Chapter 87 - Dockside

Selera stood on deck, waiting for the gangplank to be shifted into position. It was just before the break of dawn. On the horizon, the usual fiery orange glimmer off the sea was blunted by the remnant tendrils of the Dragon’s Breath. Since the dark of early morning the Lychen’s Fiddle sat within the enchanted mists, the crew silent, listening to the clamour of the port city exploding in fear. Alarm bells, the yelling of men and the screams of women, the wooden jostling of docked ships attempting to flee port and the swearing of sailors.

She had watched Illias cast this spell, entranced by how easy he made it all seem. Selera understood Alletair’s concern, she knew from the spell ingredients and her studies that casting the breath on such a massive scale was no simple task. Yet, Illias stood mid-ship and calmly practiced his craft, the song of magic coming strong and true from his lips and gestures.

What surprised her most was the crew of the Fiddle, she could feel the anger among them, though not a word was spoken. They watched Illias’s casting with grim smiles, while Alletair and Darius watched with concern. In the crew’s mind, they were no longer trapped here, being constantly feared or treated with distain on the docks and among the city. Her five years aboard the vessel was relatively quiet, running the coast for the academy and keeping the waters clear. But this crew was assembled for war and they were now in the mind of returning to their roots.

She had a suspicion of what would take place once she disembarked. They would secure the dock by force if they had to and enact repairs. There would be no negotiation, just the threat of cold, hard steel and enough magical firepower to sink an island.

For a while she had watched the Dragon’s Breath in wonder, to allies of the caster the mist was relatively thin and on occasion, illusionary serpentine dragons made of light swam through it. It became clear to her, Illias’s words when he said he wanted to cast it on the port city before just for a laugh. The people would have seen what she saw now, watching in a measure of fear and wonder. Now they were on the receiving end, dense aggressive cover, those beautiful dragons hidden, menacing and seeming to breathe fire and heralding the end of the world.

She watched the confusion, many crews trying to cast off, unable to see others, their rigging getting caught and some wrecking. Not long ago, only days, the sight before her would have made her question intent. Now, it did not bother her anymore, her beloved was correct, they had been set up to be obliterated from existence by the very people who called them friend.

The dark of morning steadily shifted to false dawn and in the moments before the haze was lit from within, the Captain made the order to send the Fiddle in as the misty cover failed, to give the impression that the dragon’s breath was heralding their return. She watched many crews of the ships at dock, pointing and shouting with the sight of the Lychen’s Fiddle breaking free from the clinging hands of the mist, missing the main mast but still in good shape. Though some watched silently, respecting their quarry as it arrived in port.

Lashed to the broad pier, no dock master came to welcome them, no onlookers either. Fear cast its dark heart over the streets and surrounds. The populace keeping themselves hidden after the spectacle. While the crew secured the gangplank, Selera noted three people approaching along the waterfront and then the pier, the other sailors and commoners giving them a wide berth. Illias, his black long coat open and dramatically flapping while he walked and two women, one heavy-set and powerful, hair of tawny red showing the first streaks of grey, and another fine-boned and lithe of wheaten blonde followed in his wake.

Selera looked to Alletair, feeling his large hand on the small of her back. She leaned back slightly, her head resting against his broad chest. She remembered the looks he gave her in the darkness, holding her tightly and smelling her hair before he helped her prepare. This would be no normal visit to the inner chambers of the Enclave, she had to be ready. She wore the same battle raiment from the fight three days previously, with the addition of her cloak.

Before Illias had left in the early hours he had produced three rings from his pocket, and quickly instructed her of their use; to protect, to communicate and if all else failed; to escape. She chuckled to herself at his seriousness when he told her not to rely on her thread in this heightened emotional state, but now, the first light of dawn making the mists glow, she was starting to understand. He feared for his closest friend, Alletair. What plagued her husband’s dreams, what brought that powerful man to tears more nights than not in the small hours; Illias had witnessed it, had been a part of it and he feared it still, as if it were ready to burst out of Alletair at the faintest chance.

Selera watched the three approach the ship along the abandoned pier. A crowd starting to form at the end where it met the waterfront, locals making signs against witchcraft and praying to their false deities. She grimaced slightly, the path to the enclave might be more difficult than she thought. She turned slightly, realising that Alletair was talking.

“The ones with Illias, the strong one is Wrenna and the elf must be Lili, the one he has spoken to me of.” said Alletair, his voice low and rumbling.

“Wrenna?”

“A long time ago, Lera.”

“Fifty-three years. How long?” she asked quietly.

“If my memory is serving me properly, two decades, it could have been more. She was part of the crew for longer, one who knew how to get what we needed, when we needed it. She knows how to play both sides of the coin. With a mind as sharp as a razor.”

Selera slowly nodded, “Why?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“Borrowed time, Lera. We had a lot of fun, made good memories, but she feared what I am. She didn’t want me stolen from her, but she knew that neither she nor I could lay claim to controlling that possible eventuality.”

She felt him tapping his chest, immediately understanding.

“So she took command of what she could control?”

He grunted quietly in agreement.

“Did she leave straight away, once she made up her mind?”

“No, we were good friends before, and remained good friends after. Just haven’t been in touch for fifty years, she’s fearsome at sea, but she thrives in the cities, gathering information and settling deals.” he explained.

“So she is a dealer? Trades in goods?”

“Gods no, Lera! If she is personally sent to settle a deal, the least you can expect is broken bones. Despite her cheerful manner, my love; you don’t ever get on her bad side. She will defend her friends until the life is torn from her, but become her enemy, she’ll tear the place apart, brick by brick, leaving no stone unturned until every friend you thought you had becomes afraid to utter your name. When she finally had finished doing so, she’ll visit in the dead of night and deliver whatever justice was necessary.”

“She’s an assassin?”

“Gods Lera. She’s a spy. She knows how to handle herself. When Septye is looking for information, she’ll go and sniff it out if he asks. Set up a front, and do what needs to be done. Makes friends in the most unlikely places, and earns their loyalty fast. She just has a way about her, knows how to reach the right people. Every port we entered, she’d visit the inns, taverns. Before midnight she’d return and know almost everything there was to know about the place.”

Selera looked up to Alletair, meeting his grey eyes, “Do you trust her?”

“Yes.” he said without hesitation.

She smiled while frowning slightly.

He chuckled, “You will understand soon. For her to come to the pier means one thing”

Selera raised an eyebrow.

“She is readying to withdraw her team from the Enclave. She is here to negotiate passage. This is an intolerant human city after all, run by a council that outlaws the use of magic among its people.”

“Just us returning, gods. The moment we leave they will be jailed or worse.” Selera said quietly in understanding.

She heard Alletair’s quiet grunt in agreement, “We’ll meet them on the pier, she already sealed her fate just by walking out to us. But I do wonder what card she has up her sleeve.”

He kissed her gently atop the head and took her hand, giving a nod to Darius and guiding her down the gangplank. Selera glanced back as Darius followed them to stand waiting. On the Fiddle, the crew were preparing for the swift repairs.

“Ho, Captain, I have brought an old friend.” called out Illias as they neared.

Selera watched the small smirk arise on Alletair’s face, “Old friend? Are you talking about age or time?”

She heard him chuckle at the indignant outburst from the tawny-haired woman.

“Alletair, her eye, she wears a patch? Wait, no. Alletair, is Wrenna half-dwarven and elven?” Selera asked quietly, the trio just reaching them.

“I am, and proudly so.” Wrenna said with a grin, “Now, before anything, may I please borrow your man for one small moment to pummel some manners into him.”

“No.” said Selera quietly, her eyes flashing dangerously.

“I know we have never met, Selera Desilantre. You bear the thread. There is no chance in the nine hells that I could come between either of you.” Wrenna said calmly, her eye assessing Selera, “But, maybe I was untoward with such a playful request at such a dark time.”

Illias looked quickly between them, “Selera, this is who I told you of, Wrenna. And, Wrenna…”

“There are no need for introductions, Illias. Once part of the crew, always part of the crew. I was needed elsewhere is all.” Wrenna said with a comfortable smile.

Selera watched Wrenna with sharp eyes, “Do you not find it fit to tell me of your family name?”

“Lera, calm, she…” Alletair started.

Wrenna gestured with her hand out, “She has the right, Captain. We are both women of fire and fury, the last thing I wish for is to upset your house. Trust begins with names and I have kept my presence concealed from you the whole time you were here, out of respect for you, Selera. Forgive my intrusion.”

Wrenna held out her hand to Selera, “Let’s start again, I am only known as Wrenna, agent and facilitator of our employer, Master Septye. I was stationed here to observe and report back on this predominantly human city. I became a part of this crew not long after this.” she gestured to her patch, “Will that suffice?” she asked, her voice calm, her gaze steady.

Selera nodded, “I…”

“You are Selera Desilantre, one of the dwindling bearers of the demon’s thread. You studied at the Academy of Spyres and turned down the honours that were awarded to you. Instead, you married Alletair and opted to take on an apprentice at a relatively young age, your close friend Sialin. You became part of the crew of the Northern Wolf; this fine, yet battered vessel before us. Until you arrived here, you were running the coast, on task to the academy. You have twin siblings, Groyven and Tiffaniel, both of which were in your care, after the untimely deaths of your parents.”

“What would you know of my parents?” asked Selera coldly.

“I observed them on occasion, and understand that they may have come across something that they were not meant to. Uncovered, or pried where they shouldn’t. I know that their true purpose for being in this human-run hellhole was not what it seemed. They were here for something that the Enclave was unaware of.” Wrenna finished, her eye on Selera.

“How did you? How did you know they…”

“That is my job, Selera. In a place such as this, it is easier to keep track of the non-human’s that live here. I also know that those missiles you were on the receiving end of were supplied directly from the storage that the enclave manages. It will not be safe for you to meet with the Chancellor, you may even be detained upon sight after the disruption that was caused this morning.”

Wrenna watched the expression on Selera’s face, “I advise against threats toward the Chancellor, whilst he and his ministers condemn the use of magic and sorcery, they do employ a creature. I am still not sure what it is, but it wears a red cloak, bandages, and speaks in a raspy tongue, from what I can gather it may be a remnant of the old world.” Wrenna said, a look of concern growing as she saw Selera’s eyes widen, “Tell us what you saw.”

“During the battle, she saw a man cloaked in red, standing on the crossbeam of the foresails, he was laughing, then he was gone.” Alletair said calmly.

Wrenna nodded, glancing at Illias, “Illias, I agree, I will call all my people in and prepare.” she looked to Alletair, “Septye is here, in the city.”

Alletair winced, his eyes on hers, “Darius?”

“I heard, we’ll get her ready.” said the first mate, quickly walking up the gangplank.

“How many?” asked Alletair simply.

“Less than twenty.” Wrenna replied quickly, her eye flickering to the ship and back.

“Septye needing passage?” he asked, glancing at Illias with concern.

“Back up the coast, near to where you came from.”

He nodded, “Something is afoot, the fact he is even in this part of the world is telling.”

Selera looked at him, “But Tiff, Ven… We need to…”

“We need Septye, it doesn’t matter where we go. He is our best chance. You will understand once you meet him.” Alletair said.

He turned and looked at the ship, silent momentarily, “Illias, the Crimson Demon?”

Wrenna put out a hand, “The Crimson Demon is somewhere along the coast, he is part of the party that Septye is travelling with.”

Alletair nodded, “When will you be meeting with him?”

Wrenna looked at him, frowning, “Midday.”

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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