This presented me with a dilemma. I wanted to tell this man my real name, because not only did he seem kind and harmless, but he was exceedingly handsome.
However, I was a wanted criminal, and revealing my name to complete strangers would not be a wise idea. So, I chose my middle-name instead.
‘Elizabeth,’ I lied quickly. ‘My name is Elizabeth.’
‘Well, Elizabeth,’ Dagon said, the smile returning to his face. ‘What’ll it be?’
‘Uh.’ I held up my empty wine glass. ‘Another?’
Mary the barmaid scuttled off to get our drinks, and Dagon turned back to me, wringing his hands nervously on the tabletop. We were both silent for several moments, neither of us knowing what to say. I had the sneaking suspicion that his fellow sailors had talked him into approaching me because they all seemed to be watching his progress, and snickering behind their hands.
‘Um. You’re a sailor,’ I observed. I cursed internally. Idiot.
‘Aye, fifth generation fisherman,’ he nodded, fiddling with the unused cutlery on his side of the table.
Mary the barmaid brought our drinks, and I grabbed my wine immediately so I had something to do with my hands. I sipped the dark red liquid, avoiding any eye contact with Dagon. I wasn’t sure why, but simply sitting near Dagon and drinking the wine gave me a guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach, as though I were being unfaithful to Jack.
‘So, erm, what’s a lass like you doin’ down here in Port?’
‘Travelling,’ I lied again.
‘Alone?’ Dagon asked with his brow furrowed. ‘Seems a bit dangerous fer a gal.’
I pursed my lips. Why were all men under the impression that I could not take care of myself? After all, some of the most Powerful Mages in history were women. I was annoyed, but decided to hold my tongue.
‘I’m the one others are afraid of running into,’ I said before sipping more wine.
‘Is that so?’ Dagon cocked an eyebrow and leaned forward, a slight smile playing across his lips.
I hadn’t intended on implying anything. ‘Uh, so how often do you go to sea?’ I changed the subject quickly.
‘Two weeks on the boat, four days off,’ he said. ‘We just got back this evening … I probably smell right awful.’
‘You don’t smell too bad,’ I said. ‘Salty, perhaps.’
Dagon pulled a face. ‘I usually spend the evenings at the bar here, with me Pa on days off. I live just round the way.’ He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
I nodded. It seemed this lodge was quite the attraction for sailors.
‘How long yeh here then? On’y I got a lotta spare time to kill over the next four days-’
‘Only one night,’ I said quickly. ‘I’ll be off in the morning.’
Dagon looked crestfallen. ‘Without even seein’ the town? I thought yeh was travellin’?’
‘Well … yes, but-’
‘I can show yeh ‘round if yeh like. There’s lots of things to do in town.’
I gulped more wine down to avoid answering the question. ‘Um, I don’t think so. I’m on a bit of a schedule.’
For all I knew, this little seaside town had posters with my face on it. The only reason these sailors didn’t recognise me was because they’d only just come back from sea.
‘Schedule?’ Dagon asked. ‘Where yeh headin’ next?’
I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I cleared my throat. ‘Uh … I’m going north.’
‘Where to?’
Dagon’s persistence annoyed me slightly, but I knew he was just trying to be friendly.
‘Wherever the wind takes me,’ I said, passing my hand through the air between us to represent flying.
Dagon chuckled. ‘Doesn’t sound like much of a tight schedule to me. C’mon, Lass, stay just one more day? I’ll take yeh out fer a nice meal and all.’
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, contemplating the offer. Some company might be nice … I hadn’t had a proper conversation with someone friendly in days. Perhaps just one more night wouldn’t hurt.
I felt guilty as I wondered what Jack would think of this stranger who had approached me. But it wasn’t a date, right? Dagon’s just being friendly, I told myself. Even I knew it was a lie. I thought I should make myself clear.
‘Okay … you can show me around, I guess. I could use a friend.’
Dagon’s smile was ecstatic. ‘Great! What kind of food do yeh like? I know this great little seafood restaurant-’
‘Um … I don’t much like seafood,’ I admitted, which probably sounded strange to Dagon considering fishing was all he knew. ‘But just to be clear … it’s not a date. I’m not looking for … uh … that kind of company.’
Dagon looked slightly crestfallen, but picked himself up almost immediately. ‘Ah, never mind that, Lass. You might change yer mind by the end of it. I can be awfully persuasive.’
I couldn’t help but smile. ‘Didn’t I tell you? I’m the one other’s are afraid of running into.’
‘I reckon I could take yeh,’ Dagon grinned and gulped his mead. ‘What’s yeh Power then, Lass, if you don’t mind me askin’?’