The palm trees swayed as the ocean breeze blew in. The golden knight sat up on a lounge chair looking at the waves. Her skirt draped to her sandals. She kicked at the sand, careful to not let the salt scented breeze pelt sand at Duke. His perfume was suppressed by the smell of the lotion he used to keep his skin from getting sunburned. He sat beside her running his fingers around the rim of his empty glass.
"I know it may seem alluring but being a Spiritian knight is not the best way of protecting people. You don't need them. Perhaps Enigma can train you.".
Solis sighed, "A beach trip isn't going to make me feel better. Now I'm just sitting on my ass doing nothing.". She threw herself back against her chair.
"You get used to it. Sometimes you can't do anything but watch.". Duke set down his glass.
She stared vacantly at the horizon spotting a distant ship.
"They wouldn't even accept you among the ranks. You are a human.".
Solis scoffed, "Generalization much. Grimsilva was going to teach me! He didn't care that I was different from him.".
"I told you to stay away from him. You disobeyed orders.".
"I could have been taught by the strongest man in Spiritus and you think that's bad. Why?!".
He bit his tongue, "I can't tell you.".
"Maybe Hallow was right, you are a coward! Your solution is to throw parties, play with ponies and hang at the beach!".
"Everyone has hobbies. She was just twisting that to win you over.".
"So 'they' won't accept me but she wanted to win me over.".
He tightened his fingers together and let out a groan. "Because she thinks you can take care of Bishop's apprentice! It's just for her own gain. She doesn't care-".
"Thinks? What do you think? That I can't do it either!" Solis stood up.
Duke got up to go to her, "No of course not. It's complex-".
"And I can't understand it?".
"Yes-" Duke shook his head and waved his hands. "No. It's safer if you don't know. It puts you in danger.".
Her frown tightened. Her shoulders launched up in shock as the ship dragged into sharp rocks. It hit the coast of the overgrown island. She quickly ran without a clue of how to get there.
Duke called to her, "Where are you going! You can't get there by yourself!".
That was enough motivation to prove him wrong. She headed to the harbor.
Cacey jumped off the hall of the ship into wet sand. "I guess I am not returning that.".
Cleo carefully got down as shallow sea water started to creep up her leg. She hurried to land. "I feel seasick.".
The thief opened out a map of Kahiko island and then scanned the landscape in front of him, "Ok so we landed on the wrong side of the island. The sea cave is on the other side. We can go through.", he dragged his finger in a straight line. "or around." He curved his finger around the island's edge.
"Which one has fewer monsters?".
"The entire island is full of monsters." He sincerely asked, "Would you prefer something made of lava?".
"It's not a zoo. Which route is less deadly?".
"Sea monsters most of the times can't get on land. So around?".
"Alright.".
He rolled the map back up and stuck it in his back pocket. He walked, humming a tune.
It was blistering hot with high humidity. The soles of his boots would probably melt if he stood out too long in the direct sun. His baggy clothes trapped in heat like a sauna. Cleo's dark fitted clothes were no better. They tried to take shelter under the shadows casted by the trees.
YOU ARE READING
Thieves' Honor
FantasyA young thief, Cacey Meadows puts all his effort into caring for his family. His pacifism and criminal behavoir is tested and repeatedly, threatened by knights trying to sentence him and his sister to death. He ignores the cost of his crimes since t...
