Chapter 46. Cruising Music

 
I awoke to a calm morning on the Garfunkel. Joyous laughter greeted my ears while I lay in the hammock, and I took some time to enjoy that. Also, Bellia didn't know I was here yet, presumably, so I could probably stay here for some time. Of course, if I stayed here I wouldn't be able to spend time with To'Li, and that would simply be punishing myself. So, deciding to get up and chew the arrow, I unraveled myself my the blankets and hammocks, cleaned everything up and put the hammocks away, and walked up to the main deck.
I saw Bellia on the quarter deck, supervising some work there, and I walked up to join her. I didn't want to put this off any longer and let her stew in it, so I didn't go for breakfast. She was clearly in her commanding mood, so I simply stayed silent. She of course held up a finger showing that she knew Someone was behind her. I just wasn't sure if she knew it was me. This whole routine gave me more time to steel myself, and make sure I knew how I was going to word things. When the task was competed, she turned to me, and flicking her hand asked “What do you need?”
“Well Dear,” I cordially start “How would you feel about going to-”
“Druss! Have you told her yet?” The call had come from Yun on the Main deck.
“ What did you need to tell me?” She quickly asked before I could say anything. I mean, My mouth was still open. I was clearly trying to say something. “Are we going somewhere else?”
Well. So much for easing her into it. “The destination is Dragon Island.” I state.
There was maybe a heartbeat of a pause. “Are you insane?” She started into me “You want to take To'Li to a Dangerous uncharted Island where all manner of unknown pitfalls could occur?”
“It's not really uncharted. We have a few people with us who have actually been there. Not exactly totally unknown. And if you don't want to go Max has already agreed to take everyone back to Cherwood. You could take some of the Legion.”
She scoffs at that. “ You want me to take a horde of Man children to escort our newborn daughter to a city that practically ran you out?” She was really getting into it now. “You want-”
“I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY FORGE! And Have things they way they were! Where would you have us go!?” I had meant to interrupt her, but not yell it. I didn't realize that I had gotten so worked up about it. Yes. The legion that I had kept close in my heart all these years had not shone quite so brightly in person. Yes. I had wanted to stay with my daughters and let To'Li grow in places that she could make friends and start learning. Have toys. I wanted cinnamon rolls. Made from the same guy at the same cart.
“I want my cottage.” Bellia said in a small voice. “and I want to be working back in the workshop. This is nice and all, but it's not the same. I suppose Dragon Island would be cool to see, all the fabled creations that are supposed to be there.”
“Druss! There are Pancakes!” yes. Thank you Yun. Why did I bring them. I resist the urge to rub my face.
“Of course I want to keep To'Li as safe as possible.” I continue, ignoring Yun for now. “But I'm worried about Marda. It's really serious.”
“Why didn't you sleep in my cabin last night?” She looks straight at me, hammering my spirit down into submission.
I didn't want to say it was because I wasn't sure if she still loved me. So I told the half truth. “You looked so peaceful last night, I didn't want to ruin your peace.”
“Hmm” I knew she could tell I wasn't quite coming clean, but she decided to take it. “You will stay in my cabin tonight?” Even though she had asked, I knew it wasn't a question.
“Of course I will.” I reply. She accepted that answer with a nod, and grabbed my hand, leading me down to get some breakfast.
To'Li had woken up with more energy than a dozen of Yun's Fireballs. I was more than happy to share my buckwheat flapjacks with her, knowing that she wouldn't eat that many. There was dried fruit, which she would throw into the air and try to catch in her mouth. It was easier due to the fact that she never sat down while we ate. While only about half the attempts were successful, she simply picked up the wrinkly ration, and tossed it back into the air with a giggle.
As I stayed and spent time with my daughters Yun volunteered to go get the others we had left at the Dog's breakfast. It was a well spent several hours where To'Li showed me her new abilities to summon seagulls. She had discovered the secret of throwing literally any food into the ocean, or anywhere really, and waiting. In mere minutes every gull within an hours flight had beat their wings to our ship, driving the crew crazy. I went between waving the birds away from myself and laughing and the little Dragonborn's attempts at catching the winged beasts.
While waiting for Yun to come back, I found that Geno had come onto the ship after us. Working on his metallic friend, he had been up most of the night working. Still working on it now, I will have to tell him about the maelstrom of seagulls later. I wonder what sort of changes he is making.
When the others show up, Marda is wearing an extra blade. She still has her hooked blades, now arranged on her back, both pommels peaking over the right shoulder. The Adamantine blade is sheathed hanging from her left shoulder, ornate scabbard glimmering in the morning sun. A hastily made sheath holds the Rapier on her her left hip, across from her dagger and haversack. The whole arrangement looks cumbersome, but I know she wouldn't have any problems cutting things into little pieces, as always. The Rapier had me worried.
Handing Geno a wrapped burrito, and me a breakfast sandwich she seems to be herself. “Marda, While I appreciate the sandwich, the Rapier is somewhat of an unwelcome surprise.” I tell her. We had specifically decided not to touch the spooky haunted bone rapier.
“Oh.” She responds. “Well, I kinda woke up with it. I think I danced with them in my dream last night, and either they chose me, or I chose them. Not really sure. Either way, They sure are violent.”
I blinked a few times. Most of us were rather violent, but I needed clarification. “Was there a fight this morning?” I ask.
“No. The rapier just wants me to stab someone. They want to taste blood.”
Warning! Alarm! Bad! I raise my hands to show that they are empty “Marda. We are going to do this nice and easy OK. I don't need you to stab anyone using a weapon that appeared after you were possessed by a Demon lord. That's not really a thing we want to do right?”
She let out a small laugh. “No I don't want to stab anyone.” She turns her head. “No! These are my friends! I'm not going to stab them!”
“Yes. I agree. We are your friends, and stabbing us would be a bad idea. We are going to agree not to do it right?” I ask her.
“No! Of course not. I don't have a reason to stab you, and I wouldn't anyway.” Someone is going to get stabbed.
“OK. If someone Does Need to get stabbed, use something else for now OK?” I ask, knowing full well someone is going to get stabbed. With a nod, she agrees to the terms, and I go back to watching my daughter play from across the ship.
Within five minutes, while To'Li shows me a particularly interesting bit of rope she found, Yun comes back up to the upper deck, had to their side. “Hey look! I just got stabbed!” my head was starting to hurt. We had only just left and could practically reach out and touch the dock. Yun simply truncated any possibility of conversation by walking to the other side of the ship to gleefully show Max. Calling Marda up the the quarter deck, I try to put on my stern father face, knowing she was just as old as I was.
“Marda, about this whole stabbing business..” I hesitated. Marda was my friend, and I had to keep myself from lecturing her. Raising Leona told me that a stern lecture was as effective as hitting cold iron. Yeah, it might move eventually, but it required far too much effort. There were far better paths to take.
Marda did have a nice solid defense though. “Yun told me to.” Oh. Of course. That makes it soo much better. I rubbed the base of my crest.
“OK, I could see that, but we decided no stabbing right? We don't do half of what Yun wants to do for a reason right? Remember the club?” I wish I didn't. “Yun, come over here.”
With a quick glance a Yun I tap into the Divine energy granted to me. I want to make sure that impurities from the rapier haven't seeped into Yun. We don't need another Demonic influence. Finding one good Soulstone is going to be hard enough. As if looking for foreign materials in an ingot, I use the divinity to try and remove any harmful effects that may have been added. I also heal them, closing the small wound created by the Rapier.
Marda gave a small jolt. “Ooh, the Rapier doesn't like that. She dislikes divine casters.” Well Now we are getting somewhere, as terrifying as that place may be.
Melfina had come up with Marda, true to her word to Garnet, staying by her side. “What do you mean She doesn't like Divine casters.” the cleric inquired. “Who is She?”
“Well. If I am getting this right, the bones used to be part of someone, and they are now sorta... cursed to be the sword. She used to be a knight, who was punished by am angry God.” Oh Yes. By the way Marda is explaining it, this all makes sense. Easy. “No! I won't stab the Dragonborn, He is my friend!”
“Yes Marda.” I say quickly. “Keep that in mind. I am your friend, who you shouldn't stab. In fact, No One Else Should Be Stabbed.”
“I”m sorry, the Sword wants to keep tasting people. Marda says clearly distracted.
“It can taste me!” Melfina says, a little more excited than I would have liked.
“Nonono. No.” I said. Was anyone listening to me, or themselves? This was a very bad Idea. My first thought was to simply throw the thing as far as possible, hoping the Ocean would take it away. But if Marda had woken up with it, like she had said, trying to get rid of it would only cause a reason for a rift between us. It doesn't need anymore blood
“But I have this vial of my blood,” Melfina started, digging through her belt pouches. “the Sword can sample that, and we might gain it's- Her- Her trust. Learn something more.” She finishes her thought, handing a small vial to Marda. The Halfling quickly removes the stopper and up ends the vial. “After all, Melfina finishes, it's what swords are for right?”
Well, Yes, but also no. They are used solely for shedding blood, but they don't normally DRINK it. No point crying over split, um. Blood. A look of anticipation comes over Marda, to be quickly changed to consternation. “She stopped talking. Said something about the old Gods, and now she's gone.”
A brief silence occurs where everyone can enjoy their own thoughts as to why a cursed Bone Rapier, made from an old knight of an old God may be a bit nervous after drinking the blood of a servant of one of the said Old Gods. That's fine. I'm sure nothing bad could have happened. Before any of us can come up with a coherent idea, Yun speaks up. “Hey, anyway, I picked up this cool banjo thing. It has some writing on it that I can't read, but it looks like maybe draconic script. Druss, can you read it for me?”
It was in fact a banjo, with a very odd design. The script on the edge of the Banjo is in neat letters, but it is hard to understand. The words read “You will pull this from my cold dead hands.” we etched into the instrument which was made of bone. Of course it was. It wasn't humanoid bone, but something larger.
“It has a spear point in there, so be careful. ” Yun added. “It looks like it unfolds, or extends into a spear, but it broke the strings the first time I tried. Not very good as a instrument if the strings break every time you have to fend off an annoyed crowd.” As I can't figure it out, I show Geno.
“Well, that's Lizardfolk script.” Geno starts. “And it is most assuredly bone. Maybe Dragonturtle Bone.
“Yun I swear,” I hastily add, “ if this things starts asking you to stab someone, I'll will throw you and it off the ship.”
With a creak and a Snik, Geno proceeds to immediately impale his hand with the spear head. I simply stare at Geno first, then Yun. With a point of my finger, and some effort, I heal Geno. “Just don't summon any demons, I give in.” Walking back across the ship, I watch from afar as the two of them figure out how to get the banjo made of Bones to turn into a spear made of bones. Wonderful.
The rest of the day was mostly uneventful, and less stabby. I was able to spend it all with my Family, strange as they are, and was informed by the Captain that we would be leaving the water for the sky some time tonight, as we didn't want to attract any attention. That night I joined Bellia in her cabin for some well deserved blissful sleep.
I awoke to dark cabin. Bellia was curled up in my arms, her head on my chest, her tail across us both. I could tell she was awake as well, and we we both listening to try to figure out what had spoiled our sleep. I could hear splashes of something falling into the water near the ship, and a commotion outside on the deck. I was instantly ready to Jump out of the cabin to aid in whatever calamity had befallen us. But I Was also torn. To'Li was the most vulnerable person on the ship. I couldn't just leave her here. Bellia was here too, but I wasn't really sure how well she would do in a fight. Sure she could take care of herself, I decided I would stand just outside the door, blocking entry to any who may wish the occupants harm. I could support the rest of the ships possible defenders from a range after all. Grabbing one of the old unused Hand axes from my kit, I handed it to Bellia and summoned my own Axe. Trying to hide the anguish from my face, I tell her I will be just outside, and open the door.
Musical Bliss hits me. Voices singing the most beautiful song I can imagine stop me cold. Every woe and problem instantly vanishes from me. But I can feel them hovering, just waiting to come back. The water. If I can get into the water all my problems will be fixed. I can finally think of somewhere to live peacefully, we can find a Soulstone, and I can finally keep watch over all those I have wanted, no, Needed to protect for so long. I Just need to get into the water. The side of the ship is in front of me, but I have no problem getting over it. I cannot lelt nay obstacle keep me from finding the happiness I need.
I don't even notice what the temperature is when I hit the water. I can hear a few other objects enter the water behind me, But they don't matter. They cannot provide the answers that loom so close to me now. I can feel them here, floating just out of my minds reach. But the serenity is still washing over me, knowing that I will soon be able to rest.
Something grabs my foot, pulling my head under the water. Maybe something guiding me to the answers, I care not. Nor do I care about the water entering my nostrils. I just need to wait a few seconds more...But something is wrong, I can hear more splashes. Something is pulling me, and I need air. The music now sounds crass and horrid to my ears.
Reaching out, I summon my axe, and feel it's familiar grip in my hand. I clumsily cut through the water to whatever is holding my foot. I am rewarded with Green blood spilling into the churning ocean water. I struggle my way back to the air.
As my head comes out of the water and I take a huge breath, I see a watery creature in front of me, and I swing out with my axe, connecting at the creatures neck. The body goes slack, and I see the head bounce a different direction. Turning around as best as I can, scanning for more threats, I find Bellia in the water directly behind me, with Yun behind her.
“We have your family safe, go help others!” Yun calls, grabbing onto Bellia, wrestling a bit with her.
I finish my sweep. There are others in the water, some simply floating in place, some obviously and actively trying to help them. Other figures are dragging sailors away. Swimming awkwardly to the nearest malicious figure, I see a sailor being dragged down, a flash of fins in the waves. Careful not to attack the helpless mariner, I target the killer creature with another swing, sinking the blade into it's back, stopping it's movement. Bringing the crewmember's head above water, I look to see how the others are progressing. Before I can act any further, I realize the singing has stopped. Everyone is slowly coming back in control of themselves. Bellia has a bloodied snout, and Yun is looking a bit apologetic. They must have hit her to try and snap her out of the trance. I swim to her, and heal her just to make sure she is ok before we head to the ship. Ropes have been lowered into the water from the ship, and we all swim back to the ship and climb aboard.
Back on deck, I find myself face to face with yet another large creature. A huge lizard, Metallic and majestic is studiously inspecting the people on deck. It was a few seconds before I noticed Geno standing next to it, smiling. Marda walked up to it, scratching it's neck, which it appeared to enjoy. This must have been what Geno was doing, modifying his metal creature. The legs were longer than Ricky's had been. Instead of textured fur the surfaced was coated in bright blue filigreed scales, obviously crafted with love. A large segmented tongue extends out with a quick flick, only to retract back into the maw. A long thick tail whips back and forth, ending in a thin whip like tip. “This is Sylvio!” Geno exclaims proudly.
I look around for To'Li, trying to make sure she is ok, and Find that Marda had shoved her into the captain's cabin, with the captain herself watching over her. Finding no Harm to my youngest Daughter, I come to find that Max and Leona had not even heard anything, and simply stayed in their own sleeping quarters. Knowing that my Family is safe, We take some time to admire Geno's work, while Marda tells us what she found out.
“After, um, stabbing more things with this, She has been nice enough to fill me in a bit.”several still bodies sit on deck where creatures had obviously met resistance from the crew. “The One bound to this blade was once a knight dedicated to one of Our Gods.” She of course meant the Old Gods who were very much still able to influence those on this plane. “ After a transition, One of the Gods was displeased with the knight. Forsaken by them, and Punished, they were cursed into this weapon.”
I guess if she was going to stab anyone attackers would be the best target. Looking around, I see that some fighting did take place. Melfina is going around collecting blood, both green and red. Yun is making sure everyone is OK. Once everything is determined to be set properly, Bellia and I go to collect To'Li, only to find the Captain offering to keep her for the night so we can be alone. Bellia thanks her, and we go to her cabin together.
I had barely held it together when I found that I had endangered my family. When the Two of us were alone, I could barely face her. “I'm sorry. I messed up. I should have checked with you first, and I should never have left you here. I should have stood inside this door and protected you. Made sure nothing happened.” I felt so ashamed, with this ridiculous Idea that I could keep them safe on this journey. “I can go to the captain and have the ship turned around, we can go back, find somewhere safe to stay...” I trailed off. I didn't know what to do.
“No Druss.” Bellia said, grabbing my head, so she could look at me. “This was not your fault. The whole ship needs your help, and it would be selfish to keep you when aid can be given.” She pulled me closer. “During a crisis like that I need you to do what your instincts are telling you to do.” Right now I just wanted to hold her close to me. Sitting down on her bunk, on top of the blankets, we eventually got back to being wrapped in each other's arms.
Bellia did have to get up a few hours later to help get the Ship airborne. We had lost two sailors, including on of the engineers, so she couldn't get out of duty. Leaving me to rest, she dressed and quietly left, making sure I was covered and warm. I of course always am, but it still left my chest fluttering a bit. As I felt the ship rise, I drifted down into sleep. I expected horrible soul-wrenching dreams tonight, full of new watery nightmares. Instead, there was just the blissful void.