The Barbarians' Lover

Chapter 7

A week after finding that blade and killing the man Sawyer had been on edge. His temper was short, and his crew has been keeping their distance more than usual. Lately, he's been sitting in the Crowsnest which meant Polly has been elsewhere. It also meant that Polly was able to get more sleep. As the wind blew Sawyer looked at the blade.

"What has he been doing to you, kitten?" Sawyer asked the blade.

Obviously, the blade did not respond. With a growl, he stabbed the blade into the side of the Crowsnest. With a sigh, he stood. Looking out at the mass of water. The moon was out and the stars danced across the sky. Everyone but him was below deck in their rooms asleep. Well everyone but him. At some point, he would have to go to his room and pretend that he was sleeping.

After he collapsed back at Beargulch his crew grew more concerned for him. He had many more episodes after that.  Eleanor had advised him to get sleep and eat more. He did neither. Violet told him that he needed to stop working almost 24\7. He did not. He needed the distraction. But he did make them think he was resting when he stayed in his room for hours like he used to. Every time he felt dizzy he would just go to his room. Sometimes he would make it before collapsing other times he would not.

Making his way down from the Crowsnest something glowing in the water caught his eye. Jumping from where he was on the post, Sawyer made his way to the side of the boat the glowing object was heading. His instincts were telling him to move, but he stayed put. He wanted to know what was coming at his boat.

Claws scratching wood made his ears perk. Taking a few steps back Sawyer drew his blade. Then two sets of scaly hands appeared. One set a light grey, the other set a dark grey almost black. As the two creatures pulled themselves up he saw what they were. Angular people. Many people of the sea knew of these creatures due to their aggressive behavior. Even his kind kept a distance from these creatures. Angular people weren't just aggressive they were poisonous too. If one were to fall victim to their teeth it could lead to death, but if you fell to their claws it would mean suffering from a burning pain that would never leave. But he knew that they didn't use their poison often. They kept it for if they were in danger or used little amounts when out hunting.

"What do you want?" Sawyer asked," my boat hasn't gone anywhere near angular cove."

"We know," the male spoke.

"We are looking for the one called the barbarian," the female said.

"Why are you looking for the barbarian?" Sawyer asked. He was not about to let them know that they have found who they were looking for.

"Our friend sent us to find him," the female said.

"Who's this friend you speak of?" Sawyer asked.

It was the male that spoke this time," her name is Willow."

Sawyer froze. They knew where she was. She sent these creatures to find him. That meant when she did that she was alive. Still alive he corrected himself.

"I'm the barbarian," Sawyer said," now where is she?"

He hated that he sounded desperate when he asked that question. He never liked people knowing how he felt. But he needed Willow back to gain some of his sanity.

"She's in a cave deep in angular territory," the male spoke.

"Well that's just great," Sawyer said," she's somewhere in angular cove."

The two angular people nodded their heads.

"Show me the way," Sawyer said.

"Aren't you going to wake the rest of your boat up?" The female asked.

"No, let them sleep," Sawyer said," I can move the boat on my own."

"Head North to our territory, just don't cross into it," the male said," then take a smaller boat and we'll lead you the rest of the way."

Sawyer nodded in understanding. As they made the journey to get Willow he every now and then pulled water up for the fish people to rehydrate themselves. He knew they were risking their lives staying out of the water this long so he accommodated them by helping them stay alive. By the time the sun started to rise they had made it to the edge of angular territory.

"Captain, how long have you been up?" Violets voice asked.

He turned to see his crew standing by the stairs. They all looked around confused. They were indifferent waters than when they all went to sleep.

"Who are they?" Treasure asked pointing at the angular people.

"Oh, how rude of us," the female said," I'm Christmas lights and this is Lighter fluid."

"Those are stupid names," Dustin said.

"Willow named you two didn't she?" Sawyer asked shaking his head in amusement.

"She did and she named two others," Christmas lights said.

"What's their names?" Doe and Joe asked.

"Jack-o-lantern and Glow stick," Christmas lights said," they stayed with her."

"I'm going after her," Sawyer said," the rest of you stay here."

He was met with many loud protests. They wanted to go with him.

"Look it's better if I go alone," Sawyer said," if you end up falling into these waters I can't say if one of their kind will not come and attack you."

That had shut them up. But if he was being honest he just wanted to go alone so if he came face to face with Thomas he wouldn't have to worry about another's life. He needed fewer distractions as he retrieved Willow. Getting to one of the smaller boats he lowered it to the water. Jumping off the boat and onto the water he climbed into the smaller boat and looked up at the angular people.

"Well lead the way," he snapped.

They jumped into the water and swam in front of him leading him to Willow.