The eye piece encircling his right eye glitters in the sunlight – it is a silver monocle that fits perfectly. I’ve always been irked by monocles, and on an ogre no less?
I stumble to the right slightly as the ship I am on hits a gnarly wave. I am on the Maroon Sea, the deadliest sea on all the planets combined.
When I started researching fairies I never thought I’d be talking to a monocled ogre on a ship, in a dress no less.
“Ma’am, if you insist on being here, I must implore you to go underboard.” His accent belongs in Louisiana, not the Maroon Sea. “Clayen, accompany her.” I look to the ogre, and he smiles at me as the man behind the ships wheel steps out.
My breath catches. This man has blue tinted skin, red eyes, and looks reptilian in nature. I cock my head to the side about the fact he is in a suit, complete with a pink bowtie.
Clayen motions to me but doesn’t say anything, leading me down the stairs to the deck. I adjust my backpack on my back, full and heavy with all my belongings as I climb down the stairs after him. We make our way into the ships hull.
“This is amazing.” My right hand goes to the wall of the passageway, feeling the wood grain beneath my fingertips.
“What is?” Clayen’s voice is soft.
“All of this.” I gesture vaguely as we pass door after door, heading down further into the hull of the ship. He chuckles lightly and smiles down at me, I am a whole foot shorter than everyone.
“Where are you from?” His voice comes out as smooth as butter, louder this time.
“Zorblax.”
He seems to choke on his own saliva, if he even has it. I furrow my brow and realize I need to study. “You’re… you’re from Zor-Zorblax?”
“Surprised?” I raise my left eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, actually…” He trails off and I stay silent. He stops at a door, opens it, and steps slightly inside. He nods and I look inside – two hammocks, that’s it. “This is yours; you aren’t sharing it.” He points down the hallway, a few doors down, “The latrine is there.”
Stepping out of the doorway of the room, Clayen places his hand on the door to hold it, as I walk inside. “Well bye, see you later.” He turns on his heel.
“Why were you surprised I am from Zorblax?” This comes out in a rush; I can’t help it.
“You are just so pretty but ordinary at the same time.” He head turns, a boyish smile playing across his features. “I didn’t expect it, that’s all.” He turns, stalking down the hallway, whistling a tune.
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