"We need to find a ship to take us over the seas to the City of Sorcerers" says Hazel. "That's where we'll start our search for the prophet."
"I thought you said you knew where they were?" I argue with Hazel. There was just something I didn't like about having her about. She acted like she was SO much smarter than me. She'd also just fell out of the sky and become the center of attention and now I was getting ignored!... And another thing! There she was looking just like me but without any makeup on and wearing such drab clothing!
"I have a general idea of where the prophet is. You guys are just going to have to trust me," Hazel sighed.
The others nodded and smiled and went along with her plan unquestioningly whilst I slowly walked behind them in a huff.
It took a few days for us to get to the port town of Seaview during which Hazel would lead the way and decide where to set up camp. Maedel was really impressed with Hazel's survival skills and had fun building shelters and finding food with her. My attempt at building a camp fire whilst they were gone failed miserably and I had to get Andrew to do it for me.
"Its not fair," I sniffed while crawling into a makeshift tent where Maedel was trying to sleep.
"What is it Haze...uh, Sara?" she rolled over to look at me which I took as an invitation for a hug and buried my head in her green tunic.
"Hazel came along and she's stealing you away from me," I said, Maedel laughed halfheartedly and tried to protest but I continued, "You think she's so much cooler, don't you? and you've got way more in common than useless old me. I mean she's practically a ranger, right?"
Maedel smiled at me, "Yes she's smart and cool but guess what? She said she learned all that from me! She used to be you, remember? So don't worry, I'll take care of you and teach you to be just as cool as I am!" Maedel grinned pointing her thumbs at herself for emphasis. she could be really big headed sometimes but it was charming and cheered me up.
"She said you'd probably have a hissy fit over being jealous of her," Maedel held my hand, "she was so embarrassed that she used to act that way!"
I kind of felt embarrassed too now.
I ended up sleeping next to Maedel like we used to at Morgana’s place and was hesitant to let her go the next morning but she noticed and we ended up being inseparable for the rest of the day.
When we arrived in Seaview Hazel went off to negotiate with a ships Captain to give us passage across the sea, oddly asking to take Connie with her. She returned with a horse and cart loaded with a very large crate.
“What’s going on? What’s with the crate?” I ask.
“climb up and check it out,” Hazel said and I curiously did so only to find crate open with Connie inside.
“Eeek!” I screamed as Hazel lifted my feet and I toppled head first into the crate, landing in a pile of hay and messing up my hair that took, like, half an hour to get how I wanted it!
“Okay now the rest of you get in.” Hazel said, bluntly.
“That was mean! You could have just asked me like the others!” I screeched.
“I didn’t want to waste time arguing with you. Now the rest of you climb inside. I manage to get a Captain to take us under the pretext that I’d be taking a shipment of prized pigs the City of Sorcerers and that I’d be selling the pigs and paying the Captain when we get there.” She explained, “now, do I have to force you?”
The other just nodded. And climbed in apart from Morgana who did everything in her power to stay out of the box and once she was thrown in climbed straight back out. Hazel eventually gave up and resolved to just let her ride the carriage normally.
The ride wasn’t so bad, all things considered, though I didn’t want to spend another trapped in a box so close to Connie. She did smell a bit but I could always hold my nose which made her give me the evil eye.
“I can’t help it,” she said.
“Neither can I,” was my comeback.
Things took a turn for the worse when we got to the docks. The quartermaster was carrying out an inspection of the crates.
“Listen,” said Hazel sounding concerned, “I’m going to have to use a spell to turn you into pigs for a bit… I’ll change you back as soon as we’re out to sea.”
"Yeah! Do it," Connie laughs.
“What? No way! I’m not going to be a pig.” I whisper, sharply.
“That’s totally gross, Hazel,” Maedel says.
“Haven’t I been through enough humiliating changes already.” Andrew complained.
“Would you rather spend a night in prison and possibly the rest of the night as a clown.” Hazel tried to persuade us.
“You’ll turn us right back when we’re out at sea?” I whisper.
“Yeah, sure.” Hazel’s voice doesn’t fill me with confidence.