Different Shores

Chapter 2 - Finally There (and finally written)

By the time they reached the Mainland, Ilexa felt nauseous - very nauseous.

Her face was starting to turn a similar shade of green to her cloak.

"If yer gonna puke," Mor had said on the way there, "Make sure it goes overboard. And yer not facin' into the wind; that would be a mess."

Ilexa grimaced at him.

"I know that from experience," Mor added, the corner of his mouth twitching as he failed to hide his amusement.

Before the boat had even touched the dock, Ilexa scrabbled to her feet and leapt to land.

"Careful!" Mor and Aleth both cried in unison as Raell lurched.

"The ground isn't moving! Thank the gods," Ilexa muttered, standing on the dock, stretching.

"So we've just got to drop off those crates in the back," Aleth said as she stood up and hopped onto the dock.

"Just? Don't forget, we've got to sort that next delivery out, an' stop by the markets..." Mor reminded her and passed a rope over.

"...Oh yeah. Okay, so we have a few errands to run." Aleth tied the rope to the dock as she explained to Ilexa. "You can just tag along with us, and then we'll get our reservations sorted at the inn."

"I thought we was staying with that friend of yours," Mor said, setting one of the crates on the dock.

"What friend?"

"The one you had a thing with."

"No!" Aleth cried, punching Mor's arm, before composing herself. "No, I did not have a 'thing' with anybody, and no, we decided to stay at the inn, remember?" She turned her attention back to Ilexa. "So, we'll be sailing back in the morning. 'Cause it'll be dark by the time we're finished."

"And Aleth'll probably have a drink or two," Mor added pointedly. Aleth punched him again.

"No need to make petty jabs," she muttered.

"No need to jab me arm – that hurt," Mor whined, rubbing his arm for added effect.

"Okay, so I'll wave you off in the morning, shall I?" Ilexa piped up. 

Mor and Aleth looked at her.

"Uh, no... You're coming back with us," Aleth said.

"Oh, actually, I might not. I think it will be nice here." Ilexa looked around. "Wow, there's a whole harbour!" she cried, noticing the array of boats moored along the docks. She absorbed the bright blues and oranges and yellows of the paintwork, before casting her gaze upwards, up the steps – towards the town. She could see buildings above the wall. Unfamiliar buildings. She felt a tug in her chest as though she were being pulled towards them.

"'Ey now, I thought you said you were coming back with us..." Mor said.

"Come on, I wanna see the town!" Ilexa urged, ignoring him, before bounding off down the dock.

Mor and Aleth looked at each other.

"Oh Gods..." Aleth muttered. "Why did we agree to bring her with us again?"