by Sam Ferguson
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“LAND!” someone shouted from the deck. Talon rose to his feet and set the mysterious cube down on the table. He still hadn’t figured out what it was for. Dorder had found it rifling through the other goods and gave it to Talon. Both of them understood it was likely a magical object, but nothing in the ship gave any clue to where it came from, or what it was for. It didn’t open, had no markings along its smooth, black surface, and seemed little more valuable than a paperweight.
The door at the top of the stairs flung open and Dorder sauntered down. “We will be arriving shortly.” Dorder smiled wide as he surveyed the goods in the hold one more time. “Sure is nice doing business with you Mr. Silver.”
“Likewise,” Talon commented noncommittally.
Dorder walked over and reached out for the cube, glancing to Talon to make sure it was alright to do so before picking it up. “Figured out what it’s for yet?”
Talon sniggered. Why did Dorder expect him to know the answer? “No idea,” Talon replied.
Dorder turned it over in his hand. “Ever notice how it doesn’t get smudged by finger prints?” He set it down and pulled a mirror out of a nearby box. “See, if I touch the mirror, it leaves a smudge, but not on the cube.”
Talon shook his head. “Well, either way, it’s of no use to me. You can keep it.”
Dorder grinned ear to ear. “I could probably sell this for quite a bit of gold,” Dorder commented.
“You still have to figure out what it is,” Talon reminded him.
Dorder nodded and stroked his chin. “True, but I bet I can find someone who knows about it. Maybe I’ll poke around after we dock and see if I can’t drum up someone who can tell me about it.”
“I wouldn’t do that around here,” Talon said. “If it is magical, the elves will likely take it from you. Remember they are the only ones in this part of the world who still have any magical ability.”
“There was the mage we took this ship from,” Dorder put in.
Talon nodded. “A rarity, to be sure.” Talon crossed the hold and started up the stairs. “Either way, I would keep that cube and take it back to Kobhir with you. Look up a scholar there who specializes in artifacts.”
“I suppose,” Dorder said as he placed the cube back on the table.
Talon walked up the stairs and out into the soft, sea air. The sun was high overhead, but the heat was nothing like what it had been in Kobhir or Rasselin for that matter. Gulls flew quietly through the sky as clouds blew gently by, floating lazily above them.
A few of the men had been tying rigging off when he emerged, they all moved aside when he walked by. Talon grinned at their jumpiness. He could see most of the men were preparing the ship to dock. Others were either asleep or eating in the cabins.
A feeling of excitement washed over him as he saw Bluewater. The white stone buildings dotting the lush, green hillside surrounded by vibrant emerald forests almost took his breath away. He had spent all of his life on the larger, dryer continent. To see such vivid colors was something he never would have thought possible had he not stood there in that moment to witness it for himself.
“Quite a sight,” Dorder commented, closing the door to the hold behind him.
Talon regarded him and nodded with approval. Dorder had changed from his normal clothes into fine silks that had been in the hold. “You change quickly,” Talon said.
“Well, I can’t very well pretend to be a merchant without looking the part,” Dorder responded. He brushed off his sleeve and inspected himself in the sunlight. “This feels a lot nicer than what I am used too.”
Talon walked toward the front of the ship and motioned for Dorder to follow him. “How long will you stay?” he asked.
Dorder shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t know. I heard that lately there haven’t been as many traders willing to sail out here. We’ll see what kind of reception we get, and take our cues from the locals.”
“I could still use the rowboat to go ashore, if you think that would be wiser.”
“I’m not worried about it. Only Shausmat and Zinferth require official charters to trade. No one cares much who comes and goes to the Elven Isles.”
“For now,” Talon commented wryly.
“You know something I don’t?” Dorder asked cautiously.
Talon shook his head and put a hand on Dorder’s shoulder. “No, Captain Dorder, never mind. If you are confident that you will be well received, then let’s dock. I’ll even help with some of the boxes if you like.”
“Really?” Dorder asked surprised.
“No,” Talon said with a smirk.
Dorder and Talon shared a laugh and then Dorder went back to the rear of the ship, shouting at his men as he went. As soon as Dorder reminded them what waited for them on shore the men hustled about the ship with a new found zeal.
Talon turned back to watch Bluewater edge closer to him. The three days had been long. His thoughts, as they had for most of the voyage, centered again on Jahre, the old Nizhni’Tai sage. Talon expected the old elf must be well over six hundred years old. He wasn’t sure exactly how old Jahre was, but he knew that the elf was old enough to remember the days of magic. More importantly, Jahre had been alive when the Tomni’Tai Scroll had been made. Governor Gandle’s own research had confirmed that Jahre was the single elf with the most knowledge of the scroll, and the other relics Talon would need. To Talon, the fact that his current quest for the scroll would also allow him to exact revenge on Jahre for an old, life-altering, offense was beyond serendipitous. It was delectable.
It would not be as easy as finding the sage, Talon knew. According to Governor Gandle there was an elite order of elf soldiers, the Svetli’Tai Kruks, guarding Jahre and others who had knowledge of the Tomni’Tai Scroll to prevent it from ever falling into the wrong hands. Talon was not one to fear others, but he knew he would have to tread lightly.
The ship slowed and a couple of crewmen leapt down with ropes to dock the ship. Talon lurched forward slightly when the ship halted suddenly. A couple of men tied up the sails while another pair dropped the dual anchors into the crystal clear water below. Talon grabbed his coin purse, adjusted his sword belt and made for the gangplank before it was even secured.
Captain Dorder approached Talon with a large grin on his face. “Well, Mr. Silver, should ye ever be in need of a charter service again I would be honored if ye would call on us. Anywhere yer heart may desire, all I would require would be a nominal fee of say five pieces of silver.”
“Thank you captain, I will be sure to keep you in mind,” Talon replied. “However, I think for the amount of loot in the hold, plus the cube, any future trips I require will be for free.”
Dorder’s belly bounced as he chuckled. “Fair enough,” he replied. “Well, I will go have a chat with the dock manager. Wait here ‘til my men have everything off the ship.”
Talon watched Dorder saunter up to the tall, slender elf at the bottom of the gangplank. The elf wore a green cloak with brown buttons and black trousers, tucked into highly polished knee high leather boots. His long, silver hair was pulled tightly into a pony tail and a pair of delicate spectacles rested on his nose. Talon had never thought of an elf needing spectacles before since elves were renowned for impeccable eye sight.
The elf was eyeing the crew warily and holding a leather-backed ledger in his left hand. “I need the ship’s name, its captain’s name, and the boss’ name,” the elf instructed Dorder.
Dorder nodded and pulled a few gold pieces from his pocket and placed them on the ledger. “The boss and captain are one and the same. My name is Marmont, Levin Marmont. The ship is called Starlight,” Dorder lied.
The elf peered around Dorder and narrowed his eyes. “You have an interesting way to spell Starlight it seems,” the elf replied.
Talon leaned over the side and looked at the word “Isabell” painted plainly on the hull. He would have found a way to silence the dock manager, but Dorder beat him to it. Anothe
r five gold pieces landed on the ledger.
“The ship’s name is Starlight, I assure you,” Dorder said.
The elf held one of the gold coins up in the light, smiled, and then pocketed the money. “Well, sir, on behalf of the city of Bluewater I welcome you. You may instruct your crew to set up your wares in stall seven.” The elf turned and pointed to a tan building just beyond the docks. “They may enter through the back there. Each day you wish to remain docked and sell goods is going to cost an additional three gold pieces.”
“Three gold per day?” Dorder grumbled.
“One for docking, one for the stall rental, and one for the ‘name’ issue,” the elf replied smugly. “And don’t even think about causing any trouble around here. We may not have a garrison force like the larger cities on the main continent, but we have sufficient soldiers to handle anyone who comes here looking to stir things up.”
Dorder bristled. “Understood.” He then turned to his men along the ship. “Ye heard him men, stall seven is ours. Get this load up and displayed nicely, ya hear?”
The dock manager closed the ledger and walked back to his small desk at the end of the dock.
Talon walked down the planking carrying a long wooden box filled with tobacco leaves.
“Thought ya weren’t going to help?” Dorder spat.
“Just this one box,” Talon replied. “Don’t want that dock manager shaking me down for my name.”
Dorder touched his finger to his nose and smiled. “Good luck to ya, mate,” he offered.
“Same to you,” Talon responded.
Dorder watched Talon walk up the hill to the tan building. He disappeared through the back door and never reappeared. “Interestin’ feller,” Dorder commented to himself. He walked back up the gangplank and started directing his crew, deciding which boxes of goods would have the best likelihood to sell well.
Dorder then watched his men scurry back and forth like an army of oversized ants carrying crates and boxes of all sizes down the gangplank, across the docks, and then up into the tan building. He had to stop one of his men when he realized that his little black cube had been set on top of an open box of silk cloth. He snatched the cube back and then sent the man on his way with everything else.
Dorder turned the cube over in his hands, marveling at its simplicity and beauty. He pondered what it might be for, or who may have used it in times past. He thought again about hunting for an expert here on the Elven Isles that might be able to identify it, but Talon’s warning came to his mind. Dorder tucked the cube away in his pocket and then leaned against the railing while his men finished their work.
After about half an hour the crew finished unloading the crates and had returned to the ship for Dorder’s instructions. Once all of them were assembled Dorder smiled. “Well, this is one of those easy trips we always talk about,” he said with a laugh. His men cheered and laughed in response. “Hardly any fightin', no chases at sea, and we still get a king’s ransom!” The men cheered again. “So, ye dogs go and get some rest. Have fun while yer here, but keep yer noses clean. The elf folk ain’t as tolerant as the people in Kobhir are. Be back here by tomorrow at noon, and then we’ll discuss how to split up the proceeds from selling this junk off and how long we’ll be staying.”
“Captain,” one of the men interrupted.
“What is it?” Dorder grumbled.
“I see a ship, heading right for us.”
“Can’t be,” Dorder said. “No one knows we’re here.” He pushed through the men and took a spy glass from one of them. He extended the spyglass and looked through. “Zinferth flags,” Dorder mumbled.
“The navy is after us!” one of the men shouted.
“Pipe down,” Dorder yelled. “No one knows we’re here. They can’t be here for us!” Another crewman walked up and held out his hand for the spyglass. “Knock yerself out,” Dorder said as he plunked the spyglass into his open hand.
“I count thirty men along the deck,” he said. “Two ballista launchers near the bow, another one on the stern.” He swept the spyglass from side to side and then froze. “I now see two smaller ships flanking the first.”
“Impossible!” Dorder shouted. He grabbed the spyglass back and took a second look.
“Well, what is it?” one of the men asked.
“That was fast,” Dorder muttered to himself. He tossed the spyglass back to the other crewman and turned to face the rest of his men. “Cast off men, get us out of here!” The crew scrambled to launch the ship. Dorder ran to the wenches with a pair of men and began drawing the anchors in while others simply hacked the rigging connecting the ship to the dock to expedite the process.
“What about the goods?” one of the crewmen shouted.
“Forget it dogs, get those sails up!” Dorder shouted.
The Isabell lurched away from the dock and started to rock gently with the waves coming in. Dorder rushed to the ship’s wheel and directed a pair of men to swing the sails out to catch the westerly wind. The ship started to turn, but Dorder knew that they would never make it. The Isabell had barely gone more than half a boat length away from the docks and the Zinferth ships were already most of the way to them.
“Captain, we have to turn the ship more if we want our ballista launchers to be of use,” one of the men shouted as he loaded a large missile into the port side launcher.
Dorder watched in amazement as a large ballista missile ran through a couple crew members and nailed them to the center mast. “How did the navy know exactly where we sailed?” Dorder wondered aloud.
“Abandon ship!” one of the men yelled as he launched himself overboard. Dorder gave up the wheel and let the Isabell drift. Even now he could see a group of armed elves heading straight for them, with the dock manager leading them.
“Blasted elf,” Dorder grumbled.
Another ballista missile ripped through the air and sunk deep into the center mast. This time the missile was connected by a heavy rope to the lead Zinferth naval ship. There was no chance for escape now. Dorder watched and shook his head as his own crew deserted him, jumping from the ship in a futile attempt to escape the impending arrests. All the while Dorder could hear his captors coming closer. The sound of their ships cruising through the shallow waters, the shouts of their crewmen, and then, finally, the sound of footsteps as men boarded his ship. He knew his fate was sealed. He would most likely be executed for piracy. There was no chance of winning in a battle against all of these sailors. However, death by blade sounded a little more enticing than death on the gallows.
Dorder turned in his final moment of courage and charged the boarders. Two sailors fell by Dorder’s blade, another three were badly wounded, but that was all the damage that captain Dorder could inflict before he was cut down. As his body hit the deck, a black cube rolled out from his pocket.
The rest of the pirate crew met a similar fate. As they started to reach the sands of the shore and attempt to run, a few warning arrows landed in the ground in front of them. The Bluewater city guard had been fast in responding.
“On your knees pirates,” the dock manager yelled.
“He said we could dock here,” one of the crewmen yelled in protest.
“Kill that elf,” another said.
Emboldened by their captain’s gallantry the small band of pirates collectively let out a yell and charged the elves. However, they never got a chance to use their swords. Elven arrows rained a fury of death upon them and none escaped.
Meanwhile, Kelden walked across the deck of the Isabell and found a pair of soldiers marveling at the black cube that had fallen out of Dorder’s pocket. “Put that below, in the hold,” Kelden instructed them. “I’ll go and speak with the elves. We need to recover everything the ship was carrying,” Kelden shouted to the Zinferth captain.
“I understand,” he replied with a nod. “Get to work men, we need to take this ship back to Kobhir.”
Kelden waited as the elves rowed out in a long boat and invited him to come down
to them. Kelden immediately recognized the ranking officer from the Bluewater patrol, a young elf lieutenant, by the eagle wing symbol over his breast on his bronze armor.
“Thank you for your assistance,” Kelden offered.
“You’re welcome,” the elf replied as he bowed his head. “While the men were unloading the ship, the dock manager here came to inform me they had attempted to bribe him in order to dock.”
Kelden turned to regard an elf in a green cloak. “I played along of course, and slipped away when they were too busy hauling their merchandise into the warehouse over there.” The dock manager directed Kelden’s gaze to the tan building on shore.
“After we were informed, we decided to assemble and lay in wait, just in case you or Shausmat would send a recovery crew. Once I saw your flags, we blocked off their escape.”
“I apologize for the disturbance, I did not mean for this to be a day of blood for your people,” Kelden offered. “Thank you again for your support.”
“Of course,” the elf said. “Will you need any accommodations before your return journey?” the elf asked.
“No, we must be heading back immediately. We ask only for permission to dock and recover the goods that were in this ship’s hold.”
“Permission granted,” the elf replied.
“May I have the pleasure of your name, that I may tell Queen Dalynn who has helped her this day?” Kelden inquired.
“My name is Seldaric. I am head of the patrol division here in Bluewater.”
“I will be sure to pass your name along. The queen will be impressed by your service.”
“My thanks,” Seldaric offered.
“In addition to the merchandise, I would ask you allow me to take the bodies back as well, so I may account for the pirates who stole this ship.”
Seldaric raised an eyebrow. “I suppose that is alright. Were these particular men of interest to Queen Dalynn?”