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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…