Gothar

Chapter 12

The Immortal River

Cornu's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he stood at the edge of the Immortal River, its waters glinting like liquid sapphires beneath the midday sun. In the midst of their clandestine escape, he discovered that fleeing one's fate was no straightforward endeavor, even with the generous assistance they received from Aunt Martha—or perhaps, just Martha, as Jack Tar was inclined to cryptically dub her, "Martha the Witch."

"She's a witch," Jack Tar had vehemently declared, his anger smoldering like an ember in the wake of their shocking revelation. This sentiment persisted even after their voyage aboard the galley, a journey orchestrated with eerie precision by Martha herself, to convey them northward. "But," Jack Tar added with a brief pause, "She's a good witch though."

"How can you be so sure?" he inquired cautiously, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavy in the air.

Jack Tar regarded him with an incredulous expression, as if the question itself were a folly too absurd to entertain. "We're still breathing, aren't we? Besides its Martha... she is technically who keep it us alive after everyone we know died"

Cornu's uneasy sigh hung heavy in the air as he spoke, "You're right, but I still can't wrap my head around what's happening. Martha... we need to figure out if she's on our side or not, or at least find a way to survive this."

Jack Tar raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You really believe that?"

Cornu's gaze shifted to one of the guards, and to his astonishment, he saw other crew members laboring on the galley, fixing ropes and beams, all while keeping a close eye on them. It became apparent that almost the entire crew was involved in this

Jack Tar, his voice tinged with resigned exasperation, muttered, "Bloody hell... trust, my friend, it's an overrated notion. Why does this fellow always keep his eyes on us? Do they suspect us of some thievery?"

A faint, mirthless chuckle escaped Cornu's lips as he turned his attention to the port of Ashaya. "No, Jack Tar," he murmured, his voice carrying an unsettling revelation, "they believe we're plotting to escape."

"Escape?!" Jack Tar's incredulous gasp punctuated the revelation. "But why? We're safe here."

Cornu, his tone laced with a disquieting sense of skepticism, countered, "Are we truly safe? Perhaps they fear we may just consider it."

Jack Tar, a wry smile playing upon his lips, concluded, "Well, then, maybe we ought to entertain the idea, as bloody uncomfortable as it is."

Cornu nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe... but if we were to escape, when and to where would we go?"

Jack Tar's eyes darted around, a calculated gleam in his gaze as he pondered a plan. After a few heartbeats, he spoke with a newfound resolve, "Now's the perfect time... we should press on to Sedonia. Martha seems certain it's our sanctuary."

A voice called out from somewhere ahead, echoing through the port. "Oy!"

Cornu glanced at Jack Tar, determination etched on his face. "We won't blindly follow the path set for us. Let's stick to our original plan."

Jack Tar's brow furrowed as he scanned the distance. "We'll have to ponder that later. There's..."

The same voice interrupted them once more, more insistent this time. "Oy... boys, come here! We're off to watch the games..."

The call for the games tugged at their curiosity like a siren's song. Jack Tar turned to Cornu, a glimmer of temptation in his eyes. "Games, eh? Might be a welcome break from all this overhyped death route."