Sea’s Sword cut across Comet’s Cove toward Sheld. They would arrive this afternoon, according to the ship’s crew. Sheld was not one of their ambassadorial targets, but it was an important city on the coast of Radregar. Farek had heard little of the city since the Matriarch’s plan to swindle Lo Mallago from the crime family had been played out. Supposedly the city of Sheld now belonged to the Grey Brethren, but it was unclear how.
The chief delegates aboard the Sword gathered with Farek in the mess hall for a brief meeting before their arrival. Lord Sha, Lady Tolia, and Miss Enora Roek were all present. Farek asked their spymaster about the dangers they might face in Sheld.
“Just keep your head rotating—watch out for thieves and the like,” Sha urged them. “This isn’t as bad as Starath used to be, or Eastpoint, but there’s plenty of crime in Sheld, nonetheless.”
Ambassador Tolia smiled thinly. “Though not as much as there used to be, right?”
Lord Sha bobbed his head. “If anything goes wrong, we have a few contacts we can call on for safe harbour. The chief agent from my network is named Breno; he can be found at the Burgundy Tavern.”
Miss Roek blinked and pushed a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Isn’t that a brothel?” she asked.
Farek had started speaking at the same time, though his question was more ignorant, “Is it actually Burgundy in colour?”
Sha chuckled at their questions. “It is, to both questions,” he replied. “Mistress Roek, I apologize for the venue, but such is the way of my trade. What better place to spy on secretive men?”
“It’s no matter,” Enora replied.
Tolia interjected. “Do we have a political agenda here? In Sheld, I mean, not the brothel.”
Sha snorted, but he looked at Farek instead of answering.
“None that I’m aware of, other than to grab anything we need for convenience sake,” Farek responded. He crossed his arms, but looked at the others for further input.
“We will hope that our alleged allies will share more about their rule, then,” Tolia replied.
With little news out of Sheld over the last couple years, most of the travellers from Var Nordos were intrigued by what they might find. “Is there a Grey Brethren temple?” Farek asked.
Lord Sha nodded. “Only recently,” he said. “It’s been built at the site of Worker’s Rise, the former monument that was destroyed by the crime family as they fought for the city.”
“And what happened to them?” Farek asked. “Are they all dead?”
“There’s no clear story,” Sha answered. “Some accounts posit an attack on a prison wagon as proof that some members of the Sheld Family lived. But there are many accounts of the siblings hanging over their gaudy estate and even of old Gharo himself turning up dead in a tavern brawl. They’re gone, in any case.”
Farek blinked. “Perhaps the best outcome for most of Sheld, then.”
“Indeed,” Sha agreed.
They approached a few patrolling galleys soon after and began the hour-long approach to Sheld’s narrow harbour. Farek, absently observing from deck, realized that Sheld was likely one of the most defensible ports on the Grey Sea. Comet’s Cove was long, narrow, and surrounded by rocky enough terrain to prevent a sizeable land march.
Devender and his servant had gathered their belongings by the time they reached the dock. It was obvious he would leave now, instead of staying in Sheld with them. He approached Farek and clasped his arm. “Farek, thank you for your roof and your company these past months. I’ll buy you a drink when I see you again.”
“And I’ll buy one for you as well,” Farek said, squeezing the man’s elbow earnestly. “Thank you for your help when it was needed most. You are always welcome to my home.”
Devender bowed, but was then caught off when Matek stepped up to take his hand as well. “Thank you for keeping me alive,” the soldier said.
Farek chuckled. “I think we can all be thankful for that.”
Devender smiled. “I simply did what I could. Farewell.” Farek bowed his head in response. He would miss his friend dearly. Devender and his servant set off along the dock, ahead of the sailors from Sea’s Sword. By the time they reached the end of the pier, they vanished into the air.
The moment was ruined when Farek’s servant, Teman, bumped into him with a hefty trunk. “Apologies, milord,” the servant stammered. Farek helped him down the gangplank.
Still uneasy with their religious allies, the delegates found it bittersweet to learn that the civilian governor had been appointed by the Archpriests. At least he had been a native of Sheld, not a foreign ruler dispatched by the powerful Atmos Septi council.
Farek and his team of delegates stayed two nights; Lord Sha and Ambassador Tolia seemed overjoyed by the prospect of sleeping in proper beds after their month at sea. It gave Farek a chance to seek out the new Atmos Septi temple. He spoke with one of the priests, similar to his encounter at Soros’ own temple. This building was twice the size of the one in Farek’s hometown, but the priest was just as friendly and accommodating. He assured Farek that the new leadership of Sheld was far more receptive to their teachings. He knew of the alliance between the Atmos Septi, the Empire of Noress, and the leaders of Eastpoint, but clearly knew nothing of the assassination attempts on the Archpriests or the ongoing investigation.
In addition to gathering intelligence, Farek ran a few other errands in Sheld. He first sought a new magician to accompany the group. He began by looking at healers’ halls, but could persuade none to leave their home and livelihood during turbulent times, even for a generous fee. He also sought such help in taverns, looking for travelling magicians. He had no luck. During his search, he did come across some interesting shops dealing in alchemical agents and medicines. He bought a weak poison that could cause vomiting in certain doses. It might be useful for tricking a target into divulging secrets in exchange for an antidote—or for pranking Sha.
Both nights, when he retired to the tavern, Farek found himself bumping into Enora Roek at the bar or common room. He gave into flirting, of course, which she seemed to enjoy and even return. Below his friendly surface, Farek gave her little earnest thought. She was gorgeous and intelligent, but so had Ofena been. Both could be options for his attention… but now was not the time.
War was on the horizon. The delegates felt it each morning when they awoke. It soured their jovial card games and distracted their attempts at relaxation. Every common room spoke of lost loved ones, fallen cities, and daunting futures.
Farek would make time for love when he could. For now, it seemed a dangerous prospect. Soon enough, Sea’s Sword set sail for High Raena—their first potential ally.