Colleen pulled herself from the past and wishful thinking when she felt Elija’s small hand gently touch her shoulder. His quiet voice penetrated into her mind and she turned her dark blue gaze to him, smiling trying to keep the sadness from her smile. Her hand came up to cover his smaller one and she leaned forward letting her forehead touch his for a moment as she closed her eyes and regained her composure. Pulling back, she smiled again, this time a genuine smile.

”I know you won’t Elija. And Raj and I will protect you and the others with our very lives if it comes to that. I just wish….”

What ever Colleen was going to say was forgotten when she looked over Elija’s shoulder and saw Raj frantically running down the hallway. Instantly she was worried and quickly stood up, taking Elij’as hand in hers subconsciously holding it close to her in a protective manner.

When she informed Raj all the children were accounted for and in their room, she gave a concerned look to Raj. Before Elija could let go of her hand Raj told the boy to stay for it was a concern for all, Colleen once more took a firm but gentle hold of his hand fearing the worse.

When she heard what Raj told her about the Mermadon on board, Colleen gasped softly. The Mermadon were wasting no time in trying to get their scaly extremities on Elija. Dammit! Why couldn’t they just be left alone and allowed to live their lives? It was just too much to ask for, Colleen surmised.

Resolve found it’s way into Colleen then and she looked down at Elija with a very determined look on her face. Thank the Gods William had the foresight in getting adjacent rooms for all of them. No doubt it would be a sleepless night for both he and Raj. Looking down at Elija, she spoke to him as an adult, just as Raj had done.

”Elija…go tell the others what Raj has just told us. Make sure they all know NOT to come out of their rooms tonight, no matter what. Raj and I will keep watch over all of you until we get to Baloc.”

Looking back up at Raj, she nodded firmly.

”I’m not a warrior like you but I’m not afraid to stand up to some two legged fish either. I’ll split the watches with you so neither one of us get too exhausted to do anything in case it comes to that.”

Elija was about to tell them about and when they Raj told him about the Mermadon and Collene told him to inform the others. He decided to wait until morning, or until they arrived at Baloc. He noddded and quickly went to the girl's room and knocked softly. When they opened their door, Elija told them to stay put and not go messing about. Elija then returned to his and the boy's room Sam and the other boy's were fast asleep. Elija decided not to wake them but sat sat in a chair in front of the cabin door.

Mallethden now knew that his quarry was on the second deck and that they would be on guard. No doubt the Korvidian had warned them of his presence and so it would be best to allow them to settle into a false sense of security before he struck. Walking into the dining room the young Komburan man found himself a vacant table next to a handsome couple. He bowed formerly to the pretty blonde woman and then nodded to the man before he sat down and accepted the menu from the server.

"Would you care for a drink sir? Something from the bar perhaps?" Asked the server.

"Wine pleaze." Mallethden requested then he turned to the couple and attempted to make some polite conversation, "A beautiful evenin' iz eet not? I have nyot seen so mony stars since bock home in my village when I wuz a boy."



Lasekura gave the boy an encouraging nod then smiled at Colleen.

"I shall not need rest this night." he told her, "But I trust you shall hardly close an eye as well knowing what lurks aboard the ship. Please try and rest though, for tomorrow I will sleep by day. He will be less likely to strike then."

Raj drew his sword and tested the sharpness of the blade with his thumb then sheathed it once again. "I trust I need not tell you to arm yourself, you should check on the girls and if it is alright I would like to speak with Elija for a moment."

Lasekura, lightly knocked a few times on the cabin door and wasn't surprised to find that Elija was standing guard. He gestured that the boy step out momentarily then he kneeled down before him. The warrior then reached into his pocket and produced a silver ball the size of a sovereign, he handed it to Elija and curiously enough he found it to be rather light.

"I know you probably have a knife Elija, but these Mermadon are vicious and are not to be trifled with. If you see one I want you to run and if you ever find yourself alone and trapped I want you to seek out an exit then throw that ball at the ground. It will produce a cloud that burns eyes and lungs so you must hold your breath and close your eyes tightly. Do you understand?"

Elija jumped slightly, sttod up, reaching into his trousers, placed his hand on the hilt of a six inch knife and slowly opened te door. Seeing Raj standing there and motioning him ourside, Elija stepped out and closed the door behind him softly. Relaxing his hand Elija, reched out a took the sphere from Raj. He listened closely while examining the sphere and nodded that he understood. Elija then looked Raj coldly in the eye and said ...... "Eyez dinin want ta worry Mum but their be two others aboard we needs ta be keepin' our blinkers on. Slick Boards and Belle. They be knowin' Spleevey an Scounger they does. Ole Slick Boards he be tall wit Black hair and brown blinkers. He be a Boardsman ( card sharp gambler ) an' Belle be 'is Buor Buttoner (Woman Assistant who entices dupes) right cheats they be. Eyez thinks Belle she be layin 'er blinkers on Sam an me. They be pinchin' the gold nashers frum a deadman's gob ur the flatch ( half penny) frum 'is blinkers as quick as 'is dead roight enough."

Colleen smiled at Raj and nodded.

”I’m glad we had the foresight to put some of the weapons I forged in our baggage. I’ll be sure to keep one or two of them discretely on my person as well as placing some others about the room in places I can get to quickly.”

Glancing towards the door Elija had disappeared behind, her smile faded and she spoke softly, as though she didn’t want to wake someone from a dream.

”He’s so young to carry such a heavy burden already in life. I just hope he doesn’t decide it’s too much and abandon it.”

Looking back at Raj, she smiled slightly once more the nodded again.

”I’m going to turn in for the night with the girls.”

Colleen hesitated a moment before she added.

”Be careful Raj.”

Turning, she slipped into the room she had with the girls, closed and locked the door behind her.

Raj recognized the symbol of the Crimson Dragoons on Elija's blade and smiled. He figured, Basha Mandek must have given it to the boy before he died. If only he were here now. The old warrior would know how to sniff out the Mermadon, the man had exceptional instincts Raj would trust over experience any day.

Raj had wanted to speak with the boy about the Mermadon, but when Elija informed him about Slick Boards and Belle he figured right then and there to deal with the immediate problem. For a moment he was silent, but one could see the anger behind his eyes. If Elija had never suspected it, he would be sure at that moment that the Sergeant had no tolerance for 'slavers'.

Deep in thought, Raj considered the best course of action. He looked briefly at the boy then turned away as if reconsidering a thought, then he focused on him once more. With an audible sigh the soldier seemed to resign himself to a heavy decision then he spoke to Elija, "I've dealt with their kind before, Elija. They would never risk open confrontation. Killing in the shadows is what they do best, and I just can't murder them in the night. We can, however, get them off of the ship, but I'll need your help. Yours and Sam's. What do you say, Elija? It's up to you."

Raj stood up from his crouched position and checked the deck. Something had caught his attention and crooking his neck he listened intently and peered down the stairway which was about fifteen or so strides away. He dismissed whatever he had heard as the wind, then looked back down at Elija.

"I am going down to the main deck. I'll wait for you and Sam at the bow, Elija. It is your choice and should you not choose to come I will understand. Talk it over with Sam."

Raj left the boy to make his decision and quickly made his way down the stairway. Truly he did not want to have to involve the boy, but these were dark times and Elija would need all the experience he could get to survive. Besides only he could point out this couple that was after him, and the closer he kept the boy the better he could protect him.

Without hesitation, Elija walked over a woke Sam up and said softly "Gits yur arse up. An keep yur hole shut, we gots ta 'elp Raj." ....... Sam dressed quickly, Elija arranged some pillows on the chair and covered them with a blanket, to make it appear as if someone was sitting next to the door, Sam did the same with pillows and the blanket on his bed. It appeared someone was sleeping in Sam's bed. Then he and Sam slipped quietly out of the cabin, locking the door behind them. Slient as two church mice they made there way to the bow of the riverboat. Hiding behind a stack of cotton bales they waited for Raj.

The chill of the night air hung on the breath of the two boy while the awaited Sergeant Lasekura to find them. The soft flickering glow of lantern light offered barely enough light to see by and from where they were hidden the ships bright gaslights did not reach them. Some time had passed while they sat quietly in the darkness and a grown man would have started to grow anxious, let alone two highly imaginative boys aware that an evil Mermadon could set upon them at any moment.

A dark hand reached out and grabbed Sam by the shoulder and it was all the boy could do to not scream aloud when it quickly became apparent that it was Lasekura and not the Komburan man they were warned about.

"Calm down, Sam." Said Lasekura in his usual placid voice, "Sorry, I am late. I found Slick Boards and that woman, Belle. They are back in the parlor, sitting down and playing... what do you call it? Poker?"

Raj stood up and looked around cautiously. He waved for the boys to follow him and as he lead the way, Sam slightly slipped on a small puddle of water that had accumulated where Lasekura had stood.

"Com'on." Whispered, Lasekura, "This way round the port side is another entrance." he explained as he lead the way to a narrow corridor with a stairway that lead down to a door to the hold and awaited the boys to follow.

The hold of the steamboat offered many passages to other rooms that utilized the area for storage. The saloon and dining hall especially, had their own access to the hold which could allow a person to access a room without being readily noticed.