The Quest

Chapter Forty Eight - The End

Destru looked up from leaning against a work table when Tom was brought into the kitchen. "Is everything alright?" Destru asked, as Tom was sat in a chair.

Tom chuckled a little as he slouched in the chair, trying to find the strength to sit upright. "She still has her sirens kiss," he finally managed to gasp out. "She thought Nyx might know how to make it go away faster."

Nyx grumbled as he moved towards Tom. Forcing Tom to look him in the eye as he assessed how bad he was. After a few moments, Nyx turned away and began looking for ingredients.

"Just couldn't get enough of her after she killed you, could ya?" Destru winked with a slight smirk.

Tom attempted a smile, thinking about their most recent kiss. She was still perfect to him. "What can I say? I'm in love with her." He groaned as he lost the strength to stay sitting and fell to the ground, much to the delight of Destru.

"Oh how I wish I had a camera," Destru pretended to take a picture with his hands. "Perfect blackmail," he continued to howl with laughter as Nyx came back.

Nyx let out a gravelly moan as he picked Tom up by the collar and laid him on the table. He carefully administered the potion he brewed, tilting Tom's head so he could swallow without choking. After the potion was gone Tom began to feel his fingers and toes, wiggling them as he got his feeling back.

"We need to figure out how we're getting off this awful Island," Destru mused as Tom slowly sat up on the table.

"How do the sirens get around?" Tom wondered, as the trolls in the kitchen began to start preparing the next meal.

"They're sirens," Destru crossed his arms sourly. "They swim everywhere."

"But they knew how to sail your ship. They must have ships around here somewhere," Tom pressed, stopping when a roar was heard behind him.

Tom and Destru turned to see Nyx carrying a large baking sheet with something on it. One of the other trolls had tried taking it from him. "What's gotten into you Nyx?" Destru asked, his attention now on the tray.

Nyx gently sat the tray down next to Tom. "Cap'n" Nyx said, giving a nod towards Destru.

Destru made a confused look, before slowly removing the sheet, revealing gray spotted ears. Tom held his breath as Destru continued to reveal Runes body, tears in his eyes.

"Thank you," Destru whispered, looking towards Nyx. "We'll give him a proper burial." He rested his head on Runes for a few moments, then looked towards Nyx.

The troll nodded in agreement, baring his teeth as other trolls made their way near them.

"He stopped them from serving him to the sirens," Tom said in awe as he realized Nyx probably had gotten in trouble for doing what he did.

Destru and Tom jumped once more when Nyx knocked a plate out of another trolls hand. "Priestess gets fruit," he grumbled out.

The troll that had brought Tom down came up to Nyx with their arms raised, irritation on his face. "You don't get a say here. You're not ranked enough." He argued. "Matera clearly stated if the priestess didn't complete the ritual she would be fed the organs of a sailor."

"Matera's dead," Tom pointed out, making the troll look towards him for the first time.

"Her body may be dead, but her presence is still around," the troll whispered, fear in his eyes. "She was too powerful to be killed by a witchling."

"I don't feel anything," Tom mused, as Destru shrugged.

The troll curled his lip at them. "No magics wouldn't feel anything. Some High Priest you'll make." The troll moved further into the kitchen directing the other trolls to their tasks.