Tea Scenes: A Bready Baker Collection

Nevarth

"Mama! Mama!" The young blue man dropped his gear by the door of their cottage and ran up to his Elven mother. "Look, look!" He shoves the massive book in her face.

"Well, I would, but you've got it too close, lad."

"Ah- sorry, Mama." He pulls the book away. The title reads Genies and their hidden culture.

"Why would you choose that book?"

"I wanna know what father was like."

"He was sweet and kind and-"

"He left without a word! Yes, mama, I know!" Nevarth rolls his eyes at his mother, "I've heard it a million times."

"And you'll hear it a million more!"

"Ugh, I just wanted to show you-" he mumbles.

"And you did. And I wasn't happy."

"Look, look!" His upset demeanor explodes into joy again as he flips through the pages. "Some water genies can turn into steam!"

"That's very interesting, son."

"Do you think I could do that?" His hair stands up from his excitement. The navy blue mane moved like the morning waves.

"Not entirely, though your hair might."

Nevarth's free hand flies up to the top of his head and he grumbles. "I thought I dehydrated it this morning!"

"It's been a while since this morning." His mother chuckles.

"Ugh!" He glances at the borrowed book and an idea forms in his mind. "I wonder if the book knows anything about dehydrating hair."

"I doubt it." His mother chimes.

As Nevarth flips through the pages, a slip falls out.

"Your bookmark fell out, love."

"Hm? What bookmark?" His eyes are alert and wide when he pops up from the book.

"That one." She points to where the slip fell onto the floor.

"That- that's not my bookmark." He snaps the book shut and bends down to look at the small paper. "Hey! It's got writing in it. Maybe it's an addition!" He sets the book on the floor and settles to read the note.

Just keep hitting

Just keep forging

This is the way of the Oliver Orphans

Just keep fighting

Just keep working

This is the way of the Oliver Orphans

Don't worry about water. We'll get it, eventually.

Don't worry about food. We'll get it, eventually.

This is our way of the Oliver Orphans!

~ Oliver Orphans

P.S. Don't tell Mistress.

"Great. Another one." Nevarth groans.

"Another what?"

"Captain calls them 'Slave Shops'. They're filled with orphaned children who don't know better and think that work is what a child is for. Thanks to whoever runs the shop. They make all kinds of stuff there."

"Is that what you do in the Navy? I thought that would be an army thing?"

"They usually get caught in customs, so they leave it to us. Don't want too many feet in the pond."

"What's the note got to do with it?"

"They come up with rhymes to stay happy, and this is one of them."

"Oh, my-"

"Yeah," Nevarth sighs as he stands, "I've got to go back to work now."

"Go. I don't like the thought of these... Slave Shops."

"Hmph, nobody does Mama." Nevarth throws his gun belt on and holsters his flint-lock pistol before rushing out the door to report to Captain Daole.

The ship creaked as the waves rocked it in the dock. Nevarth climbed onto the deck as he had done so many times before. As he looks around for Captain Daole, he hears a familiar shout behind him.

"Put yer back into it, boys! Ya wanted tah be men!"

"Yes, sir" They all grumble while scrubbing salt off the deck. Neverth grins, knowing well that they probably challenged the Captain to something stupid.

"I can't hear you, boys!" He shouts over to them, his grin widening at their sharp glares.

"Nevarth! Now see boys this is a man! A man that can spend forever underwater!" The Captain jumps down from the barrel he used for extra height and strides over to Nevarth. They all grimace one of the pipes up.

"Only cause he's a genie's bastard!" Someone shouts out.

Everyone stops moving out of shock, and silence blankets the ship.

Navarth stares at the pallid offender, and replies, "At least I belong on the water, Greenie." The man's face blooms red and he goes back to scrubbing the deck.

There are a few scattered chuckles that are soon silenced by the thundering voice of the elven monk, "Get back to work!"

"I do not miss being yelled at by you Captain." Navarth says.