The Seas

Sunlight glittered off the waves leaving wisps of silver to break over the rocks. A number of boats were anchored to the harbor, rocking slightly as the daily market settled to a close. Aaron recognized a ship which often brought goods back from Eros. It was large, held three masts, and had its name smelt in iron on the stern: The Elgia.

Aaron surveyed the docks, nervously considering the way forward. He spotted a younger man tossing crates onto a pulley system and hoisting them up to the deck. With the other sailors occupied and out of sight, he decided that this was their chance.

"The Elgia, what a ship… do you have space for two more?" Aaron called.

The sailor released the rope and examined them with doubt. "The Elgia doesn't take passengers."

Aura stepped from behind Aaron into the young man's view. "We will pay."

"Well… what's with the bruises?"

Aaron flushed with panic; he didn't consider what two young people leaving the village with black and blue marks all over their bodies might look like.

Aura quickly took charge. "This young man is taking me home. My name is Aura, what's yours?"

The man wasn't convinced, and neither was Aaron, but right then an unexpected softness came over the sailor's face, and he fell into Aura's deep-cut turquoise eyes.

"Aah… Aura… yeah… follow me. You'll have to get the word of the Captain for it."

Aaron shot Aura a questionable look as they made their way onboard. It was majestic, boasting a narrower build than other ships from Eros, the vessel could have easily accommodated a crew of forty.

The deck was made of thick wood from Nonabel, a village to the North revered for their eminence. Aaron ran his hand over the rails, imagining all the places it must have been.

The young sailor stopped in front of a small room Aaron assumed to be the captain's quarters. There was a silver inscription on the door written in a strange language Aaron had never seen.

"ENTER," blustered a voice from behind the door.

"Captain" the sailor nodded while opening the door. "Two wayfarers wishing to travel to Eros."

A broad form stepped into the light. He was a disheveled man with gritty scars, and possessive juvenile eyes.

"This is Aura," the sailor said, pushing her forward. "She says they have money."

Aaron stepped in front of Aura protectively, but immediately felt foolish. He met the captain's eyes for just a moment before averting to the silver lettering on the door. When the Captain followed his gaze, Aaron felt Aura sneak something into his pocket. Aaron reached in and pulled out eight pieces of silver.

"Hmph." A smile cracked across the Captain's lips as he snatched the silver from Aaron's hands.

"Keep loading, Matis," said the Captain. "We're casting off when you're finished." Without acknowledging them any further, the Captain pocketed the silver and stomped towards the deck out of sight.

"Alright," Matis said, looking at Aaron. "Stay outta the way, and out of trouble." He guided them out of the Captain's quarters and returned to loading cargo.

Aaron noticed about ten men attending to various tasks around the ship. The majority of them were at least twice Aaron's size, with rough beards and succinct expressions.

The captain shouted to the crew, who promptly threw off the ropes. Aaron looked up to see large ivory sails unfurled in the wind. With a sudden lurch, the sails stretched tight, and the Elgia was on its way.

Aaron spied a man half-covered in soot staring at them, transfixed by Aura. He was untangling nets, but had paused mid-task. Aura eyed him for a moment when the man suddenly straightened up and gave her a nod. Aaron was impressed, unsure how they would fare on the trip, he saw Aura's talent for amity as a good sign.

The port of Tara shrunk in the distance as they pulled further out to sea. Aaron wondered if he was making the right decision, but he was beyond return now. The shores of Tara were fast departing, as the ship continued towards unaccounted destiny.

Aaron sighed and took a look back at Aura. Somehow, she had made leaving as simple as walking through the door. He would have followed her anywhere.

Thin wisps of clouds did nothing to mask the endless blues of the sea. The Elgia sailed with considerable speed, cutting through swells, kicking up mist onto the deck. Aaron breathed in the salty air, and was amused by the birds still circling from the coast.

Trying to stay out of the way, Aaron anxiously watched on as the crew began different tasks around the ship. Some were sorting out goods, while others worked on buttressing the foresail.

"How are you feeling?" said Aura. She was enjoying herself quite a bit.

"I'm good, just avoiding Jericks over there." He gestured to one of the larger sailors, who in return displayed a surly face. "…Are those new clothes?"

Aura was now in a longer dress, one that went all the way down to her ankles. "Yes! The man by the spices… mmm, Ilyich gave it to me."

Realizing he had never offered her a change of clothes, a pang of guilt loomed over him. Aaron thought about what he could have given her, and conceded it definitely wouldn't have been a dress.

"It should take six days to get there." Aaron changed the topic. He tried to put on a hardy sailor demeanor, but Aura saw right through it.

"It is usually fourteen whenever Elgia made a round trip."

"Six days it is," Aura said, smiling.

"We might have to eventually put in some work. I don't imagine the Captain will let us stand around forever," Aaron rationalized.

"Oh, it's no problem," Aura said. "I talked to Matis, so long as we don't drink the Captain's ale, we can have the corner room in the hull next to the spices."

Aaron wasn't used to this sort of luck. In fact, he really wasn't sure what was going on at all. Sailors would frequently catch Aura's eye, stop what they were doing, and proceed to completing other tasks. It was like she had a strange authority over them, without ever changing her demeanor.

Aaron wondered if she had always affected people this way, and then remembered how dumbstruck, afflicted, and stricken he had been when they first met.

After an hour's work, the Captain resurfaced from the hull. His broad shoulders swung around the deck, casting suspicious looks at his men, as he surveyed their actions. Following a foreboding pause, he set his eyes on Aaron and Aura, and began to approach them with intimidating strides.

"Well now," he bellowed in his booming voice. "If I didn't know that these were my men, I could have sworn they were yours." He leaned so close to Aura she stumbled backwards.

"They're doing a better job than I could have gotten them to do… I'll give you that." He wiped some sweat from his forehead and turned to fix his gaze on Aaron.

Aaron's chest grew tight, his awkwardness palpable. "I was wondering... What does the silver lettering say etched on your door?"

The Captain's presence changed from cantankerous to contemplative. He looked at them with historic nostalgia, while a slight change of perspective twinkled in his eyes.

In a lighthearted and expedient manner, the Captain said, "Elgia lore lasant, enta ty… it means… The horizon of your love, has no end."

Aaron's eyes lit up as he looked at the Captain, who smiled wide.

Breaking into a chuckle, the Captain mused, "Hmmmm, yes I know, it's rather girly, isn't it…what can I say, it came with the ship."