City of Jade

41

ELVENSHIP

EARLY SUMMER, 6E9

When the Isle of Arbalin hove into view, Aravan called for the Eroean to heave to and, as the ship glided to a halt, he ordered a general muster. After the crew entire had assembled, warband and sailors alike, Aravan stepped to the forerail of the aftdeck and said, “I remind ye of the oaths ye have taken. Do ye affirm?”

All called out their yeas, including a Pysk and two Warrows, as well as a female Mage.

“This then I would tell ye: in the City of Janjong, Lady Aylis came upon a jade statuette”-Aravan held the figurine up high-“and wound ’round the base is a strange poem, Ryodoan in nature, yet the words are not written in that tongue. The carver who fashioned the statue claims that he knew not what they meant, yet carve them he did, for they came to him in a compelling dream. Lady Aylis translated the verse, and these are the words:

“Thrice I dreamt the dream

From the City of Jade I fled

Nought but shades now dwell.”

A mutter murmured about the deck, Humans and Dwarves looking at one another, and glancing at Warrow and Pysk as well.

“This we do know,” continued Aravan, recapturing the quiet. “The City of Jade lives in legend-a place rich in that precious stone. Yet where the city lies, none seems to know. But on the base of this carving are lines which might or might not represent its locale.

“Lady Aylis, Lady Aylissa, and I went to the libraries in Caer Pendwyr, and we did find something else of the City of Jade: ’twas an ancient clay tablet that warns the citizens of Jung to beware.”

Aravan turned to Aylis and nodded, and she stepped forward to stand beside the captain and intoned, “ ‘In the near west lies the City of Jade, a place rich in spoils, but with a dreadful past. Only shades and shadows now dwell therein. Citizens of Jung, beware.’ ”

Again a ripple of muttering washed throughout the crew. As it died down and before anyone could ask, Aylis added, “We know not why the city was abandoned, be it disease, madness, drought, war, or other such. The clay tablet might have been written simply to keep looters away.”

From amid the crew, Dinny called out, “Wot be these here shades, Cap’n? Be they ghosts? I mean, a shade is a ghost or suchlike.”

Several of the sailors made warding signs at this suggestion.

Aravan glanced at Aylis, and she shrugged. “We know not what is meant by shades and shadows dwelling therein,” replied Aravan. “Referring to ghosts might merely be to keep seekers away. ’Tis a mystery, I say, for we found nought else in the libraries concerning the City of Jade but the fables told to children at their mothers’ knees.”

Pipper leaned over to Binkton and murmured, “I think fables often have their roots in things real.”

“Pshh,” scoffed Binkton. “Like the River Serpent, I shouldn’t wonder.”

“Oh, that was real,” said Pipper, his eyes wide in memory.

“Bah. It was nothing but a wave.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, then, Bink, why did you cry out like a youngling?”

“Did not.”

“Did too.”

“Did-” But Binkton fell silent as Aravan went on.

“This then I say: the Eroean will sail from Port Arbalin in but three days. Any and all who would not dare this found warning may stay behind, with no disgrace attached. As to whatever peril might be, it can be but something there or not. If not, then no doom will befall; if there, it might strike. If it strikes, mayhap we will defeat it, mayhap not. Even if we defeat it, there might be nothing of consequence to find. If we do not defeat it, we might all be slain, though some might live to flee. As ye can see, there are many unknowns, and so, upon this great lack of information, each of us must within three days decide to go on or not. It is a decision only each of us individually can make.

“Remember thine oaths and say nought in Port Arbalin as ye take shore leave, nor ought in all the days thereafter, lest I give ye leave. Yet know this: the Eroean sails on the evening tide three days hence.”

With that he dismissed the crew and called for the ship to make sail again. And within a candlemark or so, the Eroean hove into the harbor at Arbalin Bay to drop anchor under the light of the moon.