Outside Influences

“So that’s Skotos?” Beth murmured as she leaned against the railing of the ship. There wasn’t much to see beyond a dense forest that ended shortly before the rocky shoreline, but Beth stared at it anyway, just in case anything interesting showed up.

I’ve always hated boats, she thought. They make me feel like I’m trapped.

She fidgeted with her daggers, eager to get back on dry land. Great Bargainer, this is driving me so crazy that I almost wish I’d taken one of James’ silly call earrings.

She heaved a heavy sigh and turned to Seth.

“I guess we’ll find out what’s in there soon enough,” she said. “I can’t wait to get my dagger into something.”

Seth silently nodded.

“We are still some distance from our landing spot,” a loud voice interjected.

Beth suppressed emotion and turned Cleisthenes with her business smile. The large hippo stomped over to them while the floorboards of the ship groaned at the injustice of carrying his weight.

Once he had intruded into her personal space – a petty attempt at intimidation that was more amusing that effective – he thumped his chest loudly. “As you will recall, I have been placed in charge of the naval aspects of this mission.”

Beth nodded amicably. “Of course Clodthenes. You’ll bring me to Skotos and I’ll take care of the Elf king.”

The large hippo-man frowned, making his thick lower lip protrude in a pout. Then his tiny ears twitched. “My name is Cleisthenes.”

“Yes,” Beth agreed, “Clodthenes.”

She pulled on express emotion and batted her eyes innocently. “Maybe it’s my human hearing, but I can’t discern the difference. Would it be better if I called you Clod?”

Cleisthenes’ nostrils flared with agitation. “No. It is not important.”

He blinked furiously for a few moments, clearly struggling with his urge to launch into another pronunciation lesson. To Beth’s disappointment he managed to suppress the impulse.

“The goal of this mission is to halt the incursions of the elves into the Golden Plains,” Cleisthenes lectured. “As such, the death of the Elf king is not necessary. Diplomacy would be preferred.”

“Of course,” Beth nodded seriously, “which is why everyone agreed to send me.”

The hippo opened and closed his mouth several times before speaking. “You were chosen because some members of the council believed that the elves would respond better to another pure blooded being from the Old World.”

Beth nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. Exactly. That and my knack for diplomacy.”

Beth barely repressed a giggle when Cleisthenes’ eyes rolled back in his head. Clearly nearing his limit, the hippo stomped his foot and snorted before gesturing angrily at the shoreline.

“As a woman of the land you may be unaware of this, but the shore here is not suitable for us to approach in our vessel. We will travel around the island to a sheltered bay where we can set anchor and proceed on a smaller craft.”

Sensing Beth’s imminent interruption he barrelled with barely a gasp for breath. “And then we will continue inland by river, which means that I will remain in command. Only once we reach their capital city will control of the mission revert to you.”

He sucked in a large breath. “And you will be perfectly positioned to attempt your diplomacy.”

Beth smiled broadly. “Sounds super!”

Beth pursed her lips. “Hey, are you sure they have a capital city? My brother was pretty shocked that you guys don’t even have any maps of the island.”

Cleisthenes clenched his hands. “We are well aware of the structure of elven society.”

“Just not how or where they live?” Beth asked with a quirked eyebrow.

“Their sailing vessels are of inferior quality,” Cleisthenes responded lamely. “It is reasonable to assume that the rest of their industry is similarly lacking.”

Beth could almost hear James’ objection to the idea of the Golden Plains’ industry being superior to anything, but she covered up her eye roll with a large, dramatic yawn.

She put her hand on her hips and stared up at the large hippo. “Well, I’m all worn out. Humans like to get lots of sleep you know, especially with all this gentle ocean swaying.”

She waved her hand back and forth. “It’s so relaxing.”

“What–”

Beth spun in place and grinned back at him as she strode off.

“Wake me when we get there,” she called over her shoulder as she quickly headed below decks. Her cabin was at the rear of the ship, close to Cleisthenes’ cabin so he could more easily bother her. Seth followed behind her, his soft footfalls mirroring her own. Beth pushed her door open with a confident push. She beckoned the silent scorpion boy in after her before shutting the door behind them.

“I’ll be jumping out of the window and sneaking away,” she announced.

If Seth was surprised, he didn’t show it.

“Tell that idiot that I’m hibernating or something. With a bit of luck I’ll have this all wrapped up and rejoin you guys somewhere along the way.”

Seth nodded.

He doesn’t talk much, but he’s just about the most reliable person in the Golden Plains. I’m glad James talked me into working with him.

Beth went through her things quickly, shoving them into a waterproof bag. Then she began to strip down to her undergarments. She looked up at a loud thump and saw that Seth had shoved his head into a corner.

She laughed. “Oh, come on Seth. I’m not taking everything off, just the stuff I don’t want to get soaked.”

The embarrassed scorpion shook his head rapidly and Beth noticed that his ears had turned a bright red.

He’s so silly, she thought.

Beth strode to the small porthole and shoved it open. A quick check didn’t reveal any watchers from the deck or any sea monsters below.

“Well,” she announced, “I’m off.”

She tossed her bag through the small opening and began pulling herself through.

“Good luck,” Seth mumbled quietly.

She shot him a smile. “Aw, thanks.”

Then she pushed herself through the porthole and dove gracefully into the water. She quick kicked to get some distance from the boat’s wake and to catch up to her bag, after which she spent a few moments using it as a floatation aid as she caught her breath. She looked up to see Seth closing the porthole behind her. She wanted to wave cheerfully, but her only arm was busy holding onto her bag.

Missing an arm is so annoying, she thought. It almost makes me wish for James’ magical Old World technology. What did he say they had there? Cyborgs?

Beth snorted at her distraction. Focus. Get to shore before some sea monster eats you. Then get to safety before some land monster eats you.

Beth kicked at a steady pace, just slow enough that she wouldn’t tire out before she got to land. The tide helped her when she got close, practically tossing her onto the shore. She wrung the water out of her braids as she paused to once again survey the dense forest.

Looks scary, she thought. Just then, a large, brightly colored butterfly flittered past.

Beth couldn’t help but grin. On the bright side, they won’t see me coming, and the walk will probably be scenic.

She thought about the hour long argument she’d gotten into with James one day when he had asserted some nonsense about walking being a leisure activity for the wealthy. She couldn’t hold back a snort when she thought about the same person raising his little ant-child while trying to hold onto the norms of another world.

“No matter how dark and scary this forest looks, it’s impossible that it could be any more bizarre than the world of James’ stories,” Beth told herself. “And the elves are bad at making boats, so I’m sure they’ll be no problem. I could probably stab my way through the entire civilization.”

Grinning at her own sarcastic wit, Beth strode into the dense underbrush. To anyone watching from the boat she would have disappeared in just a few steps, swallowed by the thick greenery of an endless forest.