Chapter 21: Basitin Isles
The Merfolk was tossed around the violent sea. Trace, Ash, Keith, Clovis, and Natani helping the three crewmen as they manned their stations.
Evals held the steering wheel hard, his teeth gritting while the wind crashed into him. The power of the storm bearing down on him hard. On the deck the magic users were adjusting the sails to be at the right spot. Keith helping Mike and Chauk with the ropes.
Evals noticed Eric by the railing trying to light his pipe. An irritated look on the dogs face, the power of the storm inside Evals almost matching that of the storm going on around them.
"Captain, with all due respect. We are in a fucking hurricane!" Eric turned back to Evals.
"Oh yes , how rude of me." He walked over and offered the pipe to Evals.
"It can't be easy steering in this, want a puff?" Evals growled at Eric who backed up sweat dropping.
"I guess not."
Chauk tried to tie down a rope but slipped on water that had splashed onto the deck. When the ship rolled again, he was nearly knocked off the edge. Mike saw this and grabbed the human, desperately pulling him back onboard.
"Are you ok?" Chauk looked around at the storm blowing chaos all around them and then looked at the group. Those responsible for him being there.
Keith grunted while he tied down another rope, his home closer than ever but in the hurricane it felt like a thousand miles.
"Come on!" Keith screamed, finally getting the rope tied down. The others got the sails into just the right position. Evals feeling the resistance against the steering wheel lessen. The ship glided along the water faster through the storm.
Ash and Clovis looked over the side and saw a small pod of whales swimming beside the port side of the ship. The great leviathans leaping up and out of the water in a spectacular fashion. Fountains of water crashing into the two wolves.
"Oh you little-" Clovis started while Ash laughed.
"We were soaked already. If they're here then we must be nearing the edge of the storm." Ash said , optimism pushing him on. Keith and Natani joining them.
"Look!" Natani shouted, the storm clouds ahead of them thinning with sunlight illuminating the peace of the sea ahead.
"We made it!" Trace shouted, Flora coming onto the deck beside him.
"Alright we're clear of the storm, straight shot to the island." Keith smiled with an expression he hadn't known in a long time. Natani with her arm around his shoulder.
"Well done, we should reach the island in a few hours. If you need me , I need to make sure my collection is unharmed." Eric said walking below deck.
Chauk followed with Mike close behind. Flora and Trace noticing Chauk's expression. His resentment and anger painted all over his face.
"What's wrong with him?"
"I guess he doesn't want to be here." Trace said.
Keith saw an atoll nearby with a ship similar to their own only larger and black. On top of the center mast was a flag. The flag had a brown shield with a red sword coming down the center. The sigil of the Eastern Basitin Empire. On the shores of the island , Keith and the others could actually see figures on the island. Basitin soldiers, Keith's heart racing like a horse.
"Alright guys we'll be arriving soon, so let's talk a bit about laws and customs for when we get there." Below deck, Clovis and Flora now wore similar attire to Natani with brown trousers, a red tunic esk shirt for Clovis, and Flora's usual shirt.
"Man these are uncomfortable. How do you wear these all the time?" Flora asked holding the sides of her pants.
"We really have to tie wrappings around her feet and ankles?" Natani asked.
"Decency laws are heavily enforced, it doesn't just apply to Basitins. Ankles and feet are considered nudity if they're not covered." Keith said helping Natani with her foot wrappings.
"What else?" Trace asked.
"Public displays of affection are also forbidden. Even among married couples. No nuzzling or kissing each other outside the bedrooms." Keith said.
"Are you kidding me!?" Flora almost shouted.
"Officers and knights must be given proper curtesy, but that will mostly apply to me. Something else I should warn you, Keidran aren't exactly liked. People may see you as lewd and wild like the tribal western basitin."
"Lewd?"
"Also we still have a few days for this. But on Sunday, we need to especially be careful as it's the day of obligation for the All-Father."
"All Father?" Flora asked.
"Ahh yes, the one God the Basitin worship." Ash said.
"Their Deus." Trace said.
"Ohh right."
"Also, no excessive drinking. Public drunkenness is taken very seriously."
"Aww." Natani said.
"Remember guys , be on your best behavior."
"Also we need to keep our eyes open for whoever sent you the letter, they're the key to finding the Snake." Trace said. Within a few hours, a colossal island was in view. The island filled with trees and a small mountain range.
They went to the edge where they saw a large harbor connected to a great city. Evals carefully docking the ship. Chauk and Mike tying it to the dock.
Keith stood before the gangplank and inhaled deeply. Natani put her hand on his shoulder, the others giving him looks of confidence. Keith took his first step onto the dock, feeling the weight of the world around him.
Around the dock there were dozens of Basitin dock workers attending to their ships and cargo. Several giving them stares while the group approached the dock authority.
"Watch over the ship." Eric said disembarking. He adored himself in an expensive violet tunic. Walking through the dock and to the group. They reached the authority near the end of the dock. Three armored basitins awaited them. Their armor was black and scaly in the chest area. Each having a sword on their belt.
"Names and business here." The lead authority said holding a ledger book. Keith took a deep breath.
"Keith Keiser." The authority nearly dropped his quill. The other soldiers grabbing the pommels of their swords. The group almost went for their own weapons.
"I demand to see the High-generals." Keith said.
"That's not an option any more." One of the soldiers mounted a horse and rode off. The group waited and waited, more Basitin soldiers coming around them.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Clovis said. Flora growling while Trace tried to keep her back.
Three Basitins each wearing black and red armor with red capes dismounted at the edge of the docks and marched forward. The soldiers on the docks snapping to attention while they walked past.
"The high generals." Keith said almost shaking.
The first general was perhaps the largest person they had ever seen. A basitin who stood over six feet tall and over four hundred pounds of muscle. His eyes brown and his footsteps booming.
The second was an elder Basitin. He was somewhat small and frail looking. A pair of round spectacles on his face and the top of his left ear missing. The last Basitin general was none other than Alaric. Keith in shock seeing his old friend as a general. However, the shock soon turned back to fear when he saw the center general."
"The Basitin high generals. Master general Alaric, Intelligence general Alabaster, and Arms general Frosh." The port authority said.
The elder general showed anger and resentment. His teeth flashing while he marched forward and grabbed Keith.
"You! What in the name of the All-Father are you doing here traitor! You've been banished! Your life is now-" Alabaster was nocked out of the way by Alaric, the younger basitin wrapped his arms around Keith.
"Keith! You're alive and home! Dam it's good to see you!"
"Alaric, it's good to see you too old friend."
"General!" Alabaster screamed, Frosh grabbing Alaric and pulling him away from Keith.
"This man is banished, he and his companions will die for this impudence."
"You can't do that Alabaster, I've got this." Keith said smiling. Alabaster's glasses nearly fell off when he saw a royal pardon in his hand.
"What!? A royal pardon? That's not possible!?" Alabaster screamed. He saw Trace's Hospitaller attire and almost growled.
"Your magic friend forged this! If you think-" Alaric snatched the pardon and smiled while holding it.
"This is no forgery general Alabaster."
"You don't know that."
"And you can't prove it. We could always ask the king." Alabaster grit his teeth.
"This vile traitor murdered your predecessor, his own father." Natani saw Keith's fist tighten, she put her hand on his shoulder to restrain him.
"He has been pardoned. That's the end of it general." Alaric said. Alabaster turned to Keith.
"I'll be watching you Keiser. Mark my words, you won't escape my justice a second time." Alabaster and Fosh got on their horses and rode off. Alaric sending the soldiers back to their work.
"Keith, I thought I'd never see you again my man." Alaric said putting his hands on Keith's shoulder. Keith smiled, overjoyed to see his friend again.
"You're the master general now?"
"I know right, it wasn't easy. But here I am. So you're back, and with friends I see."
"This is Natani , my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend!? A keidran girlfriend!? Ha! So you gave into your wild side with a keidran eh. I guess you are half western basitin after all." Alaric said patting Keith's shoulder while his and Natani's faces turned red.
"No! We've never!" They shouted in unison.
"Really? Respect, you're made of sterner stuff my friend."
"This is Ash, Clovis, Trace, and his wife Flora. Oh and this is captain Eric."
"Hello." Eric said.
"Welcome to the Basitin isles. Allow me to show you around." Alaric lead them off the dock and into the city. The city itself was larger and grander than any city in the empire they had been to. The streets and buildings made of grey brickstone, marble, and wood. The streets well paved and very clean. No signs of low lives or other unfortunate souls. There were large fortification walls separating parts of the city and a massive castle fortress near the mountain.
Almost every Basitin, the men and women were in some kind of military esk attire. Those not wearing the heavy armor wearing small armor or military tunics. The average basitin looking just as diligent and disciplined soldiers and knights patrolling the streets. Each doing their duties weather it be shop keeping, silver mining, construction, or farming with the diligence of soldiers. Very little small talk going on, however, many did stare at the visitors while they walked through the streets. The entire city having a disciplined feel to it, as if it were a great soldier.
"Wow look at all the Keiths." Flora said upon seeing the basitins. Alaric laughed a little hearing her say that.
"This is quite an city." Ash said sounding impressed.
"You'll be happy to hear things are still well here. The western basitins are staying on their half of the island, and the Scept raiders haven't returned. Silver mines are still holding strong too."
"That's good to hear." Keith looked at the letter asking for help.
"Alaric." Keith said in a quite tone , now close beside his old friend.
"Alaric, you wouldn't know of any, internal problems. Outside influences, Templars." Alaric seemed interested upon hearing Keith speak.
"Templars? Keith I've heard about what you've been doing in the Kord empire. I can assure you that none of those cultists are here. Foreign religions are prohibited. Is that why you're here?" Alaric asked while laughing.
"I uh, just had to ask." Keith's curiosity striking hemlock a sword. His hope that Alaric had written the letter fading away like a dying candle. Still he was happy to see his friend again. Flora looked closer at the women working in the city and discovered that every other woman's stomach was swollen and enlarged like hers.
"Uhh hold on, is it just me or is every woman here pregnant?" Flora asked.
"You're right."Alaric said.
"Why?" Flora asked.
"All women here get pregnant at about the same time. During our one week of permitted sex. Women live in the inner city walls, men in the other city." Keith said.
"Oh yeah that's right. Your unfair laws."
"Unfair yes, but very efficient at population control and maintaining discipline." Alaric said. Natani noticed a few women wearing the black armor and even one in grey knight armor on horseback. Natani smiled seeing them, gratified to finally see what Keith had talked about.
"We don't get a lot of visitors here, but there is one tavern you lot can stay at." Alaric said leading them to a large wooden tavern that had three floors. The tavern exterior was well maintained , a sign above it saying the Leaky Knight the sign having a painting of knight armor with water pouring out.
The interior of the tavern looked just as tidy. The basitin inside mimicking the look of the tavern.
"I need rooms for these travelers." Alaric said.
"General! Of course sir." The innkeeper said. He quickly took out keys and handed them to Trace, Clovis, Eric and Natani.
"Keith , you and I have a lot of catching up to do. I'd like you to join me , we have much to talk about."
"I'm coming too." Natani said.
"We're going to where only official Basitin are allowed."
"It's fine, you can trust her."
"Alright , for you Keith she can come." Natani smiled and followed the two Basitins out of the Tavern.
"Now what?" Clovis asked.
"I suggest we split up and look for signs of the Templars. Ask around a bit." Trace said.
"You may do as you like, as for me I'm going to find some Basitin wares here. Goods in these parts are hard to come by." Eric said walking off.
"We'll look in the inner city." Ash said.
"Alright, Flora and I will take the outer city." Keith and Natani were lead by Alaric to a fortification inside the inner city. The bulwark was well maintained. The walls well fortified and the towers holding by large scorpios. The interior hallways were just as well maintained, the halls decorated with armor pieces and weapons. Natani noticed several hadn't been cleared, still holding old stains of blood , decorating them with their past experience. She smiled, appreciating the authenticity of the decorations.
Walking past them were basitin soldiers and knights, each coming to attention for Alaric.
"This place hasn't changed much." Keith said.
"I kept it up awaiting your return."
"Alabaster still has it out for me." Keith said.
"Yeah he's never gotten over what happened. You were lucky not to be executed like he wanted."
"I suppose I have you to thank for that."
"What are friends for."
"Keith told me about you, his old captain and friend." Natani said.
"You told her our old stories eh, did you ever tell her about the time we went streak-"
"No!" Keith shouted, his face turning red. Alaric's face turned slightly red as well while he smiled.
"Good times , good times." Natani smiled looking down at Keith.
"You did what?" Keith looked away.
"He made me do it."
"General!" They heard. A small Basitin girl approaching. The girl had light brown fur and looked to be about thirteen years old. Her eyes yellow and her armor much too big for her.
"General, I delivered the mail like you asked."
"Good Madelyn. I'd like you to meet my old friend Keith Keiser." Madelyn looked up at Keith. Her face turning red.
"Keith. So nice to meet you." She said sounding a bit bashful. Natani took notice of this.
"This is Lieutenant Madelyn my aide."
"Lieutenant?"
"I know right." Alaric laughed.
Elsewhere , Trace and Flora were in the outer city. They approached many Basitins, but few gave them the time of day. Flora in particular.
"Excuse me." Flora said to a passing buy Basitin.
"Don't try to tempt me with your lewd ways Keidran."
"Ma'am could you-" Flora asked a woman.
"Keep away keidran, my unborn child won't take any of your promiscuous tendencies."
"Hey could you spare a -" Trace started.
"I don't have time human."
"…..Basitins are kind of stuck up." Flora said.
"Well this isn't getting us anywhere." Flora held her stomach.
"Well the baby's hungry again, which means I'm hungry."
"Alright what do you feel like?"
"Real meat this time." Trace and Flora found a butcher's shop. A Basitin man and woman preparing meat.
"Excuse me, we'd like to buy some beef." Trace said. The man saw the two and his annoyance became as evident as a fire in a forest.
"So long as she stays decent." He said.
"Just give us the dam meat." Trace said putting a gold coin down. The basitin's eyes widened.
"Honey , put a cow on the fire." He said, Flora and Trace smiling while they sat down. Upon the meat's completion, Flora devoured the steaks like the ravenous tiger she was. She noticed a slighly frightened expression on Trace's face.
"How long have we been married and you still get frightened watching me eat."
"I can't help it."
"This place is quite, orderly. I thought Kei and his knights could get too uptight, all these Keith's are worse than Keith when we first met him." Trace laughed a little.
"It's just their culture."
"They don't seem to have as much of a problem with you." Flora said.
"You can't expect everyone to like you Flora. When they see you, they see your culture, one that contradicts their own."
"I suppose." Flora felt up her stomach again.
"The baby's going to be born soon. It's getting close to a hundred and ten days."
"I know." Trace said, the nervousness inside him pressing against his being like wager against a burdened damn.
"How long are we going to be here?"
"I don't know."
"I might end up delivering here."
"Maybe."
"You have to see this!" They heard from a basitin.
They followed the basitin outside and looked with the crowd of Basitins at the harbor. Much to Trace's great surprise, he saw none other than Nora bathing in the harbor.
"Nora?"
Back in the bulwark, Keith and Natani followed Alaric. Natani watching Madelyn as she walked close to Keith.
"So tell me more about your girlfriend here?"
"Girlfriend!?" Madelyn almost shouted in horror. Natani smiled a little.
"Yes, well I'm from the wolf tribes of western Mekkan. Former assassin, now I'm a Templar hunter."
"How exactly did my boy end up with the likes of you. He never was much of a ladies man?"
"Well it's a bit of a long and well, convoluted story now that I think about it. But circumstances brought me to join them, Keith was the once who convinced me. One thing lead to another and here we are."
"Well it's ashamed it won't go anywhere." Madelyn said.
"What?" Natani almost growled.
"That reminds me, these are your new quarters." Alaric said showing Keith a chamber.
"New quarters?"
"Keith you're un-banished. That means you live here now with the rest of the soldiers. I need good knights and you were a true knight. I want you to serve as my captain."
Keith's expression changed again.
"Captain…." Keith had been so overwhelmed with coming home that he never even considered the idea of what would happen next, if he were to stay or go. Natani gave a horrified expression. Terrified of the idea of Keith remaining there.
Author's note
We've arrived at Keith's home, dilemmas old and new arise
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest, or ask(VIA PM)