Abattoir Redemption
Yep! I'm back again! Hope you all enjoy this new chapter. And, I meant to say this in every chapter, but I welcome all constructive feedback &/or criticism. Again, please enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 3
My next job brought me to the foggy, quiet port of Selhoff. I was contracted to kill a Stitched Drake that has been terrorizing ships that venture too far from the bay. I flew into the port town using the Cobbled Wings I ripped from that conman posing as an Avacynian Emissary. The only weapon I had on my person was my cleaver, but it had never let me down before.
I walked up to a rusted, slightly grungy building with a sign reading, "Abelon Ship Rental". I walked up to the wrinkly old man behind the counter, brandishing my cleaver as I spoke, "I want a large fishing boat, one that can fit at least five people and has a telescopic harpoon and the captain of whichever vessel you find. If I don't have a ship and a navigator in one hour, waves won't be the only thing getting cut through. You got me?" The old man nodded and ran off with fear In his eyes.
He would soon return with what I had requested. In the meantime, I walked the marina for a crew. After a brief throwdown with three greasy sailors, and pulling out my trusty cleaver, they relented and followed me back to the ship rental place to meet our captain. His name was Ishmael Darsen, an old trophy fishing veteran who knew the bay well. Once we had all gathered by the large fishing vessel that had been commandeered for my journey.
I spoke therm in a stern, intimidating, & authoritative voice, "We're going out to kill Witherwing, the stitchwing drake that's ravaged your harbor for years. One of you will man the harpoon, the captain over here will serve as a navigator, and the rest of you will be on the lookout for the blighted bastard. When the beast is within range, we will tether it and pull it in close with the harpoon and I'll finish the job with my cleaver. You will be compensated for your time, but only if you can find someone to teach me how to cast the Curse of Echoes. I've heard many people know how to cast it around here. Got all that?"
They all nodded and loaded onto the large boat. We set off a few minutes later. And, as the rumors had spoken, it didn't take long to find our target. We heard on odd raspy shrieking as the large, slightly withered, blue-winged beast came into view amidst the fog. I gave the first command, "Aim and fire the harpoon! Bring the beast in close!" The other men did as they were told. Once the beast was tethered to our boat, I cleaved both of its wings before cutting out and retrieving its heart to bring to my employer as proof of completion.
Once we returned to the harbor, I paid the men before speaking to the men one last time, "You have your compensation and you can take full credit for the kill, but I'm keeping the heart and you will lead me to a wizard or mage her can teach me to cast the Curse of Echoes. After they agree to teach me this enchanting spell, you are free to carry about your day." We walked a few blocks east of the harbor and entered a small hut-like building with a single elderly woman sitting inside.
After some "convincing" She taught me what I needed to know to cast the curse that, according to her, had been passed down through a few families in Nephalia. I gave her a small compensatory stack of gold pieces and returned to my employer in Havengul to claim my much heftier payday.