Here is Chapter 6 if you have not read any of the other previous Keyschnect posts, Don't go on, go back and read them first, in order, if possible.
Rexpennae
Chapter 6
Krethos stepped back, the man began laughing.
"Ha! Scared, are we?" the man asked, "Bondahar, I saw him about two months ago." Krethos took on a look of disappointment, which the man immediately noticed, "Ah, you thought I meant recently." he continued, "He and his crew arrived by ship three months ago, I saw him then, and when I made my midnight rounds about a week ago, his ship was gone, by all reports he came around ten at night and boarded his ship, which then departed immediately."
"So he has gone, across the sea?" Krethos asked.
"Yes, he has. He has most likely gone to the Castle El Intrivo, it is the throne of a friend."
Krethos looked at the ground as he thought, he rose his head and thanked the harbor master before leading his party to a small hill outside of the city.
"I will go on ahead, I have enough money to barter passage for five. Three of you may accompany Esmerelda and myself to El Intrivo."
Immediate uproar met Krethos' statement, every one of the twenty wanting to be among the three. Krethos looked them over, Meir would go, first to join, and another two, Galarion, and Freidarae, were taken from the group. The others were none to happy about coming so far to be turned away.
"My friends." Krethos said to the remaining 17, "I have a job for you, spread the word, people need to know, death is coming to an end, and it will come as a shock to the rest of the world, unless they know. Go far, stride long, and tread none to lightly, men need to know you are there."
The 17 were emboldened at Krethos' words, they had not come in vain, and so, purposed again they prepared for a semi-joyous departure, from their leader, but on to better the world. Without wasting time the 17 attained provisions and shelter for the trip ahead, resolved to be better prepared than when they had come at first, without care for the dangers, and their own needs.
Krethos sent them off, and with his four companions made his way back to the dock. After bargaining for the better part of three hours Krethos managed to secure passage on a merchant freighter vessel, for a bit less than he had expecting to pay. They were to depart early the next morning, so he made himself of use by helping to load boxes and barrels the contents which he could only guess.
Meir, being a small man and not much inclined to physical labor, sat back and watched Krethos as he loaded the hold of the ship. Esmerelda and Freidarae did not help to load the ship, as the captain would not dream of requiring two young ladies as them do the work that he could very well do himself.
"Do you believe he is who they say he is?" Meir asked Esmerelda.
"Yes," Esmerelda said without missing a beat, "I believe the fate of us all rests with him."
"Do you think he believes he is who they say he is?"
"That I do not know, he seems to think it so, it would not be logical to lead 50 people into the wilderness unless you were sure of yourself."
"He hasn't slept for days, not since we left town, he just sits by the fire, deep in a sort of depression, it is evident in his tone and mood, it seems to emanate from him, a sense of uncertainty, but only when he is alone."
Esmerelda's mood changed at this, she was sort of agitated, suddenly almost ready to panic, "Really," she breathed, not looking at Meir any more, but staring absently at the deck, "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Meir answered apprehensively, and on edge continued, "Why?"
Esmerelda composed herself quickly, "I have no particular intrest in it." She lied, "It just worried me, that he would be like that."
Meir didn't quite believe Esmerelda, but he let the matter slide for now, perhaps he would tell Krethos, but probably not, "As it should." he continued.
Esmerelda turned away form Meir, after her lapse of composure she had no wish to speak again.
When Krethos and Galarion loaded up the ship they helped to prepare the first real meal they had eaten in several days. Having eaten they all laid down to sleep early, as they were to depart before morning light, Krethos lay down until he was sure all were asleep, before he crept from the middle deck. He climbed to the top deck and clambered up to the bowsprit to sit. Esmerelda watched him leave his bed, she was gravely concerned, but she resolved to leave her concerns for another time, the voyage would take weeks, if this behavior continued much longer she would talk to him.
Barely a single thought flitted through Krethos' mind, he just stared at the vast expanse of darkness before him, in the sky above the thinly overcastting clouds moved quickly, hiding and revealing the moon at moment long intervals. The wind felt slightly damp as it whipped his shoulder length hair across his bearded face. He was content, not wanting or disliking anything, just staring into the fore, forgetting everything around him, and for the first time since he woke last at the cabin of Esmerelda he closed his eyes and slept deep, dreamless, and peaceful.
"Ha! Scared, are we?" the man asked, "Bondahar, I saw him about two months ago." Krethos took on a look of disappointment, which the man immediately noticed, "Ah, you thought I meant recently." he continued, "He and his crew arrived by ship three months ago, I saw him then, and when I made my midnight rounds about a week ago, his ship was gone, by all reports he came around ten at night and boarded his ship, which then departed immediately."
"So he has gone, across the sea?" Krethos asked.
"Yes, he has. He has most likely gone to the Castle El Intrivo, it is the throne of a friend."
Krethos looked at the ground as he thought, he rose his head and thanked the harbor master before leading his party to a small hill outside of the city.
"I will go on ahead, I have enough money to barter passage for five. Three of you may accompany Esmerelda and myself to El Intrivo."
Immediate uproar met Krethos' statement, every one of the twenty wanting to be among the three. Krethos looked them over, Meir would go, first to join, and another two, Galarion, and Freidarae, were taken from the group. The others were none to happy about coming so far to be turned away.
"My friends." Krethos said to the remaining 17, "I have a job for you, spread the word, people need to know, death is coming to an end, and it will come as a shock to the rest of the world, unless they know. Go far, stride long, and tread none to lightly, men need to know you are there."
The 17 were emboldened at Krethos' words, they had not come in vain, and so, purposed again they prepared for a semi-joyous departure, from their leader, but on to better the world. Without wasting time the 17 attained provisions and shelter for the trip ahead, resolved to be better prepared than when they had come at first, without care for the dangers, and their own needs.
Krethos sent them off, and with his four companions made his way back to the dock. After bargaining for the better part of three hours Krethos managed to secure passage on a merchant freighter vessel, for a bit less than he had expecting to pay. They were to depart early the next morning, so he made himself of use by helping to load boxes and barrels the contents which he could only guess.
Meir, being a small man and not much inclined to physical labor, sat back and watched Krethos as he loaded the hold of the ship. Esmerelda and Freidarae did not help to load the ship, as the captain would not dream of requiring two young ladies as them do the work that he could very well do himself.
"Do you believe he is who they say he is?" Meir asked Esmerelda.
"Yes," Esmerelda said without missing a beat, "I believe the fate of us all rests with him."
"Do you think he believes he is who they say he is?"
"That I do not know, he seems to think it so, it would not be logical to lead 50 people into the wilderness unless you were sure of yourself."
"He hasn't slept for days, not since we left town, he just sits by the fire, deep in a sort of depression, it is evident in his tone and mood, it seems to emanate from him, a sense of uncertainty, but only when he is alone."
Esmerelda's mood changed at this, she was sort of agitated, suddenly almost ready to panic, "Really," she breathed, not looking at Meir any more, but staring absently at the deck, "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Meir answered apprehensively, and on edge continued, "Why?"
Esmerelda composed herself quickly, "I have no particular intrest in it." She lied, "It just worried me, that he would be like that."
Meir didn't quite believe Esmerelda, but he let the matter slide for now, perhaps he would tell Krethos, but probably not, "As it should." he continued.
Esmerelda turned away form Meir, after her lapse of composure she had no wish to speak again.
When Krethos and Galarion loaded up the ship they helped to prepare the first real meal they had eaten in several days. Having eaten they all laid down to sleep early, as they were to depart before morning light, Krethos lay down until he was sure all were asleep, before he crept from the middle deck. He climbed to the top deck and clambered up to the bowsprit to sit. Esmerelda watched him leave his bed, she was gravely concerned, but she resolved to leave her concerns for another time, the voyage would take weeks, if this behavior continued much longer she would talk to him.
Barely a single thought flitted through Krethos' mind, he just stared at the vast expanse of darkness before him, in the sky above the thinly overcastting clouds moved quickly, hiding and revealing the moon at moment long intervals. The wind felt slightly damp as it whipped his shoulder length hair across his bearded face. He was content, not wanting or disliking anything, just staring into the fore, forgetting everything around him, and for the first time since he woke last at the cabin of Esmerelda he closed his eyes and slept deep, dreamless, and peaceful.
Copyright © 2008-2009 Robert W. A. Nance
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