Four #2
"Jill's not with anybody, and neither is Neli."
"Anna?"
"I think Anna picked up some bad habits from the girls we brought from back home. Every once in a while, you'll catch her below decks with Muahtz or Haas."
"Were you thinking of chasing any of them?" Nita asked.
"It's not really chasing if you're their boss and you know they're worried that if they say no, they'll lose their job," I said with a shake of my head.
"So, no. I haven't interacted with them all that much, as I was usually too busy when I was the captain, and then I left it all up to Kardez when he became captain. "
"Also, you're usually here with somebody you are interested in," Nita added.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it."
"I'm surprised Anna hasn't knocked on your door," Alena said innocently.
"She's probably too afraid to," Nita joked.
"She used to sleep with Kanhz. Why would she be afraid of Will?"
"Because Will can be scary, very scary," Zed said with a grin.
"Scarier than Kanhz?"
"I suspect that Kanhz, Muahtz, and Haas have probably shared more than a few stories with her about the things they did with Will during that fight we had a few years ago," Zed said while grinning at me.
"Changing the subject," I said, "how about we talk about something other than me?"
"You have got to be the only guy I know who has every right to brag, but refuses to," Nita said with a laugh.
"No, I think there's a lot of guys and gals out there like that. Unfortunately for me, I've either had too many witnesses or was being followed by someone who thought writing songs about what I did was a good idea."
"Really?"
"There's a goddess allied with Feliogustus who's a bard," Zed told her. "So all of her people are bards. Will, there, has given them a lot of material back home."
"Right, so what's good here? Anybody eaten here before?" I said, moving the topic along.
"Don't get the fish. The lamb's good, though," Alena said.
"I'll be sure to remember that."
Going in and sitting down, I smiled as Anna sat next to me. Obviously, she wasn't too scared!
"So Jill says you're heading to Rossiya?" Anna asked after we'd all ordered.
"I need to check on the two churches we set up there, and visit Tia, The Ulhness's champion. Then maybe visit with Victar, who's Gomerty's champion, and maybe even High Priest Pardy of Vanham Estar."
"Oh?"
"I liked them, and as long as I'm in the area, I probably should visit. It's been a few years since I've been over there. How's life been treating you? I really haven't had the chance to talk to anyone on the crew in the last few years."
"Actually, it's been great! I've never really sailed the rings before, and it's really nice being able to go places with Kanhz, Muahtz, and Haas, where I know it's safe, and meet their friends and family."
I listened attentively as she talked about some of the places they'd gone and things she'd gotten to see. I smiled, nodded, and made some mental notes about a few sights that I might like to see someday, as well.
I noticed them when they came in because they didn't exactly fit in with the current crowd, which was more of a workday crowd.
There were three of them: a very well-dressed elf, who was obviously wealthy and someone of import, because the other two elves with him, while also well dressed, were obviously his bodyguards.
I watched him stop, look around, and upon spotting me, immediately turn and head in my direction.
I decided to do the 'eyes and ears' for Fel, mainly because this was completely unexpected. I didn't feel my speed kick in, and while he had a serious expression on his face, he didn't look mad.
He noticed me looking as he approached and gave a slight nod. As he came around the table, I slid my seat back from it so I'd have room to stand.
"Excuse me, my name is Galathil Elthanor. Are you William, champion of Feliogustus?"
Smiling and giving a slight nod, I stood. "Yes, I have that honor. What may I do for you?"
"You could accept my thanks."
I blinked, giving him a surprised look. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Galathil."
"My daughter was among those you rescued from the barbarians who called themselves Two Rivers."
"Oh!" I smiled. "You're more than welcome. I'm happy that I was able to rescue all the people there. How is she doing?"
"Well, quite well. She was also one of those who asked to be sent to your Feliogustus, so that he might heal her."
I nodded again, still smiling. "I'm glad to hear she's doing well."
"I want to thank you, William," Galathil said, sticking out his hand. Still smiling, I took it and shook hands. "Understand you will always be welcome at our estate and in our home."
"You know that's a very long time," I replied.
"I don't care if you live forever. We honor our debts, and you performed a great service for our family. Also, I and my family find ourselves in debt to your god, Feliogustus, for his help as well."
"Oh?"
"Would it be acceptable if we were to build a shrine to your Feliogustus on our property?"
"Yes! Of course it would!" I said and smiled so big and wide it hurt. I could feel Fel's pleasure at Galathil's announcement. "Would you care to join us for dinner? Is there anything I can do for you or help you with?"
"I would be happy to join you for dinner. As for something you could do, if you could come back to my estate and speak with my architect regarding how you would like the shrine to look?"
"I'd be honored. Do I need to get my things from my ship? I can stay longer if necessary. Also, I would like to bring one of our clerics with me to make sure the ground is properly prepared."
I moved so he could sit on my right, since Anna was on my left, and I didn't want to put him between us. Zed had been on my right, so this would put Galathil between us, and I took a brief moment to introduce Zed.
"What time is your ship leaving tomorrow?" Galathil asked as he sat down.
"I can delay if you need me to, William," Kardez said from the head of the table. "Our cargo isn't time sensitive."
"I think anytime tomorrow, or even the day after, would be fine, Galathil."
"Ah, good. That should not be a problem. My family estate is only an hour from here by ship, so there shouldn't be any issues. We actually have the basic shrine already laid out, but we need the details to finish it, and consecrating it, I'm sure, would help."
I noticed that the two men who'd shown up with him sat at a nearby table and summoned a waitress.
"I must say, I'm rather pleased you've decided to do this," I told him as our waitress hurried over to take Galathil's order, bringing him something to drink. Obviously, they knew him here, which meant he was important. "There won't be any issues with any of your gods, I hope?"
Galathil shook his head as he took the glass from the waitress. "My daughter and I went around to all the local churches and temples, and she asked if they would be okay with her doing it, while I made a suitable donation, of course."
I nodded solemnly while doing my best not to chuckle. "That was wise of her. Was it her idea?"
"Yes. I encouraged it, of course. We had been talking, and I had discussed with her that we needed to be grateful, and she needed to show the gratitude she so obviously felt.
She asked if she could build a proper shrine, instead of the small one she'd set up in her room, and, well, I think I may have encouraged her to do something a bit nicer than she originally had in mind. "
"Still, I'm surprised you were willing to take this on," Zed said from where he was seated on Galathil's other side.
"I have heard of the temples your god has built on Amnar in the new country of Suffolk, one of which was built to honor an elven princess.
That made it clear to me that the elven gods have already accepted Feliogustus' presence on one of their worlds.
They have allowed shrines to Vikoria, so I was fairly certain they would not gainsay me on this, as long as I went through the proper protocols, showed due respect, and made sure not to build a church or anything that was too…
" he paused a moment, "… I guess you would say, 'grand'. "
"All the same, you have my thanks, and the thanks of our god Feliogustus, as well as Champion William's. Saving people in need, especially women, is the honorable thing to do, and all of us who follow Feliogustus dislike it greatly when women are held in thrall against their will."
"That has become quite apparent over the last several years," Galathil agreed with a nod of his head.
"Which is all the more reason for why I should publicly show my thanks.
Doing the right thing, the honorable thing, the good thing, in this life is always hard.
If we do not show our thanks for those, and to those who do it, what kind of example are we making of ourselves to the others? "
I had to admit, I was a bit blown away by that.
He was making it clear, at least to me it seemed, that he supported all the things I'd had to do on Rossiya.
Whether or not he'd always felt that way, or it was his daughter's travails that had brought him to this point, it was still refreshing to hear.
Our food came out then, and we mainly engaged in small talk, though at one point I leaned over to Anna.
"Sorry," I whispered in her ear.
"For what?"
"I was honestly hoping to enjoy more of your company this evening, and perhaps even tonight."
She smiled at me. "I know you have to do these things. It's fine."
I gave her a kiss and returned most of my attention to Galathil and Zed's occasional comments while we ate. I was surprised at how diplomatic Zed was; I guess that was another of those things our clerics were taught that I hadn't known about.
"I need to run back to the ship to pick up a few things," Zed said, "then we can head out and get started."
"Of course," Galathil replied. "I'll have my men move my ship over to yours to make things easier."
We all nodded to that, got up, shook hands, and then went back to the ship.