~
Port Town seemed nothing of note, the types people we passed just went to confirm in my mind what the King Tuines had told us, that it did indeed seem to be full of the most untrustworthy looking representatives of the elder races and of men, for all were shady looking characters and those that were not so outwardly roguish looking, I thought I would trust even less.
We made our way straight down to the waterfront not wanting to stay in Port Town longer than was absolutely necessary. Many eyes followed our progress and I was sure that any lengthy stay here would relieve us of all our belongings, perhaps even the very shirts off our backs. People started following us like vultures awaiting the last breath of a dying animal, hungry for the promised spoils. I swear the only thing that kept them from attacking in broad daylight was the edgy look that Serinae and Łĩnwéé kept giving them whilst keeping their hands on their weapons. Łĩnwéé had slipped his battle axe from out of its holder across his back and now carried it at the ready on his shoulder, I noticed his fingers kept squeezing the grip, he almost looked although he was inviting a fight. I just kept my eyes looking ahead. I half expected to see an enclave of Ognods in the place for it seemed to me to be that bad.
It was mid-afternoon and we hoped that we may still yet have time this day to find a vessel that would take us back across the Trad Ocean to Amentura. I shuddered at the thought of us being the only victims available to the gathering crowds at the present time. Hungry eyes continued to follow us every step of the way, I swear that if any of us had dropped something it would have been swooped upon and caught in deft talons way before it had hit the ground, then carried off triumphantly as a trophy and probably fought over by the mob.
I was quite relieved when we eventually happened upon the dockside. The wide ocean before us lending a slightly cooler breeze that brought a sweeter smell than that normally wafting over the main part of Port Town. The dock itself seemed to be made of the desert sand. Piled up along the water’s edge like a dike and fused into a solid mass like the floor of Fattel’s shack back in the desert. There were five vessels moored up along the dock, all but one was sailing vessels gaily painted and obviously in constant use. Sailors of varying races and sorts moved about the docks, some loaded, or unloaded cargo from the ships, others sat on coils of rope or on crates or other suitably shaped cargo, chatting, smoking pipes or undertaking other various leisurely activities. Just like the populations of the town, they all eyed us with suspicion, suggesting that these fellows were not to be trusted like the rest of the town’s inhabitants. It seemed that any of the races had the capability to turn their hands to sailing. Most of the Pnook strolling about the place however seemed to be in positions of authority, marching about with clip boards and accompanied by guards with projectile weapons. I saw human and T’Iea sailors, even quite surprisingly a few Grûndén. One of these stout fellows in particular caught my attention, he was dressed in bright silks, a loose fitting tunic and baggy pantaloons with black shiny boots that came up to his knees. He carried an array of weapons about his person. He spied Łĩnwéé and was not ashamed to stare at him for some time as we walked past. Łĩnwéé eventually just nodded at the Grûndén who nodded in return from beneath thick bushy eyebrows and turning strode off down the dock after placing a broad rimmed velvet hat upon his head into which had been placed a long colourful plume.
Many I noticed looked upon Serinae and me with some very unhealthy expressions and with a light in their eyes that suggested some very unhealthy thoughts. We approached one group of sailors, who were in the process of passing a bottle between one another, they started jeering at us and making all kinds of lewd comments about landlubbers and inaccurate references to our parentage. As we passed by, one lunged forward and grabbed my arm, I was forced to spiral around suddenly as my arm was twisted almost out of the shoulder socket and he drew me close to him. I could smell the drink upon his breath, he smiled revealing a mouth full of gold teeth and badly ulcerated gums. I was forced to try and reposition myself by standing on my toes so that he didn’t dislocate my shoulder at the same time trying to turn my face away from the overpowering stench of his breath.
I winced at the pain this caused and he laughed in my face as he said, “by the oceans breath ye be a fine little cutesy now.” He winked his eye at me and said, “ow’s abart sharin’ me a few o’ yuz delights fo’ a night o’ two eh? I nat be short o’ a few gold, an’ ye seems liken a favourable investment t’ these eyes o’ mine.”
His companions laughed heartily at this and I guess he was encouraged by their response for he bent down and grabbing me behind the legs lifted me across his shoulder and made to walk away. But before he had gone two steps and before I could think of any way to retaliate, I heard Łĩnwéé’s bass voice, looking up I saw my friend standing close by his hands grasping the hilt of the great battle axe that was no longer balanced on his shoulder but now held in front of him ready for battle.
“Na’ then laddie ye salt spittin’, brainless drunk’n dolot, ye be aputtin’ tha’ wee lassie down on ‘er feet agin ye hear before I chops ye’s legs off an’ makes ye crawl like t’ low life ye professes t’ be by ye’s actions agin’ a lady.”
I felt my stomach being winded as I was jostled up and down on the man’s shoulder, I assumed he was laughing.
He turned and looking at Łĩnwéé, “whoa, cutesy I din’t know ye ‘ad yer kid brot’er wit’ yeh.”
At this some the gathered sailors burst into laughter, but a couple of them drew knives from their belts and brandished them towards my companions. But then I felt a jolt of a different kind and the man who held me doubled over releasing his grasp upon my legs and I was flung backward landing heavily on the ground knocking the wind out of me. I found myself staring up at Łĩnwéé for I lay at his feet. At the same time I heard the familiar metallic swish as Serinae drew her swords and the familiar growl of Teouso now in wolf form. I sat up, Jondris was rubbing the knuckles of his right hand and looking down at the crumpled sailor who was rolled into a ball holding his stomach with both arms. As I tried to stand my companions formed a circle around me, each battle ready in their riposte. All was silent apart from my gasps for breath and the wheezing, gurgling sound emanating from the sailor prostrate upon the dockside.
But then one of the sailors said, “hey, nat so fas’ eh? We was only avin’ a bit o’ fun.”
“Then I suggest you find fun in helping your friend here to his feet and allow us to be on our way without having to join in your fun any further,” said Serinae her eyes burning brightly.
The sailor grumbled something and nudging one of his companions they lifted the now gasping man to his feet and dragged him along the dock. Knives were put away and the gathering of sailors started to dissipate. After making sure they were on their way and did not intend to retaliate further we also made our way off along the dock in the opposite direction.
“Ye ok Min?” Asked Łĩnwéé.
I replied that yes I was, my breath was regained and after massaging my arm back to life again, I thanked my companions for stepping in to help. At this they all said that thanks were not needed. Serinae suggested that all of us should not go about alone, but always we should be accompanied by one other for safety and security. I wondered rather amusingly if she meant for our safety, or the safety of the inhabitants of Port Town.
Our attentions eventually returned to the dock and more importantly the ships that were tied up alongside it. One of the ships, much larger than the other four because it took up over half of the dock, seemed to be made of metal and had no mast to which to rig a sail to. It had a painted grey metal hull, the steel plates of which were held together by large round rivets. It looked to be in a bit of a state, paint was flaking off its hull and the bare metal beneath was rusting badly in many places. It looked to be low in the water and leaned slightly towards the dock I assumed from this that it was not in fact afloat but rested on the seabed tilting over slightly. It looked like it had given a
great sigh and finding its torment at last over, had just given up and succumbed to its fate. Gangplanks that had the look of permanent fixtures had been welded to the hull and lead from the dock to an entry door that was swung back in the hull and permanently open by the look of the thickness of rust that hung down from the hinges. At the dock end of both the gangplanks stood a Pnook guard in uniform.
Tnie motioned towards the old metal ship and said, “we’d best go there to the port office to see about passage on a ship.”
As we walked I caught up with Tnie and asked him about the metal ship. He said that it had once been one of many. It was reputed to have been one of the ships that the surviving Pnook population had voyaged within when they had fled to this continent after the Ognods were victorious in sacking the old Pnook city back on Dahl’Ambronis. We continued along the dock beside the metal ship, Tnie looked up at the gunwales of the vessel and sighed, he continued sadly saying that this ship was once part of a fleet of such vessels, but alas it would never set to sea again as all was left was this rusting hulk. Everything of value had been stripped off to help in the building of the new city of Scienocropolis out in the rust desert. This hulk was the only one to survive, apparently the Pnook had kept it here for two reasons. Firstly, it was supposed to be a reminder of ages past and secondly, it was left here as a marker for the port and a reminder to all who travelled here of the continued existence of the governing Pnook race on this continent. He went on to explain that the ship now housed the port authority for what it was. He stopped us just out of earshot of the guards on the gangplanks.
He turned to us and whispered. “Inside we will find the offices of the harbour master, be cautious, I do not know if this office follows the king, it may be they are sympathetic to other factions, or maybe as the king suggested, being so remote from Scienocropolis the Pnook authority here regard itself as completely independent and looking after its own selfish needs only. Let us all be prudent in what we say and divulge as little as possible.”
It was decided that until we knew one way or the other we would say that our company had visited Scienocropolis to represent other races trying resurrect relationships and promote trade with the Pnook. In that way we hoped that wherever the port authority’s sympathy lay they would look upon our presence with less suspicion, even view us as an advantage.
We walked up one of the gang planks and through the door into the interior of the vessel, once inside we found ourselves in a long corridor that seemed to run along the length of the ship. We headed down this corridor until we came to a door on our left.
Tnie knocked upon the door and eventually a voice called out, “Enter.”
As we all walked through the door we saw that in front of us was an open area where an officious looking Pnook sat behind a desk. Two guards either side of him stood to attention in the corners of the room. He was occupying himself with what looked like a large ledger upon the dark wooden desk that he sat behind. Eventually he looked up and glancing at each of us in turn, settled his gaze finally upon Tnie.
“Good day to you,” he said still addressing Tnie it seemed.
Tnie bowed, then said, “Good day to you Harbour Master. Please let me introduce myself and my party. We are an independent trade delegation returning from a recent visit to Scienocropolis, we seek passage back to Dahl’Ambronis on the first available ship if possible.”
At this the Pnook behind the desk looked each of us over once more a blank look on his features. “A trade delegation eh?” He reached behind the desk and brought out another thick volume which he placed in front of him and leafed through the pages, slowly running his finger down each page as if looking for something written therein.
He eventually looked up and said, “no such delegation has passed through here recently, how did you get here if not through this port?”
Tnie replied that as a delegation we had been fortunate in that we managed to secure passage on a flying machine bound for Scienocropolis from Amentura on Dahl’Ambronis and in fact did not pass through this port.
True enough I thought.
“Then why are you travelling back via ship and not the flying machine?”
Tnie coughed and looking at the Pnook said, “well, it’s a little embarrassing, we were not as successful in our negotiations and the authorities did not see fit to extend that hospitality.”
At this the Pnook behind the desk continued to stare, still his face gave nothing away, he looked back down at the ledger that held his attention before, “well I can’t say I am surprised, none of you look although you have a great deal of experience in the business of merchants.” Then with an obvious reference towards the more heavily armed members of our party he said, “in fact you look more like you are in the business of mercenaries.” His features took on a very suspicious air, “how did you get back here from the city?”
Tnie explained our passage by Land Train across the desert.
At this he frowned and said with what sounded distaste, “JDC!”
The guards at the rear of the room stood more upright in their stance and started to take a lot more interest in us than was previously apparent.
Tnie responded quickly saying, “well it is actually just myself and my elven friend here, who are the merchants, the rest of our company are our escort.”
Tnie gestured towards me, I fought madly to keep myself from blushing as the Pnook the other side of the desk looked up and scrutinised me with a cold glare, so I bowed my head hoping it looked like a gesture of respect.
At this the Pnook seemed to relax a little and so did the guards. “Well, you must understand I cannot be too careful in the present times, there are many who would deny the king and plot for his eventual downfall, I feel it my civic duty to watch out for any suspicious looking travellers, especially those that are as heavily armed as are yourselves.”
Tnie said, “we are only heavily armed because of these same reasons you express, even being a Pnook myself it is not always possible in the present times to know exactly who you are dealing with any longer.” At this he stared at the Pnook behind the desk a blank look upon his face.
The Harbour Master responded in a like manner casting looks of scrutiny at each of our faces.
“But,” continued Tnie smiling, “although I am a Pnook I have lived many years in Dahl’Ambronis and I care little for the politics of my home land but only seek to continue my business interests with whoever rules the city. For a small profit to keep me in comfort of course.”
The Harbour Master stared long at Tnie and then closing the ledger with a loud thump he leant back in his chair and said, “well I’m sorry but there is no available passage on any ship for several days, I suggest you find lodging here, there are many such places in the town.” He shouted loudly at someone outside the office. A Pnook in uniform entered and saluted. “Let this officer know your whereabouts at all times and I will call for you once such authorisation becomes available.”
At this he turned back to his work and we got the distinct feeling that we were being dismissed. Jondris stepped forward I guess to complain but Tnie stepped in front of him just as the two Pnook guards brought their weapons to bare and we all turned and left without further incident, I heard the Harbour Master behind the desk give a sort of hrmmphh noise as we went out of the door.
Once back on the dockside, Tnie looked thoughtfully back up the gangplank and said quietly, “it seems that corruption has indeed become rife here, I suspect that he may want us to grease his palm before allowing us passage, but I am also afraid that if we try and bribe him he will become more suspicious and may think we are fugitives, therefore he may order us imprisoned or at least try and extort even more out of us if he believes we are desperate to leave.”
Oh great! I thought, we are now stuck in this forsaken hole for an indefinite period of time, I worried at what would befall us here if we did not secure a passage back to Amentura. I frowned, a life of roaming the desert like JDC I
shouldn’t wonder.
We moved on down the dock intent on going back into the town and at least try and find some accommodation where we could plan our next move in privacy. We turned away from the dock area and started up a street between a row of hovels thinking that we may as well try and find an inn that took travellers in, there must be somewhere as this was a regularly used entry point for this continent. In fact I thought it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the port authority also owned all the inns in this ghastly place, or at least squeezed a percentage of their profits from them.
As we walked two characters who had been leaning on the wall of a building stood up, humans by the size of them they walked to block our way. Here we go again I thought dropping back behind Jon. But behind them I could see the gaily dressed Grûndén that Łĩnwéé had nodded to earlier, he was looking at us intently. Serinae's hands went to the swords at her side.
One of the men, noticing this immediately threw up his hands and smiling said, “whoa sister, ’tis nay trouble we seek, only a privy word with thee an’ thy company.”
Serinae let her swords slip back into their scabbards but her hands remained upon the pommels and Teouso still held onto the handle of one of his stilettos.
Serinae eventually smiling at the Grûndén standing behind the men said, “So, my fine friend what can we do for you?”
The Grûndén stepped forward. “Nay nat me my fare lassie, ‘tis m’ cap’n that wishes thee word, if thee would consent to come with us please?”
I glanced at the Grûndén, he was leaning on the wall, twirling his fingers through his substantial moustache and still looking fixedly in our direction.
“And what if we refuse?”
The Grûndén shrugged and said that it was up to us, he was just here to relay the message as he was ordered, this being done he was equally happy if we followed or alternatively decided to go about our own business, he would not attempt to persuade us either way. At this he stepped forward, the two men saluted and fell back behind him. He was still regarding us with some interest and releasing his moustache he stood before us and said to Serinae, “M’lady, I do nat wish t’ cause a scene ‘ere in front o’ prying eyes, t’ longer we dally, the more likely we may be adrawin’ unhealthy interest. I ask thee t’ please follow us t’ see our cap’n, I think such a meetin’ be to our mutual benefit.” He smiled broadly at us, he swept his arm out before him in an invitation for us to accompany him. I did not get any adverse feelings in the way of warning or of impending danger. Having nothing better to occupy us in the foreseeable future and the fact that a ‘captain’ had requested our audience and captains either own or command ships, we decided to humour these sailors and consented to follow them back to the docks. As we went I couldn’t help noticing Serinae was surreptitiously looking behind us every so often as was Teouso, I knew they were worried about something, if nothing else in our journey, one thing I had learned was how to read the mannerisms of these two.
We were led to one of the brightly painted sailing ships, this one a sturdy looking vessel, I remembered admiring it when we first arrived at the docks, it had a neater look about it somehow. The ship was not built for speed but definitely built to stay afloat; this gave my confidence a boost. The fine looking vessel had three masts and although not overly displaying much in the way of ornate wooden carving, the one thing she did have was a charming well carved figure head of a beautiful woman with long flowing hair, which was a good thing because her hair was the only thing she wore to keep her modesty. Her arm was pointing forward as were her eyes, gazing forever into the far distance, always in the direction the ship was sailing. Her waist was lost in a carved foamy sea where a dolphin rode the waves by her side.
Casting my own gaze along the side of the ship I read her name, ‘The Ocean Belle’.
Once aboard we were quickly ushered into the cabin area at the rear of the vessel, two small slatted doors were opened and a sliding cover slid back, we found ourselves descending into the interior of the vessel down a very steep set of wooden steps. I felt a little apprehensive, possibly because of my earlier mishap on the docks, we were being led into the ship full of sailors and my first experiences with such men had not been good. Once at the bottom of the steps we found ourselves in a corridor with doors to cabins on either side, some doors were open, some closed.
Serinae was already walking ahead close behind the Grûndén that had invited us on board, the other two men it seemed had disappeared on stepping aboard to go about other duties I supposed. As usual Serinae was catching many admiring glances through the open doors and from the odd ship’s crew member that we passed, but if she noticed she didn’t show it, she was talking to Łĩnwéé, who was striding along with his battle axe slung over one shoulder where it had been since we arrived in Port Town, a sure sign of his readiness to use it. I looked for the men that had accosted us earlier on the dockside, but I didn’t see them anywhere.
A figure appeared from a doorway to the aft of the vessel at the far end of the corridor. I assumed this was our captain as he had an air of authority about him and was more richly dressed than any of the crew we had so far seen apart from the Grûndén that we followed. The figure walked towards us with his hands clasped at his back. He introduced himself and welcomed us aboard his ship.
The captain's name was Illusius Greol, he was a human of indeterminate age, but his face and hands showed ruddiness associated with many years’ sea faring. He bowed to each of us and asked that we accompany him to his cabin which turned out to be the room from which he had emerged a few minutes earlier. This cabin was large compared to those we could look into as we passed along the way, it was beautifully decorated in wooden carvings all painted in the same bright colours as those on the outside of the vessel. The cabin also contained sumptuous couches and other items of wonderfully carved furniture all painted in maritime designs, depictions of ships sailing oceans and other sea-faring subjects. The cabin was as wide as the vessel for it had windows all along the back wall that extended someway around each side. It was roughly square being about the same distance in length as it was wide. Along the centre of the space ran a banqueting table surrounded by chairs, the table had a lip all the way around, I assumed to stop things sliding off in rough weather. The only thing occupying the table at the moment was a nautical map showing an area of coast line which I assumed was the coast on which lay Port Town.
The captain bid us sit down at the table, so we all selected a chair and sat looking towards our host in expectation. He introduced himself again and welcomed us aboard his fine vessel. The dwarf that had been on the dockside closed the door and stood by the entrance half looking inwards at those assembled in the room and giving the impression that the other half of his attention was listening for sounds outside the door, what he was listening for I did not know. Captain Greol gestured to the Grûndén and introduced him as his first mate whose name was Føurnâl Vélt. Master Føurnâl gave a half nod, not to us but to the captain, who seeming satisfied sat at the head of the dining table, his usual place I assumed.
“I’ll get straight to the point, am I to understand that you wish to travel to Dahl’Ambronis?”
Jondris looking suspicious said, “that is our business, but if true what is it to you?”
Greol, pushed himself back from the table, sighed and said, “look, I know you may not trust my motifs as yet, but I believe we can aid each other mutually, please do not be offended when I say that I know where you want to travel, no one comes here to Port Town from the interior unless they wish to leave this Maker-forsaken continent.”
Raising his hand he continued, “I, also like you, am stuck here at the whim of the Port Authority. I am waiting for their authorisation to allow my departure, if you haven’t already realised the authority is somewhat corrupt and apt to greasing its own pockets with as much gold as possible, it seems we are both deemed easy money by them. But my friends I have no intention of paying over the odds for the license fo
r my ship to sail, I wish to retain my profits not to give them back to these Gnomes on a whim. I plan to sail on this night’s high tide whether permission be granted or not. You are welcome to come along for the ride, I don’t even ask a fee but as you all look more than capable of looking after yourselves, I will ask that you assist in my ships safe passage and help ensure her safe departure from the port.”
At this Jondris bowed and said, “I’m sorry captain but we have already had one bad experience on the dockside with a bunch of drunken sailors and I was wary.”
The captain sighed and said, “you shouldn’t tar all of us with the same brush my friend. Although it’s true some sailors are a bit ummm abrupt shall we say. But remember, some of these ships have been here for months waiting the correct paperwork to allow outbound passage, it is not in a sailor’s temperament to be understanding of such inane bureaucracy.”
“So why don’t they just set sail anyway,” I asked.
Captain Greol stood and walked to the window where he could survey the dockside, he pointed out towards the big rusting hulk of the old battleship where it languished further along the dock.
“The Gnome battleship where the port authority resides is still armed with two of its original cannon, it is this threat to shipping that allows them to hold sway over each of us and determine the fee for safe passage. I have seen ships sunk whilst trying to flee this port, a single shot from those cannon is all it takes and believe me the deep water beyond this port is a ships, as well as the unfortunate crew’s, final resting place.”
Jondris then asked, “so what would you ask of us then captain?”
Captain Greol did not reply, but looking from Jondris to Tnie he said, “Master gnome, would you happen to know how someone could put those cannon out of action either permanently or at least temporarily, giving us enough time to sail and get beyond their range?”
Tnie looked thoughtful for moment and said, “I’m sure that can be arranged, but I would need access to the cannon, I would need to get on-board the battle ship and back off again in secrecy.”
The captain nodded, but did not offer a solution to the plan. Just then Føurnâl caught the eye of the captain and gestured towards the door of the cabin, Captain Greol rose and walked to the door, Føurnâl opened it and they both went out into the corridor shutting the door behind them. I mused on what had just been said, I guessed that the cannons mentioned by the captain were something of great destructive power and I wanted to ask what a cannon was so I took the opportunity to do so. Tnie looked at me and said that a cannon was a larger version of the ri’fal he had been given by JDC. The cannon used an explosive charge to hurl a heavy projectile great distances, the projectile carried its own explosive and on striking the intended target was designed to detonate and cause massive damage to whatever it struck. Tnie went on to describe in more detail the intricacies of the cannon, as he was speaking Serinae got up slowly and opened the door a crack to see what was going on outside, she stood there for a few minutes and then carefully closed the door. She reported that there were two port authority guards outside talking to the captain about a disturbance on the dock earlier, it seems a complaint was lodged with the port authority about some sailors who were attacked. She beckoned Teouso to come to her and whispering explained something to him that I could not hear. But Teouso fell back flat against the wall by the side of the door, Serinae fell back similarly on the other side of the door, she drew her two swords and held them crossed in front of her. All of a sudden the opened and the two Pnook guards strode forcefully into the room, quick as a flash the door was slammed closed by Teouso, Serinae leapt forward. The two guards were taken completely by surprise and turned at the same time Teouso plucked their helmets from their heads, one in each hand. As he did so he ducked, and at almost the same time Serinae swung down with her blades and I flinched and looked away. I heard two loud thumps as two heavy things landed heavily upon the deck of the cabin. I stifled a scream. I dreaded looking back expecting two headless bodies to be lying on the floor, but the Pnook guards thankfully still had their heads upon their shoulders and were just lying unconscious. Serinae it seemed had just given each of them a stout blow to their uncovered heads with the flats of her blades. These two would awake with a terrific headache each but nothing worse.
Quickly she re-sheathed her blades and said, “quick let’s strip them of their clothing.”
I said in utter surprise, “what?”
But she explained that if we used the guards uniforms we may be in with a chance of getting on the battleship unnoticed.
What a great idea! I nodded in understanding. Before long Jondris and Teouso had made a pile of the Pnook uniforms on the floor. Captain Greol and Føurnâl re-entered the room. They took a look at the two guards laying there in their underwear, and then at the pile of clothing by their sides, they seemed to cotton on quickly to the plan.
Føurnâl said, “good idea but who will wear the second uniform. Master Tnie is the right size but we only have one Pnook.”
I looked around the room hoping to discover a solution when Tnie said that he would go alone.
But before the point could be argued Łĩnwéé stepped forward and said, “I can wear the other.”
I stifled a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand and Serinae waiving her hand at me and smiling in amusement said, “I am sure it will fit, and you will look very smart master Grûndén, but possibly we will have to make a few alterations first,”
Łĩnwéé looked at Tnie’s slight form and then down at his imposing muscular bulk and snorted, “Aye well, we best be quick then lassie for I ‘ope ye mean t’ modify the uniform and nat wait fo’ me t’ slim down eh?”
Jondris said, “well no rush, it will be dark in a few hours, better to hide Tnie and Łĩnwéé's true identities with the aid of darkness. I only hope the two gnome guards aren’t missed in the next few hours.”
After binding and gagging the two guards Captain Greol ensured that they were taken below into the hold of the ship and hidden from prying eyes. He suggested they be taken ashore when it was dark and hide them in an old warehouse. In the meantime we set about the work of getting our two replacement ‘Pnook guards’ ready for our clandestine mission. Tnie was easy as his size seemed perfect for one uniform. Łĩnwéé on the other hand demanded more creative work to get his uniform to fit, luckily the ship carried a full tool chest and a sewing kit and Łĩnwéé helped by the rest of us managed to ‘modify’ the armour and clothing to enable him to squeeze inside. A degree of temporary modification to himself was also required as he was persuaded very tightly into some parts of the uniform.
Sooner than later it became dark and our plans were set in motion. Łĩnwéé and Tnie would leave first as if the guards were returning to the port authority offices. Then some of captain Greol's men would take a number of ‘empty’ crates across the road into the warehouse. Whilst this was done the rest of the crew would prepare to sail, only the sails would not be raised until it was actually time to leave. The rest of us felt a bit useless as we watched Tnie and Łĩnwéé walk along the dock towards the Port Authority battleship. They soon disappeared from view around the metal hull of the big ship and I prayed that they would be kept safe.
Soon it was time for the crew to remove the ‘empty’ crates, they did so with some noise and the usual fervour of sailors at work, the captain thought this would be less suspicious to anyone watching the scene. In the meantime, the activity would serve to remove attention from the sailors on deck preparing the ship as much as they could for the sea journey. The captain was busy ordering things done as was Føurnâl, the rest of our party could do nothing but wait in the captain’s cabin. Time seemed to pass by slowly and painfully as we waited, enhanced by the fact that we could do nothing to aid either the ship’s crew or our gnome spies on the battleship.
But then, what seemed like hours later, we were all overjoyed to see Tnie and Łĩnwéé return with a sparkle in their eyes.<
br />
We welcomed them warmly and asked what had happened, but before they could answer, Captain Greol was through the door an expectant look upon his face. “Master gnome, will the cannons fire if we leave port?”
Tnie smiled and looking at the captain shook his head from side to side and said, “no, there is no chance of their firing for the foreseeable future.”
We all cheered and there was lots of back slapping and hand shaking going on with Tnie and Łĩnwéé the centres of attention. At the end of this Captain Greol returned to the deck and gave the orders that would get us underway. We all spilled out on deck. The crew were busy hauling on the ropes to raise all the available sail they could, the canvas was presented to the wind and they filled. The Ocean Belle started to move out into the harbour and pick up speed.
Before long we heard shouts from the battleship, obviously we had been seen. Serinae whipped the bow from her back and had notched an arrow, almost immediately a bolt from a crossbow whizzed across the growing gap between us and the battleship, it slammed hard into the wooden deck some three metres in front of me, I looked at it in horror as splintered wood flew away from where the shaft had struck penetrating deep into the wooden deck. This was followed by several others, one unfortunate sailor stopped one in his leg just above the knee, he howled in pain and I slipped forward to see what I could do. Serinae was shouting for everyone to take cover for we could do nothing confined as we were on the deck of the Ocean Belle.
Tnie appeared on deck holding something long and thin, I looked closely and saw it was the ri’fal he was given as a parting gift by JDC, he seemed to snap the thing in two, it folded in the middle, he then reached into one of the little boxes that he had also been given by JDC which he had placed at his feet on the deck and slid something into the ri’fal and snapped it closed again. He then brought one end of the Ri’fal up against his shoulder and took aim down the length of the ri’fal almost in the same way as Serinae did down the length of an arrow notched in her bow. A deafening explosion came from where Tnie stood, I cried out and instinctively put both my hands up either side of my head to cover my ears. A cloud of smoke almost obscured Tnie from view. I cried out again for Tnie now lay on his back. I was sure that a crossbow had been fired and poor Tnie had been hit. But then another slightly less noisy explosion came from the direction of the battleship. Turning my attention to this sound and running to the side of the ship I looked in the direction of the battleship. I could see a hole had been blown in the side of the hull and smoke was coming out from the inside of the vessel.
Tnie picked himself up and supporting himself on his elbows and snorting said, “hell of a recoil! But that at least should keep their heads down for a while.”
I realised then that the explosion on our ship was Tnie firing his ri’fal and the explosion on the battleship was caused by the projectile he had fired. But to our great joy it was clear that the battleships cannons were going to remain silent even though they had been turned and now pointed in our direction. Thank the Maker, they were not able to fire at us.
Chapter 21 Homeward Bound
Extract from ‘The Journal of a Salt Sea Dog’, by Solin’De’Teinde.
“Give me a fare wind, a stout ship, and a clear sky to navigate by. Then add to this a full hold of goods to trade for a good price. Maybe a pirate ship or two just to break the boredom of the wide Ocean. Given these you would not find a happier man alive.”