Araluen's Peril

Chapter 18 Home

Chapter 18 Home

"You know, I just can't get used to the peaceful feeling while sailing under the sun and clear blue waves around us." Jack comments.

"Energetic aren't you?" Selethen sits down beside him.

Jack shrugged, "I'm in a world full of it."

Selethen laughs, "Indeed, if you're with Will, your life never gets boring."

"I suppose that's true." Jack nodded.

"Well I better get back; we are almost there to Araluen." Selethen brushes himself as he stands up.

With a gesture, Jack turned his head back towards the sea, feeling the salty winds sweeping against his face. In thoughts of another day of fine sailing, they saw something from afar.

"Wh-what is that?" Edvin looked from the tiller.

"Could it be pirates?" Ulf asked.

"It seems like trader boats...a lot of them" Bjarni concluded.

As they drew closer, they halted one of the traders and questioned them, with fear in their eyes from the sight of Skandians, they steered clear out of the way until one of the skandian traders stopped.

"Ahoy! Skandian trader, what is the commotion?" Thorn called out.

The trader recognized Thorn, he shouted, "Hey old friend, fancy meetin' ya here. Didn't ya hear? The toll boom is destroyed!"

"The toll-?" Hal hesitated.

"Gaitmeister, Doutro. Everything in flames! All gone!" chuckled as he sailed down further laughter echoed.

Will turned in a flurry motion, "Seems like we are close to Bayrath. The blockade is destroyed, good riddance."

Stig barged onto the deck, "WHAT? That place? Destroyed? NOO!"

Jack stood up, "What is it?"

Stig laughed nervously, "Well... I did previously want to bring a fleet of wolfships and wipe this place off the river 'burn them out' as I put it..."

Thorn grunted, "Well put too, at that time."

Hal patted his friend's shoulder solemnly, "Seems like they've done us a favor and for you too."

"I guess so..."

"Anyways, with that over with, we should have a clean route back home now." Horace said, getting to the point.

That statement's purpose didn't last very long; they were suddenly confronted with a long line of men and the blockade of the river was closed.

Will raised his eyebrow, "I thought they said it was destroyed."

Horace huffed, "It doesn't seem like it, I wonder..."

"Stand back!" A voice shouted from the ramparts. "Trader or not, this river ends here Gaitmeister orders!"

"Gorlong's toenails..." Thorn cursed.

"Hey Stig, seems like maybe we are going to fulfill your wish after all." Wulf joked.

"Seems so"

Will bellowed, "I got no time for this, stand down now or prepared to face charges for holding this river without consent!"

"Consent...charges?" Thorn muttered with amazement, "What on earth is he talking about?"

Maddie whispered, "Means that basically it's already unjust for them to block the river and allow us through, or else they will pay."