Chereads / The Nightshade Pirates / Chapter 16 - A Strange Enchantment

Chapter 16 - A Strange Enchantment

After many hours of talking, singing and sailing, the crew finally pulled up into the rich and pristine dark wood harbour of Mavey's capital city. Mavey itself was a lush and bustling island, but its capital city of Brelin was filled to the brim with all sorts of interesting places and people. Madison especially was overjoyed to arrive there, preparing instantly to jump down and begin her exploration.

"Hold on there Captain," Haylee cut in, grabbing Madison's shoulder before the Dragon girl could leap over the side. "You guys need to stick together here, there are navy troops everywhere." She explained, gesturing to the other ships that had docked all around them.

"Rock-Paper-Scissors for alone time with the Captain." Zenith whispered to Elez, as the two boys turned away from the others and began their duel for Madison's attention. Once again, Elez came out victorious.

"I'll go with you," Elez smiled at Madison, turning back to Zenith for a brief moment to stick out his tongue, before stepping over to his captain's side and jumping down onto the floating decks of the port.

"Perfect!" Madison giggled, jumping down beside him as they began their walk into the streets of Brelin.

"I'll stay and guard the ship with Pip," Zenith sighed, before looking up to Haylee with a soft and gentle stare. "Will you be alright procuring the enchantment on your own?" He asked.

"Yes, of course," she smiled. "I won't stay out for more than an hour, and we can call the others back as soon as the enchantment is in place." She explained, lifting up her small bag of coins and walking towards the lowered plank. "Stay safe." She said.

"You too," Zenith smiled, waving Haylee off before he turned slowly back to Pip, who was silently reading to his blossoming cherry trees. "Having fun, bud?" He asked, stepping over towards the small fox boy.

"Yes, they really like this book." Pip smiled, leaning back against the thin bark of the small two year old tree beside himself, before continuing to read aloud about the history of New World's Demon Kings. Happily, Zenith sat down beside him, before leaning back against the wall and basking in the warm afternoon sun, forgetting all about his mindless troubles and worries.

Nearby, Haylee had begun her journey into the city, glancing around at everything she passed and smiling at people with her usual loving grin. She was a natural charmer, with perfect silky skin and sparkling snow white hair, some may have said that she could charm anyone. Which was, ironically, exactly how Haylee planned to cheaply obtain their ship's enchantment.

After walking down many winding streets, and searching for a skilled and experienced shipwright, Haylee finally stumbled upon the perfect shop in which she could ask for help. Tall wooden beams supported the roof of the stone building, while planks of dark oak lined the tinted windows of the old family shop. She stared for a moment, and then stepped inside.

"Welcome to Ships and Trips, how can I assist you today, ma'am?" A gentle voice asked, only a moment after she had stepped inside. Slowly, Haylee looked up towards the sound, coming eye to eye with a happy and healthy Demon woman, who was waiting patiently to take on her request.

"I'm looking for an enchantment," Haylee muttered quietly, taking on the role of a meek and fragile lady. "My Captain wants to enter the Red Circle." She explained, earning a soft and gentle smile from the oil smudged woman before her.

"Of course!" The shopkeeper grinned, turning back towards their bookcase and shuffling through the many leather bound books. "Here we are," she hummed, laying a single item down on the desk. "One first class ticket to the Red Circle."

"Thank you so much," Haylee smiled adorably, her eyes filled with joyous wonder and amazement. In response, the lady smiled and reached out to pat the short girls head.

"On the house," she replied, making Haylee's eyebrows raise in surprise.

"No, no." She said. "I have to pay you something," Haylee muttered, frantically searching through her coin pouch and holding out a handful of silver coins.

"It's really nothing," the woman chuckled, but Haylee had already reached out and taken her hand, sliding the coins down into her palm.

"I insist." Haylee smiled, pulling out a sheet of paper and copying down the spell of which she would need to cast. "And keep your book, I don't want to take it from you." She continued, sliding her paper off of the counter and handing the woman back her book.

"I can have more copied." The shopkeeper replied, staring at the item before gently taking it back. "It really isn't an issue for you to take it, you've already paid me after I told you it was free."

"You deserve the money and the book, sell it to the next person," Haylee smiled, bowing her head and turning away to leave, before noticing a golden yellow barn owl seated comfortably in a cage at the back of the room. "What's that?" She asked softly, walking over towards the animal.

"Oh, that's Rayo." The shopkeeper replied, stepping around the counter as she slowly approached Haylee's side. "He was once a messenger bird, but lost his job after getting into a fight with pirates."

"He was hurt?" Haylee asked, reaching her hand through the bars of the cage and gently smiling towards the temperamental creature inside. Rayo seemingly rolled his eyes and turned his head away, but made no attempt to attack or injure Haylee.

"Barely," the lady laughed. "He lost his job because he was competitive and violent with other messenger birds."

"How much?" Haylee questioned, reaching once again in her rattling coin pouch.

"You want to buy him?" The lady gasped. "But he might just fly away the moment you open the cage." She explained, not wanting to scam Haylee out of anything.

"I know, but he's pretty." Haylee hummed, holding out two gold coins towards the woman. "Is this enough?" She asked.

"It's more than enough," the lady replied, before slowly pushing Haylee's hand and her money away. "Please, just take him." She smiled, lifting the cage off of its stand and holding it out towards Haylee.

"Thank you." Haylee grinned, sliding the coins back into her pocket as she reached out and held tightly onto the bird cage, before walking off towards the door and slowly stepping outside. "Welcome to the crew, Rayo." She grinned, walking slowly back towards the ship with her new found friend and their well needed enchantment.

Meanwhile, Elez was trying his absolute best to impress Madison in any way he could. These methods included: flying around and doing tricks, taking her to the fanciest shops, and buying her the tastiest of street foods. Of course, Elez thought he was doing quite well, and he was prepared to slow down and ask her the question that he had been waiting to find the courage for, but before he could even open his mouth to speak, a figure ran straight into Madison and knocked her and themselves instantly to the ground.

"Oww." Madison whined, holding the back of her head in annoyance, and causing Elez to instantly retaliate towards the figure who had stuck her.

"Watch where you're going!" Elez yelled, dragging the crimson headed male off the ground, before lifting him up into the air by the collar of his shirt. "Why the hell-" Elez stopped. He was cut off by the shocking sight of the boy before him: with features drenched in tears and blood, eyes full of pain and tiredness, and a weak shaking body that had been cut in many places.

"Please..." He cried. "Please help me."