Sacrifice of Ericc

Avanda clutched a book tight to her chest before leaving the ship to enter the city of Rumaldo. “Thank you so much for this.”

  “A deal is a deal, tadpole. Ya didn’t perform any more of yur magic on me boat. Ya lived up to yur word, so I does as well.” Scratching his backside, Dare didn’t like giving away one of his collectibles when there was still potential profit to be made from them. Nevertheless, the profit he would have acquired from its sale would have been less than having to fix another hole in the bow of his ship.

  Captain Mensley pulled up his trousers as he moved his rolls of fat so they wouldn’t get pinched by his belt as he adjusted it to the next notch. “Be careful with dat book lass. Them words may help ya figure out how some of yur magical objects work, but spell casting can become dangerous. Take er slow.”

  Avanda thanked him again and scurried down the ramp to the dock as Thorik approached the captain. She had evaded Thorik the entire trip, his questions falling on deaf ears and her eyes never making contact. Occasional answers over her shoulder were the most he could get out of her.

  “Thank you again for helping us out,” Thorik said. “It’s good to know that there are still people that help others without expecting anything in return.”

  A few of the crewmembers scoffed at the comment. Preparing the ship for a few days at dry dock, they were anxious to get the passengers off the ship.

  “Expecting anything?” the captain coughed, as though the words hit hard against his stomach. “It’s been a pleasure help’n ya all out. But now I must be on me way to make plans to feed these ‘ear jaw flappers. A crew without any grub can turn ugly.” Several of the shipmates scowled at captain. “Or should I say uglier,” chuckled the captain.

  Shaking hands farewell, Thorik straightened his backpack and joined his party on the boat landing. Grewen and the Nums followed Santorray off the docks, and into the city of Rumaldo. Rounding the first corner, they disappeared from the captain’s sight.

  “Freeloaders,” one of the shipmates said. “We did our bit, now where’s our payment?” He was quickly joined by others who had stopped working as they gathered around the captain.

  Captain Mensley picked up his large Fesh-bone cane and wielded it like a war hammer. “Get back, ya dirty Sandrats. Did ya think I dragged ya out to sea for months to rescue them just fur me kind heart?”

  “You ain’t got a heart.”

  “Exactly, coins keep me blood moving,” the captain said.

  “We don’t see no coins from this trip.”

  “Ah, look closer. Did ya not see the crate of Irr we collected?”

  “That ain’t coin. Plus the beast tossed most of it out.”

  “Aye, he did. But I saved enough to sell, given ya all a full belly until we finish our job.”

  “When does this charter end? First you told us it was to rescue some Nums from a deserted island. You failed to mention anything about a Mog being with them. Then you added a trip to Southwind and up to the mines, where most of us already have a price on our heads. And then we take on a Blothrud who nearly destroys our ship. Now you tell us this journey isn’t complete again?”

  “Get off me ship if yur gunna whine! I’m lead’n ya all to a lifetime of wealth and yur complain’n about have’n to be away from yur momma for a little longer. Get off me ship or close yur trap!”

  The crew grew silent as they weighed their options. Finally one spoke up. “This is the last voyage with you. No more after this.”

  “So be it,” Captain Dare Mensley replied.