Midnight (DISCONTINUED, INCOMPLETE)

36 || Astamare

Ash saw the beanstalk before the island.

A dark green line seemed to come from nowhere and slice through the sky. It reached higher and higher until a sea of clouds swallowed it. She didn't know what she expected when Caspian mentioned a beanstalk, but she hadn't thought it would be so prominent. One would think it would be more well known, not just a whispered rumor she occasionally heard in the Volant market. Then again, most talk of magic had been smothered out.

That didn't seem to be the case for the children standing at the railing around her.

"I heard that all the fae live up there," a little girl said. Ash believed her name was Lyse.

Another, older girl wrinkled her nose. Ash could remember her name easily. Avice, just like one of the servants from another house in Volant. "I don't think we'd be going there if there were lots of fae."

"What do you think's up there then?" Lyse shot back.

Avice crossed her arms and jutted out her chin. "My ma says lightning horses run up in the clouds and make storms."

Lyse gaped. "Really? Can you ride 'em?"

"That's just ridiculous," Brenner cut in. "People die when lightning hits them. If you sat on a lightning horse, you would die, too."

Lyse's face flushed. "Oh."

Ash bit back a chuckle as she smiled at the three kids. "Do you think your father would be able to speak to the horses?" she asked despite her doubts of lighting horses existing.

The kids' faces lit up. "Maybe he could tame one," Avice said. "Then he could teach it not to shock us."

"Let's go find my pa and ask," Brenner said. He and the two girls darted for the stairs to find his dad.

Willow stood on the other side of the door when they flung it open, a bundle of cloth under her arm. "You three sure are excited," she said.

Brenner nodded, face serious. "We have some important matters to discuss with my pa." With that, the three descended the stairs.

Willow shook her head at them before walking over to Ash. "Any idea?"

"I told them Brenner's father may be able to talk to the magical lightning horses at the top of the beanstalk."

"There was a granny in our village who told the same story. The things children will believe." Willow chuckled.

Ash grinned. "It's cute," she said, then nodded to the bundle in Willow's arms. "What is that?"

"Just the best part of leaving the ship." Willow's eyes gleamed with excitement as she used her chin to separate the bundle into two garments.

Ash took the one offered to her. She raised an eyebrow as she held it up. "Cloaks again?" she asked.

"Just a precaution, I think," Willow said with a shrug. She eyed the full, grey clouds looming over the approaching island. "It looks like we may need them."

Humming in agreement, Ash tucked the cloak under her arm and leaned against the railing. "What do you think is up there? It's not actually lighting horses, is it?"

Willow pursed her lips as she stared at the beanstalk. "Only one person has been up there, and I think he has only told Lorica and Garman about it."

Without thought, Ash's eyes roamed the deck for the one she meant. Nothing. Not that she had truly expected to see him. Caspian had been staying in his room more as they drew closer to Astamare. Garman had needed to drag him out for their meeting earlier.