Tales of Fallen Earth Part 5- Out of Alexandria
Been quite a while since I wrote anything, but today something hit me and here we go. Josephine and her friends, having robbed the Great Library, look to get out of the country and avoid capture.
“I have to go through it. I know there are answers in here, Car. Plus its written in German. It is from my home. That has to mean something, doesn't it?” “Josephine, it may. But the longer we stay in Egypt the worse it is. We have to move and it needs to be now.” Cardock was trying to be the voice of reason, but she could see her friend was struggling. “She's right. You can read the book anywhere. We have multiple authorities looking for us. We need to get out of town.” Jo's shoulders fell. They were right, of course. “Okay Balarr. We'll go at nightfall. The question is do we split up? I know the two of you will be going together. Baecca, where do the winds take you from here?” The large woman shifts on the floor, trying not to look nervous. “I do not know. I came to help you. I have no pressing business, other than finding my sister in Greece. I know she is well, just need to touch base with her. It has been near a year.” She didn't speak much about her sister, but everyone knew that Eskame meant the world to her. “I have friends in Greece that would help me. We can go together, if you like.” Baecca gives Jo a smile and a nod, happy to have company. “And you two?” “Well, I hear there is more trouble in Italy. After we helped you remove that mad scientist it seems that he had other...toys in other places. Seems they are terrorizing towns in the north and no one knows what to do to stop them. I figure we've handled their like before. Plus there might be some reward from thankful villagers.” “You think nothing of actually helping people, you just want the reward.” Cardock looks at Jo with mocking shock. “How dare you! I came all the way to this boiling hot city to help you, and I got not one thing in return.” “Free room,” Balarr chimes in. “Jo fed us too,” Baecca adds. “Alright fine, we got a few things. But we were not PAID for doing it. I did my friend a favor. Because that's what friends do.” Jo tackles Car, wrapping both her arms and tail around the small woman. “Oh for the love get off me woman. It's too hot and I have no desire for little blue hairs in my clothes.” Jo backs off with a smirk. “I swear, your hair is as bad as sand.” “Imagine being covered in it, all day every day.” “I wouldn't mind finding out what it's like to be-” “Shut up Balarr,” both Josephine and Cardock tell the Elf. He quickly shuts up, the last words sticking to his tongue in his now closed mouth. They all sit in silence for a minute, before Balarr leaves and returns with food. The meal is good, but the company better. They have come together and left numerous times in the last year, since their first meeting in Paris. Each time it is bittersweet, each time the promise it won't be as long until they are all together again. Hugs are exchanged, as well as quick prayers to various deities for the safe passage of everyone. Baecca and Josephine head to the harbor, while Balarr and Cardock make for the river. The two of them finally make it to the harbor well after sundown. Jo was especially careful to stay well away from the sentinels at the library, as well as checking the harbor to see if the little pencil pusher she met when she arrived was on duty. Lucky for her, the coast had been clear the whole trip. Now to figure out how to get aboard a vessel and get out of Egypt. As they approached the docks, they both were caught by a strange song coming from the far end. This area, filled as it was with all manner of people and creatures, had never been much for song. The fact that someone was humming a tune, and not quietly, was a bit astounding. They both made their way down the row, slipping between large boxes and barrels that smelled of spices and fish. As they got closer to the boat, sitting in the second to last birth, they saw the source of the song. He was a young man, dark skinned and built like he had at least a little Elvin blood in him. He sat on the edge of the boat, closest to the gangplank, humming and occasionally letting a few words out. Both women looked at him, wondering who he was and why he was so enthusiastically singing. “Oh, you there. Hello, ladies.” Both women pause, holding their breath. “Yes, I can see you just fine. No need to skulk about, step out from behind there. Perhaps I can be of some service to you.” He slides off the rail and spins around to the top of the walkway. “We seek passage to Greece. Would you be able to provide us that?” Jo asks the man, who she can now tell stands just over six feet. Baecca stands behind her, slouching slightly, waiting to see his reaction. “Well, while I am not yet the captain of this fine ship, I can assure you that we would be happy to provide you with passage to the area you speak of. It is, in fact, our second planned stop after Crete.” The man takes a few steps down the walkway. “The real question, of course, would be cost.” He flashes them a smile, and holds out his hand. “What, pray tell, do you have to offer as payment?” Jo feels Baecca move behind her, but places a hand on her friend's arm behind her. “No need for that. We can pay the man.” She reaches into a pouch on her hip and produces a pair of smaller bags. “One hundred fifty gold pieces, as well as a satchel of gems I've had valued at over three hundred. Will that satisfy your captain for our passage that shouldn't take more than a few days? We will be happy to bring our own food and water.” The man reaches for the bags, but Jo pulls them back. “Do we have a deal, sir?” He whistles a few bars of the tune he had been humming before, and gives her a wink. Jo feels a little wave of arcane energy, but has the defenses to easily counter the spell he's attempting. He finishes whistling, then tells her, “We'll be standing on top of the world, together. There will be, other payments needed, but we have a deal.” His hand finds the bags, but to his shock the Tiefling woman doesn't release them. “Baecca, hold him please.” A giant, thick hand shoots forward and grabs the man around his throat as Baecca extends her legs, now standing at her full height. The man's eyes grow large, and before he can say a word his feet are lifted just off the ground, Baecca's other hand now around his throat holding him at her eye level, nearly eight feet up. “Sir, I do not appreciate persons attempting to cast spells to cloud my mind. My dear friend here likes it even less. As you can see, she is quite strong. She also loves a good scrap. Now, you wouldn't provide much of one, but she'll be happy to snap your neck because you tried to get into my mind and coerce me into doing...something. Shall I have her do that?” The man, his face slowly losing the dark color it had and replacing it with a bluish-purple manages to squeak out a “no” to Josephine. His hands, slapping fiercely at the goliath's can find no purchase nor break her hold on him. As he begins to cough, Jo gives Baecca a nod, and she lowers him back to the ground loosening her grip, but not removing it. “So, you have gold and jewels. In exchange for passage. Do we have an agreement, or do we put your body into the bay and look for someone else who's more amiable and willing to take our money?” “Deal! Deal, just let go,” his voice croaks and cracks, sucking air in hard. Baecca lets go, and he drops to his knees coughing. “Can I have the money now?” Jo hands them over, and he stuffs them inside his tunic. “Alright, we have a deal. Do you have bags, or is it jut the two of you?” “Just us, thank you. May we go aboard and find our room?” He waves a hand towards the gangplank, and both women walk up to the deck. The boat is in good shape and well built, a solid merchant vessel made for quick travel between areas around the Mediterranean. They find the stairs to the lower deck, and descend. They are shocked to find nothing but cargo and hammocks. The man slides down the stairs behind them. “Well, what do you think?” Jo spins on her heel, eyes burning red. “Do you find this funny? We have no room! We don't even have a bed. Give me back my money and I will find a more suitable ship.” She holds out her hand impatiently. He just chuckles. “Lady, you don't seem like you are in a position to get 'better' then what I have to offer. I've seen plenty of people on the run, and you two most certainly are. I'm sure it wouldn't take me long to find someone to tell me exactly who you are and what you are wanted for.” Jo's eyes go from red to yellow, her anger growing. She can feel the hate in her building, and begins to raise her hands. Two large palms slap down on her shoulders, and instantly she lets the energy that was building bleed off. “We will be fine so long as we have a place to rest.” Baecca's voice is calm and quiet. The man's eyes instantly lock onto hers, and his hand reflexively moves a little closer to his neck. “We will cause no trouble. We will pitch in if needed. But know this- I could kill every person on this ship single handed once it puts out to sea. She is twice as powerful as I am, and has much less self control. Do not push either of us, and you will have no trouble.” She removes one hand from Jo and reaches into a belt pouch. The man's eyes glow brightly at what she produces. “This is an emerald from the mines my family work. It is easily worth one thousand gold pieces. If we arrive safely, without issue, I will hand this to you when we step off this vessel in Greece.” She puts it back into the pouch on her hip. “If you try and take it from me, I will remove your arm and throw it overboard. Are we agreed?” The man licks his lips, visions dancing in his eyes of what he could do with a gem that size. “Of course, giant lady. We have a deal.” He holds out his hand to shake, but instead Baecca grabs his wrist, draws a dagger across his palm, then her own. She slams her hand into his, hers engulfing his. “We seal deals in blood. If you break this deal, the entire Fireblood clan will know of it. We do not deal with oath-breakers lightly.” “Well then, we have a deal.” He pulls his hand away, mutters an incantation and the wound closes shut, leaving no evidence it was cut just seconds before. “I, Constantine Gois, promise you will arrive safely in my land. We set sail at dawn, and there will be an additional six crew plus the captain and first mate. Enjoy!” He jauntily begins humming a shanty, nearly hopping up the stairs to the main deck. “Baecca, what have I gotten us into? I'm so sorry, my friend.” Jo hugs the large woman. “Don't be silly Josephine. I live for adventure. This is but one more thing I will someday tell my young ones. We will be safe. I think I've made that abundantly clear.” Jo smiles at her. “You did indeed. Nice work on that whole 'blood oath' thing too.” “We goliath are a mysterious people that few know much about. It comes in handy.” They laugh, and take out a bottle of wine that Jo had in her pack. They each down a small glass before trying to find a corner of the cargo hold to call their own for the next week or so.
