Page 14 of Potions & Pints

Vir was in perfect position to knock Valar out with one blow. Since they had decided Tan and Vir posed absolutely no threat, there were only four soldiers left guarding them. Tan was sure Vir could dispatch all of them easily.

He snuck a look at Vir, but it was infinitely clear that escape was the last thing on the orc’s mind. Tan resolved that the next time they were alone, they were going to have to have a talk. About escape, about signals. They needed a plan.

“I decided,” Valar said.

“Yes?” Vir said, sitting up straighter.

Tan groaned inwardly.

“Everything this one told me,” Valar pointed to Tan. “Was a lie. But it doesn’t matter because…”

He paused dramatically. Tan held his breath.

“I’m sending you…to…”

Tan resisted the urge to reach out and smack Valar.

“To Gamlin Ait.”

The cry escaped Tan’s lips before he could help it. Valar smiled broadly.

“Alright!” Vir said. “I’ve never been there, but I’ve been meaning to make a trip. Wait a minute, is your ship the one I booked passage with? This might be forward, but would you consider a refund?”

Valar laughed and turned away.

“What’s so funny?” Vir asked Tan.

“It’s not…no one gets to Gamilin Ait,” Tan explained.

“Why not?”

“The journey is treacherous.”

“Then why would he send us there?”

“That’s the point, Vir,” Tan said wearily. “It’s a death sentence. Valar is sending us off to die at sea. He could have these guys,” Tan indicated to the soldiers. “Execute us now, but what would be the fun in that?”

“It can’t be that bad,” Vir said confidently.

“Oh,but it is,” Tan said. “The sea is incredibly rough. Storms that come out of nowhere.”

“Sounds…poetic.”

“Will you stop with the poetry for once!” Tan snapped. “I’m telling you, in the olden days it was rumored to be a portal. So many ships were lost.”

“So maybe itisa portal.”

“No one ever came back, Vir. Anyone who is serious about making it to Gamilin Ait would insist on having a human wizard on board.”

“Maybe we will have a wizard,” Vir said.

“There’s one in the entire world, and I promise you he’s not on our ship!” Tan pushed Vir in the chest as hard as he could. The orc didn’t flinch, but he looked confused.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Trying to get you to wake up and face reality. No one gets to Gamilin Ait. No one.”

“You made it once,” another voice purred.