Chapter 19

“The Emerald Tempest”

The shimmering silver sails flying above the band of heroes reflected the sun’s rays and sent speckles of breathtaking lights across the deck. The dark stained wood of the ship was worn, and the original gloss had been scuffed away from time and wear, but the elaborate carvings of angled designs remained. The railing of the ship was coated in glistening silver plates etched with various designs of sirens, waves, and a language dead to the world. The decorated wooden masts stretched high into the air with metallic nets and rope flowing between them. Emerald-green flags with what looked to be the silver eye of a hurricane flew proudly in the ever-changing winds. The symbol looked much like the mark over Guardian’s eye. The bow of the ship had a massive figurehead in the shape of a long-haired woman made of silver wearing little more than a thin silken dress. Her arms were up to form a triangle above her crown and her eyes were large lustrous emerald gemstones.

The shape of the ship was sharp and angled, meant to cut through waves and wind alike for ultimate speed that no other ship could rival. It was thin in width and long enough to carry a total of sixteen gunports on each side – each concealing a deadly ornate silver cannon. Despite the wooden appearance of the ship, the sunlight reflected off the surface in radiant, geometric, metallic designs that resembled the scales of a mighty sea predator. Like the anatomy of a lightning-fast swordfish, the sails were angular and curved like fins and the solid-metal bowsprit was serrated like its marvelous bill.

Entity walked to the edge of the ship to look at the storm while running his burnt hands through his hair with extreme stress. His eyes widened at the realization of what he had just lost and hung his head below his trembling shoulders as he tried to hold himself together. Quartz moved into the shade of a hanging silver sail after feeling the sun's intense heat through her cloak, then noticed Entity’s tense posture. She could see his hands that were peeling from the burns, leaving patches of bloody pinkish-blue.

“Okay look I understand we just survived a fuckin’ tidal wave and impending death from bright-eyes, but we need to get the fuck back there.” Entity turned to the Captain sharply and seemed to have panic overwhelming him.

“I’m afraid there is no going back. Guardian never stays down for long. It would be unwise to put my entire ship in jeopardy. Not only that but you are burned and need to recover.” The Captain softly refused. Entity scowled deeply at the rejection and clenched his fist, ignoring the pain, before pushing himself away from the rail to quickly approach the Captain.

“I said we need to go back,” Entity was quick to raise his voice to a full shout, “do ya have any idea what I just fuckin’ lost back there?!” He roared with spit flying from his mouth. “That sword is worth more than you could possibly imagine – even in pieces! Just the pommel, please! Please! I gotta go back!”

“I insist ye calm yourself, Entity. Yer out of harm’s way–” The Captain calmly tried to reassure the man but was only interrupted by furious arguing.

“Don’t tell me to calm down! You of all people should know what it fuckin’ feels like to lose somethin’ important, but I guess ya got what ya wanted, so my loss isn’t as concernin’ to ya, is it?!” Entity screamed and was left in silence by the two who only stared at the sorcerer. Entity could hear himself so clearly that it even drove him to silence and caused him to back away from the Captain.

“What are you talking about?” Quartz asked quietly as she peeked through her cloak.

Entity rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Fuckin’ forget it. Forget it.”

The Captain looked down solemnly as he could hear the pain in Entity’s voice and spoke up in a gentle tone. “I’m sorry for yer loss, Entity. Truly I am. I wish I could give ye back what you’ve lost in the pursuit of finding what was lost to me, but I can’t. All I have to offer is my gratitude.”

Entity looked to the Captain's feet and wanted to retort out of anger, but for once he had been genuinely thanked and acknowledged for his efforts. It was an alien thing to hear but it quelled his rage and soothed the pain inside him long enough for him to breathe. “Gratitude won’t bring Heron back,” he bit his bottom lip as tears formed in his eyes, “but it’s nice to hear… Her voice, it was all I had left. I got nothin’ else.”

“Which is why it pains me to ask ye for help once more. My magic lies within the sea, not the shadows. I…cannot do it alone.” The Captain admitted as he eyed over Cariphae and noticed the small pool of red on the deck floor. She was still bleeding. Entity managed to turn his sight to the unconscious woman and then closed his eyes as if wanting to say ‘no’, but something inside him beckoned him to face the challenge despite his mourning.

“I dunno if I can help.” He doubted.

“Entity, you know dark magic better than anyone.” Quartz urged as she stood at the edge of the shadow of the sails. Entity pursed his lips and approached the Captain to help lower Cariphae to the deck. He rolled her to her side to have a better look at the wound and pulled the bandages to the side to see the gaping hole in her shoulder that had widened and blackened worse than it had been hours prior. Upon pressing his fingers against the side of raw flesh, he saw something slither inside the wound and disrupt the healthy skin around it like a snake. He swallowed hard and looked at the Captain who wore a look of uncertainty.

“Dark magic works like a tapestry, filled with…strings and braids. It can spread and weave into other things. A lotta’ times it gets all knotted up and outta control, it’s hard to undo somethin’ like this.” Entity explained.

“What can be done?” The Captain asked as he placed his palms on Cariphae firmly.

“Well, untangle the knot, so to speak. In her case, I uh… well, hm…” Entity rubbed his eyes stressfully and shifted to sit down. He struggled to speak as if he were hiding something.

“What? What is it?” Quartz pressed.

“Entity, I beg ye. Ye are among friends now, there is no reason to fear speaking the truth.” The Captain reassured and placed his hands carefully on the queen. Entity glanced at the Captain’s hand and saw a silver wedding band. The sight of it sent a sharp pain through his gut and he inhaled slowly.

“My magic was inside her, linkin’ us together before I severed it with Nacre’s arrow. She used a piece of me to make this new hex I’d never seen before, and after my magic was severed, Nacre’s hex took its place. If I were still linked to her, I could maybe undo it, but I can’t. Nacre’s magic is tangled up in her now the way it’s tangled inside me and not even I can mess with it. I dunno how to fix this.” Entity ran his fingertip over the wound and as he touched the serpent inside, he felt a jolt of stabbing pain that forced him to retract away. The motion of touching the evil within her skin made the unconscious queen writhe and contort painfully. Even in her sleep, she felt the sting of the dark magic within. Quartz tapped her bottom lip as she appeared to be deep in thought before speaking up.

“Ye aided Nacre in creating a hex too powerful for ye to break? Why, Entity?” The Captain asked in disbelief as if hurt by the truth.

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Ye always have a choice.” Adamus spoke deep and cut into Entity with such shame.

“What if we used a different kind of magic? There’s always an opposite to everything, right? Fire to water,” she paused as she pointed to Cariphae and the Captain, “shadow to light? I remember Virgoth used to read me books about fairies and nymphs. They always ‘shined’ with magic.” She suggested.

“Eh, I mean, theoretically, we could try unwindin’ the ‘knot’ in the other direction with a different kinda magic. That’d take a fuck ton of luck and I don’t have a lot of experience with other magics. And I also don’t trust fairies.” Entity shook his head.

“Why not?” The Captain asked.

“They eat toes in your sleep, apparently,” Quartz answered and gained a confused expression from the Captain.

“They do? Nevertheless, Miss Quartz’s observation may prove fruitful if we make a genuine attempt.” The Captain pushed Cariphae’s wet hair from her face delicately.

“Maybe some of your magic could at least stop the bleeding and let it heal a little bit?” Quartz suggested to the Captain.

“How are we gonna try if none of us know the right magic? No offense but I don’t think a tidal wave is gonna wash this shit out.” Entity pointed to Cariphae’s wound.

“There is one I know of who could help but seeing as this ‘knot’ pertains to yer trade, I ask that ye come with me. Your knowledge is valuable.” The Captain pleaded softly.

“I’ll try. Not like I got a choice, I’m in the middle of an ocean and ya just sunk whatever land was nearby.” Entity nodded, feeling a sense of pride swell in his chest.

“How did your magic even end up in her, Entity?” Quartz squinted quizzically.

“I uh-… I–” The sorcerer stuttered before the Captain suddenly picked Cariphae back up.

“No need to explain, Entity. Ye have elaborated enough. It is in the past. It is alright.” The Captain reassured with a deep breath which took Entity by surprise. The two men stared at one another for a moment as if exchanging a conversation that need not be heard. Merely a stare was all that was needed, and an intense one at that.

“Right…” Entity looked down in clear shame before getting to his feet.

A few seconds had passed by before he noticed that a crew had been standing behind them and had been watching the entire time in silence. A crew of twelve beings – all different races and species – waited patiently for a glimpse of Cariphae. A giant, a hooded Ensanguined man, siren hybrids, humans, and creatures similar to Valaah with heads of predatory felines and canines stood awestruck at the sight of the legendary Arithmetian queen. Even in her unconscious state, she was a wonder to behold for their eyes. The Captain, Entity, and Quartz turned to face the crew who bowed in unison.

“Oh…” Quartz breathed as she took in such a diverse crowd of beings she had not laid her eyes on before.

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“Entity, Quartz, meet my crew.” The Captain smiled.

“The crew of misfits…” Quartz added and pushed her wet bangs from her eyes to see better.

“Who ye callin’ misfits?” A siren-hybrid man stepped forward with a smile. He had silver hair, and tan skin with dark tiger stripe marks along his bare back with the faint lines of gills on his neck. He wore loose brown pants and black boots with a belt holding a saber to his side. A red bandanna kept his long straight hair from his face that proudly displayed a shark-toothed smile. “From what we gather, yer about as much as a misfit as the rest of us. Welcome aboard the Emerald Tempest.” He added, which made the crew chuckle together.

“My first mate, Roan.” The Captain introduced. Roan took an elaborate bow.

“Heard a lot about ye, Ent, and it is a pleasure m’lady.” He greeted both Entity and Quartz.

“Roan, see to it they are received to a room below deck. The sunlight be not for them. Show them the first aid kits as well, please.” The Captain ordered politely.

“Aye, Cap’n.” Roan nodded happily. “What of Miss Cariphae?”

“She will be with me. Set sail for Isla Edista.”

“Isla Edista?” Quartz asked Entity who replied with a shrug and not a clue.

“Oh-ho! Aye Cap’n!” Roan raised his fist in the air and jumped in pure joy when given such an order. The crew quickly cheered on as well and scrambled with haste to their posts. The Captain then whistled with his tongue against his bottom lip, and not a moment sooner did a small, child-like being zip around from atop the mast with a loud buzzing vibration through the air. It looked to be a large bird, but when the quick little figure stopped to hover in front of the Captain, was she revealed to be a tiny hummingbird harpy.

“Woah!” Entity ducked when the harpy swooped over their heads.

The little harpy was no larger than a toddler with beautiful shimmering teal and purple feathers with clawed black bird legs tucked into her torso. Her face and torso were human enough with tall, pointed ears and a head full of elaborate and long feathers, but the rest of her body was that of a hummingbird. Her large golden eyes peered excitedly into the Captain’s, and with a child-like voice, she chirped.

“Captain! What does my Captain need?!” She darted from spot to spot hyperactively while inspecting Cariphae with awe. “Is that Cari?! She looks so pretty! Is that her? I bet that’s her!”

“Aye, Tati, it is her. Say, keep an eye out for the weather ahead. We’re going home.” He smiled as he allowed Tati to see the queen a little better in his arms.

“Is that a… That’s a…” Entity stared in disbelief as he pointed to the tiny bird-like being. Even Quartz was amazed and wanted so badly to reach into the sunlight to touch the long-thought-to-be-extinct creature.

“A harpy.” The Captain turned to him.

“What is Isla Edista?” Quartz asked. Tati turned around in the air with a giddy bounce to her flight.

“My home!” She exclaimed.

“Aye. Home of the Harpies. They still live and thrive.” The Captain clarified. “Both of ye rest. It will be a long journey, though try to keep yer excitement from scaring away a good day’s sleep, hm?” He finished before ambling up the deck stairs towards the back of the ship where the captain’s quarters lay.

Quartz and Entity exchanged looks of wonder and watched as the crew ran about the deck, opening the sharp fin-like sails that caught the air and sunlight. Roan stood behind the two and put each of his hands on their shoulders.

“Let’s get ye both to yer rooms. Looks like ye both need a good towel. Maybe a bath for this one.” He chuckled as he shook Entity’s shoulder and headed towards the steps diving into the ship.

“I took one already.” Entity grumbled.

“Days ago.” Quartz murmured.

Entity and Quartz followed – ducking under wooden beams and noticing an odd texture on the inside of the walls. They resembled pipes and long thin strands of colored thread or yarn, though it was hard to make out exactly what they were. There was also a distinct humming noise that vibrated the air and it felt like static. Passed barrels of water and wine, boxes of dried foods and rations, and secured cannons, was a low hallway that ran down the entirety of the ship. Roan ducked to lead the way with the two in tow.

“What is all this?” Quartz asked as she pointed to the pipes and odd-colored strings.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen anything like this on a ship.” Entity added while letting his eyes wander in genuine puzzlement.

“Because ye haven’t been on the Emerald Tempest, lad…and lass. No other ship like her in all the seas.” Roan answered cheerfully.

“Why is she called the Emerald Tempest?” Entity asked as he followed Roan deeper into the ship. “Ships get their names for some reason or another.”

“Well, it was built by the Captain and his wife, so they thought it’d be nifty to name it after something special about the both of them. The Captain can make a storm that’d make Guardian shake in his boots, and his wife…well, there was just somthin’ special about those ol’ eyes of hers.” Roan explained, and his reply made Quartz and Entity lock eyes with one another. Quartz seemed to find an idea in her mind that Entity already knew, and his expression told her so.

Roan stopped by a door with a decorated handle shaped like a silver starfish and turned it. Opening the door revealed a very large and open room with a tall ceiling and lavish furnishings. Light emitted from glass bulbs on the ceiling that neither Quartz nor Entity had ever seen before. There was no fire or candlelight, just light from within glass that was constant and bright. The room was far too large to fit inside of a ship, yet there it was. Entity was amazed, having never seen such an enchantment before. The rooms on the Emerald Tempest were far larger on the inside than they appeared on the outside – offering a luxury any sailor would die for.

“Here we are! It’s one of our smaller rooms but it’s got everything ye might need.” Roan ushered them inside with a smile.

“Holy…shit.” Entity exhaled and stumbled inside as he looked all around in bewilderment. Such fine polished wooden floors, perfectly plastered white walls, silver fixtures, and a window with soft blue curtains reflected a luxury he’d only seen in Nacre’s palace.

“Holy shit is right.” Quartz added and spotted a large bed big enough to fit two people, a polished wooden tub and sink, a delicately carved armoire for clothes, and a broad regal chest at the foot of the bed. “How is this possible? The room isn’t actually this big, right?” She asked as she turned to Roan.

“Ye’d be surprised to know what’s possible on this ship, m’lady. Ye might want to hose off and put something comfy on, dinner is in about an hour. There be extra clothes in the drawers that could maybe fit ye both.” Roan explained.

“Oh, I should pass on dinner, thank you.” Quartz looked down at the floor and fiddled with her nails.

“Nonsense! We got what ye need too. Ye aren’t the only Ensanguined on this ship. Oh, and a first aid kit be in the trunk by the bed, Ent.” Roan winked and closed the door quietly behind him, leaving Entity and Quartz alone. Entity looked at his hands and saw signs of healing, but not as quick as he was used to.

“Well, this isn’t where I was expectin’ to be sleepin’ tonight. Better than sand and a tree trunk.” He sighed and took off his soaked coat to drape it over the foot of the wooden bedframe. He then began opening the regal trunk but the pain in his fingers kept him from opening it.

“Entity, I have…a lot of questions.” Quartz diverged the topic as she quickly came to his side and opened the trunk for him. She took out a wooden box that held bandages and various tinctures in perfect glass bottles. He allowed her to tend to his wounds, and she would sniff each bottle before using it to ensure that they were the correct medicines with her delicate sense of smell.

“And I ain’t in the mood to be answerin’ em’. OW! Hey!” He yelped as she dabbed a light cream onto his palm.

“Sorry! I’m not trying to hurt you, and I’m also not trying to be left in the dark here.”

“It ain’t your business, Quartz.” Entity added quickly.

“I feel like it is now. Who is the Captain? Really? Green eyes? I mean you saw the way he was holding Cariphae.” Quartz prodded as she wrapped his hands carefully. Though soaked to the bone and exhausted, she was far too concerned with the piling questions and tending to his wounds to relax.

It didn’t take longer for her to finish, and Entity wasted no time in dragging himself to the bed and falling face-first into the mattress with a depressed groan.

“Entity!”

“What?!” He yelled back as he popped his head up.

“You know who he is, I saw the way you two looked at each other. I’m on your side, I’m all the way out here on a ship in the middle of an ocean and soaked to the bone just like you, and I don’t mean to sound entitled to an answer but damn it, I need to know who I’m fighting with.” Quartz crossed her arms and stood her ground, but glanced around nervously. Putting her foot down was not something she was used to, but the questions were too pressing to be passive. Entity growled and sat up, turned around and began kicking off his dirty boots. Already he had left a mark on the fresh clean linens on the bed.

“Y’wanna know? Alrighty, sweet-teeth. Yeah, I know the Captain. Met him a long time ago when I made the biggest fuckup of my life, and that fuckup fucked up his life, and his wife’s. I screwed everything up, like I always do.” Entity threw off his belts to the floor. His reply made Quartz drop her hands and return to her gentle stature.

“Hey, I’m not trying to upset you or make you re-live something horrible. I just…look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come off so demanding. It’s just, we’re fugitives, we just fought Guardian, and the tidal wave has my nerves a little–”

“I get it, I get it. It ain’t your fault. I know the Captain, and…well, his wife…” Entity paused and took in a deep breath. “Cariphae is his wife.”

“Cariphae is the Captain’s wife?” Quartz’s jaw fell open. Entity nodded. “I knew it.”

“Almost everyone does.”

“She doesn’t know.” She breathed.

“Not yet.”

“How does she not know? Did she forget? Virgoth and her, they were…”

“She did forget, and it’s my fault.” Entity put his palm to his face and ran his fingers through his hair. “Quartz, I can’t be talkin’ about this right now. I need silence. Please.” He solemnly requested as he hid his face from her.

“I understand.” She nodded and swung off her cloak to drape over the foot of the bed. “I’m…sorry for what happened to your sword.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it. Bathe, brush your fangs, fix your hair, I don’t care. I just want silence.” Entity muttered as he laid down on the bed, soaking the sheets carelessly, and placed a pillow over his face before finally folding his hands over his stomach. The pillow offered the perfect shelter to hide the miserable tears that had been begging to fall. He would never let Quartz - or anyone - see one fall.

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Meanwhile, the Captain had entered his chambers with the queen in his arms. Her blood had stained his white blouse and she dripped with seawater still. Her long hair was coming undone and her skin was filthy from the battle in Arithmetia. Though there was work to be done, the Captain was utterly careful in handling her. He entered the center of the room which was clearly larger on the inside than it appeared on the outside.

To the right of the room stood a tall, large canopy bed with many luxurious silken pillows and knitted quilts. Wooden trunks locked with padlocks rested on each side of the bed as well as an ornate dresser. To the left was a grand, silver-polished wood-burning stove with cold blue flames flickering within it – giving the room a chilly feel to the air – clearly magical in nature. There was a large portrait framed over the stove that had been covered with a tapestry of the land of Endle – much like a map. At the back of the room was a bathing area complete with a clawfoot tub, a latrine, a floor mirror, and several privacy panels carved out of ebony.

Comfortable fur rugs covered much of the polished wooden floors and muffled the sounds of his chiming metal-toed boots. The rugs were enchanted and prevented any sound from footsteps beating – even muffling the creaking of wood. In a corner by the door, there were several large items covered by white sheets with layers of dust that had turned the peaks gray. The Captain glanced at the sheets solemnly.

Ambling slowly to the bed, he laid the woman down and rolled her to her side to better examine the horrendous and festering wound on her shoulder. He knelt on the floor to look closer and saw black shimmering scales just beneath her flesh. His expression – often so calm and kind – turned into a deep hateful scowl at the sight of such disgusting magic. He rubbed his large silver palms together and what normally would generate friction and heat, instead created frost that crept up his palms toward his fingertips. Ice-cold fog fell from the intense cold radiating off his skin before he pressed his palm to the wound. There was an intense hiss, then crackling as the black magic inside her skin began to freeze – as did the bleeding edges of her wound. Frost formed on the ridges of raw flesh and remained there when he pulled his hand away.

“That should do it, for now.” He breathed. He paused a moment before leaning towards the wound once more. “Nacre. For what ye have done to my love, ye will drown in the deepest pit of the sea I have made just for ye. She will remember everything when she remembers me, and ye will suffer.” He spoke before pressing his icy thumb directly onto the frozen black serpent through the open wound. Though it was frozen, the intense touch from the Captain made it writhe and squirm painfully while leaving Cariphae unharmed.

He then stood and made his way to the tub to ready a bucket of warm soapy water to clean the woman and restore her dignity. Carefully, lovingly, respectfully, and tenderly, he washed her, bandaged her, dressed her, brushed her hair, and placed her in the center of his bed with warm knitted quilts covering her. Once finished with the labor, he removed blue orchids from a vase in the corner of the room and placed the beautiful flowers on the pillow beside her. He stood at the foot of the bed to examine that his work was good and removed his hat to respectfully bow to her.

“M'love. To have ye in our bed again, my heart finally weeps in joy and not sorrow.” His voice trembled and he then quietly left the room to return to the deck.

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