Eternal Entities

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

The large ship floated in the sea, the small dots of land far off on the horizon to break the endless blue. The blazing afternoon sun beat down on the sailors. It had been three days since they cast off. Two days since the harpy attack.

Vanajja walked down the dim hallway to her quarters. Other sailors passed by her with ropes and other supplies. They made sure to keep their distance. Some of the hidden royal guards saluted as they passed. Vanajja ignored every one of them and came to a halt in front of her door. Whispers and muttering emitted from the other side.

"Oh...I can't tell...if the room is swaying from the waves, or if it's just my head spinning," Valgus' sad voice seeped through.

"My prince, please focus. We cannot have another incident like that!" a stressed Aavistus came after.

"Aavistus settle down. Can't you see he is unwell?" Nağme's soft voice broke through.

"This mission is too important for you to be playing- "

The debate was truncated when Vanajja opened the door. The three sitting on their beds looked up at her. Valgus' eyes were sunken in more than usual and his expression was a mixture of pain and fear. Nağme was wrapped in her orange-brown wings and curled in her hammock. Aavistus had his usual look like he was just dosed in rat bile. Vanajja just sighed as she tucked a tuft of hair under her horns. She made her way to her hammock and plopped herself into the hanging bed. Vanajja placed her unhooked swords into the corner by her head.

Aavistus adjusted his glasses his hooked nose as he asked, "Why aren't you on watch?"

"My capt'n told me to keep an eye on Prince Sparky Mc-Suicidal here, so here I am," Vanajja snarled sarcastically with a wave of her hand.

A large, shadowy monster rose behind Aavistus as he crossed his arms, "It's Prince Valgus Taeva of Briarvi to you, you filthy pirate!"

Vanajja rolled her eyes as she glared at him through her hair, "Put that bloody shadow away before you're floating in the damn sea, Crow." Aavistus' wings began to flare out before Valgus placed a hand on his friend's chest.

"Aavistus, put your familiar away. You have no need for it right now," Valgus ordered. His hand was firmly over Aavistus' heart. Aavistus looked from Valgus to Vanajja before he relaxed his familiar. Valgus removed his hand and turned to Vanajja, "I apologize for my recklessness two dawns ago. I should have listened and stayed below."

"Damn right you should've," Vanajja growled, "but thanks for saving my ass back there."

"What was that Vanajja?" Nağme inquired.

"Nothing. All of you just shut your fucking trap!" Vanajja snapped.

"I-I'm sorry if we are getting on your nerves, Miss Vanajja," Valgus apologized once more.

"If you shut up and stop fucking apologizing so much I wouldn't be so pissed," Vanajja snapped at him, a spark of red aura flying off of her.

Valgus silently sat back down on his mattress in surrender. Vanajja sighed and sat up a bit in her hammock. She put her hand under a makeshift pillow made of furs and old cloth, pulling out an old book worn from fingers turning its pages constantly. Vanajja then laid back down as she opened the book. She silently read as the other three stared flabbergasted.

"Y-you can read?" Aavistus gasped in shock.

Vanajja nodded, not taking her eyes off the pages, "Got the whole thing memorized."

"Oh," Nağme's eyes shone, "the only other person I know who can memorize books is my brother!"

"It is a big feat," Valgus nodded.