Eternal Forest [Episode 19]
The 5th Compass | Book Two [1,566 words]
The Eternal Forest is the second book in The 5th Compass series. Daxton and his best friend, Barton, are looking for the other compasses while fending off an immortal foe. Nelle takes Adelaide under her wing, to help her develop her untapped power. Meanwhile, the most hated pirate in all of Stonehaven must decide whether to stand and fight or flee from the Paragon. This book delves into the life of the Paragon and the many lives it touches and destroys.
“This will never work,” Barton whispered into Daxton’s ear as they both stood a safe distance away from Wendynn and Adelaide. “If she starts attacking us again, I want off this ship.”
When Adelaide overheard them, all discussing how to solve Nelle’s problem, she decided to help even though she was currently handcuffed at the time. Barton found her offer of assistance strange and was the only member of the group who was set against letting her loose. He fully admitted his attraction towards her when they met but has since found her crass attitude and uncontrollable powers, left much to be desired. He wanted nothing to do with her and wished they’d all agree to leave her behind. But Nelle was far too weak to undo what she had done and needed Adelaide, even in her erratic state, to fix it.
In case something went wrong, it was decided everyone should remain at the other end of the ship. An argument of which no one gave.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Adelaide said, her voice wavering slightly. “Perhaps we should wait—.”
“I cannot wait any longer. Just repeat after me. If you are as gifted as I suspect, the rest will happen naturally. We are simple the vessel that holds magic at bay, releasing a little at a time, only when it is necessary.”
Adelaide nodded her understanding as she helped Wendynn lay down next to Nelle’s lifeless body.
“I can’t watch this madness.”
“Fine, go up there and help Jynx. If you ask me, you’re the one who’s gone mad.” Barton couldn’t believe his ears. He made to respond but had to catch his balance when the ship rocked harshly in one direction.
“What was that?” Daxton shrugged his shoulders and looked up at Jynx to find him peering over the sides of the ship, trying to find the source of what they bumped into. Another bump came, and the ship rocked in the other direction. “This isn’t funny Jynx. What are you doing?”
“It isn’t me. Dax look over on this side, I think I see something in the water, but I can’t quite make it out,” Jynx shouted down.
Daxton looked towards the side of the ship but remained frozen in fear. While he was no longer sick of the smell of the sea, he wasn’t yet ready to look overboard at whatever might be on their pursuit. Barton hurried to the side and looked down.
“Are you sure there’s something down there? I don’t see anything.”
Jynx backed away from the wheel slowly. “That’s because it’s bigger than the ship.” He ran down the stairs and stood next to Barton as they pointed and shouted incoherently to each other about the best course of action. The creature below bumped into them again, this time throwing Adelaide off her balance as she started to recite words she did not understand. Up in the sky, clouds began to form where there were none, and the moon which was shining down on them all had all but disappeared.
“What is happening?” Barton asked, taking short steps to the center of the ship to check on his friend. “Dax are you in there?” he shouted, snapping his fingers.
“I think I know what that thing is under us,” Daxton replied.
“You know? How could you know what it is?” Jynx asked as he found a torch and lit it quickly so they could see around them better.
Daxton looked around the ship for a means of escape but realized there was none. He was trapped, same as everyone else, and would need to help them as best he knew how.
“I think it’s the [creature name].”
Barton started laughing. “You mean that old tale our parents told us when we were little? That thing isn’t real, Dax.” The ship was rocked once more, this time nearly tipping them over.
“Real or not, whatever is under us now is very real,” Jynx reasoned as he tried to remain standing on his feet. “Are you almost done over there? We could really use your assistance.”
Adelaide could not hear Jynx’ question or the world around her. The spell had taken hold, and she grabbed both Wendynn and Nelle by the hand as a force of energy coursed through her body. The clouds in the sky began to release bolts of lightning which struck all around their ship into the water. One of them hit the [creature name] and it thrashed about in pain. Waves formed all around them, bouncing the ship in the water.
Daxton, Jynx and Barton heard a shrieking sound that must’ve come from the [creature name] and knew it was angry. This time all three of them ran to the side of the ship out of curiosity and saw it sinking deeper into the sea. All three of them sank down to the ground, their backs up against the ship, panting heavily from the shock of it all.
“It’s a good thing the [creature name] fears lightning,” Daxton said.
“For the last time, Dax—.”
The ship began to rattle beneath them. All three stood up and peered over the side, but they could not see anything. Suddenly, a few feet away from their position, the large [creature name] sprang out of the water and hung in the air as it turned its enormous body towards them. They all knew all hope was lost as it prepared to crash into their ship. Not knowing what else to do, they all crouched down and huddled together, their eyes squeezed tightly shut, bracing for impact. Several seconds passed but nothing happened.
Jynx, the braver of the three, opened one eye to find out what happened. In front of him he saw Nelle’s body and Adelaide, standing side by side, each with a hand up in the air.
“Nelle, you’re back.” He got up quickly and ran towards her, but she stopped his forward progress with her other hand as she motioned with her eyes for him to turn around. He gulped loudly and turned slowly to find the [creature name] was being held motionless in the air by both Nelle and Adelaide. He could see its eyes bulging as it tried with all of its might to move, but it could not. “Bart, look, Dax here was right.”
They both opened their eyes and stood next to Jynx, looking up at the creature. “How long do you two plan to hold him up there like that?” Barton asked.
“Till we figure out how to deal with him. I think we should kill him. Adelaide disagrees and wants to free him. Shall we put it to a vote?”
“Let him go.” Everyone turned around to see Wendynn was alive as well.
“Pirates don’t get a vote,” Barton retorted.
“Good, because I wasn’t asking for a vote. Nelle, he is a friend. Trust me.” Nelle knew what Wendynn meant when he spoke of friendship. Pirates were not in the habit of having many friends, but the ones they did consider friends would count themselves very lucky. She, herself, knew what being a friend meant for her over the years with Captain Silverblade.
“Okay, Adelaide, let’s let him go.”
“Wait, we didn’t get to vote and we vote to kill him,” Barton said, growing angry at this unilateral decision being made about a murderous creature.
“No, Barton, we don’t. I say let him go. He didn’t really try to kill us until he was hit by that bolt of lightning. He doesn’t deserve to be killed,” Daxton reasoned, proud of himself for not rushing to judgement.
“I guess it’s just you and me then on the side of common sense?”
Jynx turned his head away, not willing to admit he also felt the creature should be set free. He knew it was too much for Barton to handle right now, feeling so ostracized from the group all the time, but hidden in his silence was his obvious answer. Barton threw his hands up in disbelief and decided to skulk off below deck, not wanting anything to do with what they were all about to do.
Once he was gone, Adelaide and Nelle slowly lowered their arms, and in doing so, lowered the [creature name] down, back into the water. It swam away quickly, turning back only once to splash its tail at them, soaking them all through.
“How did the [creature name] become the friend of a pirate?” Adelaide asked.
“He saved my life once,” Wendynn replied, watching in the distance as the [creature name] swam further and further away. The clouds parted and the full moon resumed shining brightly, a beacon in the sky, pointing them on their way.