The Picard sailed leisurely in the waters of the Ros. It was a single-masted ship that could support up to thirty sailors. To reach the Kloud mainland, one has to take a vessel from the last port in the Bay of Babel. Two days in the sea, along the coast, brings one to the Yodel canyon, which wedges its way through the lofty Yew mountains. The canyon is a murky mile-long pass, which further opens into the downstream waters of the Ros river- overlooking the river valley. The origin of the river is at the base of Chernoby hill- the territory of Kloud.
The Overlord of Medini city, Lou Valori, had delegated his uncle and Chief Bursar, Uno Valori, to hold trade talks with the Overlord of Kloud city, Silas Moon. The negotiations were to be completed before the Goddess Festival of Kloud commenced. It was to be a landmark trade deal that would transform the economies of both cities. Kloud was a warrior city, while Medini was a trade and banking city. It made sense for both communities to come together during times of peace.
As the ship emerged from the canyon into the Ros mainstream, the sun illuminated the Chernoby hill, which loomed high in the west. It would take around three hours to row to the upstream docks. Chief Bursar Uno instructed his Navy Captain to moor the ship at an old jetty nearby. It was time for his second breakfast, and his guts were not appreciating the bobbing of the vessel. The Ros formed rapids in the area, making it quite challenging to navigate the ship smoothly. The party would have already reached Kloud the day before, were it not for the numerous meals of the Chief Bursar. It had been five days since they left Medini, while they could have finished the journey in three days.
The Picard carried twenty-one seafarers. Uno Valori, the Navy Captain, and his seven crew- a cook, four oarsmen, and two personal lady-servants of Uno. The ship's crew was slaves from Medini. The city was heavily involved in the slave trade and boasted a skill camp to train them in different vocations. It was their primary economy. Over the years, it had made them the wealthiest city on the continent.
Apart from the above, a military protection squad of seven from Kloud city were Chief Bursar Uno's personal escort. They had been sent over by Overlord Moon, by land, as a gesture of respect. Captain Yorick Mandrake led the squad. Uno had also hired four mercenaries for his protection. They were outlandish-looking sell swords with strange blades- much in contrast to the well-dressed and disciplined Kloud squad.
As The Picard was anchored and tethered to the land, Uno emerged from the cabin. The lady-servants made a spread of breakfast on a bench. A fifty-year-old, obese, balding man, one could easily mistake the Chief Bursar for a grey walrus from a distance.
Captain Yorick leaned on the deck, sharpening his blade with a whetting stone. He had already assigned three of his squad to disembark and stand guard on land. Bandits, very often, hid in the canyon or the jetties to rob merchant ships. The other three guards kept a watch on the deck, facing the mouth of the canyon.
Uno Valori: "Captain Mandrake, would you care to join me for breakfast? I have some broiled prawns, pigeon pie, and ale to wash it down."
Yorick felt sick to his stomach, looking at the greasy food so early in the morning. He was a man of few words and had risen through the ranks through hard work and discipline. At the age of twenty-eight, he already had mastery over elemental magic. He had awakened the Mandrake eye, which gave him the ability of chlorokinesis- that is, control over plants. However, every time, it would render the user blind for several hours. For a man of his abilities and rank, gluttony was sinful and punishable.
He kept his ideas to himself.
Captain Yorick: "I am flattered that the Chief Bursar feels I am worthy to dine at his side. However, the warrior code allows only two healthful meals a day. Kloud warriors worship the warrior code."
Uno Valori: "If you say so, Captain. We, of the Medini city and the Valori family, believe that- it is important to worship the belly as many times as possible, in a day."
He patted his rotund belly and chuckled loudly. Then he proceeded to gorge on his second breakfast noisily. The docked ship was fastened to a post, firmly. It bobbed very lightly in the ebbing water. The dilapidated jetty jutted out of a clearing, about two hundred feet in length and half of that in breadth. The morning sun shone across the denuded terrain. Birds chirped musically from a forest that began from the treeline ahead.
Yorick heard a low whistle. It was one of his squad members standing guard on land. He rushed to his feet and alerted the deck guards. The Captain took off lightly from the edge of the deck, jumping high in the air and landing softly, ten yards ahead, beside the land guards.
Yorick: Report.
Guard 1: "We sensed a presence."
Guard 2: "First, we thought it was an animal or a citizen. Animals do not come this close to the rapids, however. There are watering holes upstream. Furthermore, citizens certainly will not venture this far from the mainland for fear of bandits."
Guard 3: "It appeared out of thin air somewhere in the foliage of the trees ahead. The only way that is possible if someone-"
Yorick: -"Teleported."
Dimensional magic was traditionally used to help store weapons in an alternate mana space. In other words, it helped make things disappear- which had great utility in traveling with heavy weapons. Kin-lords and some Elders of Kloud could use advanced dimensional magic to teleport themselves over distances ranging from a few feet to a few miles. Teleportation was effective in both fight and flight. It was rumored that the traveling warrior Lord Heydrian could travel over twenty miles through this technique.
Captain Yorick took a deep breath. Had a kin-lord come to welcome the Chief Bursar? No, that was not likely.
There were artifacts in the black markets of the outlands that could help one teleport. Perhaps it was a bandit targeting a seemingly harmless party.
Yorick (loudly): "We are a military escort from Kloud, escorting Lord Valori of Medini. Make yourself known, stranger, or prepare to be assailed!"