Villainess From the Stars

30. Rescue at Port

Pop told Vienna long ago that one of the most dangerous places on the Continent was the ports of the Wilds. Pirates, poachers, and criminals all congregated at its ruin-strewn waters.

The cove at the heart of the port was built into the rugged terrain that met the wild seas. The port town's mortar and stone buildings were worn by the sea's brisk winds, some leaning on odd angles.

The Mapmaker's hood was low over his face, and he made subtle gestures with his fingertips signaling his other accomplices across the road as they approached the cove's edge. His hand raised quickly in attack as a brown-cloaked individual jumped to his side, Vienna smiled impishly below the hood.

"I told you it would be best not to come."

Vienna whispered, "The king said it would be better that I come alongside."

"Yes well, the king doesn't always know what he's talking about despite being pompous..."

The rest was mumbled, but Vienna heard it and muffled the giggle that threatened to escape her.If there was one thing Vienna had learned about the Mapmaker was that sometimes he burned hotter than he meant. But he had a kind heart beneath the layers of sarcasm.

"So what's the plan?"

The Mapmaker barely glanced at her before pointing in the direction of the rocky cove."We are blocking its exit while the rest are going aboard to free our fellows."

Several Sea Folk had joined in the endeavor, and as the Mapmaker and Vienna watched, the crew left the ship behind. Some ran shouting it was 'cursed'.

As they entered the cove they saw the ship with its sails unfurled. The wind had picked up and filled the sails but the ship remained dead in the water, unmoving even as the sails fluttered.

The Mapmaker and Vienna took a small rowboat to its sides before climbing a ladder let down its side by one of their allies.

A call from the brig of the ship had both of them following. Vienna with her bo staff at the ready tied to her back in case she needed to defend.

An Anti-Pōrteacaleum cage surrounded little winged Elem, some crying out in fear, others quiet their small heads resting against their bent knees.

"Stop!" The Mapmaker didn't stop Vienna in time from touching the catch to release it only to be burned from an artificer-made lock.

"It seems knowledge of you has been told to others." He perused the cage, "If they grew they could escape it easily, the cage itself is flimsy. I would break it open but I wouldn't wish to harm them."

Vienna stepped forward and spoke to the little Elem, "Will that be alright with you all? I'll give you names and you'll grow out of this cage. If not, we can find another way."

Nods went around. Vienna kneeled before it. "The sea folk have saved you this time, how about some names to commemorate their hard work?" She pointed to one of the Elem, with large blue-green eyes and wings with a small lithe frame. "You shall be Darya." She turned to each of the others pointing to each as she named them, "You will be Mairsile." Another with wide fawn-like eyes she called 'Cherilyn'. Another who bowed respectfully was called 'Mila'. Two males who had stood in front of the little females she named 'Alkimos' and 'Siridean'.

The cage trembled as the Elem shook their wings and grew in size, the wooden bars breaking as the inhabitants were freed.

Vienna smiled before turning her attention to a distorted song on the wind that she followed from out from the bottom of the ship to the top, where a hidden crew member tried to throw a burlap bag over the edge.

"Wait!"

The bag was dropped and it fell to wobble on the edge as the man ran away, Vienna rushed forward slipping her bow staff from her back and slipping its tip through the knotted top of the bag just in time before it fell over the edge. Carefully she untied the knot inside the bag she found dark gray-green seeds. The bag only had them at the bottom hardly filling it, her fingertips brushed against the shells and felt them vibrate just the slightest bit. Her brow furrowed, and whispered, "You are sick, I'll see if I can make you better."

The Mapmaker's head came over her shoulder making her jump slightly, "What do you want with those dead seeds?"

"Have you seen them before?"

He sniffed the bag, "They are ancient, at least a thousand years old, you won't be able to make them grow."

Vienna hugged the bag to her chest, "We'll see."