Irwin's Journey 509: A quick trade

"Captain Hillz, how much longer till we reach another portal harbor?"

Kael looked up from where he was scribbling calculations on his small, padded paper. An old man with silver eyes, a silver, stubbly beard, and black and silver hair stared back at him. Well, he could hardly call him old. The man was still barely half his age… Still, everything about him screamed annoying. 

Not again…. Do I have to go through this every few days?

As he prepared himself for another confrontation with the head merchant, Kael wondered again if he'd made the right decision.

It was flee or get slaughtered, he told himself mechanically.

"Almost as long as when you asked me last week," he said, deciding he didn't feel like doing any more calculations today. "According to the maps we pilfered, the only Portal Branches wide enough to allow us to reach the edges of the Langost Branch are close to three months out. Suppose we don't meet any more of those Chained. From here to there, a few Portal Harbors appear on the map, but…" 

Kael shrugged, feeling the weight of a few years of nonstop war settle on his shoulders. They had only found destroyed Harbors in this part of the Langost Branch. No life was left within the burned-down, pillaged ruins, while the portals had all been closed. With nobody aboard to force those back open, they had been left with no other choice but to continue on. Hungry and seemingly alone. 

I can't believe I was bored only a few years ago, he thought absently. I wish I were bored again.

"I thought I asked you to speed up this time scale," the younger man asked, his eyes narrowing. "Unlike your crew, the rest of us have been rationing for months. Either we find a harbor quickly, or-"

"Then perhaps, merchant Etherin, you should hand out some of those Vegetation Shaping cards you have," Kael snarled, cutting the other man off as his anger suddenly bubbled over. "There are plenty of people with handslots remaining, and there are empty cargo holds we could repurpose to grow food! Something we will need to do, even if we come across a harbor for you to trade with!"

Etherin glared back at him, shaking his head slowly. "We are used to going a bit hungry, if it means we don't have to give away what took us our entire lives to gather. You make it sound like we have hundreds of cards, and handing out a few will solve our issue! I have only nine of those cards, and we would need to use them all. If we do what you suggest, I will be left with nothing! Instead, get us to a place we can buy food, before-"

A sharp horn sound resonated through the hull of the Brutala, and Kael was moving before Etherin could ask him anything. He ran through the hallways as the warning horn sounded again. 

Please tell me it's not another small fleet, he thought. I don't think this old girl can take another of those beatings. 

He reached the deck to see the last of the merchants flee through the other paths leading down, while his crew was moving like rune-work. Dozens had already reached the defensive positions, ready to bolster the old ship's shielding. 

Long ago, Kael would have shouted out for someone to tell him what was going on or run to the side. None of that was needed. Over three hundred years of service, most with the same crew, had taught them well.

Kaemilin, his second in command, was already beside him.

"A single figure, hovering right in our path," she said, her voice as smooth as it had been two hundred years ago, when she'd joined his crew. "Ballerd says he has the pressure of a six-soulcarded."

Kael almost stumbled, and it took all his experience to calmly walk to the staircase that led up to the upper deck. 

Six? There's no six-soulcarded within the Langost Branch… right? Or did one of those old ones in Dimarintsia or Suderfuix finally manage the last step?

"Did you warn the smith?" he said, wondering what that would do.

"Selinda's on her way," Kaemilin said. 

Kael nodded as he reached the railing and looked to where they were flying. He jolted as he saw a figure appear in front of their shield. He vanished a moment later to reappear atop the barrier, looking down at them. Even from this angle, it was clear the man was tall and massive, and Kael's first thought was that it was a Loydin or the lesser-known Fiz'rin. 

Then he frowned.

Something about the man's face, his posture, reminded him of something. An image he saw? He'd always been good with faces, and he'd long since learned a few tricks to recall them. A must while patrolling the branch, keeping an eye out for criminals.

"Wasn't there a mission to search for a Fiz'rin a few years ago?" he asked softly, knowing Kaemilin's memory was better than his. "Round the time of the Great Storm?"

"Yes, sir. Only one. A cardsmith called Irwin, if I am not mistaken. The request was from Langost's main smith guild on Suderfuix."

"Right… and how strong did the notice say he was?" Kael asked, not even a little surprised that she'd remembered even those details.

"Two soulcards and a heartcard. But Captain, we don't know if that's a cardsmith, and even if he is-"

"I'm going to move into your bubble," a deep voice echoed from all around them. "Please don't be alarmed."

Kael grimaced, but before he could call out warnings, the man vanished and reappeared a few steps away. He towered over them, easily a head taller than Kael himself, and he wasn't a short man. 

By Yilda, he's bigger than a bloody Niox, he thought.

"From what I can tell, you are in a bit of trouble," the man rumbled. "I'm sensing a lot of weak, malnourished people, a shortage of food, and your ship looks like it's seen better days. Do you want assistance?"

Kael felt a shiver run through him at the ease with which the man seemed to determine all these things. Even with the soulforce disturbing runes all across the Brutala as heavily damaged as they were, it shouldn't be possible to sense that much. Especially the food part.

Then again, what do I know about people this powerful?

"I'm Captain Kael Hillz of the Brutalla, formerly of Sarudock's First Fleet," he said, glad he had experience talking with powerful people. "Help would be appreciated, especially food. Also, if you happen to have an up-to-date map of this area?"

He didn't bother asking the man's name. If he didn't feel like offering it himself, asking for it would either get him a fake one or-

"Irwin?"

The man turned around, eyes wide, and Kael didn't blame him as he turned to see Cardsmith Selinda climb up the last few steps to the upper deck. Pale and with hair that seemed to move by itself, she was far sturdier than any Simlari he had ever seen, powerful, corded muscles moving below her skin. A tiny, silver Ganvil sat perched on her shoulder, lips pressed in a tight line.

"I don't think I know you?" the man rumbled.

So he is that cardsmith, Kael thought.

"You don't! I'm Selinda Galeborn, and I'm a student of Cardsmith Skylar," the young woman said as she walked forward, her smile wide and showing not a single worry.

"Skylar!" the man, who he guessed was Irwin, exclaimed, a wide smile on his face. "How is he doing? Did he reach home safely?"

"Yes! Master got back before the storm hit Clearsky," she said, stopping before him and looking up. "He told me so many stories about the time you two spent in the Golden Friction Academy. He even taught me a few of the songs you played with cardsmiths Pasilha and Roubi!"

Kael tried to understand what was going on, sharing a quick look with his first mate. Kaemilin showed barely any reaction, but he'd known her long enough to recognize the surprise she felt.

Well, at least we don't have to worry about being killed by some max-carded monster, he thought.

--

Irwin grinned as he chatted with the young, excited Simlari. He knew very little of the air elemental-like beings, but one thing he did know was that she definitely wasn't from the Storm Giant family that Skylar had been from. His old friend had been big and burly, even if he gave the feeling of being so light he could float away on a breeze. 

Then again, perhaps it's because I grew so much, he thought.

"Now, how about you tell me what's going on?" he finally said, realizing the Captain and his crew had been quietly watching him. One of the crew, a scrawny, sleet-faced Granitian that clearly didn't have his people's usual affinity for rock, looked terrified as he looked at him.

"For one, perhaps you can explain why all of the people I see are… rather old?" he continued, looking around at the crew. Those that were human were wrinkled, gray-haired, though sharp-eyed, while he sensed the weight of years even from those who weren't. Based on their cards and soulforce signatures, he guessed most were at least a few hundred years old. The Captain, especially, seemed on his last legs. Thinning brown and gray hair, his forehead was a patchwork of scars and wrinkles, though his burning silver eyes showed none of the same age.

"Oh, that's because this ship was actually no longer in full service," Selinda said, turning to the Captain. "But I think Captain Hillz can better tell you about that."

Irwin looked at the older man, who radiated the power of a single-soulcard, while his silver eyes showed he had a heartcard about half full. From the resonance he sensed, he was pretty sure both dealt with speed and agility, and barriers? He wasn't sure, but it seemed similar.

"A… few years ago, we were asked to keep a lookout for a cardsmith called Irwin. Is it safe to assume you are him?"

'Hah, I knew the smiths guild would try and find us after the storm ended,' Ambraz said, sounding smug.

"Probably," Irwin said, wondering how many cardsmiths called Irwin even existed. It wasn't an uncommon name back on Giard, but he'd not heard it used in the greater Portal Gallery so far. "Any idea what they wanted?"

"No, nor any details of the message, but I'll see if I can find it in the logs," the Captain said, rubbing his chin. "Before we continue, you said you could help? Food would be the most welcome right now…"

Irwin nodded, glad he was properly prepared. He had expected to come across hungry survivors, and had stocked a great deal of food in his soulforce.

"I take it you wouldn't want it on the deck?" he asked. "I have a lot."

The Captain watched him for a moment, then sighed and smiled.

"I guess that's what's to be expected of a six-carded," he muttered.

Six-carded? Irwin thought, but he didn't correct the man. 

'Don't be so surprised. The pressure you are sending out roughly matches that of a weaker six-carded for sure.'

'So, what would happen if I don't hold back?' Irwin replied.

'A few people would probably be terrified even more,' Ambraz said with a grin.

"Let's go to one of the cargo hulls," the man said.

Irwin hummed in agreement, following him while Selinda remained beside him, smiling widely. He kept his attention on the crew around him. Even though he didn't notice any hostility or think they would dare attack someone they presumed to have six soulcards, he'd long learned to always keep an eye out.

"I never even considered we might find you out here," Selinda said. "Master Skylar said that he expected you to have gone back home, but he said your homeworld was further north?"

"I'm on my way to help someone," Irwin said, not interested in sharing where they are from. That would have to wait until they had at a minimum dealt with the Guidar.

If we even can, he thought, feeling a familiar sense of worry that he shoved back. 

Selinda rubbed her ear, seemingly wanting to continue but holding back.

"You have a question?" Irwin asked.

"Where are you heading? Is it anywhere near Clearsky?" she asked, a flicker of hope in her eye.

Irwin tried to recall where Clearsky was. Somewhere in the middle of the Langost Branch, but he didn't know more, and the middle was an enormous sprawling area of thousands upon thousands of worlds and far more portal branches.

"Where is it from where we are compared to other familiar places?" he asked.

"Clearsky? It's almost in the center of the Langost Branch," Selinda said. "From here it's a few weeks west and a month or two north at the speed of this ship."

'It's going to cost us two extra weeks of travel,' Ambraz said. 'At a minimum. Also, it's highly unlikely that they have been safe from the Chained fleets.'

Irwin frowned. 

'Two weeks, and then more from there?' he asked.

'When we reach it, it'll be about a month from there to Mudball,' Ambraz said. 'Well, as an estimate.'

Irwin looked at Selinda and hesitated. He wanted to find Greldo, and he didn't really know her, but from what she'd already told him, it was clear she was either Skylar's apprentice. Either that, or she at least knew him well, though he didn't feel she was lying.

'It's not a bad idea to go there,' Ambraz said. 'They have the largest fleet in that area of the Langost Branch, and it's likely that they haven't been overrun yet, but if that does happen…'

Irwin hummed, his frown vanishing as he thought about that.

'Besides that, it might be time to start creating some goodwill for Eluathar. Even if we don't explain where it is, if we mention the help came from it, when we finally do reveal ourselves to the world at large,' he added, tapping his chin.

He glanced at the Captain, then scanned the ship. He could easily bring all of them with him.

"It's a bit of a detour, but I'll bring you," he said.

"Oh, thank you, thank you," Selinda shouted, reaching out as if to hug him before quickly pulling back. "I was so worried I'd have to go with the others, or remain in a small harbor if we even found one."

"It's fine," Irwin said. "Is Skylar still in Clearsky?"

"Master has been helping to guard Clearsky Harbor from those Chained," Selinda spat, her face warped by a sudden anger. "They have been attacking us for months, and without Master's help, they would have long since overrun us."

Since when was Skylar such a powerful warrior, Irwin thought.

"Captain, do you want me to bring you and your ship to Clearsky?"

Captain Hillz stopped and looked at him in disbelief. "As in the entire Brutala?"

Irwin nodded, and the Captain paled slightly.

"Thank you for offering, but we are going to take our chances. I've seen what those Chained can do, and I don't think even Clearsky's formidable fleet can stop them."

Irwin could see he was trying to be polite because of Selinda, but it was clear he didn't think much of Clearsky's defences.

Selinda just looked away, lips pursed.

I think they have had this conversation before, Irwin thought.

For the next few minutes, nobody spoke as Captain Hillz led them down the ship.

Irwin quietly watched the charred holes that they passed. Some allowed him to look straight through the rooms and hulls beyond at the barrier beyond. It was clear that bolts of energy had managed to drill through their shields at some point, and from the claw marks on a few of the parts of the wall, he wondered just how they had even managed to survive. To pierce through a shield like this required a ton of power, and they only had a single person with two soulcards. He didn't think the one-soul carded crew had been able to kill something that had this much damage.

"Did you lose your strongest warriors during the attacks?" he asked as they passed a room that lacked a ceiling and had walls completely burned.

Captain Hillz looked back at him, smiling wryly. 

"You have never fought a true warship before?"

Irwin frowned, then shook his head.

"Most of this-" the Captain waved at the room. "-wasn't from our attackers, but from the defense runes installed in ships like this. There was a two soulcarded Chained in this room when we triggered the runes, and she was annihilated."

'Before you ask, yes, I knew about this, and no, we can't install them on our ships,' Ambraz grunted. 'The skill to create runes like this doesn't exist in the Langost Branch. These ships are bought from the more central branches.'

Irwin hadn't wanted to ask anything like that, and followed the Captain into an empty hold. It had a few smaller holes in the wall, but none that would cause problems.

"Not sure how much you can share, but-" the Captain began, falling quiet as barrels and bushels of supplies began to appear in the backside of the hull.

Irwin stopped when he'd put about a percent of what he brought into the hull before looking at the Captain.

"This should be enough to see you safely to your destination and beyond."

The Captain looked at him, then the hull, then back at him, his face emotionless.  

"I see," was all he said, shaking his head. "You have my thanks, but if you don't mind, I'm going to have to go and pilfer some cards from the merchants now. I don't feel good at just accepting this…" he lingered, as if he wanted to make sure Irwin hadn't planned to request some exorbitant payment.

"Sounds good," Irwin said. "Any cards that deal with vegetation, water, healing, or teleportation are welcome."

Captain Hillz looked at him quietly, then sighed. "I've got a card you might want in that case, and I'll be sure to get you as many of the others as I can."

Something about the way he said it made Irwin worry he was planning to get all the cards they had, and he quickly raised his hand.

"Don't overdo it. This much food wouldn't be that expensive in any regular situation. I'm not here to take advantage of you."

'Hey! Come on, we can use all those cards,' Ambraz grunted, though Irwin felt no anger from his bond.

'We have plenty, and will find even more before we return.'

The Captain smiled, his face a canvas of wrinkles with his silver eyes glowing brightly amidst them.

"That is good to hear, Cardsmith. I think most wouldn't have been that forthcoming. Let me guide you back to the deck."

Irwin followed him when Selinda pulled his sleeve. He looked down to see her frown.

"Those merchants aren't all that great," she whispered. "Some of them could have helped a lot more, but instead they just kept their things for themselves and kept complaining."

Irwin sighed. 

I should have guessed, he thought, only for a sigh that mirrored his own to come from the Captain. He looked up to see that the man had turned, apparently having heard the whispered remark.

"Don't worry, Cardsmiths. I'll make sure they pay their due for this," he said, shaking his head wearily. 

Half an hour later, Irwin stood on deck, watching a group of disgruntled merchants walking away. Their leader, a silver-haired, silver-bearded man, had been more than angry when he'd been told to pay for the food. 

Captain Hillz walked towards Irwin, smiling widely as he handed over a small packet of what Irwin sensed were about twelve cards. He already had an idea what they were, as Ambraz had been able to determine that as they haggled. Nine were simple vegetation and water cards, all quartz or amethyst and barely worth mentioning. Then there had been a teleport card based on air, which he wondered how they even got with how rare those were, but the true surprise was two healing cards. One was a personal healing card based on blood typing, while the other was something he'd never seen before.

'You are really sure this one gives healing within an area based on heat?' he asked, examining the top card that showed a red and golden glow around multiple tiny figures. It was topaz, but from what he could sense, it was a natural find and hadn't been reforged yet. It was worth far more than the food he'd gotten, and he almost felt a bit bad for taking it.

Something about that must have shown, because Captain Hillz laughed softly as he spoke up.

"Don't worry, Cardsmith Irwin. I know what that's worth, but it also has a rather nasty side effect. I'm sure you will find out as soon as you do a proper scan. That said, perhaps someone of your skill can fix it? Whatever may be, because of the food you gave us, we can skip searching the harbors and head straight for the border of the Langost Branch."

Irwin looked at the card with even more interest now. What downside could it possibly have to not be worth slotting? Then he shoved them into his soulscape, letting his otherself sort them.

"Where are you going?" he asked. 

"Just before the war started, a distant sidebranch was finally scouted," Hillz said. "It leads to another main branch, and we are going there, hoping those Chained haven't found it yet."

Irwin felt a sudden worry. They hadn't somehow found the main branch that housed Eluathar, had they?

"Could you mark that on my map?" he asked, summoning a large map in his hands.

"I don't see why not," the Captain said, unfolding the massive card-crafted paper map. 

As he opened it to the distant east part of the map, very close to the south end, Irwin felt his worry fade. Instead, he looked curiously as the man deftly drew a few more corridors on his map before putting a cross on it. 

"This is where the entrance is. But if you do go, you might…" he blinked as he fell quiet. "Well, I guess you don't worry much about glacial areas."

Irwin shrugged. "No, but it's good to know things. It's a long one?"

"Yes, a two-week travel, which is why none of the scout ships managed to go that far," the Captain said. "It took a long time before anyone was interested in sending one of the truly expensive scouting vessels. It's why we hope the Chained can't do it either."

"I'll have to shatter that hope," Irwin said, shaking his head as he recalled the quality of the ships the Guidar used. "They have ships that can navigate for months through glacial areas."

Captain Hillz looked at him quietly before nodding.

"Thanks for letting me know. I'll have to keep an eye on that," he said.

Irwin hesitated, then looked around the ship. "Do you have no wood and metal shapers to fix her up?"

"None strong enough to work with these metals," Hillz said. "The Brutala is made of some of the stronger alloys and woods from a richer branch, some I haven't even heard of."

Irwin frowned at that, moving to the outside of the cabin wall. He put his hand on it, examining the wall.

'Have you ever seen this?'

'No, but he is probably right. Except for the ships in the three Hegliron's fleets, it is unlikely you will find any stronger ship than this. Even the Caldeara wouldn't be able to stand up to this kind of punishment; then again, our barriers are most likely stronger.'

"Then I hope she holds up," Irwin said, turning to Selinda. "Moving you to Clearsky will take some time, so I'm going to continue on. Are you ready?"

"You are bringing me into your soulscape?" she asked, eyes wide.

"Yes. There are a few others there who will explain things. Are you ready?"

Selinda turned to the Captain, bowing slightly. "Captain, thank you for everything. I wish you would reconsider coming to Clearsky. I'm sure Master and the others will be able to keep us safe."

The Captain just smiled, and Selinda shook her head, turning to Irwin.

"I'm ready."

Irwin pulled her into his soulscape, moving her beside Rindiri and the others, whom he'd warned. 

Then again, I might have had to warn her about Pur'am, Irwin thought, as his otherself snatched the purple Ganvil out of the air before it could rush the newcomer and bombard her with questions about growth cards. 

"Thank you again for the food," Captain Hillz said. "Safe travels."

Irwin nodded, looked around the ship, then clicked his tongue and vanished into the soundwaves.

--

Kael let out a breath of relief as the powerful cardsmith vanished. He had worried initially that the man might remain with them or decide to take everything they had. 

Well, he might have been a lot more normal than the other many-carded ones I've seen were, but I'm glad he is gone, he thought. Just the pressure he exuded was making my heart race.

He turned to the helmsman. "Let's get out of here before something else finds us."

As the Brutala sped up, he thought about the card he'd gifted the smith.

I damn hope he doesn't just slot it without checking the card.