“That fast?” Fifer asks.
“Hopefully, but I seldom make the run all the way there from here,” he explains. “But, yeah, it should.”
As they near the docks, James is surprised to see that Illan and the others are waiting for them at the dockmaster’s office.
“Any problems?” Illan asks when they approach.
Shaking his head, James says, “No. How about you?”
He pats an extremely fat pouch at his waist and says, “He was there and quite willing to buy. Seems there’s an increase in demand for good horses so he gave us a good price. Of course my sister happened to be there and wouldn’t let him do otherwise.” He breaks into a short laugh at that.
The Dockmaster is standing there with Illan and when he sees Captain Hawls, he asks him, “Thought you were in jail?”
“Was,” he replies, “but these gentlemen arranged for me to be released.”
He turns an eye to Illan and says, “Oh?”
“We needed a ship,” he says, “and no one else was willing to accommodate us.”
To the captain, James says, “We better get underway quickly, before someone comes looking for us.”
“You got that right,” the captain says as he begins moving toward his ship. When he gets close, he starts hollering to his crew. After a brief exchange, his crew hops to it and begins readying the ship to sail.”
“Make sure he doesn’t leave without us,” James tells Fifer.
“Sure thing,” he replies. Taking several of the others, they make their way down to the ship where they cross the gangplank and position themselves on the deck.
“I better be getting over there too,” Illan tells his friend.
“You’re not getting yourself in trouble again are you?” his friend asks.
“Probably,” he replies with a grin.
“It was good to see you,” his friend says, giving him a warm hug.
“You too,” Illan replies. “May not be back in these parts for awhile, take care.”
“I will,” the Dockmaster replies.
“Let’s go,” Illan says to James and the others who are waiting with him.
James says his goodbyes to the Dockmaster too, and then follows Illan down to the ship. As they reach the gangplank, James hollers up to the ship, “Permission to come aboard.”
Captain Hawls comes to the side and says, “Granted, and thank you for that.”
“It’s your ship captain,” James says as he walks up the gangplank. “Wouldn’t want to presume.”
“Be ready in a couple more minutes,” he tells him.
“Very well,” James says as he joins the others. He watches the sailors as they make ready and when all are in position, two of them run down the gangplank and untie the guide lines from the dock. They toss them to others waiting at the rail and then hurry back across the gangplank, pulling it on board after them.
The sails come down and the breeze begins to fill them as the ship begins pulling away from the docks.
“James, look!” Jiron says, pointing to the dockmaster’s office.
A group of men led by one with bandages on his face are running down the street toward the dockmaster’s office. “It would seem they’ve discovered the guards,” says Jorry.
“Looks that way,” agrees James.
As the ship pulls further away from the docks, the men come running and stop at the edge. The man with the bandage glares at them across the widening gap between the dock and the ship.
“He doesn’t look happy,” observes Uther.
“No, I’d say not,” agrees Jorry.
The men on the dock turn around and run for the merchant ship at the other end, probably hoping to commandeer it to follow them.
The captain of the merchant must have been aware of the events transpiring on the docks, for his men hurry to pull in the gangplank before the men are able to reach the ship. A heated discussion ensues between the bandaged man and the captain. Obviously the captain is reluctant to have his ship used for such a purpose.
“He knows that his ship, fully loaded as it is, could never catch us,” Captain Hawls explains. “He might get in some trouble for refusing but there’s really nothing that guy can do about it.”
“That’s good to know,” James says.
“Just get yourselves settled in and we’ll be in Fairview sometime tomorrow,” the captain tells him.
“Very well,” James says as he moves back over to where the others are still gathered watching the spectacle on the docks. The merchant ship’s captain is standing defiant before the men on the docks. He’s even put two of his men with bows beside him to prevent anyone from coming aboard.
Miko sees him coming and meets him halfway with a small sack in his hands. Reaching in, he pulls out a tart and with a grin offers it to James.
Taking it, he asks, “Where’d you get these?”
“Back in Lythylla,” he replies. Taking out another, he begins eating it. “They’re a bit stale now.”
Taking a bite, James agrees. “But still good. Thank you Miko.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, pleased to have made his friend happy.
Late afternoon the following day, they spy Fairview on the horizon. An hour after that, Captain Hawls settles his ship against the dock. Two of his crew tosses the guide ropes to waiting dockhands who secure them to the dock.
When the ship has come to a stop and the gangplank has been secured in place, James comes to Captain Hawls and says, “We appreciate the ride, captain.”
“Anytime, James,” he replies. “I still owe you for getting me out of that jail. If you’re ever in these parts and need a ride, just let me know.”
“I will, thank you,” he says to him.
Illan leads them off the gangplank and says, “There’s a horse trader not too far from here.”
“Perfect,” says James. “Lead on.”
They follow Illan down the streets until they come to a large corral containing dozens of horses. A large, rambling building curves around one side, and that’s where Illan leads them.
Before they get to the building, a man is seen in the corral as he puts a horse through its paces. He holds the tether in one hand as he has the horse run around in a circle.
Illan stops them at the edge of the corral just as the man takes notice of them. The man walks with the horse over to the side of corral and asks, “Can I help you gentlemen?”
“We’re looking to purchase ten horses,” explains Illan.
The man’s face lights up when he hears that. Gesturing to the horses within the corral, he says, “We have many horses here, I’m sure we can find ones to fit your need.”
“It looks like it,” agrees James. “How much for ten?”
“You can have your pick for seven hundred,” the man replies.
James looks to Illan who shakes his head negatively, indicating he doesn’t have that much. Letting Illan do the haggling, James casts his gaze out over the corralled horses, he can see many fine animals there.
Illan works the man down to six hundred and twenty two, which is only five gold pieces less than what they have. Fortunately, the price also includes saddles and all the gear they’ll need.
They move into the building, where they empty the bags of gold they received from the sale of their other horses onto a table. Everyone also had to empty their own pouches in order to come up with the required sum.
Once the gold had been counted, they return to the corral where ten horses are rounded up. Sterrin, the horse trader, has his apprentices saddle the horses for them while they wait.
“Is Dragon’s Pass still in friendly hands?” Illan asks the horse trader.
Nodding, he replies, “Last I heard. There have been incursions of the Empire’s men in the area when they can sneak past our patrols. Mostly, though, it’s safe.”
“Good,” states Uther. “Hope it stays that way.”
“Me too,” Hinney adds.
“How far is it to the Dragon’s Pass?” James asks Sterrin.
“About two days,” he tells him.
