Princess Electra Book 3 Gypsy Music

by Dory Lee Maske

  Chapter 22

  Aboard the Spirit of Taz

  The Spirit of Taz had been at sea for more than a week when it made its first landfall. The air here was noticeably warmer than in Fernland. Even with sea breezes there was no need for coats or scarves. Electra stood next to Avor as their ship sailed slowly into port. The last sail was down and furled as the ship moved with the incoming tide and came to rest a few yards from shore after its anchor found purchase on the muddy harbor bottom.

  Electra and Avor looked out at the port city of Venito. The small island offered an accessible port with wings of land stretching out on either side to protect ships harbored there.

  "Do you have any idea why we're stopping here?" Avor asked.

  "None. It is not like Rabar to be so elusive." Electra strained to make out the buildings on shore. "I have asked to go ashore with him."

  "Did he agree? I would like to go ashore as well."

  "He said, 'perhaps'." Electra shrugged. "Look, they are readying the shore boat." She pointed to the ship's stern where sailors were untying the ropes that fastened the shore boat to the ship.

  Rabar called out an order in the Taz language and the shore boat was slowly lowered down to the water. Rabar shouted to Electra and beckoned her with a wave. He seemed in good spirits.

  "Do you still wish to go ashore?" he asked.

  "I do. I would like to see what they sell at their bazaar. Avor would like to go as well if there is room in the shore boat."

  Rabar frowned, considering. "You should be safe enough in the bazaar if you stay together. Never buy at the first price and stay away from the waterfront taverns. I will not be able to stay with you. I have business to attend to here."

  "We will do exactly as you say," Electra promised. She did not wish to question Rabar about his business here, fearing he might change his mind about taking them ashore.

  Rabar, Electra, Avor and an oarsman climbed down the rope ladder and settled themselves into the small boat. The oarsman sat on the middle plank and settled the oars into their locks. He pushed off the side of the ship and began to row backwards toward shore.

  As the city grew closer, they could clearly see the waterfront taverns Rabar had warned them to avoid. Rough looking sailors stood or sat at outdoor tables talking loudly, shouldering in and out of the taverns. They looked to be a rowdy and dangerous lot.

  "Some of them are pirates, others are seamen looking for a berth." Rabar stared out at the spectacle. "They would kidnap you both and hold you for ransom if they suspected you were royalty."

  Avor swallowed with difficulty, finding his throat suddenly dry. "Why are they allowed to stay here?"

  Rabar smiled. "Most ports are like this. Ships need sailors and sailors are by nature a swarthy, adventurous lot."

  Their small boat nudged the dock and the oarsman jumped out, rope in hand, to tie up to an iron ring. He told Rabar he might look for a glass of ale but would keep watch over the boat and wait for their return.

  Rabar, Electra and Avor walked along the dock together until they reached the main road. Rabar pointed out the direction of the bazaar, told them to meet at the dock in two hour's time and then left in the opposite direction.

  "He must know someone here," Avor said as they walked toward the marketplace."

  "He seems to be quite familiar with the place," Electra agreed.

  The road passed over a bridge that spanned a wide canal. On the other side they could see the bazaar.

  The marketplace was large and sprawling. Vendors sat on blankets or stood behind wooden counters. Faded lengths of cloth formed canopies to shield sellers and their goods from the sun. They passed stands of fruits, vegetables, flowers, blankets, rugs, jewelry, baked goods, pots, toys. Electra stopped to pick up a cloth doll. It was soft and painted with a little face. Dark yarn formed the hair. "How much?" she asked, holding the doll up.

  The seller shook her head. She did not understand. She picked up a coin and held up two fingers. Electra nodded, returned the doll to the blanket and moved on. The seller, a young woman with a baby asleep beside her, followed Electra. She held up the coin again and one finger, pushing the doll into Electra's hands. Electra nodded and tried to signal that she needed to catch up to Avor, but would be back. Reluctantly, the woman let her go.

  Avor had stopped to admire a talking parrot. It had a red chest, a green head and green and blue tail feathers. The parrot seemed to have a large vocabulary. It spoke words in a language Avor did not understand.

  Avor moved on to a stall that featured spyglasses and metal measuring instruments. He handled the instruments, trying to decipher their uses. He seemed quite excited about one in particular.

  "I must have this. I believe it is used to measure angles."

  "You'd best not let the vendor see how much you want it," Electra warned.

  Avor held the metal object up to attract the vendor's attention.

  The vendor took it from Avor's hand and wrapped it in a cloth. He held up a copper coin to show Avor the price.

  "I will need to find a money changer," Avor said.

  As Avor walked away, the vendor walked along beside. He held up another coin and smiled. He shook Avor's hand as if to congratulate him on his bargain. Avor tried to signal that he would be back. The man frowned and returned to his stall.

  Electra and Avor found a stall that appeared to be manned by a money changer. The vendor had stacks of coins in a variety of sizes and shapes.

  "How will we know if we are being fairly treated?" Electra asked.

  "We will not know," Avor answered. He took a silver coin from his pocket and showed it to the money changer. The man, a small muscular person sporting a turban, a moustache and an intricate pattern tattooed on his forearm, took the coin and hefted it for weight. Then he inspected it with a glass. He tried a few languages before Avor helped him with a question.

  "Are you a money changer?"

  "I could be," the man said. "I am also a dealer in rare coins."

  "Could you direct us to a money changer?" Avor asked.

  "No need for that. How many coins do you have to change?"

  Electra nudged Avor but he ignored her. "I have just that coin," he said.

  The man inspected the coin once more. He reached under his counter and came up with a few coins. "Here you are."

  Avor saw that one of the coins was the copper one the instrument dealer had shown him. He thanked the man and took the coins.

  As they walked back to the table of instruments, Electra stayed close. "Rabar told us we should never accept their first offer."

  Avor turned back with an irritated expression. "What difference does it make? The second offer could be just as bad for all we know."

  Avor gave the instrument vendor his copper coin and put his angle finder in his pocket. "I have three small coins left. Do you want to buy anything?"

  "Yes. I saw some small dolls I would like to buy. Thank you."

  "Dolls? What do you want with dolls?"

  Electra realized that was a very good question. Avor had no idea he had two small cousins in Henge. And now was not the time to tell him.

  "There may be children in Taz who would like them. Electra took the coins and raced off to the toy blanket, leaving a bewildered Avor to catch up.

  By the time the dolls were purchased and both had drunk a sweet drink that was new to them, it was time to meet Rabar at the dock. They walked quickly, retracing their steps over the bridge and back along the road, unaware that two men were gaining on them.

  As the dock came into view, they spotted Rabar. Electra and Avor stopped and looked at one another as they took in the scene ahead. Rabar was surrounded by more than a dozen women and children. They were being ushered, one at a time into the little shore boat.