Save the Sea (Saved by Pirates #3)(15)
“I was starving then, I was weak and scared of everything that happened. I’m not that girl anymore,” she turns slightly, so she’s facing the side of the mountains. I turn following her gaze, seeing the view over the mountain; the stars slowly appearing behind the mountains and the peacefulness of the place. “I had to grow up and accept everything. Accept who I am in order to get my revenge, because if I lived in the past, there wouldn’t be a future for me.” She walks towards the archway, and I jog to catch up to her, walking at her side.
“We both have grown up a lot since this all started. Neither of us had a choice, and we both want revenge,” I say as we walk through the archway, and she turns down the right stone corridor, to a large set of stairs that go to the bottom floor.
“It’s why we are friends, why the sea god brought us together. Our lives were never our own. We have always had a bigger price to pay to save Calais,” she says, and walks down the stairs. A group of about ten children of varied ages see us and bow. When they look up, I see they are all changed ones.
“There are so many changed ones, but no females,” I comment to Everly, not having an answer for her statement about our lives. She is right. Our lives were never our own. Yet, I wouldn’t change anything about my life. It’s lead me to where I am now. I hate my past with the king, his games and losing my father, but it made me who I am. I have the most important things in the world . . . my pirates. I feel like Everly would change everything about her past if she could, without a second thought.
“No, there are no female changed ones. The masters heard about what happened with the king from us when we got here. They didn’t believe at first, but then the sea god spoke to them. Everything changed from then on. Everyone believes you are destined to save them, to save the sea,” she says.
“No pressure then. I still have to find the true heir to put on the throne at the end of the war. I cannot be the one to rule,” I reply, and then stop. “Look at this place, it’s almost magical.” Everly doesn’t reply as I step off the bottom step of the stairs and into the forest of trees and plants of every colour. Every single thing growing here is so vibrant and beautiful. It’s hard to look away from the brightness and life that is all around us. A man steps from behind a tree, walking over and bowing. When he straightens up, I see the changed mark that resembles a leaf on his forehead. The man has dark skin, brown eyes, and green vines wrapped around his arms and plain clothes.
“Welcome, Cassandra. The sea god told me I would meet you sometime soon. My name is Rikker, and I would very much love to speak to you if you have the time.”
“At least he tells you things, I usually just get riddles,” I say, making him laugh.
“The sea god is older than time, older than any other god, and I doubt he notices how he speaks. Even his children do not always understand everything he says,” he says.
“Children?” I ask. “Do you mean changed ones? I’ve heard people say they are like his children.”
“The sea god has many real children, many gods and goddess that no one knows of, as well as many secrets,” he says and winks at me. “That is a long story . . . another time perhaps, Master Cassandra?"
“Perhaps,” I say, not wanting to worry about any other gods. The sea god has caused Calais enough problems. I smile at Rikker and look around.
“How is everything so healthy? Everywhere else the trees are dying, Calais is dying, and yet, it looks so alive here,” I state.
“The changed ones help nature, it’s what we were always meant to do. The world is dying because the natural balance is out,” he says, and walks away, calling over his shoulder. “Come, Cassandra and Everleigh.”
“No one calls me Everleigh. How did you know my full name?" Everly asks as we catch up to him, walking just behind him through the trees and plants.
“You know how I know, Everleigh,” he chuckles, and I give Everly a confused look, but she isn’t looking at me. She just stares at the floor, silent, her hair covering her face from me. When I reach over and squeeze her hand, she finally seems to snap out of it. But she only plasters a fake smile on her face as she moves her hand away. What is going on with her?
“My gift is to feel the emotions of plants, the ground, and even some animals, but that stretches my gifts,” Rikker explains to me as he leans down, cupping a yellow-looking sprout in some soil. His hand starts to glow green–a warm glow–and I see his mark glowing the same colour. The glow fades away, and Rikker leans back on his knees.
“The sunflower is being killed by the tree. Its roots are making it impossible for the sunflower to grow,” he says sadly and looks up at the tree. “Not that it is the tree’s fault, it needs its roots to survive. Nature is like people in that aspect. We do what we must to survive, even if it costs the ones around us.”
“How will you fix that, then?” I ask, knowing his words are about more than just the plants, but not calling him on it. He speaks in riddles like the sea god, but maybe Rikker has spent too much time talking to him to notice it.
“By moving the sunflower, of course,” he responds like I’m stupid not to have come up with that answer on my own. As he stands up, I bite my tongue rather than replying. “I must be going now, but it was an honour to meet you, Cassandra.”
“Maybe we can talk again? I would like to hear more about everything you know,” I say honestly, and he bows his head.