Morning came too soon. Zell was enjoying dreams of Rin when a cold wolf’s nose nudged his bare foot. He woke to find a dark, toned arm resting across his chest and a snoring elf face just a couple of inches from his cheek. Her breath reeked of ale, and he gently extracted himself as quickly as he could.

Merc waited at the foot of the bed expectantly. Zell dressed and put on his boots before taking the dire wolf outside to relieve himself and stretch his legs.

The springtime sea air was exhilarating and put a bounce in Zell’s step. The docks were bustling and Zell recognized many faces from the night before. Many nodded in his direction and smiled. Tales of his victories the night before had apparently spread.

He reflected on the previous night as he strolled along a narrow trail at the edge of town that hugged a steep cliff high above the crashing waves below. Had he truly grown so much in strength just from a winter of training and recovering mana? He had been so engrossed in his daily grind that he hadn’t really contemplated it. His sparring with Nin had certainly progressed, but her vast technique and agility canceled out Zell’s raw strength almost completely. He certainly felt good, and the dwarves had been very gracious in complimenting his ability to work, even giving him the nickname ‘Golem’.

So absorbed was Zell in his thoughts that he walked further along the trail than he had intended. He didn’t notice Merc’s heckles rise and only snapped out of it when the dire wolf let out a threatening growl. Up ahead on the narrow trail, a group of six small greenish skinned humanoids were equally surprised at the unexpected encounter. They wielded crude spears and clubs, and each carried several gull corpses strung together with twine.

Zell knew enough from tales to identify a goblin hunting party when he saw one. He cursed the fact that he had left his sword in their room along with his buckler and pauldron. All he had was the knife given to him by Teya, the elf girl that had trained him in the ways of stealth and subtlety.

The goblins seemed cautious but not frightened. The dire wolf was menacing but they were six against one in their estimation, not thinking much of the young human. They seemed to be looking beyond Zell, to make sure no reinforcements would be coming. When it was apparent that the boy and wolf were indeed alone, the largest of the goblins gave a shout and they all charged at once.

Two clumsily thrown spears flew ahead of the pack in Zell’s direction. The weapons were poorly balanced and the shafts wobbled as they flew.

“Slow.” Zell marveled as he stepped to the side and caught one mid shaft while the other flew harmlessly wide.

Zell had expected to be overcome by fear, yet he only found himself strangely detached. Hundreds of hours spent tirelessly sparring with one of the finest fighters in the kingdom had drilled the fighting techniques into the very marrow of his bones.

He spun the stone tipped spear and cocked it behind his ear to throw it back. He aimed carefully and hurled it with all of his strength at the largest goblin who had closed to within just fifteen feet.

The goblin’s eyes widened and he was blasted backwards off his wide flat feet to crash into the goblin behind him. The spear’s tip drove through the leader’s scrawny body and into the goblin behind him, skewering them together.

Merc crashed into a cluster of three goblins. Bones crunched and a scream erupted and faded away as the direwolf’s jaws seized one by the thigh and sent it flying over the cliff. The goblins both smacked the wolf on his head and flank with their clubs to no effect. The dire wolf’s thick fur and heavy muscle repelled such pathetic attacks.

Seeing the futility of their efforts, two of the three remaining goblins tripped their companion to the dirt and fled with all speed down the trail ahead. Merc wasted no time dispatching the prone goblin with a single crushing bite which collapsed its skull like an egg shell.

Merc looked back to Zell as if seeking orders. Zell thought for just a single moment.

“If I were weak, I would be dead. If it had been a child or anything else they could kill, there would be no mercy.” Zell said aloud, steeling himself.

He gave Merc an order then, and the mighty dire wolf flew down the trail after the fleeing monsters. They didn’t make it far. And by the time Zell caught up, both of the goblins were lying still in growing pools of blood.

Zell returned to town with the ears of five goblins strung together with twine also looted from the defeated creatures, the sixth had been lost to the raging surf below.

He entered the inn and could hear Agitha talking with Merrie at the long bar.

“That was a pretty long walk.” Agitha observed as he approached. “You reek of goblin.”

“Six of them appeared on the trail to the north where I was walking Merc.” Zell confirmed “All dead.”

“Sounds like a good morning.” Agitha said. “Surprised by how fragile they are?” She also guessed.

“Very surprised, yeah. I caught a spear and when I threw it back it went through two of them. Merc took care of the other four before I could even help.” Zell told the story somewhat surprised at Agitha’s nonchalant reaction.

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“It was bound to happen sometime.” Agitha told him. “Since you don’t seem aware of it I’ll spell it out. At your strength right now, you’re the equal of any level one hunter and most level two hunters. Any less than a dozen goblins shouldn’t be a problem. There were six which means at some point at least one tried to flee, and Merc won’t run anything down without an order. You made the call to let none live.” Agitha looked searchingly at Zell as she spoke.

“I did.” Zell was resolute in his answer. “If I leave a monster to roam free, how could I ever sleep knowing all the cruelty it might inflict over the rest of its life.”

“Come sit with us.” Agitha changed her tone to one she rarely used: approval.

Zell complied and took the stool next to her. Merrie put a mug of dark foamy ale in front of him. Zell began to shake his head but the voluptuous one eyed innkeeper stopped his protest with a raised hand.

“A hunt without a drink is no hunt at all. Down the hatch my little morsel!” She said eyeing Zell hungrily and licking a stray bit of ale foam from her finger.

Zell decided the woman was far more frightening than the goblins and grimaced as the bitter ale touched his tongue.

“Now, back to what we were discussing. Of these three captains that answered my request, which would you suggest?” Agitha drew Merrie’s attention away from the grimacing Zell to an unfurled paper on the bar before her.

“They all have merit but one stands out. Captain Fargis of The Saber Chaser is well known for his reliability and the competence of his crew. If it were my money he’s the clear choice.” Replied Merrie after a moment of consideration.

“That explains the steep fee then.” Agitha answered back. “That’s settled then. Bait, we sail today. Finish that ale already.” She added, noticing he was pushing it away half full.

With a sigh Zell pinched his nose and finished the mug in a long gulp. It wasn’t his first time drinking alcohol but the black bitter ale was just terrible on the tongue.

“Oh cousin he’s just so adorable. Let me have him for a day!” Merrie begged Agitha.

“You and your boy complex, I swear.” Agitha admonished. “Anyways he has a little girlfriend in Vinia City. The daughter of the last boy you tried to kidnap.”

“Little Kellie has a daughter!?” Merrie said as she clutched her chest in distress.

“Twins.” Agitha corrected with a satisfied grin.

Merrie put a hand to her forehead as though she might faint.

“Such a drama queen. Bait, time to get packed.” Agitha pushed away from the bar as she spoke.

“Is she really your cousin?” Zell asked when they were safely back in their room.

“She might be.” Agitha answered honestly. “We were both part of a refugee camp that was sacked by monsters as children. Beyond that I have no clue who any of my family was or is.” She added.

Zell nodded, hiding the sadness he felt over her story. It would probably just come across as pity to Agitha.

“I’d like to hear the long version of your story one day.” Zell said, facing away as he checked his pack and picked up his black pauldron.

“Much of it is forgotten even by me. If you survive the summer I’ll tell you what’s left when we get home.” Agitha promised.

“Fair.” Zell turned and extended his hand, which Agitha grasped firmly to seal the vow.

They said their gracious goodbyes to Merrie who ambushed Zell with a crushing hug, and he practically disappeared into her cleavage. It took a tug from Agitha to free him and he ran for his life outside.

“Rin would kill me if...” He began wide eyed.

“Oh Rin would have laughed as hard as anyone else.” Agitha cut him off. “It’s just a boy crazy old elf with big udders, better learn how to deal with it.”

Zell absorbed the advice and relaxed. Agitha was right of course, he was projecting his own guilt and making Rin mad at him in his imagination to validate it. He shook it all off with a loud laugh, drawing a curious backward look from Merc.

At around noon they arrived at the harbormaster’s office to meet Captain Fargis and sign the passage contract.

Fargis was every bit the image of a captain. He was tall, at least three inches above six feet. His high polished boots and wide brimmed hat added to that stature. His eyes were dark and piercing under thick black brows. His equally black beard was well groomed and cut short save for his long curled moustache. A loose ponytail of black hair hung to the middle of his back. His fine breeches and embroidered black jacket had gold buttons. On his belt were beautifully made and well used weapons: a rapier with an elaborate wire basket hand guard and a long dirk with a blade that curved like a snake.

“Six days to reach the heavy cove if winds hold.” Fargis said in a rough voice similar to Agitha’s own raspy tone.

“That fast?” Agitha asked. “It has always taken at least ten on my past trips.”

“The Saber Chaser has a secret weapon.” The captain said slyly. “You’ll see.”

A short time later Agitha and Zell were getting settled in their cabin. It was a plain affair but the net hammocks looked inviting enough. The ship itself was not very large, only about forty feet from end to end with a single mast and a crew of ten. The Saber Chaser pushed away from the dock around an hour later and made for the calmer swells away from the shore.

Agitha immediately hopped into her hammock and pulled her fur lined blanket up to her neck. Zell was curious about the ship and decided to explore the deck.

“Don’t get in the way up there.” Agitha’s voice called after him.

“I won’t.” Zell called back. He immediately understood the warning as he opened the cabin door to see the frantic hustle of the crew as they prepared to drop the sails and begin the journey.

Zell carefully picked his way around the cabin making for the carved figurehead at the front of The Saber Chaser. There was a lone figure there. A man dressed in a fur lined leather vest with hairy muscular arms waving in what appeared to be spellcasting. The magic words he spoke were totally different than any Zell had ever heard from Rin or the salamander Karakis. They were in a tone so low that it was felt in the body more than heard with the ears.

A moment later the ship surged forward with unnatural speed. After he adjusted his balance Zell saw the man relax and turn in his direction.

“Hey that spell sounded amazing!” Zell offered the passing mage.

The man stopped to briefly regard Zell. He was just an inch or so taller than the boy with wide shoulders and long wild hair, dyed bright green that flew in the stiff wind. His clean shaven face seemed friendly if a bit wild to match the rest of his looks.

“Thanks! It was just a little chat with my pals.” He answered.

“Your pals?” Zell echoed back, obviously fascinated.

“Take a look.” The strange man pointed to the front of the ship.

Zell walked to the rail and peered into the sea ahead of them and gasped in pure amazement. Four tall dorsal fins stood out of the water just a dozen yards from the ship, each belonging to a shape nearly half as long as the ship itself. They were each harnessed to a thick rope connected to The Saber Chaser somewhere beneath the water.

“My pals.” He reiterated with a laugh. “Nothing pulls harder than a saberfin!”

“You can tame them?” Zell was absolutely enraptured at the very notion of it.

“I can talk to them.” He corrected. “These four have been with us for close to three years now. They work hard and get rewarded with plenty of meat.”

“That is the most amazing thing I think I’ve ever seen.” Zell couldn’t look away from the huge sharks as he spoke. “Is it possible for anyone to learn or is it something only you can do?” Zell desperately wanted to know.

“Communicating with beasts isn’t terribly rare though I’m the only one to master it with sea creatures as far as I know.” The mage replied.

“May I know your name?” Zell asked.

“Ruthar, and yours?” The green haired mage replied extending a hand.

“Oh sorry, how rude of me. It’s Zell, or Bait if my master is around.” Zell grasped Ruthar’s hand firmly.

Zell left the green haired man to his work then, secretly vowing to learn more about beast communication magic no matter what it took.