The village was absolutely beautiful. Bastion had to do his best not to bump into anyone on the crowded pier. There were people of all different nationalities, the bazar a symphony of different tounges. Merchants were trying to sell their wares everywhere you looked, and one had to avoid eye contact or else risk being hounded into buying some good or service.
It was when the pirates were about three fourths down the market when there was a whooshing sound from above. Streak of color sped across the sky above their heads.
"Follow that magic carpet. Quickly now." Bastion ordered in a voice that was designed not to draw attention.
"But sir," one of the younger recruits protested weakly "We're supposed to follow the map."
The captain's son walked over to the boy with a charitable expression, map in hand. His father would have made the boy sorry for ever saying anything, but Bastion was determined not to follow in the captain's footsteps. Showing it to the pirate, he oriented it so that the map was in line with the carpet's flight path. " Where there's treasure, magic is usually not far behind." The newbe nodded his head in slow surprise as the new information sunk in. "Now, anymore objections? Or shall we follow our lead before it slips away?"
There was no more questions after that.
It was hard to follow someone without attracting notice in a crowded place like that, though on the other hand large crowds offered a sense of anonymity that less sparsely populated areas didn't. While it was difficult to follow discretely people were to preoccupied to pay the small band much of any mind at all. They went through alley ways and around vendors, the mystical vehicle's tassels never very far ahead. Bastion wondered if this could possibly be a set up but he had strict instructions to follow the map and that was what he was going to do- his freedom, his plan for escape- depended on it.
After what felt like forever, the carpet began to descend, and the crew instinctively slowed their pace and Bastion gestured for them to be ready. It was when they reached what must have been the millionth alley way they encountered before the magic carpet landed for good.
"How are we going to play this, boss?" Jack asked, appearing at his side.
"I want to go talk to him before we decide anything. See what he knows."
"And you want us to be there for back up?"
Bastion had to force himself not to become visibly annoyed at the question. "Not all of you. That would make it look more like an ambush. No. Just one or two of you should suffice."
Jack of course went as well as one of the more seasoned pirates. The occupant of the carpet was a young man who was folding up the carpet for easy storage when Bastion and his accomplices appeared. Turning around hastily he saw their approach and immediately went on the defensive- likely due to the magical item in his possession. The boy pulled a knife from his side at a speed that even took the captain's son by surprise. "Don't come any closer," he warned, the weapon glinted in the setting sun like jewels. "I've defended myself from guys much bigger than you and I'm more than happy to do it again." The look in his eyes more than suggested that he wasn't bluffing and the trio knew it. Bastion immediately held his hands up in a placating gesture, Jack and the older pirate had to restrain themselves from reaching their pistols.
"Woah, woah we just want to talk." The young pirate promised, his tone genuine. It was true, he hadn't wanted to harm the boy, but he did need his assistance.The local lowered his knife slightly- enough to show that he was giving Bastion the benefit of the doubt- but not enough so that he might think that he could try something when his guard was down. The captain's son smiled slightly, impressed at the boy's courage. If Bastion intended to stay aboard the ship, he might have considered recruiting him.
"What do you want?" The carpet rider asked, though it came off as a growl more than anything else.
"We're tourists," Bastion fibbed expertly, years as his father's son coming in handy. "We're just looking for directions to the abandoned palace." He hoped it was enough to fool the boy, but he feared he was likely too clever for that.
"Yeah, right," the young man replied skeptically as he carefully bent down to pick up his property without braking eye contact.
"If you could help us out we'd be very grateful," Bastion added hopefully. The last part was true, he and the crew would probably give a king's ransom for the information they sought. Bastion's heart sank as the young man with the carpet started slowly backing away.
"Meet me at the bar around the corner in about fifteen minutes. No funny buisness."
"We'll be there." The captain's son promised in a tone that left very little room for any doubt. The man nodded, his eyes darting to Bastion's company, then back to him. The conversation over, the carpet rider stalked off out of the alley, looking over his shoulder as he went.
"Well mates," Bastion said as he turned to his companions, "it looks like we are going for a drink."