Chapter 128: Chapter 111 – A Man of the Sea

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"Most non-merfolk sailors only lived on the sea for as long as their jobs made them to, for they still preferred the comforts of land in the end. The few who truly do loved the sea with all their hearts however, often spent their whole lives on their ships, with only the occasional stops on ports for resupply and trades. These people embraced the mother ocean as their homes, lived their lives on it, and usually rested for eternity in her embrace as well." - Zugzwang Arnott, former head port official for Knallzog.

 

The rest of the trip to the port went relatively uneventfully, as Cal brought her nieces on a leisurely walk there. They camped right in the plains for the night, and her nieces were quite impressed that she had a portable bath with her. The night passed peacefully within the warded tent the three shared, and they continued the trek the next day.

 

Shortly before noon the port came within sight. In the distance, masts from the ships anchored at the port were visible, and the place teemed with bustle and activity. Cal led her nieces towards the port city, as they followed eagerly behind her.

 

The guards bid them welcome and only made a cursory check before they were allowed inside without issue. It was a far more friendly experience than with most other cities, but then again the port was technically located in the hinterlands of the great emerald forest. If any trouble were to arrive, it would more likely be from the sea.

 

Cal first headed for an eatery since it was already past noon by then, and treated her nieces to the local cuisine. Served by the eatery was a simple fare of a thick, heavily spiced stew with the meats from several kinds of shellfish, served over rice. Despite the simple appearance, the dish proved very appetizing, with the briny flavor of the shellfish contrasted with the heavy spices, all moderated by rice.

 

They all actually went for seconds before they left the shop satisfied.

 

Appetite sated, Cal next brought her nieces towards the harbor. Ships from many different nations anchored there at the port, in various shapes and sizes. Compared to the rectangular junk ship common to the empire, ships in Alcidea tended to have a shape like a rowboat magnified by several scales. She also noticed a couple long, narrow ships with the figureheads carved into the visage of fierce beasts and a single mast.

 

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Cal looked carefully around the ships anchored and looked for one that matched the description Aideen gave her. It was not until they crossed three-quarters of the port - though it was time well spent when Cal considered how her nieces marveled at the anchored ships - that she found one ship which matched Aideen's description.

 

The ship in question was a large triple-decked galleon with three masts, all of it painted a matte black. Atop the main mast fluttered a flag that depicted a stylized skeleton with burning eyes over crossed bones, in black over a field of white. A bevy of dock workers busied themselves as they moved goods to and from the ship's hold.

 

She asked some people for someone in charge and was directed towards a woman who served as the ship's first mate, who stood and watched the ongoing work with her arms crossed before her chest.

 

"Can I help you?" Asked the woman in an unexpected gentle voice that contrasted greatly with her appearance. The ship's first mate was an orcish woman, a very tall one who stood easily a head taller than Cal, with a bulky and muscular build that made her wonder if the woman didn't have dwarven ancestry as well. Her corded muscles rippled beneath her very dark brown - almost black - skin. Most of her head was shaved, except for a long ponytail tied with golden ringlets.

 

"I have a letter for the captain," said Cal as she handed Aideen's letter to the imposing orcish woman. "From Aideen deVreys in Paradise."

 

"Another one, eh?" Said the orcish woman as she looked over the envelope and eyed Cal and her nieces for a moment. "Wait here for a bit, I'm fetching the captain over."

 

"All right."

 

They had not waited long before the sound of shoes on wood - and one peculiar noise of wood on wood - approached. Cal saw the orcish woman return, and with her were three other personages, led by the man she assumed was the captain of the ship.

 

The man in question wore a tricorn hat emblazoned with the same emblem as on the flag, and had an eyepatch over his left eye. He wore a long and finely made red trench coat over his tunic and trousers, but the most noticeable thing about him were his eyes.

 

The man was very obviously an unliving, as he kept his body in a state halfway between the usual preferred forms they kept. Instead of the appearance of a healthy if pale person, or a full on skeleton, the captain had the pale complexion of a dead person, yet retained all his flesh as well as his well-groomed reddish-orange hair and facial hair, other than his eyes, which were absent. Instead, inside his eye sockets were greenish soul fire that blazed with brilliance, the shine of which Cal could see even through his eyepatch.

 

"Welcome! You must be Celeysria, am I right? Aideen said a lot about you in her letter," said the captain as he doffed his hat and bowed with a flourish. "I be Captain Arquivaldo Da'hock of the good ship Le Faucon Noir. I bid you welcome to my ship."

 

"A pleasure to meet you," Cal said as she gave a slight bow and a palm over fist salute in reply. "These two are my nieces, Elaina and Sidonie."

 

"Charmed. The pleasure be mine to make an acquaintance of such fine young ladies," replied the captain. He continued his introduction as he pointed at the tall orcish woman. "You've met Aby here already. She's our first mate and helmswoman."

 

"This old goat be Iosif. Don't let his looks fool you, he's a mean old goat in a fight," said the captain as his finger moved to an old grey-furred goat-therian who only had one leg. His other leg was a peg leg, and he walked with the aid of a crutch under his armpit. Cal had not failed to notice how steady the man was however, not how said crutch had its upper end shaped almost like a hammer's head. "He's the best navigator around. Ain't ever getting lost with him around."

 

"And that be my adopted daughter Uruza. Don't mind her grumbling, she's just a sour puss at times," finished Arquivaldo as he pointed towards the half-merfolk girl by the side. The girl showed her heritage quite clearly with her sky blue skin and webbed fingers, as well as the gills visible by her throat. Due to her human heritage though, she grew a fine head of platinum blonde hair, which she collected into a tight ponytail.

 

"Welcome aboard, madam and misses, and enjoy your stay on board."

 

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