Episode 8: An Alluring Proposition (Part 3 of 6)

Immediately after leaving the tavern, Locke and Lil continue to follow the crowds which inevitably lead to the city center. Just outside the factory at Blackcrest's center, they notice a large ship which sits heavily on the ground below, towering high above the people which stand to gawk at it. Its anchors rest at its sides, the heavy steel driven deep into the ground. A large crowd of people gather around the front of the airship, but a small number of large and buff merchants keep the path to a pair of steps clear – the steps leading up to the ship's deck.

Grasping Locke's left arm in hers and clinging to it tightly, Lil cries excitedly, "Wow! I've never seen a ship out of water like that!"

"Same here!" Locke exclaims. "This thing is incredible! I can't believe it flies. . ."

"And I can't believe they've managed to contain enough magic to make it fly!" Lilanei says in wonderment.

"There must be some powerful sorcerers around in Ibius," Locke ponders.

Jumping slightly up and down as she continues to cling to him, Lilanei cries, "That's all I need! Let's go!"

"Okay, okay!" Locke says with a laugh as he holds the tickets and walks towards Mighty Blue. "I can't wait to fly, just like a bird!"

Excitedly, Locke and Lilanei weave their way through the bustling crowd before finding themselves in front of the large staircase leading up onto the ship; as they gaze up at it dreamily, a large and very muscular man steps in front of them and cries, "Oy! Tickets, please!"

"Here," Locke says as he offers the tickets to the merchant. "Two tickets."

The buff merchant snatches the small tickets before scrutinizing them closely; after a few moments, he motions to the merchants behind him who step aside and allow our Heroes passage onto the ship. Once they are past the merchants, they climb the steps excitedly to the deck which they find is crowded with many people. Merchants rush past them as they push crates along the wooden deck, as adventurers much like the duo look around the ship with great excitement. As they take in their surroundings, they notice a group of three Dragonborn standing nearby. To their right, a Tiefling woman as well as an Elven man speak to each other with great vigor. At the center of the ship, leaning against the large and wide pole which leads up to the bird's nest, they see a single human woman with long blonde hair. Nearby, a couple of Half-Elf children run around the deck crying aloud playfully as an Elven woman and a human male stand by and watch them with smiles.

As Locke and Lilanei take in their surroundings, the Elven woman glances over to them as her eyes immediately widen and she trots over to the pair; as she nears them, she cries, "Locke! Lilanei!"

"Who are you?" Locke asks in his blunt manner, to which Lil frowns.

The Elf woman simply smiles and says, "Well, you may not know me, but I sure know you. My name is Dara and I hail from Willow's Keep."

"Oh, wow!" Locke says in surprise before exclaiming, "So you were set in stone when we were there!”

Dara giggles as she nods and cries, "Sure was! But thanks to you two, I'm alright and I'm able to be here today with my family."

"That's great," Locke replies, before noticing the man she was standing with is human, before he begins, "No offense. . . But I didn't realize your leader allowed humans in the village. I should know – she hated me!"

Dara smirks at the duo before explaining, "Well, that's precisely why I'm here, I'm afraid! Marc and I have been together for quite a long time. . . However, once Adiel found out about our relationship, she demanded that I either cut off contact with him and my children or that I left Willow's Keep. Obviously, I've chosen to do the latter."

Lil sighs sadly as she exclaims, "I'm so sorry! That Adiel – she's so stubborn!"

"Well, I'm glad you chose your husband over the village," Locke states. "It's good to see."

Dara smiles and says, "Yes. . . I could never choose Adiel and her selfish beliefs over the man I love. But in any case, I'm quite happy with my decision! Once we heard the Mighty Blue was going to land in Blackcrest, we immediately made our way here. Hopefully, we'll be able to start our new life in Ibius and begin anew."

Lilanei smiles and says, "Oh, I'm sure you two will be quite happy!"

"Do you know what Ibius is like?" Locke asks. "We've never even heard of it!"

The woman shakes her head as she states, "All I know about Ibius is that it is a massive country! In fact I've heard it is nearly four times as big as Murrad! It's a Kingdom as well, meaning a great King resides over the nation in a grand castle."

"Sounds like fun!" Locke exclaims with a smile. "It sounds like just the place to further our aspirations."

Dara giggles as she says, "Certainly! Well, I wish you two all the luck in the world – but my children are beginning to grate on one of the merchant's nerves. So I bid you good day!"

Immediately, Dara waves to the pair before rushing across the ship and reprimanding her two children.

"Ibius, huh?" Locke asks to Lil. "What do you think?

With a broad smile, she says, "I'm quite excited, actually! It seems like the perfect place to start our search for Akorrin as well!"

"Well, he's sure not here," Locke states, talking about Murrad. "So let's hope our luck turns in Ibius. But speaking of excitement," Locke then says, his gaze directing to the blonde haired woman standing by the bird's nest. "Let's mingle some more."

Lilanei follows his gaze before she cries, "Oh! You never change!"

"Let's just be friendly," Locke grins. "There was nothing wrong with me talking to Dara now, was there?"

Lil smiles as she says, "Well, Dara wouldn't have been interested in you anyway!"

"That's what you might think," Locke replies as he begins to walk across towards the blonde woman; once within ear shot, Locke raises his hand and greets her. "Good day, madame. How are you?"

The blonde haired woman glances to Locke, piercing blue eyes narrowing at his figure as he approaches; cocking her eyebrow at him, she states in a foreign tone, "Vell, hello zere."

Locke hesitates, hearing the woman's accent, but shrugs it off and continues, "So, you're on your way to Ibius, too?"

"It vould seem so, yes? Vhy else vould I be on this ship, silly man?"

"Erm, yeah, sure," Locke replies, thrown off by her comment. "This is my friend, Lilanei, and we're off to Ibius in search of adventure! Tell us, what are you venturing to Ibius for?"

The woman merely glances to Lil shortly before looking back at Locke and smiling slyly as she says, "Vhy, I'm an adventurer too! I've lived in Blackcrest for many a year. And now, I travel to Ibius to. . . How you say? Expand my horizons."

"So are we!" Locke exclaims excitedly before grinning and saying, "You know. . . maybe we could expand our horizons together."

To Locke's surprise, his comment causes the woman to grin as she states, "Vell, vell, vhat have ve here? I seem to have encountered a feisty young man! Tell me, adventurer – vhat iz your name?"

"Locke. Locke Kallidin!" Locke proudly states as Lilanei glares at him from behind. "And this is my comrade, Lilanei Serpenthelm."

The woman bothers not to glance at Lil as she says, "Ja, ja. . . Locke, iz it? Vhat a powerful name!"

"Well, I'd say so," Locke chuckles. "I am fond of it."

Her grin grows as she extends her hand forward, palm down, and says, "Well, Mr. Locke, it iz quite ze pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure's all mine," Locke says, taking her hand softly and kissing the back of it; as he does so, he hears a slight grumbling behind him as Lilanei angrily strolls to a nearby ledge and glances down at the people below.

The woman smiles and withdraws her hand before saying, "Vell, Mr. Locke? Are you not going to ask me my name?"

"Of course! How silly of me. What is your name, madame? I'm sure it's as striking as you are," Locke replies.

The woman chuckles and smirks as she responds, "My name iz Alexandra Federova."

"I was right – it is as striking as the woman who holds that name," Locke smiles.

"Oh, you know how to flatter a woman, Mr. Locke," Alexandra flutters her eyelashes as she continues. "Tell me, Mr. Locke. . . Do you like a drink?"

"I've never said no!" Locke cheerfully replies.

"My, my!" She cries happily. "Ve have a winner! How vould you like to join me tonight when ze moon iz high, for a small little drink?"

"Sure thing!" Locke says. "Where?"

"My cabin," she explains as she motions behind them and towards the stairs leading below deck, “lies in ze back of ze hall. . . It iz ze final door to your right. I'll be very interested to see vhat you have to say about your adventures, Mr. Locke."

"I'll be interested to hear more about you, too, Alex," Locke replies.

Alexandra waggles her index finger at Locke before saying, "Ah-ah-ah. . . Alexandra."

"Sorry, Alexandra," Locke repeats.

Excitedly, she claps her hands and exclaims, "Very good! I shall see you later tonight zen, Mr. Locke, yes?"

"You sure will," Locke announces with a grin on his face. "See you soon."

"Ja, ja. . . Very soon indeed," Alexandra finishes as a great smile grows across her lips and she gives him a slight wave before turning and retreating below deck.

Excitedly, Locke rushes over to Lilanei and stands beside her.

"I've got a friend!" Locke exclaims happily. "She seems nice, doesn't she?"

"Hmph. . . Very nice indeed," Lil mutters as she throws him a side glare, which Locke slightly picks up on.

"Something wrong?" Locke asks in surprise.

"Oh, it's nothing," Lilanei sighs before looking back down below to the ground. "If I'm not mistaken. . . I take it this ship is going to take off soon."

"I'd say so," Locke answers, looking over the ledge. "So, what do you want to do now?"

Excitedly, she now watches as the merchants begin to pull the anchors up the side of the ship as she cries, "I want to see this baby go up in the air!"

"Same here," Locke states. "It's going to be incredible!"

Just as Locke finishes his final words, the ship suddenly rumbles. Slowly, the magical orbs which surround the hull of the large ship begin to glow brightly and whir with great energy as the deck hands finish pulling the anchors from the ground. Slowly, the ship begins to ascend from the ground as people on the deck gather at the ledges and wave down to their family and friends below. The ship eventually rises and rises until Blackcrest soon becomes like a giant mass of ants as they float up in the sky. From their position on the ship, they can see the great expanse of Murrad directly down below them.

"It all looks so tiny from here!" Locke exclaims before asking Lil, "Don't you wish your mother could've seen us off?”

Lilanei now slightly shrinks away from the ledge of the ship as her knees shake below her, the Half-Elf softly uttering, "Um. . . Yeah. . . That would've. . . been really nice!"

Locke frowns, "Lil, what's wrong?"

Holding her stomach as the ship begins to move forward, Lil wobbles slightly to and fro as she says, "Oh. . . Nothing. . . I just. . . feel really funny!"

Locke places his hands around her and squeezes her softly to him, as he gently replies, "Just hold onto me. You'll be okay.”

As he squeezes Lil against him, he suddenly hears a loud, sick grumble from her stomach before she pushes him away gruffly and runs across the deck of the ship to a nearby ledge.

A merchant who passes Locke suddenly stops and begins to chuckle as he says, "Ah. . . Gotta love them newbies," before he then continues on his way.

Blinking at the merchant, Locke then walks over to Lilanei and begins to gently rub her back, asking softly as he sees her become violently ill over the ledge of the ship, "Are you going to be okay?”

Lil's head and arms hand slightly over the ledge of the deck as she simply mutters, "Guh. . ."

"Maybe we should go and find our room now," Locke announces. "I think you could do with a lie down."

Stumbling backwards away from the ledge, Lilanei lands against Locke, who she then leans into with a miserable grunt. Holding her tight, Locke carries most of her weight as he leads her down the stairs to where the cabins are located. As the duo head below deck, a friendly, and very pretty, deck hand happily shows Locke and Lilanei to their cabin, whose door lies in the center of the hallway before leaving them to it. Locke opens the door of their cabin and assists Lil into the room, where he notices a single bed – quite small due to the small room.

"Well, we didn't get an extravagant room," Locke begins as he walks Lilanei over to the bed and lays her gently down on it. "But it'll do for the trip, right?"

Shifting uncomfortably in the bed, Lil groans, "Urgh. . . I hate ships. . .”

"Aw, and you were so excited on the ground," Locke says as he slips onto the bed, sitting up as he places his arm around Lil's shoulders and rests beside her, looking out of the window of the cabin as he watches the clouds slowly drift by in front of the blue sky.

Many hours pass before the sky begins to grow dark with the coming of the night. Meanwhile, Lilanei remains in bed where she sleeps slightly uncomfortably, while Locke slips out of bed and prepares to meet Alexandra in her cabin. Checking on Lilanei one final time and brushing her hair softly as she sleeps, Locke turns and exits the room, gently closing the door behind him. He walks down the hallway and eventually finds Alexandra's room. He then knocks on the door three times and stands waiting for the door to open. After the third knock, Locke hears a shuffling inside the cabin before the familiar figure of Alexandra swings the door open and greets him with a smile.

"Mr. Locke!" Alexandra exclaims quietly. "So you did come. . . I vas starting to think you had stood me up, young man!"

"No, not at all," Locke replies with a grin. "My friend, Lilanei, is quite air sick, so I was just looking after her until she feel asleep."

"Ah. . . Vhat a pity. Anyway, vould you like to come in?"

"I would indeed!" Locke says excitedly, his voice remaining cool so as not to seem too childish.

Stepping aside, the woman allows Locke to step into the room as he notices this room is just as small as his own. A single bed sits against the left wall while a small table with two chairs sits on the right. Motioning with her hands, Alexandra invites him to sit at the table, where there rests a jug of rum as well as two cups. Locke nods and sits at one of the chairs as he looks to Alexandra, who shuts the door behind him and locks it with a click. Soon, she joins him from across the table and begins to pour him a glass of rum.

"I trust zat you like rum, yes?" She simply asks.

"Ah yes, I love it," Locke answers as he takes the glass from her. "Thank you."

"You've very velcome, Mr. Locke," She smiles as she pours herself a glass of rum. "So tell me, adventurer. . . You tell me zat you travel to Ibius to expand your horizons. Vhy iz zat?"

"Well, firstly, my friend and I just have a yearning to see the world," Locke explains. "And while we're at it, we wish to help people along the way, if we can. Also, we're looking for our lost master who went missing a few days ago. We thought there could be a chance he's in Ibius."

"Master?" Alexandra echoes with a intrigued expression growing on her face. "Vhy vould such a strong man such as yourself need a master?"

"Well, he's my teacher," Locke explains further. "Or at least, he was. He said we're equals, but when I last saw him, he helped rescue Lilanei from an evil man named Lucio – you might have heard of him.”

"I'm afraid, young man, I have not. . . I do not much concern myself vith matters such as zose. . . So zis Lilanei? Iz she your—"

"Erm, no," Locke replies suddenly. "At least, I don't think so. . . I don't think she's really interested."

"Vhat a pity," she cries as her lips curl in a grin. "Vhy vouldn't any woman be interested in a young man such as yourself? From vhat you say, your life seems so. . . interesting."

"I'd say it is," Locke replies, drinking some more rum. "I don't know. Lilanei just has her ways. Mind you, we never got along well as children, until our master, Akorrin, forced us to get along by making us train and grow up together. We've become very close; however I feel she still either resents me somewhat, or I'm just too much for her."

She giggles at those final words as her grin turns to a smirk and she says, "Ah. . . Vhat a pity indeed. Vhat you need, Mr. Locke, iz a voman who iz villing to handle your. . . great masculinity."

"Sounds very appealing," Locke answers with a grin. "How do you plan to do that?"

"Oh, Mr. Locke! You are quite ahead of yourself! I never said I vould do it," she chuckles girlishly as she begins to pour Locke more rum, before taking a sip of her own glass.

"Ah," Locke grunts. "Well, I suppose you are right. Lilanei has never really seemed interested. . . Maybe I should look for someone who is."

"Ja, ja. . . Zat vould be. . . How you say? Ze smart thing to do, vould it not?" Alexandra asks.

"Yes," Locke answers. "It's just life would feel rather strange without her there, I suppose. If there was another woman in my life, I guess that would leave Lil out in the cold," he finishes as he frowns.

"Vell, you know vhat they say," she says as she sips her rum. "Ze strong survive. . . and ze rest, well. . . you know."

"I see what you mean," Locke answers as he drinks more from his glass. "So tell me, Alexandra. What about you? You said you're an adventurer. Are you more the adventurer who looks for treasures as dazzling as herself, or one, like me, who rights the wrong doings?"

As Alexandra tops up his drink once more, she sighs as she leans back in her chair and swishes her rum in her glass as she explains, "Vell, actually. . . I'm ze sort of voman who does like treasure – but not in ze sparkling variety, as you say. No, I'm much more interested in ze. . . how you say? Treasures of man!"

"Really?" The rogue asks. "So, do you scour the world looking for a good time?”

Alexandra giggles as she drinks from her glass and says, "Vell, I suppose you could say zat, ja. . . I also quite fancy myself a good fight now and then. Do you not, Mr. Locke?"

"I live to fight," Locke says with a grin. "It's one of the reasons Lil and I set out on our journey."

"Ah," she sighs dreamily as she says, "a man after my own heart. Vell, Mr. Locke. . . I feel ve could have a very, very, very good relationship, don't you think?"

"I'd drink to that," Locke says with a nod. "Perhaps we should act upon your words."

"Oh, ja! I vould find zat quite exciting," Alexandra nods as she leans forward and tops up his drink once again. "So tell me. . . After ze Mighty Blue lands, vhat do you plan to do? Are you going to set off vith zat girl?"

"Well, that's the plan," Locke answers. "You're more than welcome to join us, if you want."

"Tut, tut, Mr. Locke. . . You know vhat they say: two's company, three's a crowd. Tell me now. Zis girl, she seems very. . . unlike vhat a man such as yourself vould keep as a straggler. Surely, one such as yourself – so full of vitality – requires a more. . . action packed life."

"Well, it's quite action packed now," Locke says. "I don't think I could separate from Lil like you suggest. We've been through too much together, as we said we'd only separate if one of us died."

"Vhat dedication!" She cries, slightly disappointedly, as she gulps down the rest of her rum and pours the remainder of the jug into Locke's glass; she then looks to him with a drunken grin as she says, "Zhat iz all vell and good. . . But you do not convince me, Mr. Locke. I have met many men like you on my travels, and one thing vill always be ze same: you live for the thrill of danger and excitement. Tell me now, have you ever thought of changing your path?"

"What, without Lilanei?" Locke asks. "Sometimes if we bicker," Locke begins, "but otherwise, not really. . . Unless a real attractive offer came along." He finishes, looking at her.

Alexandra smirks before saying, "Vell. . . I don't consider myself unattractive, if zat's vhat you mean."

"Nor would I," Locke replies with a smile.

Nudging the rum towards Locke and enticing him to drink, Alexandra says, "Vell. . . Mr. Locke, you may have just persuaded me."

Locke picks up the drink and smirks at Alexandra as he says, "Oh, I hope so. Cheers!"

With that, Locke downs the remainder of the liquid in his glass, before emitting a sigh of satisfaction.

Now resting her elbows against the table as her face rests in her palms, the woman sighs and says, "Oh. . . How I love a man who likes his drink. . ."

"Well, I certainly love to drink, fight. . . and get to know the ladies very well," Locke replies, hiccuping slightly.

"My. . . Vell, here's hoping you get to know zis lady very well," she says slyly with a grin.

"Well. . . Show me what more there is to know," Locke slurs slightly. "Maybe we could—"

Suddenly, Locke stops as he notices the room has started to blur slightly. He blinks once as the woman's expression changes to one of concern before he feels himself growing heavy headed. In fact, his head become so heavy that he slowly. . . falls. . . asleep. . .