Chapter 245: Boating

Chapter 245: Boating

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A Milne

Our arrangement on the boat was swiftly switched. I made a far better steersman, and Namir, uncomfortable as he was on the water, still made a far better oarsman. We took our ease after an eventful night as we headed downriver toward the coast. We only needed the occasional paddle to push us along or out of the way of approaching rocks. For the most part, the river ran deep and cold, filled with fresh ice water from the plains of Endless Ice. It might be far away, but this winding route was the easiest route to the coast. We had only planned to slip out of sight of Drangavik before stowing away our canoe and returning to the air. Still, it was such a smooth ride that we had passed long out of sight of Dragnavik before we pulled alongside the bank and disembarked.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask us to stop sooner,” I commented to Namir. “What with your aversion to water and all.” I grinned.

He shrugged, before explaining, “I have an aversion to drowning. With the water here, I could walk out of it at worst or simply run across.” He added, reminding me of the first time I had seen him face off against Arawn and race across the top of our lake to our inner island.

My smile slipped as I remembered home. As thrilling as our adventures had been, I missed my family and the familiarity and security of our home under the mountain.

Sensing my disquiet, Namir reassured me, “We will be home sooner than you think. I’m happy to run if you want to work on your projects.” Work worked better than most things at distracting me from our location and I was still enjoying the wonder of my new skill, the spatial vault.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m enjoying the scenery,” I replied. I had been enjoying the river, and if we were not attempting to return home as swiftly as possible, I would have been happy to float down the river to the coast for the rest of the day. It was pretty relaxing and a fun change of pace. Any change can often be as good as a break. Flying along the river would be a lot swifter, but I would still be able to see the scenery and get a feel for Tramontana, or at least this part of it. Our stay in Drangavik had been far too short for my tastes.

“Very well,” Namir shrugged. “Just remember I’ll be a step away at all times but only able to help if you let me out before you need the help.” He reminded me that although I would be carrying him and he would be available to help whenever I needed it, he would not actually be able to help unless I had opened the spatial vault to let him out.

“What are you going to work on?” I asked as I opened the vault, and we stowed away the canoe together. Namir no longer carried the load alone, as with the huge increase in the size of my vessel, my stats were now displaying their worth with every extra pound of muscle I put on.

“I thought I might do a little bit of reading.” He answered, pointing out his corner of the spatial vault. He had collected a few items along our journey, along with a book or two. “I don’t usually have the opportunity to do so while travelling, and the only reason I picked up these books was because I knew that you would be able to keep them dry and protected. I might as well make the most of my free time.” He selected one off from his shelf and settled down to read. “I’ll be keeping an ear out, so just call if you need me.” He continued before burying himself in his book.

Unoffended by my casual dismissal, I left the vault and closed it until all that remained of the opening was the ruined entrance anchored on my gifted necklace. This was the true treasure of the north that I had received from Varvara. The ability to move the vault without sealing it completely was essential in keeping Namir aware of our surroundings and in keeping communication between the two of us open. With everything squared away, I was ready to take flight once more.Rêạd new chapters at novelhall.comber to keep low.” Namir’s voice emerged from the necklace just before I leapt into the sky.

“I haven’t forgotten,” I quickly answered. Although it was tempting to fly higher, keeping low should keep us out of sight of anyone we might encounter and prevent us from becoming a tempting target for any flying beasts scanning the skies.

Cutting into its chest, I opened the ribs to reveal the core nestled behind the sternum or, instead, what was called the keel or carina of the bird. The prominent keel was the secret behind its power. Able to anchor the larger muscles, it provided the gyrfalcon with greater power for its flight. The scintillating core joined the collection that glowed with inner lights created by the mana they absorbed over their lifetimes.

Not long after I had finished processing the beast, my name was called from outside. “Kai, we have a complication. Come outside in three.” Namir called into the vault.

I waited for three before expanding the exit giving Namir time to place it away from his body. I emerged to a new set of scenery. Drangasfjord stood on the horizon, but I quickly noticed what Namir had. A group of humans aboard a boat on the river were making their way to the town, too, and worse, they were between us and the city.

“I can make it to Drangasfjord for lunch if I cut across,” he pointed out the way the river looped and wound its way into the town. “But we have a choice to make. Either I head into the city alone, cutting straight across, or you accompany me on the run there. Alternatively, we get the boat out to follow on behind them. Regardless, we cannot go any further without being seen by the people on the barge, if not the town.”

“Pro and cons?” I asked.

“Hmm, pro’s to keeping you hidden away. Let me think . . .” he paused as if thinking before continuing sarcastically. “Well, for starters, we might just make it through the town without people attempting to rob us. Then, there is a possibility that, for once, giant beasts and monsters will not attack us or the town we live in. Not to mention the sheer social disruption you can cause simply by existing.”

“That is a little bit of an exaggeration,” I defended.

“Maybe, but not by much.” He contended.

“Cons?”

“If you appear once in town, they will ask where you came from, for starters. Sudden appearances rarely mean or end well for either party. Secondly, if your godly patron expects you to continue to leave statues in your wake, she will hardly be happy with you if you avoid handing them out. I have no desire to add a god to my list of enemies.”

Considering the cons, despite Namir’s wish for a quiet transition through the town, the answer was obvious, “So, boat or foot?” I asked.

“Seeing as we left Drangavik by boat, we should probably arrive on it at Drangasfjord.” He admitted.

“Boat it is, then,” I said as I pulled the canoe out of my vault and slid it into the river. “We should still get there in time for dinner,” I added, seeing as Namir seemed to think it was a shame he would not get there for lunch.