Falling Ashes (13 page)

For a moment, I wasn’t sure if it had been him who had spoken so politely.

The young man fidgeted momentarily before glancing back over his shoulder, seeking reassurance from his fellow sailors, who nodded eagerly.

‘Erm, I don’t mean ter interrupt, Miss,’ he said in a strong Irish accent. ‘But, I, er, noticed that yer alone.’

I stared. Was this really happening?

He cleared his throat nervously. ‘I’m Dagon,’ he said, wincing slightly at his own name.

‘Dah-gon?’ I repeated, unsure.

He nodded. ‘It’s, erm, the name of a sea-god from the old religion.’ He didn’t seem quite adept at talking to women. He stuttered, and um’ed a lot. ‘Ma chose it. Anyway,’ he took a deep breath. ‘I was wonderin’ if I might buy yeh a drink? Maybe have a chat?’

Well, this was the last thing I had expected. I couldn’t help but stare, rather shocked. A small voice in my brain yelled:
Don’t trust anyone!
But it was only a drink … right? Jack wouldn’t mind if I talked to a sailor for a bit, would he?

‘Oh,’ I cleared my throat nervously. ‘Um, thank you.’ I was not versed in matters like these, and I didn’t know what to say or do. I indicated to the seat opposite myself, welcoming him to join me.

Dagon gave a nervous smile and sidled into the chair before waving down the barmaid, who hurried over with a smile on her face.

‘What’ll it be, Dagon?’ she asked with a toothy smile.

‘A pint for me, Mary, and for … shit, I didn’t ask yer name.’ Dagon suddenly looked horrified with himself.

This presented me with a dilemma. I wanted to tell this man my real name, because not only did he seem kind and harmless, but he was exceedingly handsome.

However, I was a wanted criminal, and revealing my name to complete strangers would not be a wise idea. So, I chose my middle-name instead.

‘Elizabeth,’ I lied quickly. ‘My name is Elizabeth.’

‘Well, Elizabeth,’ Dagon said, the smile returning to his face. ‘What’ll it be?’

‘Uh.’ I held up my empty wine glass. ‘Another?’

Mary the barmaid scuttled off to get our drinks, and Dagon turned back to me, wringing his hands nervously on the tabletop. We were both silent for several moments, neither of us knowing what to say. I had the sneaking suspicion that his fellow sailors had talked him into approaching me because they all seemed to be watching his progress, and snickering behind their hands.

‘Um. You’re a sailor,’ I observed. I cursed internally.
Idiot
.

‘Aye, fifth generation fisherman,’ he nodded, fiddling with the unused cutlery on his side of the table.

Mary the barmaid brought our drinks, and I grabbed my wine immediately so I had something to do with my hands. I sipped the dark red liquid, avoiding any eye contact with Dagon. I wasn’t sure why, but simply sitting near Dagon and drinking the wine gave me a guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach, as though I were being unfaithful to Jack.

‘So, erm, what’s a lass like you doin’ down here in Port?’

‘Travelling,’ I lied again.

‘Alone?’ Dagon asked with his brow furrowed. ‘Seems a bit dangerous fer a gal.’

I pursed my lips. Why were all men under the impression that I could not take care of myself? After all, some of the most Powerful Mages in history were women. I was annoyed, but decided to hold my tongue.

‘I’m the one others are afraid of running into,’ I said before sipping more wine.

‘Is that so?’ Dagon cocked an eyebrow and leaned forward, a slight smile playing across his lips.

I hadn’t intended on implying anything. ‘Uh, so how often do you go to sea?’ I changed the subject quickly.

‘Two weeks on the boat, four days off,’ he said. ‘We just got back this evening … I probably smell right awful.’

‘You don’t smell too bad,’ I said. ‘Salty, perhaps.’

Dagon pulled a face. ‘I usually spend the evenings at the bar here, with me Pa on days off. I live just round the way.’ He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

I nodded. It seemed this lodge was quite the attraction for sailors.

‘How long yeh here then? On’y I got a lotta spare time to kill over the next four days-’

‘Only one night,’ I said quickly. ‘I’ll be off in the morning.’

Dagon looked crestfallen. ‘Without even seein’ the town? I thought yeh was travellin’?’

‘Well … yes, but-’

‘I can show yeh ‘round if yeh like. There’s lots of things to do in town.’

I gulped more wine down to avoid answering the question. ‘Um, I don’t think so. I’m on a bit of a schedule.’

For all I knew, this little sea-side town had posters with my face on it. The only reason these sailors didn’t recognise me was because they’d only just come back from sea.

‘Schedule?’ Dagon asked. ‘Where yeh headin’ next?’

I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I cleared my throat. ‘Uh … I’m going north.’

‘Where to?’

Dagon’s persistence annoyed me slightly, but I knew he was just trying to be friendly.

‘Wherever the wind takes me,’ I said, passing my hand through the air between us to represent flying.

Dagon chuckled. ‘Doesn’t sound like much of a tight schedule to me. C’mon, Lass, stay just one more day? I’ll take yeh out fer a nice meal and all.’

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, contemplating the offer. Some company might be nice … I hadn’t had a proper conversation with someone friendly in days. Perhaps just one more night wouldn’t hurt.

I felt guilty as I wondered what Jack would think of this stranger who had approached me. But it wasn’t a date, right?
Dagon’s just being friendly
, I told myself. Even I knew it was a lie. I thought I should make myself clear.

‘Okay … you can show me around, I guess. I could use a friend.’

Dagon’s smile was ecstatic. ‘Great! What kind of food do yeh like? I know this great little seafood restaurant-’

‘Um … I don’t much like seafood,’ I admitted, which probably sounded strange to Dagon considering fishing was all he knew. ‘But just to be clear … it’s not a date. I’m not looking for … uh …
that
kind of company.’

Dagon looked slightly crestfallen, but picked himself up almost immediately. ‘Ah, never mind that, Lass. You might change yer mind by the end of it. I can be awfully persuasive.’

I couldn’t help but smile. ‘Didn’t I tell you? I’m the one other’s are afraid of running into.’

‘I reckon I could take yeh,’ Dagon grinned and gulped his mead. ‘What’s yeh Power then, Lass, if you don’t mind me askin’?’

I contemplated my options whilst Dagon wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve. What was the point in lying? I couldn’t fake having a different Power.

‘Fire,’ I said simply.

Dagon raised his eyebrows, seemingly impressed. ‘Well, I can see why yeh can look after yerself,’ he said. ‘Not many a man that would play with fire.’

‘What do you do?’ I asked. ‘Something to do with water, I assume?’

Dagon nodded. ‘Yeh, guess right. I’m a Water-Breather,’ he said.

‘I guess that makes us opposites then,’ I said.

‘Yeh know what they say?’ Dagon said, winking. ‘Opposites attract.’

I pursed my lips, amused and unimpressed at the same time.

‘So, can you actually breathe underwater?’ I asked.

‘I can hold me breath for long periods of time,’ he said. ‘But I do need air.’

‘What’s your record?’ I asked, taking another sip of wine. I was beginning to feel rather sluggish.

‘Forty-nine minutes,’ Dagon said, puffing out his chest impressively.

‘Wow,’ I said, genuinely amazed.

‘Yeah, me Pa is a Water-Breather, too. I can nearly hold me breath as long as him, but I gotta practice a bit more. His record is two hours and seven minutes. But he’s ancient, so I reckon I’ll catch up soon-’

‘Oi, I heard that, yeh bugger!’ the older gentleman called from across the room.

Dagon’s face went scarlet, and he smiled apologetically. ‘He’s a bit sensitive because he can’t hold his breath for as long as he used to,’ he whispered. ‘But I tell ya what, havin’ a Fire-Mage on board the boat would be mighty fine, I reckon.’

‘Why’s that?’ I asked.

‘It’s bloody freezin’ out at sea,’ Dagon said with wide eyes. ‘Yer fingers will fall off if yeh spend more than an hour on deck.’

‘I can imagine.’ I looked out of the dining room window, which overlooked the sea. It was dark outside now; all I could see was a lighthouse in the distance, but I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks.

‘I bet yer always warm,’ Dagon said in a softer voice. I turned back to him and saw that he was leaning closer, his arm stretched across the table as though he wanted to touch my hand. I took my hands off the table and put them in my lap.

‘All the time,’ I admitted. ‘It can be a problem.’

‘I wouldn’t be complainin’,’ he said, ‘if I had a warm Lass to be with at night.’

I sat back in my chair, disliking where this conversation was going.

‘Just to hold,’ Dagon added quickly.

‘Perhaps you’ll find one someday.’

Dagon seemed to sense my discomfort for he too withdrew and sat back in his chair, watching me.

‘Dagon, you ain’t botherin’ this poor girl, are yeh?’

Merl the Inn-Keeper had hobbled over to the table and smacked Dagon in the back of the head with his only hand. It was a playful gesture because Dagon laughed and ducked out of harm's way.

‘I’m just chattin’ is all,’ Dagon said, grinning.

‘Yeh watch out fer this one,’ Merl said to me, jerking his thumb in Dagon’s direction. ‘A real smooth one, he is.’

‘All right, Gramps. Off with yeh. Get behind the bar.’

‘Drinks on the house,’ said Merl before hobbling away.

‘Is Merl your grandfather?’ I asked once he was gone.

‘Aye,’ Dagon nodded. ‘Most people in Port are related one way or another, whether it’s blood or marriage. Makes it a bit hard to meet new people.’

‘Well, according to Merl, you’re a real ladies man,’ I teased.

Dagon scoffed. ‘He’s mental, Merl is. Doesn’t know what’s goin’ on most of the time. He’s always getting me confused with my brother, Cadmar, who left home a few years ago to get married.’

‘And how did he meet his wife?’

Dagon smirked. ‘He met her at this bar. She was just passin’ by fer a night or two. They got talking, and next thing yeh know, he up and left with her.’

I could see where this conversation was going, but luckily Merl arrived at that moment with a refill. He placed my third glass of wine in front of me, and gave Dagon his mead. I had to admit, I was enjoying Dagon’s company. He was handsome, and not judgemental of my Power.

I drank the wine rather quickly. I was tired and looking forward to going to bed to get a proper night's rest. Finally, after another ten minutes of harmless chatter, I announced my exhaustion.

‘Well … it’s getting late,’ I said checking the clock above the bar. ‘I should probably turn in soon.’

Dagon looked crestfallen. ‘It’s only nine o’clock,’ he said.

‘I’ve had a long day,’ I admitted.

‘Oh, all right.’ It was clear he’d hoped to make more progress with me.

I stood up from the table, and Dagon followed suit.

‘Well … goodnight,’ I said awkwardly. I went to step around Dagon, but he held up a hand.

‘I’ll walk yeh to yer room,’ he said at once, his expression eager.

‘Oh, you really don’t need to,’ I said, rather uncomfortable. As much as I enjoyed the attention, it made me feel guilty.

‘I insist,’ said Dagon.

I had no choice but to be escorted from the dining room with Dagon following me into the entrance hall. A few of the older sailors wolf-whistled as we left together, and Dagon gave them a rude gesture with his middle finger. I wasn’t sure how much he’d had to drink, but I’d seen him gulp down three pints during the time we’d talked.

Dagon followed me up the stairs, chatting merrily along the way. When we reached the door to my room, he lingered, rolling on the balls of his feet.

‘So, uh … goodnight,’ I said, pulling out my key and unlocking the door.

‘Goodnight, Elizabeth,’ he said. I’d almost forgotten that I’d given him a fake name. ‘I’ll see yeh tomorrow?’

‘Maybe.’ I wanted to hit the road after a good night's sleep. Staying in one place for too long could be dangerous.

Dagon eyed me beadily. ‘I’ll pick yeh up at nine o’clock tomorrow mornin’. No excuses.’

I made a mental note to be out of town before nine o’clock. Dagon would probably be mad at me, but it was for the best.

‘Right,’ I agreed, half-hearted. I felt bad that I would ditch such a friendly guy.

After saying our goodbyes, I entered my room alone to find a dripping-wet Hawthorne curled in front of the fireplace. I was glad Dagon hadn’t seen into my room - that would have raised more questions than I cared to answer.