Arrival in Kerith

My journey brought me to the mouth of the Kerith River, where it met the Lemurian Sea. I stood a long time gazing at the ocean - The Lemurian Sea has an almost organic quality, it moves like a sinous, sensuous creature. It is home to many forms of life - dolphins, mer people, even the great Sea God Triton himself.
“Now there’s someone I should talk to,” I thought, “If anyone knows anything about the Dragon Queen, it will be him. He knows everything that goes on in Lemuria.”
I considered where I should go next. Kerith was a destination on Le Enchanteur’s journey, so my path would take me there sooner or later - better sooner, I thought. I had heard that that the women of Kerith were wise, and that there was a volcano nearby. Volcanos made me think of fire and dragons - not much to go on, but it would be a start.
But how to get there quickly? It was fifty kilometres or more upstream, and the journey from the Gypsy Camp had already been a long one. I regretted leaving Tinker behind - but I loved that old horse dearly, and couldn’t think of taking him into certain danger.
i remembered Le Enchateur’s bag and untied it from round my waist. Maybe the wings…? But as I was pondering this, I heard sea gulls crying, and shouts from the sea, and when I looked up a small fleet of boats was fast approaching the mouth of the river. It looked like a fishing fleet.
As the boats entered the mouth of the river, I made up my mind. Tying the bag back around my waist, I dived into the river and started swimming toward the first of the boats. There was a shout from the deck, and a thick woven rope slapped onto the surface of the water ahead of me. I grabbed hold of it, and was pulled steadily through the water. Many hands reached over and helped me onto the deck.
I collapsed in a sodden heap, and several brown, weathered faces stared down at me with interest. A large pair of boots, salty with age, appeared in line with my nose.
“Never saw anyone so eager to get on board,” a laconic voice said. “What be your purpose, stranger?
I looked up and saw a square, sturdy woman dressed in a grubby fisherman’s jersey, a pair of ballooning trousers held up with string, and those boots. She had short pepper and salt hair, and a face that creased into a thousand smile lines as she looked down on me. She offered me a weather beaten hand and hauled me to my feet.
“Cap’n Gerd Staghammer at your service,” she said, shaking my hand vigorously. “And your name…?”
I told her, and told her I had come from the Gypsy Camp and was heading for Kerith. “I can pay my passage,” I added.
She roared with laughter. “Everyone on my boat works their passage,” she said. “We gotta a while before we docks - help clean the decks.”
One of the sailors handed me a mop and I got to work. I was still soaking wet from the river, and after a while someone brought me dry pants and a jersey and told me to change and hang my wet clothes to dry.
In spite of the work, the smell of fish and the fact that my underwear was still wet, it was a pleasant trip. Staghammer’s crew were a cheerful lot, calling out insults to each other and laughing when I skidded on fish guts and landed with a bang on the deck, far more often than I cared to.
Hot tarry tea was served with some unidentifiable hard substance I guessed might be rye bread, and some of the sailors struck up a bawdy song as we neared Kerith. There was plenty of activity on the dock as we pulled in and made fast. The markets were due to open and there was much haggling with the merchants over the catch. I changed back into my own clothes, and thanked Staghammer for the ride. She slapped me on the back, nearly sending me flying off the boat, and I took my leave, heading up the quay toward the markets. The taste of the tarry tea was still strong in my mouth, and the hard bread had done little to ease my hunger. But from the market came the appetizing smell of fresh tropical fruits.
The food was good - I manged to put away three fruit called lushberries, which looked like huge strawberries but tasted more like peaches, a mango and some delicious fried fish served on sticks.
The other travellers had all gone on ahead, and I was alone and not sure of what to do next. I went back to the quay and sat looking out over the river, wondering if I should stay here the night and spend my time making enquiries about the Dragon Queen. But then I saw three women approaching me. All of them were the of the strong, brown skinned type that characterised Kerith women, but one of them looked familiar.
“Marg Staghammer,” she said, extending a meaty hand. “I’m Gerd’s sister. She told me they’d brought in a traveller with them. You’re late,” she added sternly. “The others have all come and gone.”
“I know,” I said apologetically, “I was delayed.”
“We knew you were coming,” one of the other women said. She was extraordinarily beautiful, with long black hair that flowed down to her hips. “We are to take you to the Goddess, if you care to go. She may be able to help you with your quest.”
Any offer of help was welcome. I stuffed that last of my food in my bag and got to my feet.
“Lead the way,” I said.