[b]Walter Chapter 6: A Hero's reward[/b] Walter woke to the sound of sloshing water. He tiredly opened his eyes and looked hazily up into the wooden ceiling above him. Confused as to why it was slowly shifting side to side in a rhythm of uneasy decision. He briefly shut his eyes again and groaned from lack of words to describe the sensation. suffering a painful surging headache as well as a sort of stretching sensation in his arm, no more ripping arrows out of it, he thought to himself while smothering his face in the raggedy pillow. He slumped over to his previous position again, too weary to get up just yet, he just lay there. His legs were numb, he guessed he had not used them for some time. With a mumble he pulled lightly on the sheet that lay over him and shifted to his side so that he could look around. He realized now the cot he was laying in was the thing that swayed, along with the movements of the ship he was undoubtedly in. The room was empty and dark, Walter assumed it was late in the evening as there was no light coming in through the window on the far side of the room. He assumed he was on the Syren, he assumed that they had done it and were finally safe and on their way. home He'd succeeded. He gave a sigh of relief at the realization. As he lay there looking out into the dark room he thought about what his victory would imply. If war was unavoidable before, it was sealed and printed now. Not only had they attacked the guards, but they had used dark magic to do so. In fact, he had used dark magic. This caused him to sigh in hollow anxiety. It did not last long however, Walter swiftly excused his actions as duty. Duty to his country, duty to his people people and to his Princess... - Olive. Walter got the sudden urge to stand, he swung his weak legs out of the cot and placed his feet on the floorboards, with a sway he stood up and began to walk forward. The room held many other cots but all of them were empty as was the rest of the room. There were no candles to light it up so Walter followed the only light he could see, which was the door at the end of a nearby staircase. Walter bumped his toe into a table as he progressed towards the light. He opened the creaking door and looked out onto the wooden deck. His face was immediately struck with a powerful sea breeze which carried the scent and spirit of the broiling ocean. Men shouted to each other above him from the masts and rigging. The sea around them was awake and vexed, a churning sea to be sure, but it was no storm of immediate danger. Walter stepped out on the main deck and met the gaze of one of the sailors, he seemed to disregard the sorcerer and walked on past him with a coil of rope in his hands, keeping a ship moving required constant work. Walter looked up instead and saw stars in the sky. Night, then. ”Andalus!” A thundering voice cried from behind him. Walter turned and noticed a figure standing upon the wide top deck. ”Up at last, I see. Good man.” Harsley continued, he now stood leaning against the railing and looked down at Walter, the man brandished a ridiculously large hat and wore a cutlass at his belt. Behind him one of the Valentian men-at-arms held the helm. Walter rolled his eyes sarcastically inside his head and thought about how unoriginal the man was before lending him a short yet respectful wave. ”Captain.” He paused his speech for a moment, attempting to conjure something to converse about. His head still hurt and he was beginning to realize how much his arm actually hurt, in a prickling sort of way. ”Lord wanted to see you soon as you woke.” Harsley said, his eyes already having left Walter to look out across the rest of the ship and their starlit path. Walter stroked across his bandaged arm and frowned in thought. Already half a step from leaving. ”Suppose I'll go see him then – What's our course, anyway?” Walter figured he should make sure. ”West by sou' West. 'course.” Said Harsley with a proud smile. Walter smiled back politely and then excused himself with a meek nod. He did not need to ask where Tarveil would be. The Captain's lodge was the only place important enough for such a man. ”Knock, knock.” Walter muttered; he would normally just have knocked, but his knocking arm was currently bandaged and not functional so he relied on words. He expected the Lord to summon him inside and he already had a hand on the doorknob when another voice was heard instead. ”... Who's there?” A much more endearing voice than expected replied. It was inquisitive, soft yet undoubtedly drowsy, and it was exactly the voice Walter wanted to hear. He smiled in happy surprise and kept his hand on the knob. ”... Old Lady.” He said back eventually. A smirk formed on his lips as he could not stop himself. Olive must have paused to think about what this could mean as there was a silence. She was careful when she did eventually respond. ”Old lady Who?” She asked, a marvelously regal giggle was being suppressed. ”Oh! I didn't know you could yodel.” Walter said in mock surprise, relieving a short chuckle with the end of his terrible joke. He could hear Olive giggle inside and it made him smile and better yet, it made him forget about his hurting arm. ”Come in.” He heard her say and he gladly did. Opening the door and entering the cabin, it was well furnished with a work desk and a wardrobe standing out as the most significant things among the spacious room, not counting the girl who sat on the bed, she had tidied up since last Walter saw her, her hair had been braided and fell down her back neatly and she had obviously been given a finer dress to wear. It was coloured in the official Valentus crimson on its embroidery which slunk across the light brown dress in intricate runic patterns, a dress worthy of a Princess but it was weird to see her dressed in such things again. She smiled at Walter as he entered and she stood up from the bed, putting the book she had been reading aside. ”How are you?” He asked while watching her. She smiled a cheery response. ”Just fine.” Her mood altered in a second as her gaze fell on Walter's bandaged arm. ”And you?” Walter trailed the eye and looked at his own arm, he gave a fake smile to reassure her and shook his head lightly. ”Just peachy. Simply glad I made it.” He said. ”So am I.” Said Olive, beaming a smile. Walter paused for a moment to look at her, she looked back and shifted her tender smile. He felt an urge rise within him... Just a hug, there was nothing dangerous about a hug. They were friends, weren't they? She was a free person and could do-... ”Guardian Andalus.” Tarveil entered and Walter's world grew so much darker in an instant. He looked over to the Lord and gave a forced nod. ”Lord Tarveil.” Olive turned as well and gave the stiff Lord a respectful curtsey. ”Good evening, Lord Tarveil.” She said and Walter noticed her expression had changed back to her royal mask again. ”Princess.” Said the lord and nodded for Olive before turning to Walter. ”You're awake, at last. That's good.” Walter noddded and drew a light puff of a sigh. ”Yes, I hear we're on our way.” ”So we are. We will be home within the Moon's turn.” Tarveil adjusted his coat. He hadn't changed from what he had worn in Arlston and neither had his mood, despite their victory. ”It'll be good to go home at last.” Said Walter, agreeing with the Lord. Tarveil quirked a brow however and wafted a hand. ”You shan't be going home, sorcerer.” He said as if that had been obvious from the start. Walter blinked in surprise and looked briefly to Olive who hadn't changed at all, she wore her royal mask still. Perhaps she had already heard. ”Why not?” Walter asked, he held one hand over his wounded arm as it surged painfully. ”We will drop you and Harsley on the way, of course. Lazurus isle, most likely.” ”The reason?” Walter grew irritated now. But so did Tarveil who were in no mood to answer obviously reasonable questions to simpletons such as him. ”We are at war, Andalus. You are to join the invasion force. I trust you take no issue with this?” Tarveil stuck Walter with a piercing gaze which Walter met with a cool expression. His arm hurt again. ”Of course not, sir.” Sighed Walter. Obedience came naturally to him. ”Excellent. Your actions will be brought to the King for commendation by myself personally, as shall the Princess, I ensure you - You may go now.” Tarveil nodded firmly and concluded the business with a dismissive wave of his hand. He waited for Walter to leave the room which like an obedient dog, he did. Tarveil then shut the door. Thus sealing the fate Walter Andalus, Guardian of royalty and Sorcerer of Valentus had been ordained.