Confronting an elder

There were several ways to wait.

Ah, he hated them all for sure. The first thing he had done when returned to the deck was to discover that no one had seen anything unbelievably. In general, his men would wake up gradually, shaking and with a headache.

He sighed without showing surprise. There was nobody, as ICHICHOS did not leave bodies when they were killed. He looked at his brother very uncomfortably and irritated. To explain such an attack would be to explain that there was a witch on board the Black Coral. Cassie's fever had inevitably started at dawn, along with delusions and the first splash of rain. The girl was just a witch who had reacted to wolf grass like any wolf to her utter astonishment. There was no explanation.

He tried to doze off despite another exhausting day without success. He fidgeted restlessly, trying to put his body in the uncomfortable chair. Michael was increasingly suspicious. And the comments, well, we're beginning to notice the boy's absence to his utter unhappiness.

Throughout the day, Morgan had been busy sharing attention with the command of the ships and the care of the girl. All the oil lanterns had been cleaned and stocked to light the Coral. All had been removed from the cellars and illuminated the deck and deck.

Finally in the late afternoon, tired and worried, he returned to the cabin, ignoring the brothers' looks. The provision of drinking water was also beginning to worry and demand to ration.

Did he intend to return to the cabin?

The captain had looked at Michael very frustrated after a dip in the freezing waters of Ravlen.

Well, he intended. The girl with the high fever was delirious.

Had the boy's injury been serious?

Now, that one. Had Kassuim even explained that it was just a scratch? Morgan crunched the evasive responses.

Michael hadn't believed it naturally.

He was looking for answers himself. Our apologies. Rational explanations. Maybe that wasn't quite an ICHICHO after all. His muscles were tense and sore to sleep.

A subtle movement ended up awakening drowsiness. It was the tension of the day. He was also getting paranoid. The hand instinctively sought the pistol attached to his waist as he caught a glimpse of the figure leaning over the woman.

-She should have died! Padraic complained, pushing the pistol away from his head with a resigned sigh. - You interfered with fate, boy. You had the opportunity to get a good look at Duke's Revenge, didn't you?

Morgan frowned. In front of him, the old cook was staring at him secretly.

Okay. He could accept ICHICHOS, witches and whatever else.

Only it wasn't too much to ask for a night's sleep. He gave himself over to irritation, shaking with rage. The old man might have been an elder, but he would not have guessed there.

-Did you know that Kassuim was a girl? - he slowly changed. - Did you also know that it was the same girl that ...? - I was seething with rage. - Padraic! What happened to you? Why didn't you tell me, hell? For God! You knew I was looking for her ...

Morgan took a deep breath or was going to start cursing loudly

-Yes, I knew it was a girl. - The phrase was said with dismay. Well, then our beautiful sorceress once again managed to escape unscathed from an ICHICHO. Indeed, a feat.

This little lady almost cost him his life twice. He abandoned his people because of this ... this ...Morgan shook his head in amazement as looked at the unconscious woman. He would not use the word unscathed well. The girl had not yet woken up and had two miserable days.

-Would you tell me the detail? What if I had been attacked by one of those things? Worried about the detail I might need help with?

Padraic grunted, stirring his beard.

-One less witch. - He explained disguising his frustration. - Oh, come on. You did well. It is not the first time you have met them. And, besides, ICHICHOS has a very demanding taste. Wolves are not on the menu. This girl ... She was ... was ... Come on, Morgan. You're used to hunting Graves!

Padraic sighed in disagreement.

-God, Paddy, you don't even know her.- One less miserable witch in the world. - He displayed disdain.

- Damn it, boy. It is good that you know that have had more serious problems than you can imagine. If I remember wolves well they are natural enemies of sorcerers. I can smell her damn smell in the distance. How long do you think Michael or Adam will take to find out?

Morgan crossed his arms in disgust.

-Good to know. - Padraic continued with irritation. - Thalagar will not like to know that. She will kill you.

Finally, Morgan swore. To hell Thalagar. He himself was not satisfied at all lately. The memories were still confusing... Those days after he had finally been released from the wizards' dungeons were ...

-I'll tell you a story. Padraic's voice was relentless. The last one who touched this girl was a poor sailor. He did nothing too much. The unhappy girl was young and the storm was strong. Fell into the sea. The poor man was unfortunate enough to save her.

Morgan stared at him, clenching his jaw. In general, Paddy was not so intolerant.

-And what happened?

-Ah, Thalagar's orders were very clear. Nobody knew it was a girl, but neither should anyone approach. Or touch it.

The captain looked at Kassuim in amazement. The damn caution in those green eyes that stared at him.

-God, Paddy. Thalagar is insane.

Padraic laughed.

-He had the poor man's hand cut off; it's good to remember.

Morgan's gaze slid from the cook to the woman sighing. It was clear that the girl was cautious. And quite risky. He was going to need to guarantee her trust. She was going to make it difficult for him to approach her. Was it fear that shone in her eyes when he approached? She realized that his presence affected her only that the fear was greater. It smothered new plagues. A good fight with Thalagar would resolve that impasse

.-I believe that Thalagar will not object. Not this time. The girl is mine. And my wife. - He scowled

Paddy laughed out loud

- You're not serious. You can't enforce those damn vows. Have you taken advantage of that body enough that ...

-Enough! - he thundered. It's good to remember you're talking about my wife. Try it! It was a challenge.

The irritation caused him to sulk which was accentuated by controlled desire. Why hadn't Will handed the girl over to her after all?

- That girl is in trouble, Philip. Send her back. Hopefully, You will die this time.

Morgan took a deep breath and his gaze was icy. Padraic was not serious. He was not that type.

-Not. - Your answer was simple.

He wanted more explanations and suddenly started to appreciate that Paddy knew.

-You can leave the Coral crew if you want ...

-God she is ... She's a damn witch. Just because she already shared the blood with this ... this ... -Paddy said as if that explained everything.-Definitely not.

-And will you get involved and the wolves again in the insanity of the search for these Pieces of 4? Look at what happened to Faith. For God. This girl is the last living descendant of the Crescent Moon clan. Maybe it's the girl from ...He was suddenly silent. Perhaps the girl was the young woman who spoke the prophecy. His path would only be a trail of destruction and death.

Morgan could thunder with rage.

-It's ok. We will discuss beliefs, legends, and local stories. The girl was injured with wolf grass and is a witch. Can you explain to me why her body is reacting as if it were one of us? I know that Burials attacked her as they would have done with any sorcerers only that they don't have the same intolerance to wolf grass as we do.

Padraic's eyes widened in astonishment. It was not possible. They were long gone. In fact, it was not known when the last time they had found one was known. If the girl was one of them she would naturally be transforming since she was a made woman. Willian knew the dangers. He was also aware of Morgan's eyes regarding the disgusted girl.

The boy cared about that freak. It was simply intolerable. Not with that girl. Was the damn Primordial ?!

- Paddy why the wolf grass? These are herbs that affect only us, except that the girl would bleed to death if she hadn't been cauterized.

Paddy rolled his eyes. That was actually quite bad. It had been unlucky for the girl not to bleed to death. Anyway, that change was not fast, the process would still take a few weeks. Didn't she then have invulnerability like them? Her father, her real father would know. And look for it. He was further annoyed.

-Send the girl away.

-She's my responsibility. - Morgan's explanation was quite clear.-Must be kidding. Will you try to explain to your brothers that we had ICHICHOS on the ship? Even sorcerers have remained inmates for the past year. The comments that Sepultores...

-Foolishness!

The cook struck him with infinite accusations. You should tell the damn truth. He needed to count to get Philip away from that girl as soon as possible. Unhappy was William and the oath was taken.

The wolf grass would cause high fever attacks. Maybe she wouldn't survive ...

-Are you really going to risk the lives of men with these creatures? Damn it, Morgan. She should be dead. I warned old Will. He retorted, spitting on the floor with infinite contempt. - A sorcerer! Are you going to risk the lives of your people because of bastard blood? Her blood is ... It's not natural, man!

Morgan faced him with surprise without waiting for that reaction. And worst of all without knowing or understanding. Usually, the man was not so adamant.

- "Almost ready ... You are changing. The saved magic will not stop the change. Your father will be satisfied. We were waiting for the change. The Pieces of Four ..." was what that creature said. Who is her father really? What does that mean? - Morgan changed the approach.

- Philip ...-Is that why the wolf grass in it had the same effect as in us? - he insisted.

- That girl saved my life in that cabin. And my wife. And it is definitely under my protection. The captain roared at the height of his fury. - Was I clear?

They suddenly faced each other as strangers and the behaviour change was stark. Paddy disgustedly watched the boy's possessive way of looking at that woman, his protective way. It was a waste of time to argue. There were many ways to correct an old mistake.

-We still have some tear powder in the basement of the kitchen. -He explained rambling. He went on unsteadily: If you are going to keep that bastard blood onboard the Coral it is better to use it to cover up the damn smell. It stinks from a distance.

Morgan snorted. Bastard blood. It was the worst provocation that a wolf could apply to a wizard. Aberrations of nature. Traitorous people who did not respect blood ties. He sighed again.-Padraic ... your intolerance may not be appreciated at the border.

The cook looked at Kassuim with hatred. I was going to be lucky if the girl survived the injury. She lacked their healing ability. Not yet. ICHICHO might not have killed her, but it certainly had drained energy. She would be quite weak. Even weaker after so long without appeasing your most basic needs." I can make compresses and tea for that fever," he said nonchalantly, shrugging.

The cook's cold gaze made Morgan's wolf instinct revolt. I couldn't trust Padraic and that was a hindrance.

- Bring tea and compresses. And please, keep my brothers away. Ah. He was also going to provide good explanations. There was a little boy in his cabin who made him suffer in hell. He scratched the beard that was starting to bother him. I was going to lie in that bed and sleep exhausted. Padraic muttered under his breath as he turned to the door to go. She stopped when she heard him call.

-By the way, friend, if you think about putting some special touch of your cuisine in this tea, know that I will try it beforehand.

The cook ruminated the dissatisfied warning. It only took a little bit of poison to end it. Ah, damn it. His dislike for the girl had been so evident that the boy was suspicious. Philip Morgan was the alpha of the wolves. He now led a more impossible group than they could expect: wolves and sorcerers.

Willian could not believe that he would tolerate a witch being his chosen female. Not without him intervening. Did he hold back his anger?

-Do not trust me? Because of a ... an ...

-Who's her father? The real father? Why the herb of ...

-Forget it. - Padraic was adamant in turning his head away cautiously.

He didn't suspect. Not even the elders still alive had found one of those. This was an aberration. It wasn't natural.

-Forget Morgan. Even Will was going to agree with me.

Morgan snorted.

-Forget? It was an ICHICHO. It was after my wife. We haven't seen these creatures for years. - He was exasperated.

-Trust me when I say ...

-Trust in you?

Morgan interrupted as cold as steel.

- Come on you don't even know her. Why do you hate her so much? I'm not just any fool. What is going on?

Padraic frowned. He was going to tell. He intended to make sure that bastard blood would not contaminate the pack with his descendants. Why had Will saved that girl's life?" I have nothing to say," he said, however reluctantly.

Morgan sighed in disbelief as he shook his head.

-Great. And I definitely don't trust you. It's good to remember. I'm the alpha of the pack. My word on the borders is the law. Whether you like it or not, she is my wife and will have the protection of the wolves. It is my final word.