Tallowcross

Chapter 4: Henlaks On Board

Chapter 4

Henlaks on Board.

(Tredigern. Land of the Third Baron of the Nadalm-Hai.)

"Henlak's are mostly bald." Shaffui said as Beth shaved the last of Scandal's head. "They have a single pony-tail, which by your long hair is easy to effect."

"Three years growth." Grant sneered.

Shaffui ignored him. "And the Henlak language is rare in this province. It will prove as good a disguise as any."

As each man was shaved, he was given new clothes to wear, a folded bandanna over his forehead, and led out of the workshop by young Amos, disappearing out of sight down the main street.

"The soldiers are looking for a bunch of Eastern men," Shaffui added as Scandal walked away, his queue bouncing over the bleached blue tunic. "Not a Henlak and a boy."

"And you trust the captain of the ship?" Grant asked as Beth pulled him back on his chair and began hacking away at his long rank hair.

"He knows more than me the severity of the Nadalm-Con; Captain Thawart is no friend of the current administration."

With his hair cut down to stubble, Grant felt the rasping of Beth's open razor, and kept his head very still. "Why do you call yourself Widowmaker?"

Shaffui's face clouded. "You have asked many questions, leader of strange men. But this one will remain unanswered till we are safely out of Tredigern."

Grant had not heard of the town before. "And the castle?"

"A keep of no great import. The Baron is but a small cog in the workings of the Nadalm-Hai."

Beth worked in silence, then washed Grant's head, the water spilling onto the floor behind him. With a towel she dusted the dry shards from Grant's head. "And once we are aboard Thawart's vessel, how will our escape be achieved, old man."

Shaffui stood quickly. "Why we shall sail away from here, below their very noses. Beth, how soon can you pack, ready to travel?"

She held ten fingers in the air, and it was only then that Grant realized that since entering the carpenter's shop, he had not heard Beth talk at all.

Shaffui walked to the door to his carpenter's shop. "Very well, I'll get my gear."

Beth ran off, and soon Grant heard the sound of footfalls on stairs, then someone moving about upstairs. "You intend to travel with us?" He asked as he walked into the shop.

Shaffui was carefully inserting chisels into a roll up pouch. "It is our only stipulation Captain. You have no choice." He carefully tied the pouch, then packed a few more tools, a hammer, and a few angle-shaped scrapers. "Never know when I'll need them." He said simply.

"But it could be dangerous."

Shaffui straightened up. "I have lived here for a few years Captain, and never have I felt such an urge to leave. But your escape has given me the impetus. Besides, there are dust clouds on horizons that even the Widowmaker cannot ignore."

In a few moments, Shaffui, Beth and Grant were standing ready to leave.

The old man had a long white stick, which he deftly unlatched the door with, and walked outside.

Grant was confused. "You're going to pretend to be blind?"

Shaffui smiled. "Shh. Don't seem so alarmed, give an old blind man your arm. I've been this way in this town since I arrived; made me a nice income. Not many blind carpenters you know."