The River King

Chapter 11: Haven Port

Finneas awoke to his brother kicking his back. He wasn't too keen on having to share the bed with Kenelm, especially after the argument. But to save face, Finneas agreed to share. He still didn't like the idea of his brother and friends travelling to the Riverlands with him. If there was one thing he was certain about, he didn't want to see Kenelm come to any harm. He didn't know if he could forgive himself if anything happened to his brother. Finneas was more annoyed at Kistoph and Lochen for overruling him. Although he wasn't surprised at Lochen's decision to let the younger kids tag along, he was baffled at why his friend would be willing to put Kenelm and his friends in harm's way. Kistoph wasn't the most sensible person, but he usually at least had some sort of common sense.

Gently, Finneas tapped his brother's shoulder to wake him up. Kenelm groaned a bit, but realising there was light shining through the curtains, Kenelm ceased complaining. Neither boy coped well with mornings. Finneas just hoped the rest hadn't gotten up yet. To his dismay, his friends were waiting in the common room.

"Why'd you not wake us?" Finneas asked as he approached them.

"Didn't want to disturb you two," Mollie remarked. "And you two looked comfortable together."

"That's not funny," Finneas countered. "Anyway... what the time?"

"Time you knew better," Kistoph jested. While Finneas would usually tolerate his friends' jokes – he saw them mostly harmless anyway – he wasn't in the mood today. His frowning face probably said as much. Realising this, Kistoph quickly stopped his tomfoolery. "Sorry..." he admitted. "It's midday."

"That late?"

He was taken aback by this comment. If it wasn't for his distaste for violence, Finneas probably would have whacked his friend. Mollie instead impishly slapped Kistoph over his head. Kistoph wasn't pleased, giving her disapproving stare.

"See," she commented. "I told you we should've woke him up an hour ago."

"An hour ago?" Finneas was astonished. "When did you guys wake?"

"Do you really want to know?" Mollie answered.

"No..." Finneas confessed. "So..." he changed the topic, "Any news on when this boat's going to leave." The rest of the group shook their heads. "You'd all morning?"

"Kettle calling the pot black," Mollie remarked. "You could've checked on that stuff this morning... if you were inclined."

Before Finneas could come up with another jibe to counteract her remarks, Lochen approached the table. The Native boy calmly sat down. He didn't need to say anything for the rest of the group suddenly fall silent.

"Funny how you were saying some boat," Lochen began to say. "While you were lying about, doing nothing, I did some snooping."

"Snooping?" Mollie scoffed. "Who uses that word?"

"Well, I happen to overhear some folk," Lochen continued, ignoring her dig. "There's a ship arriving tomorrow noon. Talk to a few people. They said the ship will stop off at Bards Port. It's only a day's travel to Rivetia."

"We've to wait, then?" Kistoph sounded aggravated.

"So... how much do the tickets cost?" Mollie asked, paying no attention to Kistoph. "Can we buy them now?"

Lochen didn't reply; not at first at least. The group eagerly waited.

"I don't think you'll like this..."

"Like what?" Mollie asked curiously.

"I think I've found a way on board," Lochen explained. "And it sure beats paying the fare. There's just one catch." Finneas didn't like where this was going, either. "The ship's travelling from the Free Cities... well... some of their keepers have fallen sick... food poisoning or something."