Author: Pat Gibson

Merchandise to trade, learning how to market…     Francos and Tony joined Mandy and Blackie in the large meeting room near the harbor. They had unpacked the goods brought from Port. Serept had invited a few merchants to see what they had.     “Sera Doe, I am pleased to meet you. I understand you were…

Refugio, an arrival, and a meeting…     The small ship from Port had waited offshore for daylight to navigate the entrance to the harbor. As the small coastal ship approached the opening to the sheltered caldera, they lowered the sails to use the small motor to get past the reefs and into the harbor. The…

A troublesome priest…     “Please, I must see Ser Pesch.” Romerie Malfe was not used to begging but he had been denied entrance to the Pesch main house twice this past week. Now he had news that he hoped would put him back in Ser Emiliano’s good graces.     “It is essential that I see…

A conclave of confusion, a major loss, a major win…     The procession of Keepers and priests slowly filed into the auditorium. The conclave to elect the new Poh was beginning. The service held in the main sanctuary had been crowded, and Francos remembered the issue of a new, larger church had been addressed during…

Port, who’s your mom, travel plans…     “Mandy,” Sarita said, “I saw you with that woman off Beth Ann’s ship. Is she your mother?”     “Yes, she came from Refugio and now sails with Beth Ann. I have a couple of half kin that live on the boat. Mom paired up with one of the…

A surprise visit…     Marta turned the spinning session over to one of the other women and led Francos to a small room across the patio. Women around the area stopped and stared. Several were almost nude and seemed to be doing exercises. Others were working in raised garden beds or supervising children. Francos did…

A visit from a school friend, a shocking discovery…     Francos and Megal had a late breakfast. “Have you heard from Captain Okapie?” Megal said in the private dining room. “I was very surprised by the number of vagrants in the crowd last night. I might not have noticed if you had not mentioned it.…

Refugio, sharing the future…     Megal poured himself a cup of wine and leaned against the wall by a small window in his father’s private office. He stared out into the plain where the city of Ciudad Centro had been built. One side of the volcano that formed the caldera had been blown away by…

Arrival in Southmost, a plea for help, work to do…     “Keep that white flag waving. We want them to know we aren’t coming to raid,” Blackie let the ship drift toward the dock where a group of archers were gathered with crossbows aimed at the ship. He leaned on one of the children who…

Hard time in Port…      The last storm had done more damage than they had realized. Spacer and the people who had learned from parents or mentors worked for days to get as much equipment as possible working. The drinking water plant was not yet working so they were back to distilling water with the…