Teddy and Ragnar were drunkenly singing on the dock.

They were being taught local drinking songs by an equally drunk Caleb. He had escorted them to the docks to process the infraction. Happily it tur;ned out that they were real Guard for the waterways leading off the Arngotian sea. It was a familiar story of the activity around the water, the sea was silver verging on gold rank magical density, the waters leading to and from the sea were treasure troves of magical manifestations. That lead to the busy fishing and gathering communities the gathered around the banks. Because of the importance of the trade route which mirrored that of earth the local government of Arngo controlled access to the water. Boats had to have license to operate on the water and ships had to pay a toll at either end or at specified launching points along the water.

The fine that was due for the launch had been waived, it had mostly been replaced by two bottles of hooch from one of the villages they had passed through. James hadn’t surfaced from when he went overboard but he had acknowledged their messages about where they had been going when they posted them on the group.

Lucy had shut herself in the workshop when she saw the hooch emerge from the ship and Kyra had withdrawn the gangplank telling them she would put it back down in the morning before she disappeared back from the railing with Koda who had been left on board. It was a hollow gesture as they could jump back on, depending how drunk they eventually got.

In the early morning James walked along the dock dripping wet to find five figures draped across the crates and ropes. Teddy had fallen asleep or unconscious across Ragnar’s lap as if the big man had been holding him.

“Well isn’t this cute?” He said as he kicked one of Teddy’s feet.

Everyone lying on the floor sleepily roused. The guard officials stood first straightening their uniform and looking around.

“Don’t worry, no one is around, the girls said no one has been snooping round the dock at any point in the night.”

“I, I, I don’t know what you mean, our shift was over.” The younger guard said.

“Yeh but doesn’t look too professional does it now?” James replied. “Don’t worry about it, its good to blow off steam every now and then and you’re safe with us.”

“Four drunken elves and they’re putting up shelves…” Teddy slur sang as he got up and twisted his back to stretch. It was strangely similar to the hundred green bottles song tune. “All right guys promise is a promise, breakfast.” He took a three step run up and made it to the drop deck of the Serenity, he almost overshot in is wooziness and ended up in the water on the far side but he caught a railing.

Kyra appeared at the middle deck, shaking her head at her boozy husband. “It’s a shame you didn’t get the song essence, I could live with you being drunk and tuneful rather than drunk and fast at running.” And she let the gangplank down for the others.

They sat on the top deck with the three guards watching the sun come up over the horizon whilst they ate a simile of bacon and eggs with steaming mugs of coffee. The team watched with interest as dozens of men and women made their way out to their boats on the water, some walking across the lines like a tight-rope, some simply walking across the water with obvious essence powers. Others got together into a larger boat, these were generally an older bunch with a young man rowing them around dropping them off at various boats. Kyra, out of character, picked a notebook out of a pouch and made a note in it. It was generally Lucy’s habit and it pricked Teddy’s curiosity.

“What’re you writing down babe?” He asked, not leaning in to pry, giving her privacy.

“Oh,” she said putting the notebook away. “Just thinking of commissioning some art if it doesn’t already exist. I was thinking a portrait of the river, painted from the bank. With a divide down the middle with the night on one side and the beautiful lights and the other side this beautiful sunset.”

“Well you aren’t the first to think of that Mrs Mitchell.” One of the guards said while he nudged the youngest.”

Teddy was sure thats not what she had written down but he trusted his wife and had no reason to dive further into it.

“Well you see Mrs, I um, I do a little painting.”

“Oh really! And you have a piece like I described?”

“Well maybe, but you see I’m not very good. I do it for fun. I don’t have no fancy powers like, some of the Bankside painting club have essences that make their paintings really pop. I have the… frog essence.” He finished lamely.

Kyra’s face brightened up. “Well I bet the frog essence makes you a very effective waterways guard, an amphibious power must come in handy.”

“My sister-in-law isn’t like that, she likes the story behind art, if it’s been drawn by a man who's job it is to look over the water day and night and keep it safe that will interest her. You’ll see the water from a unique perspective.” Lucy said.

“Go on. Go get it.” Caleb nudged the young man.

He looked embarrassed but his Captain had now told him in no uncertain terms to go and fetch it so he made his way off the Serenity to their own boat where they kept their belongings.

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“Thank you for the party last night and thank you for your hospitality this morning.” Caleb said. “I explained it last night but how much do you remember?”

“Err, something about a prince gets a special ticket and he razzes up and down with no regard?” Teddy said.

Caleb blushed slightly. “Just keep that part to yourself. There’s a system of tolls up and down the river, we police it to make sure no one is abusing the traffic system, if everyone did what they wanted then the big cargo ships might not get through you see, and the king gets a tax off goods moving through the city even if they’re not bound for there.”

“And he charges for the tolls, and for the licence for these boats to operate?” Teddy asked.

“You make it sound unreasonable, but he charges a fair amount, not more than people can afford, if people want to fish for fun there are other places to go.”

“And adventurers?”

“Well most stick to the road, there’s passenger craft for others who don’t fancy it. We can do something special for you and yours though.”

Whilst they had been talking the young man had made his way back up. He carried a hard tube under one arm that looked like the tall broad leaves of the bank-side reeds woven and dried with resin end caps to seal it.

“Now Mrs, it’s not exactly like you said see, I’m sure theres others who have done better and closer to what you fancy and much better quality.”

“Pah, stand straight young warrior, make thine back a rod of iron and your will shall follow. This is but one more battleground to become proficient, the shieldmaiden a foe to overcome. See her there as a target, your skill with brush your weapon. If thinketh you your weapon is not sharp enough then you must convince the enemy it is, then the battle may be won more easily. And the spoils ever richer!”

All the Mitchells turned to look at Ragnar and Kyra spoke up. “I didn’t realise you liked bartering so much Ragnar, you’re coming shopping with me next time!”

The young man heeded the words and stopped being so hesitant. The big warrior was naturally awe inspiring for the young man and he wanted to impress him. He confidently pulled out a rolled up set of paintings, shuffled them so the right one was on top then walked round the table and reached over Kyra to put them on the table in front of her.

The painting wasn’t magical, its brush strokes skilled but still human made. But the style was captivating. It was indeed a sunrise over the water. Captured in watercolour he had skilfully caught a breath of wind stirring the surface of the water, leaves blowing, insects flying into wind and the leaves bending. The perspective on it was excellent, with a very good eye for depth. The nearest reeds were rather large but as they were bent by the wind across the canvas he had added another style. The wide reeds in the foreground were not filled with green but afforded a window to a different scene. The wide leaves in front of the day scene showed the night scene within them. Where they crossed a boat on the river the back half was in the day and the front was night; at anchor with the coloured lights on the prow and anchor line. The higher reeds showed the stars and moon above, on the opposite side of the painting as the sun was rising.

Kyra took a long time looking over the painting appraising it. The others had a good look then started making conversation again. The young man stood nervously over her shoulder as she looked at it, he twitched slightly when she started to leaf through the other sheafs in the stack, seeing half finished works and doodles of ideas.

Kyra pushed back her chair and stood facing the young man. “I think I may be interested… if the price is right.”

The young man suddenly looked flustered. “Err I’ve never sold any of my art before, how much do you want to give me for it?”

Kyra rolled her eyes then looked at Ragnar, nodding her head sideways for him to get up and help the hapless young man. He got to his feet and came round, standing at the man’s shoulder and cupped his hand to whisper in his ear.

“Err five bronze coins.” He said, trying to sound confident.

“Bronze coins! Measuring your worth in bronze coins already! A non-magic painting from a man not even an iron ranker, bronze ranks coins indeed, very well I’ll give you one for it.”

The man blushed, embarrassed and was about to accept the offer and make it over with when Ragnar clamped his hands on his shoulders and whispered in his ear again.

“Well you see the worth of the painting is in the eye of the beholder, this is a unique perspective of the river and a custom work sought for by yourself. I’ll come down to four bronze coins.”

Kyra’s eyes twinkled with amusement almost as much as her diamond armour, she was enjoying this. “Four?! I suppose it is exactly what I was after plus the perspective of a local… but it’s not mounted, I’ll have to find someone to produce fittings for it…”

“Oh I can do that for you.” Teddy chipped in and she shot him a glare.

“Very well, call it three bronze coins and I’ll shake.”

The young man looked completely blown away, there was no way it was worth that much and it was only Ragnar’s advice and insistence that he push for such a high price. Normal rank goods and services normally passed coin at lesser rank or iron, bronze rank coins normally paid for magical goods.

Before he could speak Ragnar gave him a squeeze on the shoulders and he coughed clearing his throat. “Done, the painting is all yours Mrs Mitchell. I hope you enjoy it.” She took out thee coins from her pouch and they shook hands, Kyra smiling and the young man managed a nervous smile.

Now that the transaction was complete Caleb stood up. “Well now you’ve paid my man several months his salary I’m hoping he can get back to work?”

“Err, yes Sir.” He said scrambling to put the other paintings in the tube and stand ready.

“Mr Mitchell.” Caleb said addressing Teddy. “We understand that you are on important adventure business and require assistance from the waterways guard.” Teddy looked mildly confused but interested where it was going. “Please allow us to escort you downriver to within city boundaries where we can pass you over to the care of the city guard.”

“Well damn, sure thing Caleb. We’ll take an escort.” Teddy said smiling and shaking his hand.

Soon the guards had got off the Serenity and into their own little rapid attack craft. They had three left with one under repairs from the crash. They had one in front and one behind the Serenity, the third pushed out ahead as fast as it could to clear the way. Now the sun was full up the Mitchells and Ragnar saw there was a lot more traffic then they could have seen from the road, there was a steady stream of barges and transport boats, the small fishing style boats weaving in and out of traffic lines going to and from. As the guard boat went between it sounded a siren, the traffic shifted to the sides allowing plenty of room for the Serenity to follow at a fast pace.

The boys grinned as Teddy followed the patrol boats loving the escort. The girls shook their heads at the boys immaturity and sat at the rear table enjoying the scenery. It took them less than a day to reach the city outskirts and they were impressed at what they saw.