"So, yeah, so... How much does your fish cost?" Ashley shot her glazing death glare across a whimpering Dan, who continuously held a frozen fish behind her head.
When the fisherman held up five fingers, he gulped and gulped.
After the disastrous fall, Ashley landed on her back causing her head to take a hit. Thankfully, aside for the small bump that arose at the back of her head, no major injuries were sustained. It would take a while for them to reach their destination, since they were still queuing to board the ferry.
"Oh! Silly me, I forgot my pouch at home..." Dan looked down at Ashley, blinking down the morse code: HELP ME.
Ashley ignored the help request and pinched her nose to prevent salty dead fish odor from entering her nostrils.
"If you could allow me, I have some money." Einar politely gestured to the so-called some money bag.
It was a potato bag.
Dan was flabbergasted, dropping the fish onto Ashley's shoulder, while she frowned at the exchange.
"Einar, I know you are well financed, and would like to share your money." Ashley was hushed by him with his two fingers and proceeded to pay the amount.
"And you were saying?" Dan smirked at his friend's action and gave each other a fist bump after a friendly exchange with the fisherman.
"I was about to say that he should know better than to let the whole world know about your wallet." Ashley hissed at the dumbfounded looks they both gave.
"Einar, we are travelling by a ferry with dozens of poor farmers and traders," Ashley whispered beckoningly, "who would do anything for that pile of gold in your bag sack."
"Even murder?" Einar slyly suggested.
"Even murder because unlike the places you have been to before, here the laws are non-existent." At that, Einar's smile dropped in an instant.
"Since we are in a very cold region where survival is really low, these people would stab you, slaughter you, kidnap you, murder you, etc to get their family a hot meal." Ashley smiled at the realization sinking in Einar's eyes, and Dan sympathetically patted his shoulders.
"What a splendid way to welcome a newcomer..." Einar muttered under his breath as he opened the saddlebag, placing the money bag inside carefully. Once everything was secure, he tightened the bag and fastened it with a knot.
Lou snorted at her owner's stupidity.
"Yea, yea, laugh all you want, but at the end of the day whose feeding you?" Einar ranted while placing his head against her.
"Don't worry, pal! You have me and Ash here to guide you to Umbridge, and we will protect you and Lou. And speaking of food, carrots must be your favourite. Ain't it right, Lou?" With that, Dan pulled out a carrot from behind and pouted at her nose.
Lou snatched it from his hand and gobbled it down. She thanked him while moving forward and whining at him.
"No problems, girl! You deserve it." Dan nudges her with his nose and brushes her braids.
"And, there's more from where that came from." He magically pulled a bundle of carrots from his jacket and presented it in front of her.
Lou happily galloped towards him.
"LOU! HOW COULD YOU BETRAY YOUR FATHER?" Einar gasped at the scene that unfolded in front of him and grasped his chest in need of air.
"COME ON EINAR! WE CAN BE CO-PARENT, RIGHT? YOU KNOW? LOU CAN HAVE TWO DADS?" Dan grabbed him by the shoulders and wiped his crocodile tears off.
"You're pretending, right?" Dan whispered in Einar's ear in their bromantic hug.
"Of course, I am, sweetie." Einar bedazzled Dan with his eyes and was twirled by him. In unison they performed a dance.
Ashley shook her head at the gross bromance her crush and her brother were having-
cRusH?
Astonished by the realization, Ashley arose from the bike before tossing the fish onto the ground. She quickly recovered before asking the question of the hour.
"No offence, but where did you get those carrots from?" Ashley asked, while her gut knew the correct answer right away.
"HEY! SOMEONE STOLE MY CARROTS!" Loud thunder struck in the crowd, paving the way for the source to pass through thought to strike the ground.
A buff dark man of 7'1 ft (215.9 cm) with medium-sized dreads marched around with blood-shot brown eyes. He wore a patched up sleeveless shirt with a cape following him behind. He got a bloody red scarf around his neck and a bandana wrapped around his forehead making sure his dreads didn't get in his way of sight. Lastly, a pair of cargo pants accompanied by huge leather boots...
The cargo pants had the same texture as Ashley's and Dan's uniforms.
"OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU COULD HAVE ROBBED, YOU CHOSE CRANKY FRANKY!" Ashley harshly pulled her brother's ear and quickly wrapped her scarf around his entire face, leaving only space around his nostrils.
"Come on! He cheated on our deal and got bigger pay check! If we let his crankiness get to us, what will be there for us in the end?" He, for once, stood his ground to give his peace of mind after the countless encounters where Frank got away with his entices due to his size and his...attitude.
"I, for one, am for action. I truly believe that, sometimes, you have to put people back in their places, even if you don't get the best out of the bargain." Einar removed the scarf around him and nodded in Frank's direction to teach him a lesson.
Ashley sighed while clasping her head in her hands and preparing for her brother's and future boyfriend's funeral-FUtURe BoYFriND SINCE WHEN?
Ashley fumbled with the thought but soon regained her composure, shedding a different light on the current trouble.
"Oh, did I forget to mention that he is our boss?" at which the thunder turned his back towards them, "and he used to be in the army," revealing a machete covering his back, "- and he is a very well KNOWN MERCENARY?" and swiftly showcasing the wounds covered up with dozens of tattoos.
Well, at least one got the message.
"OH WOW! GREAT IDEA DAN TO LET A NEWCOMER DIE ON THEIR FIRST DAY! LET'S GET MARRIED IN HELL AND HAVE A HONEYMOON IN LUCIFER'S MANOR, AIN'T IT A MARVELLOUS IDEA? OH, WAIT, MAYBE-" Einar's mouth shut closed when Dan placed his finger at his lips and pointed in front of them.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Standing in the dead silence, stood the phenomenal sensation that created ruckus in the 'Merchant Union', allowing all coloured people to have the rights to exportation and trade.
And also the troublesome drunkard that is currently trying to out-drink Dan in the race to claim the Vodka King title.
The title should give away the competition they were competing in.
"I'll handle this." Dan spoke for the first time and walked towards the giant with his head high, soaring through the clouds.
"Greetings, boss-" Dan started confidently.
"I want to know who stole my carrots, why they stole them and how they would like to take the punishment under my wraith, soldier." Frank words cut out any misunderstanding from the group.
"Sir, with all due respect," Dan resumed the conversation from where they left off before the sudden confession.
"I stole your carrots." Ashley claimed her statement, raising an eyebrow from Frank, a 'NO' from Dan and a loud gasp from Eiran.
"WHAT? NO-" Those were his final words before his ultimate doom: getting a smack in the face with the hilt.
"SILENCE!" His voice boomed down the entire dock, making passers-by stop in their tracks.
"Either one of you shall speak or you will taste the wraith of my blade..." He struck down his machete onto the floorboard, making the trio leap backwards.
"Before I start, I REQUEST that none of you will say a word while I give my statement." Ashley paused for any disagreement. After three head nods, she proceeded with her statement.
"You see, Einar here is a distant relative of ours who ran out of food for his dear horse. Einar had been riding on Lou for a long time, and now she is exhausted from the ride. If you don't believe it, look at her eyes. Look how black it is!" Ashley grinned at the result of her hard-earned white lie.
One thing you should know about an opponent who is way out of your league is that you have only one opening.
So, make it count.
"And then, I assume that you took the missing bundle to this horse." Frank waved to the white horse, who admired her own reflection in the water waves that crashed onto the dock. He turned to admire the young girl, who couldn't spare a glance at the others' suffering.
He might not be an animal lover, but he sure is gullible.
"Yes, indeed sir. My heart couldn't stop but leak out a screeching acne at the poor animal. But, kind sir, the owner is well-compensated." Einar whipped his head back at Ashley for mentioning his net-worth.
"She is right! I am well-constipated! WELL-COMPENSATED! So, what's the bill?" He fumbled through his saddlebag making his stuff fall out which consisted of a map, comb, watch etc.
Out of all the other things that stood out was his sketchbook.
Ashley kneeled down at the open sketchbook while her surroundings disappeared into thin air. Loud screams and rash talks were blown away by the waves' uproar. Hushed winds blew over her brows as she sat down and picked up the book on her lap.
She was lured by the beauty of the coloured pencil sketches of gigantic trees, the dreary grey outlines of tiny shrubs, and the in-depth detailing of flowers in gauche paint. Page after page, the art became more realistic and marvellous with each flip. Her fingers felt the bumps of the warps amidst the water-coloured painting of the ocean's depth: baby blue, turquoise indigo, and finally, navy blue at the bottom. The merging of the colours was impeccable that it was difficult to separate the line from where the next colour started.
The last drawing was an unfinished sketch of a person in white clothes with no face. Though the outlines were not drawn so clearly, Ashley could make out a portrait of a young boy. His short hair was painted brown in many shades, and so was his white long sleeves shirt. With each layer being more intricate than the previous layer with the lighting and shading, it would be an understatement to call it a photograph. The insane accuracy of sewing stitches over the sparkling buttons with ribbons all over the puffed up cuffs made it feel like you were staring at the real person itself. All that was left for the artist was to draw her face.
Before she could analyse what other paints were used, the sketchbook was snatched from her.
"Ashley, I understand that you might not have grown outside your circle, but please understand the word 'PRIVACY'! ESPECIALLY STRANGER'S! COME ON, YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS WORD!" Dan screeched at her while picking up everything that fell into Einar's saddlebag.
After filling up the saddlebag, he patted Lou before furrowing his brows.
"Hey... Are you good?" Dan walked up to Einar before moving three steps backwards.
She rolled her eyes and was about to give Dan a piece of her mind when she noticed Einar's posture.
His eyes intensely scanned each nook and crook of the sketchbook, making sure that each page was carefully placed. His fingers quickly but cautiously traced, flipping the pages all over the art while gently flipping the pages and pressing them together to stick to the curls of the metal spine. Once the analysis was over, he closed it shut while hugging it dearly.
After heaving a sigh, he turned, with a cold stare, to face Ashley, who was still sitting down on the ground. Before she could stand up, the volcano Einar erupted.
"Do you have any idea how impossible it is to find a new book that hasn't been destroyed or rotten in the wild? NO! To everyone, it's just a waste of time!" His disapproval of Ashley was so evident that even Frank walked away with his money.
Realizing how sensitive he had become, he clasped his hands together and took a breath before continuing.
"You know what? Thanks for saving me, Ashley. But please don't touch my book. It means a lot to me, and I would prefer it if you would respect my wishes. Sorry for losing my cool to you." He tightened his lips and walked past her.
After stashing his book away, he rushed to grab Lou's bridle and then marched along with the shepherds and the other animal herders to board the ferry.
Ashley stood up and turned to answer him, but Dan stopped her by the shoulder, hinting that he should have some time alone. For one last time, she watched him with Lou walking up the ramp before slipping into the lower deck's darkness.
She wished that this wouldn't be the last time she saw him.
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"So you're saying that during your conversation with Blueberry," Dan eyed Einar who stood at the end of the rails before letting out a sigh.
This is more complicated than any quadratic equation Dan has faced.
"You had a flashback AND a daydream, and you think that out of the one billion people alive on this planet at this very moment, you have a crush at first sight on Blueberry." Dan quietly ended the last line and turned left to confirm with Ash for any further correction.
With a frozen fish attached to her head, she painfully nodded.
"Now, not only do you have a beef with him but also ticked him off very badly by TOUCHING and LOOKING at his artwork WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION, mind you, WITHOUT HIS CONSENT." Dan closed his eyes momentarily, meanwhile getting his own flashbacks of getting hit for the very same reason.
Usually, Ashley would apologize and go on with her daily business.
Give her a day, and she might be embarrassed for a while.
Give her a week, and she will forget what happened.
Give her a month, she's likely to repeat the same mistake.
In short, she never takes such mishaps seriously.
Until today, as Dan noticed, Ashley appeared to be quite disappointed in herself.
The lazy gaze wandered over the slow yet vicious waves that pushed the ferry forward towards its destination. Her heavy arms attached themselves to the railing for support against the incoming puke.Dan felt bad for her but he tried to reason.
At least she didn't die, he thought to himself, hoping it would reduce the weight on his chest.
It didn't disappear at all, just like all those years with her. Because of him, their union will be awkward as it can get if he's sober. If he isn't, then it would be best for him not to remember it at all. For the sake of his sanity and heart, it would be the most appropriate choice. But after that incident, he promised Ash to be sober for the entire month while she promised not to eat candy.
The promise they made isn't just any promise, it's an 'Ode to death' promise that should be carried on even if one of the promisers is dead.
Sadly, it had to be her birthday month and the promise would be broken soon because both of them would break it. But the question is: who will do it first?
As long as he is clever enough and still alive in the game, he has chances to win (he's banned from the bar while Ashley isn't from the candy trolley).
After the gravity of the situation tackled him, he finally feels responsible for his actions, but it's already too late.
And now, Ashley's paying the price for it.
"Jeez..nevermind...how are you feeling? Kinda feels like this one must be the worst of all the others," He rushed to grab a bottle of homemade lemonade from the bag.
After a few sips, Ashley stared at Dan.
"It's the fish." Dan suggested the reason.
"It's the fish." Ashley agreed in unison.
Ashley slipped the dead fish into Dan arms before he dramatically swung the fish into the ocean before hearing the waves crash confirming its funeral.
"It's been a long day, my friend. It was a pleasure to meet you, and now you can rest in the depths of your home." Dan bid his goodbye to the fish, sinking down in the darkness. At that, Ashley saluted it for accomplishing its sacred duty: healing her head bump. As usual, they both played their imaginary trumpets to the theme from the "22nd Century Wolve."
"Tooo-to-too-to-to! Tooo-to-too-to-to!"
They didn't stop laughing even when they fell and their stomach started to hurt a lot.
They only stopped in unison after hearing his laugh.
He was here.