17. Joy
JOY
“We needed supplies, or we wouldn’t survive the journey.”
- ERIN’S PRIVATE JOURNAL.
By the time the sun began to set and the sky was alight with fire, I knew we had to leave sooner rather than later.
“We should tell Harlow,” Jodie stated as we sat on the sand, watching my ship being heaved back into the water, not a scratch in sight.
“Are you insane?” Erin kept her voice low and hushed. “He would never willingly let us go.” She rolled her eyes towards her sister.
“Her ship is fixed, he will expect her departure soon enough.”
“What is the deal with Captain Harlow? Does, does he… own you?” My voice mirrored Erin’s, low and unsure.
“He likes to think he does,” Jodie spoke softly. “Everyone in our crew owes Harlow some sort of debt, whether it be money or repayment for a favor.” She looked down at the sand.
“If you cannot pay, you must work off your debt.” Erin’s voice turned soft. “We’re working off our father’s debt.”
“Why isn’t he working off his own debt?”
“Dead,” Jodie said, a sad smile gracing her lovely face. I knew this pain; it was an old friend. An old nemesis. A wound never to be healed, a bone broken never to be fixed.
A small tear slipped down Erin’s cheek, the dark kohl lining her eyes smudging slightly. I nodded.
“How long have you been in the Southern Continent?” My voice was thick with unshed tears.
“How do you know we weren’t born here?”
“You don’t often see skin as fair as yours.” I smiled “Jameson is from the Northern Continent too.”
“Jameson?”
“My, uh, ‘brother,’” I smiled at the sound of his name being spoken. “My family.” The sisters smiled, reminding me of Florence.
Florence.
Where was she?
I hadn’t seen her since the previous day, not since we had heaved my broken ship onto the shore and began our wait on the sand.
I stood quickly, if Captain Harlow already had Florence with him, I’d never make it back to Jameson. I looked over at my ship, at the new slightly off-colored wood nailed to the side.
“Joy.” A low whisper knocked me from my trance, I saw nothing and no one, but Erin and Jodie stood to join me, looking around for the voice.
“Joy.” The whisper sounded again, and a dark brown head stuck out from the tall weeds separating us and the rest of the island.
Florence waved hastily from within the grass, relaxed now that she had our attention.
“Quick!” she whispered, holding out a hand for me.
Looking around to make sure we were not followed I took Florence’s hand, and we walked until each of us were hidden beneath the tall, dry grass. Jodie squirmed.
“There better not be any spiders here!” she squealed and her sister shushed her.
“How did you get away from Harlow?” I asked and Florence shook her head.
“There is no time to explain, Harlow expects your departure by sun-up.” I dragged my hands through my hair and she continued. “Our ship is being moved by Charlton, he’s going to sail it around the island to the other side as soon as it is dark.” I focused on her words, she said ‘Our’ ship. I shook my head.
“Charlton?” I stared at her.
“He’s a good friend.”
“Should we trust him?”
“Do we have any other choice?” Florence’s voice rose. “I promised to get you to Jameson, and I intend to keep that promise.” She turned to Erin and Jodie, as though she had only just noticed them. She smiled brightly.
“You’re coming with us?” she asked, her hands resting on each of the girls’ shoulders. They nodded and she turned to me.
“You’re smart, a FireBringer and a MindWonderer.” She turned back to the girls. “Harlow’s favorite assets.” She turned on her heel and pushed through the grass.
“You are Sorcerers?” I turned to the women as we walked through the grass.
“Yes.” She looked back at the trail we had walked, as if checking we were not followed. “It seems we’re more alike than you think.” She turned, her gaze glued on the horizon as we walked.
“What do you mean?”
“We’re almost to the city.” Florence’s voice cut through the golden evening, and we stopped just before the grass ended.
Music, sweet and longing drifted through the air. Scents of spices and savories filled our nostrils, as I pushed aside the tall grass and a city sprung up around us. Candles lit the night sky and tall buildings stood proud around us. The city was small and cramped but teeming with life. Half broken houses and smashed windows created the skyline, and drunk sailors and dancers kissed in dark alleys.
A FireBringer stood surrounded by children, he created tigers and dragons of fire with his fingertips. Wonder painted my face, and I couldn’t stop myself. It was dirty, dark, bright, lively, sexy and, most of all, it was alive. Nothing like I’d ever seen before.
Jodie stepped froward, as though an invisible hand pulled her toward the city. The two sisters shared a longing look and smiled.
Their hands intertwined as they stepped into the bustling city.
I felt Florence’s gaze hot on my cheek, her soft black curls lingering in my peripheral vision.
In a swift movement I met her gaze, her brown skin lit by candlelight and her dark eyes full of something I couldn’t quite name. I smiled tentatively.
She smiled back.
Her mouth opened, words playing on her lips.
“What are you waiting for?” Erin’s voice tore through the silence. “If we are to find supplies and get to the ship before sunrise then we must hurry.”
I nodded, striding toward the women, only looking back at Florence once. We slid into the hustle and mayhem of the night market, not one patron looked up at us. Sellers hollered from their stalls and customers bartered and pushed. There were hundreds of aisles of stalls, each decorated with colorfully striped awnings and littered with candelabras lit with what looked like a thousand candles. We stumbled around like idiots, attempting to grab anything and everything we might need. I closed my eyes, running my hands through my hair.
“Everything alright?” an unfamiliar voice sounded behind me and I huffed a sigh. Turning I came face to face with a neck, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. I noticed the Sage Guard uniform immediately and a bolt of nerves shot through me.
Why was a member of the Sage Guard on the Southern Continent?
My gaze travelled up to his face, tanned skin, dark eyes slightly slanted, cutting cheekbones and almost black hair. He was striking.
He rose his eyebrows. I had been staring. Staring in silence.
“Everything is fine,” I forced a smile. “Just taking a stroll.”
Florence jogged to my side, her eyes wide as she took in the stranger’s uniform. The guard pulled a sketch from his pocket.
“Have you seen this girl?” His voice was almost sad as I laid my eyes on the beautiful women on the paper, her pale skin, long brown hair, and bright eyes. Without thinking, I shook my head.
“I’m on the island until morning, let me know if you remember seeing her on your… travels.” His face did not change from the hard exterior. I nodded and began to turn away.
“If you see her,” his voice was stark, “tell her Alias is looking for her.”
I nodded as he turned away from me. I didn’t know this girl, but I had seen her.
She was the one I had dreamed about for days on end. The one with gravity defying hair.
What did this all mean? And why was he searching for her?