Castle Shyr

The boys again. :) Gotta get my fill of them before they vanish off the face of Nanio for like.. ever...


-Tests Of A Pirate-

“So, we’re all in agreement?” Austly said in a deadly serious voice as he looked around at his crew, taking in each face separately. They all nodded. Austly smiled and nodded himself, putting his hands on his hips before turning to look out over Fordwych from his perch atop his house.

“This is gonna be great!” Whooped Kylo, pumping a fist into the air. “We’s gonna have the Boy o’ Prophecy on our crew!”

“Would you jus’ stop with that!” Yuhin muttered haughtily, tossing his now-completed braid over his shoulder. “The adults jus’ think he’s the Chosen One - you don’t know that for sure.”

“Well, Kyin seemed like she was sure,” Austly muttered, quickly stepping out onto a nearby tree, smacking rust colored leaves out of his face. He ignored a slight ‘tck’ from Mirta, and slid gracefully to the ground.

Soboe started towards the tree, as he and Til were the last to leave, but he stopped as he felt a tug low on his tunic. He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows, Til’s expression making him chuckle.

“I think - I have to slap Austly.” Til muttered from behind his comical scowl.

“Wh-what?” Soboe snickered as he started down the tree, Til following close behind so that he could continue whispering.

“He told me that if he ever started likin’ a girl - I had to slap ‘im out of it…” Til stumbled a little as Soboe turned to look at him completely, narrowing his eyes a bit.

“Austly told you that?” He said a bit skeptically, but turned to look down at their leader anyway. “Ok, well, if he keeps actin’ funny, like he’s been doin’ all mornin’ then I’ll hold ‘im so you’ve got a clear shot.”

“Really?” Til said excitedly, dropping to the ground beside Soboe. “Thanks! I’m sure Austly’ll ‘ppreciate it.”

“Hope so.” Soboe muttered to himself, smirking a bit as he and Til joined the rest of the group in a semi-circle, Austly in front of them, peering around the corner of a building.

“Allright, men, since we’re all in agreement, here’s the plan. Kyin an’ Rhin got suckered into doin’ the shoppin’ today, so they’re both wanderin’ around the shops. Me an’ Soboe are gonna go distract Kyin. Fetwhe you and Taywah get Rhin ‘way. Mirta, you and Kylo gotta be our look outs, keep watch for you-know-who, and Yuhin, you take Til down to the creek and getchureselves ready, ok?”

A chorus of seven ‘Yes sirs’ rang up before Austly nodded, and thrust his hand into the air, a silent signal for ‘go.’ It was as if a wild fire had started. The boys paired up and shot off at amazing speeds; Austly and Soboe took off around the corner of the building with Fetwhe and Taywah trailing behind, Mirta and Kylo leapt back into the tree and took off through it’s branches, and Yuhin scampered into the bushes with Til at his side.

“Y-yuhin! Slow down! I-I can’t keep - keep up!” Til stuttered as he tripped and fell flat on his face, letting out a little whimper and sitting up, rubbing his nose. Yuhin turned and walked back to the boy, leaning over a bit with his hands on his hips.

“Geez, I’ll carry you if I hafta. We gotta get down there before they get to their posts, ‘member? ‘Cause we gotta be sure we’s set up and ready by the time they get here. You wanna be ‘sponsible for screwin’ this up?”

“No..” Muttered Til, now sitting and fingering the hem of his shirt.

“Then get up and le’s get movin’.”

Til nodded slowly and climbed to his feet, rubbing his eyes as he scampered off after Yuhin, trying his best to keep up. His nose still stung and there were tears on his face, but he knew Austly trusted him to get the job done, and he had to. He couldn’t let Austly down! He just couldn’t!

“So, you’re gonna make me do it, aren’t you?” Til muttered as he slowed to a stop, watching Yuhin step out onto a fallen tree. The older boy clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and swung his gaze around to look at Til.

“Of course I am. I’m a better actor then you are, and you’re a better swimmer then me. It makes sense that way.”

“Oh. Ok.” Til muttered in reply, stepping onto the log behind Yuhin. There was a slight pause before Yuhin started forward, throwing his arms out to his sides as he wavered a little. Til reached out and grabbed the other boy’s shirt, awarded by a slight sigh, but he wasn’t scolded or told to let go, so he didn’t. The fallen log ran over a deep rift in the land and part of the man made canal slumbered under it, calm for a few miles in either direction before giving in to malicious currents and rapids.

“Do I hafta get in now, or can we wait a little?” Til mumbled, feeling a slight chill in the air. He heard Yuhin mumbling to himself and knew the boy was thinking.

“Well, yeah - you should prob’ly get in now… we dunno how long ‘s gonna take the others to get Rhin, y’know?”

Til nodded slightly and looked back down at the water. He wasn’t intimidated by it, not really, he just wasn’t looking forward to being wet the rest of the day. He and Yuhin had gone through this routine twice already, once for Mirta and once for a boy who’d turned out to be a girl in disguise. Soboe and Til agreed that since she’d passed the tests with flying colors they should let her join, but Austly was determined to keep himself separated from girls - so they’d sent her home crying.

Til stumbled a little as he stepped off the log onto the land on the other side of the rift, and then sat down to take off his sandals. He heard Yuhin scuffling along behind him, kicking rocks and twigs, and he couldn’t help but smile just a little bit. Sure he was the youngest of the group by a lot of years, but he understood more than they thought he did.

“I’ve done this ‘fore, Yuhin.” Til said absently, as if assuring himself and not the older boy, “So there’s no need to get worried. I know jus’ what I’m doin’.”

“Yeah, ‘course you do.” Yuhin replied, smirking as he sat down next to Til and craned his neck to look in at the water. “Sheesh though, ‘s low this year.”

“That’s jus’ ‘cause we haven’t had a good rain yet..” Til said with a large sigh, imitating his father. “ ‘ If the rain keeps ‘way like this much longer, we’re gonna hafta start growin’ desert crops like pricklyshrub.’ ” Til smiled as Yuhin gave him a light laugh.

“Geez, your dad really likes his plants. My dad don’t really care ‘bout the weather - and ‘s not like my mom’s job ‘pends on it like your dad’s.”

“Betcha she’d sell more coats if it rained more though..” Til offered, standing and stretching for a moment, picking up his sandals and placing them inside the hollow of the log. He looked back over at Yuhin and smiled, closing his eyes and taking off his bandanna. “I got an ‘dea a few minutes ago, an’ it’ll really help wit’ the plan.”

“Oh- ok.” Yuhin said, standing as he watched Til kick around the edge of the rift until he found a good spot and sat down. “Jus’ - be careful Til, ok?”

“Yuhin - you’re weird.” Til replied lightly before letting out a soft whoop and pushing himself forward. The sides of the rift were always moist and muddy, making a quick descent not only easy, but quite fun. As Til slid down towards the water he thrust out his hand and scraped his bandanna along the muddy banks until it caught on something and he let go. With a final giggle and a slight ‘plop’ he was tossed into the water, holding his breath for a moment until he surfaced and immediately latched onto a root under the surface.

“You good Til?” Yuhin called down as he pointed at the bandanna. “That’s a nice touch!”

“Thanks! And I’m good! Goin’ down’s the fun part!” He took a moment to scruff up his hair and run his fingers through the mud, to make it look like he’d tried to stop falling.

“Jus’ do me a favor and don’t go too far from the hole.” Yuhin sighed, now walking back across the log carefully.

“I promise! I’m not stupid y’know..” He muttered under his breath, giving the older boy a raspberry. He felt a strange twirling in his stomach as he watched Yuhin walk away, leaving him alone, though he knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d be back with everybody else. Now all Til had to do was wait. He made a slight face as he wiggled his toes, muck between them. Why was he always the one who had to get wet? Yuhin said it was because he was a better actor than Til, but for some reason the blue-haired boy was starting to doubt that. Yuhin just had to pretend Til was clumsy and had fallen in - Til had to pretend he was drowning. Til had to do a lot of acting, really, because he hated this test. It was just plain mean. He sometimes wished he hadn’t found the little cave when he’d fallen in a year ago. He suddenly heard scuffling up on the bank and froze, waiting to hear voices before shouting, after all, he didn’t want to lure somebody else in to save him, this test was reserved for Rhinwyn.

After a moment or two the face of a cat peered over the edge of the water. It cocked it’s head to one side piteously and let out a strange miaow.

“Shhh!” Til whispered, holding a wet and slightly wrinkled finger to his lips. “Don’t give me away! I’ve gotta pretend I’m drownin’!” He said, though he smiled at the motley colored cat. The creature pinned it’s ears back for a moment before swinging them forward, then one to the right, one to the left. She shifted her paws in the dirt for a moment, her tail rustling up old leaves, and then she bunched up and leapt. Til let out a gasp, covering his mouth with a dirty hand, not remembering the grime as he trained his eyes on the cat. She sailed over the rift like she was flying, and landed gracefully on the other side. Til let out a breath, and turned his gaze back to where she had been - there was a kitten there. A black kitten with yellow eyes, just staring at the space his mother used to be. Til frowned, his eyes starting to well up with tears.

“-jus’ fell in!”

It was Yuhin! Til ducked himself back under the water, made sure his foot was securely attached to the log, and then resurfaced, flailing about like he couldn’t swim.

The basket which Kyin had brought to the shore resurfaced a little ways down, bobbing up and down as it continued to drift further away.

“Help!” Til shouted, spitting water into the air and trying not to laugh. “Help!”

Rhin’s breath caught in his throat - so the boys were telling the truth! He sprinted out towards the log and stepped onto it, peering into the water at Til.

“He can’t swim!” Yuhin offered, turning to grab Mirta’s shirt. Mirta narrowed his eyes at Yuhin.

Rhin looked at the boys for a moment, something not sitting right, but at another cry from Til, followed by a prolonged submergence, he shook his head and started across the log.

“What are you doing!?” Shouted Austly, stalking across the log after Rhinwyn as if to stop him. “You’ve gotta be a really strong swimmer to stay put an’ not get swept up in the current!” He continued, his hand barely grazing Rhin’s shirt - the older Nanion moved just out of his reach. “You an’ Kyin washed up on the shore lookin‘ like drowned rats, that tells me you ain’t a good swimmer!”

“Austly,” Rhin said, looking at Austly a bit incredulously, his eyes finally back to their rich gold. “Stop acting like a child - this is serious.”

Austly stumbled, almost loosing his footing and toppling into the ravine himself. Something about Rhin’s words, how sincere they were, hurt Austly. He balled his hands into fists, about ready to just call off the whole test and tell Rhin to leave, but he heard a slick slipping sound and looked up, ignoring the light whispers from the boys behind him, wondering why he’d stopped. Rhinwyn had started the slide into the water - and Austly wouldn’t be able to stop him now. He sighed and continued off the log, crossing his arms over his chest. He could stop acting now, there was only one way back up the gorge, well, only one safe way.

Rhin’s heart leapt into his throat as he saw Til go under again - and he didn’t come back up.

“Til!” Rhin shouted, falling into the water and wading out to the spot he’d last seen Til, already fighting to withstand the current. “Til!” He shouted again, heart pounding. He looked up at the boys and narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth to shout at them. Their friend was drowning! Weren’t they going to do anything!

“Rhinwyn!” Said Austly, crouching down a bit to get a good view of his face. “Stop shoutin’, Til’s fine.”

“What?!” Rhin shouted, smacking the water in frustration. “How can you say that! He just-” Rhin’s voice faltered and his blood boiled as Austly stepped aside to reveal a very wet, but safe Til. The blue-haired boy waved sheepishly, a blush over his cheeks as he looked away. At least he looked guilty! Rhin moved his eyes to Austly and made the most dangerous face he could.

“Why did you do that?” He growled, startling Mirta slightly. “You put him at risk to make a fool out of me? Your own friend!”

“’s not like that,” Austly said, his voice taking on a note of absence, as if it didn’t really matter.

“Oh? Then tell me what it is like.” Rhin continued, his voice startling himself this time.

Austly looked slightly taken aback, but he rubbed his arm and fiened nonchalance.

“It was a test. See, me an’ the boys thought you’d be good on our crew - so we set up tests for you.” He indicated back to Til and smirked a little. “This test was to see if you’d risk your life for one o’ the crew, and you did!”

Austly was.. Pleased. He was actually pleased that they’d set up this little test; pleased that they’d fooled Rhin into thinking Til was in trouble. Pleased. Rhin ground his teeth together.

“How do I get out of here?” He snarled, again startling himself with the tone in his voice. Til stiffened a bit and pointed to where he’d last gone under.

“There’s a root about there, and it leads up to a small cave-thing.. All you gotta do is climb up.” He said, and Rhin could tell he was indeed feeling guilty for the trick. He nodded slightly, not really angry with Til, and started for the root. He felt around for a moment and then with a final glare up at the boys he took a breath and dived under. He used his hands to guide him, not really wanting to open his eyes under water, and eventually resurfaced in, well, a cave-thing. He shook his head for a moment, taking off his head wrap and wringing it out before starting up the wall where roots stuck out like an odd staircase of loops and twists.

He pulled himself out of the cave to a scene which almost made him forget his anger. Austly and his boys had struck a pose, a rather comical pose. Austly stood in the center with his left arm thrust out to show off his bracelet, his hand clamped over the chain of what looked to be a large coin; Kylo had taken up roost under his legs, a strange looking medallion hanging from his fist as well; Taywah was reaching up as if to ask Austly a question, but paused to look at Rhin; Soboe sat on the ground, his lute laying delicately against one knee as he smiled; Mirta stood just off to Austly’s right, arms crossed over his chest in complete uninterest; Fetwhe and Yuhin shoved each other to get a good spot in the back while Til stood in the middle, struggling to lift a wooden sword that, while smile, was still way too big for him.

“Welcome to the crew!” Austly said happily, and Rhinwyn’s anger returned full force.

“You think that was just a game, don’t you?” Rhin said, his voice sharp but quiet. “You don’t understand what you just did, do you!?” His voice began to rise a bit, and the boys looked to each other questioningly. They’d never had their newest crew member respond with anger before - these accusations were new to them. “You could have killed him! He could have drowned!”

“He’s done it before.” Austly mumbled, looking at the ground as he realized he was being scolded. “’s not like he didn’t know what he was doing.”

“That’s beside the point! What if something were to have gone wrong? He could have been swept into the current and then what? Are any of you strong enough to pull him and yourself out of there? Would you have had enough time to get an adult! Would you have gotten an adult!”

“What kind of question is that!” Austly growled, stepping forward with a strange sort of ferocity on his boyish features. “Of course I would have! He’s my crewmate, he’s my friend! I wouldn’t let anything happen to him!”

“You just put his life in danger, why don’t you understand that!”

“You sound like my mom!”

“Good! At least I don’t sound like a child!” The boys looked once more from Rhin to Austly - but the red-head had no retort.

From across the ravine the mother had rejoined her kitten, and they laughed silently to themselves.