World Sphere - 150 - Aelyn POV (Patreon)

Chapter 150 Aelyn POV

Author’s Note: The last Aelyn POV was Chapter 100

Aelyn had left Cullinbar and her mother behind.  She was indecisive about returning to Skyholme, but since she had nowhere to go, she decided she would head in that direction and make a decision as she got closer. She had the Heart Stone of Skyholme worth a king’s ransom in her small dimensional pocket. If she sold it, she could live in luxury for the rest of her life.

She needed to get far away from her mother first. She went to the portal and looked at the schedule. Cullinbar had a portal magus that activated the stones to specific destinations at certain times. She checked the schedule and compared the cities to the map on the wall. She had gotten lucky, and there was a portal opening to a city in the direction of Skyholme shortly.

She first paid one hundred gold for passage through the portal stones to the city of Faltalos.  She was a little surprised she was the only one on the stone when the mage activated it. Faltalos was listed as the capital city on the Isle of Mist.  She had not done much research other than knowing it was considered a free-trade city by the Adventurer’s Guild and considered safe.

When she arrived, she found gnomes and halflings primarily inhabited the city.  As she walked around, Aelyn found it odd that everyone was shorter than her. It made her feel like she was in a city of children.  They were also grumpy if you walked into them by mistake—so a city of grumpy children.  She got a quick meal in a restaurant and found the portion so small that she had to order a second serving of the soup in a bread bowl.

She had to weave through them to get to the portal office to select her next destination. She could take more time now to figure out where she planned to go. Aelyn entered the portal office to set her next destination.  A bald halfling with a coppery beard greeted her, “What can I do for you?” He seemed utterly disinterested in his work and her by his body language and tone.

Aeyln made her request.  “I am looking to port to a city that has skyships northwest of here.  Maybe five thousand miles.”

The halfling gruffed, “Aint no porting out of Faltalos.  We have not had the portal key for seven years.  Whenever you came from, they should have told you that.”

“What?  Seven years?  Why didn’t they just rework the runes for a new key or build a new portal?”  Aelyn asked in disbelief.

The halfling smiled, “The Council has been debating who should pay for it for the last seven years.  I think they are close to a resolution.”  He giggled to himself as he was aware of the apparent absurdity.

“How do I get to a city with a functioning portal stone?  Are there any skyships I can get passage on from Faltalos?”  She asked, starting to get annoyed with the halfling.

“The Mellow Mermaid should be here tomorrow.  The Captain’s name is Teresse, and he can take you to Haverford.  They have a portal stone there,”  the halfling advised. It looked like this was her only choice to leave the Isle of Mist. She agreed to return tomorrow.

Aelyn had to try two different inns before finding one that was not only for smallfolk.  The inn was at least cheap at just one silver, and the innkeeper was a friendly halfling.  She slept well, and the innkeeper fed her large portions at breakfast.

When the Mellow Mermaid arrived, it was a small cargo ship—and by small, it was intended for people under five feet in height.  Still, she bargained for passage, a slow-moving three-day trip on the tiny vessel.  Ten gold was a lot to lay for the trip, but it got her the largest passenger cabin to herself.  She sighed when she crouched in the cabin.  She moved the three beds together in order to have just enough length to lie down.  The ceiling of the cabin was just shorter than she was tall, forcing her to bend over.

The ship was an airship, not a true skyship, relying on wind currents and air spells to get through the skies.  Aelyn enjoyed being on the deck when the ship was in flight.  The crew was entirely gnomes, and she was one of six passengers.  She did not feel the need to talk with anyone during the trip.  She was either reading in her cabin or taking in the lands passing below on the deck.

The first day was uneventful except for passing under a heavy rain cloud.  She remained in the cabin and just listened to the small ship get pounded with rain.  Late on the second day of the voyage, an alarm sounded, a sharp twang that alerted everyone.  She rushed to the deck to help with the danger.

Captain Teresse had a spyglass to his eye as he was studying a dot in the distance.  Aelyn moved close to him to listen to what he said.   A number of crew and passengers awaited his word anxiously.  Captain Teresse, an old gnome with silvery hair, spoke, “Definitely pirates.  They are moving to intercept us.”

“Why are they coming for us, captain?” One of his crew asked.  “We have nothing of value and are traveling close to the floor of the Sphere.”

“It is what it is, Dustin.  Help get the aether cannon from the cargo hold,” the Captain ordered grimly.

The crew was a hive of activity.  Aelyn could tell the actions were practiced, but the crew was not confident.  She knew the skies of the Sphere were full of opportunists like pirates and privateers and also dangers like dragons and elementals.  She felt trapped on the small skyship and wished the Captain would land so she could go on foot.  As the pirate ship approached, a black flag flew, signaling no one would be killed if they surrendered.

With Aelyn’s excellent eyesight, she could see the enemy ship was three times the size of her own ship.  This might have meant they could have escaped by making better speed, but that was not the case with the Mellow Mermaid.  She was slow and lacked any offensive weapons.  Well, that was not entirely true.  The gnome crew was hauling a rusty aether cannon up on deck while others assembled a tripod to hold it.

One of the crew asked, “Is it even going to fire?”

The Captain replied, annoyed at the question, “It is good for two or three more shots.  Just get it into place.”

The other passengers had retreated below deck and locked themselves in their cabins while Aelyn remained on deck.  She looked over the railings.  They were only a few hundred feet above the forest canopy.  No signs of civilization were visible, though.  If she jumped now, then she would be on foot for days.  She had the ring Storme had given her.  A feather fall ring.

Aelyn looked again at the pirate ship.  The deck was packed with pirates, mostly minotaurs and elves.  They were not going to win.  The ancient aether cannon had been set up, and the gnome captain fired it.  A blue beam of light missed the approaching skyship.  The Captain swore and waited for the device to recharge.

The cannon was smoking, which meant the runes were almost burned out.  Another shot left the cannon, this time on target to the ship.  A green and blue shield shimmered around the pirate ship.  The aether cannon was too weak and would never break that shield.

The pirates were confident as they approached.  They were the shark hunting the minnow.  The Mellow Mermaid rocked suddenly, causing Aelyn to stumble.  Aelyn had not seen or heard the attack that caused it.  The pirate ship looked like it was going to ram them, but at the last moment, it spun rapidly and came alongside.  Captain Teresse ran to his Captain’s wheel and tried to steer away; something had them locked in place.

Aelyn ran to the railing and jumped over, not waiting for the Mellow Mermaid to be boarded.  She expected to fall to the trees below but was suspended in the air instead.  She had been caught in a powerful air spell.  She could move her limbs but was held in place like a fly caught in a spider’s web.

The minotaurs jumped onto the ship first, and the gnome crew quickly dropped any idea of resisting.  The hooves of the seven-tall monstrous humanoids quickly herded the crew together. Hopefully, the pirates would honor their black flag and not kill anyone.

The elves followed next, and a tall elf with long black hair looked around once he was on deck.  He was clearly the Captain.  Aelyn was floating helplessly in the air and was ignored as the Captain walked and knocked on the door to the deck below.  “If you all come up and cooperate, you will not be harmed.  I only make this offer once.”  He waited as the other passengers slowly came out onto the deck.

Two shorter elves went below deck and confirmed it was empty of people.  They also reported on the cargo, “Cap the cargo is mostly grain.  A few crates of ceramic dishes.”  The elf frowned and looked at the gnome captain.

Captain Teresse snapped, “What did you expect, pirate?  We are a small trader with a small aether crystal.”

One of the dark brown-haired minotaurs spoke up, “The ship’s crystal is the only valuable thing on this ship, Cap.  It is old but maybe worth five thousand.  We should just take it and leave the rest.”

The elf captain rubbed his brow like he had a headache, “No, we will take the grain.  The aether crystal is needed so the Captain can continue to operate.  Glint, if you take all the fish out of the pond, then there will be no fish in the future.”

The minotaur Glint grumbled, “Then you just go to a new pond, Captain Hyperion.  This region of the Sphere has nothing of value.  We should just move on.”

The Captain pretended to think and responded, “No, we will hunt here.  The Black Mauraders have too many ships working the heavily traveled lanes.”  The minotaur grunted discontentedly but followed orders. Soon, the bullmen were carrying the grain to the pirate ship.

A look of surprise crossed his face as he approached Aelyn.  “What have we here?”  He asked with mock surprise.  Before Aelyn could react, her rapier was ripped off her belt and into Captain Hyperion’s hand.  Aelyn struggled but just flailed in the air.

Hyperion pulled the blade from the sheath and inspected it for a few moments before tossing it to the Minotaur Glint.  “There you go Glint, that is good for at least five hundred gold, if not more.  Search the cabins, passengers, and crew.  This stop could still be profitable.”

The pirate crew got to work while the Captain returned his golden eyes onto Aelyn.  “A half-elf?  Trying to escape overboard...a slow fall ring then?” he pointed absently at her hand.  Aelyn made a fist to protect the ring.  Hyperion smiled, “You can hold on to it.  You have paid your tithe with your sword.”  Her body floated toward him and landed softly on the deck.

She couldn’t help but ask, “You are the one with the air magic that stopped the ship?”

His lips led into a smile.  It would have been charming if he was not a pirate raiding her ship.  She had seen this type of bravado before in Gareth.  The overconfidence that he was better than others, “Just a tier four ability.  Impressive, isn’t it?”

Aelyn decided to praise him.  She didn’t want to anger the pirates.  She would go overboard if she got a chance, but she needed to keep the ring.  “Tier four?  Is that how you were able to stop an entire ship?”

The elf captain smiled confidently, his light brown eyes sparkling, “Not quite stopped, just restrained it a bit.  Targeting multiple objects is a bit taxing but possible,” he grinned at Aelyn.  “My ship, the Prancing Eagle, always is in need of new and competent crew.”  His announcement was made as an offer.

“What are you going to do with the gnomes?”  Aelyn studied the terrified crew.

“We will take what we can from the ship but leave enough to not destitute the gnome captain.  Glint and his minotaur brothers only care about gold, so I am sorry, but I cannot return the sword,” Captain Hyperion replied, making a fake frown of disappointment.

“So you will just let the gnomes go after you steal their possessions?”  Aelyn inquired sarcastically, but relaxing herself. She was reading his surface thoughts and detected no deception.

“I am not a slaver and just trying to make a living as a pirate,” he held open his hands and grinned, and Aelyn felt the pressure holding her in place release.  She could finally move freely.

Aelyn considered his offer, “Will you let me leave when I want?”

“We will be going to the goblin city of Hidden Mountain to sell our spoils.  You can join my crew, or leave there. Your company would be most welcome,” his grin remained. Aeyln had been reading his mind.  She had no desire to become a pirate.

But she also did not want to return to Faltalos.  Captain Teresse was making his voice heard by everyone present that he intended to return and report the act of piracy. It seemed foolish as the pirates could change their minds and kill them. The minotaurs chuckled as the gnome captain ranted and cursed the steady stream of pirates carrying grain.

The passengers did not escape the pirates either. Jewelry and luggage were gone over. A small chest from the Captain’s cabin got appreciative nods as Captain Hyperion looked inside. With their work done, the Captain asked one last time, “Last chance half-elf. Are you coming?”

Aelyn knew it was a mistake but gave a curt nod and crossed over to the pirate ship. Captain Teresse cursed her as she left the Mellow Mermaid.

Captain Hyperion seemed a little surprised. Aelyn asked, “So, how long have you been a pirate?”

The pirate captain looked to the Sphere’s sun. He looked back at Aelyn, then held up a hand with two fingers. Aelyn asked, “Two years?”

The Captain grinned again, “Two days. Well, if you consider this my first mark, it was two hours. You should feel honored to be my first.”

Aelyn rolled her eyes. She followed Captain Hyperion on a tour of the Prancing Eagle. “She was a passenger ship before I liberated her from her doldrum work.”

Aelyn was confused, “I thought you just said you had only been a pirate for two hours.”

“Well, this my father’s ship. He died and left it to me. I came to pick it up, and there was a lean on it of 32,122 gold. I didn’t have the coin, so I just took her. I couldn’t reasonably make payments, so I traveled to Hidden Mountain and hired a pirate crew.” His explanation sounded reasonable to his own ears. Aelyn just shook her head in disbelief.

“Where am I sleeping, and how long to Hidden Mountain?” Aelyn asked as they walked the ship.

Captain Hyperion looked thoughtful. “Maybe one more attack, and then we will return to Hidden Mountain. You know it is called Hidden Mountain because it is hidden.”

Aelyn could read his mind and knew he could not return unless his hold was full of goods to sell. Hyperion was saddled with a mountain of debt to both legitimate and criminal organizations. Hidden Mountain City was a haven for pirates, thieves, and mercenaries. They were the anti-Adventurer’s Guild in the Sphere. The Captain found an empty passenger cabin and motioned Aelyn inside. “Don’t worry. The Minotaur brothers are all bravado and will not bother you. The other elves in my crew are,” he paused a moment, “friends of mine.”

That was a lie. Some of his less savory creditors placed the elves on his ship there. She learned from his surface thoughts that his creditors would have just seized his ship if he didn’t have such a powerful tier-four ability. Aelyn locked the door and lay down, considering her life choices.

The ship was loud as the minotaurs partied pretty hard after their minor victory. There were nine of them, and they were apparently all related and relatively young. Besides Captain Hyperion, there were five other elves. Aelyn was still able to eventually fall asleep.

Aelyn was not sure what happened. The next ship the Prancing Eagle attacked was a lizardman ship carrying dungeon meat and giant eggs. She did not participate but just watched. It was another bloodless target. The Pracning Eagle had impressive shields and no aether cannons that she could see. It now made sense why Captain Hyperion was selecting his soft targets.

The third target was a human trader that was carrying passengers and iron ore. The ore was not mined in a dungeon, which was rare. This time, the ship fought back, and Captain Hyperion forced the ship over water and dumped the crew overboard with his ability.

Aelyn was beginning to suspect that Hyperion’s ability was stronger than tier four. However, there was nothing there when she tried to pull the truth from his surface thoughts. The only reason that could be the case is that he didn’t know himself and assumed it was a tier-four ability.

No one was killed again, and the Prancing Eagle finally made its way to Hidden Mountain City after stealing the cargo. Hidden Mountain was a six-day trip, and when they arrived, it was well-defended with flying beast riders and skyships patrolling. The city was not as hidden as she had assumed by the name and Hyperion indicated. The city wrapped around a massive mountain that jutted high out of the Sphere visible from hundreds of miles away.

Captain Hyperion stood next to Aelyn as they approached the mountain. “Impressive, isn’t it. Just wait; the best part is about to come.”

Aelyn did not respond for a long time. She had been left alone by the crew and the Captain during her time on board. She knew Captain Hyperion was hoping she would join his crew after she saw they were not such bad people. The minotaurs were muscle-bound brutes but were actually kind of funny once you listened to their banter.

Captain Hyperion flew the Prancing Eagle into the mountain, and Aelyn was amazed for the first time in a long time. The entire mountain was hollowed out and had hundreds of tiers going all the way to the interior summit that was miles high. Skyships, barges, and creatures flew freely inside in a crazy dance. Massive stones lit the interior of the mountain like mini-suns.

“You should close your mouth,” Hyperion said, smiling. “This is the impressive part. The goblins hollowed this out over millennia and reinforced it to create one of the most impressive cities on the interior of the Sphere.”

Their skyship docked high up on the interior of the mountain city. The cargo was quickly unloaded, and the crew was paid and went to celebrate. Captain Hyperion made a dent in his debt to his more unsavory creditors and was happy about it. Aelyn’s sword was among the things that were sold—a sword Storme had made for her.

Aelyn was not detained and freely wandered the diverse city. Being a hive of pirates, thieves, and mercenaries, you would have thought it would be lawless. But on the surface, hobgoblin guards in runic armor patrolled the ring layers and kept order. She had left Captain Hyperion and explored her options for returning to Skyholme. As she walked the rings, she saw a myriad of races coexisting. The city had no portal stones, only skyships.

After two days of searching, she returned to the Prancing Eagle as it was getting ready to depart. Aelyn was not sure why, but when the Prancing Eagle left Hidden Mountain, she was on board, this time as a crew member. Captain Hyperion just had his lopsided grin, welcoming her aboard.