The Dagger-Key and The Lost Treasures of Kebadon

by Daniel Ferguson

CHAPTER 4:

  Early the next morning Earron and Coita bathed at the shore near their one room shack, put on their best garments, and went straight to the Sheriffs station, located in the center of town. It was much like any small town in those days, with cobblestone streets, and a courthouse and sheriff station on the main square.

  After they walked up the steps to the station, they casually entered. Except for the officer at the front desk, the place seemed empty. “What can I do for you lads? he asked.”

  Earron hesitated, “We’d like a summon with Sheriff Nossgon.”

  “He’s busy at the time, but I’m sure I can help.”

  “We need to speak with Nossgon.” Earron crossed his arms, his tone somewhat impatient, “If you don’t mind we’ll wait out here till he has the time.” Earron looked at Coita. “We’ll wait here until he sees us.”

  While they sat on the long wooden benches waiting, Coita gazed around the sitting room, well lit. “Look Earron, this room has nine glass windows. The last time we were here only four of the windows had glass in them.” He moaned, “At least we know where our taxes are going.”

  Shortly after Sheriff Nossgon opened his office door, and went to the clerk’s desk. They traded a few words glancing at Earron and Coita as they spoke. The heavy set, strong-minded, middle aged Nossgon approached with a strong voice. “I hear you youngsters need to speak with me.”

  Earron hesitated. “It’s about the Sealander… sir.”

  “The Sealander?” Sheriff Nossgon turned and went to the large window on the far side of the front door. He turned and slowly drew near. “Why don’t you two come into my office.”

  Earron gave him a pleading look as he closed the office door. “Sir, we know you’re awfully busy, being in charge of the station and all. But as I’m sure you already know, the Sealander and Kyhawn hasn’t made it back from Adrolf yet. We were wondering if there’s anything you could do to help look for then?”

  Nossgon sat with a compassionate glow about him. “I know you mean well, but we don’t have the time, or the Zacs to go hunting for a lost fishing boat.”

  “Lost fishing boat?” Earron questioned.

  “Yes. Didn’t you know, Kyhawn is to return on a fishing boat. They’re only a day late.

  And as far as the Sealander is concerned, it’s not do to pass through town for another week to ten days. Why are you getting in such a ruckus about Kyhawn? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  Earron and Coita, not wishing to be humiliated, were embarrassed to tell him about the dream.

  “What is it, are you youngsters going talk, or waste my time?” Nossgon sat behind his desk in his black leather chair, quill in hand, doodling. “I have a busy day planed. Kyhawn is a friend of mine too. His mother and I go back a long ways.” He laid the pen down. “I’ll tell you what, if they’re not back after occton season, I’ll personally, along with you two, a few of my officers, and one of our boats, search until we find them.”

  Coita nudged Earron’s side and whispered, “Tell him before he kicks us out.”

  “I’m sorry lads, but that’s the best I can do until the end of occton season.”

  Earron jumped to his feet, hands pressed to the desk. “But sir—we really do feel you should take the time—now! A lot of lives are at stake!”

  Nossgon picked up his quill, in haste tapped the stack of parchment. “I’ve been sitting behind this desk for almost twenty years. What I don’t need is you telling me how to run my station. I’d advise you to run along before I change my mind.” He pointed at the door. “I’m sure the fishing boat Kyhawn’s returning on is quite alright. It’s not as fast as a cruise ship. They might even be doing some fishing.”

  They abruptly left the office. Earron thought, sure that's what everyone says.

  “Maybe you are overreacting,” Coita placed a hand on his good friends shoulder. “Maybe the dream meant they’d be a day or two late.”

  “I doubt it.” Earron said as he took a seat on the station’s steps. With a melancholy look about him he placed his hands over his face and closed his eyes. “I need to think about this.”

  As Coita parted his good friend and took a seat on the opposite side of the steps, he muttered with both elbows weighted on his knees, his hands pressed up to his cheeks. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see if that deep-sea fishing boat shows.”

  Earron sat with both hands pressed to his knees rocking back and forth, when all the sudden a sense of hope overwhelmed his expression. “Unless we can get someone else to take us out and search for them, other than Werdna and Nevets.”

  A covered coach pulled up alongside them. A tall slim silverish-blue Zac with long wavy gray hair, dressed in fine garments stepped down and rushed past them, slamming the station house door behind himself. Coita looked at Earron with a chuckle, “I wonder what his problem is?”

  “Who knows, and who cares.” Earron tucked his hands under his knees and continued to rock. “All we can do is keep asking,” he said, his eyes full with grief, “until we find someone to help us.”

  Coita leaned forward. “I don’t see how, as everyone already thinks we’re barmy. We shouldn’t have told them about Kyhawn’s weird dreams. You can make a fool of yourself again, but I’m not.” Coita got up and moved over beside him. “They’re already calling us the two barmy kids running around the docks. Before you know it, they’d be locking us up in a dungeon with real barmy Zacs.”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  The door opened. “Tomorrow’s not going to help me none. Blasted—I’ve been waiting too long already.” The Zac in fine garments stared at Earron and Coita. He quickly introduced himself as Professor La’mamm. “I was told you fine lads might be able to help me. You see, the Sealander never made it to Adrolf.”

  They looked at La’mamm, sorrow in their eyes. Earron got to his feet. “Are you one of them who own that special chest?” Earron said, as he and Coita followed La’mamm to his awaiting ride.

  While they stood next to the coach, Earron told La’mamm there might be a way to get some friends of theirs to depart for sea that very day. “We’ll need to go to the docks first,” Earron pointed.

  La’mamm held the door to the coach open for them, spoke a few orders to the Oowed on the buckboard, and a moment later they were fast on their way to the docks. La’mamm pulled out a pipe from his pocket, and mumbled something sour about the sheriff. “He told me about this dream your friend Kyhawn had. Sounds pretty farfetched, but then again, you never know about such things.” He lit his pipe with consideration.

  “It’s early.” Earron glanced out the open window. “We might get lucky and see them off to the south shores, at Torrs Peak. We can take one of old Rembrant’s boats out.”

  Coita chuckled. “They’re not much to speak of, but I bet you two glass jars they’ll get us out there.”

  La’mamm puffed on his pipe. “Now wait a minute—what makes you lads think these Zacs will be any more reasonable than your sheriff? And even if we get to this Torrs Peak, then what?”

  “I’m pretty sure the brothers, Werdna and Nevets will help us.” Earron glanced at Coita with a slight smile, then turned to La’mamm. “But only if you’re willing to pay them well.”

  Coita looked at Earron oddly.

  La’mamm waved his hand about as he spoke. “Tiallup is no problem.”

  Earron glanced at Coita again. He caught as though he was clearing his throat. “We could use some tiallup ourselves.”

  La’mamm viewed their ragged garments and gave them a slight grin. “You lads are smarter then I thought. You’re real business Zacs. Okay, what’s this going to cost me?”

  Earron and Coita’s eyes sparkled. Although they hadn’t been thinking at first about getting anything out of this except help for friend, they couldn’t ignore the temptation.

  As they reached the docks and worked out a payment agreement, they departed the coach to speak with Rembrant.

  Coita gave Earron a
great big smile. “That is more than we make in two months,” he whispered.

  Once they managed to obtain a small boat, they headed straight out to where they thought Werdna and his brother Nevets were fishing. Earron and Coita were at the oars while La’mamm sat in front when they spotted their fishing boat, the Mothcuh.

  The brothers were throwing their fishing nets over the side. Nevets chuckled. “Look who’s decided to come to work today after all.”

  They secured the small boat alongside and climbed aboard the Mothcuh.

  “Tell me, what brings you all out this way?” Werdna looked at the ragged old boat and laughed. “Where did you get that piece of driftwood?”

  “I hope you didn’t give anyone too much for it!” Nevets roared as the rest of the crew aboard the Mothcuh had a good laugh.

  “That’s not your boat, is it?” Werdna jokingly asked La’mamm.

  La’mamm answered with a friendly smile, “No, but I can see you and your crew are in a splendid mood.”

  Earron crossed his arms commandingly. “If you guys would stop joking, you might not have to keep fishing so hard to get that new fishing boat you’ve been talking about buying.” Earron glared at Nevets. “This is Professor La’mamm. He’s got an important business opportunity for you.”

  Everyone calmed down as their attention focused on La’mamm. “Let me cut through the crap and get to the point,” he told them. “Whatever tiallup you’re making here, I can double it. In return I need the use of you Zacs and your vessel. These lads here have informed me that this here vessel is equipped for deep sea, and that it’s swift. Even though it seems a bit worn,” he slapped the wooden railing, “I think it’ll do. That’s if what these lads tell me is true.”

  Whispers echoed throughout the fishing boat. Werdna gave his brother a puzzled look. “What’s he talking about?” He looked at La’mamm. “Who are you?” He then turned to Earron and Coita. “You guys put him up to this, didn’t you?”

  “No one put me up to anything. You know that cruise ship, the Sealander?”

  Werdna held the net firm. “We do.”

  Nevets quickly jumped in. “I see these two have been filling your head with stories about dreams.”

  Once again laughter filled the Mothcuh.

  “The blasted ship never made it to Adrolf,” La’mamm continued. “No one has seen neither hide nor hair of the Sealander since it departed these waters.”

  The laughter became an echo lost in the waves beneath. All eyes were on Earron and Coita.

  Werdna and Nevets swallowed their pride as they glanced at their crew, then stepped to one side for a private conversation. A few minutes later, they approached La’mamm.

  Nevets asked, “You mean if we take you out to search for the Sealander, you’ll pay us twice as much as we can possibly make fishing occton for the next four … five days?”

  La’mamm relit his pipe, taking a few puffs. “That depends on how much we’re talking about.”

  “How does one thousand tiallups sound?”

  La’mamm bit hard on his pipe, grinding his teeth. “I’ll give you nine hundred and no more.”

  Werdna shook his head. “Nine hundred and fifty tiallups.”

  La’mamm pressed his hands to his hips and walked away, then turned back to look at them. “Nine hundred and fifty tiallups.” He groaned and reached into his coat. “These charts I brought will tell us the exact route they took.”

  The nets were dragged in. As soon as they could they returned to shore and took care of the occton. While Earron and Coita returned the small boat, they gathered supplies and made ready for a deep sea voyage.