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Zenith’s torment didn’t last. The captain skirted the heart of the storm and guided them to glassy waters. The ship ceased its swaying, and soon Zenith’s stomach followed suit. A breeze caressed his clammy face, and finally he felt well enough to lift his head.
A little before midnight, a rocky coastline appeared and they dropped anchor. In the distance Zenith saw several pinpoints of light dotting the steep cliffside. Apseez came up beside him and said, “That’s Bobbin. Beautiful city. Unfortunately we have to conduct our business there under cover of night.” There was a gentle, rhythmic disturbance in the water somewhere nearby. “But first, the Marquis.” She elbowed Zenith and straightened her kerchief. “Why’re you still in your protective suit? Make yourself presentable and come meet his eminence.”
Zenith held back, as Apseez joined the rest of the crew up at the stern. By lantern light, Zenith saw an exquisitely carved gondola glide out of the darkness. A squat shape swathed in burlap quickly hooked pulleys from the ship to the gondola’s two ends. Augur and Apseez hoisted the craft out of the water. As the gondola came level with the ship, another figure seated in its center rose and, with one elegant stride, boarded the larger vessel.
The Marquis de Seccato was a troll. The tallest, most spectacular troll Zenith had ever encountered. Each slender finger was adorned with a gemstone ring. He wore a silk shirt and sharkskin boots. As the lanternlight illuminated this outfit, it shimmered. A velvet hat sporting a peacock feather and a walking stick terminating in a skull knob completed his ensemble. But all this flash failed to distract from de Seccato’s physical decay. He moved with the vitality of youth, but his face was that of an ancient. His complexion was jaundiced, his cheeks were sunken.
The crew bowed in unison as the captain removed her hat and said, “Marquis, you honor us with your presence.”
The Marquis snapped bejeweled fingers, and his squat servant produced a golden box, opening it and offering its contents to its master. Inside the box, resting atop red velvet, there were two sets of teeth. The ones on the left were blunt, like molars. The ones on the right were jagged fangs. Much to Zenith’s relief, the troll selected the molars, opened his toothless mouth, and inserted them delicately. Speaking with a light lisp, the Marquis intoned, “Let us hope that you have something worthy of the journey, Captain.”
The captain wrung her hat. “Indeed, indeed.” Silence as a burst of wind swept through. The captain gestured to the nearby tanks, “After you, Marquis.”
Marquis de Seccato sauntered across the deck, pausing briefly at the first tank before perusing the rest of the ersatz aquarium.
The captain said, “As you can see we have—”
The Marquis raised his hand. “I am familiar with the denizens of the deep, as you are well aware, Captain.” Again, there was no sound but the rising wind and the far-off rumble of thunder. Then a loud crack as the Marquis struck the last tank with his cane. “No!” He brandished the staff at the captain. “Why do you waste my time with these uninspiring specimens?”
“W-w-well,” the captain said, “We also have a dentadactus below deck.”
The Marquis scoffed and gestured toward the fang-filled box his servant still displayed. “From where did I acquire my dining teeth, do you suppose?”
“Begging your pardon, Marquis,” said Mister Burrel, struggling to remain steady. “But the crew worked round the clock to capture these creatures.”
The troll waved him away. “Tell it to Bobbin’s back-alley fishmongers.” He strode back toward his gondola.
Crag circled his bowl and surfaced. “I told ya, didn’t I? If you’d let me fish around Orcus Gate I could’ve procured all manner of unique creatures for the Marquis to choose from.”
Augur spat on the deck. “All you’ve brought us is bad luck. Cursed us with that Firman imp!”
Marquis de Seccato spun around to face the crew. “Did you say ‘Firman?’ As in Terra Firmament?”
Thunder rumbled as all eyes turned to Zenith, who only now realized how close he’d crept to the others. The troll hobbled over to where Zenith stood and licked his forehead.
Zenith stumbled back. “Hey!”
The Marquis gazed at him, firelight dancing in his sunken eyes. “We’ll take him.” He sneered at Zenith’s diving suit and then walked away. “But discard whatever it is he’s encased in. I don’t eat shells.” |
