Above the Keep, Volume 17

Above the Keep - By Lorelai Silvermoon Volume 17

MJ and Tryphena stand in the bow as the M'Chekian ship, The Sunflower, makes good time through the sea. The Avariel's wings constantly flash out and in as she keeps balance on the rolling deck. MJ stands arms crossed maintaining her balance without wings. Any crew observing them, can tell they are locked in a heated discussion, but it is obviously one which they take care not to be overheard - well, when they start ...

"I say we go look ourselves, hoovaire." MJ pushes a stray strand of hair back under her hat.

"What is the point? They said they already scoured the island."

"They did not mention finding Bronwyn and Katie or Pyrena and Jared."

"They probably are already safely back."

"Well if they are, then they are safe, if they are not, we will be closer to find out about them from here."

Tryphena shakes her head slightly, "No, we go back."

MJ scowls, "I out rank you, we go forward."

"Outrank me?" Tryphena scoffs, "I retired."

"Consider yourself re-called."

"You can't do that."

"Can't I?"

"We are not in T'Nanshi."

"If we were marching on Drotid or Grantir or Toran Shaarda, we would not be in T'Nanshi and I would still outrank you, Yeoman Talyooma!" MJ pulls herself up to her fullest height, eyes blazing, "We have a duty to go look for ourselves! To look for our comrades! Cole sent us to go find them. We should go find them! We should not trust the eyes of others either. I -WILL- GO - LOOKING! Even if you stay here! I can take a skiff ... or fly MYSELF! "

Taken aback at MJ's fervor, Tryphena stands stunned for a moment wings beating in time to the rise and fall of the ship as it toils onward north.

"Alright." Tryphena backs down.

"Alright," The Avariel says a bit more soothingly then maybe she intended. "I guess it won't hurt to go look for ourselves."

"Toova!" MJ's fury is replaced by overwhelming joy in an instant, "I'll tell the Cap'n, you wrangle us a few rations and anything else you think we could use!"

MJ nearly bounces down the length of the ship heading aft to accomplish her mission. Tryphena shakes her head a moment and pinches the bridge of her nose, "What have I got myself into? What indeed? By the Nine I hope there is nothing there but an empty island."

"I don't like this ! " Try yells over the winds, "it feels ... creepy."

She banks away to the north to a tiny island they saw an hour ago, no matter what MJ argues.

Once landed, she explains, "look, those of us avariel that have been covered in illusion most of our lives, we can ... feel it ... smell it even ..."

"We could land, search, and not find a thing, but I swear there is something there, it stinks of illusion, and powerful at that. I think we need more, and soon ... I fear for Brown and Pyrena ... no arguments MJ, unless you intend to tackle this as a fairy, we go BACK and we get Finn and Cole and everyone else. Pyrena is TWICE the warrior I am ... we let that ship know, to go and get more goddaym ship, and we come back with mages and archers, and an Angadar-cursed army, before I am landing there. Astoria as my witness, we ARE NOT dying on that island "

MJ is very aware of Tryphena's sudden tension and holds tight with no arguments as the dragon wings away. As they land on the tiny island MJ jumps to the ground and looks wide-eyed up at her partner as Tryphena explains.

"Li Shav!" MJ squeaks and then scrambles to remount, "Oh no! Let's go! Let's go get help! We can go to the Sunflower first, but then we should go straight back to Elysia and tell Cole and Finn and Thaylis! Katie might be in trouble! They all might be in big trouble! Hurry!"