The early morning rays shone down on the little clearing where the cart had made stop for the night. Lazy tendrils of smoke drifted up from the recently doused campfire, with everyone gathered around the shroud of late seamstress Nora, grandmother to Alden. The young boy was calm and collected, having steeled his heart the night before.

“What happens to the body if someone dies mid journey?” Exill asked the Navigator softly.

“They call me Great Koopra because I always deliver to destination. Other Navigators not so great.” There was a mad glint in the man’s eyes as he compared himself to lesser mortals.

Some of the cargo in the cart had to be shifted around to make room for the burial shroud, but with the help of Exill and Envy, they set off no later than originally planned.

By midday, they reached the mighty roaring Torin river, half as deep as it was wide, the waterway was a major artery of trade connecting much of the western Kingdom to Ark. They followed the banks until the town of Holmsburn came into view.

It was a thriving town of commerce and fisheries, with two large river barges moored against the quay. Massive industrial cranes of wooden construction churned as men walked along treadwheels two storeys high. A small harbour to the side contained an eclectic mix of small fishing vessels of all colours and shapes.

The wide straight roads were filled with carts of grain and goods from the surrounding farmlands, destined for export when they passed through Port Savig. Koopra’s cart entered the congested yard where fellow Navigators were shouting and swearing at their colleagues to make way.

“Always takes a while this… you can get off here if you likes.” Their Navigator gestured to the throng of workers kicking up dust in the yard.

Exill glanced at young Alden, whose eyes were wide with panic. It was understandable of course, how could a boy hope to find his uncle in a foreign place, burdened with a burial shroud. He was soft-hearted as always and he shared a look with Envy, who nodded imperceptibly to his wordless question.

“Let’s go find your uncle, boy.”

Releasing a pent-up sigh, he hoisted the burial shroud over his shoulder. While turning away, Koopra gave him one parting word of advice. “The river barges leave on the third bell! See you again Witchdoctor friend!”

Exill waved his farewell and they walked to the harbour, hoping to find the boy’s uncle with just a name. The Church bell rang once when they reached the ramshackle hut of the Harbourmaster, an irritable man with days old stubble and bloodshot eyes.

“We ‘ave two Morley’s in this town, you better be specific, son.” He replied gruffly.

“And which of them own a fishing boat?” Exill tried to conceal the irritation in his voice.

“Both.” The Harbourmaster spat.

“Can you point us to one of them?”

“There’s a Morley coming in now, on board the Blue Crest.” The irascible man pointed to a blue fishing boat with white stripes on the bow.

They hurried to the moored boat and approached the burly fisherman who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. Exill looked at Alden, but there was no recognition in the boy’s eyes. If he had met his Uncle at all, it had been while he was a baby.

“Excuse me, are you the son of Seamstress Nora of Ark?”

“Why yes, how do you…” Fisherman Morley looked up from the ropes to see two strangers carrying a burial shroud, with a young boy at hand. His heart fell as he knew what it meant.

“Thank you stranger, you can rest Ma over here… This be my young nephew?” Morley finished tying the ropes and leapt onto the pier where he laid his heavy palm on the boy’s head. “You a brave boy, lad. You did well to come all this way.”

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Turning to the canvas burial shroud, Morley stood in silence before he spoke again. “Again, thank you for guiding the boy. If you have the time, you are welcome to our home, me wife’s a good cook and it will do you good after the long journey from Ark.”

“I’m sorry, but we need to catch the river barge to Port Savig.”

“Understandable, you best be off then, may the Spirit guide your sails kind stranger.”

Exill picked up his share of the luggage and followed the riverbank towards the quay where the barges were moored. The smell of fresh fish pervaded the air as wheelbarrows of today’s catch were swiftly carted off to underground freezers encased in ice. Envy rubbed shoulders against him while they walked, clearly in a positive mood.

“Does my master feel better after doing his good deed of the day?” she teased lightly.

“I-... It’s common courtesy, and stop acting like that, you’re giving me the creeps.”

“It isn’t common, or a mere courtesy. Were people in your village all like that?” she asked, drawing away from him slightly so that their shoulders no longer touched.

Exill had flashbacks of memories that weren’t his own, visuals of children playing around a towering linden tree, friendly neighbours greeting each other in the village square… he had to stop as nausea overtook him.

“Yes… yes they were. I won’t pretend to understand what hellscape you went through Envy, but there are good people in this world.” He said in a low voice.

“Like you?”

Exill paused in thought, then a slow smile emerged in a corner of his mouth. “Yes, like me. I doubt you would find a kinder master in the entire Kingdom.” He leaned into the joke, looking askance at the Vampire to see how she would react.

However, Envy appeared to be lost in thought while they drew nearer to the moored barges. Exill began to wonder if he had taken the joke too far when she abruptly wrapped an arm around his and drew closer.

“Maybe… I’ll decide when you set me free.” She said, carefully looking ahead.

Exill was moved upon realising she had said ‘when’ and not ‘if’. He smiled happily as they drew closer to the barges.

“Follow me down this alleyway and let’s engage our disguises as we agreed.” He pulled her into an unoccupied side street and turned his most defining feature – the emerald eyes into a plain brown. Envy similarly turned her crimson hair black.

It might have been the limitation of their skill, but changing a single feature was the best they could do. They had discussed at length what disguise to apply when [Assassin] was first acquired and had settled on these two features.

“You are going to be a [Healer]?” Envy’s eyes were clouded in doubt when she saw his Card, wondering why he wasn’t switching to [Merchant] or a job that provided deeper cover.

“I want to throw them off my scent without incriminating myself.” He promptly responded.

The trouble with the skill [Disguise] was that it didn’t change the name, age, or place of birth displayed on his Card. It would not survive the scrutiny of close inspection.

If they were to get caught before leaving the country assigned with a wholly different job like [Merchant], it would only incriminate them further.

The best approach would have been to reserve [Disguise] as a last resort. However Exill’s growing nervousness prevented him from committing to a full cover story, while attempting to shake off any would-be pursuers.

‘If I’m caught, I’ll claim I introduced myself as a healer, and they must have misremembered my [Witchdoctor] job.’ Although it was slightly contrived, plausible deniability was the only thing that could cover his unnatural ability to switch jobs.

Well prepared, the two approached the authoritative figure directing loaders on the nearest barge.

“Excuse me, we are seeking passage to Port Savig, do you have space for two passengers?”

The Captain, a frowning man in a navy-blue jacket bellowed at some loaders before turning to Exill.

“We only have one bunk left, and we’re leaving on the hour. You best take the next ship.” He dismissed Exill and began walking to two crewmen who were struggling with a crate.

“When is the next ship leaving?” he raised his voice to be heard over the hubbub.

“How should I know? that barge yonder docked here barely two hours ago so it will be tomorrow at the earliest.” The Captain’s tone rose in irritation, shoving aside a crewman as he untied the rope himself.

“What do you think?” he asked Envy, while watching the Captain free the crate loose.

“Mn, sooner the better.”

“Captain! We’ll take your bunk; how much would that be?” Exill shouted to grab his attention.

“80 Denars per passenger, and I’ll kick you off at the next stop if I hear you fornicating.” The Captain shouted back, clearly trying to dissuade the two as he quoted a full price for both passengers.

Exill hesitated for only a second and angrily paid the surprised Captain, who stared at the coins on his palm.

“Well, colour me surprised. You ain’t on the run are you?” he asked while flagging down a tall crewman to stand by his side. The Captain eyed Exill’s hand warily, waiting to see if the Card would prove him otherwise.

“Of course not, I am a healer on an urgent assignment, and this is my escort.” Exill flashed his Card to accentuate the point.

“My apologies Healer. Jelly Fingers here will guide you to your quarters. The trip will take five days and we’ll be making one stop along the way.” The Captain gestured to the lanky crewman whose linen shirt was soaked in sweat.

Envy and Exill followed Jelly Fingers into the dark depths of the ship.