Elfborn

Chapter 6: Riverboat

Max frowned as he tugged the tunic straight over the plain white linen shirt he wore underneath. Both were gifts from Captain Nerun's store of clothing, something that had appeared almost magically out of his hold, which had been filled to capacity with ceramics and worked metal pots from northern Noran. Unfortunately, they were also two sizes too big for the slender young de Rohan. While the shirt and breeches fit well enough to stay put, the tunic had the annoying habit of swinging around and bunching under his left arm.

Still, he was grateful for them. The white shirt, tunic, and hose that Lokar had dressed him in for the Kava, while fitting perfectly, were chilling reminders of what he had almost become. By the time he had finished his breakfast, he had been willing to strip them off and throw them overboard, walking around in his small clothes for the rest of the journey.

With Sister Eje aboard, that, of course, would never happen. Still, Max had been ready, already peeling off the tunic when one of Captain Nerun's men had appeared with the first armful of clothing.

The clothing itself was nothing special, simple in cut and design, the plain colors enabling the Hybernians to blend into any common populace, in any town in Evindel and Hybernia. The young men had gotten shirts, tunics, and breeches, along with socks and calf boots while the young women were given simple dresses and aprons of good wool and cotton, linen and leather, and good sturdy shoes for their feet.

Max nodded with satisfaction as the tunic slid back into place before he once again leaned onto the railing. Below him, a mere two meters down, the river was surging past them with a soft hiss and light toss of foam. And above him, though the evening sky was beginning to darken towards dusk and night, the sails were still full of the northern wind that had pushed them so hard for so long.

"Hoi," Jase said at his elbow. He too had been leaning on the rail but had the benefit of clothing that actually fit, so he hadn't been fidgeting for the most part.

"I believe we are about to reach Vendrell."

Max swung his eyes around to where Jase was pointing. And found what the other elfborn had espied.

Indeed it did look like they were coming up on one of the larger of the river ports that seemed to sprout organically from the river's bank like a new kind of tree. According to the captain, a rough-looking fellow that looked as if he hadn't shaved in a week (although Max suspected it was because of his sunburn), Vendrell was the largest river port on the Sana within the borders of the kingdom of Franius. Franius, the captain went on to explain, was a medium-sized kingdom in a loose confederation in the southern part of this section of Evindel, called Gaul by the mapmakers of the Romis Empire.

Apparently, the confederation was always in some state of conflict, as one member or another jostled back and forth over borders, natural resources, and water. He had mentioned the last part more as a warning, saying that he hoped they didn't run into trouble in Vendrell, but to be prepared nevertheless. As a precaution, the members of the crew would be armed and Jase, Max, and their companions would be given stout belt knives along with their other clothing.

Jase frowned as he absently patted the long sheath at his waist. The belt knife was a fair enough weapon, almost a dagger in its proportions, though meant more as a tool than a weapon. Still, it wouldn't do much if they came up against orcs or Mist men. Might as well just throw rocks, for the effect they would have. He sighed. 'It's better than nothing, I suppose,' he thought, looking over at Max.

The other had a hand on his knife sheath as well as he stared hard at the big stone weirs that jutted out from the bank, quays that the captain even now was giving the order to make for. It would be just a matter of minutes before they were close enough to toss a mooring rope over. 'Must be thinking the same thing I am,' Jase mused, turning his gaze as well to the quays. The rest of Vendrell, sitting higher on the bank and away from the river, was already hidden by the growing dusk.