The Home Stone

Roma was the last to leave. She kept turning back and waving. She wished she was going with her friend, but Kirin had insisted that she was needed for another quest. She began to wonder what made it so important to find this Drow Elf named Brianna that she could not accompany Shannon. Why could not they just send someone else in her place? There was a good side to all this. At least she would see Rowan sooner than expected. He would surely be happy to see her for he had to stay behind to take care of the farm. Although they had help, for it was a big piece of land; too large for one person to handle alone.

When they reached the cutoff for Sweet Wood, she and Jarron said their goodbyes to Kirin and headed for the village, where they would board a waiting ship for Enderby. It was noon by the time they entered the town. Though many still called it a village; the town had grown into a small city. Everything had changed over time. The inn where they had met the dwarf Duncan was no longer on the main street. Here, now were the different guilds of mapmakers, weavers and merchants of all kinds. The inn had moved and now was located closer to the wharf. As the two approached the harbor, one could see that this part of the city was more sordid and less respectable than the rest of Sweet Wood. In the ale rooms that most of the sailors frequented, the owners hired moonlighting soldiers, to help keep the peace, because of the nightly bar fights. Sweet Wood did not resemble anything like it was some twenty years ago when Roma first stepped foot into the village. Many of the old wooden row houses had been torn down and replaced with mortar and stone homes, but when you reached the harbor, the scene changed. Here the houses were still built of wood and as if nailed together, one house after another. The entire area could do with a new paint job. At least that’s what Roma thought. They made their way past the houses and over to where a huge three-mast merchant ship was moored. Here they went aboard and booked passage to Water’s Edge, in Enderby.

After leaving their horses to be stored below deck, the two found their way to their respected cabins where they stored the rest of their gear. They then made their way back up on deck and left the ship to find a decent place to eat. They walked along the wharf checking one alehouse after another. Some were closed and others were filled to capacity. Suddenly, Roma stopped. There right in front of her and Jarron was a heavy looking iron wood door with a faded red dragon painted on it. Here it was, “The Red Dragon Inn”. She remembered the tasty food it had served all those many years ago and she wondered if the food still tasted the same as they entered inside. The owner directed them to a table and then he waved to a serving girl to bring the two guests some of his finest ale and wine. Roma ordered the fish platter, while Jarron satisfied his hunger with roast pork and spiced fried potatoes. They ordered more flagons of ale and wine and when they finished, the two retuned to the ship.

They found their cabins and agreed to meet again up on deck one hour before dark. Roma entered her tiny cabin and lay down on the bunk bed. Above her was another bunk and there is where she had stored all her gear. There was a small porthole just next to her bed and a table big enough for two to people just to the right of the door. There was also a small dresser with large bowl and an urn filled with fresh water. The mattress was filled with straw, making sleeping a little uncomfortable, but the sheets covering it were bleached white. The entire room was no larger than six feet by eight feet.

Roma lay down on her bed and closed her eyes, but sleep would not come. The noise up on deck from the loading of the supplies and freight and someone shouting orders to the sailors kept her awake. She was tired and could not wait for the three-day voyage to begin. Once on the high seas the gentle roll of the ship would get her plenty of rest. Roma was anxious to get under way, but she would have to wait for the morning tide. Time passed slowly, but soon she heard a gentle knock on her door. Cautiously she opened the door only to find Jarron standing there looking as bored as he could possibly look. Turning her back, Roma had to smile, as she gathered up her weapons and coin pouch and then proceeded to follow the elf up on deck and leave the ship. They took their time searching the different taverns and alehouses to find one that was not overflowing with drunken sailors and wharf workers. But as luck would have it they soon found themselves standing in front of the Red Dragon Inn once more. The two looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders; then turned and entered the inn. Once more the owner greeted them and showed the two to a table, away from the drinking patrons at the bar.

“It’s going to be a rough night,” he said as he placed two flagons of wine in front of them. “It’s payday and everyone seems to be thirsty.”

“Do you still have any of the delicious roast pork left that I had for dinner today?” asked Jarron.

“I’ll see what I can do for you,” the owner answered, “and what about the little lady. Would like the same or try something else?”

Roma thought for a moment and then answered that if he had any roast left over she would happy to try it also. Taking a drink from her wine and then noticed two cloaked strangers staring at them. Not wanting to call attention that the two have been noticed, Roma gazed around the room.

“Somehow it still looks like it did twenty years ago,” she said as she nudged the elf.

“Yes, I know,” he answered and then under his breath he whispered, “I noticed them too. We’d better eat and head back to the ship. I don’t like the looks of this. There may be more waiting in some dark corner and there are plenty of them tonight.”

The two took their time and ordered one more round and when it arrived Roma turned to look at the strangers, but they had left. This worried Roma and Jarron, as now they did not know what lay before them. It was a short trip back to the ship. They both agreed not to take the same way back, so they finished their drinks, paid the girl and walked up to the owner.

“Do you know who the two strangers were, who were sitting in the corner?” asked Roma.

“No…can’t say that I do,” thought the owner, “but we get so many new faces these days, especially these the last few weeks. No, I can’t say that I know them. Sorry.”

They thanked him and asked if there was another way out besides the front door.

“The back might also be watched,” said Jarron.

“Come with me,” whispered the owner after a long thought. “There is one way out of here, so no one will notice. Follow me.”

They entered the kitchen and then followed the innkeeper into a tiny storage room where he pulled on a ring that opened a trap door in the floor.

“Down the stairs and straight on to the far wall. There you will find another door that leads out onto the next street. It’s the best I can do. Good luck,” said the innkeeper as he closed the trap door behind then and left them in the dark.

A few minutes later after Jarron’s eyes adjusted and he pointed to the far wall. “I can see the door.”

It was not locked and opened without any noise allowing the two to escape. They followed the passage, which was as dark as Roma could ever imagine, until they came to a street. Here they turned towards the docks and made their way back to the ship, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. The streets were still crowded with sailors and merchants, making stealth almost impossible. Turning one corner, they ran smack into a merchant. He turned white with fright and started yelling for the city guard. Roma tried to console him, but after a few seconds she realized that it was no use. The best thing now was to leave the area quickly. They continued down one street and up another, trying to hide their trail as to where they were heading for. Twice more they came close to running into the patrols that were now out and searching for them. Finally, they turned down one empty street that led to the docks. Soon the two saw the tall ship off in the distance and made their way there, keeping as low a profile as they could. They boarded the ship and slipped below deck, where they made their way to their cabins. Jarron’s cabin was on the port side and from his porthole he could see the gangway and anyone boarding the ship. The two made plans to go up on deck after midnight. Roma left him and entered her little room to rest up. Time passed slowly, but soon she fell into a deep sleep.

“It feels like I just went to sleep,” said Roma under her breath as she rose to answer the door. “Who is it?” she asked.

“It’s me … Jarron,” came the answer.

Recognizing the voice that of her friend, she opened the door.

There dressed in his forest clothing, Jarron stood with a smile on his face. “I’ve been up there,” pointing towards the deck, “and it seems quite safe. The gangway has been taken in and I think the ship is ready to sail on the morning tide.”

“Good, I could use some fresh air,” said Roma. “It is a bit stuffy down here.”

The two made their way up the steep stairway and up onto the deck. The air was clearer now since most of the kitchens in the alehouses were closed. The stars were out, but the moon had yet not risen. They made their way over to the starboard side to look out into the harbor, but it was too dark for Roma to see anything clearly. Perhaps when the moon rises, her vision would improve. After a few moments they turned and crossed over to the port side and leaned on the side railing. Here Roma could see better as the oil fed street lamps were burning brightly, casting eerie moving shadows onto the wooden boardwalk below. There was still a lot of cargo stacked neatly on the wharf, which was probably for another merchant vessel due in tomorrow, sometime after their vessel had departed.

Something caught Jarron’s attention. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a movement. He turned his attention to where he thought someone was sneaking about. There it was again. Only this time there was more than one hiding behind the freight on the dock. Suddenly, realizing they were in danger, he grabbed Roma and knocked her to the hard wooden deck. Just as they hit the floor three arrows whistled past their heads. One embedded itself in the railing leading up to the pilothouse and the others overshot the ship entirely and landed somewhere out in the harbor. They were pinned down. If they moved, the next volley would surely hit their intended targets. Why had he not seen this before? He then the answer came to him and he knew that he was not the intended target. It was Roma. How was he going to get her to safety?

Another arrow whizzed past them keeping them pinned to where they were. Only the high footing of the railing kept them safe. As soon as they moved they would be exposed and left vulnerable. It looked like they would spend the entire night flattened on the deck, when a patrol of well-armed and protected six city guards came around the corner. The would-be assassins turned their attention to the patrol and fired a volley at them hitting one in the leg. This stopped the men momentarily, giving the black clad trio a chance to escape. Not wanting to wait around for the three to return, Jarron hauled Roma to her feet and the two made haste to reach the safety of their cabins.

The elf had made a promise to Kirin to protect Roma and he did. He would lay down his life to keep that promise. A short time later Roma fell asleep on her cot, while Jarron sat in the chair, determined to stay awake the rest of the night, but eventually he too fell asleep due to excitement from that evenings events.