I watched them depart and then said, “I’m going down to see if I can help with some of our-”

  My thoughts were interrupted as one of the Irregulars, Copper, ran into the shoppe, her long red ponytails trailing behind her.

  “Patron!” She nearly shouted when she saw me. “A giant squid is in the harbor!”

  “Is it attacking ships?” I asked, concerned as I walked past her and toward the front door.

  “No! It is asking to meet with you!”

  Now, I don’t know what anyone in those circumstances expected to hear. Or how someone else would react. Certainly, a giant squid in the harbor was a justifiable concern, especially with the ships getting prepared to take our forced refugees to a safer location. But being told that a giant sea monster wants a sit-down chat would not have made my top ten list. But being the professional that I was, I immediately asked for clarification.

  “Huh? What?” I said, confused. I stopped and turned back to face Copper. “Did you just say that the sea monster wants to talk with me?”

  Her face was still tight in panic; otherwise, I would have suspected a prank. “Yes, Patron! The harbormaster sent me here to get you as fast as I could run!”

  I blinked a couple of times. “How did it even talk?” I asked, motioning to Biff, who had emerged from the map room in the hope he would get the guard together. But it was something he had already begun to do on his own, having heard Copper’s shout.

  She looked at me and at Bella, who was standing next to me. And then she just shrugged. “It just sort of thought its words to us. It was so loud and scary. I fell to the ground. I think nearly everyone on the docks did, too.”

  “But how did you know it wanted to talk with me?” I asked her.

  She looked at me as if I were slow. “You killed Old Sergeant. It asked for the one who had slain the beast that terrorized its young.”

  “Well, that’s a good sign, at least,” Biff said as he walked up to where we were standing by the fountain. “We’re ready for you.” He added.

  I looked at Bella. “Any advice?”

  “I suggest you hurry.” She said.

  “Ok, Biff, let’s jog until we get close and then walk. I don’t want to show up to a giant sea monster and set the wrong impression.”

  “And what impression would that be, Patron?” Biff asked with a grin.

  “Like I was a panicky human eager to be eaten because my bodyguard asks too many questions,” I replied with a stare at Biff, who just burst out laughing.

  “It’s always something around here with you. Hard for us to train in preparation. But I’ll add sea monster to our daily drills.” He replied, his grin never wavering.

  A few of the guards moaned, believing that Biff was being serious.

  But given the look on his face, and the fact that we were running to meet a sea monster in the harbor, maybe he wasn’t kidding.

  After we had jogged past the cathedral, run through Barricade Park, and eventually zig-zagged south onto Vertical Street for about half its length, Biff called to us to slow down.

  “It’s a two-minute walk from Dizzy’s Donuts to the docks.” He said to me and then louder to the others, “Heads on swivel!”

  “You measure distances by donut shops?” I asked him.

  “Common and well-known destinations.” He said without looking at me. He had a particular eye for the sewer overflows along the streets and rooftops. He took his job seriously.

  I used the couple of minutes to calm my breathing and try to figure out what I would do when I got there. Luckily, I had several rings that could prove helpful. One allowed me to speak, read, and understand languages. That might prove useful here. I doubt it had a written language, but it was clearly intelligent, which means it would have some kind of language.

  Of course, I also had the ability to Waterwalk, Fly, and breathe underwater. Each of those could also prove helpful.

  As I thought about what impression I might make, I decided to fly. If all I could do was walk and run on the surface and things got dicey, it would have the advantage. If I could fly out of its range, then at least I could defend myself and the city at a distance.

  But my instinct told me it was not here for a fight. Not given what Copper had said about its request.

  “What’s the plan?” Biff asked as we neared the docks and could see the creature out in the bay.

  In fairness to the word “giant”, this creature was HUGE. It was epically big, like Monster Island big.

  The chatter that had been ongoing among the members of our group as we approached the harbor stopped as everyone stared in fright at the enormous sea creature.

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  “Heads on swivel!” Biff ordered, shaking everyone out of their daze.

  “Gwyd, what’s the plan?” He asked again.

  “I fly out to meet it,” I said.

  “Alone?” He asked.

  “That’s the only way I can think to do so. I don’t want to just walk out and look up at it.” I said.

  “I don’t like that plan.” He said.

  “I don’t like that plan.” I agreed with genuine emphasis. “But it's the only way. Keep people back in case this goes wrong.” I said as I activated my ring and flew off the docks and across the water.

  I angled up so that I would meet it at eye level. And by eye level, I meant its giant single eye that was fifty feet above the water and which began tracking me like a tasty morsel as soon as I departed the docks.

  Flight was a fast spell, but I was pretty sure I would not be able to outdistance the length of its tentacles in time to avoid its attack. I imagined really big, but this was five “really’s” bigger than I had imagined as we walked down from the shoppe.

  It did not move, attempt to speak with me, or blink as I approached.

  When I got to where I thought it could hear my voice without shouting, I hovered in the air and said, in as dignified a voice as I could muster, “Welcome to our city of Keelwell. I am Commander Gwydion Istari. Whom do I have the honor to meet?”

  “I AM XHJHXYUTUFGHUGFYUHFXHJHXYUTUFGHUGFYUHFXJHXYUTUFGHUGUHF. YOU ARE HE WHO DEFEATED OUR ENEMY OF OLD?”

  It used lots of F, H, and hard G sounds that were utterly alien, and yet it spoke in my mind in what I perceived as Tradespeak. Our human language. I would not need my language spell.

  The voice was very loud, and it immediately started to give me a headache, and we were only seconds into our discussion.

  “Yes, I am he that defeated Old Sergeant.”

  “HOW?” It roared.

  I slid down in the air a few yards and recovered. “Is it possible to quiet your thoughts a little bit more? You are speaking so loudly that it is causing me pain.” I said with gritted teeth.

  I hated to show any weakness, but if it was unintentional, I wanted it to back off the volume and intensity. If it was posturing, then it knew I was weaker. But then, anyone watching the six-foot human and the hundred sixty-foot sea creature would already know that.

  “I APOLOGIZE. I AM UNACCUSTOMED TO COMMUNICATING WITH LAND MORTALS.” It shouted, but less intensely. We moved from actually painful to uncomfortable. I could live with that.

  “Thank you, Lord of the Sea. In answer to your question, I removed him from the sea and he drowned in the air.”

  “IT IS A FITTING END FOR ONE SUCH AS HE. OVER THE CENTURIES, HE TOOK MANY YOUNG FROM US AND SO FEW OF US REMAIN.”

  “He took many from us over the years as well, but we are probably far more numerous. I am sorry for the losses we have both shared together, Mighty-” I was trying to build a shared rapport with the creature, but despite being good at several languages, there was no way I could speak his name.”

  “Forgive me, I wish to honor your name, but for a land dweller, your language is difficult.”

  “THEN, YOU MAY CALL ME XHJHXYUTUFGHUGFYUHF.” It replied.

  “I wish I could. I don’t suppose you have something even shorter that would not dishonor you?” I asked, hopefully.

  I sensed amusement. “HOW ABOUT TUF?” It suggested.

  “That I can do, oh Mighty TUF.” I added the emphasis to its name in an attempt to offer both respect and a sense of its enormity.”

  “IT IS ACCEPTABLE.” It replied, again with a sense of amusement.

  Humor was a good sign, especially when it did not turn into evil cackling.

  “How may I and our city be of further service to you, mighty TUF?” I asked, not sure where this meeting would go.

  It replied, “IT IS I WHO HAVE COME TO OFFER YOU SERVICE IN REPAYMENT OF YOUR DEED. IT IS I WHO COMES TO HONOR YOU.”

  It looked like it was my day for unique honors.

  “My friends and I merely defended ourselves. I am greatly relieved that this enemy has been removed from you and yours, but he was a terror to my own kind as well. He came upon us by surprise from the dark depths. I did not seek him out or seek out recognition for his demise.”

  “THE DEED IS WHAT IS TO BE REWARDED. YOUR INTENTIONS ARE HONORABLE. HOW MAY I BE OF SERVICE?”

  “Truthfully, I have no idea,” I said, trying to think of a way the giant squid could help the city.

  “A DEED MUST BE RENDERED FOR HONOR TO BE RESTORED. THE ENEMY WAS MY OWN DUTY TO END, AND BATTLE AFTER BATTLE WE HAVE FOUGHT AND NEITHER VICTORY NOR DEFEAT RESOLVED.” I sensed frustration and anger building at the denial of the deed to be repaid.

  “Mighty TUF, could your deed be that we become friends?” I asked, trying to distract his building anger.

  “I CAN BRING YOU THE HULL OF A GREAT TREASURE SHIP, DESTROY ONE OF YOUR ENEMIES, TAKE YOU TO ANCIENT RUINS UNTOUCHED BY YOUR RACE IN MILLENIA. MERELY ASK AND I WILL GLADLY FULFILL THE DEED.” He offered, trying to give me ideas that he thought a human might desire.

  Being careful not to offend his sense of pride and duty, I said, “Your offers honor me and my family. And if no other option is acceptable to you, I would accept your defense of this shoreline from goblin enemies who even now march on us to end the lives of every living member of our families in the city.”

  The sense of anger subsided now that I responded with an option it understood and fit the parameters of its honor.

  “THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.” It replied.

  “But-” I began.

  “BUT WHAT?” It asked in mounting anger and frustration once more.

  “But in truth, my preference would be for us to become friends. That I would help you and yours in a time of need, and you would help me and mine in need.”

  “NEVER HAS SUCH A RELATIONSHIP EXISTED BETWEEN YOURS AND MINE. WE HAVE SUCH FRIENDSHIP WITH THE MER KING AND AQUATIC ELF LORD, BUT NEVER A HUMAN, NEVER AN AIR BREATHER.” It stated.

  “Mighty TUF, I will gratefully accept your protection of our shorelines for a period of time agreeable to you if that is your wish, but I expressed my true wish. The decision is yours, and I hold whatever you choose to be honorable and in fulfillment of the DEED.” I said, trying my best to emphasize its name and the obligation.

  I hovered for over twenty minutes in complete silence. I began to worry that my spell would run out, although it would be good for a few hours more.

  Eventually, it replied. “I ACCEPT YOUR OFFER OF FRIENDSHIP. YOU WILL HELP MINE AND I WILL HELP YOURS.”

  I smiled widely. “Thank you, mighty TUF.”

  “I WILL WATCH YOUR SHORES FOR YOUR ENEMIES AND SEE THAT THEY END IN A WAY FITTING JUST AS OLD SERGEANT ENDED.” It stated firmly.

  “Thank you, friend TUF,” I said, relieved that I had not angered a creature of such power and honor.

  “ALL MY KIND WILL KNOW OF THIS, AND YOU AND YOURS WILL BE SAFE FROM US.”

  Uh oh. I did not speak for all humans. I barely spoke for our city, let alone the other cities, pirates, whalers, or profiteers upon the seas. This could go badly.

  “I will share our friendship with my Duke, the leader of this city and region. But I cannot speak for all my kind or guarantee their actions. Your might is terrifying to my kind, and in fear, they could behave counter to my friendship with you. We do not share minds as you and yours do.” I tried to explain.

  There was another long pause that lasted a good five minutes. I feared that Tuf was regretting an unfair truce. His entire race would guarantee peace with us, but my word might not hold the same power as his. I was pretty sure the Duke would honor this, but what about others?

  Finally, he replied with some frustration but a feeling of acceptance. “MY DEED WAS WITH YOU AND NOT EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR HUMAN FAMILY. WE WILL KEEP OUR FRIENDSHIP IN GOOD FAITH, UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT ALL OF YOUR HUMAN FAMILY MIGHT DO LIKEWISE. BUT WE WILL DEFEND OURSELVES IF NEEDED.”

  “Thank you, friend TUF. That is both wise and generous.” I answered.

  “THANK YOU, FRIEND COMMANDER GWYDION ISTARI. YOUR DEED HAS FREED MY KIND FROM TERROR AND OBLIVION.” It responded.

  And with those final words, the giant squid submerged into the bay. I waited a minute until I was certain it had departed and then flew back to shore.

  The AL whispered into my ear. Enchanter Gwydion earns an ally in TUF for resolving the Old Sergeant Honor quest. Additions and notes have been added to your Book of Quests that remain unread.

  I needed to now explain to the Duke that we just got a new ally and that the news needed to spread that seeing a giant squid meant protection, not attack for humans, but if provoked, it would defend itself.