Chapter Two: The Crescent
As the carriage drew closer to the marina, Akkarin felt himself being watched. He looked over at his companion, who was sitting on the seat opposite him. Lorlen was studying him closely, like he was a problem to solve, or that he was one of the patients in the Healers' Quarter and he was trying to make a diagnosis.
"What are you looking at me like that for?" Akkarin asked, raising an eyebrow at his friend. Lorlen opened his mouth, hesitated, then shut it again and shook his head. "Oh, come on, out with it," Akkarin grinned, now more amused than intrigued by Lorlen's reticence to speak. "I can tell you're dying to say something."
Lorlen took a deep breath. He looked away from Akkarin as he finally spoke, his fingers curling around themselves as he did so. "You…you will come back, won't you?" He sounded embarrassed, and he face flushed slightly as if he should know better than to ask such a question.
Akkarin looked at his friend curiously and allowed himself a small laugh. "Of course I will, you fool! Wild horses couldn't keep me away- well, I suppose they could for a bit, which is my reason for going really , but they certainly couldn't keep me away forever. Besides, Balkan has ordered me to return after a year unless I have "good reason", and we both know that he will find any excuse to turn down such a request. Why do you ask?"
Lorlen shrugged. "I don't know, things could happen whilst you are away that make you want to stay…I mean, what if you meet some exotic girl and want to marry her? What if you find friends who you like better than us?"
Akkarin snorted. "What if I decide to become a pirate and go off to sail the high seas? What if I discover a sudden faith and join a monastery? There are some possibilities so remote they're not worth worrying about, Lorlen. Honestly, my dear friend, you always worry too much."
Lorlen opened his mouth in mock horror. "No, I worry exactly the right amount."
"The right amount for both us combined, you mean?" Akkarin chided. "I never worry about anything because I know you're doing all the worrying for me."
Lorlen rolled his eyes at his friend good-humouredly. "Well, I am happy to be of service to you, oh mighty one."
Akkarin frowned. "What was that?"
"What?"
"What you called me just then?"
"Oh mighty one?" Lorlen shrugged non-committedly. "I just thought of it. It suits you, don't you think? You and your…magnanimity."
It was Akkarin's turn to feign horror. "I am not magnanimous!"
"Just as you say, oh mighty one." Lorlen smirked at him, then sighed. "Well, all the same, promise to write, wherever it is you end up," he said firmly.
Akkarin raised an eyebrow. "You should know me well enough by now to know I never make such promises."
Lorlen laughed heartedly. "Fine, agree to write, then."
Akkarin pretended to think such a proposition through with deliberate studiousness. "I will agree to that, if you will keep me up to date with all the Guild gossip," he bartered, then smiled to himself. "Particularly about Lord Horton. He is going to have a very interesting year, I can tell already."
Lorlen looked at him incredulously. "I have a clear memory of you saying that Horton was not worth the wine he pours into himself with such gusto. Surely your adventures in far-off lands will be more interesting that the…bedroom adventures of that idiot?"
Akkarin smiled slyly. "Perhaps, I will get back to you on that." Then the carriage jostled them to a halt and he looked out the window, though the sound of crashing waves and the sound of the gulls calling made it clear where they were. "Ah, looks like we're here."
After a few heartbeats, the door to the carriage was opened by the driver, and the two young magicians stepped out to the sensation of salty air and bright sunlight. Akkarin looked around them, taking in the pleasing scene. On pleasant days like this, the marina was an ideal place to find oneself, as it both caught the sun and had a constant breeze to keep one at an ideal temperature.
As the driver untied the luggage from the carriage, Akkarin turned to face his friend. He knew this would be the last time they would see each other in a long time, but suddenly couldn't think of anything to say.
"Well, I suppose this is about it then. Any last words for me?" he said, smiling.
Lorlen rolled his eyes and crossed his arms across his chest. "You're not dying, Akkarin, just travelling."
"Fine, any advice, then?"
Lorlen frowned. "Don't insult anyone accidentally- or on purpose, come to think of it. Don't eat anything that you don't know where it came from. Don't drink too much. Don't sleep with too many women. And don't let too many of the ones you do sleep with fall in love with you. Do as the Ambassadors tell you. And come back in one piece."
Silence fell between them then, then they both started laughing. "I was kind of expecting something more heartfelt than a list of rules, but I thank you regardless." Akkarin considered his friend with fondness. "Look after yourself, Lorlen. Don't let Vinara work you into the ground."
"Ha, I would like to see you stop her!"
Akkarin held out a hand for Lorlen to take. Lorlen eyed it dubiously, stepped forward and engulfed Akkarin in a tight hug. Akkarin let out a slightly choked laugh in response, and hugged his friend in return. "I'll miss you, too!" For a brief moment, standing there with his friend who he was leaving behind, he had a sudden desire not to go. Suddenly, home seemed to safe and secure to ever leave.
Somehow, Lorlen seemed to realise the thoughts going through his friend's mind, as he then quickly pulled away and gently pushed Akkarin towards the docks. "Go on then, go and live a life outside the Guild for both of us."
Akkarin took a deep breath and nodded. "Farewell, old friend. Keep this place in good order for my return."
Lorlen grinned at him and, without looking back, hopped back into the carriage. Akkarin stood and watched it as the horses took up a quick trot and the carriage gently rolled away, the golden Guild symbol painted on its dark wood glinting in the early morning sunlight. It suddenly hit him, for the first time in his life, he was going somewhere where he didn't know a single soul. Of course there would other magicians in Capia, and he knew some of the courtiers by reputation, but no one he personally knew. The thought was, almost, frightening. But Akkarin has always considered himself the kind of person who laughed in the face of fear.
"My Lord?" A voice at Akkarin's shoulder pulled him out of his reverie. He looked to where the words had come. A short stocky man dressed in rough crewman clothes bowed deeply as Akkarin met his gaze. "I am Fondin, my Lord, first mate of The Crescent. The cap'n asked me to bring you aboard, if you are ready?"
"Yes, I am, thank you."
Fondin bowed again, and clicked his fingers at a couple of young men standing by. They immediately ran up and each took one of the chests Akkarin had brought. Fondin then gestured for Akkarin to follow him, and set a quick pace towards the docks. Akkarin was careful to keep up with him- with the marina being so busy and with men all wearing similar attire, it would be very easy to lose Fondin in the crowd.
After much ducking and weaving through the throngs of people, Fondin eventually stopped as they came abreast with one of the more superior ships along the port. It was also one of the busier ones, too, with dozens of young men running up the numerous gangplanks and on the ship itself, seeming to be readying her for her departure. Noticing the obvious and unique shape of the ship, with its obvious arc into its centre, Akkarin finally understood its name. At the Crescent's brig, an older man dressed much more finely than anyone else at the port stood and surveyed it all with an experienced air.
"The Crescent," Fondin said not a little proudly, gesturing to the ship. Akkarin had read of sailors' pride in their personal craft- now he was seeing it for the first time himself.
"It's splendid," he replied.
"She," Fondin corrected with a smile. "The cap'n wanted to speak to you before it all gets a little crowded on deck."
"Of course," Akkarin said.
Fondin directed Akkarin to the nearest gangplank, shooed away the men who were about to use it and politely gestured for Akkarin to walk up it first. He did so gingerly, not wanting to overbalance in front of an audience of weathered seafarers. It intrigued him that these men didn't seem at all phased by the fact that he was a magician, compared to people not from the Houses he had met. Clearly they were used to having such guests on board their ships.
He reached the deck of The Crescent with a small sigh of relief, then waited for Fondin to join him. When the man had done so, darting up the gangplank far quicker than Akkarin had done, he immediately started in the direction of brig. Akkarin followed, carefully avoiding the many crates that were being loaded, and the ropes that were scattered across the wooden floor. Climbing up to the top of the ship's rear 'arc', Akkarin found himself face to face with the man that he had seem observing the commotion earlier.
"Cap'n, this is Lord Akkarin, the magician travelling with us," Fondin introduced. "My Lord, this is Captain Kernin, Captain of the Crescent. He is in charge of all who board the ship, so we all have to do as he says."
Akkarin couldn't help but notice the emphasis Fondin but on the word all. It suggested that this crew had had issues with disobedient magicians before. Well, he certainly wasn't planning on joining that group. He inclined his head to the Captain.
"Honoured to meet you, Captain Kernin. Thank you for allowing me to travel with you."
The Captain chuckled slightly, and bowed to Akkarin, but not as deeply as Fondin had. "Welcome aboard the Crescent, my Lord. Don't worry about Fondin's warning, I am not expecting you to do any work, the Guild is more than generous in supplying men for the ships it charters. But it is always useful to have a magician on board in case something should go amiss. Not that I expect it to, the journey to Capia is an easy one."
"Of course, if I can be of any assistance to you, Captain, I would be happy to oblige."
Kernin smiled broadly. "Oh, I do enjoy Guild politeness, such a pleasant change to the manners of these ruffians." He gestured around him at his men, but Akkarin noticed a distinct fondness in his eyes. "I may take you up on your offer- but for now, I would appreciate it if you would go below deck and stay there until I say otherwise. My men have much to do to prepare us to cast off, and I wouldn't want you to get hurt…or in the way."
"Aye Aye, Captain."
Kernin smiled again. "I believe we shall get on well, Lord Akkarin- I look forward to getting to know you better, and hearing more about the reason for your travels. Fondin, please show our guest to his quarters."
"Yes, Cap'n," Fondin replied. "This way, my Lord."
Once again, Akkarin followed Fondin. They made their way back down from the brig, onto the main deck and down a ladder at its centre into the belly of the ship. This time Fondin went first, and once again Akkarin was quietly surprised by the man's speed. Fondin couldn't be younger than forty, but he appeared to have the strength of a man half his age.
As he stepped down from the last rung of the ladder and looked around the darkness of the creaking interior, Akkarin suddenly understood why he had been warned so darkly about sea travel. Three weeks of this?
Fondin didn't seem put off by the darkness or the constant movement of the wood beneath their feet, and swiftly made his way down a tight corridor. Akkarin followed him as quickly as he could, trying not to stumble- and when he did, trying not to be obvious about it. They came to the last door on the corridor. Fondin opened it and gestured to Akkarin.
"This will be yours. It's not much, but they can be surprisingly cosy at night."
As Akkarin moved forward and peered into the room, he decided that term was being too generous. Fondin had been correct- it really wasn't much. The space was barely big enough to fit the small bed that it contained, a wooden chair and pretty much nothing else. Still, it had a small porthole, which allowed in a little light.
"One of the boys will bring your small things when they have a moment my Lord. We'll be off within the hour, so you won't have to wait here long. I'll have someone come and get you once we've cast off."
Akkarin realised this was the man's polite way of asking for dismissal. "Thank you, Fondin, you've been most generous with your time."
"No rub," the man shrugged before bowing and quickly striding away. Akkarin blinked after the man- no rub? What curious phrases these people used. But then again, he supposed he ought to get used to odd phrases and new idioms if it was his plan to travel the world.
He took the two steps that the room allowed him, ducking his head under the low ceiling and looked out the very small makeshift window. Even though the ship clearly wasn't going anywhere, it was difficult to keep focus on anything due to its constant bobbing in the water. But he could see enough to make out the Marina, and the wall to the West Quarter beyond. He knew that a few leagues to the East was the quarter that contained his home of the past five years. He wondered what it would look like to him upon his return. Smaller? Less grand? Such things often happened as one grew up and spent time away from a place, but he certainly hoped this would not happen to him. He loved the Guild far too much to be willing to think any less of it.
Not long after he had been left by Fondin, he heard light feet pacing down the corridor. A young boy peered around the doorway and looked at him with not a little awe. Akkarin smiled at the youth, not wanting to seem too intimidating. The boy's lips quirked up in reply. He then bowed, and handed over the small bag of luggage Akkarin had packed for the journey. He thanked the boy's back as he ran off again.
Pulling open the bag, he fumbled around inside, checking that everything he needed was inside. It was, to his relief- the Guild's servants were always exceptional packers. As he rummaged, his fingers curled around a familiar leather textured book. He smiled to himself, once again grateful that his servant had thought that he might want it on the journey. He pulled the book out and found his pen was stowed with it, neatly kept in place by the leather thong that kept the book shut. Untying the thong and opening the book to the next blank page, he sat down on the wooden chair and began to write.
Akkarin had made a conscious effort to keep a diary since joining the university five years prior. Whilst others had teased him for it, calling it a girlish past time, it gave him something of an advantage over his peers as to their memory of events. More than once they had come to him, begging him to recount exactly how a particular set of events took place, and he had managed to make himself "the commissioner of truth", which had only added to his popularity.
After graduation, it had seemed natural to keep up the habit, but very quickly he had noticed through his journaling that his days had started following the same boring pattern. He might spend the morning in private study, perhaps helping one of the Warrior skills teachers with their marking, then the afternoon with Lorlen, or some of their other friends if Lorlen was working, and then the evening at some party or banquet. That kind of existence may sound pleasurable, but its joy quickly fades. Akkarin was the kind of man who needed to feel he was accomplishing something- after all, if you're not doing something, you are simply treading water, wasting your life away. It was then he decided it was time to get away from the Guild for a while. He had been incredibly grateful to the Administrator for accepting his request to travel, even if he had stifled it somewhat. Still, a year of freedom, a year of interesting things to diarise.
After a time, he heard loud whistles and cries from above. Then there were great creaks and groans from the wooden hull as Akkarin suddenly felt a distinct jolt, and had to stop himself from making an inky mess on the page as the pen twitched in his fingers from the movement. Putting down his diary and pen, he moved to look out the window. He saw the delicate outline of Imardin slowly begin to move away from him. Well, there was no turning back now, no hesitation that could be of any use. And, to Akkarin's relief, he didn't feel any fear or regret at this moment- only excitement.
The journey had begun.
You know what one of the coolest things to get to do with a second fic is? Getting to quote your first one. That's big writer energy. Thanks to everyone who has already shown such love and encouragement for this story. It's gonna get wild. Love, Cece xox