BXBX NOVEL Chapter 78: Passengers
Ravenna loved the cold. She had, always, ever since she was a little girl. The season of winter hit the waters of the Cold Sea harder than the tinkle of a purse. Since Ravenna had spent most of her teen years working in the coasts as a serving girl, in any pub that would have her, she was used to the chilly temperatures. In lay terms, the sea was cold as a motherfucker.
It was night and the waves lurching up lapped at the vessel\'s hold. She stood on the ship\'s deck, her hands gripping the railing, green eyes forward into the rocking. Above the whipping sails, the clouds were thick gray. The sky was starless. Ravenna heard a scuffle behind her and turned.
Aya Naamah stood in a flamboyant mufty pink coat, it was mink. She was enchanting on the deck, curved like a siren who had just stepped out of the sea to lure off the crew, as she held out a similar green shawl to Ravenna. "Here you go, dearie."
Ravenna smiled and collected it. She pulled her necktie tighter over her shoulders.
She said, "Thank you. I feel warm already. How long have we been on? The days have been black since we left the docks. I have no sense of time."
"Two nights," Aya replied, taking Ravenna\'s side. "This is the third. We would be by the isles by now, but the winds are against us. We are sailing astride the gale."
Ravenna looked wryly at her, "and you know this how?"
"I\'m friends with the captain."
"Of course you are."
Their eyes met and a second later, they burst into a fit of laughter.
Aya\'s breath came out in puffs of white that was visible in the dark night. She clenched her fingers in her luxury gloves and breathed into her palms. It was a simple gesture, but coming from the violet eyed succubus, it became an erotic slow motion of giggles and blushes.
Ravenna was once again struck in the full force of her beauty. Her dark hair framed wonderfully her plump lips and radiant purple iris. It was impossible to stare at her and not think of Rafel. And Cora. And Emberfall. And the utter peace they have lived before.
. .before her father.
"It\'s not your fault," said Aya softly.
Ravenna pulled her hand from her touch. "Don\'t read my mind!" But then she relaxed. "Do you think about him?"
"EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND." Aya murmured.
She went on, "when Lord Morningstar gifted me to him before his ascension to earth, I was unsure. But I\'ve found our Lord Master far more appealing than Lucifer. He didn\'t deserve that tragic night. I\'m so happy that he\'s still alive. Once we get to him, I\'ll do everything to restore his health."
"Me too," added Ravenna, "he was the only one who gave me a chance. Where was my fucking father then? Using me to try to level up."
A bit of silence reigned and cold sea breeze ran up their cotton sleeves.
"I miss Cora." Ravenna finally said out loud.
She didn\'t miss the teardrop leaking out Aya\'s eyes.
"Me too." The succubus drew in a sharp breath.
She took Ravenna\'s hand. "Come on. The dinner bell went off five minutes ago."
They held hands and walked away from the railing to the steps leading down into the Aurora\'s hold. A single firstmate stood by the steering. The ship\'s main vestibule opened into a series of cozy rooms, decorated thickly to combat the cold. Beyond all the cubicles, on the far side, was the largest room, which doubled as kitchen and dining area.
Before the Titans landing, the cooks aboard ships like the Aurora were usually disgruntled about being underpaid. Now, they were ecstatic to be so far away from the Underworld gods who had conquered their beloved Capitol.
The cafeteria was scanty when both women walked in.
Aya saw a few people milling about seats arranged in round tables. The area was lit in glassed lamps. It was quaint, like a gypsy commune. Everybody knew everybody aboard. The young couple from before hailed, and she waved back.
They beckoned her to their table—because truthfully, what every single person on this ship sought was simply not only passage from a fallen Empire but also the unity and companionship of kindred spirit. It didn\'t hurt to see another human who wasn\'t being flogged, or surrended to lions, or forced to smile at you.
Aya walked with Ravenna to the table where the couple sat.
Light conversation filled the warm atmosphere as several other tables held smiling passengers.
"Hi!" The man in the couple was first to greet them.
"Nice winter coat! Mink? Is it Duchess cotton?" His redhaired wife grinned to Aya Naamah, who took the seat next to her. She nodded to Ravenna, the quieter of the two. Aya shrugged in reply as one of the servers came close with a menu.
She pointed her pick as she responded, "I don\'t know. I\'m not sure. I had a wealthy benefactor."
As she said this, she urged her mind not to think of Rafel. He had left trunks of gold recovered after the fire.
"I must admit I did not appreciate the solemnity of the ocean until these times of uncertainty. It is in the gloom of war that someone can fully think on just how wonderful talking with another person can be." The redhead went on.
Her husband went nodding as the dishes arrived.
"Mind if I join you guys?" A new voice said. "I\'d hate to eat alo—"
Both the speaker, who was leaning into the table, and Ravenna and Aya bristled as they gazes met.
Aya was the first to speak up.
"DETECTIVE!"
Rosamunde was shocked.
"Oh my? What are you doing here? Please sit!" Aya affirmed.
Detective Rosamunde Spears joined the rest at the round table. She placed her own food tray on the pristine tablecloth.
"You know her?" The redhead asked.
"Yeah," Aya replied. "Just before Titans Landing, the good detective here helped us solve a case in the Capitol. Did you read of the Count who was murdered; Lord Lucius? Yes! That was the case. It\'s so nice to see you here, Rosa."
"Same here, Miss Naamah. With the way things are looking back at the Empire, I might just live on the ships!" Rosamunde piqued.
Everyone laughed aloud. The food arrived shortly by hand of an aproned young man, and they all shared and dug in. They exchanged stories of pre-Titan Eldoria for a while, before Ravenna sat back, her belly full, her expression turned serious. She poured aged ale from a long bottle and stared at Rosamunde.
She began, "There is a matter of interest, though, Detective. It is the reason why we sail even now to Corynthia. I don\'t know if you remember our Lord Master, the Earl? He was severely injured by an Archdemon in the war."
"Ohh," Rosamunde fingered her wine cup with a flushed chuckle. "—I certainly do remember him. He was quite the man."
Aya continued where Ravenna left off;
"Yes, Detective, that he was. Recently, a locator spell has transfigured for us his present location. It is one of the many islands fringing the whole Corynthian peninsula, but we don\'t know which. Some are just uninhabited smudges on the map and it would take weeks to search them all." She produced from her pocket of her black pants the Royal Ring of Atlantis.
The ruby gem dazzled blindly in the cafeteria as she held it up.
It glowed with Rafel\'s imbued mana, leading them on like a compass.
"I see. . ." Rosamunde took it off Aya\'s fingers.
"I guess what we\'re asking, Detective Spears is: would you help us find our Lord."
"Of course! I will. Don\'t be silly. I was born on those islands." She handed the priceless ring back to Aya. "—plus it wouldn\'t hurt to witness some eye candy again. You should see the man?!"
She winked, and began describing at the couple who attuned to her words like foxes. Ravenna smiled. Aya shook her head at their gossip. She held up her hand and beckoned the server for the last course of the evening: desserts.