The common-room of Tassel's Tavern was bustling with activity that evening as men, dwarves and elves came together in the camaraderie that usually exists when beer flowed in abundance. Laughter and talk filled the air, only occasionally interrupted by bickering voices that threatened to turn into the kind of brawl one found in taverns all over the world. Those who felt their blood rise with the innkeeper's potent brew and were looking to cause trouble were quickly subdued, however, by the stern presence of an off-duty detachment of the Knights of Truth. They were charged with keeping the peace in Freeport, and took their duty seriously, even on their one night off.
One of these Knights, a handsome man wearing a shining red suit of Crustacean plate armour was animatedly describing his latest adventure to a young dark-haired woman dressed in a green robe of foreign cut.
"And then the knight told me that the girl was his daughter and he gave me this suit in return for saving her life," Jaldore said, a broad smile lighting his face as he proudly showed off his new attire.
"It suits you," Naramira smiled. Her glance shifted to the jagged-toothed sword hanging at the paladin's side. "And that big knife you've got there?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye. "Was that also a gift from the knight?"
"Yes," Jaldore nodded. "He took one look at the rusty one I'd been using and said that it was no fit weapon for a Knight of Truth. It handles like a dream. I thought it might be awkward to use at first, but it's well-balanced and not too heavy either. Of course, I still have to test it somewhere other than the practice yard." He drained his tankard of beer and waved to the serving-girl for a refill. "But enough about me. I don't think I've congratulated you yet – how does it feel to be an enchantress of the fourth circle?"
Naramira smiled. "I never thought I'd make it this far. I can only hope I don't disappoint the Elders' trust in me."
"And your apprenticeship? How is that coming along?"
"Better now. I had no idea jewel crafting was such a complicated art," Naramira replied. "I'm still only working on silver, but mistress Amber has me setting jaspers at the moment. Soon I'll be able to work with carnelians to make wedding rings." She couldn't conceal the hint of excitement in her voice. She had spent most of the remaining platinum pieces her benefactor, as she liked to think of the elf that had rescued her in the East Commons what seemed like an age ago but had really only been a few months, had given her then to pay for this apprenticeship. Mistress Amber was a strict taskmaster and did not tolerate incompetence, but she was a good teacher and had an eye for detail that could turn even the plainest silver band into an exquisite piece of art.
"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it, Nara," Jaldore smiled. "The only skill I have is fishing, and that's just because I was hungry once and didn't have any alternative. I have a nice collection of old boots and rusty daggers to show how well-stocked the waters around here are," he joked.
Just then the tavern's door creaked open to reveal a slight feminine figure. "Ah, here she is," Naramira said as she recognised the pretty high-elf girl standing in doorway. "Lyise! Over here," she called out to their friend. The elven enchantress smiled and made her way to their table.
"Jaldore, I hardly recognised you! Love the new armour! Naramira, nice to see you again," Lyise said as she sat down. She ordered a glass of red wine and then said in a conspiratorial voice: "I suppose you two want to know why I asked you here tonight. Well, it's like this. I was in a bar in East Freeport a few nights ago…"
"You should know better than that, Lyise!" Jaldore interrupted her. "That part of town is not safe, especially at night and especially for an elven woman."
Lyise waved her hand dismissively. "I can take care of myself if I have to. Anyway, I was in this bar near the docks called the Seafarer's Roost…" She ignored Jaldore's deepening frown, took a sip of her wine and took out a small piece of parchment from somewhere within her robes. "The barkeeper, Nassin I think his name was. George or Graim or Gregor or something Nassin. Anyway, we started talking and he told me that he needed a few exotic ingredients for a recipe he's been dying to try out and that he'd reward the person who could get him these ingredients handsomely."
"What does he want, exactly?" Naramira asked.
"One kiola nut, a jar of honeyjum, one vial of Erud's Tonic and one Koalindl fish," she read from the parchment. "Granted, I don't know what half of these are, but I was hoping you two might have some idea."
"I don't like it," Jaldore said. "I don't know about the rest, but the Koalindl fish are sacred to the clerics of the Temple of Life in Qeynos. Harming them is punishable with death. This whole thing seems a bit shady to me."
"Oh come on, Jald, where's your sense of adventure?" Lyise complained.
"I must have left it in my other suit," he replied dryly. "Nara, what do you think of this?"
"I think you're just protesting for the sake of propriety," she teased. "We both know you won't let an adventure like this pass you by. I'm game, Lyise. And I think we should look for Erud's Tonic, whatever that might be, in Erudin."
"Good thinking," Lyise smiled, happy that she had won her friends over so easily. "The kiola nut is found on Sister Isle, my mother loves them. That's three things from the list already. When do you want to start?"
"I'll be ready to go whenever you are," Naramira said. "Jewel crafting can wait a bit."
"I'm off in two day's time," Jaldore replied. "I'd better come too. Who knows what kind of trouble you two will land yourself in." Naramira shared a smile with him, both knowing he was not as opposed to the adventure as he pretended to be.
"Wonderful!" the elven enchantress said. "I'll organise the boat. Meet you in two days' time at the docks. This is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed.
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Naramira could taste the salty tang of the sea air on her lips as the Maiden's Voyage sped through the waves, an easterly breeze billowing in its sails. She loved travelling by boat. She couldn't help but remember the last time this boat had taken her to unfamiliar shores. The young enchantress was more experienced now and surer of her own and her friends' abilities. She was looking forward to this adventure and promised herself that it would turn out better than the previous one had.
"There's an island coming up," Jaldore said, his hand shielding his eyes from the bright morning sunshine as he gazed into the distance. "Is that the one we want?"
"I'm not sure, really," Lyise replied. "I don't think so." Her brow furrowed in consternation. "I've made this trip before, of course, but it feels different coming from this direction."
"Shouldn't you go and ask the captain or someone then?" the paladin suggested. Naramira knew that this was his first sea voyage and she could tell that he was uncomfortable with the ship's rolling movement, his strides along its deck not as confident as she was used to from him.
"I don't think it's necessary. I'm sure I'll recognise it when we're closer."
"The last time I made this trip the boat only stopped once on its way to Kaladim," Naramira said. "I'm fairly sure it was this island, Lyise. So if this is not Sister Isle then we're going to have to find some other way to reach it."
The elven girl didn't reply and the three companions stared intently at the island as it drew closer. Naramira had been right and the boat did stop at the island's docks. No other passengers disembarked and no new ones boarded, however, so there was no one to enquire the island's name from. Naramira looked in expectation at Lyise, but still she said nothing. A few minutes later the crew hauled in the anchor and they were once more on their way.
The boat was far out to sea again, passing between the cliffs of two other islands when Lyise gasped. "That was it! That was Sister Isle, I recognise these cliffs. We should've gotten off there!"
"Now what are we going to do?" Naramira asked, just a little frustrated.
"Swim," Lyise said and without another word jumped over the railing.
"Lyise!" Jaldore shouted, rushing to the railing and peering into the water. For a few anxious moments he and Naramira, as well as a few other passengers, stared frantically at the waves. Then a blonde head popped out from under the water and the two friends sighed in relief. Lyise waved at them and then started swimming in the direction of Sister Isle.
"Nothing left to do but follow her," Jaldore said and he also jumped into the water.
'This is crazy,' Naramira thought as she, too, plummeted into the deep. A momentary panic seized her as the warm tropical waters of the Ocean of Tears immersed her completely, but then with two strong upward kicks her head surfaced and she gratefully filled her lungs with the salty air.
She looked around for her companions, but neither were anywhere in sight. All she could see were the coastline of an island in the distance and the boat sailing ever further away. Luckily, the young enchantress was a strong swimmer. Ever since she had almost drowned in the lake over which the Freeport Academy is suspended, she had made an effort to better her swimming skills whenever she had the opportunity and now, although not quite as comfortable as a fish in water, she could at least swim a fair distance without tiring. She set out towards the island.
A red gauntlet suddenly broke the surface in front of her. It reached out to the heavens for a few seconds before sinking into the deep. Naramira, coughing from the sea water she had swallowed in surprise, took a deep breath and dived down after it. She opened her eyes underwater, flinching at the unfamiliar salty sting, and looked for her companion.
Jaldore was fighting the waters with all his might, but his heavy plate armour dragged him ever deeper and deeper. Naramira grabbed hold of his hand and tried to pull him upwards, but she was not strong enough. She could see his efforts to reach the surface becoming weaker and knew that time was limited. She had to act fast.
'Goddess, give me strength!' she prayed fervently, but instead of strength an idea came to her. She let go of the paladin's hand and shot up to the surface. With frantic movements she opened her satchel and looked for the pouch containing her various spell ingredients. Her fingers stumbled over the knot and she swore loudly at the delay. Finally, the pouch was open and she snatched a piece of fish scale from it. She shoved the pouch back into her satchel, hefted it on her back once more and rambled off the words to a new spell called Enduring Breath as fast as she could. As the scale dissolved into a green magical light, she dove underwater once more and released the spell at Jaldore's weakly struggling form. His eyes widened in amazement as he was surrounded by green light and realised he could breathe underwater.
Naramira resurfaced and smiled in relief. 'That was too close.' She continued swimming towards the island, hoping Jaldore had the sense to follow her from below. She reached the shore just as her arms began tiring and sat down on the sand to wait for her companion.
Not long after Jaldore emerged from the waves and slumped down on the beach next to her, exhausted. "That was quick thinking there, Nara," the paladin thanked her. "I should've taken the armour's weight into account before I decided to go for a swim."
"I hope you're ready for another swim," the enchantress replied, her eyes widened in fright and her voice shaking a little. "Because I don't think this is the right island."
The paladin turned to follow her gaze and gasped as he saw the lumbering shape of a giant advancing towards them over the sandy dunes. The corpulent figure was naked except for a loincloth, layers of podgy flesh quivering with every ground-trembling step it took closer to the two adventurers. A single, massive eye in the middle of the giant's forehead was roaming the beach, looking for the intruders it knew were there, but hadn't spotted yet.
"A cyclops," Jaldore breathed.
Naramira had another fish scale in her hand already and was reciting the spell under her breath. She released her magic and, as Jaldore was once again suffused in a green glow, cast Strengthen on him as well. Then she whispered urgently: "Let's get out of here."
He nodded. They ran for the water and only heard the cyclops' enraged howls when they were already far out at sea. Jaldore, his strength magically enhanced this time, managed to stay afloat and kept pace with Naramira as they swam towards another island visible on the horizon.
Lyise was waiting for them on the beach when they arrived, her foot tapping impatiently on the sand. "Where have you two been?" she asked. "I've already bought the kiola nut and the boat back to Freeport is due any minute now. We must hurry." She rushed her friends over to the dock, seemingly unaware of how exhausted they both were.
The three travellers became restless after about half an hour of waiting. Jaldore had recounted their experience to Lyise, and she in turn had told them all about her search for the kiola nut and how the shopkeeper had referred her to a merchant in Rivervale for a jar of honeyjum, and still no boat was visible in the distance.
"It's late," Naramira remarked.
"There it is!" Lyise exclaimed as she caught sight of a white sail coming into view.
"Something's not right," Jaldore said as the ship drew nearer. Its main sail was tattered and black scorch marks decorated its side. No passengers were on deck and the sailor holding the rope ready to tie the boat to the dock was trying to wave inconspicuously to the three companions. "Be ready for anything," the paladin warned as he loosened his sword in its scabbard.
The boat had hardly come to a stop when, with a sudden clamour of voices, five or six ruffians rushed onto the docks, swords swinging. Their leader, an unwashed miscreant wearing a flamboyant hat with a long feather in it, swung wildly at the paladin, only to find his stroke quickly parried and himself disarmed soon after. The man looked about him, his eyes bulging in surprise as he saw his friends standing unmoving by his side.
"Do you yield, Pirate?" Jaldore asked, the tip of his jagged-toothed sword pressing against the ruffian's throat. The man nodded and the sailor, who had watched the brief fight with a broad smile on his face, came over and tied him and his men up. The two enchantresses released their hold on their prisoners and Jaldore oversaw their imprisonment on the boat while Lyise went to free the captain and the other passengers.
When some measurement of order had been returned to the boat and the passengers had all expressed their gratitude to the three adventurers, the captain gave the order to set sail and the boat continued its journey westwards towards Freeport. Naramira watched the sky turn orange as the sun set, before rejoining her companions below deck to discuss the next stage of their journey.