The Wine-Dark Daughter by Damien J. Coluccio

Author:Damien J. Coluccio [Coluccio, Damien J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A half hour later, they arrived back at the beach to find a group of thirty men with weapons and torches surrounding the ship.

Her crew were facing them, swords in hand, with Khufu and Cela arguing with the beachmaster.

Desma and the others pushed their way through. ‘What is happening?’

‘This piece of gribushu,’ Khufu said, swearing in his native language, ‘is telling us that our berth has been revoked. He arrived with these men to retrieve the iron ring and to ensure we set sail.’

The beachmaster, an average sized man darkened from spending everyday under the sun, waved a scroll towards them. ‘I have received orders to have your ship leave the beaches of Trilos tonight. My men are here to keep the peace. We will give you one hour.’

Desma stepped towards him and attempted to take the scroll. ‘Who ordered it?’

The beachmaster moved away from her and two of his men blocked her from getting closer.

Desma grew furious. ‘How do we know this is legal if you will not let us see the paperwork?’

His men rattled their swords. ‘That is the paperwork,’ the beachmaster said with a mean grin. ‘Please direct your complaints to them.’

Desma gave him another glare and moved back to her crew.

‘We could take them,’ Delphinus said, ‘but it will be bloody.’

She shook her head. ‘No, it will just bring the city guards. I don’t know who is behind this but it might play into their hands if we attack.’

‘Are we just to leave?’ Kassandra asked. ‘We haven’t spoken to the king yet.’

‘Maybe it is the king’s orders,’ Delphinus suggested.

‘I don’t think so,’ Desma said, thinking back to what Castur said.

‘What do you think we should do?’ Cela asked.

An idea struck her. ‘Cela, did Mynta not say to us that we are welcome to Trilos at any time to see her?’

Cela nodded slowly. ‘She did. But why … oh!’

‘Exactly.’ Desma turned back to the beachmaster. ‘We will happily return the iron ring to you,’ she said loudly for all to hear. ‘And, in return, we would like you to fetch us a silver ring.’

The beachmaster laughed. ‘Why would I give you a silver ring?’

‘As we have an open invitation from Amynta, daughter of Emissary Linos, we are entitled to a silver ring as guests of a city official,’ Desma explained with painstaking slowness. ‘Or do you wish to force us to offer insult to Emissary Linos for not visiting our dear, dear, friend, his daughter? Will you convey word yourself to offer our apologies?’

The beachmaster looked uncomfortable. He opened the scroll and beckoned one of his men closer with a torch. He read the words again, peering closer to the bottom of the scroll where the person who ordered it no doubt had their name. Eventually, he pushed the man away, winding the scroll back up, and cleared his throat.

‘As guests to Emissary Linos, Councilor to the King, you are welcome in Trilos. We will give you a silver ring and, as is customary, you have one day to provide proof of friendship or invitation, otherwise the ring will be rescinded.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.