Under Her Watch

Garl slowly opened his eyes and groggily peered around the room he found himself in. He was below deck on the Vespertine, lying comfortably in his hammock. The place seemed eerily quiet for... what time is it? Last he remembered, he was still hiking back with his friends, excited to set sail to a new island rumored to be infested with the Fleshmancer’s minions. He quickly crawled out of his hammock, feeling lightheaded from the sudden motion. After taking a moment to let himself readjust to standing up, he put on his backpack with some effort and climbed up the stairs to the main deck. Doing so felt like it took all his energy, but that was probably just some leftover drowsiness. As soon as he emerged to feel the late morning sun on his face, he heard a voice shout at him. “Aye! Garl! Shouldn’t ye be restin’?” Yolande was looking down at him from the helm of the ship. “Should I?” he asked, meeting her gaze. “Well, ya! Ye know a fever’s not gonna go down unless ye take it easy!”   A fever? Sure, he felt kind of tired despite just waking up, and hot despite the weather being nice, and his head still ached a bit, but he was fine! He could help his friends once they head out. While he wouldn’t be able to do much fighting himself against any of the Fleshmancer’s creations, he always took pride in keeping the two Solstice warriors in tip-top shape during combat. “Where is everyone?” Garl asked, taking in more of his surroundings. The ship did seem fairly empty compared to its usual hustle and bustle. “Zale, Valere, and Seraï went out on the island to clear some o’ them Fleshmancer minions. Should be gone fer the day I reckon,” she replied, “Me and the crew have been chillin’ on the beach all day.” “Oh,” Garl paused for a moment. His friends left without him. “I better get going then. Can’t leave them hanging!” He started to make his way to the gangplank before Yolande grabbed his shoulder, having come down from her previous post. “No can do. Yer stayin’ here – Captain's orders.” “But-” “No ifs, ands, and buts about it! Ye know they can hold their own. Ye ought to be restin’ up.”   Yolande used her grip on Garl to spin him around and guide him back down the staircase. While he knew she meant well, Garl didn’t like being forced to rest when his friends were out fighting. They don’t always need him there, but he knows that his help is appreciated. He couldn’t just sit by idly while Zale, Valere, and Seraï were out there risking their lives for everyone, but he also didn’t want to be rude in declining the kindness of Yolande. He sat down on his hammock as Yolande went back upstairs. “Ima be on the island with the rest o' the crew, so if ya need something, feel free to come get one ov us,” Yolande said as she made her exit.   Garl pondered how he could go help Zale, Valere, and Seraï without upsetting the pirates. Sneaking out would be the most obvious option, but if he gets caught, he isn’t sure how the pirates will handle it. Best-case scenario he gets away scot-free; worst-case scenario he fears a physical confrontation. But they would never do that, right? He could instead try asking a different crew member, one who isn’t aware of his condition, and maybe they’ll let him go – that is – if there is a crew member who doesn’t know. Failure in that regard could also make any other plans harder to achieve since then they’d know he’s trying to leave. He can’t think of any other options, and if his friends truly need him, time is of the essence. Despite its risks, sneaking out seems to be his best bet.   Garl carefully climbs the stairs to the top deck, keeping an eye out for any of the crew. Spotting nobody, he finishes his ascent into the salty ocean breeze. He scans the shoreline and sees Keenathan and Yolande having a chat down the beach, as well as a few specks of crew members beyond them. No one else seems to be around. Garl cautiously makes his way down the gangplank to not risk drawing attention to himself. Didn’t Yolande say he could get one of the pirates for help if he needed something? If someone spotted him, he could say that he was simply looking for them – the perfect excuse. Having gotten across the gangplank and beach unnoticed, he started following the dirt path leading into the island’s woods. Garl started to miss the ocean’s breeze as the shade of the canopy wasn’t enough to keep him from feeling uncomfortably warm. His head seemed to pound more and more with each step he took. Luckily, he hadn’t seen any enemies during his trek, which helped to keep things more manageable for him.   After some time, he came upon a campsite spot. Examining the firepit, he could tell that someone had used it not too long ago. Garl was sure Zale, Valere, and Seraï had been through here earlier, and he was determined to catch up to them. After taking a small break, that is. His mind felt so cloudy he struggled to think clearly, and his sweat was seeping into his clothes. He debated eating a snack to try and help his condition, but his throat and stomach felt like they were closing up – definitely a “no”. Garl laid down on the nearby grass to try getting back some energy. Staring up at the tree’s canopy, he realized just how tired he was. Nevertheless, he was going to go help his friends as much as he could. His vision seemed to fade in and out, his exhaustion taking over, and lulling him into a sweet sleep. Before finally dozing off, he noticed something brownish red in color obscure the top of his vision.   When Garl woke up, he found himself back in his hammock. Frantically glancing around, he tried to decipher how he wound up back on the Vespertine. He hadn’t been out for too long, had he? His head ached again upon standing up. His backpack felt lighter this time, which came as a surprise to him since he knew he didn’t eat any of his snacks. The ship looked as empty as it was previously, so he decided to go up to the main deck again. He didn’t feel as tired climbing the stairs this time – his nap probably helped with that – but it still took quite a bit of effort.   The sun was lower now, but not by much. Garl guessed that it was about noon. While the breeze remained, it now felt unbearably hot outside in his opinion. Failing to notice anyone onboard, he decided that he would make his way back to the campsite. If no one’s going to stop him, why wouldn’t he? He could persevere through the heat, and his friends could still use his help. As he made his way to the gangplank, he was startled by a voice from behind.   “Where do you think you’re going?” Garl turned around to see Captain Klee'shaë leaning against the banister surrounding the staircase. Why was she here? Are Zale and Valere alright? “Umm... out?” was all he managed to say with his head full of questions and a desire to keep his plan a secret. “Not in your condition. You’re supposed to stay here and rest.” “I’m fine! Besides, if you’re here, Zale and Valere are going to need some help.” So much for keeping his plan a secret. “They’re fine. That’s actually why I’m here – they had things handled, so they asked if I could make sure you were alright after yesterday. I took the scenic route since I didn’t want to risk teleporting in front of my crew and came across you passed out at our old campfire.” “Oh, well, thanks,” Garl mumbled, unsure how to react since he failed to read what he could see of her expression. “You’re welcome. Just be glad I decided to help you. You seemed terrible, and it’s not like I was looking forward to dragging your unconscious body back to ship for a second time. At least last time I could teleport you.”   Garl could hear her smirk on that last sentence, so he gave a slight chuckle in turn. A small silence fell over the two of them, but Captain Klee'shaë’s gaze never left Garl, making him feel slightly uncomfortable. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to leave again with her here, but he still didn’t want to waste the day away doing nothing. “Now come on, let’s get you to bed,” Captain Klee'shaë said, beckoning for him to follow her with her hook.   He begrudgingly followed her downstairs and sat down on his hammock. Captain Klee'shaë leaned against the pole it was fastened to and stared off into the distance. Garl took off his backpack before laying down. He decided to try and rest a bit since he didn’t have a choice, but her presence made him feel uneasy. It’s kind of hard to sleep when someone’s just standing at the foot of your bed. He knew she meant well, and he wanted to stay polite, but he really wanted her to leave. Actually, if he could get her to leave, he could check on Zale and Valere. Captain Klee'shaë said they were fine, but it wouldn’t hurt to check, right? He was feeling better compared to earlier, so he should be able to make it there no problem! “Hey, uh, Captain?” “Yeah.” “Could I have some privacy? It's kinda weird just having you stand there,” Garl said, trying to sound as nice as possible. “Oh. Sure thing,” Captain Klee'shaë replied, unusually cheery for herself.   She stood up straight then left upstairs. That was much easier than Garl thought it would be. Almost too easy, he felt, but he decided to just accept it anyways. He grabbed his backpack and quickly slung it on. Then he decided to wait a bit to make sure Captain Klee'shaë would be gone, which was nice, since he could let his arms rest after picking up his bag. He really was tired, wasn’t he? He hated feeling this way, but the only way to get rid of it was to rest, and he hated having to do that too. Once he thought enough time had passed, he made his way back up the staircase.   The sun’s heat was still insufferable, the breeze doing little to reduce its impact. As he turned towards the gangplank, he saw Captain Klee'shaë to the right of his vision. She was leaning against the far banister of the staircase, arms crossed on top of it. Her glare pierced straight through him as she made her remark. “So, this was why you wanted privacy?”   Garl could hear her anger loud and clear. She knew exactly what he was planning, didn’t she? He felt embarrassed at the realization – firstly, that she was able to figure him out so easily, and secondly, that he had tried to deceive her at all. He remained silent, failing to find anything to say. “Come on, I’m taking you back to bed,” was all Captain Klee'shaë said, with a noticeable annoyance still lingering in her voice. Garl followed her to his hammock once more, managing to blurt out a simple apology once he sat down. “Sorry.” “It’s fine, just please don’t do that again,” Captain Klee'shaë sighed.   She then disappeared into the kitchen before coming back out with a bucket of water, mop, and washcloth. She got to work mopping the main room floor while Garl was left to watch. He didn’t think that captains were the ones to clean their ships, and he hadn’t seen her do so before, so her actions confused him. “Do you normally do the mopping?” Garl asked. “No, but the floors look like they could use it, and everyone else is out enjoying themselves. Besides, it's something easy I can do while keeping an eye on you.”   While Garl wasn’t fond of her last statement, he couldn’t blame her for feeling the need to watch him. His eyes followed her rhythmic movements as she slowly started to work her way across the southern half of the floor. “Could I help you with that?” he tentatively asked. “You’re not working when you’re sick, Garl,” Captain Klee'shaë dully answered, “The only thing that should be on your to-do list is sleep.” Garl paused for a moment before responding. “I know, but I want to do something of use. Sitting around doing nothing while everyone else is busy just makes me feel guilty. Plus, it's boring.” “You have nothing to feel guilty about, Garl,” Captain Klee'shaë said, softer than her usual tone, “Most people aren’t working today, and you're always running around trying to help others. It’s about time you took a break.”   Garl thought about her words. He may put a lot of effort towards helping others, but it was something he enjoyed. Except for a few more arduous tasks, it never really felt like work to him. The thought of taking a break from such never even crossed his mind. “I don’t need a break from that, Captain. It’s not really work in my eyes. That also doesn’t solve the boring problem.” “Just because you don’t view it that way doesn’t mean it isn’t,” she responded, now about halfway across the room. “For the boredom part... I don’t know – just deal with it.” “That’s not-” Garl sighed, feeling like their back-and-forth was going nowhere. He stood up from the hammock and walked over to Captain Klee'shaë as she was still mopping by Teaks’ favorite spot. “Please just let me help,” he said, reaching out as if to take the mop from her. “No! Just stay in your hammock!” She was clearly getting frustrated by his antics. “I don’t want to sit around all day! Just let me help with something!” he pleaded. The two of them were starting to raise their voices from the other’s insistence. To make sure things wouldn’t devolve into a screaming match, Captain Klee'shaë came up with a compromise. “If I let you help me clean the lower deck, promise me you’ll rest for the rest of today.” Garl thought about her offer for a moment before nodding. “It’s a deal.”   Captain Klee'shaë tossed the washcloth she had hanging over the side of her bucket at his right shoulder, then instructed him to start wiping the portholes. He quickly rushed over to the first one, excited to finally have something to do. The two of them worked in silence for a little while, feeling no need to make small talk. Garl would speed through his tasks, returning to Captain Klee'shaë to ask for something new to do. As he kept coming back, he noticed that she kept giving him easy things to do – stuff that didn’t require much effort or motion, hard scrubbing, bending down, or reaching up high. “You know I can still clean normally, right?” Garl asked her upon receiving his seventh simple task. Captain Klee'shaë seemed almost taken aback by his question, pausing as she was about to pick up a barrel. “I can do more than sorting shelves and watering plants. You don’t need to baby me with easy tasks,” Garl added due to her lack of response. “I don’t want you overexerting yourself. You’re still sick ya know,” she finally answered. Garl smiled at her concern for him. He knew she cared for him, but it was nice to hear it in words for once. She had always used actions instead. Countless times Seraï took a hit in combat for someone or used her portals to help them traverse a tricky landscape flashed through his mind. She may have yelled at him earlier, but he was confident it came from a place of genuine care. Garl felt bad remembering how he yelled back at her. He could at least try to make it up to her by helping her out. “Trust me. I can handle this,” he assured her. “Trust you like you didn’t try to sneak off shortly after I left?” Garl knew her sarcasm was playful, but the extra reminder was like a stab in the chest. “I know; I’m still sorry about that, but you can really trust me with this.”   After some thought, Captain Klee'shaë gave in to his request and gave him some harder tasks to do – still nothing that difficult – but it was an improvement, nonetheless. As the day dragged on, Garl decided he would break up the monotony of doing chores. Grabbing the mop she left in the corner, he wanted to see how long it would take her to notice him messing with her. He could see her working at the dining room table that was closer to the doorway. Taking the opportunity given by her back being turned, he quickly prodded her shoulder with the mop handle before ducking behind the wall. He could hear her move a bit before the air went quiet again. Slowly peering into the room, he saw that she went back to work. He mirrored his previous movements, causing her to do the same – only her search was a tad more frantic this time.   Garl was sure she’d find out the third time around, so he let himself be a bit riskier. She was even closer but now facing his left, doing something at the southern wall’s shelving. He carefully extended the mop handle towards her, aiming for her cheek instead. When he got close, she immediately turned and grabbed the stick, yanking Garl along with it. Caught off guard by the force, he toppled over, landing with a loud thud.   The sudden motion and crash against the floor sent a searing pain through his head. Turns out it wasn’t just the floor he crashed into, since he could hear Captain Klee'shaë wince in pain as he pushed himself up with his hands. He looked down to see her propped up on her left elbow while her right hand rubbed the back of her head. Her hat was knocked off in the blow, so Garl grabbed it, but rather than give it back, he wore it himself. Once she looked up at him, the annoyance on her face was replaced with amusement at his actions. Garl was expecting her to snatch it back, only for her to grab the brim and smash it in his face. He laughed a little as he pushed her hat back up a bit to see her again. It was obvious that Captain Klee'shaë was giggling since she now lay flat on the floor with her hand hovering by her mouth. It was only audible to Garl once his own laughter ceased. The quiet noise made him realize that he had never heard Seraï laugh before. Its melody was subtle but sweet – kinda cute too. Wait, cute? However it was best described, Garl adored it. He was confident it would be a while until he could hear it again, so he savored the chime. Her laughter stopped alongside that thought – too soon for Garl’s taste. Wanting to fill the air before it went completely silent, Garl apologized for the fall. “Sorry about that,” he said with a soft smile. “It’s fine. I’m the one who knocked you over,” she said, quickly glancing to the side. “Really, I should be apologizing, so, sorry.” “Don’t worry about it.” “Are you hurt?” she asked after giving him a once-over. “My head still stings but I’ll be fine. Are you hurt? You got kinda crushed there...” he trailed off, feeling guilty about it. “All good here,” she cheerily replied.   The pause in their conversation brought their unusual position to the forefront. Captain Klee'shaë now had her arms in a “surrender” pose, head turned to the side, and an expression that Garl couldn’t read. He was more than half a foot taller than her, but the framing made her look even smaller than normal. Her oversized pirate clothes probably helped with that too. He didn’t know why her appearance suddenly fascinated him, but he knew he didn’t want to look away. When her eye, laced with confusion, met his, he was suddenly brought back to his senses. He quickly got off her, embarrassed that he lingered for so long. He helped her to her feet once he was on his and felt compelled to apologize again. “Sorry,” he muttered, struggling to add anything else to it. “I said it’s fine,” Captain Klee'shaë responded as she finally took her hat back from him, “Just be glad no one saw that.” Garl froze up thinking how that must have looked from a third-person perspective and barely managed to keep himself from apologizing a third time. Captain Klee'shaë brought her focus back to their task at hand, and seeing Garl’s nervous face, she decided she better remind him too. “We still have some cleaning to do. Let’s get back to work.”   They worked throughout the afternoon tidying up the rest of the lower deck. During the early evening, as he finished wiping down the kitchen counter, a thought came across Garl. “Is the crew coming back for dinner?” Captain Klee'shaë tilted her head up in thought for a second, before she stopped scrubbing the cooking cauldron to turn and face him. “Probably. Not sure who’s cooking though, since Valtraid’s taking the day off,” she answered. “Are you hungry?” “Not really, but I haven’t eaten anything today, so I should probably eat something.” “Would you want something now or can you wait until the crew comes?” “I can wait,” Garl replied, putting aside the rag he no longer needed. Captain Klee'shaë stared at him for a bit, leaving Garl confused as to why. It wasn’t until she spoke that he had his answer. “I’ll go see what my crew has planned. I’m trusting you to stay here.”   Captain Klee'shaë left her sponge on the counter as she exited the room. Garl smiled knowing he renewed her trust in him. He finished scrubbing the cauldron for her before wandering around the lower deck. Now that he had no work to distract him, he started to feel the effects of his sickness again. His breathing was noticeably heavier, and each step felt the same way. At least his headache had subsided for the moment.   Entering the “game room,” as the pirates called it, he found himself looking at all the different books and trinkets they had. When nothing in particular piqued his interest, he went to the other side of the room to investigate the Wheels table. He remembered that Zale and Valere would play the locals whenever they visited an inn or tavern. He ought to have them teach him. “Fan of Wheels?” a familiar voice called to him. Garl turned around to see Captain Klee'shaë in the entryway, having returned from her excursion. “Never learned how to play,” he admitted. “I can teach you if you want,” she offered, “It can seem daunting, but once you get the basics the rest is easy.” “That would be great!” Garl exclaimed before changing the subject, “So, what’re the dinner plans for tonight?” “No one knows, so I’m gonna be cooking for us,” she replied with an evident sigh. “I didn’t know you could cook! Awesome!” “Only a little bit,” she said, looking slightly embarrassed at that fact, “though I can probably whip up something.” “I’m fine to eat whatever, and I can help you cook,” Garl offered, excited to see what she could do in the kitchen. “Sorry, but I don’t want a health hazard near my food,” she teased. “I’m not that sick,” Garl pouted. "Yes, you are. Now what do you want to eat?” she asked, getting the conversation back on track. “Well, what can you make?” he asked, not wanting to request anything that would be hard for her to do. “Well, what do you want to eat?” she reiterated, imitating Garl’s previous tone and trouncing his avoidant strategy. Garl searched for an answer that wasn’t too specific. Once he found one that satisfied him, he responded, “Some kind of soup would be nice, if that’s okay with you.” “Of course. Got any favorites?” Garl wished that she would at least help pick their dinner for the night, but, alas, the question was thrown solely on him once more. “Um, either beef stew or baked potato soup should be good.” He gave two answers in hopes that she would finally contribute to the decision. Captain Klee'shaë mulled over the two options handed to her before stating. “I don’t think we have beef on board, so let’s do baked potato soup.” Joyed that he wasn’t the sole decider in the matter, Garl exclaimed, “Perfect! I can help you grab the ingredients-” “You’re not doing anything, mister. A certain someone promised me they’d rest as soon as the cleaning was done.” Her eyes were already gleaming with victory from a battle never fought, since Garl knew he didn’t stand a chance. “Okay, fine, but if you need something, you better ask me for help, alright?” he asked, hoping for an opportunity to do something besides rest. “Alright,” she agreed, easier than Garl would have thought, “Now get some sleep. I’ll wake you up when dinner’s ready.”   The two left the game room together before separating into their assigned tasks for the evening. Garl watched Captain Klee'shaë carry the ingredients needed from storage into the kitchen while lying on his hammock, desperately wishing he were well enough to join her. Cooking had been a passion of his since childhood, and he was missing the chance to partake in it with a friend. He only just learned that she could cook, and now she was cooking especially for him. Well, herself and her crew too, but mostly him. He would have preferred to rest while she cleaned if it meant he could now cook alongside her; he would be happy just getting to watch her cook. He wondered how Seraï acted in the kitchen: was she just as precise and methodical as she was in combat, or was she more easygoing and messy? Curiosity continued to eat at him as he could hear her moving throughout the kitchen.   Ignoring his better judgment and the headache that returned, he decided to peer into the kitchen to see what she was doing. Captain Klee'shaë had her back to the fire she lit, which was melting a bit of butter she had placed into the cooking pot. Garl could tell she was cutting something but was unable to get any more information from his angle. She put her knife down and moved to do something on the counter against the far wall. Cut potatoes were now plainly in view, and analyzing them as best he could at a distance, Garl noted that she was pretty skilled with a knife. While not quite the same, her daggers must have given her ample practice. “Excuse me.” Garl flinched in fear of the loud voice booming in his ear. Looking to the source of it, he saw that he was easily caught by Captain Klee'shaë. “Do you need something?” she asked, her voice dripping with indignation. Garl backed away a tad before answering. “No, I just wanted to see how things were going.” He found no point in trying to weasel his way out of this. “I said I would get you if I needed help.” “Yes, but I still wanted to watch you cook.” That wasn’t a weird thing to say, was it? Not everyone viewed cooking the same way he did. Though he wondered whether others would take interest in people’s cooking styles. “Why?” she questioned, her confusion apparent through her tone and pose. “I’ve never seen you cook before, so I want to know how you operate in the kitchen.” Seeing that her confusion remained, he added, “For instance, Zale is very unorthodox and messy with his cooking. While he knows how to follow a recipe, he typically ignores any instruction in favor of adding whatever he thinks will taste good. Sadly, his thoughts are usually wrong.” This earned a slight chuckle out of Captain Klee'shaë, making Garl grin before continuing his explanation. “Valere is calm and focused, and usually follows any recipe to a tea, maybe adjusting some of its spice content after making it a few times. Wanting to know the same about you, curiosity got the better of me and I took a peep at what you were doing. Sorry.” Captain Klee'shaë seemed surprised yet satisfied at his lengthy response. She stopped to think about something for a bit, before giving Garl an offer. “If you really want, you could pull up a chair and watch.”   Garl was taken aback, but quickly accepted before she could change her mind. He took one of the dining room chairs and brought it to the side of the counter opposite her. She was now slicing green onions into thin slices, presumably for garnish at the end. Her movements were as precise as he figured they would be. She minced a bit of garlic and was about to add it to the pot before she was stopped by Garl asking a question. “Are you sure this is enough for everyone?” Captain Klee'shaë stared at him, almost bewildered. “Who says I’m cooking for everyone?” she laughed. “If they’re too dumb to figure out who’s cooking, they don’t get to eat.” Garl could tell she was still smiling through her mask. As she finally added the garlic, she reiterated, “I’m only cooking for the two of us.”   Realizing his seat was not in an optimal position, Garl moved it so he could sit right next to the fire. She set a pan with the cut-up potatoes next to the pot to cook as she worked through the next steps in her head. Garl admired the foresight she had to start cooking them early, knowing that they take a while to cook. The fact she didn’t seem to be using any recipe was also commendable. He knows it’s no easy feat to make a dish from scratch without plenty of practice, leading him to wonder how many times she’s made this soup before. “Is there anything you like adding to your soup?” Captain Klee'shaë asked, snapping Garl out of his thoughts. “I usually put in extra sour cream.” “I planned to put some in already,” she said, grabbing the small container of such off the counter to show him, “but I can do extra. Anything else?” “Bacon?” “None on board. I looked for some earlier.” “Nothing else I can think of then,” Garl stated, putting an end to their quick conversation.   Shortly afterwards, he wished he didn’t. The silence was heavy as Garl watched her pour in the last of the milk needed. Captain Klee'shaë’s eyes never left the pot as she continued to mindlessly stir it, making Garl worry that he made her nervous or uncomfortable somehow. Silence with her was usually nice, but something about this one felt off. Her presumed attitude seemed to rub off on him, as now he was nervous to speak up.   He saw that the potato pieces were close to being overcooked on one side, so he tried to gently shake the pan to flip them over. Captain Klee'shaë immediately noticed his actions and frantically apologized for her mistake. “-I was zoned out for a second and should’ve been paying more attention. I-” she started stammering as she took the pan from him. “Calm down, it’s fine,” Garl reassured her, concerned about her reaction.   He had never seen her freak out like that before. Was something this simple all it took to set her off? Or was it something about making mistakes? Based on what he knew about Seraï, the latter seemed more likely, but it could also be something he had no idea about. He made a new mental note of this: Seraï is a nervous cook, or at least nervous when being watched. He sincerely hoped that it wasn't his presence that was causing it.   It wasn’t until Garl saw her stirring the pot and flipping the potatoes simultaneously that he realized Captain Klee'shaë had taken her hook off. When did she do that? Did she need both hands to cook? Maybe that’s why he’s never seen her do so. Though why would she take off her hook if she wouldn’t risk teleporting onto the Vespertine? Sure, it would be easier to explain away a fake hook than teleportation, but the thought still confused Garl. And wait, where was her eyepatch? He didn’t recall seeing it at all today. Was that intentional or did she forget it? Keenathan has eyepatches despite being able to see, so maybe her crew knows she doesn’t need hers either. He hoped that was the case, otherwise she was really compromising her identity. The pounding in his head grew stronger the more he tried to rationalize her actions, so he decided to cut himself off there.   When Captain Klee'shaë finished flipping the potatoes she breathed out a large sigh, having fully regained her composure. She used her left hand to empty the container of chicken broth into the soup before returning to stir, only a tad less frequently. Her silence had returned as she continued to work on the meal, this time occasionally glancing at Garl. In an effort to prevent any further awkwardness, Garl tried to make small talk. “It smells great.” He now had her full attention. “Yeah, it does,” she agreed. “Have you made this before?” Garl was sure she had, but he hoped to hear more about her culinary experience. “I have. Only a few times though.” “How’d you learn to make it?” “Yolande taught me a while ago; it’s one of her favorite dishes,” Captain Klee'shaë said with a fondness in her voice. After pausing for a second, she continued, “If we have any leftovers could we save a bowl for her?” “Of course,” Garl cheerily replied. It was always nice to see the care Seraï had for her crew. She may put up a stoic front, but Garl knew and appreciated how caring she really was. “So much for her not getting to eat,” he teased in reference to Captain Klee'shaë’s earlier remark. “Only if we have leftovers, and I’ll make sure she knows it’s a pity handout.” Her smile only grew wider as they continued with their back and forth.   During a lull in their conversation, Garl got up to put away the empty glass bottles and leftover milk she left on the counter. Captain Klee'shaë watched his actions for a bit but did nothing to protest them. When he returned, she had added the potatoes and cheese, and was currently seasoning it with salt and pepper. “How much salt and stuff do you like?” she asked, hesitating to add any more. “Any amount is fine – as long as you don’t drown it in salt or anything – Zale's done that before with mushroom soup, and I can tell you that it was not fun to eat.” “Alright then – not too much salt,” Captain Klee'shaë said, her growing smile apparent in her voice. She put out the fire and added the remaining ingredients to the mixture. “We ought to let it cool for a bit before eating,” she said as she turned to fully face Garl. She seemed to analyze his appearance, though he had no clue why. “What should we do in the meantime?” he asked, giving her the choice this time. She merely walked towards him without saying a word. Garl backed up, confused by her actions, until he was pressed up against the counter. Now standing so close that they were almost hugging, she looked up at him. Was it suddenly hot in here? Seraï put out the fire, didn’t she? More and more questions spiraled in Garl’s mind until a hand laid against his forehead. “You should get some rest; you’re burning up,” was all Captain Klee'shaë said before backing up. That’s what the heat was. Definitely. “Y-yeah, I probably should,” he stammered out. “I’m going to lay down for a bit,” he added, exiting the kitchen.   Garl laid down on his hammock, his exhaustion hitting him like a truck. Being up and about all day while sick really takes a toll on you, huh? He would happily fall asleep if his stomach wasn’t rumbling and the smell of the cooling soup wasn’t oh-so tempting. Closing his eyes as he took a deep breath, he didn’t even realize he had dozed off.   Garl noticed his hammock shaking unnaturally before he felt a hook prodding his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Captain Klee'shaë standing over him. “The soup’s ready,” she said quietly.   Garl got up and quickly followed her into the dining room where she had already split the soup into bowls. Some sour cream, cheese, and green onions were placed in the center of the table for them to freely add to their soup. They sat diagonally from each other and decorated their bowls to their liking before tasting. The baked potato soup was warm and comforting – exactly what Garl needed with how he was feeling. “This is great!” he exclaimed, rushing to take another bite. “Thanks, I’m glad you like it,” she said, pausing to look him in the eye before continuing her meal.   They chatted as they ate, and when they were finished, Captain Klee'shaë collected their bowls to wash. Garl took the sour cream and cheese to put them back in the ice box, and upon his return, he thanked her for dinner. “Of course. Don’t even mention it,” she replied. It was getting somewhat late as the two walked into the main room. While he was tired, Garl didn’t want to call it for the night – not yet. “You said you could teach me how to play Wheels, right?” he asked. “You want to do that now?” Captain Klee'shaë asked, “It’s pretty late.” “I know,” Garl responded, “but I want to stay up until Zale and Valere get back.” She seemed to ponder his statement for a moment until answering. “Sure. I’m okay with that,” she said as she started to walk towards the game room. “Did I need your permission?” Garl playfully asked as he tailed her. “Yes. I’d tie you down to your hammock if you tried to stay up without it,” she jabbed back, peering over her shoulder to meet his gaze. “Like you would be able to,” he continued, wanting to keep the ball rolling. “I could easily do so. One stab with paralysis poison and what are you going to do about it?” “You wouldn’t stab me again-” “Oh, I would,” Captain Klee'shaë said with a smirk as she sat at the wheels table, “So don’t go testing my patience, alright?”   Garl grinned as he sat across from her and waited for instructions. She told him to open a drawer attached to the bottom of the table, and when he did, he found six figurines and wheels lying inside. Captain Klee'shaë started to explain each figurine, but realizing the information overload caused by her ranting, she stopped herself and recommended he use the Warrior and Mage pieces to start with. She settled on the Mage and Archer figures for herself. To make things easier for Garl since it was his first time playing, she chose the copper wheel and had him use the platinum one. Once everything was set up and ready to play, she started to explain the game's basic mechanics. “The wheels function like a slot machine.” She got up and walked over to Garl’s side to point out the different icons on his wheels. “There are three basic symbols: squares, diamonds, and hammers. There are also blanks but those only appear on lower tier wheels, so you don’t need to worry about those yet. Diamonds add to the hero in the diamond spot’s energy, same with the squares, and hammers give you Bulwark which helps to protect your Crown. You need at least three of the same symbol for them to add one energy or Bulwark, and each extra one you get will add an additional one. So, for instance, three hammers would give you one Bulwark, four would give you two, etcetera...”   Garl tried to follow along with what Captain Klee'shaë was saying, but her proximity was making it hard to focus. While it makes sense for her to be close to indicate what she’s talking about on the table, she knows she doesn’t need to be practically touching cheeks for that, right? He didn’t think it was a bad thing – the almost-hug-from-behind was quite cozy actually – he just found it strange, especially from Seraï of all people. A hand wrapping around his own brought him back to reality as it guided him to the lever of the slot machine, pulling it down. “...You also have to do that at the start of each game by the way,” Captain Klee'shaë said as she darted back to her seat, triggering her own.   It took Garl some time to get the hang of things, but the more he played the faster he was able to pick new things up. He lost early on a few times, but once he understood that he should focus on attacking rather than defending against her figures, he was able to put up more of a fight. Once he got good enough luck – or she got bad enough luck – he was sure he could win; it was only a matter of time. “There ye guys are!” The sudden intrusion startled both Garl and Captain Klee'shaë, but they relaxed once they saw it was just Yolande. “I’m surprised yer still awake!” she shouted, slapping Garl on the shoulder. “I wanted to wait until Zale and Valere got back to go to bed,” he explained, “I also wanted to learn how to play Wheels, so Captain offered to teach me.” “Have ye beaten’ her yet?” “Not yet, but I’ve come close,” he answered cheerfully. “He’s gettin’ pretty good for only a bit o' playtime,” Captain Klee'shaë added. Hearing her pirate accent after she went all day without it nearly gave Garl whiplash. “I reckon he could even beat you by the end ov tonight.” “In his dreams maybe,” Yolande chuckled, “Me n’ the rest o' the crew are hittin’ the hay, but I’ll play him a round after yers.” “I’m not that good,” Garl protested, feeling undeserving of the praise he was getting, “Besides, I don’t want to keep you up.” “I don’t mind! I’d wanna see how ye play anyways.”   Yolande clearly had her mind set on playing Garl, so he conceded. After a few minutes, he suffered another loss to Captain Klee'shaë. Once she finished clearing her side of the table, Captain Klee'shaë gave her seat up to Yolande. “Would ye wanna face my champion team or just a casual match?” “Ca-” “Champion,” Captain Klee'shaë cut him off. “I can’t do that! I’d never stand a chance!” Garl protested, but her hidden smile never faded. “I’m sure ye can do it. It ain’t the end o’ the world if ye lose.” She continued to pressure him until he gave in. “Champion it is, I guess.” “Alrighty then!” Yolande cheered as she placed an Engineer and Archer for her pieces. “Since it’s yer first champion match we both hafta use copper wheels, and- oh, ye already been usin’ the Mage n’ Warrior. That oughta help ye out.” “I guess it does,” Garl said with a slight smile, unsure what she meant exactly by the last bit. The two started their wheels as Captain Klee'shaë pulled up a barrel to sit on while she watched. Garl was familiar with how the Archer worked but had no clue how to counter the Engineer. After some back and forth, Garl was able to understand the Engineer’s function and develop a counter strategy: the Engineer could easily destroy his Bulwark, and the Archer could still shoot over it if it wasn't high enough, so it was best not to focus on it. Her Engineer also raised her Bulwark each time it attacked, so using his Mage for damage was clearly the better choice. Its second fireball was guaranteed to clear her Bulwark, and the first could help reduce it to potentially let the Warrior get a good hit in.   Garl enacted his new plan by focusing on gathering Diamonds for his Mage. He just had to hope he got the luck he needed. As the match went on, Captain Klee'shaë would occasionally stick her head to the side to see the players’ wheels and mentally guess what their plan was. Garl noticed that she seemed to check his side more than Yolande’s, but that was probably because he was the underdog.   At one point in the match, he had Yolande on the ropes – her Bulwark was completely down, and his newly silver Warrior was close to attacking. He made sure to get enough Squares to act, before ending his turn excited to do some heavy damage. To his disappointment, when the turn played out, her Engineer built up her Bulwark before he attacked, completely blocking him. Yolande could see the dismay written across his face, so she gave an explanation. “The Engineer acts before any piece except fer the Assassin, so I can use him to put up some Bulwark before ye can ever attack with yer pieces.”   Garl was annoyed at this news, but there was no point in trying to argue against the rules of the game. He continued to put up a fight, but he still lost in the end. “Hey, ye did pretty good, Garl!” Yolande cheered. “Thanks, I knew I wouldn’t be able to win, but I think I made it pretty far.” “Indeed, ye did,” Captain Klee'shaë chimed in, “Gettin’ her down to four health is no easy feat.” Proud of his accomplishment, Garl decided to challenge Captain Klee'shaë again. “If I came that close to beating Yolande, I’m sure I can beat you now.” “A bit arrogant there, dontcha think?” she answered with a matching playfulness. “Nah, he could beat ye easy,” Yolande said, egging her on as she stood up from her seat, “I’d love to watch, but all the others are probably in bed by now, and I could use some sleep myself.” “We’ll see about that,” Captain Klee'shaë said, reclaiming her spot at the wheels table. “Good night, Yolande.” “Good night, Yolande,” Garl seconded. “Good night to ye both, and good luck to ye, Garl,” she said as she disappeared through the doorway.   The knowledge of everyone else being asleep reminded Garl of his own exhaustion. What time was it? Shouldn’t Zale and Valere be back by now? He knew they were strong, but he was starting to get worried. Captain Klee'shaë seemed to pick up on this as she reached across the table to put a hand on his shoulder. “They’ll be back soon. I know they’re fine.”   Garl could see the sincerity in her eyes as they shone at him. It was always a treat to see Seraï’s sweeter side. She’s been pretty nice the whole day now that he thought about it. It’s also one of the only times they’ve hung out just the two of them. They’re always hiking and fighting with Zale and Valere or sailing and hanging out with the pirates, so a quiet moment with each other is hard to come by. “I can keep watch and wake you up once they get back,” Captain Klee'shaë offered, breaking Garl out of his trance, “You’re really tired.”   He was. He could fall asleep right where he was sitting if he wanted to. But, of course, he didn’t. He would feel awful having Seraï stay up in his stead while he went to sleep. He’s kept himself awake so far, so doing so a bit longer wouldn’t hurt. Besides, it would be nice to spend some more time together. “No thanks. I still want to stay up, and I still need to beat you at Wheels.” He was sure his tease combined with the previous ones would make her extra competitive. The sincerity in her eyes was replaced by determination as she recoiled her hand and sat back down. “Hope you’re ready to pull an all-nighter then.”   Garl loved getting to see Seraï’s playful side. She used to try so hard to hide it – only slipping the occasional sarcastic quip. Now that she had gotten more acquainted with everyone, her mask started to falter more and more. Friendly jabs at people were how it first started to shine. Hearing Seraï speak without her usual seriousness and stoicism was strange at first, but he quickly grew to love it. He would try different things to get her to crack, and friendly competition almost always worked. He didn’t expect her to be so competitive – some would say too competitive – but he thought it was great. Seraï gave every challenge her all, and it was a trait Garl admired ever since he noticed it.   Looking up at her, he could tell she was fully engrossed in their game. She always took her time analyzing every move, making games last far longer than they needed to. It annoyed most who played her, but Garl appreciated her taking their matches seriously. If he won, he knew it would be a legitimate victory. Their match dragged on even longer than their previous ones, likely due to their slower sleep-deprived decision making. It came down to the wire, but Garl had managed to squeak out a victory. Winning the match surprised him. He thought he must have cheated somehow, but that was pushed aside as Captain Klee'shaë congratulated him. “That was great,” she smiled, “you even won with a disadvantage this time.” “What? How?” Garl asked. “You forgot to change your wheel after your match with Yolande. Instead of using the best wheel, you were using the worst one. I guess that puts us on an even playing field now that I think about it...” she paused for a second before continuing, “Oh well, it's a disadvantage compared to earlier. I’m too tired for this.” She chuckled as she stood up and reached out her hand. “Good game.” Garl took her hand and shook it. “Good game.” “How about we take a break outside? I could use the air,” Captain Klee'shaë suggested. “Do you need a break for air or from losing?” he joked. “Just the air,” she said, leaning in a bit too close for Garl’s comfort. “Figured I'd let you end the night on a high note.” “Sure,” he said sarcastically, before switching to his normal tone, “I think the cold air would be good for me too. I feel hot and my head hurts.”   They made sure to be quiet as they made their way to the staircase so they wouldn’t wake any of the sleeping crew. Climbing the stairs was no easier than before, but Garl pushed through. Captain Klee'shaë made her way to one of the masts, climbing the rope ladder faster than Garl could ever dream of in his condition. He took a second to appreciate the chilly breeze soothing his warm forehead before following her lead. When he got to the top, he was completely out of breath. “You alright?” Captain Klee'shaë asked, helping him to his feet. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he breathlessly answered, meeting her gaze.   Once steady, he looked out to the ocean – a dark abyss with speckles of stars reflected in its calming waters. The horizon was hard to make out with the sea and sky being almost identical in color, but the moon gave just enough light to separate the two. The wind was much harsher this high up, and along with the crashing of waves on the beach, was the only noise permeating the air. He wanted to turn and look at the island, but his movement would alert Captain Klee'shaë to her lingering touch on his arm, so he refrained. “Thanks for everything today,” Garl said, breaking their comfortable silence. “It was nothing,” she said calmly, “I had fun, and I know you’d do the same for me.”   Knowing she enjoyed their time together had Garl grinning from ear to ear. It also brought something else to his attention: Seraï’s tender side. Probably the most elusive part of her, he never learned what triggered it. He presumed that it was saved for the most special of moments, so he was shocked to be experiencing it now. Even so, something about it still felt different.   He turned slightly to look at her, losing her touch, but gaining a breathtaking sight as payment. Seraï had taken her hat off, and so it wouldn’t blow away, pinned it against the railing with her hook. Her bangs danced across her forehead with her pigtails matching their rhythm. Moonlight bounced off her skin, giving it a glowy appearance. It especially illuminated her eyes and the beads that dangled from her hair tie, their radiance attracting all attention. Once Seraï noticed his gaze, she faced him in turn. Now with shadows cast on her left, her eyes stood out even further by contrast. “Today wasn’t nothing. You did a lot for me, and I really appreciate it,” Garl smiled softly.   After some hesitation, Seraï spoke up. “You’re welcome,” was all she could say, whatever was meant to come after being forcefully withheld.   She walked to the other side of the crow’s nest and stared out at the island. He retook his spot next to her and dared to grab her hand. Of course, he picked the side with her hook – so much for subtlety – but he went for it anyways. He slid his right hand into the base and held the hook with his left to make sure it wouldn’t fall. She let go of her hook immediately, accepting Garl’s hand as a replacement. He was both surprised and relieved by this as he set her hook down on the railing. He could tell her hand was strong from all the fighting and work she does, but it had a softness to it that made his heart melt.   He looked out towards the island, but he struggled to break his focus on their hands. Once he did, the island sprung to life in his mind. The trees swayed in the wind, trailing off into the distance until their beauty was eclipsed by the rocky mountain serving as their backdrop. Garl could tell the sea went on far beyond the mountain, reminding him that the island was quite small compared to others they’ve visited. While they were impossible to hear from the crow’s nest, he imagined the crickets chirping and the melody of the bushes’ rustling leaves.   Admittedly, the view left much to be desired. A ground view to see under the canopy would yield a more interesting result. His mind wandered back to their hands, which hadn’t moved an inch. He took a quick glance at Seraï, hoping not to be caught this time. Her face was now fully in shadow, but it was striking, nonetheless.   A speck of warm light appeared on the island, stealing Garl’s attention. It was too far to say for sure, but he was confident it was Zale. Despite waiting for his friends for so long, he almost didn’t want them to come back. Not now, at least – he didn’t want this moment to end. He decided not to mention them, hoping Seraï wouldn’t notice their arrival. Valere’s blue light appeared as Zale’s light had only grown brighter, making them impossible to miss. She kept silent, as if she had the same hopes as him. A sigh escaped her lips before she finally spoke. “I think they’re back,” she muttered dully into the night. “Yeah,” was all Garl said in response.   The two of them remained unmoving for a moment longer before Seraï prepared to leave, taking her hand back in the process. The absence of her warmth disappointed Garl, but he knew it was inevitable. He gave her hook back before following her down the rope ladder. On the main deck of the Vespertine, Garl could clearly see Zale and Valere emerging from the forest. His friends broke into a sprint once they noticed him. The two groups met at the gangplank, happy to finally be reunited. Zale hugged Garl as soon as he made it on board, and Valere joined in shortly after. “How have you been? Are you feeling any better?” Valere asked, as she and Zale pulled away from him. “I’ve been doing great. Still not at one hundred percent, but doing much better,” Garl happily replied. “Was everything okay on the island?” “All good,” Zale answered, propping himself up on the staircase’s railing. “We couldn’t find a source for any of the flesh-guys, but once we cleared them no others appeared. They probably came here from somewhere else or were left over from a previous Dweller.” “We plan to do a double check around the island tomorrow morning just to be sure,” Valere chimed in, “If all is well, we can take off in the afternoon.” “Great!” Garl cheered. “You better get a good night’s sleep if you’re planning for morning,” Captain Klee'shaë said. “Yep. We’re heading straight for bed,” Zale said, starting down the steps. “See you tomorrow.” “I think we’re all going to bed, Zale,” Valere said, peering over the stair’s railing, but Zale was already gone. She turned back to Garl and Captain Klee'shaë. “You know you didn’t have to wait for us to get back, right?” “I know, but I wanted to anyways,” Garl answered. “Well, we appreciate the warm welcome.” Valere yawned then gave a small smile. “And that’s my cue to leave. Good night.” Garl and Captain Klee'shaë both said “Good night” as she went below deck. They now stood in silence, having been left alone again. “Let’s go,” Seraï said with a twinge of sadness in her voice.   She walked towards him but seemed to hesitate about something before scrapping the idea. She quickly turned to the stairs instead, her hand brushing against Garl’s as she did so, reminding him of earlier that night. He wordlessly grabbed it before she was out of reach, causing her to face him. Garl simply smiled and took the lead, guiding her down the stairs. She followed him with no resistance. He let go at the bottom, knowing their hammocks were on opposite sides. “Good night,” he whispered. “Good night, Garl,” Seraï whispered back, with a sweetness in tone that he had never heard before.   Garl couldn’t help but smile as he settled in for the night. Once he laid down, his exhaustion overwhelmed him. He thought about all that had happened today, the happy memories quickly lulling him into a peaceful sleep full of wonderful dreams – dreams of more days like this.