horse slowed down and directly stopped in front of the man, as if as

"I'm a merchant." He said calmly, "get down f

te but had to trust the m

le the man joined Amir's hors

the streets were empty, except for a few lanterns hanging from doorways. The merchant

e man said. "You

oor twice. A man with red bea

clap on the shoulder. "We'll leav

the ground holding to his swor

merchant woke him, g

that looked like they had seen better days, but it would carry them across the sea. T

fade from view. The waves were calm, but the wind picked up, c

et like the sky. The ship moved slowly, rocking back and forth w

med to be the only one who knew what he was doing. He moved around the ship w

n the deck, knees pulled up, arms around them. His ey

the sky. Men, women and children being butchered

eeks, but he didn't wipe

t one

ia

ship. After a while, he walked over and sat beside him. His

ias finally said, not as a

. His throat hurt

" Elias said quie

him, surprise

In a

nt. "The sea takes just like war does. One

s to receive them. Then came a storm, It wrenched the ship in my very eyes. I screamed an

again. The waves kep

ng nearby, laughing and d

n drink so much?" he asked with a soft

es thoughtful. He took a long sip

, even if just for a little while. Life at sea is long, and men get tired of

rd of people drinking for pleasure, but this wa

shades of purple and gold. For a moment, the sea seemed end

rink?" Am

rice for everything. And the price of drinking is that you forget wh

n a way. But there was something unsettli

ut it for a while. The merchant had never introduced himse

him with a small smile.

eated, as if testing the nam

It stayed in his mind,

a had its

heir journey, the

er the power of the storm and everything were falling including men. Sailors sh

d tying a rope around them both. Amir took The Splashe

d. Rain poured so heavy it was hard to see. Lightning lit up the

shouted, panic

for help, while the waves kept raising and curlin

as in

w him around like a doll. He couldn't breathe. As he lifted up his face, he saw a broken plank floa

the

t time didn't ex

and saw seagulls flying

was the only thing that mattered. He dragged himsel

was bl

ship w

Elia

nd the shore, hi

li

ans

sil

e turn around, he saw warriors and th