Daybreak. Noaki still showed no signs of improvement. Moritz feels a helpless scramble of emotions sitting at his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. The only solace was at least he didn't appear to be in any pain. His brown complexion had paled, and his hair lost its color, dangling across his forehead in clumps.
Moritz grabs Noaki's coat and drapes it over him. In spite of the warming weather, Noaki's body temperature had dropped. Considering his nature, it felt odd to be worrying about the cold. He drapes the ayshek with an amber cloth to dim the light.
Above deck Gavin, Quentin, and Veynir were gambling over a game of dice with Moir at the helm. Moir had advised Quentin to take it easy unless the wind started being difficult. Moritz couldn't blame him, after last night's storm he was about to pass out himself. He stayed awake of course, to be prepared for another storm.
He sits down, leaning against the pole mast. The sun on top of a nice breeze was a welcome to any sailor. Moritz shuts his eyes just for a moment.
~
"Land Ho!"
Moritz jumps onto his feet dazed and confused. He races up the quarterdeck next to Gavin and sees it for himself. "It's a sight isn't it? That be the Seaside City of Naayir-Nahtahma."
Mountains are carved into terraces, like giant steps dotted with domed buildings glistening in the sunlight. The mountain terraces are bridged by an impossible structure spanning at least twelve kilometres across with a large arch for ships to pass under. The bridge leads to an extraordinarily compact city rising up and into three mountainsides. Thousands of vessels from fishing boats to cargo ships dot the equally innumerable number of piers and ports. Foliage of groves and trees protruded from the city at various points.
Moritz jumps from the quarterdeck intending to grab Noaki when he remembers. He returns to Gavin's side who was a little too calm for Moritz's comfort. "Do you really think they'll get help here?"
Gavin's gaze didn't falter from the shoreline. "If there's anyone around these lands who can help our friends, they'll be here."
"What if we don't make it in time? It looks like a big city." As they neared closer, the true scale of this metropolis silences him.
"I already sent word, he'll be waiting for us."
Moritz waits in the same spot long after Gavin leaves. When they pass the city's cobblestone causeway congested with traffic, a couple passersby, mostly children, are waving at them. Moritz and Quentin oblige them as Moir and the Captain dock the ship.
This was it. They were finally here. Moritz leaps from the quarterdeck alongside Quentin, the two were eager to jump onto the pier when they're pulled back by Veynir.
"Easy there, you guys can explore later, first there's work to do." He releases them. "Now come on, I'll take care of the heavy stuff and you two can team lift."
Moritz and Quentin groan but assist with the cargo. Veynir who was accustomed to this kind of work powerlifts two barrels over each shoulder. Though Quentin claims this was for show, intended for the ladies. He and Moritz share a quick laugh together and continue their labor. By the time it had all been unloaded, Moritz and Quentin are slumped against a bollard, exhausted as they can be.
Moritz retreats back on deck when he encounters a youthful man sporting a good deal of dark stubble beneath his chin. He adorns his athletic frame in a high collared twill tunic, waisted down with a sash embroidered in intricately designed white and gold thread. A white cap bears down on locks of jet black hair.
"Gavin? There's a stranger aboard!" Moritz attempts a dash for the exit when he collides into Gavin, who hadn't budged an inch.
"Moritz this'll be his grace, Chancellor Ali Abdhalhim," Gavin whirls Moritz toward Ali. "Now go pay your respects, he is the one helping our friends."
