Finally, they entered the port and secured their ship to the dock.
“Where are the people?” Manuela wondered, gazing over the empty pier.
“Let’s see if we can find anyone in town,” Emilia suggested.
With their crew following close behind, they entered the silent streets. Every building looked deserted, though the mass evacuation seemed to have happened recently. Very recently.
“Blimey, look at this!” The foreigner gasped, picking up a basket filled with bread loaves that had been left in the street. “It’s fresh! Just baked, I tell ye!”
“They all must have left in a hurry,” Emilia noted, rubbing her chin. “Were they fleeing the mist?”
“Well, at least, we’ll have somewhere to sleep,” Manuela said, holding open the door to the local inn. “I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not wait until they get back.”
Emilia sighed, but trudged after her sister. “We are very tired after our journey, I suppose. Perhaps, we can leave some money as compensation.”
When they gathered inside the inn, they gravitated over to the tavern area, eyeing the abandoned drinks on the table. “Would they mind if we pour our own?” Manuela asked.
“Don’t trouble yourselves, sisters. I’ll get it.” The new voice made everyone turn to the door, only to gawk at the sight of a beautiful naked woman standing in the doorway, sunlight glinting off her wet golden hair and the puddle forming at her feet. Unfazed by the attention, she marched inside and went behind the bar. Grabbing an apron, she tied it around herself for a semblance of cover. With great efficiency, she set up enough glasses for everyone and began pouring drinks. “So, the mist changed you also, I see.”
“Yes,” Emilia nodded, before glancing around. “So, the entire town…”
“All women,” the woman replied, focused on her pouring. “Then, the sea called us, and we all ran to the water and became daughters of the sea. Everyone else is still out there, right now. You’re lucky I happened to see you arrive and head towards my inn. Sorry for my tardiness. Drying off took a bit of time.”
Manuela took a glass with a thank you and took a sip. “So, when did this all happen?”
“Earlier this morning, I’d say. Just after dawn.”
The Remanza sisters shared a look. “That was before we were transformed,” Manuela noted. “So, the mist must have come from this direction.”
“You’re right,” the innkeeper confirmed. “But it didn’t come from us. We saw the strange cloud roll in from the desert where those sand elves live.”
“Do you think they caused this?” Emilia leaned forward, setting her now empty glass on the counter. The glint in her eyes told Manuela that her twin was eager for someone to blame.
“Couldn’t say. None of us wanted to leave our Mother to investigate.”
“Mother?”
The innkeeper smiled at them. “The ocean, of course. We are daughters of the sea, and she is now our Mother. Yours too, I might add.”
This got a blush from the crew. Up until now, they had no name for this connection they felt to their new home.
“Perhaps, we might take a look,” Emilia offered.
To her surprise, the innkeeper looked aghast. “And leave our Mother!?”
“We have to. It’s what we came here for, to speak to the elves for our father’s business.”
“Well, it’s no concern of mine what you do, I suppose,” the woman shrugged. “You can stay here, for now, if you wish. Free of charge. I have little use for money when the sea provides for my needs.”
“Thank you,” Emilia said with a bow.
So, after drinking some more and eating a quick meal, the sailors retired to their rooms.