Zalan and Rep said their farewells to Junill, who made no promises not to use the Indefatigable Iron. Oshrad said nothing to Junill as he exited. They left the forge and followed at a distance behind Nold who seemed in high spirits. Rep and Zalan kept glancing at one another, wondering what to say.

“You look distressed,” Oshrad said in a low voice to the two friends. “Is Nold an enemy of yours?”

“No, nothing like that,” Zalan said. “He was our Instructor for the Elemental Rage Tournament.”

“Then I take it he was a difficult instructor?” Oshrad asked.

“Oh yeah. Big time.”

“But that is not why he unnerves us,” Rep added. “He should not be here. He was too far to have shown up as fast as he did. And Zalan says he refuses to discuss how he arrived so soon.”

“Ah, I see now. He has imposed himself where he was not invited,” Oshrad concluded. Both Rep and Zalan nodded slightly. Zalan was impressed how fast Oshrad was able to put it together. There must have been a reason he was Ma’s most trusted man. Oshrad thought about the situation for a few seconds.

“Would you like me to dispose of him?” he offered, even quieter.

“You mean like… No, we don’t want you to kill him!” Zalan replied in a hushed voice.

“No one said ‘kill.’ He may come into an unfortunate accident in which his toes end up broken. He would have to heal and you could be gone by the time he returned. Hypothetically,” Oshrad shrugged.

To both Rep and Zalan’s surprise, they were both considering the option. Rep shook his head first.

“No, he has never shown us direct animosity,” Rep said. “Nothing that would deem him a direct enemy.”

“But you think he’s dangerous,” Zalan suggested. “And while I wouldn't label him as dangerous, he’s definitely weird. Like, there’s something off about him.”

“Indeed,” Rep sighed indecisively.

“My hypothetical offer stands until you get on the boat. I will not travel alongside you at sea. I am needed with Ma,” Oshrad said simply.

Rep and Zalan looked at each other, waiting for the other to make the call.

“I think I can trust him,” Zalan said, recalling all the conversations he had with Nold after the tournament concluded.

“Very well,” Rep agreed.

They walked through the port and up to the ship, The Aegeusson. Captain Buttonwillow was calling down to Nold, waving him off dismissively. The instructor stood with his arms folded at the end of the ramp leading up to the vessel. He turned toward Rep and Zalan and beckoned them forward.

“Quickly!” Nold demanded.

Rep and Zalan did not increase their pace. Any veneer he had earned for being an incredible instructor was far behind them. They didn’t want him to think they would take orders from him.

“This man does not believe that I am your instructor!” Nold pointed up to the captain, annoyed.

“A low lie to manipulate the narrative!” Captain Buttonwillow immediately rejected in a grand voice. “I expressed that I do not permit any form of stowaway on my ship, no matter their reputation! I do not care that you may know the esteemed Rep and Zalan. You may be related for all I care and you would not be granted passage aboard. It only matters to me whether they have invited you aboard!”

“And now they are here,” Nold said, taking a step forward.

“Stop there! They have yet to invite you aboard. If that is, indeed, their intention,” Captain Buttonwillow said, looking to Rep and Zalan diligently.

Nold turned with a raised eyebrow.

“You know how to get to Morloch?” Zalan double checked.

“Better than anyone else in the realm,” Nold assured him.

Rep sighed, and Zalan spoke to the captain for the both of them.

“Yeah, he’s coming with us. We need him on the island,” Zalan said.

Nold nodded confidently and stepped his way on board. Captain Buttonwillow immediately stepped back and opened his arms invitingly. All the animosity was gone when in the presence of his newest guest. Rep and Zalan looked back to Oshrad who was a few steps behind them.

“Is there any last thing I can do for you before you disembark?” Oshrad asked respectfully. His eyes flitted to Nold, then down to his toes. He raised a single eyebrow slightly. There were a thousand implications in the tiny movement.

“No. Thanks for all your help,” Zalan said, patting the pouch of gold that Oshrad helped to retrieve.

“Send Ma our well wishes. Tell her we have appreciated all she has done for us,” Rep said.

Oshrad smiled at his words. Rep seemed to have said the exact thing that Oshrad wanted to hear before leaving. He nodded with his eyes closed and made an about-face, heading back to Ma’s mansion.

“Maybe we should ask him to come with us. You think he’s allowed to refuse if we’re still under Ma’s authority?” Zalan asked.

“He said he was needed with Ma.”

“Yeah, he said that, but that doesn’t mean Ma agrees,” Zalan suggested.

“I do not believe it would be wise to pull him away from Ma with such little warning. He may be more trouble than help to us at that point. He might turn from feeling obligation to us to feeling animosity toward us.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Zalan shrugged and made his way up the ramp. Captain Buttonwillow beamed at his two guests, saluting them as they boarded.

“Greetings, Zalan! Greetings, Rep! Welcome to the good ship, The Aegeusson! I am honored to be able to escort you to the Island of Remains. I am sure we will find adventure waiting for us within the foam of each white cap of the sea!” Captain Buttonwillow said, peering out to the sea valiantly. He went tight for a second and turned back to the two. “You were seeking adventure, yes?” He seemed embarrassed for not having clarified sooner.

Zalan was pleased to see that Captain Buttonwillow no longer looked broken over the fact he wasn’t the owner of The Aegeusson. He didn’t want to be at odds with anyone in a cramped space he would be stuck in with them.

“We’re looking for someone in particular. Do you know anyone named Morloch who lives on the island?”

“Ah, not searching for adventure, but for a man! And you say he resides on the island? In truth, I was totally unaware that the Island of Remains could sustain life in the long term. I suppose if someone had enough Satiators, they might be able to last for a while. But that is no way to live. Isolated. Without a crew,” Captain Buttonwillow said, lowering his hat and shaking his head at the thought.

“Did you really choose him over me?” a voice called from behind Rep and Zalan. It was the captain of the other vessel that had harassed Captain Buttonwillow earlier.

“Lexington Winchester,” Captain Buttonwillow seethed.

“Buttonwillow McKittrick,” Captain Lexington said with an arrogant smirk.

“They decided they wanted to make it there alive!” Captain Buttonwillow called.

“Alive, but at the brink of death, perhaps,” Captain Lexington shot back.

“Your pathetic vessel would not even be worthy of unlevel waters!”

“The Abuacamas? Surely you are mistaken,” Captain Lexington presented his ship as though it looked anything different than Buttonwillow’s. “The Aegeusson will quiver at the sight of the first sea monster. Vessel and captain alike, I am sure.” He grinned.

“How dare you, Winchester! The Mother of the Port, herself, selected me to guide these good men through any manner of seas! I have her blessing! What do you have of hers, except her ire and her orders to remain in place?”

Captain Lexington took a step back, and grasped the fabric ahead of his chest as though he was literally stabbed by Buttonwillow’s words. He pursed his lips as his eyes narrowed with rage.

“Be sure you earn her good words, Captain McKittrick!”

“Could you clarify, Lexington? Are you suggesting that the Mother of the Port is one to be mistaken about anything?”

Again, Captain Buttonwillow succeeded in throwing Captain Lexington off guard. He took another step back and pulled tighter at the fabric, then breathed in deeply.

“Best of luck to the two of you. See to it that his arrogance does not lead to your downfall,” Captain Lexington said to Rep and Zalan, clearly upset. He stomped away into the captain’s quarters of his ship.

Rep and Zalan looked at one another. Zalan felt like he was watching a spat between geriatric neighbors, despite both captains looking no older than thirty. It was their highfalutin talk that made them seem older than they were. He didn’t know what to think of the two captains.

“Well then,” Captain Buttonwillow said, breathing deep and regaining his composure. “Now that we have defeated our first monster, I will introduce you to my crew. If that would please you, of course. Otherwise I can tell them to avoid you for the whole of the journey.”

“No, an introduction with each of them would be fine,” Rep said politely.

Captain Buttonwillow tapped his hat and led the way to the poop deck looking over the rest of the vessel. He stomped on the floorboards twice.

“My good crew! Report to Captain Buttonwillow McKittrick! Please present yourselves to the owners of this fine vessel,” the captain bellowed.

The few of the crew that were making last minute adjustments to the ship rushed forward and stood upright in a line at attention, an air of respect for both their captain and the ones they were being presented to. A final crew member walked her way over, looking out of place as the others looked to be acting immediately on the captain’s words. She stood casually next to the others of the crew. Nold was watching in amusement, leaning against the ropes that made up the shrouds on the side of the ship.

“We do not need them to be so orderly,” Rep said, embarrassed. “We can go around the ship and meet the crew ourselves.”

“Nonsense! A crew is to be at your beck and call. You are the owners of The Aegeusson!” Captain Buttonwillow said. “Now then, introduce yourselves! From right to left!” Captain Buttonwillow ordered.

The crew stood with their chests puffed out, but no one spoke.

“What is the manner of your delay?” Captain Buttonwillow demanded, tapping a foot.

“Captain, did you want us to begin from our right or from your right?” one of the crew replied.

“Ah. Right, yes. Very astute attention to detail,” Captain Buttonwillow commended them. “From my right.”

The first man stepped forward and saluted Captain Buttonwillow, Rep and Zalan.

“I am Xavier! Level 7! I control the air for the ship,” Xavier said, taking a step back.

The next person stepped forward simultaneously. Zalan wondered whether they had rehearsed this before.

“I am Rosemary! Level 5! I repair the boat in the case it sustains any damage from monsters at sea!” she reported.

“I am Magnolia,” Magnolia said, looking less enthused about participating. She was the one who joined the lineup last and was reluctant to be there. “I was hired to protect the ship. Oh, and I am Level 10.” She took an embarrassed step backward.

“I am Enzo! Level 8! I control the flow of the water around the ship to maintain our heading!” Enzo stepped back. When he reached the line, Enzo, Rosemary, and Xavier all saluted together. Magnolia looked at them in embarrassment and raised a half hearted salute as well.

“And I am Captain Buttonwillow McKittrick! Your captain on this fine vessel!” Captain Buttonwillow introduced himself for what felt like the dozenth time. He tipped his hat to Rep and Zalan, then turned back to the crew. “That is everyone! Back to your stations!”

Captain Buttonwillow turned to Rep and Zalan expectantly, a broad smile on his face.

“You have a very nice crew?” Zalan said, not sure what the captain was waiting to hear.

“Of course! Only the best men and women for my crew.”

He continued to stare.

“Not a lot of crew, huh?” Zalan added, uncomfortably trying to figure out why Buttonwillow kept looking at them.

“For a vessel of this size, not much is needed,” the captain replied.

He turned to stare at Rep who almost withered under the direct gaze. Captain Buttonwillow was waiting for something that neither Rep or Zalan knew. Nold approached from the side of the boat.

“What are we waiting for? Can we set off to the island already?” Nold asked impatiently.

“I am awaiting my orders to do so,” Captain Buttonwillow said, his eyes wide on Rep.

“I just gave you the order,” Nold said, annoyed.

“Does he speak for you?” Captain Buttonwillow asked the two.

“Of course I do,” Nold said, not even looking at his students.

“He does not,” Rep said politely, yet firmly. “But we have no more business in Oriton. We may set sail whenever you see fit.”

“Very good, sir,” Captain Buttonwillow ran a finger on the brim of his hat, then stepped away to tell the crew to prepare for sea. There was a skip in his step like a schoolgirl that had just aced an exam.

“Give me some authority over the captain. Just enough to give him these trivial orders. Otherwise we will be waiting so long to get anything done,” Nold suggested.

“I think we can manage,” Rep said, smiling quaintly.

Nold narrowed his eyes and looked to Zalan for support. Zalan shook his head, agreeing with Rep. Nold scoffed, walking away to view more of the vessel.

Zalan stared out at the sea, wondering what kinds of new monsters would accost them from under the opaque waters.