The Sea Orb

CHAPTER 8

It took an hour for Johnathan to travel back to Oakhelm. He went to his house first and picked up some of his savings. After that, he directly went to one of the construction sites in Oakhelm. He had a bit of trouble in asking around for the person he was searching for when one of the workers called out to him.

"I heard you were searching for El." The slightly skinny and dark man with Agro hair spoke cleaning his sweat with a rag. Johnathan finally heaved a sigh of relief.

"Ya Do you know where that lad is?" He asked while the man scratched his head for a bit.

"He talked about going to Fort Hill district, some of our men were appointed there to start the construction of a bridge. You will be able to meet him near the lake Alcove." He spoke sitting down on the pile of sandbags.

"Oh!" Johnathan muttered frowning. There were only 4 districts in Oakhelm, the largest town was Northlyn next was Springfield, Oakhelm was the third. Johnathan's house was in Bayside District, he was right now in Clarnact district. It would take him at least 30 minutes to travel to FortHill from here.

"Old Man! Oi!" The man in front of him waved at Johnathan.

"Sorry lad, I was just-"

"Nah, I don't mind. By the way, I'm William." The man introduced himself as he extended his hand.

"I'm Johnathan." He shook his hand.

"Do you wanna sit old man?" William gestured while Johnathan nodded in a no.

"I better get going. Thank ya!" Johnathan spoke while William shrugged and waved back at him.

Johnathan walked towards one of the Ox carts and paid the coachman some coppers.

The oxcart seems way cheaper than Horse carriages. Johnathan thought rubbing his beard.

After approximately 35 minutes, Johnathan stood right in front of FortHill district. There was hustle bustle as usual. He walked around for a few minutes and then he spotted the lake.

He walked alongside the lake when he spotted some men carrying the sandbags and officials standing at the distance with a piece of paper in their hands, maybe overseeing the work process.

He could easily spot the huge frame of Elijah who was carrying the sandbag as if it weighed nothing.

Johnathan pulled the worker who was passing by.

"Hey, lad! You know that guy?" Johnathan spoke.

"You mean Elijah?" Johnathan nodded his head vigorously.

"Yeah, that guy! Tell him Johnathan is here." He spoke pushing the worker who frowned at him before going towards Elijah. Johnathan looked at them from where he stood. Elijah and the worker seem to talk for a bit when the worker pointed towards Johnathan who waved his hand.

Elijah seems to nod at the worker before walking towards Johnathan.

"Uncle John!" Elijah spoke with a normal tone looking as expressionless as ever when Johnathan punched him in the arm playfully.

"You still are quite the softie aren't you!" Johnathan spoke with a grin with Elijah blinked his eyes in surprise. Elijah gestured Johnathan to sit on the bench near them.

"How did you find me here?" Elijah asked.

"A lad named William told me." He spoke while Elijah nodded his head.

"What brings you here, Uncle John?" He asked getting to the point.

"Straight to the point as always," Johnathan grumbled under his breath.

"Well, Marin and I-"

"Marin?!" Elijah spoke in a pitch higher than his usual voice shocking Johnathan.

"Oh yes, I have yet to explain it to ya," Johnathan spoke rubbing his forehead.

"What are you talking about Uncle John! Marin?" He questioned, his voice came out anxious.

"I found her." He said. He paused and then added-

"More like she found me." Elijah was even more confused.

"She has a plan. A plan which will get us back to the sea. Along with Devil's snare." He spoke looking at the crowd while Elijah clenched his fist.

Devil's Snare... Back to the sea...

His heart was practically hammering in his chest. The ship in which his friend died. The sea which betrayed them.

"What is left for us to go back to?" Elijah didn't realize that he spoke out loud.

"Answers." Johnathan paused.

"Answers to every damn question. Answer to why the heck did it happen to us." He spoke fisting his hand.

"Join us, Elijah, we need you. You are an important member." He spoke standing up.

"The sea never betrayed us, there is something more to it, something that we need to find out. And just so you know Renne is coming," Johnathan spoke and walked away without another glance. Behind him, Elijah was sitting still as a rock. His mind was clouded.

We need you... He doesn't need to go.

Answers to every damn question... He doesn't need to find answers.

A plan which will get us back to the sea... He can stay here in Oakhelm and work. The pay is good. He can keep living like this-

"He looks scary!" "Doesn't he have any sort of expression?" "Why did I have to work with him?"

That's right, he can live here, he can earn money but he can never be happy.

But there-

"El, come on Wha'cha doin'?" "El! Smile a little kiddo." Captain Neil never had a problem with his expressions. There, everyone knew him. There, he could stay as he is.

His thoughts were interrupted by the official calling him. He looked at the direction Johnathan went before standing up and going to work again.

~.~

Carrying a long sheathed sword along with a sack of gold and her clothes and trying to be as inconspicuous as possible was a little over the top for Marin. People looked. And looked. And looked. Thank god no guards have noticed her yet.

She made her way to the inn she was staying in and went into her room. Once into her room she quickly dumped everything on the bed lied beside them. Taking a deep breath she sat down and looked into the sack. There was gold. Lots of it. Perks of being a commander. Alright, Ex - commander.

But not enough to buy an entire ship kind of gold. She needed to think something else. Steal the ship. No, no matter how tempting the idea of stealing the ship from right under their noses sound. But eventually, it will grab attention. Which she definitely didn't want. It might endanger her big plan. So it was a no.

Which means she needs to find other means to get money. But what?

She looked around the room thinking when her eyes fell on the commander uniform placed on a chair. The commander's uniform.

The general and his sole commander.

Slowly a plan began formulating in her mind. This was going to be interesting. She thought with a smirk.

She changed her clothes into a different set. One that looked like the guard's uniform. Obviously. It was her previous uniform when she was a soldier in training. Most of the soldiers in training have the same uniform as the royal guards.

She looked at her sword but decided against it. A sword would mean too much attention.

Instead, she took two of her daggers and kept them in her pocket.

Marin got out of the inn and walked through the streets until she spotted the royal palace. There were four guards on the front entrance fully armed. She could see a few shadows in the surrounding. No noticeable weapons but they were probably carrying a short sword or a dagger on them.

She had no doubt that the other entrances were also the same. f**k. She should have known better than to think that she would be able to waltz in there. It was a royal banquet after all. Why wouldn't they heighten their security?

Damn. There has to be some other way. She gritted her teeth and concealed herself near in the small wooden cart filled with hay which looked abandoned, waiting.

~.~

Marin woke up with a jerk and looked around. She was still here. She did not know how much time it had been but from the cramps in her leg, she bet it was a lot. She stood up slowly straightening her clothes and jumped down from the cart. The sun was already setting when a carriage caught her attention. The carriage was flanked by guards on either side and was proceeding towards the palace. This must be someone important. She thought.

Taking a deep breath she blended into the guards at the end. Her nerves were trembling but she knew what to do. So with practiced ease, she moved forward as if she has done this a number of this. And she did.

The guards at the entrance saluted looking at the carriage. And then finally the gates were opened and she was in.

The carriage door opened and the guards moved to surround the supposedly important person while Marin took off in the other direction and into the palace corridors. The security inside was a little liberal.

She moved throughout the rooms in search of something. Information. She needed to know the security arrangement in the banquet so that she could plan how to get in.

She was about to enter into another corridor when few voices grabbed her attention. She peeked to see a few men coming out of the room with some documents. It looked like official work.

She waited for all of them to leave and entered inside to find a huge empty mahogany table. And numerous chairs around it. It looked more of a meeting place than a private cabin. She widened her eyes as the realization struck her. This is the war council.

There were a few documents spread around the table. Looks like the meeting just ended and someone didn't clear these things. She took a look at them to see they were soldier formation. It must be for the banquet. She thought.

She looked through the outer security but before she could see further she heard voices nearing. Someone's coming. She hurriedly looked around for a place to hide. But there were none. Having no other choice she went under the table.

"I can't believe you would refuse to come to the banquet." She heard an exasperated voice speak.

"Not you too, sir Raymond. You know I don't like these social gatherings." A young man's voice was bland.

"But it was you who initiated the idea of the peace treaty young man. It was all your efforts and diplomacy that managed the success of this feat. So how could you not go to the feast." The man - sir Raymon grunted.

"It doesn't matter. Father- the king would handle the feast. I am fine with being in my room." The young man spoke.

The prince.

She felt the footsteps get closer to the table and she brought her knees to her chest trying hard to conceal herself as much as possible.

There was a rustling of papers and then- "Sir Raymond, did anyone enter the room before us?" the Prince inquired.

"No, my prince." Sir Raymond spoke.

"The papers are at a different angle than before. Someone must have been here." The prince spoke seriously making her breath hitch.

"Really, but they are in the same place as before. And with the security outside, I don't think anyone would be foolish enough to intrude into the palace. Don't fret dear. There isn't anyone." Raymond spoke reassuringly.

Thank you, Sir Raymond... Marin thought though she took a little offense on his label of her as a fool.

"You are right... Maybe I am just overthinking things. I need some rest after that long journey from Zemira. You should also return to your duties." The prince spoke.

"Yes, my prince." Sir Raymond spoke respectfully and left after bowing to him.

Sir Raymond. As much as she knew he must be the current war council head of the kingdom.

She heard the rustling of the papers again and then the footsteps faded. Looks like they left.

She waited for a few moments more just to be sure and then got up from under the table.

So the prince will not be attending the banquet. good, now she knew exactly what to do.

~.~

Meanwhile, in Bayside District.

A knock on the door disturbed Johnathan who was sharpening his blades. Grumbling about how he couldn't even work in peace, Johnathan went to open the door.

The person standing on the other side didn't surprise him much.

"Good, you are late though. Come on, help me, I have tons of blades yet to be polished." He spoke going back to his place while Elijah scratched his head a bit before following him in.

"Uncle John-" Johnathan turned towards him.

"You are in right?" He asked while Elijah nodded his head.

"Yup that's all, Come on we have much to do and too little time."