Mitch and I plunge feet first into the roiling sea, I grip his hand with everything I have knowing if we get separated it could end this adventure for either of us. The water is cold, and I have to fight the urge to gasp from shock while pushing for what I hope is the surface. After a moment that feels endless, I surface gasping in air as I check that Mitch is also alright and see him next to me with his guitar floating gently beside him. I am so glad I waterproofed his case on a whim a while back. We float for just a moment catching our breath before setting off swimming at an angle that keeps us in the shadow of the ship while ensuring we will arrive at shore a good distance down the dock from it.
It takes us swimming hard for a good hour to reach the shore where we hide under a dock to catch our breath for a moment. Peeking out from under the dock I check on where our ship has docked and see that disembarking has already started.
"You ready for this?" I murmur to Mitch afraid of being too loud
"Ready as I will be," comes the stiff reply, "It's too late to turn back now either way."
As we pull ourselves up out of the water to the dock, we begin to hear the chaos and smell the variety of foods and perfumes. I take a minute to breath in the chaos I begin to calm down. No matter what is about to happen I know that there will always be the docks to come back to. No matter what has changed over the years the docks have always been and always will be a hub of crime and importing.
I realize that I will do anything to protect Mitch but if all else fails I can always come back to the docks. With that realization I grab his hand, "Wait a second Mitch, Are you sure you want me to come with you? It will be easier for you to return without me in tow." I ask one final time
"We discussed this," Mitch replied matter of factly, "We are staying together and that is that."
I nod before speaking again, "I have another trick up my sleeve beside what you call those 'mind tricks' ..." I take a quick breath and as I let it out a warm breeze wraps around us drying us off completely.
"Is?" Mitch asks a question in his tone, but I wave it off
"We can talk about it later, for now let's find your bothers and get out of here." With that we set off to find Boomer and Boz.
As we draw closer to where our ship is docked, I catch sight of something large and colorful tucked down one of the shadier alley ways created by the stacked shipping crates.
"Mitch? They wouldn't bring the hot air balloon to the docks, would they?" I question although I am already turning towards the strange thing because I know that his brothers did just that.
Before Mitch can reply we hear shouting down the alley way and see a group of thugs starting to surround the balloon and its occupants. At second glance one of the men outside of the balloon was not a local thug but a man dressed in leather straps attempting to fend off the thugs with a machete.
"That's them," Mitch supplies, "the weirdly dressed dude is one of the royal guards."
A we pick up speed running down the alleyway to them I ask Mitch a final important question, "How do you want to play this? Can you fight? Can I?"
"I am going to try and stick pretty close to my skills from before I left the Island." Mitch responds, "Fight as low level as you can. Maybe like a four at most? I don't want them finding out you can fight and using you. But also, don't let those guys hurt them"
"Got it!" I manage to respond feeling ridiculous for how happy his response made me. As we join the fight the men who are attacking Boz, Boomer, and their guard are shocked as on this side of the docks an unwritten rule is to not involve yourself in someone else's fight. The tribal styled fellow Mitch had pointed out as a guard however looked pretty grateful.
"Hello Muhumma," Brady calls out as we reach the balloon and he tosses his guitar inside, "Can we take off now?"
"Yes, your majesty! You and your friend," He glances at me, "climb aboard, and I will get us air borne."
"Wait if you stop fighting to launch us, won't they get us?" Mitch questions already slipping out of Brady as he climbs in
Before Muhumma can respond order Mitch "Brady toss me that rope," pointing to one hanging off the side of the basket while shooting him a look to warn him he was acting too much like Mitch before turning to the guard, "Muhumma, I can keep fighting while you get this thing in the air. Just do it FAST," I command as I tie the rope around my waist and switch places with him to fight of the group of thugs. "GET US OUT OF HERE FAST BEFOR THEY NOTICE US." I trying to pressure him into hurrying
"But," Muhumma starts while doing as I say and pulling the cable to inflate the balloon, "Don't they already know?"
"Not those guys." I state, as finish kicking the last dude with a sloppy high kick. I begin backing towards the basket which is now starting to lift off by a few inches Muhumma releases the cable looking like he is going to help me in. I prepare to jump in while keeping watch, but before I can, I see staff guys coming down the alley and with panic in my voice I shout, "We need lift of NOW MIITTCHHH!!!!"
"On it!" he cries as he grabs the handle of the cable Muhumma has abandoned and pulls down with all of his weight.
"What are you doing?!?" Boomer, Boz, and Muhumma cry as the balloon shoots up into the air pulling me along by the rope. Just as I clear the ground the men in black open fire upon us with their automatic weapons. Without even thinking I spread a force field around us to protect us until we are safely in the clouds.
As soon as I am sure we are safe I call up to the basket, "Muhumma, can you pull me up now."
With a few tugs I am hauled into the basket which is in chaos.
"WHY were they SHOOTING at us?!?!?" Boz shouts freaked out and still half slumped protecting his head.
"They do that when their labor runs away." Brady blurts absentmindedly as he checks to make sure, I am okay.
I give him a light shove away and a panicked look crosses his face as he realizes what he just said. I shake my head at him to silence him as I turn to Muhumma.
"How long will it take us to get to Kongkea anyways?" I demand desperate to know as well as to change the subject.
"With a good wind only a day or so," Muhumma starts causing my hopes to rise, "But... with this bad wind it could be a couple of weeks... we brought plenty of supplies just in case this happened." he finishes gesturing to the baskets spaced evenly around the large basket.
I know I will not survive a couple of days much less weeks with these guys in a space restrictive balloon basket so I may force a few changes. First to help soften the damage Mitch may have done with his careless Brady response I mezmer Boz and Boomer to sleep, injecting them with herb would be better but I don't know if I could do that without Muhumma noticing. I tilt my head at Mitch to see if he wants me to mezmer him as well, but he shakes his head and settles into sleep on his own, exhausted enough from the swim and fight to not need any help. As Muhumma and I are the only ones left awake I leave him to man the balloon while I lean on the edge of the basket carefully redirecting the wind to get us to Kongkea as quickly as possible.