Chương 71: Murdocks few

The small port town was about three times the size of the village he had just left behind less than an hour ago. The bird stayed in the air and kept a casual pace as Blick dashed through the small patch of forest spooking hundreds of small animals. When he inevitably broke through the edge of the wood line he caught sight of the dirt path that he assumed was the road to meant to be used to enter the town ahead. He turned and moved in that direction.

In the short trip he started walking past small farmhouses with mules and cattle roaming the area. He noticed one young girl out feeding some animals by hand and she clearly noticed him. As he walked on she stood with her hand outstretched feeding the small mule while she followed him with her head. He was just far enough away to not be able to make out her facial expression, but he had seen enough humans to make a guess. He chuckled at the idea of everyone he meets just gawking with their mouth open.

It for sure will get old, but it's an unavoidable reality. When he approached the town he saw a very small boy sprint away directly down the main road and he kept his casual pace, not wanting to get started here with any confrontations. Before he made it to the main cobblestone path that marked the start of the town, Blick noticed a small group gathering outside of one of the buildings less than a quarter mile down the road.

Someone emerged from the building waving his hands at the gathering and heading towards the waiting grok. The man was rounder than most people and nearly bald on the top of his tan head. He had dark stripes tattooed across his arm in an interesting pattern and the townsfolk that gathered clearly considered him the leader. He approached with a confident stride.

"You must be the beast man Jack told us would show up someday." Blick nodded as the man continued, not seeming to need his input.

"Look, we don't want any trouble and we don't trust you. If you're coming into town here you'll have a guard following you until you leave. You do plan to leave right?" Blick was put off his normal cheer by the clear hostility these people were displaying toward him for no obvious reason.

"Your home, I will agree to your rules. I just wanted to find a ship to take me to a larger port if possible. I planned to stay long enough for that." As Blick was speaking, the huge bird sailed over and landed beside him standing tall enough to come up to nearly match him in height. This caused several of the unarmed people to back up and a few of the men actually raised their fists like they were ready to repel an attack.

"The bird won't hurt you. He's just big." Blick tried to settle the tense atmosphere and placed a hand on and scratching the top of its feathered head with a single claw. The bald man responded "You can't bring that beast in town, what if it snatches up a child?" Just as blick tilted his head another group arrived pushing their way past the townsfolk clogging the road. These men and women were in what Blick would consider a uniform, if not as nice as the ones the army had warn.

"Bob I told you to mind your own." A voice came from the group of men as a man pushed his way through. This man was the direct opposite of the round bald man. He sported his own balding pattern but he was lanky and clean in his uniform. His followers all had the same uniform on minus the purple cloak he had draped over a single arm.

"Captain?" Both Blick and the round man clearly named Bob said at the same time before looking back at one another. With a long drawn out "ooookkkaaayy" the captain continued "Listen Bob, take your folks back into town and disperse. The … um… person here is a guest and will not be forced out of town because of your backwater antics." Bob and his people immediately protested as if the uniformed people had no authority to tell them what to do.

Blick caught a couple of "not your town", and some "get back on your damn boat" before the soldiers pushed passed them and the captain convinced the townspeople that his men could handle the situation. With a lot of grumbling and complaining the group dispersed back into their town. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Sorry about that. The post for your warrant has people nervous. From what I understand you have been traveling for several months. You probably have no idea what is going on. If you and your bird will follow me I'll catch you up." Blick shrugged and followed as the man started explaining the situation while his soldiers spread out to surround the group. This usually would have made Blick nervous, but he noticed the posture of all the soldiers signaled they were watching for outside threats, not watching him.

That peaked his curiosity.

"My name is Murdock. As you already figured out I am a captain with the Crater military. The off blue uniforms signify our service in the naval fleet however small that may be."

"Naval fleet?" Blick asked not recognizing the word combination. Murdock looked sideways in confusion before continuing.

"We sail in boats to support military operations. Usually that brings a safer duty, but lately it has grown more dangerous. As I was saying, the situation in the military has gotten a bit out of hand. You're very much not the cause, more like… your actions sparked somewhat of a coup. Soon after you left the forest gate I had sent a letter to my friend Captain Fitz, whom you probably remember headed that mission." The group turned a corner headed to the docks as townsfolk watched from doorways and windows.

Some looking quite bothered at Blick getting an armed escort.

"I didn't know it at the time, but I found myself in the middle of a mess. I had just helped coordinate a ship for Lord Hesties on some wild mission to the other continent. I wasn't informed exactly, but I heard about some gate to another world. Thought it was neat and wrote to Fitz about it. He wrote back and the letters travel extremely slowly through military channels. By the time I received his response the situation on the ground here and at other ports was hectic."

Blick followed him into a building that turned out to be some dinning area with tables and people eating.

"What does this have to do with me?" He asked not putting the pieces together at the moment.

"Well big guy, you may have cause a ruckus at the forest gate. But there was bigger news from the other gate that Lord Hesties found. After you left the camp, the word was sent out about a grey furred beast man that was wanted. Fitz remarked how you didn't deserve to be hunted and if I found a way then I should help you. About that same time we lost contact with Lord Hesties and Lady Julie's entire exploration group.

The nobles sent envoys to ask around and it seems there was some political power grab that our lord found himself lost in. In his absence and the possibility of him being dead, some of the noble families attempted to take control of the kingdom by force. The military is currently in a quiet civil war." He ended the last statement with serious eye contact before turning back around and leading Blick through the kitchen and out the back door.

The yard out back was fenced high with planks of wood to obscure line of sight from outside. Several uniformed men and women stood around talking before the captain called them over.

"Form up" Blick caught several glancing eyes and uneasy expressions. It was understandable for these people to be weary of the unknown person who had build in armor and daggers for hands. Blick took no offense at the sideways glances.

"This is my company. All 28 remaining soldiers of it anyway. We left the last port at nearly half staff after we were set upon by another kingdoms crew in the town. I'm not sure if the rest of my soldiers are dead or just wartime prisoners. Amid the conflict in the capital, nobody seemed to be aware the kingdoms from the other continent had sent out hit squads to sink our naval fleet.

So to wrap it up, Crater kingdom is mid civil war with broken chain of command, and our leader is lost in another land, likely dead, while that lands leadership is clearly attempting to keep us from reaching them." Blick looked at the solemn expressions of the soldiers around him finally putting some pieces together.

"Captain Fitz informed you of my strength? And you hope I can help in some way?"

"He also said you were smart." The balding Captain with a purple cape smiled widely at the clear attempt at flattery.