Chapter 48 Captain Veylan
Captain Veylan
Caramyn
The harbor was quiet as the dawn crawled in.
The journey down the mountain had been uneventful as Asterious led the sure-footed gelding down the icy, crooked path for hours through the grueling slog that had taken the entire night to complete.
Even the horse seemed to let out a sigh of relief when they reached the bottom.
“How do we find Veylan?” Caramyn whispered, slipping out of her bonds and sliding down from the horse, her frozen legs nearly shattering when her feet hit the ground.
They took the bags they could carry and released the animal. Then they hid, ducking behind some crates on the docks.
“The better question is how do we even know he’s here?
” Asterious grumbled as he peeked around the frost-covered crate.
“There are two fishing boats moored, but if we pick the wrong one, we’re in trouble.
A hated Blackwynd royal traveling with the Frostlord's assassin will get some attention if whoever is on the boat recognizes us.”
“So, what do we do?”
A sudden voice from the shadows gave them the answer they needed. “Ask someone who can help you.” A brazen, but familiar voice startled Caramyn from behind. She whirled around to see a cloaked figure.
“Brenn?”
He lifted his hood to reveal those warm, caramel eyes.
“I took the next hire on a boat passing through here—don’t worry, not more smugglers.
Just a spice merchant.” He flashed a strange half-smile.
“I hoped we’d cross paths again. I presume you escaped and you’re safe with.
..” and then shot a cold glance at Asterious, a questioning look.
“Prince Asterious Blackwynd.” Asterious unfolded from his crouched position behind the crates and stood to his feet. “And exactly who are you?”
“This is Brenn,” Caramyn stated, standing up between them. “He was on the ship that brought me here. He’s a healer, and he also helped me make the elixir that I gave the Frostlord.”
The prince eyed the cloaked man up and down, as if he was trying to determine whether he was looking at a venomous snake or a harmless one, and he secretly hoped it was venomous so that he could have an excuse to crush it.
“I’d not be so not quick to put much faith in a man found working on a ship with people as cargo. ” Asterious growled.
“Nor would I be so quick to trust a man whose kingdom allows it.” Brenn’s eyes narrowed.
“My father’s sins aren’t mine.” The prince clenched his jaw and met Brenn’s gaze. “And I ensure you I will put a stop to this disgusting practice when I am king.”
“Oh, so you plan to take the throne after all?” Brenn scoffed. “I thought you were just the executioner.”
“Stop it, Brenn. He is not what you’ve heard.” Caramyn interjected, irritated with the both of them. “We are safe with him.”
Asterious bit his cheek before speaking. “Well, Brenn, thank you for whatever part you played in her safety, but as you can see, I no longer think she’s in need of your assistance.”
Brenn chuckled dryly, looking out at the two small boats docked in the harbor.
“I’d say that since you don’t know which ship to get on, you’re very much in need of assistance.”
“He’s right,” Caramyn said. “We need his help. And we can’t waste any more time.” She turned from Asterious and leaned in towards Brenn. “Do you know of a captain named Veylan? Is he here?”
“I’ve heard the name. He’s a quiet one. I’ll see if he’s here. You can come, but lay low. Keep your faces covered until I give the clear.”
There was no chance for response before Brenn strode off towards the harbor.
Caramyn followed without question, urging the prince to do the same.
They moved in silence, swift and low, trailing Brenn as he took them close to the sailboat on the left, a slightly smaller vessel than the other, with a narrow hull that looked like it could slice through even the roughest waters with ease.
“Wait here.” He left them standing at the edge of the dock while he leapt aboard and knocked on the door of the captain’s quarters.
Caramyn strained to listen over the evening tide lapping the pier.
“Captain Veylan, you in there?” Brenn’s voice rang with another rap of his knuckles against the door.
A door creaked open, followed by coughing and a few grunts. “Who are you and what the hell are you doing here this time of night?”
“It’s actually morning now, sir.” There was a long pause before he spoke again. “Can you grant passage inland to Magoth?”
“You’d better be paying me enough to buy a new ship to go that far. I don’t leave the fjords.” Veylan grumbled.
Asterious stepped forward to Caramyn’s surprise, joining Brenn on the ship. She followed in attempt to stop him, but was too late before he put himself between Brenn and the captain. “I’ll pay you whatever you want upon arrival. I’m an Evylerean noble.”
The man crossed his arms, revealing a rum bottle in one hand. “My answer is no.”
The man turned away, slamming the door, but Asterious stopped it with the tip of his boot. “A woman named Zera said you could help us,” he said, holding the man’s gaze.
Veylan slowly looked up, inching the door open again just a bit further. “Zera? I figured she’d be long dead by now.” He shook his head with a weary groan. “I should’ve known she wouldn’t go to the grave without cashing in a favor.”
“So you’ll help us?” Caramyn spoke this time, feeling more confident at the mention of Zera’s name.
“If it’s for Zera, I’d damn better do it.” Veylan brushed a hand over his weathered face, smoothing back his head of sloppy greying hair. “Get on board. We’ll leave in an hour or two. Just let me go back to sleep till then, damn it.”
He muttered and disappeared back into the darkness of his quarters, leaving the three of them standing on the foredeck. Caramyn and Asterious glanced at Brenn, then at each other.
“Well, that could have gone worse, I suppose.” Asterious shrugged, turning to slap a hand on Brenn’s shoulder. “Thank you for leading us to Veylan, but I think we can take it from here.”
“Oh, I’m coming with you. My home is inland as well, as unfortunate as that may be.
” Brenn feigned a grin, yanking his shoulder out from Asterious’ clasp.
“Besides, Veylan will need another experienced seaman whether he admits it or not. A trip through the inlet and upriver is not ideal for a lone sailor. So if you want to avoid the possibility of getting swept out to sea with a drunk captain, I’m coming along. ”
Asterious rolled his eyes. Caramyn nodded and looked out at the sea beyond the mountain’s edge, where the sun just peeked over the black glassy surface stretching into forever.
She looked forward to the voyage, where she wouldn’t be trapped beneath the damp deck, but instead free to feel the sea’s breeze.
Then she felt the exhaustion hit all at once as she failed to stifle a yawn.
“We’ve been traveling all night. We should get some sleep.” Asterious dropped the words like an anchor as he made his way across the deck to the hatch leading down belowdecks. “We’re safest out of sight.”
Caramyn followed, but Brenn stayed back. “Suit yourselves. I’m staying up here.”
As Caramyn carefully climbed down the wooden ladder behind Asterious, she felt a strangeness in the wind just as the last bit of breeze tickled her skin before she dipped below the ship. Nocthar circled above and landed on an unfurled topsail.
“You’re sure we can trust him?” The prince pushed past some old barrels and nets, working his way through the cramped confines of the ship. They passed a small galley, a storage space, and finally a small room for sailors’ barracks. Or rather, a single sailor’s barrack.
They both stood in the doorway, staring at the small cot in the corner that took up most of the space available. “I’ll take the floor.” Asterious made a move toward the room but then stopped and backed out. “The floor in the galley. We shouldn’t be in this small of a space together.”
The prince turned to leave without another word.
She wanted to call for Nocthar so she wouldn’t be alone in the room.
It reminded her too much of being tucked away in the depths of her home as a child, confined to the walls of that too small house and never allowed to interact with the world outside it.
But she knew it was safer here, and for Nocthar to be up there.
He could watch the entire harbor and warn them far faster than Brenn could.
She laid down her bow and emptied the contents of the bag she carried—a few bits of dried flatbread and berries, a new dagger she’d been gifted from one of the nomads in Zera’s caravan since she’d lost hers to Wryan.
And a flask of fresh water. She took a long, drawn-out sip, knowing she should conserve it but too parched to care.
Then she lowered herself down onto the cramped cot that was secured with rope tied to metal rings in the wall.
She tried to sleep, but couldn’t stop thinking of the scars on Asterious’ body, and the mark on her own.
She refused to believe it was some sort of binding rune—that she bore the stamp of anything other than herself, anything tying her life to something she could not see.
She survived because she chose to, not because her destiny was anchored by something else.
Flee to where shadows hide the light…and when you find it, guard it with your life.
She had chosen the Shadow Woods, she told herself. It just so happened that they chose her back.
Her eyes grew heavy as her thoughts wandered, and she snuggled deep into the fur-lined cloak she was now using as a blanket, still wrapped in her coat.
The gentle bobbing of the boat rocked her to sleep far more quickly than she expected.
And she slept until the sound of sails unfurling and hefty boots treading the deck stirred her awake.