The Archman

Chapter 24 - A Tense Recruitment, Part 1

The Archman pulls on a pair of oars, rowing a small dinghy through the water into the busy harbor. Eira sits across from the Archman, carrying the slacked chain attached to her collar. She looks around at the surrounding harbour, a large crescent-shaped beachfront with a few shabby docks built along the shoreline.

Though it is a marina notorious for hosting people of the criminal variety, there is still a feel of orderly regulation and respectability. Nearly forty other ships of various sizes and purposes are anchored down in the harbour, floating unoccupied in the calm water. The Archman's ship stands out from the rest quite prominently, both in its sheer magnitude and its technologically advanced rigging.

They approach one of the small wooden docks, which has a couple dinghies already resting in place. Just as with the ships they came from, they come in a variety of sizes and makes. Some of them are visibly older and worn down, while others are either newly built or recently refurbished.

The Archman pulls the oars into the dinghy as they float up beside the dock. He steps out and takes a coil of rope from the small watercraft, lashing it to a nearby post.

Eira stands up in the boat, careful not to make any sudden movements. She looks for a spot to place her hand in order to steady herself so she can exit. She finds the Archman's conveniently outstretched hand, taking it as he pulls her up onto the dock.

The Archman takes the bundle of chains from Eira and makes his way along the dock. Eira follows beside him as they make their way towards the sprawling village of Econridge, which wraps itself around the harbour, acting more as an extension of the port rather than its own solitary destination.

As Eira and the Archman walk into the village, it becomes clear that it can't exist without the harbour, as almost every other person they walk by has some kind of marine-related occupation.

The Archman tugs at the hood over his head, pulling it partially over his face to guise himself from the people around them. Eira rarely flourished in public settings, but after several weeks being confined to the Archman's ship, she finds herself rejuvenated from being in the proximity of so many people.

Eira feels a yank on her collar, drawing her attention towards the Archman, who is now several steps ahead of her, evidently irked by her lackadaisical pace.

"We're not tourists. Save the sightseeing for another time."

"I didn't realize we were in such a rush." Eira comments snarkily as she quickens her pace to catch up with the Archman.

"The less time spent here the better."

Eira pays more attention not to fall behind as she walks in parallel with the Archman. It takes considerable effort on her part, since the Archman's strides are so much longer than hers. As they walk along, Eira starts to notice they are getting glances from the occasional person walking by. From an outsider's perspective, it is certainly an odd sight, seeing a woman being led along on a leash like some kind of mutt.

Despite their appearance, Eira didn't really feel like a domesticated animal, though she certainly didn't feel like she had the level of dignity to which the average person is due. She's glad the Archman at least gave her the chance to change out of her sweat-stained nightgown, so she didn't have an entirely dishevelled look.

"This should be it." The Archman stops before a large inn that stands three stories tall, a significantly larger stature than most of the surrounding buildings.

"Where are we?" Eira looks up to survey the structure. It is an aged building, the stonework eroded from nearly a century of exposure to the abrasive sea air.