Sizeran Chapter 4

Sizeran Chapter 4

Alicila ran as fast as she could through the woods. “Cassandra. Wait for me!”

Cassandra turned her head. “Just grow so you can run faster!”

“But I. . .” She moaned as she knelt down to rub her ankle. “I can’t think of anything else but the searing pain through my ankle.” Alicila closed her eyes. “Just trying to think about changing in size makes my head spin.”

Cassandra turned around and grabbed Alicila by the shoulders. “We can’t just stay here. You have to get up!” As she forced Alicila to her feet, she noticed the strange flying vessels gaining on them between the trees. “We have to go now!”

“But I. . .”

“We have to go now!”

An ear-piercing sound suddenly filled the air, and the two ladies fell to the ground covering their ears. “What is that?” Alicila shook her head. “Cassandra, make it stop. My ears are going to burst.”

Cassandra forced herself to stand, towering over the trees around them. “Ughh. . .”

The strange vessels circled around her. “You stupid gnats!”

Suddenly flaming cables shot out of one of the wooden boats and wrapped around her right arm. Cassandra cried out in pain and pulled with all her might as a voice filled the air. “By the authority of the Anchorhead Port Authority, you are to stand down. If you don’t, we will use increased force.” Another blazing cable wrapped around Cassandra’s arm. “Now, don’t do anything foolish.”

Cassandra trashed about, her screams filling the air. “Uugghhhhh!” She stepped towards the closest flying vessel before falling onto one kneel. “Stop it. I can’t take this!”

“Surrender first.”

Cassandra looked at Alicila, who was still lying on the ground between some trees. “I. . .” She winced as the flames seared her arms. “I. . .”

Alicila shook her head. “Please, Cassandra. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

A tear dripped down Cassandra’s face. “Ok. I give up.”

The flames cut out, and she fell to the ground, taking deep breaths. “What do you little freaks want?”

A figure so small that Alicila could believe beings existed at that size walked to the front of one of the vessels. “Some of the cargo we lost here. This isle.” He crossed his arms. “And I think you.”

Alicila gulped. “What are you talking about?”

“We will figure that out as we go.”

Another figure walked up beside him. “What are you doing, Lerix? We have orders from Keel to take the island by force. That means getting rid of these. . . things.”

Lerix turned and stared at his companion. They were both too small for Alicila to see their features. “Norvex, I know we have our orders. But we both saw them change in size. We both have seen we can subdue them. I think we can do more than just exterminate them like wild vermin.”

Alicia’s eyes widened in fear. “Exterminate!”

Norvex slammed her foot onto the deck. “Keel won’t stand for that. It’s too dangerous. How are you going to control something that can change fifty times your size at will?” She grabbed him by his strange-looking jacket. “Sure, we need to replace our cargo that the fool Telean lost but not with that. We bring them to Anchorhead; you will get us all killed.”

As the two argued, Alicila shrank herself down.  I need to do something. These tiny people are crazy. Why do they want to hurt us? We didn’t do anything to them.  She looked up as Cassandra became bigger and bigger.  I am sorry to leave you, but I need to go and get help. I will be back.

Lerix pushed himself away and dusted himself off. “I don’t care what you think. We can. . .” He looked off the side of the ship. “Hey. Where is the other one of those blasted size-changing women?”

Norvex threw her arms up. “I don’t know. Weren’t you watching her?”

He formed his hands into fists. “If you didn’t assault me, I would have been. She must have shrunk herself down and is going to get help! Get our people down there to find her now.”

“I don’t know if you have noticed, but we are busy trying to keep this giantess tied up since someone is arguing with orders.”

Lerix turned around. “Fine. I will handle this in matter another way.” As he walked down the ship’s length, he looked up at Cassandra. “And you hold it right there while we figure out what to do with you.”

Cassandra sighed. “It isn’t like I am going anywhere.”

***

Telean paced back and forth along the deck of the ship. “I don’t like this. I feel like we are here watching the beach because someone doesn’t trust me.” He tapped his fingers on the side of the railing. “At this point, every other ship in the fleet has gone inland but ours.”

“Will you stop with your complaining?” Ien rolled her eyes. “Dear gods, how did anyone put up with you as a ship captain? It is no wonder why Keel put me in charge?”

Telean turned to look at the Aensien only to sigh.  It isn’t worth it.  He looked back out over the beach.  I am not going to try and get her angry. She might use her Aensien to cut me down to size.

A young Veleran that Telean had never seen before suddenly rushed onto the deck. “Ien.

Word just came through from the admiral.”

Ien’s eyes lit up. “Do we get to see some action?”

The young lad nodded his head, his long red hair falling in front of his face. “Yes and no. They want us to search the island for an escaped size-changing girl.”

Ien slammed her hand against the mast. “What? First, those fools tell me to babysit the beach, and now I am chasing after some stupid girl that they couldn’t keep their hands on? What is next? I have to take some random box back to Anchorhead while they are cleaning up the isle?”

Telean laughed. “The job not going as you thought it would, Ien?”

Her Aensien blade formed in her hand. “Cut it. I won’t be mocked by some two-bit Veleran who started this whole mess. I am here to clean up after you.” Her azure eyes flared with rage. “Ok. We are going to hunt this girl down, and I am going to show mr. smug here how to handle a job right.”

Telean rubbed his fingers together. “Really. And pray tell, have you seen one of these size-changing people before. Are you equipped to handle them?”

Ien bit the inside of her lip. “More equipped and capable than you are you. . . you. . .”

She turned to the young Veleran standing beside her. “Take Telean below deck. I don’t want to see him until we have spotted the young size-changing lass we are supposed to find!”

The young lad gulped. “But I. . .”

Ien pointed her blade at him. “Do it, or I will throw you off the edge of this ship! I am not in the mood for disobedient and moody Veleran’s.”

He saluted her. “Yes, madam. Right away.” He rushed over to Telean. “Come with me.”

Telean shrugged. “Well, if we have to. But you don’t have to drag me below deck. I will go willingly.” As he walked with the shaking young lad, he asked. “So, what do you think of our fine captain?”

“Huh?”

Telean laughed. “Do you think she is up to the challenge?”

The young lad looked to ensure they were out of earshot of Ien. “Look, I have heard stories of the captain. Apparently, despite her young age, she is a mercenary of some renown.”

Telean raised an eyebrow as they walked below deck. “Really?”

“Ya. Left a pretty big body count across the Hathen Farmlands. Mostly those slavers taking advantage of the Lunastates being up and dead. I mean, no psionic crazy family around to keep the peace and all. . .”

Telean sighed. “I know. I don’t need to be told about slavers. It is why I stay in Anchorhead. I want nothing to do with those fools who send people up to the Citadel. But why would Ien get involved with hunting those lowlifes down?”

The young lad shrugged. “I don’t know. It is just the rumors I heard. Between that and her hot temper, I don’t really want to cross her.” He shivered. “That Aensien is just. . . ughhh.”

Telean put his hand on the young Veleran’s shoulder. “Well, you don’t have to worry.

Everything is going to work out. Even if we have an icy hot captain to deal with.”

The young man smiled, his blue eyes sparkling. “Well, have a good time down here.”

He turned around. “I don’t know why people say you started everything and are such a bad person. You seem so level-headed and kind.” He walked away.

Telean laughed and lowered his voice. “Well, that would be because everyone I have to work for is crazy.”

“What happened now?” Melrek walked up from behind.

Telean smiled. “We are going giantess hunting. Or I should say looking for a shrunken giantess.”

Melrek crossed all four of his arms. “Why do I get the feeling this is going to end badly?”

Telean walked over to a nearby window and peered out. “I had that feeling ever since we departed. But it is out of our hands. We can only try and make sure we get out alive, and we bring as many people as possible home with us.” He ran his fingers along the smooth wood. “And maybe in the process, we figure out just what is going on.”