The Ice Crystal (Published)

Chapter 36

"Thar she is, the Angelica!" Dogen shouts out as we reach the docks, "I'm the proud owner of her and her 250 crew members, well now 252, but you get the point. Outfitted with over 100 cannons, 200 arrow castors, and the largest sails in existence, she is the fastest and most brutal of all warships ever made. Yer lucky if ya survive a battle with her. We set sail once ya get settled in yer cabin. Yer free to go as you please on the ship, but we need to kill that beast to reopen this part of the lake. The city is hurtin bad because of it and this is the city I grew up in."

"Right." I nod, "Come on Myriani, let's go settle in a cabin and see what the ship is like."

I grab her hand and we run up the wooden walkway. I've always wanted to see a ship, but it's a dream to even step foot on one! The ship is a bustle of activity with men and women moving supplies where they need to go. I can tell from the outside that this ship is gigantic. I marvel at the largeness of the ship.

"Dogen recruiting again I see." A man appears behind us, "I'm Lucian. I heard that somebody knocked out the boss. Was that you?"

I don't like this guy for some reason. He's too proper for a pirate and too well dressed for one as well. He doesn't come off as anything pirate at all. He actually looks more like royalty with his long blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Yeah we're new here and yeah I'm the one who knocked Dogen out." I tell him, "Where's our cabin?"

"I'm surprised that you're even still living." Lucian smiles deviously, "Nobody usually survive an encounter like that with Dogen. I've already received his letter about you and this girl here. You both want a cabin all to yourselves and we have plenty of room so right this way. Care to state your names?"

"I'm Rias from Icelia." I tell him, "This is Myriani, my partner."

"Lovers huh?" Lucian's eyes gleam, "And here I thought I'd have a chance with two beautiful women."

"Stop with the flattering it don't work on us." Myriani knees the tall man in the gut, "Stop fooling with us and show us to our damn rooms!"

I've never seen Myriani like this. What's got her worked up all of a sudden?

"Just go down the hallway and your room is the last door on the left." He says holding his guy, "I advise you to not make enemies while you're here."

He walks away rubbing his stomach muttering something to himself. Myriani seems to have cooled down and takes my hand as we start walking. This ship is a luxury compared to all the other ships around the dock. It doesn't even look like a pirate ship on the inside. The outside does, but you would never guess just by looking on the inside. Ornate decorations cover the walls and they are painted a pure black and white. Dogen really has taken care of this ship. Hell it doesn't even look like it's been in any battles at all. Is the ship that powerful that nothing has been able to touch it?

We get to our room and unlock it. Thank the Goddess that it's our own room. Even the bed looks comfy. Well Dogen is a pirate, so most of this stuff could be stolen from the rich or he could've found treasure chests.

"Myriani?" I look at her as she looks at the room, "Is anything bothering you? You've been acting different ever since we arrived here."

"It's about what Liz said about me and Eliose." She sits on the bed, "I did love him at one time, but once he became a guard of my mother, I was forbidden to love him as any royalty is forbidden to marry a guard of any kind. We can marry a citizen, but not the guards. We see the guards as precious people. If they are too busy taking care of a child, they can't guard anything so I was distraught that my first love was taken from me and Liz just brought up repressed memories. Promise me Rias that you'll never go away?"

"I promise I won't go anywhere." I look at her green eyes, "I love you."

"I love you too." She looks up and smiles, "Thank you for hearing me out. And that's not the only reason why I'm acting weird. I'm far from my village and have been restrained by my customs. Since I'm away, I can act like a regular person just like you! I really am glad that I'm with you!"

I walk over to her and lay on the bed and stare at the ceiling. Myriani leans over top of me letting her long white hair separate us from the rest of the world. She leans in for a kiss and we start kissing. Her lips are still so soft and warm just like before. I really do love her. No matter what anybody says, no matter what anybody thinks, I will love her to the end. She gets on top of me and our bodies press together. Her hands trail my sides sending chills throughout my entire body.

"We should go tell Dogen that we're ready to go." My voice is shaky as I talk, "I'm not comfortable with all the touching yet."

"It's alright." She laughs, "We'll work our way through! I agree that it's time that we get out of the city."

"And help these people out!" I take a deep breath, "No matter who these people are, they deserve to keep living in peace. I want to keep that peace."