A Curse to Break

Chapter 8

The next few days pass without any excitement. I sit silently in the back of the covered wagon as we move during the day and at night, the leader now forces me to sit out by the campfire until I'm yawning. I still don't know where they're taking me. I can't muster up the courage to ask where I'm being taken; not that they were likely to give me an answer anyway. My dread grows with each passing day. I can't help but wonder if I am actually being taken anywhere. They could be taking me in circles for all I knew. Either way, the dread continues to grow. Why me? If this 'captain' had done his research, he'd know I was a useless captive. My family wouldn't pay much for me.

We're on the verge of a week spent traveling when the routine is broken. When the wagon stops, I assume it's a routine stop, yet it's not followed by the normal sounds of a stop. My curiosity is burning though. For a while now, a strange scent had filled the air. It wasn't a bad one either. It was rather pleasant. It was oddly reminiscent of the salt baths Mother liked to take every now and then. Daniel had once called the smell 'sea air.' Were we nearing the ocean? Was I foolish for wanting a glimpse of it if we were?

"Miss Levine," the leader calls, slipping through the back flaps of the wagon, "I've excellent news. We're nearly there. By the end of the day, we'll have reached our first destination."

I blink in surprise, thoughts of seeing the ocean fading away. "First destination?"

He pauses, thinking for a moment. "I must have forgotten to mention that. This is a two-legged journey. Have you ever been on a ship before?" He asks, reaching for the leather flask hanging from a peg on one of the wagon's arches.

I can't help the spark of excitement that comes first. We had to be near the ocean if he was asking that. I wouldn't just get to see the ocean. I'd get to sail on it. As quickly as my excitement had come it vanishes.

A two-legged journey that had to be finished by ship? Where were they taking me? And why?

The fear continues stirring as he opens the flask. He then proceeds to pull a vial from his pocket. Opening it, he lifts it to the lip of the flask.

"Well, have you?" He prompts.

I had forgotten to answer. I quickly shake my head. "No."

He nods, dumping the contents of the vial into the flask. "Then I'd try drinking this. Better to try soothing your stomach before the waters can upset it." He winks at me as he hands me the flask. "I don't think seasick would look pretty on you. Not really pretty on anyone."

I had heard of people getting seasick on ships, set off by the rocking of the waves. Would I be one of those people? Did I really want to find out? Drink whatever he had just added to the flask or find out were my only options, and for once, the choice was easy.

Raising the flask to my lips, I take a tentative sip and nearly choke on the water. Whatever he had added was sour, bitter, and burned. It's absolutely revolting. Thankfully, it's just a cough that comes on. Not so thankfully, the taste sticks to my tongue.

I shove the flask back at the man. I'd rather risk getting seasick. The man just laughs as he accepts it back, replacing the cork.

"I'll hold on to this in case you change your mind. Now," he holds out a hand, "Our ship awaits."

I can't help the flicker of confusion I feel as I reach for his hand. As far as I could tell, we hadn't entered a town. There couldn't be any docks nearby.

He releases my hand so he can jump down, but offers it to me again to help me down. Our small caravan has stopped at the edge of the sand, most of the men already making their way across it. I let him lead me along, allowing my eyes to wander about, taking in the view. It's amazing.