Chapter 2 The Stranger

Valnar walked off the gangplank of his ship Revenge to the waiting arms of ladies eager to hear his adventures in Ithaca. Word has it a wealthy young woman came to rest inside Valnar’s inn. Valnar’s mother took pity on the girl fearful of revealing her face. She spoke to few entering her path and kept her hood up. She slept in Valnar’s bed chamber when the other rooms were occupied. She tried to pay her rent by being a barmaid, but she was useless in this capacity so found a job as a seamstress with the regal tailor. She had tales to recite as she visited Queen Kiara to measure robes for her boys. She unrolled fabrics while the head tailor did the measuring. She unloaded a chest of feathers, linen ribbons, and fans for Queen Kiara to choose from while the tailor unrolled lace his lace tatters made. She even visited the palace as the head tailor measured King Dracon for his new robes and hunting attire. She unrolled the fabrics for the king to choose from and spread out a finished cloak trimmed with beadwork. Many patrons and barmaids of the inn began to wonder who this maiden was. No one said it out loud, but the idea of a reward in revealing this maiden to her pursuer was appetizing. Valnar brushed off this news and walked to his inn with his ladies. He thought he caught a glimpse of the stranger looking out his window.

His mother informed him a lady was in his room since the other rooms were occupied with sailors on shore leave. Valnar stated he will sleep in the stable hayloft and invited his ladies to keep him warm. One patron laughed stating his barmaids can keep him warm in their beds. He smirked and went straight upstairs to fetch some coins to trade with. The stranger was gazing into his bronze mirror when he entered the room. He spoke no words but went straight to the wall and moved a board to reveal his money stash. He took what he needed buy a new cloak. He left the stranger now gazing at him. She was very beautiful and obviously out of place in his cheap inn mostly occupied by wharf rats and arduous sailors. He went on his way with his ladies and walked to the marketplace. His ladies left him as he visited his ill stable boy inside the temple. He gave the stable boy an ivory seal from Ithaca. He then returned to his ship to count trading his first mate did and assigned the watches. He returned to his inn to eat his evening meal of lobster, peas, and bread. He picked up his dishes, clapped for the band playing across the room, and noticed the stranger staring at him. He walked out into the rain and rounded the corner towards the stables from his lack of a stable boy. The stranger had followed him and then lost sight of him. From the back porch, he peeked around the corner and asked if she was looking for someone.

“Yes, I was wondering if it bothered you that I occupied your bed chamber, Master Innkeeper?” asked the maiden.

“Valnar. It’s Captain Valnar, maiden.” corrected Valnar as another lady entered the clearing.
“And no, many women have slept in it before you”.

“Captain Valnar, I brought a wool blanket to keep you warm in the hayloft. We can not have you catch cold.” spoke the maiden.

“Thank you, Jacey. Mind if I smoke a pipe first before feeding the horses.” replied Valnar.

“Yes I do mind, it’s cold out here.” answered Jacey.

They entered the open stable and closed the doors. Valnar smoked his pipe as Jacey chatted forever on his mother’s dealings with their laundry customers. Some complain of stains leftover and other refute their prices. His inn had a brawl with two drunk sailors competing for the same barmaid. Katarina grew tired of Jacey and asked if she may feed the horses. Valnar nodded his head. The horses soon grew restless as Valnar brushed them. An old leprechaun then rapped his cane upon the inside of the stable door.

“Is this The Royal Eagle stable?” asked the leprechaun.

“Yes, Master Leprechaun, may I take your pony. We have fresh oats today. My name Captain Valnar, the innkeeper.” welcomed Valnar.

“Thank you, Captain Valnar. I am Viminaski, High Priest of Rosewood Ravine. This is Rosebelle and my other pet is Hari.” introduced Viminaski as his wolf entered the stable.

The horses remained calm as Valnar fed Rosebelle. Valnar refused the wolf. Viminaski assured that this wolf is a god. Reluctantly, he allowed Hari to stay in the barn. Viminaski asked for lodgings for himself and his pets for he has an important appointment with the king the next morning. Valnar has all his rooms occupied, but offered his absent stable boy’s room. Viminaski accepted the offer and paid for the room and stable stall. The wolf settled down in the straw next to the pony as Valnar brushed it and tossed a blanket over it on this cold night. Katarina took the leprechaun to the inn. The evening meal had been finished, but Valnar’s mother gave the new boarder a leftover plate of food and offered the stable boy’s clean clothes . The inn patrons glanced over their shoulders at Viminaski the Wise. Many have heard the tales from returning soldiers of the leprechaun general speaking of wondrous courage and devotion to his friend Emperor Rurick the Conqueror. Now an old man with a tuft of gray hair, wrinkled round face, and protruding bat ears. He asks for meat to feed his pet wolf and the patrons turn away. Many are afraid of wolves because vampires take their shape and werewolves often keep them as pets. The small man hobbles with his cane, beautifully carved with a braided knot at the top back out into the rain and returns. The man wore a ragged tunic, pants, leather shoes, long dangling bead necklace, and a long, torn cloak over it all. He changes clothes and claps along with the dancing barmaids as Valnar’s mother dries his wet clothes in the kitchen. Katarina listened to the music until Valnar’s mother kicked everyone out at the bell peal of the night guard switch. The next morning as the inn patrons come together for the morning meal, Valnar entered with Jacey. For a chatting chipmunk who looked no more than 16-years-old, he was awful quiet eating his mush as Jacey yawned claiming she has to return to her father’s laundry. Katarina sat by the lone priest with newly patched clothes to request an omen when he finished his tea. He provided a remarkable future. The girl from a faraway estate hiding from her betrothed will be caught, but alas, already married to an honorable man she has just met. Finishing his meal, the humble priest walked out with bacon strips to feed Hari. The wolf ate the leftovers and lapped up a cup of tea. The wolf changed forms into a godly creature in the same dress as Viminaski.

“Be good, Hari. You are around people who have never seen a banshee before.” ordered the general. A bump in the foggy air told him someone was spying on him.

“Katarina! Come in here child.” Katarina entered the barn. “And just what do you think you are doing?”

“I wanted to see the god. Who are you, Hari?” replies Katarina.

“I was a banshee, but the chaos god Ryan changed me one day after I came by to warn of his wife’s demise. He refuses to undo the spell so here I am. Vim can only change me back temporarily with his potion.” explains Hari.

“I see. Is this the handsome man I will marry?” asks Katarina.

“No, your future husband inside.” answers Viminaski.

Viminaski and Katarina return to the inn to listen to patrons chatting with each other. Soon the barmaids came to pick up the dishes. Guards came by to announce a ball in honor of the return of Captain Valnar. Katarina came over to ask how he knows the king and captains a ship, he can’t be more than 16 years old . Valnar explained to the bewildered girl that the king and two nobles are partners in his ship and receive an equal share each voyage. He met the king waiting for alms outside the temple he lived in as a boy with his distant cousin, the high priestess. He worked for an innkeeper and the childless widower adopted him. He was sent to the temple to learn with the High Priest and the prince. His schoolmate Homer whose family traded with moving nomads following trails and river systems taught him navigation, sailing, and negotiating. He practiced his fighting skills with his friends at the temple. When he inherited widower’s inn, he sold it to move closer to his regal friend who had become king. The Blue Ogre needed repairs so his regal friend gave him money to fix it up. He was first mate to his first ship bought by the nobles and king. After two years he bought a new ship renamed Revenge and took over as captain. The king comes The Royal Eagle Inn occasionally late at night to dine with the drunk patrons whom do not seem to notice his presence. He further explained that Katarina has viewed the king silently smoking a pipe in a dark corner last night. Katarina was surprised she didn’t recognize him, she showed him fabrics at the palace.

She rushed to her seamstress job to borrow a fine gown to wear to the gala being held that night. Much like court sessions in the early morning where administrators give reports to the king and nobles bring concerns to His Majesty, anyone looking wealthy can walk past the guards. She finds a green and red quetzal feather fan with a silver handle in the marketplace and silver combs with embedded sapphires at a jeweler. While she was upstairs tidying herself for the party, she heard much commotion downstairs and assumed the charming Valnar arrived with an armful of ladies hanging on his every word as usual. Valnar entered his room to discover the mystery maiden applying red ocher to her cheeks. He nods his head as he walks past her to his wash stand. He grabs a fresh towel from the cupboard and shaves his face. Katarina finishes by placing jeweled combs in her hair. She asks if he has any jewelry she may borrow.

“Yes, they are in the red box. We can’t have a fine noble woman look drab at galas in the palace.” answered Valnar.

“What makes you think I’m noble, I work as a seamstress and pay rent to live in this rat infested brothel you call an inn? I’m a poor worker.” asserted Katarina.

“Do I seem like a simpleton to you? You are not fooling anyone, little lady.” replied Valnar. “Now what I get in exchange for this loan?”

“What do you want?” Katarina asks.

“If you really do not know the answer already, I’m not asking it. But I will settle for knowing who you are and what you are doing here on the wrong side of the river.”

“Alright so I’m a noblewoman. I didn’t like my betrothal my father insisted I marry so I ran away with help from my sister. I sold all my jewels and eventually ran out of money. Ragamuffins begging at the temple said your mother is generous with table scraps and you give people jobs who have nothing so I choose to stay at your inn. Your sick stable boy Hathor said he was an orphan from a Kadacian port and met you stealing your money pouch. Instead of whipping him, you took him to a tavern and fed him. I tried to be a barmaid to pay for my room, but I do not know how to be a servant for I always been the served. You will not tell anyone my secret, correct? I will find another city to hide in if you do.” finished Katarina.

“And loose your rent, I wouldn’t dream of it.” answered Valnar. “Do you have a name or shall I call you Lady?” Katarina stiffened.

“Katarina,” she squeaked.

“Beautiful name,” said Valnar and changed into fresh clothes for the party.

The gala in honor of Valnar was an amazing sight for Katarina. Valnar took her arm as they entered the great hall and released her to step up next to the king. King Dracon toasted his friend announcing that the Blythan men must keep their ladies looking pretty. Valnar announced how the Caledonians have developed a stronger iron that rusts much less. That set off visitors into discussions of their own. Valnar danced a jig with Katarina and ignored the women competing for his attention. He greeted Queen Kiara as the dance ended. Katarina noticed Queen Kiara uncomfortable when Valnar asked her if she was a mermaid and pointed out the beaded necklace she claims from her mother as a mermaid decoration. Only mermaids of the south seas make necklaces like that. How else would a poor peasant woman inland receive such a unique treasure? Katarina tuned into the conversation and Kiara admitting her father found her mother along a beach digging for turtle eggs. Her mother fully left her mermaid life behind her to become a hardworking gardener and shepherdess. Katarina continued to watch Valnar occupied all night with ladies begging him for dances. She briefly curtsied to the king and his new finance administrator General Viminaski. The general touched her chin with a smile as they walked passed her curtsy. Queen Amazon walked past Katarina’s curtsy and conversed with Valnar on her beautiful robes made with fabric he brought on his last trip. The evening grew late and the stars gleamed in delight. Katarina followed Valnar out of the palace with the king in a dark cloak. Hari barked at her and Valnar shushed him declaring the follower intended to arrive at the same place they were. He then asked if she would mind sleeping on the floor of his room cause his bed will be occupied. In tears, she ran away. Valnar chased her down the hill and tackled the girl near the gate. Holding her arms down, he demanded to know why she had been following him all night. Tears flooded out and her lip began to quiver.

“I think she likes you, Valnar.” said Dracon. The fear subsided in her eyes.

“Is that true?” asked the innkeeper. Katarina nodded her head. Valnar got off her and helped her up. “You can come drink with us. What was your name again?”

“Katarina,” said the girl wiping her tears away.

They walked out of the palace gates to The Royal Eagle. Valnar’s mother provided dishes of warm food and drink. Valnar recited to Katarina his escape from certain death after the lord hung his father. Dracon’s uncle Grigor claimed peasants were fishing in his forbidden streams and hung the lawbreakers. Valnar heard the horses of noble men coming towards their fishing spot and hid in the bushes. There he came face to face with a cougar. Both surprised, they remained stiff until the horses came nearer. The animal climbed on top of Valnar and hissed at the passing horses. Valnar heard a man say something about a killed deer under the cougar. Safe, the mother cougar grabbed her kitten and carried it to a cave. Valnar picked up the other kitten by the scruff of its neck and carried it to the cave. Hearing a scream in the distance, Valnar ducked down. A tiny voice from the darkness said not to worry because Bathsheba will protect him. Searching for the speaker, a fairy landed on his knee.

“Greetings human, I am Bathsheba. And you are?” said the pixie.

“Valnar, Mistress Bathsheba. Can you tell me if that was my father’s scream I just heard?”

“It was, Valnar. I could not save him too. Just Lissa and you.”

“Lissa?” asked Valnar. Bathsheba pointed to the cougar licking her kittens.

Then five horsemen rode passed as Valnar hid in the bush guarding the cave opening. They were laughing at the peasant they hung nearby who begged for his life to be spared because his village was hungry from the bleak harvest. The noblemen flattered Prince Grigor for rejecting the poor man’s pleas and ordered his hanging. They also referenced shooting a young lad up in a tree claiming to be gathering bird eggs the day before near a village further north. As the sun set, Valnar’s stomach began to growl.

“Come with me human Valnar. I will take you home.” requested Bathsheba.

Arriving at the peasant village with a bright fairy guiding his dark path was quite a sight to the peasants. Valnar’s family asked where his father was. Valnar confessed to the scream in the woods and assumed his father was dead. In the moonlight, Valnar and his younger brother cut down his father hanging from a tree near the river and buried him nearby. Valnar vowed to avenge his father and fled with only the clothes on his back. He stopped to beg for food, which he was very accustomed to doing. The young boy Valnar changed his name often and settled in a small village to the north. This is where he met the Grand Prince Dracon. After his brother died of fever did his mother come looking for him. Katarina was in awe of his courage and cunning. Without thinking, Katarina asked to sail with Valnar on his next voyage. Dracon and Valnar burst out laughing. Katarina’s hopeful smile faded as she hung her head.

“Sorry my fair lady, every maiden in this city wants to go with Valnar.” giggled Dracon. “You will have to wait for him like all the others.”

The hours passed with more tales of childhood and more current events. King Dracon leaves for the palace and Valnar walks Katarina to his room. Two barmaids call for him to come into their room.

“Do you really want to sail on my ship or just see me not surrounded by women?” asked Valnar.

“Both,” answered Katarina as she shut the door. Valnar strutted downstairs to help his mother clean up grinning from ear to ear. The next day Katarina was moved into another room and Valnar got his back.

The next months saw Valnar warming up to Katarina as she helped out the innkeeper and his mother. The well stable boy returning was a big help fitting into low society. Hathor taught her to wash dishes, wash clothes, oiling shoes, and trade in the marketplace. She even learned to care for the horses. They left the city walls to collect berries and mushrooms along the roads. Then they traded with mermaids along the beach. Valnar was right. The northern seas mermaids have gray eyes and black colored beads on their seaweed necklaces. Mermaids from the southern seas have pale blue eyes and necklaces of red colored beads. After patching clothes for the inn patrons, Valnar asked Katarina accompany him to Kadacian city of Noor as assistant sail maker. Finding another stable boy at the temple waiting for alms, Hathor was invited to come as cabin boy. There met Queen Simone returning to her winter palace. Covered from head to toe in jewels and bright cloth, she shined like the sun on her camel. The queen glanced at Katarina and Valnar to continue on her tour of her lands. The queen often comes to the coast during the dry season. On the journey, Valnar decided to ruin her innocence and open her eyes to a larger world she never knew existed. But his ward Hathor beat him to it when they took a trip to Ithaca. While sleeping in a brothel between two women, Katarina came into his room worried over Hathor’s fever, boils, and cries for his dead parents. She did not know anything about healing sickness like he did.

Valnar ordered one woman to obtain ice and the other to light a lamp. He dressed himself and looked at Hathor lying in the hallway. He gave the boy a powder in a cup of water and carried the boy to the bathing pool to break his fever. The skylight shown a bright starry night and a full moon casting a little light. Valnar held the boy with one arm while sponging the cold water all over his hot sweaty body. The woman holding the lamp said he has the measles. The other woman brought a bag of ice. All three women took turns holding the ice to his head and Valnar continued the sponging. As the dawn appeared above the skylight, the boy awoke and Valnar was relieved. Katarina pointed out his concern for this cabin boy and how endearing it was. No matter how strong and unfeeling he tries to display, he has a warm heart. She kissed him on the cheek and then kissed Hathor’s forehead. He let go of the boy to grab hold of Katarina’s arm and kissed her lips to watch her leave the room. Hathor told him to marry Katarina cause he likes her. Valnar promised that he will show her the love she yearned from him. Noticing Katarina’s attention towards their captain, his crew attempted to have their turn with her to hear Valnar order that the woman was his and his alone.

In Anaki, she bought a pair of white horses and a pair of green songbirds. She rode her horses around Illium and kept the songbirds caged in her bed chamber at the Royal Eagle. Katarina spent every day with Hathor and the night with Valnar. On their travels, she helped sell the cargo at the docks to the shopkeepers. Unknown to Katarina, her bargaining and respect for the customers impressed Valnar a great deal. Perhaps, she is not like all the other girls smiling pretty for the sailor friend of the king. Animals love her and they always spot an evil soul. He had Dracon’s jeweler make a silver and ruby necklace as an engagement gift. During a feast, he announced his betrothal to the kingdom. Then he received the most pleasant surprise: Homer. On a ship named Aphrodite, Captain Homer arrived in Illium with treasures of the Haunted Forest. Many inquired about the ghosts, banshees, goblins, fairies, and unicorns. He proudly recited tales of rumored creatures and his training with The Wizard. Many of the tales included his struggle to woo the goddess Ishtar. After years of studying with the wizard, he finally received a kiss on his cheek. Right before he left for Illium, they spent the night in a cave to watch the sunrise together. She was fearful he would leave and not come back as her father did to her mother, but his heart rang of love so she believed he would return to her. As a gift for the end of his apprenticeship and adulthood ceremony, The Wizard raised a ship from the bottom of the sea for him. He requested his inheritance from his father for he intended to marry Ishtar in two years and wished to prove his sincerity. His father gave him ten cows with two calves, 8 sheep with 4 lambs, six goats, six rabbits, six geese, five pigs with 7 piglets, four horses with two colts, and two wolf dogs. His family helped guide all the animals to the forest. His father then gave him a small bag of silver coins he had be saving for his next trip. He will need these coins when traveling to other lands. Ishtar’s parents consented to the betrothal. Ishtar had dream of getting married on a ship with her sister and Hugi holding infants right before he left so she promised to tend his animals and guard his treasure while he is away. Cassandra got betrothed to Hugi receiving a brass and ceramic bead necklace. Layla longed for a betrothal, but no one could find a proper husband for an orphaned mermaid raised by strangers.

Ishtar then grew irritable after his family left. Homer took her on long walks up the mountain to discover her fear of being left behind like her father deserted her mother. She walked around picking flowers in silence. Homer finally could not handle the serenity any longer and demanded she look at him. He kissed her lips and wrapped his arms around her with a promise to marry her someday. He did not come here to be an apprentice and drag loads of animals over here to leave her. He invited her to come with him but her mother refused the offer. He set sail with his crew from Laurel to Ithaca, Nubia, Sheba, and Minos in the South Seas. Much time had passed before he saw Ishtar again and it was nearing time for her adult ceremony. He told her to plan her dream wedding and he will just show up. He stays in the forest for three months and is off to Caledonia and Varrika to the north. He took a side trip to Litsy to look at houses for sale. His brother and his family moved in to fix up the place. As he walked around the newly planted courtyard garden, Lexie arose from the central cistern to slap his face. She had a message from Ishtar: His son has been born and has died. He returned immediately to find Ishtar still in her bed. Homer apologizes for her pain and tells her to start making her wedding dress cause they are getting married on the spring equinox. He promised to see Dracon for investment into his shipping business, that’s why he is here in Illium. Katarina enjoyed hearing about the three lads from Etonville searching for The Prophetess of Nix. She felt fortunate to know heroic young lads looking for adventure. Life as Valnar’s friend is rarely dull.

King Dracon comes to the inn and eats a meal with Homer. He told the king about a shipwreck off the Narva pearl coast next to the Haunted Forest and The Wizard helped patch the ship to give to Homer. He named it the Blythan word for his love, The Aphrodite. His ladylove gave him a golden sail that outlast any storm. Princess Lexie came for a visit and spoke with him about all his promises yet to be filled. His love for Ishtar is strong and grows each day. He wants her to have a fine house and lots of children. He stayed for four months trading with mermaids, colonists along the coast, and working on his house. Ishtar and Cassandra came to visit the new house with flower seeds. Homer had them paint forest scenes on the walls of the courtyard. One night before another journey they climbed into a cave in the Haunted Forest and watched the sun set. They slept in the dark cave to watch the bats return home. Soon Homer had no more stories to recite.