Morning brought a fresh breeze slid the Spitfire smoothly along the winding, northerly channel of islands. The last remnants of mist burned away as the sun rose, warming the crew on deck as they bent to their tasks. They saluted their Captain as he passed, making his way towards the forecastle.

Caleb took the stairs down by the forward passage’s opening. The way took him below to the berthing deck, where the ever-present smell of fresh sawdust hung in the air. He passed the sailmaker-and-line compartment, then the ship’s carpentry area.

Finally, just as he smelled the faint tang of disinfectant, Caleb came to the infirmary. Like most compartments on the berthing deck, it didn’t have a door. But he tapped on the wall as he entered, announcing his arrival.

A young woman with a tired, pale complexion looked up from where she sat in her bunk. She cradled a sleeping infant with her features in her arms. Next to her sat two people. The first was Doc Harper, who brushed back a lock of her flaming red hair as she got up to greet him.

To Caleb’s surprise, the second was a big, burly man with a sour-looking face. It took him a moment to recall the man’s name: Quaid MacMorrow. MacMorrow had been the first crew member to try and cross his captain. Caleb had given him a limp for his troubles, and the big man had done his best to remain out of his captain’s way afterwards.

“Welcome, Captain,” Doc Harper said, as she stepped back to allow him to step closer to the bunk. “Our little Caleb’s had a long, tough journey to get here.

“I think he’s finally been tired out,” Caleb said, as he leaned in to see. A tiny snore rose from the little boy as his mother stroked his fine hair.

“Thank Lir and Danu for small favors,” Livia said, with a sigh. “He was puttin’ up a fuss all night, he’s finally tucked it in for now.”

“Oh, I don’t think anyone’s complained. Everyone’s still buzzing about his arrival.”

Livia smiled, though she seemed troubled as she spoke again.

“Captain, I hope you didn’t take offense at my givin’ him your name. It just seemed right, you see, after you got us away from those accursed cultists.”

“No problem. I’m honored, really,” Caleb reassured her, before turning back to the ship’s doctor. “Do you have everything you need going forward?”

“Aye, for now,” Harper put in. “Tavia’s healing magic helped out to no end. But havin’ a little ‘un on a sailing ship is going to be no easy row, Captain. And I’ll be needing to refill the infirmary’s supply shelves when we come into port.”

“It won’t be long now,” Caleb promised, before nodding to both women in turn. “If there’s anything else you need, let me or my officers know.”

To his surprise, MacMorrow silently followed him out, limping a little as he did so. He waited until Caleb began heading forward before speaking in his deep, craggy voice.

“Beggin’ your pardon, Captain,” he said. “May I have a minute of your time? I have a request that might help Miss Martin, as well as the both of us.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow. Whatever he’d expected from future interactions with MacMorrow, this hadn’t been among the possibilities. He halted a moment to accommodate the man.

“I’m all ears,” he said. “go right ahead.”

“Captain, much as the Spitfire’s a good ship, it’s no place for a wee babe like little Caleb. Nor is it the best place for a mum who’s got a little one to nurse.” The big man wrung his hands as he went on. “What’s more, I spoke to you out of anger at the wrong time, and I worry that I’ve sullied my place with you and the crew.”

Caleb shook his head. “Nothing bad remains between us, and I can make sure the crew knows. But I sense you’ve got something else in mind. Salt up and let me hear it.”

MacMorrow gulped before he went on.

“I’d like your permission to marry Miss Martin and take leave of your crew, Captain.” The big man went on in a rush. “Mister Patrick says there’s a place in Boruta called Quiet Town where a tradesman like myself can find a job, so as to earn his keep. If you’d allow us out shares of a cash-out, then I’m sure we could find, buy, or build a place on our own.”

Caleb couldn’t help but smile as he chewed over MacMorrow’s proposition.

“Well, first off, congratulations,” he enthused, and he shook the larger man’s hand. “Have you talked over this idea with Miss Martin?”

“Lir’s my witness, of course so! We’ve been sweet on each other since the start of this voyage, so of course she likes the idea.”

“Since…the start of the voyage? So you’re not Caleb’s father?”

“Nay, Captain. That would be her husband, Riley Martin. He died several months ago, defending our islands when the Myrkur invaded.”

Caleb pursed his lips. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“You’d be surprised how many Arrenmar it’s happened to. Riley was a good man, and a good friend of mine. Livia and I both think that he’d approve of our bein’ together.”

As Caleb considered, a new screen popped up in his Quest Window.

New Bonus Level Mini-Quest:

Decide whether or not to allow two of your crew members to marry and leave the ship. XP Value of the next quest completed shall be increased by 5%.

Lir and Danu’s Helpful Hints:

a) On the plus side, approving of this match and their leaving the ship will remove two potentially challenging members of your crew. It should also slightly improve overall crew morale.

b) On the negative side, this may increase the chance of other crew members either asking to leave the ship’s company or simply desert while on shore leave.

Even if ‘b’ is correct, Caleb thought, I’d have to lose a lot of people to be undermanned right now. And…it just feels right to allow two people to be together.

“You’ve got my approval,” Caleb said, as the two men made their way up the forward passage’s stairs. “Subject only to your being able to find a spot in Quiet Town, and suitable employment.”

The screen in his Quest Window quietly updated.

Bonus Level Mini-Quest:

Decide whether or not to allow two of your crew members to marry and leave the ship. STATUS: COMPLETE. XP Value of the next quest completed shall be increased by 5%.

MacMorrow nodded as they emerged into the sunlight. An excited murmur ran among the crew on deck, many of whom lined the steerboard rail. Among them were his quartermaster, as well as Shaw and Tavia’s golden forms. The griffin made a sweep with one furred forepaw, beckoning him over.”

“Thou must see this, Captain!”

“I agree,” Tavia added. “It’s quite worthy of your time.”

Curious, Caleb joined them. Ahead and to the steerboard quarter, the mist had just lifted to reveal a spacious harbor bracketed by two stony outcropping of land. Each outcropping had been topped with a star-shaped fort, each of which fairly bristled with cannon.

Within lay the port of Boruta, and Caleb couldn’t help but stare at the sight.

Avalon had treated Caleb to multiple variations of port towns. The Myrkur’s stronghold at Deephold had a sleepy Spanish flair, Gilarska a medieval splendor, and Matagorda sported the feel of a dank, solemn subterranean cavern.

By contrast, Boruta sprawled across the entire shoreline in a riot of color, from the garish pink streets to white or robin’s egg blue buildings. The same could be said for the ships either docked at the quays or swinging at anchor in the harbor. Several large vessels bore purple sails, some smaller ones had hulls painted black and red, while still others flew multiple banners from their mainmasts.

To his satisfaction, he saw that none of the ships flew banners from either Gilarska or the Myrkur.

“Now that is a harbor,” Caleb said, with some satisfaction. He turned and called up to the quarterdeck. “Ahoy the helm! Bring us past the main berthing area, into some shallow water!”

“Aye, Captain,” came Donal’s reply. “You don’t want to pick out an empty quay?”

“Not for now. Bring us to where we can anchor within an easy longboat’s row of a dock.”

“I see someone’s been talking with Decklan Patrick,” Sienna said approvingly.

“I’ve been talking with a lot of people lately,” Caleb admitted. “Matter of fact, MacMorrow just approached me, asking for Livia Martin’s hand and their leave of the crew.”

“Did he now? That’s good news. The scuttlebutt says that they’ve been planning out a life together for a while now.”

“Has it now?”

“Prayer’s up, it has. Quinton MacMorrow’s no Riley Martin, but he’s a reasonably fine man. Hale and hearty enough to earn a day’s pay, sire a little ‘un, or see off a robber. Maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed, and with a blunter temper. But he doesn’t lose himself inside a bottle too often, which speaks all to the good.”

“That takes a load off my mind, then. I suppose that I could tie the knot for them on board, before they leave.”

Sienna let out laugh. “You? Where did you get that idea?”

“Well…I am the Captain. Isn’t that something I can do on this world?”

“Na’ae, that’s not how it works, at least for the Arrenmar! Only a surgeon, carpenter, or smith is allowed to officially join a couple!”

“Really?”

“Aye, because one works to bind flesh, another wood, the third steel. All three professions are special, set apart in Lir and Danu’s domain.”

Caleb rubbed his chin in thought as the Spitfire moved into the midst of the teeming harbor. Ships of all sizes glided past. A few sailors on the nearby vessels stared if they caught sight of Tavia’s gleaming horn or Shaw’s imposing leonine bulk.

That’s another point I never thought of, Caleb admitted to himself. As devout as some of the Arrenmar can be, I’ve yet to hear of a chaplain or priest serving Lir and Danu.

“So it sounds like I might have to tap Doc Harper or Donal for the duty.”

“You could, but if you ask me, I’d find a local smithy or somesuch to handle things. It’ll help show the Borutans that they want to be part of their community.”

“Good idea,” he agreed, as Donal brought the ship in closer to port.

The Spitfire passed a couple dozen berths for ships of various sizes. Nine of the docks had been edged with black paint. Four were empty, and two had a withered black wreath painted upon the planks at the very end.

Of the five filled berths, ships of various sizes and armaments lay within. All had crew either lazing on the decks or busy repairing rope, sails, or planking. Caleb let out a low whistle as they passed the largest ship in the harbor, the first he’d encountered that was as big as the Stone Angel.

She was stouter and taller than Lord Delacroix’s vessel, with twenty-four heavy guns in total projecting from her sides. Ebony sails hung from a triple set of masts like death shrouds. The name Hashbang had been lettered in gold at the stern.

He blinked. That sounded like a suspiciously non-Avalonian name for a ship.

Finally, Donal brought the sloop into a stretch of bright aquamarine water. A wide-open dock lay a few minutes’ pull by longboard to steerboard. As soon as he ordered the anchor dropped and the sails brought in, a new screen popped up in his Quest Window.

New Beginner’s-Level Quest:

Attempt to blend in with the local Borutan society. To complete this quest you must complete the following tasks.

1. Decide whether to dock or anchor in the harbor.

2. Hire dock handlers to secure your ship, or boatmen to ferry crew and cargo.

3. Gain the goodwill of the Borutan harbor clerk assigned to this quay section. This can be done by any of the following ways: showing hospitality, proving that you have no special cargo that violates Borutan guidelines, and/or crossing their palm with enough gold coin to overlook anything else.

STATUS: IMMINENT.

Yeah, about that, Caleb thought, Considering how short we are on gold coin right now, we’re going to try the hospitality route.

A cry came from aloft. While Aiden was still recovering from his broken ankle, Ethan had decided to head back up into the shrouds. He called down to Caleb, even as he pointed off to a point aft of the ship.

“Jolly boat spotted off the aft steerboard quarter, Captain! I spy a pair of rowers, and a man in a long powdered wig sitting between them!”

“The lad’s got good eyes, for a human,” Shaw put in. “‘Tis not a man with a wig, but a woman with long gray hair. They have a way to travel still. Mayhap they will be here in ten or so minutes.”

“That’ll be the Borutan harbor clerk,” Caleb said, before turning to Sienna. “Call the crew on deck, I’ll need to speak to them.”

He got a Yezzir as she left. Caleb looked over the Quest Window once more, where one line caught his attention: …Proving that you have no special cargo that violates Borutan guidelines.

Wait a minute, he realized. I’ve come across a phase like ‘special cargo’ before. But where? Something tells me that could end up being rather important, and very soon.