The loud trumpet of the Conquistador sent the seagulls flying away. The Conquistador was a marvelous vessel in Captain Ramirez' eyes. A true patron of the seas. It was a steel fortress that must have run for more than half a kilometer from the bow to the stern.
The hull of the ship was a painting of scars and dents, a tale of its experiences along its voyages. Those scars were a part of its beauty, or at least that was what Captain Ramirez thought as he admired the ship. He stood upon the piers of River City port with melancholic expression.
The rest of the crew was loading up cargo. Large crates, medium crates and some even smaller than that. What caught the captains attention though was the large square shaped box. It must have been 50 meters in height, breadth and width. What took the eye though were the strange but intricate markings etched into its veneer.
They trummed with a quite but tangible power and gave off a dim pale yellow light.
It was heavy too and had to be loaded with the held of a crane
Ramirez shook his head. It wasn't any of his business whatever that was. As long as it didn't endanger the crew and the ship it was fine.
A loud horn echoed from the depths of the Conquistador. Everything was boarded and secured.
He turned towards the Quescue escorts standing some distance away. The three women had been standing stoic as ever spears in hand the entire time.
The Ushari. Dressed in their traditional inuit style clothing. They wore tops made of brown leather- no doubt skinned from some unfortunate creature. It was lined with fur trims. At the waist, they wore skirts made of thick reddish fur and at their feet they wore boots made of the same material.
Ivory necklaces hang from their necks, delicately crafted. If there was one thing the Ushari were good at it was working with animal hides and ivory. The other thing they excelled in was the way of the spear.
In River City, fewer than 20 people who called themselves masters of the spear could match up to an Ushari. Fewer than 10 would actually beat them.
The spears they carried in their hands were testament to that.
The blade of their spears were curved from the hard bone of some unknown creature. And yet they were still just as sharp as any blade if not sharper. Standing there like that, they looked every bit like the warrior maidens of Quescue they were.
They turned towards him as Ramirez approached.
For a second, Ramirez couldn't help but be nervous. Just a little bit.
"Pardon me. But the ship's loaded and ready_"
There was a loud crash coming from the ship. Ramirez turned, his face peeved.
"What the hell? Can't any of you sons of bitches do even the most basic of jobs right!?" he snapped.
A young sailor stood behind the railing on the deck of the ship. A bead of sweat falling down his temple.
"He he. Sorry bout that captain" the young lad let out a nervous laugh.
"Kids these days. I fucking swear" Ramirez muttered under his breath before a cold chill run down his spine. He turned. "Ah…nothing to worry bout. I'm sure everything is fine"
"For your sake I really hope so" the tallest of the three Ushari said. The three of them walked past him, heading towards the ramp down the pier to get on the ship.
"Mierda" he cursed silently then followed behind them.
Several moments later the anchor rose, water spilling from its grooves. The anchor chains were wound tight and the anchor was secured. The propellers begun to turn carrying the ship forward. Smoke rose from the funnel. The horn of the ship sounded once more before the Conquistador finally picked up speed.
The ship had set sail.
Within the bridge Captain Ramirez stood over the wheel. His back was straight and his expression was of one who found his place. He ignored the sounds of the crew members moving about the deck.
He smiled as the smell of the salty waters made their way up his nostrils.
The water made him feel alive.
As the ship set sail, the heavy metal box was set on the further left side of the deck quite close to the railing. Unseen and unnoticed, some of the rune set upon it flickered for a second before returning to normal.
***
When mother asked her to join the Guard and visit the mainland, she had been excited. She wondered what sort of adventures she would get to experience on the trip. In fact she had trouble sleeping the night before.
Now having finally reached the mainland and retrieved the Alchemist's materials. She had come to a conclusion.
"I can't wait for this trip to be over and get done with this boredom" Ushanti slumped against the railing of the ship. From the stern, she could see the port of the city gradually getting further away.
This trip had been nothing short of dull. Nothing happened at sea, the company and crew members of the ship seemed to avoid them for some reason. Was it because they were men?
No that couldn't be the case, could it?
The Ushari were a tribe ruled by matriarchy. After all, the women tended to be stronger than the men. Could the mainland also be similar? After all she had only been to the River City Port and back so that may very well be the case.
Still though…
Ushanti sighed once again.
"Is something the matter your highness?" one of the other Ushari stopped beside her watching the sea as it drifted by. She was taller than Ushanti by a full head at that.
Ushanti gave her a look before looking back out at the receding port. She sighed once more before she finally replied:
"It's nothing really. I'm just…disappointed is all"
"Disappointed?" the Ushari raised her eyebrow before she chuckled. "Well princess sorry to disappoint you but not everything can be turned into a journey of a lifetime"
Ushanti pouted.
Seeing her like this the Ushari smiled before she said:
"Tell you what…how about a spar?"
Ushanti smiled. "You're the best Shay!"
Ushanti jumped from the railings and jogged towards the open space just behind them.. A spot preserved to serve that very purpose. The Ushari valued the spear as well as combat. The Warrior Maidens couldn't allow their skills to rust under any circumstances.
Shay shook her head and stepped away from the railing as well. She took steady strides towards the clearing, following after her princess.
Ushanti was stretching her arms and legs. It had been a couple of days since she lasted sparred so her body was starting to feel a bit stiff. She had a wide smile on her face. Her brown eyes sparkling with unrestrained excitement. Under the sun, her bronze skin shone and her skin felt warm.
Her brick red braids were tied to the back of her head in a ponytail. She smiled a little as Shay placed her spear down and stepped towards her. Ushanti would have liked to spar with their spears but sadly that couldn't be the case.
This mission was crucial to the Alchemist and they couldn't afford to be too injured
'…Well I say that but I'm pretty sure I'm getting my ass kicked regardless' Ushanti gave a bitter smile. That did nothing to deflate the excitement that burned in her heart.
Shay got into a stance her hands held out in front of her.
"Ready when you are princess" she said.
Ushanti lunged forward. She came from the front, her fist winding up at the waist. Just before striking though, she lowered her body and threw her leg out in a sweep. The movement was fluid with no wasted effort. But Shay acted as though she could see the future itself.
She hardly reacted to Ushanti's faint. She easily lifted her shin off the ground to avoid her sweep. The same raised leg shot forth in an arc straight for the Ushanti's head.
"Tch" Ushanti clicked her toungue in slight irritation but she didn't lose her focus. Using the motion from her earlier attack, she rolled to the side. She bounced up the soles of her feet before immediately rushing in to attack with her fists this time.
Shay's defenses were solid. It didn't matter where Ushanti aimed her fists, Shay's palm would always be there to meet her attacks.
Having failed her attacks, Ushanti stepped back. Chest rising and falling.
'She's an immovable wall' Ushanti felt her knuckles ache a little bit.
"Already finished princess?" Shay taunted.
"Not a chance!"
Several hours passed with their relentless spar.
Ushanti attacked without pause. She used her arms and legs just as equally. Each blow more fluid than the last. Shay on the other hand, she was unmoved. A bead of sweat fell from her temple but that was all.
Ushanti though, was a covered in sweat all over. Her braids were loose and free of their restraints. Her skin was so slick one would have thought they poured a bucket of oil on her.
She collapsed on her back. Limbs heavy as lead. Ushanti looked at the clouds above as she tried to push air into her lungs.
"You are really something else you know that Shay?" she said between pants.
Shay's face came into view. She was looking down at her with a barely restrained smile.
"Well that's only natural. I have more experience under my belt after all"
"Don't get too comfortable though. I'll catch up to you soon enough" Ushanti challenged.
Shay just smiled and offered her hand.
'You might catch up sooner than you think princess' Shay took Ushanti's hand and lifted her tired body up. "Now come, you need rest"
Under the midday sun a few crew members looked at them in awe. They had watched the enitre spar so it was difficult not to feel a hint of admiration. The two Ushari descended into the lower deck to return to their quarters.