The Lost Islands

Coming of Age

"Toby!" There is a familliar voice, calling to me. "Toby! Get up!" I open my eyes and see the familliar, damaged ceeling i wake up to every morning. I get up and look around, its my good old room. Not much but for an unwealthy fatherless family, it will do. I get out of bed and pass the opening where a door should be. I take the ladder and climb down to see my mother, making another meal. This time, it actually smelled... good.

"Happy birthday!" My mother yelled as she presented to me a fine coocked fish. - "Hold on, it is today?" I ask in joy. - "Indeed! You are sixteen! But why does it matter?" Mother asks, with an odd look on her face. - "Well mister Steelfist said that when i am old enough, i can join his crew!" Mother got a terrified look on her face. "I can earn money and we can have a better life!" - "You can earn money in other ways! You dont need to join some mad dwarf on his ship and go on his dumb quests!" She looked more scared then ever, but i had to stand my ground. - "Those are no dumb quests of his! He brought riches from the depths and found ancient treasures of those who lived here long before us!" She raised her hand. -"And what if you get hurt, or worse, die?! I couldnt live with myself knowing my child is somewhere out there, not knowing is he dead or alive or just bleeding out in the water!"

I gave her my good old determined look, one that would allways soften her. -"Mother, i want to do this, i am your small child no longer. This is a path i choose to tread and no one, not even you can stop me." She looked at me for a second, all serious, but then hugged me and started crying. -"Allright, but you must come visit any chance you get. Be carefull out there Toby... its a dangerous world." She was holding me as she sobbed. I felt sad for leaving her like this but it had to be done. - "I promise." I hugged her back as she cried away for what felt like minutes. Then she got back and whiped her eyes. - "Now eat your fish." I smiled at her and sat down, and started eating it.

I looked around to see the cracked walls, the door and windows full of holes. Just to remind myself as to why i am doing this. I ate it up and with a heavy heart said that i could eat no more, and that she eats the rest of it. I was still hungry, and this tasted delicious, but she needs to eat too.

"Im heading out to find mister Steelfist. I will find you again before i go. Stay safe" I waved her of as i seen her sit down and start finishing up what was left from the fish. I close the door behind me and look left and right. It is morning and the slight breeze feels good as it heads down the stone street. Every here and there i see a wooden door. Most of them are rough and have holes in them, just like ours. I sigh as i turn left. I start walking in peace, as a fine smell of fresh fish and bread catches my nose. I look towards it and catch a glimpse of the market as i walk through the streets. There were days when i had to steal and run through thise streets, climb and run on the roofs and through all sorts of obstacles. I never got cought. The thought of losing my hand kept me going.

I keep walking as i spot that good old tavern. And there he was, siting there, drinking, Ragon Steelfist. He notices me walking his way as he waves to me. We knew each other for a bit and he offered me a place in his crew when i was twelve. I have been counting the days i would be able to join since then. - "My boy!" He yells. "Well by my beard, did i guess the day?!" He gets up as i aproach him. - "Yes mister Steelfist, i am sixteen!" I smile at him, joyfull and excited. - "Brilliant laddie! Then i just need to ask your mother and you will need to start calling me capitan!" He winks at me. "And here for yer first official task." He gave me a piece of paper and a small bag of something that seemed to be gold coins. "Bring this to old John and take what he gives ye and meet me at the docks." He drinks his beer and starts walking down the street. - "I will!" I yell as i run off back.

I was about to pass my house as i remember my mother. I stop and run in. She was there, just finishing up what i left for her. "Mother! I am joining him today! I am going!" She looked at me, started crying again, hugged me and kissed my cheek. - "Then hurry along, stay safe, i love you." I hugged her tight. - "I love you too!" We broke the hug as i opened the door. "I will visit as soon as i can! Good bye!" She waved me off, tears still in her eyes, as i turned around and left. Neither of us quite liked long farewells, its good we kept it short.

I remembered my task as i ran to old John and knocked on his door. After a full minute of waiting and knocking he opened. - "Toby? What is it?" I gave him the paper and the small bag. - "Mister Steelfist sent you this, sir." He took it, opened the note, and didnt say anything as he went back inside, and came back with a small box. - "Here you go." - "thank you sir!" I took the box and ran off, down the street, towards the docks.

After a bit of running i was met by a familliar sight. The docks. The Sun is shining bright over the horizon as everyone goes their way. A lot of fishing boats here and there, and a few bigger boats, or ships if you will. One in particullar catches my eye, The Lone Wolf. I run towards it and see the capitan preparing everything and shouting out orders. He looks to me and the box, a wide smile on his face. I ran up to him. I gave him the box as he handed it to one of his sailors, who took it and walked aboard the ship, taking it to an unknown place.

- "Well laddie..." The capitan looks at me. "Welcome aboard! Come on." He walked aboard the ship with his hand on my back. "I figure ya know the basics allready." - "I do mister... sir... capitan." I say, excitement flooding me entirely. He lets out one of his hearty laughs. - "Great! You my lad will be the scout. Ill give ya a few more tasks to do on the ship though, now, let me show ya around, eh?" He says as he starts giving me a small tour around the ship. It was short but enough for me to get the ropes. He showed me, well, firstly, the deck, then the crew quaters, with my own sleeping bag. Then he showed me the storage and a few other places. I watched and listened carefully, for i will be spending a lot of time in most of these places. Most of the crew looked oddly at me. There were men, elves and dwarves, but mostly all unfamilliar faces. I do hope i will get along with them, never was one for making friends...

After the tour was done he went to his cabin as he sent me to the deck. After a few minutes he got out, except now, he was full in uniform. Any time i have seen him he has been in a simple tunic and clothing such, but now he looked diferent. A bit less friendly and a bit more comanding perhaps, but you couldnt get it wrong by his joyfull face. Even with his small scar across his left eye, he looked like the most friendly dwarf that ever lived. "Allright lads, unfold sails! We have a course!" He said as he walked up the stairs to the wheel, climbing a box that was there, he took the wheel as i looked to him and then the crew in action. They started runing around, climbing, looking everywhere, pulling ropes and so on. The ship started moving and we moved away from the docks. The capitan called to me and he had me stand there next to him. I looked back one more time behind me, seing the place i spent most my life in. I was leaving it now, and my mother, alone. I got bad thoughts out of my head as i looked foward and to my now capitan and smiled. There are great adventures ahead, i know it!