There they divided the treasure amongst themselves. They kept what jewels and gold could be immediately used as currency. Anything worth selling, and any trinkets, old relics, or artifacts they could not identify they loaded into chests and hauled with them into oarboats. Valgur placed a watch on the Brightscale, though he was not much worried any longer, and took his contingent across the bay to Parley.
The city sat upon the coast like a dusty jewel. Upon docking and unloading the goods onto Parley's main wharf, it did not take long to summon an audience with Baldergast, who had been expecting them with hope there would be treasure in tow. The merchant master of Parley was not disappointed. It had been nearly three tendays since he last spoke to them, but even still to see them so soon was a surprise to him. He met them with beaming eyes and trembling hands as the treasure was meticulously laid before him. He appraised it all in one of his private offices that looked out upon his merchant empire.
The sun was sparkling upon the waves that lapped the mouth of Scarred Truce Bay. Picaro turned from the window as the merchant spoke. “I call this more than a success,” Baldergast said breathlessly, turning over a gold buckle in his hands. “I can scarcely believe it. You must tell me the whole story. I must know all of it.”
“If you can believe it, I’ll tell it. But the story can wait. First, we need yer help getting it all measured for its proper value,” said Valgur, grinning.
“Assuredly, that is a top priority,” said Baldergast. He snapped his fingers summoning his many assistants and servants. “Ah, but some may indeed have magical properties. Gather Ortho also. Let him test each item in turn. I will leave no stone unturned with this hoard.” Items were carefully laid before Baldergast, and he identified their value according to his masterful eye for riches. He poured over each item in turn, able to ascertain through an imbued monocle he wore curtly over his left eye whether they were indeed magical or not.
Then each item was passed to Ortho, the merchant master’s artificer, who through an elaborate process of contraptions was able to further inspect the nature of each item's magical ability. And so they studied the details of relics and magical artifacts, one of which was a bag of holding that could keep items in it that otherwise would be too large to fit. There was a broach of shielding that protected the wearer from magical harm. They tested Picaro's cloak, and it was confirmed to be a cloak of shadow that rendered the wearer quite concealed except when under bright light.
When all the items had been accounted for and the tarp that was laid out on the floor was empty, Baldergast made to rise. But Valgur put up a hand. “There is but one more,” he said, as if he had forgotten, and pulled from his pocket the emerald amulet, the one he had held in defiance of the giant sea crab. “This, I believe, helped us stay the wrath of a second sea monster.”
Baldergast took the amulet gingerly in his hands, turning it over before weighing it on a scale. “Solid gold, yes, and this emerald shines like a watchful eye. Ah, such craftsmanship.”
Beside him, Ortho sat in wonder. “This is a masterful and magical device. Even from here it is plain to see,” he said, scrying it from afar with his own monocle.
Valgur cocked an eyebrow. “Can y’tell me what it does?”
Ortho nodded, and the artificer produced his tools once again, testing the device. “This is an interesting item. It is quite old,” he said it last, frowning. “Ancient, one might say. I will need more time with it in my workshop to truly assess its qualities.” Valgur surveyed him darkly.
“If it pleases you,” said Baldergast, “You can watch him work. And I can have it appraised as soon as possible.”
“Yes, you’re welcome to observe,” said Ortho, and his smile revealed a few missing teeth.
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Valgur breathed deep. “All’s well with me, have it it, but this one ain’t for selling. I’ve taken a liking to it,” he said finally, grinning. Baldergast beamed and waddled over to put an arm around the shoulder of his new partner.
“Of course, as you desire. Then let me take you to where I will store all this treasure you wish to sell.” Valgur followed Baldergast to a safe house in the heart of his sprawling dockside empire, a fortified room complete with guards at its only entrance.
“I feel safer already,” said Valgur.
“Good. This pleases me. To good business then.”
“To good business. And where can I find me a good shipwright in these parts? I'll be needing a new vessel.”
“Indeed? I know just the man.”
Balergast took Valgur to the wharf where a short but hearty and sea-worthy man stood leaning on one of the braces smoking a pipe. “Barnegy, I have someone in need of a fine vessel,” said Baldergast with his characteristic heartwarming smile.
“Then business is good,” said Barnegy, and he took a long drag looking up at Valgur. “What can I do ye for, cap’n?”
Valgur straightened himself and tossed a bag of coin to him. “I want the best ship money can buy.”
Barnegy caught the bag and weighed it in its hands. “Then it’ll be whatever yer pretty heart desires.”
After a lengthy conversation, Barnegy nodded to Valgur and got into his skipper. “Can’t build a ship that large in Scarred Truce Bay. I need to go to the Barrier Isles to get supplies and men, and to wait for the main mast to be carved from one of the trees out yonder.” He motioned to the outer isles. “Say, four tendays time?”
“One of my men will accompany you,” said Valgur, and he nodded to Grit, who got in the skipper with Barnegy.
“I hardly see it’s necessary, but it’s your coin. I’ll send word for you to meet me on the cape when she’s ready.”
Valgur strode back into Parley grinning toothily. Picaro bobbed along behind him with some of the men. “I need one a ya to go back to the Brightscale and hold the lads down. The rest o’ you, take yer portion and enjoy yerselves. We got nothing to do ‘til the ship’s ready. Have a ball.” The crew cheered and dispersed. Valgur turned and looked to the boy. “You too lad, here’s some coin. Don’t get lost, now. I still need ye on me crew when the work here is done.” He tossed Picaro a few gold coins and silver pieces.
Picaro grinned and nodded, but a part of him was unsure if he really meant it. He looked out across Parley and its sprawling tenement towers, the maze upon maze of doors and alleys that snaked across its haphazard architecture. The place looked so vast in the mouth of the massive cavern it resided in. A labyrinth, a whole new world of wonder as vast as the isles, it seemed, yet all in one place. His heart leaped at the thought of such adventure. It was somewhere he really could get lost in, and where he might never want to leave.
Valgur took his time looking out over the bay puffing on a piece of rolled tobacco. In time, he meandered back into Parley to grab a drink before finding his way back to the docks. As the sky darkened, one of Baldergast’s courier’s found him. The message was animated and urgent. Valgur heeded it promptly. He found Baldergast in his office, Ortho beside him. The amulet, with its emerald eye, sat on the desk before them, a rat in a small cage squeaked and squirmed beside it. Baldergast was beaming more than ever, if it were possible. An inconceivable look of wonder was on his face.
“I must know how you came across the cache, and what exactly was inside. But first, do you know what this is?” said Baldergast, shaking his head in wonderment. “Ortho here spent a good while confirming it. And it’s true. This is a priceless artifact.”
Valgur raised an eyebrow. “So what is it lad? Go on.”
Baldergast seemed flabbergasted and without words. With trembling hands, he urged Ortho forward.
“This is a powerful relic,” said Ortho at length. “It allows its wearer to control all manner of beasts through the power of thought. Observe.” He picked up the amulet, and without speaking he looked down at the rat, who was incalculably able to unlatch its cage and scurry out. But the rat did not flee. It stood on the table, observing Ortho. Then it ran up his arm and back down, and went back into its cage.
Baldergast leaned forward keenly. “You stumbled upon more than treasure, captain. For whoever owns this amulet could become one of the most powerful men on the High Seas. Or the richest, should he choose to sell it.”
“Money, any man can have,” said Valgur. “But power. That’s something worth keeping.” He howled with laughter, taking the amulet from Ortho and holding it up to the light. The way the gem caught the last rays of the sun made it look like the emerald eye was winking at him.
“Now, could you oblige me with your tale, in full?” asked Baldergast.
"Certainly," said the captain, and so Valgur put the amulet around his neck and sat down to tell Baldergast his story, sparing no detail.
How it started:
- Samuel O. Ludescher