Michael's ship sailed northeast, and Lora followed it there. The ship eventually disappeared on the horizon, but Lora kept on sailing in that direction until she came on the shores of Serpent's Hold. She quickly dashed into the nearest building there - the tavern. A young man was bleeding from his arm, leg and head, while another man, slightly older, robust and sporting a thick moustache, was attending to his wounds.
"What happened?" she asked.
The man with the moustache frowned and cleaned his friend's bleeding arm. "Sentri here
lost a fight." he explained.
"Who did this to him?"
"Some pirates or something, that I've never seen before. They came into the tavern
and asked Morchella to go with them... and when Sentri opposed them, their leader
gave 'im a good beating."
"Who gave me a beating?" the wounded man proudly interjected, refusing to give in.
"Why, if he were here I'd..."
"Get another beating?" his friend mocked, laughing.
"Listen," Lora said, deciding to get to the point before she loses all traces of
Michael, "my name is Lora and I'm after those people. They are very dangerous."
"I am Seggallion," the man with the moustache introduced himself, "but why are they
so dangerous?"
"It's a long story and I will explain it on the way if you will join me to bring them
to justice."
"I am with you," Sentri immediately offered, "I must have my revenge on those damn
pirates!"
"Where you go, I go." Seggallion also agreed.
The three of them boarded Lora's ship and set sail, but meanwhile Michael's ship
was nowhere to be seen. "Since we have no clue where they are going," Lora said when
she finished explaining how things are, "It is best that we prepare for battle. I have
something at home that will help you two greatly against our enemy. I will give you
armour and swords just like mine."
Sentri's eyes widened when he noticed the magical armour that adorned Lora's body.
"I don't believe it! Mystic Armour!" he gasped in astonishment.
Seggallion scratched his head with incomprehension. "What?"
"Mystic Armour. 'Tis the armour that I and the Avatar and the rest of our friends
wore last time! 'Tis very powerful and offers an exceptional protection!"
Seggallion caressed his moustache in thought and then nodded. "Yes, such a thing
would be comfortable."
Lora set sail for Yew before continuing to discuss things with her new two
companions.
"I can barely believe that the Mystic Armour is still around." Sentri admitted, still
astonished. "Why, I met the Avatar last week and he didn't have the Mystics. He
probably thinks they are lost just like the rest of us... I didn't find them when
I went to seek them where we had left them so I expected them to be lost as well."
"I had to remove them from there because the criminals are after them." Lora
explained.
"I have not seen these remarkable pieces of magical equipment for a long time." Sentri
continued. "Could I try thy armour on, just to feel how it was to wear Mystic Armour?"
"Well, I'm naked underneath," Lora declined, "so I won't be removing my armour. Don't
worry, when we get to Yew you will have your own armour."
Seggallion and Sentri looked at each other then back at Lora. "Thou dost mean thou art
always wearing that clumsy armour night and day?" Sentri curiously asked.
"It's not that clumsy, but yes, I'm always wearing it. It's always better
than a stupid dress with which I can't even move!"
The three continued to discuss until night fell and the stars lit the night sky palely, just like that night when the Avatar and his companions left the Mystics behind them. Sentri recalled that night as if it was yesterday. He slept soundly that night amidst the memories of the time he had spent with the Avatar in his previous adventure, and with the thought that he could have his Mystics back as soon as they got to Yew.
© by Daniel D'Agostino 2002-2025