The money is running low, Narwen reflected as she sat at the bar of "The Singing Mermaid." It was late at night, and through the window near her, she could see stars twinkling faintly in the sky, and the moon shining like a round silver coin. Thinking of silver, she remembered her tab, and put a coin next to her empty mug. Slipping off the high barstool, she collected her backpack and quarterstaff, pushed open the door of the inn, and departed into the night.
She loped along the streets to the docks, which were buzzing with activity even at this late hour. Men were unloading crates, singing around small fires, tending ships, or just loafing about. She stopped in front of the first ship, and looked it over with a practiced eye. It was a fast looking sloop, in fairly good condition. She might have considered it if not for the noise of drunken revelry coming from the deck. She knew from personal experience that a ship with too little discipline never got anywhere.
Passing on to the next ship, the saw that there was no one aboard, the lanterns hanging high on the bow but unlit shells of metal and glass.
The third ship looked plausible, clean and in good condition. She stopped in front of it to admire its fast sharp lines. Turning to a man nearby, she asked him, "Who captains this ship?" He straightened from the rope he was splicing, and said gruffly, "Yr Saldan be the captain of this fine ship. And who are you, looking for a ship so late?"
"Narwen," said she. "Are you a sailor under this Yr Saldan?" He nodded crisply. "Do you like serving under him?" she inquired, pumping him for any information he had. The burly man stood there, as if considering the question. After a moments hesitation he answered. "Aye, he's the best captain to be found in Umbar. It's a good ship, but your just a woman,and the work is hard."
Narwen was extremely annoyed. It was the same wherever she went. It seemed to be a rule that if you were a girl, you were immediately classified as a weakling. She breathed deeply before replying, trying to keep her easily provoked temper in check. "I don't think that the work would be to hard," she replied. "I have been a corsair for some years now, and I am tougher than I look." The man gazed at her doubtfully, measuring her up.
Finally, he said, "Fine. You can talk to the captain." She followed him as hewalked up the gangway to the ship, listening to the racous calls of the seabirds. He led her to the door of what she assumed was the captain's cabin, then left to go back to his work. Narwen knocked swiftly, three times, on the solid wooden door.
|