Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith

"No, Irwin isn't able to talk to you," Balarn said calmly. Monique stood before him, hands on her hips and her eyes spitting fire.

"So it's true? He left?" she snapped, glaring at him.

Balarn was taken aback by her reaction. He had hoped to keep Irwin's absence a secret longer, but Monique had somehow figured it out. He didn't know how, but he could tell she wasn't just guessing.

"Yes. He has a mission that was too important to wait and won't be back for a long time," Balarn said, wondering if it had been Gawarn or Ichela who spoke out of line.

They were technically the only ones who knew. Well, they and Lamia, but Lamia barely spoke to anyone except for his brother. She'd been surprisingly calm when he had told her Irwin had left, but ever since that day, all she had been doing was practicing her smithing. Irwin had left her a stack of cards that made even him jealous, making her the only Smith who could still practice daily.

"Where did they go?" Monique asked.

"I can't tell you that," Balarn said as he crossed his arms and frowned at her. He had an inkling of what was going on, but even then, he was surprised by her reaction. "Is something wrong?" he asked, deciding to act dumb.

Monique stomped her feet, glaring at him again. "You know full well what position my family is in," she snapped. "There aren't enough cards or reforging missions for me to earn the money we need, and the cards I've brought back from Scour won't last us for a year! Without the income I generate, my family cannot remain here, and we'd have to use the money to return to the main family and beg for a place to stay!"

"You aren't the only ones," Balarn said, feeling for her, but no more than he did for the many other smiths who had been getting into trouble due to the Smith Guild's handling of the current situation.

"Ever since the high-ranked smiths have left, the influx of new cards has nearly dried up. Many smithing families are under pressure because of this. It's why Nimdal and his family went back to their own main family," he said, trying to be as convincing as possible.

Monique gritted her teeth, visibly reigning herself in. Balarn was glad that nobody else was there and that they were in the soundproof area because she looked ready to explode.

"I know everyone is having problems, but I can't help everyone," Monique said, gnashing her teeth for a moment before continuing." Irwin can make it so that my family doesn't have to go through the same. He is an official emerald rank smith, so his joining will lower the taxes we have to pay! The others don't have that option, but we do!"

"You mean, if he joined your family as a subordinate smith," Balarn said, shaking his head. Had she not been paying attention? She knew how much Irwin valued his freedom. "There is no way he would-"

"You don't know that," Monique snapped, interrupting him. "He wants to save his people, and my family's estate is massive. We have plenty of room! If we let him use some to house his people, he might agree! It's not like it would be forever! Thirty years would give my cousins time to grow up and start earning an income. It would also give Irwin time to earn his own place! Now he is going out on a wild goose chase to find what? An uninhabited, livable planet? You, of all people, should know how impossible that is!"

Balarn looked at her calmly, feeling a twinge of pain. He suppressed the old sadness, wondering who had told her that and how she had learned so much about Irwin. He knew a lot about Irwin, but Irwin had been unwilling to talk about many details of his past, and Greldo even more so. Monique must have listened in at some point, or there was no way she could know all of this.

"He wants to save all of his people, not just a few hundred," Balarn said calmly. "And I would suggest you don't spread this information. If he finds out, he might never talk to you again."

Monique looked like she was ready to snap, then took a deep breath. Balarn saw her attitude turn glacial, and he felt his worry grow.

"When will Tensor return?" Monique asked curtly.

Balarn's mood soured instantly.

"They have been brought to the nearest main branch of the Smith's Guild and won't be allowed to return until the abductions have been taken care of," he said, annoyed that he had to share another bit of information he'd been able to keep quiet. Keeping his face passive, he feared what Monique was going to say.

"Then you leave me no choice. Tell me where Irwin has gone," Monique said coolly.

Balarn heard the implicit or else, but he shook his head. "I don't know where he went," he lied, hoping he was wrong. If he could, he would guard Irwin's secret, especially because he likely wasn't supposed to know the details. Irwin hadn't explicitly told him where he would go, but he had figured it out easily enough. There was only a single ship leaving, and there was only one destination where Irwin could find what he was looking for.

Still... how did she figure this out? he thought as he tried to stare at Monique calmly.

"If you don't, I'll be leaving Tensor's charter," Monique said. "With Nimdal and Syndal gone, and Tensor and Irwin off-world, if I leave, Tensor's smithy will have only two Topaz-ranked smiths on-world. It will lose its official charter status, which means you must vacate this building."

Balarn looked at her, trying hard to keep his anger at bay. He wished she was wrong, but she wasn't. Although it wasn't enforced much, a charter needed a minimum amount of smiths of Topaz or higher rank on the world of their charter to be deemed viable. It was some ancient rule from long ago that nobody recalled the reason for, but it was there nonetheless.

"If you do this, you won't find another charter here that will take you in," he said, trying to keep his anger in control.

"If I don't do this, my family will have to abandon Fiverio and three generations of hard work," Monique snapped. "We will be forced to return to Suderfuix, and I'll have to work as a low-rank smith working on low cards, losing any chance to become Emerald. It wouldn't matter if no charter would take me in! So, unless you have another way to help me, I see no other choice!"

She almost screamed the final part, and Balarn saw the simmering anger and fear in her eyes. Something about it caused his rage to dissipate.

"If you do this, all of the others will lose everything," he said, feeling sad.

Monique's jaw tensed, and her voice rose again. "Don't blame that on me! None of that has to happen if you just tell me where he is! Don't make it out as if I'll be harming him!"

"Why didn't you talk with Irwin about this before we arrived?" Balarn asked, shaking his head.

"He wouldn't even talk with me for more than a few moments," Monique said, her fingers turning white around her biceps. "I thought that with Scintilla gone, perhaps he'd be interested in talking with me, but… It's like he didn't even see me!"

Balarn vaguely recalled how she'd been hovering around Irwin and how uncomfortable the young Smith had seemed. Then he shoved the thoughts away. It was obvious now that she wasn't playing around. So, what should he do? If he told her where Irwin went, that meant she would probably go after him, causing potential issues for Irwin… but if he didn't tell her, Tensor's charter would be disbanded, and the smiths that were here now would all have no more place to go. Right now, he was using what remained of the soulshards that Tensor left him to keep everyone afloat, but he was only allowed to use those because he was the temporary charter leader. If the charter was disbanded, the money would be out of his control, and Tomeron Grinwon would come knocking. If the Smiths couldn't pay him, they would either have to leave Fiverio or accept horrible contracts for the Grinwon Trade Federation.

He stared at the ground, recalling all the effort he'd gone through to get Irwin out without anyone finding it out. Irwin had saved him and Yogog and helped so many people. Was he really willing to endanger the young Smith's wellbeing?

"If you tell me, I won't tell anyone else," Monique said, seeming to sense he was hesitating.

Balarn looked up to see her stare at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

"I'll just go after him and try to help him where possible. His mission probably has something to do with finding a world, and it's bound to fail. So perhaps my family's offer will help in the end!"

Balarn hesitated, then sighed.

Sorry, Irwin, he thought as he pulled out the charter's crystal plate and tapped it.

"Create a contract. I will tell Monique Egoriun what she wishes to know, and in exchange, she will remain a part of Tensor's Charter. She will also keep anything I tell her to herself and not share this with anyone," he said while staring at Monique. He didn't add anything about who it was about in the hopes that nobody else would figure things out.

Monique nodded at him, a look of relief flooding her face.

"Contract created. Monique Egoriun, do you accept the proposed contract?" an emotionless voice asked.

"I accept!"

Balarn sighed again as he stared at her. "He is going to Sesnanser."

---

Irwin looked at the harbor that was getting ever closer and turned to Greldo and Daubutim.

"I think we should get our stuff. Also, after we arrive, we need to devise a way to guard the ship without having to stay and guard it."

Irwin was surprised to see Daubutim's eyes glazed over.

"Yes, and we should give it a name if we end up keeping it. Calling it the ship is going to get confusing," Greldo said.

Irwin saw Daubutim's eyes blinking, and he knew his friend was working through something. He had no idea what, but he did know that he'd been skirting the edges of his disability for a while. Whatever it was, he should be alright soon.

"We can do that after we find out if we can repair it," he said as he walked towards the door. "Let's get our stuff and get ready."

They returned to the deck with their small backpacks a few minutes later. All the remaining merchants were gathered there, each with multiple bags, which Irwin knew they couldn't lift by themselves.

I wonder how they will bring all of that, he thought.

He barely felt his own pack, which wasn't surprising as it only contained some traveling ration and the remains of his armor. He was hoping that he could find someone to replace the front. If not, perhaps it could still be salvaged for materials.

The ship was already flying into the harbor, towards one of the few free anchor spots remaining. A small group of guards were waiting on the rugged, gray wooden dock. As the Zira'ix knocked against the dock, ropes were thrown toward wooden poles, and crewmen jumped off to bind them in place.

"Leader Irwin, I wish to thank you again for saving my ship."

Irwin turned to see Captain Xi'kroak standing behind him, arms crossed.

It's not like I could have gotten away otherwise, Irwin thought, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

"You're welcome," he said.

Xi'kroak stared at him for a few moments before nodding. "I will sell the worst of the two ships and keep the best for you. One of my crewmen will guard it for you until you return, though please don't make him wait too long."

Did he overhear us earlier? Irwin thought.

"Thank you," he said, slightly surprised at the offer.

He had little knowledge about the ships, but even he knew that the first ship they had found looked older and more damaged than the others. That likely meant that the other two were worth more, and Xi'kroak would lose some soulshards by doing this.

"There is no need to thank me. I wouldn't have offered this if not for the following bad news," Xi'kroak said with a weary sigh.

Irwin felt his hackles rise as he watched the captain.

"A message has arrived. I will not be allowed to leave the harbor until I have spoken with all of the Xi'daran, the leaders of The Daran. Sadly, months or longer may pass before they have arrived."

A weariness radiated from Xi'kroak, and Irwin saw him look side-eyed at his crewmen before continuing.

"So, I won't be able to bring you to The Roaming Shipyard. I hope you can forgive me."

Xi'kroak bowed his head, and Irwin felt uncomfortable at the sudden behavior.

"It's alright," he said.

Although he said that, he did grow slightly worried. What if they couldn't find a sail? That would mean he'd have to find another ship to bring them to the Roaming Shipyard. Would someone even be willing to take them?

Daubutim stepped beside him, head close to his ear.

"Ask him if he can help with the sail," Daubutim whispered.

Irwin saw Xi'kroak glance at Daubutim but remained silent. He showed no indication of answering the question, although Irwin was sure he'd heard it.

Stupid pretenses, Irwin thought.

"Can you help us find a sail?" he asked.

"Perhaps, but you would still have to pay for it yourself. I will see what I can do," Xi'kroak said. "Now. I'm afraid I'll have to leave."

Irwin saw him stare at the group of Da'xi on the docks, staring at Xi'kroak. Like Xi'kroak himself, interlocking blue plates covered their faces, but unlike Xi'kroak, they had bright blue eyes showing they were not heart-carded. If they were soul-carded, Irwin didn't know.

"May we meet again during better times," Xi'kroak said as he turned and walked away.

As he left, Irwin heard him speak in his odd language to his crew. They tapped the plates on their faces in response, and Irwin had the feeling it was either a farewell or good luck message. When Xi'kroak reached the waiting guards, two flanked him, and he was led away. None remained behind, and within a few moments, the docks were empty again.

I guess they didn't send a welcome for us, Irwin thought.

"Let's go and find a place to stay," he said, turning to the others, only to find Merchant Dondast staring at him intently. The gray-haired woman stood behind him, wringing her hands.

Now what…

"Dondast," Irwin said, wondering what the merchant wanted. Was he here because of his group's massive losses while he had hired Irwin to protect him? Irwin felt his stomach clench.

Dondast shuffled his feet but continued staring at him before finally speaking up.

"Leader Irwin, as you surely recall, you were to guard us during our travels to Sesnanser. Sadly…” Dondast's voice cracked, and he coughed before continuing. "Sadly, we encountered greater trouble than anyone could have expected. I don't blame you. However, I am afraid I can't pay you either. Technically, you have failed, and I will need every soulshard that I have to try and keep my Merchant group afloat."

Dondast sighed, staring at the ground.

Irwin felt relief, but he held back an immediate acceptance, even though he wanted to. He felt partially responsible for not keeping the others safe, and not just Dondast. The last few evenings, he'd wondered what he could have done better to prevent what had happened. Stil, as much as it pained him, he still had pretenses to keep up. He was supposed to be an explorers and mercenaries group, and those weren't known to have too many soulshards.

After a few moments, he nodded.

"I understand, and I'm sorry for all of your losses," he said, meaning it.

Dondast visibly relaxed, his shoulders lowering as he sighed. "Thank you for understanding," he said. "If you find me in a few years, I will have some missions for you. But for now, I need to rebuild."

"I understand," Irwin said. "We will manage."

Dondast bowed, then turned and raised his hands to the side. Three blue disks of glowing light appeared an inch from the ground, and he and the gray-haired merchant began pushing the many bags on them.

Irwin watched in amazement as they finished, and the disks rose. They showed no trouble lifting the weight and followed Dondast, floating a seemingly set distance away from him.

"That's one useful card," Greldo muttered.

“Yes,” Daubutim said.

Irwin looked up, glad to see Daubutim back to normal. He shoved his sadness at the dead merchants away.

"Do you know where we should go?" he asked.

"Yes. We need provisions, information on the Roaming Shipyard, and preferably a knowledgeable crew for our ship. All of those can be found on the trade level."

Irwin couldn't help but smile ruefully at the knowledge Daubutim showcased so quickly. "Any place you know that might have sails?"

"No. According to the books, there are none here," Daubutim said.

"Too bad, let's deal with that later then," Irwin said. "Let's go."

--

A short while later, they stood at the edge of Sesnanser's port. It was a thriving, though dirty and moldy place. Nearly everything was created from different types of wood, with only a small amount of metal around. White mold and tiny mushrooms grew in the shadowy places while some walls glistened wetly.

I wonder if there are any smiths here or in the world beyond the portal, Irwin thought.

Daubutim took the lead, walking ahead as if he'd been here many times before. The further they made their way into the port, the more Irwin realized it was far more like a town than any of the places he'd been to before. There were people carrying bags and crates around while carded craftsmen were busy repairing buildings. A few groups were quietly chatting as they looked around, drinking from crooked-finger-shaped flasks.

"This reminds me of Giard," Greldo whispered.

Irwin looked around at the filth, the hardworking people, and the sense of general business. He could see why Greldo would say that. It did look like the poor parts of Malorin where they had grown up.

"Yeah," he muttered. "It's also pretty different from Fiverio's port. That just had that big inn and the building surrounding the portal."

"The smaller and poorer the world, the more bustling the ports are," Daubutim said. "Only the true Portal Gallery cities are bigger, and those only appear around level five and higher worlds. From what I've read, it doesn't seem worth guarding such a large area otherwise. The chances of a mass of Addled attacking is far too real."

Irwin hoped there wouldn't be an attack on Sesnanser or any harbor or port while he was there.

Soon, they had to stop talking as the chatter of the surrounding people began too much to have a quiet conversation. Because they had to climb multiple levels, reaching the trade area took a while, but eventually, they reached a small, bustling district filled with haphazardly placed buildings, tiny alleyways, and more filth than Irwin had seen.

Following Daubutim through a narrow path, they came out on a square with hundreds of people moving between shops and the tightly packed stalls of an open-air market.

"Hello, sirs! If you are new, I have a map of the area and can provide you with information for less cost than anyone!"

Irwin looked around, then down. A young, slightly malnourished boy stood in front of them. For an instant, he thought he was back in Giard, watching one of the many young beggars. Then he noticed the boy's spiky purple hair, his fully carded left hand, and the single card on his right. The tattoo-like images were so poorly visible that he knew they were amethyst at best, perhaps just quartz, but even then, it was more than any beggar on Giard could ever hope to gain.

The boy's eyes were bright but slightly too wide, and the pupils seemed almost squarish. Something about him, perhaps his sunken cheeks or the dirty stains on his face, made Irwin think of himself long ago.

"Can you show us to the places that could potentially sell us sails or have the ability to fix overloaded ones?" Irwin asked.

The boys' eyes brightened even more, almost seeming to light up from within.

"I can! It's a good thing you found me because barely anyone could have helped you with this! For a measly two soulshards I'll guide you to all the places you can buy used sails. I even know of someone that's been rumored to know how to repair them."

Irwin's lips curled up, and he raised an eyebrow. He heard Greldo laugh next to him, but he didn't walk away.

"Two soulshards?" he said. "How about I give you one after you show me around?"

"Deal!" the boy said instantly, nodding so fervently that his spiky hair flashed in the dim light. "Where to first? The repair man or used sails?"

Irwin looked at Daubutim, who was frowning.

"Used sails," Irwin said.

"This way," the boy said as he walked ahead. He led them to a large shop on the other side of the square, which took them perhaps ten seconds.

"They have sails," the boy said as he pointed at the door that had a sign showing a hammer and a nail.

Greldo barked a laugh while Irwin sighed.

"Just so I know, but how far away are the other shops?" Irwin asked as he looked at the boy, raising an eyebrow.

"There's a smaller place, four buildings that way. It has sails, but those are worse, and I'd try here first," the boy said, not showing the slightest shame.

Barely anyone could have helped you with this. Seriously? Irwin thought as he raised an eyebrow.

The boy showed no reaction to his stare, and Greldo laughed even louder.

Irwin ignored him and shook his head.

So far for doing something good for someone in need, he thought.