Alaric:

The boat ride to Pinewick proved to be a much-needed respite from the grueling journey they had endured on foot. The gentle rocking of the vessel on the water, complemented by the soothing breeze, offered a welcome reprieve from the exhaustion that had settled into their bones. Alaric leaned against the railing, savoring a moment of tranquil reflection as he gazed out at the vast expanse of the open sea. Nearby, Katherine stood alone, her eyes fixed upon the ever-shifting panorama of the horizon.

The initial hours of the journey passed smoothly, with only minor hiccups to disrupt their serenity. Alaric couldn’t help but notice some shady characters on the boat, eyeing Katherine with a mix of curiosity and ill intent. However, he dismissed them as mere nuisances and thought little more of it.

Regrettably, as they reached the midpoint of their voyage, the peace they had enjoyed was abruptly shattered by the arrival of a boisterous group of passengers. Katherine’s striking beauty had drawn their attention like moths to a flame, and their crude comments were intolerable.

Alaric remained vigilant, ready to intervene if needed, though he understood that this time, it was Katherine’s fight to handle. He had every confidence in her abilities, knowing well she probably dealt with such fools often. These skirmishes were a common occurrence in Lutra.

The confrontation escalated as the unwanted advances persisted. One of the unruly passengers, fueled by alcohol and arrogance, seized Katherine’s arm. Alaric jumped up, ripping the arm off her, and in a heartbeat, Katherine’s reflexes took over, and she swiftly took her polearm from a beautiful red velvet sheath. The glinting side caught the sunlight, casting an ominous gleam over the warm waters.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Tempers flared, and the situation escalated rapidly. Katherine’s attackers, fueled by a reckless mix of bravado and intoxication, lunged at her with unwarranted confidence. But she proved to be a formidable adversary. Her polearm became an extension of herself, a whirlwind of strikes, parries, and counters that left her assailants bewildered, disoriented, and nursing both physical bruises and wounded pride.

Alaric watched in awe as Katherine expertly defended herself.

In the end, Katherine stood triumphant, her polearm poised and ready, serving as a stark warning to anyone contemplating challenging her.

After that encounter, no one dared to provoke Katherine, and the remainder of the journey passed peacefully.

There were fewer prying eyes, and those who had been injured during the skirmish were confined to cramped sick bunks. Alaric repeatedly offered to have them thrown overboard to get some cheap revenge, but Katherine refused. It was her choice, but if it was him, he would have knocked them out for more than a few months.

As Alaric pondered these thoughts, he couldn’t help but feel that the world, particularly Lutra, operated on principles of power and bloodshed rather than compassion and kindness, traits that Katherine possessed in abundance.

He blew a strand of his hair out of his face, and Katherine joined him on the railing.

Eventually, after a few long hours of them just looking at the sea, the ship touched down.

They said goodbye to the vessel and dropped off at a large forest.

Unsurprisingly, they were the only ones who went off. Pinewick was supposedly just filled with trees, and many at that.