James Wyatt - In the Claws of the Tiger

In modern Stormreach, house enclaves and supply markets stood in clusters of buildings along with all the ordinary trades found in any small city, crowded in by the huge stones of the ancient ruins. The city was dangerous-partly because many of its residents were little better than pirates, and partly because traveling from one part of the city to another often meant a long walk through barren ruins along a rarely-patrolled road. It was possible, though, never to leave the area nearest the docks, and that was Janik’s inclination every time he visited the city.

By midday, Janik and his companions were off the ship, grateful to feel solid ground under their feet again. Mathas and Auftane went into the city to find lodging. Dania went to the local church of the Silver Flame. Janik arranged to meet them for dinner at a restaurant called Forest’s Bounty, then went with Avaen into a dockside tavern.

The captain took a deep drink from his ale and wiped the foam from his mouth. “Well, Janik,” he said, “I hope your expedition is a success.”

“Thank you,” Janik said. “What are your plans?”

“There’s always cargo to carry back to civilization, and usually passengers as well. And it’s rare enough to see a Lyrandar ship here that I can usually get very good terms. But I’m not sure I’m ready to sail Shargon’s Teeth again.”

Janik nodded. “I know that feeling. Would you like to ferry us down the western coast? I can pay you pretty well, but I can’t pretend it’s not dangerous.”

“And danger is exactly what I want less of,” Avaen said. “I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”

“I understand. What will you do, then?”

“I think I’ll take a position in my house enclave here, at least for a while. I don’t think I can be landbound for too long-perhaps in a year or so, the sea will call me back. In the meantime, Stormreach will be a change of pace, something new to help me-” He broke off.

He didn’t need to finish. Janik understood. A change of pace was exactly what he had needed three years ago, after Maija disappeared with Krael. He raised his mug, and Avaen raised his to meet it, his eyebrow arched quizzically.

“To fresh starts,” Janik said.

“To fresh starts,” Avaen repeated. They clinked their mugs together and finished their drinks in silence.

Janik spent the rest of the afternoon making inquiries around the docks about Hope’s Endeavor . By sunset, he was confident that the ship had not arrived yet-or someone had paid large amounts of money to keep news of her arrival silent. Janik found no one who was expecting the ship to pull into port, even though many people in Stormreach recognized the names of Captain Nashan and his ship. That the ship was not expected was hardly surprising-had Nashan left in a hurry under pressure from Krael, he would not have sent word ahead. Doing so would have little point, at any rate, since travel through the Teeth was so unpredictable. By the day’s end, Janik was satisfied that they had docked in Stormreach before Krael. A minor victory, perhaps, but it was the first in some time, and Janik savored it.

A satisfied smile on his face, he made his way to the restaurant to meet his friends. Forest’s Bounty was inland, away from the docks, and it catered to people who were sick of eating fish on long sea voyages. Janik had discovered it on his first trip to Xen’drik and had declared it his customary site for the first meal after coming ashore. Instead of the seafood prevalent in most Stormreach restaurants, it offered venison and tapir, along with a wide variety of vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits.

When Janik arrived, he found Mathas and Auftane already seated, chatting like old friends as they picked chunks of yellow and orange fruit from a bowl with long, slender forks. He nodded at the headwaiter, whose name he couldn’t remember, and sat down next to Mathas, his back to the door.

“Ah, good evening!” Auftane said, raising a glass of wine to Janik and taking a drink. “Your elf friend has been telling me about your past adventures in Xen’drik.” Mathas looked a little sheepish, and Janik guessed that they had been talking about their last adventure and all the drama that surrounded it.

“And are you still interested in accompanying us?” Janik asked.

“I certainly am, if you will have me.”

“Well, Mathas, what do you think? Should we drag this dwarf across the desert with us? Will he slow us down too much?”

Mathas smiled his thin smile. “I think that any slowing of our pace will be more than compensated by the contributions Auftane will make along the way.”

“Well spoken, Mathas,” Janik said. “In my opinion, you more than adequately proved yourself in our battle against the sahuagin.”

Dania’s voice floated over Janik’s shoulder. “How would you know? You spent half that battle practicing your back stroke.”

Janik turned as Dania took the empty seat on his right. “I could tell that you all had the situation well in hand,” he said. “I wanted to prevent any further assault from the water.”

“Worried the sharks might climb up on deck?” Dania said, and Auftane guffawed.

Janik narrowed his eyes. “You never know,” he said in a mysterious whisper. “Especially where the sea devils are concerned.” He joined the others in their laughter.

“So I can come along?” Auftane asked.

“Dania, you don’t have any objection, do you?” Janik asked.

Dania paused, staring at Auftane a moment. Apparently satisfied, she shook her head. “No,” she said, “I agree with Janik. You’ve more than proven your worth, Auftane. You are most welcome.”

“Thank you,” Auftane said, getting to his feet. He grabbed Dania’s hand and shook it. “I won’t let you down, I promise.” He did the same to Mathas and Janik before sitting down again.

Janik leaned across the table and looked to both sides, at Mathas and Dania. “Was I ever that enthusiastic about risking my life in Xen’drik?”

“Well, let me think,” Dania said. Mathas put his hand to his mouth, barely covering his grin. “There was that first trip, when you pretended to be terrified of the Emerald Claw but couldn’t wait to get into the jungle.”

“And there was the time with the river shrine,” Mathas said.

“Oh, right, with the lobster thing,” Dania said. “What did you call it, Mathas? A chewer?”

“Chuul,” Mathas corrected.

“Chuul, right. Yes, you were a little excited that trip. And when we found the Temple of Sondar Thaj in the Marsh of Desolation.”

“But you’ve grown much more jaded recently,” Mathas said.

“Indeed! When you thought you might have figured out where Mel-Aqat was, I would say your childlike enthusiasm was moderately diminished.”

“I think you’ve made your point,” Janik said. “So I like this work.”

“And you know we wouldn’t be here with you if we didn’t share some of that enthusiasm,” Dania said, putting a hand on Janik’s folded arms.

“Not me,” Mathas said. “I hate Xen’drik. I’m only here because someone needs to keep an eye on you children.”

“Well, Auftane is coming with us now,” Janik said. “He’s an adult who can watch over us. Do you want to stay behind?”

“Hmm,” Mathas said. “How old are you, Auftane?”

“I have just passed my eightieth summer,” the dwarf replied. “I am considered an adult by my people.” He turned to Janik. “Surely you are as well?”

“Well, I’m thirty-six,” Janik said, “and Dania-you’d be thirty-eight, right?”

“I would have thought you were much younger,” Auftane said to Dania.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Dania said with a playful scowl. “My elven ancestry keeps me looking young. Like Mathas here.” She gestured at the venerable elf.