Sea Gypsies: The Draga Isles

Chapter 9: Basiago

"Stay on the ship," Migal said to Ria as she watched the harbor.

Basiago's main island had the busiest ports in the Nether Isles, situated at the center of the kingdom, southeast of Sivona. Its strategic location made trade between provinces easier and faster, cutting down days of sea travel. It had the most prominent markets and it was where the Opal's crew would find their supplies for the heist.

The crew moored the ship on the pier. Juli, Mari, and Reynar shouted at each other to toss the ropes and drop the anchor.

As the floor beneath Ria bobbed at a passing of a wave, she turned from the railing to look at Migal beside her.

"We'll pick up supplies and come back before sundown. Do you want me to get you anything?" Migal asked.

Ria sensed a bit of fear from him though she didn't need psychestringere to tell. Migal's brows furrowed and his jaw set tight.

An urge to protest grew in her, but she knocked it down. This was the farthest she'd been away from Sivona and she wanted to see Basiago, but arguing with Migal would only stoke his fear.

As part of her contract with the Opal's crew, she would also pay for any supplies they needed. Migal would make sure they wouldn't buy anything else. So he needed to alight the ship, while she would stay onboard.

"No. Just get back safe," Ria answered.

Migal nodded and turned, walking to the gangway where the captain and his brother waited. The rest of the crew had already gone.

"Looks like it's just you and me." Sam walked toward Ria. Reno squealed on his shoulder. "Yes, you too. I meant three of us." Sam looked at the monkey at the side of his eyes.

Ria grinned. In the past couple of days on the ship, Sam and Reno had been most entertaining. Sam spoke to the monkey as if it could understand words, but Reno reacted in a manner that it did, fascinating Ria.

"Hello, Sam." She nodded to him and then looked at the monkey. "Reno," she said.

Reno jumped from Sam to Ria's shoulder. A giggle escaped her lips as Reno's fur tickled her neck. The monkey gave her a peck on the cheek and grinned.

"You sly little eel!" Sam pointed at Reno.

Ria laughed again. "It's alright Sam."

Sam sighed. "Good thing you're nice, lady," he said, watching Reno with vigilant eyes. "I'm going to whip us a good lunch. Easier to cook a good meal for two than for a whole crew."

"You don't have to," Ria said but Sam had already turned, moving to the stairs that led to the galley.

"It's no trouble. I'll show you how good of a cook I can be." Sam ducked down the stairwell and was gone.

Ria looked around the empty deck and contemplated on following Sam but a scheme lit in her head, tempted by the call of the busy pier.

People moved like ants on the dock below, flowing in a to-and-fro direction. Their shoulders to their elbows linked as they walked, squeezing themselves in intolerable tightness.

"What do you say about going for a little walk?" she asked the monkey.

Reno gave her an agreeing gecker and she grinned, rushing to the captain's cabin and picking up her cloak.

Before she climbed off-board, she glanced back and hoped that Sam wouldn't be too heartbroken if she would miss his meal. But her legs urged her on and with a few steps down the gangway, the flux of people carried her toward the markets.

Reno stayed on her shoulder as she covered her head with the hood of her cloak. So many emotions surged in her chest as people passed her, forcing her to keep her gaze to the ground or to the tops of houses around until she found her way to a street with lesser bodies where she could breathe and relax her arms at her sides.