Chapter 14. Narda
Roran, Horst, Albreich, Loring, Morn, and Birgit stand on a cliff watching the city of Narda. "We made it…" Loring said.
Horst pats Roran on the shoulder, "Thanks to Roran here…"
"We are running low on flour…oil…corn…fruit…"
"We will buy what we need…" Roran says.
"Come…"
They walk back to camp which is in well hidden from prying eyes by trees, rocks, and spells. When they get back to camp Roran opens the chest where all the gold Horst melted into coins is kept. He gives some to Birgit and Gertrude for supplies and the then takes some to buy passage.
"Remember the plan…Buy what you need and hire people to transport it to the docks…" Roran hands the two women a ring, "These will warn you and protect you from danger…Draw no attention to yourselves lets go…" Before leaving Roran gathered the villagers together, "We are leaving to go to Narda…If all goes well we will be sailing south on a boat…No one will hear you and if there are any hunters in the area they will avoid this area…While we are away Hauker will be in charge…"
They entered the city from the south to make it look as if they had come from Teirm or Kuasta. They were able to enter the city without trouble or too many questions from the guards. "You know what must be done…"
Gertrude interrupts nodding her head, "Look!" They all walk towards a poster board with a wanted poster for Eragon and Roran. The poster warns people to be careful of Eragon because he is very dangerous. His reward is the promise of an Earldom. Roran's poster is a picture of him with a beard. He had recently shaved and used magic to alter his face and hair. Roran's reward for capture was 50,000 crowns.
"Be careful…" Roran said before they separate.
Roran walks up the street with Horst and the others scanning the minds of the people he sees and don't see. If the person he touches feels his mind he quickly withdraws from their mind. Most of the minds he encounters is unaware of his mental touch. There are a few that feel him, like high born nobles who quickly put up walls around their minds.
When they reach the docks Albriech and Boldur gasp, Roran smiles as he feels like the sea is calling to him. "Wow!" Boldur says.
"I know…I remember the first time I laid eyes on the sea…"
"How can I help you gentlemen?" The dock master said walking up. It was Roran who explained why they were there. "I'm afraid you are a little too late and a little too early…Most of the big merchant ships have been contracted by the King to ship supplies up and down the coast for his army…The rest of the smaller vessels have gone fishing or whale and seal hunting…" The dock master points, "You might want to try Clovis…His business is usually slow this time of year…"
They walk up the docks to a boat shed where a stout man waits. As Roran and his companions approach he jumps up. "Good day good people…"
"Good day…Might we be addressing Clovis…"
"You do…How can I help you…"
"We would like to employ your barges…"
"All three?" Clovis asks in excitement.
"Yes…" Clovis opens the water shed where the barges are housed. When they see the boats Horst shakes his head, but Roran studies the barges and in his mind he calculates the number of villagers and animals along with all the food and supplies needed to sail at least to Teirm. "How far are you willing to sail south?" Roran asked the whole while probing Clovis' mind.
"No further than Teirm…I don't know the waters beyond that…"
"How much?"
"Well, all three barges…That will be fifty crowns each…Um what exactly are you transporting…"
"This and that…" Roran said describing animals and other things…"
"I also charge an extra 150 when we reach our destination and I charge 10% of your profits…"
Roran goes down into the barge named the Merry Bell and examines it more closely, "There will be no profit…"
"Oh…" Clovis replies scratching his head, "In that case 300 hundred down and another…"
Roran climbs out of the barge and raises his hand. "How about I pay you five hundred now and a thousand when we reach Teirm…"
"Done!" Clovis says offering his hand. "Oh your names please…"
"I am Strong and with me are Ostrec, Nelson, and Kyle…So tell me how soon can we sail?" Roran asked.
"Um…three days maybe…It will take time to hire guards for the barges and round up my crew…"
"If I supply the guards for the barges can you be ready to sail tomorrow…"
Clovis sighs, "Sure…But they better be good fighters…"
"They will be…"
Clovis takes out a map of Narda's surrounding area then they chose a place to pick up the cargo. When the agreement is settled Roran pays Clovis the gold, "Oh one other thing…can you hire some lads to transport the supplies we purchased to the docks?"
"Of course…"
Roran, Horst, Albriech, and Boldur met up with Birgit, Gertrude, and Morn. Then the young men Clovis hired help them to transport the supplies to the docks. Afterwards they travel back to the campsite and tell the villagers. Some people complain about the barges, but Roran tells them that it is temporary. In Teirm they may be a bigger boat and if not they will have to buy the Barges from Clovis and sail to Surda.
That night Mandel, and several other young men were keeping watch when a horrible screech filled the air. "RAZAC!" Mandel screamed. There was no chance of the Razac hearing him because of Roran's wards over the camp. The animals cried out in fear but the Razac could not hear them. Seeing was another problem and if the Razac got too close they would see the camp. Only when a herd of deer galloped through the camp did the Razac turn away. The next day everyone was eager to leave. Horst remained with the villagers to lead them towards the pickup sight while Roran, Boldur, Mandel, Albriech, Loring, Kaul, Chance, Morn, Evens, Taen, Birgit, Pauk, and Freelan went back to the city.
They were allowed into the city without a problem and walked towards the dock. After seven blocks five heavily armed came out from different directions blocking their path. "May we help you gentlemen?" Roran asked.
The leader mockingly bowed, "Yes…all of you seem like experienced warriors, but looks can be deceiving…One of you might not be Roran son of Garrow by chance…"
Roran moved so fast that the others didn't realize what was happening until two of the men were dead. Roran swung his hammer and ended the first man in one blow. Then he swings into the next disemboweling him with his sword. One of the three remaining men can use magic but he is no match for Roran who quickly takes his mind as he kills the last two men. Roran locates other agents of the Black Hand and uses the mage's thoughts to kill his other comrades. Then he snaps the man's neck with his bare hands.
"Hide the bodies and be quick about it…"
To Roran's relief no one heard the commotion and they were able to hide the bodies and move on. "Well you are on time I like that…" Clovis said when they reached the boat shed.
"Can we leave now?" Roran asked in a calm voice.
Clovis introduced his men and then took command of Roran's people. That is when Clovis' wife and daughter show up he kisses them goodbye and off they go. They are twenty feet from the dock when the alarm sounds. "Should we go back?" Iram the captain of the Sea Serpent asked.
"No we will miss the tide…" Clovis said yelling back, then he looks at Roran, "I sure would like to know what caused that trouble…"
"My mother use to say curiosity killed the cat…"
"True…Too true…" By noon the barges reach the cove where the villagers are waiting. A thunderous cheer arises when they come around the bend. "I knew it! I knew you were up to no good…You lied to me Strong…Why? Who are all these people?"
"I did not lie…I withheld the truth for your own good…"
"I will turn my barges around if you do not tell me the truth now!"
Roran nods, "Have you ever heard of Carvahal?"
"I may have…Its in Palancar Valley…"
"You see its people on the beach…The Empire is after me to bring my cousin in line…We defied the King's servants and he has placed a bounty on my head…We are trying to reach Surda…Ask yourself Clovis what would you do to protect your wife and daughter…"
He sighs, "I have no love for the King or his boot lickers…I will get you to Teirm…but after that I leave…"
Roran nods, "Fare enough…I will pay you an extra 1,000 in gold…"
"You don't strike me as a high born noble…where is all this gold coming from?"
"I can use magic…" Roran says and walks away.
As Clovis explains to his men what is going on Roran goes ashore to speak with Horst. Then the villagers set about the task of loading the barges evenly with animals first, then supplies, and finally the people, then they take off. The first few hours on the barges are miserable, but after everyone is comfortable things ease up. To keep up a good pace the villagers help with rowing when the wind dies down. After two days of sailing the pull into shore for fresh water and to stretch their legs. Then it is back to the barges and up the coast towards Teirm. At night when most of the villagers are asleep Roran is scrying Katrina and Sloan to his disgust is still alive but blind now.