Airie

From the bridge deck, Dusan watched the sailors who bathed on the deck below, using the water that had been gathered in buckets during the latest rain. It probably felt good, rinsing the ever-present salt from their bodies. Dusan had been bathing and washing his clothes only in salty water, which irritated his skin as much as cleaned it, yet allowed him—and Reijo—to wash separately from the others. He could perhaps join the sailors who were now turning the main deck into a big puddle, but then Reijo would demand to join in, too, and that was out of the question. Reijo was too unaware of how he looked naked and what effect it could have on the men around. Amongst the rough, tanned bodies, Reijo’s tender skin and slim frame would make him look too much like a woman, and resembling a woman on a ship full of horny sailors was a bad idea.

He could see Reijo at the edge of the crowd now, laughing and making quick escapes when one or another of the sailors sprayed him with water. Dusan didn’t like him mingling with the crew, but that couldn’t be avoided. Perhaps him making a few friends was a good thing. As much as Dusan tried to keep an eye on him, it was impossible to watch himallthe time. Perhaps new friends could protect him when Dusan wasn’t around.

Some of the sailors considered Dusan’s constant presence next to Reijo amusing, others didn’t even try to hide their annoyance. He wondered if he might get ambushed one night and thrown overboard by some of the men, and he tried to not leave the sleeping quarters after dark. He didn’t want to even imagine what awaited Reijo without his protection. Together with his sea-sickness, this constant state of high alert had been wearing him off.

“I see your boy is fitting in nicely,” Dusan heard, and then Captain Evander stopped next to him, leaning on the deck’s railing. “You don’t need to watch him so closely.”

“I wish you were right,” Dusan said.

Below them, one of the sailors now chased Reijo with a soaked sponge. As he caught up with his target, he slapped the sponge across Reijo’s back, wetting his shirt, before catching him in a lock. He raised struggling Reijo above the floor. They both laughed, as did the others around them, yet Dusan’s fingers tightened .on the railing. If he knew this trip would be like this, he would have found another way to travel.

“What is he?” said Evender.

Dusan gave him a startled glance. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what is he to you?” Evander said. “You’re too protective of him for just a friend, and you don’t look like relatives. Lovers?”

“No,” said Dusan.

Evander hummed, looking unconvinced, then returned his gaze to the scene below. Reijo had already been released and stood on the outskirts of the crowd. Another man approached him, and Reijo escaped and began to climb the main mast. He had become quite adept at climbing, performing all kinds of tasks Evander had been giving him that took him high above the deck.

“He is good at predicting weather,” Evander said musingly. “Didn’t miss once in these two weeks. Makes him… special.”

“Yes,” Dusan muttered, unsure there the captain was heading with this.

“What are your plans after we’ve arrived? I assume you won’t be willing to continue with us to our next destination.”

“Probably not,” Dusan said cautiously. “We might stay in the capital for a while, perhaps find a job to improve our financial situation.”

“Indeed, having money is useful. Perhaps I could use my connections to find a good position for your boy.”

“Really? What kind of position?”

“We’ll have an audience at the court, like we do each time, bringing presents to the king. We could introduce you—and him. The king has an interest is special people. He sort of collects them.”

“Collects?”

“He offers them positions at his court—and rewards those who bring such people to him, too.” Evender winked at Dusan. “I’m not just being kind for free.”

“What kind of people he ‘collects’?”

“Oh, all kinds of, as long as they can do special things. The wise men reading future by the stars, or predicting the gender of unborn babies, or healing illnesses. Predicting weather might not be much of a talent, but it’s worth a try. You’ll get a position at court that’ll solve your financial difficulties, and I’ll get my reward. Everybody wins.”

“Possibly.” Dusan looked up where Reijo had already reached the barrel at the top of the main mast that the sailors called ‘the crow’s nest’. “I’ll need to ask him first.”

“Of course,” said Evander. “There’s still plenty of time for you to decide.”

Dusan nodded, stepped away, and headed down the stairs. He passed the rowdy crowd on the main deck, ignoring a few hostile glances thrown his way. He reached the main mast, and began to climb.

He could never get used to how tiny the ship looked from the crow’s nest. It wasn’t his first time doing this, and he knew never to look down while climbing up or descending, least the fear of heights would render him motionless. He had never had a problem with climbing trees back at home, but this was a different level altogether.

He made it over the edge of the barrel and took a relieved breath. Sitting on the floor of the barrel, Reijo looked up, his eyebrows slightly raised.

“Ah, it’s you,” he said. “I thought one of those bothersome fellows decided to come pester me. I hoped for some alone time.”

“Sorry for intruding.”

“You’re fine.” He patted the wooden floor, and Dusan sat down, their knees touching in the small space. “I’m just getting tired ofthem.” Reijo nodded to the side, apparently meaning the sailors below. “They keep wanting something from me.”

“They want a piece of you.” Dusan cleared his throat. “That means...”

“I know what they want.” Reijo rolled his eyes. “I may not have had much contact with people before you, but I observed them quite a lot.” He eyed Dusan for a moment and then, unexpectedly, smiled. “Do you want a piece of me, too?”

“I?” Dusan blinked, startled. “I wouldn’t do anything against your will.”

“I don’t know what my will is. I don’t even know what I am anymore.”

Reijo shrugged, throwing his hair back. His delicate face had begun to catch some suntan, now that it wasn’t constantly hidden under the forest trees. His hair had gotten longer and was now mussed by the wind. Whatever Reijo was now, a man or an airie, he was beautiful.

“You’re special,” Dusan said. “That’s what you are.”

Reijo blinked, looking surprised yet pleased, and then, as if suddenly thinking of something, he grinned.

“A few of the sailors said similar things to me,” he said, “although they used somewhat cruder language.”

“What did they say?” Dusan frowned. “Who? When?”

“Never mind.” Reijo shook his head. “If I tell you, you’ll pick a fight, and the way you keep annoying them, you might find yourself in trouble.” He smiled, then reached out and cupped Dusan’s hand on the floor, giving it a little squeeze. “But let me tell you, if there’s one person on this ship who has a chance of getting that piece of me, it’s you. So, don’t ruin in by getting killed.”

*** If you’re enjoying the story, please click 'like'! Also, I’m always glad to hear your thoughts in the comments section! ***