Chapter 36: Chapter 34: Bobbie One-Eye 

The Hero Became a Mousegirl
Chapter 34 - Bobbie One-Eye 

 

It took us five days to exit the forest’s northern edge, and then another two traveling along the coastline before we found a village. The village, Turtle Cove, was tiny to the point that it had no accommodations for travelers. There were no inns for us to rent a stay in, nor were there general stores for us to gather supplies. Not that we had the finances to make use of either. 

“Hmm…” Cesarina gazed out at the weathered wooden piers along which the village’s fishermen moored their boats. “None of these look capable of making the trip to the empire.” 

“Should we just move on?” I asked, noticing a few of the villagers were staring at us as if we were bizarre creatures that’d just crawled out of the woods. 

“Probably. But we’re really under equipped to continue traveling as we are. I was hoping we could at least find someone willing to pay for a few quick errands, but that doesn’t seem possible here.” 

“Yeah, I don’t–“ 

“Not often you see a pair of beast-ears here,” An old woman with shaggy unkempt grey hair, and an eye patch approached us. Though she was speaking about Cesarina and me, her attention was solely on Aivi. “What brings you to Turtle Cove?” 

“We’re just passing through,” Aivi replied in a deadpanned tone. “Is there some problem with beastkin people being in your village?” 

“Not at all,” The woman cackled. “The ones raised nearby tend to stay away is all. An old legend scares them away, but ah, I guess if you’re their mother they wouldn’t have heard it.” 

“I’m not old enough to be Caelan’s mother,” Aivi pointed at me. “She and I are only about seven years apart.” 

“That right? Guess it’s not hard for a beast-ear to look younger than they really are. Name’s Bobbie, Bobbie One-eye to the locals. If you have time, I’d love to invite you over for supper.” 

“Why?” 

“Hehe, you’re a direct one aren’t ya?  Guess it makes sense, I did say some things that offended ya.  Sorry, I’m just a little lonely in my old age, and those that live here… well they don’t like me too much.” 

“Why not?” 

“It’s a long story,” Bobbie gazed wistfully at the harbor. “A very long story, from a long time ago.” 

“Well it was a pleasure meeting you Bobbie, but we really need to get going.” 

“Wait, Aivi,” Cesarina pulled on Aivi’s sleeve. “If she’s willing to feed us, we should take her up on that offer. We’ve been eating nothing but wild fruit for days!” 

“Pretty well-spoken for a child,” Bobbie laughed. “Unless you’re going to tell me the kitten is in her twenties. Not that I’d believe ya, I’ve seen a few of her kind before, they don’t grow that slowly.” 

“Ah,” Cesarina flushed red as she gazed down at her feet. As impossible as it looked, she was indeed in her twenties, but it wasn’t like we could tell Bobbie that.

“Caelan,” Aivi turned to me. “I’ll let you decide, do you want to have dinner with Bobbie?  Or continue on?” 

“We can eat with her,” I replied, looking up at Bobbie. “She doesn’t seem like a bad person to me.” 

“So you’re name is Aivi, her’s is Caelan,” Bobbie crouched down so that she was almost eye-level with Cesarina. “What’s your name little one?” 

“Rina.” 

“Rina huh? That’s an adorable name. Do you like fish Rina? I’ve got a few I caught this morning. I’d be happy to cook them up for you girls.” 

“I love fish.” 

“Well then, our supper plans are settled. Come on, I’ll guide you to my home.” 

We followed Bobbie home, Aivi watching the older woman wearily, while Cesarina appeared delighted at the prospect of eating fish after days on the run. Personally, I couldn’t help but side with Cesarina, within the scant memories I had, I’d never been forced to run on such a limited supply of foraged foods. Even if we were able to collect enough to keep the pangs of hunger at bay, it’d been over a week since I’d felt truly full after a meal. 

Stopping at a small cabin along the waterfront, Bobbie guided us inside. Her home was little more than a living area with a bed and table, and a kitchen. I assumed her bathroom was the little shed behind her cabin, but since I didn’t need to use it, I didn’t ask. 

“I’ve got just enough chairs for the four of us,” Bobbie chuckled, guiding us to the table. “Make yourselves comfortable and I’ll start cooking.” 

“You said an old legend kept the other beastkin away,” Aivi noted as she sat down. “Would you mind telling us the story?” 

“I’m fine with sharing it with you Aivi dear, but I don’t think it’s something Caelan and Rina should hear. Maybe we could step out back and have some coffee together, and chat after dinner?  I’ll tell you everything I know.” 

“Neither of them will be scared of an old story, you can tell us now.” 

“Well, if you decide to share it with them after I’ve told you, that’s your business. All I ask is that I not be the one to give them nightmares. Now then, how about I tell you a different story while I prepare supper.” 

“Very well.” 

“Good, good,” Bobbie sat a pair of fishes on her counter and began to chop them up into manageable pieces with a clever. “I’d say it was about fifty-seven years ago now, Turtle Cove was much larger than the village you see today. The old King, he was a crafty man, and he saw potential in the town as a place to hide a massive navy. Two-dozen ships, were moored along the coast, all of them flying orange and yellow flags, unique to a little Duchy in the west.”

“If they were the King’s ships why were they flying the flag of a different nation?” 

“He wanted the Duchy’s land for the Kingdom, but didn’t have the troops to spare attacking it. So he sent his two-dozen ships from Turtle Cove to Orvost and ordered them to begin harassing anyone they saw on open water. The plan was to anger Orvost and have them attack the duchy in his place. After all they were too far away for the Empire to govern. He believed they’d leave the Duchy in ruins and then he could swoop in and claim it. But his entire plan was derailed by a little babe.

“One of his sailors had gotten pregnant, and gave birth while her ship was on campaign. It was a difficult childbirth, and sadly the mother died. Without the mother to feed or care for the young child, the ship’s captain ordered a tactical retreat to bring the babe back to Turtle Cove, unaware that an Orvost spy ship was tailing them.”

“You won’t tell them an old legend, but this is okay?” Aivi sighed. “I don’t think you have your priorities straight.” 

“History only hurts those who don’t know it. While a legend often only plagues those who know of it.” 

“Very well, continue.” 

“Right, where was I. Anyway the ship returned to Turtle Cove and the captain handed the babe off to the village’s mayor. That night, while everyone slept, the village was set ablaze. By morning there wasn’t a single home standing, and nearly all of the village residents were dead. The king heard news that his plan had been discovered and he called his ships home to Indun, leaving the few survivors of Turtle Cove to pick up the pieces.” 

“That’s such a sad story,” I frowned. 

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“Yes. Our little territory has been long plagued by bad luck. But ah, I should say among the survivors, the babe who started all of this lived. As a matter of fact, she’s standing in front of you right now.” 

“You were the baby they brought back?!” 

“Yup. One of the many reasons the villagers here don’t like me much. The old ones remember the devastation the came in my wake, the young ones have heard rumors and stories that paint me in a bad light. But I’ve never left, Turtle Cove is home, even if the people here have never liked me much.” 

“You’ve spent fifty years in isolation?” Aivi asked with a raised eyebrow. 

“Not total isolation, there were still those willing to get to know me. Especially once I learned to fish. Nothing like a big catch to bring your neighbors to your door asking to buy from you.” 

“How’d you lose the eye?” I asked, knowing it was probably in bad taste. Still, if she was willing to share stories, I couldn’t help but ask for the one I was most curious about. 

“Who said I lost it?” Bobbie chuckled. “You never know what’s under an eyepatch until it’s been removed.” 

“But you said the locals call you Bobbie One-eye.” 

“If the locals told you the water was red, would you believe it without taking a look for yourself?  No my eye… it’s not gone.” 

“Then why cover it?” 

“Just a second Caelan dear, the fish is nearly done cooking.” 

We waited patiently while Bobbie finished cooking, laying plates of fish and carrots in front of each of us. Once she’d sat down, Bobbie smiled and removed her eyepatch, causing Cesarina and Aivi to gasp.  

“A philosopher’s eye!” Cesarina stared at Bobbie’s eye which was almost entirely black, except for three white dots arranged in a triangle. “Impossible!”

“What’s a philosopher’s eye?”

Cesarina shivered and looked away from Bobbie, refusing to make eye contact. “Ancient magic, created by a oracle who was driven mad by the death of the gods. It’s power was never truly documented, a handful of oracles were said to possess it, but they never passed the power on. It existed for a short time and then vanished.” 

Bobbie laughed and pulled her eyepatch back into place. “It’s one hell of a magic trick. I can read the minds of those who make eye contact with me, see a few seconds into the future, I can even watch the mana flow through your bodies as if it were a swarm of caterpillars crawling along your skin.” 

“I’m not hungry anymore,” Cesarina said jumping down from her chair. “We need to leave now.” 

“Come now little Rina, that’s the reason I wear the eyepatch. I’m not looking to use my power against you girls, I really am just looking for company.” 

“How’d you get such a thing?” Aivi asked, taking a bite of her fish.

“I made a mistake, and nearly died at sea. When I came to, I was laying on my back on a board in calm waters, with the eye already in place. I hope you’ll forgive me Aivi dear, but I took a little look at what you’re up to. If you’re looking to get to Orvost, I can help.” 

“How much did you see?” Aivi asked, gazing at Cesarina out of the corner of her eye. 

“Only your surface thoughts. Truthfully while I said I could read people’s minds, I can’t dig too deep. You’re safe Aivi dear.” 

“Well, we appreciate you offering to help us Bobbie, but I don’t think traveling to the Empire in a rowboat would be very comfortable or wise.”  

“Who said my ship was a rowboat?  I have a little sailing ship all my own.  It’ll be a bit cramped but we shouldn’t have any problems reaching Orvost.” 

“I didn’t see anything like that docked in the harbor.” 

“Because I don’t dock it in the harbor. There’s a beach just up the shoreline from us, I keep my ship there.” 

“Why?” 

“I’m a bit too impatient to wait for Mother Nature to provide a good wind, and it’s not wise to let others see you do magic. I’m sure you can agree, Aivi dear.” 

“You used your eye on us the moment we entered the village, didn’t you?” 

“I did. I have to say, it surprised the hell out of me to see a pair of children so much stronger than their caretaker. The mana flowing through Caelan and Rina is insane for kids their age.” 

“I’m nineteen,” I muttered, a bit offended that Bobbie kept treating me like a child. 

“Compared to me all three of you are practically children,” Bobbie guffawed. “If I’d been blessed with grandchildren, they’d be Aivi’s age I imagine.” 

“We couldn’t ask for a better ship captain to ferry us to the Empire,” Aivi held out her hand. “If you’re willing to take us Bobbie, we’d be happy to have you.” 

“Wait, Aivi!” Cesarina squeaked throwing up both her hands.

“I understand your objections Rina, but this is an opportunity for us. We’re not going to find anyone better to travel with than Bobbie, you’ll just have to come to terms with her.” 

“I’d be happy to take you,” Bobbie shook Aivi’s hand. “Now then, if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to discuss the payment I require.” 

“We’re a bit low on coin now, but if you’d be willing to wait, we could pay you with interest after returning home.” 

“I don’t need your money. Actually, all I would like is if you girls would remember me, and come visit every once in a while. I have no family of my own, it’d be nice to have some young folk to dote on.” 

“You wish to adopt us?” 

“Nah, nothing that formal. I just want you to visit. Have dinner with me a couple times a year, tell me stories about your travels. Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to give you some advice, I’ve been alive for a long time.” 

“I can’t speak for Caelan and Rina, but I’ll certainly try to come visit you as often as I can.” 

“Thank you Aivi dear, it warms my old heart to hear you say that. Now then, everyone eat, your food is getting cold. I’m sorry for starting such a serious conversation while supper’s on the table.”