Chapter 14 Iann #2
“He wasn’t from Saden. Born and raised in Haymel and eventually became a prisoner for theft against the Queen.
He escaped their prison and was a stowaway on one of their trading ships.
He thought it was going to the Land of Moonlight.
At least that’s what he claimed the sailor said.
Hiding in a barrel, he was thrown out to sea and washed up on an unknown island, well, unknown to him.
It was Farella.” Rolley takes a long drink and then taps on the glass with his fingernails—nails, rather long and pointed at the tip.
“He said he had no choice but to go farther onto the island. The island was too far from another land mass to swim, and staying near shore meant no fresh water and limited food.”
“That’s when he found the flower?”
“Soon after that. He said the flower gave off an intoxicating scent. Pulled him in much like a magnet, the scent growing stronger until he found the magical plant. One minute he’s hiking the land and the next he’s consuming the flowers.”
“He just ate it?” Deean’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline.
“What kind of person shoves something they have never seen before, let alone tried, into their mouth?” Two women walk by whispering amongst each other and tossing Deean and me a quick wink.
Rumors about princes being here must have spread.
“Don’t answer that question,” Deean proceeds. “But your father…”
“Great-grandfather,” I correct.
“Who cares? One of his family members could have been ingesting poison for all he knew.”
Rolley laughs. “Can’t say I blame you there. Bloody idiot, if you ask me.”
“And what happened after he ate it?” I jot down a few notes.
“He blacked out. Doesn’t remember a thing. He said he ended up back on shore somehow. A few days later, he came across pirates ready to loot the land. My great-grandfather said he could show them treasure if they provided space on their ship and took him away from the island.”
“I’d like to believe I’m a pretty optimistic guy, Mr. Rolley, but a prison escape, immortal flower consumption, and benevolent pirates—sounds like a bunch of horseshit to me.
” Deean reaches for a slice of turkey. “Why should we believe you? The said immortal has supposedly been kidnapped and isn’t here to offer us proof, so what else you got? ”
The same ambivalent emotions I felt when my father told me of the flower creep up. It all sounds like malarkey to me, too. A fool’s quest, as we travelers say. I’m not against a challenging adventure, but this one feels near impossible.
“The King believes me. Is the King’s word not enough?”
Deean’s grin grows wild. “It would be, if he wasn’t our father? We can read him better than most and I don’t think even he is fully convinced. There has to be something else you can give us.”
He’s bluffing. Even he thinks there is something out there or he wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be excited to help Benny or stupid enough to hide in a storage space just to come along.
“We do appreciate you bringing this to our father’s attention.” I play along. “But I believe what my brother is getting at is for more information that can help us. Did your great-grandfather leave any journals, maps, letters, anything that can help?”
“His possessions were raided by his kidnappers. I understand how ludicrous this all sounds. Trust me, I do. I have grown up hearing this story, and if I’m honest, I’m pretty sick of it.
All I can offer you are stories he told me growing up and hope that from there, you get nuggets of information that might be useful.
” He taps his hands on the table. “I put it on my great-grandfather’s life, on the legend being true. The Ivian Flower is real.”
Setting my pen down, I lean away from the table and eye Rolley before giving him a grin.
“Betting the odds on an immortal man? I’m not too sure that counts.
But while I don’t have enough evidence to prove you’re lying, I also don’t have enough to prove you’re not.
My father may have ordered you here, but like all the people in my crew, you will earn your keep.
Get better acquainted with Benny and Deean.
You will work closely with them.” Deean shoots me a sly side eye.
“If you find anything, remember helpful accounts from your childhood, or have any concerns, you are to run them by Deean.”
“In Haymel, we shall query about your great-grandfather. From there, Deean will be the one to decide if you continue on with us or return with Marcel back to Saden. After all, we don’t really need you to continue on to Farella.
” Rolley cranes his neck to the right and then to the left, releasing a pop with each movement.
His lips thin out and his nose twitches slightly. “Is that a problem?”
“No, Your Highness. I have no doubt that together we shall find the flower. Whatever help I can conjure up, I’m willing to give you freely.”
The scent of roast and potatoes enters the rooms, along with a few more bodies. Out of fear of being heard, we end our conversation and join the others in our party for supper.