Chapter 11 - Grey Harbor

  Shaking and with heavy bags under her eyes, Katlin sipped on a glass of water. She was upright against the wooden bedframe, her black hair knotted and greasy. One of the few comforts she did have at the moment was her clean nightgown that Ithlix changed her into before putting her to bed. On her lap, nestled in the blanket, was her overturned witch hat that had a slowly squirming ball of black tentacles.

  “How are you feeling?” Orthanis arrived with a bucket of warm water and a small rag, the rest of the party was present with Ithlix standing guard near the door and Timalis and Leandros staying close enough but giving her enough space to settle.

  “Where are we?” Katlin finally spoke in a weak voice, her eyes darting around the fairly barren room.

  “The Soggy Haddock,” Leandros answered with a comforting smile, “...in Gray Harbor. We stayed here for a night on the way up here.”

  It took her a moment but after a bit of squinting and rubbing her head, she nodded. “Yeah, yeah I remember.”, Katlin started to rub her eyes before looking at Leandros again, this time her voice panicking, “Is everyone alright and what happened? All I can remember was Timalis and I climbing a large tree, seeing a strange camp…” Katlin stopped and the little colour flushed out of her, as if she was frozen in time, she stayed still. “...That light.” as if it was a bodily response, her body lurched to the side and she vomited off the side of the bed, it was mainly water and a few chunks of breakfast they ate the morning of the incident.

  Splattering the floor and parts of the bed, she curled up hugging her legs. The party moved quickly: Leandros gently standing by her head gently stroking her greasy hair, Orthanis had the rag soaking in the warm water from the start and with Katlin vomiting she started to gently wipe away the residue off of her face and hair, Ithlix moved out to grab a mop and Timalis went with him to ask for clean bedsheets. Katlin sobbed loudly, while the two elves stayed with her.

  “That light.” she would mutter before tightening up further into her ball. Ithlix arrived back first and started cleaning the puddle on the floor. Once he was almost done Timalis arrived looking annoyed and a couple coppers lighter than before he left but he had the clean sheets.

  “We are going to stand up now, ok?” Leandros whispered, putting an arm around her waist and slowly coasting her out of bed. Following his movements she slowly took a leg out of bed followed by the other and leant on his arm as they stood up. They took a single step forward clearing the cleaning zone but Katlin grabbed Leandros tight.

  “Socks! Where is Socks?!” she was breathing erratically with her eyes darting to the bed.

  Orthanis immediately raised the witches hat out of the mess of blankets and handed it to Leandros who in turn passed it to the woman, carefully. She hugged the hat, squeezing it to herself tight.

  “I feel our connection is so weak, I can't have him outside of arms reach.” her voice was still trembling but her breathing was back to normal. As she buried her face into the hat, the party looked at one another and exchanged a glance.

  “Let's put you to bed, we are here if you need us.” Leandros gave her a comforting squeeze before guiding her to his clean bed, resigning himself to the bed swap. She had no objections as the witch almost collapsed asleep on his shoulder.

  The four hung around the door of their room, they all were equally tired but they arranged one last meeting of the day. Ithlix cracked open the door and gazed into the room, his golden eye looking over Katlin who was wrapped in a blanket, a bucket on the floor and a glass of water in arms reach. With a creek he slowly shut the door and gave the group a nod.

  “Man, this is her worst mana withdrawal I've seen.” Orthanis hid a yawn and massaged her eye as she lent on a wall.”

  “I don’t think it was just withdrawal. That day has scarred her, I fear.” Leandros said, rubbing his chin. Which got a nod from the other two. Turning to Timalis he asked a question, “You said we have enough coin for a couple of days, how long can we extend that?”

  “From two to three with what we have and we eat skint.” the ranger answered after giving it some thought. Leandros leaned against the wall and also kneaded his eyes, he turned to where he assumed Katlin was sleeping in their shared room and bit his lip while thinking. “We will stay for three days, Katlin needs the rest. I'll go to the docks each day until and see if I can get us on a ship.” he finally came to a conclusion.

  “I watch over Katlin these coming days.” Ithlix spoke up, “I have no intentions on exploring this town and I would also like the rest.”

  “I will want to head to the temple before we leave but I'm more than happy to help afterwards.” Orthanis yawned

  “And I'll follow you, Leandros.” Timalis nodded to the elf. As the group came to a plan, the party then took themselves to their shared room and to bed, Leandros still had to change the sheets on his new bed but as he looked at Katlin breathing slower and steadier; he knew he did the right thing.

  Sunlight broke through the dark clouds hanging over Grey Harbor, and through a crack in the curtain, the light streamed into the room revealing two empty beds, the two men that aimed to go to the docks had already left. Passing the bartender Timalis paid for an extra day and they walked into the road. The smell of the sea hit them accompanied by the sound of gulls and yelling of sailors. The two strolled down the riverside path, their light conversation of choice was about Timalis’ arrows and how he was running low. The two men were in their casual clothes aside from Leandos’ sword and Timalis’ two daggers attached to their belts respectively. They walked and talked, keeping an eye out for a decently sized boat that could take them to Envis. Just as the two made it to the section of the harbor where the larger fishing vessels would dock, Timalis stopped and eyed a man on a ketch. At the sudden stop Leandros squinted but struggled to see the man in the distance.

  “You see anything.” Leandros asked after leaning forward, still unable to see the figure Timalis found.

  The human did not respond, instead moved closer along the wooden piers. Leandros kept squinting as the two approached the docked boat. The ketch was nothing special. Its dark wood hull looked painted recently but otherwise covered in fishing nets. The sails attached to the two masts were down but the flag attached to the center mast flew in the wind. The green flag with an embossed hanging yellow snake coiled around a black raven trying to fight back; the flag of King Zadrel the First, the king of The Lunris kingdom. The two got to the ketch but as Leandros stepped forward he was stopped by Timalis’s outstretched hand.

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  “Leo, these are people from my past that owe me a favour.” Timalis turned to look into the green eyes of Leandros with a smile. “Wait here and maybe I can get us out of here faster and for less than I expected.”

  Leandros scanned the man's face to see nothing but genuine excitement, confidence and relief. The feeling was infectious as they both smiled.

  “Do you think these people can take us to Envis?” Leandros questioned,

  “If these are the same men I knew years ago then yes.” he responded while the elf patted him on his shoulder.

  “Then I’ll wait here, good luck brother.” Leandros grunted as he stretched and sat on one of the pier's many mourning posts.

  The ranger walked onto the boat, the two men had already had their presence noted by the captain who stood at the stairs to go below deck. The captain in question was a bulky man who wore loose fitting attire stained with sweat; his bald head was on full display matching his messy long beard. His face was blocky and gruff with brown eyes looking at the person walking onboard. One of his heavy and callused hands rested on the saber at his hip and the other on the stairs’ post.

  “Hey hey, I'm here to talk business” he raised his voice so that the captain and Leandros could hear him. The captain did not respond but watched as the ranger drew a small coin from his breast pocket. It was dark grey, almost black with two triangle shaped red gems in the center. Hiding it in his palm and showing the captain; the action was fast and seemingly rehearsed as the bulky man ever so slightly nodded and moved down into the boat. Timalis didn't hesitate and followed down the steps until he was fully out of sight from the outside world. Below deck was dingy with three hanging lights, illuminated by candles that swayed with the boat, underneath them there is a table with eight seats around it and the captain sitting at its head. What stopped Timalis from approaching further into what he assumed was the common room was a blade that caressed his neck, held by a figure encased in shadow.

  “The duty of a Nightwatcher is eternal.” he spoke slowly and clearly, as he stepped forward feeling the blade dig deep into his neck with warm blood run down his chest.

  Leandros had his eyes closed and focused on the sound of the sea until he heard bootsteps and joyous talk. Opening his eyes he saw the captain and Timalis laughing and walking to the gunwales.

  “Leo, this is Captain Broth. He's an old, old friend.”

  “It can't be that long ago,” the large captain chuckled, “I owe this little shit a favour so I'll take your party to Envis free of charge, we are headed there anyway.”

  “Are you sure? Free of charge is quite an ask for the five of us.” Leandros questioned after finally getting a good look at the captain.

  “Eye, it is a lot but we expect you to work the boat, a couple of my crew have gone to their wives for a time so we are a few hands down.” Captain Broth responded in a matter of fact tone. “Don’t worry although the skies here are grey, the waters from here to Envis will be calm, so the jobs I want you to do aren’t that demanding, just pull or tie off the correct rope when I or the crew tell you.”

  Leandros eyed the man, still unsure. The offer was good, too good in Leandros’ opinion but his story did make sense and if he wasn't paying the five of them to get to the capital, it's the cheapest labor he can get on short notice. What gave him the last push was the reassuring nod Timalis gave.

  “Sounds good, when do you expect to leave?” Leadros stretched a hand to complete the deal

  “First light tomorrow. The trip takes seventeen hours give or take, so get ready for that.” The Captain took his hand and shook the knights’.

  The three men nodded goodbye as they departed. The two companions talked a little about supplies for the trip and with the money they have spare decided to split up.

  “I want to check up on Orthanis, she should be at the Temple about now.” Timalis chatted, as he handed the coin pouch to Leandros, “If you want to restock our supplies?”

  “I guess I can, seeing that you got us a free trip to Envis.” he took the pouch from Timalis and began to part ways, “see you at the Inn.” giving Timalis a slight wave. The ranger walked along the riverside road, it was probably nine in the morning as it took a fair chunk of time to sort out the boat. With his hands in his pockets and cape gently blowing in the morning breeze, he waltzed his way to the large temple at the center of the town. As he walked he heard the bells ring nine times, which made the man smugly smile at his wisdom. With the bells confirming that the time was indeed nine in the morning he followed the crowd that was coming from the morning prayer about to start their days. The citizens gave him a wide berth, eyeing him suspiciously; he honestly didn't care too much and was kind of thankful that nobody slowed him down as he got to the temple. As he got to the doors, a nun garbed in black and white with her eyes covered in a ceremonial blindfold and her hands gloved, matching the lace like pattern of the blindfold, her body was almost fully covered in a long dress. She turned to him as if the blindfold didn't obstruct her vision.

  “Are you here to see the adventurer?” her voice was mature and filled with a confidence that she already knew what the cloaked man wanted.

  “Yes, Sister.” he gave a small bow that she returned in kind.

  “Your companion, I assume, is reading the children a story. She is in the room past the altar.” The nun welcomed the man with an outstretched arm but quickly turned to an old gentleman asking her a question. Not wanting to pry Timalis made his way into the building.

  The doors opened up to a hall that used most of the real estate of the temple, with light grey stone and poorly made, frosted windows forming the walls. The high ceiling was knitted together using beams of oak. Timalis walked along the stone, his footfalls reverberating inside the hall. As he passed the rows of pews, he heard a familiar voice telling a story.

  “...the Celestial Dragon bared its claws and tore at the demon Valor.” as Orthanis exaggerated her voice to emphasize the story a chorus of childish cheers erupted from the room ahead. Peaking his head through the open doorway into the room it matched the stone and oak design of the rest of the building but a large circular rug allowed Orthanis to sit cross-legged against the wall and sixteen children to watch with baited breath as she read from the book in her hand. A few parents waited in the corridor, chatting quietly to not disturb the ongoing story, Timalis decided to hang around the open door and watch as the elf told her story. Flanking Orthanis a priestly man with the same blindfold and gloves stood and watched next to her and a nun sat stroking the hair of a shy looking child.

  “As his divine claw cut into the fowl demon he was destroyed, both in our world and the divine realms. Never to harm a mortal again.” and with a snap of the book the children cheered again with the clapping of the two other adults. While Orthanis looked at the children with a beaming smile, she caught Timalis in the doorway. In the brief moment they both shared a smile and Orthanis went back to her captive audience who she thanked for their time and cheers. As the room calmed the inevitable questions started to be asked. A kid with short black hair and snot running down his nose almost rocketed up, hand reaching for the sky. “Miss, Miss.” he blurted, “what happened to the Celestial Dragon?”

  After getting a nod from the priest that she could answer the question, Orthanis answered.

  “After the hard fight with the evil demon, the Celestial Dragon needed to rest; just like after a hard day of work. So he went and slumbered between the stars. If you are lucky and the sky is clear you might be able to see him, look for two bright stars and a line of eight dimer stars, that is the Celestial Dragon.”

  This led to a few other children raising their hands, choosing a girl sitting at the front who asked a simple question. “Why did the Goddess not fight the demon Valor?”

  “You see child, the Goddess knew that the Celestial Dragon was capable of slaying the demon. It was our job as believers to trust in her judgement and persevere through that time. As our ancestors believed in the Goddess, we are allowed to live today. The goddess will give us all challenges to overcome but she will not give you a trial that she deems impossible for you, remember that and if your faith is strong you will always persevere.” This got a nod from the nun still stroking the child's head. As the kid with the nun and Orthanis made eye contact he raised a hand. Orthanis gave the kid a gentle nod and he asked his question.

  “If the Celestial dragon killed the demons, what about the Yavichi raids?” and the room went so silent you could hear a pin drop.