
It was juicy and sweet, nothing like the meat that we used to eat on the main island.
"So, what shall we do when the dawn is here?" Logan asked before he was pulling the bones of his dinner out of his mouth. Everyone was listening to the fire crackled before I was pulling the map out again and pointed them where we were on the map according to the stars.
"We will be entering the Forbidden Land 3 miles from here," I said as I was pointing at the entrance of the map. Harold arched his eyebrow.
"How do we know we're in there?"
"The trees will be denser and the animals will not be running around. I don't know if it helps but I think the sun will not penetrate the forest as well," I said before a chill ran down my spine.
I don't know if it was just me or it was the sensation that we will be entering the land was giving me the shivers.
"Hmm, it would seem that nature was telling us to stay away from it," Ronny said before I turned to look at him, smirking.
"But that did not stop men before from exploring. What would happen if the first settlers of the Origin would never found Niapachad Island? They will starve to death and we would not be here," I said before I was rolling the parchment and I was looking at the sky.
"Let's get some rest before the dawn is up. I take the first watch," I said before I settled against the tree trunks. The others were not complaining before I was looking at the glowing fire in front of me.
I was used to be on an expedition to no end and I think these lords could learn a thing or two from this. I smiled before I listened to the music of nature and the winds that were greeting me as if to welcome me into their midst.
"Please look out for us, father, for your guide will take us there," I prayed before I was kissing my hand and offered to the sky. Most of the islanders never believed in gods but my father taught me otherwise.
If there were no gods above us, then who created us anyway?