Chapter 5 Part 4

The Twin Cities was just as Armegon had remembered it. The cities, like Tycho, was mostly elves and dwarves with a generous mixing of human blood as well. The route they had taken last time had followed the sea shore from the point of the ambush to the city. This time they had remained on the main trail and approached the cities from the landward side. Still as they came out of the foothills they were high enough to see the frozen ocean beyond. The suns rising in the southeast were mirrored in the ice and the sight was picturesque. Calista, who had never seen the northern ice seas, was totally enthralled by its beauty.

Well before midday, they were inside the cities' perimeter and having left Mirfak to roam the countryside at his leisure were making there way through the shops and houses towards the ship yards. Ultrecht and Calista separated to procure lodging, hopefully at the inn where they had stayed upon returning from the Oracle of the Twilight Dragon. Armegon and Avery were going to try to find Captain Heiniken Thundersledge and the Westward Cutter. They had agreed to meet in the tavern of the inn for lunch later on.

Armegon and Avery made their way to the docks and soon located the berth of the Westward Cutter, but the vessel that occupied the place only vaguely resembled the sleek craft that had ferried them to the Ice Kingdom only a couple of years ago. The Cutter looked as if it had been dragged out of an old attic after decades of misuse. The runners were all rusted and the sails were torn and rotten. The rudder was broken and the steering mechanism looked as if it would give way in a gentle breeze.

"What happened," Avery asked in awe.

"House Blackheart happened," a familiar but broken voice said from behind them.
Armegon and Avery spun about as one. Thundersledge was there, but the old dwarf was only a shadow of the person they remembered him as.

"Well, well," the old dwarf said surprised. "It's my outlander friends." He made an effort to sound happy, but it failed miserably. "Look at her," Heiniken said gesturing at the pitiful craft. "It’s as much my fault as anyone else's." He shook their hands as he explained.

"You know you boys were somewhat of celebrities in these parts. You visited the Oracle, you fought off pirates, then you kicked Blackheart's tail and sent him packing at Gly-ou-vogue. Don't look surprised," Heiniken said when their mouths dropped open. "You can't go about doing things like that and not expect the world to know about it. The only difference is that no one knows who you are, and I never expected to see you again. I thought you were trying to go home."

"We had business to attend to," Armegon told him. "Only three of us stayed behind."

"Well it’s not really important. When word got out that I was the one who ferried you to the Oracle, House Blackheart started working me over. I haven't had a contract in almost a year now and every time I try to get supplies or repairs made, some bureaucrat somewhere loses the goods or my requisitions. And if that isn't all, the sailor's guild won't let anyone hire on as my crew anymore."

What about that young elf, what was his name? Skimmer?" Armegon asked.

"The boy stayed with me until I found out he was eating rats because I couldn't pay him wages. I had to let him go. He got a decent position on one of the new ships running cargo from the Tycarian port of Northreach. They’re in port right now in fact. If you want to see the boy he probably would be happy to talk to you. I’m glad he’s doing well."

"Well what would you say if I told you we are here for business?" Armegon asked.

"A contract?" Thundersledge said slowly. "I wish you had come a few weeks ago," he said sadly. "I just sold the Cutter. Couldn't pay the taxes or the berthing fees. And those are going to get very expensive next year when the great melt comes. These seas will thaw out a great deal and only the ships that are in dry-dock or tether berthed will stay afloat."

"So you aren't in business anymore?" Armegon asked.

"Actually I am," Thundersledge told him. "My uncle and I have been setting up a smithy on the west side of town. I fancied the life of a sailor, but blacksmithing is the family business. Even so, I come here on occasion to see the old girl and remember her as she was before. She deserves better than this."

"We passed by Tycho and stayed at Regalus' inn. They told us he was up here," Avery recalled.

"I have started making runners for the ships, but my uncle and I are experimenting with metals other than steel." Heiniken lowered his voice. "If you have ever visited the Northern Archives in Tycho you know they have a very well versed library in certain fields such as history, geography, and in this case metallurgy."

Armegon looked at Avery. The ranger was gazing sadly at the ship. Armegon had known him too long not to know what he was feeling. Avery was feeling guilty that they had contributed to dwarf's loss of property and business. Armegon even knew what Avery was thinking. He hoped Ultrecht had been lying about how poor he really was.

Avery had insisted that they treat Heiniken and his uncle to a meal. They had gone to the smithy and found the other owner of the Red Horizon. He, too was glad to see them, and he, too graciously accepted their invitation to dine.

When the four of them returned to the inn, Ultrecht and Calista were waiting for them. They had purchased a suite and were already eating when the others arrived.

"Couldn't you wait for us to start eating?" Avery asked annoyed.

"I have had enough of your trail cooking to last me a month," Ultrecht stated challengingly. "Tell me now that if I don't like it not to eat it."

Ultrecht wasted no time greeting the two dwarves and invited them to dine. He even volunteered to pick up the tab. The dwarves and halfelves ordered and Ultrecht listened as Heiniken retold his story. Calista, who had been quietly listening the whole time felt terrible for the dwarf.

"I was thinking," Avery started.

"Don't," Ultrecht interrupted him. He too knew of Avery's soft spot in situations like this.

"Maybe we can loan them the money to get their boat back and fix it up," Calista suggested. "After all they got in trouble for helping you in the first place."

Ultrecht choked momentarily on his food. He looked at the girl hard then turned to Armegon. "I think she’s had one too many lessons from Mr. Bleeding Heart here," he said nodding at Avery.

"But Ultrecht," Calista continued. "Avery says that you have more money than you know what to do with, and that money’s useless if you can't use it to help friends."

Avery chose that moment to excuse himself under the premise that he had to check on the horse and mule. As he left the table, he was certain the temperature in the room was rising rapidly.

Armegon was sweating. Holding back a hard laugh was difficult work. Avery had obviously been teaching the girl about more than woodland skills.

Ultrecht fired several dozen invisible daggers into the retreating back of the ranger before the door swung shut behind him. Then he looked into the almost pleading eyes of Heiniken. "I really don't have that much money," Ultrecht started, but knew he could not finish. "Well, I’ll see what I can do."

Thundersledge broke down crying and leaned against his uncle. "Mr. Ultrecht," Regalus said boldly, "I owe you a big one."

Ultrecht looked back at his plate. The meal he had ordered was fairly expensive, and he had just lost his appetite, but he had paid for it and be damned if it was going to be thrown out. He forced himself to finish eating.