Blaekerian: An Epic Fantasy Novel (In Progress)

Leaving Balghr Ranthe

Cheruffi could see the lights from the Medora now, the only ship that was still lit this night or early morning. The skies had faded to a dark gray, implying that daylight was near.

"You gotta give me something, dhirsa." He said looking at Aravae. "We killed people and stole from the high councilor of Erston for nothing but a trifle." Aravae didn't respond for a second and then turned.

"I can't talk about it. It's not my place to gossip about my captain." Her eyes looked dark and clear in the early light.

"Why?" She looked ahead at the hulking mass of Stren leading the group now. "Hmmm."

Cheruffi decided to leave it where it was. Maybe she could tell him later when they were alone on the ship sometime. There had to be plenty of moments during a month long sea voyage when they would be able to talk in private.

Reyoriel gripped Aavae's hand and the dhirsa smiled down at her. Rhulk was trailing just behind.

"So what did the big rich guy's room look like?" he asked. "Any other little trinkets or anything interesting?"

"Not really. But he did have a certain smell that was reminiscent of a certain gnarmoc I know." Reyloriel laughed and Jauntice chuckled. Rhulk scoffed. "I didn't mean you. Someone else I know."

"Oh I see. Because I was going to say. You don't smell so great yourself. And I would know, I'm trailing downwind." Cheruffi smiled. Maybe this voyage wouldn't be that bad after all. Not everyone was as grim as Stren.

They arrived at the ship's port side. A small bridge connected the vessel to the docks. All of the party stepped aboard eager to take off. Cheruffi and Reyloriel stayed back a moment.

"Will we ever come back here do you think?" The girl asked in a small voice.

"I don't see why not."

"It's just that I have this weird feeling deep down that if I ever see this place again things will be different and never the same as they are right now."

"Hmmm." he said slowly. "I don't think you have to worry about that too much." She looked up at him.

"Why's that?"

"Because, you will have grown along the way. If you came back and were exactly the same then what was the point in even leaving? You're going to grow and become something different altogether and that will be a good thing if you can identify as the part of you that's responsible with transformation." She looked up at him with an eyebrow raised. He sighed.

"You can't change that you are going to change. All you can do in times like these is decide that you're going to do the right thing when you can and try to become someone better on the other side." She looked down and seemed to mull these things over in her mind for a moment, before turning back again.

"Will you be there?"

"I will."

"Good." And with that they walked the wooden plank and onto the Medora.