The Third Crossing

11. There will be Blood

Following Pantu's advice, Natsu forbade Mushi from setting a straight course back to Hokydo. Instead, they turned around the island of Jopen and headed to their homeland from its eastern coast. The helmswoman had her concerns about taking a longer route with the Wraith in its current condition. "We are not sure how long that magical seal will hold," she said, referring to the mage's trick that didn't just repair the breach; it made it vanish. As if the hull of the ship had always been intact.

"It will hold." Natsu didn't have a hint of doubt, still unable to forget the sight of the wooden parts sticking together and fusing with the gap in a smooth fashion. According to the mage, who had descended to the mountain foot to aid Natsu's crew yesterday, 'binding the particles of wood' was the explanation for his trick. As if he owed anybody an explanation in the first place. "And it's too late now anyway, Mushi. If you want to say something useful, then pray we won't encounter any more Turtles."

Natsu couldn't tell whether Mushi's prayers worked or it was just a coincidence, but fortunately, the Wraith made it safely to their secret cove, which you would never spot from the sea unless you were foolish enough to come close to the waterfall covering the entrance. After docking at the wharf, Mushi and the sailors stayed to replenish the ship's supply of coal, and also to guard the vessel if necessary. Pantu, Sogeki-hei, and Jirou followed Natsu through the cave from which they would emerge in the middle of the eastern hills, then traverse the abandoned area until reaching the main coastal road, and from there, they would move north toward the town. If they didn't encounter any more hurdles on their way, they should arrive by nightfall.

They were exiting the cave when Pantu walked alongside Natsu. "You think of anything other than sticking to our deal with the mage?" her deputy asked. He would always be worried about her recklessness, Natsu reckoned.

"Why would we break our deal with him? All he has done so far is help us."

"To deliver him the Wraith on a silver platter."

"You think he couldn't steal the Wraith from under our nose if he wanted?"

Pantu's lips made a firm line as he nodded. "You have a point." He went silent for a moment, then said, "But there is something in the assignment he has given us that bothers me. Why all the secrecy about the cargo he wants us to transport to Gorania? If we are working for the Koyan Empire, then we shouldn't be hiding from the coastguards."

"We never cared who paid us as long as he paid."

"He hasn't shown us a damned coin of copper."

Natsu heaved a sigh. "Don't you realize that he doesn't even need to lie to us? He could have just threatened us with his 'domesticated' sea monster." Shnakar was its name. If only that mage agreed to unleash his hellish pet upon Qianfan's boats...

Natsu's retinue reached an abandoned warehouse near the main road, where they had hidden the carriage that had brought them to this place. As they approached the front door, Sogeki-hei drew his crossbow and mounted a bolt into it, and at once Jirou drew his falchion. Natsu and Pantu halted and looked around, but nothing alive was there except their shadows. "What is it?" she asked nervously.

As the sharpshooter aimed at the door, Natsu shot Jirou an inquisitive look. "I don't know," the brawny man whispered, shrugging. "I just saw Sogeki-hei draw his weapon."

"Someone is inside the warehouse," the sharpshooter said in a low voice without looking at Natsu or Jirou, his crossbow pointed at the door as he warily approached.

"Our coachman, perhaps?" Natsu asked.

"Someone else is with him." Sogeki-hei nodded his chin toward the ground, where he must have spotted the tracks of the outsider.