Age of Cataclysm: Book 1-Chapter 29
Imported from SF2 with no description.
Chapter length: 2,529 words
Current novel length: 83,290 words
<Text in between these symbols represent a fantasy language translated into English>.
Thank you Shadow99688 for your vote on the previous chapter.
Chapter 29
(Septham 2nd Year 672 of the 4th Age)
Kaera wakes up as soon as the sun's rays first hit her eyes. She feels fine now that her heat is gone though something else is now souring her mood. She sits up and turns her head at Arven as he wakes up.
"Morning, Kaera."
"Rise and shine, Arven."
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
Arven can tell from her voice that she isn't. "You don't sound fine."
"It's about last night."
"If it's something I've done, I'm sorry."
"It's not you. I hate the fact that my instincts compel me to have sex with someone. I want to do it with someone I love and care about, not because if I don't, I'll be miserable for a few days, and I'll most likely find some male to fuck anyway."
"Do you regret what we did last night?"
"No, I actually appreciate what you did and what Merrick and Sylfinas offered. I'd rather have it be you or them instead of a complete stranger."
"Well, I'm glad."
"You most likely don't know this, but in Canir, if a female Fenri has sex with a male Fenri and he shoves a part of his dick called a knot in her, tying themselves together, they are supposed to be married."
"You're right; I did not know that. I bet not even Sylfinas does, or else we would've had a long lecture by now."
Kaera chuckles. "You're probably right on that."
"So what would happen if the couple does not go through with the marriage?"
"He and she are considered to be defying Faer's will and are forced to live in the lowest tier of society. For a while, my mom raised my twin brother and me in that condition."
"Really?"
"My mom had a one night stand with another Fenri, he shoved his knot in her, and when she woke up the next day, he was gone. She got pregnant with my twin brother and me that night. She was eventually placed in a higher tier in society after convincing people that she was raped, earning her an opportunity to participate in an event called the Mating Ceremony. She found a desirable mate during it. That got her even further up in society, but the years before that event were rough. They had multiple sons and daughters together along with my twin brother and me."
"Sounds like you've been through a lot."
"I did." _My mate and I even broke several taboos that I'm trying to rectify. _"Now, tell me a little bit about yourself. I could tell that it was not your first time having sex last night."
"I had a girlfriend. Her name was Helane. We've slept together a few times."
"Where is she now?"
"Don't know. Don't care. I hope to never see her again."
"What happened?"
"I was coming back from military training when I caught her cheating on me with another man."
"Sorry to hear that."
"I've moved on for the most part."
There is a knock on the door. Arven and Kaera can hear Merrick on the other side. "Wake up, love birds. The rest of us are getting breakfast."
"Be there in a few, Merrick," Kaera responded. She gets up and gathers her clothes. Arven does the same. They clean themselves up a bit before meeting everyone down in the dining room.
Radclyff greets them while chewing on a piece of fowl. "How did the treatment work for you, Kaera? Judging by your looks and scent, I say it did its job."
"Yes, it did its job. Thank you, Radclyff. You were right. I wouldn't have lasted much longer without it." Kaera notices that there is an extra member of the table with them. "Who's she?"
Sylfinas answers, "This is Myla. Myla, this is Kaera."
Kaera greets her. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. I've never seen a person that resembles a wolf. That's so cool! I like wolves."
"Thanks for the compliment, but I'm not a wolf."
"But you look like one, so how can you not be?"
"You're just going to have to take my word. Anyway, how did you meet us?"
"Master Sylfinas saved me. Guards were about to kill me, but he came in and stopped it."
Arven adds more to the story, "And we almost died by taking on a monster way stronger than we can take because he made a deal with the guards to spare her life." He stares at Myla and Sylfinas. "If you ask me, he deliberately sent you two on the quest so you won't live."
Kaera looks at everyone, a bit furious about the news. "Did you take on the same monster?" Everyone nods their heads.
"You should've come and got me."
"You were dealing with something personal. The state I saw you yesterday, there was no way you were ready for fighting."
"Yes, I was Radclyff." The other Fenri appears doubtful about Kaera's statement.
Sylfinas stops the argument before it goes any further. "Look, we're alive now. That's all that matters. Right now, we need to figure where Myla can live because she has no family that can take care of her, and she refuses to go to an orphanage in this city."
"I want to be with you, Master Sylfinas."
"And I say no. What's your input, everybody? By the way, Kaera, I'm not her master."
"What can she do?" Kaera asked.
"She can heal, and she can do it by not invoking any magical incantations. That's all she can do." Sylfinas answered.
The party members debate further on the status of Myla. They have an idea that Myla will go with Jemeir and Radclyff, and they can take her to Radclyff's house. She will live there with Aila and his kids while he and Jemeir fix the relationship in Belburn and follow up on signs of The Soulmonger's return. Some point out that the group lacks a dedicated healer, and she fills the void, while the rest point out that her lack of combat skills and Myla being a child will burden them to make sure no monsters or evil people attack her often. In the end, they decide, much to Myla's protest, that it will be best if she lives with Radclyff's family. Jemeir and Radclyff get up from the table.
"Radclyff and I will now look for someone to take you across the Kerithian Sea. Remember Sylfinas, you are not allowed to leave the tavern until we secure a ship. Arven and Merrick will keep watch."
"I won't leave, dad," Sylfinas replied. "I haven't forgotten about what Tericius said yesterday. I'll just be in the room brewing some potions. The ingredients I have need to be used, or they will spoil soon."
"What about Myla and me?" asked Kaera.
"I know Myla is attached to Sylfinas, so she won't leave. As for you, you can come with us if you wish. It will give you a chance to see more of the city since you had personal matters to take care of yesterday."
"That sounds like a good idea. Let me get my greataxe."
Radclyff likes the idea of arming up. "Let me get my greatsword."
"I'll just wait outside while you two retrieve your weapons," Jemeir uttered.
Kaera and Radclyff meet up with Jemeir outside and go out in search of a ship. The place they go to first is by the docks. The docks are crowded, with barely any room to breathe. There are fishermen just fishing right off the docks. Crewmembers of the ships they work for are hauling items on the vessels to set sail soon or hauling items off to sell as merchandise. Barrels of fish scatter the pathways and fill the air with a potent fish smell. Seagulls patrol around the skies or on the ground.
Jemeir, Kaera, and Radclyff walk into a tavern called The Hooked Swordfish. For what it's supposed to be an off-hour in the day, it is hectic inside. Patrons gather around the various table playing card games. Other people are at the bar counter having a drink with some unconscious from the alcohol. There is a small stage with a band currently playing music to the customers. Jemeir breaks away from Kaera and Radclyff in search of a captain. The Fenri go to a couple of empty seats right together at the bar counter and start sipping some pungent alcohol.
A few minutes later, Jemeir returns. "Come on, you two, I think I found someone."
"Good thing you showed up. I was just starting to feel the effects of this drink. How are you doing, Kaera."
"I'm fine. Starting to feel it just like you." The person behind the counter near the Fenri is amazed that the foreigners feel the effects, and these are light effects of the drinks when ordinary people would pass out.
Jemeir escorts Kaera and Radclyff to a table where a female Wood Elf and her robot partner sit. The Elf has auburn hair that is long and straight. It goes past her shoulders. Her blue eyes analyze the three newcomers as they sit down. The clothing she wears is a deep shade of blue with black and red color patterns. She is wearing a sling across her chest, and it connects to a rifle behind her.
"These are the people that are with you?" The Wood Elf asked Jemeir.
"Indeed, they are."
"Let's get right down to business, shall we. Now, you are looking for someone to help these two sneak by the Phehans on the way to Nowell. Am I getting this right?"
"Well, one person here is going." Jemeir indicates Kaera sitting on his left. "She and three other people, all of them are male, and two are Human, and the other is a Half-Elf, are the ones that need passage. The other three are in a different tavern currently."
The Elf takes a swig of hard liquor. "Dealing with Phehans can be a nasty business. I heard they execute anybody from Adoran if caught in their territory, and some executions are brutal. Nasty shits are getting fucking aggressive in expanding their territory in the Kerithian Sea and elsewhere."
"Well, that's why we are looking for someone that has expertise in humanoid smuggling. It sounds like you are getting cold feet, so it looks like I have to find someone else."
"Now hold up. I'm not afraid of the Phehans. I'm the captain of the Howling Gale. You have heard of it, right?"
"No, I don't think I have."
"It's a fast ship, and it's capable of making tighter turns than your typical sea vessel. It can outmaneuver Gerridan ships, which are regarded as one of the best ships in Illyria. She did the Strait of Kremez in twelve days."
"Clink-clank," the robot made the sound.
The Wood Elf slams her drink. "It was twelve! I don't know why you think it was fourteen."
"Clink-clank."
"Sounds like you believe you can do the job," Jemeir said.
"I can do it. Depends on how much coin you're willing to cough up."
"How much you're asking?"
"12,000 gold."
"That's way too much!" Kaera exclaimed.
The Wood Elf leaned across the table towards Kaera, smugging. "What are you going to do, Fenri, find another smuggler? I guarantee you that you won't find anyone better than my crew and me, and this is the best price you'll find."
That catches Kaera and Radclyff by surprise that the Wood Elf knows their race. Kaera recovers. "You're just overselling yourself. Come on, Jemeir, I'm sure there other people capable of doing the job and charge way less."
Jemeir raises his left hand to shut her up. He pulls out a sack of coin from his Bag of Holding and opens it. "There's 1600 platinum pieces in here. I'll give you this when we meet again in exchange for your service."
"1600 platinum?"
"Correct."
"Looks like you got yourself a fucking deal. I'm Lorna." She extends her right hand.
"Jemeir." He extends his hand, and they shake. "That's Kaera, one of the four people you'll be smuggling. The others are Arven, Merrick, and Sylfinas."
"Tell them to meet me at my ship tomorrow in the early morning. It's docked over by the dockmaster's office right next to the Rusted Anchor tavern."
Just as Jemeir, Kaera, and Radclyff were about to leave, a male Half-Orc stops them by pointing a gun. "Don't you dare move. Sit back down."
They obey his command, and they raise their hands. Lorna speaks to them, "Let me handle this." She turns to the Half-Orc and utters in Orcish, but Kaera can understand it without their knowledge. <"Zaimak, what's a cocksucker like you want this time?">
<"Enough, Lorna. You know why I'm here. Where's Omaz's money?"> He speaks in Orcish as well.
<"Tell him that I have the money. He just needs to be more patient."> She stealthily reaches for something on her body.
<"He's all out of patience. He wants his money now, or he's going to fucking kill you.">
<"If he can wait just a little longer, I'll give him what I owe plus extra. I just got a contract that is really simple to do. It'll be quick, and it pays well.">
<"How about I take these three right here as hostages to buy you more time?">
<"They're the ones that gave me the deal, so no."> During the standoff, Lorna starts to cock the hammer slowly as she stares at Zaimak.
<"Ok, how about they give me the exact amount instead of you, and I'll have Omaz call off the hunt on you.">
<"Over my dead fucking body, you're taking all of the money.">
<"Then again, maybe it's better if I shoot you right now."> There's a flash and a loud bang with smoke lingering in the air as Zaimak's body falls onto the table. Jemeir, Kaera, and Radclyff behold Lorna holding a revolver in her hand, and she blows smoke from the barrel. Everyone else inside stops what they're doing and turns to see what is going on before going back to their business, unconcerned about the recent murder.
<"I can say the same thing about you, prick."> She resumes speaking Common to the people at the table with her, "Sorry that you need to see that, folks. Negotiations did not play out the way I want them to. I'll see you tomorrow then. Come Bolts, we need to alert the crew."
"Clink-clank." The large robot accidentally knocks the fresh corpse off the table and onto the floor.
Lorna throws a small sack of coin to the person behind the counter. "Keep the change."
Jemeir, Kaera, and Radclyff leave Zaimak's body on the table and head back to the Drunken Seagull. They notice that Lorna is armed with two rapiers, two revolvers, and a long rifle hanging from her back as she leaves. They also see a belt of large-caliber rounds around her waist.
"Rethinking about your choice, Jemeir?" Radclyff asked.
"No, I think I made the right choice."
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