Alcingeria

Chapter Twenty Seven: The Return

Chapter Twenty Seven The Return:

Sunday June 27th 1690

I woke up and opened my eyes a crack. I could see sunlight streaming in from a nearby window. I got out of bed and inspected the other bunks. Everyone else was up. I went into the kitchen to find everyone sitting at the table with the exception of Martha, who was preparing breakfast.

"G'mornin' pal." Walden said to me.

"Good morning."

I went and sat down next to Macalister, Robert and Don.

"What's the matter, Don?" I asked. "I haven't heard you crack a joke at Tabatha today."

"You've been up all of two minutes," he pointed out.

"My point exactly."

He leaned in close to me and whispered in my ear.

"Well, she's really coming around. She's not so mean anymore. She's actually kind of sweet."

"I heard that, boy!" Tabatha from two or three seats over.

"Can you stop calling me that?" He asked hopefully.

"Oh, not a chance."

Macalister started laughing.

"Don's a boy." He said to himself.

"I am not!"

Walden began chuckling, so did Tabatha.

"She older than you?" Walden asked Don, pointing to Tabatha.

His head sagged.

"Yes."

Walden cackled and clutched his stomach.

"Oh, man that's too funny!"

"Wha- how old are you?"

"Classified, bucko."

Tabatha giggled. Don sighed just as Martha brought a tray of food out from the kitchen and set it on the table.

Took some for myself, thanking Martha and ate.

"So, I was thinking about the inscription that's on your knife, Redmond." Erin spoke up.

"Oh?" I asked, interested. "What do you think it means?"

"Given the inscription, it could have belonged to a general or some other army personnel." She replied. "Stuff like that isn't just passed out, you know?"

"Did elves used to be native to this country?"

"Not native, no one knows where they came from, or even if they existed. It's said they come from across the sea, but no one knows where. They first appeared a long time ago, but they vanished just as quick as they came. That probably speaks to the integrity of that particular legend."

"Well, whoever it belonged to died long ago. The knife was rusted to heck when we found it." I said with a laugh.

"What is it with you and old stuff, Erin?" Stella asked. "Why can't you just be normal?"

Erin rolled her eyes.

"Old things are very interesting. The fact that I can read and understand most common languages means that I can read inscriptions on almost anything." She explained. "That just makes them cooler. Do you know how long I've studied for?"