Further Beyond: Ascension

Tynesday, 21st of Augustus, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

It had been a week or so since the hunt of the kraken monster. Not long after they had hunted the beast, a few ships came sailing towards them from somewhere north. Apparently, they had been hunting a group of krakens for weeks and one of them had escaped far south. They were graceful enough to let Captain Farnaby and his men keep the spoils and apologised for causing a disturbance.

Josias could tell by their accents speaking Feldonian that they weren't native to those lands. It was the first time Josias saw a ship full of tall and large blonde-haired blue-eyed bearded bontarmata. In fact, these westerners all stood a few inches taller than him. Johannes and Mateus – who were considered large among the Halak – were quite regular compared to these pale-skinned folk.

After parting ways with the northern hunters – whom Captain Farnaby told him were called the 'Nordeins' – they continued to sail towards their destination. They had stopped by a port-city called 'Chester-upon-the-Sea'. A damned mouthful to be sure but Josias was told the locals were content on calling it 'Chestersey'.

Captain Farnaby had wanted to resupply the trade flotilla there as well as meet a few of his fellow merchants and captains in the local guild. He also said he wanted to treat Josias and his companions for their aid during the kraken attack at one of the local taverns.

Josias gawked as he saw the large port of Chestersey. It was the middle of the duy thus the harbour was at its peak busiest hours. Josias helped his wife and the young children off of the ship as he held their hands while they walked the plank towards the jetties. Once they were off the ship, Josias and Serena stood to the sides of the jetties as they awaited the others to get off as well.

"Are you seeing those walls, Josi?" Serena pointed towards the stone battlements at the far end of the jetties where there was a raised iron gate. It was probably the main point of entry into the city, at least from the harbor. The walls must've been at least five times his size, probably even more. Upon the walls were numerous banners depicting symbols and colours Josias couldn't recognise. Upon them stood several sentries patrolling the walls with what looked like matchlocks from afar.

"I am indeed seeing them…" Josias said before his eyes darted around to the harbour "But this port is bustling with life, hasian. There's just so many people here…"

There were probably more people currently on the harbor than the entirety of Goria proper. Workers and sailors alike were moving about to and fro from the harbor to the city carrying either cargo or equipment. There must've been at least a few dozen large vessels anchored upon the docks. Countless more smaller vessels and fishing boats were also moored there but they were far less conspicuous than the larger ships.

"Aye, Chessey's mine own personal fav'rite port. Was sweet on a girl 'ere back when I still had a full head of hair, hahahaha!" Captain Farnaby said as he lit his pipe and took a huff while the other sailors were busy unloading some of the cargo. Josias' other companions and their partners had also gotten off the ship as they glanced around the harbor. Their faces did little to hide the same awe Josias had felt. The only ones who didn't show a particular reaction was Sadrach and his sister Safira.

"It's quite ordinary as far as western-ports go… Solagratia I think was comparable to this." Sadrach said as he took a look around. Captain Farnaby chuckled as he heard the quip.

"That be true, master Sadrach, aye. But ye best not forget that Solagratia is the capital of the Republic and that's barely any bigger than Ol' Chessey here." Captain Farnaby continued "While this port has everything ye need to be considered a proper harbour, it's actually one of the smaller ones. I can name ten ports in the entire bloody kingdom bigger than Ol' Chessey off the top of my head."

"Like Skysea?" Josias asked curiously which elicited a larger laugh from Captain Farnaby and a few of his crewmen.

"Young master, I tell ye that I do indeed love this city but what ye just said is an insult to the jewel of the Griffshead Gulf. This here's port might as well be a fishing village compared to Skysea."

Josias pretended to laugh along with the old captain but he couldn't contain the surprise and excitement welling up within him. If Chestersey was a fishing village, then Goria was a half-broken, half-deserted hovel in the middle of a swamp.

"Anyways, I'll make good on my promise to treat ye all to some good grub, lads and lasses." Captain Farnaby said as he gave Josias a friendly pat on the back.

"Honestly, Captain, there's no need for you to go that far." Josias bowed his head slightly as he spoke. "You and your crew treating us with hospitality and respect while tagging along your voyage is aid enough."

"Nonesense! Ye and yer whole lot are warriors that most crews would pay out their mother's arses to hire as protection. Not to mention the help ye gave mine crew to slay and capture that kraken. Ye deserve at least a portion of what we'll earn from selling the beast."

Josias looked at the corpse of the kraken in question, tied behind the ship. He didn't know how the rates worked in the west, but a beast like that must be worth something.

"Treating us and then also sharing with us a portion of your sales?" Josias smiled as he raised his eyebrows "I don't even know how to properly react to all of this. It seems a bit much."

The old captain clicked his tongue. "Honestly, young master, ye keep up that behaviour and Feldonia will suck ye dry of every last damned piece o' coin on ye. I'll give ye some advice if yer goin' to be stayin' 'ere in Feldonia. Ye best know yer worth or you'll be played for like a fiddle. Now, no more talk of refusin' yer just dues."

"Don't worry, Captain." Sadrach chimed in with a huge grin on his face "If this fool's not having any of it, know that I'm never one to turn away opportunity nor kindness."

"Hah! As expected of Lord Mora's brood." Captain Farnaby flashed Josias' cousin a toothy grin, revealing a few gaps where teeth should be. "Always rearin' for an opportunity! Anyways, yer all goin' to get yer fair compensation and that's that. Soon as we settle things with the harbourmaster, we'll be headin' straight to the inner city tavern. And speak of the devil…"

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Josias noticed Captain Farnaby pointing his chin towards someone approaching them. It was quite a peculiar sight. A tall yet lanky blond man in a red cloak over a doublet walked down the jetties. He was writing down on a book while his eyes were looking over the ships that had just arrived.

What stood out the most, however, was the man's gold-brownish wolf ears on the top of his head. Josias also noticed a wagging golden tail coming out of the man's tailbone region. It wasn't his first time seeing a beastman, considering the fox-woman he saw in Hutangali, but it was still a rare sight.

Without him noticing, the little Tigor and Tiur immediately made a run towards the wolfkin.

"Abang!! Bereng ihurna!! (Brother, look! A tail!)" Tigor said as he pointed.

"Bereng pinggolna! Songon antuasu! (Look at his ears! Like a wolf's!)" Tiur also laughed as the two children jumped excitedly.

This caught the attention of the beastman in question as he gave the two children a frown. The wolfkin's face looked beleaguered with visible bags under his eyes.

Josias and Serena immediately rushed in to take the precocious little rascals and gave the man an apologetic look. Captain Farnaby laughed at the entire scene.

"Please forgive the children, they meant no disrespect." Serena said with an apologetic bow. "They've just never seen a beastman is all."

The beastman scoffed as he rolled his eyes and got back to his writing, but not before making a snide remark. "Damned foreign savages. You don't even have the decency to dress properly."

Josias saw how the beastman looked at Serena and the children with disdain. Indeed, they were all wearing the simpler Halak shirts and cloth, but that was no reason for such a disrespect. Josias felt like he popped a vein at the harbormaster's abrasiveness.

"Excuse us, but the children by no means did anything to warrant such disdain." Josias said as he puffed out his chest and stared into the wolfkin. Sure, the wolfkin was a few inches taller, but Josias could sense he wasn't a warrior. "I especially do not appreciate the tone you took with my wife. I demand an apology!"

Josias wasn't familiar with western etiquette, that was true, but he knew enough that the beastman's tone was disrespectful. Josias put his hand upon the hilt of his sheathed sabre while staring the wolfkin in the eyes. He wasn't stupid enough to draw his weapon in foreign land, but he just needed the threat.

As an extra measure, Josias even unleashed some of his aura. When he did that, he could see the wolfkin finally widening his eyes. From afar, Josias noticed that several armed soldiers were making their way towards him. Just before things could escalate further, Captain Farnaby had appeared between the two.

"Alright, that's enough from the both of you." Captain Farnaby pushed back the two sides. Just as he did that, the soldiers – armed with halberds – had also arrived. There were three of them.

Seeing this, Josias' other companions also walked up to the scene, all of them with their hands upon their sabres.

"Excuse me, but can anyone please explain what's going on here? Captain, what is this about?" One of the soldiers asked Captain Farnaby.

"It's nothing to worry about, Freddy. Just a misunderstanding is all." Captain Farnaby shook his head as he slapped the soldier's arms in a friendly manner. "Christoph here must've had a bad day. Made some remarks towards these people I'm escorting that could be misconstrued."

"There was nothing to be misconstrued." Serena said firmly. The children stood behind her as they became quiet, noticing the tension. "This beast of a man insulted me and my husband, calling us savages. We may not be from Feldonia, but we know enough to know he was insulting us. My husband merely demanded an apology."

Josias nodded, affirming his wife's position. He cast another glare at the beastman whose expression grew more and more uncertain.

"Very well, ma'am, but you must first excuse us for asking you of your identity." The soldier asked, his face neutral.

"As I've said before, these are my guests. They're headed for Skysea and we're just stopping by here to resupply-..." Captain Farnaby was trying to calm the situation but he was cut off by Timotheos.

Josias smiled as he saw his elder brother step in. The air around the soldiers as well as the beastkin also changed when they noticed Timotheos' attire. He was clad in his priestly regalia, priestly collar and all. Though there might be differences between his home and Feldonia, Josias was sure everyone would recognise a priest in formal attire.

"We come here on official notice by Lord Archbishop Ludwig of the Halaklands. This woman here is the Archbishop's daughter." Timotheos walked up to the soldier and handed in a letter. "This a letter from the Lord Archbishop as well as an accompanying letter from the Church of Newlandia."

The soldier took the letter and read it. It was a while before he clicked his tongue and handed the letter back to Timotheos. Josias noticed the soldier giving an annoyed glance to the wolfkin. The wolfkin in question – Christoph – now looked as white as snow. Beads of sweat could be seen dripping from his brow.

"We apologise for the inconvenience, Reverend." The soldier shook hands with Timotheos before he approached Serena and bowed. "We would also like to issue an apology towards the Lady. Had we realised Count Lorenz's niece had arrived in the harbour, we would've prepared a more dignified welcome."

"Please forgive me for my discourtesy, my lady." Gone was the contemptuous look from the beastman's face, replaced with a meek and solemn expression. "I did not realise I was speaking to a noblewoman."

"It doesn't matter whether one is noble or not." Reverend Timotheos said "A person should always strive to show courtesy towards anyone."

"Of course, Reverend." The wolfkin said, head still bowed.

"It's fine…" Serena said as she finally sighed.

"My lady, if it would please you, would you like us to escort you to the city hall to meet with the mayor?" The soldier asked.

"That won't be necessary." Serena shook her head "My uncle is awaiting our arrival in Skysea and as the captain said, we're only here to resupply and eat. We wouldn't want to disturb the activity of the city's lord for formalities like that."

The soldier nodded his head as he didn't look keen on pushing the matter any further. "Very well then, ma'am. I will notify the rest of the guard to treat you with the utmost courtesy. Please feel free to report to us anything else that might be of inconvenience. May you and your retinue have a pleasurable stay in the city."

With another slight bow, the soldiers left the jetties back to their posts. The wolfkin official also made himself scarce as he bowed. He left as quickly as he could, telling Captain Farnaby that the usual tariffs on his goods would be exempted because of his mistake.

Captain Farnaby shook his head but laughed anyway. He then beckoned Josias and the rest of his companions to follow him into the city.

Josias could only shake his head at the realisation of how the West worked. He looked to his wife with a renewed sense of awe. The very mention of her uncle's name was enough to change everyone's attitude around them.

Sure, the Halak also showed courtesy towards the King and the elders but it wasn't to this extent. This was more akin to how he heard the Banuans operated. There was a lot that he and his companions had to learn about the Western Continent. More specifically, about Feldonia. He realised he couldn't let his pride get in the way of things in the future. He got lucky this time.

Regardless, Josias could only be thankful for his beloved. It would seem her privilege would prove quite useful for the duration of their stay.