A small bit of land off the coast from Buckley Village. Little more than rocks and some sand, with what might wash up. Very little vegetation. During high tide most of the island is under water.

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A ragged man lay in the sand. His skin was red-brown from the sun, his hair and beard were unkempt, his clothes, stiff from dried salt water, were nothing but rags. A shackle on his ankle chained him to a large rock. He was not moving, even as a seagull approached him. The gull pecked his hand, when there was no reaction the gull came closer. It was about to peck his face when the man's hands suddenly grasped the bird. The bird flailed its wings but the man weakly held on to it.

Calm blue waters reflected the midday sun as brightly as a mirror, tossing hot light in all directions. In the distance a small ship could be seen getting closer to the island. The ships sails were an unusual Crimson color and gave it an odd appearance. Standing in the crowd nest was a tall and pale woman holding a pair of strangely fancy binoculars. She spotted the small dab of land and shouted to her companions and crew "Land ahead! Full sails!"

The man did not notice the ship. He continued his focus on the gull. He snapped the bird's neck, then tore into it with his teeth.

Questa stared at the blob up ahead. "Is that it then?"

"Should be!" Juniper began to rappel down the main mast and landed on her feet in front of Questa.

Sileas stood near Questa, studying the island. It didn't appear to be much of a stronghold. It wasn't even really that large. Her brow furrowed. Surely there were mermen there guarding her uncle. Sileas shuddered. And what a forlorn place this island looked to be. Little, if any, shade to be had. "Poor Uncle Nelek if this is where he's kept," she muttered under her breath. On the plus side, it would feel so good to have steady land under her feet once more.

"Do yer fink there's anyfink for 'im ter eat there?" Questa did not think they would find him alive. The island looked like a rock in the sea.

Yehudit stumbled over.

"Can you see him? She asked excitedly.

"I don't think so," Sileas said quietly to Questa. "It doesn't even look large enough to have a source of drinkable water for him." Her heart ached for Lek and Millie. Sileas glanced at Yehudit. "No, I don't see any signs of life yet."

"Water? But there has to be water for him to drink!" Yehudit anxiously looked towards the island. "Maybe it's still really far away and is bigger than it looks."

"Maybe." Sileas tried to sound more hopeful than she was feeling. She was nearly convinced they were only going to find his remains.

Yehudit was starting to get upset. "He has to be all right."

"I certainly hope so," Sileas said. She checked her weapons and made certain all were in place.

The ship stopped as close as it could before hitting the sandbar. Juniper had retrieved her armor and had a massive great-sword strapped to her back. She mounted the dingy that would take them to shore and waved the others over." This is our way over"

Sileas uttered a prayer under her breath. While her stomach felt moderately better, there were still moments. She followed Juniper over and carefully boarded the dingy.

Yehudit fell into the dingy, then regained her feet.

Juniper patted Yehudit on the shoulder lightly as she waved another shipmate into the dingy" Questa!? Come on!" She tapped her foot as she waited.

Questa sprang into the dinghy. "Hope we didn't come all this way for a dead bloke."

The small vessel was loaded Into the water and began to make its way towards the island, unsure of what they would find. After several minutes the dingy hit dry land and stopped with a lurch. Juniper was the first to shove off and thanked the stars that they arrived. "We can set up camp here and scavenge the island tonight." She spoke to the deckhand and her companions.

Sileas instantaneously sighed with relief when her feet hit solid ground. Her stomach felt no better but at the very least she felt sturdy. She was itching to start searching for her uncle, but the cover of darkness would probably be the best situation.

Once everyone had departed the rowboat the deck hang began to paddle back to the ship to bring supplies and other sailors. Juniper took a deep breath in and sighed"So who are we looking for again? The kids uncle?" It was clear that juniper was only interested in the excitement and adventure that this trip brought.

"He is uncle to myself and Yehudit. Nelek is Lek's father. Due to tricks and apparently a shape shifting potion, we only learned that Uncle Nelek had been kidnapped and brought to an island while this merman took his place. To be honest, we don't even know how long he has been gone at this point." Sileas thought back, trying to remember when Aunt Aislyn had begn to feel abandoned. "At least two years, now that I think on it. Maybe longer."

"Why wait till night ter search, isit? Why bovver settin' up a camp?" This was enemy territory as far as Questa was concerned, she never squatted on enemy territory until her gang took over it when she was on the streets. "If there's merblokes 'ere they'll know this island better than any of us- night or day, right? At least if we search durin' the bleedin' day we can spot better. If we sit 'round makin' camp they're gonna spot us before we spot ffem, right, and if that Nelek is still alive they'll probably kill 'im before we can find 'im."

"Well its best we start looking! Whos coming with me? Que? Sileas? Buckely?" She ratteled the names she had learned of the past week and began to walk through the thick white sand towards the edge of the forest, ready for anything."Whoever it is better keep up!"

Sileas pulled an arrow from her quiver and held it with her bow as she followed Juniper. She was always ready for anything but most importantly, she wanted to find her uncle and head back home.

Quest whirled her weighted sock once, then let it hang at her side. Hopefully they had not come all this way to find a dead body.

Yehudit hobbled next to Sileas. Uncle Nelek had to be alive.

Sileas had no idea how she would face Lek if his father was found dead. Or worse, not found at all. A few strands of unruly red hair worked their way out of the thick braid trailing down her back. She wished she had thought of cutting it off and binding her breasts while still on board. Then she could have passed as a boy.

The thick branches that had fallen over time proved to be of little annoyance to the long legged giant. Juniper hummed to herself as she pushed branches and vines out of her way.

An emaciated, ragged man stumbled and fell nearby.

Sileas froze in place. "Did anyone else hear that?"

Juniper heald her hand up and paused."Shhhhh....."With one hand she slowly drew her sword and stepped closer to the sound

"Over that way. Want ter shoot at it wiv an arrow ter be safe?" Questa pointed towards where the sound came from. "Fough it sounds like some bloke fell dahn ter die."

Stealthy as a drunken cat, Yehuidit hobbled towards the sound. "UNCLE NELEK?" She called hopefully.

"That was what I thought it sounded like too, Questa. I don't want to just shoot with an arrow if it is someone injured." Though she did have her arrow in place, just in case.

"Help me."

The voice was faint, weak and gravelly, but Sileas recognized it. "Uncle Nelek!" Still with her arrow ready in case it was a trap, she rushed forward toward the voice. "Uncle Nelek! Where are you?"

"Here." A shaky hand was raised and fell.

Sileas barely saw the movement. She thrust her bow and arrow at Questa and hurried to him. "Uncle Nelek!" she cried out again as she knelt next to him.

He stared up at her. "You're... the red-haired one."

"He's alive!" Yehudit yelled excitedly.

Questa fumbled with Sileas's bow.

"Looks about free minutes from dead." Questa observed soberly, taking off a canteen and handing it to Sileas.

In reply to Nelek (msg # 41):

Sileas accepted the canteen and brought it to her uncle's lips. "A few small sips, don't gulp. Yes, Uncle Nelek. I'm Sileas." Tears of joy streaked down her cheeks, despite knowing he was still in grave danger. She helped him sit up so he could drink.

He wrapped his fingers around the canteen and sipped at it. After a couple sips he pushed the canteen away. "I need to go home."

"Can you walk?" Sileas said, handing Questa the canteen back. She wanted nothing more than to get him home and under Difyr's care.

"Yes." He was already getting to his feet.

" Lets get him back to the shore. Supplies will be there soon" She extended her hand towards the small man and offered to carry him.

"I want to see my wife." He said, brushing aside the hand and walking towards the shore.

Questa took a swig from her canteen. "Well didn't 'e cop better orful damned fast."

Yehudit dropped her walking stick grabbing at Nelek's arm so he wouldn't fall. "You shouldn't be walking!"

"I need to go home." He looked at Yehudit.

"At least not without help." Questa was right though. Sileas felt a trickle of alarm. "Hold up Juniper, I'm not entirely certain now that that's Uncle Nelek. That was far too easy and he's suddenly walking just fine."

"Ahh?" she turned to face her."You think so?"

Yehudit shrunk. Home was gone, as were most of Uncle Nelek's children. How was she going to tell him that? Yehudit gave Sileas a helpless look.

"A few sips of water shouldn't have cured him so well that he couldl walk on his own. Not when he was just so weak he couldn't keep his hand up nor barely talk." She narrowed her eyes with suspicion. "And if you notice, he's not called one of us by name. Now it's possible he doesn't know Questa since we don't know how long Uncle Nelek's been gone. But he's known Yehudit since birth. And he's known me since I was twelve and he called me the red headed one.

He grasped at Yehudit's hand and weakly leaned on her. "Something's wrong- what's wrong?"

Yehudit gave an involuntary yelp when too much weight was put on her bad ankle. "Sileas! I'm going to drop him!"

Sileas felt antsy. "Questa!" she whispered. "Go over and help Yehudit. I'm going to come over and ask him something that I think only the real Uncle Nelek would know, unless they had some way of getting to his memories."

Questa scowled but she hurried over and grabbed the bloke so he wouldn't crush Yehudit.

Sileas strolled over a few moments later. "So, Uncle Nelek. I always wondered if you told Aunt Aislyn about what you walked up on that day? You know, the day you embarrassed me?"

"You're wondering about that now?" He gave Sileas a confused look. "That was so long ago."

"Yes, I'm wondering about that now." Sileas's suspicion's grew. She put her hands on her hips. "I know perfectly well that we're dealing with people who can shapeshift. I want to make certain you are indeed Uncle Nelek."

"Shapeshift?" He blinked. "But it's me... I might have mentioned your little... indiscretion... to my wife... Why, did the man come back?"

Sileas relaxed slightly and shook her head. "No, he didn't return." He had seemed genuinely startled at the mention of shapeshifting. She supposed being away so long from everyone and probably starved and severely dehydrated could have caused memory loss. Sileas closed her eyes, hoping she was not making a huge mistake. "I'll walk with him cousin. That way there won't be additional weight on your ankle. Thank you," she said to Questa. She made a point of not mentioning names in case he managed to trip himself up en route to the boat.

He put an arm around Sileas's shoulders. "Did something happen at home?"

"Oh so very much. But I...I don't want to get into it until you're feeling stronger." Sileas knew she would only have a week, it would be far worse to spring it on him upon arrival. How long have you been out here on the island?" Her hand had moved up to cover his hand on her shoulder.

Yehudit could feel her eyes filling up with tears. Terrible things had happened.

"Nobody noticed when I was taken away?" He asked incredulously. "What aren't you telling me?"

"If you had simply disappeared and not been seen, we would have known. But...as I said, these people can make themselves appear to look like anyone. So there was a Nelek in the village yet he grew to be ccld and indifferent. And soon he was off on his own, turning his back on all his family and friends," Sileas said slowly. "I know it sounds incredible, but once his potion was taken away, he shifted back to himself."

"You mean someone was posing as me? What did he do to my wife?" He asked, his eyes wide. "I don't know how long I've been here. Two years? It all blends together when you're alone."

"Yes, he was posing as you. I don't know that he did anything phsyical to Aunt Aislyn. I only know she drifted in loneliness and then finally feeling abandoned. I think everyone thought you had tired of her and wanted a younger woman in your life. I mean, it's not unheard of certainly."

"Oh gods, if he touched my wife- Younger woman?" He gave Sileas a sharp look.

"We only found out about that at the same time we discovered he wasn't you. He did very well at staying hidden, and I suspect he had a place on the bad side of town. Anyway, it was the young woman he was keeping, Ila, who told us what was going on."

He shook his head. "Is my wife all right?"

"Physically she is fine. But she is lonely and heartbroken," Sileas said softly. She didn't know how she was going to tell him of the little ones.

"I'll fix that when we're together again." He said.

Sileas managed a small smile. "Good. Everything else can wait until you've rebuilt your strength."

"Being home with my wife will give me strength." He declared.

"I know, but it's going to take about a week to return home."

"I've already waited years." He said. "I'll try to be patient, though I may dive off the boat and swim to her."

"We'll get you home as soon as possible." Sileas still couldn't shake that feeling. The feeling that something wasn't right.

He nodded. "That will be good."

Sileas gave him a gentle hug.

Yehudit hobbled after Sileas. "Maybe Mama won't kill us."

Sileas decided to hold her tongue on her suspicions, at least with Yehudit, and simply observe Nelek. She would try to catch a quiet moment with Juniper and Questa.

"How did you find me?" He asked, his feet sinking into the beach sand.

"Ila drew a map and Lek found it. We went to Portside with Lek to talk to sailors to see if anyone knew where the island was and one of Juniper's men recognized it," Sileas explained.

"Lek is not here?" He asked.

"I needed someone to go to the keep and tell everyone where we were off too, and neither of them would go. The original plan was to gather the information and return to the keep for help. The plan went awry."

"Just you girls?" He asked.

"Juniper's crew is with us so we're not alone. It was that or let Lek go alone with people we didn't know anything about," Sileas admitted. "I'm sure Wulfsen and Papa sent people after us though."

"My wife couldn't come?" He sounded disappointed.

"Oh I'm sure she would have if we'd kept to the original plan of just gathering information and returning for help," Sileas assured him. "We didn't even bring our own supplies and had to use some of Juniper's."

"I miss her." He said sadly.

"I know. And she misses you, I can assure you of that. If she's not with Wulfsen and Papa, I'm hoping she's caring for Mama while she's running the kitchen," Sileas said idly.

"How soon till I see her again?" He asked hungrily.

"As long as Juniper has no business to conduct on the way home and we leave right away, about a week. That's how long it took us to arrive here."

"A week?" He was impatient. "It did not take me that long to get here."

"We don't have magical equipment for transportation, either," Sileas sighed. She missed her parents and baby sister horribly. The only thing she could find positive about the journey on the ocean was being with Larrigan in her dreams.

"Mermen are strong, they swim faster than ships." He sighed.

"That too." Sileas still held suspicions. He still had no used no names other than Lek's, who she had mentioned. She had also dropped, by accident, a few clues that things weren't as they should be back home and he had not picked up on them. He hadn't asked about any of his children.

"I'll be glad to put this island behind me," He said. "And go home."

"No doubt. It's very desolate, it's certainly no paradise."

"It's very lonely, I thought I would die." He said.

"I had worried we might have to fight guards." Odd, I don't thinkk I mentioned the word mermen. Had they told him what they were? Or was he really one of them.

"I think the didn't think anyone could even find this island." He said. "For years I haven't seen anyone but mermen, not even boats."

Her feelings of alarm grew. Ila had said they had brought her here at least once, maybe more. She wanted to scream trap. "You know, it's getting late, we might not get to set out until tomorrow. Maybe we can find some fruits and things to gather to replenish supplies."

"There is hardly anything to eat here, just whatever shellfish and seaweed that washes up, or gulls if you can catch them." He frowned. "Please, I can't spend another night here."

Hadn't Ila mentioned he was chained to a rock yet he was free when we got here? "I'll ask Juniper if you can at least sleep on the ship tonight. I think the only available space is in the hold, just to let you know. She has a good sized crew."

"I'd sleep on the anchor if it could get me home any faster." He said, looking out to the ship. "But we mustn't wait. The mermen may come back and stop us."

"I will speak with Juniper. As I said, it's her ship and entirely up to her and her plans on when we leave."

"She won't want to fight mermen any more than anyone else." Nelek said. "They may even be able to sabotage her ship."

Not if you're secured in the hold. A shame she doesn't have a brig. "She's a very able fighter. I'm sure her men are too."

"They can't fight men who are under the water. The sooner we get away from this place the safer we will be." He said urgently.

Oh how I wish I believed him. I hope he'll forgive me if he really is Uncle Nelek when he realizes how much didn't add up. "Well they could certainly spear them or something. Let's get to the shore and I will talk to Juniper."

Yehudit watched her cousin and who she hoped was her uncle anxiously.

"I don't want to scare you, but they could swim under the hull and pierce it." Nelek said and shambled towards the shore.

Sileas glanced at Questa, wondering if she had been listening and was as suspicious as she was.

And if you're Tabor, you may already have had them done just that.

Questa was suspicious of everyone who wasn't part of her gang- basically everyone but Sileas, and maybe Yehudit because Yehudit was too useless to be a threat. She lightly thumped her weighted sock against her thigh. She did not like being on this island, it was still enemy territory as far as she was concerned.

Sileas waved Questa over. Making certain she was facing away from her uncle, she said "Can you speak with Juniper about a secure room in the hold for Uncle Nelek?" And then she mouthed :or a brig cell:?

"Yer want ter ffrow this 'uncle' of yors in th'jug, isit? Not bad." Questa noticed that most of these posh people that made up Sileas's 'family' not only did not talk normal, could hardly understand her when she talked, especially when she talked fast, so she was not too worried about being overheard. Questa had never bought that these people were Sileas's family, she was not related to any of them. Questa thought they were an inferior replacement for a gang.
Questa walked over to Juniper.
"Sileas wants Nelek ter have some 'ospitality 'e can't walk out of."

Sileas palmed her face. She supposed she should have called Yehudit over, but she was not particularly tactful either. She mumbled under breath. Before he could react, she quickly said, "You understand that knowing these men can look like everyone, we need to exercise caution until we are certain you are you."

"You still don't think I'm me?" He asked, his voice hurt. "What do I have to do to prove myself?"

"I want to believe you're you, I really do. But you have to understand that we went two years believing one of them was you. And truthfully, there are a few things that haven't added up for me. But it could also be because you've been here so long. I don't know if they are also capable of copying memories when they assume someone's shape. I just...surely you can see that I want to keep everyone safe until we can be positive."

"Aislyn would know me." He said mournfully, wishing she was there.

Ahhh! A name! Perhaps the fog was lifting. "I know she would. And I want desperately to know that it's you. We're going to talk quite a bit on the way home. I just need to know for certain. I'm responsible for the safety of those with me. I don't want to accidentally take another merman to the keep to endanger every one. This is very difficult for me. I want so much for you to be my Uncle and to hug you to pieces."

"I am your uncle. Aislyn's friend, cousin... adopted you?" He said slowly. "Everything is foggy except for her."

Sileas nodded. "I understand that it could be a fog from being here so long. I just need to be certain. See? We're making progress. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to just blindly lead possible danger to Aunt Aislyn, would you?"

He shuddered. "Already one man that wasn't me was there... My heart, my Aislyn."

Sileas squeezed his hand. "I'm hoping to have you free to move about the boat in just a few days. As long as the fog continues to lift and things begin to make sense. I'm just trying to protect everyone." She thumbed toward Yehudit. "Besides, her mother will murder me if I just blindly bring danger to the keep."

"Her mother is Liadan." Nelek said. "Forks, speaks her mind. That's Yehudit."

"And then some," Sileas grumbled. "I'm sure she's already out for my blood for Yehudit being here instead of the keep.

Nelek blinked. "Why would she kill you?"

"Because she believes in her heart that I am a bad influence and constantly seek out danger and drag Yehudit in to danger as well. Getting on board a ship with perfect strangers might have proven her point."

"But if you hadn't you wouldn't have found me." He said.

"Honestly Uncle Nelek, have you ever known Aunt Lia to be reasonable?" Sileas laughed.

He shook his head. "Never. My wife's poor brother..."

"I know," Sileas agreed. She had often wondered what Uncle Aron had seen in Aunt Lia but she also knew the heart wanted what it wants.

"But they had children... A lot." He spread out his hands.

"He loves her, that's the only way to explain it."

He shook his head. It was beyond him. "My wife had children too."

Sileas flinched as if she had been struck. She really didn't want to get into this right now. "Let's get you to the ship so you can rest and eat," she said, trying to divert the conversation.

"Let's get to the ship so I can go home!" He said, stepping in the surf.

"Wait! We have to get in the dinghy so we can board." She looked up toward the deck to see if any of Juniper's men were about to pull the dinghy up.

He sighed deeply and let the seawater wash his calves. "If only I could swim home, I would."

"You want to look your best for Aunt Aislyn, don't you? Get some rest, clean up, put some weight on?"

"Do I smell that bad?" His face fell.

"It would not be lady-like for me to answer that," Sileas replied. "And despite being off on an adventure, I truly am trying to become more lady-like."

He sniffed. "A quick bath, then."

"And a hair trim, taking care of any injuries. Hopefully one of Juniper's men have clean clothing you will be able to wear."

"I am a little ragged." He admitted... "But my wife would just be happy to have me back."

Sileas pursed her lips. "I don't know that it will be as easy as you think. Yes, she misses you and she knows that wasn't you for those two years. But she will still need to ...you will need to earn her trust again. Her heart was broken."

"I wanted to be with her... That wasn't me." He said.

"We all know that, Uncle Nelek. She will know that in her mind, but her heart...her heart is going to remind her brain about it. I suppose the best way to put it is it will be just like starting over."

"I guess." He looked saddened.

"Still, it's going to be easier than trying to regain Millie's trust." Sileas frowned, she hadn't meant to bring that up. "Because of feeling abandoned, that is."

"Millie's trust?" He frowned.

Sileas nodded. "Yes, Millie's trust."

"What did that- that fake me do to them?" He asked.

"It slipped out. I didn't intend to go into this yet, not until you were stronger." But she could see the determination in his eyes.  Sileas sighed. "He beat her. Badly. Millie said he actually said he intended to kill her."

"No." His eyes widened. "What about the other children? Did he hurt them?"

Sileas paled. "No, he didn't harm them." She bit her lower lip. "The village was raided. Aunt Aislyn and the children had moved into the inn and there was a fire."

"Were they hurt?" He asked. "If anyone was disfigured I still love them..."

Sileas's eyes welled with tears. "Aunt Aislyn, Millie and Lek tried to get them out but they were not able to. The fire spread very quickly from what I was told."

"So they got out?"

"Millie, Lek and Aunt Aislyn did," Sileas said softly.

"But the little ones..." He said slowly.

"I'm so sorry Uncle Nelek," Sileas whispered.

"So do yer 'ave sumfink this Nelek can't cop out of or not?" Questa asked Juniper.

Juniper shrugged with a half smile and continued walking. "Possibly? Let's make it back to shore and get moving. I don't like the feeling of this island. " She trekked on through the thick jungle.

Questa was ready to leave as soon as they arrived. She did not want to fight with mermen, just grabbing Nelek and leaving was fine by her. She headed for the shore.

"I agree. The sooner we're headed back home, the better." She followed toward the ship, still holding Nelek up.

He leaned heavily on Sileas, his shoulders slumped.

Sileas gave him a hopeful hug. She refused to give up hope that he was truly her uncle.

Yehudit hobbled next to Sileas. "Everything is going to be okay, right?" Yehudit asked nervously.

"Time will tell. We have about a week to figure out a big chunk of it."

Questa strode onto the beach. "Enough of this stuff... Let's get out of 'ere."

"So much happened when I was gone." He saw the dingy coming to the shore and reached towards it.

Sileas helped him into the dingy then reached out for Yehudit.

Yehudit fell in and rocked the dingy.

Sileas placed on foot on the side of the dingy to balance it before she climbed in. Sileas sat down beside Nelek. "According to Ila, you've been out here for around two years."

Once everyone was aboard the rowboat Juniper began to paddle towards the ship that would return them to the ship, humming to herself.

"Two years is such a long time in our short lives." He said softly. "I must get to her as soon as possible."

"We'll get you to her as soon as humanly possible," Sileas vowed.

Questa idly carved the dingy with her shiv. She could not write, but she could make pictures. The crude figures resembled a certain redhead and certain man kissing.

"I need her." He whispered, then asked. "In all this time I was absent she never... looked for someone else?"

In reply to Nelek (msg # 187):

Sileas shook her head.  "No, she didn't. I think her heart was just too broken and, well,  I think she simply gave up on being with anyone."

"I'm relieved... you must think I'm selfish." He looked upset.

"Why would I think that? It only told me that you hold her heart."

"She has been all alone for so long." He said, trailing a finger in the water.

"But now, now she has hope. She knows we're out searching for you and she is waiting for you."

"But can she wait any longer? I already feel like I have been waiting a hundred years to see her, and that was hard, but now that I'm on my way... it's even harder." His hand pawed at the water as if to help Juniper row faster.

"Well if I were Aunt Aislyn and you were Larrigan, I would wait forever for your return."

Juniper silently listened to the conversation around her as they approached the ship and lashed the dingy to the ship."Ill have us moving soon" She spoke as she climbed the rope ladder on board.

Every time Yehudit moved, the dingy rocked. Yehudit was afraid of tipping the little boat over completely so she did her best to keep still. Her nose itched but she did not dare scratch it until Juniper lashed the dingy to the ship.

Questa abandoned her scratchings and shot up the rope ladder like a squirrel. She looked down at Sileas.

"Get Yehudit up first and then we can help Uncle Nelek up the ladder," Sileas stated. She had the strong suspicion he would need aid.

"I can get up there myself!" Yehudit clumsily scrambled up the rope ladder.

"Stop being full of pride and accept hel, Yehudit."

The little sailboat clumsily cut its way through the water. Somehow, Liadan had not drowned in the past week. There had been more than a few close calls- she was still Liadan- but besides a couple good soakings and her hair getting bleached a shade or two lighter from the salt water and near constant worry for her daughter, Liadan was no worse for wear. Her daughter was going to be very grounded when Liadan finally caught up with her though.

"Aron!" Liadan pointed. "There's an island. Maybe we should camp there tonight."

Aron looked up at the sky, noticing dusk was falling. "That sounds like a good idea. I hope there is some sort of food on the island," he said,  changing course to head for land.

"Sticky buns don't grow in the wild, do they?" Liadan asked wistfully.

Aron shook his head. "No, not unless Aislyn's here in the wild and she happens to have ingredients with her."

Liadan sighed. "And Yehudit is living without any baked goods."

The little sailboat grated in the sand. Liadan splashed out of the boat with a rope to secure to a nearby tree.

Aron climbed out of the boat and followed Lia. He shielded his eyes from the sun and studied the horizon. "It doesn't look like much of anything here."
This message was last updated by the player at 19:40, Tue 29 Mar 2016.

"Maybe we can dig up clams or something." Liadan said.

"We can try," Aron said, searching for something to use like a shovel.

Liadan walked ahead. She saw footprints. "Someone has been here."

"I hope they are friendly undangerous someones. How many do you suppose there were?"

"I don't know, a couple... Aron, I think they're drunks!" Liadan sounded alarmed. "At least one of them fell over a lot."

Aron knelt to study the tracks. He noticed what Lia had missed. The tell tale uneven circle of the bottom of Yehudit's walking stick. "Or...it was our daughter.'

"Sileas got Yehudit drunk?!" Liadan asked.

"No, just being her mother's daughter, I fear."

Liadan cupped her hands around her mouth. "YEHUDIT!!!!"

"I don't think anyone else is here but us now. So they either found Nelek or it wasn't the right island."

"So we just missed her?" Liadan looked out to sea, her heart sinking as was the sun.

"Sounds like. I don't hear any sound like there's any one else here."

Liadan clutched Aron's hand. "But she's all right, right?"

"I don't see anything that indicates they ran into any trouble."

Liadan was still worried and upset about missing Yehudit. She had never been separated from her this long before and she was missing her other babies. She blinked back tears.

Aron rubbed her back. "Do you still want to stay here tonight or set back out?"

"It'll be too dark to see anything before long." Liadan's shoulders slumped. "We may as well spend the night here and leave at first light."

There was a distant rattle of chains and a weak groan.

Aron froze. "What was that?"

Liadan drew her knife. "I don't know, let's kill it quick."

"What if it's just someone who needs help?"

"Killing would be easier." Liadan said, walking around the island towards the noise.

Aron scowled and went after her, quickly getting in front so he would face the danger first.

Nelek lay on the rock. His face was covered in seagull blood. He looked almost dead, but his fingers moved.

Aron stopped in his tracks. "It's....it's Nelek. I think. How did the others not find him?" He glanced at the ground. "It doesn't even look like anyone came this way in search of him."

Liadan swore. "Is he alive?"

"Well we heard a moan and a chain rattle." Aron looked around for a stick to poke Nelek with.

Nelek's eyelids fluttered. "Aron?" He said hoarsely.

"Yes, Nelek. It's me and Lia." Aron removed the bladder of water from his belt. "I don't have a lot of fresh water, but have some."

"Sileas and Yehudit too?" Nelek asked, reaching for the water bladder.

"No, just us. They had a head start on us. In fact, it looked back there like they had been here. I don't know how they didn't find you."

"I could hear their voices." Nelek said between gulps of water. "I heard my voice too, but I wasn't talking. It's mermen. They've been using my hair to make themselves look like me with some magic." Nelek touched his overgrown hair where it looked like chunks of hair were chopped off with a dull knife.

"Lia, help me get this chain out of the ground and we'll need to set off tonight. We're going to have to sail as far as we can without breaks so we can try to catch up."

Liadan took out one of her forks. "I can probably pick the lock."

"I knew you'd have a way." Aron stepped to the side to let Lia in.

Liadan fiddled with the lock until it popped open. She helped Aron get Nelek onto his feet. "Aron, there's a merman disguised as Nelek with our daughter."

"I know. We can't rest, we've got to set sail immediately."

"It's going to be dark, I hope we don't crash into anything." Liadan fretted but half dragged Nelek towards their little sailboat.

"Lookout, they're not going to just let me leave." Nelek warned.

In reply to Nelek (msg # 245):

Aron grabbed a large thick stick. "We might not be much in the line of fighters, but I've got the heart of a fighter right now."

A young man in a loincloth charged up the beach towards Aron. He had a shell knife.

Aron stood ready for him, wielding his stick like a sword.

Liadan dropped Nelek to fight the momzer attacking her Aron. Screaming obscenities she stabbed at him with her fork.

Drip screamed too. He slashed with his shell knife.

Aron maneuvered himself behind the attacker and swung his heavy stick.

The young man fell in a heap, head wound bleeding heavily,

"Are you all right, Lia?" Aron asked, still holding on to his stick, ignoring the blood dripping on the ground from it.

Liadan kicked the man, then went to grab Nelek. "I'm fine, let's get out of here before more show up."

Aron clutched his stick. "I'll cover the rear."

"Be careful, Aron. Our children need a father." Liadan warned, dragging Nelek towards the boat.

"I will," Aron promised, focusing his attention on his surroundings and any sounds from behind.

Liadan swore when she saw two other figures between themselves and the boat. "I don't think an attack from behind is what we have to worry about. Don't suppose you're suddenly an archer?"

"Even if I were, no arrows or a bow," Aron lamented. He glared at those blocking their way.

"Throw rocks at the momzers?" Liadan suggested.

"That's about all we've got."

Liadan dropped Nelek again to pick up some fist sized rocks. She hurled the missiles at one of the mermen's heads.

Still clutching his stick, Aron gathered several rocks and started hurling them at the mermen as well.

One merman went down and did not move. The other roared and charged at Aron.

Aron steadied his feet and waited until the merman was close enough so he could swing his stick.

Liadan stabbed the merman in the back with one of her forks and twisted. No one attacks her Aron.

Aron jumped back just as the merman lurched forward.

Liadan gave the dying merman a kick, then grabbed Nelek's arm.

Aron hurried to join his wife, giving the body  a wide berth.

Liadan shoved Nelek into the boat as if he were a sack of potatoes. She got in after him.

Aron untied the rope holding the boat in place before jumping on with them.

Liadan shoved off and raised the sails. Fortunately a wind blew them away from the island. She hoped the wind would continue to send them where they wanted to go because she was terrible at steering. She lit a lamp and knelt to check on Nelek.

"Momzers must have been beating him, I didn't even notice these bruises before."

"Probably to get information out of him. Memories and stuff, so they would know enough about his life to fool every one. Although...are you sure they're not from you dragging and dropping him?"

"I was gentle!" Liadan said defensively, giving Aron a swat.

"I never said you did it intentionally. OWWW!"

"Is there more water?" Nelek asked in a hoarse voice. "And maybe something to eat?"

"I'll go below and get some water and a bite for him to eat."

"Ok." Liadan said uncomfortably. They were running low on food and fresh water, part of why they landed on that island was to get water and hopefully find food. They would probably have to stop somewhere before they got to the mainland.

Aron returned with a small bit of water and a few chunks of meat and cheese. "I fear it's not much, Nelek, but we're running low."

"It's better and more than I'd been getting." Nelek said, reaching for the offerings.

"Hopefully come daylight we can find a port so we can pick up supplies."

"How are Aislyn and the children?" Nelek asked after washing a mouthful of bread down with a swig of water.

Aron's mouth went dry. "Aislyn is lonely and hurting," he said carefully.

"One time a girl came to the island with them, her name was Ila. I think they were... using her." Nelek said delicately. "She said she never saw Aislyn- I think they were keeping her prisoner like me, only in a cottage instead of on an island... They were keeping away from Ais and the kids?"

"For the most part. Aislyn...she felt like a failure as a wife because you left. Millie had a run in with the one masquerading as you though."

"God." Nelek covered his face in his hands. "I had gone to the garden to pick flowers for her, one moment I was picking flowers, next something whacked me on the head and I wake up soaked to the bone on that island... What did that bastard do to Millie?"

"He beat her pretty badly. From what she said, his intentions were to kill her." Aron rubbed his temple. "Though the night before everyone set off in search of you, he tried to grab her and take her somewhere. Sileas and Questa managed to get him away from Millie."

"Oh no." Nelek was horrified. "Is she all right?"

Aron nodded. "She was mostly shaken up. Thankfully Lek was with her and was able to call for help. At least he didn't look like you the second time. Millie's stronger than she knows."

Nelek did not look relieved, he was still worried. "This must be so hard on Millie and Lek- but the babies- they couldn't understand. Will they even remember me? I've been gone so long and Ais had to raise them on her own."

Aron let out a sad sigh and raked his hand through his hair. "There's something you should know. A few days before we  set sail, the village was attacked by raiders. They set the inn on fire. Despite everyone's best efforts," Aron paused and closed his eyes for a second or two, "We couldn't get the little ones out.  Aislyn's rooms were too close to where the fire started."

Nelek's face turned white, he shook his head in denial. "No."

The pain was still fresh and raw to Aron and a tear streaked down his cheek. Aron reached out to touch his shoulder.

Nelek gave a wordless, primal cry, then seemed to collapse into himself. His shoulders shaking so hard with sobs the boat rocked.

Aron let his hand rest on Nelek's shoulder, wondering if he should wrap his arms around him. That was what the women folk would do."

Nelek couldn't believe it. The little ones were gone and he never had a chance to say good bye to any of them. "I should've been there, I might've saved them."

"It wasn't your fault, Nelek, you can't blame yourself. I'm sure Aislyn has done enough blaming herself for both of you."

Nelek was inconsolable. They were so small when he left, practically still babes.

Aron sat quietly beside his brother-in-law, offering silent support.

Liadan swore to kill Jack and his whole family.