Richard glanced around the ship. Debris covered every part of the deck. A pair of blood-soaked legs stuck out from underneath a broken piece of the mainmast. Untying the rope from his waist, he joined the crew and elves in the search for survivors. It was grim work, but it had to be done.
It was well into midafternoon when the crew assembled on the foredeck. Twelve bodies wrapped in canvas lay on the deck’s sun-bleached planks. Nine of the bodies were human. Three were elves. The captain said a few words before sailors dropped their comrades over the side. Mia knelt by the bodies of the three elves and whispered words of gibberish Richard didn’t need a translator to understand. The grief of the elf priestess was evident. Some of the human crew of the Mengaza got teary-eyed as the elves chanted a dirge for their fallen comrades. When the song ended, Mia said a few more words. Then the bodies of the three elves were cast into the sea.
Richard looked around the broken ship. She’s seaworthy, he decided. But she’s not the ship she was.
“Not to mention that what food supplies did not get washed overboard are ruined by seawater,” said Nickelo.
“Yeah, not to mention that,” Richard said. “Now what are we going to do.”
“I calculate that is up to your priestess,” said Nickelo. “She is in charge, not us.”
Richard glanced at Mia as she huddled with the ship’s captain, Freestrod, and Derander. “At this point, I’m not sure who’s in charge,” he told his battle computer. “Something tells me it’s not Mia or anyone else on board.”
“Who then?” asked Nickelo.
Richard had no idea, but he had a feeling one way or the other he was going to find out.
Chapter 32 – Point Departure
____________________
The three ships made the passage between the two continents in record time. Telsa was impressed by the efficiency of the dwarf sailors. They all knew there was little time to spare, and the crews put their backs into raising and lowering sails in both storms and calm seas. Whenever the wind died down, either Shandria, Carndador, Rembis, or one of the dwarves’ magic users filled in the gaps with breeze spells. The end result was that two and a half weeks after they left New Hope, Telsa found herself at the bow of the Skipjack, watching as the captain maneuvered his ship through the crowded harbor.
“So this is Point Departure?” Telsa said as much a statement as it was a question.
Rembis placed his elbows on the bow’s railing and nodded. “This is it. Once we cleaned the vampires out of Old Drepdenor, Queen Emerald assembled her people here. The humans had already established a small town because of the harbor, but with the dwarves’ help and under the direction of the queen, it didn’t take long to become a full-blown city. The dwarves and humans made a compact called the Avarian Society of Free States that guarantees access to the harbor by both races.”
Curious, Telsa said, “Why did Emerald waste time building a city if she was going to take all of her people to Slyvrastra anyway?”
Smiling, Rembis tugged at his white beard. “You must think ships grow on trees.” He laughed. “Come to think of it, they’re made from them. Still, they don’t grow off their limbs like ripe apples. It took nigh on fifty years for the dwarves to build a fleet large enough to transport them all to the land of the elves. Besides, Emerald wanted to keep a trade route going with the humans who now run Point Departure.” His eyes twinkled. “You probably don’t know this, but she leased them the city before we left. That’s the basis for the Avarian Society of Free States. The human’s city council was given a hundred-thousand-year lease on the buildings and the harbor. After that, it reverts back to the dwarves.”
Telsa eyed the gnome to see if he was pulling her leg. “You’re joking, right. Who’d be crazy enough to sign a lease for a hundred thousand years? It’ll never last all the way to the end.”
Rembis laughed again. “Well, crazy or not, that’s how it was done. The dwarves own the city, but the humans have a hundred-thousand-year lease. It’s a good deal for them. They don’t even make payments. All they have to do is maintain the harbor and allow any dwarf ships berthing rights when they ask.”
Being a scientist at heart and not a businesswoman, Telsa decided to forgo any further arguing over dwarf and human business dealings. She looked back out over the railing as the captains of the three vessels used sails and a little bit of magic to berth their ships alongside the two-hundred-meter-long wooden dock protruding into the water.
Four older human men wearing purple robes were waiting at the dock for them along with a platoon of soldiers with purple capes. As the three crews secured their ships to the docks, Queen Emerald, High Priestess Shandria, High Lord Carndador, and General Fenmar got off and talked to the four robed men. After a few loud words, General Fenmar waved his nephew over. More discussion followed. Finally, the general and the others left the dock, accompanied by the four robed men and a squad of the purple-caped soldiers.
Before Telsa could ask what was going on, Major Nekash turned and faced the ships. “All right,” shouted the major loud enough to be heard on all three vessels. “Let’s get our stuff together. We’ll be spending the night at the inner guards’ barracks. Sergeant Aganish, get the equipment that we’re leaving in the museum unloaded and follow me.”
One of the sergeants on Telsa’s ship gathered a dozen dwarves and headed for the ship’s hold. They soon returned carrying armloads of the extra armor and weapons.
“Those are the ones made out of Holy Metal,” Telsa told Rembis. “Did I hear something about a museum? I’m confused. What gives?”
Major Nekash was close enough to hear. He wandered over, chuckling as he came. “I’m sure you are, Wizard Scout. Queen Emerald is leaving the extra gear in Point Departure as per the message we received from the Oracle. That chest you’ve been so curious about will also be left at the museum.”
Telsa grinned. “I didn’t know you’d heard me ask questions about the chest. I’ll admit I’ve been curious. What’s in it?”
With his sergeants handling the transfer of gear to several horse-drawn carts the humans had provided, General Fenmar’s nephew seemed more relaxed than he’d been since they left New Drepdenor.
“The first part of his mission is over,” said Raj in their shared space. “I calculate the major’s stress has been reduced now that we are safe in the city. I also calculate that will change once we begin our march to Old Drepdenor.”
“No doubt,” Telsa said. She sighed. “I hope I’m never in command. That’s one of the things I like about being a wizard scout. I don’t have to worry about anybody but me.”
Raj gave one of his canned laughs. “I know better. You forget that I keep a log of your heartrate during missions. You worry plenty.”
“Whatever. Mind your own business.”
“Compliance.”
Telsa noticed Rembis and the major looking at her. “Uh, did I miss something?”
The dwarf and gnome laughed.
The grin on Major Nekash’s face grew wider. “I asked if you would like to go to the museum and see what’s in the chest for yourself.” He scratched the stubble on his chin. “One of these days you’re going to have to tell me what you’re thinking about when you get that blank look on your face.”
Telsa returned the dwarf’s grin. “Nothing important, that’s for sure. And yes, I’d like to go to this museum of yours. I’ve got nothing better to do.”
Sergeant Aganish happened to be close enough to hear. “Well, if you’ve got nothing better to do than flap your jaws, how about helping us unload the equipment. Or do you think you’re too good to help.”
Telsa glared at the sergeant. “No, I don’t think I’m too good. If I’d known you needed help, I’d already have been at it. All you had to do was ask.” She gave Nekash a nod and headed for the ship’s hold. As she stepped on the first rung of the ladder, she heard the dwarf sergeant speak again.
“Well, what are you waiting for, old man? An engraved invitation on a s
ilver platter?”
Within seconds, Rembis was in the hold next to Telsa. He grabbed an armload of crossbow bolts and turned back to the ladder.
Telsa eyed him. “You know you could levitate everything up and save us some time.”
Rembis snorted. “That’s just what the good sergeant expects me to do. He reminds me of one of the Tharg sergeants who used to order me around when I was a prisoner. I’m not giving our sergeant the satisfaction of making me do it his way.”
Telsa shook her head. “You know, Rembis, I don’t think I’m ever going to understand you.”
The old gnome grinned. “Good. Everyone should have a little mystery in their lives.”
Chapter 33 – Limping Into Port
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Six weeks to the day after the tsunami, the Mengaza limped into the harbor at Point Departure. The beat-up brig was escorted by a sloop-of-war from the Avarian Society of Free States. The small warship had found the elves’ ship wandering off the coast forty leagues north of their city two days earlier.
The human sailors on the sloop were a suspicious lot, but they were polite for the most part. The captain of the sloop was a young lieutenant named Yasland. As it turned out, he seemed to spend more time on the Mengaza over the last two days than he did on his own sloop.
Amir turned from his position at the bow and looked behind him. The sloop’s captain was even now at the stern of the Mengaza, pointing out a safe path through the harbor for the steersman. As Amir watched, the lieutenant stepped away from the steersman and moved closer to Mia.
He’s not fooling anyone, Amir thought. He could’ve sent one of his seamen to guide us. The young fool takes any opportunity he can to get close to Mia.
Amir watched Lieutenant Yasland making a fool of himself for a couple of seconds before turning back around to lean against the bow railing with the rest of his team. The size of the port city surprised him. It was a sprawling affair with walls the height of giants on three sides, but what surprised him more was the condition of the city.
“It has seen better days,” said Tracer as she pointed at the northern part of the wall. “I count at least a half dozen spots on the wall that have fallen down.” She pointed toward the city itself. “And look at that. Several buildings have crumbled into the water.”
Amir had no trouble picking out the rubble of the buildings. Large stones mingled with broken bits of lumber were scattered along the shoreline and into most of the streets he could see.
“Look over there,” said Grapeon. “The only thing left of those docks is their pilings. It looks like there is only the one dock left.”
Amir noted the lone dock stretching out from the shore for two hundred paces into the water. At least a third of the docks wooden planks appeared to be new. No ships were currently tied up at the dock.
Glancing at Richard who happened to be leaning on the railing next to Tracer, Amir spoke in the human’s language. He’d gotten pretty good at it over the past month and a half. So had a lot of the elves. “I’m guessing the tsunami that got us also hit this place. It looks bad now. I’d hate to see what it looked like six weeks ago. I count the masts of a dozen ships sticking out of the water with the hulls of another ten ships beached along the shore.”
Richard nodded. “I thought we had it bad out on the water. I’m guessing the loss of life was horrendous.” He jerked a thumb toward the stern of the ship. “Good thing we have a guide through all this debris. I’d hate for our good captain to sink our ship this close to shore.”
“He’s a typical human male,” said Tracer also speaking in the human’s language. She left her position at the railing and sat on a crate. “I can sense his emotions from here. How the high priestess can stand him following her around like a sick puppy is beyond me. Humans are disgusting creatures.”
Amir noticed his team leader glance over at her human teammate. “Uh, no offense, Rick.”
The human looked at Tracer and smiled. “None taken. I’m not emotionally sensitive, but I can feel the man’s…uh, well, I’ll just say his emotions are not making me feel kindly toward the human male gender either.”
Tracer shrugged. “You are different, Rick. You keep your emotions under control. Other human males do not. I am glad Lord Derander and Master Freestrod have been able to keep spells on us females to dull the emotions put out by the Mengaza’s crew. Otherwise, this voyage would have been unbearable for us.”
“I understand completely,” said Richard.
Amir studied the human next to him. I should probably hate him since a human murdered Glory, he thought. But it is hard not to like him. Tracer told me how he saved me from being swept overboard during the tsunami. Amir thought about how the human had used his ability to turn the summoned bread created by the mages’ spells into something more palatable. It has been a Creator-send, that’s for sure. We wouldn’t have starved during the past month and a half what with the black bread, but meals would’ve been a lot less enjoyable. Not to mention he’s good with weapons. He’s one of the few on this ship that’ll spar with me during weapons’ training. He’s taught me a thing or two with a sword.
Tracer cleared her throat. “I’m guessing we’ll be leaving the Mengaza and her crew behind. It’s about time we started earning our keep again.”
Amir smiled. “That’s fine by me. I’d hate to think you elves brought me along just for my good looks.”
Amir noticed Richard look at him.
“You mentioned that the elves brought you along to find some kind of gem,” said Richard. “Are you sensing it now? Maybe it’s in this city.”
Looking out over the city, Amir drew on the Power within his soul. Reaching out, he touched the land and asked for guidance. He sensed nothing back. Looking back at the human, he shook his head. “Nothing here as far as I can tell.”
Grapeon left his place at the railing and sat on the crate next to Tracer. Out of courtesy, he also spoke in Richard’s language. “What are we supposed to do? Wander around like a lost fawn looking for his mother? If this continent is as big as Slyvrastra, that could take years.”
A distant rumbling came from the east.
Everyone glanced in the direction of the noise.
Jerking his thumb eastward, Amir said, “It’s not my decision, but if it were, I’d head to the place where the land is having the most trouble. Nature has a habit of providing solutions close to its problems.”
Grapeon shrugged. “Then we should have stayed home. The Thandarhar Mountains had plenty of problems of their own. Based on your theory of problems and solutions, there should be a dozen yellow gems there.”
Amir noticed the human glance to the east.
“I’m with Amir,” said Richard. “Something is drawing me to the east. I’m not sure what.”
Tracer and the others stared at the man. So did Amir. He had to admit the human had displayed enough unexplained abilities over the last couple of months for his words to be taken seriously.
Soft footsteps coming from behind made Amir turn. The high priestess was two paces behind him. Hmmm. Good stealth shield.
“To the east, you say?” said Mia also speaking in the human’s language. “Do you agree, Elf Friend Amir? You are the seeker, after all.”
Amir unconsciously touched the leather pouch hidden beneath his blouse. “I do. At least I do until I sense a better way.”
Mia smiled, and the air seemed to take on a glow that lifted everyone’s spirits. “Then east it shall be. I must go to the palace and speak to the city’s council about guides. As Lieutenant Yasland has explained it to me, the land has seen more than its share of calamities the last few months. There have been several earthquakes in addition to the tsunami. According to him, refugees fleeing from one place to the other have clogged most of the roads. They drain the resources of every city along the coast, hoping to catch a ship to someplace safe. Armies of orcs and goblins are also on the move. The lieutenant says Point Departure is also threatened. From what he
tells me, a mercenary army has been encamped outside the city walls for the past few weeks.”
“Mercenaries?” asked Tracer. “Who is paying them?”
The high priestess shrugged. “Thankfully, that is not our problem. All we need to worry about is slipping out of the city and making our way east. I have a feeling the farther east we go, the less the likelihood we will encounter others.” She glanced out at the city as the Mengaza drew near the dock. “According to the lieutenant, there are not enough ships to carry a tenth of a tenth of the city’s citizens. Even if there were, they would find little safety in the west. Many of the inhabitants in our lands hope to flee the disaster by taking ships to the east.” She glanced at the others. “There is no safety in the east or west. Their only hope is for our mission to succeed. We must find a replacement for the yellow gem and stop the disaster threatening the land.”
The ship lurched as it settled against the dock. Once the crew secured the Mengaza to the pilings, they lowered the plank. A human soldier wearing a bright blue uniform came on board and reported to Lieutenant Yasland. Shortly afterwards, the lieutenant conferred with Lord Derander for a second before walking down the plank and setting a fast pace toward the city.
Lord Derander left the stern of the ship and made his way to the bow.
“Mia,” said Derander when he drew close. “We are summoned by the city’s council. Something is happening. The messenger says the army outside the city gates is demanding that the council surrender its elves to them.”
The high priestess nodded and headed for the gangway. Upon reaching the bottom of the plank, she turned and pointed her staff at Amir. “I want Rick and you to come with me. Bring your weapons.”
Amir hurriedly made his way toward the spot on the main deck that Tracer’s team and he had claimed as their own. He threw on his chainmail and strapped on his sword. Picking up Glory’s hammer, he looked over to see Richard buckling the belt with his sword and dagger around his waist. When the man finished, Amir led the way to the dock. The high priestess stood there with the council’s messenger, Lord Derander, and Commander Astradis. Once Amir joined them with Richard in tow, they followed the messenger down the dock and into the city.
Wizard Gigantic (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 9) Page 30
