The Last Realm: The Blood of Clans

4: Vaina del Sol

“Best make yourselves comfortable, we got a little bit of a trip ahead of us.” Called out, who I assumed to be, the ship captain. That was my first mistake of many on the sea vessel.

I walked onto the deck of the ship to find Jace, Kat, and Aurelia already standing near the door to the lower decks, and what I assumed must be the cabins, for us to sleep. The brown haired green-eyed boy, Chang stood directly in front of me with an inquisitive grin on his face. I was sure that he had as many questions about me as I surely did about him and his situation. I was also curious as to which other royal snots and their attendants would be on our boat as well. I had yet to see any signs of a captain or crew, so I figured it might be best to meet the youngest Toshezo prince.

“Your name is Chang, right?” I asked while approaching the younger boy, surprised to find us at about the same height. He had on a simple black vest worn over a short yellow shirt that seemed to match the khaki-like trousers that were tucked into a pair of black high leather boots.

“Indeed, though I didn't catch yours from the docks. I take it you're from the holy island then?” He fired back just as fast as I could ask or think of my next question.

At this moment, Jace and the girls had taken notice of the beginnings of our exchange and made their way over to crash the party. I felt a hand clap me on the left shoulder as the two girls moved to my right.

“Yeah, this is master James, he's relative to the Bishop.” Jace drawled out, but the weird expression made my nose wrinkle.

“I think you mean, relative of the bishop.” Kathryn started in quietly enough so the correction wouldn't escape earshot.

“Nah, relative to.” Jace smirked back at the girl, earning a frustrated huff as she seemingly gave up on countering further.

“So, Chang.” Aurelia cut into the void of conversation. “Is it just you coming?”

The young clan prince nodded his head in slight embarrassment, a light blush across his cheeks. “Afraid so, this ‘winter ball’ is intended for a select age range. So I was told at least by mother, and that leaves me the only one capable of participating.”

“Wait, what do you mean? Age range and capable?” I jumped back into the topic quickly.

“Well, to build relations and possible matches in years to come, about every decade or so, a ‘winter ball’ is held for available royalty between the ages of ten to twenty. That is of course that the current state of the country allows it.” Chang explained. “Since my oldest brother, Naren, went to his years ago, and with how things are at home, that leaves just me.”

“You mean with Tajima missing, it leaves just you?” I asked back, slightly regretting the question as it left my lips.

“Missing? Ha.” An all too familiar and overly loud voice burst towards us at a quickening pace, followed with a heavier set of boots slapping the deck behind it. “As if the coward is really missing.”

“Brother…” Aurelia seemed to snarl in regard to the approach of prince Vahn.

“As I was saying.” He smiled in a most unpleasant manner, scanning the five of us over. “That whelp of a prince isn't just missing. He ran away, because he couldn't handle the responsibility of his title. He always was a coward, so it's no real surprise.”

“Tajima wouldn't run away. He has a reason, he would never just leave us all like that.” Chang seemed ready to burst into tears, which made me realize that despite the bravado he put up, he was still young and traveling for the first real time, too.

“Such a pathetic prince, leaving his family and country in the way he did. If I were his parents, I don't think I'd allow...” Vahn was interrupted before the sentence could get any further.

“Silence!” Came the bellow from a giant of a man, as he strode over to us quickly. Dwarfing even Vahn's attendant Wesley Stocco, by at least a head, if not more.

We all shrunk back a little, stunned and staring up in awe and fear, as it took a moment to click that this was the man who had been shouting orders about as we had been boarding.

“You have no place to speak about the affairs of countries that do not concern you. Nor will I have such bullying aboard this vessel.” The demanding tone was stated to all of us, but specifically directed at the culprit.

It took me another moment to notice the three figures standing behind the giant man, who cast such a shadow that his appearance seemed hidden from me in full. Two slightly older boys, than me that is, and a young girl who appeared to be close to Chang's age. Which I would guess about twelve.

The first young man with black hair tied back into a ponytail, was wearing black and green robes. He had a single katana sword on his left side, and quickly wasted no time in stepping over to us, then placing himself between Chang and the group. It wasn't difficult to figure out that he was Chang's attendant. The other young man was by far more rugged, informal and pirate looking. He had dark brown hair that was kept swept out of his face, but the only thing standing out was the small hatchet sitting on his left as well.

That just left the younger girl, who stood in contrast to the three much larger men. She had a deep auburn color of hair, that was more red than brown. A startling set of deep blue irises, nearly a purple hue, and a matching purple dress that was worn over gray tights. The similar purple boots and black gloves and hat made the outfit slightly over the top.

“So, this is my assistant Troy, and behind us is the acting-captain, lady La Croix.” The giant-man bellowed, but without the previous command of earlier.

Jace nudged me lightly as introductions were being made, the scolding having just finished. This caused me to stare rather dumbly at who I assumed had been the captain, to the young girl who stood shorter than all of us and was the apparent captain.

“We're all going to crash.” Vahn said in frustration as he stomped off, with Stocco trudging behind him, as they disappeared below deck.

“Crash? What utter nonsense.” The pirate attendant, Troy mumbled out with a slight laugh before turning to yell at the retreating Vahn and Stocco. “Tell me, your highness, what exactly are we going to crash into? The sea?”

The large man waved him away dismissively as Troy scurried after the other two; calling taunts the whole while until all three disappeared below decks. It took only a short few seconds before the man had our attention again.

“Uh, just out of curiosity…but is this it?” I asked a bit nervously as I looked around our group of eight, noticing how rather empty the decent sized ship was.

“Ah, you must be master James.” The large man smiled, a hand slamming into my arm with a slap that made me go slightly numb for a moment. “I believe we have two more guests on board, no doubt sleeping I'd imagine.”

“There will be more people at this ball than just the ten of us, I hope. It would be a little wasted if so, we could just get acquainted here instead.” I tried to ask and reason at the same time, which caused a couple bursts of laughter.

“Two other ships were sent out a week or so ago, each has about roughly the same amount. It's all divided up by location, and then who is less likely to kill who, on the way over.” The young girl captain chuckled in her response.

“That seems…slightly barbaric, to be honest.” I comment back, but the conversation had already turned. The girl was now addressing Aurelia and Chang.

“Don't worry, I'm sure we'll all find Tajima soon enough. Things will be fine and back in working order within no time.”

This didn't seem overly pleasing for the princess to hear, but Chang seemed a bit more at ease with the remarks. The two captains, as I thought of them, then left to attend the ship and we stood talking about minor things for a short while. Eventually an evening bell tolled for the meal, and I realized it would be my first in over a day. The sun having not yet set on the endless horizon of sea around us, we paused for a brief moment to admire the scenery before heading below ourselves.

I was a little nervous during the meal, having a seat at the long table with almost everyone accounted for. Vahn was absent but a very young blonde girl in a red dress greeted us. I learned her name was Guinevere and that she was a princess of Reysbel, which was the country farthest west, past Altamira and the clans. Her attendant was a teenage girl, slightly older than myself, who never said a single word during or after the meal.

The food was something else. I know it was some sort of seafood but had never experienced anything like it back home, I was unsure what to make of it at first. I quickly warmed up to the meal though, and learned shortly after, that we were eating a type of whale meat. Nothing of an overly big whale, but Troy explained that for special occasions the ships were stocked with a small kind of whale-fish that resided near only the western island of Thrylia, in a sea that not many pirates dared sail.

After the meal, we split into groups of boys and girls and got a little more familiar with each other. Chang and his attendant, Seiji, explained the trouble behind their clans, and how they had four ruling families that made up a sort of makeshift council. That how with Tajima gone, Naren had been maneuvering for one unified, or subjugated, clan country. It was a topic that made everyone ill at ease, and we later told Chang of our plans to try and find out any sort of information regarding his brother in Tasard. He volunteered to help as much as he could.

That ended the first day on the ship bound for more trouble than adventure, and we all retired to our bunks for rest. I had met a variety of people in my first day in this new strange land, and on my birthday no doubt. I thought about the large man who hadn't introduced himself on the ship, and what his role could possibly be.

“Say pal, quite a packed day ain't it?” Jace peered over his bunk above mine with a grin.

“You could say that again. All this information, a new world and people everywhere… and I'm gonna be stuck on a boat for the next week. Ha ha.” I couldn't help laugh a little at the irony that was presented to me.

“That's what I call luck. In the morning, we can try to educate you little more. Maybe even see where you stand in terms of combat and weapons.”

I swallowed hard at the thought, but he pulled me out with a final last thought.

“Forget to mention, but I got a present for you just in case nothing else works right. Night.” That was the last thing I remembered before a long, dreamless sleep assailed me. A harsh light crashing into my face woke me up.

“Up and at them, pal.” Jace sounded like he was so close that he was screaming in my ear, but when I opened my eyes and yawned myself awake I noticed he was standing a couple of feet away and wearing rather plain looking clothes.

“I haven't missed anything important, have I?” I wondered as I swung my legs over the cot and prepared to toss myself the few feet down to the floor.

“Missed anything? Like what? We're still at sea, last I checked.” Jace laughed, the sound echoing around in my head louder than it should have been.

“Gah. Mind keeping it down or something.” I complained slightly.

“Don't tell me you got seasick or something.” Jace chided back playfully, as I put on the same working type clothes he was wearing.

“I don't think that's it…maybe something I ate.” I fussed back, trying to adjust to the increased noise volume within my head. It wasn't going very well.

“I bet the captain might know. We should ask, might we have some fun first?”

I tried to imagine what kind of fun we would be having in the middle of the ocean, but it didn't take me long to find out. As I stepped onto the upper deck, nearly everyone was already standing around waiting. Even Vahn and his crony were off to the side, seemingly poised to watch a good show hopefully unfold for them.

I stopped in my tracks, as a table lay near the large mast of the ship, and splayed out on it were a host of different weapons. There were a couple of swords of varying sizes, a few daggers and knives, a spear-like weapon or two and a small axe like a hatchet. The only thing not on the table was any sort of bow, but I had already noticed that both Jace and Aurelia used some type of ranged weapon, so I assumed they thought it best if I didn't as well.

“Well pal, step on up and try ya hand.” Jace called out with a smile.

Hesitantly, I approached the table and started from the far left side. I could hear Vahn snickering from my clumsiness of trying to hold onto the first sword I had picked up. His laughter faded out while I was presented with the second challenge to my testing. An opponent.

To test my swordsmanship, my opponent was none other than the young girl-captain. I had the smallest sword from the table in my hands, and that only delayed my defeat by a matter of seconds. I was unsure whether captain La Croix was that skilled or I was just that bad, either way the tests continued.

Troy tested me with the axe, easily defeating me. Jace faced me when it came to spears, but I fared the same disasters as before. Eventually the only things left were bows and daggers. I declined the offer to test myself with a bow, knowing it would end up being the most embarrassing thing out of all the weapons for me, which only left the daggers and Kathryn.

“This is the last and I hate to say that you've been failing rather miserably.” Kathryn huffed at me, a slight scowl on her face as she tossed a dagger into the floorboards at me feet. “Once you're ready, pick it up and we'll begin.”

“Might as well leave it there, worthless as you are.” Vahn finally snapped, his entertainment finally about to come to an end.

“Can't you stay out of anything?” Aurelia shot back, while I seriously considered not going for the final challenge.

“Shut your trap, girl.” Vahn answered roughly, before taunting. “It's obvious this boy has no talent and is a pretty terrible excuse for what the Bishop wants in his heir. I can't wait for your holy little nation to crumble once you have power. Maybe I can help you along with that myself.”

“I believe that is more than enough.” the young captain spoke out.

“Yes, perhaps it is.” Vahn paused for a moment. “I'm stuck on this ridiculous excuse of a ship, with a pint sized captain who isn't even worthy of serving my meals yet. This whole thing is nothing but one outrageous joke after another.”

“Lady Rose, allow me please.” The giant-men requested, coming around from the back of the ship where he had been quietly manning us towards Tasard.

“I…I won't back down from even some overly large buffoon as yourself, either.” Vahn spouted, visibly trying to creep behind Stocco for safety.

“Do you even know who I am?” The man questioned, but only got a laugh in return, before he turned his attention towards where we stood near the mast.

“I apologize for the delay in introductions, please permit me to introduce myself at last.”

“Ha, as if it's needed.” Vahn was cut off as a large sword slammed into the side of the railing where he stood.

“I needed to examine you before I made myself present.” He paused but smiled awkwardly.

“I thought you were pretty present yesterday.” I tried to chuckle, but the laugh came out slightly strained.

“Mm.” Came the grunt reply before he continued. “On behalf of the Leontyne islands, I would like to say how honored we are to have you.”

Vahn would have likely protested then and there, but Troy and Seiji soundly escorted him off the deck. This gave everyone's full attention toward the overly formal man.

“My name is Gareth Galdeira, son-in-law to the pirate king, Tobin Morvant, and uncle to your acting-captain, lady Rose La Croix.”

All of the titles sounded heavy, but it was the reaction from Jace and the girls that stunned me most. They all bowed with great care, so I quickly followed suit. Jace wasted no time though in quickly filling me in.

Gareth was one of the four pirate lords; he was the southern lord to be specific. He had an entire armada under his command, one that was arguably the best in the world. Gareth not only was a giant of a man, but, carried around one of the famed swords in all the countries and kingdoms, often referred to as ‘The Nameless'.

“If you don't mind my interruption, I would like to administer the final tests. I have a feeling about them.” He said with another awkward smile.

I could only nod, as Kat put away her knives and Gareth grabbed a small sword off the table. When he held it, it definitely looked like only a small dagger. He had to be close to seven feet tall, with no end to the body mass of muscles. He has windswept dark brown hair, covering up a pair of eerie yet entrancing eyes. Ones like that of a predator, a deep set of blue and green mixed together, but with an underlying color that I couldn't quite tell.

Steadying myself, I pulled the dagger from the floor and launched myself at the behemoth man. He quickly deflected my attack and planted me face first into the deck. This was a pattern that kept repeating for a couple minutes, as he refused to disarm me or end the test.

“I believe the dagger isn't completely your style, something just slightly bigger but not a full sword. Don't you agree, master Calder?”

“Uh.. yeah.. of course.” Jace stammered back slowly, causing the group of onlookers to laugh much to his expense.

“Young lady, if you be so kind as to retrieve the small staff from behind the table.” Gareth directed toward Kat, who wasted no time in doing so.

It was past midday now and I was sure that our training would resume. Instead, we settled for some fresh fish and rice. I felt beaten and exhausted from having lost and do miserably with so many weapons, but was enlightened to hear that Gareth would spend the rest of our trip personally catching me a little up to speed. It was a personal request from the Bishop, one that I was more than grateful for.

After lunch we had more of a private training session and I learned as much about sailing and the sea, as I did how to defend myself. I was still rather terrible, but the proceedings continued for most of the next few days. I soaked up as much as I possibly could, and Gareth seemed pleased to have the extra hand tending to the ship, but it wore me out a great deal and I had little to no time with any of the others.

When we got within a day of Tasard, I was given a reprieve from my apprenticeship for the afternoon. Jace was finally able to pull me aside as the sight of land came into view on the looming horizon.

“I meant to give you this sooner, but well.. you know.” He laughed lightly, as his hand extended and grasped mine firmly.

“Uh.. thanks.” I stammered out, before looking down at the small, shiny golden object in my palm.

I stared down at the small golden butter knife. At least it would have been a butter knife, if not for the razor sharp blades that made it more like some sleeve sized golden needle.

“It's called the Vaina del Sol.” Jace drawled out slowly as the girls passing by interrupted us.

“That means sheath of the sun.” The young blonde, Guinevere said with a curious expression as she looked over the little dagger.

Troy rushed out to where we were all huddled about, beaming happily. “We're finally within reach of Faust. Everyone packed up and ready to go?”

I paused and looked at him while slipping the knife away. “Within reach?”

“Aye. Just about an hour, if not less. You should have a look for yourself.”

I rushed up to the prow of the ship, finding both Gareth and the young captain Rose standing there as the port city of Faust stood in front of us. It was seated nearly right on the coast, it’s docks running out into the waters' edges, and to the left of the city walls was a deep icy looking river.

“That's the Yerves River, it's a nasty piece of work but somehow seems to never freeze over during their deepest winters.” Gareth explained, as he focused intently on the landscape.

“The what?” I asked, puzzled at the pronunciation.

“Yerves…trying sounding it out. Urh-ve-is.” Rose smiled at me, happy to be instructing something that was deemed important.

“I think I got it and that's quite amazing if I say so myself. How does it not freeze?” I asked with a curious glance, but a muffled yell was heard from back near the cabins.

“This is bad…this is so bad…” Chang cursed while rushing up to where we stood at the prow, followed the majority of everyone else.

“What's bad?” I asked, as the piers and docks came fully into view.

“He's bad.” came the reply, and a pointing gesture at the raven- haired man standing firmly planted and awaiting our arrival.

His hair was pulled back into a long ponytail that must have hung down to about his shoulders, and he carried multiple swords on his belt. His arms folded across his chest made him look even less appealing, but I didn't need much introduction to know whom this could be.

“Naren..” the words slowly rolled off Chang's tongue with a spite and hatred that I'd had yet to hear, but the man on the docks had seemed not to notice us approaching. He was staring further out to the west, as if awaiting someone else.