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“Yes, you like to point that out a lot. But, back to the Hirpy. He’s not the one causing the trouble on the boat. He’s also not the first Hirpy to travel with us. Again, we’ve never had this issue before. Until you, of course.”
“Oh, but I guess I’m the first “Demon” to come aboard?”
“Yes, actually you are. We don’t even trust them in a cage.”
I raised my eyebrows. Maybe the men did have good reason to fear me. All unfounded of course, but it really wasn’t their fault. Their characters, however, were severely flawed, considering what they did to me that evening. That was personal. It had little to do with their fears.
“I can help you with your fighting, if you want?”
I was brought back to the present. “No offense, Xagon, but I don’t want any help from any of you. I just want to get off this boat, before I die a far worse death than if I had just stayed on Demon Isle.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“Oh, are you? I’m surprised you care.”
“Don’t be so hateful, Flipp.”
“Why do you hold such undying loyalty to Azil? Are you sure he’s as good as you think he is?”
Xagon stepped back from me, and I could tell he was displeased with me. “Azil isn’t just the Commander of this ship, he’s my best friend, and I would die for him. We have been traveling together for years. I would not want to be on any other ship but this one. I think of him highly, and it hasn’t occurred to me to do anything but protect him at all costs.”
“Would he do the same for you?”
“Absolutely. In fact, he already has.”
“How so?”
He was quiet for a while before speaking.
“I’ve known Azil for a very long time. I was just a boy when Azil saved me. I was involved in a shipwreck when the Witches attacked us. We didn’t stand a chance, and we all assumed we were going to be slaughtered, left for dead while the Witches pillaged our ship. I was young, and was traveling with my mate. The most beautiful Siren that I had ever encountered. ”
He stopped and I felt a twinge of something close to jealousy when I heard him mention his mate. Stupid. I didn’t even like him. Why should I care who he thought was beautiful?
“Azil saved me from the Witches, swinging in like some hero pirate,” he said, with a smile. “He and his men made quick work of the Witches, and barely any of them got away. He saved me that day, and took me under his wing. He taught me everything that I needed to know, to be the warrior Siren that I am today. He spent endless hours with me, training every day, so that I would never have to worry about being in danger again, or not being able to protect the mate that I had. I owe him my life, and if I die protecting him, I would be fine with that. If it wasn’t for him, the Witches would have killed me.”
I swallowed hard. “Where is your mate now? Why isn’t she here with you?”
He looked at me, deep in my eyes, and I looked away to avoid a spell. “She died that day. She was beheaded by a Witch’s spell. She died in my arms. I will never forget that day for a variety of reasons.”
I felt gutted and I didn’t know why. I couldn’t imagine his pain, especially since I had never loved anyone that much. I looked down at my hands. “I’m sorry, Xagon.”
“I’ve never taken a mate since,” he whispered. “Never even had the desire to love again.”
I was shocked by what he revealed to me. He was so open and vulnerable, it left me feeling raw. I tried to picture him as a young man in love, and I had a hard time holding that image in my head. He was always so brooding and distance, up until then at least. I would never have thought he was a Siren that was in touch with his emotions in any way. Azil had saved his life, and now Xagon would do anything for him.
He continued dabbing the wound and said, “This isn’t working. I have to get something else. Come with me.”
I got up from the chair, and followed him out of the kitchen. We were going into the cargo hold, and my breath caught when I realized he was bringing me to Jesye. I hoped that he wasn’t going to be cruel to the Hirpy. As much as I appreciated him helping me, I wasn’t going to sit by and let him abused Jesye.
He walked into the lower cargo hold and the Hirpy was lying there, not looking any better than the last time I saw him. He looked surprised to see me with Xagon. I went and sat beside the cage as Xagon went inside. I furrowed my brow as I watched Xagon pluck a feather from Jesye. The Hirpy flinched.
“Hey, what are you doing? Was that necessary?”
Xagon ignored me and came out of the cage. He kneeled before me and placed the feather on my cut. He pressed down on it and we waited. I was shocked to feel the pain in my leg disappearing. Confused, I lifted the feather off my cut, only to see that it had been completely healed by the feather. I looked over at the Hirpy, and now it all suddenly made sense as to why he was captured in the first place. He was more valuable to them than I thought. The value of a creature that could heal was mind-boggling.
“Does it make it all better now?” Xagon asked sarcastically.
I narrowed my gaze at him. “I’m sure I would have been fine either way.”
