Chapter 1260 Story of Sourna
The pirate ship, which Rain referred to as Sailor Willow, approached the gate of Hikma. Alaric was kind enough to provide proper outfits for the pirates, which turned them from hardened pirates to esteemed gentlemen.
However, according to the pirate himself, Hikma did not fear pirates in specific but feared for spies from East Sourna. Pirates were the second most nefarious after that.
Alaric"s crew, a group of misfits that sailed for adventure instead of greed, were quick to a.s.sume their disguise as well. Arthur was intrigued to see them so at ease, and he found the mystery of the young pirate to be ever-growing.
As for their crew, they were tense and ready to fight at a moment"s notice. Arthur decided to use his rune, [Calm], to cast a blanket of confidence over the group. It seemed to work well, since they grew more confident and relaxed.
The ships at the gate a.s.sumed several lines before folding their sails and waiting. It took a few hours for their turn to finally arrive, where they were surrounded by inspectors from every side.
"Are these the people of Hikma?" asked Diana as she turned toward the inspectors, who were old men in beige-colored robes. Their eyes scanned the ship, picking out the most obscure of flaws as they proceeded forward.
"Don"t worry about them," said Alaric as he adjusted his tie, looking like a businessman rather than a veteran pirate. "They have a list of things to suspect in spies from East Sourna, from mannerism to clothes. I saw a man once get arrested for having a scar over his hand."
"A scar?" questioned Arthur with intrigue. "East Sourna rebelled against the west, and their famous insignia is a snake eating its own tail. The usual location is their hand, so anyone with a scar would be suspected of hiding it."
"That sounds too a.s.sumptive and idiotic," marveled Arthur at such a skepticism. Alaric shrugged his shoulders, not denying it.
Their ship reached a dock erected in the middle of the Lesser Ocean. Soldiers surrounded them as a thin woman in the lead stepped forward.
"Those seeking to enter Sourna must disembark the ship and be interrogated. Any resistance or mismatching stories will lead to seizure of the ship until innocence can be proven."
"Innocence of what, exactly?" asked Arthur with a smile, but he was disguised using runes so he did not fear being recognized.
If Arthur Netherborne indeed appeared on their sh.o.r.es, the entirety of Sourna would unite against him. Arthur did not want to hinder Rain"s quest to find her mentor, so he opted for anonymity.
"Of harming Hikma," said the woman while narrowing her gaze. "Is there a problem with that?" she asked with menace. Arthur raised his hands and shook his head with a smile.
As the thin woman in the lead gave her instructions, Arthur nodded to his companions, signaling them to comply. The crew of the Sailor Willow disembarked, one by one, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. The wooden dock creaked under their weight as they lined up before the inspectors, the air thick with tension and antic.i.p.ation.
Alaric, ever the showman, stepped forward confidently. "My good inspectors, we are but humble merchants, weary from our long voyage. Please, let us know how we may a.s.sist you in ensuring our pa.s.sage is smooth and uneventful."
The lead inspector, a severe-looking woman with sharp features, scrutinized Alaric and his crew with piercing eyes. "State your business and your origin," she demanded.
Alaric bowed slightly. "We hail from various ports, trading fine goods and artifacts. Our destination is Hikma, the city of wisdom and freedom, where we hope to engage in honest trade."
The inspector"s gaze shifted to Arthur, who was disguised with runes. She eyed him suspiciously. "And you? What is your name and purpose?"
Arthur stepped forward, his runic disguise concealing his true ident.i.ty. "I am Aethon, a trader of rare artifacts. We seek to bring our wares to Hikma and partake in the exchange of knowledge and commerce."
The inspector"s eyes narrowed. "Rare artifacts, you say? Show me."
Arthur waved his hand, and a selection of shimmering weapons and items materialized before him. The inspectors gasped at the sight, and the thin woman"s eyes widened slightly. "Impressive," she admitted, "but we must ensure these artifacts are not of East Sourna origin. Follow me for further questioning."
The crew was led to a small, dimly lit building on the dock, where individual interrogation rooms awaited. Each member was separated, and Arthur, Diana, and Alaric found themselves in different chambers, faced with stern interrogators.
In Arthur"s room, the lead inspector sat across from him, her gaze unwavering. "Tell me, Aethon, what do you know of the conflict between East and West Sourna?"
Arthur leaned back in his chair, feigning a casual demeanor. "The tales of East and West Sourna are known to many, though I am but a trader. I know that the land was once united under King Hakeem, but his sons, Raz and Safeer, became bitter rivals. Their conflict tore the kingdom apart, leading to a b.l.o.o.d.y war."
The inspector nodded, gesturing for him to continue. "And what do you know of the current state of East Sourna?"
Arthur chose his words carefully. "East Sourna remains in rebellion, seeking independence and a different form of governance. They have their own leaders now, but the scars of the war are still fresh. Trust is hard to come by, and suspicion runs deep."
Meanwhile, in Diana"s interrogation room, a different inspector questioned her. "You travel with a group of men. How do you know they are not spies from East Sourna?"
Diana held her head high. "We are merchants and adventurers. Our loyalty lies with our own endeavors, not with any political faction. Our aim is to trade and learn, not to meddle in the affairs of Sourna."
The inspector raised an eyebrow. "Do you know of the symbol of East Sourna, the snake eating its own tail?"
Diana nodded. "Yes, I"ve heard of it. It symbolizes the cycle of destruction and rebirth. But we bear no such symbols. We are not spies."
In Alaric"s room, he was asked about his ship and crew. "Your vessel looks like a pirate ship. How do you explain this?"
Alaric chuckled, his charm evident even under scrutiny. "Appearances can be deceiving, my friend. We use the guise of pirates to ward off real threats. In reality, we are merchants at heart, seeking only to survive in these dangerous waters."
The inspectors, though skeptical, could find no immediate fault in their stories. After hours of questioning, the crew was finally allowed to regroup. The tension eased slightly, but they knew they were not out of danger yet.
As the crew regrouped outside the interrogation rooms, a sense of cautious relief began to spread among them. They were not out of danger, but the initial round of questioning seemed to have gone better than expected. Arthur exchanged glances with Diana and Alaric, silently acknowledging the need to remain vigilant.
Just as they were about to leave the building, the thin woman who had led the initial inspection appeared with a group of guards. Her eyes locked onto Rain, who had been quietly standing at the back of the group.
"Seize her," the woman ordered, pointing directly at Rain.
The guards moved swiftly, grabbing Rain by the arms and restraining her. She struggled briefly, her expression a mix of confusion and anger.
"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur demanded, stepping forward, his hand instinctively reaching for his concealed weapons.
The thin woman smirked, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "This woman is a wanted criminal, known throughout Hikma and beyond. She has evaded capture for years, but her luck has finally run out."
Rain"s eyes widened in shock. "That"s absurd! I"ve never even been to Hikma before!"
The inspector ignored her protests, turning to address the rest of the group. "The rest of you are free to go, but you will remain under surveillance. Any attempt to interfere with her imprisonment will result in immediate arrest."
Arthur clenched his fists, his mind racing. They couldn"t afford to lose Rain, but any rash action could jeopardize their entire mission. He exchanged a quick, meaningful look with Diana and Alaric.
"What do you want me to do here, Rain?" asked Arthur telepathically, seeking her opinion. "It seems that there are things we don"t know about this place. Can it be Deluge?"
"That"s very possible," answered Rain while they were handcuffing her as her eyes sought his. "You can investigate the situation once you are inside of Sourna. Don"t worry about me."
Arthur watched them take her away, but he could feel their gazes lingering on them. Any attempt to stop them would result in their implication with Rain.
Before Rain was out of sight, Arthur placed a rune on her. It was called [Connect] which could let them know each other"s locations. The rest of the crew returned to their ships before they were allowed entry into Hikma.