The Sea Orb

CHAPTER 6

Marin opened the wooden front door as quietly as she could. She glanced around a little, on not finding anyone she tiptoed into her room only to gasp. There stood Johnathan with his hands on his hips looking pissed.

"Where were you?" he asked in a no-nonsense tone.

Marin rubbed her nape nervously as she stammered " Well, I... I just got out for some fresh air..."

"Hmm," Johnathan narrowed his eyes at her and then sighed. Marin visibly relaxed as she knew he wasn't suspicious of her anymore. She moved to the table and poured herself a glass of water

"So... How was the ship... just as you remembered right?" He spoke making her choke on water. She coughed loudly and then after a few seconds of calming herself down looked at him. He was looking at her with a teasing grin.

"How?" She asked scratching her head... Not knowing how he found out.

"What how... I have watched over you since you were little, kiddo. I know you. And I know how attached you are to the ship. You wouldn't have gotten peace until you saw it for yourself." He spoke with a grin ruffling her hair.

She just smiled sheepishly.

"Now go and freshen up. The breakfast is ready." With that, he left her room. Marin sat down on the bed for a moment. She took the Binoculars from her pocket and put on the side table before stretching her arms.

Her eyes were a little dry due to the lack of sleep. She went to the attached bathroom to see a square mirror with broken edges attached on the wall on her right and a small tub with water and a white cloth which she assumed was the towel. Her hand went to her forehead. The once purplish bruise was now fading away. The black eye was still there while her split lip was almost recovered. There were bruises on her stomach but none of them pained much.

She used the towel and dipped it into the tub and cleaned her face slowly as she fell into a deep thought of what she should do next.

~.~

Marin sat on the chair in the living room in front of Johnathan who was already engrossed in eating. She looked at her breakfast, it consisted of garlic bread with an onion soup. She started devouring too.

"It's good." Better than the food I am used to... She spoke taking a bite.

"I picked up some onions yesterday, glad you like it," Johnathan spoke with a grin.

"Last night you told me we needed people, remember," Johnathan spoke breaking the silence. Marin nodded in acknowledgment.

"I know a few who live around. But for now, let's start with the closest ones." Johnathan suggested.

"I have to travel to Northlyn tomorrow for some work. Is any of us living in there?" Marin asked.

"Yes, there seem to be two of them. Since you have nothing going on for today. Why don't you join me...?" He spoke.

"I?" Marin looked surprised but then nodded. "Who are we meeting today?" She asked curiously.

"Renne," Johnathan spoke with a smile.

Renne... Her memories blurred for a second. All she could remember was a 20-year-old woman playing with her but she couldn't remember her face.

So, she was going to meet her. It's been so long. How would she be doing?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Johnathan who was taking his bowl back to the kitchen.

~.~

It took them an hour to travel to Springfield, the town was mostly populated by bakers and merchants. Right in the heart of the town was the largest market of Amaris, the shadow market. There were numerous merchants selling, buying, bargaining, and whatnot. The market was well known to offer you anything that you seek for the right price, but most don't actually realize that sometimes what they bargained for could cost them more than they could comprehend.

Johnathan was paying the coachman a silver and some coppers grumbling how expensive it is to ride a horse-drawn carriage nowadays.

Marin roamed her eyes across the stalls ignoring Johnathan until a certain someone collided with her. She looked down to find a 7-year-old boy huffing. She held him steadily.

She was about to say something when she heard someone shouting from a distance. A middle-aged man was running and yelling "Thief, thief!"

Looking at the boy's fearful expression, she could interpret what must have happened so she caught hold of the boy and hid him in an alleyway which was a bit dim and covered by the stalls. The middle-aged man stood at the place that they previously occupied huffing and looking around for the kid thief. Still not finding any clue he sighed and turned back cursing his fate.

The kid looked at the man going away and turned back to see his savior standing crossing her arms to her chest. He gave her a toothy grin and muttered, "Thank you."

Marin sighed and spoke up "Look kid I don't know why you stole from that man and honestly in don't even want to know but remember the next time you do this, try not to get caught."

Completing her speech, Marin walked away to join Johnathan who by now was looking here and there surely searching for her only. She went towards him. Johnathan turned towards her and spoke exasperatedly "Just why in the world do you keep disappearing....?"

Marin lets out a small smile at that. Johnathan sighs and asks "Where were you now?"

She lets out a chuckle remembering the little boy and mutters "Saving a thief."

With that, she walks forwards leaving a dumbfounded Johnathan to comprehend her sentence.

~.~

Marin was never the one to deal with uncertainty. She was always the decisive one. For her, it was either doing the thing or not. There was no in-between for her. But now, standing in front of the door which will lead to Renne she was filled with apprehension.

What was she doing? Would Renne recognize her? Would she even want to talk to her? After all that happened would she welcome them?

Before her uncertainty makes her think otherwise Johnathan knocked on the door effortlessly bringing Marin out of her daze. Marin gave a glare to Johnathan and then looked at the door nervously after hearing footsteps. The door opened to reveal a really familiar boy. The kid thief Marin thought, tilting her head.

The kid too looked at her shocked but it only lasted a few seconds before a wide grin covered his face. "Savior!" He shouted throwing his hands up and then held her hand dragging her inside. "Mommmm... Momm look whose here." He yells as he brought her inside the small living room.

Marin didn't have a minute to comprehend what had happened just now. The little boy released her hand and started hopping around making the floor creak.

"Hopper! How many times do I have to tell you to stop hopping?" A woman's voice was heard from what Marin thought must be the kitchen. Her voice sounded really unhappy. She came out holding a ladle in her hand.

She wore a plain dark blue gown that had brown smudges on the ends mostly due to wiping their hands on it and a white apron-like cloth with was covered with ash at places. Her blonde hair was tied in a messy bun and her forehead was covered with sweat beads. She had a pair of normal brown eyes.

Johnathan walked towards the chair and took a seat with a huff.

"I have truly grown old." He spoke patting his knees while Marin rolled her eyes. Who was the man that visited every single stall and bought nothing but could still walk towards the other lane without breaking a sweat?

"Come on uncle. You know that's nowhere near the truth." Renne spoke as she smiled at him. She looked at Marin for a second, she frowned as she turned her gaze towards Johnathan.

Meanwhile, Hopper tugged her gown.

"Mommmm savior." He pointed towards Marin who gave her a really awkward smile.

"Savior? I didn't think you had already met Renne's boy." Johnathan spoke confused while Marin was opened her mouth to speak.

"She is a hero! She saved me, she helped me escape from a bad uncle like woosh!" He spoke while moving his arms around.

"You stole again? And you almost got caught?" Renne asked exasperatedly while Hopper who bit his lip.

"Aye! Now, now don't be so harsh on the kid Renne. You were just as naughty as he was." Johnathan chimed in while Renne widened her eyes.

"Uncle!" She hushed him while Hopper giggled. Marin tried to hide a small smile of her own when Johnathan exclaimed.

"Right! I almost forgot. Renne, you definitely remember this little girl right here don't you?" Johnathan spoke pointing to Marin while Marin looked down feeling nervous all of a sudden as everyone's attention was on her.

Renne narrowed her eyes at Marin before widening them with a gasp.

"Oh my!" She exclaimed as she stepped near Marin who pressed her fingertips to stay calm.

"Ma- Marin?" Renne spoke as she recognized her green eyes while Hopper was confused. Why was his mother looking at his savior like that?

"Yes," Marin spoke finally looking at Renne. Renne's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Oh god!" She exclaimed hugging Marin tightly. Due to the force, a stinging sensation begins due to the bruises on her stomach. Not caring about those, she wraps her arms around Renne, hugging her as tightly as she can, taking in her warmth.

Renne loosed her hold and took a step back only to gasp again.

"Oh my! Who did this to you?" She asked caressing her forehead and her eyes while Marin hissed when Renne touched her sore spot.

"Well, It's a long story," Marin spoke while Renne took her hand and made her sit on the chair and asked hopper to bring a salve.

"Well, I have got all the time in the world," Renne spoke holding Marin's callus hand.

With that Marin explained everything that happened to her. The whole time Renne had tears in her eyes but she was proud of what Marin did.

"I am proud of you. You were a brave girl. Not many people can do that. I am really proud of you." She spoke as she caressed Marin's hair who lowered her head biting back her tears while Johnathan looked at the two girls with fondness in his eyes who grew up before him.

Hopper put his hand on top of Marin's who looked at him in confusion.

"Don't cry." He spoke with a sad pout while Marin smiled at him.

"So, We came here to ask you to join us, Renne," Johnathan spoke cutting the silence while Renne was taken aback.

"Me?" She asked while Marin nodded.

"But Hopper.." She trailed off while Marin took a deep breath.

"Hopper can come too," Marin spoke while Renne looked a bit conflicted.

"You don't need to agree right away. Take your time." Marin spoke while Renne nodded her head.

"We will be heading towards Northlyn tomorrow," Marin spoke while Renne appeared a bit distracted for a second.

"So, where are you guys staying? If you don't have a place then-" She was cut by Johnathan.

"We have some work in the town, and you don't need to worry Renne, We will come to visit you tomorrow morning." He spoke while Renne nodded her head.

After talking for some time both Marin and Johnathan left the house leaving Renne in deep thought.

~.~

"Why did you say that? We don't have any work here." Marin asked while Johnathan rolled his eyes.

"It was necessary to give her some alone time." He spoke walking through the crowd while Marin nodded her head absentmindedly.

"Attention Merchants and Bakers of Springfield." The knight dressed in sky blue uniform with bits of gold and a black hat announced. This bought Marin out of her thinking spree.

That was definitely the royal palace guard's uniform. Marin frowned and dragged Johnathan along with her and blended in the crowd near them.

"Our Majesty, the great, Alexander Atkins, has officially announced that the victory banquet will be held to honor the knights and citizens in battle, to honor the general and his sole commander, to honor both the prime ministers and the council men, to honor the prince and his majesty the great. It is to be held exactly 7 days from now when the moon shines the brightest."

"Praise his majesty!" One of the onlookers shouted and all the people started to sing cheers. Marin's mind was fixed on one thing.

To honor the general and his sole commander...

She gritted her teeth and clenched her hands. Johnathan dragged her away before she could move towards the knights.

To say she was angry was an understatement. Marin was practically seething in rage.

~.~