Fall of the Redcloaks

Chapter 1

"There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you have had enough"

-Honestly idk but it wasn't me

Conor leaned against the railing of the ship, The Flying Grace. He allowed the spray from the sea to whip into his face. Briggan stood just behind him. His spirit animal was snapping at the air in front of him as if trying to catch and swallow it. Conor grinned and ruffled Briggan's fur. Briggan looked up at him with a wolfish smile, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.

"How can you stand to be that close to the side?" Abeke spoke from behind him. He turned and saw her with her arms crossed close to her chest and a scowl on her face. He just beamed at her, probably a bit obnoxiously. Even though she could tolerate it far better than her spirit animal, his Niloan friend had inherited her "love" of the water from the great leopard Uraza. Briggan seemed to sense his thoughts, because he pushed his muzzle into Conor's hand with a whine.

"Of course, not as great as you, Briggan." Conor whispered to the wolf. Abeke raised her eyebrows. Conor straightened up awkwardly. Abeke studied him for a moment, then sighed. The tension released from her shoulders.

"Sorry, I just hate being cooped up on this ship. Do you thing we're getting close to Greenhaven yet?" The four friends, Rollan, Abeke, Meilin, and Conor were on their way back from a trip to Zhong. Meilin had tried to politely refuse their invitation to accompany her on her trip to visit home. Nevertheless, they had managed to convince her.

"I'm sure we'll get there soon," Conor replied. "See, isn't that land up ahead?" Abeke squinted, trying to make out the shape on the horizon, but words had barely left Conor's mouth when a cry echoed from the crow's nest of the ship, announcing that land was in sight. Abeke visibly relaxed. Conor ran his hand through Briggan's fur again before stepping away from the edge. "Let's go below deck, Rollan and Meilin are down there with the ship's crew." Abeke nodded and followed Conor down.

"Just hope that Rollan has finally gotten over that 'kazoo'." Conor grimaced. Rollan had found a trader who was selling an obnoxious buzzing instrument, and Rollan had taken an instant liking to it. Conor personally couldn't see the appeal. Conor and Abeke were, however, not in luck. Rollan grinned at them and let out a squeal on his kazoo as they entered the room. Rollan and Meilin were listening to the crew's far fetched stories, but neither looked like they were paying much attention.

"Care to join us?" Meilin invited, scooting over so Conor and Abeke had room to sit. Arden, one of the crew, was telling an elaborated tale of how he had braved the stormy sea to get an important message across. He was waving his arms around for a visual, almost smacking Conor in the face. He flinched away and Arden didn't even seem to notice. Rhea however, a sailor girl about the same age as him, did.

Rhea leaned over and whispered, "He always gets a little crazy when he gets going on one of his tall tales of his adventures. He'll calm down soon." Conor nodded. Arden finished soon, then scanned the room, his gaze falling on Rhea. His face split into a grin.

"Come on over here and tell a tale!" Arden said loudly in his deep, accented voice. Rhea hesitated. "You know you want to!" Arden thumped the younger crew member on the back. Rhea gave in soon. As much as she had seemed uneasy, Conor could see her warming up to the plot. She looked at home, standing and telling the narrative, making it more graphic with vivid details. It obviously wasn't her first time.

"So, what does everyone think about returning to Greenhaven?" Rollan interrupted his thoughts.

"I think it'll be good to be back." Abeke said with a sigh. "And to be back on land," she added.

"It's going to be nice to see some of the Greencloaks again," Conor chipped in, then looked over at Meilin. His friend seemed distant, staring at one of the walls. "What about you, Meilin? What are your thoughts on the visit to Greenhaven?"

Meilin seemed to snap out of it. "Oh, it will be... fun," she contributed. Then she went back to examining the wall. Conor understood her. She had been debating on whether to come on this trip, or to stay in Zhong. He himself was itching to go back to Eura and see his family. The group sat in silence for a while, listening to Rhea. Before they knew it she was done telling the story. Conor was confused as the crew started to disperse.

"Where are they all going?" Conor inquired as Rhea made her way back to them.

"Some of them are going to their cabins, some are just going to hang around here for some more stories. I'm going to watch how close the land is getting."

Abeke struggled to her feet beside Conor. "We'll come with you, if you don't mind," she volunteered. Rhea looked at her with a flash of surprise, then nodded. As they emerged onto the deck Conor noticed the stars coming out. It was already dusk and the land was much closer already. Rhea's kingfisher flitted to her shoulder as the girl reached up to stroke it.

"Fabian's excited to see the land, he always gets rowdy during the end of the voyage," Rhea explained. Conor craned his neck to see the mainland come into view. He expected to see the Redcloak's base, "The Torch", glowing from far away where the Redcloaks had placed torches around the base and top of the tower. There was nothing. A cold prickle of dread ran down his spine, and he dismissed it quickly. They probably have their reasons. He told himself. Anyway, he didn't have time for that now.

Briggan was tugging on his summoner's sleeve and steering him toward where his friends and Rhea were standing. They were ready to go to their cabins. Rollan and Abeke were looking over at him curiously while Meilin and Rhea were discussing the design of the ship. Conor followed his wolf, wobbling ever so slightly as a particularly energetic wave crashed against the side of The Flying Grace. Abeke nodded as he reached them and the group started to descend. Conor cast one more curious glance over his shoulder. Then he turned around and disappeared below decks.

°。°。★【☆】★。°。°

Conor ran his hand through his hair, making it spike up. The day was hot and humid, and everyone would much rather be in the shade or below decks than be up here. The heat was making Conor miserable, but the land was so close. Nobody needed to squint to see it anymore.

A little while later he let out a loud whoop as the ship started to come into port. Abeke looked over at him, a grin on her face. Conor smiled back. He realized the sailors were unloading the crates and making sure everything went smoothly. Conor tried to help, but felt like he kept getting in the way. He eventually gave up and let the more experienced seamen take care of it. As the time came to get off the ship he looked around and breathed in the salty air. Picturing Olvan and Lenori, he couldn't help but smile wider. Everything was going to be okay, no more crazy life-threatening experiences and adventures. He was going to Greenhaven.

(So... how was it? Yes, I'm sorry, I had to give Rollan a kazoo. I know it isn't the longest chapter but I thought it would just be better this way for now. And honestly Conor, I would think you would know better than to expect that. Hmm...)