Quiet Burdens

Chapter 4

Chapter Start!

After wandering around the big ship, and Captain Roland telling everyone Cole was no threat, literally.

Cole disapproved.

But most of the crew knew him from the Day Dream Inn, or at least knew his cooking.

The SS Valor was a large Oak ship, having been used for basically everything, they had a crew filled with mixed people; Gil is a Blacksmith, Victoria helps at the Shrine of Crytinia, Rita was the first mate, but liked to go off and do her own thing most of the time, even Darlin some random guy who just showed up one day is a part of the crew now.

Roland ended up asking Cole to come with him into the large Captain's quarters.

The teen walked into the room, quickly seeing the walls lined with red silk, and a chair and desk sat in the middle, a window hung behind looking back from the ship.

"So what did you want?" Cole asked as he eyed the room.

The Captain closed the door behind him, and looked down, then over to the teen.

"Do you remember what Rose said?" he started his way over to Cole, "how she adopted you?" Roland cocked his head, "You know... I was the one who found you"

"Thank you..?" Cole said.

"Ya... if only it were true... I actually Saved you..." He made his way behind his desk, and sat down.

"Trials had gone into the Grace Grasslands, and kidnapped a kid. We were asked to go save the kid, and find a place to hide 'em" Roland pulled out a drink, "So we did, this kid had hair like gold, when we found the kid he was only two" he took a drink from the flask.

"We brought the kid to Rose, because we didn't know what to do with him" he shrugged, then looked up to Cole's shocked face.

"I see you put to and to together" Roland stood, and wandered to the window. "So we will be going to Port Bexley, in the Grace Highlands. Because of your looks, you'll need something to hide that hair of yours, it's unusual for people in this day and age to have blonde hair." He took another drink.

"Why is that?" Cole asked the tall man, who sighed, "The goddess took light from the world, stealing that ability from the people meant the effects the element did to a person was taken away as well. Blonde hair meant a good connection to light magic"

Roland stood after this, and walked to the window.

"I'll be sending you with Rita and Gil to the capital to deliver the swords, I'll be leaving them there for sometime as we do a few more things around the world." The large man turned.

"The kingdom of Harstar is savage, so I want you to read up on their history, and while you're at it, read up on Clyden's as well, they keep this in tight nits, so we don't want you to get in trouble for something stupid" he pulled a few books from his desk, and placed them on the table in front of Cole.

"Also you'll be working in the kitchen with our cook until we get to Bexley." He grabbed a small string, and pulled it. "Rita will show you where to go" he smiled.

Cole nodded quietly, and a knock at the door stopped the teen from asking anything, the door opened, showing an Elf, with burning red and orange hair, and smoky dark gray eyes, she had a green bandana around her messy bangs, and glared into the room.

"Hey, Captain?" Cole asked before leaving, "What about Rose?"

"Don't worry, I sent her a message" he gave a smirk, and let the two leave.

Rita looked at Cole after they left the Captains room; she looked him up and down. "So your Gil's little friend who hates the water" her glare was unknown, and cold.

"Umm... Ya, why?" Cole took a step back, "Oh nothing, come on" she made her way down some steps, and the two stepped in a dark area. Wooden crates filled the hallway, where a crate wasn't a door was and at the end of the hall was an open door.

They walked through that oak door, to a descent sized kitchen.

A Girl was in there humming, but when she noticed, she made her way over with a smile, the dim light made it hard to tell who it was, but when she stepped into the light, Cole recognized her!

The Cook Girl; was Victoria.

"Hey, Victoria!" Cole smiled, and her face lit up, recognizing the voice. "Hey Cole!" she smiled, "I see they put you down here with me!"

Rita rolled her eyes, and turned to the girl, "You better go through everything with him, the kid hasn't been on a boat for a few years, I'm surprised he hasn't thrown up yet"

Victoria laughed to this, her smirk showed it all; they were going to mess with Cole all they could before they got to the port town.

A few days had passed and they made it to the town.

Docking Cole ran to the side of the ship; looking out to the town, his eyes lit up and Gil made his way over to him with a smirk.

He patted his back in a way Cole thought he might fall off, but Gil only laughed.

"Oh come on Cole!" He joined him looking at the town, "We won't let you draw it" he let a laugh escape his mouth, "Maybe"

Cole glared, "You know Gil, you're a jerk"

The young adult patted his back once more, saying "I know!" and left to help the other men and woman dock the boat.

Chapter End!

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