'Hey! Get back here, yeh little shit!'
Running like his life depended on it, Etiac Belladom spared one glance back. Dugun's face was twisted into a hilarious mask of sheer rage, his thin moustache wavering above a small mouth and a double chin. The cook was still naked from waist-up, having spent the night with a local whore or two. A sheet of linen from the kitchens trailed behind him like a small cloak, stained a pale yellow by whatever passed for food on this ship. His hand bled slightly from the edge of the butcher's knife he'd attempted to pick up the wrong way around.
Belladom emerged onto the deck of the Majestic Virtue, jumping past a pair of very hungover sailors. The little trading boat didn't deserve such a grand name, but the Captain had chosen it, and as he'd been told oh-so many times during this voyage, the Captain's Word Was The Law. The little man had that glint of madness in his eye that nearly always led to mutiny. What had convinced the crew to tolerate him, Etiac had no idea. The man had some strange ideas about discipline, or the appropriate amount of alcohol sailors should consume when at sea, which no doubt contributed to the matter.
'Sorry, the cook needs to see you!' he quipped, grabbing the second sailor by the collar and slamming him into his comrade. Both men went sprawling down, stumbling through the doorway and crashing into Dugun. Belladom grinned, pausing to watch the three men fumble around on top of eachother. The cook was a giant of a man, with the bulk to back it up. Etiac was sure he could hear the crack of bone from the bottom of the pile.
He took a quick look around, surveying the deck for any more obstacles. This early in the morning, most of the crew were still nursing their hangovers in the peace and quiet of their quarters, or drowning their sorrows in a barrel of ale or the chest of a whore. The ship was docked neatly in an outer harbor, surrounded by a sea of smaller boats. Talama rose on the cliffs above them, the sprawling cityscape hugging the edges of the jagged rock tightly. It looked fine to him, but, of course, nothing like Vasir. Nothing compared to the city of his birth.
'Get him, yeh bastards, I want him dead!' Dugun's voice shrieked from behind, snapping Belladom back to movement. The board down to the pier was on the other side, leaving him with little choice with his next move. Etiac began running towards the edge of the Majestic, picking one of the little boats swarming the harbor at random. It looked sturdy enough, though you could never know with these eastern craft. His bare feet hammered against the wet wood of the ship, each impact bringing the edge closer. Etiac closed his eyes and jumped.
And missed. The shock of cold water sent his heart beating hard with a jolt. Seawater flooded into his mouth, bringing with it all the little things that lived on the coast. The water was thick and muddy, sunlight barely filtering through all the grime around him. Etiac sank like a rock, pulled down by the heavy sword at his side. He'd taken it from the Captain's quarters, a fine-looking thing of intricately engraved steel and bronze. It was meant to be used with two hands, though it seemed unbelievable the wiry little man could've ever lifted this thing. Desperately, Etiac began unravelling the rope binding it to him, kicking to push himself back upwards. He regretted making them so tight, but then he hadn't really expected to have to reopen them underwater. Stupid, really. He should've expected this.
Finally, the ropes were torn apart, the black leather scabbard sinking to the ocean floor. If the Bright One was with him, he might be able to retrieve it later on. Belladom immediately began climbing up, his lungs aching for another mouthful of air. The dark shape of the Majestic still loomed above, and he could hear Dugun's voice muffled from the surface. Etiac braced himself for surfacing and broke out of the water. Wonderful, fresh air flowed back into him. He couldn't enjoy it for long - the cook's shriek was enough to tell him he'd been spotted. Etiac dove again, using the ship's hull as a springboard to get a quick move on.
As a sailor's son, he'd always been a good swimmer. His relatives often remarked he was like a fish in the water, though nothing compared to his elder brother. It had done him little good in the end, anyhow. Etiac made his way through the mass of boats, eliciting surprised shouts and angry insults from the people above. He heard no sounds of pursue, and had no intention of turning back to look. He continued on, bouncing up and back from the water like one of the People of the Sea to gasp for breath. He noticed the harbor wall just in time to stop himself from slamming head-first against it. With a smug grin, he pulled himself up to solid ground again.
Belladom rubbed his eyes, stumbling up to gaze at the Majestic on the far side of the harbor. He could just make out Dugun's screaming shape on the edge, flailing his arms around like a madman. By the time any of them reached this section, he'd be long gone. Etiac looked down at himself. He was soaking wet, and the coastal wind bit into his skin like the teeth of some abyssal predator. He checked his pockets for any coins and was relieved to find most of them still left. Some of the smaller coins had disapppeared underwater, but what remained could still buy him a room in a cheap inn. After that? Well, he was sure he could come up with something.
Etiac Belladom began making his way up to the clifftop city, his face breaking into a smile despite everything. The Sun rolled onto the sky from behind the clouds, bathing him in its radiant glory. Some other day, he might have to join the Bright One up there, but not today. Today was going to be a good day.
Etiac Belladom arrives in Talama
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Topic: You Are King II: Tales of the Storm Coast (Winter 416a) (Read 238061 times)