Delphona

Without further incident she reached the province of Delphond in a few days. The inhabitants of this province, the Delphondi, are generally regarded as gentle, friendly and somewhat slow to action. In the struggle over Vallia, however, they had shown themselves also capable of defending their homeland. Now they were at work to provide for the peace and order of their province and to and reclaim Delphond's reputation as the garden of Vallia.

On the coast of Delphond lay the port city of Delphona. From there Vallian goods traveled on the famous Vallian galleons to all the lands of Paz-above all, superb Gremivoh, an outstanding Vallian wine.

At the local branch of the Sisters of the Rose she returned her Zorca Greywind with her best recommendations to Delia. Subsequently she made her way to the waterfront, seeking passage on a ship directly to Pandahem. Since no ship traveled directly to Menaham, always in a state of war against all other countries, she decided to travel first to Tomboram, the country neighboring Menaham. From there she would attempt to cross the border undetected.

Very few ships lay in port. Many of Vallia's celebrated galleons had been destroyed in the war. Passage on those few which still crossed the seas, was highly sought after and expensive. After some inquiry and searching she found the Pride of Vondium, destined for Port Marsilus. This port lay in Tomboram, in the province of Bormark. Asking after a passage, she learned that the captain would be supping in a nearby tavern, and there she would be able to find him and book a passage. The ship was already almost fully laden, but there could be no harm in the attempt.

"We gladly give passage to decent folk," yelled the sailor who had given her this information over the railing. Only this riff-raff now leaving the Island is detestable. They would better travel with this syphilitic hulk which anchors out there before the bay."

With these words he pointed to a ship laying at anchor outside the bay.

"Take care that you not fall into their hands. Once it becomes dark, those filth are often on their way to make raids ashore. They care not whether their cargo consists of gold or slaves. And they stay until their ship is filled with booty and Masichieri, who here want to make their way from the Island. It is really a shame that the emperor has not yet been able to take action against this riff-raff."

Jilian thanked him amicably and set off the direction, indicated by the sailor. Even from a distance she heard noise and shouts. The sign hanging over the door swung violently back and forth, as the door flew open and a wriggling, wailing creature flew past her. Immediately thereafter appeared in the entrance an enormous Apim, who wore an dirty apron just as enormous before his formidable belly.

"By the stinking nostrils of the divine lady of Belschutz! Let me never see you here again! We want no thieving trash such as you here. This is a decent house."

The small dirty bundle at Jilian's feet turned out to be an equally small dirty Och, jumped up and beat a hasty retreat. In flight, he turned once more and shouted, "Naghan the Thick, you will answer to me for this. One can not even pursue his trade in peace here. By Diproo the Nimble-Fingered! It's a disgrace!"

Furiously, the thus-admonished Naghan placed his fists to his stout hips and roared after the fleeing thief, "Next time you land in the soup, Nath the Imprudent-then finally will you serve a meaningful purpose."

With these words he turned to Jilian, who had watched, amused.

Does the lovely lady honor my modest house? Come in, come in, here we have the best Taylyne soup for far and wide." He thus generously failed to notice that Jilian in her red leathers looked nothing at all like a lady.

Jilian snorted derisively. "With thieves as the main ingredient? No, thanks, but if there might be a tidy portion of vosk with momolams, I enter gladly. I also seek the captain of the Pride of Vondium. Is he here, by any chance?"

"I have all that the lovely lady seeks: vosk, momolams, captains..... Just come in and be welcome in the Wild Woflo. You will find no better tavern in all Delphond."

Jilian suppressed a grin with difficulty. A glance at the entrance sign of the inn revealed-besides the still-swinging legend "To the Wild Woflo"-a laboriously painted small, gray rodent, not dissimilar to a mouse. The Kregan version of a scavenging parasite, found on almost any inhabited planet of the galaxy.

"Well, then I will just see what is so wild about this Woflo."

Naghan the Thick made room for her with a bow, which broke down into a parody of the gesture, and Jilian entered the inn. A subdued light pervaded the interior of the inn. Only a few tables were occupied. Jilian was heading for a free table, when behind her Naghan's baritone boomed.

"Hey, Nath the Barynth, someone here is looking for you. Obviously a mistake. Who could want anything of an ugly old sea-wolf, when they could have a marvelous innkeeper like myself?" With this not entirely successful attempt at gallantry, Naghan the Thick shoved Jilian in the direction of a table in the hinter regions of the room. There sat an lone Apim, whose weather-beaten face now looked at Jilian with curiosity.

"You seek me?"

"If you are the captain of Pride of Vondium. I want to book passage to Port Marsilus."

"I am Nath the Barynth, captain of Pride of Vondium." Passage to Port Marsilus is not a problem. The passengers I had showed themselves stupid enough last night to be taken prisoner by the pirates out there in the bay. A pity. I just hope they go away before Pride of Vondium sets sail. Otherwise they are likely to get the idea to take also my ship. Opaz-forsaken vermin."

With these words he took his knife to the vosk on his plate, as if the pirates stood before him and he was stabbing each of them. Jilian sat down across from him and took with thanks the plate, which Naghan the Thick had just brought from the kitchen. Hungry, she set to work on it and found to her surprise that the meat and momolams were outstanding, in direct contrast to the impression made by the host.

During the meal she conversed with Nath the Barynth. After a short negotiation they were agreed on the price of a passage. Pride of Vondium was still waiting for her last load of Gremivoh, the superb wine from the province of the same name; then she would set sail.

"Come aboard tomorrow morning at the third hour after suns-rise. Then we will have loaded everything and be ready to sail with the next tide!"

With these words Nath rose and started on his way to the ship.

"I will be there, captain."

"I hope so, my lady. Otherwise I must unfortunately set sail without you. Remberee!"

"Remberee, captain! "

After finishing her excellent meal, Jilian enjoyed one more cup of Gremivoh and some Palines, before making her way to the house of the Sisters of the Rose.

Outside it had already become dark. She of the Veils hid herself behind thick clouds and the other six Kregan moons, which otherwise would have illuminated the night, were not yet risen. So it was almost as dark as a night of Notor Zan, which was the term for a night when no moons shone in the skies of Kregen. Zan is the kregish word for "ten" and when all seven moons and both suns are absent, Notor Zan-"Lord Ten"-is the lord of the night. Such nights being extremely rare, Kregans are accustomed to nights bright with the light of several moons, and so there were only a few street-lights in Delphona. From time to time a rose-colored ray from She of the Veils poked through the cloud cover. Jilian had some difficulty finding her way back.

Her way ran for a space directly along the waterfront. The cry of the sea and creaking of the ships at anchor drowned out softer sounds. Only a few citizens were still about and the pier lay deserted. Turning a corner towards the center of town, Jilian collided with an oncoming figure. She was just starting to apologize, when something soft, dusty, and stinking was thrown over her head from behind. Immediately thereafter she met with a blow to the head and the real night of Notor Zan enveloped her.