The sun’s movement wasn’t the only difference Tali noticed as Kelren and Relis raised their heads. Where before there had been only water on all sides, there was now a long sandy beach and a dense jungle. The coast bore no landmarks. Feeling a little disappointed, Tali looked down at the magicians once more. She had imagined them sailing through a magnificent portal.
Belatedly, the sailor in the crow’s nest called out, “Land! To the…to the east!”
After a brief word with the magicians, the Captain called out orders for the Boundless to follow the coast south. Tali wasn’t the only one among the crew mumbling questions to one another, or looking about curiously. Hearing their trepidation, the Guthon called out for them all to watch the horizon for pirate vessels. This did little to relax those feeling uncertain, but it did give the crew focus.
Splitting her focus between shipboard tasks and the threat of danger on the horizon slowed Tali down substantially.
Once the Captain and his new advisors were certain that they had not appeared near an enemy fleet, the Boundless Star emerged at the southern tip of the isle near which they had appeared. From there, they set out northeast, which—according to Guthon—was the direction of the Great Isle. Master Kelren, Relis, Guthon, and the leader of their mercenary elites gathered near the helm to discuss the plan. The crew and the mercenaries that were native to the ship gathered to hear what it would involve.
Tali, thanks to her slight stature, pressed between the others to the front.
Master Kelren, with all his piercings and thick, black moustache, was in the middle of speaking: “It’s about sixty miles to the shore, by our estimates,” he said, “We’ll be careful—keep your eyes open. We really don’t know what to expect this far beyond the warfront.”
“Once we get to the shore, we part ways,” Captain Guthon explained. “Master Kelren, Councillor Ghomal, and a few of Boundless’ own warriors will go ashore and complete the Councillor’s mission in the city of Tav Rock. It’s a good couple days’ inland from the coast.”
Tali was starting to nod, intrigued.
The leader of the commandos—a man with obsidian skin and head shaved, save a topknot—cleared his throat. Resting his thumbs in the belt loops that held his weapons, he drawled, “Then my lot will be leaving your generous hospitality to perform reconnaissance for the next few weeks. If we’re lucky, maybe we get our hands on a bandit courier or some such.”
At the insult to their hospitality, Tali sneered. Boundless Star was a fine ship…though Tali had never served on any other. The tiny fishing barges around her home of Warim hardly counted.
If the Captain was bothered by the taunt, he didn’t reveal it. Monotone, he took over the meeting once more. “Once our guests have disembarked, we will sail for Lantern Town—off the Great Isle—in search of more news, and to resupply.”
“We meet up on the coast again in one month’s time,” declared Master Kelren, folding his hands behind his back. “Relis and I will take you all back to Eastpoint, safe and sound, unless you’re absent for the rendezvous.”
Soon after, the crew dispersed, rushing about their duties, as the Boundless resumed its unwavering course to the northeast. Tali hurried after the Captain and waited patiently until he was free to speak with her. “Captain Guthon, sir, I’d like to volunteer,” she said. “For the mission up to Tav Rock.”
“Ah, Tali, Tali again,” muttered the broad man. “I need all the hands I can manage here, but you’re always bothering me about this sort of thing. If one of the senior mercenaries will vouch for you—you’d be their responsibility—you can join the ashore party.”
Tali bowed before realizing most mercenaries didn’t bow to the Captain, then hurried off to find one of the mercenaries tasked with heading ashore. She found Rel easily enough.
“Of course you want to come,” Rel said. His perpetual scowl was broken briefly, but he waved for her to follow him.
Harek—one of the veterans aboard the Boundless—was waiting with a few others in the mess, eager for the evening meal to be served. When Rel proposed Tali join them on the ashore party, he smirked. “The more the merrier, I suppose.”
Excitement bubbling, Tali threw her arms around Rel from behind, then quickly released him and stepped back. Taking a stiff inhale, she turned to Harek and said, “You won’t regret it, sir.” Then she hurried off to report to Captain Guthon.