Capítulo 102: Song of Seas
The port city we approached was called Morcotena Oreciana. Or Mountain against the Ocean in dwarvish. This port city had stood for centuries against the currents of the sea. Standing that long would make one think it shrank with time.
On the contrary. It had actually grown. The rocks here are strange see. The stones dont wear away because the water is ridiculously salty. The salt is carried by the water and smashed into the rocks. And over time the salt clung to the stones making them even bigger, harder, and denser with salt. And people spread the boundaries from there. From a small settlement into a booming port city.
In the carriage I could hear the princess talking with Kyle asking about the different ships and how the port ran as we got closer.
"The biggest ship in this city is the Kracken. It boasts the biggest hold and is capable of carrying up to 50 passengers and 30 crew members without issue." He said pointing to a large ship in the distance.
Its mast was tall and had a star shaped top. its broad sails had been tethered so it wouldn't drift with the wind and its anchor was keeping it from drifting in the waves. The ship itself was a blue color and coated with different sigils and markings. And at its head sat a carving of a krackens enormous head inlaid with ruby eyes. It's tentacles spread across the bough of the ship like it clung to it.
"That there is what allows this port to be such a worthy investment. This port supplies salt and seasonings of all kinds across the nation's. Melra being one of them makes it a prime way to travel so we don't strain our winged friend on top." He said thumping the carriage roof.
"I hear ya. I hear ya." I said as the carriage came to a stop and we dismounted. My feet met the ground with a thud as Kyle and Val exited the carriage. They turned to me and Val gave Kyle a questioning look. "Beg pardon sir but I thought Lord Ignis was riding on the roof." She said.
I had changed my form on the trip. I had shrunk considerably and put on clothes. My face was humanistic with a pair of simple red horns growing out. My face was pale and like the one from earth but my eyes remained the same. My golden rainbow Iris's seemed to hypnotize her slightly.
I chuckled as my barrel chest inflated to fill my leather armor and the white shirt I wore beneath. Pants were a no go but I had put on leg armor and a hip wrap similar to a kilt with needle boar leather for its exterior. Dragons Cry sat behind my back seeming to purr as it sat in its usual spot. My eight arms were now absorbed till only two remained. Two sets of my wings remained though.
I bowed low with a chuckle. "One of the many perks of my godly repertoire." I said as I stood again. My height reached my usual 7 foot dragon man self as I grabbed the luggage from the trunk of the carriage. Val seemed a bit flustered by this. "Lord! what are you doing?! That is a servants job!" She almost squealed. I laughed as I leaned in.
"How comfortable do you think these people would be if they found out they were travelling with a lesser god?" I asked as her expression changed slightly to a thoughtful. "I imagine it would be a hassle for you sir." She said as her face flushed slightly in embarrassment from her previous actions.
I nodded. "I'd rather have this done quick so I can return to my family. I miss mine about as much as you miss yours probably." I said as I stood straighter and carried the trunk toward the big ship we would be setting out on.
The smell of the ocean greeted me with a whoosh as the breeze blew past. My hair swirled about somewhat as I moved toward the ship. People were milling about everywhere as cargo was being loaded. A loading board had been lowered so people could board and get situated in their assigned cabins. A man waited at the bottom taking tickets and allowing people to board. I waited for Kyle and Val to arrive before handing the man our tickets and boarded.
The ships deck was large and had a many people running around securing the rigging and checking the mast. Men shouted at each other about what needed to be secured while ropes needed reknotting. In my sightseeing I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned to find a familiar woman standing before me. Amanda Krowell. The woman who captained the Dragon Lady that brought us to this continent. "Well well. Isnt this a surprise." I rumbled. She looked up at me with a slight look of distaste. "What!? You got a problem with a woman captain?" She growled.
I shook my head. "No. I just didnt realize the Captain of the Dragon Lady had gone up vessels is all." I said with my hands held up calmly.
Confusion filled her face as she looked me up and down. "You know me but I dont recall your mug from anywhere." She said. I leaned in a little. "An Earth Dragon Gem given in kindness goes a long way Captain." I whispered.
Her eyes widened as her left hand went to the Katana on her hip. I sighed and raised my hands again defenslessly. I was in no mood to fight. "Kracken I found out tastes better battered and fried than stewed." I said.
With that I think it clicked. When voyaging together I had a suggestion to the cook to batter and fry the Kracken we had fought. It turned out better than expected and the crew had certainly been grateful for better tasting food.
Her eyes changed slightly. "You? No. That dragon couldn't possibly have... What are you?" She said confused.
I smiled a little as Kyle approached. I bowed slightly. "Ignis Soulsmith at your service Captain Amanda Krowell." I said spreading my wings a little with an eyeroll from Kyle. "Forgive my friend. He has a sense of trouble." He said to the Captain.
Her eyes were still locked on me as I stood straight again. It would take some time to make sense of it all I was sure but we would have to see. As I turned and walked with kyle to our cabin I felt a slight chilling breeze and heard the snap of wood.
I heard a large amount of cursing following the snap and turned. And what I found was hilarious. A piano had been raised onto the ship with ropes and pulleys. But unfortunately the ropes had slid and the piano fell on a large fat man who was complaining loudly about its weight.
I laughed as I walked over and helped lift the piano off. One of it's legs had snapped off and the mans left leg had dislocated and was sitting crooked. I hauled him up by his lapels and laid him off to the side.
"What is your name sir?" I asked as I checked his hip and leg.
"Marcos Du Frige. Pianist Extraordinaire! Oink!" He said as I rotated his hip and popped it into place with great force. A look of silent agony crossed his face. His accent held a strange mix between the French and Italian of earth.
"B-but unfortunate it is that I can no longer play for some time due to dis mishap." He whimpered. I chuckled a little. " Perhaps this will teach you that grounded pianos are more your forte sir." I said as his attendants helped him to his feet.
He hobbled to a chair as a physician came and examined his leg closer and checked for the injuries. His leg was quickly splinted and a wheelchair brought for him. He sighed in what I could understand to be exhausted tolerance as he rubbed his face.
"Now I cannot play music before dis ships maiden voyage." He said with a sad expression. "My instrument iz broken and I use my left foot to play ze lower keys. I vas doomed as soon as I stood upon dis vessel." He cried into the air.
I shook my head at his antics with slight understanding. I tapped one of the shipwrights. "Any chance you can spare a board?" He nodded and fetched me a normal 2×4 board.
Marco's saw me approaching the broken piano. "Vat vill you do? It iz broken!" He hissed as he sat back in pain. I shrugged my shoulders as a couple more arms came from my body revealing a couple of my hidden cards.
Two lifted the piano as I used my claws to shave away the splintered part of the leg. I then took the 2×4 and cut it with my claws. I used sticky spit to glue the cut parts together and heated breath to make it dry faster. I took one of the splintered pieces and made a couple small/thin pegs and made holes for them to go in between the new and old wood.
Using my sticky spit I glued the 2 pieces together and set the piano down again. It felt like it took a while to me. But to everyone watching it took moments.
"That is incredible." One man said as he watched my craftsmanship skills.
"So quick! Who trained him? I might want to become an apprentice even at 43." Another said.
"Did you see where the other arms came from? Is he hiding what he really is or is that just a skill?" A well dressed woman whispered to her friend.
Kyle walked up to me. "Putting on a show?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Indeed." I said as I walked up to Marcos.
"Is there anyone else who can play the piano in your stead or were you the only one?" I asked quietly. "No monsieur. I am ze only von. I am an artist! Vat could I do if someone took my place?" He shook his head sadly.
I smiled a little. "Then how about I do it then?" I said as I saw wary eyes on me. "It will help people calm themselves and keep your reputation as though I was your apprentice. Would that not be better?" I whispered.
He thought for a moment before replying. "Perhaps. That vay if you botch it
is your fault. I will ave my crew retune the piano so it can be played. If this succeeds you ave truly done me a service." He said with a bow of his head.
I nodded as a crew member was called over and tools were used to deal with anything out of tune. "You can play?" Kyle grunted as he approached. I jumped a little. I didnt even hear him come up! Dont judge me!
"My history is a strange one so yeah I can play. It's just been a few years." I said eyeing him up and down. (How the hell had he managed to sneak up on me?) I thought as I moved to the speak with the Captain. "Due to Monsieur Du Frige's accident I will play for this maiden voyage."
Amanda eyed me up and down. "Very well." She then pointed a finger at me. "But even if you do well we will be having a chat after
this." She said as my eyebrows rose a little.
She stormed off to check on something and I turned to find the piano tuned and ready. Marcos rolled up. " Are you sure about dis?" He asked with a slightly worried expression on his face.
I shook my head as I took a deep breath. "The passengers need a boost and nothing's better than a song in my opinion."
As the boat pulled anchor and began to sail I went and sat on the piano bench. I thought of what song I could play but only one sat right. One I had played a hundred times.
My mother had always told me stories of pirates and sea voyages. It was always her favorite thing to tell Megan and I before bed. And so a few years after when I was put into piano lessons I made my own song. One I could play for my mother when she was down and having a rough day.
I started with a low note to set the tone and went from there.
"In the light of the dawn I heard it call. The waves of the sea on the breeze. The tales my father told to me of treasure great within my reach. The song of the wind, the song of the sea. In the shadowy candle light, I hear them call for me."
"My love! My love! Come sail with me! Come leave the shore and sail the seas! Go find your treasure bold and bright to make a legend with all your might!"
The last word hit the low note again as the audience began to be entranced by my voice and a ringing entered my mind. / Voice magic being applied Lulling Voice taking effect. Singing skill acquired. Good luck./
I smiled as I raised my hands and crashed them into the keys with excitement. The tempo increased as I began to use the higher keys and the sailors began to clap their hands with the rhythm of my song.
"I've sailed the seas and with the tide, gone my way with the sails from day to day.
The fathers promise echoes in my mind. Go search the seas and be free as the skies.Then she calls to me, to me, the sea, the sea."
"My love! My love! Come sail with me! Come leave the shore and sail the seas! Go find your treasure bold and bright to make a legend with all your might!"
A sudden chill filled the air but I paid it no mind as I played. A feminine voice joined in the fray. Like crystal it sang along my verse. Power roiling through my veins and across the keys. The music seemed alive and flowing like water.
"And as I lay upon my bed the clouds they float past my head. And though never in reach they be, I've sailed the world and searched the sea! I've sung the song and fought my fight. I've made a legend with all my might. Then to my child she calls..."
I paused a little for dramatic effect and slowly played the last few chords slower and draw out the verses.
"My love! My love! Come sail with me! Come leave the shore and sail the seas! Go find your treasure bold and bright to make a legend with all your might!"
"And so they go to sail the seas. Beyond my arms, Beyond my reach! Go forth my child! A legend be. And once that's done come home to me." I finished with my song echoing through the air.
I stood and turned to face the audience with a bow. They were all quiet for a few moments before an applause began. It started small then roared to life. A tinkling laugh was heard behind me and I turned. And there stood the woman of white. The goddess of the sea and ice. Vara.
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