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Chapter 32: What's Left Unspoken...
The crew was taking a day of rest and looking at the fireworks display off the shore for the Thundercrack Carnivale. They finished repairing the hull (and other parts of the ship damaged in the storm) in record time, for which she was pleased by, but everyone was burnt out and needed to recharge before they continued their voyage. Partaking in the festival’s events seemed to help everyone’s spirits…but Keala was worried about one crewmate in particular.
“Ahoy, Miuccia, can I talk wi’ ye?” Keala whispered to her first mate, and Miuccia flew onto her shoulder, “Sure thing, cap’n. What do ye need to talk about?”
“I’m worried ‘bout Glan. He hasn’t been the same since Sunny’s death. Yes, he has always been quiet an’ reserved, but he’s been snappy, angry, an’ even defiant at times.”
Miuccia’s crests fell, showing his dismay, “Aye, agreed cap’n. Each of us deals with grief dif’rently, an’ I’m afraid ‘er death affected ‘im the most. I don’t think ‘e’s been able to move on since that tragic event.”
Keala replied, “It’s almost as if he is fighting on the inside…Do ye think he blames ‘imself for ‘er death?” The little Fae shrugged, “Only the Tidelord knows. But if we let it be, it may fester into somethin’ ugly.”
The Guardian gave a solemn nod, “Glan needs someone to talk to an’ open up ‘bout it, but I don’t think I’m the drag’n fer the job.”
“Agreed, an’ I don’t think any of us are. If he ‘asn’t opened up to us yet, he may not feel comfortable to do so wi’ anyone of us,” Miuccia pondered, head resting on his hands, “Maybe we can fin’ someone to ‘elp ‘im?”
“Can I ask ye to try to fin’ someone in the mornin’? Head out before the crew wakes,” Keala inquired. Miuccia pulled herself up at attention, “Ye can count on me, cap’n.” Keala smiled, “What would I do without ye?” Miuccia gave her a playful shove, “Probably still be at that port lookin’ fer a crew. But let’s enjoy these fireworks – the lightning flight sure knows how to put on a show!”
And so they looked on at the fireworks display, their words passed unnoticed by the rest of the crew.
The family was atop of Aalto and making their way to a remote location based on zir grandmother’s latest journal entry. Keola was still wrestling with zir thoughts and thus was quiet on the trip. Murchadh had noticed the odd behavior and finally had the confidence to speak up.
“Hey, bud, you’ve been quiet. Have a fish swimming between the ears?” he joked. Keola lifted zir head and had a serious face, “Da, I know you and ma asked me to be a good listener and all in order to join you on this journey, but is there anything that you haven’t told me?”
Murchadh saw the troubled eyes look into his, so he glanced at Kailani, who was writing in her journal. He then turned back to Keola and cleared his throat, “Well, we try to be as honest as we can with you. There are things we don’t talk about, yes, but it’s not to say you are not ready for such things. We just don’t want to burden you with them. You have plenty of time to live with things that are more complicated when you’re older, but you only have one childhood to live.”
“But I’m not a child now,” Keola pressed. Murchadh frowned with a sad look, “You certainly aren’t anymore…”
“Hey! I think that’s the place!” Kailani called out, and she put away the journal into her bag. Keola and Murchadh looked over at the seafloor, which was sandy and plain for some time. Now it had remnants of stone that looked less natural and seemed to indicate that this used to be an inhabited place. Here was a set of stones that was collapsed in a way that indicated it used to be an archway which had collapsed over time. In the distance more stones were scattered on the floor, with partial structures still standing.
“What is this place?” Keola asked. “Even your grandmother didn’t know. She only stumbled across it on her way back from one of her trips. She guessed it was a sort of shrine or monument,” Kailani said, and she turned towards Keola with a grin, “Ready to check it out?” Keola didn’t need to be asked twice. Zi and Kailani took off from Aalto and swam ahead, leaving Murchadh behind chuckling, “I guess it’s you and me, Aalto. Let’s check the surroundings just in case there are any unexpected visitors.”
At the thought of seeing some ancient ruins, Keola’s mind was rooted in the present with curiosity and excitement. They passed by portions of the ruin, parts that looked like pedestals but with broken, unrecognizable statues sitting on top of them and seagrass covering most of the stone. Any small building contained small remnants of the life that once occupied them such as broken pottery pieces or small stone figures. All kept questions running in Kailani and Keola’s minds as they swam around.
“Hey, ma, you should see this!” Keola called out, and Kailani swam towards zir voice. It was a terrace with much larger pedestals along the perimeter. Each pedestal had a mostly intact statue sitting on top, each of them seeming to be of a regal nature, sometimes carrying objects like scrolls or weapons.
Kailani noticed that one of the first set of statues was the only statue that was mostly broken, appearing to be purposely vandalized with its broken parts littered around it. The head was intact on the ground, showing the fierce face of a Guardian alongside of a deteriorating metal trident.
Keola swam further along and had zir eyes focused on the large statue of a Pearlcatcher that looked very similar to zir mom. The nameplate was mostly hidden beneath some seagrass, which Keola rubbed off. While the name was mostly worn away, the words beneath the name were clearer – “8th Queen of Nan’nalu”.
“Ma…” Keola began, but when zi turned around, zi noticed that the terrace path led down towards a very large pair of statues. Zi swam towards the pair of statues, zir size dwarfed by the stone figures. They were of two Undertides, each facing the other with their noses nearly touching and their bodies curled in an elegant manner. One had tentacles stretching from the center in its body and curling like beautiful ribbons. The other had a strong set of plating over its entire body, like armor. The pedestal that was centered below their heads was written in ancient text, which Keola couldn’t discern.
Kailani swam up beside Keola and gazed up in awe at the statues. “These statues could be the past rulers of the kingdom. Maybe these were the first?” Keola speculated. Kailani nodded in agreement, “I was thinking the same thing. But I can’t read this inscription. Maybe one of the scholars at the palace could.”
Keola turned in surprise, “You’ve been to the palace?” Kailani inwardly winced, “Uhh, yeah, I have.” Zi felt it was time to figure out what zir parents were not telling zir, “Ma, that statue I was looking at before looked very similar to you.” Kailani shrugged, “Might be just coincidental.”
“But you said my grandmother was a great leader…was she a queen of Nan’nalu?” Keola asked, eyes locked onto Kailani. She recognized her own fierceness in those eyes and knew that she couldn’t keep it a secret any longer, “Yes, yes she was. My mother was a queen. And your grandfather, wherever he may be right now, is the king. My sister, Penina, has been ruling in his stead ever since your grandmother died.”
Keola floated there silently, letting the news sink in, “Then why are we out here? Did we do something wrong?” Kailani furrowed her brow, “If going against my father’s order of being locked in that palace was wrong, then yes. But I wanted my freedom, and that should still be my choice, regardless of whatever he ordered. And that’s what I want for you – freedom to grow up and be happy.”
Yet, zi looked back at the statues with concern, “But we also have a responsibility to the kingdom, don’t we? We need to protect and help its inhabitants.” It caused Kailani to look at Keola sadly, “But if you just help everyone else, who will help you? Could you find that balance if you were a ruler?”
They both floated in silence, even when Murchadh approached behind them. “Wow, what a find. I wonder why this place was abandoned, especially since it looked like it was part of Nan’nalu’s care at some point,” he asked, but then noticed the looks on both Keola and Kailani’s faces, “You had the talk, didn’t you?”
Kailani bit her lower lip, “Yeah, we did. Zi knows.” Murchadh looked at Keola, “And what will you do?” “We should go back to the palace, right? We need to fulfil our duty to Nan’nalu,” Keola said.
“If we go back, they may lock up your da,” Kailani said, “He helped me escape the palace, so he’d take the fall for their failure to keep me there.” Keola looked shocked, “But they can’t lock you up. You’re my da. Would they lock up the father of a royal descendent?”
Murchadh shrugged, “Maybe. Maybe not. No way to know for sure. I’m sure Siren would like to lock me up, but your ma’s sister, Penina, may have some sway to keep me out of jail.” Kailani squeezed Murchadh’s hand, “I don’t want to risk that.”
Keola felt torn and confused, so Murchadh spoke up, “Let’s just enjoy these ruins and then find a place to camp. If you have more questions, we can answer them in the morning, after some sleep.”
Kailani helped her mate set up camp while Keola swam around the terrace, seeming to silently speak to each past ruler, wondering what zi should do next
next
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Petall @
Aquasparky @
Reshiramu
Originally, I was shipping Glan and Sunny in the story, but when Sunny died in the 'locke, I was at a loss at what Glan would be. He turned out to be not the self he was originally envisioned, and I finally figured it out to be an extension of losing Sunny. He definitely needs some attention and care, so hopefully Miuccia can find someone to help him out. And Keola finally found out his past! But will he feel that putting his family at risk will be worth the decision to go back?
Also, today's pull was a battle item, but thankfully it was tails. So maybe having more hatchlings die and less battle streaks occur is worth the trade off? Either way, I'm thankful for that coin flip luck.
