Cinnamon Bun

Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty - A Cry

Spin, spin! I said.

Awen giggled and twirled around, her coat flaring out around her until she stopped and it whipped around, wrapping about her figure. Its comfortable, she said. A bit heavy, but not too bad.

Wilbur nodded, looking like the frog that caught the fly.

Amaryllis bounced up and down a few times, getting used to the new weight of her jacket. This isnt bad work, she said. A few enchantments for weight and durability, and this will be decent armour.

Neither of my friends were as armoured as Id like. They didnt have helmets, for one, and their limbs were mostly unarmoured, but I couldnt force everyone into full-plate just because I was a little worried, certainly not when my own armour didnt cover everything. I wouldnt be a hypocrite.

Besides, full-plate made hugging awkward. It made the hugs less warm and less cuddly and a whole lot louder.

Itll be a pain to change back into this all the time, Amaryllis said.

Well, we usually know more or less when were going on an adventure, I said. I wear my armour all the time because... uh, I think its cool and comfy, but you could just wear yours when you think theres going to be trouble.

Amaryllis nodded. It wasnt that big a compromise to make.

Wilbur thanked us for our patronage, and seemed more than happy when Amaryllis gave him a few golden coins for his work.

The armour is a good idea, Bastion said as we stepped out of the armourers shop. It was a bit chilly outside. In nearly every conceivable scenario, its best not to be hit at all, but that can require some skill and luck that isnt always available. In those cases where you will be hit, having even a little armour is better than not.

I nodded along. That made sense. Are we going back to the Beaver right away? I asked.

Might as well, Amaryllis said. We dont have much to do here, and the refueling shouldnt take all that long. They should be on their way now, and I suppose at least one of us ought to be there.

I think Clive and the Scallywags can take care of it, I said.

Ah, Id like to be there, Awen said. Some of the fuel bunkers are tricky to open, and I dont want them spilling things on the workshop floor. The fuel stinks.

Really? I asked. I didnt spend too much time next to the Beavers engine, or in the little workshop Awen used. If there is a spill, let me know. I can probably clean it up for you.

Awen nodded easily at that. It would still be a waste.

That was a fair point. We were paying for all the fuel, so we should be using it all.

We took a different route back to the top, not to sightsee so much as because I kinda forgot which catwalk wed used the last time. It did mean that we got to see more of the interior of Wallwatch.

The edges of the hanging town all overlooked the forest and fields below, with a lot of shade cast by the wall itself making it cooler. The inner-sections of the city were a lot darker, with magic lamps casting flickering light across streets made of corrugated iron and boxy little homes tucked in tight against each other.

It was still lively, though. Kids ran across the street, chasing after balls with strings tied to them in a sort of weird game. There were humans and harpy children, and a few sylphs too. We even crossed an adorable cervid foal stumbling after the others on four gangly legs.

We found a stairwell leading all the way to the top of the city, a point above even the docks where a few airships were sitting next to their piers. The Beaver Cleaver wasnt difficult to make out from the others. It was, in my humble opinion, the most colourful and friendliest ship in the whole lot.

We didnt do drab greys and browns like all of the other ships.

Our ship looks like its piloted by a jester, Amaryllis mumbled.

I laughed as I skipped ahead.

We arrived at the Beaver just before the people for the refueling did. They were mostly young men whose job seemed to be dragging around a big, heavy looking tank set onto a cart with a hand-pump on the side and a long length of hose.

Awen jumped to help them, pointing to the places on the deck that needed to be opened up, and directing the workers when it came time to finally pour the fuel into the Beavers reservoirs. It was, apparently, a fairly dangerous task. They had a mage on their team whose entire job was to make sure there were no sparks or fires around the gas, kind of like a reverse Amaryllis.

It was neat at first, but I soon lost interest as they took turns pumping one squirtful of fuel after another into the tank.

Thats probably why I was the first to see the crystalline figure hovering by the pier leading to the Beaver.

One of the cry? They were a big, bright blue crystal, a little shorter than I was, but taller on account of how they floated a few centimetres off the ground. No face that I could see. Or organs, for that matter. Their body was like a many-faceted sapphire on one side, and smooth on the others. I could see right through them.

Little zipping flashes of light snapped through their body, like lightning in a bottle. Magic? There had to be something giving them life.

Hello! I said. I was pretty sure I was talking in the local language too, so they had to understand that. Neat!

The hovering crystal slowed to a stop, and I felt a sort of shiver run across me. Had I just been scanned?

They rang, like a windchime being tapped ever so lightly. Greetings, they said.

I love your voice, I said. Its very pretty.

The being paused, then bobbed up and down. Thank you, long-eared one.

I giggled. That was a new nickname. No problem! Im Broccoli. Broccoli Bunch!

Our name is difficult for the soft to speak, they said with three quick rings.

I climbed over the Beavers rail and sat down atop it so that there wasnt anything between us except for a long drop. What is it? I might not have the vocal chords to say it, but I can try my best.

We are the Shard of Waterwatches Compassion, Third Split and One Whole.

That was a mouthful. Each little bit of the name came with a humming tone, like little bells being tapped in some sort of sequence that flowed into the next. Like someone dropping a box of marbles onto a xylophone.

Thats a very pretty name, I said.

We thank you. Your name is also... interesting, vegetable pile.

I snorted. Another new nickname. I think I liked long-eared one better. What does your name mean? Ive never really spoken to any of you before.

It is rare to find one that understands. We are a shard of Waterwatches, a cry that earned a name. We were split from their compassion, the third to have been split, and we are whole.

Oh, I said. I didnt get it, not entirely, but I could kinda figure it out. Cry dont have babies?

We do not. When we grow grand enough to have earned a name, we may take a small portion of ourselves and give it life.

That was so cool! Neat!

The cry hovered there for a moment, and I had the impression it was looking at me, then at the ship behind me. Our name is long to some of the soft ones. We have grown accustomed to earning honorary, though temporary, names.

I nodded. That made sense. Ill try to keep your name in mind then, Shard of Waterwatches Compassion, Third Split and One Whole. I coughed to clear my throat. That had come out as a bunch of really high notes that really tickled. Did I pronounce that right?

The cry shifted from side to side. It was a valiant attempt.

I laughed. Thats a no! I shrugged. I cant pitch my voice that high, sorry. So, what are you doing at the docks?

We are seeking assistance in exchange for services rendered or precious materials given.

Youre trying to hire someone? I asked.

The cry bobbed up and down again. Was that a natural gesture, or were they copying a humans--or some other headed persons--nod? What kind of help are you looking for?

We seek passage to the Lonely Island.

The Lonely Island. That rang a bell. Thats to the north, right? Between here and Sylphfree?

The cry did its nod again. We... have one that must be delivered to the island. It is a sensitive manner, but one we would pay dearly to see happen.

I considered it. I was pretty sure we were going to be passing that way anyway. I could ask my friends. I dont know what transporting a cry is like, but I do think it would be fun to have one aboard. We could become friends!

Shard of Waterwatches Compassion, Third Split and One Whole.

Dream: To grow grand and earn a name.

Desired Quality: Someone who would mirror their compassion, and help them protect the unprotected.

We can fly already, they said. But the one we wish to protect cannot. We need assistance. And this matter is more delicate than it seems.

More delicate how? I asked.

The crystalline being didnt move for a moment, I had the impression they were hesitating, and when they replied, it was with softing tinkles and chimes. We are not the kindest of people. Calm, yes, and we dont seek what others have, but we can be as cruel as any soft one. We think this matter is one in which that cruelty shows. We have one that would be broken, their shards buried and cracked. We, personally, do not wish for this to happen. They dont deserve it. Some cry would disagree.

They were protecting someone, someone that needed to be brought to the Lonely Island to be safe? It was a little strange, and I didnt have the full picture, which didnt help any. Well, the Beaver here will be leaving in a few minutes, maybe in an hour or two at most. And we are heading that way. Wed need to talk with Amaryllis and some of the others about taking on a passenger or two, but I dont think theyd mind all that much.

We would be grateful, they said while tipping our way in what I suspect was an imitation of a bow.

I spun around on the railing and jumped to my feet. Give me two seconds. I need to talk to my friends.

The cry agreed, and hovered there while I bounced over to Amaryllis. She was looking over a ledger of sorts, making little marks with the nib of a feather that I suspected was one of her own. Having fun? she asked without looking up.

Yeah! Never met a cry before, really. Theyre nice, I think.

They? Do they have genders?

I have no idea, I admitted. But maybe well have time to find out.

She looked up, eyes narrowing. Broccoli.

I didnt say anything yet! I defended myself.

Im no idiot. What did you do?

Nothing yet. Shard of Compassion is looking for transportation.

Were not a passenger ship, Amaryllis said.

I nodded. I know. But they want to go to the Lonely Island.

Theres nothing there, she said.

So theres no risk in dropping them off.

She huffed. Did they want transportation back?

I shook my head. Nope. Just there. They can fly, apparently. They want to carry something... or someone, to the Lonely island. I think its a smaller cry? But Im not sure.

Hmm, Amaryllis said. I know cry dont eat, and they dont sleep, so theres no cost there. She sighed. Let me talk to them. Well see.

I, of course, hugged the stuffing out of her. Awesome! This is going to be so cool!

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