Calm!

“Cassie!” Rosa whispers sharply behind us. “Calm!”

“What in Neptune’s beard is going on up here?” Captain Nikias bellows as he rushes up onto the deck to see what the commotion was about. The eyes of the crew turn to him. His arrival did nothing to break the tense threat of impending violence among the men but thankfully it gave us a moment before they descended upon us.

“You have a mage!” I say, my voice projecting more panic than I wanted. Kreer hadn’t been around when we hired passage aboard The Black Sacrifice and never once had there been talk of a wizard being among the crew. I didn’t know much about nautical things but even I recognized the presence of a dedicated magic-user aboard a merchant corbita, even one as big as this, was unusual. It was a risk we had not counted on. From what I understood from Lydia a mage of the Emprie, ANY mage, was bound by their professional oaths to report slaves with magical abilities or put them down themselves. With Kreer on board Rosa had instantly gone from simple passenger to the most forbidden of contraband. Had we known we surely would have waited for another ship but we were here now with a hound of shadow and smoke nipping at our heels back on shore. As far as I saw it, we didn’t have a choice but to try to make this work. Stepping out in front of Cassie I grab the haft of the hatchet and carefully, but forcefully, pry it from Cassie’s hand. Holding her gaze I say softly. “Let’s stick to battles we can win, hm?”

She lets out a defiant snort then, as the hopeless situation sinks in, the tension in her muscles relax. She nods, bows her head and steps back to stand humbled beside Rosa who takes her hand. Beside them the man Cassie had tripped, sheepish and embarrassed at being bested by a woman, is helped to his feet. Nikias comes around to stand with his first mate.

“What is going on, Kreer?” Nikias asks, his eyes firmly on me. “Starting fights without me?”

After a low whistle Kreer runs his three fingered hand down his chest where I had shove him and says. “Our passengers seem to have an issue with mages.” The pair then share a few words in Greek.

Without yet knowing what I was going to say I open my mouth to offer some kind of explanation when, of all people, my chubby kobalos slave steps out from among us to occupy the defensive space left between myself and Nikias. “Thith ith my fault.” Colly, her hands folded in front of her in a posture of contrition, peers up at Kreer while keeping her chin low. “You thee, my former mathter was a mage. And a cruel one. She onthe forthed Mathter Quin to whip me againtht hith will.” She peers back at me, a little twinkle in her large eyes as we both knew she was blending truth with fiction like wine with water to smooth the bitter edges. The twinkle is there but a moment before the hurt and innocence returns and she looks back to Nikias. “Thinthe then my Mathter and friendth have been very protective of me and wary of withardth.”

Backing her play, as we were in it now and I had none of my own, I step forward and lay a hand on her wide head. “Your spell caught us off guard. That’s all. Besides what Colly said I’ve also been the victim of mind magic in the past. It was…unpleasant. We meant no harm.”

Nikias studies Colly and I a moment before a his sun-worn features softens. “It’s not every transport that is graced with the services of a ship mage, but old Kreer and I go way back. We were navy men once upon a time, pirate hunters. My friend here is still accustomed to barking orders over asking permission.” He slaps his friend’s back and turns to him. “Kreer, these are PAYING passengers. Shore manners.”

Not a single emotion is betrayed by his cetacean features as gives the captain an small nod. If he was angry, offended, amused or anything in between I simply could not read it in those fathomless eyes.

Coming in behind Colly, Cassie still at her side, Rosa says in that honey sweet and smooth voice of hers. “Please, Captain, accept our apologies for such a big misunderstanding over such a small thing. I am assuming it was a harmless charm?”

“A simple detection spell.” Kreer says, small clicks popping between the Latin words. “To ensure no curses, spells or magic items come aboard without my knowledge.”

Rosa touches my arm, her ears lowering slightly, and says. “See. Nothing to worry about, Master. Now that we’re ready for it.” Though her tone was light she leaned her emphasis into that last sentence, signaling me that she was ready for it. As she spoke her blind eyes stay focused toward the sound of Kreer’s voice.

“Right, yes. Of course.” I smile and hold my hands wide. “Your ship, your rules Captain.”

Without waiting for the Captain’s go ahead Kreer casts his spell again, this time finishing it. As he does so Rosa bows her head as if in submission, a few strategically loosened locks of hair allowed to fall over her face. Had it not been for blazing Sol who was nearing his midday zenith I was sure the tell tale green glow of Rosa’s gift might have been seen in her distantly staring eyes. Kreer holds one hand out toward us, his thumb and two fingers splayed wide to reveal the webbing between them, and studies the group of us one by one, including Danae who was now curled tight to Rosa’s calf. The mage turns his bulbous head one way to look us over with his left eye and then the other to study us with his right. He then tilts his melon like skull one way then the other. He mutters another word of magic and thrusts his hand forward again.

After a long moment I sensed concern rising in Nikias. He says. “Anything wrong?”

Kreer does not answer at first, instead he let out one of his shrill whistles that could felt as keenly as heard, then slowly lowers his hand. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Nikias asks, as if sensing something was off.

Kreer turns to his captain. “Nothing.” He pauses. “Nothing at all.” Again it was impossible to read the telchis but there was something in that pause that put me on edge. It was equally difficult to discern where the mage was looking at any particular moment due to the whale-like configuration of his eyes but I could feel his near eye still watching me even as he faced Nikias. “They are void of all magical influence.”

“Good!” Nikias slaps Kreer’s shoulder. “Now get these men back to work!”

With that Kreer lets out a growl that seems to come from the decks then spikes swiftly into a piercing whistle. As quick as they had stopped when trouble broke out the crew snaps back into action as they prepared to set sail. The eyes of a few lingering on Cassie with transparent admiration after her display of behavior not becoming of a proper Roman lady.

I had no sooner let out a breath of relief when Nikias steps close and says in a low voice meant for my ears alone. “Lay a hand on my first mate again, you saltless boy, and you’ll lose it. I don’t care how much you paid us.” His sharp gaze conveys that he was not a man to make idle threats. “Understood?”

I nod. “Understood.”

He nods back, tension gone, and pats my shoulder as if all was well then heads on about his business.

“Whooo.” I sigh, turning to huddle with my group. “Okay. I think that’s enough excitement for now.” My voice lowering I pat Colly’s head. “Quick thinking, Colly.”

“I not jutht here for my thexy body.” She chortles. “Or am I?”

With a smile I shake my head then turn to Cassie. Before I could say anything she says. “If you’re waiting for an apology…”

“I was just going to say…thanks for having my back.”

She smirks. “Always.” Then with a flick of her eyes she calls my attention to behind me.

I turn to find Kreer still standing and facing us, his arms behind his back and his posture erect. I worried a moment until I remembered we’d been sent up to report to him in the first place.

I hold my hand out for a shake. “Hey, sorry about all that.”

“Not necessary.” He says, his strange voice as emotionally opaque as his features. Making no sign that even saw my outstretched hand he continues. “You will now be shown to your quarters. You will stay there until you are given word that you are free to leave and move about the ship.”

“Uh, right.” I lower my hand.”

“I have an interest in your sword. I have never seen its construction.” He says. “I will speak to you about it when my duties allow.”

“Sure, yeah.” I say, feeling like I had just booked an official appointment with a magistrate. “That’s fine, Kreer.”

He nods then turns. “Aleksandros. Escort the guests…”

“Sir?” Comes a creaky voice from behind a nearby crate. Stepping out was the male goblin we’d seen earlier up in the rigging. He was maybe two inches taller than Collywaddle with a leanly muscled body of a slightly darker and mossier shade of green. His head was shaved bald but the tufts on his ears showed his hair was as a blue-tinged black. Where Colly had amber eyes his were a russet red though he had the same wide head and upturned piggish nose as her. He grins, showing a mouth full of crooked but healthy teeth. “May I show the guests to their quarters?”

“Ooop!” Colly squeaks at my side, suddenly clutching my hand.

“You are a rigger.” Kreer states.

“It’ll just take a second.” The goblin says, stepping forward. His red eye flit again and again and again to the buxom and breedable kobalos at my side. “And I’m here already.”

“Very well.” Kreer says. “See the guests to their quarters.”

“Yes, Sir!” He snaps to attention with a humongous smile.

The rest of our party might as well not even been there as the goblin walks boldly up to Colly. He puffs up his chest and says. “My name is Slubbergrub.”

Colly smiles, gripping my hand even tighter even as she leaned into him. “My name ith Collywaddle.”

He lets out a laugh and waves her follow him. “Come on. Follow me.”

Eyes locked on Slubbergrub Colly begins walking without waiting for the rest of us, pulling me along behind her as she goes. Cassie and I exchange a glance and hide our smiles.