Rogue Tide: Chapter Thirteen

It was a gray late November noon at sea. Adrian Danisham paced the deck of the Summer Morning, a simple; rustic merchant schooner, and peered uncertainly out at the fogged, hazy horizon beyond. He could not wait until this tedious voyage would be over so he could return to his family before winter began- He missed them so much it left a hollow ache within; especially Caroline.


He did not have much time to continue to brood, though; for the beast in the crow’s nest yelled out:


“Land ho!”

And through the gloom, sure enough, Adrian could see that they were preparing to disembark and come ashore. At long bloody last. As various crates and boxes were unloaded from belowdecks, the otter was soon confronted by a withered; ancient-looking squirrel with an array of fading tattoos all over his twiglike arms.


“Good afternoon to ye, sir- Not from around here, are ya, matey?”


Adrian shook his head.


“No, I’m from Port Kendall. I received a message saying that there was cargo here for me.”

Narrowing his sunken eyes, the old beast peered intently at Adrian before replying:


“Cargo? What cargo? If you’re a Mr. Adrian Danisham, I’m sorry to say there ain’t no cargo for ye here.”


Adrian swore; his mind racing and not entirely sure of what was going on. Surely there had to be mistake- He’d been told there was cargo waiting for him here!


“Are you sure?”


“Aye, I’m sure. Checked three times meself. Nothin’ for you.”


Adrian felt his heart plummet. So this whole scheme had all been a lie- Why, why hadn’t he suspected it sooner??


“Damnit! I should have known all along that it was a hoax! I can’t believe I left Nialla alone…. When is the next ship leaving back to port?”


“Half an hour, sir.”


Within thirty minutes, Adrian was on the next ship back to Port Kendall. He had to make sure that his wife and children were all right; seasons only knew what they’d been told about his fate…. He tried and failed to remain calm about the whole ordeal, but ultimately, there was only one thing that enabled Adrian to remain somewhat at peace: He would be beside Nialla and their two children soon, and do his best to amend whatever lies may or may not have been told in his absence.


If he could get home quickly enough.


If.