Delia adjusts her new black leather boots over her tan breeches. After making sure her black leather vest is secured over her stylish midnight blue wrap blouse, she then ties her hair into a loose braid.
The day before she and Kagon had went out to the market to replace their worn clothes and old supplies. Delia had seen many of the women wearing a wrap blouse similar to hers, but paired with a long skirt.
She smiles, it looks just as good with her new breeches and leather vest.
She had bought the vest from an armory. Kagon had insisted that she get it to protect herself from the dangerous mission she was going to complete.
I'm going to go onto the island, Paridia, while Kagon stays on the ship. I can hardly believe it.
Before they had gone shopping the day before, there had been a huge argument. Heswyn had suggested that Kagon should accompany Delia in the ship to Paridia, but that Delia should be the one to actually retrieve the berries from the island. This was to ensure Kagon's safety since every foreign man that had visited the island were never seen again. Only women and the wives of those men were ever reported leaving safely. With Delia being a woman there was far less of a chance that the Amazons would kill her.
Kagon had fought adamantly on the matter. He didn't want her going alone, saying she's "just a girl." However, Heswyn put her foot down and told Kagon that Delia wouldn't be alone and that she would personally accompany her. Kagon hardly seemed to like that idea any better, but after an hour of heated argument he finally agreed.
And so it was planned that both Heswyn and Delia would retrieve the True Love's Kiss berries from the island while Kagon stayed on the ship.
Delia tightens the sheath holding the Roarian dagger around her thigh and then swings her new satchel over her shoulder. She's ready.
〰〰〰
Kagon grumbles under his breath. He's been in a bad mood ever since he lost the argument yesterday, but its only worsened since stepping foot on to the docks. The salt and brine in the air makes him feel sick. His fear of the water has only gotten worse since he admitted to Azuel that the fear existed in the first place.
Or maybe it's because the old elf shoved my fear in my face when he made me think I was dying on the bottom of the ocean floor.
Hearing footsteps lightly thump on the wooden dock, Kagon is brought out of his thoughts. He looks up to see Delia and Heswyn approach. Both wear similar clothes, except instead of a wrapped blouse and breeches Heswyn wears a green tunic and leggings.
Kagon meets them halfway and the three soundlessly walk to the ship that had agreed to sail them. Their ship is nothing grand or fancy, but sturdy and efficiently. It will do.
Soon after Kagon, Heswyn, and Delia board the ship and store their things in their bunks the ship --The Oak-- sets sail.
"Come on, Kagon. Join Heswyn and I on deck." Delia says.
As not to show his fear of the ocean his fate is currently tied to, Kagon allows Delia to persuade him to come up on deck with she and Heswyn.
Kagon's skin pales when the sparkling waves of the Lividia are within his sight.
Yes, my fear has gotten much worse. He can't remember ever feeling this terrified when he was sailing to Afflon or anytime before. It's a fear I'll have to keep facing.
Delia goes to stand in the middle of the deck. A bright smile adorns her face as her copper-blond tresses whip in the wind, free from its braid. "It's amazing!" She lifts her face to the blue sky and extends her arms as if she is ready to take flight.
Despite it all, Kagon smiles. She really is a beautiful girl. Outside she is simply pretty, but it is inside that makes her beautiful. She is definitely an asset to my cause. I have no regrets for allowing her to travel with me.
Seeing Kagon watching her, Delia's arms drop back to her sides and a blush dusts across her cheeks.
"If we make good time we should reach Paridia in two days." Heswyn says, not looking up from the book she has settled in the crook of her arm.
When Heswyn does look up she looks at Delia's pink face curiously. "Are you alright? You appear to be flushed."
Delia nods her head quickly. "I'm okay."
Heswyn shrugs her shoulders. "Anyway, how does that sound to the two of you? Two days at sea is practically a vacation for me. I haven't left Lit let alone Lithko in a very long time." The librarian says with a joyful grin.
"Sounds great to me. This is my first time at sea." Delia says, eyes on the rolling, aqua waves.
"It's fine." Kagon states, trying to not show his extreme dislike.
Kagon watches as the two go to lean over the rails of the ship and point out things through the clear water. Seeing them in such a precarious position has his stomach roiling and a hot sweat dotting the back of his neck.
The ship bumps over a wave and Kagon's stomach flips. That's when he can stand it no longer. He rushes to the mop bucket sitting idly near one of the masts and grabs it, unleashing his stomach's contents into it.
Once done the hero groans and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. His first day on a ship is always the worst. Taking the bucket with him, Kagon retreats back down to his cabin where he spends the rest of the day and night in misery.
〰〰〰
It takes them two long days at sea to at last reach their destination. Paridia island, home of the Amazons.
"The island really is heart shaped." Delia says with a grin.
Delia and Heswyn stand at the prow of the ship, looking at the island in wonder. The whole island is made up of jungle except for the sandy-brown shore. Exotic birds dot the skyline. Delia can hardly imagine what else is hidden within all the dense jungle.
Amazons and other exotic creatures, that's what.
When the ship is as close to the island that is still a safe distance away, the crew drops anchor and prepares a dinghy for Heswyn and Delia to row to the island on.
Delia bites her lip, feeling as if there is a jumble of nerves knotted within her. She double, then triple checks that all of her supplies are in her pack and that her Roarian dagger is secure in her thigh sheath. Delia only hopes that she won't have to use it.
Kagon appears on deck, distracting the writer from her worried thoughts. Delia can't help but note how good Kagon has handled being at sea. He doesn't look disheveled or eaten with fear. Instead he sends her a grin that looks a little forced and saunters over to where she stands.
"I'm ready to go to the island." The hero announces.
Hearing the hero from a couple feet away, Heswyn turns around with fire sparking in her eyes. "We already discussed this, foolhardy hero! You will stay on the ship and leave the adventuring to us!"
Kagon backs up slightly, holding his hands up defensively. "I'm only jesting! I just came up to see you off and wish you both good luck."
Heswyn eyes him skeptically and mutters a "thank you."
"We'll retrieve True Love's Kiss and be back within the hour." Delia says, more for her own benefit than his.
"Good, the sooner we get back to Lit, the better." Kagon says, watching the white-crested waves lick at the ship's hull.
Delia sends Kagon a comforting smile as the two women climb into the dinghy and begin lowering it down. "We'll be back soon!" Delia calls once their little boat hits the water. "I've accompanied you for such a long time now that I think I've learned a thing or two." She reassures.
Kagon's chuckle fades away as Heswyn and Delia take up their oars and begin rowing to the heart shaped island, Paridia. Delia can't help but feel as if the beautiful island is more deadly than it appears.