Chapter 82

Aurelia hated the boat almost as much as she hated the jungle. Long stretches in a limited space wore on her patience. Her only solace was her daily flights to the other ships with the refugees. They'd converse with her and talk about the day's events.

At night, Zinjo would cradle her in his arms and give her comfort from the weariness of the day, "They have grown to love you as I have," Zinjo kneaded her shoulders and released the tension.

"Will the rest of Shadowfen?" Aurelia moaned as Zinjos hand found a knotted shoulder muscle, "We have plucked these people out of their lives and are taking them across the world. What was I thinking?"

Zinjo pulled her head back and kissed her, "You let your heart guide you as you have throughout this entire journey. You have earned the right to rule through your deeds." The healing hands continued their work.

"We should take a gander at the Lemurian Runes. It's not like we don't have the time to decipher them," Aurelia suggested. She moved Zinjo's hand away from her crotch, "We can play later. I will be the one who will forge the bottles. I need to know why the ancient script is so important."

Zinjo reached into a locked drawer and removed the scroll and the stone used to decode the ancient language. He popped the top off the tubular case and slid the paper out with ease. Zinjo used small rocks to hold the scroll down.

He stared at the incomprehensible mess on the page and shook his head, "We traveled all this way for chicken scratches," Zinjo turned away from the runes in anger, "The birdman tricked us."

Aurelia did not feel Sojobo would pull the wool over their eyes. At the same time, Zinjo was not wrong. The entire page looked like a child's charcoal stick writing, "Something's missing, my love."

Zinjo turned back around, "What makes you say that?"

Aurelia turned around and knocked Zinjo to the floor, "I'm not sure, but I did not come all this way to fail. If we have to, we'll take them to Carmen. Maybe she will have better luck than us." She rubbed herself against his hard manhood and moaned, "You may pleasure me now," she giggled playfully.

Zinjo smiled, "As you wish, dark princess."

***

Zinjo snored next to a wide-awake Aurelia. The mystery of the Lemurian scroll bothered her. Aurelia's mind poured over the memories of her journey across the known world. Carmen ruled her thoughts, something the living darkness told her stuck out but remained elusive.

A few seconds later and Aurelia remembered Carmen singled out Gael. Why? Not to mention Al Miraj's interest in Gael, which baffled everyone. Aurelia decided to get answers. She donned the leather armor and headed out to the main deck.

She examined the stone again in the center was a circular depression. The coin around Gael's neck, the one she assumed to be Lemurian in nature. What if it wasn't a coin but a piece of the stone? The odds were astronomical. Still, Aurelia had to try her theory, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.

She found the salty dog at the ship's wheel. Gael puffed on a long cherrywood pipe with a glass of whisky in hand. The Al' Miraj dozed on his lap.

"You are up later than usual, something bothering you?" Gael inhaled deep and blew smoke rings. He took a sip of the whisky, "Every night, I make my toast to Tess for luck. After I see the Kianzangi outpost established, I'm lowering my sail for good."

"You want to start your life with her congratulations," Aurelia embraced him.

A silly grin played across his lips, "I love the sailor's life, but this adventure with you reminded me how dangerous the world is. We keep putting it off. If we are to live once, then I will marry the woman I love."

"I had no idea you were such a romantic at heart," Aurelia took a few moments to gather her courage. "I need to talk to you about something important," The stone rested on Aurelia's smooth palm, "I think you are the key to unlocking the runes," a single-digit pointed to the odd coin around his neck.

Gael laughed and slapped his knee, "You have got to be kidding me. It is nothing more than an old coin," He flipped the golden disc around his neck. He kept the brown eyes fixed on the stone, "Why do you believe I am the key?"

When Aurelia reviewed her evidence, it came up short. However, everything hinged on translating the runes. "Carmen alluded to your heritage but never said another word. Everything she said about me was the truth. I have to assume she spoke the truth about you."

A deep sigh and a tired look fell over Gael. He removed the necklace and handed the disc to Aurelia, "I want that back if it doesn't work," He threatened.

"Why would I keep it if the silly thing doesn't work."

"Good point...," Gael trailed off, "You know it wouldn't hurt to have the scroll nearby."

Aurelia raced to the cabin, acquired the scroll, and returned within a minute. She took the little disc and placed it in the depression on the stone. "A perfect fit," a tingle of excitement touched her. She opened the scroll, and nothing happened.

"Maybe I have to be the one to hold it?" Gael offered.

"It's worth a try," Aurelia handed the translator stone to Gael.

He examined the stone top and bottom. His thumb rolled the disc around. The letters on the scroll began to unscramble and scramble. Aurelia tapped Gael rapidly, "What?" he bellowed.

"Look," Aurelia pointed at the scroll. The letters danced over the ancient page, and it captured the imagination of the princess. "Okay, you operate the stone. I'll keep an eye on the letters."

Gael carefully turned the disc in increments. Each time, he'd wait for the thumbs up or the thumbs down from Aurelia. It took twenty minutes to find the correct position for the disc. Finally, Aurelia gave the thumbs up.

"What does it say?" Gael almost knocked Aurelia over in excitement.

Aurelia studied the scroll, "I Elinahee of Lemuria, leave this scroll for future generations. To face a being of pure darkness takes courage and conviction, for they play with the mind to cause doubt. As a fair warning, you have no control over the bottle's final shape or size. It will become what it needs to be. Also, you will need to inscribe the following runes on the vase in gold, silver, and platinum. If you are unskilled in rune scribing, get it professionally done. Your holy person must fast and commune with the gods two days before forging. If you are worthy, you should receive a vision from your chosen deity."

Gael sighed, "Looks like you have work cut out for you."

"I can't commune with anything on this boat. It's too noisy," Aurelia complained. "I want the bottle ready by the time we get home," she spoke in a fierce tone.

"We'll have to make a stop at the next port. I know a quiet place where we can get some supplies, and you can find some peace to forge the bottle or bottles," Gael promise.

"Set the course. I am ready for this."