One Last Question
“Do you not wish to ask your own question?” Astraea asked.
“Is it one that I need to have answered?” Aariz asked, from where he stood not even turning around.
Astraea hummed her focus returning back to her paste. “We did come to ask you about our journey.” Nasir pointed out.
“Is there some knowledge you believe I would know?” Astraea asked.
“We are looking for an object that has exchanged hands for decades.” Nasir continued. “Aariz believed that you would be the right person to ask.
Astraea narrowed her eyes at Nasir. “Lie.” She murmured, her hands going to her pestle, mashing once more before taking a taste. She made a slight face before nodding. “While I do know a great many things, The Dragon Pearl is an object outside the realm of witchcraft.” She scowled when she saw Nasir’s confusion. “It has it’s own magic. But the Compass of Destiny and fate will lead you to it.” She murmured nodding at the compass that Zara held within her hand.
“Never lose it. Never betray it.”
Zara nodded, putting the chain over her neck and tucking the compass into her corset. Astraea studied Nasir for a moment before rolling her eyes, turning around, and walking towards what Nasir had thought was towers of tomes but was in fact a bookshelf, she pulled out a bunch of books, opening one a cloud of silvery dust billowing out of it. Astraea gagged for a moment, before reaching within it, to a silver pin, that had a small lily-white flower that tinkled.
“This is for you. Pin it on your lapel, and it will warn you of oncoming dangers. And if your ship strays to far into danger, it will alert me, and I will be able to assist you.”
Nasir took the pin, surprise lacing his features. “You would assist us?”
“The Samudra Sarpa unfortunately is of great importance to me.” Her eyes drifted to where Aariz stood at the front, meddling with a model of the stars. She rolled her eyes, turning to Nasir and Zara. “Gone with you. I have things to take care of, my other customers will soon arrive.”
Nasir smiled, tipping his hat at Astraea before he turned to join Aariz at the door, pinning his gift to his lapel. Zara leaned forward, embracing Astraea who grunted in surprise. “Thank you. I hope there is no need to call you for assistance.”
Astraea waved her away. “On with you child.”
As they left the Witches hut, the sun that had been shining so bright had turned to darkness, dark grey clouds covering the sky. “We should stay in Tortuga, overnight.”
Aariz muttered. “Storm’s afoot.”
“I’ll arrange for rooms, let the other men know.” Nasir murmured, then turned to Zara, putting a hand over her shoulders. “Hopefully you won’t mind, slumming it with Pirates.”
Zara grinned widely. “I thought I was already doing that.”
Nasir’s laughter could be heard for miles.
Xoxoxoxo
Astraea poured the paste into a jar, sealing it with a spell before lacing it with silver. Her customer walked in, from the back, straightening his dark jacket as he surveyed the room. “Is it done?” she asked.
“Seraphina made quite the mess, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. Do you have what I asked for?” The man asked. He noticed Astraea's hesitation to answer and narrowed his eyes further. “Do you?” The man asked.
“As if I would ever not have it,” Astraea muttered, handing him the paste. “You know she has Pirates looking for the Dragon Pearl.”
The man grinned. “Our liege requested it. She will no doubt come looking for me next, so I need to get back. Will you be alright, if I’m away for such a long time?”
“I was okay before you, I will be okay now.” Astraea muttered.
“So, you don’t want this?” The man asked pulling out a vial of his own.
Astraea put a handout; the man slid the vial in her hands and pulled her closer. “Do you not tire of this ruse, mi Amore?”
“It is necessary until I get my original form.” Astraea murmured clutching the vial and looking up at the man, who rubbed his fingers on her cheek.
“One day, you will. Just like Seraphina found her freedom.” The man murmured brushing his lips against hers, veins of green, crawling out of her lips at his touch.
“One day your lips will no longer feel like poison,” Astraea replied before she broke his embrace.
“Leave me.” She whispered harshly.
“Never.” He whispered, disappearing in the wind.
Astraea turned glancing where he had just left, and then her eyes flicked to the sky where the grey clouds had vanished. The sun’s rays making rainbows on the floor.
“Farewell, husband.”