The docks were quite busy already, even though the sun had just crested the horizon. The trio found the riverboat at one end of a long pier. The captain took their writ of passage and eyed the horse doubtfully. He did not know much about horses, but that one looked a bit worrisome. Not unlike his owner, he thought dryly. Initially, Pride balked at crossing the ramp onto the swaying riverboat, but Rezkin took him in hand as one must with the stubborn beasts, and pretty soon they were all aboard.

As it turned out, the other passengers were all soldiers who were also heading to Kaibain. The first couple of soldiers Rezkin encountered abruptly stood to attention and performed a stiff salute, placing a fist over their hearts. “Good morning, sir,” they intoned in unison.

Rezkin shook his head, and said, “There is no need for that. I am not in the army, much less an officer.”

The two eyed his armor and weapons and then the magnificent battle charger. Both sets of eyes turned back to his, the disbelief clear in their minds, and they remained at attention. Rezkin shook his head and waved them off. “As you were,” he said.

The men nodded and said in unison, “Yes, sir!” They went back to their tasks.

As Rezkin led the horse to the stall the captain had assigned, the entire process was repeated with each soldier he passed. As the he unloaded the packs and removed the tack, Frisha and Tam stood on deck speaking in hushed voices.

“I told you he’s a noble,” said Tam. “He’s obviously an officer.”

“You said he’s nineteen. He’s not old enough to be an officer,” Frisha said.

Tam waved at the soldiers milling about. “These soldiers seem to know what he is.”

“Oh, Tam, they’re just assuming, same as we were before. They don’t know what he is, and he told them he’s not in the army. Why would he lie about that?”

“I don’t know.” Sighing, he said, “Fine, you’re right. I was just assuming, again. Just because he looks like an officer doesn’t mean that he is one.”

Rezkin rejoined his companions after getting Pride situated. He was carrying several packs, and a deckhand had the rest. Tam took a couple of the packs from Rezkin and thanked him. The deckhand led the three into the hold where they were assigned a berth. Frisha froze upon entering the tiny space and seeing her expected living conditions.