Harvest Season

2. Wäu's Tawdry Witch

WHEN BLAKELY WOKE the next morning he was unsurprised to see Abis pacing around in his cabin with a scarf wrapped around his mouth and his fist vibrating with fury.

Blakely scooted out of bed, donned in a trench coat, breeches and tunic to face Abis. Regularly Abis may have joked that Blakely even lay fully clothed in his sleep, but when he didn't, Blakely spoke instead.

"Hmm," he said, turning to begin spreading his bed. "Sleep well?"

Abis wasn't in a mood for small talk. "I recall explicitly telling you not to hurt that boy," Abis said darkly. Blakely could feel Abis glaring holes into his back.

Blakely frowned. "And I didn't." He removed the crushed quilt from his moth-bitten bed and began folding it. "It seems your hemp rope did have some use. I heard you shuffling with a body outside the door last night."

Abis' face contorted into an expression Blakely had never seen. He was jovial always—sometimes mocking with a smattering of mischief—but he had never looked as serious as he had then. With his furrowed brows and slightly confused expression, it was something akin to... disappointment? For a moment Blakely felt minutely apologetic, then he laughed; concession was not in his vocabulary. That, and the word, "sorry."

Abis' voice was firm when he spoke. "Blakley, The Order knows of your tendencies. They were sure to brief me on them the moment I arrived, too. I'm not only here as your companion, and take care not mistake me as only that."

"You are my keeper then?" Blakely mocked, "am I a sheep to be tended by Abis the shepherd boy?"

Blakely was fine carrying out his missions alone. The Order held those sole efforts in high esteem for nearly 10 years. He certainly didn't need a Mercury telling him what to do when he's been doing perfectly fine without any interference.

Abis scowled. However much in a bad mood Blakely was, he didn't need him causing trouble for the duration of their mission. They were to leave as small a trail as they could. If Blakely so blatantly disobeyed him like this once, they were bound to have some difficulties for the remainder of their time aboard the MERCURY, and in Dorchester.

"Alright so listen here, buddy," Abis ordered folding his arms, "You see this pendant?" Blakely stood still as Abis bared a pendant that hung loosely around his neck. It hummed with a green light once the candlelight caught its chartreuse surface, before Abis covered it and it disappeared.

Blakely's eyes narrowed. "No."

Abis's jaw ticked. "Yeah, nice try asshole, it's kind of hard to miss. Guess what's in it? Giant's Bane. I've already got the incantation memorized. Look forward to being paralyzed the next time you try to go on a rampage like that, yeah?" He turned to leave through the door, before he stopped and said one more thing. He shook his head as he spoke. "I mean, I know you've got your own stuff dealing with man, but throwing a kid into the ocean? Like some sorta discus throw? Not cool."

Blakley ignored whatever sense Abis seemed to make. Instead, his thoughts were amok. He could easily try stealing the pendant from Abis, but he could never beat a mercury at speed. Even if he did somehow manage it, Abis could easily procure another one from The Order. That, and he had already memorised it.

Blakely blinked. "I am in trouble then, should that happen."

Abis raised his brow. "Yeah. Yeah, you are. Now, I've got some brainwashing to do. You're like a child. I'm always cleaning up your messes."

"And what's the story?"

There was an annoyed sigh. "You, in a drunken rage, dumped the boy over the deck. I fished him out of the sea. How exactly the witnesses will believe that story is my concern. You, in the meantime, will go and quiet that kid. I kept him alive. Whatever he saw in you that night and whatever he heard, ensure he does not repeat it."