What's worse than a Dragon?
The moonlight torched the ship silver upon the waves. Zara found herself in the crows nest, as a relief early before the first rays touched the sky. In that pitch darkness she heard the whispers of sound among the waves. A lullaby to mournful to be a siren’s song, but not loud enough for another being to hear. She sat up, her hands on the rail and the spyglass searching the clear waters for disturbances.
“A Pirate’s life looks good on you, Princess.” A slithering hiss whispered behind her.
Zara whirled around her hand going to the whistle that lay on her chest. The one to be used in signs of danger. “Verena!” Zara exclaimed her eyes lighting on the familiar form. Verena sat cross legged before her amid shadows and air, her snake-tail resting in her lap. Her crow like face had taken a more humanoid form today, her skin the darkest of hues, her bright eyes sparkling, amidst gold shadow that swept from ear to ear.
“I see you had the good sense to survive the Hydra.” She murmured.
“I see you were wrong about Zaya’s fate Afterall.” Zara snarked back, her hand on her chest, as she breathed heavily. Fear still lacing her body.
“It is your fate that is the true worry.” Verena murmured, her eyes glinting in the dark.
Zara looked at her sharply before she scowled. “My Grandmother,” she cursed. “She sent you here.”
“Of course she did. You are the favorite.” Verena sneered. “The chosen one.”
Zara scowled. “I don’t know what your problem is—”
“My problem is you! You have great potential, as a witch, but you chose to be a warrior, chose to stay with your sister locked in a castle instead of leading her people to rebel immediately against the foe of the Kingdom. Even now, you are choosing the life of a Pirate when the people would follow you as much as they would follow your sister.”
“Not that I answer to you, but I am NOT A PIRATE. I am only here as a request to my sister to ensure that we help the one person, the ONLY person who helped us from Shazir’s wrath. I didn’t see you or anyone from the Enchantresses circle lending a hand!” Zara screeched heatedly.
“Did you ever bother to ask?” Verena asked quietly.
Zara took a step back at her words, her eyes laced with surprise.
“You have more people loyal to you then you would believe.” Verena paused for a moment, her mouth thinning in annoyance. “The enchantress has a request for you on your journey as you go down the treacherous channels in search for lost forgotten Dragon Hordes.”
“Of course she does.” Zara murmured crossing her arms as Verena seemed to glower at her for a minute. “What is it?”
“She asks you to look through the treasures for an ancient, gilded mirror.” Verena waved her hands and an image of an intricate silver filigree handheld mirror.
“A Mirror?” Zara asked, her eyebrows raising in disbelief. “Do you know how many of these types of mirrors I’m going to find in treasure hordes?”
Verena’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “That would appear to be your problem.” Verena murmured, dropping her hands, the image of the mirror hanging in the air for a moment before disappearing within the air. “Something tells me, when it comes to your grandmother’s mirror you will know when you see it.” Verena took a step back in the air her eyes glowing in the semi-darkness, her glittering eyes looking like another speck of stardust within the sky.
“Heed what I have said about your loyal friends.” Verena murmured before disappearing within the dark, much like the image of the handheld glass.
Zara stood glowering at the spot Verena had just vacated as the first rays of the sun broke the sky into thirds.
Xoxoxo
As Zara discussed her night in Seraphina’s room, Tariq, rubbed his goatee, lost in thought. “I think the Enchantress is searching for her own mirror. She’d given it away years ago, after doing one of those curse-you-so-you-will-learn-the-error-of-your-ways.”
“I’m so glad, I’ve never been on the receiving side of those particular spells.” Zara muttered, as she lay on one of the bunks.
“I rather think your grandmother would never curse you with those spells.” Seraphina stated with a quirk. “Seeing as she’s your grandmother,”
“Never curses, but she did have unique ways to show us lessons- life lessons.” Zara mused.
“I can imagine.” Tariq murmured a smile crossing his face. “The mirror, I’ll be able to tell if it’s the one your looking for.”
“What does the mirror do?” Seraphina asked curiously.
“You can ask it to show you places and people you love.” Tariq replied.
“Handy since most people under her curses, tend to seclude themselves from society.” Zara muttered, her eyes drifting closed as she let out a big yawn.
Seraphina glanced at Tariq with a smile, and they both silently left the room as Zara dosed off. “So, the Enchantress knows what we’re up to.” Tariq observed.
“I would’ve been more surprised if she didn’t.” Seraphina muttered. “The woman is nothing if not, observant.”
“Should we be worried about her?” Tariq asked quietly.
“No. There is a reason she sent her emissary rather than coming herself. She doesn’t like to meddle in the events of destiny.” Seraphina muttered.
“You think this journey has been destined?” Tariq asked.
“The Dragon Pearl has been missing for decades, possibly centuries. And now the Dragon Lord, has decided it needs to be returned, not just to him, but to the ancestral plane?” Seraphina replied looking at Tariq as he stepped out of the galley into the light of the day. “You don’t think there might be something else going on?”
“Is that why you’ve brought me here?” Tariq asked an eyebrow arching as he spoke.
“You’re here, because Astraea has been stuck for far too long. It’s time she too stepped into the light.”
Tariq’s attention moved past Seraphina, his face turning worried. “The Captain does not look pleased.” He muttered.
“Is there a time, when he is pleased?” Seraphina asked as she turned to look at the Captain as well.
Aariz was at the wheel, his brow furrowed as he took in the sea. Seraphina turned to where he looked and saw that the ocean where it had once been flat, was suddenly curved around two large mountain like structures. “What the—”