Freesport was a bustling port city used as a hub between the continents of Tricehaven and Mantier. Carter left to meet with his client shortly after entering through the gates, leaving our group to plan our travels across the sea.

"I think we should try first with the Voyager's post in the city. We may luck out and find a captain less likely to sell us out to Aramaz." Berthold said, leading the way to the center of town.

"Mersy and I know a captain who hates Aramaz," Nev interjected.

"Oh yeah, Sprin lives in Freesport, doesn't he?" I asked, Nev nodding in verification.

"Great, lead the way."

We followed Nev north to the outskirts of the coastal city, where a modest home sat up the hill from an impeccable shoreline. Two furry children played between the sea and the house, jumping off rocks and attempting to strike each other with sticks.

"If you want my treasure, you'll have to pry it from my cold dead fingers." The larger of the two children yelled out.

"You'll rue the day you decided to cross me, Salty Dan, scourge of the Daerin Sea!" The younger child exclaimed, perfectly imitating the sea folk I interacted with almost a year ago.

There was no doubt in my mind who these children belonged to.

"Hello!" I shouted, our group closing the distance between us and the pretend pirates. "We're looking for your dad. Is he home?"

The kids stopped playing immediately, the smaller one dropping their sword by their side.

"Go inside, tell Mom," The older one ordered.

The smaller of the two ran back home while the other brandished their stick as a sword, holding a defensive stance.

"Sorry to scare you, we're friends of your dad. Just hoping we could see h-" I started.

"Go away!" The child commanded, unwilling to let me finish.

Our group looked at each other in confusion, unsure how to progress.

"Maybe there's an adult we can talk to?" I offered.

"I'll tell you the same thing." A voice called out from Captain Sprin's home.

She was a human woman, black-haired with grey streaks running throughout. Behind her, the smaller child gripped onto her leg, occasionally peaking out from behind. She held a large staff with both hands woven from oak to form a knotted mass at the tip. She pointed the staff in our direction.

"You've done enough to our family. I refuse to let you take my husband away."

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"Marien," Nev called out.

"Neverel?" She replied, dropping the staff down by her side.

The older child followed suit, lowering their pretend sword and making their way back to their sibling.

"My husband should be back in a couple of hours. So make yourself at home until then." Marien said, placing cups of tea in front of each of us.

She seated us in the widow's walk of their quaint home. Overlooking the rippling waves of the sea as ships found their way in and out of port. The tea tasted watered down, but we gratefully accepted.

"Where is the good captain sailing from this time?" Berthold asked.

"Well," Marien replied hesitantly. "Not sailing, I'm afraid. He's been looking for work since those nasty snake men took his other love."

"What?" Gemma asked. "Why would he let those cunts do something like that?"

"Language!" Marien responded, covering the ears of their youngest. "They came en mass, headed by that Fang always targeting my poor husband."

"Yates?" I asked.

She nodded in response.

"Our neighbors offered their support," she continued. "Food, clothes, firewood, but no one is willing to hire my Sprinkle over fear of association."

"I'm so sorry, Mariel," Nev replied. "Wait, did you say Sprinkle?"

"Yes?" Mariel replied with confusion. "You didn't know what Sprin was short for?"

"No, he never specified,"

I stifled my laughter in respect for the struggling family. But I made a mental note to heckle the good captain once he was in better standing.

"Family, I'm home!" A familiar voice shouted out from the entryway downstairs.

"Daddy!" The two children said in unison before shuffling down below.

"Unfortunately, no luck again, my love," Sprin called out. "I almost managed to get aboard a freighter hauling pewter to the Indigo Coast. But before the contract could get assigned, Patrice Swean told the captain those bastard snakemen were after me. The man wouldn't even talk to me after that."

"We have guests, husband."

Sprin headed upstairs and scouted out the people inside his home. As he reached the top of the stairs, his furry hand hovered over his blade.

"Nev!" Sprin said excitedly, lifting them off their feet.

"Hey, Captain," Nev replied, reluctantly allowing manhandling.

"A captain needs a ship, I'm afraid," Sprin replied. "I'm just another land walking chump until I find someone to hire me, no offense."

Sprin dropped Nev and glanced around at the other faces inside his home, stopping his gaze on me.

"You."

"I'm sorry, Sprin," I replied sheepishly.

"Sorry for what, my boy!" Sprin replied, picking me up similarly to Nev. "I don't know what you did to piss off those snake fuckers-"

"Language!" Marien interjected.

"Sorry, love," Sprin apologized. "When that rotten tooth came to commandeer my ship, he asked where you be. I told him I didn't know. I've never seen him look so upset! Thought the man was gonna start crying!"

"They came hoping to get passage to Thricehaven," Marien continued. "But I explained our situation to them."

Sprin sighed. "Sorry, crew, I'm nothing without my ship. No one in this town will hire me for fear of the snakemen's wrath. I'd lay low if I were you. There's a massive reward for any information on ye."

"Yeah, unfortunately, that's been the trend for most cities," I replied.

"You are all welcome to stay as long as you need, food may be scarce, but we'll make it work," Marien offered.

"We couldn't impose," Nev started.

"But we would appreciate it," Berthold interjected, receiving a scowl from Nev. "At least until we figure out what our next plan is."

"At least a dozen port cities is running up this coast," Sprin offered. "But you'll be running into the same issues wherever you go. You may find a captain who isn't afraid of the Fangs, but I'm afraid you're more likely to get turned in."

"Woah, it is like a head-scratcher," Leif replied. "Other people have a ship but like not a good captain. We, like, have a captain but no ship."

"Leif, I think you might be a genius," Berthold said sincerely.

"He is?" Everyone asked.

"I am?" Leif echoed.