Pirate Fantasy Flash Fiction: The Wicked Cat (Frigid)

The 22nd entry in the Pirate Fantasy Flash Fiction series The Wicked Cat, this one is more interesting because it reveals more on Ulzon. It has Unne in it too, even if she is in the background, she makes everything better. I used a new editing software the RIGHT WAY this time so I would be curious to see what you think, please comment and get your friends to comment as well. Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoy!

EDIT: There was a stray C, it has now been changed to CHAINED. Glitch with the editing program. The LAST Hope and the LOST Hope are the same ship, it was the LAST Hope first and then rechristened to the LOST Hope, which I have not made abundantly clear. My apologies, the writers shall be shot and quartered. Thank you.

The orchid petals gathered frost. It started to wilt and sag from the cold. The ice crept along the stamen to the base, along the stem to the branch holding it in place. Within a blink of an eye, the entire limb was covered with ice. Moments later, the branch snapped from the bush and landed on the ground with a thump. It shattered as though it were made from glass. The shards sprayed across the ground and melted in the dying sunlight.

She struggled with her words as she gazed at the man’s bleached dragon bone mask placed over his face. “Y- you a- are a ro- romantic when i- it comes to sy- sym- symbolism.”

“I must do what I can do assure our men understand. They must accept their lot in this society. We are not a corrupt nation, as I am sure Brynn Raedwolv stated to you on your travels here. Our goal is to spread knowledge; we are one people who stand a greater chance against the rogue nations if we are all flying the same flag over our lands.”

“Y- You wo-would be surprised t- to know ma- many people a- al- along the Lyonhead B- Bay never tr- trusted you.”

Ulzon shook his head and motioned for her to follow him. He followed the path defined by the hedges and other exotic plants. Myrilda rubbed her arms with her hands and turned her head to see Unne standing in the intersection behind her. The man chained to her stood a few steps away with a vacant look on his face as his head tilted up to the sky, as though he could see the sun setting with no eyes in his skull. She shuddered, turned around and followed after Ulzon at a brisk pace to get her heart beating.

They followed the gravel path until it blended in a tan and white cobblestone courtyard overlooking the bay. She spotted three large schooners docked at the port next to the ancient estates built into the cliffs. Her vision shifted to spot something looming in the ocean as the moon crested behind it over the horizon. She stepped forward to get a better look. She stopped when Ulzon called out to her. “Tell me Princess, do you know the significance of the Last Hope?”

She kept her eyes on the horizon; her attention captured by the small dot on the sea. She did not stutter as she spoke, even though a cold ocean breezed lashed her exposed skin. “I know it was the last ship to sail from Nimeria when it was a whole Kingdom. The king was slaughtered, and the crew was routed because Captain LaCramoix was not aboard. It is rumored the crew still haunts the deck as the Dead Kingdom’s captain leads them on coastal raids. I think it is ridiculous, no one can live for centuries.”

She shuddered once more when she heard the man attached to Unne and Ulzon laugh at the same time. Ulzon’s laughter sounded as though a thousand voices laughed with him. Unne’s Voice sputtered and coughed as the eye holes seemed to glare through her. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away once she realized Unne smirked and folded her hands in front of her. Ulzon’s voices grew in strength as they cut through the blustering wind that seemed to laugh at her as well. “You would be surprised there are many things on Niris that has an extended lifespan. There are so many stories that you have not heard due to your inability to travel across the world. If you set foot on the Drekmöhrg homeland and saw the ancient dire bears that live for three centuries or watch the Asrathi sand blow across the shambling undead horde as they attack the Golden Palace, you would know life is more than living in the blink of an eye.”

She kept her eyes on the dot on the horizon. She swore it was getting larger, even taking the shape of a ship. The first moon cresting behind it made the object easier to see. She swore she saw something streaking toward it, but dismissed it as she addressed Ulzon’s statement. “What makes the ship so important then? I would imagine having it in the clutches of the Hyril navy would give them power over those who would fight against them and break any rebellion before it started. You could hold the entire continent hostage and force their conscription.”

She turned to see Ulzon motion for Unne to leave them. She bowed and pulled on the chain securing her Voice and walked away as though she were walking a pet. He turned to her and offered a smile under the mask, making his pale lips even paler when pressed against his white teeth. “All this is well and good for the Hyril Empire; I am sure the Great Lady would be pleased to have such power over a willful continent. However, this does not reflect my personal goals with the Last Hope. There is a treasure onboard that is far more valuable to me than the breaking of a continent. It is more pressing than Nimeria finding a new king to sit on the throne. I have quested for three-hundred-years to find this treasure again. Now that the Last Hope is coming here, I plan on taking what is mine and returning to Hyril City with it.”

She watched Ulzon point past her toward the horizon. The color drained from her face as she realized the dot on the horizon was The Last Hope, “What is so important that you would spend three-hundred-years to find it?”

The black eye holes in Ulzon’s mask flickered azure before the light died. He offered another, more predatory smile as he lowered his arm to his side “I have come to take my daughter home.”

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