Everliving: Day 17

Word Count: 102,014

Summary of Events:

Quique and the pirates came on another spring and all the others following them came to claim it; their rushing and the banners spooked Quique's horse, who ran off on him before being stopped by Duke Edvin of Gevires, whom he talked to a bit. Reynaldo tried vainly again to reason with King Leopold, who seemed to be all the more obstinate and Reynaldo found himself running quite low on patience. Quique and Ripley were assigned to guard the pirate camp overnight against the threat of an attack by Melville and got to talking about whether the Fountain of Youth even existed or not . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

""Because based on what I read the only reason anyone think that there may have ever been a Fountain of Youth found by the explorer attributed to finding it is because he asked for a drink with his dying words," Quique replied.

"Obviously a specific drink if they came up with that whole thing," Ripley said.

"I didn't really find anything on that in what I read, but yeah, I guess," Quique said.

"So you think we might make it all the way back to San Iago without finding anything at all, though," Ripley said.

"More likely than actually finding something," Quique replied.

Ripley shifted his jaw. "Then what's the point?"

"I don't know," Quique replied. "Hope?"

"I guess," Ripley said.

"Or the princess," Quique said.

"Princess?" Ripley asked.

"Don't you remember the first time, when all those men rushed in to claim the swamp?" Quique asked. "You were there telling them off, and I was listening through the trees and heard. Not to mention I knew beforehand in San Iago."

"Remind me," Ripley said.

"Some of the men, such as the one from Ñapesa, want to find the Fountain of Youth so as to win the hand of the Princess of Ñapesa," Quique said. "Which is being offered to whomever brings the King of Ñapesa a drink from the Fountain."

"Hm," Ripley said. "Do you think Captain Sly might go hunt her down if he finds the Fountain?"

"Probably not," Quique said. "Although, even if he did, he'd probably be refused."

"Being as he's Dalgenn, and Dalgenn and Ñapesa don't get along well at all," Ripley agreed.

Quique nodded.

"Is there any particular reason why the King of Ñapesa's handing out his daughter for a drink from the Fountain?" Ripley asked.

"I don't know everything," Quique replied.

"True," Ripley said.

Quique startled at the sound of falling trees. "What was that?"

"What?" Ripley asked. "I didn't hear it."

More trees thudded.

"That," Quique said. "Trees are falling down."

"There aren't those elephant things in Falidor, are there?" Ripley asked. "I haven't heard of them in the Utter West. They're apparently in the Lower Colonies and the Utter East."

"No, I don't think they're around here," Quique said, glancing around uncertainly.

"Is it some kind of giant beast then?" Ripley asked, also looking around furtively.

"I don't know," Quique replied. "And I can't say that I want to find out either."

Quique rose to his feet as the collapsing noises got closer. He wanted to run, but he had no idea where would be best to run to.

"Help!" Ripley cried. "That tree just fell into a hole!"

"The ground's giving out!" Quique cried. "It's a sinkhole! We need to get everybody up!"

He started running toward the tents, a shout sounded behind him and he turned to see Ripley was gone, and so was the fire. Quique froze in place for a moment as more land collapsed, like a giant, invisible monster coming toward him."