Riptide

Noah tapped nervously on his knees as he sat in the carriage Reyn had arranged for them. He was supposed to meet them here with supplies but they were taking a long time.

'Or maybe this is normal. And I'm early.'

He nodded along, his tapping intensifying.

"Kid, are you sure-"

"They'll be here," he turned, wide-eyed. "They're just running late."

The driver turned back around, wondering who would leave such a small boy alone.

"Ah, they're here!" Noah exclaimed in relief as he saw three figures running/stumbling towards them. Alexis reached first, patting Noah's cheek as she slipped past him.

Before he had time to react, Markus half-shoved Cain into the carriage like he weighed nothing, then climbed in without stopping.

"To the pier, sir." Alexis chimed sweetly at the driver, who was happy to oblige.

She settled in her seat, looking at her friends.

They seemed to understand as they smiled softly in return.

They made it.

********************************

An hour later, Noah was ready to drop out. Markus didn't want Cain anywhere near him so he sat across from Noah with Alexis next to him.

This was fine by the warlock who didn't want much to do with Markus either.

However, without Alexis by his side, Noah felt awkward and out of place, with Markus's knees touching his and every jolt of the carriage almost sending him tumbling into Cain.

As for Alexis, she was more interested in the warlock. She had to admit, from this close, he was fascinating. His right eye was a deep blue, almost black while his left was purple, with a line running down from eyebrow to cheek, crossed underneath his eye by a smaller line.

"What's with the-" she gestured to his eye.

He glanced at her sideways but kept his eyes trained over the driver's shoulder.

His silence made her feel like Noah.

"So..Is it a long journey?" She tried again, only to be met with more silence.

"You know you'll have to talk to us sometime, right?"

"Don't bother," Markus said, eyes closed as he slid down in his seat for a quick rest. "Better he doesn't." He muttered.

They reached the pier at around four in the morning, if they were keeping time (they were not) and Noah was more than happy to get out.

"Thank you!" Alexis trilled as she lifted the last backpack from the pile and waved the carriage off.

"Cain, hey," She called out to the warlock, who winced a little as she drew closer. "Relax, just wanted to give you this." She threw a cloak around his shoulders, tying it as he looked at the others in confusion.

"You looked suspicious as hell so.." She stepped back, pleased that he only looked slightly suspicious now.

"You the ones the princess arranged for?" A large man with a walrus moustache called out to them as he waddled over the sand.

"Yep! That's us."

"Weird. She said you guys were siblings but... I don't see it." He examined each of them in turn.

"Yeah, mom was a h-"

"We're adopted!" Noah cut in before she could finish that line.

"And uh-" The sailor leaned in closer to Markus. "What's up with him?" He asked, nodding at Cain's bound wrists.

"Oh, he has urges." Markus smiled as he felt Cain slowly turning his head to glare at him from behind.

"Uh huh." He decided not to ask any more. "Name's Gunnar, by the way. Follow me."

He led the way down the boardwalk, towards the edge of the pier where a ferry was waiting.

"Anaklusmos." Alexis read the name as she walked up to it, not noticing Gunnar's helping hand as she leapt up over the hull without breaking stride.

"Woah." He turned back as he heard a small voice from below. It was the freckled boy in the blue scarf, waving shyly at him.

'How cute' he thought as he pulled him up.

He turned to the other two. The slim one with the mismatched eyes slipped as he jumped, landing facedown on deck. The dark-skinned one spent a solid twenty seconds laughing at him.

'Yep, they're brothers alright.'

"Damn it, Markus. We need him." The girl walked over to them, clearly in charge.

'What have I gotten myself into?'

*******************************

"Here's to being on the run from the authorities. Welcome to the club, Markus. Noah." Alexis raised an imaginary glass to them in turn. "Glad to see I'm such a bad influence.

"How you holding up, Cain?"

The warlock was sitting near the mast, inexplicably tied to it. He ignored her question and kept staring out to sea.

"Is that really necessary?" Noah muttered, feeling sorry for him.

"Just a precaution. Can't be too careful with that guy." Noah's puppy eyes would have no effect on Markus.

'Noah.' Cain's voice found its way into his mind.

"Yeah?" He called out, surprised.

'.....Bathroom.'

"Oh! Yeah."

****************************

"Okay who takes that long?" Markus peered suspiciously at the door that led to the bathroom.

"Whoa. That is something you do not question." Alexis patted his shoulder. "Especially for guys, right?"

"Huh?"

"Don't worry about it, Noah."

"Yeah, no, this is weird."

"Relax, Markus, poor guy has his hands tied. He's probably gonna be a while."

He paced for a while before giving in. "Yeah, I'm not buying it." He walked over to the door. 'Please, god, be decent.'

He poked his head through the door. "What the hell are you-"

Cain froze, then continued dragging a razor slowly down his lathered face without breaking eye contact.

"I- Damn," Markus quickly slammed the door shut behind him, walking away as fast as he could.

That was an awkward five seconds.

"Do I want to know what he was doing?" Alexis laughed as she saw Markus flustered.

"Just shaving."

"Thank god."

"Indeed."

**********

By the time Cain showed up, his face was clean shaven and his silvery hair had been cut short, albeit messily.

"Gotta love a guy who cares about hygiene."

'Please get me away from her.'

Markus refused to make eye contact as he bound him to the mast again.