Tides

Chapter 8- Praxis

Isobel was perfectly polite for the rest of dinner though practically threw us out afterwards keeping her brother to herself. Walking back to the ship none of us really new what to think of the whole thing. One on hand I was annoyed that we’d lost a day’s worth of trading but on the other that had been a very nice meal. Apollo was quiet though, not that he wasn’t normally but more a morbid quiet than usual.

“I know what you’re thinking,” I said giving his shoulder a small shove earning myself a glair from those blue eyes. “You’re not leaving, you know that right.”

“What you going to do?” He scoffed. “Force me to stay, tie me up and hold me down?”

“No,” I said. “But you’re not leaving all the same.” He just simply shrugged and walked a little faster.

“One day he’s going to kick your ass so hard,” Blair laughed coming up next to me. I just gave her a nice little glair. “What?” She asked. “You know its true there’s no way you’d win in a fight against that boy.”

For a moment I wanted to contradict her but I stopped myself because it was true. No matter how weak the kid, I mean Apollo, looked the fact was that he was powerful. But my mind quickly turned to other matters. “I think we should do something,” I said causing a confused look top appear on Blair’s face. “About Orpheous.”

“Why, you heard Isobel everyone’s ganging up on him and they’ve got another king all lined up to take over,” She reasoned.

“I know,” I said. “But I still think we should help.”

“And do what?” she said sarcastically. “If you hadn’t yet realized we are technically criminals in every country being pirates and all even if we do the odd bit of honest trade. They’d never take us as any kind of navy vessel or anything else.”

“Come on Blair it’s not too much of a bad idea,” Archer said appearing next to her. Immediately Blair appeared less than impressed, huffed and stormed off to catch up with Apollo.

~~~

Watching the guy’s finally setting up a stool to sell everything from fish to fine jewels on I couldn’t help but wonder where Blair, Archer and Apollo had gotten to. No doubt Rowen was still tied up with his sister but those three had disappeared a while back.

“I don’t think we’ll get much trade today,” Tyler said interrupting my thoughts. “Missed the morning rush after all that this morning though apparently the palace has recommended us as good traders so I reckon we’ll make up for it tomorrow.”

“Good,” I nodded. “Don’t suppose you know where Blair’s gotten to?”

Tyler gave me a funny look. “Yes.” He said drawing out the word.

I gave him a look and when he didn’t catch on sighed, “Well? Where is she?”

“With Archer,” He said again rather awkwardly.

“And you’re being weird about this because…?” I said leaving it open ended for him to finish.

“I think there becoming more than friends,” he said surprising me a little. My sister actually getting with someone, hu, why not I guess she had no reason not to.

“Wait,” I said realizing something. “Then where’s Apollo?”

Tyler shrugged. “Haven’t seen him since Blair and Archer went off, he was talking to her before. Could he have gone back to your cabin?”

“Hmm, probably,” I said balancing my duty to stay here and watch over the men and my desire to go look for him. “Would you go check? Just to make sure he’s ok, I think he was a bit shook up by this morning.”