Swords Will

Chapter Sixteen: when in iberia

Erlan's eyes shot open, and he blinked in the dappled sunlight, momentarily disoriented from his brief slumber. The rhythm of the ship's movement, which had become almost like a lullaby, had relaxed him to the point of drifting off. He adjusted to his surroundings, realizing that he was still perched on the ship's weather deck.

Astrid's voice cut through the haze of his sleep, and he turned to see her approach. Her bright smile and animated gestures were infectious, and a sense of excitement coursed through him. Erlan had always admired her vivacity, the way she could bring life to even the most mundane moments.

He pushed himself up, straightening his posture and stretching to shake off any remaining grogginess. Astrid's words had brought him fully awake. "Iberian coast, huh?" he said, rubbing his eyes. "Already? It feels like we just left the mess back there."

Astrid's enthusiasm was contagious, and Erlan couldn't help but smile back at her. "So, what's the plan once we get to the coast? Iberia's a big place, and we're not exactly welcomed guests, are we?" He shifted his gaze to Arthur, who had joined them on the deck, contemplating their next move.

"While you've been asleep we had been disguising the ship as a simple merchants vessel, I'll disguise as Hargraves cabin boy so I'm not recognised." Arthur explained proudly, he was quite proud of his plan.

Erlan nodded in understanding, though he couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. The idea of deception wasn't his strong suit, and it went against the straightforward approach he was more accustomed to. He glanced at the ship's crew, who were working diligently to erase any trace of their true identity.

"So, we'll play the part of merchants and keep our heads low, I get it," Erlan said, furrowing his brow in thought. "But how are we going to find this location that's marked on the map once we're on land? It's a big place, and we're basically strangers there."

Arthur stepped in to address Erlan's concern. "We've got a plan for that too," he explained. "I've made arrangements with a local guide who can lead us to the area marked on the map. It's a small town nestled in the forests. Once we're there, we can set up a camp, conduct our search, and hopefully find the next golden piece."

Erlan gave a slight nod, somewhat reassured by the level of preparation that had gone into the plan. He trusted Hargrave's nautical expertise and Arthur's knowledge, but he knew that the journey ahead was unpredictable. "Alright, let's hope this all goes smoothly," he said, casting a last look at the transformed ship. "I'll play the part, but if things get hairy, don't expect me to be the best actor in this charade."

The golden hare, now disguised as a merchant vessel, approached the checkpoint just outside the port of El Dongado. Erlan couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and tension as they came closer to their destination in Iberia. The crew, including Arthur, were doing their best to blend in, and Hargrave had given strict orders to keep their true identity hidden.

As they reached the checkpoint, a group of uniformed guards approached the ship, eyeing it carefully. Hargrave had donned a captain's disguise and was doing his best to appear nonchalant, chatting with the guards as if discussing a routine merchant trip. The guards asked a few questions about the cargo and their destination, and Hargrave smoothly provided the necessary information.

Erlan stood by Arthur's side, trying his best to appear inconspicuous, as the guards inspected some of the cargo. His fingers tapped lightly against his thigh in a nervous rhythm. Astrid, too, was keeping a close eye on the proceedings, ready to act if anything went awry.

After a few more minutes of inspection and questioning, the guards seemed satisfied with the golden hare and gave the crew permission to enter El Dongado. The ship was escorted to the port, and the tension on deck began to ease as the crew members let out collective sighs of relief.