Colin paced the small isle in the cargo hold of a sailing vessel who's name he didn't even know. It was pitch dark, yet Colin could still see the barrels and crates stacked all around him as if merely shaded by mist. It was a smallish vessel and the hold was cramped yet Colin walked to occupy his mind, not to stretch his legs. It's strange, Colin thought to himself, "here I am trying to protect Emalia from this woman, yet I'm reliant on her tracking abilities to catch up to Emalia." Colin shook his head at the absurdity and, reaching the end of the aisle, turned around for another lap. It was then he heard the squeaking grind of metal against metal that told him someone was opening the cargo door latch. He quickly slipped himself between two of the crates and into a small space behind them he had created for hiding.
The door swung open and light flooded the hold. Colin heard a gruff voice call out, muffled by the crates, "Yah better get yah backside over heah ta help me, Sorgi. I'm not gonnah carry them pickles up by myself."
Sorgi's reply was even more muffled, "Hold yer horses, Jaco. I'm comin'."
Colin heard shuffling boot steps as the two men descended the wooden steps into the cargo hold. "I don't know why the cap'n needs the whole barrel of em anyway. Why can't we jus bring him up a bucket full like usual?" Sorgi complained.
"Oh, stop yah complainin'. I bet he just wants tah impress our ladah guests with his cucumbah riches." Jaco replied with a snorting laugh.
Sorgi joined in the laughter and Colin heard a muffled smack that sounded like a slap on the back. "I could see why. Did ya see one they fished outta the water? Young, thin, dark hair, pale skin... I could break that little girl in half. I tell yah Jaco, I'd love to give her MY pickle if ya know what I mean."
As the two men joined in a fresh round of laughter Colin's eyes narrowed in fury and a red glow faintly illuminated the crates before his face. Emalia!, he thought, "I'll kill every one of them and..." His train of thought stopped there, redirected just as quickly as throwing an actual rail switch. "I will save her. I just have to get her off this ship."
Colin waited with extreme patience as the men wrestled the barrel out of the hold and up into the daylight. Just as the door was closing Colin slid out from his hiding place. Judging from the angle of those last rays of light before the hatch slammed shut he figured he had about two hours before nightfall. Another hour for complete darkness. It would be three of the longest hours Colin had ever known.
Colin crouched at the top of the stairs leading out of the cargo hold, his ear pressed to the hatch door. The past three hours had been filled with Colin pacing the aisle even faster than before, yet that still didn't stop his mind from filling with all of the terrible things that could happen to Emalia... or might have already happened. Now, had heard nothing for at least 20 minutes and decided it was time to finally make his move. He slid open the latch as silently as possible and lifted the door. It was a dark night with clouds blotting out the waning moon and most of the stars. Colin gave a silent thanks to any god who might care and slipped his large frame out of the hold, easing the hatch closed once more.
Colin was no trained assassin yet he was not entirely unfamiliar with the art of moving undetected. Besides, the sounds of music and slightly off key singing that he heard coming from what he assumed to be the captain's quarters toward the stern indicated the location of at least most of the crew. He scanned his surroundings easily in the darkness, taking note of dingy hoisted by the rail. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
Colin thought, pulling his cloak tight about his broad shoulders and headed quickly towards the crew's quarters. He found himself in a very narrow hallway with evenly spaced doors on either side. Colin found the lack of any guard only slightly disturbing. After all, where could she really go? Colin thought, not wanting to even consider other explanations.
He silently opened door after door, one hand on the knob, one on his sword hilt. Each time filled with anticipation and dread, only to lead to disappointment. Behind the fourth door, however, he found exactly what he was looking for. There, in a small lamp lit room with only a bed and a writing desk, lay Emalia. Colin quickly closed the door and crept over to the bedside. She was breathing slowly, which eased a great deal of his worries, and there were no visible wounds. He breathed a quick sigh of relief and proceeded to wake her. "What are you DOING here?"
It wasn't quite the reception he had expected. Colin figured she must just be in shock. He knew time was essential so he quickly determined she was unhurt and tried to get her to come with him. "I will get you free."
"What do you mean free? I am free." Emalia insisted. Colin's confusion was total. She was talking nonsense.
"They captured you, right?"
Emalia shook her head, clearly irritated. "Colin... they rescued me."
Soon it was all made clear to Colin. Emalia explained to him how Tamilyn was actually a friend, one who knew her mother and father. She had rescued Emalia when she would have otherwise drowned and was now helping her continue her journey.
Colin was left feeling like an idiot. Here he was, trying to save Emalia from a danger that didn't even exist. But the worst part was when Emalia told him that Tamilyn would now be accompanying her on her trip. He couldn't believe it, after how adamantly she had rejected him accompanying her. Her excuse was that she couldn't decline the person who had saved her life but it made no difference to Colin. All he saw was yet again, Emalia was rejecting him in favor of someone else. As far as Colin was concerned it would be the last time. No matter the consequences, he would be her fool no more.
Emalia must have seen the decision on his face when she asked him, "What is it?"
Although he tried to dismiss her question she persisted. Clearly she wasn't going to let it go. Finally he relented. "I just need to stop lying to myself. Obviously you don't care about me like I do about you. I mean... I think you're someone very special, and you're very special to me. But... I don't know... It's just obvious you don't feel the same about me."
Emalia then explained to him how she had never seen him in that way. Her heart had belonged to others, yet they had proceeded to hurt her. Only Colin had stayed by her side. However, Colin barely even heard her words, so wrapped up in his own disappointment and rejection. Only her apology for how she had treated him began to truly gain his attention. He gave his own apology in response. After all, she had been through so much recently, and here he was babbling on about his feelings.
Emalia then motioned for him to come closer to her and he did, leaning himself over the bed. It was then that it happened. It barely registered at the time, with Colin still coming down off his emotional outpour, yet he would not soon forget it. Emalia wrapped her arms around him and placed the gentlest of kisses on his cheek. Everything after would be a blur. They spoke of laughing, value of having friends, and how it would probably be best for Colin to remain hidden until they knew how the crew would react to a stowaway. Finally it was time for Emalia to rest.
Colin took his leave and crept back into the cargo hold as easily as he had left. Now he had no need for pacing. He had but one thought which occupied his mind and it was one he wanted to savor.
Nearing Port...
Moonlight danced off the water, casting shadows that danced behind her. Tamilyn, lute in hand, perched on the rail of the ship, legs dangling down and kicking gently back and forth. Her hair was piled atop her head, a mass of waves, curls, and beads, each indistinguishable from the other in the darkness. She wore nothing but a slip, and the wind tugged at it, but she did not seem cold.
Her fingers plucked idly at the strings of her instrument, each note sounding clearly through the air. She struck one and paused, reaching up to tighten the string and plucking it again; this time, she seemed satisfied with the note that rung out. Staring wistfully out over the sea, she heaved a sigh, the random notes beginning to form a song. For a time, she merely played, the mournful music a whisper on the wind that was carried out to sea and toward the other continent. The romantic in her believed the tune would make it all the way across, perhaps to New Thalos, perhaps even to Torregiano. She coddled the thought as she began to sing, voice hushed and melodic.
"A hundred days have made me older since the last time I saw your smilin' face. A thousand lies have made me colder and I don't think I can look disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face..."
She took a breath and let it out with shuddering slowness, allowing the music of her instrument to rise and fall with the waves. She began a chorus, paused when she choked on the words, and began again when the music came around.
"I'm here without you, baby, but you're still on my lonely mind. I think about you, brother, and I dream about you all the time. I'm here without you, my dears, but you're still with me in my dreams – tonight it's only you and me."
The song continued, the night silent, the stars listening to the melody carried up to them. Tomorrow, they would be away from the sea's calm, comforting presence. Even now, in the moonlight, she could make out the silhouette of Port Llast, and they had set down anchor to wait for sunrise to approach. Emalia was doing better, her energy restored and no lasting harm done from her flight. It had been nice, a part of Tamilyn reflected, for the men's attention to be on someone other than herself.
Tomorrow. A trip to Waterdeep, a journey with a new companion. Tonight... Tonight she sang.
Her fingers plucked idly at the strings of her instrument, each note sounding clearly through the air. She struck one and paused, reaching up to tighten the string and plucking it again; this time, she seemed satisfied with the note that rung out. Staring wistfully out over the sea, she heaved a sigh, the random notes beginning to form a song. For a time, she merely played, the mournful music a whisper on the wind that was carried out to sea and toward the other continent. The romantic in her believed the tune would make it all the way across, perhaps to New Thalos, perhaps even to Torregiano. She coddled the thought as she began to sing, voice hushed and melodic.
"A hundred days have made me older since the last time I saw your smilin' face. A thousand lies have made me colder and I don't think I can look disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face..."
She took a breath and let it out with shuddering slowness, allowing the music of her instrument to rise and fall with the waves. She began a chorus, paused when she choked on the words, and began again when the music came around.
"I'm here without you, baby, but you're still on my lonely mind. I think about you, brother, and I dream about you all the time. I'm here without you, my dears, but you're still with me in my dreams – tonight it's only you and me."
The song continued, the night silent, the stars listening to the melody carried up to them. Tomorrow, they would be away from the sea's calm, comforting presence. Even now, in the moonlight, she could make out the silhouette of Port Llast, and they had set down anchor to wait for sunrise to approach. Emalia was doing better, her energy restored and no lasting harm done from her flight. It had been nice, a part of Tamilyn reflected, for the men's attention to be on someone other than herself.
Tomorrow. A trip to Waterdeep, a journey with a new companion. Tonight... Tonight she sang.
Savior
Emalia stared toward the ceiling, listening to the creaking of the ship surrounding her. She didn't notice the shaft of light from the opening of her door, too busy was she in the confines of her mind being grateful to The Apprentice for saving her.
"Well, hello there," a soft voice said. It was the very woman that saved her. In a fashion almost like her mother, the short woman had a cup of tea from nowhere – something to give her energy. She drank and they talked – Tamilyn making a passing remark on her resemblance to her father, and the thought that Sanria might have done a little better in teaching her daughter not to take off over the waves. 'She knows them,' Emalia thought. 'She's one of the few that do.'
Emalia eventually informed the woman before her that she was on her way to visit the temple of Lathander. When Tamilyn told her that she didn't need to cross the sea, Emalia let out a tiny sigh. "I just knew of the one far far away... and I don't mind being far away." "Oh? Trouble, dear?" "Well, I suppose you could call it that. But... visiting the temple should solve that." "Faith is a marvelous thing when found. Odd how many people view it as lost..."
The two talked as the boat rocked, and on the occasional lull in conversation, Emalia found herself wondering how the desk was able to stay in the same place. She watched the woman before her, grateful that she didn't turn on her once she found out about her faith. Over a tin of Tamilyn's home baked cookies, they went over many things. "I am doing what I can to save the realms. Bring about balance."
"You have a kind heart. One day, we may debate such issues... but I think you need something else right now. Including... cookie?" The tin slid to Emalia and she gratefully split the last circular disk of heaven in two. "So how long do you think until we reach the other side of this sea?" "We should arrive in Port Llast in two days, as long as the weather holds. From there, I would venture you have about a day's journey to Waterdeep, where one of the largest of the Dawnbringer's churches stands."
In the back of her mind, Emalia remembered her time in Port Llast. Ending up there due to her own magical mishap, she had wandered the port city, and bought a glass of their famous lemonade for Hellstrom. Though she smiled outwardly, inside she continued seeing the face of Hellstrom and their time in the woods, that seemed to be ages ago.
Returning to the present, it was agreed that Tamilyn would accompany Emalia on her journey. Certainly, it was supposed to be a lonely road, but how could she deny the very woman that saved her life to make the journey possible? With a quick run down of where everything was - Emalia slipped back into the bed as Tamilyn left. She would need as much rest as possible to walk her path.
"Well, hello there," a soft voice said. It was the very woman that saved her. In a fashion almost like her mother, the short woman had a cup of tea from nowhere – something to give her energy. She drank and they talked – Tamilyn making a passing remark on her resemblance to her father, and the thought that Sanria might have done a little better in teaching her daughter not to take off over the waves. 'She knows them,' Emalia thought. 'She's one of the few that do.'
Emalia eventually informed the woman before her that she was on her way to visit the temple of Lathander. When Tamilyn told her that she didn't need to cross the sea, Emalia let out a tiny sigh. "I just knew of the one far far away... and I don't mind being far away." "Oh? Trouble, dear?" "Well, I suppose you could call it that. But... visiting the temple should solve that." "Faith is a marvelous thing when found. Odd how many people view it as lost..."
The two talked as the boat rocked, and on the occasional lull in conversation, Emalia found herself wondering how the desk was able to stay in the same place. She watched the woman before her, grateful that she didn't turn on her once she found out about her faith. Over a tin of Tamilyn's home baked cookies, they went over many things. "I am doing what I can to save the realms. Bring about balance."
"You have a kind heart. One day, we may debate such issues... but I think you need something else right now. Including... cookie?" The tin slid to Emalia and she gratefully split the last circular disk of heaven in two. "So how long do you think until we reach the other side of this sea?" "We should arrive in Port Llast in two days, as long as the weather holds. From there, I would venture you have about a day's journey to Waterdeep, where one of the largest of the Dawnbringer's churches stands."
In the back of her mind, Emalia remembered her time in Port Llast. Ending up there due to her own magical mishap, she had wandered the port city, and bought a glass of their famous lemonade for Hellstrom. Though she smiled outwardly, inside she continued seeing the face of Hellstrom and their time in the woods, that seemed to be ages ago.
Returning to the present, it was agreed that Tamilyn would accompany Emalia on her journey. Certainly, it was supposed to be a lonely road, but how could she deny the very woman that saved her life to make the journey possible? With a quick run down of where everything was - Emalia slipped back into the bed as Tamilyn left. She would need as much rest as possible to walk her path.
The Letter
As both Taryn and Throm stood there in the hall Jayden looked back and fourth at both of them, unaware of where to start. He started to speak toward both of them announcing the situation at hand, that Emalia had started off her path toward Jihad, and that our attempts to pull her back have seemed futile. "Do no, go to her and confront her, this will only draw her further away from us." He wanted to make it clear that the only option we had at this time was wait. Jayden then looked over the note once again and spoke "Hellstrom feels that this is all his fault, that he could have stopped this from happening." Jayden knew this was all wrong, he knew that Hellstrom could not have stopped this terrible thing from happening, and only if he could get Hellstrom to figure this out. Jayden peered over at Throm and spoke lightly "We must find Hellstrom...We need him, to continue the push toward Jihad. We cannot let him leave, because he is a great asset to getting Emalia back, she trusts him as much as she trusts me, but I am old and cannot fight for her like he can." Jayden turned his back from Taryn and Throm and thought for a minute 'Maybe...maybe this Insignia will work.' Jayden began to run a finger over the Insignia hoping Hellstrom would hear even if it meant Hellstrom thinking distress. Jayden turned back to both of them and spoke once again "Taryn, you must find Emalia, we seem to have....lost her. That is all..." Jayden then took his cane and slapped it on the ground, gimping back to his quarters to sit on his floor and think....
A Quiet Night
Taryn sat in the library as she often did with the books and the silent solitude of her thoughts.
She thought about Hellstrom leaving and wondered what really pushed him to go.
Was there something she missed?
She knew that sometimes she wasn't privy to some of the goings on in the clan hall due to her being deaf. Being not as in the know as she once was it was difficult to keep up with the lip reading to understand everything.
This situation was different though. Now was not the time to just sit by and let things go unsaid or noticed. Hellstrom is her friend and if he is in some sort of trouble, she wanted to be there to help.
Outside of the library, in the sanctuary, she felt the presence of her old friend, Throm. Taryn wandered out into the sanctuary to see if he could maybe answer some of the questions that she had about Hellstrom. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Throm handing Hellstrom's letter to Jayden, reading his lips she saw that he was saying: 'So... perhaps you might be able to enlighten me on the events transpiring as of late...'
Wondering what Jayden may know about this matter, she chimed in, 'What do you know, Jayden... If there is something wrong you have to tell us.'
With that, she leaned on her staff alongside Throm and awaited the answer.
She thought about Hellstrom leaving and wondered what really pushed him to go.
Was there something she missed?
She knew that sometimes she wasn't privy to some of the goings on in the clan hall due to her being deaf. Being not as in the know as she once was it was difficult to keep up with the lip reading to understand everything.
This situation was different though. Now was not the time to just sit by and let things go unsaid or noticed. Hellstrom is her friend and if he is in some sort of trouble, she wanted to be there to help.
Outside of the library, in the sanctuary, she felt the presence of her old friend, Throm. Taryn wandered out into the sanctuary to see if he could maybe answer some of the questions that she had about Hellstrom. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Throm handing Hellstrom's letter to Jayden, reading his lips she saw that he was saying: 'So... perhaps you might be able to enlighten me on the events transpiring as of late...'
Wondering what Jayden may know about this matter, she chimed in, 'What do you know, Jayden... If there is something wrong you have to tell us.'
With that, she leaned on her staff alongside Throm and awaited the answer.
Back to the Maps
"Back again?"
Melchior ignored the jibe and instead took his time shaking the rain from his cloak. Undoing the silver clasp from his neck, he hung the cloak next to the store's front door. Melancholy glanced up momentarily from the map she was studying.
"You know, you really ought to have your arm looked at."
Melchior flinched involuntarily at the mention of his scars but stayed silent. Slowly he unbuckled his sheath and set it next to a stool. A quick rummage through his pack revealed a polishing cloth and oil. Slowly, methodically, he pulled his sword from the sheath and set to polishing it. Closing his eyes he let his hands slide smoothly over the blade. This was his routine for clearing his often confused thoughts. But today, thoughts were not fading so quickly. Concentration seemed out of his grasp and before he knew it the blade slipped out of his hands, ringing clearly as the metal struck the stone floor.
"A bit agitated, are we?"
Melancholy had taken off her glasses and was looking intently at Melchior. Sullenly, he picked up the sword and sheathed it again. He leaned the sheathed sword against a stack of parchment as he walked to the store's small window, . With crossed arms, Melchior stood looking as the people of Westbridge moved through Common Square. "You're going to have to say something eventually." "How do these people not care? You'd think it wasn't sitting up there, waiting for its moment." "Plenty of them care, my boy. You've just not given yourself a chance to find those that do." "Oh, I've found some that care. Indeed." Melchior turned to Melancholy, clearly angry. "Jihad. Seriously? And now they have Emalia believing their insanity. They won't stop until this world is ashes, and she believes that somehow this is a GOOD thing?" "I'm sorry to hear it. She seemed like a good one. Someone you would have..." A dark look from Melchior cut her short. Nodding, Melancholy said, "I am sorry." "Perhaps it's time to just give up. We've heard nothing, we've found nothing. Let these Jenovese have their way." "You can't let a setback like this throw you. Have faith that we'll find it yet. You can't let the progress we have made slide to the wayside." Putting her glasses back on, Melancholy tapped a point on the map she'd been studying. "Now come over here. Give me hand with this map."
Melchior sighed and pulled his stool over to Melancholy's desk. There was little use in arguing. She was right after all. Everything he'd done over the last months had been to one end; Melchior knew he wasn't about to throw it all away.
They would find the sword. They would use the sword if they could. Or they would find someone to use it in their stead. It was to be another long night of study.
Melchior ignored the jibe and instead took his time shaking the rain from his cloak. Undoing the silver clasp from his neck, he hung the cloak next to the store's front door. Melancholy glanced up momentarily from the map she was studying.
"You know, you really ought to have your arm looked at."
Melchior flinched involuntarily at the mention of his scars but stayed silent. Slowly he unbuckled his sheath and set it next to a stool. A quick rummage through his pack revealed a polishing cloth and oil. Slowly, methodically, he pulled his sword from the sheath and set to polishing it. Closing his eyes he let his hands slide smoothly over the blade. This was his routine for clearing his often confused thoughts. But today, thoughts were not fading so quickly. Concentration seemed out of his grasp and before he knew it the blade slipped out of his hands, ringing clearly as the metal struck the stone floor.
"A bit agitated, are we?"
Melancholy had taken off her glasses and was looking intently at Melchior. Sullenly, he picked up the sword and sheathed it again. He leaned the sheathed sword against a stack of parchment as he walked to the store's small window, . With crossed arms, Melchior stood looking as the people of Westbridge moved through Common Square. "You're going to have to say something eventually." "How do these people not care? You'd think it wasn't sitting up there, waiting for its moment." "Plenty of them care, my boy. You've just not given yourself a chance to find those that do." "Oh, I've found some that care. Indeed." Melchior turned to Melancholy, clearly angry. "Jihad. Seriously? And now they have Emalia believing their insanity. They won't stop until this world is ashes, and she believes that somehow this is a GOOD thing?" "I'm sorry to hear it. She seemed like a good one. Someone you would have..." A dark look from Melchior cut her short. Nodding, Melancholy said, "I am sorry." "Perhaps it's time to just give up. We've heard nothing, we've found nothing. Let these Jenovese have their way." "You can't let a setback like this throw you. Have faith that we'll find it yet. You can't let the progress we have made slide to the wayside." Putting her glasses back on, Melancholy tapped a point on the map she'd been studying. "Now come over here. Give me hand with this map."
Melchior sighed and pulled his stool over to Melancholy's desk. There was little use in arguing. She was right after all. Everything he'd done over the last months had been to one end; Melchior knew he wasn't about to throw it all away.
They would find the sword. They would use the sword if they could. Or they would find someone to use it in their stead. It was to be another long night of study.
In New Thalos
Colin found the New Thalosian market square to be exactly what he had hoped for. Countless vendors and stalls seemingly offered anything money could buy. A myriad of scents assailed him: perfumes, incense, smoked meats, and the occasional unwashed body. The crowd of people doing business in the square made it quite easy to keep one eye on Emalia as the other surveyed the offerings all round him. As Colin watched Emalia she entered a shop that dealt in pets. "What a strange choice," Colin thought to himself, but he welcomed the chance to purchase some proper supplies. After all, it was much easier to watch a stationary doorway than a moving target.
"You there!," called a olive-skinned vendor who sat turning an unknown animal on a large roasting spit. "A big man like yourself needs lots of meat to feed those muscles. One copper a slice, two for a sandwich. My wife baked the bread fresh!"
"Sorry friend," Colin replied with a slight grin, "you're barking up the wrong tree. But I'll give you that copper if you can help me out. Where can I get some clothes, and maybe a couple of blankets? Somewhere close."
"Halan's right over there. It's not the fanciest stuff but he should have what you need."
Colin tossed a copper coin to the man and made his way over to Halan's stand, all the while keeping watch over the door to the pet shop. Indeed, the selection of clothing and fabrics laid out on Halan's tables was surprisingly vast. Colin quickly picked out a nondescript shirt and cloak which were not so much necessary for their warmth or protection, but for their ability to conceal him. After a moment's consideration, he picked out a medium weight blanket. "Not that I need it," Colin thought to himself, "but it's good to keep up appearances." "That's 12 silver friend." Halan informed Colin.
Colin glared at the man, knowing he was being ripped off. "How about I just slit..." Colin stopped short there, the glare vanishing. At that moment he saw Emalia emerge from the pet shop, wheeling a large wooden cage before her. "Is that a tiger?" Colin said aloud to himself. He quickly fished out 12 silver pieces and placed them before a bewildered and somewhat shaken looking Halan.
Colin quickly moved into a better position to see Emalia, who abandoned the tiger right outside of the shop and started heading quickly towards the east. Just as he began to follow her something else caught his eye, an exceptionally short woman who seemed to be paying as much attention to Emalia as he. Colin would probably have not even noticed her had it not been for the monkey who was perched upon her shoulder. Thoughts of the spies that Emalia had once mentioned immediately sprang into his head. "This can't be good." Colin thought.
Colin's dread intensified as the small stranger began following Emalia eastward through the crowded square. "At least this makes it easy to keep an eye on both of them." Colin thought to himself as he threw on his new cloak and set out after the both of them.
The three of them made their way eastward through the city, one after another, two stealthily ducklings following an unknowing mother. After some time they arrived at the eastern edge of the city. There were a great number of docks jutting like fingers into a huge expanse of water. Colin positioned himself behind a stack of wooden crates as Emalia stopped before one of the docks. She seemed to survey her surroundings and suddenly lifted into the air, pausing only a moment before flying off over the water.
"Damn." Colin cursed under his breath. "If only I could be free of this damned..." Colin's thoughts stopped there and his attention quickly shifted to the small woman who had also been following Emalia. She was headed over towards a dock where a quick-looking sailing vessel was anchored. Deciding there was not so much need for stealth not that Emalia had flown off, Colin walked over closer toward the woman, busying himself with inspecting some crates waiting to be loaded. She approached a man who looked the be the captain of the vessel and Colin watched as they spoke. The ship captain's demeanor indicated the two were at least acquaintances and they talked for some time. Although Colin was only able to catch small bits of the conversation it was enough to gather she planned to sail on the vessel in the direction Emalia had headed.
The small woman departed to prepare for her journey and Colin made a quick decision. He removed his cloak, pulled himself up to his full height, and approached the captain of the vessel. "It looks like you could use another hand loading your ship. I'm strong and I work cheap."
The captain surveyed Colin, a shrewd look on his face "Normally I'd tell ye t'move on. I don much like strangers. But, it just so happens I need to step up me schedule a bit. I want all of these loaded in the next 20 minutes. Get that done and I'll give ya 5 silver." "Agreed." Colin said with a nod and quickly got to work.
The crates were large and heavy yet easy for him to handle and the work gave him a great opportunity to learn the bowels of the ship. When the work was done it was not difficult to load the last bit of cargo into the ship's hold before the journey began... himself.
"You there!," called a olive-skinned vendor who sat turning an unknown animal on a large roasting spit. "A big man like yourself needs lots of meat to feed those muscles. One copper a slice, two for a sandwich. My wife baked the bread fresh!"
"Sorry friend," Colin replied with a slight grin, "you're barking up the wrong tree. But I'll give you that copper if you can help me out. Where can I get some clothes, and maybe a couple of blankets? Somewhere close."
"Halan's right over there. It's not the fanciest stuff but he should have what you need."
Colin tossed a copper coin to the man and made his way over to Halan's stand, all the while keeping watch over the door to the pet shop. Indeed, the selection of clothing and fabrics laid out on Halan's tables was surprisingly vast. Colin quickly picked out a nondescript shirt and cloak which were not so much necessary for their warmth or protection, but for their ability to conceal him. After a moment's consideration, he picked out a medium weight blanket. "Not that I need it," Colin thought to himself, "but it's good to keep up appearances." "That's 12 silver friend." Halan informed Colin.
Colin glared at the man, knowing he was being ripped off. "How about I just slit..." Colin stopped short there, the glare vanishing. At that moment he saw Emalia emerge from the pet shop, wheeling a large wooden cage before her. "Is that a tiger?" Colin said aloud to himself. He quickly fished out 12 silver pieces and placed them before a bewildered and somewhat shaken looking Halan.
Colin quickly moved into a better position to see Emalia, who abandoned the tiger right outside of the shop and started heading quickly towards the east. Just as he began to follow her something else caught his eye, an exceptionally short woman who seemed to be paying as much attention to Emalia as he. Colin would probably have not even noticed her had it not been for the monkey who was perched upon her shoulder. Thoughts of the spies that Emalia had once mentioned immediately sprang into his head. "This can't be good." Colin thought.
Colin's dread intensified as the small stranger began following Emalia eastward through the crowded square. "At least this makes it easy to keep an eye on both of them." Colin thought to himself as he threw on his new cloak and set out after the both of them.
The three of them made their way eastward through the city, one after another, two stealthily ducklings following an unknowing mother. After some time they arrived at the eastern edge of the city. There were a great number of docks jutting like fingers into a huge expanse of water. Colin positioned himself behind a stack of wooden crates as Emalia stopped before one of the docks. She seemed to survey her surroundings and suddenly lifted into the air, pausing only a moment before flying off over the water.
"Damn." Colin cursed under his breath. "If only I could be free of this damned..." Colin's thoughts stopped there and his attention quickly shifted to the small woman who had also been following Emalia. She was headed over towards a dock where a quick-looking sailing vessel was anchored. Deciding there was not so much need for stealth not that Emalia had flown off, Colin walked over closer toward the woman, busying himself with inspecting some crates waiting to be loaded. She approached a man who looked the be the captain of the vessel and Colin watched as they spoke. The ship captain's demeanor indicated the two were at least acquaintances and they talked for some time. Although Colin was only able to catch small bits of the conversation it was enough to gather she planned to sail on the vessel in the direction Emalia had headed.
The small woman departed to prepare for her journey and Colin made a quick decision. He removed his cloak, pulled himself up to his full height, and approached the captain of the vessel. "It looks like you could use another hand loading your ship. I'm strong and I work cheap."
The captain surveyed Colin, a shrewd look on his face "Normally I'd tell ye t'move on. I don much like strangers. But, it just so happens I need to step up me schedule a bit. I want all of these loaded in the next 20 minutes. Get that done and I'll give ya 5 silver." "Agreed." Colin said with a nod and quickly got to work.
The crates were large and heavy yet easy for him to handle and the work gave him a great opportunity to learn the bowels of the ship. When the work was done it was not difficult to load the last bit of cargo into the ship's hold before the journey began... himself.
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