Maquesta Kar-Thon

Chapter 10

The shore party set off, in good spirits, early the next day. Sea Reach was a far different place than their last port of call, Lacynos. Stone buildings with wide verandas, tile roofs, and bright, colorful awnings faced the waterfront, presenting a well kept and cheery face to visitors. Terraced farms climbed the rugged landscape on either side of the harbor.

However, Maq knew that-fortunately-the welcoming facade did not extend to all. The Butcher would not have dared sail into this harbor, nor would it have been comfortable for Bas-Ohn Koraf to accompany Maquesta and the others to town. Pirates and minotaurs were routinely driven off by galleys that patrolled the harbor and by armed guards who walked the waterfront.

Still, for the Perechon captain and crewmembers, Sea Reach was a very pleasant sight-or would have been if they hadn't been bailing out the water gushing in through the leak in the longboat. Maq scowled. Lendle's mending attempt did little but slow the amount of water bubbling in, and the lever on the side broke off the first time she tried to use it.

"ItisallrightitisreallyandtrulyallrightMaquestaKarThon," the little gnome babbled rapidly. "Ihaveaplantofixitpermanentlyevenbetterthanbefore." He winked at her and looked at the leak. "I'll get right to work as soon as we finish all our errands!" he added, finally slowing down so she could understand him.

Maquesta simply grimaced.

After they had pulled the longboat up on a sandy section of beach and tried futilely to shake the water out of their boots, Fritzen asked for a change of plans. He drew her to the side and talked softly, watching Lendle to make sure he was occupied with inspecting the longboat.

"Maq, can you meet me at the shipyard after you finish at the market? I think we need to take the longboat over there for a quick patch-up before Lendle completes his permanent repairs-or we may not make it back to the Perechon. Hopefully I'll have some new sails with me, too."

Lendle, obviously overhearing, scowled at Fritzen, but then joined in Maq's laughing assent.

They all agreed to meet back at the wharf after lunch, understanding that they might have to postpone their return if the longboat still needed work.

Though Maq's family roots were set in Saifhum's soil, she had spent little time on the island. Every time she did visit, however, she vowed to return more often. Today in the sunny marketplace, watching Lendle bargain expertly with equally skilled shopkeepers, Maquesta was content to almost forget what lay ahead-and behind-her. Almost. Worries about her father never completely left her. Nor did she want to forget.

Wandering up and down the neatly swept streets, Maq and Lendle soon acquired their planned supply of fruits and vegetables, and the metal part Lendle needed for his gnomish engine.

"Do you want to come with me to the shipyard?"

"No, Maquesta Kar-Thon. I need to go elsewhere."

"Let me guess-you'll meet me at the Sea Reach Inn for lunch. If I get there before lunch, you'll be in the back room. Right?" Maquesta asked apprehensively.

Lendle beamed. The Sea Reach Inn was the largest such establishment in that port city. In addition to accommodations for overnight guests, it offered a large dining room with good, home-cooked meals served around the clock, and a back room where the card games never ended. The most popular games were Legion, Fates, and Bounty Hunter, the latter being a more complex version of a children's game, the Hunt. Lendle loved it. He had once played for three days and two nights in a row, Maq remembered. And he'd talked so much about the session that he forgot about his inventions for better than a week.

"Now, Lendle," Maq admonished, "don't forget why we're here and what we have left to do on this voyage. You can't have many steel pieces left; Vartan said you contributed to the sail fund. And I'd like you to hang on to your money in case we need to buy anything else."

"Maquesta Kar-Thon. You don't have to worry about me," Lendle said sternly, drawing himself up to his full three-and-one-half feet in height.

Maq knew Lendle never meant to get in trouble. It just sometimes happened despite his best intentions. On the other hand, even as frugal as he was, she didn't think the gnome had enough coins left for a decent stake in a card game. After walking a few steps toward the shipyard, she turned to wave good-bye, but Lendle didn't see her. He had already pulled out his automatic wallet and was practically skipping down the street toward the inn.

"You let a gnome fix your longboat?" The elderly human shipbuilder laughed and laughed until it seemed he would never stop. Finally, he wiped the tears from his eyes, and with an obvious attempt to keep a straight face, said, "I'll see what I can do to fix the craft, though it won't be ready for a few hours. It will take at least that long to undo the gnome's work and repair it properly. I'll deliver it to the dock when it's finished." Stifling another laugh, he turned and walked away, shaking his head and talking to himself.

Maq and Fritz had rowed the longboat to the shipyard, getting their boots wet again in the process. Tired and hungry, Maq was in no mood to appreciate the shipbuilder's humor at their predicament, and she glared at the man's retreating back, biting her tongue to keep from saying something she'd undoubtedly regret.

"Relax, Maquesta," Fritz said, smiling broadly. "He means no harm. The boat will soon be fixed, and the new sails will be delivered to the ship this afternoon. I called in a few favors, promised to pay my friends a little interest, and-combined with the coins Vartan and Hvel collected-I was able to get enough money together to replace all your sails. We can use the best of your old sails for future repairs."

Maquesta jumped up and hugged him. "That's wonderful!" she cried. Then she instantly gained her composure and fell in step beside him, once more trying to assume a businesslike demeanor. "I meant what I said about paying back your friends as soon as I come into some coins."

"I'll take you up on it," he replied, "but only if you let me buy you something to eat." He jangled a small pouch at his side that had a few coins left in it.

"Let's go to the Sea Reach Inn," Maq suggested, all too conscious of Fritz's arm brushing against hers as they walked. "That's where Lendle's eating, and I have a feeling we should be checking up on him."

They walked slowly to the inn, enjoying the time together and feeling that perhaps things would work out after all. When they arrived, the inn's dining room was beginning to fill up with lunch customers, but Lendle was nowhere in sight. Once Maq and Fritzen made their way to the back room, however, he was immediately noticeable.

Lendle sat at a large round table, dealing cards to a group of players that consisted of two sailors, a merchant, a few locals, and a dwarf. By the large pile of chips in front of him, it was evident the gnome was winning-big. The game was Bounty Hunter, a fortycoin buy-in. As a child, Maq had often played the game with the Lendle, wagering fishhooks and seashells, and he had often folded so she could win. It looked as though, with his current run of luck, Lendle would have no need to fold this time.

"Maybe we can pay off your friends sooner than expected," Maquesta whispered to Fritz.

Maq signaled to the gnome, finally getting his attention. She circled her fingers in a wrapping up motion and mouthed the words, 'Time to quit. Meet you in the dining room."

Lendle poked out his bottom lip, eyed his chips, then looked back at Maquesta and nodded happily. "Last hand for me!" he chirped to his companions, adding only after Fritz and Maq were out of hearing, "Well, maybe one or two after this one."

Once seated in the dining room, Maquesta inspected the slate menu, her eyes drifting down over delectables she hadn't tasted in months. "Beef. Chicken. Kipper." She sighed softly. "No eel stew. No bean soup. No hardtack. This is wonderful."

"Allow me," Fritz said, signaling a barmaid. "The lady would like a thick steak with potatoes and a glass of your best wine. The same for me, but bring me a mug of spiced ale."

The barmaid held up her palm for payment. "Hand over your coin first" she demanded. "At the Sea Reach, you pay before you eat."

Fritz pulled out his purse and counted out the coins, handing them over to the barmaid with a flourish.

"You're rich," Maq jested.

"Not after this meal," he replied, jiggling his coin purse that now only jangled softly. "But we've earned this." He looked into the coin pouch. "I think Lendle will have to buy his own lunch, though."

She giggled. 'That's all right. From the looks of those chips, I'd say he can afford it."

The gnome had not yet joined Fritz and Maq by the time their steaming hot meal was brought to them. Maquesta didn't mind being alone with the half-ogre, but she was beginning to worry about Lendle. One bite of the steak, however, melted her curiosity, and she dug in as if she were starving.

Lendle had still not arrived by the time they were finished. Nor had he shown up by the time they had downed their second drinks. Maquesta shook her curls. "No more for me. I've got to keep my head clear. And it seems I may have to fetch our engineer."

Maq had just decided to go and retrieve Lendle, to rib him about what a fine steak he'd missed, but suddenly a loud ruckus broke out in the back room, dashing her plans. In the midst of all the yelling, Maq made out the gnome's nasal, fast-talking voice.

"Youcantquit. Youhavetogivemeachancetowinitbackandthenlcanpayyou."

"I have to do no such thing," a gruff voice replied. "You have to pay me right now."

"Yes! Pay him now, little man," another voice intruded.

"What's the matter, big-time gambler? Not good for your debts?" It was the gruff voice again.

"Imgoodformydebts. Letsplayonemorehandmaybetwo. Thenlcanpayyouback. Honest."

When Maq reached the back room, with Fritz close on her heels, she saw that Lendle's pile of chips was completely depleted. The gnome had squared off with the prosperous-looking merchant, and had his small fists in front of him, as if he were going to duke it out with the much-bigger man. But when the other players sided with the merchant and the dwarf put his hand on a sharp-looking dagger, the gnome put down his fists and started babbling again.

At that, one of the gamblers dashed from the room, brushing past Maquesta and the half-ogre, who held up his three remaining steel pieces.

"I don't suppose this would even the score," he said.

Maq pursed her lips as she took in the scene, feeling dismay wash over her like a tidal wave. "I doubt it would even make a dent," she answered bleakly.

It seemed only moments had passed before the harbor guards arrived, led by the gambler who had run out of the inn. Fritz and Maq watched helplessly as the guards carted Lendle away, telling him he would have to work off his debt to make amends to the merchant.

It was either that or go to jail. For a long time.