The Crystal Shards Chapter 1

[Deleted]

Ness was caused to stop in mid-thought at Selyani's question. It seemed like he hadn't quite realized that she honestly didn't know what was going on. And so he looked over at her, hoping that for a second she would see him for himself and not this old man. And then he told her. Everything that had happened. He had told her some before. But now he told her everything. About Maeldun and the shards. The fact that the one he had in his hand was one of six. And that two had already been taken. He made sure that she knew how serious all of this was. As he talked he noticed a sheet of paper different from the rest.

He picked it up and noticed that it a slip for a boat. "To answer your last question, I'm gonna say that we should follow where this slip leads. It seems as if he already paid for the trip. And I don't assume you'll go with me. But I hope. Because, you're the only one who I truly trust. And I can't do this all by myself."

[Cate]

Selyani listened intently as Ness told her of what had happened to him. When he held up the slip of paper, she looked into his eyes. The Ness she always knew was there. Somewhere. After a few moments of silence and thinking, Selyani nodded her head. "I'll go with you."

[Deleted]

Ness smiled from old ear to ear, face wrinkling in many places, even hurting a bit. Hm... maybe that's why the old man didn't seem to do it so much. Whereas he had hoped to relay jubilation, it probably came off as some weird half baked smile that looked more like the passing of gas than anything else. And so they were off, heading back into town. Ness headed to the shipyard and walked up to the man who owned the boats.

"Hello there, I believe we've already discussed my voyage?" he asked. He had learned fairly quickly, in a day actually, that it was better to act as if he knew what he was talking about. If he was wrong, it was better to find out than to not be sure of himself.

"Yes sir. Though I must strongly recommend against your choice to pick the entire crew yourself. I would be more pleased if you took one of my members. Also, you asked me to hold onto this," the man said as he handed Ness a pouch of gold coins. He looked over at Selyani and smiled.

"Thank you," Ness said as he nodded his old head. He looked around the boat yard and tried to find someone to choose. He was looking with his own intuition though. At least at first. Damien's eyes locked on a boy he had overlooked a few seconds before. There was something about him, something that told him Damien would have chosen him in a heart beat. "How bout him?" Ness questioned, as he pointed.

"Rai? No I'm sorry I don't think that'd be the best idea..." Ness looked to the boy to defend himself.

[j]

Raichert had studied the old man and young woman as they entered the shipping yard. They were an odd pair, father and daughter maybe? More like grandfather..

He slung the brown satchel over his shoulder and showed hardly any interest until they mentioned him. "Rai? No I'm sorry I don't think that'd be the best idea..." There were two brothers running this shipping yard, and although he'd just been fired by one, it seemed his younger brother wasn't informed. Seeing it unfold before him, Raichert knew this would be his chance to leave, and actually get paid for it!

"Actually," he interjected, "I just finished the last of my deliveries, I'm sure I could help these two, they don't exactly look like the seafaring type." He winked at the girl, even though he was lying through his teeth he tried to turn on his charm.

[Cate]

Selyani looked at the owner of the shipyard, smiled back and gave a nervous giggle, even though she thought that he was a strange man and didn't trust him completely. She had learned about older men and younger women while working with her father. Many of the hunters who went into the shop often tried to court her and some even threw themselves upon her. At those times, she was lucky to have her father come through the door and throw the man out before anything happened.

She looked in the direction of the younger man as the yard owner spoke about him. He looked fairly capable to help them in her eyes. She gave him a genuine smile when he looked over to them. Her smile quickly disappeared when he spoke and winked at her. She would not be pulled in by that devilish looking smile and show of interest.