I laughed. “Violent little thing, isn’t she?”
Truth be told, both of us had a slight tendency to hit first, ask questions later, courtesy of the world we grew up in. Brace’s expression lifted from burning anger to mild irritation. I might have even seen a small flicker of amusement as he held his hands up in surrender.
“Yes, I could have broken through these little wooden slats. But I figured Red was hoping for a more diplomatic solution, considering we need to stay here until we find this half-Walker.”
“You’re lucky you’re hot, Brace, because I’m not finding much else to like about you right now,” Lucy said, continuing to shoot dirty looks at him, but she was at least no longer trying to dodge around Samuel to punch him again.
“Let’s leave now, before we are recaptured, and see if we can find someone to talk to about our situation.” Lucas had moved to stand in the center of the room.
With an exasperated snort, I elbowed Brace as I pushed past him.
Lucas smiled when I reached his side. “Probably better to keep that little temper under control when we step out of here.”
I ignored him by walking past without a second glance. Screw saving Brace. Those Walker gods better save me from impossible, arrogant know-it-all men. I was just about at the barred door to the exterior when Brace strode past me – someone had his speedy pants on. Stepping to the front, his boot smashed into the heavy wooden door. It flew off the frame to land outside on the sand.
Show-off.
“He gets to smash things, but when I do it I have a bad temper,” I muttered as I followed him out.
The weak sunlight was back, but I knew from our few days here it was soon to be replaced by four-strong moons. Their moonlight was blue tinged and as bright as daylight back home.
We didn’t make it more than ten steps before Spurns came running from all directions. We were surrounded within a few moments.
“Do not move or I will be forced to end you without a trial,” a tall blue-haired man lisped in a low tone.
He was a pillar standing before the masses of four-hair-colored Spurns. A few of the five-prong trident-style weapons were pointed in our direction – they looked like big forks. I was intrigued by the strange texture of these weapons – they looked like coral – and they were brightly colored.
“There has been a mistake made here. We are not thieves or criminals.” Lucas, as a future Emperor, had the best diplomacy skills. He had both of his hands held up before him. “We’re travelers from another world, simply looking for adventure and new experiences. You cannot hold us prisoner any longer. We have rights, and we demand to be released now.”
The Spurns muttered.
“Hair is short.”
“Unnaturally tall.”
A nervous energy was building amongst the smooth-skinned, shiny pink people.
“What is this world you have journeyed from?”
It took me a moment to understand her lisped question. Spurn speech was difficult to follow, especially if they spoke fast. The green-haired woman – well, it was more of an emerald, similar tone to my own eyes but darker – who’d spoken, was waiting impatiently.
“First World is our home planet; it’s far from here, and is only around sixty percent water, vastly different from your own.” At Lucas’ words, another series of mutters and gasps spread through the group.
I hadn’t realized First World had even less water than Earth. Interesting.
“That’s why we disturbed your Sacred Isle. We cannot breathe under water,” I added as soon as there was a lull in the Spurn chatter.
The tall blue-haired Spurn turned around. “Is any of this true?”
“Yes, Ladre sir. Our initial examination determined they have no gills. And they weren’t found with any of our wood or cucreamer either.” Our guard stepped forward to speak.
He locked eyes with me briefly, and I smiled in appreciation.
Shifting my gaze, I examined Ladre closely, trying to find his ‘gills’. Eventually I spotted tiny slits on the side of his neck. They were subtle, almost flat and did not lift or flap as he spoke. Just for underwater breathing?
Ladre turned back, catching my blatant examination.
“I can see that you are not Spurns.” Clear lenses flicked over his eyes as he spoke. “But your arrival coincides at a time of great unease; we’ve had thefts off our Sacred Isle. This is why we have treated you as criminals; you were discovered here right after this event.”