Auroran Chapter 4

Chapter 4

An Identity and Auroran

“It looks to me that you didn’t need our help my friend” said a man as he welcomed Zack with a manly hug.
“Ah well, if it weren’t for Kate here I’d still be in a cell Neil” Zack smiled as he gestured towards Kate.
“A girl?” asked Neil curiously raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, it was her brains that got us out of the bloomin place.” Zack beamed.
“Well as long as your back, we don’t know what we would have done without our captain.”
“Captain?” Kate asked in surprise.
“Yes, didn’t Suan tell you?” Neil asked in reply.
“He told me his name was Zack…” she answered crossly folding her arms.
“Ah, there in lies the tale,” Suan smiled. “I do a number of missions, I love danger you see, and I take on aliases when I do them, always hiding my true identity. Since you were hiding your background, I did the same only to be safe.” He paused and looked at Neil. “I would have told you, but Neil beat me to it.”
Kate eyed the two suspiciously. In the light, Kate could see that the two men were both quite tan. She also noticed that the two were very similar in height and size. They were both at least a head taller than she was, and had muscular bodies, broad shoulders and smooth faces. Neil though, had a thicker face than Suan’s and also had sandy blond hair with hazel eyes while Suan had dark brown hair and turquoise eyes.
They both stood in front of her waiting for a reply or at least an acknowledgement; but none came.
“So…” Suan sighed clapping his hands together, “do you want the grand tour?”
“I guess” Kate shrugged still eyeing them; “but it depends, am I really on a pirate ship or just another naval convoy in disguise?”
The two looked at her.
“I know why you’re a little upset, but you are keeping your last name from me…” Suan said seriously trying to prove a point.
“But If I knew you were actually a pirate captain I would have been more careful back there!” she confessed.
“So my being a pirate captain makes you suspicious?” Suan asked in disgust.
“Wow, got yourself a good one aye mate?” Neil smiled.
Kate frowned.
“My teacher was right; pirates are tactless thinkers who enjoy getting themselves into deep water.”
“I’m curious, who taught you about pirates?”
“My mentor…” Kate answered cautiously.
“And may I inquire his name?”
This elegance again surprised Kate.
“Michael,”
The two looked at each other in surprise. Then putting their backs to Kate they started to whisper to each other.
How rude! Kate thought frowning. That is entirely not polite! Elegance or no elegance, they should know no to talk about people while they stand in front of you/
Finishing their conversation, the two faced Kate again.
“So now about that tour, I’m guessing you’ll have to stay with us for a little while.” Neil concluded.
“What?!” Kate interrupted, “I need to return home! Every one will worry about me!”
“Yes, but those men who kidnapped you would expect for you to return. There is something that they need, and it most likely concerns you. So the best thing is for you to stay with us.” Suan explained.
Kate stood and thought it over for a few minutes. She had a strong feeling he was keeping something from her.
“Fine, but I must insist that we have a pact, saying that no harm will come to me by any of your crew…” Kate instructed.
“Deal,” Suan smiled brightly, “and as proof of this promise I will give you this.” After fiddling with his right ring finger for a moment, Suan held out a small blue ring to Kate.
“What’s this?”
“A crew ring. Unlike most of the pirates on these waters, I have special rings for my whole crew so we can distinguish who can be trusted and who can not. Every person on this ship has been proven trust worthy by me.” Suan smile slightly. “So if you ever have any problems knowing who is part of the Auroran crew, just look on their right hand and see if they should have this crew ring or not.”
Taking the ring from Suan, Kate carefully studied it. It was made of gold, but the top held a dark clear blue stone. Inside the stone there was a sun shaped figure in the middle. It looked oddly familiar to her. Like the sun design had been used elsewhere. Placing it on her right ring finger, Kate admired it only for a few moments more until realizing that she was being watched.


For the rest of the day, Kate was introduced to the whole crew and was taken to every corner of the ship. She was also cautioned to be wary of the oldest parts of the ship, which were either not safe, or just off limits; and she also had to remember when the meal times were, and where each room was.
Returning to the deck after being shown the mess hall, Kate suddenly remembered about the ship’s name.
“So, you never told me why this ship is named Auroran…” Kate commented to Suan as she walked out onto the deck with him and Neil.
“Because I’m a he! I am very hurt when some one calls me a she!” said a rough scratchy voice from behind Kate.
“Who was that?” asked Kate in surprise looking all around her.
“Turn around,” Suan laughed pointing to a clay plate hanging on the wooden wall of the ship. It was beautifully carved into a whirling sun with a face in the middle; Kate noticed that it was the same design that was in the ring.
“I don’t see any one…”
“Well now that’s rude! See I’m always right Suan, people have no respect for trapped souls…” The plate said grumpily.
“Suan….” Kate whispered edging towards him, “The plate talked…”
“Yes, that would be Auroran,” Suan laughed. “Now be nice Auroran.” He commented to the plate.
Auroran grumbled to himself.
“You’ll have to excuse him; he has a real distaste for humans.”
“Why?”
“Because, when he was first put on this ship by its previous captain, they abused him and mistreated him.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Kate said trying to give some condolence. She still felt very awkward talking to what should be an imminent object.
“Well now that’s nice; I have a sympathetic human…. why doesn’t the sea take me now?”  
“Now Auroran, I told you to be nice, Kate will be staying with us for a little while.”
“Wonderful, one more person to damage me…thanks for consulting first!” Auroran hollered closing his eyes, ending the conversation.
Suan shook his head.
“He’ll warm up to you; don’t worry he’s just upset that I left him alone with the crew so long.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well Auroran doesn’t talk to a lot of people. He’s very sensitive with who he interacts with. The fact that he talked to you is something special. He talks to me because I was the first person to actually recognize him after the previous captain was on board.”
“Well is there anything I can do? To help Auroran I mean. It seems like he could be fixed up, and I’m very good at cleaning.” Kate offered hopefully.
“If you can find out whats wrong with Auroran and get his consent you can do what ever you want.” Suan replied turning to leave. “I have some work to do. You don’t mind entertaining yourself do you?”
“Not at all.” Kate shook her head noticing that Neil had also left.
“Good I’ll leave you to get used to things…” and with that, Suan nodded his head and entered the captains cabin beside Auroran’s face.
Sighing, Kate looked up towards the blue sky. Fidgeting with her necklace, she wondered about Scintilla with its new business opportunities, and about her father. Closing her eyes, she dreamed of the last time she saw him.
“What are you grieving?” Auroran’s voice asked.
Turning around Kate noticed Auroran was watching her with one eye open.
“My father; he left when I was little. He didn’t tell me where he was going, but promised to be back in a few months. I waited for him, but he never came back.”
“Ah, that is unfortunate. So who did you stay with all this time? Surely you didn’t raise yourself.” He asked opening his other eye.
“A friend of my fathers; a man named Michael.”
Auroran’s eye brows arched in interest. “Did this Michael fellow teach you anything?”
“Well yes, he taught me many things. Which I promised not to tell anyone.”
“Why not?”
“Because, Michael tutored me in secret. If people found out a girl was learning there would be problems,” Kate shrugged sitting under Auroran’s face. She leaned back soaking in the sun.
“Well I’m not anyone, and I know many secrets. Secrets that have been with me for centuries and could end the world, or begin a new adventure.” Auroran smiled proudly.
Kate paused for a moment thinking.
“Ok, but you’re not allowed to tell anyone without my consent, and in return I’ll help fix you up.”
Auroran gave a broad smile, his eyes snapping with joy.
“It’s a deal.”
For the next hour, Kate explained all about Michael’s lessons. She told Auroran about the sword play and how she had natural talent that Michael sharpened. She also explained how Michael taught her how to read and write old languages; as well as giving her political knowledge. During the duration of this, Auroran listened contently and did not speak till Kate was finished.
“It seems you’ve lived an interesting life.” Auroran commented.
“I suppose…” Kate agreed.
The sun started to creep below the horizon when Suan finally stepped out of his room. Looking around, he was surprised, but happy to see Kate and Auroran talking to each other.
“Well it looks as if you two have gotten to know each other.” Suan smiled, happy to see Auroran connecting with some one other than himself.
“Yes, Kate and I have been having a wonderful conversation; and what’s even more wonderful is that she’s going to fix me up!”  Auroran sang.
Kate giggled, “Auroran was just singing me some old song. It was in the old language. It sounded interesting, but I could only make out every other word!”
Suan glanced at Auroran and then at Kate.
“Would you mind coming to dinner with me?” he asked Kate holding out his hand.
Taking it, Kate smiled and agreed to go. But before the two reached the stairs, Kate turned around to face Auroran.
“I’ll be back ok?” she asked.
“I’m not going anywhere, but do come back soon! I get terribly lonely.” he called after her.
“Ok, I’ll see you after dinner!” Kate smiled as she and Suan left for the mess hall.