Chapter 50: Captain Hanook

Koth was surprised to see that the next day the town had removed any traces of the previous day's celebrations. If he didn't know better, he would have thought they'd used magic. He and Irin had headed out to check in with the harbour master and buy provisions.

"I like this town," Irin told him after she had been stopped on the street by a group of women who wanted to ask her some questions.

"It seems like a good place," he agreed. It was peaceful, and the people were kind and welcoming. "But have you noticed?" he asked, not wanting to finish the sentence. Irin nodded.

"I have," she said, continuing to smile. There was something just under the surface of the town, something harder, more resilient and sharper. The way most of the men moved, like they were warriors rather than townspeople. The way weapons were hanging on the walls as if they were decorations, but no decorations were kept that sharp. Despite all of this, Koth didn't feel threatened. He was convinced that whatever the town was hiding, it was still hospitable towards Irin and him. As they walked into the harbour master's office, the harbour master smiled at them.

"Good day, I have the information you asked for," he told them. Koth didn't even ask how he had remembered them; he admitted they stood out from the crowd.

"The captain gave you a price?" Koth asked instead.

"Yes. For you, the missus and two horses, two suns. That includes a private cabin and food for both you and the horses. I told him you were a sturdy lad, and he said he could make do with one sun, seventy stars if you help out on the journey," the harbour master told them.

"We will take the deal without the work," Irin said.

"Are you sure? I have been told women like to see their men work. Something about the muscles," the man chuckled. Irin smiled at him.

"Oh, I have plenty of time to ogle my husband when he does magic or in... private," she told him. Koth felt his cheeks heat, and he saw the old man go bright red.

"Well... Hrm... Yes. Good then. If you follow me, I will take you to the captain, and you can close the deal with him," he said. Koth smiled and kissed Irin on her head.

"Don't say things like that," he scolded her.

"Why not? I can't let him think I don't like to watch you like that."

"If it was for my sake, you definitely don't need to do it," he said. He listened to her giggle as he offered her his arm when they followed the harbour master along the dock.

"Captain Hanook!" the man called as they walked up to the ship 'Neprim's Joy'.

"What the fuck are you hollering about, you old fool?" someone called back. Koth looked to the deck where a dragonborn was walking. His lizard-like face was covered in scales shifting in different orange hues. Underneath his left eye, a row of scales were missing, creating a scar. He was dressed in a teal-coloured jacket with gold trim and white silk trousers.

"Captain, I have brought the passengers I talked to you about," the harbour master said.

"Well, well. Thank you, harbour master," the dragonborn said, eyeing Koth and Irin. He walked down the gangway to meet them on the dock.

"This is Captain Hanook," the harbour master told Koth.

"Yes, yes. Thank you. We can take it from here," Captain Hanook said and more or less shooed him away. "If we let him stay, he would have wanted a commission either from you or me. Probably both," the captain explained. Koth nodded. "So. You are looking to go to the capital and would prefer to go by sea?" he then asked.

"Yes. I'm Koth, this is my wife, Irin," Koth said, placing an arm around her to make it clear she was his. He didn't trust the captain. "My wife was recently ill; I would prefer for her not to have to take the longer route by land," he added. The captain nodded.

"And you had horses?"

"Yes, two, and some packing."

"That is doable. One sun and seventy stars if you are able to work," the captain told them.

"We will not be working," Koth said. Captain Hanook chuckled.

"Smart choice, you will be plenty busy keeping the men away from that beauty. It's up to you to keep her safe," he told Koth.

"This little beauty will keep herself safe, thank you very much," Irin said and formed a fireball in her hand. The captain looked stunned for a moment, then he laughed.

"I think I will like having you onboard. I don't say that often to women. Just try and hold off on using fire. My ship is made out of wood, and I would be most upset if you set it on fire in the middle of the ocean," he told her. She gave him a brilliant smile.

"If your men behave, I will be good. If they try to put their hands on me, all bets are off."

"Yes," the captain said, laughing even harder. "This will be fun. We leave in four days. An hour after dawn. If you aren't on the ship, you will be staying here. I don't wait for anyone."

"That's fair," Koth told him. "We will be here."

"Good. And, just so we are clear, before I have my two suns in my hand, no one steps a foot on my ship." Koth nodded, pulled out two suns and handed it to the captain. They said goodbye, and he and Irin set off towards the shops.

"I liked him," Irin told Koth, and he looked at her like she had gone crazy.

"You liked him?" he asked. In his world, the captain was one of the most untrustworthy people they had met so far. The only exception was his own family.

"I did. I think we will be friends," she said.

"I think we should skip the shops. I think you need to lie down. Do you have a fever?" he asked, trying to put his hand on her forehead. She laughed and batted his hand away.

"I'm fine, don't fuss. The shops are on our way back. I won't say no to a nap when we get back to the inn. For some reason, I haven't got much sleep the past two days." Koth was worried, and on his way to ask what was wrong, when he understood. He blushed and shook his head.

"I will make sure you get a good night's sleep tonight," he told her. He didn't like it. Two nights of sharing a bed, in all ways, with her and he was addicted. But he knew he was demanding, and her wellbeing had to come first.

"Koth! Don't you dare," she said. "I wasn't complaining. I like those activities. I was just informing you that I'm open to snuggling."

"Oh."

"Really? This is the playboy your brother told me about?" she teased.

"Playboy? What did Jasper tell you?" he wanted to know.

"Your brother told me all about your habit of flirting with anyone you think is pretty," she answered.

"I'll kill him the next time I see him," Koth growled.

"Come on, honey. We need to buy cheese and flour," she told him and did a little jump to kiss his cheek.

"Fine," he grumbled while thinking of ways to torture his brother. Koth reached out to open the door to the general store for Irin, when she placed her hand on his to stop him. He looked at her in surprise and then looked down at the metal handle on the door. It was piping hot. If he had grabbed it, he would have lost the skin on his hand. They both spun around.