Oceans of blue

Kel's eyes closed as her cheek was stroked, her smile was sad and knowing. Ridell would learn soon enough...

"I hope you'll come to see me when you return...maybe I can give you comfort from what you find..."

She slowly opened her eyes to look into Rid's.

Rid blinked a few times, shaking her head

"Im going to find Kastorin and bring him back.. "

From the stories she was hearing though, she was starting to have her doubts no matter how hard she fought them. She looked back to the sky with a small sigh

"..right..?"

Kelterra watched the woman. It broke her heart to smile and whisper.

"You will Mistress...you'll be together again..."

She bit her lip, causing it to bleed as she stood and shook her head slowly.

"I should...go. Use the map...save him...and be happy..."

She gave Ridell a longing look, tears in her eyes, she turned and all but fled from the dock and her Mistress.

"Kel.."

She watched her run and sighed deeply, before looking down at the parchment she was given, studying it closely, knowing she wouldnt rest tonight

---

As the sun began to rise, Rid began searching around booty bay for Devon and Mikal

Kelterra disappeared in a bed of shadows as if she hadn't been there at all, but her heart ached nontheless. She watched Ridell from the shadows for most of the night, fighting back tears.

~---~

Mikal had found himself a warm bed to sleep in and was still dozing as the sun came up. Something about being in that similar place again made him rest easy, despite the nightmares he was soon going to face.

Devon however, wandered and when he came across Ridell, he was fully clothed in light armor, a broadsword strapped to his side and a bag of what must be more armor tucked in his other hand.

"Morn'n Cap'n! Ready for high seas adventure your first mate is!"

"If you werent my map to the damn place I would slap you for apointing yourself as my first mate. "

She pointed to the nearby dock, to a huge ship with red sails, the whole thing made with wood that was a natural dark red

"Get going, Im going to get Mikal"

She walked past him, and into the Goblin inn, one pointing up the stairs and she walked up to find Mikal in one of the rooms. She felt bad to wake him but knew they had to get going now. She sat at the end of the bed and shook his leg, whispering

"Mikal.. Lets go"

Devon laughed that gleeful laugh of his and grinned at the ship. He looked at her back as she watched away and called out.

"Mate huh!? I didn't know first mate had privileges!"

He cackled again and went running off to meet the ship and start poking around right away.

Mikal started to dream of the most beautiful sunset he had ever seen. He was smiling as he watched it, the world so peaceful, so calm. He knew it was a dream and would end but he held onto it for as long as he could...then her gentle voice spoke to him and with a deep frown he slipped away from that sunset.

His eyes blinked open slowly as he looked at Ridell. He didn't want to go. He didn't want to go. He didn't want to face that Nightmare again...but he wanted to see her happy. Wanted to help her...with a slight nod he rose and started to dress.

As he stood, Rid did as well

"I know you're not.. Enthusiastic about coming but.. I could really use the help. I dont know whats out there but.. I'll do what I can to keep you safe as well"

She then walked away, and back towards the docks, her crew of about 7 people gathering supplies from the goblins. She went down to the boat, each one saluting her as she walked past, and she went to the wheel, feeling along it, it had been a while since she sailed

Mikal nodded to Ridell, comforted only slightly as he pulled on his boots. He followed after her and had set foot on the boot. It was the first time in years he had been on a sailing vessel, but his legs remembered how to walk on water just fine. He looked at the members of the crew as they went about their duties, seemingly ignoring him for the time being. Unsure of where and how he could help he silently moved to the wheel and stood behind Ridell.

Devon on the other hand, was already on the ship and roaming all about it's innards before coming up on deck and straightening. He saluted the wheel and yelled out.

"Captain Monster Lady on deck! Hoo-ah!"

He cackled at himself and set to work helping the other members of the crew. Mostly pointing out flaws in the way they held crates, and laughing at how their boots were tied, or how their feet must smell.

Rid sighed, as the other members looked ready to attack him, but she shook her head, as they went about their duties

"Its going to take all my patience not to throw you overboard"

One of the crewmen came up to her, saying they had all their supplies and were all accounted for

"Alrite.. lets set sail.. you boys ready?"

Devon appeared at Ridell's other side, Mikal still just looking like a pale ghost behind her. Devon cleared his throat and yelled out.

"stand ready sea dogs! We be sail'n to certain doom and oblivion! Huzzah!"

Silence greeted his declaration. He coughed once.

"Right then. All set Captain!"

Mikal only nodded, not even knowing she she'd look at him as he looked down at the deck, trying to suppress remembering all the blood and death he had seen on the last ship he was on.

Rid rolled her eyes at him, as the sails were all pulled up and caught the nearest wind, and she steered it out of Booty bay

"Which way then Devon?"

She glanced at him, then looked at Mikal, who looked terribly nervous.

"You okay..?"

Rid sat at a table downstairs, pulling out a mug for both of them, filling it with some wine

"Mikal, I know youre nervous about all of this, but if you let it get to you.. Its going to end up getting you killed."

She then pulled out a paper and a pen, speaking low

"show me what you saw... and face it yourself"

Rid watched his shaking hand, watched each line he drew, until she saw the face, that face she both longed for and now was afraid of, afraid to see what it had become, not letting herself believe it was truely him.

After several moments, she took the picture, held it up, stared at it for a long while, before placing it back down on the table

"We're going to face him.."

She took a deep drink from her glass, still staring at the picture intently

"I promised.."

She saw the look in his eyes, and took to staring at her mug

"We promised to be together.. no matter what"

She fiddled with the mug, before downing the remainder of the wine, and letting out a deep sigh. One of the crewmen came down and complained about Devon commenting constantly on his steering

"Ignore him.. hes just trying to get you guys riled up.."

Rid was about to follow the man, until she felt a hand in hers, and looked, to see it was Mikal, as she relaxed back into her chair.

"I know.. It was a bad place. I know so many things must of happened.. But you cant go on living scared of them anymore. If you dont face them.. you're never going to truely die. You're going to be a restless spirit Mikal.."

She squeezed his hand, hoping that he would understand what she was trying to say

"You must face it with all the courage that I know is in you. Forget the rest of your life up until the moment you were on that ship.. Help me make sure no one else will suffer like your crew has"

To Mikal, it was weird seeing someone so young speaking powerful words as those. He felt water sting his eyes he thought on what she was trying to tell him. He watched her face as he thought about it turning into a shadow of the Nightmare's. The thought of two made him tremble, worse still if he was turned...

But what she said was right. If he didn't stand with her, he'd become a lost shade. More lost then those that were taken to be part of Kastorin's damned crew. He may, and probably will, be killed in the Dead Water but if he didn't try to help her...didn't try to help -him-...then trying to make up for all the evil things he had done in his life, was meaningless.

He continued to stare at Ridell, holding her hand, until finally he let go and stood. Without waiting to see if she'd follow or do, he turned and went up on deck. Devon was joyfully berating another crewman whose hand was slowly going for his sword. Mikal walked up to Devon and throw a punch he didn't expect.

Devon went sprawling into the deck and looked up at Mikal, who despite the ragged clothing was holding himself like a ship captain. He pointed down at Devon and the look on his face gave the command he couldn't say. Devon blinked up at him and raised his hands.

"A'right! A'right! I'll leave'm alone! Calm down Cap'n!"

Mikal stared at him a moment and Devon seemed to grow more serious. They stared at each other, their wordless gaze's speaking to each man. Devon was hiding behind insanity and what Kastorin had done to him. Mikal was hiding behind his loss of speech. Neither of them wanted to go back. Neither of them felt brave enough.

Mikal walked over and held out his hand to Devon, who slowly took it and got pulled up to his feet. They continued to stare at each other silently, as if each silent second was a conversation no one could possibly understand.

Rid stayed in her chair as he walked away, until she heard a punch, and quickly went running up onto deck, unsure of if one of her men had punched Devon, even though she wouldnt of blamed them. She then saw Mikal, realized it had been him. She stared in awe for quite a while, before shaking her head to clear it, and walked up behind Mikal

"Everything okay here boys?"

She was watching Devon, unsure if he had done anything extra to provoke Mikal to hit him, but it seemed to put him into his place, which she very much enjoyed

The pair stared at each other for a moment more before Mikal stepped back to stand next to Ridell. Devon rubbed the back of his head as he opened his jaw a few times. He then nodded to Riddel.

"Aye Cap'n Ridell. Everything is just peachy. And huh...I'm sorry bout the hard time i've been giving your crew."

Mikal nodded and Devon continued.

"It should...take us two days to get to Dead Water...and there's some things you should know before then..."