Chronicles of Aurderia: The Balance by J. Steven Young Read Free Book Online Page A

to greet the newly arrived wagon.  
    “Aknard by friend. How goes business since last I left?” Codger inquired in an overly friendly tone.  
    “Been lot’s of folk arrivin’ lookin’ for passage. Seems times are gettin’ desperate in New Draven and the area, for folks to brave this cured place,” Aknard answered with question in both his tone and face.  
    Aknard is a dwarf, full blooded; once a prominent member of a leading clan in the Orenthal Mountains. The details of why he chose to leave the mountains and live among the humans he does not share.  
    “Turmoil has come upon Aurderia my friend. Has news of the breaking of Lalli Mah not reached you?” Codger asked.  
    “Oh it has, but is just now confirmed. How bad is it?” He asked Codger.  
    “It is just beginning, but let us talk more in privy while my friends here get settled on my vessel,” Codger said while tossing a bag of coin to a nearby shore-man and motioned for Moona and the others to head to the boat.  
    Moona gave a sizable portion of her coin to some of the shore-men to provision the ship with enough food for a full cycle of travel.
    Aknard sat behind his desk and motioned for Old Codger to take the seat across from him. “Codge, you know I have no love for the Order but they pay well for information,” Aknard stated making his point clear. “Why just days ago a man, or something masquerading as one, come ‘round asking about an old woman traveling with a younger one carrying a new sprat,” Aknard implied his suspicions.  
    “That be my Moony with me and our young charges, both too old to be a new sprat!” Codger toned with mild irritation.  
    “Let’s not mince here Codge. We have been friends for a long time, but I got a business to run here.”  
    What do you want you pirate!” Codger demanded.  
    “I had me a look see at your fine vessel while you were gone,” Aknard smirked. “No I don’ be wantin’ your boat friend, just the plans and purpose of the odd gear works you have workin’ it.”  
    After what seemed like many minutes Codger cast his eyes down and replied. “Come aboard with me and you’ll have what you asked for,” Aknard smiled broadly.
    Codger’s boat was a decent sized vessel. The outward appearance was that of any normal passenger and cargo ship. What was special about this ship was in how it operated.  
    Already onboard, Moona and Mally walked about the ship in curiosity wondering what they were looking at. They found themselves in the pilot deck staring at a vast array of levers, gears and wheels all made of a heavy but light metal alloy. They were still there when Codger arrived with Aknard following closely behind.  
    “Ah, good you are here. That keeps me from having to explain all this twice,” Codger stated.  
    “I see you been busy with your tinkerin’ while I been gone Codge,” Moona remarked.  
    “This,” Codger said gesturing to the pilot controls, “is a design based on ancient writings and diagrams I discovered some time ago. It is a working or gears and pulleys that power a paddle system.” Codger went on to describe how all the workings fit together and both moved and steered the vessel at different speeds. The fuel source was a furnace that used heated water vapors to drive the entire system. As he described everything, Aknard and the others could not help but stare in astonishment at this marvel of creation.
    “Where on Ersetu did you find the design for such a wonder?” Aknard asked knowingly. “Not even the most skilled of dwarves could have even dreamed of such a thing!”  
    “Where I found it is of no consequence,” Codger quickly answered. Codger reached below a panel of gears and from within a hidden chamber produced a rolled parchment. He handed the parchment to Aknard. “Here is all you need to reproduce what I have done here.” Reluctantly, Codger handed over his drawings over to Aknard who took them gladly and left the ship.  
    The Shore-men