Sizeran chapter 2

Sizeran chapter 2

Alicila slipped through a gap in the door and the wall as the first rays of the sun began to rise. She hadn’t been able to sleep all night, thinking about what her father had said. “There isn’t anything wrong with me. They are wrong. They have to be.” She rushed into the center of the small town square and sat down next to the gigantic well. “We are Sizeran’s. I don’t know why they are so obsessed that I grow like they do.”

She raised her head and watched as one of her neighbors walked out of their house. The elderly woman looked down at Alicila and sneered. “When are you ever going to grow up, young lady. Stop playing around at such foolish heights?”

Alicila jumped to her feet. “It’s not foolish.”

The elderly lady walked over and towered over Alicila, almost twice her height. “You weren’t given those gifts to hide down in the mud with the beasts. Now stop this. The time for playing has long passed. You are not a young girl anymore. So don’t make me. . .”

“Ms. Iverson!” Kathrine rushed out of her house. “What are you doing?”

The elderly woman turned her head and laughed.

“Why just trying to explain to your daughter here that. . .”

Kathrine crossed her arms and sneered. “Alicila has chores to do, and it will take her long enough without you bugging her.” She looked at Alicila. “Now rush along. Before your father wakes up.”

“But. . .”

Kathrine formed her hands into fists and grew a few feet. “Now, before we discuss your size issue, young lady!”

Alicila looked at the ground. “Yes, ma’am.” She turned around.  So much for you sticking up for me.  She hurried off into the endless rows of pine trees. Once she was far enough away, she smiled. “Finally,” She spun around, her body changing in size widely, shrinking and growing every few seconds. “I am so happy to be away from everyone and have some time to myself.” She laughed as she looked up at the sky, letting her size stabilize back in her comfortable thirty-ish feet. “Here, I can just play around with my size, and no one will judge. No one will say, “Hey Alicila if you can be so big, why do you have to be all the time.” She swelled, so she was seventy feet tall. “See, you have to like it.” She used her hand to mock talking down to an invisible person. “Don’t you know how to think?”

She shrank back down. “Oh no, no, no. Please explain to me.” She laughed and continued walking. “Huhhh. I don’t know why everyone has to be so obsessed over my size. It should be my choice.” She kicked a boulder, sending it flying. “But no, it is just something people have to get all crazy over and somehow make themselves bigger over. Like it will make their point more valid?” She rubbed at her forehead. “Honestly, I don’t get why everyone is so obsessed with being so big. It is so hard to keep clothing that fits.” She looked at her torn vest. “Just that growth spurt now ripped my shirt, and we try our best to make clothing that will change with our bodies. Hugh.”

Alicila sat down on a cliffside and let her feet wash in the rushing water below. “Maybe I am overthinking this?” She put her hands behind her and sighed. “Why am I so worried about being as big as everyone else anyways? It won’t change too much, right? Except that I won’t be able to do what I am doing now and enjoy this scene.” She smiled. “There is such a thing as too big. And they just don’t understand that.”

Alicila raised her head and looked out over the ocean, watching the sun sparkling on the water’s surface. “It is really nice out today.” She smiled. Suddenly her vision went dark. “Ahhhhh!”

“Hey, don’t freak out.” Light filled Alicila’s eyes once more. “It’s just me. Cassandra.”

Alicila took a few deep breaths, her size altering a few feet with each breath. “Why did you sneak up on me?”

Cassandra laughed as she looked down at Alicila.

“Hey, I am surprised you didn’t hear me coming. I wasn’t exactly trying to be sneaky.” She smiled. “What are you doing out here so early? I usually don’t have to hunt you down for another hour or two.”

Alicila sighed. “I just needed some time to think.”

Cassandra tapped Alicila on the shoulder. “Well, you shouldn’t be out here alone.” She laughed. ‘You are lucky your parents even let you come out here at all.”

Alicila looked up at Cassandra. “Why?”

“What you didn’t hear? Some strange little people attacked Gwen and Ivonok.” Cassandra tapped her chin. “I think some others were there, but I can’t be sure. Look anyways. . .”

Alicila nodded her head. “I know. Ivonok is my father.”

“Oh. I am sorry.”

“Don’t be. My dad said he chased them off. I don’t think they will be back.” Alicila pulled her legs in close. “I still don’t know why the first time we ever had people so much smaller than us here and people’s first reaction is to hurt one another. I would of... I don’t know.”

Cassandra laughed. “What?”

“Wanted to talk? Play?”

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “What treat them like the lemurs that roam this isle? Did you see the wounds they inflicted upon Gwen?

Her hands are burned from one of their ships.”

“Ships?”

Cassandra nodded her head. “Yes. Gwen described it as a flying boat thing.”

“A boat?”

Cassandra laughed. “Yes. It was what our ancestors used before they were blessed with the ability to change in size. These wooden constructs that allow you to move across the water, usually curved in shape. Surprised your parents never told you about them.”

Alicila looked at the rushing river below her feet. “They tend to not want to encourage me with things like that for fear it might make me stay at this foolish size.”

Cassandra laughed. “Out of all the things, I think talking about ancient water traversal methods is the last thing that will do that.” She tapped Alicila on the shoulder. “Look, I don’t know what the big deal is on the whole size stuff, but hey, if you want to be a small fry, then so be it.”

Alicila jumped to her feet. “It isn’t about wanting to be a small fry.” She snorted and slowly started to grow. “It is about wanting to be the size that I want to be. How hard is that for anyone to understand?”

Cassandra laughed. “I umm. . . Hey, calm down. You are stress growing.”

“No, I won’t calm down.” She began to close in on Cassandra’s height. “I am sick and tired of people saying I can’t be the size I want to be. My dad thinks I am a defenseless child who will never grow when I need to.”

Cassandra laughed as Alicila grew above her. “Umm, ok, I think I get it. Stop growing.”

“People constantly make jokes at my expense. I just. . . Ugh.” She finally forced her size to stabilize. “I am perfectly capable of picking the size I want!” The conifer trees around her shuddered.

Cassandra bent down. “Ok, ok. I get it. I didn’t mean anything by it.

Will you stop growing already?”

Alicila blinked her eyes and looked down to see she was ten feet taller than Cassandra; she blinked as she noticed her jacket had ripped in half. “Oh shit.” She covered herself. “I am so sorry. I got carried away.” She immediately shrank back down.

Cassandra sighed. “Look, it’s fine. Really. I know other people can be a bit stuck up, but really. Be what size you want to be.” She smiled as Alicila returned to her preferred size. “Now, what brought you out here. Besides, well, getting away from the people in the village.”

Alicila shrugged. “Nothing. I just wanted to. . .” She blew her bangs to the side. “Is it so bad if I wanted some time to myself?”

Cassandra grabbed Alicila’s shoulder. “With what just happened, yes? We need to get back.”

Alicila pulled away. “No. I am not some kid that needs to be ordered around.”

“Hey, I don’t want to end up being attacked by some tiny little gremlins. I don’t think you would either.”

Alicila turned her head and laughed. “I am not so scared. Now I am going to the beach so I can go swimming. Have some fun.”

Cassandra laughed. “You know that we are too big to go swimming.”

Alicila raised an eyebrow. “Says the Sizeran, too afraid to shrink down.” She walked between the trees. “And you say there isn’t anything good about being small.”

Cassandra shook her head. “I don’t think this is a good idea.” She formed her hands into fists as Alicila walked away. “Hey, aren’t you listening? Ughh.” She sighed. “Fine, wait up. Someone has to keep you company.”

***

Telean crossed his arms. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

Keel crossed his arms. “I want to discuss your recent failure.” He looked at Melrek. “What is that thing doing here?”

Telean turned his head. “Melrek is here to umm. . . be the envoy for the Citadel.”

Keel narrowed his amber eyes. “Whatever. Look, Telean, your performance with the cargo loss on that uncharted isle wasn’t acceptable.”

Telean shook his head. “What are you talking about? I got our people out of there alive! What exactly did you want me to do? Leave them to die!”

Keel stood up. “I wanted you to retrieve our cargo. Those goods are more important than your measly life.”

“I—

Keel slammed his hand down on the desk. “Don’t talk back! You have no idea what is at stake.” He looked at Melrek. “It is bad enough you let an envoy of the Citadel sit in on this meeting.” He reached over the desk and pulled Telean over by the collar of his shirt. “You disappoint me at every turn. If you don’t want to replace that cargo with your own sweat and blood, then you are going to take a fleet of ships and get it back.”

“What are you talking about.”

Keel threw him across the table. “Just do it. And if you can’t find the cargo, then take the native’s prisoner.”

Telean threw his arms up. “But, sir! You don’t—

Keel turned around. “Your only other alternative is you replace the stolen goods.

And trust me.” He turned his head, his eyes sending a coldness into Telean’s very soul. “You don’t want to know what that entails.”

“I. . .” Telean looked at the ground. “I will do what I can.”

“Then what are you waiting for. Get out of my office and stop wasting my time.” He snorted. “And while you are at it, take that isle for Anchorhead if you can.”

Telean and Melreck walked out into the mansion’s hallway, the door slamming behind them. Melrek looked down at Telean and sighed. “I’m sorry. I thought my presence would have helped.” He shrugged. “After what you did for us, I just wanted to repay the favor.”

Telean shook his head. “It’s fine.” He looked at the governor’s office. “Something is going on here. Why would he send us back to an island filled with giants? What could this cargo be?”

They began to walk down the hallway. “You didn’t know what you were carrying?”

Telean laughed. “I am a smuggler for the governor of Anchorhead. I am not going to ask questions. But I don’t know how I am going to get this fleet he wants. Just getting that ship before was hard. I wasn’t exactly. . .”

A man in a uniform stepped in front of them. “Are you Telean?”

Telean gulped. “Umm, who wants to know?”

“I was sent by Keel to supply you with the vessels and crew you will need. Follow me.”

Telean looked at Melrek. “Maybe having the governor in your pocket isn’t a bad thing?”

The Perdition snorted. “When he sends us to an island filled with giant angry ladies who want to kill us, I would say it is. No matter how many ships and people they give us.”

Telean slid his hands into his pockets. “Right. Let’s just fly out there, get the cargo and fly back. Screw the other things he wants us to do.”

They were led out of the mansion and through the winding streets of Anchorhead to the dockside. There Telean gasped as he saw a dozen ships armed to the teeth waiting for him. “What is this?” He ran his hands through his head. “They can’t all be for me?”

The man nodded his head. “Master Keel knows that by giving them to you that you will not fail this time. He has heard of what awaits you on the isle.” Telean turned to look at the young lad. “So, he is leaving nothing to chance.”

Telean laughed. “I don’t know. . .” He looked at the small fleet. “This sure is impressive, though.”

Melrek nodded his head. “Yes. We can easily get that cargo back now.”

Telean laughed. “Yes. Should be easy.” He blinked his eyes as a young Aensien walked towards them. “Umm, who is that?”

She gripped her hands into a fist. “My name is Ien. And I will be your captain.” She kneed him in the gut.

“Ooww. Pheeww.” Telean hunched over in pain. “But I am. . .” He held up his hand. “No, please. Don’t do that again.”

She ran a hand through her long silver hair. “Orders came from Keel. He doesn’t want you to piolet the ship, so I am.”

Telean stood up and took a deep breath. “How is someone so young able to piolet a sky cutter?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I have done much more than run one of these heaps of junk. I can assure you of that. Why don’t you just do your job and run this show, or I might have half a mind of taking over for you.” She twisted around. “Don’t keep me waiting.” She stormed off.

Telean laughed. “I miss our old crewmates.”

The young man laughed. “Ya Ien is a fisty one. Good luck on your voyage.” He ran off.

Telean shook his head and looked at Melrek. “You know, I feel like we are in for a long day.”

Melrek walked towards the ships. “Well, it’s going to be a longer one if you stand here on the docks all day.”

Telean sighed. “Right. Sure.”