Stix stood back, rubbing his hands together. “Well?”
Nester fished through his belt pouches and pulled out a shiny silver coin, holding it between his thumb and index finger. The coin was bigger than standard silver coins used for trading, and etched on one side of it was a profile of a brownie’s head, while the other side bore an image of a laurel wreath.
Stix beamed, his eyes glittering like the coin. “My lucky coin! You found it!” He extended his hand toward it, but Nester pulled it out of his reach.
“Aye,” Nester said. With his free hand, he retrieved the folded passenger papers from within his jerkin. “An’ you’re sure you’ll be able to duplicate these flawlessly?”
Stix looked at Nester, dumbfounded. “Of course, I will, Nester! You won’t find a better forger than me, my friend.”
Nester nodded and handed Stix the items. “All right, mate. You ain’t never let me down before. ’Owever, since there will be a merchant ship expected sooner, I think these papers need to be made for merchants, instead of normal passengers.”
“I can do that, no problem, Nester.”
“Think you can also get us some fake goods, also? To keep up with appearances, of course.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Stix pocketed the coin and took the papers to a desk, which was already littered with other parchments. In a single sweep of his arm, he brushed the old papers to the floor and set the new documents atop the desk. “You didn’t run into Vheradan while you got these, did you?”
“Aye, but my mates took care of ’im,” Nester said. “I tried to see what else the scaly blokes ’ad ’oled up there. But they ’ad nothin’! Can you believe it? Not a soddin’ piece of worthwhile treasure! Just a buncha junk they ’ad locked away. Wasted a couple of lockpicks tryin’ to get that soddin’ door open, I did.” He frowned bitterly.
Stix ran his finger along the spines of some books on a shelf, then pulled out a few thick tomes. He stood on a sealed crate and reached for some bottles of ink on a higher shelf. “Well, they’re kinlings. They have strange tastes when it comes to treasure,” he said, not looking at Nester. “I hope your friends were none the wiser when you found this coin.”
“Nay,” Nester replied, taking a seat on another sealed crate. “They don’t suspect a thing.” He took the spoon out of one of his pouches and set it atop a nearby table. “’Ow much’ll you give me for this? One copper? Two?”
Stix looked over his shoulder at him. “A spoon? And a bent one at that?” He snorted and turned back to the shelf. “Don’t insult your fence like that.”
Nester shrugged, smiling innocently. “’Ey, it was worth a try, aye?” He approached the desk and leaned against the side of it, his arms crossed. “Somethin’ still bothers me, though: ’ow in th’ soddin’ ’ells did they manage to steal from you in th’ first place?”
Stix paused and grimaced. He looked down a moment, as if pondering his answer. “I was careless. Vheradan seemed like my usual sort of customer. He came around here about a week ago, looking for a bundle of hemlock. He tried haggling for a ridiculously low price. I felt rather insulted. Anyway, I wouldn’t budge on the price, and he didn’t like that none too much. I had no idea the guy knew magic. He did something to me that made me feel like my head was spinning. I blacked out. Next thing I knew, I woke up sprawled out on my bed. He and his little gang of kinlings had robbed me of all my hemlock, as well as all the money I had on me—including my lucky coin. But thankfully, they didn’t manage to find my secret vault. Anyway, I was going to go after them, but I wasn’t prepared to face off a magic-user and a gang of kinlings alone.” Stix smirked. “But then you came along. With friends, to boot.”
Nester scratched his head. “If it really is a lucky coin, then you wouldn’t’ve been robbed in th’ first place, aye?”
Stix shrugged. “Maybe. Who knows? It is a special coin, though. Gives me a better insight on things.”
“What do you mean?”
Stix took the coin back out of his pocket and showed Nester. “I bought this coin from a traveling gypsy a long time ago. She told me it makes you see things clearer, and she was right! I can appraise the value of items to the finest detail. It’s also easier for me to spot counterfeit money. I’ve had customers who tried to take me for a fool like that. This little coin’s helped me more than I can say.”
Nester raised his eyebrows. “Aye? That’s pretty nifty! Where can I get a coin like that?”
Stix shrugged and shook his head. “You’re already pretty sharp, Nester. I don’t think a coin like this would help you all that much.”
Nester beamed, puffed out his chest. “Shucks, mate.”
Stix re-pocketed the coin and sat at the desk. He put on a pair of spectacles, then examined the documents, one by one. Afterwards, he set the papers down, took off his spectacles, and faced Nester. “It’s going to take me some time to duplicate these for all your friends, so why don’t you stay here for the night? I’ll have this finished by morning.”
The thought of sleep was a welcoming relief to Nester, who yawned and stretched. “Aye, not a bad idea. Thanks, mate.”
Stix pointed to a hefty stack of crates. “You can use the room around there.”
Nester rounded the corner of the crates and discovered a narrow doorway leading to a small, darkened room where a rickety wooden bed sat. Rugs and pillows also littered the floor around the bed. Nester grabbed a blanket and a pillow from the bed, and curled up on the floor in a corner of the room.
Immediately after shutting his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep.
XVIII
Kaijin opened his eyes and stared up at the wooden beams in the ceiling of his room. The morning sunlight poured through the room’s only window. He grabbed the sheets, about to pull them off him, when he stopped to gaze at the ring on his finger. He hadn’t taken it off since Ranaiah first gave it to him. He closed his eyes and smiled, bringing the gold ring to his lips, remembering the beautiful priestess.
Good morning, Ranaiah. I hope you’re well. I miss you. So much.
A sudden snore beside him interrupted his thoughts. He looked sidelong at Omari, who was huddled in a ball near the edge of the bed. Kaijin sat up and stretched. Percival, who was curled up against his master, opened his eyes and lifted his head, watching Kaijin intently. His tiny ears twitched and swiveled as Omari’s snore quieted, only to intermittently return.
The sheets rustled in another bed beside him, and Jarial let out a groan in his sleep. His youthful disguise had been shed once more, replaced by the aged face that looked more like a corpse. Sable lay against the man’s legs, purring, her ears twitching in the same manner as Percival’s. Her green eyes slowly opened, and she blinked at Kaijin.
Wearing only his pants, Kaijin slid out of bed. He filled a small clay basin with water from the wooden tub and washed his face. Miele flew from the ceiling and landed on his haversack, which was hanging from a hook on the room’s door. She screeched and nuzzled the bag’s flap.
Kaijin dried his face and smiled at her. His stomach growled. “Yes, breakfast. I’m starving, too.”
He dressed and walked to the door, nearly tripping over Aidan along the way. The giant had found a place on the floor to sleep, his wings folded around his muscular body in a similar manner to how Miele wrapped herself in her own wings whenever she rested.
Aidan let out a loud snore, startling Kaijin. Aidan’s mouth was half-open, revealing his sharp fangs, and drool dangled from the corner of his mouth.
Kaijin pulled the honeystick jar from his haversack and handed Miele a treat. Brett had made him a batch before Kaijin left the Pyre. She grasped the honeystick in her jaws, then returned to a ceiling beam. Kaijin turned and saw Jarial and Omari waking up. Jarial had apparently returned to his youthful state without Kaijin’s seeing.
“Morning, you two,” Kaijin said with a half-smile.
Omari yawned and stretched. “What about it, Kaijin?” he grumbled as he crawled out of bed, his pants all wri
nkled. He walked toward the desk chair, where the rest of his clothes were hanging on the back. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he walked, Omari tripped over Aidan’s solid form and nearly fell flat on his face.
“Get up, you big oaf!” Omari kicked Aidan in his side. “Ouch! Ouch! Confound it!” He hopped around, then leaned against the desk and held his foot. Percival hopped atop the desk and whined at him.
Kaijin covered his mouth, hiding his laughter.
Omari glared. “What is so funny?”
“Uh, nothing.” Kaijin cleared his throat and looked elsewhere.
Jarial slid out of bed, and with his back to Kaijin, retrieved his clothes that were folded neatly at the foot of his bed.
Apparently not having felt any pain from the kick, Aidan slowly opened his eyes, which were still silver and pupilless, and then sat up. He yawned sleepily.
“Oh, get over yourself, Omari,” Jarial said, getting dressed. He peered out the window, then growled as he approached Kaijin, Sable following in his footsteps. “Nester still hasn’t returned.”
Kaijin frowned. He didn’t want to believe that Nester had betrayed them, but perhaps he had been a little too trusting of the brownie. “I know what it might seem, Master, but I’ve known Nester for a while now, and I don’t think he’d betray people he trusts.”
Omari snorted. “What makes you think he trusts us? I do not know who is more naïve—you or Aidan.”
Aidan stopped in mid-stretch and looked at Omari.
“Look, Omari, you don’t know—” A knock came at the door, interrupting Kaijin.
“Open up, mates! It’s me!”
Relief washed through Kaijin, and he quickly opened the door.
Waving documents in his hand, Nester bounded into the room and hopped up on the footlocker at the end of Kaijin’s and Omari’s bed. “Oh, good! You’re all awake! As promised, I got documents made for everyone. All you gotta do is show ’em to th’ dockmaster, an’ you should be allowed to board one of th’ merchant ships. Even got some cargo with your names on it, too!” He began passing the documents out to everyone. “Where’s Zarya?”
“She is in her room across the hall,” Jarial said, walking to the door. “I will get her.”
Kaijin looked at his parchment. It appeared official enough, with his name handwritten in elegant script, and a red seal engraved with Ostwyn’s symbol affixed at the bottom. Apparently, he was now a jewelry trader. Several officials’ names were also signed at the bottom, names of people Kaijin didn’t recognize but assumed were important. He looked back at Nester. “Dare I ask how you managed to get these for us?”
Nester smirked. “Nay, you may not ask. It’s my secret.”
Omari scoffed. “‘Secret’, my ass. What manner of illegal act did you perform to obtain these?”
“Nothin’, I tell you!” Nester’s smirk turned to a frown. “Look, if you ungrateful blokes don’t wanna get on th’ boat, then give those papers back to me right now!”
“Never mind, Nester,” Kaijin said, stuffing the papers into his haversack, and Omari did the same.
Jarial returned with Zarya, and Nester handed the priestess her set of documents and explained his instructions again.
Aidan read over his documents and scowled. “There must be some mistake. Aidan is not silk trader from Ankhram.” He looked at Nester.
Nester stiffened. “Well, for now, you are, unless you don’t want to go on the boat. Must everythin’ ’ave to be cut ’n dry for you, Aidan?”
Aidan gripped the paper, and it began to crumple slightly.
“Aidan, wait,” Kaijin said, placing a hand on the giant’s thick arm. “It’s either this or wait four more weeks like everyone else for the next passenger ship.”
“And that is time I do not have,” Omari added.
Aidan took a deep breath and loosened his grip on the paper. He smoothed out the wrinkles, and then folded it neatly. “Aidan does not like this. He is only going along to help and fulfill his promise to the children back in Faywald, but once we reach destination, Aidan is leaving.” He eyed everyone sharply. “For good.”
* * *
After a hearty breakfast downstairs, Kaijin and his friends headed to the docks district. The area was bustling with late morning activity. Workers hustled to and fro, transporting cargo to the storehouses or loading up one of the three large vessels. Some men carried registry books, evidently recording inventory and speaking with some of the well-dressed merchants.
Nester skipped over to one man who was writing in his registry and tugged on the back of his tunic. “Pardon us.”
The man stopped writing and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m busy here!” he barked. He paused, apparently realizing he was talking to empty air.
“Down ’ere,” Nester said, waving his hand.
The man spun and looked down at him, still frowning. “What do you need?” he asked, sounding annoyed.
“We’re lookin’ for th’ one in charge around ’ere so we can get clearance to board.”
“The dockmaster is busy right now, but I can sign you off if you have your paperwork.”
“Aye! I do!” Smiling, Nester showed him his document. “This ship’s ’eaded to Sinan soon? My associates and I ’ave an ... engagement there, and we must not be late.”
The man took Nester’s document and briefly scanned it. He nodded, signed it, and scribbled in his registry. “Yes, of course, Mr. Brogen. Someone delivered your cargo to the docks earlier. I will make certain someone signs off on it before we depart.”
“Excellent! And my associates’ cargo, as well?”
“Yes, they also brought your associates’, however I will still need to see their documents, as well.” The man looked up and acknowledged the rest of the group expectantly.
Kaijin and the others handed theirs to the worker, and he signed each of them. Kaijin glanced at Nester and noticed a mischievous gleam in his eye. The man returned to his work, and Kaijin and his friends walked away. They gathered on one of the piers with a few other merchants and vendors, where they watched the workers finish loading the ship.
“‘Mr. Brogen’?” Kaijin asked Nester, still mind-boggled by it all.
“Aye. Y’like it?” Nester smirked, puffing his chest out and giving the front flaps of his jerkin a firm tug. “Not a bad name, eh? Sounds all important-like.”
“Why are you the only one of us with a different name?”
Nester deflated a little. “Well, uh ... I ’ave a lotta ... admirers. Aye. That’s it. I’m famous, y’know! Can’t let everyone know where I’m goin’, else I’ll get a whole slew of beautiful women, jealous ’usbands, an’ creepy stalkers followin’ me! Gotta’ lay low, if y’know what I mean.”
Zarya cleared her throat.
Omari snorted. “If that is not the biggest crock of shite I ever heard ...”
“Try again, brownie,” Jarial said coolly, crossing his arms.
Nester huffed. “Nay! I ain’t gotta prove nothin’ to you blokes!”
Aidan looked toward one of the boats curiously and scratched the back of his head. “Where is this boat going, exactly?”
“Sinan,” Nester replied. “It’s a port city, much like this one, in Ankhram.”
“And a few days south of my home city,” Omari added.
Kaijin smiled. “Great. It’ll be nice to see more of the country.” And finish my business there so that I can finally return to you, Ranaiah.
XIX
Kaijin and his friends had boarded the merchant ship, and by late evening, it was on its way south. Merchants and vendors of all types and backgrounds flocked to the upper and lower decks of the ship, keeping clear of the crewmen, who bustled to and from their workstations.
Kaijin went to his curtained sleeping area belowdecks and remained there, lying in a small nest of woolen blankets that made up his makeshift bed. While it wasn’t the most comfortable, exhaustion from his journey still plagued his body, and he succumbed to sleep.
Kaijin
awoke the following mid-afternoon. He had not remembered having slept so long like that in a long time. Despite it all, his mind and body felt refreshed. With his hands clasped behind his head, Kaijin stared toward the single tiny open window of his sleeping area while listening to the sea and enjoying a soothing, cool breeze that whisked inside.
Miele screeched, conveying nervousness to his mind.
Kaijin looked up toward the entranceway of his small quarters.
Miele clung from a wooden dowel, from which hung a gaudy, abstract-patterned curtain. The curtain hadn’t been pulled completely across the length of his quarter’s entrance, and Miele rested on the small bit of dowel remaining.
“Were you not able to sleep last night? I’m sorry, Miele.” He frowned. “I don’t know how I was able to sleep. I think I was just too tired to even realize or care that I was on a boat, even though I’ve never been on one before. And I’m not sure if I like it all too much.” The more he thought about it, the more wary he felt. Given Kaijin’s inability to swim, fear of the worst—becoming submerged in water, helpless—haunted him. He grasped his fiery charm. It felt warm in his hand. He closed his eyes and spoke a brief prayer to the Firelord.
After he finished, the fiery voice said in his mind, “Never fear the enemy, Kaijin Sora.”
Kaijin opened his eyes. “I don’t,” he said aloud. “But what if something happens to this ship? I don’t know how to swim. I’m sure things would be far different than when I faced that water elemental.” He shivered at the memory of that harrowing experience back at the Pyre.
“Do not disgrace me,” the voice replied.
Kaijin pursed his lips, sensing the presence was done with him for now. The thought of his possible danger and helplessness continued plaguing his mind. “I’m going to go for a walk and clear my head,” he said to Miele, then got up. Without a second thought, he pulled back the curtain and left his quarters for the first time.
* * *
Flameseeker (Book 3) Page 17