Laconia, Fell Isles, 414 I.E of Summer
Five-year-old Chloe woke from her sleep. She slowly climbed out of her wooden and straw bed to put on her clothes. She would leave her room while her parents were still asleep, even if the sun was rising. Chloe left the house and headed towards the gardens to water the plants. She gently poured the water from the wooden bucket on the many flowers.
Once that was done, she checked on the family, three-horn, Knucks. She entered the barn to see the massive yellow-skinned beast, who was as big as a hill; his horns were large and could pierce through flesh and bone. "Good morning, Knucks," the five-year-old spoke to her animal as she began to feed him. putting grass and shrubs into the feeding pen.
Knucks got up to slowly walk towards the feeding pen to eat his breakfast as Chloe left the barn and shut the door behind her. She returned to her wooden home. She saw that her mother, who had been pregnant for at least one month, was cooking eggs on the stone stove. "Good morning, Chloe. Breakfast is ready if you are hungry." Her mother spoke softly and kindly as she placed her wooden plate on the table. Chloe thanked her mother and asked about Dad, as the tall Fell Isle spot hound woman said that father was still sleeping.
"Dad barely returned while you slept. We must give him some rest, but he'll wake up when he regains the strength to do so." Her mother informs Chloe.
"Yeah, I wish I could've gone with him to Undon to see Master Pongo, but I heard about invading Laurasian forces from the eastern land, which is why I couldn't go with him."
"Well, it's alright; maybe next time we can all go. Wotin knows how long it's been since I've seen Lady Perdita," Anita says as she speaks highly of the queen of Undon, her childhood friend. Chloe begins to eat, placing the eggs in her mouth and chewing. Anita does the same as her husband enters the dining room. Wearing nothing but a woven shirt and leather shorts. "Good morning, ladies," he spoke while yawning. "Dear, your breakfast is on the stove."
"Aw, thanks, dear. Still tired from my trip, but things have to be done here; we have to gather the wheat before they go bad, along with the potatoes for dinner tonight."Frank says, as Anita nods in agreement, and Chloe says she fed Knucks a moment ago and watered the flowers in the garden. Anita thanked her as she felt a slight kick in her womb. "Are you alright?"
"I'm ok, it's the baby. He's moving." Anita says, as Frank suggests that she relax and he'll take care of the farm. She says that she can still help him, while Chloe can help with the side chores.
"Oh, about that, Mom, I wanted to go with Coco to the beach to find some shells," Chloe replies as Anita, and Frank tell her that she can since she'd fed Knucks and watered the plants. Chloe finishes her breakfast and thanks her parents before leaving the house to go see her friend.
*****
Chloe and Coco began to walk towards the beach when they saw a wooden longship docking at the docks. The ship is long, made from the most precious wood, with a sail with the image of a beast on it.
Within the longship were several cynoea like figure, possibly from other lands across this world, like Coco and her family. A few of them left the ship; some had swords and wore clothing possibly made from silk and wool. They carried curved swords, and one of them held a two-handed decorative Axe. Their fur coats varied in color, but their coats looked to be soft, with some of their coats being wavy and others having long, silky, straight coats. One of them, A female about their age, came up to both the Pudel and Fell Isles spot hound and greeted them. "Hello there. I'm Indy of Vaconis." She spoke with a squeaky voice that sounded free-spirited.
Both Coco and Chloe introduced themselves to the girl and asked why she came here. "We sought out trade with cynoeas from other lands. My Mom and I left the Corneria Clan of the Laylat region of Valkaria. We just made trade deals with them, and I think we are doing the same here."
Indy says before turning to her mother. Her fur is comparable to Sol in terms of coloration. Her ears were just as wavy as the waves and appeared to be pregnant. "Why, I see you made new friends there, Indy."
"Well, I don't know them, Mom. Besides, we aren't going to be here forever, aren't we?"
"Well, it was the Shahs who pointed us to travel the world. We'll have to see Indy. I must meet with the lord of this port," her mother says as Chloe raises her hand and offers her the direction to Lord Nogr's langhús. Chloe and Coco usher these strangers to the grand hall that was located at the center of Laconia. A massive, long wooden building. Outside of the door stood the tall muscular Fell Isle wolf. Darken fur and eyes as brown as the bark of a tree. On his left shoulder was a Tiny wing (Dimorphodon), and on his left hand is a shield made from the bone of a Sharptooth.
"Travellers from the farlands, state your business in Laconia at once," says the chieftian, speaking with caution as the mother of Indy came and stated that she and her warriors sailed from Valkaria to here for trade with the city-state of Pnakotus, Vaconis.
"I'm Tauthe Jiel, Wizard of Pnakotus, City of the forebearers. I was personally sent here by the Shah of Pnakotus to talk about trade. We come in peace, well, at least my daughter and I do." Intrigued by this, the wolf asks, "What is it that you would like to trade with?"
"Wood and coal." Tauthe replies as the Wolf nods and says that he wants one of the most valuable things she has in stock, as the vaconis sand hound replies, "Of course, if we can get to talking about trade, we can get started."
The chieftain offers her and her warriors to enter, as Tauthe tells Indy to stay out here to wait for her. The girl nods and says to her mother not to take too long, as the pregnant mother nods. "Alrighty, Indy, I'll have two of the Immortals to stay with you," she assures her as she speaks to two of the eight guards in their native language, "lotfa maraghab dokhtaram bash, zyad tulesh nemidam." The guards give Tauthe their words as they as she and the rest of the guards enter.
Minutes passed by as Indy and the guards sat within the hall when Chloe and Coco took an interest in the girl. The Fell isle spot hound girl asks Indy if she wants to go play with her and Coco at the beach, when Indy says that she can't leave without the guards and suggests playing here instead. Coco asks about her mother's belly as Indy replies, "I'm getting a sibling here soon. She got pregnant months ago, back in Valkaria. When we stay at Corneria."
"What's Corneria?" Chloe asks the outsider.
"Its a clan village, me, my mom and dad stayed at for a bit," Indy says when Coco asks about her dad. Indy went silent for a bit, her face gloomy with sadness. "Hes isn't with us anymore. He's staying with the gods in the heavens."
Coco feels regretful of asking and apologizes to Indy as the vaconis girl forgives her, and Chloe asks about other Vaconis hounds. "My mom's best friend and Aunt Sylvie were said to have gone to Pangaea itself. Too bad she didn't come with us. They grew up together, and no, Slyvie didn't come to Corneria with us."
"But what was Corneria like?"
"It was nice, I remember a nice lady there, A blue and white Vulnoea with a staff named Kystal. She spoke in a funny and alien language, but she wasn't from Corneria. The last time I saw her was when me, my mom and the other guards, helped repair some of the buildings after we were attacked."
"Attack by wh..." Before Chloe could finish her question, one of the guards said that it was none of her concern. Chloe apologized for asking the question when the guard scowled her before telling her and Coco to keep their questions to a minimum.
Both girls nod with annoyance at the male cynoea when Indy whispers not to worry about him and that he's still grieving about the ordeal that happened at Corneria. Chloe would attempt to ask one more question by asking, "Will you and your mom be leaving Laconia?"
Indy remains silent for a moment, her face saddened as she looks down towards her sandal feet. "Yes, we won't be here too long."
*****
"We are good to go then, Lord of Laconia," Tauthe asks her last question to the wolfen lord. He spoke with a yes as she and her people got up from their chairs and thanked him for his consideration. "And our first shipment of Ivory will be about a month from now, longer if we aren't stuck by any storms."
The Wolf chuckles as he gives her his regards. She and her guards left his chambers and made their way to the hall, where Indy and the other guards stood. "We are finished here Indy, its time to return home for the first time."
Indy's face saddens as she gives her goodbyes to Chloe and Coco. Both the Spot hound and the Pudel give their goodbyes as well when the group of vaconis hounds exit the building, only to see smoke coming from the port, "Mom?"
"What's going on?" Tauthe whisper as they made their way to the ship to see it on fire, the hull is utterly burned to a crisp with the scent of burning wood filling their noses. The locals came to their aid, throwing water on the fire as the sizzle of the flames echoed and the smoke obscured the vision of those caught in its grasp.
Indy stood with her mother as the guards and the locals put out the fire. "Oh no, Mom, what are we going to do?" The girl asked with concern to her voice.
"I'm not sure, Indy. I hope whoever lit the ship ablaze are caught and dealt with." She spoke with sadness, even though deep down she is angry about this situation, but isn't one to show anger in front of her daughter.
Chloe goes up to one of the local guards and asks if they know who did this, as the guard tells her to get back. It was when her parents, Frank and Anita, came to check on her to see if she was ok. Chloe explains that the ship Indy came on caught fire. The ship itself began to sink underneath the salt water. Indy hugged her mother as Tauthe placed her hand on her shoulders to comfort Indy.
"Miss Indy's mom, there's an inn that you, Indy, and your guards can stay in until a new ship is built," Chloe explained as Tauthe thanked her, Anita offered her a place at their house. Tauthe calls for one of her guards and speaks in their language, saying, " ba saheb moteomanakhaneh tamas begir ve felan ta vaghti keh batavanim az inja barvim, baraye cpehmeh ma yek otagh begir."
The guard she spoke with nods at her as he ushers his other guards to come to the Inn as Tauthe and Indy follow Thr Fell Isle Spot hounds to their home. "I've never seen you or your people before. I've heard stories of other lands, but you're the second miss..."
"Tauthe Jiel, Wizard of Pnakotus, City of the forebearers from Vaconis. The great Desert land. We're meant to leave when some scum burned the ship. I must assume you're the mother of Indy's new friend?"
"Anita of Limska, A village far to the northlands, passes Undon. A village said to have belonged to an empire from before the cynoeas, possibly before the Pangaeans, this is my husband Frankyrian from Undon." Anita introduces her husband to Tauthe as they reach their home. Tauthe examines the wooden home with thatch that sat upon the roof. Not far from the home is their barn, where they keep their three-horn. Without further examination, Tauthe would enter the home while Indy went with Chloe to the gardens to water the crops.
"As the Fell isle Spot hound shows her new friend all the plants and crops in the garden, Indy looks outwards to the beach and utters how she and her folk will never leave here. Chloe tries to cheer her new friend up as Indy looks at the many plants and states that the Whiteheads (Lillies) were her favorites.
"Hey Chloe, Is Indy staying with you for a while?" Coco says as she meets up with her friends, and Indy turns towards the Pink fur Pudel. "I guess but I think that me, my mom and the guards will be at the Inn until we get a new ship." She says softly and deplores. "Well, it might take a few days, even an hour or two for a new longship. I would imagine that Doug of Undon, being a shipmaker, could help us. Maybe if we travel to Undon and get Doug to build you and your mom a ship."
"But how far is Undon from here?" Indy questions her with a hint of hesitation, knowing that her baby sibling is due any day and that her mother would not tolerate her leaving without her knowledge. "I don't think it's a good idea, but I do appreciate your efforts in wanting to help. Maybe if we bring this up to them, maybe, but for n..."
"Come, Indy." Chloe interrupts her as she and Coco go to enter the home. Indy follows them inside and sees Anita and Tauthe at the table, speaking about their respective newborns that are to come. Tauthe was in the middle of talking to Anita when Chloe chimes in to say that Doug of Undon could help build them a ship to get back to Vaconis.
"Chloe, you do realize that it will take days, and that's if any of his children help him at all," Anita said as Chloe said that it was something for Indy's mom to think about. They all turn to face Tauthe as the Vaconis woman sat there in silence follow by her looking over at Indy and suggesting that they stay here for the birth of her little sister. Indy didn't protest and agreed with her mother.
"We'll possibly leave a few weeks after the birth of your baby brother or sister," Tauthe spoke softly to Indy as the young vaconis girl nodded, even with a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I wouldn't want terrible things to occur while at sea, if you understand Indy, what goes around, comes around." Indy gave a small smile at her mother. Tauthe assured her that things would be ok; she told her daughter to go on and play with Chloe and Coco.
*****
In the Inn of Laconia were Tauthe, Indy, and several guards who came with them are staying for the night at. One of these guards, a Vaconis hound whose fur coat is as brown as wood with orange hair and ears, spoke to Tauthe about rumors of a boatsmith who can build them a ship to return to Vaconis.
"Prissy, we aren't going anywhere for a while. It's the baby. I would fear for the safety of the baby while at sea."
"I understand, my lady, but the others will show resentment towards you; they long to return to Vaconis, especially the Sadar."
"No need to worry for me Prissy, I insist on staying until my newborn is of age to leave on ship. If they want to return to Vaconis, they may only travel to Undon to speak with this boatsmith." Tauthe spoke with the insistence of staying in Laconia. Prissy nods to her friend as she asks if she still thinks about their old friend Sylvie.
"I do miss her so, if I remember, she was said to go venture through Vaconis for a possible colonization for the Vaconis Kingdom. Never heard anything from her since, nor do we expect to, as much as I have hopes for her." Tauthe laments for her childhood friend.
"Do you think that we'll see her again?"
The question Prissy asks her friend had Tauthe lamenting for her childhood friend, who had left Vaconis before hers and Indy's arrival to ancient Valkaria. Sadness clouded Tauthe. She too wished to return to the homeland, to feel the warm sun on her pelt, the sand, while rough and getting everywhere, has a scent of nostalgia. Her newborn baby would never have that feeling if born to the Fell Isles and its foreign soil. Her thoughts return to Sylvie and answer Prissy's question with, "I would hope so, but the future is uncertain. This world is unpredictable, and all we can do is survive its challenges. Get some good sleep, Prissy, and if you like too, you and the other can travel to Undon tomorrow to speak with the Boatsmith and offer them whatever amount it is he desires to commission a ship."
Prissy nods before seeing her friend's stomach and noticing small movements. Tauthe places her hands on her stomach where the womb is. "Are you ok, Tauthe?" Prissy asks as the wizard replies that she's good. Prissy tells her to sleep well as she walks away from Tauthe, and Indy comes around asking about Sylvie. Tauthe picks up Indy and places the young girl beside her on the bed Tauthe would sleep on. "Sylvie is an old friend of mine and Prissy. She left Vaconis long before you were born. She and her crew were said to venture to the old lands (Pangaea) but they never returned."
"Do you think she's alive?" Indy asks with concern as Tauthe says she hopes so, then tells Indy to get a good night's sleep. The young girl gets off of the bed her mother would sleep in and gets inside of the bed she would be using. The flame that lit the fireplace exhaust, leaving the room in darkness.
Indy closed her eyes and fell asleep moments later.
The End for now
