Warrior priest of Dmon-Li ms-3

by Brian S. Pratt

“It’s traveling money,” she explains. “My parents thought it an ample reward for saving their son.”

  “There must be over fifty golds in here,” Jiron says as he feels the sack.

  “Actually, each holds seventy five,” she tells him.

  “Thanks!” he replies as he puts the sack in his pack.

  “You’re welcome,” she replies and then proceeds to give each a goodbye hug. When she gets to James, she says, “You better hurry, Captain Caril won’t like it if you keep him waiting.”

  “I will,” he says to her. “Say goodbye to Meliana for me.”

  “Next time I see her,” she says as she gives him a hug. She says goodbye to both Jiron and Miko before they turn toward the door and leave.

  Walking down the street toward the dock, James says, “I hope this Captain Caril wouldn’t have sailed without us.”

  “I doubt it,” replies Jiron. “He’s doing it for Nate’s family, so I think he’d at least give us the courtesy of waiting a little bit.”

  “How long do you think it’ll be before we’re back to Cardri?” asks Miko.

  “She said probably a couple weeks,” James explains. “We’re not going straight there, but are hitching a ride as they go along their trade route.”

  “Oh,” he says.

  Sails can be seen on the horizon as they near the docks. Once there, they ask the Harbor Master which ship is Captain Caril’s and he points to a two masted vessel, further down.

  “Thank you,” James says to him as they proceed down to the ship.

  When they arrive at the Foam Breaker, James hollers up to the ship, “Permission to come aboard?”

  A man, obviously the captain by his dress, comes to the gangplank and looks down at them standing there on the dock. “You James?” he asks.

  He nods his head. “That’s me, and this is Miko and Jiron.” he says, indicating the others standing next to him.

  “Come aboard,” the captain says before turning and moving back away from the gangplank.

  As they start walking up the gangplank, he begins shouting orders to his crew and the lines are cast off. Once they’re on board, the gangplank is pulled in. The mainsail gets unfurled and the ship begins to move as the wind fills it. The helmsman turns the wheel and the ship pulls away from the dock on its way to open water.

  “We appreciate you taking us on,” James says to the captain.

  “You’re welcome,” he replies in between barking out orders. Turning his attention back to them, he says, “There’s a room at the stern you can use while you’re aboard. There are some goods stored there, sorry about that, but it’s used as an auxiliary storage compartment.”

  “Thank you,” James says. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  Nodding, the captain adds, “Just stay out of the crews way and we’ll get you where you need to go.”

  “Which ways the stern,” Miko asks.

  The captain points to the rear of the ship.

  They head in that direction and come to a door leading into the raised portion at the end of the ship. Opening the door, they find a small room, half filled with boxes and bolts of colored cloth. “They must keep this stuff here so it won’t be ruined by the rain,” suggests James.

  “Probably,” Jiron says as they enter the room. Within, they find three hammocks slung one above the other, between the walls. Miko eyes them suspiciously when James informs him, “They’re for sleeping.”

  Miko goes over to them and says incredulously, “You’re kidding!” He takes a hold of the bottom one and pushes it. He just stares at it as it swings back and forth.

  “No, seriously,” he says as he sits down on the middle one and proceeds to lie down. “In tight quarters such as are on a ship, this is the only way to maximize space for the crew and still have plenty of space for the cargo.”

  Eyeing them dubiously, he sets his pack down in the corner. He comes over to the lowest one and opens it up, sitting down on it. Attempting to lie down, he suddenly flips over and lands on the floor.

  Jiron bursts out laughing at the sight.

  James flashes him an annoyed look and he soon stops. Turning his attention back to Miko who had gotten up from the floor red faced, he says, “It takes some practice.” Hopping down from his hammock, he holds Miko’s open for him and says, “Here, sit down then lift one leg over.”

  Miko hesitates a moment, but then comes over and does as James says. Once he’s straddling the hammock, James says, “Now, lie back and nestle in between the sides. Once you’re secure, bring your feet up together so you remain balanced.”

  Nervous about hitting the floor again, Miko takes it slow and lies back until he’s nestled in the hammock. James keeps a firm hold of it while he’s getting in. Then, lifting his feet, he brings them into the hammock until he’s completely settled within it.

  James lets the hammock go and it begins swaying with the rhythm of the ship riding the waves.

  Miko panics and grips the side of the hammock tightly as soon as James lets go, but soon realizes that he’s not going to immediately fall out. After a few moments of not falling out, he begins to relax. His nerves settle down and he starts to enjoy the swaying rhythm the hammock makes with the rocking of the ship.

  “Ever been in a hammock before?” James asks Jiron.

  Shaking his head, he says, “No, never even seen ‘em.”

  “Want me to help you in?” he asks.

  “No thank you. I’d just as soon sleep on the deck,” he says as he makes a space for himself over in the corner.

  “Suit yourself,” James tells him.

  Going back to the door, he makes to leave when he hears Miko holler, “Don’t leave me in here!”

  Smiling, he goes back over and helps him to get out of the hammock. Taking Miko with him, he leaves the room and walks out on deck where the salt air whipping off the water almost knocks him over in its intensity. Gaining his balance, he moves to the edge of the ship by the rail where he gazes out over the water.

  Back the way they’d come, the land is now only a thin line on the horizon. Everywhere as far as he can see is water, blue-green water with a sky of crystal blue above them. A grin breaks out upon his face, always happens when he’s riding a boat. Taking a ferry back home elicited the same reaction. It just feels good to have the wind whip around you with just the sound of the bow breaking the surf. He stands there mesmerized by the experience.

  Miko stands beside him, affected the same way. Coming in on Nate’s cousin’s ship from the mines had been less enjoyable. He’d been sick plus had had the added worry of Nate’s condition on his mind as well. Now, though, he can truly experience it. Ever since Al-Kur when the slave wagon had stopped to pick up several more slaves from a ship at anchor, he’s wanted to do this.

  After standing there in quiet contemplation, the captain comes up behind them and says, “We’re making for Maradan, a city on a local island near here. We have some cargo to unload and others to procure before leaving. We’ll be spending the night at dock before lifting anchor in the morning.”

  “Maybe we could do some sightseeing?” James asks, turning around.

  “Might not be a bad idea,” the captain agrees. “When we leave there, it’ll be four more days until we drop anchor again.”

  “Anything worthwhile to see on the island?” he asks.

  “Not really,” he tells him. “There are several nice inns if you want to take advantage of them while we’re there. It’s possible you may find something of interest, though my men tend to just stay on the ship while we’re there.”

  “Thank you anyway, captain,” James says.

  “No problem,” he replies, “just thought you might want to know.” He then turns, and climbs the stairs to the deck over their room where the helmsman stands at the tiller.

  James glances to Miko, “Wanna do some sightseeing while we’re there?”

  “Sure,” he replies, “better than being cooped up on this ship.”

  Just then, a larg
e creature similar in nature to a whale from back home, suddenly crests the water and falls back, causing water to geyser up into the air.

  “What was that?” Miko asks, wide-eyed.

  “Not sure,” James answers, awed. “Back home it might’ve been called a whale.”

  “It was incredible,” he says as he gazes out across the water, hoping to see another.

  James looks out over the water too, but he’s more interested in the serenity it brings to him than trying to locate another of the creatures. He’d always found great peacefulness in watching the waves whenever he’d been on a ferry or charter boat back home.

  By this time, the island they’d left has completely disappeared behind them. James stays by the rail until he begins to see another island coming up ahead of them. As they approach it, the captain begins hollering orders to his crew as they trim some of the sails to slow their approach.

  “Looks like we’re making for the island over there,” Jiron says as he comes up behind them.

  “I think so too,” James replies. “Miko and I are going to go exploring on the island while the captain makes some trades. He said we wouldn’t be leaving until tomorrow morning. Want to come along?”

  “Sure,” he says.

  They stay by the rail as the island ahead of them grows bigger and bigger. It isn’t long before they’re able to make out the docks and other ships at anchor there. The island itself is heavily populated, houses dot the land from one end to the other.

  Commands can be heard being shouted by the captain as he makes ready to dock. The sailors begin furling the sails and several go over to the railing at the bow, readying lines to be cast to those who’re waiting on the docks.

  With skill honed through years of practice, the captain and his men slow the ship as they approach the dock. The sailors toss the lines over to the men who’re waiting on the dock. With quick speed, the dock workers wrap the lines around mainstays and they can hear the dock groan as the ship pulls against the lines and comes to a stop.

  Once the ship has stopped its forward momentum, the ship drifts backward and the dock workers take up the slack in the lines until the ship is securely tied to the dock.

  The captain comes over to them and says, “You can disembark now if you like. We’ll be here for some time. Just be back by sunup.”

  “Sure thing captain,” James says.

  “That sure was something,” Miko exclaims. “The way you brought the ship right up to the docks, at just the right speed.”

  The captain smiles at his exuberance and replies, “All in a days work, me boy.” He turns back to his men and begins barking out orders as they start getting the cargo ready to be taken off the ship.

  “Shall we?” Jiron asks, indicating the gangplank a sailor had just put in place.

  “Absolutely,” replies James as he heads toward it, with Miko just behind.

  When they disembark, the first thing that James notices is the lack of soldiers on the streets. There was a reduced presence back in Corillian, but here, there’s a total lack of them.

  “Guess the Empire doesn’t feel the need to have soldiers patrolling here,” he observes.

  “Probably not,” agrees Jiron. Looking around, he sees not much more than houses and some stores. “Doesn’t look like there’s too much to this place.”

  Feeling a tug on his arm, James looks to Miko who’s pointing to a bakery shop. “James, tarts!”

  Smiling, he allows himself to be dragged over there where they buy a dozen tarts with a red berry filling. Miko pays for them from the money Miriam had given him and then they leave the shop. James hears Miko licking his fingers and glances at him, one tart had already bit the dust.

  They come back to where Jiron is waiting for them and Miko hands him one. “Ever had one before?” he asks him.

  Nodding, Jiron says, “Yeah, a couple times. Tersa really likes them.”

  Moving along, they proceed down the street to see what there is to see. They come to a woodcrafter who has several wooden ships displayed and James goes over to inspect them. He picks up a small one and says, “This would make a good present for Arkie.”

  The woodcrafter, seeing his interest, stops the work he was doing on another of the wooden boats and comes over.

  After some half-hearted haggling, he hands over the money and walks away with the small single masted ship. Putting it in his bag, he continues on.

  They spend the day sightseeing, nothing real special going on. James begins thinking how nice it would’ve been to have Meliana here with him. As they walk, he sees a craftsman working on ceramic figurines and sees one of a dolphin, at least it looked close enough to one to call it that. After some haggling, he arranges to have it sent back to Corillian and to Nate’s family’s house.

  “Why are you having it sent there?” Jiron asks.

  “Don’t know where to send it to Meliana, so will send it to Miriam and have her take it to her,” he explains. He writes out a letter and gives it to the man with instructions on where to send it. Handing the man the money, they soon leave his shop and continue on.

  As the day progresses, the wind begins to pick up and clouds begin to form on the horizon. “Hope a storm’s not coming,” he says. “It could make for an interesting trip tomorrow.”

  Miko looks to the clouds, but doesn’t think too much of them, “They don’t look too bad.”

  “Not now, true,” Jiron says. “But they could make the ride choppy tomorrow.”

  When the day is almost over, they find an inn and everyone gets their own room. Miko said he was tired of hearing them snore. After settling in, they meet in the common room of the inn for dinner and entertainment. The bard up on the stage is decent but they couldn’t understand all the songs as most of his repertoire was in the Empire’s language. He did sing a few songs in the common tongue for those who spoke it.

  The next morning, when James awakens, the rain is being blown hard against the side of the inn by the wind. The floor is wet over by the window from where the wind had blown it in throughout the night. Through the window, he sees the dark clouds that have blanketed the sky overnight. The ships at anchor bob with the motion of the waves rolling in, and he looks with trepidation at the choppy water. Not at all the calm placid scene of yesterday and most likely will make for an interesting ride. He hears a knock at the door and turns toward it just as it swings open.

  Miko comes walking into the room, his pack slung over one shoulder. Seeing James at the window he walks over to him and says, “Looks like the storm came in after all.”

  “Yeah,” replies James as he again glances back out the window. “We better hurry down to the docks before Captain Caril sails.”

  James grabs his pack and then they go out to the hallway where they find Jiron exiting from his room. “You guys see the storm brewing outside?” he asks.

  “Yeah,” replies James. “It’s going to make for a fun day.”

  Giving James an odd look he says, “Fun? I don’t think so.”

  “I was being sarcastic,” he explains.

  They make their way out of the inn and the wind drives the rain into them as they hurry down to the docks. By the time they get to the ship, the rain has succeeded in thoroughly soaking them. Racing up the gangplank, they’re greeted by the captain who says, “’Bout ready to send someone to go look for you guys.”

  “Sorry if we’re late,” James says apologetically.

  “You’re not going to sail in this are you?” Miko asks.

  The captain breaks into a laugh and replies, “It’ll take more than a little storm to keep us at dock.”

  Miko looks over to the sea and sees the choppy waters and swallows hard. He looks to James who only shrugs.

  “You boys get on into your room at the stern,” the captain says. “We’re casting off the lines now.” A sailor pulls in the gangplank.

  The dockworkers untie the ship and toss the lines back to the crew aboard her. The captain begins barking out orders as
his men hop to comply. The ship begins to turn slowly as it heads once more out to open waters.

  Once the ship is away from the docks, the captain hollers to the crew up in the masts and the sails come down about halfway before they’re tied off. The wind fills the half sails and the ship lurches as it quickly picks up speed.

  Huddled in their room under the steering house, they begin to feel the effects of the constant swaying of the ship upon the waves. James’ stomach begins to rebel and he says, “I’m going out to get some fresh air.”

  “But you’ll get soaked,” Miko says from where he’s swaying in the hammock.

  He looks down at himself and replies, “I’m already wet.” He opens the door and a gust of rain comes in before he manages to close it behind him.

  Outside along the deck, he sees guidelines are now tied from bow to stern to help the sailors remain aboard in the storm. Grabbing onto one, he makes his way over to the rail and puts his face into the wind, which helps to settle his protesting stomach. Never been seasick before, but then, he’s never been out in this kind of storm before either.

  As they continue out to open sea, he searches for other vessels that’ve braved such a storm but doesn’t see any. He looks around to the crew, but they don’t seem too worried, so he stops his worrying about the weather. If the professionals see nothing wrong, then he shouldn’t either.

  The captain is standing up by the helmsmen. Using the guide ropes to keep his footing, he makes it to the stairs and begins to climb up to reach him.

  When the captain sees him climbing the stairs up to him, he asks, “Everything okay?”

  Nodding, he climbs the last few steps and comes to stand next to him, holding onto the rail. “Just out for some air, is all.”

  “Stomach bothering you?” the captain asks, grinning.

  “A little,” he replies, “but the fresh air seems to be helping.”

  The captain just nods at that.

  “There doesn’t seem to be too many other ships out in this,” he mentions to the captain.

  “Most don’t want or need to be out in this, so they don’t,” he explains. “But, if we just sailed in fair weather, we wouldn’t get too far.”