Singer Sailor Merchant Mage

“Folks around these parts freeze to death all the time.”

“Especially the stupid ones.”

“It’s nature’s way of thinning out the herd if you ask me.”

New in Town, Film

It did not take us long to catch up to the group ahead of us, as their boat, laden with goods from Drangavik and beyond, was significantly slower than our smaller, lighter canoe. Nyx enjoyed sitting on the prow and flaring her wings in the wind, with the cold no longer affecting her. As we caught up, they raised a hand or nodded in greeting, but we were closing in on the gate into the town, so we were both soon busy negotiating our entrance, and they had no chance to interrogate us, focused as they were on the entrance guards.

“That’ll be five silver for your entrance fee.” The guard said as the group pulled into the guard station. A chain across the river stopped them from sailing straight by, not that they would have been able to outrun the guards should they have chased after them laden as their boat was with goods.

“Five? Come on, it's just one barge.” We overheard the merchant arguing.

“And five men,” the guard countered, counting the group out as if he had forgotten. It’s one each, as usual. Walls don’t defend themselves.”

“I wouldn’t need five to ride the river if you kept the beasts down along it and outside your walls.” He argued.

“Take that up with the mayor. I enforce the rules not make them. Now, are you going to hand over five silver, or am I going to keep the chain where it is and start to search your barge for contraband as well?” He questioned while unswerving in his demand. The barge was now pressed against the chain and was blocking the river as we grew ever closer to the town’s river entrance.

“Fine.” He exhaled as he slapped five silver pieces into the guard's hand, and then lowered the chain to let the barge through.

Seeing the process, Namir tossed two silver pieces across to the guard as we followed through in the barge’s wake, only to be surprised by half a silver piece coming back to us.

“Only half for the child.” The guard answered his double take of confusion, either at the fact that there was an honest river guard or the fact that I was only counted as half. I had not felt any inspection or been questioned.

“How could you tell?” I asked as we passed by.

“A skill,” he shrugged. “You’re not going to argue you’re a man, are you?” He chuckled as if expecting me to bristle at having my manhood challenged in front of others. “My nephews are forever trying to get hired on for jobs above their age or level.”

“No.” I wasn’t offended; I was merely intrigued by whatever skill he had that had somehow bypassed my own privacy skills to reveal anything about me. “What’s the skill?”

“True toll, you don’t have to worry that I’m inspecting every entrant to Drangasfjord.” He seemed remarkably open and trusting for a guard, something Namir seemed to pick up on.

“Not much trouble on the route?” Namir quizzed.

“Only beasts who stick to hitting travellers rather than the town. No, the true bandits around these parts live within the walls.” He advised a little caution as we passed on by into the town true.

“Thanks for the honest advice.” Namir flicked the half silver back in recompense, and it promptly disappeared into his pocket with a flick of his hand. An honest guard but still only a man, not a saint.

“If you’re staying the night, try the River Inn just past the dock. You can’t miss it and say Sedjorn sent you.” These were his last words before he raised the chain once more and turned to watch the river and guard the approach.

I did not fail to notice the gate that could be dropped across the river and the need to watch the approach. Beasts might prey more on travellers than the town but that was not to say that they had never hit it at all.

It did not take us long to reach the dock and even less time to reach the River Inn after we had tied up our boat and paid a docking fee to ensure that it would be there when we returned. It was not at all hard to find, as it could be opposite the dock.

“Sedjorn sent us,” Namir explained as he asked for a room for the night for the pair of us.

“And?” The innkeeper said shaking his head in exasperation.

“We can look elsewhere if there is no room,” Namir answered confused by the exasperation.

“No, no,” the innkeeper said, waving away the suggestion. “It’s Sedjorn, not you. He seems to think that if he recommends my inn above others to everyone who comes in along the river, this will somehow endear me to the idea of him courting my daughter. Most river traffic visits here with or without him saying anything. I mean did you see another Inn on your way in?” He asked, proving his own point, to himself. “Now a room for the night that I can do. Will you be staying long?”

“Just passing through,” Namir answered for the pair of us.

“Then that’ll be two silver for the night.” He said, holding out his hand.

“And lunch?” Namir asked as he handed over two silvers for us.

“Five coppers each for the stew; anything else you want, you can ask, Asta.” He pointed out the tall buxom blonde serving the busy tables. “My daughter.” He cautioned as Namir handed over another ten coppers. “Right this way travellers.” Happy to have received our coin he led us to our seats near the fire, “Asta will be over in a moment. Enjoy the meal when it arrives.”

. . .

It was not long before the meal was delivered with a smile from Asta, who paused to comment, “Not often we see a beastkin so far north.”

“Just passing through.” Namir’s comment did not dissuade the young woman from her curiosity.

“And you?” she asked me directly.

Seeing she wouldn’t be leaving without at least the smallest answer, I added, “We’re on a circumnavigation.” Seeing as this was the most straightforward and possibly honest answer.

At the same time, Namir answered gruffly, “My grandson.” Tucking into the stew to avoid further conversation and gesturing for me to do the same.

Unafraid of the silence broken only by our spoons of stew, she continued excitedly. “Then you will have to visit our Lodestar Church. I’d be happy to show you the way.

Seeing as it wasn’t working, Namir stopped eating to answer hastily, “No need to trouble yourself.”

“It’s no trouble at all. We are winding up for the evening meals, and my brothers tend to serve the inn when the ale starts flowing, Fadio insists.”

Seeing as we would not be leaving the Inn without an escort. We gave up attempting to and nodded. Asta swept back into the kitchen behind the bar and we could hear her informing her father of our circumnavigation and that she would be showing us to the church of the Lodestar after we finished our meal.

“Kai, a short visit, leave a statue, then back to the Inn.” Namir reminded me of the plan.

“Yes, Dad.” I grumped.

. . .

We finished our food quickly, as we were both hungry. I suspected that Namir was hoping that we could slip out ahead of Asta, but she was ready to leave when we were.

“It’s this way.” She smiled as we set out. “So what is it like circling civilisation?” She asked as soon as we set out.

“Cold,” I answered.

While Namir answered, “Wet.”

“Yes, here, but what have you seen elsewhere?” she asked, her enthusiasm undamaged by our short answers.

Not wanting to lie or lead her astray and hoping to dampen her enthusiasm a little, I gave a little more detail: “The Endless Ice was freezing, cold, and the white went on without end. But it wasn’t empty; all sorts of beasts were waiting to make a meal out of me.” Judging by the continuing questions, this did not dissuade her.

“People always tell me that if the beasts don’t get you, the ice will. And wet?” She asked for more details on Namir’s answer.

“We were trapped in a storm on the sea; it did not end well. When we were not drenched from the rain, we spent our time struggling not to sink into the sea.”

“That sounds amazing.” She was still fascinated by our trip.

“It was terrifying.” But it did not matter what I said; she was still interested. Luckily, we had arrived at the Lodestar Church; the town was not too big, so we were able to say goodbye.

“Here we are.” Namir pointed out, dismissing her as he turned to enter the church. For once, he was leading the way to faith rather than running away from it.

“Thank you,” I told her as she stopped at the bottom of the building's steps.

Together, we entered and left her outside.