Nocturna League (Episode 1: The Witching Book) (Nautical Fantasy Short Story) by Kell Inkston Read Free Book Online Page B

when I tell him to ‘take care’ of someone.”
    Colette, again with a dumbfounded look on her face, is quickly hugged by Boris, who also hugs The Captain. “I AM OF THE READY! MUCH SAVING OF THE ASSISTANT, YES?”
    The Captain nods. “That’s right, Boris. Enough praddle-tallying. Let’s be on our way.”
    The Captain, chef Boris, previously known as “Tyrant-Butcher of the Waves” Boris, and a huffy Miss Ketiere step into the four-man shore-boat. Boris is the size of three people, so The Captain and Colette have to hang on the rim of the boat as they start up the motor and head off for the only body of land in view, in the same direction that the figure spirited away Grancis.

Chapter 2: Whitewave Cove
    An hour later the three are close enough to the island to make out all the lights:
    Before them is a shining town of many colorful lights nestled in a wide, miles-long cove. The lighthouse the brightest structure by only a lumen’s worth. Two towering mansions, both at opposing sides of the cove, flare out their own lights, one of a light, aquatic blue, and the other of a powerful, burgundy red.
    Colette squints at the glowing port. “Captain, you know this place?”
    The Captain hums as he looks over the lights, his glasses mixing the yellow, red and blue colors into a colorful sheen. “I haven’t. I’ve been to many ports, but not this one.”
    Colette scoffs. “But knowing you, you probably forgot.”
    The Captain accidentally pushes Colette off the boat. “Oh my, Boris, it seems Miss Ketiere fell off into the freezing midnight waters. We’ll have to turn around and retrieve her,” The Captain says in a dead serious tone. A few seconds later, a shivering, cussing Colette is pulled back on board. She decides she’ll stop bringing up The Captain’s capacity at thought for now.
    “Boris, please warm her up,” The Captain says bluntly.
    “N-no that’s quite unca-”
    “THE WARMING WILL BE ME, YES?” Boris gurgles as he squeezes her with his bulking red arms. Of course, Boris being a manner of crustacean, his embrace is less “warm and soft” and more “spiky and hard”. As they sail for the island, Colette seriously questions if all this suffering will make her a more formidable person, and whether or not the world truly belongs to overlords, monsters, men, and those who have forgone their sanity in the pursuit of strength.
    They dock at the commercial sector and tie up their ship. A short, official-looking man with a wig steps up with a pen and ledger in hand. “Good morning. It is twenty sins to tie the ship for a d-” Once he looked down at the people climbing up to the dock, however, he sees it is in fact a giant lobster, a soaking wet woman with a military pistol, and an official-looking, bandaged captain of a ship of horrors.
    “Truly? I would appreciate it if you were to let us dock here for free until we’ve finished our business. It was one of your island’s inhabitants that kidnapped one of our crew-persons, after all,” The Captain says, towering over the official as he adjusts his glasses. The Captain, his face angled at the red mansion, gains a deep crimson sheen in the black contrast of the night.
    “Uh… um, yes, please go right on ahead! I would like a name to put down, though!” The official says, watching Boris stretch his layered crustacean back.
    “The Captain,” The Captain says, nodding politely to the man and heading down the dock.
    “N-no, sir. Your name. ”
    “The Captain.”
    “S-… Oh, damn it all!” The official storms back to his post after writing something very rude in place of The Captain’s name.
    The three walk to a nearby canteen, open the door, and the musical, lively bar instantly goes silent.
    “Good day, ladies and gentlemen. We’re searching for the ruler of this port. Would anyone be willing to help?” The Captain asks with perfect posture.
    A mix of laughter and sighs are heard among the patrons, and one particularly brawny sailor