Ilus Rises: Chapter 12 Part 1 of 2

Chapter 12:

“Are you sure leaving the ship without a guard is wise?” Desari asked as they walked down the dock towards the island.

“Its got at least one big guard,” Mya sniggered to herself.

“Should’ve seen what Mesurial can do with an anchor,” Valter said.

“huh, look at that, the ‘land’ is basically a bunch of buildings filling in the spaces between the docks,” Petor waved ahead of them.

The buildings subtly rose and fell with the waves underneath. Here the docks were so close that only a few boats could fit between them. Planks and other materials had been hammered into place, advancing the growing island along the radiating docks.

“See that there tavern,” Mya pointed at it, just on the ‘island’ side of the docks. “The Rolling Ruckus?”

Desari nodded with the others.

“We’ll meet up here when it starts getting dark, its bound to take us a while,” Mya said. She grimaced. “You know what I don’t think that I’ll be able to sell everything by nightfall. Could you sell the maps and information to the Adventurer’s guild?”

Petor glanced at Desari, then back. “Yeah give it to me I can do it.”

He stepped forward, Desari looked out, covering them, Valter doing the same. Paper rustled and then Mya and Petor stepped apart.

“Got it all, and the ledger with the pricing,” Petor said.

“Great, thank you.” Mya pointed down the street. “If you head along the dock it should take you right to the center I figure.”

“I can feel it,” Desari said. The thrum of the water element, and increased mana density had its own pull to her.

“And I can smell me some coinpurses that are about to be a lot lighter,” Mya rubbed her hands together before clapping them. “See yah!” She headed off to the right.

“If you find a cloak that keeps off the water and keeps the user warm I’ll take it!” Petor called as they split apart.

He hurried his steps after Desari as she stalked forward into Misty Cove.

***

Mya and Valter entered a square, buildings ringed the sides with stores spreading up through the stores. Stalls were set up in a grid in the middle of the square.

A man using a bosun chair was well above them working to patch a collector dripping water below.

Her eyes darted between stalls and buildings, mentally categorizing their wares.

“Oh, I meant to tell you earlier but I forgot,” Mya said, moving down the side of the square. “So that pendant, the Obsidian Anchor one. It’ll secure you in place, but that also means that you won’t have a way to recoil. So you take a hit, you won’t move backwards from it, but you also won’t move backwards from it so you’re taking the full impact.” She turned down a road, scanning the signs.

“How does it know what to secure to?” Valter asked.

“Say you jump in the air, it’ll secure you there, if you jump up and grab something, it’ll secure you to that. So basically whatever you’re touching.” She trailed off. “That should do nicely.” She weaved through people and past a hand-drawn cart. Closing on a store.

Its door was pulled up against accidental mist—the collectors couldn’t get it all—to reveal weapons on the walls.

“Not any metal,” Valter said.

“Don’t need none of that rusting or wearing away crap! Need a good solid stone or bone weapon here!” A man stood up from behind the counter, patting off bone dust. He was older with wrinkles that had softened but still had the markings of someone that lived upon the water most of their life. He was missing several teeth, he blinked his eyes several times, and rubbed them. Revealing a missing forefinger and pinkie.

As Mya got closer to the counter she could see the carving and sharpening workshop behind the counter. He’d modified his own tools to give him finer control.

“Looking a little light on stock,” Mya mentioned.

“What we don’t have on the walls we can make for you on custom order,” The man limped forward with the sounds of wood on wood.

“What you think about increasing your stock without the work?” Mya leaned her hip against the counter, tapping on it with her fingers as she gave him a sideways grin.

“I’ve been known to buy a piece or two,” His eyes narrowed. “If they’re high enough quality.”

Mya drew out a piece of rolled cloth she’d prepared, presentation was key to any sale, and began opening it, revealing stone drake teeth and talons.

“Heavy Earth attributed materials, looking for handles is all. Though one could sharpen them up into some truly dangerous weapons.”

She added a few bones for good measure.

“What’s you’re name?”

“Captain Mya,” She pushed her hat higher with two fingers.

“May I?” He waved at the displayed items.

“Please.” She held out her hand.

He picked up some of the teeth which were as long as his forearm. “Must’ve been a mean beast.” He rolled it under his nose and took in a big sniff.

Then he held it next to his ear, closing his eyes and flicked it, and then a second time. He grunted and pressed it against the counter and cut a line into it.

He looked down its length and turned it before placing it back with a grunt. He did the same with each piece.

“How many you got?” He half closed one eye, focusing on her.

“Here’s my ledger.” She held out a piece of paper stuck on a board. He traced through it with a forefinger and put it down ontop of the bones.

“What you thinking about for the price of these?” He asked. She had him.

“Thirty percent above normal material cost,” Mya opened.

“That’s what most would make with a finished item,” He put his hands on his hips.

“Ten percent!”

“Ten percent? These are Earth items in the water plane!” She slammed her hands down on the counter.

“I’m told that there’s some well beneath our feet too,” He growled.

“Hah! Well I don’t see any of it ‘round here!” She held up her hands to indicate everything around them.

“Fifteen percent.” He crossed his arms, eyes narrowing.

“You’d best give me twenty percent else I’m walking out this here door.” Mya leaned forward, hands still on the table.

He looked between her eyes. His face cracking out into a smile.

“Pleasure doing business with yah,” He held out his hand.

Mya grinned and held out her hand. “And you as well.”

They shook, Mya holding onto his hand.

“I got something else, it’s a little special, would need a lot of work though.”

She released him as his eyes narrowing right back down. “Special she says when she’s bent me over the barrel and had ‘er way with me,” He landed his hands on the table. “Alright ou’ with it yah witch.” He grumbled but there was a spark of amusement in his eyes.

Mya took out a scale from the stone drakes.

He turned the scale over, sniffing it, then licking it before putting it between his teeth and chewing. “Heavily earth attributed scales if I was an educated man.” He said as if he was headed to the gallows.

He was a good sport, Mya fought off the chuckle.

He sighed looking at the scale. “And what would you have out of my hide for this?” He dragged his eyes back up to her as if facing his mortal end.

“Same as the rest, twenty percent above market value for scales of a water beast and information if you got it.”

“Never let it be said that old Roberts don’t hear a few things,” His lips pulled back in a gap-tooth smile. “What you looking for?”

“We’re looking for someone or a store that would deal in cores, random materials and items,” Mya said.

“You got a ledger on your wares?”

Mya produced it, crossing out the items that he had bought already. The page with the details on the fire elemental’s armor and gear safely tucked into her storage device. Nothing about Misty Cove indicated that it was the kind of palace where one could sell such items.

Robert flipped through the pages, muttering to himself as he ran a nub down the entries. His eyes narrowed and widened at the different items listed, he reached the end of the ledger and carefully closed it, he held it for a few seconds.

“That there is quite the bounty. Be careful about who sees it,” He stuck her with a gaze. “Though I’m thinking that the person who can have a ledger like that is someone that should be well enough alone.”

Mya winked at him, her smile unchanging.

He glanced over to Valter who was leaned up against a side of the shop with one foot resting against the wall and his arms crossed, watching those that passed the store.

Roberts tapped on the cover of the ledger, sucking on his lip. “Twenty percent more for the earth materials?”

“If you’re interested,” Mya looped her thumbs into her belt. “I’m open to trade.”

“Damn travelling merchants and you’re lahdie dah attitude,” Roberts rolled his eyes and blew a raspberry.

Mya’s smile only grew wider as he flipped open the book.

“So this here Earth essence—”

They sunk back into discussions, carrying through the ledger as Roberts picked out items, grumbling as the total increased, but gritting his teeth and doing anyways.

Fire burnt through water, but Earth subdued it. For weapons it was highly effective. He’s going to make a sweet profit with these even at the higher prices.

By the workmanship on the walls he was highly skilled in his art.

“We have a deal,” Mya said as the negotiations came to an end. She shook his hand.

“Not everyday someone comes up with those kinds of wares. Now for cores, ingredients and crafting materials you’re going to want to see Maz.” Roberts pulled out a piece of paper and started drawing out a map. “For the items and finished gear Cregor is your best bet. He’s just this side of mad, but he’s a good sort. Place looks like a heap but he’s got more treasures than any other store three times over. When can you deliver the goods?”

“Now if you’d like,” Mya said, Robert’s pencil missed the page a bit. Mya didn’t hide her grin. “How about the gold?”

Roberts glared at her. “You meant to mess me up.”

“I’m just an innocent trader.” Mya batted her eyes.

Roberts snorted. “And I’m up for the prettiest sailor of the year.” He kept tracing out the map, rough but sure. “Does a writ work?”

“Sure, but I’d need an oath,” Mya said.

Roberts grimaced. “Understood, ain’t no small amount.” He pulled out a bottle from under the counter.

“Here,” He put the map on the ledger, showing Cregor, Maz and two bank locations. Mya mentally traced them out and linked them to the map of the city she knew already. Crafting a path that would get her to the banks and the other merchants easily.

Roberts held onto the counter and bent sideways, shifting things unseen.

Mya slipped the ledger away and held out the map to Valter.

“Thanks.” He studied it and glanced out in the direction of the other shops and banks.

“Nope, not that,” Roberts said from behind the counter. “I swear that it was in here.” Glass and wood moved as he muttered. “Ah! There yah are.”

He pulled himself back upright and patted off a dusty leather book away from himself.  A crest on the front . He coughed at the dust thrown up and put it on the counter.

He opened the book, three serrated parts to a page, some torn away, a silvery threading running through it.

The pages pristine as Roberts drew a pen from the inner spine, holding with his thumb and middle finger to lay down his name, the agreed upon amount and other particulars. His writing neat and clean speaking to his workmanship as a master carver.

He turned the book and held out the pen. “If you could?”

Mya checked the information before adding in her own information to the writ.

She put the pen back in its holster before taking out a dagger and cutting the back of her hand.

Roberts snorted.

Mya quirked an eyebrow as she dripped blood into the required circle. The writ flared and the silvery lines shifted to a red that filled half of the writ.

“Sorry, just, you know the young ones when they’re doing and oath or a writ--” Roberts smirked.

Mya smiled in anticipation of where this was going.

“They go and cut their palms or their fingers like twits. Then the next day they’re complaining about how it ain’t healing because they gotta use their hands.”

Mya chuckled and turned the book towards him.

“We had one lad join on, signed the contract sliced his hand deep. He worked on the ropes, didn’t say nothing but we kept finding bloody handprints.” Mya rolled her eyes. “We figured it out, letting the lad be an idiot till he told someone. His shift captain clapped him round the head and sent him to the doc to get a spot of healing.”

Roberts snorted, pressing a cut he’d hand on his finger to the writ.

The blood spread through the writ, connecting with hers.

A thread of Mya’s soul was pulled out, stretched in a way that made her grit her teeth against the pain. Roberts grunted and grumbled. Valter stood up, Mya threw out a hand, as the writ acted as oath binding their souls with the terms they’d placed down.

Then the stretching sensation released, snapping back into place but altered and different like it had been scrunched up.

Mya rubbed her chest.

Roberts flicked the cork from the bottle he’d put on the counter and took a mounful, handing it to Mya as he swallowed. She copied him, and swallowed, fire chasing down her throat as she slammed the bottle on the counter.

“Ah, burns like boiled barnacles,” Mya wiped her face wit the back of her sleeve.

“Don’t fucking like that feeling none,” Roberts took another swig and offered it to Mya, she waved him off. “Going to need my wits with Maz and Cregor.”

He grinned, raising the bottle in toast and had another swig.

Mya breathed in air, harsh with the rough rum on her tongue and exhaled, her breath feeling like fire.

The pain in her chest had dulled somewhat at least.

She tore the writ free upon its serrated edges and stored it.

“Always wonder if it’s the drink that makes the pain bearable, or gives you another kind of pain to distract you.” Roberts shuffled over to where the cork was and slapped it home.

“Bit of both I’d think.” Mya straightened. “Alright you old coot, where you want your goods?”

He flipped up part of the counter.

“Come on back.”

He led her past his carving station and through a cloth hanging to a storage room, half-finished pieces lay around the room as well as materials.

He opened various chests  and she deposited the items as he wanted.

The tension in her chest released partially.

“Good doing business with yah. Truly,” Roberts held out a hand with a genuine smile.

“Likewise,” Mya clasped his hand. “If we’re staying around for a time, lets see about getting some half decent grog and see what old sea tales we can pry out from one another.”

He chuckled and grinned. “I’d like that.”

They released and Mya walked back through the workshop and the shop.

“Seeya Mya!”

“Have fun Roberts!”

Valter moved ahead of her, turning the corner as they walked down the street. A slight buzz warming Mya from the inside.

“He was a nice sort,” Valter said.

“Yeah, old sea dog that one. Good people.” Mya breathed out.

“His weapons and items were well made too.”

She hummed in agreement.

“Where to next?” He asked.

“First the bank, then onto Maz’s, then Cregors and the bank again, that should bring us back in a rough loop near the ship.”

“Alright.”

People moved out of Valter’s way as he walked forward, clearing  a path for them both. Valter nodded his thanks and quirked a smile here and there, returning to his stoic expression, his eyes bouncing around the streets and its people.

The bank was on a corner of streets, made of stouter wood than the other buildings around it. Unlike its neighbors it wasn’t nestled up against other buildings but had its own alleyway around it, guards at its entrances. On both public faces it displayed the same symbol that had been on Robert’s Writ book.

Valter opened the thick door to the building, and walked in first checking the room as he moved to the side to let Mya in.

It had no windows, the interior lit with cut crystals.

Guards stood on either side of the door and to either side of the teller booths. Ropes created a looping line that started at the door and ended before the tellers. Each sitting at a counter framed by an arch and separated from the others by wooden walls.

The bank was quiet, the line empty, a teller perked up at their entrance. A younger woman at the end.

Mya swept around the line and reached the counter, Valter trailed behind.

“I can only allow one person at the counter at a time,” The teller said, a smile on her face while alarm in her eyes.

Valter gave a tight lipped smile and moved away from the counter, turning to face outward and clasp his hands.

“Hello, I’d like to cash a writ,” Mya took it out and placed it onto the counter.

“I’d be ha-“ the woman’s eyes bugged out a little as she took the writ.

Mya coughed, restarting her again.

“—ppy to help. I might need some help one second.” The woman flashed her a smile, put down the writ and nearly jumped off of her seat before disappearing through a door behind her.

A few seconds later a man in a suit came out of a side door to the left of the tellers, a smile on his face, the woman beside him, hurrying to catch up.

“Pelagia told me of your matter.” He smiled and offered his hand. “I’m Euron, I can help you in this matter.”

“Captain Mya,” She shook his hand.

“Let me just grab that writ.” He whisked it off of the counter and waved towards the door.

“Would it be alright if my companion comes?” Mya pointed to Valter.

“Certainly,” He smiled.

Mya moved to follow him, he led her through the door, offices on either side.

“Thank you for your help Pelagia. Could you start checking the amount?”

“Yes sir.” she peeled off through a door, closing it behind her.

“Just in here,” He led them to a room with three chairs, two on one side, one on the other. He closed the door behind them before moving for the single chair.

Mya sat in one of the chairs, making herself comfortable. Valter sat in his, shifting it to face the door slightly.

“A writ in this amount we’d like to verify quickly of course.” He smiled and put the writ onto a metal slab covered in runes and closed another hinged piece of metal ontop.

He flipped through a book, slowing at a section and flipped through quickly.

A green flowed through the top runes after a few seconds with a slight buzzing noise.

He checked one last page and put the book back, checking the hinged metal and opening it to pull out the writ.

“Perfect, everything is in order. Now I don’t see that you have an account with us. Would you be interested in opening one? We have branches all across the water plane and in every major convergence point. You can access your funds from wherever in the water plane you might be.”

He clasped his hands together infront of him with a smile.

“Not today, thank you,” Mya smiled.

“That’s a shame,” he winced. “Though we serve to please. I am guessing you would like to withdraw the amount in physical currency?”

“Yes please.”

“Would ingots be okay?”

“That’d be just fine,” Mya smiled.

“Would you like a drink? Tea, water?”

“No than you.” Mya looked at Valter.

“Thank you, I’m fine.”

“Alright, I’ll check with Pelagia and we can get that sorted out and you on your way.” He stood and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Mya took to studying the office. She hadn’t sunk too far into boredom before the door opened once again.

“Sorry about the wait.” Euron walked back in with Pelagia carrying a lockbox. A guard turning at the door to watch the hallway.“ If you could check the contents.”

Pelagia put it on the desk as Euron turned the note over, taking out a pen and adding information.

Mya checked the box, a minor storage item that reduced the weight of the contents and was slightly bigger on the inside.

Mya drew out her ledger and added the amount to it. Still in debt to the others. She had the gold to pay them back right now, but she wanted to have an emergence fund just incase.

Never know when we’ll drop into another realm that we can’t get to our bank again. Limos!