Downstairs, we make our way into a nearly empty tavern that will surely get busy within the next couple of hours. The innkeeper is kind enough to get Rolley for us as we take a seat at one of several tables in the tavern.
There are two servers near the bar. One fixated on counting his moinlings, and the other lost in a letter he’s reading. Every other second, I catch one corner of his mouth tugging upwards. I’ve seen, and been a victim of, those looks before. It’s a love letter, no doubt.
Someone from the kitchen brings out a tray with various meats, bread, cheeses, and fruit, along with two pints of ale.
Rolley enters as Deean shoves a few cold cuts in his mouth and guzzles it down with half the ale.
“Your Royal Highnesses.” Rolley bows and then sits when I gesture to the seat across from me.
“Thank you for joining me.”
“Us,” Deean corrects me.
Ignoring him, I continue on, “We didn’t have time to speak when we first met, and I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page. Plus, I have a few questions that my father may not have addressed with you.”
“Of course, sir. Ask away.” Deean slides the tray to him. Rolley reluctantly plucks a few grapes and a slice of cheese from the assortment. “Thank you, sir.”
I push the ale in his direction. “You may have that as well.” Flipping through my journal, I open it to a blank sheet and search for the pen that I keep on myself at all times. “Now, I’m not sure if you’ve properly met him, but Benny may have found something quite valuable on this trip. He is still trying to figure out how it works, but I have no doubt he’ll get there.”
“We’ll get there,” Deean interrupts again, making me realize exactly why I prefer to work alone. “He and I already have some great leads, I’m sure we’ll know more once we set sail for Farella.”
“That’s great to hear.” Rolley folds his hands on the table. “May I know what it is you’ve found?”
“You may, once we learn more about it. Right now, there isn’t much to tell.”
“Very well, sir.”
I proceed with my questions. “Why was your great-grandfather on Farella in the first place? It’s not a common place to be and Haymel has always owned it. What was a Saden man doing there?”
“He wasn’t from Saden. Born and raised in Haymel and eventually became a prisoner for theft against the Queen. He escaped their prison and was a stowaway on one of their trading ships. He thought it was going to the Land of Moonlight. At least that’s what he claimed the sailor said. Hiding in a barrel, he was thrown out to sea and washed up on an unknown island, well, unknown to him. It was Farella.” Rolley takes a long drink andthen taps on the glass with his fingernails—nails, rather long and pointed at the tip. “He said he had no choice but to go farther onto the island. The island was too far from another land mass to swim, and staying near shore meant no fresh water and limited food.”
“That’s when he found the flower?”
“Soon after that. He said the flower gave off an intoxicating scent. Pulled him in much like a magnet, the scent growing stronger until he found the magical plant. One minute he’s hiking the land and the next he’s consuming the flowers.”
“He just ate it?” Deean’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. “What kind of person shoves something they have never seen before, let alone tried, into their mouth?” Two women walk by whispering amongst each other and tossing Deean and me a quick wink. Rumors about princes being here must have spread. “Don’t answer that question,” Deean proceeds. “But your father…”
“Great-grandfather,” I correct.
“Who cares? One of his family members could have been ingesting poison for all he knew.”
Rolley laughs. “Can’t say I blame you there. Bloody idiot, if you ask me.”
“And what happened after he ate it?” I jot down a few notes.
“He blacked out. Doesn’t remember a thing. He said he ended up back on shore somehow. A few days later, he came across pirates ready to loot the land. My great-grandfather said he could show them treasure if they provided space on their ship and took him away from the island.”
“I’d like to believe I’m a pretty optimistic guy, Mr. Rolley, but a prison escape, immortal flower consumption, and benevolent pirates—sounds like a bunch of horseshit to me.” Deean reaches for a slice of turkey. “Why should we believe you? The saidimmortal has supposedly been kidnapped and isn’t here to offer us proof, so what else you got?”
The same ambivalent emotions I felt when my father told me of the flower creep up. It all sounds like malarkey to me, too. A fool’s quest, as we travelers say. I’m not against a challenging adventure, but this one feels near impossible.
“The King believes me. Is the King’s word not enough?”
Deean’s grin grows wild. “It would be, if he wasn’t our father? We can read him better than most and I don’t think even he is fully convinced. There has to be something else you can give us.”
He’s bluffing. Even he thinks there is something out there or he wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be excited to help Benny or stupid enough to hide in a storage space just to come along.
“We do appreciate you bringing this to our father’s attention.” I play along. “But I believe what my brother is getting at is for more information that can help us. Did your great-grandfather leave any journals, maps, letters, anything that can help?”
