Across the Sea—Chapter IX

here it comes! An….adjusting chapter lol.

CHAPTER NINE: THE HELMERS

After a couple of weeks of remaining in the Hollows, Danniby decided it would be a good time to enlist the children in the Guildling Hall. Artham would be in the Durgan Guild, Esben would be in the Sailery, and Emerald would be in the Needlery.

They needed help knowing about the Guilds, and the children, and well, everything. So, Nia came over to help them. Wendolyn sent her with a picnic basket, and the children had a picnic in the Field of Finley.

“So, what Guild are you gonna be in, Artham?” Nia asked as she munched on a sandwich.

“The Durgan.”

“Hmmph. Expect to be hit, and punched, and well, otherwise injured. And watch out for Nibbick Bunge. Oh, and you can’t hit kids in the face or the stomach.”

“Okay, great. Sounds pretty violent.”

“What about you Esben?”

Esben flushed again, clearing showing his crush on Nia was getting more obvious. Artham sighed helplessly and watched his younger brother speak.

“Well, I think I’m gonna be in the Sailery.”

“Hmm. There’ll be big kids, little kids, all kinds of kids. They can get a little rough in there. You’ll learn a lot about boats though. And at the end of the class, you’ll probably be able to sail.”

Esben laughed nervously, but smiled. “That sounds great.”

Nia glanced at Artham who only sighed again.

“What about you, Emmy?” Nia asked.

“I’ll be in the Needlery.”

“Oh, that’ll be perfect for you,” Nia said, for the first time smiling. “There’s only ever girls in that class. Lots of dainty girls. You’ll do great.”

“Are you in that Guild, Nia?” Esben asked.

Nia shook her head. “No, I’m in the Cookery.”

She didn’t say anything else for a while, and an awkward silence fell on them all.

“There’s also a couple of other classes you have to take every day. One of them’s a history class,” Nia said with a smirk. “I think you’ll like our teacher. His name is Mister Smithers. Really fun guy.”

“Oh, okay,” Emerald said.

“And there’s lunch hall as well. And you’ll meet some of the other kids. You’ll make friends. It’ll be fun for you guys, I guess.”

“Yeah. A real thrill,” Artham muttered, and Nia shot him a look.

Artham was not looking forward to this, being more of an introverted child, but he could tell his siblings were looking forward to it. He forced a somewhat satisfied face, and the four children finished their sandwiches.

Nia packed up her basket, and then Artham offered to carry it home for her. Nia hesitated, but nodded. Emerald and Esben went straight home….which made things more awkward for Artham and Nia.

“So much for my manners,” Artham muttered to himself.

Artham and Nia began the long walk to Chimney Hill, following a bit behind Esben and Emerald, who decided running home was the best option.

“So,” Artham started, “how do you think I’ll fair in the…the Durgan?”

Nia looked at him, studying him close, and then smiled. “You’ll do fine for a boy your age.”

“Okay, so I’ll do fine for a fifteen year old then. Is that a good thing?”

Nia looked shocked. “You’re only fifteen? I thought you were seventeen.”*

Artham laughed. “Nope. Afraid not.”

They walked the rest of the way in silence, Esben and Emerald shouting a goodbye as they walked across to their home.

Artham turned towards Chimney Hill and was actually quite shocked with how big it was.

“Wow,” he whispered.

“What? Never seen a house that big?” Nia snootily asked.

Artham wanted to say he had seen full castles, but that wouldn’t be kind, and it would be revealing, so he bit his lip and followed her in.

Wendolyn, her mother, sat over the stove, quietly humming to herself and enjoying a pleasant day.

“Ah! Hello Nia, and uh…Artham is it?”

Artham nodded and placed the basket on the table.

“Yes ma’am. I just wanted to help Nia with her basket.

“Why, that’s a right nice gentlemanly thing to do,” a voice said.

Artham turned and saw one of the biggest men he had ever seen. He had a big, bushy, brown beard, brown hair balding on the top, but pulled back in a knot at the back of his head, big hazel eyes, and a peg-leg!

Artham looked a little shocked. This man resembled Edd Helmer.

“Hullo there young man. Me name’s Podo Helmer!”

“Helmer?” Artham knew it was impolite and he blushed, quickly apologizing.

Podo laughed. “Aye! I suppose ye know me father, Edd? I met yer Pa, Danniby, and he’s told me all about it.”

Artham tried to smile, but a sudden pain had slipped into his eyes. Podo didn’t notice it, and kept chatting away. But Wendolyn noticed the tears that almost spilled out, noticed the sadness in his eyes…knew something was wrong.

But, she didn’t ask. She just offered him a glass of lemonade and a cookie, and Nia was disgusted. She didn’t like Artham. Not. At. All. Why? Because her parents did like him, and because he was so…well, he was cute, but Nia would never let him know that. And he was such a pure minded kid! It bothered her immensely, though she knew none of her reasons made much sense…..but they might if she gave it more thought…..but more on that later.

Finally, Artham left. 

Nia breathed in relief. “Good riddance,” she muttered, and then she put the picnic basket away, unaware of how much pain Artham was going through, having Danniby called his father when his father was really dead. But Nia didn’t know that.

Meanwhile, Artham was musing. Their treatment, Wendolyn’s and Podo’s, reminded him of his parents. And that made all of this Hollish stuff hurt. Far. Too. Much.

I hope you like! A little sad lol.