Touched By A Dragon

Chapter 29: The Sea

Two days. That is how long it took Lillianna to go from underfed and weak to healthy and strong. As it turns out Talon is actually quite good at healing and caring for others. He was bent over near the fire, packing up things of importance and boiling murky river water over the open flame to make it drinkable. Lillianna was using her bone needle and some animal hair to sew together a bag from animal skins to carry food and water for the journey ahead. She still wanted to get back home more than anything; she missed her annoying, bratty sisters, Asha and Clarrie and her father so much that it hurt. She missed home, she missed the castle that she used to hate so much, and she even missed those forever rising walls. She missed being a child and playing in the garden with… No she couldn’t think about that now. She blinked back a tear and promised herself never to cry again until she was home. Looking at Talon, she realised that he was all she had and that she was all he had. They needed to stick together and help each other, just until they reached the palace. Then he could retrieve his gold reward and she could live happily ever after, just like it was supposed to go. But she didn’t know where they were, much less how to get back. Her plan was solely based on something her mother told her when she was young. Lillianna shut her eyes and remembered the day she had run to her mother crying because her sisters where teasing her. She remembered her mother’s protective, comforting hug, her soft skin, the way her long hair tickled the back of Lillianna’s neck and her mother’s soft voice.
“Oh little one, one day you will get out there, and you will be the greatest explorer in your fathers entire fleet! It will not always be easy Lillianna, but if you ever get lost, the sea will guide you back where you belong. Just follow the Eastern currents until you reach Dane and the snow-capped mountains will be there to welcome you home.”
Sighing she opened her eyes and her mother’s voice faded away. She had used all the animal skins and Talon was all set to go. He now had many different sacks and bags tied onto the leather strap around his waist. He refused to let Lillianna hold anything. Why, she had no idea.
“Talon, do you know the way to the ocean from here?” Lillianna asked politely.
“Aye Princess, about a day’s walk ‘at way. Why?” He replied, pointing North-West. “…I-If I m-may ask?” He hastily added, looking scared and flinching away from Lillianna.
A flicker of sympathy crossed Lillianna’s face. She slowly held up her hands like she used to when calming spooked horses.
“Hay Talon, it is ok. You are allowed to question me; it might just save us time. In fact I want you to question all of my plans, we are going to need to work together and I know absolutely nothing about wilderness survival or navigating. So I am going to need your help.”
Talon took a shank breath and nodded his head. Lillianna continued speaking.
“We can get to Dane if we take the Eastern currents and follow it too the whispering mountains.” She said.
Talons eyes widened.
“The Eastern currents, them are mighty dangerous and difficult to navigate Princess, we are needin’ a mighty huge ship just to get any ere near em! The only people crazy enough ta go any ere near em waters be em pirates.”
Lillianna thought for a while, looking at Talons torn animal skin cloths and her own roughly stitched dress along with Talons speech….
“I may have a plan but it is going to be dangerous and almost impossible to pull off.” She wondered out loud.
Talon raised an eyebrow. 
“And I need you to teach me how to speak like you.” She said out loud, than went on in her head. “Mother and father please forgive me for throwing all those years of language practice out the window.”
“But Princess, you speak proper, why’d you wanna talk like me?” Talon asked, confused.
“It is a part of the plan, and do not called me Princess anymore, call me Aurora D’Angelo.” She hissed.
“Why you wanna go round wit a pirate name? Specially a famous one like D’Angelo.” Talon, questioned.
“It’s a part of the plan, I am looking for a pirates ship so I have to be a pirate.” She answered.
“Trouble be the only thing your gonna find goin round tendin to be a D’Angelo.” Talon muttered under his breath.
Lillianna pretended she hadn’t heard the remark and tried to stop the cold feeling of dead as she realised what would happened if she failed to pull this off. But what other choice did she have?
“Speech lessons please Talon.” She smiled.
“Aye then, well first ya gonna need ta stop talkin like ya bein recorded. Instead of havin a sharp tongue, let it laze an don’t bother ta finish som words. Also just skip som words altogether” He muttered, slowly.
Lillianna Thought for a moment.
“D Ya men ike dis?” She asked unsure.
“We got a long way ta go.” Talon sighed.