As they entered Unu'pe proper, something big taking flight from the bottom of the cliff caught his attention. He shaded his eyes and tracked it for several moments before he realized it was a Horde windrider.
He leaned over and caught May by the arm. "Help me with my disguise," he said quietly. "And I'll need an extra one of your cloths for a mask." When they had both dismounted, he pulled both horses in front of him as a barrier to prying eyes.
"What's the matter?" she said as she took the materials from her pack.
"The flight master here is a goblin," he explained. "Damn meddlesome bastards, the lot of them, and information of any sort is money to them. If you need to call me by name while we're down there, use Dalgrin."
"What kind of name is that," she said as she wrapped one cloth around his ears and another around the lower part of his face.
"One I'll answer to," he said as he replaced his cap and hood, then laughed at her scornful snort.
He had her sling her pack with his on one horse and to take the lead while he brought up the rear with both their mounts into the small town. She easily picked out which one of the tall, heavyset individuals was a merchant and got down to business with him without hesitation despite the large tusks he sported.
While she was so engaged, he looked down at the dock. The huge turtle the Tuskarr used as a boat to sail from Unu'pe to their other town of Moa'ki was not in sight.
"Pay attention, boy," May said and hit him on the arm. She pointed at the filled sacks at her feet. "Load the horses and make it quick."
He glared at her before he came to his senses, then quickly bowed with a fist to his forehead before picking up her purchases. She pushed him to one side as she left the building with her nose canted at the proper lofty angle. He allowed her a respectful distance then followed her in his guise as the perfect servant.
"Are we ready to leave?" she said once they were far enough away from any eavesdroppers.
"Not quite yet," he said as he distributed the new supplies among their packs. "The Walker of Waves wasn't at the dock." He bent down and pulled up one of his horse's feet. "Ask around for some tar or rendered whale blubber. The horses' hooves need to be packed again," he said as he straightened. "After that maybe we'll have time to stand around a fire and thaw out a bit."
"Speaking of four-footed friends," May said quietly as she motioned for him to turn about. "The white horse is back."
"Then we don't need to be standing around," he said as he grabbed both sets of reins and started off for the dock without looking.
May grabbed his arm, stopping his headlong rush. He turned on her, ready to let fly, but she held up her hand and nodded towards the town. For once she was being the sensible one, he realized. This was not the time to act out of character. He let out an explosive breath then continued walking down the path towards the dock.
She led the way as she had before, slowly and elegantly, while he listened for the thudding rush of hooves and a scream of rage before the animal killed him. Sweat ran down the side of his face. They walked across the wooden dock to its end without pandemonium breaking out or the world ending in flames.
May let out a sigh of relief – the Walker was coming in to port. He didn't know if he could feel the same satisfaction. More often than not the hand of doom descended just as escape seemed possible. He concentrated instead on the line of sweat trickling down the side of his neck, a torment from hell itself. There was no use in believing in the wild, improbable hope that they would get away from the creature without a scratch.
The huge turtle stopped when the master pulled the carrot he had been dangling in front of its face out of its line of sight. Two burly Tuskarr came down the ramp off the turtle's back and conferred with the dockmaster, who motioned to May to come forward. Ceawlin followed her, pulling the horses with him while maintaining his servile distance.
She assured the dockmaster that the horses were indeed hers and he waved to the two huge beings who towered over May and were three times her girth. They each took position at each end of the first horse and led it to the ramp. At the first step onto the undulating surface, the animal balked and the Tuskarr at the end threw his arms around the horse's legs and setting his shoulder at its rump, pushed it forward. The one at the front put his arm around the horse's neck and for all intents and purposes, carried it to the top of the platform. The animal didn't have the chance to put up a fight. In no time at all the Tuskarrs were back down the ramp and were taking the second horse to stand beside its brother. It was a marvelously shocking display of strength and single-minded determination to get the job done.
May paid the dockmaster and went up the ramp, Ceawlin a shadow at her back. He could see why the horses were hesitant to board. Despite its great size the turtle wallowed at the mercy of the waves and he for one was grateful for the handrails' support. She stopped at the top of the platform and looked back into the town while he went on to the seats at the back.
The charger was indeed walking through the buildings, its head swinging from side to side as if searching for them. Ceawlin looked down between his legs and noticed there was just enough room under the seat for a full sized person to hide. He eased forward until he was perched at the edge, ready to roll under it the moment the beast set foot on the ramp.
The horse raised its head and stared at May as she stood at the top of the stairs. She dropped her hands to rest them on the hilts of her daggers. It walked forward again as if she had sent a welcoming sign, stopping only at the end of the dock. It looked over each side as if considering its next move then carefully placed one foot on the ramp and then the other. Ceawlin dove under his seat. The dockmaster began yelling and the Tuskarr on the turtle turned towards May.
Nose to the wood of the ramp, the charger slowly walked up to the platform then brushed by May to where Ceawlin lay hidden. It stuck its muzzle under the seat, then exhaled loudly through both nostrils at him and stomped one foot.
May bent over laughing. Ceawlin silently cursed her, damning her for her black heart.