Xoey groaned. “He only wants me to go ‘cause he thinks I’ll like one of the sons.”
Bran barked a laugh. “You? Marry?”
“That’s what I say! I don’t need some man trying to keep me from the sea.”
She’d brushed his hair over an hour ago and tied it back neatly. The wind tugged at the ribbon. Wisps of hair danced across his face. “Not to worry, Xoey. As long as I’m around, the sea will be yours. Brighton can try, but he will fail.” He patted her head and left her to her reading.
Nadine was coaxing Xoey when she snapped out of her daydream to see Mal and Nadine on either shoulder. She felt rather foolish and bit her lip.
“We’re sorry,” said Nadine.
Mal agreed. “Yeah, we tend to forget that your dad is dead.”
Nadine smacked her brother on the back of the head. “Ow!” He rubbed the tender spot. Xoey swore she could see him smile.
“What he meant to say was that we were rude and forgot that your loss is our loss, but it’s not necessarily the same.”
“I think I understand,” said Xoey quietly.
Hiddle ran through the kitchen with a pot and a spoon. Mal leaned down. “He has lost his marbles,” he whispered to Xoey.
Nadine was inclined to agree. “Well, he’s clothed.”
“They have teeth!” Hiddle screamed in explanation before running back out. They looked at one another and followed him.
Beyond the kitchen made of stone and dark wood, down a set of stairs, a landing, and another set of stairs was a large musty basement filled with stone crevices containing bottles of all shapes and sizes. Mal picked up a red fat-bottomed bottle with a cork. He popped the cork from the bottle. A foul odor of the dead that burned the nostrils filled the area. Xoey and Nadine fanned their noses. “Mal!”
He stopped the bottle, chuckled nervously, and carefully set it back.
Hiddle ran around the basement interior wall chasing a yellow ball of fluff. “Mouths and teeth!”
Xoey scooped up the frantic schooma. Mal removed the weapons of choice from Hiddle’s flailing arms. “What are you doing?”
Hiddle pointed at the culprit. “I was minding my own business and that approached me from behind and bit me!”
The schooma brushed his pointed ears down with a shake of his head. Its furry eyebrows rose up, expressively.
Nadine attempted to chide Hiddle. “They don’t have mouths.”
Another schooma appeared from the darkness. He walked on his hind legs, using the long slender tail for balance. He stared at the one in Xoey’s arms. They nodded in an apparent agreement. Xoey shifted on one leg. She knew they had teeth and sharp ones at that. “Well…they do, actually.”
Decyl entered the basement with a look of intrusion. “What are you doing?”
The schooma slid out of Xoey’s grasp. “I saw them. They attacked the guards surrounding the tavern.”
Hiddle widened his steel-colored eyes. “I told you!”
Nadine shook her head. “They’ve been creatures of burden for many years. I think that if they had teeth, let alone a mouth, we’d know.”
Decyl rubbed his mustache. “They are clever creatures, Nadine. They know more about the goings-on of Grittle than anyone. Why? Because they are seen as not being able to tell what goes on behind each set of four walls.”
“You sent them to help,” said Xoey.
Gaim descended down the steps. “No.” His dark eyes shifted to the schooma that slid out of Xoey’s grasp. “That was me.” He removed his spectacles and blew hard on the glass. Gaim adjusted the curled wire behind his long ears and scooted the frames down his slender nose. A bit shorter than Decyl, Gaim made up for it in stockiness at his shoulders.
Nadine narrowed her gaze. “You use them for information.”
“It is a mutual arrangement. We do not hinder them with chores and they eat to their heart’s content. I simply ask to know what Nix is up to.”
Mal leaned in. “What is he up to?”
He smiled a soft smile. “I will let them tell you.”
They walked in silence down the intricately carved steps and entered into a side door at the base of the stairs. The room opened up into a marvelous circular cavern with a level above and below. Stretched out before them and winding down in a circular fashion was a long and narrow path. Every ten paces or so, there was a wooden bridge that ended in a corridor along the main walls. They were webbed and in a crisscross pattern that made Xoey dizzy trying to keep up with which bridge went where. The path seemed to be the main area of traffic as it led directly down to a large circular base, and resting upon that base was a singular throne.
Xoey could hear a high-pitched giggle escape from Mal’s lips. Hiddle pointed in horror. “They are going to eat us.”
Decyl chewed on something thoughtfully. “They don’t eat humans, but I imagine you would be the exception.” He walked further down the steps, leading the group. Gaim took up the rear.
Nadine marveled at the sight. “It’s amazing.”
“It really is,” said Mal.
The dark stone walls loomed in all around them. Floating above were the little fairies that Xoey had seen on the Tinkerton ship. Except this time, they flew free. Gaim moved in beside Xoey. “The King of the schoomas is always the oldest and the wisest. His name is Wylar.”
They reached the platform. The throne was carved of the same wood that she had seen in the presence of Isena and Lir. Sitting in the redwood chair was an elderly schooma. Wylar’s dark circled eyes were consumed with wrinkles. He had bushy eyebrows, a tear in his left ear, and most of his fur on his tail was gone. Hiddle sucked in air and moved behind Xoey. With a long clawed paw, Wylar gestured Xoey forth. “Come here where I can see you better,” he said.
Xoey moved forward, and Wylar tilted his head. “You are the pirate who can see the Djinn.”
She nodded. “Aye.”
“Have you learned why Nix is stealing them?”
Xoey looked down, rather embarrassed.
Wylar rose from his throne. A much younger schooma clothed the King in a red robe. “Well, child, it is good you are here.”
He limped over to Xoey. “Some marvel over lagers that heal, while others focus on living life as it is meant to be.” When he moved in, she could smell sweet berries. His haggard features revealed that he was very old. As to how old, she couldn’t tell. “But Nix,” he paused. “Ah Nix. Did you know that he died?”
Mal and Nadine moved closer to listen. He didn’t object to their curiosity. Hiddle appeared to be relieved that he was stuck with the heavily armed gnomes.
“No,” said Xoey.
“Nine years ago there was the Great War. Nix and Gesler commanded two armies to fight against the civilians who were against unification of Grittle, specifically those within Desert Town, Yorego, and Storm’s Hold. It was a very short war. Nix hadn’t considered the gnomes and their affinity for weapons.” He shrugged. “In the end, Nix died by the hands of your traveling companion, Decyl, but in less than a month, he reappeared. Nix swore he would one day unite all of Grittle under his rule. The Elders, Isena, Ty, Lir, Gaim, and I have worked diligently to ensure that he does not push his selfish goals to create harm upon the innocent.”
Mal raised his hand.
Wylar shifted his ears forward. His glassy eyes moved to Mal. “Yes?”
“How did he un-die?” he asked.
“That is for you to determine.”
Xoey blinked. “Then why is he stealing the Djinn?”
The elder gnome’s lips curled into a cat-like grin. “Again, that is for you to find out on your own, Xoey.”
Mal guffawed. “So, we need to steal the device that he created!”
“The machine of which you speak of is called a Wonder-Vac. Nix kidnapped two gnomes to create the device and when they could not crea
te the exact specifications of the model, he opted for more desperate measures.” Wylar nodded to the brother and sister. “The Tinkertons.”
Mal shifted. “Do you know where the Wonder-Vac is?”
“It lies in the heart of the circus. Last we heard he had placed it in the cage of the Brashine.” Xoey’s heart dropped. It was the very creature that her father had told her about. A massive winged beast with horns and teeth the size of her arm. She couldn’t believe that it existed. Her father would have loved to gaze upon the very mythological monster. Wylar patted her shoulder with a shrewd expression. “For us to give you the path under the circus, you must do something for me. The heart of the Brashine must be handed over to me.”
Xoey bit her lower lip. Nadine arched an eyebrow in surprise. She stepped forward. “You expect us to take down a creature that large?”
The King laughed and it boomed throughout the cavern. “You forget that the Brashine is nothing compared to what you have to face. Think of it as a stepping stone. It is also the only thing that stands in your path below ground. If you desire, you may walk up to the grand entrance of the circus and likely be arrested before you can count to ten.”
Xoey swallowed the lump in her throat. Her mouth was suddenly very dry. Wylar grinned “I would not let you go in there empty-handed.” He snapped his fingers. A schooma from the very top giggled and bounced in joy. He ran down the path. Cradled in his arms was a long metal box. As he approached, there was nothing unusual about the box. It had a plain handle and a very plain latch. Wylar opened it to reveal a long sword fashioned with red stones upon the hilt. Inscribed on the blade were the words A pirate’s path and destiny.
At his behest, she lifted the sword out of the clunky box. The size of the hilt, the weight, the length, everything about it seemed made for her.
Wylar held out a tanner’s bag. “For the heart.”
Mal stepped forward and took the bag. He gulped at the size of it. It was as big as his head.
“Now,” said Wylar, “in order to get to the Brashine, you must head further underground and under the heart of the circus. There it will be. Beyond the creature’s cavern are steps that head up to the rear entrance meant for VIPs. The rest is up to you.” He closed the box with a thud. “I must warn you. Whatever you see in the lair of the creature, do not believe in its tricks. If you do, it could mean the fine line between life and death.” Wylar bowed his head to Decyl and Gaim. “See that they rejoin with Ramos.”
“One more thing,” Wylar added. “When you venture below, you will need to continue down the path that leads straight.”
The gnomes led them to the edge of the circular platform. Colored buckets swung from the side. Coarse rope attached the handles of the buckets to a pulley system. Mal stepped back.
Hiddle practically jumped into the pink bucket. He giggled as it swayed back and forth. Nadine remarked. “You didn’t want the blue one?”
Hiddle looked at her wide-eyed. “Does it matter?”
She peered thoughtfully at the young boy. “No, I suppose it does not.”
Xoey climbed into the purple bucket. “What about Ramos?”
Decyl chose the yellow bucket. “He’s below. He volunteered to cook a fine meal before the trip.”
Nadine coaxed her brother back to the edge. “Just step in. You’ll be okay.”
“How is hanging from a rock face in nothing but a bucket okay?”
“You have a choice. You can join us or attempt to find us from the surface. We’re better off with you, Mal.”
He groaned. “Fine. But if I die, I’m coming back as a ghost and I’m going to haunt you.”
Nadine nodded passively. It took him a dozen or so tries, but eventually made it into the red bucket. His sister chose the grey one. Gaim said his farewells and slowly, with the help of several schooma, lowered them.
The descent would have been quiet and uneventful, if it weren’t for Hiddle swinging back and forth causing Mal to freak out. Xoey pulled herself down in the bucket. Her feet hung out of the side. She stared at the sword, unsure of what to do with it. She was fond of the weapon but deeply puzzled in how it could help her take down a creature of legend.
The bottom of the cave was deserted and dark. Especially dark. They huddled together in the damp cold. Decyl stumbled around. “There is a lantern around here somewhere.”
“Use the glow of your weapons,” said Xoey.
“Right!” He turned in every which direction and snatched up a knocked over lantern. Within a few seconds, there was a soft glow which illuminated from the white candle. They walked under a bridge, over three flights of stairs, and up into a large home built into the face rock. “We have a long day ahead of us. Eat up.” They sped down the long white hallway, ran down the steps that led into the dining room, and grabbed a chair.
Xoey licked her lips at the sight of glistening marinated meats, bowls of fluffy bread, and mounds of cheese. She could have clapped her hands if they weren’t already full with food. Ramos entered from the side room. Xoey paused with a roll squished in her mouth. She waved a chicken wing at him and continued to fill her plate. Mal opened and closed his eyes at the tray of food Ramos set before them. “I brought more in case Xoey’s eyes were bigger than her stomach.”
Nadine nodded appreciatively.
Ramos sat down next to Mal. “What did I miss?”
Hiddle leaned forward and in a dramatic voice, he said. “We have to kill a Brashine.”
“What is a Brashine?”
“It is a big scaled creature with large wings. His talons can decapitate a man and that’s not including what his horns can do,” Mal said.
Xoey set her sword on the table as she chewed on something green. Ramos considered thoughtfully. “We have to kill this creature, for what purpose?”
They all shrugged.
The warrior narrowed his eyes. “No creature should be killed without a purpose. What do you intend on doing with its hide, its bones, the meat?”
Xoey swallowed a big chunk of jerky. “Don’t know. Wylar wants its heart.”
He tilted his head. “Xoey, think about what you are doing. You are speaking of killing an innocent creature for one thing and one thing alone. What good is its death?”
“It’s not my idea, Ramos.”
“Yes, it is. You are a leader.”
She scoffed at him. “I’m not a very good one, at that. Where are Zaren, Taire, and Amorina? Where are their parents?” She pointed at the Tinkertons. Xoey picked up her overflowing plate and stormed off.
Hiddle scooped up a roll and a meaty thigh. He dashed after her.
Ramos sighed. “How am I supposed to help her if she can’t see her potential?”
“You can’t expect her to be who she’s destined to be in a night,” said Decyl. He put a finger to his upper lip to prevent the frothing drink from touching his mustache. He took a swig and set the glass down.
“She’s talking about destroying a creature simply because someone told her to.”
“Things aren’t always the same out here as they are in Desert Town. You kill with respect and offer thanks. You never destroy needlessly. This task was set out for all of you. What you do with it, however, has to be decided together. That includes Xoey.”
Hiddle found Xoey out on the second floor balcony. She sat on the ledge with her legs swinging over the edge. The plate was next to her, untouched. Hiddle moved in beside her. The view of the caverns was dark, ominous, and had a sort of wicked beauty that they couldn’t turn away from. Tar-colored creatures flew high above them. With tiny bodies and large wings, they flew in circular patterns and screeched when they found food. What they were chomping on, Hiddle couldn’t see.
They sat in silence for quite some time. Hiddle cleared his throat. “You’re lucky.”
Xoey looked at the younger boy. His gray eyes echoed hope mixed wi
th a soft kind of sadness. The dark hair never seemed to lay down right and went in every which direction. She narrowed her gaze.
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re a pirate. You can go wherever you like and do whatever you want.” He paused and mumbled, “And you don’t have an evil dad.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m stuck here on this stupid land, just like you. There’s nothing grand about it, except my friends.” She could feel tears well up in her eyes. “Then I feel bad because all I want, more than anything, is to be on a ship. I think this is the longest I have been without my sea legs.”
“The sooner we go to the circus, the sooner you go home.”
He had a point, but she could feel a sinking sense of dread. “Somehow, we’re in for it.”
“We’re in for it together,” said a voice from behind.
They turned to see the group behind them. “You’re our leader, Xoey. We don’t always expect you to make a perfect decision, but one that is right for us,” said Nadine. “You shouldn’t limit or doubt yourself.”
“I’m just a kid,” said Xoey, rather loudly.
Mal piped up. “We all are.” He glanced at Decyl. “Well, most of us are.”
Ramos moved forward and patted Xoey on the head. “We believe in you.”
“Land or sea, Xoey…each task before us is the same,” said Nadine. “We finish the task. We don’t have to run across Grittle anymore.”
She looked forward to sitting down without worrying what came next. Xoey looked to Decyl. “How long is the trip to the Brashine?”
“An hour if we do not get lost.”
Xoey looked down at her plate. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
Hiddle snickered as he watched her eat.
They walked out of the house, down the long path, and continued through a trench that had carved stone on both sides that had to be, at least, twenty feet tall. Decyl and Xoey walked side-by-side. Ramos and Hiddle took up the rear with Mal and Nadine in the middle. They came to a stop with three tunnels ahead of them. It was hard to tell in the dark, with just a lantern to give a slight glow, which tunnel went straight.
Adventures of Captain Xdey Page 15
