Lost Identity: Eloria Series Book 1 | ✓

41: The Harbor

7/24/3028

When we arrived at the harbor, I gave Ilta my spare cloak. Sure, we weren't friends, but I wasn't going to let her be cold after helping us.

We entered the empty queue at the ticket booth and made our way to the ticket master.

"We'll be less conspicuous if I make the purchase instead of Elossai," said Ilta. That made sense since there weren't any other Elos in Ien. Even though Elossai had her crystal covered, people might find it strange that a child was purchasing tickets in the middle of the night.

The scruffy looking ticket master eyed Ilta, sizing her up. "Where are you folks headin'?"

"Good sir, are there any ships traveling to Tau this evening?" asked Ilta.

"No can do—we don't sail out that-a-ways. We only get ships from Incus, Ankinia, or O'lon, Olouri," he said with a distinct drawl.

"When does the next ship leave for O'lon?"

"Just left, miss. Last ship of the night sails out to Incus in 'bout ten minutes,"

"I'll take four tickets to Incus then, please." said Ilta. Elossai discreetly slipped a small pouch to Ilta, who placed a couple silver and copper coins on the counter.

"How many cabins ya' want?"

"Just one, with two bunk beds if possible."

"Can do, can do," the ticket master said, inputting data into a computerized grid of some kind—much like a tablet. "Alright then, here are your tickets, miss."

Ilta and Elossai led the way to the dock with me and Martin following behind.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Ell," Martin said, "but I thought Incus was further away from the Todaji territory."

"It is, but it looks like this is the only ship running right now. I don't think we have much of a choice," I said as we crossed the unstable-looking docking bridge.

The ship was nothing like the exorbitant vessel Dunek Anmus had arrived in. This one was smaller, looked much older, and had visible signs of corrosion.

Once we boarded, we headed straight for our cabin which, just like its exterior, was underwhelming. The cabin was barely adequate in size with only a small, circular window to peek out of. Bunk beds were set on opposing walls with barely a few feet between them.

Martin threw his sack on one of the top bunks before he climbed up onto the creaking bed.

"Elossai and I will need the bottom beds so that we can protect you if necessary," Ilta announced. She sat down on the bed closest to the door. "Sye-Liene Anmyn, now that we are out of harm's way, you may explain."

"To start, I'm not Sye-Liene. The confirmation was staged," I said.

"You're not Sye-Liene?" Ilta looked to Elossai in disbelief. Elossai nodded.

I continued. "I contacted the Ras and we made a deal to get Katie back." I rushed through the words as if it would make the truth easier to swallow.

Ilta propped her head up with her hand—a thumb under her chin and fingers by her temple. She let out an exasperated sigh. "As much as I wish to, I don't think it would make any sense now to berate you. What was the arrangement?"

"Ell for Katie," Martin blurted.

"How is that a rational decision? Elossai, what inferior logic possessed you to allow this?"

"It's not her fault," I said. "I made that decision when I contacted the Ras using the uni-elk cloak. There was no other way, Ilta."

"Uni-elk cloak?"

"Yeah." I opened my sack and pulled out my uni-elk cloak and the chest. "I found the cloak in the chest. It came with all of Sye-Liene's other personal belongings."

Ilta turned up her nose as if she had smelled something foul. "That is a charmed corin chest."

"Indeed, it is," said Elossai. She was remaking the sheets to her liking on the bottom bunk under Martin.

"Sye-Liene knew that the Ankins would eventually try to keep her prisoner, so she probably got her hands on the cloak so that she could escape," I said.

"I think the idea that the Ankins planned to keep Sye-Liene prisoner is absurd." Ilta gave me a skeptical look. "What would make you think that she was planning to escape?"

"She told me." I gave a heavy sigh. "Look I know how crazy this sounds, but she appears in hallucinations from time to time."

Ilta blinked rapidly a couple times. "A hallucination is not real. It does not mean that it was she who spoke to you."

"But she taught me how to use the uni-elk cloak with the locket. I couldn't have figured that out on my own, could I?" I asked.

"We can argue about this all night. Let's just take Ell's word for it, alright?" Martin said, fluffing his pillow.

"Alright then," Ilta said. "Ellis Ann, as you already know, I've never trusted Sye-Liene Anmyn. This revelation of her keeping a corin chest makes me question her motives further."

"If it wasn't for Sye-Liene, we'd be no closer to finding Katie. In fact, you guys aren't even sure where Katie is exactly. We at least got to see her. Without Sye-Liene's help, I'd have never made contact with the Ras and we'd still be running around wondering where Katie is or if she's even alive," I said.

Ilta's thin lips twitched. "I hope you're aware that the Ras have no intention of helping you."

"What if they are though? Rahaiwen said that she would—"

"They are loyal to their master and always will be," Ilta said. I could see Elossai nodding her head in agreement. Ilta shut her eyes for a moment and exhaled. She started again. "The agreement is Sye-Liene Anmyn in exchange for Katie, but you are not Sye-Liene. We must come up with a plan that gives us Katie while ensuring your safety."

"How?" I asked.

"I have a proposal." Elossai beamed, rubbing her hands together. "Ellis Ann will wear the uni-elk cloak when it is time for the exchange. Once she is near Katie, she will hide her in the cloak and activate the locket. Ellis Ann and Katie will disappear from this realm and be out of harm's way. This will leave me and Ilta time to fight them."

"What about me?" Martin asked.

"I anticipate that we will need the extra help," Ilta answered.

I looked at everyone. It seemed that no one was objecting to this. The plan might just work.