– K Á R A –

I kept to myself aboard the ship whenever possible.

Of course the First Officer let the crew know a witch was among them and had put an end to the guild leaders of Vayleron. In fact it helped keep the mortals motivated to maintain a distance. One burly man with more sunburnt skin than regular skin backed so far from my path that he almost went overboard. 

My day consisted of getting some slithers of fresh air and meditating for the moment I could return to Tayah Ashrive's dreams.

She only found it amusing that I was once again trapped on a ship surrounded by simpletons. I told her my use of the winds would close my distance to her faster and I would arrive in spans but she had surprised me by admitted her own use of power. How she had used a hot jet of fire to propel a handmade craft across the rough seas to get her onto the Kanton shores. At first I laughed. Then I heard how precariously close to death she was by going after John Keavesmith in the water.

Keavesmith again. I'd have to find an excuse for his early death. It would save my sanity.

I sighed and set my head upon my hands against the rail as sailors shouted behind me at work. I could be a patient person. But trapped on this stinking wood with all of the unsavoury mortals was making me more than restless in my waking moments when I couldn't go to Tayah. We had finally mapped out a routine when we could communicate and I had many slithers to burn in the mean time. 

A female cleared their throat behind me.

I half turned over a furred shoulder and found the navy coated Officer looking hesitantly at me. I sighed through my nose.

"You again."

"I do not mean to disturb–"

"Yet here we are." I cut in flatly.

She swallowed and nodded with a wince. "It's just that I've noticed–well we have noticed–the unnatural winds taking us forth in the day..."

I waited with a flat look as the mortal got more flustered and filled her pockets with her hands. I tried to picture how Tayah would handle this mortal. She had an easy spirit and bonded easily with flustered mortals–she'd probably charm her way out of the situation...

"It may sound bold–but if it were you using wind magic to aid us–I can suggest the direction to optimise our speed in daylight hours so we can reach our–"

I chuckled, interrupting her growing anxiety.

"Hold on a slither. You wish to direct my power?" I stated, dripping heavy irony.

"No–well yes–but just guide it using nautical instruments for efficiency." She clarified raising her palms in an attempt to placate me. I grinned wickedly with no humour, it only made her flinch.

"Of course, mortal. Why don't you also show me how to direct the powers of the Underworld through Hades relic more efficiently."

Her face drained of colour and she couldn't find the words to that. My humour passed and I cracked a ball of lightening into my fist.

"Perhaps–I should get back–"

I nodded slowly, watching her trip backwards to join the other mortals. When she was finally out of my sight I drew back the power and smirked. Turning back to my position on the horizon. Almost had the audacity of Ashrive. Almost.

"She just be trying to help lass." An older, more weathered mortal called down to me from the helm. I dragged my eyes slowly up to the captain with a clean shaven and military grey cut about his hair.

"I do not recall asking, Captain." I returned dryly.

He left the wheel a moment and unfortunately took the stairs towards me. The only reason I gave him the time of day at all was that he granted me this voyage on the way to Kanton.

"Florin, has great respect for everyone aboard this ship and–"

"Please, mortal. I am going to stop you there because my interests end at Kanton." I said plainly.

"Well, perhaps if you listened, Florin could get you there faster." He retorted, taking a drag from a pipe I hadn't noticed but could smell from leagues.

"May I?" I asked, eying the pipe. He raised a brow and passed it to me.

I let the power burn through my hand and crumble the pipe to ash before his wide, creased eyes. I lowered my glowing hand slowly and met his eyes with my burning ones.

"I've had just about enough of being told what to do with my power over the last few centuries." I murmured in lethal quiet. "If your First Officer has a way to direct my power better with mortal equipment I will consider her input. But let this be the last time we have this conversation."

He nodded silently with the shock still painted on his aged face. Whatever rumours about me he had been told were nothing next to the real thing.

I turned on my heel and strode off briskly. Mortals jumped out of my path for the Officer. Wary looks shot my way as I approached her back and she dictated the tension of the mast to several others.

"You." I cut out clearly above the heaving, sweating men.

She turned sharply and her face froze when her eyes landed on me. I jutted my head to the side and walked without waiting for a response. I heard her quick boot steps catching up across the deck. I stopped to the side and leant an elbow on the rail glaring her down.

"Explain the device you would use to direct the winds."

Her eyes lit in understanding before she rushing into her pockets and pulled out a small metal device. Then she sunk her hand in again before pulling out a strange looking utensil too quickly and loosing it in her grip. I plucked it from the air before she even had time to gasp.

I scanned the little wooden cups that caught in the wind and pointed an arrow in a direction.

"That–umm gives us a reading on–"

"Direction." I summarised, glancing at the metal box in her hand. "And that?"

"Well, let me show you." She stammered, raising it to her eyes and flipping the lid open. There were more arrows and letters. Then her eyes darted back to mine hesitantly and she held out her hand. "May I?"

I placed the utensil in her glove and she set it upon the box with a click. I frowned, watching the cups spin. She placed it on the rail and watched it intently before drawing out a notepad and writing down a series of readings. I crossed my arms and waited.

"If you were to send the wind directly–wait come to the mast." She murmured, rushing over to the thick beam while I stood there wanting to throw her and every other mortal to the sea. It would surely increase our speed if we had less weight on board...

I sighed and followed the over eager Officer directly under the mast. She glanced at me nervously before setting her arm straight and slightly to the left of the sail.

"Here. A rush of wind in this direction would maximise our speed–"

I didn't bother waiting for the detailed explanation she had planned. I cast my arm high to the sky above and called in a rush of gusts from above. It made the sky thunder in response and a number of mortals cried out in shock. I smirked and felt the power rush through me along with a surge in gales at the mast.

We burst forward at a much less subtle speed than I had created before and she fell back into the mast heavily with a shocked expression. I glanced down at the flustered mortal and snorted. She pushed dark strands back from her tied hair then stared at me in awe.

"That was fantastic!"

"Whichever gets me off this ship faster, First Officer." I muttered, keeping my hand raised and sending more energy through the masts.

A few sailors cast their eyes in disbelief over the rails to watch the water fly past us. I focused on my task and measured the energy it took from me. I could keep it going for some time. Perhaps I would use the relic next time–

"Thank you–again–for listening." She got out, glancing quickly back to her equipment. I could see the red coating her cheeks from here and shook my head in exasperation.

"I am not going to find you any less irritating if you consistently compliment me." I stated flatly.

"I merely meant to be polite!" She retorted quickly–the red deepened.

"Why are you so embarrassed?" I deadpanned. "You look like a youth that has just been rebuffed of affection."

If a mortal could turn more red... I laughed loudly. Enjoying the discomfort in her now. Her eyes were intent on the equipment but it was almost like–

"If you could stop taunting me so I could focus–that would be helpful." She cut out more quickly.

I smirked and wished I could introduce her to my immortal. Now that would be an entertainment worthy of this ship. She shifted her arm slightly to the left and I adjusted the direction I sent the winds into the mast.

"Gods, if we held this speed we would be at Kanton shores in less than a span!" She called, staring in shock as the waves crashed past us.

"Unfortunately my power has limits." I stated simply, already feeling the drain start to increase.

This made her glance up at me. "If you need to stop please–"

"Mortal, I will deem my own limits." I finished in a more dark tone.

She straightened and tore her concern away from me. Honestly she was so damned flustered. It was only entertaining because of how little I sort attention from any other now. The way they looked at immortals. A mixture of awe and disbelief.

We continued this way for many more slithers. Her directing my energy carefully and my will and power pushing the ship onwards. When I had finally felt the power become a heavy weight on me I let my arm drop. I took a deep breath and rolled my neck.

"That's enough for this span." I told her as the winds dropped rapidly and returned to the natural speed.

She dropped her arm too and pocketed the devices in her long navy overcoat. She dropped me a deep nod and tipped her hat. "Whenever you decide to try again–"

"I know which mortal to find." I finished flatly, with a smirk. I walked past her without a further word. The staring was starting to get old and the sun was growing low. I walked with more purpose for my quarters where I would find the immortal that would keep me sane among a ship of the mundane. Perhaps she could tell me how to find their existence less painful.