Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [185]
As Illan begins moving to pass through, he says, “You too, Shoen.”
Shoen waves them on through, then goes back to making sure the traffic continues to flow smoothly through the gate.
Illan leads them through and once on the other side, takes the street heading down toward the docks. “Let’s see about a ship first, before they have a chance to get away,” he tells them. “Once we have one to agree to take us, we can find an inn should we have the time.”
“Alright,” agrees James.
You’d think Illan had returned a hero the way everyone greets him as he moves down the street. He handles it all well, only slowing when absolutely necessary. “He sure is popular around here,” observes Miko as he watches Illan wave to the people on the streets.
“He’s well liked by everyone who knows him,” Uther comments when he hears Miko. “Never sure why he joined up with us, but I suppose he has his reasons.” Lowering his voice, he continues, “Some of us believe he lost his wife during the war and wants revenge. But no one knows for sure.”
Miko stares at Uther’s back and nods.
Looking down to the end of the street, they can see the water of the Sea and the masts of the ships at dock. The few buildings bordering the docks have the look of warehouses and Illan continues on past and stops at a small building sitting at the entrance to the docks. “Dockmaster,” he tells them as he dismounts. James and Jiron dismount as well, the others remain on their horses.
Illan steps up to the door with them right behind and pushes it open. Inside, they find a man sitting behind a desk covered in a disorganized pile of papers. He looks up from where he’s making notations on one of them and a smile breaks across his face when he sees who it is.
Getting up, he says, “Illan! What brings you back here?” Moving around the desk, he gives Illan a big hug, careful not to get the ink on his fingers on the back of Illan’s shirt.
“Marko,” he says, returning the hug, “didn’t know you were the new Dockmaster.”
Releasing him, Marko says, “Have been for a year now, ever since Yeurn got married to that woman from the City.” Stepping back two steps, he continues, “It’s good to see you again.”
“I’m afraid I can’t stay long,” he explains. “We have need to reach the other side of the Sea and were hoping to be able to get someone to take us.”
His smile fades somewhat as he says, “Nothing serious I hope? The Empire isn’t on its way here is it?”
Shaking his head, he says, “Nothing like that. Our forces still have them on the other side of the Etterling River.”
“That’s good news,” he says with relief. “We haven’t had much news lately about the war. Just what the refugees tell us as they pass through.”
Gesturing to the ships at the dock outside, he asks, “Which one of those would be our best bet?”
“You might try the Sea Strider, it’s the one all the way at the end,” he says. “Derrin Nellix is the captain, and he’s leaving shortly for the far side. Don’t know if he’ll take on passengers, but you can try.”
“Okay, we’ll do that, thank you,” he says as he holds out his hand to his friend.
Taking the hand, Marko shakes it vigorously and says, “You’re welcome. If you’ll be staying in town, I’d love it if you could come and have dinner with me and Pauline.”
“We’ll see,” he replies. “Probably have to dine with my family first, though. They’d never let me hear about it if I didn’t.”
Marko laughs at that. “I think you’re right. Well, good luck.”
Illan nods his head and then turns to leave. James and Jiron back out, giving him room to pass through the door.
“Why didn’t you tell him about Lord Pytherian’s letter?” James asks. “Wouldn’t that have expedited it better?”
“Why use it if we don’t have to?” he asks. “Besides, he’s not the one we have to convince.”
Returning to where the others are waiting, he says, “Might be in luck, you just wait here while we go down to the ship to arrange things.”
“Alright,” Uther says for everyone. He gets down off his horse,