The Chronicles of Nikomedes Sakellaris

Chronicle I: An Auspicious Arrival

The sun seemed inordinately bright when the boy next opened his eyes, but that soon changed as a face blocked it from view. His first instict was to strike and run, but he noticed that the man had a kindly face, and his expression seemed a concerned one, unlike those others he had escaped.

As he tried to sit up, a pain struck him in his chest and as he covered up, wincing, the man said, "That'd be normal." He braced him with his arm, still looking in the boy's face. "You took in a lot of water, and that'll make your chest hurt for sure." As the boy gained strength, the man sat back, regarding his charge. "Though the waters look clear and inviting, they're very dangerous here," he said. "We thought we'd lost you, we did- one of the sailors spotted you afloat in the water."

The boy tried to speak, and found that he couldn't. His throat was dry, though he hadn't noticed it before. The man was ready for that, and had a tankard of water sitting close by. As he gave it to the boy, he said, "Easy does it," even as the boy began to try to gulp it down. "You don't want to be taking in too much."

As the boy slowed his drinking the man continued. "It's funny- you'd think almost drowning would put you off water. But these waters don't quench your thirst so good."

"How is he?" the boy heard, and looking towards the voice, he saw a man decked out in finery approaching

"He'll be fine, capt'n," the man said.

"We'll be coming to dock soon- get him from underfoot and get back to work," the Captain said. Though the words were stern, his tone took the sting out of them, and made them merely what they were... orders.

"Yessir," the man said. "We'll have you to port soon enough, then we can figure out what to do with you. Just stay here, out of the way," he said, nodding, as he went to get back to work.

The boy took inventory, and found he'd lost everything. Even the pouch he kept laced in his britches was gone. He was truly without anything. He stood up on unsteady legs, and saw teh city in the distance, and realised that he'd made it- it was his chance for a new life- and all of that seemed not to matter. He watched the sailors work to bring the ship in, noting that they seemed a lot better and focussed in their work than the ship he'd come across the sea on. Unlike the other ship, where even though they were working on the same task, they did so individually, these people worked like a team... or a family.

After they docked, the Captain and the mate made their way over to the boy, who watched them warily as they did. Handing the mate a bag that the boy knew only too well, the Captain went about his duties, as the others began to unload the ship. The mate stepped over to the boy, throwing him the bag. "We found this about you... held onto it to keep any mischief out of the crew's mind," he said as the boy caught the bag. "It's all there," the mate said as the boy began to loosen the strings. "Other than a minimal amount for your rescue."

The boy looked up at him, a quizzical look on his face. "The Captain's nothing if not fair- and looks to his profits in everything." He shrugged. "It gets me paid."

Casually, he said, "You've got a good deal of money there." The boy looked up sharply, and the man held up his hands. "I'm just saying. Around here, that will last you for a while. If you don't get swindled. Or robbed. Or worse."

"Where are you from, boy?"

The boy shrugged. "Around."

"Around?" He switched to High Valyrian. "Not from around here," he said, watching the boy closely.

"Not nearby," he responded in flawless High Valyrian. "But close enough."

"S'good," the mate said, switching back to the low tongue. "You'll need that. But you speak like you're not from around here... too proper. That's fine for me, but it will mark you."

He looked at the boy, appraising. "You ran away from home. That's your problem. I just see what these shores to to kids, and I have kids of my own." Realizing that the boy was already skittish, he carefully posed his next question. "I have contacts here. Know some locals. I can get you set up, then you can find your own way."

The boy looked at him skeptically. "Why?"

The man said, "As I said, I have children of my own. One day, you'll hopefully look back on this and see that's reason enough." He got up, and started walking towards the gangplank, picking up a bag on his way.

"I haven't said yes," the boy called to his back. As the man kept walking the boy started to run after him. "I haven't said yes, I said."

"I know," the man said simply, looking down at the boy walking at his side. "But you haven't said no, either, so I figure we might as well let you at least see where you'd be staying."

The boy cocked his head for a moment- not sure how to take that. But he soon enough followed, rushing to catch up to the mate.