Yuri 40, 3rd Moon, 15th Sunday

I was fortunate to befriend Haggard, the tavernkeep in the fishing town of Hausson. Despite his gruff manner, his welcoming smile made me feel at home in the dimly lit tavern.

The journey here was highlighted by a wonderful boatride. I had just enough gold coins left over from purchasing my journal book in town to pay for the boat fare. It was late in the afternoon and according to the boatsman, I was his last ferry. He waited until I sat aft before settling in on the port side, paddles in hand.

"What brings you to Hausson at such a late time in the day, miss. Most of the other travelers come just after dawn to get first dibs on the early catches of the day. Some who come a bit later visit Min or Runag, but it is rare to find a traveler at this time."

I smiled, having to take a moment to decipher his heavy accent, which I attributed to the dialect of the region. "I am on a quest, actually. A vision quest in search of a truth." I then began to explain what I was set out to do.

He stopped rowing and simply scratched his stubbly chin, his head inclined to the side and his eyes squinting to combat the sun as it was descending. "Truth, eh? Well, for me, truths are from what happens around me."

I dipped my hand off the side of the boat, moving it in the water with cupped palm.

"You think you can get us to Hausson with just your hand as a paddle?"

I chuckled softly. "Perhaps, but that would be selfish of me to intrude upon your time. After all, you had said I was your last fare for the day.

He shifted in the boat, placing the paddles along one of the sides. He then retrieved what appeared to be canvas from the opposite side of the boat, unraveling it to reveal a crudely constructed pole and canvas sail, which he affixed to the middle of the boat. The lateral ends of the sail he then tied to the sides of the boat. Satisfied, he sat down once more.

"Truth is, we'll get to Hausson either way. The wind is behind our sail now, so no worries." A few moments passed and indeed the boat began moving easterly.

With time no longer a consideration and focus now on each other instead of propelling the boat to get to Hausson, we exchanged stories, mine from the circle and his about some interesting fares. So engrossed we became in our conversation that the strong lapping of the shallow waves nearing the shore alerted us to the fact that we had reached our destination.

I climbed out of the boat as soon as he anchored his boat upon a wooden dock. I thanked him for not only the ride, but the company and conversation.

"May the winds always be at your sail. Er, make that under your feet, unless you carry a sail around with you." He then tipped his hat and returned his attention to his boat, as I walked around in the direction of the tavern I had been given direction to.

"Winds under my feet." I smiled and opened the door to the tavern.