Chapter Six

As the sails unfurled and the crew ran about to their posts While the Captain barked orders. Thomas went to the bow of the ship. To see the unending ocean that lay before him and a foreign land that would be his first stop on his way home. The smell of salt was stronger in the air as the ship left port. After being found just gawking at the sea, isn’t wasn’t long before Thomas was put to work.

“Wait, why do I have to work? I’m a passenger.” Thomas said in protest.

“You want to eat, don’t ya?” Captain Victoria replied with a rye smile plastered on her face.

“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?” Thomas replied with obvious confusion at her statement.

“Look, those who don’t work don’t eat. Yes, I brought you here, and yes, you paid by having magic abilities. But this isn’t a pleasure trip. All the food for those who ride are used on those who expend energy, not wasted on lazy fools.” Captain Victoria Stated hotly.

“Im not a lazy fool!” Thomas Replied with anger.

“Good, I didn’t think you were. Listen, I will educate you a little we are delivering goods. These goods are valuable to many types of people in this world. On the sea, the type we are always worried about is pirates. Those monsters like using smaller, faster ships to hit quick and get away with cargo. That's why only those who work eat. Understand?” Captain Victoria said with compassion in her voice.

“Yes, I understand,” Thomas said as he remembered such an event of his kidnapping on his first voyage, leaving his home for the first and he thought last time.

“Excellent! You see that man over there. His name is Jenkins. He will show how to tie knots and do patrols of the cargo. When you are not with him, you come to stay by my side. Now get moving; this ship doesn’t sail itself.” Captain Victoria Ordered.

The walls of Lindon lay before three exhausted travelers. They had not slept for days with horses about to collapse from sheer exhaustion. As the three approached the line of people to enter the city, they welcomed the slow-moving pace.

“Anyways, that's why it’s called Knocks,” Charlie said.

“Really! That's why were those people, idiots? That had to be idiots; all of them either that or that man was a complete genius.” Roy complained.

“Will you stop talking about that town already!” Rose yelled, startling some of the people in the line.

“Boss, calm down. We don’t want to draw attention,” Roy said pleadingly.

“Oh, I got a question? This one has been bothering me for a bit.” Charlie said inquisitively.

“Yes?” Rose responded against her better judgment.

“How did the boy end up on a ship to travel in the first place? And why did the maid just leave when we said to?.” Charlie asked.

“That’s two,” Roy replied.

“What?” Charlie asked, now very confused.

“That’s two questions. Not one, but I would like to know this as well.” Roy replied.

“How about you two try whispering or just run up to the guard and confess everything. If you choose option two, let me know I will hand you some rope to save the city budget while I flee.” Rose said with a glare that could kill.

With a collective gulp, they apologized and lowered their voice and waited for her to tell the answers.

“Alright, fine. The client had talked. Marcus and his wife, Andrea into, sending Thomas on a trip to make him more worldly as the boy was a shut-in, much to his mother's doing. The idea was to make him more ready to inherit his title later. Now at the same time, the client has paid the boy’s maid off quite well to disappear and never show herself again. Since it was the client's idea and he could be easily implicated, that is why the boy had to be returned alive and why we were paid a small king’s ransom to take the blame. I personally see many flaws with this plan, but I don’t question those types of clients. They believe themselves to be smarter than everyone else in the room or kingdom for that fact… so who am I to them but money to throw at to fix his problem.” Rose whispered, shaking her head.

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“Next!” The gate guard yelled at the three.

“Oh, how time flies,” Roy said in surprise.

“Anything to declare weapons, trade goods?” The gate guard inquired.

“Just our weapons we use to defend ourselves on the road were just traveling through,” Rose said politely.

“Uh…huh, that's what they all say.” The gate guard replied while pulling out a paper and quill, taking note of the weapons he could see. “Go on, but if you cause trouble, well, use your imagination.” The gate guard warned.

“What do we do first, boss? This place is huge.” Charlie asked while looking around, taking note of the futility of looking for a needle in a haystack.

“Easy, first we eat. I’m starving. Then we go down to the docks and ask, after all, that's what he is here for. With a little luck, the brat is still here.” Rose said with a bright smile.

After a few hours of rest and what many would not call fine dining for the lack of manners and decorum that they displayed, the three were properly banned from the restaurant. And walked to the docks to make inquiries. What they found was strange as everyone seemed to be talking about the boy, but one thing didn’t add up, which was the boy used magic.

“That can’t be right, can it?” Roy asked.

“He fits the description perfectly. Maybe that's how he got away from us?” Charlie asked in confusion.

“That’s not what's important right now. What’s important is he got on a ship and not just any ship.” Rose said as she began to seethe with anger.

“Oh, whose ship did he get on?” Charlie asked, not noticing the veins beginning to bulge on Rose's forehead.

With a calm tone, Rose answered. “He boarded The Devil’s Gambit. That ship is Captained by Victoria Thorn. She is famous on the seas for never being sunk and sending many a pirate to a watery grave. What did we do to deserve such rotten luck.”

“Well, I could name a few starting with our current predicament,” Roy replied.

“It was rhetorical, you idiot!” Rose yelled, unleashing her pent-up anger.

“Deep breathes, breathe in, breathe out. They don’t do it on purpose. Okay, new plan. I have a friend here; he is a pirate.” Rose began to say.

“I thought you said pirates were sent to a watery grave by that captain,” Charlie said, interrupting Rose.

“Don’t interrupt me! Now as I was saying, he is a pirate, meaning he has a smaller, faster vessel. Like me, he doesn’t have a death wish. So he or one of his associates will sail us ahead of The Devil’s Gambit to Kelopia, where the harbormaster said it would dock at Kevo. We will get there first and hire some local muscle to grab the boy and separate him from that pain of a captain and bring him to us.” Rose said with new confidence.

“That's all well and good, but will this plan. Shouldn’t we just cut our losses at this point and return the money?” Roy asked in earnest.

“No! After this, we retire, and paradise requires money, so follow me.” Rose said, ushering the two towards the shadier side of town.

With a shrug, Roy and Charlie followed. After all, she had a point dreams and paradise aren’t free.

After days at sea, Thomas had gotten used to his new routine, finding that learning new skills and knowledge of the world was what he was sent out for, to begin with. Not only will he have a story of heroism to tell but new skills to show his parents and friends. At this, he cheered and remembered something Stitches said.

“Hey, Stitches? You said you could teach me magic.” Thomas said in a low whisper.

“I did, but how and where do you expect me to teach you here? We are surrounded at all times.” Stitches thought to Thomas in expiration.

“But I really want to learn. It’s important not just because it’s cool or to show my parents, but I really want to know what those sorcerers felt when the moon blessed them. I can’t explain it; it’s just a feeling.” Thomas whispered with sadness in his voice.

“Trust me, Thomas, I understand. (Sigh) Very well, I can’t teach you magic itself, but we can cover the basics while we travel. It’s generally best to practice somewhere safer, but luckily you have me. Go tell the Captain you must meditate. So you can use your magic safely when the time comes, she won’t complain since she wants it handy for worst-case scenarios.” Stitches Thought to Thomas reluctantly while thinking of himself when he was Thomas’s age.

With excitement, Thomas darted to Captain and got his permission and found a small in the cargo deck behind some boxes to block prying eyes just in case.

How long ago has it been? I was around his age when I begged my master feeling the moon’s call. All I can hope is his journey is better than mine and guide it while I can.

“Okay, im ready. What do I do?” Thomas asked eagerly.

“Take a sitting position crossing your legs and holding your arms out on your lap, and touch your fingers together on each hand. Then relax and take deep breaths and calm your mind, and empty of all thoughts. Then listen to my explanation of what magic is.” Stitches instructed.

Through trial and error of not understanding and having to be shown, Thomas finally relaxed enough for Stitches to continue.

“Good, now pay attention, for I will not repeat myself; if you really want to learn, you will show it. Magic or mana is an ethereal power that the moon blessed us access to. As I said before, some used this ethereal power to enhance their own bodies but, in doing so, lost the ability to manipulate outside their bodies. We call this using a spell. Spells are done by harnessing this energy and applying knowledge. For example, to cast a fire spell, one must understand fire itself and its nature and purpose, then will that knowledge to the mana which makes the spell. A simpler example of a fire spell would be a Tender flame spell. This spell is a beginner's spell and only requires the knowledge of how to light a campfire. The more knowledge you have, the more magic you can do. Mana, in its base ethereal form, is like molding clay, only limited by imagination and knowledge. Bringing true meaning to Knowledge is Power. This is why the Sorcerers of the past sequestered themselves away, and others did not tread further into its secrets. I hope you understand my trust in you, Thomas.” Stitches thought in a serious tone.

After just a nod from Thomas, Stitches continued.

“Very good now what the basics are about is not only control but feeling that Ethereal power. The moon didn’t just blees individuals but all the Humans beings of this world. While not many have the patience to connect with this gift, they do have the capacity. Not that anyone goes around telling them that anymore… but I digress. You will now search around you with your mind, and inside you, we will continue this for days until we hit land or you achieve something. After that, you will learn to focus on it. Then we will go from there.” Stitches, thought to Thomas while waiting for the long haul.

After many grueling days of boredom from Stitches training Thomas finally felt something just as he heard.

“Land ho.”