Magic Within (Old Version)

Magic Within Part 5

A deep and rather unfriendly voice emerged from the cabin. "State your business, or the next thing one fire will be you."

Shira raised her hands above her head in a non-threatening gesture. "We're friends."

"That's what the 'missionary' from Emiscer said, before I burnt his fancy feathered bonnet off his fancy featherbrained head."

I snorted in spite of myself. "You did what?" I laughed. Shira elbowed me in the ribs.

"We're Magicians too." Shira said. "We're on the same side."

"Well, if you're really Magicians, One of you should be able to get that bucket off the-"

Before he could finish, I stretched my arm out. Air pooled around my fingers, and slammed into the bucket in a concentrated gust, knocking the bucket off its perch and sending it rolling. I raised my eyebrow at the window in challenge.

"I was going to say, 'off the railing'. You seem to have beaten me to it." the mildly amused voice said.

"No sense in shooting slowly." I replied, a small smile on my face.

"What do you want with me?" He asked.

I looked at Shira in question. How much do we reveal?

Shira looked calmly at the Cabin. "We recently escaped from Emiscer. We're going back, with a full force of Magni. We're going to free our people, and take back our freedom. They haven't listened to reason. So we have to use force."

A few moments passed, before the door swung open. In the doorway stood a man in his mid twenties, a few years older than me. He was about 6ft, with medium length brown hair pinned back in a manbun, although a few wispy bits hung down around his ears. His eyes were redy-brown. (If you want to be really specific, #9c0404 on the colour chart). He wore a loose t-shirt, and light baggy pants. The outfit made sense. It allowed his skin to breathe and stopped him from overheating when he used Magic. He also had a light dusting of stubble along his face, which added to his overall appearance.

He smiled at us. "Now that sounds like something I might enjoy."

Neri POV.

IT'S BEEN 2 HOURS. WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE IN SILENCE FOR TWO HOURS.

Fraier drew his dagger and used it to gesture at the port we landed in. 

"We're here." He said. "We can assume that our quarries are not here, because we would have heard word of them by now. So they will have had to land there boat somewhere around here." He circled an area around the bay. I nodded. His logic made sense.
"From there," he continued, "The only logical paths the could've taken are to this village a few miles from here, or off west towards the mountains."

"Or, the could've gotten back into the boat and sailed somewhere else." Dimitri interrupted.

"Sailed to where?? This is literally the only safe harbor on the mainland. It's just storms. In all directions." Fraier frowned.

Dimitri snorted. "Whatever."

We stared at the map for a little while longer, before I noticed something.

"If you're right, Fraier," I said, "then even if they went to the village, unless they're complete idiots and decide to come back here, then they'll end up having to cross the mountain range anyway."

Fraier nodded. "So if we head that way..."

"Then we'll save a lot of time." Dimitri finished.

"Right." Fraier smiled. He stood up, rolled the up the map and slipped it back into its waterproof case. He sheathed his dagger. "We should get some rest. Our room is the third one on the left upstairs."

He walked up the stairs and left the two of us at the table. One of the maids came over to our table and asked if either of us wanted a drink. We both declined. I did take a glass of Apple Juice though. It arrived a few minutes later and I sipped at it thoughtfully. 

"You feeling okay?"

I looked up from my juice, surprised by the question and the concerned look from Dimitri.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He sighed. "I mean, it's you're first time off the island in eleven years, and we've practically got a death threat hanging over our head if we don't catch two extremely dangerous individuals. Fraier and I have both done this sort of thing before, but..."

I understood. It was scary. I grew up on Emiscer. Ever since I was five, it's the only place I've ever known. The world is big, and it's easy for a 16-year-old boy to get lost. Fraier and Dimitri... they're amazing. They argue a lot, but they bounce off each other in a way where they always manage to come up with a compromise that was better than either of their original ideas. They'd never admit it to you, but they have a strong grudging respect for each other. Friends, even. Of course, they'll deny everything.

The thing is, because they're such a good team, I can't find where I fit in. They're adults. I'm just a teenager. I feel like I'm just trailing after them most of the time. 

Don't tell them I said that, kay?

"I'm fine." I smiled back at him. "I've got you two looking after me."

He snorted. "Yeah. Nothing to be afraid of."

After a few minutes, I'd finished my juice. Dimitri payed for it and we both headed upstairs. There were only two beds in the room. Fraier had been sitting on the ground, writing in a small leather book, so neither of the beds had been claimed. The two of them stared at the same bed. The glanced at each other, Fraier tense on the floor and Dimitri looking as though he was going to sprint for it. At the same time they both yelled:

"DIBS."

They frowned at each other. Fraier got up off the ground. They were now both an equal distance from the bed, and they both looked like they would make a run for it.

They stood like that for a few moments, before Fraier sighed.

"Never mind. You can have the bed. I'll sleep on the floor." He grunted.

Dimitri stood the for a quick second, Fraier's words taking a moment to register in his brain. He frowned. "No. I'll sleep on the floor. You've had a rough day, I can handle it."

Fraier shook his head. "No. I've spent a much longer time out in the wilderness than you have. I know how to sleep on the ground. You don't."

They both stood there frowning at each other, neither willing to back down. I took a step towards them from my position near the second bed. I gestured to it. "You two can both sleep on beds. I'll sleep on the floor. I practically have to in the barracks anyway."

"No." they both said, in synch.

"Not happening, Neri." Dimitri grunted. "Being used to horrible living conditions doesn't mean you have to subject yourself to them. The bed's yours, whether you like it or not."

Fraier nodded in agreement, before turning back to Dimitri.

I don't remember all of what happened next, (I was tired), but I do remember that Fraier managed to convince Dimitri to sleep on the bed, which he reluctantly agreed to, but not before hitting Fraier over the head with a pillow.

It was fun to watch.