Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Companions

The lookout pointed forward. "Frefa!" The captain ordered the sails to be trimmed, round the cape, and come into view of Cash Harbour.A sailor at the rail turned to Borric and said, "Something interesting tonight, huh, madman?" Borric smiled pitifully.Behind him, the captain said, "Get on the mast and prepare to furl the sail!" The sailors happily obeyed the order. "Left rudder two." The captain ordered, and Borric turned the rudder wheel of the sailboat to bring the sailboat into the designated direction.He had commanded the stingy respect of sailors and captain since they had joined the crew of the Traveling Hand.Some jobs he does well, while others he doesn't know at all, although he is a quick learner.His common sense of ships, forecast of wind direction and weather, and experience of sailing since childhood allowed him to win the position of helmsman. On this ship, the captain only allowed three people to stand in this position.

Borric looked up, and Suli was running on a mast, monkeying over the sails and rigging.As if he grew up here, Su Li adapted to life at sea.A month of sea life, constant exercise and mediocre but plentiful food had made him tall and strong, heralding the day when he would be a man. While there's nothing wrong with it, Borric is still hiding his identity.After his insane boarding speech, he was dubbed "The Madman" by the crew and the captain.If he claimed to be the prince of the kingdom of Ayer, he was sure no one would believe it.Su Li was just called "boy" by them.No one forced them to say why they were on a sinking boat, as if they already knew it would cause trouble.

Behind him, the captain said, "The pilot in Frzefa will take us into the dock. That's a bloody bastard, but the governor of the harbor likes it that way, so we'll just have to stop and wait." The captain ordered the sails lowered to drop anchor.A pair of white and green pennant flags were hoisted, and they were asking the pilot for instructions. "It's time for you to leave our place, the pilot will be here in an hour, We'll try to buy time, and you'll have a chance to paddle out to the beach on the edge of town. " Borric was silent.The captain looked at Borric's face and said, "You're a good fellow, but you weren't really a sailor when you first got on board." He narrowed his eyes. "You see the ship like a sailor." Master, but not crew; you don't know even the most basic sailor duties." He walked around making sure everyone was in their place as he spoke. "It seems as though you spent all your time on the quarterdeck, and never entered the cabin or climbed the mast, my young captain." Then he lowered his voice, "Or a rich man who can afford a big boat Son of man." Borric turned the rudder slightly to slow the ship, and the captain continued, "You have calluses on your hands, but those are those of horsemen and warriors, not sailors." He glanced again to see that there were calluses No one's being lazy, "I didn't ask your story, madman. But I know that your ship came from Deben. You are not the first couple to leave Deben in a hurry. The more I think about it, the less I want to know that Reason. I can't say you made a good sailor, madman, but you did your best and toiled without complaint, and no one would ask for anything more." He glanced at the mast and saw all the The sails were all lowered, and anchor was ordered.Slapping Borric's helm, the captain went on, "Usually, I'd let you and the others carry the cargo until sundown to earn your fare, but you made me feel Trouble is right behind you. So I'll let you disembark unnoticed." He looked Borric up and down, "Okay, go down to the cabin and get your stuff. I know you robbed me with cards. of my men. Luckily I haven't paid them yet, and you got their earrings, so let it go."

Borric saluted and said, "Thank you, Captain." He turned and walked to the escalator, walked down to the main deck, and shouted up to Su Li, "Come down and get your things!" Deben's young beggar climbed down the rope ladder and met Borric at the hatch on the foredeck.They went into the cabin and packed up their belongings.In addition to the blunt knife and belt, Borric had won a small sum of money, two sailor suits, a pair of trousers, and a Suli-fitting suit. When they got back on deck, the crew was idly standing around, waiting for Frefa's pilot.Many people bid them farewell as they made their way to the rope ladder over the side of the boat.Below, a captain's dinghy waited for them, and two sailors were to take them ashore.

"Madman. Boy!" the captain called after them as they began to climb the rope ladder.The two stopped.In the captain's hand is a small purse. "It's the travel fare. I wouldn't send someone penniless to go to a Kesh city and lay dead on the streets. That would be the same as letting you drown." Su Li took the money bag, "The captain is really kind and generous." The boat rowed to shore, and Borric took the purse and weighed it.Put it in your coat, and put it with the money bag you got from Saraya.Taking a deep breath, he considered his next move.To the city of Cash, sure, but how, that was the question.Deciding not to dwell on this obstructive issue before landing, he said to Su Li, "What does the captain mean when he says he won't let a penniless man die on the streets of Cash City?"

Before the boy could speak, a sailor answered him. "To be penniless in Cash is to die, madman." He shook his head at Borric's disapproval. "Life is worthless in Cash. Even if you're one of Queeg's royals, they'll let you die in the street without a penny on you, and walk over you to do their business and curse Your soul falls to the seven hells because your dead body blocks their way." Su Li said, "It's true. The Cashes are beasts." Borric smiled. "You're a Cashman." Su Li spat. "We are not real Kesh people ourselves, we are just desert people." He pointed to the city in the distance, "The people who live there are not Kesh people. We are not allowed to forget this. In this city you can find real Cash people. Then you'll see."

"The boy is right, madman," continued the talkative sailor, "the real Cashes are a strange lot. Nothing like Owen Tip is to be seen around the Sea of ​​Dragons, or anywhere else. .Shave your head, don't wear any clothes, and they don't care that you offend their women. It's the truth!" another sailor muttered, as if he had a satisfactory story to prove it.The former went on, "They rode in their chariots, and they thought they were superior to us. They killed you when they wanted." As they neared the shoreline, the two sailors began rowing harder, and Borric felt The boat was lifted up by the waves.The first sailor continued his narrative. "If one of them kills you, why would the judge let him go. Even if he's a commoner like you. That's the right of true blood."

His companion said, "That's true enough. Watch out for the true blood. They don't think like us. Different sense of honor. If you challenge someone, he may or may not, no need It would be dishonoring to his honor to consider refusing. But if he thinks he holds a grudge against you, he will hunt you down like a beast that has escaped your hunt." The first guy added, "And it's true that he'll chase you to the ends of the earth." The waves grabbed the dinghy and pushed it towards the beach.Borric and Suli jumped into the ankle-high water to help the two sailors turn around, and then the tide surged back out to sea, and they pushed the skiff to give the sailors momentum to get over the lapping waves.Wading ashore, the prince turned to the boy and said, "I didn't expect to come to Kesh like this, but at least we're alive"—he shook the purse in his overcoat—"fed and drank and escaped Pursuit." He glanced back at the large ship waiting for the pilot in the sea, knowing that sooner or later, some sailors would tell those who knew about their escape that they had rescued an adult and a child outside Deben.Then the hunt continued.Taking a deep breath, Borric said, "At least we're not being hunted now." Jokingly slapping the boy on the back, he said, "Let's go, let's see what's going on in this city of Cash." There’s nothing for a hearty hot meal on the table.”

Su Li strongly affirmed this idea. The city of Deben is crowded, dirty, and run-down, and the law of Ferge is an exotic - crowded, dirty, and run-down.As they walked toward the city center, Borric understood exactly what the captain meant.Within twenty paces of the city gate leading to the sea, a rotting corpse lay in broad daylight.Flies swarmed over the wreckage of the corpse, which might have been eaten by wild dogs before dawn.People passed by unconsciously, the only noticeable reaction being that they averted their eyes. Borric looked around and said, "Don't the city watch or someone do something?"

Su Li searched in all directions, focusing on whether there was a chance to get one or two coins.Suddenly, he added, "If any businessman thinks the stench is affecting his business, he'll pay some kids to throw it in the sea. Otherwise it'll just lie here until it's no longer here." It looked like Su Li thought some magical official would end up disposing of the corpse. A few steps away, a robed figure crouched ignoring passers-by.With Borric watching, he stood up and joined the streaming crowd, leaving behind something fresh to prove that he hadn't just been praying to some shrine, but a primitive act. "By gods," said Borric, "is there no public service in this city?"

Su Li looked at him with a strange expression, "Public? I've never heard of this. Who builds them, cleans them, why would anyone bother?" Borric said, "Don't think about it. It's just that some things are hard to get used to." When they walked into the flow of people from the docks to the city, Borric was amazed to see all kinds of nationalities, hear the languages ​​of all places, and see all kinds of fashionable clothes.It was unlike anything he had seen or imagined before.Women in desert attire pass by, covered from head to toe in blue or brown robes, only their eyes can be seen, and a few steps away, a group of hunters from the grassy plains are checking their Cargo, with their naked, oily bodies clad simply in a pair of shorts, but they were vain in brass bracelets, collars and earrings and their weapons of choice.The taboos of the nation are marked on the face, and the beliefs of the temple are reflected in the robes worn.Women with skin as dark as coffee pass by, wrapped from armpit to knee in brightly-hued garments and wearing conical hats to match.The baby on the back opened its eyes wide, as if it was wary of something.A group of children on the street, each with descriptive features, is running after a puppy that flees between the legs of the crowd.Borric laughed. "It looks like the dog is running for its life." Su Li shrugged, "It is. The children in this street are very hungry." Borric couldn't take it all.There were so many new things here for him to grasp.As far as he could see, hundreds of people were walking, facing in all directions, some were loitering, some were rushing, and gathered into a crowd around them.And it's the smell that's felt more than the crowds and rambunctious speech.The smell of unwashed body, expensive perfume, human feces, food, foreign spices, and livestock filled his nostrils.The streets are crowded with people, moving only a short distance with each step.Borric felt the weight of the two purses in his greatcoat, where he kept them safest.Every pickpocket had to lower their arms to reach into Borric's shirt, and they didn't like it.Borric felt his senses challenged, and he needed a break. They came to an open wine house, and the prince bade the boy to come in with him.The room was relatively dark, and they only saw two people sitting at a table in the corner talking in a low voice, otherwise the shop was empty.Borric ordered a bitter and a light ale for the boy.He took the money out of the lighter purse the captain had given him, hoping that the other purse on his shirt would remain undiscovered.The taste of the beer was mediocre, but it still pleased Borric, who hadn't had a drink for a long time. "Get out of the way!" The sound of horse hooves elicited a woman's scream, followed by the crackling of a whip and more exclamations.Borric and Suli turned to see what was going on in the street.An unprecedented scene appeared in front of the wine house.The two horses neighed and were dragged to a stop by the riders on the chariot behind them. The reason for the parking is the famous tall man standing in the middle of the street.The passenger behind the driver yelled, "Fool! Idiot! Get the hell out of here!" The men in the street walked to the carriage and grabbed the reins of the two horses.Gritting his teeth, he pushed the two steeds back.The coachman whipped a horse behind the ear and yelled.But the two horses obeyed the order but refused to move forward, and instead retreated.The chariot backed away amid the curses and protests of the riders, and its occupants were petrified.The driver flicked his whip again, and the man in front of the horse said, "If you flick your whip one more time, you'll do one last stupid thing in your life." "Great," Borric commented, "I'd love to know why our big friend did this." This "big friend" looks like a mercenary in appearance, with a green coat and trousers covered with leather armor.On the head is an old helmet, which is full of dents from the battle and needs to be repaired and polished. On the back is a leather scabbard. It looks like a half-and-a-sword (half-and-a- half) or a broadsword.On either side of him hung two long daggers from his belt. The passenger in the car took the behavior of the man in the way as an insult to himself.All he wore was a short white skirt and a curious armor belt—two straps that crossed in an X across his chest from behind his shoulders.On one side of the chariot stood several javelins like a mast, and he could take them at will.Here too hangs a bow.He blushed and yelled, "Go away, idiot!" Su Li whispered to Borric, "The man in the car is a real-blooded Cash. And he's a member of the Royal Chariot. So he's on the Queen's errand. The man who stopped the car had a lot of guts." Just a complete fool." The person who stopped the car just shook his head and swallowed.He forced the horses back until the chariot swerved to the right, crashing into the small shop of a pot merchant.The merchant yelled and ran for the road, but the man caused only a small amount of havoc to his livelihood.He let go of the rein, stooped to pick something up from the ground, and then stepped aside and said, "You can go." The coachman got out of the chariot and led the horse to go back on the road. The charioteer on the chariot took the whip from him.As if seeing through his opponent's intentions, the warrior turned around and let the leather whip hit the belt of his left arm, wrapping it around his left arm.He seized the whip sharply, and with a yell threw the charioteer to the side of the chariot.Just as the charioteer regained his balance, the warrior drew a long dagger and severed the whip.The charioteer fell backward again, nearly falling off the other side.The angry chariot driver stood up again, and the mercenary slammed a horse in the abdomen, and shouted forcefully, "Ah!" Unexpectedly, the coachman managed to push the two horses around, and the two horses did not move. He rushed uncontrollably into a street full of merchants and customers, and ran away. There was laughter in the street as the charioteer cursed the big mercenary as he ran away.The soldier watched the chariot go away, turned around and walked into the wine house, standing beside Su Li. "Beer," he said, pulling out what he had just picked up—a copper coin. Borric shook his head and said, "You almost got run over to death for picking up this coin." The man took off his helmet, revealing the hairless head of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. "You don't have a chance to wait, my friend," he said with a heavy accent, as if chewing a piece of cotton in his mouth, "this is 5 luni, the most money I've seen this month is that gone." His accent sounded familiar to Borric, and he asked, "Are you from Aer?" The man shook his head and said, "Langost, a small town at the foot of Jinghai Stone Mountain, my great-grandfather is from Deep Taunton, I think you are from Ai?" Borric shrugged his shoulders indifferently, "I'm from Deben, but I was in Air before." "Frefa is not heaven, but it's much better than that rat hole in Deben." The man stretched out his palm, "Gudab, the guard of the Hansul caravan. He used to play for the Izalina Caravan." Borric shook his hand, which was callused from years of holding swords and reins. "People call me a madman," he said with a smile. "This is Suli." Su Li shook hands with the soldier solemnly, as if he had met an exact match. "Madman? It must lead to a story, or your father doesn't like you very much?" Borric smiled. "No, I've done crazy things, that's why people call me that." Borric continued, shaking his head. "You're a caravan guard? Does that explain why you know how to make a chariot horse move?" The man smiled, only his lips were slightly curved, but his blue eyes danced merrily. "Chariotists and coachmen amuse me. One thing I know about horses is that they don't like someone pushing in their face, they back off. You can do that when a fool shakes the reins and whips, but I don't Will do it when they have people with spurs on their backs." He giggled, "That's pretty stupid, isn't it?" Borric laughed, "Yes, of course." Gouda Boo drank the last drop of beer in his glass, "Well, I better go back to the caravan camp. This morning, when the woman I was closest to finally felt that I would not marry her and found a job to stay in this city. , she kicked me out of her house. I have no support, so I need to find a job. Frzefa satisfies me, and I have a bright prospect to do. Good-bye, both of you." Borric hesitated, then said, "I'll buy you a drink." Gu Da took off the helmet he just put on, "You convinced me, madman." Borric ordered another round of drinks.When the bartender put down their beer, Borric turned to the mercenary and said, "I need to go to the city of Cash, Guda." Guda turned around and looked at his current position, "Okay, take this road first," he said, pointing to a street "until you reach the southern peak of Guangcone Mountain - which is a huge mountain range; You will see them on your right. Then the road will turn left and circle the mountains. On the right is the Sani River flowing down from the Guardian Mountains. You follow the river to the gathering place of the people who live in Owen Tip , that's the city of Cash. You won't get lost. If you start now, it'll be six to eight weeks." "Thank you," Borric said dryly, "I mean I'd rather join a caravan and take me there." "Ah-ha." Gu Da said vaguely and nodded. "If only I had someone I knew around me who could help vouch for it." "Ah-ha," Guda said, "so you want me to take you to the caravan camp, and then tell some caravan leaders who trust me that you are an old friend from my hometown, a brilliant swordsman, and by the way , called Madman." Borric closed his eyes with a headache, "Not exactly." "Look, friend, I thank you for the beer, but that doesn't mean you can use my reputation to make your own recommendation, and that would give me a bad reaction." Borric said, "Wait a minute! Who said it would be bad for you. I am a capable swordsman." "But no sword?" Borric shrugged. "It's a long story." "It's always been like this," Guda grabbed his helmet and buckled it on his head, "Sorry." "I'll pay." Guda took off his helmet and put it on the counter.He motioned to the bartender for a drink. "Okay, then, let's hear it. Fame is sure to be valuable, isn't it? What's your suggestion?" "How much can you earn going to Kesh City from here?" Gu Da thought, "This is a very ordinary route, and there are military patrols on the road, so the caravan only pays a small amount of money to hire guards. Ten crowns for the big caravan, and five for the small caravan. Of course they have to take care of the food. Maybe there will be bonuses after fighting the bandits blocking the way." Borric calculated quickly in his head - he needed to convert it into the kingdom's currency - and recalled the coins in his purse. "I'll tell you what, let the three of us enter a caravan, and I will pay twice the price." "Let me straighten things out: we put you in the caravan to Kesh, and you'll pay when you get there." "That's right." "No," he said, draining his glass of beer in one gulp, "what's the guarantee that you won't run away before you arrive and pay?" Borric showed an exasperated expression, "Are you doubting my words?" "Doubt your words? Dude, we just met. If you were me, what would you think of an offer called 'Madman'." He glanced suggestively at his empty wine glass. Borric ordered the next round of drinks. "Well, I'll pay half before departure and the full amount when I arrive." Gu Da still couldn't be convinced, "What about this boy? No one would think he was a guard." Borric turned to look at Suli, who was already swaying after three glasses of wine. "He's up to the job. We're making him a prankster for the caravan chef." Gu Da nodded, his eyes were a little dull, "Cook." "But can you know how to use a sword?" Gu Da asked seriously. Borric said confidently, "Better than anyone I've ever met." Gu Da narrowed his eyes, "You bragging." Borric grinned. "I'm still alive, aren't I?" Gooda stared at Borric for a moment, then turned around and laughed. "Ha, good." After gulping down the rest of his beer, he drew his two longdaggers.He turned one upside down and handed it to Borric with his left hand, "Let me see what you know, madman." Suddenly Borric flicked his wrist away from the insidious thrust, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.Without pausing, he hit the mercenary's head with all his strength with his left hand.When Guda shook his head to regain consciousness, he stabbed.The mercenary dodged backwards and fell, hitting a table with his back. The bartender yelled, "You two! Don't ruin my shop." Borric weighed in on his opponent as Gooda circled the table. "If you are convinced, we can stop at any time." The prince said, maintaining balance on the soles of his feet, his shoulders raised, and the tip of the dagger pointed at Guda. The mercenary grinned, his style was always funny, "I'm convinced." Borric tossed the dagger up, gripped the blade between forefinger and thumb as it flipped down, and handed it to Gooda.Gu Da took the dagger, "Very well, we'd better find a weapon dealer to arm you. You know how to use a weapon, but if you don't have a weapon, it will be useless." Borric opened his coat, took out his purse, and took out two copper coins to pay the enraged bartender. "Su Li, let's go—" He turned his head and found the boy lying on the floor, snoring loudly. Borric smiled and pushed the drunken unconscious boy.After shaking vigorously for a while, he said, "Su Li, we have to go." Barely opening his eyes, the boy said, "Master, why is the house spinning?" Guda grabbed his helmet, "I'll wait for you outside, madman. You take care of the boy." After finishing speaking, the mercenary walked out of the house and stood at the door of a nearby house to count his coins. There was the sound of a boy vomiting loudly. Three hours later, two adults and a pale boy walked out of the east gate and into the caravan camp.The camp is a large site surrounded on three sides by tents and sheds, less than a quarter of a mile from the east gate of the city.A conservative estimate is that there are three hundred caravans of various sizes parked on the grass.The back and forth of horses, cattle, and camels kicked up patches of dust. Su Li held up the huge bag he was carrying, which contained all kinds of things that Gu Da instructed to buy.Borric also obeyed the mercenary's guidance, but kept these weapons, which would eventually become Guda's possibility.Borric wore old but durable leather armor, with gauntlets and protective belts.He couldn't find a light helmet, so he picked a random headband with a hood that would tie back his hair and help draw sweat out of his eyes.The hood also provided protection for the back of his neck from the hot Kesh sun.A long sword hung from his left hip, and a long dagger hung on the other side.He would like to equip a slender sword, but such swords are more or less common in Frefa than Kron.The day's purchases devoured his already scarce coins, and he reminded himself that there was still a long way to go from the city of Kesh. They walked past the corrals for the horses and onto the main road lined with caravans.Around them loitered armed men and merchants looking for means of transport for their wares. Down the avenue, someone from the top of every wagon called for the three. "Come to Comirie. I need men to come to Comirie!" shouted the next, "Guda, Thieleman needs guards!" The third, "Highest price, Hansul is leaving tomorrow!" Halfway through, they found a caravan bound for the city of Kesh.The caravan leader looked at the three men and said, "I know you, Gudab. I would hire you and your friends, but I don't want this child." Borric tried to speak, but Gooda said first, "I'm not going anywhere without my lucky cook." The fat caravan leader looked down at the boy, beads of sweat appeared on his bald head, "A lucky chef?" Guda nodded, as if he clearly didn't want the public to know about it. "yes." "What, the lord of all lice, is he a lucky cook?" "Seven years ago, I was Thames The guards of the Ruodan caravan encountered bandits on the road from Querui to Ashita.A surprise attack like lightning.There is hardly any time to pray to the goddess of death. ’ he made a good-luck gesture, as did the caravan leader, ‘but I survived because of my lucky cook.No one else survived this catastrophe.From then on, my lucky chef is indispensable by my side. " "This kid doesn't look like he's 12 years old. He's a vague senior. He must have been a cook in the caravan for seven years." "Oh, that's not him." Guda shook his head, as if it was an obvious fact, "Another chef. You know, that time I ran so hard that my pants fell off and I fell into a small ditch before I escaped. There's no way I'm going to fight anymore, they just haven't found me." "How did that cook survive?" "He was squatting just a few steps away from me." "Then what happened to him?" the caravan leader asked with interest. "I killed the bastard who nearly poisoned me." The caravan leader couldn't help laughing.When he stopped laughing, Gooda said, "This kid won't give you trouble. He'll help cook at camp and you won't have to pay him. As long as he's fed." "Deal!" said the leader, and then spat in his palm, as did Guda, and the two shook hands. "I can always make a good nest by the campfire. This trip will be over soon," he said to Sully. "Go to my cook. Boy." He raised his arm and pointed to the Cooking truck among several vans, "Tell him you're his new buddy." Su Li looked at Borric, and the prince nodded and motioned him to do it.When Suli left, the leader said, "My name is Janos Sabo, from Kesh. We will set off at dawn tomorrow morning." Gu Da untied the package he was carrying on his shoulders, "We'll sleep in your car tonight." "Very well, now, I have to go, and I have to call four more people before sunset." Gooda and Borric walked into the area, finding some shade.Guda took off his helmet and wiped the sweat off his face with his hands. "Rest now, madman. Tomorrow is a miserable journey." "Miserable?" Borric asked. "Yes, madman. Today we'll be hot and cranky. Tomorrow we'll be thirsty, dirty, tired, hot, and cranky." Borric put his arms around his shoulders, trying to rest.He had practiced this military training since childhood, taking breaks whenever he could.But his mind was spinning fast.How is Elland doing in Cash?He figured his brother and the others were in Kesh by now.Is Elland safe?Did they think Borric was dead, or did he just disappear? With a loud sigh, he calmed down.Soon he fell asleep to the busy but sleepy noise of the caravan camp.