At the tiny port of Dirian a day later, there was exactly one merchant ship, its mast rising far higher than any structure on land. Out near the horizon were some other, larger ships with a design that was recognizably different even at that distance. Human ships, guessed Hyran; if he was right then the merchant ship would be safe....?
That was, if its captain would be willing to make the trip, and for free. The group could hardly pay for such risk with friendship bracelets.
They went to the ship first, the “Singing Sail”. Though he wasn’t familiar with ships at all, it impressed him. It had been built (not ‘sung, which surprised him; but then trees have to be alive to be ‘sung) of planks, with intricate carvings on the railings and front of the boat. Didn’t the front have a special name...?
After a few unsuccessful attemps at getting someone to appear on deck, they decided to go up to the town. The decks were actually busy, much busier than the other towns had been, which was surprising since the port itself was so empty. A slight majority of those on the deck were human, quite a few of whom were losing the contents of their stomachs over the railing. Flann laughed. “I’m hearing a lot of complaining about heights,” he said. “You can tell the lookouts apart from the crowd!”
The town had five pubs, which were about a third of the ‘business’ district. Hyran wasn’t sure he wanted to know what other services were provided in the other places. And very few of the group were overly willing to enter the pubs to find the captain. “Oh, come now, don’t tell me none of you have been in a pub before.”
“Well, sure,” said Valph, “but we’ve renounced that life now. It’s part of non-loving living. You yourself stopped visiting such places.”
“Sure, but it’s not the place that makes the loving stop, but the living, right? Besides, we’re on a mission! So, you three take the first one we saw, you three the next, and so on. Is that so hard?”
They shrugged their assent. Hyran would have given anything for a verbal response for a change. Sometimes he thought that these Exians followed too well. What had happened to the fire he’d seen when he first met them? He decided to ask Valph later. “We’ll meet back here at this spot. If you find him, send just one of your group to report and bring us to the right place. Now, go.” And they went, moving carefully, lovingly through an unappreciative crowd to their assigned pubs.
The fourth pub they found in town was a place its sign identified as “The Lion’s Barrel.” Or, perhaps “Keg” was a better word, since the Lion was shown pounding in a spigot. The smell of fermented grain tickled his nose as he and two others entered; the place was noisy with the sound of conversation, but it was only mid-afternoon, so there was no entertainment going on. No one paid them any attention as they walked over to the counter. A burly Vlin was tending it, but she didn’t seem nearly as rushed as some of the other employees. “What is it you want to know? Or, maybe you’re looking for something.”
“Are we that obvious?” Hyran said with a wry smile.
“Monks don’t come in for drinks, and neither do you Love freaks. Figure you want something else. But don’t ask me about a human. They all look the same to me.”
“We’re looking for the captain of the “Singing Sail.”
“Monkie, I haven’t seen an Vle captain in weeks. The humans have blockaded the harbor. Ships can leave, but not enter.”
“But the Singing Sail is Vle, isn’t it?”
“Sounds like an Vle name. Look, for all I know, the captain left her behind and went on another ship, or maybe he is still around. Either way, he ain’t been in here.”
“Well, thank you.”
“Sure. Come again when you can stick around and partake.”
“Perhaps so.” Hyran led his companions out onto the deck again. “Well, let’s see if anyone else has had any success.” The group was already reforming at the appointed spot. But Valph and a few others didn’t return. Finally, another of their group approached. “Found him, Hyran. He’s at the Thaleberry Bush.”
“Thank you. Lead on.” Leaving the others behind, Hyran followed the Vle to a relatively upscale pub. The façade was painted a brilliant blue, and inside most of the surfaces had been laminated. Flann and Valph stood at a table by the back wall, discussing- almost pleading, it appeared, with a mid-sized dark Vle with graying hair.
The captain rolled his eyes at Hyran’s approach. “Don’t even waste your breath, I’ve already said no. I swear, as nice as the Humans are, I wish they’d never given us their religion.”
“Captain,” said Hyran, “Are you a religious man?”
“I believe in the Great Master, yes. But my church is out there—” he pointed seaward— “on the Great Blue.”
“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Hyran, lately of the Kelwome monastery.”
“You were a monk? I thought the vows were for life.”
“Mostly. But I couldn’t live with the political non-interference edict. They kicked me out of my religion because of my mission: I am going to tell the King to reverse his Proclamation, and I need your help to do it.”
The captain raised his brows. “You don’t belong to this Exian cult then, do you?”
“No, we’re just traveling together. They hope to raise a movement against the Proclamation.”
“Pfft! Good luck! What makes you think you even have a chance?”
“Who cares about chances? We have to do what our hearts insist we do.”
“Lots of people live perfectly good lives without following their hearts. Why can’t you?”
“Are you one of those people?”
“No,” the captain admitted, “I’m one of the lucky ones.”
Hyran smiled. “We may call ourselves lucky later, but for the moment we’re just not going to give up. Do you want us to just steal your ship?
The captain exploded in laughter. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard! So, how many of you are there?”
“Seventeen.”
“I’m gonna need payment, or you’ll at least need to bring more than enough food for your whole group. It’ll be a two day trip.”
Hyran glanced at Valph, who nodded. “We can handle that.”
“Then you’ve got yourselves a deal. You’re now officially guests of Captain Jurik on the Singing Sail.” With that, he lightly punched Hyran’s shoulder.
Hyran was quick to respond likewise. Then, he smiled wryly. “So, do the sails actually sing?”
Jurik puffed up with pride. “If the winds are right, you’ll hear it for yourself, Hyran!”

The breeze was strong off the land, and the choppy water rocked the ship gently. The group of Exians and Hyran spread across the deck, trying to find good places to stand without getting in the way. The rope was untied from the dock, and the sails went up, going taut as they caught the wind. Hyran felt exhilarated, though he tried not to show it lest he seem too much like a treelubber. But the exhilaration won.
“Ah, ha ha! Let the wind fill your sails, you loveydoveys! It’s always great to get out to sea!”
Hyran smiled at the Captain and did as he was commanded with a deep breath of marine air. In three days their trek would begin again; in the meantime, they could relax.
Provided they could all keep their lunch down.