The Quest, or perhaps The Task Set Before Her Part 15

They ate in relative quiet for an hour or so. Peleg consumed more food in one sitting than Jeddi had had all week! After the second slice of pie and the third slice of cake, Jeddi was starting to feel sick. Thankfully, Peleg clapped his hands and the servants started clearing up the dishes. Leaning back in his seat, the pirate produced a roughly shaped pipe and began to fill it. Not knowing what to expect next, Jeddi sat very still.

"Well, me lad, ye've no idea how long I've searched for ye," Peleg said as he lit his pipe. "Rumors had come from as far as Dunwerg to as close as Ban Rona. Half of them were easily dismissible as false, but I'd be lying if I'd said I hadn't chased a wild goose or two if ye know what I mean." He laughed heartily. "I did meet me wife on one of them chases so they weren't entirely failures."

Jeddi interrupted him, shaking his head in confusion. "I'm very sorry, but you must have me confused with someone else."

Peleg raised an eyebrow. "Are ye not Jedediah Shen?"

"That is my given name."

"Ha!" Peleg hit the table with his hand. "There ye go! I'm not the confused one here. Me see I've got a fair bit of 'splaining to do."

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Chanh burst through the cabin door not realizing this wasn't a very smart thing to do. The woman jumped up from her chair in surprise.

"Flabbit!" She screamed in alarm. "Chanh! What in the Deeps of Throg did you do that for?!"

Abaddon quickly entered the room and bowed. "Captain, forgive him. You know he was hired for his brawn and not his brain."

"Out!"

"But, Seassa..."

"OUT!!"

Startled, Abaddon shoved Chanh out the broken door. Once they were gone, Seassa raised the stiletto and pointed it directly in front of Frieda's nose. The blade was so close, a fly wouldn't have been able to pass through undamaged.

"Speak those words again for I fear I'm losing my sense of hearing."

Frieda sat confidently, unwavering in her decision. "I said, I don't have it with me anymore." Standing up, she glared boldly into Seassa's eyes. "The First Book is safely in the hands of my friend, Jeddi who you so graciously allowed to leave. I am ever grateful for that."

Frieda smirked while Seassa stood there in an equal mix of shock and anger.

"You want to kill me?" Frieda asked as if reading her thoughts.

Seassa drew her arm back, hatred flashing in her eyes. As quick as she could, she plunged the dagger forward.