Chapter 28: Half Moon
Year 122 of Nortus
Today, I don't see anything unusual.
The sky is clear, the gallows is being cleaned.
Trading as usual.
It has been a great time.
I think I should go to the tavern for market news.
****
"Apples?"
"Still the same as usual. A silver for another."
"Bounty?" I put a silver
"Few harassments recently. There is a new group of mercenaries dealing with those problems." As he puts down the glass
"Weapon trade?" I put another silver
"Well, this is quite a strange one. The king puts a new regulation. More tax on mythril weapons" He lays his elbow on the counter
"Drakes?" Another silver for him
"Their merchant said that their king shall put more tax on herbs and meat."
"Reason?" Another silver
"Some say that well, drakes heard news about a human priest had done such bad deed, and so they don't like it and always check on religious groups and never check on merchant so the king despites this and then put tax like this"
"That sounds ridiculous."
"To non-believers like us, this whole thing seems like a joke."
"Yeah, can I have the usual?"
"Soft milk wine or salty dog?"
"Salty dog for today"
****
I need to check Alira.
She was recently promoted to a rank. I should pay the guild a visit
"Thank lord. You come here normally this time"
"What makes you think like that?"
"I don't know. You casually come here with either an art or just another group of people fleeing again"
"I am here for Alira"
"Oh, well. Like mentor , like student, I hate to say this. Alira is now barred from practicing with others due to how dangerous she is"
"How so?"
"Three are crippled. Two near death's door. Five are still trembling in horror"
"Still not as mine heh?"
"Up until now, you have hundreds of people left for farming instead, few dozens never gonna look at you again. Some were at death's door"
"Why can I keep my job here?"
"Because you are one of the most powerful around here"
"And?"
"A weapon merchant"
"Doesn't sound right"
"Well-known weapon merchant"
"Good"
"But still, Alira will be assigned to check on an incident at a nearby sea port. It seems that there is no sign that some traders will come back."
"Can I?"
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NO. IF YOU BRING ANOTHER HEAD PIKE OR ANY OF YOUR GRUESOME ARTS. I SWEAR THAT I WILL QUIT MY JOB AND YOU WILL BE BANISHED IN TWO DAYS "
"You don't have to yell like that out loud."
"Some say that sea port is filled with walking corpses and maddening music"
"What kind of music?"
"It sounds like a lullaby as they say"
"Where can I meet them?"
"I told the guards that you can't leave this town until Alira comes back so feel free to ask them at the corner of that bakery"
"Well, damn you witch."
"If it would be nice if I have magic but again, I am only as good as a third rank knight with a dagger and no magic"
"I can get out of this town whenever I want to."
"Nope, I told the lord too."
"I put my dagger near his eye once already"
"That is bold of you"
"I am quicker than you think. Now, may I do as I please?"
"As long as you don't cause any more madness please."
"I need to head out now"
****
I order a few loaves of bread.
I put them in a basket.
I am going to talk to those merchants.
[
Come to sleep my dear
May the sheep stay quiet
Don't wake up, my dear
There will be peace soon
]
I know this song. It was an old song that my town used to sing.
There can be only one place where it was sung and it was my old town.
It can't be.
"Where did you hear this song?"
"That ghost town nearby that sea port."
"Where is it?"
"To the south of the port"
"South of the port..."
"There is only water. I know but look carefully"
"Don't tell me..."
"Floating town"
"Were there many people cheering and singing with joy?"
"I don't think so..."
"It can't be"
"What makes you ask or say those words? Perhaps you were there?"
"Don't pry me further, don't tell anyone about our conversation or your neck will be hung at the gallows and your body is fed for wolves"
"You are no town justice"
"Of course, I am not but I made the lord know my strength before. I will be the last thing you see at the flash of eyes. And please, keep your mouth shut and you will be spared."
I better find Alira fast
I rush quickly to the guild.
"Witch, I heard it. I know that place. Alira shouldn't come there"
"How so?"
"A roadway rumor. I know that place. A ghost town"
"Detail?"
"Anyone who comes to that town will be killed or get out being insane if they don't know about the last piece of lyric"
I lied to the teeth about this. That ghost town, it is my old town.
"Fine, you win. Here, a permit to get out from me. I knew this case would happen"
"Thanks"
I head out to find Alira
Day and night, I won't let my goats rest.
****
Thank lord we get there right before Alira after a restless rush.
"Alira, I need to talk"
"<Mad merchant>, what would you want me to know?"
"Hop on first"
She hops on my wagon.
"Tell me"
"Fine, I lied to get here. But there is a reason. That place you shouldn't come to. It was a town I had used to live"
"You?"
"If you need to know, then fine. This will be a long story"
Before I became a jester, I had been a son of a noble lineage. The war had occurred again. The iron sheep from the great old tale had destroyed that town. I had left with nothing but my life.
I had survived through rubbles. I had been saved by the knight.
To an orphanage, to a new town where no one knew anything about me. But their kindness gave me another hope. I was happy there. But it still haunted me when I was Jarek. The song about the sheep. I don't want to hear it ever again
"Before you became a jester, you had had a great tragic"
"Yeah, but scary enough. Those iron sheep were… I don't want to know it ever again. I know that Dwarven mechanical weapons are just very scary when they are unleashed to a town so sudden. Those weapons are forbidden to be used due to well possibly malfunction not because they were inefficient to kill a large amount of humans"
"Hundreds years ago seems cruel"
"Don't have to tell me about it"
"Is this the place now?"
"Yeah, I remember it clearly. The time flies sure quickly"
At the south of the port, there is just vast ocean and sand.
I let my goats rest now.
I set up the camp for the two.
****
Beside the burning woods, gathered together.
"I heard that the ghost town should appear at half moon and tonight, it seems like it is almost"
"Few days ago, the moon was full. I don't know if this second half moon is a good sign"
"Can you sing that song for me?"
"No"
"What was the town like?"
"Beautiful and peaceful"
"Sounds decent"
"People gathered at the fountain during mid summer for a festival. It was a way to deal with the heat at that time, it was also an opportunity for many odd inventions to be shown off"
"Sure it was fun"
"Yes"
"Tell me, what is your next phase to overthrow Todur Nortus?"
"If I do it right now, who will be the heir? Certainly, it can't be you or me or a puppet right?"
"Another Nortus?"
"Perhaps, there is a good among those rotten apples that is"
"I need rest. Don't act out or lop people's head"
"I won't"
****
Morning, we scout around the area to survey any advantage or anyone around.
There is nothing much beside sand on the beach and a few random skulls
These skulls seem odd. I feel like they shouldn't be here.
"Alira! Watch out for ambushes or any portal!"
"Thanks for notifying me,<old man>!"
"Whatever!"
Sand and sand and sand
Nothing much around.
Perhaps, I should find a way to make a raft or a ship to move around.
If we head back to the road, we might get some wood and some goods for a raft. Why bother when we can buy a ship or a boat?
The tides seem calm enough. Maybe we should get a boat.
"Alira, move to the north, we should get a boat, the wind should lead us back to south"
"Surely, old man"
"Would you stop that?"
"Why did you save me back then?"
"Something called <compassion> and I am not that heartless to abandon a child in the middle of the forest filled with bandits"
"Okay, I understand you. What is your next plan?"
"When we get to the port, we talk about the next phase, okay?"
She nods and hops on the wagon.
Next stop for today, Port Harib