Ratchet's sigh turns into a cough. The fight seems to go out of him and he lies back on the deck staring at the darkening sky.
"They may not have much time. A day ... maybe two at the most ..."
As the ship sails into Port Bean you can see that the dock is almost completely abandoned.
Apart from a few stray cats fighting over a fish head and a pair of fishermen hauling nets onto a small fishing vessel the ample dock seems completely abandoned as the Dolphin sails in to its mooring. You can tell there would be space enough for at least twenty boats as large if not larger than the Dolphin at any one time. The large warehouses built in the nearby surrounds and the well built road that passes through them indicate that the dock has once been a place of heavy trade.
The door of a two storied wooden building near the road opens allowing the light from inside to spill out for a moment as a group of five or six figures emerge from within and begin to head your way as you prepare to disembark. It takes them only a few moments to reach the dock and though the light is quickly fading you can see they are all weather beaten and hardy men, most of them human. One raises his hand in salute before calling out:
"Need any help unloading? For a few coin you can buy some strong arms?"
One of the other men whacks him lightly on the chest. "Look Bill, she's been in a scrap, for sure. Look at her, all broke up."
'Bill' whistles as he takes a proper look at the Dolphin. "You not wrong, Caff, you're not wrong. We can help you with that in the morning as well if you like. That's skilled labour though. That'll cost a few more coin!"
Captain Peg makes his way to the edge of the boat and peers over at the men.
"Ahoy there. Aye, we can use some spare hands. Lost three good men on this crossing. But me only cargo are a few folk on there way to Crystalbrook. They can unload themselves, I think. If you want work, we begin now. Go get your tools ... and torches. We'll be working through the night. I'll double your pay if she's fit to leave by midday tomorrow."
The men say no more, spurred into action by the Captain's offer of work and the promise of double pay if they can finish it quickly.
Captain Peg turns to the group. "I'd say it has been a pleasure, ladies and gentlemen but my girl is too badly beaten up for that to be anything but a lie. You fought like salty sea dogs that's for sure. I'll speak to my grandchildren about this day and how proud I am to have known you. You see that building the dockworkers came out of? That's where you'll want to rest your head tonight. "The Smokey Bean", they call her. There's a lass in there, a fine strapping woman named Olga. Tell her Peg sent you on business for the Count. That'll take care of food and lodgings and get your horses tomorrow to Crystalbrook. Tell her Young Peg said to give you one of his private stock. Make sure you say Young Peg. Oh ... and wink ... and knock on your leg as if it was wood ..."
Peg chuckles at his own words.
"She'll like that, will Olga."
His first mate Bilge leans over and whispers something in his ear to which Peg nods. "That's true. I might be dead if it wasn't for you all. All right, tell her Peg said to take one each. She might not believe you. If you tell her the story of our crossing and say I'm out here fixing up my girl ... well, she might believe ye then."
Captain Peg looks a little choked up.
"Go on. Get on with ye all. Only work to do here, and the gods know you've done more than enough for one day. And don't worry about the Masons here. I'll send someone for a doctor and we'll take 'em home with us tomorrow. The Count looks after his own."
After some back slapping, hugging, cheering and the outburst of a spontaneous sea shanty in your honour you are now free to make your way towards 'The Smokey Bean".