I sprint through the alleys and streets, at first trying only to get away from any possible pursuers, then trying to make his way back to the ferry then to the tavern where the party are staying. It starts to rain, lightly at first, then heavier. Without really knowing why, after a half hour of jogging, my feet eventually take him to the docks district.
The downpour eventually makes it too difficult to keep moving, and I ducks under an awning. When it rains it pours, as they say... Pulling back my hood, and shaking out the water, I am surprised when a door nearby opens and a lantern sticks out, attached to the end of an arm, followed by a head.
"Oi, don't stand there getting soaked! Come inside!" a man's voice calls out. It's too stormy to see the face, but I can see his outline beckoning me into the shop. He ducks back inside, but leaves the door open.
I am not used to storms of this magnitude when not on the sea itself. I was barely able to find my way around the crowded streets of the island in fair weather and now with the squall I'm effectively useless. I can tell I am near the docks now, but I could just as easily end up back where I started as make it on the right boat... and I doubt there will be any ferries until there's at least a slight break in the weather. I hesitate only a moment and then trundle myself into the open door. Hopefully it's a place with a fire; it is surprisingly cold for an early spring day.
I duck into the small shop and I am indeed greeted by a warm glowing fire. I shivers as my body tries to shake off the cold dampness.
"Welcome, traveler. Welcome! Come. Dry your boots and close by the fire. I'll make some tea." The slender old man hobbles towards a doorway leading out of the main room. As he disappears around a corner, he calls out,
"nasty storm out there tonight!"
"It is indeed!" I respond. I'm taking a bit off back by the hospitality but it's the first I've received from anyone since leaving Port Charlotte so it's hard to keep my hackles up to long...I move to the fire and begin to warm myself but don't take off more than my outer layer. I can't stay long.... Who does this man remind me of? Something seems indeterminately familiar. The old man returns with a tray, tea cups rattling as he walks. He places the tray on a small table near the fire and pulls over two chairs. As he pours the tea, the aroma of mint and orange peel fills the air, nearly overpowering the scent of the wood burning in the hearth. He offers me a cup, then pours his own, and takes a seat. "So, servant of Adonai, what brings you 'round here in the midst of this torrent?" My eyes go wide and the muscles in my cheeks flex as I clinch my jaw.
How could he...?
After the momentary fear I catch a sparkle in his eye and a slight rise at the edge of his mouth. He seems to have gotten the reaction he was hoping for, as he holds up his fist and taps the top of his wrist, mimicking the spot on my arm where the Resh symbol is attached to his cuff.
The old man laughs, his deep red-brown cheeks creasing along lines formed by years of smiles.
"Don't worry about me, traveler. You have nothing to fear from me. You are safe here." I instinctively knows that the man is telling the truth. My defenses melt. I have essentially been on high alert since the moment we met that witch in the cave and I had no idea how much the stress of the last three weeks. A paladin of the Adonai has no room for weakness... no margin for error... and no excuse for either. My lot is to lay down my life in defense of others no matter what the personal cost. I must constantly discipline my body, my heart, and my mind to keep them under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. I have been blessed with powers beyond measure and I cannot fail in the task laid before me or else He fails. And yet I failed. Here I am, having failed to defend and then having fled the fate of my companions. Having split the party and blindly rushed into danger; bringing them with me. At the last of my reserves, lost in a rainstorm... And yet He still sends me a light. I don't deserve this help but I can't do this on my own. I begin to weep. Silently and inwardly at first, but then in deep body wracking sobs. The tears mix with the droplets still dripping from my crest.
I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"There, there," the old man whispers in an attempt to comfort me.
"Let it out. No shame in shedding a few tears." He pauses for some time, letting Rhiv cry. After a few moments he quietly speaks, his voice soft and melodic:
"Now, why don't you tell me what's going on?"
This loss of control is a bit of a shock to my system and it takes me a period to regain composure. I don't remember ever having cried and I know that nothing to this extent has
ever happened to me. As a dragonborn, crying--even from things such as simple pain--is less of a biological requirement than for some of my fleshier fellow travelers and I was even more of a stoic than even most of my brethren. Feeling shame was one thing but losing control to it is another entirely.
"It's a long story and I am still in a hurry..." I pause, my heart still racing a little and my throat constricted and hot. My instinct is to thank this man for the tea, gather my things and head back into the storm. All I truly need is a weapon and directions and this is likely just going to slow me down in heading back to save my companions and redeem myself. Even though he is a brother of the Adonai and safe, the likelihood is low that I will be able to rely on him for any tangible help. Even if he could, I would probably just be dragging him, and the Church as a whole deeper, into danger. After all, even before the murder of the King I was going to be a banished criminal and the Church was going to suffer from its association with me... Who knows what assassins were now hot on my heels from either the Lion-woman or the Redwall itself? But no. That is my arrogance speaking again. The Adonai has brought me this help for a reason and I must let go of my own bootstraps and take hold of the outstretched arm.
"I ran into them at a cave outside of Port Charlotte..." I proceed to tell the vital parts of our journey. Leaving out only the superfluous, but changing nothing and not skipping over my own failings. It feels like slowly loosening bags of ballast from my half-submerged ship and I gain speed and energy as I go along. Getting to the events of the last hour, I end with a plea:
"I'm sorry to drag you into this, but I need a weapon and a way to save my friends. Can you help?"
The old man listens intently as I spin our tale, slowly sipping his tea. When I finishes, the man sets his tea down and clears his throat.
"My dear boy, that is quite a story. Thank you for sharing it with me." He stands up, and again puts his hand on my shoulder. I feels an intense comfort from the weight of the hand resting on me.
"I can help you. But I'll ask you to do something for me, something beyond what you've already done for me in baring your soul." He moves again towards the back of the shop, around the corner. He returns bearing a small bag. He sits and opens the bag, pulling out three parcels. The opens the first, revealing a cloth cap of deep purple with intricate stitching designed to be worn under a helmet. The second, a small green velvet pouch, contains a silver ring inset with a sparkling emerald.
"While wearing this cap, you will be protected from attacks on your mind, and this ring will help you maintain control of your person."
He also hands you a small coin purse.
"It's not a terribly large sum, but it should allow you to purchase a serviceable weapon." Before I can protest, he waves his hand and smiles. "They're certainly not doing me any good here."
He continues,
"Now, for my payment. You must promise me that once you have freed your friends, you will bring them here before you attempt the next step of your journey. Have we a deal?"
When it rains it pours. All I thought I needed was directions to the docks and the nearest weapon shop and the Adonai gives armor perfectly designed for the task at hand. I stand from my chair and kneel before him, looking earnestly into his eyes.
"I will. That and anything else you ask! M'lord...this is more than I could possibly have hoped for and I don't even know your name. It is a reminder to me that Adonai is not limited to the smallness of my prayers. The Lord's grace and blessing is surely upon you and your house!" I stand quickly, energized by the clearness of my God. He hears me and loves me even in my weakness... Though the cap fits awkwardly on my larger than human sized head and the ring only fits on my pinky, I immediately feel an anchored stillness in my mind. Like when a candle is lit in a dark room and you are able to gain your bearings. Now I am ready.
"M'Lord, I have one last, and slightly more embarrassing question to ask. Is there a way to pass messages without them being public knowledge? I must alert my friends who are staying at the XYZ Tavern. I can go to them directly once the storm relents, but I fear that any delay will make the recovery of Therrien and To'ot that much more difficult."
Last edited March 14, 2018 1:54 pm
