by Eric Vall
“It does seem to have a certain… charm about it,” Morrigan said enthusiastically, her eyes shone with uncharacteristic awe and wonder.
The city by the sea was indeed a sight to behold. The golden sands of Valasara stretched out beyond the coast and glistened in the hot sun. As we entered the city by the gate nearest the harbor, I could make out the tops of a few obelisks and a handful of crumbling monuments that were probably raised in the honor of ancient deities or monarchs from times past. There were several other ships docked at the port but none nearly as big as the one that we had traveled here on. I gathered that these vessels probably carried goods and various supplies instead of travelers.
Everything here seemed noisy and busy. The dock teemed with arriving passengers and busy sailors going about various tasks. Greetings were shouted and warm embraces were exchanged between newcomers and those who were there to welcome them. Crewmen rushed this way and that with ropes, tools, and other various supplies and barked at each other in their seaman’s jargon. Just beyond the port was a bustling open-air market throngs of people moving to and fro like ants at work. There was a certain energy that filled the air here, and I liked it.
“Hey, there’s our ship! They must have made good time after they dropped us off by the dungeon.” Carmedy pointed toward the docks as our group dismounted in the area between the market and the port, and we turned to follow the cat’s gaze. My eyes scanned across the various vessels that lined the port when I finally noticed a large square-rigged ship with which I was quite familiar.
The Sarpedon was indeed docked there. In fact, it looked as though the ship had arrived not too long ago, as one of the crewmen proceeded to lower a ramp from the ship’s deck to the shore so that the passengers could disembark. As the people onboard began to make their way off the ship, I noticed Annalíse glancing nervously at the bustling port. Her eyes would linger there for a few moments and then darted to the passengers that disembarked. Then she’d glance over at the port again and then back at the people once more. She must have seen something that distressed her because her eyes abruptly widened, and she turned her back to the crowd quickly.
“I’m… uh, I’ll be right back,” Annalíse said clumsily and hurried away.
“Are we not meant to be gathering our supplies?” Morrigan raised an eyebrow as she called after the warrior woman. It was too late though. Annalíse had already disappeared into the crowd of people that filled the port area.
“Strange,” Morrigan mumbled.
“There she goes again.” Rana gestured in the direction that Annalíse had gone. “She kept doing that back on the ship and...” The fox’s voice trailed off as she glanced around at the passengers that had just disembarked from the Sarpedon and narrowed her eyes.
“What do you notice?” I asked.
“Those two guys over there.” The fox gave a subtle nod toward two men that were standing on the dock a few yards away from us.
“What about them?” Carmedy shrugged her shoulders.
“I remember them from our ship,” Rana said quietly. “Did anyone else notice that every time those two guys were around Annalíse up and vanished? She either disappeared without a word or made up some poor excuse to leave.”
“And she has done so once more,” Morrigan said with suspicion as she eyed the men.
“You’re right,” I said slowly and gave the men another quick glance. “I did notice that those two were often present when Annalíse would leave without warning.”
“I wonder who they are,” Carmedy mumbled. “They don’t look like your usual thugs. Not with that fancy-schmancy armor.”
The cat-girl was right, the men in question each wore a suit of rather impressive looking armor. It wasn’t likely for a brigand to wear such garb.
“Well, whoever they are, they aren’t from any of the nearby continents, that’s for sure,” Rana continued.
“How do you know this?” Morrigan asked blankly.
“The helmets they’re carrying,” the fox said casually. “You see how the helmets look like a bear’s head?” The fox’s blue eyes darted in the direction of the two men. She didn’t turn to look at them directly though and instead casually played with one of the buttons on her vest.
Carmedy, Morrigan, and I looked at them more closely. Rana was right, the headpieces did indeed resemble the heads of bears. The top was expertly carved to mimic a bear’s fur, and the gruesome mouth was opened wide so that the wearer could see out through the jaws. They were both fearsome and impressive.
“Only soldiers from Tintagal or Tamarisch, the twin glacial continents, have those,” Rana continued. “The bear is their emblem.”
“You’ve been there?” I asked curiously. My thousands of years of imprisonment in my dungeon had left me out of touch about modern kingdoms, and I found them fascinating to study.
After all, one day I would rule them all.
“No, but as you know, I’m an expert on fine metals and other valuable shiny things,” Rana said with a wry grin. “Let’s just say I’ve done my research, and people will pay a pretty penny for those babies. That armor is practically flawless, almost as good as elvish stuff. The thing is, not many people have the guts to try to steal some.” Rana ran a paw through her messy red curls. “You’d have to kill one of those soldiers to get that armor, and soldiers from Tintagal and Tamarisch are world class. Their army is like legendary, not to mention massive.”
“In my time, the glacial continents had a small number of inhabitants, and their army was far from impressive,” I said.
“Yeah well, in your time, they also didn’t have fox-beings and there were still dragons roaming the skies,” Rana said with a playful smirk. “A lot’s changed, demon man.”
“Do you think we should say something to them, Master?” Carmedy whispered as she glanced at the soldiers. The pair started to make their way through the crowd. “About the whole thing with Annalíse, I mean.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I want to find out what’s going on from Annalíse first. We don’t know precisely who they are or what they’re doing here. If Annalíse is trying to avoid them, it wouldn’t be wise to talk to them about her.”
Carmedy, Morrigan, and Rana nodded in agreement, but I had to admit I was curious. What were two soldiers from the glacial continents doing so far from home? And what did they have to do with Annalíse?
One by one, each of my other minions had opened up about their pasts and the purpose of their travels. Rana needed to save her family, Morrigan sought revenge against the Holy Band of Mages, and Carmedy just wanted adventure and exotic desserts. Annalíse was the only one who hadn’t spoken of her homeland and her family. When she had been asked about her reason for traveling, the swordswoman had simply stated that she wanted fame, glory, and to become a great warrior. While the others had thought nothing of her explanation, I myself had been more skeptical.
I believed the last reason, but the first two I doubted very much. Someone as noble as Annalíse would not be satisfied with mere fame and glory. She struck me as someone who wanted purpose.
I studied the men carefully as they strode away from the dock. One of them whispered something to the other, and the other man nodded. The swords at their hips were of immaculate silver and the top of the hilts bore the same fearsomely carved bear’s head, as did their flawless breastplates. They walked tall and with purpose, but I expected nothing less of well-trained soldiers. They studied the crowd of people that meandered at the dock before they walked off in the direction of a very prominent building. I didn’t get the impression that they were wrongdoers, but there was obviously something about them that concerned Annalíse to the point of hiding from them.
“Ah, our braided warrior returns to us at last!” Rana snickered, and the rest of us turned to where the fox pointed and saw Annalíse making her way through the crow toward us. “Aren’t you going to say something to her? She’s definitely trying to avoid those soldiers, I’m sure of it now.”
&n
bsp; “Not right now,” I said with a last glance after the soldiers. “If she is avoiding them, it is for good reason. After we get our supplies, we’ll discuss it in private.” I met Rana’s blue eyes. “But be on the lookout for any tricks. If they try anything, I will crush them and ask questions after.”
“Alright, I can do that,” Rana said with a shrug. “I’ll keep a close eye on them.”
“Thank you, my fox,” I said, and as I spoke, her cheeks flushed.
“You’re welcome,” she replied hurriedly before she looked away. Then I glanced at the two men with the intricately carved bear helmets one last time before they disappeared into the crowd.
“Let’s get started buying our supplies,” Annalíse said as soon as she had reached our group. “This market should have everything that we need. The sooner we take care of our business here, the sooner we can set out for the next dungeon.” The chestnut-haired woman’s eyes darted in the direction that the soldiers had gone before she turned toward the market.
“Hold on a second.” Rana grabbed Annalíse’s arm. “We’ve just been at sea for two weeks, and we just conquered a dungeon. I’d like at least a few minutes of downtime before we go off into the sandy unknown and plunge into another dungeon.”
As she spoke, the red-headed fox raised an eyebrow, and I detected mischief in her blue eyes. She was up to something. Rana had made a fair point, but I suspected that she had more than one reason for wanting to take it easy. Most likely, she would use the opportunity to get the truth out of Annalíse.
“While I too would appreciate a period of rest given the journey that we have ahead of us, I also agree with Annalíse,” Morrigan said calmly. “We have much to accomplish today. It is important that we gather our supplies and get in as much travel time as possible before the sun begins to set. The desert brings an unremitting chill at night. It would be most unwise to travel during that time, and in our best interests to begin making camp before the sun goes down as it will take longer than usual. It will take time to make the necessary adjustments to protect ourselves from the cold.”
“Didn’t you say you were looking forward to a bed?” Rana asked.
“I do not recall saying such a thing,” Morrigan stated.
“Sure you did,” the fox-girl snickered. “It was right before Carmedy told us about all the scary ghost noises that you and demon man were mak--”
“No,” Morrigan interrupted her. “I do not recall saying such a thing, so we should continue on with our mission. I recall you saying it will take eight or nine hours to make it to the next dungeon? We should leave as soon as we re-supply.”
“Alright, alright, I get it.” Rana sighed. “No rest for the conquering heroes.”
“Seeing as time is of the essence, it would probably be best if we split up,” I said. “We have more that we need to attend to than usual. Not only do we require our usual supplies and have to sell our loot, we also need an additional riding animal since we no longer have our donkey as well as something to replace our wagon. Not to mention the fact that we need attire better suited for the climate.”
“Ok then, I’ll take care of the usual supplies, and sell our loot,” Annalíse said impatiently.
“I’ll come with you,” Rana spoke up. “You’ll need my expert bartering skills of course.”
“Fine,” Annalíse replied with yet another of her countless nervous glances.
“While you two are doing that, we’ll purchase another riding animal and try to find something to carry our supplies,” I said. “I’m sure the people here have some sort of device to transport their belongings across the sand.”
“Alright then.” Rana nodded. “We can meet at that big red tent in about, say two hours?” The fox gestured to, well, a big red tent on the edge of the market.
“That sounds fine,” I agreed, pulled the bags of treasure from my void pocket and handed them to Rana and Annalíse.
“Why can’t we just carry everything in those big pockets of yours?” Rana said as she glanced at my hips.
“We can,” I said, “but my intent is to train you four to be capable minions who can overcome any challenge with the tools you have earned.”
“Soooooo, you are saying that lugging around our own supplies builds character?” Rana sighed.
“Yes,” I laughed. “I suppose I am.”
“Good, we’re all in agreement about everyone’s job,” Annalíse said with a twinge of annoyance. “Let’s go Rana.” She turned on her heels and walked off quickly toward the market.
“Gee, thanks for waiting.” Rana shook her head before she jogged away to join Annalíse.
“Gosh, Annalíse sure is in a hurry,” Carmedy cocked her head to one side before she gathered Scylla and Xerxes’ reigns in her hand.
With Scylla and Xerxes in tow, my minions and I made our way into the bustling open-air market. The new smells from the market immediately drifted to my nose and replaced the scents of the sea that I had grown so accustomed to from the past few weeks. The air was rich with spices and the smells of leather goods. Vendors called out their offerings and their prices in both foreign and familiar language and informed passersby of how much of a bargain they’d get. Proprietors animatedly haggled with customers and held up their goods for all to see as they explained how fine of quality their products were. Citizens rode past on the backs of lizards and camels, and the hump-backed steeds moved lazily through the crowds without the slightest sense of urgency.
The atmosphere of my new surroundings was lively and enticing. It was enjoyable, especially since we had been at sea for so long. I had seen so many places since I had been freed from my dungeon. Each had different smells, people, wildlife… they each offered something unique, but there was one thing that all these places had in common. They all spurred feelings of carefreeness, gratefulness, and wanderlust.
As we weaved in and out of the rows of colorful tents, I caught sight of glistening jewelry, a rainbow of colorful silk scarves, and tanned hides. Several stands had the roasted meat of some large animal for sale. The vendors that sold it shouted that it was called a zandabii. I had never seen or heard of this beast, but the meat from the large creature was enough to feed a family of four for at least a week. My mouth watered as I inhaled the aroma of the seasoned cooked meat.
I paused for a moment in front of the food stand. I was tempted to buy some even though we had more important things to attend to. It was imperative that we find an additional riding animal, something to transport our belongings, and clothing to shield us from the desert’s harsh elements. The zandabii meat smelled so tantalizing though, so I decided to indulge and make a quick stop to purchase some.
A sweaty man wearing an apron carved some meat away from the large roasted hunk on the spit. His knife sliced through the zendabii with such ease it was as though the flesh were made of butter. The vendor cut the meat into smaller pieces and slid them onto a long stick before he presented it to me.
Without hesitation, I bit into one of the morsels. I moaned softly as I savored the decadent bite, and the juices that slid down my chin. The zendabii meat was unbelievably moist and tender, and the heat of fragrant spices made my tongue tingle. I decided to purchase another as a surprise treat for Carmedy. Knowing that the feline’s mind revolved around food half the time, I knew she’d enjoy it.
I glanced around to see where Morrigan and Carmedy had gotten to and soon found them in front of some food tents not too far from me. As usual, Carmedy’s attention had been captured by edible delights. As I approached, I saw the cat’s jade colored eyes turn glassy as she ogled the culinary offerings. She licked her lips greedily as her gaze darted from tent to tent as though she were trying to decide what to sample first. The feline started to stray away from Morrigan once she caught sight of another zendabii stand.
“Ooh, that looks tasty!” The black-haired cat rubbed her hands together excitedly. “And look at the size of it,” she said as her eyes roamed over the huge hunk of roasted meat. Morriga
n, however, wouldn’t allow any further dawdling, and she grabbed Carmedy by her wrist.
“We do not have the luxury of time today, Carmedy,” Morrigan said plainly as she pulled Carmedy through the market. “There is no time for your… adventures.”
“Aww, but there’s so many yummy looking things to eat,” the cat moaned, and she looked wistfully at the tents that we passed that were smoky from the preparation of the cooked foods.
“We have more important things to attend to than your stomach,” Morrigan replied nonchalantly, and she finally released the cat’s wrist. Carmedy looked to me with doe eyes as though she expected me to support her desire to roam.
“Morrigan is right,” I said to the cat with a soft smile as I presented her the stick of juicy meat, “but a small snack won’t hurt.”
“Oh, thank you, Master!” The cat clasped her hands gleefully before she reached out to take the snack. Then Carmedy blew on the seasoned morsels that glistened with moisture and then took a large bite. She closed her eyes and hummed with satisfaction before she took another bite.
“You’re quite welcome.” I chuckled, and Morrigan sighed and muttered something to Fea and Macha but offered no protests as we continued on our way.
Before we looked for something to carry our belongings, we stopped at one of the tents that sold clothing. Valasara’s sun was relentless and large amounts of exposed skin would result in very severe sunburns. Morrigan was already prepared as she always wore a hood and cloak. My robe and armor would provide ample protection against the sun’s rays, but Carmedy, Rana, and Annalíse would need something.
As Carmedy and Morrigan looked through the women’s clothing, I decided to take a look at the head coverings on offer. All the head coverings were of the same design, but there was a wide variety of colors. The vendor noticed me and made his way over to talk to me about the headpieces.
“We have a fine selection of kefficha,” he said as he swept his hand over his merchandise. “You see, each of the coverings is made up of a simple cloth folded into a triangle.” The vendor held up the headpiece for me to see. The man demonstrated how the item was worn by placing the cloth over his head so that it loosely draped around his back and shoulders. The material looked breathable and lightweight, most likely made up of cotton or something in the like.