“I just want to go home.”
“I know you do,” he says. “So do I. But right now we can’t and are simply going to have to do the best we can.”
One of the sailors comes up and says, “It’s time to return to the cabin.”
“Everything will be alright,” he assures his friend.
“I hope so,” he replies.
Meliana comes and walks with him back to the cabin and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before they put him in and lock the door. Once the door is closed, she turns around and sees her father there looking at her. She gives him a look of betrayal and then turns around and goes the opposite direction.
Later that afternoon, they make a course change and land begins to appear on the horizon. Shortly after that, a major port city comes into view ahead of them.
Illan is standing next to Kendrick, Meliana’s father. “So,” he says, “you still plan to hand him over when we dock?”
“Here?” he asks. Shaking his head, he says, “Not here. That’s Westerlyn, a port city still within the borders of Cardri. If I were to take him ashore here and he got away, I wouldn’t very well be able to take him on into the Empire, now would I?”
Illan’s eyes move to his and they lock for a moment before he says, “No, you wouldn’t.”
“There’s some trading we will be doing here before returning to the Empire,” he tells him. “Probably won’t be staying more than the night. Should have our business concluded by then.” He then turns and heads to the other side of the ship to confer with Mr. Bessin.
Illan watches him go and then he turns back to watch Westerlyn approach.
Chapter Fourteen
In the late afternoon, the ship comes to rest at the dock and Kendrick’s sailors begin transferring cargo. By the time night falls, the cargo for Westerlyn has been transferred off and the cargo they are acquiring brought aboard. Their next stop being far into the Empire, Kendrick allows most of the crew to go ashore, keeping only two on board to watch James. He and his daughter leave for the evening to find an inn and have a good dinner, perhaps listen to a bard.
While the ship was unloading, Illan and the others took Paul and the girls to find a way back to Cardri. They eventually came across a caravan going in that direction and arranged passage for them. Fortunately one of the wagons was only half full and the merchant was more than willing to have them use that space, for a price.
Miko and Paul exchange goodbyes, Daria giving him a hug and a kiss. “Some adventure,” Paul says as they get loaded onto the caravan.
“Yeah,” Miko replies. “At least it all worked out well.”
“You coming back to Cardri?” he asks him.
“Maybe,” Miko tells him. “If I do, I’ll be sure to look you up.”
“You do that,” he says as he takes his place in the back of the wagon.
The caravan master calls for the wagons to begin moving and their wagon starts rolling down the road. Miko watches for a while as they move away, Paul and the girls waving goodbye to him. He waves back until they’ve rolled out of sight.
All afternoon, Illan has been contemplating the words Kendrick said to him. Not just the words but the tone of voice. That, along with the fact he sent most of his crew away on shore leave, seems to indicate he wants them to get James off his ship.
He mentions his observations to Jiron and he readily agrees. “He doesn’t want the Empire against him, he lives there. But at the same time he wishes to please his daughter so is creating a situation for us to get him off without seeming to. He won’t be considered at fault and James will be free.”
“That’s how I see it too,” he adds.
They have Fifer take Dave into town to keep him out of the way while they wait nearby on the docks for everything to become quiet. The two sailors who survived the destruction of the Ambassador’s ship have gone into town with Kendrick’s crew and aren’t expected back until late or maybe not until the following morning.
Illan, Miko, Jiron and Qyrll wait in the deepening shadows of the dock as the crew from a neighboring ship disembarks. Once they’ve passed from the dock area, it grows quiet.
“Now?” Miko asks.
Illan nods his head and they make their way through the dark and to the gangplank leading up to the ship’s deck. The two guards posted outside James’ door sees them come aboard, one of them breaks into a grin. “Can we help you?” he asks.
“You know why we’re here,” Jiron states as he draws one of his knives.
The two guards step aside. As Illan moves to open the door, the other guard says, “You better rough us up. Gotta make this look convincing.”
Jiron nods understanding before lashing out, catching one in the stomach. As the man doubles over, he cracks him in the head with the butt of his knife, dropping him to the floor.
Miko turns to the other guard who says, “You better cut me.” Pulling out his knife, the other guard exposes his side for Miko as he strikes out. A red line forms in the sailor’s side from where Miko’s knife opens a four inch long wound. Then Jiron strikes him in the back of the head and he falls to the deck.
By this time Illan has the door open and James walks out. Upon seeing the guards lying on the deck, his expression darkens.
“We had to,” Jiron assures him. “We didn’t want anyone to believe Meliana’s father allowed you to be taken off his ship. This way, it looks like we came and rescued you.”
“He still may get into trouble,” Illan tells him, “but hopefully not nearly as bad.”
James looks down at the guard who isn’t unconscious and sees him nod agreement to what Jiron had just said.
“Alright,” he says. “Let’s get out of here.”
They move off the ship and cross through the docks. “Just where are we?” he asks.
“A port city called Westerlyn,” Illan explains. “It’s somewhere south of the city of Cardri, but still north of the Empire.”
As they make their way along the avenue through the warehouses bordering the docks, a shadow disengages itself from the darkness. James comes to a stop before he realizes it’s Mr. Bessin.
“Hope you didn’t kill the men standing guard,” he says.
Shaking his head, James replies, “Only roughed them up a little. Had to make it look convincing.”
“Indeed,” he says. He pulls a small sack out of his shirt and hands it to James.
“What’s this?” he asks as he takes the money.
“Something from a friend to help on your journey,” he explains. “Also, this friend said for you to find the horse trader, Ellias. That you should tell him ‘your ship left without you’.”
“Tell this friend we appreciate all he’s done for us,” says James.
Nodding, Mr. Bessin abruptly moves into the avenue and walks back to the ship.
James lightly shakes the sack and hears the coins within clinking together. “That was nice,” he says to Illan.
“Probably doesn’t want us captured anywhere near where he is,” Jiron says.
“Probably,” he agrees.
To Jiron, Illan says, “Go find Fifer and Dave and meet us at this horse trader Ellias’ place.”
“Will do,” he says. Moving away down the street, he is soon out of sight in the darkness.
They move further into town and after asking directions, find themselves at the eastern edge of town. Ellias’ place is one of the largest horse trading establishments James has yet encountered. Dozens of horses stand in the open corral outside the office building. A light shines from within and they enter through the front door.
A short man is there and looks up from where he’s jotting down notations on a piece of parchment. “Yes?” he asks.
