Tusk Love

The River Deep

ErdeLoch was a mile up the river, especially full this spring after all the ice flows had melted and washed away the banks. But the water mill stood along the eastern bank as it always had, even as the waters pushed around it. Threatening to break the foundation.

The two men found their way to a small dock and found a fisherman closing up for the day.

"Guten tag," Staven said "My sister has been taken by some bandits and I'm after them, would I be able to use your boat to cross the river."

"Ha and letcha die up there without bringing my boat back, not a chance." said the old mariner.

Oskar shook his head.

"I'm sorry about this one, he doesn't understand the ways of a man and his boat"

"An I ser ya do beastie," said the sailer eyeing Oskar up and down.

"As sure as ey knew the open sea, nothing like the wind at yer back and the sails at your command."

"Nothing like the open water there is." said the man in agreement.

Staven looked between Oskar and the old mariner and then back again in wonderment about the odd kind of conversation they had about nothing much at all. But the two seemed to come to an understanding all at once and then the man nodded to himself scratching his chin.

"Ey, I'll let ye borrow me boat for the night, for a gold and a bottle of wine."

"Staven. You're the wine merchant."

"Anything, anything for my sister," Staven said and pulled out a fine wineskin that he offered to the man saying "This is all I have, my father and mother have gone to Rexitrum,"

"It will do," said the sailor nodding.

"And the gold," said Oskar

Staven gave Oskar a scathing look.

"I gave all mine to your mother for your father's recovery," said Oskar, this softened Staven who nodded and pulled out the gold handing it to the sailor.

"Many thanks," he said, already turning it over in his fingers as he turned to walk away.

Oskar readying the boat said, "you don't have to come with me, you should turn back, go find your parents in Rexitrum."

"I need to find her."

"I know, but it is better that I save one of their children if she is not... if I can not save her, at least I can save you. They would rather have one child alive than both dead."

"I would rather die."

"No you wouldn't," said Oskar, his eyes hard and piercing, "you are brave and strong, you do not need to prove that to anyone. Not even your father,"

"Vather will not be happy if I return without her, especially if I leave with you on your way,"

Oskar smiled one of his charming smiles and clapped him on the shoulder "I like you Staven, don't die on the account of your father."

Staven held his eye for a moment longer and then nodded "You are right, I see why my sister is in love with you."

Oskars heart jumped at the words and he sank into them.

"You are not the first man she has seduced you know, but you are the first man that I think she has ever truly let herself, love."

"Love is a funny thing," Oskar said, sinking into the feeling like a bubbling fountain rising from inside his chest.

"If you hurt her I will hunt you down like the dog you are and kill you."

"I have no doubt." Oskar smiled "until we meet again my friend."

The two gripped their forearms and nodded to one another letting go. Oskar got into the boat pushing out from the docks and stood for a moment looking back at Staven.

Sitting down, Oskar set the boat ready to sail across the wind blowing just the right way so that it would catch the sail. The waters below him turned and dark shadows flitted by under the surface this way and that.

The river deep and dark as Oskar sailed across adjusting the sails ever so slightly and aiming for the watermill. The night was coming upon him and it was getting dark as the sun set but Oskar did not mind his eyes adjusting to the lighting. He smiled to himself. Silent on the water he travelled.

Then he reached the shoreline and landed his boat gentle before sneaking up the reeds and towards the mill. Had no one been watching? Were her captors so supercilious to believe they did not need to watch out over the water or were they simply stupid?

Oskar crept into a wheel spinning round full of water and climbed onto the rooftop where two guards were waiting for him. with swift blows the men tried to knock him down but he was fast and knocked them out cold, running the two into each other.