Percyl, Chapter 1

*The battered kogge slowly slid into port. The northern seas had taken their toll on the ship and her company.*

*Percyl leaned on the railing, gazing over the city, and gave a relieved sigh* “Well, my dear, we’re finally here. We’ve made it to my homeland.” *he said, turning to the short woman standing next to him.*

*She looked up at him, a smile crossing her pale-grey face* “This is a beautiful city-” *she mused*, “-It’s a wonder you even left this fair country at all.”

*As the dockmen fastened the ship’s moorings to the warf, Percyl jumped down onto the dock* “Soon, Yarela, I shall show you the wonders of Joraje! From the city of Buorna to the great fortress at Kostravald, and my village of Prebuz.” *he said, walking along the pier to the man approaching him.*

*The Harbormaster addressed him* “Sir, it is two dozen Groschen to use this dock. I’ll also need your name.”

*The merchant turned, and dig out a rolled piece of parchment from his purse.* “I believe that this should cover it”

*The harbormaster took the paper, and read it.* “Well, Master Percyl-“ *the man said, regarding the merchant* “-I regret to inform you that this charter is no longer valid.”

*Percyl recoiled at the news* “What do you mean, Goodman, that it is ‘no longer valid’?”

“What I mean, Master, is that Johann has fled the country, and the Duchy has dissolved. You must not have been here for the news, but this is no longer a valid charter. I shall allow you to dock for the week, but no longer.”

*Percyl, stunned, leaned against a crate on the docks, deep in thought, while the harbormaster walked back to his building on the shore*

*The gangplank was lowered, and the first off the ship was the little Mawun Percyl loved so dearly*

“Well, my dear, when shall we be going? I long to see the rest of this land from which you hail!” *Yarela came up to him, giddy with excitement.*

*The appearance of his beloved next to him brought Percyl back to the world of the living. The far-traveled merchant knelt down next to her, and ruffled her silver-blonde hair.*

“I’m sorry, my dear Yarela, but we cannot stay here.”

“W-why? I thought that we were...that you...that we were going to see your homeland, meet the people here, see the mountains and the forests and-“

*Percyl interrupted her* “I know what I said, and I promise we will return, and I’ll bring you to every forest and field of the land, but it has fallen to civil war...the people here, are not like the good folk in Mawuna. When chaos falls, many become brigands, and prey upon the good people. Do you remember those pirates we fought, near Agansburg? There are many dangerous men in this land, much like them.” *Percyl stroked her hair.* “I swear to you, we will return, I promise.”

*She embraced him tightly, whispering* “Thank you, Percyl, thank you” *and released him.*

“I think-“ *he said, standing up,* “-that we can walk about the city for the week we’re here, and see the landscapes close by.”

*The little mawun looked up at him.* “I love you, Percyl, I really do.”

*He turned back to the ship, and the crew, seven men and six Mawun, unloading cargo onto the long, narrow pier.*

“You hear that, lads! We’ve got a week to lay about, but after that, we set sail! This time, for Keyez Blbce!”

*A cheer went up from the sailors gathered on the deck and dock.*

*They were soon heading for the lands of Blood and Wine*