“They travel light.” Balthis commented. I smiled to myself while he began shouting orders to his crew. I placed myself near the prow as the Leviathan slowly pulled away from it's moorings. Meli and Sert had disappeared below deck with one of the sailors guiding them to their room. My gear had vanished from my hands once my feet touched the deck of this special ship.
Once her pack was in her room, Meli had searched for the map room. She glanced over the map stretched out on the table while Sert sat waiting patiently for her. She was measuring the distance between the place where they would be dropped off and later collected from. She repeated her measurements twice more before turning to Sert.
“Do you realize the distance we will be covering?” she stated shocked. I listened from my spot at the prow to them mentally and through the open port widow just below me. “It will be nearly impossible to cover the distant on foot!” she remarked loudly.
“So we make sure not to walk the distance.” Sert replied. “We will simply have to run it.” he added. I sense Meli's annoyance rise at his comment.
“If anything goes wrong, we will miss the return ship to Atlantis stranding us in the outer world!” she hollered at him.
“So we make sure nothing goes wrong.” he returned calmly. “Kestrel will be with us so we need not worry Meli.” he added quieter.
I heard her yell before her tirade of trying to explain to Sert that I had placed a nearly impossible task on their shoulders. Sert continued with his calm and whimsical replies to her objections. This went on for an hour while I sat laughing at them with my little pet getting scratches.
Meli came storming on the deck to find me still at the prow of the ship with my messenger bird. She stared at me while Sert who had followed her glanced over the side of the ship. He frozen then looked more serious at the water passing by the hull.
“Do you realize the distance we must cover?” she asked me directly.
“And that this ship moves without causing a wake in the water?” Sert added. He still looked down at the water. Meli glanced at him then closed her eyes for a moment. When they opened, she gazed at me in absolute confusion.
“Yes and see us covering it without problems Meli.” I answered. “And this is no normal ship but that secret is their own.” I concluded. I knew their curiosity would have them asking question but no one would reveal anything to them. I rose slowly to my feet sending my bird back to its perch on the main mast. “Any other questions since we will be making landfall before night?” I added politely.
“That bird?” Meli whispered.
“That one like all those in its line have served me faithfully.” I replied.
“But would we not have seen it while on Atlantis?” she returned. Sert seemed still lost in his examination of the sea we skipped over seemingly untouched. “At least other should have noticed it.”
“They are very secretive little birds.” I said calmly. “Excellent vision and renown for taking down other bird ten times their size without fear or worry.” I explained.
“Is that why you used their name as your own?” Meli returned. I felt her curious nature resurfacing regarding who and what I am.
“Annianka gave me that name long ago.” I whispered. “I have just lived up to it.” I muttered quickly. I moved passed her without any other words heading below deck. I slid pass the sailor guarding the rear sections of the ship from my two companions searching for Balthis. I found him in the engine room with Lockey as they screamed at each other.
“Half the relays were burnt out getting that ship to portal directly into the harbour of Atlantis.” the female engineer growled at the much shorter Balthis.
“But it did work because the thought was sound!” he growled back. “We can always replace a few relays.” he glowered up at her.
“And you left over a dozen rift beast into the protect net of Atlantis.” I stated. They turned slowly to face me. “A bit of warning would have been nice.” I added with a smirk.
“I had to disengage the sensors for rift creatures before portalling the ship.” Lockey replied calmer.
“And I know that they did not have powder kegs on that dirge.” Balthis remarked.
“Used a different trick to terminate the situation but it did burn nicely.” I returned with a shrug. “Will any of the damage cause you problem picking us up?” I added.
“The relays will have to be rebuilt but it should be done long before we have to visit that witch's island.” Balthis replied. “Or am I wrong Lockey?” he added quickly.
“I only see her Node stone being a problem.” she replied. I searching her eyes and mind as she spoke. “I have an idea that might protect the ship's systems from the effects of the Node stone but they are untested.” she concluded.
“So more burnt out relays and some drained crystals.” Balthis returned with a shrug. “Nothing we cannot handle.” he added. Lockey gave him a withered look before turning to face me fully.
“I am still unsure about having Atlantians on board Melchia.” she remarked. “If they find me or this technology, it might cause you problems.” she continued.
“Stolen technology with a Lemurian engineer manning it?” I remarked with a chuckle. “They are not allowed to enter any other section then the mess hall, the map room, and their chambers.” I assured her. “You just have to have your meals in your favourite room Lockey.” I added.
“We should be nearing Aqaba, best we slow down to a normal speed.” Balthis commented. “They will be off ship soon Lockey and our secret will remain ours.” he added quickly.
“Best tell my people that it is meal time to have them off the deck to see the deceleration occurring.” I stated. I was off before they could say more. I had Sert and Meli joining me in the mess hall eating food that appeared having been prepared in Atlantis. They tried a few time to glance into the galley but without any luck.
As twilight touched the sky, we disembarked in the port at Aqaba while Sert and Meli still lost in the confusion of the ship's incredible speed. I signalled to them to to wait as I returned to the deck to speak with Balthis. My bird sat by them on a crate watching over them in silence.
“In six months at Circe's place you old sea dog.” I stated loudly to him. “I will even pay for the ale since Circe will never accept your bloodied gold.” I added with a chuckle. I waved one last time to him as I walked down the gang plank. My bird hopped from the crate to land gently on my shoulder as I joined Sert and Meli.
“So what are we suppose to be doing during this mission?” Meli asked businesslike. “I do presume we have duties here at your side other than sightseeing.” she hazarded softly. I waved them to follow me as we walked toward the town proper.
“We meet with many to keep the peace between them.” I responded offhandedly. “Beginning with a camel ride to meet a god of these people.” he added quieter. We approached a stall at the edge of the harbour that bordered the town.
“God?” both Meli and Sert interjected simultaneously.
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