Day 15

James and Kerri-liana ended up on the same team. It was somewhat awkward. They were tasked with going upriver to the Village Fish. Where Kerri was hoping to find the crystal and return.

At the river where traders docked. Kerri asked who could take them upriver to the Village Fish.

“You mad. No one is going upriver with a storm brewing.” The dock master said.

“No one?” Kerri asked.

The journey by foot would take days. But by river with a boat, it would only take two days.

“Not one man is brave enough to take us to Fish?” she asked.

“Girl, I told you. A storm is brewing.” He repeated.

Kerri went into the local tavern and sat down.

“A storm is brewing.” She told James “No one will take us.”

“What about after the storm?” James said as if it was obvious.

Kerri stood up and asked the whole tavern,

“Who can take us to the Village Fish? We can leave after the storm.”

Laughter filled the rooms.

“You must be crazy. You can’t get to the Village Fish in winter. The pass freezes over.”

They laughed some more.

“How much can you pay?” A strange looking man asked.

“How much do you want?” Kerri asked.

The man looked at her.

“How much can you pay?” he repeated.

“Whatever you want I can pay, if you can get me to Fish.” Kerri replied.

“I know a man, but he is not cheap and if you ask questions when asked a question. He will send you away.”

“Fifty gold coins.” Kerri said.

“You do not look like you have fifty gold pieces.” The small, strange man said.

“I do.” Kerri said firmly.

“Follow me.” he replied.

He led them into a back room where men were throwing stones into a cup. If you missed, you drank. Silver coins were also involved. Some kind of betting on who could get the stone into the cup and with each successful throw the cup was moved further away.

The strange little man approached the table. A big man stood up.

“You distracted me. It doesn’t count.” He objected.

Then an argument broke out. It turned into a fight before Kerri or James could escape. Anything and everything, was used as a weapon. Including a smaller man, being thrown at another man.

A man entered the room, a wave of his hand brought silence to the room.

“What is this?” he asked.

The room was silent. Everyone looked at each other. Then the floor. Then they pointed to the small, strange man who had brought them.

“Zerok?” he asked waiting for an explanation.

“I just walked in. The big guy lost and didn’t want to pay up. Blame to little guy.” He retorted.

He walked over to the money on the only table unbroken. He gathered it in his hand.

“For the repairs.” He said, “Any objections?”

No one said anything.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Well then, let the drinking and games continue.”

Life and noise filled the room again.

The strange man explained that Kerri wanted to go to the Village Fish.

He took them into the room he came from. He sat on a chair by a desk filled with stuff.

“So, you want passage to the Village Fish?” he said.

“Yes, it’s very important. I can pay you.” Kerri said.

“Fifty gold coins for risking my life. I will do it for one hundred. Fifty upfront and fifty when we arrive.” He said.

“No.” Kerri said “I am sure for fifty gold coins I can get passage and food. Plus, men to carry my stuff.” She replied.

“Go ahead!” he said “You have heard my price. I will not change it.”

“What is your name?” Kerri asked.

“Tank.”

“Thank you. I will be leaving now.”

“What happened?” James asked.

He had been following her lead, but the results were less than what he hoped for.

“They want a hundred gold coins. I don’t have a hundred gold coins.” Kerri said, “So, I am going to see if anyone else can be bought.”

Kerri addressed the room full of sailors.

“I need safe passage to and from the Village Fish. Food and water and safety for my friend and I. I can pay fifty gold coins.”

The whole room stopped and looked at her.

“Fifty gold coins?” a man asked.

“Yes, half now, half upon my safe return back.” Kerri said.

“As you wish. But only in the spring.” He said.

“I need to go now.” Kerri said.

“Buy a horse.” he replied.

“Anyone want to be rich?” she asked.

“We will be. What is to stop us from taking your gold?” he asked.

Kerri pulled out the seal given to her by Tẽra. She showed them all.

“The queen is soft.” he smirked, “How long before she notices you’re missing?” he menaced.

“She loves this man. She will notice.” Kerri said.

“That’s why he is here alone with you?” he laughed, “Sad to be loved by her.”

“James we might need to run.” Kerri said.

James could see how things were tense, and it was concerning. Kerri was not winning them over.

“Kerri what is happening?” James asked.

“They are planning to rob us.” Kerri replied.

“Let’s go talk to the other guy.” James said.

“He wants a hundred gold coins.” Kerri objected “They say he is the only one mad enough to take us, but he asks for too much.”

“Be a translator” James said.

He walked into the other room.

Tank looked up at them.

“Back so soon?” he asked.

“As you can see, I do not speak the language nor understand it. But man, to man I want to discuss a reasonable price to get us where we are going?” James said.

“Do you not find my one hundred gold coins to be unreasonable?” Tank asked.

“You know I do. We need to go upriver to the Village Fish. It is a private matter but nothing that will get you in trouble with the law nor the queen.” James produced his royal seal of protection.

“We could have started things like this, but we are willing to pay. This seal that I carry will ensure you have no trouble on your route.”

Tank looked at it. It was real.

“So, you are friends with the queen?” Tank asked.

“I am. I made myself useful.” James replied.

They laughed.

“I am sure you did.”

“I saved the harvest east of here. I have knowledge that helped the queen.” James said not wanting the implications to stand.

“What is your name?” Tank asked.

“James Thornbulton.” He answered.

“James…. I believe your story. My uncle is a farmer. I heard of the story of a man named James who the queen sent. I thought it was a birthday prank.” Tank said.

Tank looked at his friend.

“I will take you for seventy-five gold coins. I will provide food and water aboard my vessel. My boat is small but fast. However, if the weather doesn’t allow us to pass, I will not lose my boat and you will not get your gold back.” Tank said.

“Why do you ask so much?” James said.

“Because it’s my boat and I can.” Tank replied.

“I can’t pay you such a large fee. If I go to the queen asking for money what will happen to me?” James asked, “And then you will get nothing after all.”

“When Kerri said fifty gold coins. She was giving everything we both have. It is the best offer we can give. If you will not be happy with our gold, we will get someone to take us by land.”

“Buy a horse.” Tank told him.

“Thank you for your time. I am sorry we could not reach an agreeable price.” James said.

“What are you doing?” Kerri asked.

“We are pretending to leave. Fifty gold coins is a lot of money. He will agree if he believes he has lost us and if he doesn’t come after us, maybe your friend who brought you to the castle can take us?” James said.

“You mean go back to the castle and find him?” Kerri objected.

“Yes.”

A blizzard blew in. It raged and stormed and howled like it was consuming everything.

“Guess we should get something to drink?” James said.

The storm raged on for hours. Then suddenly stopped.

“We are wasting time.” Kerri moaned.

“Rather in here than out there.” James replied.

“Out there no one wants to rob us.” Kerri said.

“They will not touch us. They were just scaring you.” James reassured.

“I don’t believe that.” Kerri moaned.

“Then why have they not robbed us? We have been here for hours.” James pointed out.

“Waiting for us to leave.”

“And leave we should. I guess the river is not safe so we will use Captain Kumi.” James said.

“Told you no one will take you.” The dock master said standing behind them, “You crazy to even ask.”

“What about Tank?” Kerri asked.

His face fell.

“Tank the mad sailor… have you spoken to him?” he asked.

“Yes.” Kerri said.

“How much are you paying him?” he asked.

Kerri was about to tell him when she realized it didn’t matter as Tank was not taking them.

“I am not discussing my business. Good day to you.” Kerri said.

“Let’s go.” Kerri said feeling miserable.

A whole day wasted. She now needed to return to the castle and find another way to get to the Village Fish. Having James travelling with her didn’t help. He made her feel defensive all the time and since he was so cool about everything, it made it worse.

The two walked out into the snow.

They were about ten minutes down the road when Zerok ran over.

“We will accept your fifty gold coins.” Zerok said.

“I used some for drinks during the storm.” James told him.

“Let’s keep going.” He told Kerri.

“We will take everything you have?” Zerok said.

“Are you wasting my time?” James said.

“I was in the tavern for hours. Now that I leave you run after me. Willing to kindly accept everything I have. Oh, how blessed are we!”

He kept walking.

“We will buy a horse.” James added.

“What are you doing?” Kerri asked, “He is willing to take us.”

“I am negotiating.” James told her.

“Why?” Kerri asked.

“Forty gold coins.” Zerok said.

James stopped.

“Can you even make decisions? Am I going to walk all the way back just to leave again?”

“Forty gold coins and you have a deal.” Zerok said.

“If your boss doesn’t not agree when we get there. I will send an army to hunt you down.” James said trying to sound like a scary strong man that a clever man would not mess with.

Zerok gave him a squiff look.

They walked back to the tavern.

Tank was there to greet them.

“In future don’t let your woman do the talking for you.” Tank said.

But Kerri didn’t tell James.

“Hey, I am not his woman.” She objected defensively.

“So, you’re free?” Tank said.

“Yes, I am. I am my own woman.” Kerri stated.

He smiled.

“Welcome aboard. Zerok will show you to your room. Please keep all of your body inside the boat.” He said.

A monkey jumped out and landed on Tank’s shoulder. It screamed at them.

“Easy they are paying for a ride.” Tank told his pet.

“I don’t like monkeys.” Kerri said.

“That is a you problem.” Tank replied.

Kerri glared at him.

James looked at the monkey.

“Where did you get this animal?” James asked him.

Kerri reluctantly translated.

“From the jungle we will be going through. By tomorrow we will be in its waters.” Tank informed.

“May I draw your monkey?” James asked.

“Sure, as long as you don’t bother him.” Tank said.

James went and got food. He was sure winning animals over started with food.

Kerri stood at the back of the boat. She was watching the bits of snow become part of the river. It was peaceful.