Somewhere far far away ... Part 2

Somewhere far far away ... Part 2 (a collaborative story) by CaylaCatz https://budgetpixel.com/u/CaylaCatz and @panos https://budgetpixel.com/u/panos Table of Contents (so far!) Part 1 Chapters 1 - 4 Here: Part 2 Chapter 5 (by CaylaCatz) : Pirates and Maggots (added 4/27/26) Here: Part 2 Chapter 6 (by panos) : On A Pirate Airship. (Well, THAT’s new!) Part 3 Chapter 7 & Chapter 8 Index to all chapters: https://budgetpixel.com/blog/somewhere-far-far-away-all-chapter-links Comments for Part 2 Chapter 5 : Pirates and Maggots Chapter 5 images and text by CaylaCatz Cat's chapter: I look at the wizard with narrowed eyes. There he goes again with that "Trust me, I'm a Wizard". And here I am walking with him and where does he take me? To a pirate ship! I push my dark hair behind my ears. Oh yeah, Rie said that was my tell when I'm nervous. She's always winning when we play poker. I don't even know why I play cards with her. Talk about pirates. I look again at the skull and bones flag. Then I halt. I just remembered, "Wait, I don't have any money. All I have is what I am wearing. How am I supposed to pay for passage?" The Wizard answered, "I can pay your way for now" "No, I don't think so. I don't know when I'll get any income. How am I supposed to live here? This is all crazy. I can't go on an airship." I can't go anywhere! I have no place to go! I'm homeless! I am feeling a rising panic as I realized the enormity of my situation. I need a job. I need a place to live. I can't go on an airship. I also need a way to get home but that seems the least of my worries at the moment. The wizard's voice stopped my spiraling thoughts, "Well you can ask to work for passage. It's what I always do. Everyone always needs a wizard. What can you do? Cleaning? Cooking?" I wrinkle my nose, "No, I'm lousy at those things. I'm good at fixing things like small machines. Watches even. I can sew with a sewing machine but I'm not that great at hand sewing." The Wizard nods, "Fixing things is good. Ship this size always needs something fixed. Do you have a preference? Steam or aether engines?" "Uh, electric engines? gas engines? Things that use batteries." My mind is whirling. Steam? We haven't used steam for a couple of hundred years. They still use steam? Huh. And what's aether? The wizard is still talking when I tune him back in. I seriously need to get a grip. What am I doing here? He is say, "Electricity? like lightning? You must be very skilled to harness lightning." "Uh, no, not lightning. Well, yes, lightning is electricity but I mean the electricity you plug into an outlet. That's what we use. Uh, it's already harnessed and delivered straight to your house." "Oh, yes, I remember now. I met an odd fellow. Edison, he experiments with electricity. People think he's wasting his time. Why do we need his electricity when we have aether and steam. Foolish. Now Augustin Mouchot, he's a genius. He is trying to harness the sun's energy to augment steam. Very smart man." "I'm sure he is but that's not the point. The point is I have no experience with steam or whatever aether is." My voice is rising just a tad. Really! Just a tad. I'm not panicking. The wizard says soothingly, "We won't tell them that. How difficult can it be? A machine is a machine. You can figure it out." "How would you know? Have you worked on a machine?" "Me? No! I'm a wizard! I don't work on machines! I spell them to make them work." "You can spell machines to make them work?" "Well, no, I'm not that kind of wizard." "What can you do?" "I currently am building up my repertoire of teleportation spells. I am a third level teleporter which is quite rare. I can also throw a mean fireball. I'm more of a battle mage." "Well, if you can teleport, why don't you teleport yourself to Maggot?" "Maggot? What's that?" "The city you're going to." "Maggonia?" "Yes, Maggonia." Well, excuse me for not remembering the name of a strange city, I think to myself. And it does sound like Maggot. The wizard explained, "I've never been there. It's best to teleport yourself to a clearing that you know exists outside a town. Farmland will do too but farmers get upset having strange people trample their crops. Level 4 spells should net me some farseeing abilities. Then I can go where I've never been." A piercing whistle interrupts us. Melnya, the beautiful paradise bird, interrupted us. "If you both keep nattering away, we're going to miss the airship. Best get a move on." "But my passage!" I say worriedly Melnya replies, "He's right. You can say you're a fixer and get a job on board for the duration." "What if I can't fix anything? They're pirates. Maybe they'll sell me as a slave to get their passage money." The wizard scoffs, "That almost never happens. They'll make you wash dishes or laundry instead. Swab the decks. That sort of thing. Pay is less than a fixer so you'd have to work longer hours. Just don't piss anyone off. Or tell them you have a rich father. The first they might sell you as a slave and the second they'll keep you for ransom. Being poor is a good thing. Trust me, I'm a wizard. Melnya's right. Let's go." As I set my foot on the plank, I'm conscious of a very strong wish that he would not keep saying "Trust me". It's not nearly as reassuring as he thinks it is. Chapter 6. On A Pirate Airship. (Well, THAT’s new!) Chapter 6 images and text by panos The Wizard's chapter: As we step on the plank leading to the small platform where the crew-elevator stands, I smile broadly. Well, after a long time, I’ll step foot on a pirate ship again. An AIRship, sure, but Standing in front of the open elevator cabin, are two crew-members. One is tall and muscular, bald, with a scar following part of his jawline, in typical airman’s garb. The other is short, very powerful-built, like a dwarf, though his is not one. This one is dressed in yellow silk pantaloons and shirt, has short turquoise hair and about a hundred ear-rings on his ears. OK, perhaps they’re only about ninety. As Catherine and me approach them, they turn their eyes on us, without stopping their conversation. “Halloo, my good sailors!” I greet them cheerily. “Is this the good ship ‘Sky Torrent’?" The short one chortles at the sound of ‘good ship’ The other one looks us over, expressionless. “How about it, wizard?” he asks in a gravelly voice. “We are looking for passage aboard” I answer. He looks at me for a moment, then points a hand behind his back, up to the pirate flag. “Not a passenger ship, this one, wizard” he says. The short one chortles again at the sound of that. (Somebody should tell him this becomes annoying, after a time.) He does not look at us, but at Melnya, winging all this time around our heads. Though his interest is not feigned – Melnya is a strikingly beautiful bird – I know he has his attention on us, more than the bird. “Obviously,” I say, “but, arrangements can be made.” “How so, wizard?” Here, he turns his gaze full on Catherine, by my side. I can feel her nervousness, it’s almost palpable. Not a very good thing. These people are sharks, always examining people for weakness, ready to label them “victims”. Of course, I cannot blame her. I guess just a few minutes ago, “pirates” was just a word for her. “Well, you see, we come to Captain Nemanya on behalf of her half-cousin, Henry.” “Oooooh! “ says the guy. “I see! Her half-cousin! Henry! But, of course!” I ‘m starting to get the idea, we’re not being taken seriously. “Damn, I didn’t know the Cap’n had relatives in this dump. Did you, Breggi?” Breggi stops his continuous examination of Melnya. “Can’t say I did, First.” “But wait! Now, I seem to remember!” continues the first mate (obviously) in a theatrical tone. “Cap’n DOES have a cousin here. Only it wasn’t “half”! More like one-fifth cousin and her name was “Henrietta”!” The yellow-dressed guy – Breggi – chortles again at that – so loud this time, that snot sprays out of his once-broken nose (Eeeww!!) I barely constrain myself from bringing my staff hard upon his noggin – mainly on Catherine’s behalf. “Is that the one, wizard?” asks the First. “Did good ol’ Henrietta sent you to get passage on a pirate ship?” Breggi starts laughing now – and let me tell you: His chortling wasn’t half as annoying as his laughter. I apply my famous wizardly restrain (HEY! Don’t laugh, there at the back!!) and answer the First: “Depends. Is good ol’ Henrietta a Half-Dragon? As is good ol’ HENRY who sent us to the good ol’ Captain Nemanya?!” At this, the two sailors snap up their heads, their jollity vanishing as if by – dare I say it? – magic. First Mate looks at me for a moment. Then gives us a very wide smile – revealing two sets of steel teeth. “Goodness me!” he exclaims “I think now, you must be coming on behalf of the Cap’n ‘s Half-Cousin Henry!! Why didn’t you say so, wizard?” “…………….” We get up to the ship via the crew-elevator, a metallic cabin attached to the mooring-mast, going up and down via steam-powered hydraulics. The panorama of the town and its environs spreads below us, ever wider, the higher up we get. In the not very wide elevator cabin (not a cage but not a penthouse apartment either) Me and Catherine stand on one side, Breggi-the-Yellow-Chortler and the First on the other. Breggi continues with his fascinated study of Melnya, who now perches on Cat’s shoulder. The First though fixes his stare on Catherine, in a way that makes her very nervous and rightly so. Thus, I fix mine on him. He notices it and chooses to get in line and turn his eyes elsewhere. Good for everybody, I guess. In no time at all, the elevator finishes its ride, the ornate bar-doors open and we step out on the airship’s main deck. An ordered chaos of sailors preparing for imminent departure greets our sight. Breggi goes off to his tasks and the First, nodding at us from over his shoulder to follow him strides towards the bow of the airship. Walking, Catherine stares around wide-eyed at the intricate cabling, and various fixtures. We attract curious glances from sailors. (air-sailors?) In a little while, we reach the bow. At the most-forward point of the railing, stands the Captain, her back turned to us. At the First’s greeting, she turns. She is a tall woman, slender but strong-looking. She has lush, thick, wavy raven-black hair, falling all the way to her waist. She has an intense beautiful face, on which the most striking feature are her large dragon eyes. Slightly slanting, with lambent yellow irises. She turns those eyes on us. Slightly unnerving, to be sure. She doesn’t say anything, but turns to the First. “Cap’n” he greets her. “Last supplies stored, First?” she asks him. “Everything aboard, Cap’n.“, he assures her. The Captain looks at us inquiringly. “This wizard and the girl (I feel Catherine tensing slightly at ‘the girl’ description) came straight up, sayin’ your cousin’ sent ‘em.” “Oh?” she says, turning now her full attention on us. Seizing the opportunity, I turn my smile on her. “Greetings, Captain Nemanya! I am Takkis of Heliopolis and this is the distinguished Catherine of… uh..” I hesitate, trying to remember. “Of Seattle!” jumps in Catherine, in a slightly-too-cheerful voice. “How do you do, Captain?” Captain doesn’t say how she does, which cuts the air from Cat’s sails a bit. Instead, the Captain looks at me expectantly. “Your Cousin Henry had the good grace to send us to the good ship “Sky Torrent” and you Captain Nemanya.” I say. The good Captain of the good ship doesn’t say anything, which cuts the air from MY sails now. At this moment, though, Melnya, who had wandered off, taking a tour of the ship, I suppose, reappears and perches on my shoulder. “The Famous Captain Noyella Nemanya!!! “ she exclaims!! “The most famous airship captain grom the Desert of Knoth in the south to the Verfiban Mountains in the North! What an absolute pleasure!!!” ‘Wow! I think That bird is a REAL Smoother!!’ The stony face of the Captain slowly splits in a wide smile. “How very kind of you to say so, sweet Melnya!” she says. She turns to me. “ My dear Half-Cousin Henry, you say. How is he? I did not know he was in this town, else I would have paid him a visit.” “He is idling at a coffee-shop. Says ‘Hi!’” Well, he didn’t, he only said to tell her he sent us to her, but you know me – always glad to put in a good word for people…. Dragons. “Yes, that is Henry, most definitely.” Says the Captain. “So, what can I do for you? Have in mind we are preparing to depart in a very short time.” “Yes, of course.” I hurry to say. “ Well, Captain, it is very simple. We are in need of transportation.” “Is that so?” she says. “ Have you noticed this is not a passenger ship? “Oh, we did.” I assure her. “Kinda hard to miss that almost-as-big-as-the-ship flag.” I stop myself before my mouth starts running. “But, dear Cousin Henry sent us here, thus…” Nemanya shrugs. “Dear Henry may very well have sent you here, but I don’t run a charity. Can you pay your way?” “We are, of course, prepared to work for our passage. I’m a certified, experienced Ship’s Wizard…” “What kind of ship?” interrupts the first, with a slight sneer on his face. “Well, since we are in good company here, I have this as an answer.” I tell him. Looking at both him and the Captain, I pronounce clearly: “ Crueltis Cruelto Marannah.” The First raises one brow as a sign of mild surprise. Captain Nemanya smiles. – “Ah! A Brother-In-The-Trade. How nice!” “Quite so.” I say. “Ship’s Wizard on the good ship ‘The Crimson Shadow” under Captain Catz.” “An airship?” she asks. “No. The other kind." “Heh! Water Froggies!” mutters merrily and theatrically the First. Before I give answer to THAT, the Captain asks, “And how about, you, Catherine of Seattle?” The direct question unnerves the already nervous enough Catherine. “I’m a … uhh…” she hesitates slightly. “…An Excellent Mechanic!” I hurry to finish for her. “Well-versed in repair and maintenance of every type of airship steam or aetheric machinery” I feel Catherine begin to gasp beside me and hurry to add. “You wouldn’t find anyone better on this continent!” “Is that so, Miss Excellent Mechanic Catherine of Seattle?” asks Nemanya, with a slight smile. “…” starts – or rather, NOT starts, Cat. Under my wizardly-absolutely-reassuring glance, she continues. “Yes. Of course! I am! Absolutely!!” The Captain’s smile gets somewhat wider. “Hmm. If you say so. But, you see, I already have five mechanics aboard. Five very good mechanics.” “And here is where Miss Catherine becomes valuable!” I say to her. “You see, when you run into trouble of a mechanical nature that five very good mechanics cannot deal with, why THEN is the time that you ABSOLUTELY need an excellent mechanic! And Catherine is exactly that!” ‘Wow!’ I think to myself. ‘I’m a smoother, too!' "Oh, by Hupismar!!’ exclaims the First. “This wizard is full of…” But the Captain, stops him with a slight gesture, smiling ever wider. “Is that a fact, wizard?” she asks me. For answer, I give her my best ‘Trust-me-I’m-a-wizard’ smile. Nemanya seems to consider, briefly. “What is your destination?” she asks. “Ultimately, Maggonia. As far north as you go, will be absolutely all right.” I tell her. The Captain reaches a decision. “Very well!” she says, “since dear Cousin Henry sent you to me, how can I refuse an esteemed wizard, fellow-guildsman and an Excellent Mechanic? And you may be in luck, wizard. This damned Troll War – the latest one – has caused a significant decrease in traffic. We may have to travel as far north as Maggonia to find suitable…. business opportunities.” Catherine gulps beside me. I remain unruffled. “Tell me Captain, “I ask “do you also happen to have several wizards aboard, adding me to their number?” “No, we haven’t had a magic-user on the ship since I threw that witch overboard, after proving – one time too many – that she was not as skilled as she claimed.” Here she looks at Cat, who gets lured into asking, “And… how many times was… too many?” she asks And the Captain answers, deadpan, “One.” Cat’s “Gulp” can be heard all over the ship. comments To be continued in Somewhere far far away ... Part 3 If you want to be notified every time a new chapter appears, please say so in the comments.