Page 10 of Scaled Hearts

I pull out a few, letting them trickle back into the bag. The coins catch their eyes and their demeanor shifts. They smile at me, some getting back to work loading their ship, others busy unloading the boats.

“We’re from Ter,” the emerald-eyed one says, acting as spokesman for the group. “Humans are free at a stronghold near Ter, and it’s leaking into the city. We’re not used to enslaved humans up here. Some have tried to bargain with us, to help them run away. It’s more trouble than it’s worth getting involved.”

“Well, I’m not a runaway slave,” I straighten up in the saddle. “I’m a mine worker. I need a boat. I’m sailing for Bloodstorm Peak.”

The emerald-eyed one gives me incredulous looks, a chuckle escaping him. He shakes his head. “Why would you ever want to go there? There’s nothing there. It’s not even an island, just a volcano in the sea.”

“I need one big enough to carry me and the hoqin.” I ignore his question and pat the hoqin’s flank. If the rumors are true, then I’ll need this beast to make it up the rocky peak. I won’t be able to traverse it on my own.

“It’s a waste of time,” emerald-eyes says, eyeing my hoqin. “I’d rather trade you for that sturdy beast.”

“Just the boat please,” I insist, stiffening in my seat.

The elves continue their work, only emerald-eyes paying me any mind. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

“I live around the Sundered Blade tribe,” I say vaguely, referring to the orc settlement. “I’m on a mission. I just need to get to Bloodstorm Peak.”

“Why do you even want to go to that volcano?” He eyes me up and down. I’ve heard rumors that elves in the southern cities appreciate humans much more than orcs do but I feel uncomfortable with his gaze. Maybe theyappreciateus in a different way, with a different use of our bodies.

“I have my reasons,” I say, holding my satchel closer to me. I turn my attention to the merchants who are moving supplies from the boats. There’s definitely one here that they could lend me, but I have to get one to agree.

“What if I told you it was a matter of life or death?” I ask, jumping down from the hoqin to whisper conspiratorially to emerald-eyes.

“You don’t say,” he chuckles, looking unconvinced.

“I need information about a strange disease, and the ancient beasts there may be the only way I can find it. My sister is sick and I need to go there to try to find the cure.”

“I suppose that might be worth say...twenty jeton?” he offers, wrapping a length of rope around his shoulder as he winds it up.

“Twenty?” My stomach drops. I don’t have twenty jeton. I barely have sixty daler, which is only two-thirds of what he’s asking for, and I need some for the rest of the journey. “You couldn’t do it for thirty daler?”

“Thirty daler? Don’t insult me, little human,” he shakes his long, silver hair out of his eyes, going back to winding up the rope. “I’ll do it for forty-five if you’re desperate.”

“Thirty-five,” I say, bargaining.

“Good try. I don’t think so. You’re asking me for my boat. That’s my livelihood.”

“All I have is forty!” I lie. “Take it or leave it!”

“You must really be desperate. Thirty-five daler and the promise of your hoqin if you come back.”

“Deal,” I say, sticking out my hand. He looks at it quizzically. Do elves not shake hands?

Instead, he grasps my arm with his hand, nodding to me. “Deal,” he agrees. “If you make it back in one piece.” He smirks.

“Fine,” I stroke my hoqin’s mane, wondering if I made a mistake with this bargain. I hand him my bag of coins, closing my eyes as he clamps his hand on it. I send up a silent prayer that I’ll make it through this journey without needing more.

“Now, the oars are enchanted,” he says, tilting his head towards the boat. “It’ll make it easy for a puny thing like you to row it, along with that hoqin. Just be careful that you bring my boat back in one piece too.”

I turn away from him, pulling the hoqin towards the boat as I begin to load up some supplies that the elf leaves for me. He’s left me a large bladder of water, plenty of rope and a whole crate of food. Enough to make it to the island and back, if the journey is quick enough.

As I’m loading the supplies, someone taps me from behind. I whirl around, expecting to see emerald-eyes but it’s another human, like me.

“Can I help you?” I ask, body tense.

“My name is Amanda,” she says quickly. “I’m also from Ter. I’ve joined these merchant sailors to sail the seas, so I know a thing or two. I overheard what you’re planning and I just wanted to warn you. You need to know there’s more to the stories of Bloodstorm Peak.”

“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow.

---