"HELIOS Charlemagne," Ash muttered the name under his breath like it was filled with spikes. He hated the man with a passion, and it wasn't just because of his personality and ridiculous appearance; he held a personal grudge. He glanced up as the man set foot on their boat, an obviously powerful figure with enough jewels on him to build a tower.
"Captain Felis," Helios spoke, stretching his bloated arm that seemed like a loose mass of flesh hanging around the bony framework of his hand. He was dressed in a red flowing robe fastened around the thick layers of skin that formed his neck. His stomach bulged underneath the stuffy tunic he wore beneath the robe. His entire appearance made Ash want to vomit, but he knew that if he tried, it would be the day he breathed his last.
Captain Felis, however, did not receive his hand at first. He only bowed to the man, then rose up a little and took the man's hand. "You are looking fabulous, Navarch, if I must say. Pray tell where you have been over these fine months," the captain began to roll lies and flattery off his tongue in a manner that disgusted Ash.
Although he knew there was nothing the captain could really do about it, he would not dare cross the Navarch, and the man was very easy to cross. "Oh, my, oh my, you wound me with your sweet words. I hope I won't need my physician when I see the sight of your goods," Helios spoke with grace, walking slowly as his two guards followed him from behind.
Ash held Glit's hand in fear as the Navarch walked across the deck with the captain. Everyone else was trying to act normal and perform their usual routines, but it was obvious the presence of Helios irked them. "You're shaking," Glit whispered into Ash's ear.
"I'm sorry," he said, gripping Glit's hand tighter. Being in the company of his friend helped him manage his fear and anger a little. He was afraid because, from what he could glean from One-Eyed and the captain's conversation earlier, the marines knew about them, and that was why they had sent an assassin to take down Glit. With the head of the Marines in the Eldertide Sea region here, they must have come for them.
The captain continued his idle chat with the Navarch, bowing with almost every word he spoke. Three of the crewmen, Kay among them, began to carry out several boxes from the lower deck. Helios signaled for them to be brought closer.
The crewmen obeyed, loading the deck one box at a time, and both the Captain and the Navarch fell silent. Captain Felis watched Navarch Helios count the crates as they were brought up in different sections. At last, the crewmen brought out the final batch of boxes.
"Twenty-eight boxes. Five each for the most common of the seven sigils and one each for the rarer ones," Helios snickered, glancing at Felis. "As always, a pleasure doing business with you. May the God King strengthen this uncanny alliance," he smiled and signaled to his guards.
One guard stepped forward and dropped two large pouches of coins in front of Felis, then stepped back. The other guard followed, dropping one more pouch. The moment the pouch landed, Ash could sense the disturbance between the two.
"This is more than enough payment," Felis announced with an uneasy smile, furrowing his brows. "Is this a gift of alliance from the Navarch?" He subtly demanded an answer.
Helios glanced at him and then started chuckling, which soon turned into a loud laugh. "You are a funny guy, Felis. A very funny guy. I wish you could travel with me on the seas, you know. Keep me company; the days of traveling get rather boring," he said.
"It would be my pleasure, sir," Felis smiled.
"Ah, it would be fun, wouldn't it," the Navarch chuckled. "But unfortunately, I cannot harbor a smuggler on my ship; it would be blasphemy against the God King." His tone and demeanor suddenly became serious. "That extra bag of gold is actually payment, Felis," he said.
"Payment for what sir?" He inquired.
"Payment for the four Cryptids you are harboring on your ship," Helios said, looking Felis dead in the eyes.
Ash heard those words loud and clear, and his heart sank. He glanced over at Kay and Mute, who were at the other end of the boat. Everyone on the upper deck had stopped pretending to work; they were all facing the two men now. The change in atmosphere was palpable, and the tension between Helios and Felis was brooding.
"Perhaps I am mistaken, sir. Did you say this bag of coin is payment for a member of my crew?" Felis asked.
"Yes, it is. And you will also hand over the Asterisk you found yesterday. We need the Sigil; you don't need to make it into a potion for us. We can handle that ourselves," Helios explained.
Captain Felis thought for a moment, his hair ruffling as the sea breeze blew against the two connected vessels. The Navarch's ship, of course, towered over their boat rather easily. "What if I reject the bargain, sir?" he replied at last.
Helios chuckled. "You would defy me, Felis? Defy your King, your God?" he demanded in a straight tone.
"No, my lord, this isn't defiance. It is just a negotiation. I could give you the Asterisk Sigil and all the boxes today for free. My crew, however, isn't for sale," he said firmly.
The Navarch stared him in the eyes for a moment, then suddenly struck him in the face. "So this is how you repay me?" he began, moving his chubby body in a manner similar to one wearing a ball-bouncing costume. "I gave you immunity, gave you freedom. I didn't even take your goods as compensation. I bought them at a fair price, and now you decide to turn against me? Betray me?"
Felis didn't speak, but he glanced directly at Rowan, and the One-Eyed man retreated into the lower deck slowly, without making any noise.
"I am the Navarch of this sea; the Eldertide Sea. I am the representation of the God King. I decide what is and what is not possible, and I command you: give me the Cryptids," Helios yelled.
Felis looked him dead in the eyes and whispered, "No."