I was too naive. Our real troubles began once we got to Snake Port. Even though it's supposed to be neutral ground, and killing is supposed to be forbidden, it seems it does not stop certain crowds from causing trouble still. Especially when you have a one-of-a-kind Saber with you.

Now I understand why Zarri avoided the usual routes. Attention. Unwanted attention and lots of it. We barely managed to sell our ship, boat, whatever, for scrap wood to get some coins for "tickets" to Crepitus that apparently nobody is selling. Especially for a Beast... Here I thought that eating snakes and tree roots was bad...

We keep camping out, near the ships, but don’t bother setting up. We've already been attacked twice in the five days we've been here. Worst part about this place - everyone is selling only. Can't even find work to earn extra gold or anything. Best case you can find is a ship willing to take you on in exchange for some free work. Which seems fair. At first. Till later you find out that a free trip does not include free food...

Any bigger company ships only stop here for supplies. Whatever they carry, apparently is too important to let outsiders on their ships, to let them cross over further.

Crile even suggested we steal ourselves a ship. Unfortunately, a bigger vessel would require more manpower to operate. Zarri said we'd need to be suicidal to try and pull it off. It seems that not even her wings could help to deal with it. Plus, her personal knowledge of sailing is limited. I only ever managed to help as much as I was told to, what and where to move or do...

“We're running out of options here, Breeze.” Crile says with his back against the tree.

“Gee, ya don’t say.” She answers bitter.

“Maybe we should try to strike a deal with the Cornutese Hunts, after all?” I suggest. “If we pretend to want to sell Emerald, maybe...” I stop the idiotic idea.

“We thought of that already. Nobody will believe it.” Zarri answers.

“If we had roped Emerald up and put on a performance that she's a raging, wild beast - maybe we could have sold it. But our shoe box was clearly ill equipped for that. Any bloke would have known something's up.” Crile explains.

“Damn. Guess sneaking onto a ship is out of the question too...” I mumble to myself.

“For the three of us - no sweat.” Crile tells me.

“I said no. Now shut up.” Zarri growls. Crile and I lock eyes.

“Something the matter?” He asks.

“No.” Zarri growls back. Ok then... Yeah. Three of us...

“Wait. Maybe we're thinking about this the wrong way.” Crile straightens out.

“What ya mean?”

“Primerians. Maybe all we need is a bit of a good old-fashioned Primerian curiosity. When do you think it was the last time any of them saw a Saber up close?”

Zarri jumps up, claws straight out aimed at Crile's throat.

“Easy, kitten of mine, that's not what I meant.”

“Then what.” She growls.

“Maybe we need to offer for someone an opportunity to talk to her.” He gestures to Emerald. “You can be the translator. All of us will stay close, so nobody will be able to do anything to her. And all they have to do in return - is take us across.”

“Won’t a Scholar Ship be too small?” I ask, clueless.

“Not necessarily. They might be small, but considering the books or scrolls or artifacts that they hoard – their ships are sturdier than they look. So withholding Emerald might not be a problem. Except for the closed quarters, again.” Crile explains.

“That's not half bad of an idea. Primerians never put a price tag on knowledge. Nothing is ever too much for them to give up in exchange for information.” I add carefully. Zarri looks at both of us and slowly retracts her claws.

“Ok. Say I agree. Where do we find such a knowledge thirsty scroll pusher? And more importantly - how do we control the questions?”

“Simple. You don’t answer. Nothing increases the want to know as withholding information.” Crile explains.

“Or you can demand no physical records be made of any kind.” I jump in too. “Just a verbal trade.”

“Ok.” Zarri sits back down. “Still. How do we find someone like that?”

“Maybe we don’t need to do anything”. I get up. “All we have to do is make them come to us.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Crile flicks at me with his hand.

“So what? We stage Emerald in the center of the Port and hope for the best?” Zarri’s not happy again.

“I was thinking more of a sign, saying: the one and only talking Saber. Centuries worth of knowledge and wisdom! Witness the greatness in the making!” Crile strikes a few dumb poses, dragging his hands midair as he says it all. Dumbass.

“Or we can send word back to Repperi about it: Saber spotted at Snake Port. First come - first serve? Someone will definitely want to check it out. They'll have money with them too if they'll rush over from the Mainland.” I suggest too.

“Either way. All we need is to get to Crepitus. We can work there and save up. But we can't stay here much longer. They'll try to nab her again eventually. If not kill her.” Crile says nodding to Emerald.

“True.” Zarri takes a moment and looks at Emerald. After a longer minute of silence, she speaks again. “Ok. She's in.”

“Great!”

“How do you want to do this?” Crile asks Emerald this time.

“She's fine with whatever we think of.”

“Ok. Then let's do both.”

“Huh?” Now Zarri and I stare at Crile.

“Let's make a commotion. Let's send for Repperi and camp her out during the day in the middle of the port. Worst case we make a run for it to the first floating boat we see and drift back a check point or two. We might score work there.” He explains with a shrug. Very convincing.

Zarri sinks her head again. “DAMN IT! I'm sorry.”

“What for?” I ask, confused.

“Because. I relied on luck too much and wishful thinking and now we're trapped.” She says, staring to her feet.

“In that case sell me.” I tell them. All three look at me.

“I don't know how to sail. Nor how to tell a weed from a root apart, ironically. I only ever learned medicinal herbs, not edible. I have been more than useless the entire time. Sell me and you'll have enough to bribe someone to let you on a ship back. Then you won’t need to wallow around beating yourself up that the most valuable item in your possession is worthless, since you won’t sell or trade her for anything in this world! Not that anyone is asking you to! Or better yet let's all of us go to that district instead! I hear they pay rather well for fresh ass!”

Silence.

My stars and heaven! What the heck did I just spout!! I try my best to hold my mean glare at her, but feel my legs give out. A sound. A cackle. Crile. He loses it and his nervous gasps of laughter turn into a roar.

“Wow.” Zarri blinks at me, finally.

“Who are you!” Crile grins at me.

“Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” Zarri smiles at me.

“You asked for it!” I yell out, shutting my eyes.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Guess I kinda did, huh.” She giggles too. “Ok, so then what’s the plan here?”

“Well. I think we need to start with nabbing an idiot for us. We can’t be the ones to provide info to Repperi, they’d be too suspicious, since we try so hard to protect Emerald. But.”

“But if we use someone else, there’s a chance someone might bite.” Zarri finishes.

“Although, to be honest, I’m surprised we haven’t seen any Primerian Lunatics approach us. You’d think the word of a Saber sighting, would have spread on it’s own by now, ya know?” I calm down and speak normally again.

“So we ask around.” Crile says. “We can use whatever we have on us to buy a bit of info, here and there. No need to hold back since the only way from here for us is back anyways and personally, I don’t feel like swimming through all that.” He points over his shoulder to the boundless waters around us. No kidding.

“Agreed. Let’s do it.” Zarri finally speaks calm and sharp again. I exhale relieved.

     Finally, I was being put to good use. We used my Cornutese tailoring skills to dress Crile and Zarri up to look like thugs. Well, thug-ish. For the part one of the “Game Plan.” Part 2 was to just mend the best clothes left, so we don’t look like we just stepped off a straw-boat or something, should the “plan” work and some misguided Primerian takes interest in us. Emphasis on should.

Zarri said, that despite their hunger for knowledge, the Primerians also judge people based on their clothes. They prefer the scholar-type look over a brute-kind. Hence why Zarri and I take the leading role, right after Emerald, of course. While Crile acts as the brute. I have to admit, I am tempted to tear his clothes up with an excuse of how “I see a brute be dressed.” Of course, I doubt Zarri would like it. Considering the limited resources we have.

Anyhow. I was left with Emerald for my protection, of course, rebranding our garments, while Zarri and Crile were out and about shaking down the drunk and the drunker, on top of conspiring in our rumor spreading competition to see how fast the curious words travel back to the Mainland. Zarri didn't want to station us front row center, and frankly neither did I.

So. Apparently, the ghastly and talkative ones can’t keep their mouths shut to save their lives. Crile suggested it would be the fastest way to change our tune to our advantage. Unfortunately, that meant that we’d probably get attacked more too. That’s why Emerald was under strict orders to grab me and run, should that happen.

“Here I was happy about being use-full, and not use-less.” I sigh as I prick my finger once again. Emerald raises her head next to me and stares.

“What? Is something the matter?” I try to see what got her attention. “I don’t see anything.” Not that it means nothing is really there. I try to get back to my needling, whilst kind of looking back still, when Emerald jumps up and growling. That almost knocks me down flat on my side. I grab Zarri’s staff, standing up and hold on to it for dear life.

“Who goes there!” I call out, clearly not accustomed to the tuff and ruff role.

“Please. No need for that.” A voice calls out. Where the heck are they?

“Show yourself!” I call out again, feeling ridiculous, as it is broad daylight. According to Emerald's intense growling – she’s not happy with the voice either. Oh boy. Ever the good sign.

“Is that the beast that is the talk of this place?”

“Depends what talk you mean!” Guys! Where are you! Come back here! Hurry!

“The last of her kind!” An arrow lands between my feet. Emerald looks up and roars. Oh no. More arrows with ropes surround us! But how! I can’t even see where! Oh no. The shadows! More ropes shoot up from underneath Emerald herself and coil around her. She bites and claws at them, but they tangle me up instead. It’s high noon! The shadows are the strongest now! DAMN IT! No wonder I didn’t see anything! They wanted her to stand up! If she kept laying down... I struggle to break free, as Emerald tussles between the rope snakes.

I feel something well up inside of me. I can taste the bitter hopelessness of mine... I can’t reach anything besides the cap on my pouch and a needle on my sleeve. I flick the cap off and jab the needle into my leg as deep as I can reach. I chant. I chant moving the herbs out of the pouch. It takes too long. I’m used to liquids. But with low supplies, I had to adjust. I pull the needle out and a few drops of blood connect with the herbs.

Emerald lets a roar out. The ropes are pushing her to the ground.

“No!” I scream out. Come on! Come on! Faster! Faster! Hurry up! I chant. That’s all I’m good for. Chants. So I chant. That’s my one and only use here. That’s what I dedicated myself to. Chants. If I can’t chant my way out of this now what am I good for!

“SECTASSIS!” I scream out and a rope breaks. Not enough. Again.

“INCIDERRI!” Another sliver drops around my fingers. Still not enough! Why is this taking so long! Another roar from Emerald. She’s disappearing! No! They are dragging her into the shadows! I have to!

“DIREMUS!” I take another gulp of air and...

“REVELLIO!” YES! My hand's free! I take the needle and slice through my leg. I need power. I chant more and a thin blood needle forms next to the gash.

“Hold on! I’m getting you out!” I maneuver the needle through the ropes around Emerald’s front paw, while struggling to find something on my body that can cut more than air.

“NO NO NO!” She’s halfway in! My chants are not fast enough or strong enough! I’ll lose her!

“HEEEEEEELP!!!!” I shriek. “ANYONEEEEEEEE!!!!” Please... A flash blazes in front of me. A crack. Another flash. Another crack. It gets easier to move in another instant. A roar. But not Emerald. I look up. A shadow drops from the sky.

“Sorry we’re late. They had us cornered there for a bit.” A voice and a pair of hands reach from below my feet, nudging me away. “Sorry, Star, need some room to work here.” Another flash and Emerald disappears. I blink once and crash backwards into her fur.

“Easy. We gotchya.” A hand steadies me back. Another vicious roar. Emerald answers and a deformed cat-like creature lands next to us.

“Are you hurt?” It asks through the layer of fangs. I shake my head.

“Liar.” Finally, I recognize the voice. Crile. Zarri!

“I! They! It!” I gasp.

“Relax. We know. Get ready. These ones are persistent.” Zarri turns her back to me and Emerald readies herself for a fight too.

“For what it’s worth;” Crile looks at me, “you did good to hang on.” He smiles. “Patch it up and join in.” A point and a wink to my leg.

“Out of our way!” A voice calls to us.

“Not on your dammed life!” Zarri answers and jumps in first. Wait! What’s to stop them from using tranq-darts! Or anything! Oh but I can’t say that out loud. I need water! Wait. Dumbass! I’m surrounded by it! I dash away from the roars and the growls. As long as the Assassins and whoever else was helping them are distracted and the target is on the move, they can’t replicate the same formation. Which means they can’t use the shadows. If they stand still long enough to cast it again, Zarri will take them out. Which means – I have time! I pour out the entire contents of my herbal pouch into the crashing waves and chant. I pour out as much Mana as I can.

“Attollio!” A wave forms.

“Citus!” It climbs higher over my head, growing in size. I keep my chants going. I feel my strength fade. I gather up as much water as I can.

“ASCENDIERE!” I throw my hands forward. Please reach them.

“BREEZE! MOVE!” A single bark.

“FRACTIASUS CONTRIVERSUS!” I slam the water down with the last of my Mana and drop to the ground myself.

“STAR!”

“AMANA!” Voices and gurgling sounds melt into the waves and seagulls shrieking somewhere above me...

“Don’t you die on me!” Something touches me.

“What kind of a crazy stunt did you pull! Have you lost it!” Someone looks for my pulse, clumsily.

“Are...they...movin?”

“Not a single one. I don’t know what you did, but I’d love to know later. After we get you back on your feet. Here.” Something cold and smooth touches my lips and a gulp of warmth drowns my mouth. I cough it all up.

“Ah geez, Star, come on, don’t make me kiss-feed it to you.”

“Hell. No...” I spit out and a laugh follows.

“Here. Try now.” A drop lands inside my mouth. And another. I feel my body again. A few more drops and I take the vial into my own palm and guzzle the potion down. After a few more I sit up.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Zarri answers holding me. I stare into the distance.

“Any movement?”

“None. What did you do?” Crile asks.

“Crushed their bones.” I answer and notice the slight horror in the eyes. I shake my head. “Not into dust. Just hoped to fracture something to incapacitated. Or at least buy you some time by sending a giant splash on them.” I try to stand up and both of them help me.

“How’s Emerald?”

“She’s right here.” Zarri reaches out and a wet muzzle nudges me.

“Sorry I...”

“None of that now.” Crile shuts me up, gently. “We have some pockets to pick.”

Can’t say I ever imagined myself shaking down a wringing thug in pain for gold, but life’s beginning to show me otherwise. Zarri and I worked in pair, as I refused to sit back and take it easy, while Crile and Emerald handled themselves with ease. I have to admit. I enjoyed watching the bastards studder in disagreement of their treatment as Emerald strung them up, one by one, upside down by the legs and shook them around to see what goodies they are hiding, way too much than a Healer should have. Especially knowing the kind of injuries, they have sustained just recently. But. Like I said. Life’s proving me otherwise.

The best part about the entire disaster was that how quickly the word spread about us taking out about 15 Beastiaries. A stupidly fancy word to describe a Lousy Hunter that hunts rabbits at best, thinking it’s a Lion Dragon or something. Pathetians is what I call them. But. A Beastiary fiasco like that does mean something and that bought us the ultimate pass to any ship going anywhere, with zero resistance. Not to mention all of the good stuff we plucked off the living corpses. Clothes and weapons alone were enough to sell, let alone the potions and the gold. Which, we kept for ourselves, obviously. We could have bought a ship and a crew to run it if we so wished it.

But of course, we kept it on the downlow again. We boarded the most boring looking ship we managed to find. We got lucky that the vessel was designed for transporting blocks of rocks and it was going straight to Existara. That meant it’s sturdy and spacious enough for Emerald. It was going there to pick a load up. So it traveled "light" now. Why would anyone wanna be shipping rocks across oceans – beats me, but whatever.

We were told we were in luck that it’s not the “Odion Season” either. Whatever the heck does that mean. As we sailed off into the huge open waters that we’ll have to spend weeks rocking on, eating fish and smelling like one too. Again. Yippy...