Second Wind-Chapter One

	I tried to post this to the list yesterday, but I've been having
e-mail problems at work.  Hopefully this time it should go through.
	For you reading pleasure, I'm offering up the PBeM campaign I've
been conducting for a few months now.  There is a total of seven chapters so
far and I'll be posting two chapters each week.  By the time number 7 is up
I should be done with chapter 8.  As always, comments are welcome!
	Oh, and the entire story is online at Static's site.  I'll include
the address at the end of each chapter for those of you who don't want to
wait a week for the next posts!

Goodbye, Waterdeep

       "So you're getting rid of me!"
        It wasn't a question. More of an accusation really. Kevved slouched
on the corner of the bed, glaring up at his father.
        Daul rubbed his forehead in exhaustion. This was turning out to be
more difficult than he thought.
        "It's for your own good, son," he started but Kevved cut him off.
        "You always say that! Every time I try to do anything you call in
the guard and it's always for my own good!"
        "It's not like that Kevv, really,"
        "Right. I feel like I'm a prisoner here. All you want me to do is
the learn the business. Whenever I show even an ounce of independence, there
you are reigning me back in."
        "This goes far beyond you Kevv,"
        Daul knelt down and placed his hand on his son's shoulder. Kevved
flinched but didn't pull away.
        "I just don't want you to throw your life away with parties and
silliness. If that's what your friends want to do, then fine. But I refuse
to stand by and watch you do the same. There are great things in store for
you, but Waterdeep can't give you what you need. And after what happened
last night, my mind's made up."
        "It was just a fight. I could have handled it." Kevved mumbled.
        "Do you really believe that? Kevv, that was a Northerner you were
trading punches with. He was bigger, stronger, and faster than you. The only
reason you're still alive is because Brother Halthet was nearby. Which means
that we are now indebted to Tymora. Again. And where were your friends?
Hmm?"
        Kevved mumbled something inaudible.
        "What?"
        "I said they ran away,"
        Daul thought for a moment.
        "Look, I'll make a deal with you. If you go with Jalat, when you
come back your life is yours. If you don't want the business, fine. I just
want you to have the kind of experience that you can't find here. And I
trust Jalat. He's my best friend."
        "You want me to be a sailor?"
        "Mmm, not quite. Do you remember when I took you to Neverwinter last
year?"
        "Yeah,"
        "At the mages' competition you told me that was what you wanted to
do more than anything?"
        Kevved looked up.
        "Yeah?"
        "Well, don't let your friend get in the way of what you most want,"
        "You're serious. This isn't some kind of a joke is it?"
        "It's no joke Kevv,"
        For the first time that day Kevved smiled.
        "I've got an apprenticeship. I'm an apprentice!"
        "Well, not for another week, but yes, you are,"
        "Wait," Kevved held up his hand, "I'm nineteen. That's too old to be
an apprentice,"
        "One of Jalat's crewmen prefers to teach a more mature student.
Doesn't much care for insolence. He'll be the one in charge of your
apprenticeship,"
        Kevved looked worried.
        "Jalat only picks the best men and women for his coster. You'll be
in good company. So do we have a deal?"
        "How long will I be away?"
        Daul Stytheson paused. "Five years," He grimaced, waiting for the
outburst. It never came.
        Kevved's smile grew even wider.
        "I'll start packing,"

	*	*	*

        Most of Kevved's friends were in that grey area between the lesser
nobility and the well-to-do middle class. While any one of them felt
privileged to be included in the frequent soirees of the upper crust, they
certainly were not above slumming with their less cultured companions, a
category which included Kevved.
        Nine days had passed, and with his father's grudging permission
Kevved was celebrating his incipient departure with a few of his more
civilized friends. They had gathered at the Silver Flagon over a platter of
roast boar and had whiled away the better part of the evening before Kevved
told them of his apprenticeship.
        Saldeen Everward leaned back in his chair and threw back his head in
laughter.
        "You've got to be kidding! That's so, so common!"
        The rest of Kevved's friends nodded in agreement.
        "What's so common about wanting to learn magic?" Kevved asked.
        "Well, you have to admit it's not one of those professions that'll
get you to the top of society,"
        Ailea Rowanhair broke in.
        "There is the Blackstaff,"
        "Thanks Ailea," said Kevved.
        "But," she continued, "he isn't exactly nobility,"
        "Thanks Ailea," smiled Saldeen.
        "You're missing the point. I've never wanted to join the nobility,"
This drew shocked gasps. Kevved continued. "Sure the parties may be exciting
and the politics intriguing, but there's more to life than that. Much more."

        "Name one thing," Carris Stormshroud had stopped picking at his
teeth long enough to lay down his challenge.
        "Magic, adventure, seeing new places. Elves. How's that?"
        "Politics has as much power as magic," countered Ailea.
        "And it holds as much thrill as any adventure," Saldeen added.
        "You should realize seeing new places is exactly what attending
parties is all about. Well that and catching up on gossip," finished Carris.

        "And elves?" pressed Kevved.
        Carris rolled his eyes.
        "Elves stink,"
        "You're thinking of dwarves," said Ailea.
        "Of course. How silly of me. Elves are the smug ones and dwarves are
the stinky ones,"
        "I get the feeling nothing I can say is going to convince you that
what I think is important could hold any sort of fascination with you
three," Kevved said morosely.
        Saldeen raised his flagon high.
        "Kevv, dear boy, you have just taken your first step into the upper
crust,"
        Kevved raised his mug in response. Ailea patted his hand.
        "Don't worry Kevv, I'm sure magic is a worthwhile pastime. We just
can't share your enthusiasm simply because it doesn't fit into our world,"
        "It's not in the nature of a climber to get bogged down by the
nature of reality," drawled Carris.
        "Besides," said Saldeen, "all magic is really good for is
icebreakers," He flexed two of his fingers quickly and waited.
        Ailea gasped, then blushed furiously. The rest of the table burst
into laughter. Saldeen ducked quickly as Ailea's goblet sailed through the
air and smashed against the wall behind him.
        "Another wine, barmaid!" Kevved called and settled back into his
chair. "I plan on using it for more than just a conversation starter,
Saldeen,"
        "Well, you can do what you want. I'll stick with what gets me by,"
        "So where are you three headed after here?" Kevved asked.
        Saldeen grinned.
        "Oh, we thought we'd wander on down to the Dock Ward and let Ailea
earn us some spending money,"
        Laughter erupted again as Saldeen ducked another wine goblet.

	*	*	*

        The sun had not yet risen when Daul, Kevved and two hired bodyguards
left Waterdeep headed east. Kevved and his father sat on the bench of one of
Daul's freight wagons, silently watching as the surrounding farmland rolled
past.
    There was a thin mist that clung to the low vegetation. Kevved watched
the wispy tendrils snake around the plant shoots and tried to control his
nervousness.
        "You anxious?" Daul asked.
        "Yes. I'm not sure what to expect,"
        "It'll go easier than you think,"
        They rode in silence a little longer. Finally Kevved spoke.
        "What's space really like?"
        Daul thought for a moment.
        "It's like sailing through constant night, except the sun is always
shining somewhere in the sky. It never sets. There are places you really
have to see to believe. I've been to worlds that defy description. I've set
foot on hundreds of shores, each one unique, and every time I close my eyes
I can see every one of them,"
        "You miss it, don't you?"
        "Yes. Yes I do. I made my decision to settle here though, and if I
left I'd miss Waterdeep even more,"
        "Why?"
        "Because after traveling for so long and for so far I finally
decided this was where I wanted to raise my family. It's now home to me,"
        "Oh,"
        Daul pointed to a small copse of trees about half a mile ahead.
        "That's where we're headed. Jalat sent a transport for you late last
night but we decided to wait until this morning so you could get a decent
night's sleep,"
        "Not that it did any good," mumbled Kevved.
        "Well, just remember to smile when you meet everyone,"
        Daul slapped the reins down and the horses picked up their trot.

	*	*	*

        Ten minutes later they had arrived at the tiny grove. Kevved climbed
down from his seat and stared at the craft that lay half-hidden beneath a
green blanket of dyed netting. On the ground sat a man, slightly older than
Kevved's father. He rose to his feet and folded his arms as Daul and his
bodyguards dismounted.
        "Daul, good to see you again,"
        "Well met, Torosa. Kevv, this is another old friend of mine. Torosa,
this is your newest crewmember, my son, Kevved,"
        Torosa smiled at Kevved. A genuine smile.
        "Glad to finally meet you Kevved. Everyone's expecting you up
topside. You got any baggage?"
        "One chest,"
        "Good. Cargo space is tight right now, so the less you've got, the
better. You should say your good-byes quickly, the timetable's running
short,"
        Torosa turned and began pulling down the netting. From beneath the
covering emerged the rest of the transport.
    Atop two large pontoon-like extensions rested a large rectangular
structure, flat at one end, angled at the other. Set into the side facing
Kevved was a hinged door, open now, and beyond that could barely be seen a
large, ornate throne. The whole thing was constructed from ironwood, banded
with steel, and bore a crest Kevved had never seen before but he suspected
was the sign of Jalat's trading company. He turned back to the wagon to
retrieve his travel chest as Torosa began to roll up the camouflage netting.

        Within minutes they were ready to go. Daul kept his goodbye short.
He handed his son a slip of paper, folded in half.
        "Don't read this until after I've gone,"
        He pulled his son close.
        "Make me proud Kevv,"
        "I'll try, father,"
        Kevved walked to the craft, paused at the doorway to give one final
wave, and stepped inside.
        It was a clean interior and not at all what Kevved expected. Except
for the throne he had seen, the only other places to sit were two narrow
benches that ran along the sides. More netting hung from the ceiling, tacked
up here and there to keep it from bulging down too low. There was a chain
and pulley system to the rear of the transport, presumably to operate a
cargo door. Kevved had seen the same system before at his father's
warehouses. His chest lay near the bench opposite where he stood and beside
that was a small metal pail. Torosa stepped past him and motioned to the
bench Kevved was looking at.
        "Have a seat. We're taking off,"
        Torosa latched and bolted the door as Kevved sat down next to his
chest. Directly in front of the throne a large window had been cut out,
allowing light to stream in.
        "The bucket is for you. Most people get sick their first time
offworld,"
        Torosa lowered himself onto the throne. Immediately Kevved felt a
vibration coming from the floorboards, faint but still noticeable. There was
a tug. Outside he saw the tree trunks in the grove begin to sink, then the
leaves flashed by, then there was nothing but blue.
        "If you want you can come up here and take a look. Bring your
bucket, just in case,"
        Kevved rose, grabbed the bucket, and pitched forward. The floor had
suddenly swayed beneath his feet.
        "What was that?"
        Torosa looked up at him from his seat.
        "Wind. Use the netting to keep your balance,"
        With his bucket in one hand, the other hand holding him up, Kevved
peered through the window. A wave of nausea washed over him but he managed
to keep his breakfast down. He turned away.
        "How much higher will we be going?"
        "We're only up three hundred feet. We've got another five miles to
go. Should take us about ten minutes,"
        Kevved threw up.



The Second Wind chapters can be found at:
http://www.gwr.com/~eshum/rpg/sj/tales/SecondWind/SecondWind.html