Realm of Monsters - Chapter 679: The River Docks

Chapter 679: The River Docks

  The Dragon’s Hoard floated half a league from a town on the coast and more importantly, the mouth of a river that would lead them into the heart of the Silent Marshes. The river was too small for a ship as large as the Dragon’s Hoard, and so the ship had thrown its anchor, and the crew had prepared a rowboat to meet with the dock master. 

  “Are you ready?” Tauri walked over to where Stryg stood next to the ship’s railing.

  He gave a simple nod. “I think so. It’s weird… being here. This land was once the heart of my people. It is our homeland. And it’s the first time I’m seeing it.”

  Tauri placed her hand on his back. “I know this is hard for you, but we need you to be calm if this is going to work.”

  “I know. I’ll be alright.”

  “Alright, it’s time to move. People are gathering at the docks,” Freya said as she watched from her gilded spyglass.

  “My lord, don’t do anything stupid,” Gale called out from below.

  Stryg leaned over the railing and watched Gale and the others climbing down a rope and into the water. Gale was at the top, looking up at Stryg with a worried expression. 

  “I’ll be fine, Gale,” Stryg reassured her.

  “Take care of him, Tauri. He attracts trouble like no other,” Gale said.

  “I will, I promise,” Tauri smirked.

  Stryg rolled his eyes. “See you soon.” He drew Krikolm and sliced the rope clean.

  Gale gave him a look that could kill as she fell in a splash. Beatrix, Nora, and Belle channeled Blue and called upon the water, forming a bubble around them and the rest of the infiltration team. Gale wiped the wet blonde locks from her face and spat a mouthful of water before channeling her own mana into the spell. The bubble expelled the excess water within it, then sank beneath the waves.

  The Dragon’s Hoard hid the mages’ descent from the docks and town. Soon, the giant bubble discreetly ferried Kithina, Callum, and Kegrog, along with the four blue mages underwater and into the docks to carry out their mission. Until then, Stryg’s team would have to buy them time.

~~~

  A group of orc soldiers, dressed in a mismatched assortment of leather, waited at the head of the docks as Stryg’s rowboat drew near. They weren’t the most elite of soldiers, but there were many of them, over two dozen by Stryg’s count. Nothing he couldn’t handle, but that was assuming there were no mages among them. Even if there weren’t, he did not doubt there were at least a few in the harbor and town.

  The soldiers eyed the rowboat with suspicion, which only grew as Stryg and Tauri disembarked. Freya cleared her throat and gestured subtly to herself, still sitting on the boat. Tauri held back a glare and helped Freya up onto the dock, making sure to do a grand showing of it, and finishing with a low bow.

  Freya played her part spectacularly, keeping her head held high, nose tilted upwards, and sauntered past her two ‘servants’. Stryg would have thought she was an excellent actress, if not for the fact that this was how she had behaved when they first met.

  The soldiers formed a line around the dock, blocking Freya’s path. A woman, a head taller than the rest of the orcs, stood at their front. Unlike the others, she wore plate armor, freshly cleaned and oiled. A long scar ran down her jaw. She stared down at the blonde dwarf, hand resting on the pommel of her sheathed sword. “Take another step and you’ll lose that head. Who are you and what are you doing in Bluemere?” she spoke in a voice, deep, yet feminine.

  Freya placed her hands on her hip and glared up at the dire orc. “Who in all the bloody realms do you think you are?! Huh?!”

  The woman did not budge a step. “I am Enyo, captain of the town guard.”

  “And I am Lady Kaessa Osprey, vassal of Lady Freya Goldelm, merchant princess of Hollow Shade,” Freya said without missing a beat.

  “So you claim. But until you show me proof, you will not take a single step into our town. Nor will your ship dock in our port.” As if to illustrate her point, Enyo drew her sword slightly out of its sheath.

  Freya snapped her fingers. “Lora, if that woman draws her sword, drop her.”

  “As you wish, my lady,” Tauri nodded and twirled her mace in a comfortable grip. She appeared comfortable, but Stryg knew her better than that. The way her amber eyes twitched, the slight clench of her jaw.

  Wasn’t this supposed to be a diplomatic mission? Stryg thought.

  “Hold on, stop whatever this is!” An orc dressed in fine clothing pushed his way through the soldiers. He was a thin man with beady eyes and a black goatee. He stumbled to a halt in front of Enyo and took a moment to straighten his clothes. “Pardon my tardiness. I am Ulin, dock master of Bluemere. And you are?” He asked Freya, but his eyes lingered on Tauri.

  “Lady Kaessa Osprey, vassal of Lady Freya Goldelm,” Freya repeated, her expression clearly annoyed.

  “A vassal of the merchant princess, truly? May I see your merchant medallion?” Ulin offered his open hand.

  Freya produced a silver medallion and a writ bearing the sigil of House Goldelm from her cloak, and handed it over. Ulin inspected them for a moment, then nodded, satisfied, before handing them back. “Stay your blade, Captain. She is who she claims to be.”

  Enyo grunted and sheathed her blade.

  “Apologies for my people’s behavior, Lady Osprey. The whole coast is up in arms over the recent attacks from the goblin fleet. I trust you’ve heard of the green wretches?” Ulin said.

  Freya nodded. “Why do you think we’re here?”

  “Yes, I’ve heard the larger ports were raided and burned to the ground by those savages.” Ulin’s expression brightened, “But not to worry. Your cargo is safe here. Lord Morrigan has already dispatched the Murkton fleet. They will make short work of the enemy shortly. I trust you have no problem with the goblins’ demise?” He looked at Freya carefully.

  It was no secret that the Sylvan army had aided Hollow Shade. But Freya, or rather Lady Osprey, was a merchant. “The goblins are bad for business. I’ve already lost three of my routes thanks to them. I’ll be happy when they’re gone.”

  “A merchant after my own heart,” Ulin smiled. “Come, you and your companions must join me at my tavern. We’ll drink, eat, then talk business.”

  “You read my mind. Lead the way,” Freya said.

  The soldiers parted to the side as Ulin did just that. Enyo ignored Freya, but kept her eyes on Stryg and Tauri. As soon as Freya had made some space with the orcs, Tauri leaned over and whispered, “What was all that bravado about? You almost dragged us into battle right from the start!”

  “Relax, I was improvising. You have to act the part or no one will take you seriously,” Freya whispered.

  Tauri grumbled something inaudible under her breath but said nothing more. The port was filled with smaller boats, some ranging from half the size of the Dragon’s Hoard, others to little more than rowboats. The smaller ships couldn’t carry much cargo, but they were perfect for traversing the countless rivers stretching throughout the wetlands.

  Three ships stood out, too large to sail on the smaller rivers deeper inland. Warships. Arcane sigils were etched across their hulls and large ballistas sat on their decks. Either they had paid a lot of gold for a brown mage to enchant each ship and its equipment, or there were several mages in town. Probably both, if Stryg had to wager. 

  “What are you staring at?” Enyo asked with a suspicious glare.

  Tauri tensed, but Stryg replied without breaking his stride, “I should be the one asking you that. Why all the heavy weaponry? You get many bandits around here?”

  “I assure you, our rivers are safe. We patrol them heavily. No need to worry, sir—?” Ulin asked.

  “Ostroz,” Stryg replied. He chose the name of a goblin he once knew back at the Blood Fang village. The upstart goblin was one of the few who had talked to him and treated him more ‘normal.’

  “He’s our ship’s mage,” Freya explained. “Lora here, is the captain of my guard. They’re a bit rough around the edges, but they’re loyal to a fault.”

  Tauri grunted and spat into the water, leaning heavily into her character.

  “Ah, you have your very own mage? I should expect no less from a Goldelm merchant ship,” Ulin said.

  Enyo didn’t seem satisfied but didn’t push the topic. As they walked, Ulin and Enyo pulled ahead of the others. “Have the warships readied to set sail and aimed towards their merchant ship. If they try anything, shoot their ship down,” he whispered.

  “And if they don’t?” Enyo whispered.

  “Then we make a lot of money from the most lucrative trade deal of the year. Now play nice.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Though they kept their voices hushed, Stryg’s sharp ears caught every last word. He would have to deal with those warships before they left this place.

~~~

  The tavern was more of a manor, with a tavern built on the first floor. As soon as they entered, Ulin turned towards them, arms opened wide. “Welcome to my home. Please, make yourselves comfortable. The barmaids will show you to our best table.”

  With a snap of his fingers, several barmaids appeared almost from nowhere, and guided the group to a round polished table at the back of the tavern.

  “Oi! Bring out the good stuff. We have a vassal of the Golden merchant princess with us,” Ulin ordered the barkeep before heading to join Freya and the others.

  Two minutes hadn’t even passed since they had sat down before the barmaids returned with tankards of ale and plates of steaming seafood, ranging from grilled fish to marinated lobster.

  “Oh, this isn’t half bad.” Freya sipped her ale and tried a bite of the lobster.

  Ulin was somewhat miffed by the back-handed compliment, but he let it slide and smiled. “I’m glad you like it. We have the best food this side of the coast.”

  “I believe it,” Freya took another bite. “So, about my cargo. Where and when can I unload it? I’d also like to hire several of your smaller trade ships, say, eight or nine?”

  “Ah, first we feast. Then business.”

  “Fine by me.” Freya dove into her food and started to ask questions about the kind of fish and the sauces used on the lobster.

  Stryg tuned out the conversation and studied the tavern. Several soldiers were having their meal a couple of tables away, alongside sailors and a couple of merchants. All of them were orcs. Stryg had grown accustomed to the different residents of Hollow Shade and he felt odd sitting in a room of people who were the Sylvan’s sworn enemy.

  He wondered how much longer it would take until Gale and the others were in position. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the sound of the river outside, searching for Gale’s voice or any of the others’.

  “So how did such a scarlet beauty as yourself end up working on a Goldelm ship?” asked Ulin.

  The dock master’s question brought Stryg back to the table and he opened his eyes to find Ulin staring at Tauri with a coy grin.