Departure

It took a couple of days to wrap up the guild contracts and to secure passage on a small merchant ship headed to the Shielings. Torond met with Shellah and Jonas at Cooper’s. Shellah’s travel bag and sword were upstairs, and the rest of her few belongings were packed and stowed at the inn for her return in a few weeks.

“Are you two both ready?” Torond asked, as he handed them a round of mugs.

“Yeah, my family’s settled,” said Jonas. “They’re more than ready to have me out of the house for a fortnight.”

Shellah also nodded, after a sip of beer. “Reavers have been seen around the outer Shielings, but not yet by Dun Darlow. The captain of the Wind Dancer seemed confident the channel remains clear for now. Dun Darlow’s chief is maintaining security around the port and the main island. Your mistress should have a safe sea journey forth and back to Northport. And we'll make sure she’s comfortable and gets quality lodgings in town.”

“Excellent,” said Torond. “I will leave Nessah in good hands. I’ll make sure she’s there to meet you at the ship by the first watch bell for departure.”

“And we’ll stay in contact with the Wind Dancer while we’re in Dun Darlow, to ensure we can get return berths back here once Miss Nessah knows her business and plans in town,” said Jonas.

“Any further word, Torond, on what her business is there, or even just the overall schedule?” asked Shellah. “The longer we remain, the risk of the port closing due to the Reavers grows.”

“Should just be a few days,” he reassured. “She’s meeting her old mentor for some advice. From what I understand, he’s a gentle old man with a lot of books. Please don’t question her on specifics about her errand, as we’re on sensitive business from our employer, but this will just be a few days looking at dusty old documents in libraries in the Shielings.”

“Straightforward,” said Jonas. “We’ll keep her safe.”

“The Reavers won’t brave the Dun,” said Shellah. “And I know the town like the back of my hand. I apprenticed there.”

Torond placed his cup on the table and rose. “I will see you two in the morning. I’ll leave you to wrap up your night.” He bowed a little to them, then departed.

“Humor me here,” said Jonas, after getting them a second round. “What could possibly be at a library… in the Shielings… worth risking your life to brave Reaver-infested waters?”

“I don’t know,” said Shellah after a long swig of the beer. “But when we met her the other day, she smelled of the Big Magic.”

They met Torond and Miss Nessah on the Wind Dancer’s pier at the first bell. The Wind Dancer was a sturdy merchant barque with two tall masts and furled white sails. Kegs of ale and wine, and bales of merchandise were still being loaded via a gentle ramp into the cargo hold. The chief mate asked the few passengers to wait on the pier while the cargo wrapped up and the manifest was tallied.

Nessah rocked back and forth on her heels impatiently, her two bags by her feet. She was dressed for travel in a plain gown, sturdy boots and heavy cloak. The breeze loosened her dark hair free of her hood, where it flicked past her angry dark eyes and pale face.

“Why aren’t we on board yet?” she hissed. “Torond!” Shellah and Jonas didn’t speak but looked at one another. This might be a long voyage for just two weeks.

“I can check again, but it’s easier for them to load the lower holds first. That way you don’t have to trip on bales and kegs as you’re dealing with that ramp,” said Torond, tone and expression carefully controlled. It occurred to Shellah he might be glad of some time away from his demanding mistress.

“Folks! We’re just about ready,” called the chief mate from the deck above. “A little more patience and we’ll welcome you aboard in a few!”

“I’ll take my leave now,” said Torond. “My own ship to Corom City awaits. Lady, I’ll meet you there later this spring. In the meantime, Miss Skyfast and Mister Ricer will ensure your safe and comfortable journey.”

“Thank you, Torond. Safe travels,” said Nessah. She bent to pick up her bags to find Shellah and Jonas had already each taken one.

“We’ve got them, Ma’am,” said Jonas. “Now, if you follow me, it looks like they’re ready for the passengers. And Shellah will follow behind you.”

Shellah noticed Nessah’s eyes following Torond down the docks, then heard her sigh. She seemed to relax a little.

“Yes, let’s get going, the sooner this voyage starts, the better,” she said. “Thanks for carrying my bags.”

“Of course,” said Shellah, as they followed the small queue of other travelers up the ramp. The first mate showed them to their cabin on the first deck below.

“Per Mr. Greensman, the ladies are supposed to share a room, and Mr. Ricer will have a bunk with the merchants,” said the mate, as he opened the door to their cabin. “We’ll have some hot cider for everyone in the galley shortly. Cold out there today!” Nessah was about to enter, but Shellah blocked the entry with her arm.

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“Ma’am, if you will, I should always inspect accommodations for any possible threats first, just to check. I am here for your safety, after all.” Shellah took the second bag from Jonas, and the men made their way down the narrow hallway toward the common passenger bunks in the rear.

Nessah nodded and Shellah took a brief look through the room. It was small, with no noticeable peep holes or hiding spots. The linens looked fresh, and everything was recently cleaned. Shellah deposited Nessah’s bags on a luggage shelf, and placed her own at the foot of the smaller bunk by the door, then waved her in.

“I can ask if there’s a spare bunk in the common room if you’d rather have your privacy, Ma’am,” offered Shellah.

“Not necessary. It’s rare that I have any company. And this is going to be a long trip if you keep calling me ma’am. Please call me Nessah.” Nessah threw off her cloak. She sat on the bed and removed her tall black boots, then rummaged in a bag to find some comfortable slippers. “Whew, I’m glad this journey has begun. I feared we’d be trapped in Northport forever. And Torond smothers, like I’m made out of glass or something.”

Shellah removed her own cloak and hung it on a peg behind the door. “Journeys always find a way to happen, somehow. And please call me Shellah.”

“So, what’s the plan while we’re on board?” Nessah asked. She flopped back onto her pillow.

“We should be at sea for three days, weather and tides depending. As we settle in here, Jonas will tour the ship with the first mate to see if there’s anything worrisome and will discreetly ask about the other passengers. They all looked like ordinary merchants, but you never know. We’ll take meals together in the galley. I will taste the food first, again, just in case. If you’d like any fresh air, Jonas or I will accompany you on deck, and if you need any privacy, just ask and I will sit outside of your door.”

“And if you need any privacy?” asked Nessah.

“Jonas will sit outside your door,” confirmed Shellah. “I also know a couple of handy cantrips for seasickness. I am typically on the merchant fleet most of the year, so if you have any questions about the ship or the waters, just let me know.”

“I’d like to take a nap,” said Nessah, “And later, I will have some questions about the Shielings.”

“Very well,” said Shellah. “I’ll be outside the door.”

Their first day at sea was uneventful, calm seas, clear skies, a following breeze. Jonas saw no signs of anything troubling from his tour of the ship, just merchants on their way to the Shielings for the first spring wool. After they ate dinner in the galley with the crew and fellow passengers, Shellah followed Nessah back to their room. Once Shellah lit the candle in its tin sconce and gave the room a quick check, they settled into their nightclothes and bunks. They agreed Jonas would sit outside for the night watch then sleep in the morning after breakfast.

“Shellah, tell me about the Shielings and Dun Darlow,” said Nessah as she made herself comfortable on the larger bed. “I’ve heard about them, but have never been. My old school master and mentor settled there after he retired. He grew up in the Shielings but never talked about them.”

“Well, it’s a large archipelago off the northern tip of Corom,” Shellah started, wondering how high-level she should go. “From what my ma told me, ancient volcanoes are what made the islands tall, black and rocky. We’ve got fierce seasonal winds, lots of moorlands and bogs. It’s a rough place most of the year. Many of the islands are uninhabited. Rich soils, though. Our sheep make the finest fleece and milk in the kingdoms, and there’s hearty barley for porridge and whisky.” Shellah smiled. “It’s a good place, not a rich place, or place of many opportunities, but a good place with good people. Most of us never leave.”

“And Dun Darlow?”

“A rugged fortress town. It’s the main island, so much of the trade and government activity are there, well, what counts for tribal government, anyway. The Shielings are not known for being organized. It’s kind of like Northport but colder, with even more fishermen. Smells like Northport, too.” Shellah yawned and leaned back in her bunk. “Lots of wool plaid everywhere. And tweed.”

Nessah sat up. “You're a native of the Shielings, so you’ve probably already sensed that I am a magic worker by trade. I attended the alchemical university in Corom City, and I’ve always wondered why the gods gave the Shielings, of all people, the little magics.”

Shellah laughed. “It’s to make up for us not having nice things, like sunshine, wheat, or trees. And Nessah is a common given name in Dun Darlow, maybe it’s in your blood from somewhere, too.”

“Maybe,” said Nessah. “I don’t know. My folks always lived in Corom City. My talents were identified early on via the coming-of-age omens, and so I was trained in magic there. It’s rare for women. Usually women don’t choose to become sorcerers. It hasn’t been easy. Successful, but not easy.” She paused for a moment. “On a related note, how does one become a swordswoman?”

Shellah stared up at the ceiling above her bunk, where the candlelight flickered shadows onto the wooden planks. The boat creaked gently in the calm seas. This was a tale she usually didn’t share, but building rapport and trust with clients was important, and Nessah had just revealed a bit about herself. “My talents were also recognized early, if you could call it that. I slew my first Reaver when I was thirteen. It was actually this time of year, come to think of it. I was on the moorland up behind my family’s croft. It was my turn to gather the sheep in the evening, so I was away from the house when the Reavers snuck up from the beach below. My Da and brother were away in Dun Darlow selling the first fleeces, so my Ma and older sister were alone in the croft. My dog heard something before I did as we came back down around the hill, and he started to whine softly. We approached in the shadows until I heard the screams. I ran to the house, my shepherd’s crook in hand, and without thinking I brained the Reaver from behind as he stood in the doorway, distracted, laughing as he watched another man raping my sister. He never saw me coming. I pushed his body aside then pulled the other off my sis. I jammed the end of my crook into his eye as the dog grabbed his leg, and when he started to scream I jammed it into his throat until he choked and then was dead, too. I remember my sister bleeding and crying, and my Ma lying still on the floor. Another Reaver tried to enter the house, but on seeing his dead comrades, he ran back to his boat before the dog or I could kill him, too. They have never returned to Skyfast. Not a fun bedtime story, I know. But Ma recovered, and my sister soon married the biggest man she could find on Hoarfast, the next island over, and had her own big family. As a known killer I was never likely to marry, but my Da found an apprenticeship for me with the Swordsmen in Dun Darlow. It’s not uncommon for women of the Shielings to take the sword, as we are tall and strong, and often have to protect our families.”

Nessah settled back into her bed and pulled up the blankets. The Wind Dancer rocked gently in the swell, like a cradle. “Well, let’s hope we don’t run into any of those Reavers here.”

“Agreed.” With a flick of her hand, Shellah extinguished the candle flame in the sconce above her head, and quickly nodded off to sleep.