CHAPTER 12

After a few hours, the sun began to rise above the horizon. I had been sitting on the deck all night staring at the open sea. It was the first time in my life that I had been so far out at sea.

On the deck it had become reasonably quiet compared to the departure. A creak made me flinch. "Jo relax, I just wanted to sit with you." Laughing, the blue-eyed blond sat down next to me.

"Hello landlubber, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Dragtul," he said, holding out his hand in greeting.

I took his hand. "Don't call me landlubber, my name is Yona."

He smiled and nodded. "Yona it is then."

We chatted for a while and I learned more about him. His father was a merchant and he had grown up on board ships. He had sailed across the ocean several times before joining Dasha's crew. He had been working for her for two years now.

"Where are you originally from?" I asked.

"I was born in Oritris, the land of traders".

I nodded. "I've never been there."

"Oritris is a beautiful country. It's surrounded by fields and forests. The capital city is called Halor. It's situated on the coast and has a large harbour where many trading vessels dock."

"I have only been to Niantra. So far I don't know much about this world," I murmured and looked into the distance.

"I've often heard that the Niantrans prefer to keep to themselves, but I didn't know you were all so unworldly." Throd ran his fingers thoughtfully over his chin. "Tell me, why did you leave your country?"

I looked stubbornly straight ahead. I could never tell him that two creepy mystical creatures had told me that I was the child of a prophecy that would take everyone with me to their deaths and that I now had to find a way to stop that from happening. I also couldn't tell him that I was being chased by creepy misty creatures. There was no way I could do that.

Throd sighed and shook his head. "I guess you're not going to tell me anything." By all appearances, this was probably evident from my reaction and facial expression.

"No, I'm not."

"I guess there's nothing we can do about that." He shrugged his shoulders and put his head back.

Suddenly, I felt a strong wind blowing through the ship. The sails snapped loudly and the ship started moving forward.

"What's happening?" I shouted.

"The wind picked up", said Throd. "We'll reach the port of Halor in no time."

The ship moved quickly towards the horizon.

I exhaled in relief. Throd started laughing out loud, "So you are a landlubber after all."

His dark laughter echoed across the deck and a few heads turned to us with interest.

"Stop laughing," I said, but couldn't help smiling myself. Throd was right, I was indeed a landlubber.

***

"We're here!", Dasha yelled excitedly.

The sun was shining brightly in the bright blue sky. The shoreline spread out before us. The waves were white and smooth, reflecting the sunlight in brilliant colours.

The ship stopped, and the gangplank lowered gently to the ground. Dasha rushed toward the gangplank and jumped down onto the deck.

"Come on, we have to get off the ship," she shouted.

She was halfway up the gangplank when I saw how badly the gangplank was swaying.

Throd stepped up beside me. "Are you scared?" he asked, and I shook my head. I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him.

"Good luck, landlubber," Throd said.

I shook my head and stepped to the head of the gangplank. "Thanks Throd, but I won't be needing any luck. You go ahead."

Throd grinned and walked across as light as a feather. "Come on scaredy-cat." he called, and I looked skeptically at my feet. I swayed as I took my first steps. "Oh no watch out landlubber!" he shouted.

I pulled myself together and carefully walked step by step across the plank. On the last few meters, Throd held out a helping hand, which I grasped gratefully. "Not so easy, is it?" he laughed and I withdrew from his hand. "Thanks for the help," I grumbled.

"You did a good job!" said Dasha, putting an arm around me.

"Welcome to the port of Halor.", she said and I looked around, fascinated.

It was bustling with activity. Workers were running across the docks carrying loads of goods. There was a large building near the quay, but the rest of the area was free space. Many small boats bobbed up and down on the water.

I had never seen such a busy city. I inhaled deeply and feel the salty air in my lungs. The scent of fish and spices was in the air, blending into a strange smell I had never smelled before. I heard the rush of water and the rattling of chains as cargo was loaded and unloaded from the ships. It was a vivid scene that unfolded before me

The dockworkers wore brown robes and carried heavy loads on their shoulders. They seemed to be working like ants to load and unload the ships quickly and efficiently. I also saw merchants carrying their goods around the port on carts to sell to other merchants.

The sun shone hotly on my skin and I could feel the dust settling on my clothes. I felt like I was in another world. I had never seen anything like it in my life.

"Halor is something, isn't it?" asked Dasha behind me, and I turned to her, nodding. "I've never seen anything like it!"

Dasha and Throd grinned. "Oritris is the land of merchants, and Halor is the heart of the land," Dasha explained, stretching. "In Halor, everyone does business with everyone else."

"In my homeland, none of this exists that I see here." I spun around on my own axis, not always marveling at the hustle and bustle.

"In Halor, people need each other. It's a great advantage for trade and commerce. Everyone benefits from it."

"Do you have many businesses here?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, there are. I'm sure you'll see some of them as we walk down the streets in a moment."

"Throd them to that you show our guest around. We'll meet in the main square from there I'll take the little one with me."

Thord nodded. "I'll be glad to!" he said, and Dasha nodded. "Well I'll take care of the cargo. I'll meet you in the main square tonight." With that, she turned and went back aboard. "You're supposed to be working, you useless bastards!"

Laughing, Throd grabbed me by the arm. "You're saving my butt right now, or I would have had to unload the goods all day."

"You're welcome!

"Come on I'll show you Harbor." He started off and I followed.

We walked through the medieval streets of the trading city of Halor. The buildings were made of stone and timber, and the streets were narrow and winding. Everywhere I looked, I saw vendors displaying their wares on tables and stands, loudly vying for the attention of passersby.

Throd led me through the streets, showing me the different shops. We stopped in front of a store that sold fine fabrics and clothing. The windows were beautifully decorated, and the goods inside looked incredibly luxurious.

Throd and I entered the store and were greeted by a salesman. He wore a colorful robe and had a friendly expression on his face. Throd and I looked around, admiring the fine fabrics and clothes. We talked about the quality of the fabrics and considered which garments to buy.

After we had seen enough, we left the store and continued our tour of the city. We passed a general store that offered everything from groceries to tools and weapons. We went in, and Throd started talking to the shopkeeper while I looked around and inspected the merchandise.

We spent the day strolling through the streets of Halor, checking out the different shops. We talked about all sorts of things and enjoyed the atmosphere of the city. The smells, sounds, and many impressions made this day an unforgettable experience.

In the evening, Thod and I sat together at the fountain, which stood in a huge square. "Dasha should be coming any minute." Thod stretched extensively. "I'm looking forward to finally sleeping in a real bed again tonight!" he said, gazing dreamily at the sky.

"By the way..." he said, looking directly at me.

Perplexed, I looked at. His gaze was more intense than before.

"You have really beautiful eyes," Thod said with a charming smile.

I smiled back and said, "Thank you, that's really nice of you."

I was a little overwhelmed. Was he trying to flirt with me right now?

Thod seemed to sense my confusion and chuckled. "Sorry if I'm coming on too strong. I just can't help but notice how amazing you look today."

I blushed at his compliment and tried to brush it off. "Oh, stop it. You're just trying to flatter me."

Thod shook his head and leaned in closer to me. "No, I'm serious. I've never seen anyone with eyes like yours before. They're so captivating."

I felt my heart skip a beat as his words sank in. Was he really trying to hit on me? Despite my reservations, I found myself feeling drawn to Thod's charming personality and good looks.

Before I could respond, Thod reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face. "You know, I really enjoy spending time with you. I hope we can do this again soon."

"THOD?! What did I tell you? Just look and don't touch!" A hand roughly grasped Thod's and he groaned briefly in pain. "You can never be left alone, womanizer!"

Dasha pulled Thod away from me, squeezing his hand tighter.

A bit startled, I realized what had just happened. I had been flirting with Thod even though Lito had recently confessed his love for me. I was a cruel person!

I wonder how Lito was feeling right now. How was everyone? Crap, I didn't want to think about my home anymore!

Dasha let go of Thod's hand and scolded him for a while longer. Then she turned to me, "You and I are going to pay a visit to a good friend of mine together now." She turned to Lito again. "And you little freak, you better make sure you go to bed at the inn and don't leave it again tonight!"

"It's okay!", he said and winked at me again before he quickly left the square.

"I saw that!" shouted Dasha and I had the feeling that Thod walked away a little faster than before.

Dasha shook her head. "Then I'll fulfill my promise and help you on your journey. Come along."

We both walked through the streets of Halor.

Dasha turned to me with a serious look on her face. "Are you ready for this?" she asked.

I nodded hesitantly, unsure of what we were about to encounter. But I trusted Dasha and knew that she wouldn't lead me into any danger.

As we made our way through the streets of Halor, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the bustling harbor town. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden light across the buildings and streets. The air was filled with the sounds of seagulls calling and the distant hum of chatter from the busy taverns and shops.

But as we turned the corner into Mourning Alley, the mood changed completely. The street was dark and eerie, the buildings were old and rundown, and the air was thick with a sense of foreboding.

I looked over at Dasha, who seemed unfazed by the unsettling atmosphere. "What is this place?" I asked, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

Dasha glanced at me and gave a small smile. "This is where we need to go," she said, gesturing to the darkened shop in front of us.

My heart began to race as we approached the old, dilapidated building. It was barely illuminated by a single flickering candle in the doorway, and the air was filled with the scent of old wood and mildew.

I hesitated before stepping inside, but Dasha took my hand and led me through the door.

As we entered the dimly lit shop, the smell of incense and old books filled my nostrils. The walls were lined with strange artifacts, and there were books stacked high on every surface.

"Wow," I whispered, taking in the strange surroundings. "This place is incredible."

Dasha nodded, her eyes scanning the room carefully. "Be careful not to touch anything," she warned. "Some of these artifacts are quite powerful."

I nodded, keeping my hands by my side as we made our way deeper into the shop. We approached an old wooden counter where a woman with dark, piercing eyes was sitting.

"Ah, Dasha," the woman said in a thick accent. "I've been expecting you."

Dasha nodded. "I need your help," she said, her voice low. "We're looking for something very important."

The woman leaned forward, studying Dasha's face. "And what is it that you seek?"

Dasha hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "We need the book of shadows," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's eyes widened, and she leaned back in her chair. "The book of shadows?" she repeated. "Are you sure?"

Dasha nodded firmly. "We don't have much time," she said. "Can you help us?"

The woman sighed, her eyes scanning the room. "I can," she finally said.