Ashi had booked the top floor of the Broken Barrel, and Kaden couldn’t for the life of him understand why. Each floor was divided into pie-shaped pieces with a narrow door near the center and a wide arc of railing looking out at the sea—at least on the side Ashi chose. She sat at a table near the edge eating crab meat, while Kaden’s crab roamed the table under his instruction. It had taken time to convey when he said ‘live’ he truly mean it and not ‘raw.’

Crabs were odd, their feelings akin to scorpions, largely instinct and little thought.

“Try this,” Ashi said, handing him a bite. “And this as well. How long, do you think, it will take them?” Kaden looked out over the port. “Hard to say. Our real targets aren’t even in this city, but I’m certain Eve is right, and they know full well what’s being shipped. So the more captains we talk to, the more we talk about guards for our important shipment, the greater the chance this works.”

Ashi didn’t answer, staring off into the horizon. “Can you feel the dragon? The tide shifts when he moves.”

Kaden could not. “Is he underwater?”

“No. The waves whisper he is far away.” Ashi closed her eyes and breathed in deep. “Your choice is good, to let Trinity rest safely. It cost much of your directed mana to grant her a hidden exit, but the value will show over time. It emerges in the depths of Fangwood.”

Tackling hard conversations (and monsters) was Kaden’s specialty. “Are we pushing you too hard? Wren burned out, trapped in a dungeon. If you need to stay home and relax and tend the dungeon, I won’t be offended.”

“You said to me once, there must be more to magic than battle and blood. I must find this ‘more.’ Sara runs a business. Eve loves her council, and Trella her disasters—I mean, her alchemy. Wren makes artifacts. I said I would make scrolls, but what I want is to make wonder.” Ashi looked to Kaden. “And what of you?”

“I want to tame beasts. Teach people to live with the ones who can be lived with, kill the ones that must be killed. Collect the ones with no better home.” Kaden really wanted to show off the Wyvern again but doing so on the fifth story of a building was a recipe for danger. “Nature’s Daughter told me I should find stronger beasts. I have a better idea. I’ll make them. The beasts I have are strong, or they will be.”

Kaden sat up as Sara’s green parrot sailed down to sit on the table. “The Mercari are enraged. They’ve had three meetings. Three! That’s one more meeting than usual. They are bankrolling a surge against the pirates, staging out of Horiheim, which is even further north. The good news is, the barbarians take time to do anything. The bad news is they do as much—or more—damage. Eve will arrive with Skully tomorrow, Trella is actually sailing with a crew right now. I saw the update to the trade agreement, you’re doing well. I’ll be there tonight with a plan on how to make sure our pirate friends know we’re coming.”

A knock at the door had Kaden reaching for Remembrance.

“Sirs.” One of the hotel managers stood outside. “Sorry, sirs and madam. I couldn’t help hearing that you were looking for transport for cargo, and in fact that’s what Krevat provides. We at the Barrel have many great captains who are members. Would you like to meet a few?”

Ashi beckoned. “Please, you would win our gratitude if you explained. I am but a refugee from a far-away kingdom who has come into riches worth much in Xiao. I know I want them to be safe. I know I want the sailing to be swift. Who should we choose?”

The manager stepped in with a warm smile, but [Read Emotion] said the man was hungry for opportunity. “You are far more intelligent than you let on. The most valuable information you’ll ever have is about what you don’t know. There are four kinds of shipping in Krevat. The slowest and safest are the flotillas financed by trade organizations. The last left yesterday, or I would surely say it was the right choice.”

Kaden spoke in Vichorean. “A flotilla yesterday? To an empire that restricts trading?”

“My husband says it is terrible luck,” Ashi said. “We must make sacrifices to the gods today. This is the only way such a mission can succeed.”

“Perhaps.” The manager looked around as though he was sharing a secret. “There are other options and for a clever woman such as yourself, they can balance speed and safety. If you can’t ship with a flotilla, the best option would be a trading company, and the good news is, I know a man, Captain Senegal, of the Elgarath trading fleet. He’s cautious, careful ,and won’t leave port if there’s a chance of failure.”

[Detect Emotion] read nothing from the man, which meant, as far as Kaden was concerned, Senegal was a decoy, an option not meant to be chosen. “This Senegal sounds perfect. Is his ship in good order? Does it have all three masts?”

“Funny you should ask. It was recently repaired. Before you even consider anything else, you should send a message to the captain and approach the Elgarath fleet. Unfortunately, word is that his ship was recently sold as stake to a new investor.” The man could truly act.

“Tell us of this investor,” Ashi said. “Please, if we must do business with her—or him, if it is a him—it would help.”

The manager leaned in. “She’s terrifying. Bonded to a pair of pythons with poisonous fangs.”

“Pythons aren’t poison—” Kaden winced as Ashi cracled with electricty. “That’s hideous. Are you certain they’re snakes and not some sort of cosmic horror?”

“Let me tell you, young man, she kills as she sees fit. Cross her and she’ll cross her twin swords at your throat and cut. Senegal is a wise captain, but to get him to sail you’ll need to risk the snake bitch’s wrath.”

Another false option. Kaden looked to Ashi. “I don’t know if it makes sense to risk a summoner with a cosmic horror bonded to her and a [Swordsman] second class. Though I bet she makes a great party leader.”

“I will send a bird now to Elgarath,” Ashi said. “And I thank you. While fortune did not smile upon us, to meet with Senegal is perhaps the best outcome. Tell me, wise sir, where would I find Adventurers to guard the ship? The seas are wild, the cargo valuable.”

“Adventurers…” The manager paused.

[Detect Emotion] read nothing but worry, which made sense to Kaden. Adventurers would be nothing but trouble. “We have little gold for guards,” Kaden added. “Though more once we reach Xiao.”

“Adventurers are the best, it’s true, but space on a ship is limited. What you want is battle-ready sailors who would fight and die to protect their ship. Such men are hard to come by.”

[Detect Lies] almost never served Kaden as well as he wanted. He’d bought it to help with negotiation, but most of the lies people told weren’t helpful or critical, born of embarrassment or fear. In this case, he didn’t even need the soft chime the skill gave that said it was a lie. This man knew exactly where to find the men he spoke of.

“We’d be forced to trust you,” Kaden said. “Being as I’ve never even smashed a pirate’s skull against a deck until it burst, since I’m not a minotaur.”

Ashi glared at him. “We thank you. You have helped us greatly. What is your name, sir, that I may ask again?”

“Shim,” he said.”But my lady, you haven’t heard the other two options. There are independent ships. Their cost is high but their speed is great. One could spend a thousand gold just to hire the boat, but next to the flotilla, there is no safer option. If one doesn’t have the gold for that, perhaps—no, I shouldn’t mention it. Their ships move too quickly, and who knows if one is even in port?”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Kaden knew. “Ghost ships? I sure like the sound of that. It sounds great.”

“No, sir, no, madam, there’s no point in getting your hopes up. Wait for captain Senegal. Wait for Elgarath, or save your gold.” Shim bowed his head. “I know a friend who knows a friend. If I can find one of these ghost ships—and that’s not guaranteed—I’ll send word. But truly, focus on the best and safest way.”

Ashi stood and put her hands together, waving them in a circle. “May the Sea’s breeze blow this way for your guidance, Shim.”

He rushed from the room, gushing with excitement according to [Detect Emotion].

“What was that?” Kaden asked, mimicing her wave.

“As though you do not know. In Vichor, we may sample all the world’s foods, and some do not agree. Some rush to leave the body, and the result is unpleasant. When that happens, it is a charm to remove the stench.” She carefully broke the motion down into segments. “His advice was like that. When the next one comes, do not speak of bursting skulls or of minotaurs.”

“Next?” Kaden asked.

“There were many ears below. There will be many such men and women. Even those who mean well serve our purpose, to spread news through the port.” Ashi shrugged. “I know no spell to reveal the ones we seek, so I must work to our goal.”

A knock at the door accompanied a woman’s reedy voice. “Sir, may I have a word?”

Ashi smiled and motioned to Kaden.

“Fine.” Kaden raised his voice. “Please? We are but poor refugees who have come upon riches.”

###

The night wind whipped down on the open balcony of the Barrel, pelting the outer edge with rain and whipping the heavy leather curtains Ashi wouldn’t close.

“Yes, yes, we have heard of them,” she said to a [Cooper] in dark brown who’d begged and pleaded. “Also of Senegal, safest, also Salazar, also of independents. Now, since my husband is not a minotaur who can smash skulls, where can we find a ghost ship? You do not know yet, do you? But tomorrow, come and see if you have found one.” Ashi ushered the man out and beckoned for Kaden to follow. The inner core of the Barrel was warm and cozy with one group singing rousing Tavern songs while another seemed to be engaged in group stabbing, if the blood and screams were any indication.

“You are acting hangry,” Kaden said as he activated the [Eldritch Shield] to block a careless dagger. “Are you hangry or cold or tired?”

“Yes.” Ashi said. “Please, may I have your lizard?”

Kade detatched Burny and handed the lizard over. “You’re not going to catch fire, are you? He does that.”

Ashi’s skin flushed red and she steamed. “Where is Sara?”

“She’ll get here when she gets here. I sent the [Falcrow] to all three, but I haven’t heard back.” Kaden looked ot the bar, where the Falcrow listened intently to conversations. [Sailors] loved it and it loved attention. “Eve should have been back already. It worries me. Also, we should get out of here. The Barrel’s not a inn and we’re not leaving through the front door.”

Ashi tilted her head. “You fear robbers?”

“Level fifty ones, yes.” Kaden led them back to their slice-room and activated [Stealth Aura], then picked her up. “Does [Hover] work for two?”

“We will fall, but not fast,” Ashi said, clinging to him.

Kaden stepped off the balcony and drifted downward. It wasn’t truly falling, it was a gentle desent to the rainswept cobblestones. He kept it active as they snuck through the streets to find the inn Sara had used before. As a thick drizzle wrapped Krevat Kaden and Ashi stepped inside, choking briefly on scent of incense that poured out.

“Greetings, come in and dry off,” The woman at the door called. “Step through the charm, it’ll wring off the water.”

Kaden and Ashi squeezed through the door, which pushed back against them—and stepped through dry.

“Kaden! Over here!” Sara called out.

Ashi was already headed toward the fire, where Sara’s psuedopods added logs (and devoured every third log). “It is good that you are here.”

Sara’s right pseudopod pointed to an open table, which is where Kaden headed. The moment he sat down, a popup appeared.

Your conversations are protected in this zone.

Attempting evesdropping on others will confer heavy penaties and mark you as a bonus target.

Ashi sat on one side, Kaden on the other and Sara joined them, brushing down her armor before sitting. “Perhaps one of you two can explain why it is that every contact I have is alive with knowledge of this precious mana stone shipment?”

Kaden pointed at Ashi as she pointed at him. “Their idea.”

“We saw opportunity,” Ashi said.

“And took it,” Kaden added. “We met with six different people getting very similar stories. A flottilla just left yesterday—”

“Or last week!” Ashi added. “But Captain Senegal is cautious and we should speak to him—”

‘Or Salazar,” said Kaden. “Both of whom are super busy and never sail, but we should definitely talk to them. Of course, even if we do, Elgarath controls it, and even if they do, so does the mysterious, deadly vicious snake-woman.”

Sara smiled slightly.

“Of course, there’s independent ships,” Kaden offered. “Which cost eight hundred—”

“A thousand—” Ashi interjected.

“Ten thousand gold,” Kaden continued. “If you can find one, and of course Adventurers are the worst, sailors are the best, and no one can say ‘if’ a ghost ship is available but if there was it would be the option we should totally choose.”

Sara began to clap. “Very impressive, both of you. Of course, there’s a few wrinkles. Our stake is pinned on Senegal’s ship, which we paid to retrofit, so he will be sailing. This ‘snake woman,’ she’ll be along to make sure it happens. And Adventurers, we’ll come standard with the ship. We do have more serious problem.”

Kaden waited.

“This is my third pass through Krevat. The first time I personally took over a boarding ship. The second time, we drove off two boarders and Kaden demolished the crew of a wreck—I mean, his ship. There were, however, two survivors. One had [Unsinkable] and the other had a pair of handcuffs on the one with [Unsinkable]. The stories cannot be undertold, of a [Beast Master] who summoned a monster to destroy invaders.”

Kaden began to unfold the situation. “You think either of us alone is enough to dissuade an attack.”

Sara dipped her head. “I do. I can probably be disguised. You or Skully or Trinity will be impossible.”

“Unless.” Kaden said.

Ashi snorted. “No unless. Say what you will.”

“I don’t need to be on the ship. I can be under it. All I need is a sea beast to borrow water breathing from. Skully doesn’t need to breathe, either. Ashi doesn’t have to stay above deck, and Trella will blend with the [Sailors].” Being a [Beast Master] had its benefits.

“There is another aspect,” Ashi said. “If many attack, what then?”

Sara pointed to Ashi. “Fire attacks against their sails the moment they get within range. There’s a literal navy forming with the [Beserkers]. It’ll be an easy story that we barely escaped. Rey’s heartstone is still active. He’s alive and we’re coming for him. The Mercari hired a [Cartographer] who projected Rey’s position on their map and there are [Spies] already scouting. We don’t know if there’s a network of islands, a missing continent, or what.”

That set a definite time limit. “Have you heard from Eve?”

“Yes. She’s a powerful negotiator and chose to handle a critical issue for the Mercari in Xiao. She also retrieved Skully and says he won’t be a problem. She’ll join us tomorrow, extremely early. Trella hasn’t responded to any of my messages.” Sara summoned her parrot and sent it off again. “I booked us rooms and have a plan for tomorrow. For this to work, I need you two to back me up.”

“Of course.” Ashi summoned Levi-ling and set the orb of water in the middle of the table. “We must find beasts for it to battle. Levi-ling cannot grow stronger without battle.”

The real problem would be finding something weak enough to fight Levi-ling without obliterating it. Maybe a small rat. One that was sick, one that was maimed and near death. “I have ideas. Maybe Burney would be willing? I’m not sure it’s a fair fight. King of the Match Lizards versus a level nothing tenticlaw.”

“You may be surprised.” Ashi reached into the orb to brush Levi-ling’s body. “Size is not a factor, ferocity is the key.”

Sara snatched Leviling with a pseudopod and slurped it down before Ashi could react. “Size is almost certainly a factor. Based on the size, I’m guessing you have a thirty second re-summon timer.”

Ashi sat stunned, looking at the orb of seawater. “How did you—why did you? It is a baby!”

Moments later, the seawater orb blazed brightly, and Levi-ling materialized in the globe. It was probably kaden’s imagination that its round, soulless eyes glared at Sara. Kaden needed to defuse the situation. “Well, I’m exhausted. So is Ashi, who’s been up for over a day. We should probably get some sleep. Sara, you want the case of mana stones?”

Ashi drew it from Inventory and set it on the table.

“Take good care of these,” Kaden said. It wasn’t like the real mana stones were in there. Kaden had replaced all of them with pretty stones from the riverbed, ones that could be polished and put on the mantle.

The real stones would go in Skully’s Inventory once he arrived and right now, Kaden held them. He retreated to the room at the end of the corridor and settled in for what sleep he could, with Burney on the night stand and the Falcrow sitting at the foot of the bed.

The sun was well up when Sara knocked on the door and entered. “Trella arrived a few hours ago and had business in the harbor. She said to let you sleep. Eve will be here any moment, she was delayed.”

Kaden was on his feet immediately. Armor took so long to adjust correctly but there was never a reason to wear it wrong. Soon enough, he dressed and headed out with Ashi and Sara close behind. He stopped at the top of the bluffs. “Where do we meet her?”

“Captain Senegal’s ship,” Sara said. “It’s on the eleventh pier. See, the one with the body hanging from the mast? Oh, that’s probably not good.”

Kaden sprinted down the stairs and leaped to the arm of a crane, swinging down to the ground and off into the port. Senegal’s ship was like the Child, a three mast special with a wide hull and built in cranes, one of which held the gutted boddy of Captain Senegal.

At the foot of a crane leaned a woman. Trella.