Over the Edge: Chapter 3

Writing is going insanley slow. Hopefully more consistent chapters from now on. Last chapter: https://thethwaphouse.wixsite.com/thwap-house/forum/spoiler-fanfiction/over-the-edge-ch-2?searchTerm=Over+the+Edge%3A Prologue:https://thethwaphouse.wixsite.com/thwap-house/forum/spoiler-fanfiction/over-the-edge-prologue?searchTerm=Over+the+Edge

Chapter 3

The Shipyard 

   The first of the sailors were scooting into their seats and began talking loudly. Finigan began moving through the tables, taking orders and serving them. The dining area was soon filled with jolly Hollishmen and a variety of others that looked foreign but distinct from each other. Some, Finigan was sure, were Skreean. 

“What can I get you?” Finigan interrupted the table's conversation. The sailors briefly turned from each other and gave Finigan a smile. “Large servings of scrambled eggs and hogpig all around!”, one of the men cheerily exclaimed, then returned to his boisterous talk with the others. Finigan turned from the table in time for the bell on the door ring, signaling the arrival of new customers. A tall man entered sporting a large hat that covered what little hair he had, followed by a boy around Finigan’s age with a large book tucked under his arm. They both joined a group by the window farthest from the stairs. 

Finigan entered the kitchen to report the order, then moved to the table the tall man sat at. “-and you’re completely sure you saw- oh hello!” The man glanced up from his quiet conversation with the other occupants of the table; a red bearded Hollish man and what looked to be his son. “I was wondering if you're ready to order.” Finigan said. 

“No, actually I’m not eating here.” The man turned to the Hollowsfolk, “Thank you very much, we will be going now. Come on Silas.” The man slipped the Hollosfolk two gold coins and he and the boy with the book exited the building. The remaining two at the table watched them exit then turned back to Finigan. “We’re eating here! Gimme all the options, I’m starving!” 

***

After the breakfast rush Finigan left the building to go to the shipyard. He figured he could find more information about the fang’s defeat, and he’d been meaning to get a second job there. 

After the war, to improve business, a canal was built from the Blapp to Lamendrom. Because Torborro must be repaired before being accessible to the public, and Glipwood being as small as it is, Dugtown has become the filthy, dirty heart of Skree and therefore controls the shipyard. At this point the canal is only big enough for small boats, but as the trip is mostly downstream it’s still faster than walking to Lamendrom. 

The streets were busy today, but Finigan didn’t dare cut through the alleyways with a vengeful strander on his back. Lately the traffic wasn’t as bad as this because there weren’t fang checkpoints anymore, but now everyone was headed to various taverns or the shipyard to find someone that can confirm the rumor that Gnag had been defeated. Finally, Finigan arrived at the docks that were being added onto at the moment. They had built a dam across the Blapp, allowing minimal amounts of water through and guiding in to the canal on Torrborro's side of the river. The once raging Blapp had become more peaceful due to the even structure of the canal. The distance between the Dugtown and the sea had increased tenfold, allowing more water in more space making the flow significantly slower. It was very easy to row upstream now. 

The dock was busy with sailors preparing a fleet of row boats. Finigan looked around for someone to talk to. A sailor walked up to him. “S’pose you want to know what’s happening. Gnag died bout’ six weeks ago. We attacked him with the entire Hollish army, then capped it off with about five dragons and an entire horde of cloven- half human, half whatever-you-can-imagine; But in the end all it took was an old, fat book keeper to make ‘im cry like a baby and die. After all that Otto Marlow, a respectable Hollish sea captain, decided to explore the south with a crew from all the parts of the known world. People say he’s going to sail right off the Edge-”

“The Edge?”, Finigan inquired.

“Hollish folk tale, nothin’ to worry about. Coincidentally, we’re looking for sailors to go on this little beyond-the-maps exploration. Are you interested?” 

Finigan, as puzzled as he was with this mentally disturbed captain, he decided that leaving a stable job to sail off into the horizon wasn’t the greatest idea right then. He gazed towards the boats and said, “As nice as it sounds-”

A sailor from a boat turned his head towards Finigan, fully revealing their face. The words died on Finigan’s tongue when he realized, Edge or not, nothing was going to stop him from getting on this ship.

Thank you, thank you, gimme constructive feedback, please. 🍪