Chapter 12 - Hydrokinesis: The ability to manipulate water

Cons' POV

The ship was getting ready to leave, I stood at the end of the pier watching everyone at the other end closest to shore, normally I would stand as far away from the water as possible, but I was afraid if I did I’d run and never look back. I had apprehensions about going, this could be a mistake, a mistake that could cost all of us. “Hey.” Tristan placed his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?” I exhaled.

“I don’t know about this, this whole going to the Vale right now.” Tristan shrugged.

“You just do what you’re best at.” I looked at him confused. “Helping people, help Jane in the Vale, this is important.” I shook my head. Tristan hugged me. “You’ll always be my big brother, no matter what.” I rested my head on top of his.

“Don’t do anything dangerous, I won’t lose you too.” He nodded slightly.

“I promise.” I pulled back, to see Jane looking over her notes with her mother and Neve, Tristan walked over to them.

“I’ll keep him out of trouble.” I turned to see Valery behind me.

“Eavesdropping much?” She smiled.

“What can I say?”

“How about goodbye?” She shook her head.

“I don’t do those, you’ll be back soon anyway.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

“Keep them safe?”

“Always.” I released her.

“Bye Valery.” She bowed slightly before walking away. Jane and Valery talked while Neve and Tristan had migrated to Edur, Neve caught my gaze and came over.

“You look tense.” She said, I shrugged. “For what it’s worth, you're doing great.” I frowned.

“With what?” She smiled.

“With everything.” She held her arms out for a small hug. I wrapped my long arms around her thin shoulders. “I’m glad you're part of this family, I was starting to think I was the only sane one.” I laughed as she pulled away.

“I’m not-”

“You are.” I didn’t know if she meant part of the family, sane, or both. When honestly I was neither. “Try not to stay too long, and keep Jane under control.” I chuckled.

“I’m only one man.” Neve smiled.

“Yeah, but she’ll listen to you.” Her gloved hand rubbed a wrinkled out of my shirt. “Bye Con.” She walked away, as Jane and Edur came up.

“You ready?” Edur asked.

“As ever.” They both nodded.

“Let’s go then,” Jane said.

Janes' POV

My mother sent us to sea with an arrow as she always did, and I exhaled, this trip should only take us till tomorrow morning yet I was stressed, I still hated sailing of course.

Everyone waved to us from the pier, me and Con waved back slightly while Edur waved way too enthusiastically. I saw Con walk away from the edge and I followed him. “Wait,” I said, I reached my hand under his shirt to feel his scar.

“What are you doing?!” He yelled, turning bright red.

“Relax, I want to check to see if the Nadosa worked.” Con rolled his eyes.

“At least warn me.” I shrugged, and took his arm, I led him to his room and shut the door.

“I’m only doing this because you're being a baby about it, let me see.” Con sighed and lifted his shirt, the scar reached around his side. “Take your shirt off.”

“What?!” He turned pink.

“Con I want you to be better healed before we get to the Vale, I don’t want you getting more hurt.” He was about to speak, but I raised my hand. “Please, it will give me one less thing to worry about.” He sighed and took his shirt off, it was healing really well, almost as fast as my scars.

“I guess the Nadosa really worked huh?” I said. I was still swelling and pink but healthy. “Try to relax okay, I need to see if it’s inflamed under your skin.”

“When am I not inflamed,” Con said, under his breath, I didn’t understand but I could tell he was not happy with me doing this. I ran my fingers over the scar tissue, he was so warm, his body radiated heat, my fire wanted to reach out and touch him. I pulled away quickly. Con felt his side. “Is something wrong with it?” I shook my head, I gently placed my hand on his forehead, he felt hot. “What are you doing?” I pulled away.

“Are you feeling okay, you feel a little warm.” His eyes widened.

“Really?” His hand shot up to his forehead. “I don’t feel anything.” I rolled my eyes and removed his hand. I tried again and his skin was normal, I shrugged.

“I guess I’m imagining things, but you have to tell me if you don’t feel good, it could be an infection or something.” He nodded quickly.

Cons' POV

That was too close, but Jane didn’t seem to think anything of it, someone knocked on the door and Jane pulled away. Edur poked his head in. “I'm not interrupting anything am I?” He asked with the biggest smile on his face. Jane rolled her eyes.

“Relax, we were just talking about how long it will take to get to the Vale.”

“And how long is that?” Edur asked, Jane shrugged.

“Without any help, tomorrow morning.”

“Help?” Edur and I asked at the same time.

“If the wind remains normal.” Jane shook her head and left.

“So?” Edur asked, sitting next to me.

“What now?” He smirked.

“What’s going on between you and Jane?” He asked, I can't deal with this right now, I stood up.

“At least try and focus on this trip, will you?” Edur raised his hands in surrender.

“Fine.” I spent the next few hours reading about the Vale with the books Jane gave me, though I stayed away from anything actually useful because I wanted to know as little about the royal family as possible, I just wasn’t up for meeting them, no doubt they are going to be arrogant.

“Hey!” Edur yelled barging into the room. “Jane needs us.” I quickly followed him into the ship's dining room, the largest indoor room on the ship. Well, most open space would be a better description, a room without things laying everywhere. Jane stood in the middle of the room with her back to us, all the tables and chairs were pushed aside.

“Great, you made it.” She said turning around, she took out her sword slowly letting the oil drip back into the holder before whipping the blade with a rag.

“What’s this about?” I asked as Edur moved over to Jane.

“Edur didn’t tell you, I need you both to be ready if the Vale doesn’t take us.” Edur nodded. “It’s a long shot but I don’t need either of you dying on me.” Edur seemed all too eager, I shrugged, Jane circled Edur as he held short blades in each hand. Jane tapped his blade and it flew out of his hand, I chuckled.

“You have to hold it you know,” I said, Edur glared at me, I walked over to the side, as Jane and Edur hit blades, He took a swing at her head and she kicked his legs out from under him. He landed hard on his back.

“Ow.” He breathed, Jane sat on the ground next to him, I got up and we grabbed Edur and pulled him up.

“Okay come on boys.” I shook my head at Jane, she raised her eyebrows and hit my sword out of my hand. “Yes.” Edur flew at her wildly, jabbing at her. She knocked him back and walked over to me holding her sword to my throat and getting right in my face. “You're dead.” She whispered, I took a swing at her and she ducked and grabbed my legs. She threw her sword aside and knocked mine across the room, Edur came up behind her, she grabbed his arm, and flipped him over on the ground next to me. “You boys are too easy.” Edur and I looked at each other and nodded, I threw Jane onto her back and Edur held her arms down. “Maybe not.” She said smiling, she swung her leg around in front of Edur’s chest locking him between her legs, I moved to hold her hands down, She kneed me in the back and flipped her and Edur on top of me, and my breath was knocked out of me. “I can’t make it too easy for you.” She let go of Edur and me.

“That was great!” Edur yelled, He picked up his daggers and continued jabbing in random directions, We both stood and she wrapped one of her arms around my waist as I rested my arm on her shoulders, she leaned into me and breathed heavily.

“You okay?” I asked, she nodded.

“Just tired.” We stood like that for a while chuckling at Edur dancing around like a small child. The boat shifted slightly and Jane exhaled.

“We should probably get him to bed soon.” Jane smiled. She pulled away from me.

“Come on, we should get out of here and sleep, we are going to be there tomorrow morning.” Edur sighed and followed Jane out, I looked out the window at the waves, shaking my head, I followed after them.