The Return to Sarmatia 14

As Lancelot entered a Tavern filled with lights from different fires, he glanced around and felt a jolt of disappointment.

The men in this Tavern were big bellied dirty slobs. Their hair was matted with dirt, sweat, and oil and their clothes were stained with all matter of colors he wasn't going to think about.

As he came into the light, a woman with wavy black hair, deep, dark black eyes, and a smooth, sensual face glided up to him in a dark blue cotton dress that covered only the minimal amount of female flesh. She dress was tight, hugging all her curves, and had under dress was no where to be seen on her.

He groaned silently to himself as she wound herself around his body and said with a husky, sensual, light roman lisp in her native tongue, "What can I get you handsome?"

He took a deep breath, bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself in line so as to not cause her harm, and said as he placed his hands on her bare shoulders and pushed her away lightly so as to not bruise her, "I need a sea captain lady. I require no female company this night."

Her dark black eyes widened and her plump red lips trembled as she asked, "A strong, handsome, sexy man like you, requires no woman this night?"

Her smile returned, with more sex appeal, as she glided her hand teasingly down his chest closer and closer to his lower half, when he caught her hand and said with more force as he pushed her away again, "Yes, you heard me woman, I don't need a woman tonight. I need a captain to return to my wife and family in Britannia."

She pouted some more, planted her fists on her wide hips, and said teasingly, "Surely a man of your wealth knows he can have as many women as he likes."

He rolled his eyes and said with a glare in his own dark brown eyes, "I do, but I'm loyal to my wife; now go bother some drunkard who doesn't give a lick who you are as long as you fuck him silly."

She huffed, crossed her arms under her breasts, causing them to rise up even more-threatening to spill out of her dress-and stomped away into another corner to hopefully find a few coins to survive the night on.

Lancelot felt a bit bad for what he did, but he wasn't here to play games. As he walked further into the tavern, he found a man with bronze hair, neatly washed, green eyes, and clean, colorful clothes staring at him.

Lancelot tilted his head down in greeting.

The man did the same and pushed a chair out for him to sit in.

Lancelot gratefully sat down and said, "Thank you sir, I am Marques Lancelot Lyon of Camelot, and you are?"

The men's bronze eyebrows rose, as he said with a teasing grin and a flaring bow from his seat, "I, M'Lord, am Captain Nazim of the Nomadic Tribe. I hear you are looking for a ship to carry you home?"

Lancelot raised an eyebrow of his own and replied, "Aye, for me and my men. I have thirty-two men and fifteen horses with me now. The horses were leased when we arrived at Port, and we will be returning them once I have secured a ship. Are you willing?"

Captain Nazim tipped his head and said without answering, "Where to?"

"Camelot is in the Kingdom of Britannia under the rule of King Arthur Pendragon. We have fifty gold pieces. If you take us and get us there fast, you'll get fifty now and another twenty at Kameland City Port when we arrive."

The other man raised an eyebrow and said, "That an awful lot…why are you in such a hurry M'Lord?"

Lancelot sighed, settled down to talk a bit, and answered, "I won't lie, I'm offering this much money because we might have to skirt by Emperor Odorace's ships if they are there."

The captain's eyebrows furrowed and he said darkly, "Emperor Odorace isn't someone to mess with."

Lancelot nodded and said, "Yes, I know, that's why I'm willing to pay more than double to amount to get us there."

The captain sat in silence for a good while, and Lancelot felt his heartbeat double as the minutes wore on.

The man raised his head and said, "What else are you not telling M'Lord?"

Lancelot sighed, ran his hands through his curly, black hair and asked instead, "Do you know of another Captain that you trust implicitly?"

Nazim blinked but replied, "My twin brother, Amir, is trustworthy and his ship is as grand as mine M'Lord, why do you ask?"

Lancelot leaned forward and asked more eagerly, "Is he here at port?"

The captain nodded and said, "He'll be here for another three days before he set out to Gaul with supplies to sell, why?"

Lancelot asked anxiously, "Does he mind women and children?"

Nazim blinked but replied, "No, he doesn't. He prefers them to other travelers actually. They make less of a fuss, he says."

Lancelot sighed in relief and said, "My wife and me men's wives and family will be about a day behind us. They have money and will need passage to Britannia as well."

Captain Nazim allowed slowly, "I'm sure with the amount you are offering, if they have the same, he will do it."

He added, "I can put in a good word for you too, if you want me too M'Lord."

Lancelot placed the fifty gold coins on the table, smiled gratefully at him and said, "Yes, thank you."

Then he got back to business and asked, "When will you depart?"

The captain tilted his head out the window near him, gazed into the skies where the full moon shined lightly down at him, and said, "In two hours M'Lord."

Lancelot stood up and said with a bow, "We shall be there."

Captain Nazim stood as well, placed the bag in his cloak to keep out sneaky fingers, and said, "I'll be expecting you."

Lancelot smiled and nodded as he followed the captain out of the tavern and into the dark night once more.

Lancelot turned and went back down the main street. As he left the main street, he found the others hiding in a glen that was hidden by the mists.

Gawain stood up and said, "We returned the horses Lancelot, do you have a ship?"

Lancelot nodded and said, "It sails in two hours. It's called the Nomadic Tribe. It's a fast ship and I have paid double to get us there as quickly as possible."

Galahad rubbed some grass out of his curly hair and said, "Lets get going then."

Tristran simply walked ahead of them with Siolae flying low in the air crying out as she swooped down and grabbed what looked like a white rabbit or fox.

Lancelot sighed and followed as Gawain asked, "So, how much did you have to pay to get this Captain to undertake this job?"

As they reached port, Lancelot glanced around and said as he turned right, "Fifty gold now; and another twenty at Kameland."

Galahad added, "Our families?"

Lancelot rolled his eyes but replied, "Captain Nazim has a twin brother who should be willing to bring them in a day or two since it's on his way by way of Gaul."

Galahad nodded and said, "I hope he's as trustworthy as this captain is."

Lancelot placed his hand on Galahad's shoulder and said seriously, "He's assured me he is."

When they reached the ship, Sir Bruce yelled out, "Marques Lancelot Lyon and company asking permission to come aboard!"

Captain Nazim, from the tiller where he was currently looking through a magnascope out to see, called back, "Permission granted"

Once on board, Lancelot walked to the captain as he said, "You rooms are down below. You and your men will have to share the commons with the rest of the crew."

Lancelot nodded and said, "Thank you."

Captain Nazim looked up at the stars and said, "Get ready, we're going to be leaving in a few minutes."

Lancelot nodded and said, "We'll go down so as to stay out of yours and the crews' way."

Captain Nazim smiled and said, "Thank you."

Lancelot glanced around and ordered, "Knights! Down below."

When they were all there down in the commons, Lancelot looked around and said, "We shall be staying here while they maneuver us out of port."

THREE WEEKS LATER….

Captain Nazim called out to Lancelot, who was staring out to sea as Kameland City Port came into sight, "Only an hour more M'Lord!"

Lancelot turned to him and said with a wave of acknowledgement, "Thank you!"

As the hour grew longer, Galahad turned to the captain and said, "You'll have to stop at the Key port for a ticket."

Captain Nazim raised an eyebrow and asked, "A ticket? How am I to get that on a ship?"

Gawain, who had been seated on the stairs that lead up to the tiller, turned and said, "Just guide the ship to the Key Port and the man there will shoot an arrow with the ticket attached."

"An arrow?" exclaimed the captain.

Tristran nodded and said with an eerie grin on his lips, "Yes, they won't harm anyone. The men on duty are a part of my specials team. They will shoot and aim for the side rails so as to not hit anyone."

Just as soon as he said that, a dull thud was heard to the port side.

Lancelot, who had been expecting it, reached over from his place on the side rail, and pulled the arrow out.

Lancelot looked at the captain and said as he handed the ticket to Captain Nazim, "The ticket also has a redeemable amount of three silver coins for one of the shipmen at port to sand and repaint the rail that has been damaged by the arrow."

Captain Nazim sighed as he said, "Indeed, well we're here."

Lancelot glanced out at the port as the ship came to a stop in the harbor and thought, 'I'm here Arthur…'