Chapter Eight
I CAME AWAKE TO FIRM BUT GENTLE SHAKES from a soft-spoken ambassador.
“Open your eyes, we’re coming into the docks of Yaza Kee,” Teryn said, gently easing my head back to a cushion as I battled through the foggy quagmire of sleep. My stomach roiled slightly as I stared up at a clean-shaven Teryn. “You will wish to see this.”
Swallowing roughly, I eased to sitting, my sight touching on the clouds streaking past as we bounced over rough swells that rocked the boat.
The foulness in my gut raced up my throat.
I crawled at speed to the side of the ship and emptied my stomach.
Not much came up other than red tea, which burned slightly.
“Porgo, may we ease back on the speed?” Teryn called as he joined me by the railing, rubbing my back as I dry heaved a few more times.
“Mainlanders,” the sea captain growled. The ship slowed, the winds eased, and my insides eased marginally. The sun warmed my back as I knelt there prone like a landed fish. If I never stepped a foot onto another boat, I would be the happiest elf in all of Melowynn.
“There, now let’s get you upright.” Teryn helped me into a seated position. I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing, as he placed a folded slice of dry cake into my hand. “Nibble on that. Then have a sip of tea. You did much better last night with the aid of the pearly barnacle.”
“I slept through the night,” I mumbled around a bite of bread. It was light and slightly sweet, different from the other flatbread we’d been eating so far. This had the slightest tang of lemon and ginger. My eyes opened slowly to land on Teryn kneeling beside me, smiling.
“That is what the paste was meant to do.”
“What if pirates had beset us?” I asked, chewing sloppily, crumbs falling to my chest.
“Then we would have dropped your useless pale arse into the head and let the waves wash you away,” Porgo shouted over his shoulder and broke into an amused titter.
“Ignore him. He likes to tease. He truly does admire you, or he would not have gifted you the sea illness paste.”
“Hmmm.” I was torn whether to believe Teryn or not, but the paste had helped. Somewhat. One episode of vomiting was far better than several, so I said nothing in reply to the barb. Instead, I raised a hand to touch Teryn’s satiny chin. “Why did you remove your whiskers?”
“To ensure that we remain unseen as much as possible. Many people on the isles know me as I travel wide and far to settle squabbles for the vahasi. Without the whiskers, I look less like me. Also, when we set out into Yaza Kee, we will be traveling as a wealthy merchant and his hired bodyguard.”
“Not so much of a stretch from reality,” I said. He rubbed his hand over my chest to knock the crumbs free. That small touch made my skin heat.
“No, not much. The best fabrications are steeped in truth.” His gaze held mine for a moment before his hand dropped.
He pushed to his feet. Rich green robes with fashionable white threads woven into the fabric billowed around his lean form.
His feet were clad in sandals with shimmery ivory beads.
He offered me his hand. I took it. Standing made my head swim for a moment, but it eased once I found the far-off docks of the city of Yaza Kee coming into view.
I gaped at the beautiful sight. This looked nothing like the docks of Celear.
Giant palm trees lined the black sands. Ships of various sizes with banners of yellow, red, blue, and lime fluttered atop a dozen or so mainmasts.
The docks ran upward from the sea, into what appeared to be a vibrant marketplace packed with people.
Awnings of peach, magenta, cool blue, as well as striped ones, stood out sharply against the dark wooden decking.
Stairs led from the docks and market to white and tan buildings with graceful arched doorways.
Blue and gold embellishments ran along the walls and gardens of the homes.
Lush flowing plants with blooms of deep purple and pale pink danced in the wind.
Large golden domes adorned many of the portside buildings.
“What a glorious sight,” I whispered, my stomach bubbling softly as I clung to the rail. I glanced at Teryn. He nodded with a pleased twist to his lips. “As is the port.”
Something heated ignited in his eyes. He wet his lips but said nothing.
I should not have complimented him on his beauty.
We had said we would keep our heads on this covert mission, but some things needed to be said.
The man was stunning. I did prefer him with his sleek goatee though, but even without, he stole my breath.
“You are speaking with the tongue of a man delirious from lack of drink.” He padded over, lifted a cup of tea from a small table under the awning, and brought it to me. “Here, drink. It will wash away the lingering taste of the paste while refreshing your mind.”
I took the cup and returned my attention to the port as we sailed into one of several open berths.
Smaller ships sat tied to the dock, little things that held perhaps two or three fishermen.
Around the side sat larger ships, some with three or four sails as well as oars numbering in the dozens.
The calls of the port workers reached my ears first. Several hastened to catch the ropes Porgo tossed to them.
The ship thudded into the dock, and the noise of the marketplace could just be heard now.
“My name on this journey is Omid Emani, and I deal in importing lavender from the steppes of Celinthe.” He explained as our ship was secured and a gangplank laid out. “Your name is Farris Blackfire. I hired you just recently when we stopped at the port of Galesdi Gulf.”
“Understood.” I watched Porgo make his way to the gangplank to greet whoever was striding across it.
A port master, no doubt, coming to check our paperwork and cargo, both of which I knew nothing about.
“You may get dressed. Please wear the armor that you were given as well as your weapons. An intimidating guard speaks loudly without saying a word.”
“What of the cargo?” I asked in a whisper as a tall elven man in deep blue robes strode onto the deck.
His face was lean, skeletal almost, but his pale blue eyes were sharp.
A silver pin adorned his left shoulder, clasped to a small half cape.
It appeared to have some sort of seal pressed into the metal.
“The hold is full of lavender,” Teryn whispered.
I thought to ask how that had happened and then recalled this mission had the full backing of the king.
Aelir probably emptied the royal stores of lavender to give our story credence.
“Just get dressed. We will have to find our lodgings and arrange transportation for the night.”
With that, he left me standing at the rail, clad only in some light trousers and shirt, as he, Porgo, and the port master fell into conversation.
The port master repeatedly glanced at me as I pulled on the coil root armor.
Perhaps he had not seen many pale-skinned elves before.
The armor was a pleasant surprise. It was lighter than my customary full plate.
The wood had a slightly pungent smell. Or that could have been me.
I’d not bathed in a few days. And I had been sick.
Even now, tied to the dock, the motion under my booted feet made my belly churn.
We could not exit this ship quickly enough.
When I was fully suited, I planted myself on the right side of Teryn, three steps back as I did for the king.
The conversation was in Sandrayan. They seemed to have reached an accord.
Teryn placed several gold coins in the port master’s hand.
With a nod, the man gave me a long look before trundling down the walkway to melt into the dockworkers.
Teryn glanced at me, nodded his approval, and laid a hand on Porgo’s shoulder.
“Now that the docking fees have been paid, would you be willing to oversee the cargo being unloaded, my friend? Then go find a nice room to rest. We will meet up in three days’ time on the other side of the Rajaz Mountains.
Meet us at the port city of Shar-Aab where we discussed. ”
“Aye, Mahouk.” Porgo gave me a tired-looking glance before heading off to meet with the dockworkers to begin toting the crates of precious lavender from the hold.
“Come then, Farris. I wish to wash the salt off my skin,” Teryn barked in a sharp tone. “Grab my bags.”
I did as told, fetching his bags and mine, then falling in behind him.
The gangplank was thin and bounced when stepped on.
My gut clenched with each step. When I stepped onto the dock, I felt a wash of relief.
There was no rolling to and fro. If I’d not been playing the part of a hired sword for a man of great privilege, I would kiss the soggy boards.
Leaving the ship behind, praise Ihdos, I followed Teryn.
He had pulled a bit of his robing over his head to protect himself from the blazing sun.
I was already soaked in sweat. The temperature here was quite high, much hotter than Celear, which was pleasant and temperate.
The air was thick with moisture that clung to the skin, making it hard to cool off. Thankfully the armor eased the heat.