After weeks spent in the brig among Pirates and horrible men, the girl with hair of starlight and violet eyes looked more goddess than warrior. Even when covered in blood.
"What fresh hell is this?" Zathrian said, blinking as the lady in blood walked closer.
"I'm here to rescue you," she said, waving her hands around her. With a groan of metal, the doors of the cell seemed to cave in breaking apart enough for Zathrian to climb out. He looked warily at the open space and at the women who stood before him.
"Either climb out or be dragged. I am not known for my patience. And I have my orders." she said darkly.
Zathrian frowned but did as she asked. "Orders? Who would want to save me?" Zathrian asked. After losing all his money trying to pay off his father's debts. The little friends that he once had disappeared like leaves flying in the wind.
The girl snarled in annoyance. "Your sister. That's who," she muttered turning away and beckoning him to follow. Zathrian's eyes widened at her words.
"Asteria? How on earth could my sister possibly have convinced a mage to save me?" Zathrian whispered as they snuck around the belly of a pirate ship.
"She had the backing of a King. So that might've helped. He commands his Mage to save a random villager from a Pirate and that is what she does." she said, ignoring the scowl that appeared on Zathrian's face at her words.
"How on earth did she meet the King?" he muttered as he followed her.
"That's still up for debate," she said with a sigh, looking down the corridor, frowning, and walking in the other direction.
"Kailani." A voice boomed in the distance, they rounded the corner and came face to face with the man who had locked Zathrian up in the first place.
Jasiel Gawain Lorcan was as dark-hearted as Pirates come.
"Captain." The girl Kailani answered back defiantly.
"I see you're helping yourself to my bounty." He said darkly.
"AGAIN."
Kailani smirked, raising her hands two fireballs appeared in the middle of her palms. "You know better than to face off against me," she said.
"It's a good thing I don't need to bother," Lorcan said, with a smile that was mostly teeth. It was at that moment that the boat lurched suspiciously.
Kailani looked up her eyes widening. "What did you do?" she snarled, vaulting past Lorcan to climb the rickety stairs to the top of the ship. She looked around ignoring the startled looks of Lorcan's crew. It was immediately apparent to her that they were from the town and harbor that was a mere speck as they drifted further.
"Well this is a predicament," Kailani said as she looked around where they were all surrounded by water. She turned glancing at Zathrian who looked resigned at his fate.
Kailani straightened turning to look at Lorcan who was leaning against the rail of his ship. Kailani stifled the urge to toss him over his own ship, as she glared at him.
"You cannot have him." She said glaring at Lorcan, she pulled out a glistening sword. "I won't let you take him to the Americas."
Lorcan smiled. "As much as it would amuse me to watch you try, there's no need for that. I never intended to give him up to the America's. I was going downstairs to release him and explain. I never imagined you would come here to save a random villager."
"You aren't sending me to the America's?" Zathrian asked. Lorcan smiled at him.
"I sent that letter, thinking that your lovely sister would come here." He said ignoring the glower Zathrian gave him at the mention of his sister.
"I would never have expected her to have found favor with the King," he said fingering his beard thoughtfully.
"Enough of that," Kailani said, glancing at Zathrian who started to look worried over his sister.
"What do you want of him," she demanded.
"What I have always wanted," Lorcan said. Kailani's eyes narrowed.
"Please tell me you did not kidnap Zathrian for that."
"Zathrian has an adept skill in Mapmaking. The best in all the land in fact. And I have a map in need of reforming." He said.
"You found all the pieces?" she asked.
"What are you both talking about?" Zathrian asked.
"He's after the treasure of Shanai." Kailani said.
"but that's a myth," Zathrian said.
"A myth that I will prove real when I find it. And since you are now both on my ship headed into the forgotten isles, it would seem you will all be helping me to accomplish that task." Lorcan said.
Lorcan walked off, Zathrian looked to the horizon and followed him to his headquarters where on a circular table where bits and pieces of an illuminated map were formed.
"Well for me to begin, I need as many charts of the forbidden isle as you might have. This may take some time."