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Chapter 252: Anchors Aweigh
🕑 Added 2024-08-27 01:35:27 +0000 UTCChapter 252: Anchors Aweigh
Was the emperor dead? I stood stunned but impassive. My hand drifted to my pocket, and I activated the compass. It still had a faint pull, so Castile was alive—or recently dead. My mind raced, and Icarus studied my reaction.
“You don’t look surprised, legionnaire,” He stated appraisingly. “The news is likely days old,” he probed. He probably thought my flight was due to the Emperor’s death.
It felt like everything was snowballing and spinning out of my control. “I am just stunned. What does this mean?”
Icarus eyed me again before speaking, “It is just a rumor right now, spreading like fire through the city. If true, they will lock down the city to maintain order.”
Our conversation was cut short as Desdemona slammed the heavy entry door open, and before it slammed shut, I could see the chaos starting in the street. She had a tense energy and an angry tone. “There is smoke coming from the palace.” Her eyes locked on me. “Is this your doing, legionnaire?”
I could see why this woman was single. One moment, she was hinting at a tryst, and the next moment, she was accusing me of killing the Emperor and burning down the palace. I bit my tongue, holding back a nasty retort. “No, I had nothing to do with it. Is this going to affect us from sailing tomorrow?”
Desdemona barked a laugh. “Are you daft? The palace is burning! I doubt they are going to let anyone leave the city now. At least not until a new Emperor sits in the palace.” She collapsed heavily into a chair and put up her feet on the table, tilting precariously back in the chair. She locked her fingers behind her head, “All we can do is wait.”
Maveith and Ginger couldn’t wait. I quickly came up with a plan in my head. “That doesn’t work for me. Would this help?” I produced Count Cato’s writ of unfettered passage and handed it to Icarus. I could have handed it to Desdemona, but she was currently rubbing me the wrong way.
Icarus eyed the seal and read the parchment, surprise blossoming on his face. After a moment, he said, “It might.” Desdemona, irritated that no one was telling her what was written, leaped to her feet, let the chair crash, and stomped across the room, taking the writ.
She read it, confused, and looked at me. “Where did you get this? Are you are working for Count Cato?” she said accusingly. By her tone, Count Cato had a poor reputation with the Adventurers’ Guild.
I decided to reveal more than I should, but I needed to get out of the city and pick up Maveith soon. “No. I took it off the dead bodies of his men who were exploring the ruins of Caelora. They apparently ran afoul of a wyvern.” Icarus and Desdemona made eye contact, and unspoken words passed between them.
Icarus addressed me cautiously, “What were they doing in Caelora? Last time you utilized our Hall, you alluded to the rumors that a dungeon was found in Caelora. Are they true?”
At this point, I didn’t see any harm in telling them the truth. “Yes, there is a dungeon inside the city of specters. Almost impossible to reach safely as the specters respawn.”
“Respawn?” Icarus echoed and pursed his lips. He nodded, deciphering the odd word. “I see, and the Emperor was aware of this dungeon. That is a violation of the Guild’s agreement with the Empire,” he said tersely.
The air suddenly felt heavy, and I felt out of place. Desdemona offered in a tight tone to Icarus, “If I move now, I might be able to use this to get out of the harbor. I can carry a message for you, father.”
“That is best. Most likely, if we use any of the message senders, word would get out that we know for certain,” Icarus said in agreement.
It seemed whatever I did, I always seemed to stir up the shit. “What are the implications of the Shimmering Labyrinth Dungeon being revealed?”
Icarus considered me before explaining. “Our Telhian charter grants us administration of all dungeons within the Empire. The First Citizens have a right to purchase artifacts retrieved that our members intend to sell. By keeping a new dungeon secret, we are entitled to a lessening of certain restrictions upon our Guild operations. Unfortunately, I am not in a strong position to negotiate.” He patted his small beer belly with a smirk. “So, Desdemona will get word to our Assembly, and they will send someone with a stronger hand.” I could tell he was hinting at someone more powerful. “Do you object?” He asked directly.
“No, my bridges are already burned with the Empire,” I replied candidly. This got an approving look from Desdemona. I had already decided to abandon the Empire, so this did not affect me. It looked like it would only negatively affect the new Emperor and First Citizens, which was fine with me. “So, we are leaving now?” I asked Desdemona with a crooked smile.
She rolled her eyes, and barked an order at me. “Yes, grab your things, legionnaire. We will head to the Shorebreaker immediately.”
“I am ready to go now,” I held my smile. I was wearing my new adventurer armor, and the magebane blade hung on my hip. Although the hilt was intricate, I figured all the other blade I owned had a chance to be recognized.
Desdemona huffed and rushed into her room, returning with a leather pack that I assumed was her go bag. She was about to shoulder it but instead tossed it hard at me to carry, not hiding her teasing smirk, “Follow me, legionnaire.”
“You know if you keep calling me legionnaire, someone might believe you and detain me.” I voiced humorously.
Desdemona stopped and spun, walking to get face to face. In a challenging tone, she snapped at me, “Do you think I am an idiot?”
Say no, Eryk, say, no. “Well, I don’t know you well enough to make that judgment.”
Icarus coughed, amused to my right. Desdemona’s bronzed face started to darken as she flushed in a torrent of emotions. She had to look up as she was more than a head shorter than me. Her eyes ablaze as she scowled up at me. Her finger stabbed into my armor repeatedly as she talked. “The only stupid one here is you.” She then spun and stormed out.
I whispered so only Icarus could hear, “That was not a very good comeback.”
Icarus laughed again. “Don’t let her get too far ahead, Eryk. She has a tough exterior, but I think she actually likes you.” He winked and indicated I should go with a gesture. Did he just give me permission to seduce his daughter or that his daughter was seducing me? I adjusted the straps on her pack as I moved to catch up to her before shouldering it.
She had slowed, and I was soon walking next to her. She walked confidently and didn’t speak as we wove through the city’s streets toward the docks. It looked like every city guard had emptied into the streets to keep order. In the distance, I could see a line of blue-gray smoke rising from the palace. I wondered if that was the Archives burning. Maybe the blood sample was being burned at this very moment. I rechecked the compass in my pocket, reassuring myself that Castile was alive. If she was dead, I probably would not head to Gramney. My course was set for the moment anyway.
As we stepped onto the timeworn, salt-crusted stone piers, dozens of large ships were actively trying to make ready to sail, but soldiers, legionnaires, magistrates, and city guards were barking warnings to stand down. It was complete chaos. Desdemona stormed up the gangplank of her modest ship. “Isaak, prepare to sail!” She barked at a sailor. He nodded and started yelling orders, causing a flurry of sailors to action.
A desperate man in white magistrate robes barked at Desdemona from the pier, “Captain! All ships are being held for three days. Please…”
Desdemona spun and marched heavily down the ramp to the magistrate. His two city guardsman reached for their weapons. “Magistrate Jochen, Count Cassius Cato has chartered my ship for an urgent mission. We are to get to his estate and secure it.”
The magistrate took the writ she slapped it in his hand, and read it. His mind seemed to be working. “How are you going to get Count Cato’s estate by ship?” He asked skeptically after reading the writ and confirming the Count’s crest.
Desdemona caught herself but snatched back the writ. “We are getting more men to guard his Citadel. Most of his men were sent to the war front.” She obviously had no idea which city housed Cato’s citadel, and neither did I.
The Magistrate seemed to weigh his options, “If you can wait four hours, we can have a message sent to the Count to confirm.”
“You have thirty minutes!” She said confidently. She turned her back on the magistrate and jogged back up the ramp. I cocked my eyebrow as she passed, and she gave me a fiery warning with her eyes not to question her intelligence after the poorly thought-out ploy. I heard her whisper to Isaak, who I assumed was her first mate, “Cast lines in ten minutes.”
I moved to the center of the deck as men raced about in a dance, preparing the rigging. Magistrate Jochen was left stunned. He looked young to be a magistrate, maybe in his early twenties. After getting over his shock, he sent one of his guards off at a run.
Desdemona joined Isaak in giving orders, and as she passed me, she said, “I hope Cato is not in the city, or this could be a very short trip.”
I kept having to move out of the way and eventually found an unobtrusive spot all the way in the stern. The ship was not large, maybe sixty feet bow to stern and twenty feet in width. I watched the stone docks as the Magistrate fumbled with what to do, as it was clear we were not waiting on him. He raced to talk with other magistrates, but everyone was occupied arguing with other captains in the chaos. When we cast lines, we were not the first; others were trying to get past the breakers into the mouth of the river and join the current.
Tall towers guarded the harbor with massive ballista on top. All were manned all, but none of them fired as the small parade of daring ships left the harbor. Desdemona came to me breathless, sweat glistening on her brow from having worked with her crew to make sail as quickly as possible. “If we had waited till night, they probably would have stationed men on the decks of every ship. You got lucky, I don’t take no for an answer,” she said with a flirtatious smirk.
I could see why Desdemona was a captain. There was something attractive about a woman with a commanding aura and confidence in her element. She didn’t stay near me as she walked the deck and navigated around the other ships fleeing the capital. It was still over a mile in brackish water to reach the sea.
Desdemona tossed her jacket away, revealing her muscular tan frame under a thin blouse and leather vest. She moved with a practiced grace across the deck, giving sharp orders. When she passed close to me, I asked, “Can I help?”
She took a moment to look at me up and down doubtfully, “You should remove your armor. If you fall overboard, you will likely drown trying to swim in that. Have you ever sailed before?”
“No. This is actually my first time on a sailing ship,” I replied. “But I am willing to learn.”
“First time? I will be sure to break you slowly. Wait till we hit the open water and see if you still want to help then.” She grinned mischievously at me as she prepared the Shorebreaker to raise full sail.
As soon as the river pulled the ship into the sea, it began to rock with the waves. Desdemona kept eyeing me, but I never stumbled once. My stomach did churn a bit, but I bit down and contracted my abs to counter the seasickness. Every time she looked at me, I just smiled back.
The ship was being tossed roughly, and I think the course was on purpose to try and get me nauseous. Desdemona finally gave up and gave a string of commands. “Hoist the sails! Pickle, to the nest! Lasho, calm the waters! Vodoma, funnel the wind to the sails!”
A choreographed action took place, and the sails dropped and snapped to attention in the wind. A man scrambled up to the crow’s nest. Two sailors, who I hadn’t realized were mages, started weaving spell forms. The water immediately around the ship calmed, and the mast strained under a stronger wind as the Shorebreaker started cutting through the water much faster, leaving behind the other ships escaping the capital.
With the deck steady and us under speed, I complimented Desdemona. “A fine ship and crew.”
She brushed it off, but I think she blushed, but it was hard to see under her tanned skin. “They are. Where are we picking up the others?”
“Stay close to the coast. He has a spyglass, and when he sees the Adventurer’s Guild flag on your ship, he will reveal himself on shore.” I explained.
She shrugged, “My cabin is the first door through there,” she said, pointing.
“Is that where I am staying?” I asked innocently.
“No, put my pack in there,” she ordered. Even though her voice was harsh, I could see the twinkle in her eye.
I entered the foredeck and found her captain’s cabin. It had the sickly-sweet scent of perfume and just one large hammock. I tossed the pack on the large polished table with two fixed benches, giving comfortable seating for four. It was spartan except for the closets, which I couldn’t resist and peeked into. They were packed with clothes, and it was from where the sickly-sweet smell was coming.
Returning to the deck, I had someone show me my cabin. My tiny cabin was simple: a hammock, a desk, and a single chest. I sat at the desk on a chair fixed to the floor. I cleaned the compass, sterilized it, and added Maveith’s sample. I took a deep breath and activated it. We had only been separated for two days, but the wilds were dangerous. A steady pull eased my mind, and I returned to the deck.
I leaned on the rail and watched the shore for Maveith. I tried to count the crew as a distraction, and there were either nineteen or twenty above deck, not including Desdemona. There were more below decks because I could smell dinner being prepared and hear frequent varied shouts from below. We sailed for nearly seven hours, and I was getting worried the sun might set and make it hard to spot Maveith as the compass pull was getting stronger.
Fortunately, before dusk, Pickle in the crow’s nest called down, “Big bloke on shore with a horse!”
Desdemona looked at me, and I nodded. “Thought you said there were five passengers besides yourself?”
Everything had been so rushed that I hadn’t had time to prepare for my passengers to be removed and now I decided it was best to hold them until we reached Gramney. “Yeah,” I pretended to look at the shore and thought I could make out Maveith. “It doesn’t look like they will be joining us.”
Desdemona shrugged, “No refunds.”
The ship made anchor just fifty yards offshore, and the waves were being calmed by aetheric magic. Lasho went with us in the rowboat to calm the waters. Maveith had a huge grin on his face as I jumped off the bow of the small boat, into the breakers and we clasped our wrists. I asked, “Any trouble?” He shook his head no.
Getting Ginger into the boat only took a pair of apples to bribe her. I had been worried about getting her on deck, but didn’t need to worry as there was a ramp on winches into the ship’s hold on the port side. The Shorebreaker frequently took on all different types of cargo, including livestock. The rear hold had a slight ammonia scent, coarse floorboards, and eight individual stalls.
I spent time getting Ginger comfortable and settled, but she seemed familiar with water transport. They had fed her already, and two young deckhands assured me they would take exceptional care of her, and I handed them each a silver to make sure.
When I finally got back on deck, Desdemona already had the Shorebreaker under sail and was talking animatedly with Maveith, her bright white teeth in a constant smile. They seemed to be getting along, and I just hoped Maveith didn’t say too much.
Seeing me, Maveith voiced, “Eryk, Captain Desdemona is an avid fan of checkers. She thinks she can best me three out of five games after dinner while we discuss my travels from Stone Mountain Island.”
I had thought Desdemona was flirting with me, but maybe that was just her way of being friendly. Perhaps I had misread the situation entirely, as I was often prone to do with women. I was probably never going to see Renna again, but I had some hope we might reunite.
“I’m going to get some rest,” I waved to my friend, wishing him the best of luck with Desdemona. As I turned, did she look disappointed? I returned to my cabin, secured the door, and took out the dreamscape amulet. Setting it loosely in my grasp, I entered.
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Comments
Justin Barnett
He just put renna’s sample on the compass. Unless he changed it off screen, he’s checking if renna is still alive, not Castile.
Marnie
Thought you said there were *five passengers besides yourself? Continuity He said last chapter himself and four others and his horse. Possible need to change four to five in chapter 251
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Nathan Tran
Tftc!!!
Andrew Crews
Agreed, a large animal would not do well in a row boat. They would swim alongside the boat. For larger animals like horses, they were often hoisted aboard using slings and pulleys attached to masts. In beach landings, animals were thrown overboard near shore and forced to swim to land (a risky but documented method in the Caribbean). Horses were lifted using slings and carefully lowered onto the ground/water. 1. Rowboat Deployment – A small crew rows to shore under cover of darkness. 2. Guiding the Horse – The man leads the horse into the water; the crew helps keep it calm and swimming. 3. Towing to the Ship – The rowboat guides the horse alongside the vessel using ropes. 4. Sling Attachment – A broad harness is lowered and secured around the horse’s chest and belly. 5. Hoisting Aboard – The ship’s pulleys lift the horse, swinging it over the railing and onto the deck. 6. Departure – The man boards, and the ship quickly sets sail before detection.
Andrew Crews
I rechecked the compass in my pocket, reassuring myself * Castile was alive. I rechecked the compass in my pocket, reassuring myself that Castile was alive.
Andrew Crews
Say no, Eryk, say, no. “Well, I don’t know * well enough to make that judgment.” Say no, Eryk, say, no. “Well, I don’t know you well enough to make that judgment.”
Andrew Crews
No, I had nothing to do with it. Is this going * affect us from sailing tomorrow?” No, I had nothing to do with it. Is this going to affect us from sailing tomorrow?”
Robert Biederman
They would need something like a raft something that they could put together on board the ship and lower into the water to take on livestock or maybe something like a mobile barge that is put together in sections it would be the only way
Erick Thiemke
i assume the Spanish conquistadors did it regularly
Robert Biederman
Is it just me or is this really odd how do you get a full-grown horse into a rowboat let alone onto the ship the ship is explanation enough but not a rowboat
Robert Biederman
Wouldn't he just need to go to a Smith or some shop that sells sword handles that are just basic put one on seems rather straightforward to me
Apophixas
@Jordan A - Brother, you are wrong. It's only become socially acceptable and only publicly common somewhat recently. Casual sex is literally generally common all over the world, and has been for quite a while. And many ancient societies, including Rome like the Empire is based off of, has large groups in their populations more than willing to engage in quite hedonistic activities, making the idea of no casual sex truly laughable. People have a very weird and skewed idea of how causal sex works, all over the world, and especially in regards to olden times or in areas with heavy religious influence. If you think people weren't having casual sex in places with very old and traditional values, or even religious ones, you are very wrong, and there is a TON of evidence proving it. People were just alot more private about it outside their inner circle. So I agree with the others that thinks it makes sense for Eryk to be at least somewhat willing to engage in casual sex, when he's not in a genuine committed relationship.
Apophixas
Maveith, the slightly oblivious matchmaker for our would-be semi-immortal. 🤣
daniel dantas
I think casual sex gives the work more realism, especially in this world where the tension is so high that you need some kind of escape valve, he simply closes himself off sexually just because he got with renna or vice versa seems so artificial
Jordan
“Well, I don’t know well enough to make that judgment.” Add ‘you’ between ‘know’ and ‘well enough’
LogicalGay
When Eryk checks his blood compass he would be feeling a tug for Renna not Castile since he put her sample in last chapter and never changed in back.
Jordan
Interesting discussion. Casual dating/sex in the USA at least is a more modern concept. It’s really only been around since birth control was invented. I have a more conservative preference for relationships so “less means more” for me. Interpret that as you will. I do really dislike harems though. Unfortunately that’s getting really common in the fantasy genre lately.
BubblyGhost
I like the casual flings, feels more realistic and for some reason is fairly rare in stories. It's usually A) I love this one person more than any in the entire world...even though we've known each other for a solid 2 weeks. or B) I have a harem of beautiful people I know almost nothing about but they're madly in love with me. Casual relationships/dating is a natural thing.
Thresher
Thats fine, though I would like them to end up together eventually. I just wish Eryk would actually get to know someone extensively and befriend them before he bangs them. Call me old fashion but I’m not a fan of causal sex. That’s why personally I’d rather he end up with Renna or that elf girl who’s name I forget. Cause at least with them he’s spent a lot of time and got to know both of them a lot more than he has this Captain lady.
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
he hasnt seen Renna for over three months, and is unlikely to see her again before Octavian forces her to marry him
Roberto Dias
Took on is better Took on = "to begin to perform or deal with : undertake : engage"
Chong Go
The escape was a bit "easy," but that also seems about what you'd expect in the very early stages when everything was in chaos and no one had received any detailed instructions.
Ivan Kanewske
I just know it doesn't flow well
Czahr
Maveith innocently cock blocking eryk for the raelia ship is hilarious
Tetsu-nii
I was thinking /[…] can *have* a message sent …/
Ivan Kanewske
Shorebreaker frequently took all different types of cargo, including livestock. Took all might be better as Took on
Ivan Kanewske
“You have thirty minutes!” She said confidently and returned jogged back up the ramp. I heard her whisper the Isaak, who I assumed was her first mate, “Cast lines in ten minutes.” Jogged should be jogging
Ivan Kanewske
The Magistrate seemed to weigh his options, “If you can wait four hours, we can a message sent to the Count to confirm.” We can get a message
Andrew
Thank you!
Thresher
Not really a fan of the romantic/sexual tension or whatever between Eryk and the Captain lady. Wish he would just stick with one girl like Renna or wait a while and get to know the new person before putting his dick in them. Thanks for the chapter. Very excited for this journey Maveith and Eryk are pursuing. Hope it all works out with Maveith’s sister. And maybe, just maybe, Eryk can show off his skills as an adventurer without almost dying every fight. :)
Eriach
Of course, a Goliath cock-blocking Eryk is funny
BubblyGhost
HELL YEAH! FUCK THE EMPIRE! A NEW LAND OF ADVENTURE AWAITS
Erick Thiemke
he was going to take the others out of his space but didnt have time
Liam Andrews
Adventurers guild are professionals and there’s a lot of chaos so makes sense they could slip away — sometimes things can just work out for the MC 😛
Silver Beard
So who were the other passengers? Too far for Castille, Renna was just as distant, and the rest are in stasis still.
Seth Feist
Awesome
saber
Time to drop what I'm doing. I'm hoping that maveith keeps the ship between Eryk and Raelia I just wanna see him keep blocking Eryk its hilarious.
Erick Thiemke
3rd of four for cycle. Was it too easy to escape the capital? Maybe...but I am okay with that. Those who wanted him to collect the books - no room and they will come back around in a later book. Was it funny to build the. 'sexual' tension between Eryk and Desdemona and then have Maveith spoil it?
