Amy Waters Part 2
Day Fifty
It would take at least a couple days of preparations before the ship was ready to depart, so Amy Waters returned to Port Nautitus to collect a few things in the meantime, and to speak with her children.
"How long will you be gone, ma'am?" The maid asked.
"As long as it takes, Beatrice. I'll never give up on him, and I know he would never give up on me." Amy said as she changed into clothing more appropriate for a long journey on a ship.
"Children need their mother, Amy." Beatrice replied, crossing her arms. "Don't orphan them."
Day Fifty-Two
Beatrice wasn't quite sure how she was talked into bringing the two children and herself along on Amy's fool's errand of a search for the master, but inwardly she was glad the children wouldn't miss their mother. As she ushered the 2 children aboard the ship, she spotted Amy talking with Captain Miller
"What do you mean there's no charge? Are you planning to kidnap us or something?" Amy asked him.
"She didn't want me to tell you, but there's no getting around it. Have you heard of Sirene Ignitis?" Captain Miller responded, asking a question.
"The Reaper Mage? I suppose so."
"She got wind of what happened while she was in town yesterday. I don't know where she got the money from and I don't care, but she's paid for our services for the next decade."
"Let's be off then, I suppose." Amy replied, after a moment's silence.
Day Fifty-Three
After getting out to sea, Amy, Mr. Robson, and Captain Miller sat in the captain's cabin to discuss matters.
"So this here's a map of all the known islands in the Morinder. The reports from Green Line Shipping say the wreckage was found here." Captain Miller said, pointing at a marked spot on the map. "So I think we should start in that general area. It's already been two months so if your husband isn't dead he's definitely built a shelter."
"If he's got a shelter that would make him easier to find, wouldn't it?" Mr. Robson asked.
"So we wouldn't actually need to land at any of the islands?" Amy asked.
"Not unless we saw structures." Captain Miller said with a nod.
Day Seventy-Three
The past three weeks found them slowly searching the many island chains of the Morinder. So far no signs of life had been found beyond the Morinder Gull and various types of lizards. The children were at least excited by all the islands they were passing by, and Beatrice was keeping them occupied with some light tutoring, but Amy was starting to lose hope.
Afternoon found Amy sitting below deck talking to Mr. Robson, where she confided her fears to the jolly rotund man. Robson listened and nodded while Amy spoke at length for over an hour. After she was finally finished, Robson advised Amy that such doubts are normal for these circumstances, but they would search for as long as it takes to find evidence of her husband.
When Amy finally left the room, Captain Miller walked in and looked Mr. Robson in the eyes. Robson shook his head, and got up.
"Why are we doing this, Miller?" He asked.
"It's the right thing to do, old friend. Even if it's a fool's errand we fulfill it until the end." Miller responded, patting Robson on the shoulder.
Day Eighty-Nine
"Two months, Captain. It's been two months and there isn't even any sign of wreckage!" One of the lookouts nearly shouted at Miller in the Captain's cabin. "It's like the ship vanished!"
"I'm starting to wonder that myself. Just what happened to the Poison Dawn?" Miller said, tapping his table. "Still, we look. We owe it not just to Mrs. Waters and her children but to all mariners to find out what happened. Even if we only find bones, I'll find something."
"Captain! Sea serpents!" Amy shouted, running into his cabin.
"Oh? Well you'll never get a closer look at them then on this ship." Captain Miller replied, flashing a grin.
"Are you mad you fool? They'll sink us!" Amy shouted.
"This ship is marked, Miss Waters." Miller answered. "A few years ago a Goddess booked passage with us from Point Thoryn to Port Sulala."
"A Goddess?" Amy asked, her curiosity overtaking her anger and fear.
"Haha yes, I remember Lady Vordea's passage quite well." The Lookout answered. "She said our vessel is marked, and none may harm it without trespassing her. Turns out the sea serpents are her pets or children or something. They love coming to see us ever since that voyage."
Day Ninety-Five
The sea serpents had been following the Kraken's Revenge for nearly a week now, and Amy had grown used to their presence. Looking into their eyes as they would come alongside the ship, she could see an intelligence behind their eyes.
"If only you could help me." Amy said aloud to one of the serpents as it peered at her.
Amy was surprised when the serpent left immediately once she spoke those words. Did it understand her? Looking around, she noticed all of the other serpents had gone as well. What was going on?
Day One Hundred and Twenty
The serpents hadn't been seen since they suddenly left more than 3 weeks ago, and even the sailors were nervous about that, especially since they were still in the Northern Morinder. Where did the serpents go?
The search area kept expanding, with no further signs of wreckage, not even washed up on beaches of islands they passed by. What if the ship really did disappear? Some of these islands were quite large, which made Amy thankful that they weren't exploring each one, as it would impossible to do in even a lifetime of searching.
Day One Hundred and Twenty-Eight
"Captain what's going on why are we anchoring here at this island?" Amy asked.
"Because of what's down there." Captain Miller answered, pointing down at the beach, where two mermaids were waving at them from the shore. "Mermaids clearly wanting to talk to us? They might know something."
"So who's going down?" Mr. Robson asked.
"Myself and the young lady." Captain Miller said, gesturing at Amy, who reacted with shock.
"What? Why me?"
"Mermaids are suckers for love stories, Miss Waters." Miller answered, as he prepared to get into the rowboat. "Come on."