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Christian found himself standing idly on the pier uncertain of whom he should approach looking for work. The smell of the salt water and call of the gull’s overhead distracted him from his mission.  While he grew up in Nanholve, the harbor was almost as foreign to him as another country.  His father had done all he could to protect him from the lower class rabble that usually found their way to the waters edge.

“Outta me way boy!” a gruff, angry voice bellowed from behind him. Yet, before he realized the shout was directed at him, Christian was pushed out of the way, tumbling over several crates that were just unloaded off a ship. For the second time today, he found himself face down on the ground.  Looking over his shoulder from his now prone position, he found that his aggressor of all things was a dwarf.  While not being too worldly, he still knew better then to confront a dwarf that was obviously in a sour mood, and decided it best to let the incident pass with no further note. He drew himself to his knees and brushed off the front of his tunic.  The dampness of the boards beneath him guaranteed he would smell like fish the rest of the day.  I firm, scarred hard fell on his shoulder.

“Sorry about that lad, that old dwarf has a bit o’ a problem controlling his temper when he’s in a hurry.”

Christian whirled around as he stood to find a man, perhaps in his late thirties, addressing him with a hardy grin, “Thonas is my name, hast thou one of thy own lad or didst thou leave it in the dirt there?”

Eying the man with a genuine apprehension, “Christian,” he muttered, continuing to  brush the remaining dirt from his tunic and pants, “My name is Christian.” Gaining his courage, “What matter is it to ye?”

Thonas, surprised at the spark in the boy, but no less amused, continued lightheartedly, “Well, I see me boss isn’t the only one with a temper this day, I’ve never seen thee around before”, he lied, “what brings thee here, new in town?”

“Nay,” he replied, attempting to maintain his sternness, yet the fear in his eyes gave away his youth and inexperience, “I’ve lived here the whole of my life, if it matters to ye, my father has decided today would be the day for me to find gainful employment.”

Silently commended Adrian’s good work at getting the boy to the pier, Thonas threw an arm around the boys shoulders, and began leading him toward the west side of the docks, “Well then, today is thy lucky day lad, it just so happens we are in need of one more sword for our caravan to Salaile.”  

Christian started to protest, being unsure this was the crew he wanted to sign on with.  He was even prepared to explain that he had never used a sword, or any weapon for that matter, but Thonas was already pushing him toward the caravan and the dwarf he had the unfortunate opportunity to meet a few minutes earlier. 

“Udorus, ye mean little bastard,” Thonas yelled from across the docks, keeping a tight grip on the boy, “I’ve done found our last man!”

The dwarf let out an audible grunt and turned to see their latest traveling partner.  Looking Christian up and down, he shot a waxy glance back to Thonas, “What do ye be wantin’ him for?”

Thonas just laughed and waved off the dwarf who had returned to his work of loading  the wagons.

“Christian, was it?” Thonas feigned, “go and get yer travelin’ things lad, we head out in an hours time.”

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He had no idea what he would need for the trip, or even how long he would be gone. Christian packed his clothing and gathered up a few days worth of dried meat.   Thinking back to earlier that morning, the confrontation with his father, and the things that were said just a few short hours ago, he inked a note for his father that said nothing more than, “Found Work”.  Leaving the note on the table, he pulled the sword from above the hearth and headed out the door. His father had always told him the weapon would be his upon coming of age and if his father thought him old enough to find work, then he must in fact be of age.  Hesitating for a single moment he wondered if he should find his father and at least say goodbye in person, but, his stubbornness won, and he turned and headed toward the dock.

Christian had never traveled outside of Nanholve, and the thought of going to Salaile excited him, yet scared him at the same time.  His pocket was empty of any coins, he spoke only his common language and he knew magic and various humanoids were prevalent in the larger city.  Christian had only seen slight of hand magic in his home city when someone that claimed to be a wizard would perform small tricks on the street corner for tips.  Aside from the occasional dwarf, such as Udorus, he was not familiar with other beings that might be in Salaile. He had no idea how he would communicate with anyone if they did not speak the same language he did.

While he carried a sword at this side, he had never drawn it in battle. In fact, he had never been allowed to handle it at all.  His father never taught him to hunt as all of their food came from the market place or his father’s store. The only thing he had ever done was fish and he was certain that expertise would not be incredibly useful while traveling over a mountain.  In larger cities, one could have gone to the local weapon master to learn the art of swordsmanship, but one had not been present in Nanholve in almost a decade.

            His worrying lasted long enough that he did not realize he was standing at the pier already, his travel sack slung over his shoulder. Christian felt out of place, and vulnerable.