The Three Coins

            D'Claire couldn't sleep because in his dream was all about the death of all his brothers side by side in that war. He wished he could've saved them. Then, he just woke up in the middle of the dawn. The place was warmest than outside the tent but he didn't see the girl inside. The old man was sleeping while he sat on a chair. D'Claire looked outside the tent and made sure skinned-animal thick blanket covered all his glowing skin. He walked pass all the caravan. They were all sleeping. Then somehow, he heard a lone humming chanting up in the air. Like a lullaby. D'Claire kept walking and all the caravan peple had been sleeping like they didn't hear even any sound to disturb them. Not even D'Claire's steps. D'Claire kept trying to find the source of the voice. He then learned the waves of the ocean blew great wind and that girl was standing at the seashore, singing. She's singing such a dread sorrowful chanting. He wished he didn't hear it for it reminds him of the massacre of the brotherhood. He was coming to her. The girl kept humming when he arrived stand next to her. D'Claire just stared at her. She's wearing a brown letter coat and somehow the mood of dark color around her couldn't hide her bright skin she has. Then as she singing again, she looked at him, and her blue eyes was just enchanted him. But, from in front of them suddenly a great wave coming at them. D'Claire could feel the breeze and the shadow the waves made upon them, he straight to grab the girl.

            Then, somehow the blanket he was holding just fell down to the sand. The stars inside his skin sparked brightly. The light cracked all the waves behind him. There's a smile from the girl's face when she saw it. She's more singing until she finished it. D'Claire learned his body shone and as he let go his embrace, he turned around and saw what the glowing from himself had been doing to the waves. He was amazed. The light was like a transparant dome, protecting him and the girl. D'Claire looked at the girl who smiled at him. He didn't know what the smile would be mean. The  girl asked, "What is your name?"

            "Gyme D'Claire," he said.

            "I wonder Gyme D'Claire what else can you do with the star within you."

            "What are you going to do with me?"

            "I will take you home."

            "Home?"

            "To the North Kingdom."

            "It's crossing the seas to go there."

            "Well, don't you see, right now? Not even a grand wave could touch you."

            "You're helping me. You're saving me."

            "You've been fighting for your Kingdom. Should not a man earn his reward?"

            "What's then with yours?"

            "What else would you think?

            D'Claire learned by that mean was the star within him. There must be something she needs from it.

            "Let's go back to the caravan. It is time to go." She said. The dawn is still chill and dark. The sound of the ocean rolling its waves and smash them to the shore blended with all crickets voices. They both back to the caravan and to the Fire-Eater's tent. What's odd D'Claire saw was they're no longer people. They were all just empty vehicles and tents, all fire were off. He remembered they were all there. But, the girl was hardly making any sound except the sound of her own breathing. It was quiest after they walked far from the shore.

            The sun started to rise behind them. As the sun started to come out from its slumber behind the horizon line, its light shone upon the sand and kept going to the caravan. Then, it started from the one vehicle nearerst the shore. It just vanished when the bright sun bathed upon it. One by one. They were like shadows and then gone. Then, the sun's light reached to Fire Eeater's tent. D'Claire was standing in front of the tent and had seen everything. He was stoned up as he thought the sun would do the same on him. The light shone upon him.

            "You are fine." Said the girl. She came out from the tent with the Fire-Eater. They've brought what they need. "Fire-Eater, we don't need this tent anymore. We'll just leave it behind."

            "Of course, Shera. Of course." He said. He then brought the big brown backpack and followed the girl. "Come on, my child! Let's go!" He shouted before walk right in front of him.

            D'Claire looked at the tent of Fire-Eater and it stood still and not vanished. It's left only him, the Fire Eater, and the girl. He followed them quickly.

            "Here, your coat." The Fire Eater gave it to him, "Wear it to cover your star." D'Claire wore it. They went in to the forest. D'Claire was just following them. They crossed the river, some hills, and arrived at this harbour. D'Claire realized the girl was about to find their ride across the seas to go to the North Kingdom. She did not lie.

            He stopped her when she's about to get into the saloon for fishermen.

            "I can get us the ship." said D'Claire.

            "Are you?" She asked.

            "A girl can not enter the man's place or they would treat as if they look up easy on you. Don't worry."

            "I'm not worry." She smiled, again, "But take the Fire Eater with you or someone might smell your star within you."

            It is no doubt the girl was seeking about the star within him, it's never of himself. "Very well." D'Claire then was about to enter the saloon. The Fire Eater came with him. The girl was standing behind them and watching him enter to the saloon.

            A stink wet floor and unbath human bodies with their rotten breaths crowded the air inside the saloon. But in the saloon, everything is about trading business.

            "What is your plan, my child?" asked the Fire-Eater.

            "Well, is Fire-Eater your real name?" asked D'Claire.

            "No. My name is Franque. Fire-Eater is my job."

            "Then you're good on making fire. That's something we could sell."

            "You're going to sell me, my child, what have I done to you?"

            "Of course not, Franque. Stop calling me your child. Call me D'Claire."

            "Oh.. very well, D'Claire." said Franque, "How do you know which man would get us a ship?" he asked.

            "As a knight, I'm taught well to recognize nobles around peasants. And the nobles never go anywhere strange except the place where they can put their money at it. The saloon. You see, Franque, that man is a noble man. That's the man we're going to get a ship from."

            "Which one?" asked Franque.

            D'Claire pointed out to a west wing of the saloon. A man who's sitting on round wood table with on it's table some sacks of coins set there. The man was surrounded by greedy fishermen, seeking to get those money on the table.  D'Claire could see the rings on his hands and the short blonde hair he has, his robe might look dirty but there's not a single fixed sewing, it's expensive robe. But what the most thing which easily make the man is different from others was his bragging speech. D'Claire could see he was frightened but the noble always has something smart to talk about.

            "Well, it seems like he's in trouble, isn't he, D'Claire?" asked Franque.

            "Do you think so?" D'Claire was about ready to open his sword. But, Franque seemed having different method that would be advantage for his plan.

            "Which one is the man you're pointing out, again, D'Claire?"

            "That one. The one with the green robe."

            "I knew it. Those fishermen is going to rob him."

            "How do you know?"

            "Look! They start to fight. They're trying to reach those money on the table."

            "Wow.." D'Claire was surprised. He thought the noble might in trouble but he was good on a fight, too. But, the noble seemed not good to fight with many. He's defeated easily and dropped to the floor. Those fishermen had bigger and strong body than himself. And, one of the fisherman broke a bottle, he's about to stab it to that young man.

            "What are you going to do with that broken glass?" Franque is coming on them and shouting the question, "Are you about to kill him then taking his money on this table?" Franque arrived on the table and bragged it.

            "What?" The fisherman was anxious, "How dare you?" The fisherman straight to point the glass to Franque. But, Franque took a glass of rum on that table and drank it. He then somehow already breathed fire from his mouth and shot to the fisherman. The flame touched his face. He's screaming. Fishermen around him were surprised seeing his friend's face was burned out. The man was running out from the saloon followed by his friends.

            The people in the saloon were scared and whispered. But the young man who still on the floor was stoned there. Franque came to him, "Are you alright, my child?" He asked. He offered his hand and the young man took it. He got up.

            "Thank you, Sir." Said the young man.

            "You need to be careful, my child. At this place bringing much money like this can allured many demons around you."

            "Aren't you just arrived? I haven't seen such familiar face from you?"

            "Oh, yes. I'm a traveler along with my Shera and a knight named D'Claire. We're just arrived at this harbour. We're looking of a ship to help us with the quest."

            "A quest?" The young man's eyes went excited. He's back on his table with his money, "Interesting. By the way, how did you breathing fire like before?" he asked.

            "I am Franque, the Fire-Eater is my job."

            "Franque, the Fire-Eater. It is nice to meet you, Franque, the Fire-Eater. I think it is a path for you rescued me from them as I can help you with the ship you're looking for." He said. "I am about to go to the East Fountain. To do that I have the Persian Trading enterprise. They are agreed to help me with my oceanic ventures. The problem is I never been on a quest before."

            "Neither do I, Sir. But you do have a ship."

            "Yes! Perhaps would you and your friends like to accompany me on this quest?"

            "This is such an odd," said Franque.

            "What is it?"

            "But among all the nobles in this saloon, my D'Claire picked the right man for our needs."

            "What friend?"

            "My D'Claire. There. He picked you, saying you're the one who would help us get a ship. He's a knight from the North Kingdom which to bring him back to his Kingdom is our quest." Franque pointed out the man on the bar who looking at them back from far.

            "Well, there my friend. A knight from the North Kingdom?"

            "Yes. And he's not just a knight..." somehow Franque was going to tell the man about the star within D'Claire. Then, the girl has her eyes and ears within Franque and from outside the saloon, blended with the crowd, her soul was not there but into Franque. Franque himself was falling into the deep slumber of his own mind. It stopped him to tell about the secret quest she has as she controlling Franque, "...but we all do know East Fountain and the North Kingdom are the same destination."

            "Indeed." The young man became more interested with D'Claire, "Maybe we should come to your friend..."

            "What do you know about East Fountain?" Franque suddenly touched the young man's hand on the table and somehow the young man felt the warm on his skin. He learned the threat, "There's no such thing as East Fountain."

            "Oh, but there is. You knowledged it." He smiled.

            "It was just a myth. You can not go to the same arrival. The direction toward the point of the horizon where the sun rises, there you will find East Fountain."

            "Hwaah.." what Franque said disturbed his sight, "Do you think I'm a fool?"

            "You are a fool to chase the sun rises."

            "It is not like no one go to the North Kingdom unless it is to knowledge of mythical creatures....or business."

            The girl was thrilled by what the young man said she flew out from Franque's body. Franque's woke up and he could hear what the young man last said, "...business like what?"

            "Well, I wasn't trying to take guess of your business as it is be more please if I don't need to explain to you what's mine. Now. Let's ask your friend, there!" Shouted the young man. He somehow waved his hands to D'Claire. Franque stood up from the chair and came to him.

            "D'Claire, you are right. Luckily, he is about to the same direction. He's looking for East Fountain."

            "Do you even know East Fountain?"

            "I..don't know."

            "He's playing with you. There's no such thing as East Fountain."

            "What is East Fountain?" Franque wondered himself, "But he said his ship towards to the North Kingdom as well."

            "Well.." D'Claire looked back at the young man again and he smiled again. "Do you know his name and what's his title?"

            "Oh." Franque would like to come back to the young man but D'Claire followed him.

            "Gentlemen." The young man greeted them, "Seems like you're interested with my offer?"

            "Who are you?" D'Claire asked.

            "Greetings, Knight of North Kingdom. I'm Jem Navin, son of Ui Tyme, Lord of Three Coins. I believe you have one more friend haven't introduce?" He smiled.

            Suddenly the saloon being bragged by the former fishermen. That burnt face actually only got his face turned red. But, he brought twice men than before.

            "Knight! If you put me out from this saloon safe and sound I would accomodate all the things you need to get back to the North Kingdom! You and all your friends." He's scared because he saw the fishermen brought those knives and that came in his head was they would chop him to pieces alive. Yet, the girl heard what the young man said again and so she took Franque's body again.

            "Let's make it a contract." Asked Franque.

            "What?" asked the young man. D'Claire watched them. The young man saw Franque asked him to shake his hand, "Very well." He then shoke his hand.

            "Say you promise."

            "I..I promise." He said it. Then something burn on both of their hands. The young man's screaming. "The fire on my hand!!!" At the same time the fishermen attacked. D'Claire smoothly took out his sword and tackled them back. the fire on their hands just easily disappear and the young man pulled his own hand. "It's not burn, is it?" Then he saw the mark on the back of his hand. The young man realized with whom he's dealing with.

            From outside, the girl was smiling and her reflection can be seen by the young man himself in Franque's eyes. He knows that mark. It was his own family court of arms, The Three Coins.