Daxton - Episode 10
The 5th Compass | Tales of Stonehaven [1,484 words]
Daxton is the first book in the 6-book series, The 5th Compass, which takes place in Stonehaven. Released in serial form, two episodes each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The audio version is coming in the future for paid subscribers only. Visit the table of contents for a list of previously published and upcoming episodes.
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The sun hadn’t reached its peak before the steamship’s invisibility was reversed and docked along the shores of Ebonthorn. Once on land she took them past a run-down tavern that looked like it hadn’t been used in ages, down a road that stretched beyond it. At the end of the road was a small cottage, just big enough for two people. “There it is, my childhood home.” Both Traix and Spire looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Yes, I had a childhood once. No one lives here now. You and your little companion may stay if you like. That shack at the other end is yours as well. Do with it what you will.” She turned to Adelaide who eyed the sword behind Nelle’s back longingly. She knew it would be the last time she would see it and it hurt to let it go. “I promise you no harm will come of it and when you are old enough to wear it properly, it will come back to you.” Before Adelaide could say goodbye or Traix could give his thanks, Nelle tugged at Spire to follow her back the way they came.
Spire was a pirate, not used to spending so much time on land and all this time away from water and a proper ship was beginning to grate on his nerves. “We’ve done nothing but walk since I have met you. When all this is over, I look forward to getting back to my ship.”
“Complain. That is all you do is complain. How is it you became a Captain for Silver? You do not strike me as the type she would promote to such a position and yet, here you are. To carry such a title in her crew it is customary to behave as one. At least I thought it was. It seems a lot has changed.” Spire had enough. Since the first day they met she’s done nothing but belittle and boss him around. He didn’t mind taking it from Captain Silverblade, but he was not about to continue taking it from her. She was right, he was a Captain, and as such he should be treated with some form of respect.
“I cannot wait to be rid of you. I still do not understand why she needs you. Whoever this Paragon is that has her so scared I am sure we can protect her better than you. it is what we all pledged to do when we joined.”
“Oh, Spire, dear, sweet, naive, Spire. You utter the name Paragon and yet you have no idea the true meaning behind it. If you did, you would understand her fear. If you did, you would have brought me to her without waiting for her to ask. She is right to call on me and right to fear the name of Paragon. It is not a name heard among your kind. It is a name that means only one word; death. If we don’t retrieve what I need from my brother, she’ll surely die at the hand of the Paragon and there is nothing any well-intentioned pirate can do about it.” Spire remained quiet, he had more questions, but he knew it was not the time or place.
They walked on for what seemed like forever to him and he nearly collapsed from exhaustion when the sun was no longer hidden by clouds or tall trees around them.
Nelle stopped at the edge of a clearing and smiled at the sight. Spire came up behind her and looked over her shoulder, a gasp coming to his throat. “Is that a tree?”
“Not quite,” she replied. “Come along.” She led him across a large stretch of luscious green grass. There was no visible path leading up to the door of this massive tree that was in the center of this large space. As they got closer to it, Spire could tell the tree was somehow connected to a house that was built through it. He tried to find where the structure of the house began and the tree ended but could not, they were one and the same.
A man stepped from behind a door hidden in the tree holding a pistol in his hand. Spire reached for the hilt of his sword, but Nelle put her hand on his, stopping him. “Who are you and what do you want?”
“Brother, it is I. Your sister, Nelle,” she said as she walked up to him, her hands outstretched.
“Nelle?” The man she called her brother holstered his gun and stretched out his arms toward her. They embraced and it did not take Spire long to realize, her brother was blind. “What brings you here? Is something wrong?”
“Yes, brother. I need those things I asked you to make for me. Do you remember?” She took his arm in hers and led him to the from door. Spire followed close behind.
“You mean those compasses you asked me to make special? If you seek those now, then something really must be wrong. Tell me?”
“Riven, you know I cannot. But I can tell you the gentleman I have brought with me is a pirate.” She said the last word as if it were a fantastic secret she only wished to share with her brother. Being twins they were the same age, but that was about all they had in common, because upon hearing the word ‘pirate’ he became as giddy as a young boy.
“Is he really?”
“Yes, and if you give me the compasses, he’s promised to tell you all about his life as a pirate,” Nelle responded. She didn’t look back at Spire, but she had a feeling he was giving her a rather dirty look.
Riven brought them inside where Spire found himself surrounded by compasses. He had never seen so many in his entire life. They were of all shapes and sizes. Each as unique and eye catching as the next. They hung all along the walls. Not a centimeter could be seen behind all the compasses. In the middle of the room was a work table where more compasses were nearly spilling over onto the floor. All the ones on the table were opened, exposing their inner workings.
“How can you manage to make these if…” Spires question petered away as he realized what he was asking and felt ashamed.
“It’s quite alright to wonder how I build a compass if I cannot see. You are not the first person to ask me that and you certainly won’t be the last. I have these.” Riven picked up a pair of spectacles that had varying lenses for each eye and put them on. “When I wear them, they allow me to see the mechanisms inside a compass. But they only work on compasses. I am afraid they do not work on everyday life. I find the things we love most often do not.”
Spire did not have the faintest idea what he meant by that but did not bother asking him to explain. Riven sat at his desk and opened a drawer on the side. There he pulled out a blue bag and turned over its contents onto the table. Out spilled five golden compasses. To the naked eye they each looked identical, yet they each had one thing that made them unique to each other. Spire wanted to reach out and take hold of one but hesitated. He remembered Nelle speaking of her brother being gifted and he was afraid he’d find out just what that meant if he tried to touch one. Instead, he hung back while Nelle took each one and placed them back in the bag.
“Brother, I am afraid we have to go now.” She signaled Spire to make for the front door and he did so without question. Nelle finally wanted to move with great urgency, and he was grateful for this change of pace.
“Already? But you just got here. And you promised he would tell me a story.”
“I promise I will tell you two stories next time we visit. Isn’t that right, Nelle?” Spire knew the game she was playing with her brother and helped only so far as it would get them on their way faster. She scowled at him for knowing exactly what to say to her childlike brother but played along just the same.
“He most definitely will, Riven. We will be back very soon. I promise. In the meantime, remind me, which is your most favorite compass?” No sooner did she make this request did he rush towards the back of the house in search of it. As Nelle and Spire left, closing the front door silently behind them, they could hear Riven mumbling aloud to himself as he continued his search for a compass Spire knew probably didn’t exist, because Riven loved them all.