Ficlet/planning
Yeah, this is kinda a preliminary sketch for NaNo. It's really like a prequel short story, because I don't think I'll get to this part in the actual story. If there is an actual story. NaNo last year netted me about 500 words total.
It was cold. Cold and misty. A low fog sat over the harbor, engulfing the small two-masted sloop like a blanket on a child. Vellurium looked upwards, trying to make out the tips of the masts in the pea soup. Nothing. He might as well have been looking into a pillow.
At least the wind had died down, now that they had entered the harbor. It had blown briskly the whole voyage over, a chilly breeze that never quite came out of one's clothes. They had made good time, even though they did have to tack back and forth the whole time. Perhaps he'd been right to choose one of these Rohyran vessels. Unlike the small Kandit fishing boats that dotted the coast, Rohyran sloops could sail leagues out of sight of land, where the wind was strong. A journey that might have taken a fortnight ordinarily had lasted a scant 5 days.
Then again, the price was seasickness. With wind came waves, and Vellurium's stomach had never dealt well with waves. He'd spent most of the voyage leaning over scuppers, emptying his last meal into the Sea of Fortina. The crew had looked on, first with compassion, then with concern, and finally with growing amusement. Here he was, supposedly a powerful wizard, and he couldn't keep his dinner down.
But that had all ended when they pulled into to harbor of Rohyr properly, the ring of capes and islands finally blocking out the sea swells. Now there was just that infernal fog, the blanket that blocked out even a glimpse of the island from view. They would be docking soon, and yet he could not see the docks.
A sudden bustle on deck signalled that they had arrived. Soon enough, lines were going over the side, and the sloop was tied up to the dock. These seamen must have a sixth sense for land. If Vellurium had been at the helm, the ship would've ended up on the beach. Or worse, on the rocks.
The captain walked up besides him. "Pleasant voyage, I trust," he said. Vellurium grunted assent. "That good, eh? Well, you're welcome to sail with us again anytime you like."
No doubt the captain was influenced by the large sum of gold that Vellurium had paid for passage. The Council kept its wizards in good financial health, and Vellurium felt that this trip was important enough to warrant assurance of a speedy - and safe - passage.
But he was glad that he'd paid in advance, and didn't have to hand over the coins now. Given how he currently felt, he probably would've docked the captain's pay by at least half. And it was not a good idea to stiff a Rohyran. Word got around, and one was as likely to end up dead.
A pair of porters came up with Vellurium's belongings. He didn't really need their assistance - he had brought little, and could carry it all himself. But they'd at least saved him from having to go belowdecks, into that miserable cabin. He tipped them each a gold coin for their troubles and headed down the gangways.
Even this early in the morning, the docks were a bustle of activity. Rohyr's main industry was the shipping trade, and every day dozens of ships arrived to load or unload their cargo. Rohyran vessels were the only ones capable of making open-ocean journeys, and they returned with wondrous goods that had never before been seen on the continent. These were then loaded into sloops, barques, and caravels for transport to greedy buyers on the mainland. The whole enterprise had made some families very, very rich.
Vellurium was on his way to visit one of those wealthy families right now. The Council had deemed them a worthwhile ally, and that meant Vellurium was to do everything possible to make them so. Never mind that Rohyrans were highly distrustful of wizards, that sorcery was illegal on the islands, and that merely being here could easily result in his death. Somehow, it would all work out.
A twinge of regret...
I think that's enough for now. Time for another try at sleeping.
It was cold. Cold and misty. A low fog sat over the harbor, engulfing the small two-masted sloop like a blanket on a child. Vellurium looked upwards, trying to make out the tips of the masts in the pea soup. Nothing. He might as well have been looking into a pillow.
At least the wind had died down, now that they had entered the harbor. It had blown briskly the whole voyage over, a chilly breeze that never quite came out of one's clothes. They had made good time, even though they did have to tack back and forth the whole time. Perhaps he'd been right to choose one of these Rohyran vessels. Unlike the small Kandit fishing boats that dotted the coast, Rohyran sloops could sail leagues out of sight of land, where the wind was strong. A journey that might have taken a fortnight ordinarily had lasted a scant 5 days.
Then again, the price was seasickness. With wind came waves, and Vellurium's stomach had never dealt well with waves. He'd spent most of the voyage leaning over scuppers, emptying his last meal into the Sea of Fortina. The crew had looked on, first with compassion, then with concern, and finally with growing amusement. Here he was, supposedly a powerful wizard, and he couldn't keep his dinner down.
But that had all ended when they pulled into to harbor of Rohyr properly, the ring of capes and islands finally blocking out the sea swells. Now there was just that infernal fog, the blanket that blocked out even a glimpse of the island from view. They would be docking soon, and yet he could not see the docks.
A sudden bustle on deck signalled that they had arrived. Soon enough, lines were going over the side, and the sloop was tied up to the dock. These seamen must have a sixth sense for land. If Vellurium had been at the helm, the ship would've ended up on the beach. Or worse, on the rocks.
The captain walked up besides him. "Pleasant voyage, I trust," he said. Vellurium grunted assent. "That good, eh? Well, you're welcome to sail with us again anytime you like."
No doubt the captain was influenced by the large sum of gold that Vellurium had paid for passage. The Council kept its wizards in good financial health, and Vellurium felt that this trip was important enough to warrant assurance of a speedy - and safe - passage.
But he was glad that he'd paid in advance, and didn't have to hand over the coins now. Given how he currently felt, he probably would've docked the captain's pay by at least half. And it was not a good idea to stiff a Rohyran. Word got around, and one was as likely to end up dead.
A pair of porters came up with Vellurium's belongings. He didn't really need their assistance - he had brought little, and could carry it all himself. But they'd at least saved him from having to go belowdecks, into that miserable cabin. He tipped them each a gold coin for their troubles and headed down the gangways.
Even this early in the morning, the docks were a bustle of activity. Rohyr's main industry was the shipping trade, and every day dozens of ships arrived to load or unload their cargo. Rohyran vessels were the only ones capable of making open-ocean journeys, and they returned with wondrous goods that had never before been seen on the continent. These were then loaded into sloops, barques, and caravels for transport to greedy buyers on the mainland. The whole enterprise had made some families very, very rich.
Vellurium was on his way to visit one of those wealthy families right now. The Council had deemed them a worthwhile ally, and that meant Vellurium was to do everything possible to make them so. Never mind that Rohyrans were highly distrustful of wizards, that sorcery was illegal on the islands, and that merely being here could easily result in his death. Somehow, it would all work out.
A twinge of regret...
I think that's enough for now. Time for another try at sleeping.