Before them lay the port of Vacasia upon the island of Anoa's Command. It was, according to their guides, one of the richest and commonly frequented ports. You could see almost a dozen vessels within the piers at first glance. But there were also a great many smaller fishing ships on closer inspection. There were people of several races fishing by the waterside, or selling goods at the edge.

Estela looked with interest as they neared the pier. The buildings here were very well built indeed, with reddish roofs. A wall protected the harbor, and men stood by with many arrows as they walked beneath the towers' gaze. Estela saw a number of great, iron bell-like things on those towers, pointed out to seat. Men stood by them, and she realized they were canon.

Estela had heard of the use of canon at sea in recent battles in the Sea of Power. But how had they gotten to this isolated and forsaken place? It was a question she'd have to solve later. For not, she turned her attention to the ships in the port.

There were dozens of them, and the port wasn't even full. Obviously, this was a place used to entertaining fleets.

"These ships are very different from the kind we have in Escor; they're lower on the water," mused Estela. Her gaze was focused largely on fortifications and such.

"Well, of course, they are," said Wrynncurth. "The seas here are far calmer with the mountains surrounding them. I'm surprised you only just noticed them."

"I'd assumed it was a cultural thing, but these men are Harlenorian," said Estela. Though their skin was tanner and hair darker than any Harlenorian she'd met. Had they interbred with the natives?

"You may regard them as such, old girl," said Wrynncurth. "But I should be hesitant to say a much. Relma, you'll need to translate for us."

"What do you mean?" asked Relma.

"Vanessa gave us the power to speak with any of her subjects," said Wrynncurth. "However, the Conquista speaks a variant of Harlenorian. So you'll likely have a bit of trouble talking with them. Fortunately, you, Relma, have divine power and may speak to anyone."

"Can't you?" asked Relma.

"Oh yes, but it's rather a bit beneath me to act as a translator," said Wrynncurth, taking a draft of his pipe.

Estela looked back to the white buildings, some with domes. There was also a building toward the center of the town whose roof was gilded. She wondered if it was a temple and how they were that prosperous. Beyond, on the shores, Estela could see many fields being worked by tan-skinned people.

Still, there was a clear difference in build between those working and those who were farming. Such differences weren't uncommon in Harlenor. But Estela suspected that they were a different race. Perhaps it was a slave society like those in the Islands of Power?

"These buildings are truly beautiful; I've never seen anything like them," said Relma. Estela felt a sense of resentment at that particular statement. While Escor was more practical erected, due to all the wars, simplicity was better anyway. And if you were into something more ornate, Gel Carn was far preferable.

Estela remembered the palace of Arsheen, with all it's heathen pictures and statues. Why Vanion Gabriel had not had them destroyed was beyond her. Calishan relics weren't worth preserving anyway. But then, House Gabriel had a fascination with darkness, didn't they? By the nature of his armor, William Gabriel had shown it, forged to appears as a skeletal figure with glowing green eyes.

The question was not relevant at the moment.

"Yes, yes, they are," mused Wrynncurth. "They weren't nearly so pretty when I came here last. Back then, they'd been in a non-stop war with everyone else. Everything was made for practicality and little else.

"The Conquista was fighting with some native rebellions, I gather. A large part of the population was enslaved in the old days, you see. Prisoners of war. A very bloody affair, unpleasant for all involved. It looks like they somewhat resolved it, though."

"What do you think changed?" asked Estela, curious as to this place now.

"Well, if I were to make a guess, I'd say it would be their alliance with Vanessa," said Wrynncurth, the ship halting now. "Now that I think of it, I did recommend befriending some of the other powers. I suppose she took my advice."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Look, over there!" said Relma.

Estela did look and saw something remarkable. A man, a full-grown human, was riding through the streets upon a huge animal, like how halflings did wolves. Yet this creature was no wolf, but a thing with hooves and a long face. It had brown fur and a mane running along the top of its head.

"What is that?" asked Relma. "Some sort of giant goat?"

"No, a goat doesn't have so long a head and cannot move nearly so fast," mused Estela.

"Then what is it?" asked Relma.

"Oh yes, those are horses," said Wrynncurth.

"Horses?" asked Estela, remembering the old legends of elven warriors. They'd ridden into battle on horseback, striking with lightning speed. Which was all they were, legends? "Impossible, King Anoa, the Bright wiped them out."

"Evidently not," said Ajax, sniffing the air. "They seem to be riding them even now.

"My kin tell me some who escaped to these lands and regained a sustainable population. They fled here, to this place, and Alchara brought in the sea to defend them. It seems the Conquista has tamed them.

"No doubt that's why the Conquista did as well as they did against the dragons. They could outrun their enemies."

"Where have you been?" asked Estela.

"Sleeping late," said Ajax, adjusting the sword at his side. He'd been a lot more confident with that sword lately.

Estela shrugged. "Relma, if a translation is necessary, you will repeat what I say."

"I understand," said Relma.

Then Estela looked to Jomas. "Jomas, say nothing and no provoking them this time; we need these people."

The people Estela spoke of were waiting at the pier.

They were a group of ten men with pikes and steel armor. Their helmets had fins upon them with a metal mask. At their head was a portly, tan-skinned man clad in crimson. Wrynncurth eyed them as the gangplank was thrown down.

"We appear to have an audience, chaps," said Wrynncurth.

Estela motioned forward to Relma, who moved down and spoke to them. Estela wondered what it was like, speaking a language you'd never trained in. The man replied, and Relma looked back.

"Who is this? What is he saying?" asked Estela.

"He is Sadago, a Customs Officer of their King, Gormath," said Relma. "It's a very important position, I think. They're asking us who we are and where we came from?"

"Tell him who we are and that we have come from Harlenor, the nation of Anoa. Tell them that we are on a quest to find the Dragonfire shield," said Estela.

Relma did as much. The man paused and then spoke in turn.

"Well?" asked Relma.

"Sadago says that he is not sure he believes you," said Relma. "No one has come from Harlenor in many years, not since Prince Otto's invasion. He wants to know how you got past Queen Vanessa's lands."

"Tell him the truth," said Estela, seeing no purpose in lying.

Relma nodded and told the story. It took a while, even in brief, and Relma seemed to enjoy telling it. Sadago listened, hand fingering his black beard. At last, he spoke, and Relma relayed as much. "Sadago says that he does not believe he has the authority to judge on this, and so he wants us to return to our ship. He will gain his King's preference."

"Tell him that we are thankful for his consideration," said Estela, quickly bowing.

Relma nodded and did so.

Then, Sadago left, leaving his men to eye them distrustfully. Relma looked to Estela. "What now?"

"Now we wait," said Estela. "Though I should be able to speak this. They are Harlenorian."

"Languages change a great dead, old girl," said Wrynncurth. "They've been here for many generations.

"You may share a common ancestry, but that may be all you share."

Estela nodded and came to the obvious conclusion. "This is never going to work.

"They aren't going to hand the Dragonfire Shield over to us just because we ask for it."

"Maybe they'll tell us to perform some sort of quest," mused Relma.

"Probably one that is impossible, if we're lucky," said Estela, considering the situation. "They'll probably just give us a flat refusal. It's what I would do."

"Well, not everyone is like us, and they are waiting for the Heir of Anoa," said Relma. "Maybe they'll give us a chance." Ever the unreasonable optimist. Then again, Relma's optimism had a strange way of working. Perhaps it was her status as the Heir of Kings.

Then a horrible thought occurred to Estela. What if Relma had told them she was the Heir of Kings. That could get them all killed or imprisoned or held to impossible expectations at best. "Relma, you didn't tell them who you were, did you?"

"You told me to tell them who we are," said Relma.

"Obviously, not that!" said Estela. What had she been thinking?! This could wreck everything!

Relma looked a bit irritated at that. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought when you wanted me to tell them who we were, you wanted me to tell them who we were. Would you have preferred I not tell them who we are?"

"I would have preferred you to introduce yourself as my squire and nothing else," said Estela. Why was it that Relma had to steal the attention wherever she went? Everything always ended up revolving around her.

Then again, it had seen Escor growing stronger than ever. And destiny, luck, or skill, it seemed to be working.

"I did," said Relma. "I told them I was Relma Artorious, a descendant of Anoa and your squire."

"Well, why would you tell them you were the Heir of Kings at all?" asked Estela. Didn't Relma have any sense at all? Estela knew she wasn't an egotist or the sort to steal credit.

"It gives us something to bargain with," said Relma. "And I wasn't thinking about it, to be honest." She paused and looked around. "If you'd told me to withhold the information, I would have.

"...Where's Ajax?"

"Hmm, he was..." Estela looked around and could not see any sign of the wolf boy. "Wrynncurth, do you know where he is?"

Wrynncurth shook his head.

A search then ensued that turned up nothing. Not on the deck, now below deck, and not even in the water. Ajax was gone, alongside his pack and poisons and everything else he'd gone. Even his sword, though he never used it. Estela guessed that he'd leaped off the ship when no one was looking.

How had no one heard the splash? He might have lowered himself down very quietly. Ajax seemed to have a knack for appearing and disappearing without notice. Usually at the worst possible time.

Although his kidnapping of Relma years ago might have been useful in the long run. And Estela did have some trust for his loyalty. Not the same for his judgment, however.

As if they didn't have problems enough.

"Where did he go?" asked Relma.

"I expect he leaped off the ship and swam to shore," said Estela. "We'll hear from him once he speaks with the local wolves."

"Telix has colonized a lot of areas here, hasn't he?" asked Relma.

"Why do you think we throw his broods out of the Fairy Forest?" asked Estela. "Relma, did you introduce him?"

"I um, I forgot with him not here," said Relma quickly.

This could cause some serious problems. Still, perhaps Estela could improvise a solution. Wrynncurth, of course, seemed unaffected. Estela was glad of the fact. When he had a reaction, it meant things were very, very serious.

"Sadago is coming back," said Wrynncurth, taking his pipe out. "He seems to have brought a jolly large amount of armed guards, hasn't he?"

Estela sighed as they went back to meet Sadago, who bowed respectfully. Or at least Estela hoped it was respectfully; they might have different customs here. Everyone in this land was insane, after all. "Alright, let's see what new disaster we've gotten into this time."

Sadago spoke, and Relma translated. "Sadago says we are to be taken to King Gormath, whether we want it or not. He asks us not to resist."

Estela sighed. "Wonderful."

This adventure got worse by the day.