Ahead in the morning mists loom the islands of the Yandar Main. Headed southeast now, you can see the isle of Palavoy away to starboard, and far ahead, the crown of Mount Rissar peers over the horizon, signaling that the Reckoning now approaches the island of Arcoy. Never snow-capped even in winter, the slopes of the conical Mount Rissar are lush with green even at this distance. Tallest mountain in the chain, Rissar is a landmark that tells you Arcoy is no more than a morning's sail away.
Deeshon calls down, "Land ahoy! Port Arjuri, I make her." A cheer goes up. These men have been weeks at sea, from the islands to the Crimson Coast and now back again, and lost friends and comrades besides...and they are looking forward to setting foot on dry land once more.
About two leagues to port is a large Yandar merchanter, westbound, with a much smaller sloop, heavily armed, guarding her on her eastbound journey. Hugging the coast of Pelavoy to starboard are a cluster of fishing vessels, wallowing in the shallows.
Baj stands near the portside railing on the quarterdeck looking at the island growing in the distance.
Rhyll walks up and stands next to Baj, he takes a deep breath then says, "Ah Yandar, no place like it in the Seven Kingdoms."
Ilian stands beside Rhyll, counting on her fingers, looking puzzled. "Five, six, seven, eight..."
Rhyll turns to the girl and says, "And what are you counting, my little lady?"
Ilian says, "How do you count seven Kingdoms, Captain? Have you been to all of them?"
Rhyll smiles, "No I've only been to Sarrik and Yandar--but that doesn't count as a Kingdom. But who knows? Someday maybe I will see another."
The girl explains, "We learned 'em in school. Sarry, Agartha, Ress, Tol Vorghol, Selandra, Yandar, o'course...That's five?"
Baj smiles, watching the girl interrogate Rhyll.
Dacien swings down to the deck on a line from the mainmast and trots up to the group on the quarterdeck, "Cap'n Rhyll, sir. All hands are at stations for entering port."
Rhyll says, "Good job Mister Dacien. Mister Mirko, it will soon be time to divvy out the mens' shares."
Dacien gives a nod and trots off return to his duties.
Baj says, "Aye, Captain. I assume that you will want normal watch and liberty rotations in Port Arjuri?"
Just ahead, the city of Port Arjuri crystallizes from the mist that clings to the coast. She is built on two hills that overlook an impressive bay. A long, low pair of headlands juts into the bay, embracing it like a set of arms, and forming the city's impressive natural harbor. On her landward approach, a low wall surrounds her and protects her from inland attacks, while to seaward, a great cluster of piers is built facing the water. The southern headland is the site of a tall hexagonal lighthouse, unlit now in the morning sun. Ships and sails are visible all over the harbor, heavy traffic as traders and other vessels bustle to and fro.
Rhyll nods to Baj and says with a smile, "Yes Mister Mirko, I'll chance no mutinies in port." He turns back to the girl and counting on his fingers says, "Sarrik, Anghara, Ress, Selandra, Vulk, Uraga, and Tol Nedra."
Ilian tries to follow. "That's so many lands, Captain. You could sail to them all!"
Rhyll shakes his head, "No, you can only sail to four the rest are land locked."
As the ship approaches the city, Erris and some of the others, lolling on the rail, point out the Lantern District, the downtown area so beloved of sailors. From the balconies of their houses near the waterfront, some of the local women take this chance to advertise their wares, waving and gesturing to the incoming sailors.
Dacien roams the deck, snapping at slackers, "Keep a sharp eye, ye lubbers, time enough fer that when ye make it to dry land." He seeks for Izmeralda, but she has not emerged from her cabin this morning. It is not unlike her to sleep in and then rise sometime after midday.
Erris, Koster and Drarn wave back, making similar welcoming gestures in return and laughing rudely, planning how to spend their loot.
Beside Rhyll and Baj, Ilian gapes at them and at the women in the distance.
Rhyll turns to Baj and says, "Half these lads will be penniless by night, fall I'd wager."
Baj laughs softly, deep in his chest, "I'd wager most won't make it that long, sir."
Ilian asks, guilelessly, "What are those ladies selling, Captain?"
Rhyll coughs in surprise then says, "Umm, well...I guess you could say companionship. Mister Mirko?"
Baj leans over the forward railing and yells down below decks, "Mister Vendig! A moment of your time, if you please!"
Ilian says, "They're very friendly!" She waves back at the painted ladies, just tiny shapes at this remove. "Hallooo! Ahoy there!" She asks Baj, "Do you think we could go visit them, Mister Mirko?
Baj frowns and shake shis head, "I think that Mister Talon will be taking you to see his friend and you will be busy settling into your new home."
As the Reckoning rounds the headland, the coastal wind dies and the sails slacken. Here, within the harbor, sweeps appear to be needed to bring the ship in at one of the many piers.
Dacien snaps orders to the men, "Okay, lads, time to earn your shares now! All hands to sweeps!"
The crew unlimbers the ship's sweeps and fit them into position. They don't get a chance to do this much and are awkward and clumsy fitting the oars in place and then getting under way.
Vendig stumps his way to Baj, rope in his hand. "Aye, Mister Mirko?"
Baj turns to Vendig, grateful for the chance to get away from Illian and her questions, "Mister Vendig, we will be wanting to get those who won't be staying aboard off as quickly as possible. Work with Dacien and see to it, please."
Vendig nods. "Aye. That Pelian, he's already helped prepare them for their departure. We gonna give them a share o'the take, sir?"
Baj hands the Vulkah a small pouch, "Give them each a dragon and the Captain's best wishes, with my compliments."
Vendig slips the pouch inside his shirt. "Aye, sir, I'll see to it."
Rhyll says, "You and I will be going ashore as well Mister Mirko. We'll need to go see about repairs. I think Dace will be able to handle things on board for a few hours."
Baj nods, "Aye, Captain. Mister Cabnor wil be expecting us, I am certain his eyes can pick out that broken mast at a league and a half out."
The ship jars and shudders as the port sweep crew slackens. Led by Erris, the hands to port can't seem to get organized and work together. The ship begins to wheel to port.
Revas curses as a fat merchanter wallows ahead of you. "By the Rider's balls, they'll drown us all!"
In this crowded harbor, with ships nearby, a collision is a real possibility.
Dacien snaps out more orders, "Together, ye dregs! Haul on them sweeps together or ye'll wreck us fer sure!"
Rhyll nods, "First lets get into port in one piece. I've no mind to be paying for more repairs."
Erris shakes his finger at one of the hands, threatening harm. Candra takes up station near the foremast, bellowing in her Urag voice. "Pull! Pull! Puuuul!" The sweeps now pull in rhythm, and the ship slides past the merchanter, headed for an empty pier.
The harbor beneath you is broad and deep and there's no chance of you grinding the bottom. The smells of the city are now all about you: dung from animals, smoke from cookfires, the sweat from city dwellers
As you pull in between the forest of masts, you see a tall ship, much like your own but with a higher draft and longer prow. She is tied up at a pier that adjjoins the one you now aim at. She can only be the Two Moons, Captained by the Opal.
Rhyll calls out "Mister Dacien, you'll have first watch. Pick a skeleton crew to stand with you."
The sweeps now pull steadily as you slide forward. Ferlan and Farlan stand in the fo'clse, with lines ready to toss to the dockhands.
Dacien calls back from the main deck, "Aye-aye, Cap'n. Watch rotations already posted on the mainmast!"
Koster pauses before the mainmast to read his assignment, then swears. He was expecting to be ashore this morning.
Talon sets about rounding up the children to go ashore.
Dacien leans close to Koster, "You know the best women don't come out until after dark, mate. We'll be ashore when the rest o' the lads are passed out and we'll have the pick o' the lot."
Koster says, "You got a point there, Dace. A good point."
Dacien winks at Koster, "I takes care of me friends, mate."
The Reckoning, under oars now, pulls easily into her berth at a long empty pier. Ferlan swings overboard, landing on the wooden pier, line in hand, making it fast to a stanchion. The Two Moons is nearby, her crew watching curiously as you pull in, some waving in greeting and recognition.
Farlan calls, "Drop anchor!" The anchor crew lets the anchor slide into the drink with a thud. The Reckoning is finally at rest.
Baj moves close to the rail and calls over, "Ahoy, on the Two Moons!"
One of the hands on the Two Moons calls back. "Ahoy, Reckoning!" He's a slim one-eyed seadog named Mondain, a Tol Nedran by repute, who you've met before.
There's a young boy on the dock talking eagerly with Ferlan. It looks like Cabnor's son Gabirel, happy to see pirates in his hometown once more.
The crew begin to cluster on the deck, waiting orders. They're eager to get about their business, see their share of their loot, or depart, as need be. Many are looking towards Rhyll in expectation.
Rhyll turns to Baj and asks, "Have the men been divvied out their share Mister Mirko?"
The children gather near Talon, unsure of what to do. Ilian, her brother Scatha, the two little girls Meriban and Hennah, and the two little boys Saminon and Terkan, fidgeting, and fussing, are not sure what to expect from the healer.
Vendig passes out the last of the dragons that Baj gave him to the twelve hands who are going to seek their fortunes ashore.
Dacien climbs the ladder to the quarterdeck and yells down to the crowd, "Check the watchbill before ye head ashore, I'll have no excuses and I'll be holding the lash m'self for any that miss their watches or show up drunk!"
Rhyll then turns to the men and calls out with a smile and laugh, "Off with you lads and don't spend all your money at the first hole you find yourselves in."
Erris leads the charge down the gangplank, his red hair flashing in the sun. The men from the Reckoning, heedless of anything, surge behind him. In moments, the ship is nearly empty, only her officers and a skeleton watch remaining on station.
Almira sniffs. "I suppose they will spend the day rutting like pigs."
Rhyll smiles at the old wizard and says, "Aye aint it lovely."
Almira says, "Even a refined personage as myself must attend to carnal needs, Captain. I bid you adieu. Expect me at sundown." With that, he makes his own way down the gangplank.
Talon looks about his and says, "When we head into port, I want you all to stick together. We will go straight to Mistress Camille's house, where I'm sure you will all be welcomed." Camille's house is about a day's ride south of town, in the foothills overlooking the city.
Dacien slides up to Talon and presses a pouch into his hand, "For your 'friend', Mister Talon. A small offering to help care for the little ones and cover expenses."
Talon looks genuinely surprised and says, "Thanks Dace, I'll make sure she gets it."
Vendig says, "You can handle this lot, yourself, Mister Talon?"
Talon says, "Well, I shall try. I'd welcome any help anyone would care to offer though."
Benning says, "A precious cargo as this must be guarded, sir."
Talon says, "Is that an offer Mister Benning?"
Benning looks away and says quietly, "My duty is to offer help to the weak, Mister Talon. But I am no bodyguard."
Talon says, "You're welcome to join us if you like. I'm sure there won't be any trouble me and the children can't handle."
Ilian says, "Will you go with us, Mister Mirko?
Baj frowns, "No, Miss Ilian, I have business that I must attend to in the town with Captain Rhyll. I am certain that Mister Talon will keep you safe."
Talon says, "Come now, children, all will be well. Let's get a move on."
The children shuffle forward, between Talon in front and Benning in back.
Vendig says to Dacien, "Why's Talon so interested in that group of ankle-biting younglings, anyway?"
Dacien shrugs, "Maybe he's got a big heart..."
Vendig rubs his bald head. "And a small noggin, evidently."
Dacien laughs aloud and claps Vendig on the shoulder, "That's the truth!"
Rhyll hands Talon another pouch and says, "This is for the children as well, Talon. Mister Mirko, I can handle the repairs, why don't you tag along with Talon and the young ones?"
Baj raises an eyebrow but does not voice an opinion, "Aye, Captain. As you wish."
Rhyll says to Baj, "And when you get back dinner's on me, mate."
Baj nods and smiles, "Aye-aye, Captain."
As Talon and his group make their way down the dock, the tow-headed young boy, Gabirel, that Ferlan was speaking with raises a hand and calls to Rhyll from the base of the gangplank. "Ahoy, Mister Rhyll!" You know him; he's Cabnor's boy and longs to be a pirate like you all. "I mean, Captain Rhyll!" he says, quickly.
Dacien wanders off to make his rounds and check the lines and anchor, calling back over his shoulder, "What's fer dinner t'nite, Mister Vendig?"
Vendig says, "I'll feed us right, Mister Dacien, while those lads are off in town havin' their fun."
Baj follows Talon, Benning and the group of children, eyes sharp for any trouble.
Rhyll smiles and says, "Ahoy, Gabriel can you run a message to your Da that I'll be coming by to see him this afternoon?"
Gabi asks, "Permission t'come aboard, sir?"
Rhyll says, "Permission granted lad."
The tow-headed moppet races up the plank. "He sent me t'tell you he'll have a crew here this midday, sir, saw you comin' in a mile off, all busted, and used words...well, if I repeated 'em, he'd give me a tanning, I can tell you."
Rhyll says, "Well, thanks my boy, I guess you've earned this then" Reaching into his belt, he tosses the boy a coin.
Gabi looks behind him. "Y'know, sir, now I've coin n'all, I could finally buy me passage on this boat o'yours.." he says, conspiratorially.
Rhyll smiles and says, "Not yet lad, when you're older. Elsewise your Da would never fix my rig again."
Dacien returns from his rounds and takes position on the quarterdeck, watching the sand run in an hourglass for a few moments before taking a small striker and ringing out two pairs of chimes on the ships bell. Four Bells.
The crowd at the end of the dock is parting, and suddenly the wharf folk there seem to find other things to do. Someone is approaching.
Dacien takes note of the commotion and cals softly to Rhyll, "Cap'n, sir? We got company comin'."
A squadron of ten armored soldiers, led by a shabby-looking, shaven-headed man, march their way down the dock towards the Reckoning. The man is Captain Welge, leader of King Bastien's own Guard. His eyes are crooked, his teeth yellowed, and his head bobs and twitches when he speaks. His men form a wedge around him. Welge's voice is an angry growl. "Captain Tyree, I presume, sir?" he calls up to Rhyll at the rail. Twitch. Twitch.
Rhyll tosses back, "Captain Rhyll if you please, what business do you have with the Reckoning sir?"
Twitch. "Captain Welge, sir, King's Guard." The shabby man offers the Captain a bow. Twitch. "Honored." By reputation, this man wouldn't know honor if he tripped over it in the dark.
Rhyll says, "Well, Captain Welge, to what do I owe this welcoming committee?"
Welge's men look sternly at the remaining hands on board the Reckoning.
Twitch-twitch. "His Grace's compliments, sir, I'm sent t'escort you t'the Emerald Palace, sir, regarding a matter o'some importance." King Bastien's own abode. Twitch.
Rhyll says, "Well, spit it out man, why does Bastien want?"
Welge says, "That's King Bastien, sir. King Bastien. Yandar himself. And if I knew me what he wanted, I'd be King me own self, sir, if y'take me meanin'." He is trying hard to be a dutiful civil servant. He gestures, grandly. "Bring who y'like sir, just no Urag, y'understand, his Grace don't care for their kind, right?" Twitch.
Candra and the two other Urag who recently joined the crew stare at the men on the dock, with hostile glares.
Kell steps up behind Rhyll, his harpoon in hand, ready for anything.
Rhyll leans over his rail and looks down on angrily on the man. "Keep in mind Captain Welge, that on these decks my word is law. Tell King Bastien that I will see him when he sends a proper invitation. I will not be summoned by a group of lackies to his graces whims."
Welge grins, showing yellowed and crooked teeth. The sight is not pretty. Twitch. "Sir, I protest, I does. This is his Kingdom and his own city. I urge you, his Grace is a patient man, but he did send you Captain o'his own Guard. T'make sure you're all safe n'cozy."
Candra mutters to Rhyll, "I could rip his stones off for you, sir, and make him eat them before he died..."
Rhyll calls to Kell and three others and indicates they should follow him, he then heads down the plank and says to the Captain, "Fall in behind my men." Rhyll leads the way to Bastien's keep. He calls back to Dace, "Mister Daceien see to Cabnor' if I'm not back by his arrival."
Dacien calls out after Rhyll, "Aye-aye, Captain!"
Welge bows to Rhyll, obsequiously as Rhyll walks past, then looks sidelong at his men and nods. They fall into a wedge behind the pirates, escorting them through the crowded streets.
Izmeralda appears on deck, finally, looking after the departing Rhyll. "Mister Dacien, is he in trouble?" she asks.
Dacien turns to Izmeralda, "That remains t'be seen, ma'am."