Toby Neighbors - Fierce Loyalty

When Zollin finally found the Northern Star, he paid for their passage with silver. There were rumors that the three men in Lorye had paid with gold, and Zollin didn’t want to do anything that might make the sailors think that he was the wizard who had fought the kraken.

When Zollin returned to the inn, he found Eustice waiting for him with new clothes. The mute servant had managed to buy new breeches, several shirts, and even new boots for them both.

“I’m not sure how you do it, Eustice,” Zollin said. “I mean, how do you haggle when you can’t talk?”

The mute servant only waved a hand of dismissal at Zollin.

“You did an excellent job,” he said. Eustice beamed under the praise. “I don’t know how you knew what size boots to get me, but these are a perfect fit. And very comfortable too.”

They went together to get food. They bought several bottles of wine and a keg of ale, along with fruit, eggs, cheese, and three dozen loaves of bread. They paid a man with a pushcart a few bronze coins to haul their load to the boat. Then, they waited in separate inns as the sun set, hoping to catch sight of Mansel. Zollin wasn’t sure how the warrior would know which ship to book passage on-in fact, he wasn’t even sure if Mansel hadn’t suggested that they split up just so he could get as far away from Zollin as possible. Zollin wouldn’t have blamed his friend for that. It seemed like death followed Zollin as closely as his own shadow. He had taken great strides not to kill anyone since the battle at Orrock. The last thing he wanted now as more blood on his hands. He knew he would have to defeat Offendorl and the witch at Lodenhime, but just thinking about how easily he’d been able to inflict damage on the kraken made him feel ashamed. It was the realization that at any moment he could do the same thing to anyone around him. He could stop a man’s heart, eviscerate organs, or collapse lungs with hardly a thought. It was like holding a tiny baby bird in your hands, knowing that with only the tiniest effort you could end that life. The realization weighed heavily on Zollin.

He drank cider and watched the sailors and merchants moving around on the quay. Boats loaded with cargo were rowed to the docks and unloaded. Carts full of merchandise rumbled over the cobblestone streets. Zollin couldn’t help but think of Todrek as he sipped his drink. It was cool and tart, reminding Zollin of his old friend and how they had spent the day together at the harvest festival in Tranaugh Shire. It had been a good day, at least until Brianna’s father had announced Todrek’s betrothal. Zollin had not been jealous of his friend, only envious of Todrek’s good fortune. He had been planning to leave their village, and Todrek’s betrothal had solidified that decision. He had only stayed into the winter because his best friend had asked Zollin to stand with him at the marriage ceremony.

So much had changed that day, Zollin thought. Looking back, it was as if that day had set everything that came since into motion. Still, sitting comfortably, watching the hustle and bustle of the harbor in the last light of the day and drinking his cider, Zollin couldn’t help but think of how much Todrek would have enjoyed being there with him. The smell of the ocean was sharp, mingling with the smell of roasting meat and freshly baked bread. It was a moment of peace and happiness, a rarity in Zollin’s world.

It was late before Zollin caught sight of Eustice. He hurried over and gestured for Zollin to follow him. They passed a sullen looking inn that overlooked the harbor and Eustice gestured at it. Zollin guessed that Eustice had seen Mansel go inside.

“We need to let him know what we’ve done,” Zollin said. “But I don’t want us to be seen with him. Perhaps I could send him a message.”

Eustice nodded as Zollin looked around. A young boy was sweeping outside the inn. Zollin approached him.

“Can you carry a message for me?” he asked, holding up a silver mark.

“Aye,” the boy said, mesmerized by the silver.

“There’s a man in your inn here, a big man with a sword. He’s wearing a leather vest and goes by the name of Mansel. You think you could find him and give him a message?”

“Aye, that I could, sir.”

“Good,” Zollin said. “Tell him, ‘The Northern Star.’”

“And…” the boy said.

“That’s it, just ‘The Northern Star.’ And let him know it sails with the tide tomorrow. What time will that be?”

“Just before noon day,” the boy said.

“Good, that’ll give him time enough to square things. Repeat the message.”

“The Northern Star sails with the morning tide.”

“Good enough,” Zollin said, flipping the boy the coin. “Wait a few minutes, then go find him. Alright?”

“Aye, sir,” the boy said.

“Let’s go,” Zollin said to Eustice.

They turned and went in search of a boat that would take them to their ship. A few coppers paid their fare, and the boat ride was smooth. Unlike the open waters of the coast, the harbor was calm and the skiff they rode in glided over the water. They had to climb a rope ladder up the side of the ship and were met by one of the sailors. The Northern Star wasn’t as big as the ship that had been destroyed by the Kraken, but it had a long corridor of rooms just under the main deck. Zollin and Eustice shared a room with two bunks, a sturdy table with canvas chairs, and even a small porthole with shutters. Their belongings and food had already been neatly stored away in the sea chests at the foot of each bunk.

“Nothing left now but to wait, I guess,” Zollin said.

Eustice nodded and began preparing food for their evening meal. Zollin was tempted to go up on deck and explore a little, perhaps even let his magic down into the sea again. But he didn’t want to take the chance that he had actually attracted the kraken. And he knew he would be worried until Mansel was safely on board the ship with them.

They ate a light meal of bread and fruit with a little cheese and wine. They were tired from their travels so sleep came easily, and at dawn they awoke to the cries of the sailors. An officer was seeing that everything was ready for the ship to set sail with the tide. He barked and shouted, and the sailors answered in kind. Zollin was still sleepy, but it was impossible to rest with all the noise around him.

“I think I’ll take a walk on the deck,” Zollin said.

He stepped out of their room and was met by a woman in a long cloak. She glared at him for a moment, until he stepped to the side, then swept past him and entered a much larger set of rooms at the end of the corridor.

“That’s Lady Roleena,” said a sailor who had just come down the stairs from the deck. He was carrying a large chest on his shoulder. “I’d steer clear, if you take my meaning. She’s got a razor sharp tongue, she has.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Zollin said.

He turned and headed back up to the main deck. There were people everywhere-mostly sailors, but some were passengers overseeing their belongs as they were hoisted up from the ships below. Zollin went out to an empty spot along the ship rail and looked out over the water. He wasn’t surprised that the ship was filling up. It had been the only ship still taking passengers when he had searched, but he was afraid that Mansel might be too late to get on board.

He was hungry and tired, but too nervous to eat. He watched the ships and the myriad of boats moving between them. Some of the boats were large, with over a dozen men working the oars, while others were simple wooden platforms, hardly wider than their passengers, being expertly rowed around the harbor by just a single sailor.

Zollin had almost lost hope for his friend when he saw the big warrior in a crowded boat of surly looking men. Zollin thought the men looked hungover and sick. Mansel would have blended in well if not for his size. When the boat came gliding up beside the Northern Star, an officer started barking orders.