Three weeks earlier...

The weather had finally become mild enough that the first of the many trade ships that frequented the docks and harbors of Blackbridge had started to trickle into town. And for Glenn, it was not a moment too soon. It had been a week and a half since he had finalized the details of the sale of his elven and human furniture store and repair shop. He had to travel to the small forest village where the elves he purchased his furniture from resided, and convince them that the store's new owner, Glenn's best friend and store employee Thane Cleusk, was as trustworthy as he and the store's previous owners (Glenn's parents) were. Thane had given the elves his assurances that, as a friend of Glenn's, he would never betray the village's location or swindle the elves. They seemed to believe him, and the rest of the sale was a mere formality for the two.

He had been planning to leave ever since the new year arrived, and had been spending the past couple of months planning his departure. He eliminated inventory, sold the store and his parents' house, packed up the things he needed to take with him (mostly clothes and woodworking tools), gave family friends various knick-knacks and mementos of his parents that he had boxed up but was unwilling to throw out, and threw away or burnt the ones that no one wanted. He tried to plan further, but his thoughts never progressed beyond "Get as far away from Blackbridge as possible." And once the sale had been completed, the only thing Glenn could do was eat, drink, sleep, wait, and think. After a week and a half of this, he was starting to get antsy, to say the least.

***

A couple of hours before mid-day, Glenn decided to walk from his house, which was close to the eastern edge of town, over the docks to the west. Foot and carriage traffic was a bit heavier than usual, most likely a direct result of the increased ship traffic. There were swarthy sailors and dockworkers scattered throughout the city, delivering cargo to various homes and businesses. Noticing the increase in the number of sailors in town, Glenn decided to go to the docks.

He easily made his way past the gates that were set up to inspect cargo and travelers entering the city proper, walked past countless warehouses on his way to the docks. He tried to stay out of the way of the longshoremen unloading various types of cargo, and looked at the docked ships.

?You lookin' for somethin', m'boy?? Glenn turned to face the voice. He spotted a short, stooped man with a weathered face, large tri-cornered hat, and heavily weathered breeches and overcoat. Glenn bristled for a moment. Surely this man wasn't a pirate...

?Maybe,? he said, with a slightly acerbic tone. ?Are you a pirate?? The man guffawed, a laugh that seemed to roll up from his belly until it finally reached his mouth.

?Hell no, m'boy. Just an old cap'n waitin' while the rest of me crew unloads the cargo. That's me ship,? he turned and pointed at the large galleon behind him. ? 'The Blue Glory.' ? The ship appeared to mirror its captain; the wood looked old, faded, cracked, and even rotten in a few places.

?Looks like your ship could use some repair.?

?Hell's fire! It's not what's outside that counts. It's the guts. So what're you lookin' for??

?A way out of here,? Glenn said simply.

?Any place in mind??

?As far away from here as I can get.? The captain stroked his chin, thinking for a second.

?Well, if it's far away you want to go, go talk to the cap'n of that ship. The Mermaid's Kiss, 'e calls it.? The sailor pointed to the ship in the northernmost pier.

?Where're they headed??

?RhyDin, m'boy. Never been meself, but I hear it's a great place.?