Excerpt: The Maze Within

Samira's exceptional hearing heard the heavy approaching footsteps even over the cacophany of noise from the busy port surrounding her. She finished the knot she was tying in the thick rope, checked it twice for tightness and then looked up. The man stood on the dock, at first not looking at her but surveying her ship with what seemed to be rather critical eyes. The eyes finaly met hers and she caught a glimpse of sheer black. She hoped she had hidden the fear from her face and forced a thin smile from her mouth. He did not smile back, but merely threw down a small cotton purse. Her hand flashed up in a blur and caught the purse. From the weight she guessed there must be a sizeable amount of money inside, but instead of opening it up and looking she threw it back up at him. He caught it with a hand even faster than her own. His long black cloak fluttered open slightly in the gentle sea breeze and she saw he wore at least one gun on his belt, and didn't seem bothered that anyone should see it. It was not unusual for a traveler (for he was clearly not from anywhere this far South) to be armed for their own protection, but it had been a while since she had seen one quite as old as that. It was an old antique six shooter, like those used by the desert nomads in the North. Perhaps that was where he had come from. The rest of his clothing she saw under the cloak was basic and functional, made from hard wearing cloth and without any decoration. The only other item that stood out was a necklace around his neck, but the item on the end was secreted underneath his shirt. She saw a glimpse of the shape of it though, and even that, although it was no shape of any item she had seen before, sent a deep worry running through her.

"I think you'll find that is a fair wage for the journey I wish to make," he said, "and unless people around here are mistaken I understand you do take passengers when there is the space available on your vessel. I wish to travel to where I believe you are not only headed, but in the finest craft I can see in this dock."

"That may well be the case but unfortunately I am not planning on leaving this port for a few days. I have unfinished business to attend to first and as you are offering more than the going rate I gather you are in a hurry to depart."

The man looked at her for a few seconds. The truth was she was nearly ready to leave, maybe even today at a push, and the only unfinished business she had could easily wait until she returned for it was in the form of a rather handsome port official with whom she had a nice little arrangement going. But she did not like the look of the mysterious man on the dockside, and had no more intention of having him on her ship than she did of cutting her own eyes out. She could do with the money, that much was certain, but she was one to always believe in her own instincts and they were currently firmly stating that this man was not a good person to be having around.

"From up here it looks to me as if your ship is nearly ready to set off," he called back, "so i assume you believe me to be unsuitable company for your voyage. I am willing to increase the payment offered if you would be so good as to reconsider. I promise I shall be no problem, in fact I do indeed possess a small knowledge of these boats and would be happy to help out with various tasks."

She considered much more he might be willing to pay and whether she should allow the lure of money to override her instincts.

Suddenly she decided that he maybe wasn't to be feared as much as she thought, and the money would definitely come in handy. She didn't notice a slight rippling in the air surrounding the man as this thought came into her mind, and she didn't question where it had come from either. She had also completely forgotten the feelings sparked by that strange necklace her wore.

"Ok, come back tomorrow morning as we shall be leaving at midday and not a second later. And I take it you do not have much luggage, for the hold is already nearly full as it is."

"No problem there, I travel light" he replied. "See you tomorrow then." And he turned away and walked back along the dockside.

Samira went back to preparing her ship. Her sleep that night was troubled and restless.