The port town of Capitan was smaller than Windia, but still, it bustled with activity that perhaps surpassed even Nina's hometown. Built into a natural harbor in a shelter of high cliffs, it was an odd collection of different architecture styles all mixed together. The storehouses near the port were built of thick logs. Some houses were much like back in Windia, they were built high and plastered white. Others were fine examples of skillful use of masonry; they were built of hundreds of little, red bricks all carefully set together to form a stout protection against storms and howling winds. Still other buildings looked far more exotic. Built of yellow stone, their roofs were decorated with onion-shaped domes.

All kinds of ships, from large and heavy merchant galleys to swift and agile Highlander warships were moored to the docks. As Aryn led them down the road toward the town, another ship was gliding into the port, its white sails bulging in the wind. Even from here Nina's nose could feel the smell of fresh fish drifting up from the port.

"Where shall we go now?" Silen asked as they passed through the gates of Capitan. The Windian soldier was walking protectively close to Nina.

"We'll try to book a passage to somewhere", Aryn said. He strolled in the crowded streets with pleasurable pace. From time to time he stopped to inspect the wares of one shop or another, examining the qualities of swords, silks, cooking pots and clothes, all of them with equal interest and expertise. Once he bought a couple of green apples from a young child. The boy bowed and thanked Aryn for his coins with almost comical gratitude.

"Where are we going?" Nina asked. She felt uncomfortable walking in the streets so slowly. All the time she had nagging feeling that every citizen they passed turned behind her back to stare at her wings. "The port is in the other way".

Aryn nodded. "I'm going to see one old…ally of mine. If we are lucky, he can arrange us a free trip anywhere we want". He offered an apple to Nina and another to Silen. "If he is here, that is".

Silen dodged skillfully a pair of young girls rushing past him. "So you're not sure if he is here?"

Aryn bit a piece from his apple and grimaced. "Half raw", he judged and wiped his mouth. "Well, he should be in here in this time of year, but with him, you may never know. He comes and goes like he pleases".

"Can he be trusted?" Silen asked.

"To the certain degree, yes", Aryn replied and bit the apple again. He walked around another corner and halted.

"Wow", Nina whispered. She had thought that the trade district in Windia was impressive. But now, they had reached the marketplace of Capitan. Humans and members of all Clans possible mingled with each other, bargaining, arguing, gossiping or simply strolling around. A chef from Simafort offered free samples of his specialties to those who were willing to taste something different. A blacksmith of the Ox Clan argued over a price of a huge sword with a Highlander mercenary. A jeweler of the Mole Clan almost got drowned with young noblewomen inspecting his diamond rings, ruby necklaces and emerald brooches. A Forest Clansman was bargaining for a good profit from the furs of his latest catches. And, as always, the Fish Merchants had the best goods and fairest prices, at least if you trusted their loud and praising voices.

"Watch your pouches", Aryn said as he moved from booth to booth, checking prices and qualities again. "Some call this place a thief's heaven".

"They won't be bothering us", Silen replied self-confidently. "Is this friend of yours in this square?"

"Not really", Aryn said as he put a leather jerking he had been examining back down onto the table. "Do you have any hats?" he asked from a smiling Fish Merchant.

"Oh, I am terribly sorry, but I sold the last hat just a minute ago", the merchant replied. "But I have some other things that I am sure will interest you", he added quickly. "For example, you look like a fierce warrior, good sir. No warrior is a real warrior without a good bandanna! I have the best bandannas you can find in this town! Or just look at the quality of these boots! So watertight they are that with these, you could walk all the way to the island of Tunlan without getting your feet wet! Or perhaps I can interest you with-"

"No, thank you." Aryn said, waving his hand and trying to move on.

"Good sir! You simply can't go without looking at this scarf! I am sure that-"

"No…Thank…YOU!" Aryn's glance was warning enough that even the Fish Merchant understood to shut up.

Silen shook his head as they continued their stroll across the marketplace. "You know, Aryn, if you pay even the slightest of interest in their wares, you'll never get free without buying something".

Aryn nodded in agreement. "My mistake", he replied.

"Where is your friend?" Nina asked. She looked all around her with wide eyes. Never had she seen such activity around her, not even in Windia. Actually, she had heard that the marketplace of Capitan was rivaled only by the trading halls of Tunlan and, of course, the ones of Prima. But even the exotic and strange sights and smells around her couldn't push away the feeling that she was being stared at. Two forces pulled her in opposite directions. She wanted to stay and examine the wonders that the marketplace had to offer. But on the other hand, she wanted to go away, to hide from curious glances and puzzled looks she imagined onto the faces of people all around her.

"There, I think", Aryn said. He pointed at a tall building rising above the marketplace. "The Inn of Three Pirates has the best wine this town has to offer".

* * * *

The Inn of Three Pirates was built of gray boulders, all skillfully cut and honed to fit with each other with almost perfect match. The building's terrace was supported by two stone pillars. With its roof that was shaped like one of the spires of Windian Castle, the Inn of the Three Pirates looked more like a temple than an inn. Aryn pushed a heavy oak door open and motioned Nina and Silen to follow him inside.

Unlike all the activity in the streets, the common room of the Inn was quiet. There were only a few customers sitting in the tables, quietly chatting or enjoying their drinks. Nobody lifted their gazes as Aryn and his companions entered, except for the innkeeper, who returned Silen's nod with a smile. It was a bit over midday, and everybody was out in the streets. When the day would turn into an evening and finally into a night, this place would probably be as crowded as the marketplace outside.

Aryn scanned the room from the door for a while. Soon he seemed to find whatever he was looking for. He motioned to Silen and said quietly: "Could you book us in for a night? One bigger room would be better than three small".

Silen nodded and went to talk with the innkeeper. Meanwhile, Aryn headed for a lone customer, sitting comfortably in a corner of the room, close to a fireplace.

A shiver ran up Nina's spine as she followed Aryn. Sitting on the chair, wrapped neatly into a dark-red cloak, was a creature that resembled more a giant snake than anything else. Even with its heavy clothing, it looked unnaturally lean. Its long, scaly tail, slowly swinging from one side to another, could be seen sticking out from the hem of the cape.

Surrounded by the high collar of the heavy cloak, there was a snake's head. It wore a black beret decorated with a large, bright red feather. Its eyes were closed. In its mouth there was a long, finely crafted pipe, purple sweet-smelling smoke floating lazily up from it.

"Hello, Snaky", Aryn greeted the creature and pulled out a chair for himself.

"It iss…odd", the snake-creature replied calmly. Its voice was soft and hissing, little more than just a hoarse whisper. "I believe I just heard a voice long dead". Suddenly a long, forked tongue shot out from its mouth, slashing at the air like a whip. "What I ssmell confirmss what I hear", Snaky continued. "I sssmell…cat inside you, the metal of your daggerss…and the blood on your handss".

Aryn said nothing. He just smiled and motioned Nina to sit.

Slowly, the snake-creature opened its eyes. They were of dark yellow color, their pupils were like narrow slits opening into a darkness. "What I ssee confirmss what I hear and ssmell", he said. "Greetingss, Aryn. How many people have you killed recently?"

Aryn shook his head, the smile still playing on his lips. "I'm a protector, not an assassin. I try to save lives, not to take them".

Something that could have been amusement passed through Snaky's scaly face. "Ah, it sseemss that you sstill haven't learned", he said. "One life can often come with a price of ssseveral otherss. You are growing too ssoft, my…friend". Two little clouds of purple smoke puffed out from his nostrils. Nina coughed. Whatever Snaky was smoking, she knew that she didn't enjoy the sweet stench it spread all around the snake-creature. A moment later she hoped from the bottom of her heart that she wouldn't have made a sound. Snaky's reptilian eyes had instantly turned to study the princess.

"But Aryn", the snake-creature purred quietly, "Where are your mannerss? Who might thiss young lassss be?" He lifted his gaze at Silen, who had finished his business with the innkeeper and had come to stand behind Aryn and Nina. "Or thiss warrior, then? You have most odd company thiss time, Aryn".

"This", Aryn started, patting Nina's head, "is Anina, a girl I'm hired to protect. And this-"

"I am Silen", Silen announced. "A Windian-"

"- mercenary", Aryn finished, calmly ignoring Silen's quick glance.

"I…sssee", Snaky said. "My turn in introducing. Though our eared friend here ssometimess likess to call me Ssnaky, I am called Essar. Essar Sshoo, a magician at your sservice". The snake-creature performed something what could have been either a polite nod or perhaps even a bow.

"Essar", Aryn said, "I need your help".

The snake-creature sighed. It sounded like a hiss that a red-hot piece of iron makes as it plunges into water. "Once again", he said, closing his eyes. "Didn't you yourself ssay last time we met that our businessess are concluded?"

"That was then", Aryn replied. "Things change. Besides, you owe me a favor, don't you?"

Slowly, Essar reopened those narrow gateways to shining blackness serving as his eyes. "Yesss…", he said slowly. "I ssuppose it wass my turn to owe a favor". For a moment he just eyed Aryn and puffed his pipe, quietly considering what he should say next. "Could you give me one good reason", he asked, "why sshould I return that favor?"

"Because it's right and honorable to do so!" Silen said. "Surely you can see that, can't you?"

Again that could-be amusement passed through Essar's face. "Honorable", he sneered.

Aryn quickly laid his hand onto Silen's arm. "Calm down", he whispered quietly. To Essar he said: "Perhaps because that way you can ensure that I trust and help you in the future, too?"

Essar tilted his head a little. "Ah, but how can you know that I will need you in the future?"

Aryn shrugged. "One can never know for sure. But it's always good to get all the cards you might need".

"Ssatisfying enough", Essar replied, leaning back in his chair. "What do you want thiss time?"

Aryn ran his hand through his hair. "Well", he started, "I thought if you could arrange-"

"A free passage to ssomewhere else", Essar interrupted him. "You need to take Anina away, and you want to do it cheaply and unnoticed. And you want me to arrange a free boat to ssail. Am I right?"

"About right".

"Hmm", Essar replied. He stood up from his chair. His movements were slow and drowsy, like a snake that is enjoying the warmth of a summer day on a hot rock. However, Nina couldn't help imagining how under all that calm appearance, there was a cunning mind, swiftly considering, thinking and pondering everything that occurred around him. Essar was surprisingly tall, almost a head taller than Aryn. "Innkeeper", the snake-wizard called, motioning with a slim, scaly hand. "Bring uss a bottle of my usual".

"One bottle of Simafort's best, coming up!" the innkeeper replied and went to fill the order.

"Now", Essar said, settling back into his chair. "Before I decide whether I sshould help you or not, let uss hear ssome background, if you please, Aryn".

Aryn spun a reasonable tale with a straight face. He lied where he had to, and added truth where it was needed. Anina was a daughter of a merchant family from Windia. This family was a long-time rival of another family that sought to gain control of most of shops of Windian trade district. Though they pursued this goal mostly with lawful methods, lately they had started becoming desperate. Rumor had it that Anina's family's rival was hiring assassins to take out their competitors. Though this was just a rumor, Anina's father couldn't afford to take the risk. Quickly asking for the help of Silen, a mercenary and a longtime friend of Anina's family, and hiring the services of Aryn Seaholt, the head of the merchant family sent his daughter out from the way of a possible guild war. Trying to attract as little attention as possible, Aryn led their small group quickly out from the Windian area, stopping only by the house of monster hunters for supplies.

It was a good story, just unbelievable enough to make it believable. Essar listened to Aryn's tale quietly, his eyes closed. He did not move, nor did he ask any questions. He didn't lift his gaze when the innkeeper brought a bottle of wine and four goblets onto their table. The only reasons to think that Essar was actually awake were the purple clouds of smoke he puffed from his mouth and nostrils from time to time.

"Very entertaining", Essar said as Aryn finished his story. He uncorked the bottle and poured wine into two goblets. "We understand each other, don't we?" he said, offering a wine cup to Aryn. "The best imported wine from Ssimafort. Drink up, my friend". A hint of smile could be seen passing through his lips.

"Why, Essar, you are becoming too generous", Aryn replied, accepting the cup. "Business is running good?"

Essar took his pipe from his mouth and sipped from his own goblet. "You could ssay that. People come and go, live and die, win and lose, but one thing remainss: they all need knowledge, in one way or another, to ssurvive in thiss harsh world of ourss".

"Essar, from what Clan are you from?" Silen suddenly demanded. He was still standing behind Aryn and Nina, his hands folded before him. "Not certainly from any Clan I know, that for sure".

"Ah, that iss true", Essar replied. "The memberss of my Clan are very sscarce these dayss. It iss very likely that you've heard about uss only in legendsss. I am from the Dragon Clan".

Silen shook his head. "You're right, I've never even heard about that".

"The Dragon Clan", Nina whispered wide-eyed. "I've read about them". And if anything she knew about the Dragons, those great, winged beasts with powers unrivaled, was true, then Essar was a living legend. "Is it true that you can turn into a dragon?"

"Yesss", Essar replied. "Though it iss performed very sseldom. The reason why we are sso sscarce these dayss iss that the Dragon Clansmen can be too powerful. Disrupting the balance of the world's power too much can bring destructive, perhapss even catastrophic resultss, if you know what I mean. I haven't turned into a dragon ssince….", there was a moment of considering silence before Essar finished: "a long time".

"You look more like a snake than a dragon to me", Silen remarked.

"That iss true, too", Essar replied, taking another sip of wine. "But ssnake and dragon, they are both reptiless, aren't they? Long tailss and sscaled hidess. Iss it my fault if ssome of my fellow clansmen look more like a ssnake than a dragon? Iss it my fault that I don't happen to have wingss?" He puffed a large cloud of smoke from his nostrils again. Doing so, he indeed looked much like a dragon. "The legendss only describe our abilitiess and powerss, they ignore our appearance. A large mistake from the historianss, if you ask me".

"So, Essar", Aryn asked, setting down his cup. "Will you help us or not?"

"Have you finished your wine?" Essar threw the question back. "Good, then. Leave me. I have matterss to think about". The snake-creature closed his eyes again and leaned back into his corner.

Silen looked surprised. "What? You won't help us, after all?"

"I never ssaid that. I ssaid leave me, I want to think about matterss", Essar replied without opening his eyes.

Silen was about say something more, but Aryn silenced him by tapping his arm. "We'll be waiting for your answer. We're in no real hurry to anywhere, but could you think a bit faster than usual this time?"

Essar smoked his pipe and didn't answer.

Aryn shrugged and stood up. Motioning Silen and Nina to follow, he headed for the stairs leading to the inn's guestrooms.

"Aryn", Essar's hissing voice suddenly called after them.

Aryn halted and threw a glance over his shoulder. "What?"

"Thiss iss better not to be any kind of plot to cheat me", Essar warned. "Because if thiss iss, I will turn that girl into a cricket and sswallow her in one piece".

* * * *

Their room was quite small, but large enough to hold three beds, three chairs and one small table. Even then there was enough space for all three companions. Enough for Silen to pace around and wait for glorious battles, as grinning Aryn put it. Through the window they could hear the voices of the marketplace, muffled by the wooden shutters.

"He's creepy!" Nina said as Silen had closed and bolted the door.

Aryn laughed. "Hey, girl, you've got no idea how many people agree with you". He put his packs onto the floor and lay down onto one of the beds. "It takes some time to get used to him", he said, leaning back and burying his hands under his head.

"I don't like him", Silen said as he took his helmet from his head. "He doesn't respect others".

Aryn chuckled again. "I thought you wouldn't enjoy his presence. I believe you think him to be cynical and dishonorable. And I would bet my finest daggers to that Essar thinks you to be inexperienced and naïve".

"I don't care what he thinks I am", Silen replied gruffly. He took off his chain mail with a grunt. "I find it hard to believe that you have such friends, Aryn".

Aryn told something to him, but Nina didn't listen what it was. Sitting on her own bed, she had returned to practicing her magic again. She tried to empty her mind, concentrating on the spell she wanted to learn. It was an easy trick, she knew it. If only she could manage to open the flow. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn't forget those yellow eyes, those black slits shining with their mysterious intelligent. Every time Essar's gaze had swept over her, she had a feeling how those dark gaps drilled into her very heart, reading her like an open book, urging her to reveal her thoughts to be heard.

But still, under all that cold and hard shell, Nina could almost feel certain touch of gentleness in those eyes, a hint of a good soul, perhaps?

"So, Aryn, what are we going to do now?" Silen asked, awakening Nina from her thoughts.

"We rest, we enjoy the sights of Capitan, we see if we could find a good bath, we gather supplies", Aryn answered, counting each step of his list with his fingers. "By short, we wait. We have no real hurry to anywhere, now that we've left Windia, so we might just sit back and see if Essar could manage to arrange a free ride for us. No need to empty my money pouch too soon".

Silen had started polishing his armor and weapons with a worn rag. "All this dust on the road…" he muttered. "Do you think that he will help us?"

Aryn shrugged. "If he has free time and he finds my story interesting enough".

"Do you think he really can turn me into a cricket?" Nina asked. She had given up her futile attempts of concentration.

Aryn shrugged again. "I don't really know. He's a good wizard, that's for sure". He yawned and ran his hand through his hair. "Sometimes he threatens people with magical things like that, but I don't know if he has ever actually done what he says he would do".

"So, he's a cheater, then?" Silen asked. Disgust could be clearly heard in his voice.

"Don't think so. When not trading with his information or arranging this deal or another, he sells pets".

Nina lifted her eyebrows. "Pets?" she asked.

Aryn nodded. "Pets", he repeated. "Mice, chickens, rats, dogs, cats, snakes, pigs, birds, biruburus, you name it and he'll arrange it. Never told me where he gets all those animals, though".

"You don't mean…" Nina's eyes were wide.

"I said that I'm not sure, but you may never know", Aryn replied, quelling another yawn. "I've always tried to stay on his good side".

* * * *

Setting aside another cup of wine, Essar finally decided to think about this new matter Aryn had brought to him. It was so typical for that protector, trying to go as cheaply as he could. And sometimes Aryn could prove that he had more forked tongue than Essar himself. He could bet his pipe and his best tobacco to that at least half of this entertaining story about Anina was nothing but lies. True enough, both snake-wizard and the bodyguard knew and understood each other. It was their way to do business. It gave more…challenge for both. If only Aryn would know better than to underestimate Essar's abilities in solving riddles and secrets… His magic was powerful, but his greatest weapon was his ability to reason.

Now, let's see. First, that soldier. Silen was his name, wasn't it? Both he and Anina were from Windia, no doubt about that. Their wings were proof enough. This soldier was young and perhaps a bit inexperienced. He valued honesty, so Silen is probably his true name. And his occupation as a mercenary…unlikely. His uniform was far too new and clean, so there were two options: either Silen is a former soldier who just recently has become a mercenary, or he still is a soldier and under some sort of secret mission. The latter option was far more likely than the first one.

"Oh, Aryn", Essar muttered pitying, shaking his head. "Not much of a challenge with thiss one…"

But the girl, then? Now this would be much more interesting. What Essar knew about her? She's from some noble family or another, something about her features and manners told him that. Besides, she had to be some sort of important character, since her family had the wealth to hire Aryn to protect her. And our dear protector had quite high prices. Not the highest Essar knew about, but quite soaring anyway. But back to the girl. She is from Windia. And Anina isn't her real name.

Wait a minute. She had black wings. Unusual for the Brotherhood of the Wing, no doubt. Good. It makes her easier to track.

Knowing Aryn, her real name would be close to the fake one. There would be some sort of simple trick with it. The names would probably sound much like each other, but they would differ enough for other people not to draw connection between the fake name and her real identity.

Anina. Dania? Fania? Hajina? Too many choices, and wrong angle of approach. Aryn is not so clever. Could he have re-arranged the letters? Nania? Niana? Nina? No, that would be far too simple. Not even Aryn would hide it with such an apparent trick. Nani? Nana?

Nana…there was a noble family in Windia with a daughter with that name, wasn't there? But no. She didn't have black wings, and right now she was 26 years old.

Through these complicated paths Essar's mind worked. Patient and systematic, he invented new possibilities, approaching Anina from different angles. He compared each new name with a long list of important persons and characters in his mind. None of the names he thought about brought fruits for his search. Systematically he drew a line over each possibility and moved forward.

After almost fifteen minutes of such work, a little suspicion found its way into his mind. Perhaps Aryn had surpassed himself this time. Then the name would be so simple that Essar's pride wouldn't allow him to even think about it.

What happens if you take away one letter from the name…?

If a snake's face could lift eyebrows, Essar would probably have done just that. "Oh, Aryn, you've improved. Thisss isss getting interesting", he mused. "And if I remember correctly, in Windia there isss…thiss needss ssome checking".

From a thought to deeds. Not bothering to get up from his chair, Essar wove a complicated spell into air and muttered the necessary words to channel the power.

"Hey, Essar!" the innkeeper called, turning towards the corner table. "You want me to bring you another-" He didn't bother to end his sentence.

There were four goblets and a bottle of Simafort's best, halfway filled with the red wine, on the table. The purple, sweet-smelling smoke was still floating around the chair in the corner. And there was no trace of Essar. He hadn't left the Inn through door, the innkeeper knew that for sure.

"No matter, no matter", the innkeeper muttered, shrugging as he went to clean the table. Essar had been a regular customer of his for a long time. The innkeeper was a flexible man, he had quickly gotten used to the Good Old Snake's odd habits, funny-smelling tobacco and the way he often disappeared without a trace, like a warm apple pie left unguarded into the inn's kitchen.

As the innkeeper gathered the wine goblets, he noticed how something tinkled in one of them. Peering into the cup, a smile appeared onto his face. "Well", he said, picking up the coins and putting them into the pocket of his apron. "He's odd, but at least he pays his bills in time".

* * * *

The guard eyed the stranger suspiciously. Never before he had seen such a creature. He wasn't from any Clan the guard knew. And something about the stranger's manners bothered him, too. Though he smiled and spoke with very polite and civilized tones, the snake-creature had somehow…creepy air around him.

Or perhaps it was because the guard didn't like snakes. No matter what the reason, he had a duty to complete. "I'm sorry, sir, but no one is allowed to the castle", he said matter-of-factly.

"But I have a message to His Majesty", Essar said. "I wass ssent all the way from Capitan to deliver it personally to the King. Iss there ssome ssort of reason why I can't get an audience?"

Guard nodded. "Yes, there is", he said seriously. "I'm surprised you haven't noticed it yet. The whole Windia is bathing in sorrow. Nina, the princess of the Royal Family, is dead".

"Dead?" Essar asked, assuming a surprised look. "What an ill omen…How could thiss happen?"

"A twist of fate", guard answered. He leaned to his halberd as he spoke: "A most terrible accident there can be! A bit less than a week ago she slipped in the steep stairs in one of the towers in the castle. One of the Queen's personal serving maids found her. There's a rumor that Nina's skull had been totally split". He shivered a bit and shook his head. "Just imagine that cruelty of fate".

Essar, too, shook his head, apparently horrified with what he had just heard. "What terrible newss…" he said quietly. "Truly terrible…"

The guard leaned closer to the snake-wizard. "And there's more", he said, lowering his voice confidentially. "There's a rumor about that princess Nina died on the morning her wings appeared! And they say that her wings were black".

"Black?" Essar repeated. A slight shock could be heard in his hissing voice. "You don't mean the legend?"

Guard nodded. "That's just a rumor, though, but if it is true, we'll have to thank the gods and fate that she died before anything worse could happen. But still, it's a great sorrow to all of us. To the Royal Family, to the army of Windia, and all of its citizens".

Essar looked at the ground and shook his head sadly. "Truly terrible, this iss…Well, it iss now understandable why the King wantss to sspeak with nobody. A losss of the one you love iss a frightening blow". He stood still and quiet for a moment, as if pondering the twists and turns that the life had to offer. Then he bowed slightly to the guard. "I'll have to return ssome other time, when thiss whole kingdom isn't wrapped into the dark veil of ssorrow", he said. "I bid you good day, ssir guard. Or at least sso good day it can be under these circumstancess".

The guard narrowed his eyes as he watched how the snake-wizard slowly made his way down toward the town below. The red feather, barely seen over the high collar, swayed slightly in the rhythm of Essar's steps. The heavy cloak gently flowed in the breeze.

The wind didn't really care about the sorrow below it. It continued to sing its endless song, as it had done over centuries in this place. It had seen several accidents to happen in Windia during those years. It had seen how people rejoiced and mourned, how they fought and worked to preserve the precious kingdom they loved so much. Over time, the wind knew, the wounds caused by Nina's death would heal. They had done so before, there was no reason why they wouldn't do it again.

It took a lot to make the wind actually get worried about earthly affairs.

Previous: Chapter III
Next: Chapter V
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