The Wizard and The Warrior

Chapter 2: Escape

ALIAH

Aliah popped her head above the top of the stairs. As luck would have it, apart from the first mate talking to the ship's boy there was no one else on deck. 'It's now or never.' She launched herself towards the gangplank, deciding at the last minute to throw away her previous plan and make a full break for it.

Running as fast as her legs would carry her Aliah dashed for the gangplank, and was halfway down it before an astonished Jenkins yelled, 'Hey. HEY! Stop her.'

Just at that very moment a sailor carrying a sack of flour over each shoulder stepped onto the thin plank right in front of Aliah. 'Stop!' yelled the first mate. The burly sailor hesitated for a moment, frowning, undecided whether to look after the sacks on his shoulder or grab her. Aliah took her chances, dodging left then right past the large man, and leaping the last few steps onto the wharf.

A second man was following his fellow crew mate. He reached out a hand, grabbed her cloak and threw her to the ground. He attempted to hold her down, but Aliah kicked out hitting his arm and rolled away. Scrabbling to her feet she faced the two sailors, who dropped their burdens and walked towards her. As she backed away she looked for something, anything, to help her. There was nothing. She drew her sword and swung at the arm of the man on the right. He was not quick enough to move away and the blade left an angry red s***h down his arm. He took a step back to examine the damage.

'You'll pay for that girl!' The other sailor growled as he went to grab her. Fortunately Aliah's training had been thorough and as he moved forward she swung back around and he had a s***h on his arm to match his friend's. Using her momentum she dodged through the gap between the two injured men and began running towards the warehouses at the far end of the harbour.

Earlier, when she stood on her bed and looked out the porthole to find out where they were as the ship entered the harbour, Aliah had seen the warehouses at the end of the docks. Beyond them, she could just make out the buildings of the main town spanning out behind. It was towards those warehouses she headed now, hoping to find an alleyway leading into the town where she might be able get herself lost in the crowds. Weaving in and out of the hustle and bustle of the docks she heard her captors cursing as they struggled to catch up to her.

Three other ships were in port, so there were plenty people working and milling around. Some were loading and unloading cargo, others were chatting to sailors, and there were a few passengers with their luggage waiting to be helped aboard. With so many people it was easy for Aliah to evade her pursuers. Ducking behind one of the carts Aliah found herself face to face with the first mate.

'Thought you could get away from me you little sneak thief?' Snarling, he made a grab for her. There was no room for her to use her sword, so she went limp as he grabbed her cloak. Believing he had the best of her, Jenkins pulled the girl in close. That was what she had been waiting for. With all her force she brought her knee up and Jenkins fell to the ground, his face a picture of pain. Unfortunately it did not cause him to loosen his grip on her cloak.

A shout from behind told her they had been spotted, so she quickly undid the bow at her throat and dropped the garment over the first mate. Sheathing her sword she took off again mingling in the crowd. When she was sure her pursuers could no longer see her, she slipped into a doorway of a warehouse and hunkered down behind what looked like - and certainly smelt like - bales of wool. It was as good as any place to hide until her captors tired of looking for her and returned to the ship to catch the turning tide.

What seemed like more than two candle marks later she could still hear sailors questioning people whether they had seen a boy in too large clothing, might even look a bit girl-like? But no, no one had seen anyone of that description. If the docks were not so busy they could have found her hiding place by following the noise of her rumbling stomach. If only she had taken the time to eat some of the midday meal that she had so casually crept passed earlier. Aliah stayed in her uncomfortable hiding spot trying not to notice how hungry she was and wondered how long it would be before she could actually leave.

Finally the sun started to set, and as the sky turned crimson, the docks quietened down. She crept from her hiding place, needing to move before the warehouse was locked for the night. Surely the ship would have left port by now and she would be safe to leave. Poking her head around the door she drew back quickly. The ship was still there. And what's more they had posted lookouts on the deck. She would be an easy target walking along the deserted docks.

'Yep, they still be looking for you lad.' Aliah swung round, coming face to face with a white bearded man sitting on a stool in the shadows on the other side of the door. 'They must want you something bad to miss the tide like that.'

Dumbfounded, Aliah just stared at the man with her mouth open.

'Paid your parents for you did they? And you decided the sea not the life for you I s'pect.' The man nodded wisely at her, and Aliah nodded in return, too scared to actually tell him the truth. 'Ah, well.' The man rose from his stool, putting down the rope he was mending. 'You ain't the first and I s'pect you won't be the last, and it were many a long year ago I did the same.' He stretched out his back, then reached up and closed the warehouse door, leaving Aliah in the dark.

'Well, I best be heading home now. Out THE BACK DOOR, which is always open. Don't s'pose I would even notice if anyone went through it afore me.' He picked up his stool and rope, heading for the lean too beside the door.

Astonished, it was a moment before Aliah took the hint and headed to the opposite end of the warehouse. Fortunately most of the stock appeared to be wool bales as she caught her shins on them more than once in the half-light as she headed towards the back door. At the other end she began looking for a latch. Finally her fingers found what seemed to be a handle. She grabbed hold of it and pushed the door out, nearly falling into the alleyway.

A quick look both ways showed her it was deserted. Without further hesitation she ran up the paved street in the opposite direction from the docks hoping she was heading into the centre of town. It was glorious to be free after being cooped up for so long in the cabin.