Siren's Silence

Chapter 10: Thief

James

I was slowly losing track of how many people I had been introduced to over the course of a couple of hours, all of them curious about my adventures. Both children and adults practically begged me to tell them a tale or two.

Haven was now buzzing with activity despite the gathering dark. I heard mention of a feast after sunset and soon noticed the aroma of food that now permeated the town. I lifted my head and filled my lungs with the mouthwatering scent. My stomach growled and I decided to listen to it. Like a hound, I followed my nose, which led me to the town square.

It was a beautiful little place. The ground was made of stone pavers inlaid as a compass rose. On each of the cardinal points was the statue of a griffin sitting on its hind legs, wings spread, and glaring at the outside world as if it was warning off any that would enter the square. In the center was another statue, also of a griffin, but this one had a much different feel about it. It depicted a mother with two fledglings on a partially rounded stone surface of some kind. Unlike the other statues, this griffin's eyes were gentle, its wings curled around its young protectively. One fledgling was bucking energetically, its little wings spread, its hind paws kicked out as its forelegs touched the earth. The other fledgling appeared much calmer, curled a little around the mother's foreleg, one forepaw lifted with its curious gaze focused up at her face. Water bubbled up from under the rock and trickled into the surrounding basin which was decorated with carved fish and the occasional mermaid or Kelpie. I assumed that the fountain must have been set over a natural spring since the water coming out of it was quite warm.

I looked up into the motherly griffin's face and smiled at the tender scene.

"I see you're finding your way around quite well," said Parker.

I turned my back to the fountain and grinned at the older man. "I just followed the smell of food," I laughed.

"Good strategy," he said, elbowing in me in the ribs. "My wife's cooking tonight and Charlene is making those pies of hers..." He rested his hands on his stomach and smiled. "It's going to be a good night."

I laughed, "I look forward to it."

He slapped my shoulder fondly and walked over to a woman of unusual beauty. Her skin was a light chocolate brown, her hair was long, straight and black. Her eyes were like a pair of sapphires set into her ageless face. She was slightly smaller than the average woman, like Siren, but her beautiful eyes had a sharp edge to them, one that I had seen many times in the gaze of soldiers.

It took me a moment to realize that I was staring openmouthed at her. I clapped my jaw shut quickly and shook my head. Parker grinned at me, clearly having caught my reaction. He guided his wife over to me and introduced her.

"Anne," I said, bowing and kissing her hand lightly, "your husband is the luckiest man in the world. It is an honor to meet you."

She blushed and curtsied, "Pleasure to meet you as well, Captain Merkott. The town speaks as much of your arrival as Siren's. It is not every day that we receive such visitors."

It was my turn to be uncomfortable. "My crew and I greatly appreciate your hospitality."

She smiled.

A young boy ran out of nowhere and charged toward Parker yelling, "Dad!"

"Simon!" He yelled back, catching the young man in a bear hug. "Where have you been, my boy?"

"Fishing!" The boy grinned. Simon had the dark skin of his mother, but looked like he would gain his father's height in a few years time. He had his father's light gray eyes, but his mother's jet black hair except that it was short and curly. He was young, by the looks of him, pre-teen. He bounced around excitedly, firing off a million questions about his father's journey.