Navigating the Outer Isles wasn't difficult, but it could be unpredictable. The high volume of traffic and the treacherous sandbars required a skilled navigator. Kay'la had been sailing these waters since she was a child.

They cruised inland passing fisherman, letting a single sail pull them slowly through the mirror still waters. The sky was steaked with indigo against the fiery horizon. It was quiet, just the way she intended it.

During the day the waters were crowded with colored boats for tourists and rich patrons. Some of the locals took advantage of it. It was the local island leaders who established the ferry service before a private monopoly could take advantage. Many locals ran small tourism businesses, taking rich visitors out to fish in the permitted spots or gather oysters only when the season was right. It was a better alternative to letting their home be polluted.

Most of the islands were flat or had small hills and rich soil, perfect for farming but in recent years, some livestock merchants had pooled together to buy three of the smaller islands for grazing land. There weren't many people living out there, maybe one hundred total, but it had scared many locals that they could be ousted like that. 

Ceruleus Island, the largest of them all, was in no danger of being bought out any time soon. The island was shielded from all sides by mountains that sheltered a fertile valley allowing for gowth year round. The mainland received more rain later in the year that drowned nearly everything, but the warmer climate and mountain shelter kept Ceruleus lush year round.

They came around towards the bay as the sun broke over the skyline. Still early, but the market would be opening and the morning departures would be readying.

"Sedrick," Kay'la called, "Come take over."

Sedrick took the helm and Kay'la stepped aside to instruct. 

"Take her straight for the harbor, as close to dock three as possible."

She pointed and Sedrick adjusted course.

"When we've docked I want you to oversee the men."

"Of course Captain."

"There will be more equipment sent after I negotiate. Try and keep them out of the ale until it all arrives."

"I'll try Captain. Is he going with you?"

"Absolutely not. Portio would eat him alive."

"I think he could handle it. Something tells me he's familiar with his type."

"I wish he'd loosen up. The only time he really talks is when he's talking about his runework."

"You could always slip him something again."

She shook her head, "I think he's too clever for that. And if I do something and he finds out he'll never speak to me."

"So what are you going to do with him?"

"Cotter is going to the market, I'll send him along with some spare coin and tell him to buy something useful."

 Sedrick chuckled, "Is there anything I should watch for as I approach, Captain?"

"No Sedrick, I think you'll do just fine from here out. Excuse me." She went down the stairs into her cabin.

Syko was at his workbench 

"Syko," she took a deep breath, "Tell me how sick call went." 

"There was only one at sick call this morning, he just needed some 'hair of the dog' but he'll be fine. The young man hit with the mast arm will make a full recovery as well." 

"Good." Kay'la flipped through her keys and opened the cupboard where she kept her ledgers and coffer.

"I won't be paying the men until we leave port, but I understand you need supplies. Mr. Cotter does as well. The two of you will go together." She pulled out a coin purse and handed it to him.

 "Mr. Cotter has expensive taste, I'm sure he'll be able to help you find what you need. Spare no expense."

Syko weighed the heft of the purse, "Of course. Thank you."

Again his politeness masked his true emotion, but she could see the glint in his eye.

"Stay with Mr. Cotter. Do not leave his side and do not leave the ship again after you return."

He furrowed his brow. He wanted to ask more questions, but after a moment he frowned and looked at his shoes.

"Yes Captain" he muttered.

They left her cabin and went to the foredeck to address the crew.

"Alright you lot. The cargo is on the dock. No drinking until its all loaded, and there is no liberty." The crew groaned.  "If I find out any of you slipped away to spank an ankle I'll make sure she has something to play with while you're gone. Now don't let that ale sit out in the sun."

She sent the crew on their way. Parting with Syko and Sedrick, Kay'la pulled her hat over her brow and disappeared into city proper. 

Ceruleus Bay was unique in two ways. The first was that nearly every building in the city had the exact same shade of blue walls, a result of some sort of plant matter in the building materials. The second was that the buildings were built against the side of the mountain. From a distance, it looked like a waterfall flowing from the central valley. 

The houses spilled down the slope and landed in rough streets running towards the port. It was a merchant's nightmare. Most streets were too narrow for a cart and some stairs were so steep you felt as if you were climbing a ladder. Luckily the docks were always swarmed with capable men willing to help deliver your goods, for a small fee.

Kay'la slipped through the tight streets until she reached a staircase that wound up to a narrow, two story house. The plaque on the ornately painted door read Portio Mercator Eminencia. More of a title than a name. As she swung the door knocker, it left a chalky green dust in her palm.

A man of about 40 answered the door, well tanned with salt and pepper hair. 

"Kay'la my dear," he purred, "you woke me."

That would explain the robe, she thought.

"My apologize Portio," She removed her hat, "I came at my earliest convenience as you requested."

Stepping into his shop she was bombarded with the scent of animal musk and exotic spices. No doubt a new love elixir Portio was perfecting to scam some pompous businessman. 

Although he had moderate magical affinity, his family had always been prominent merchants and his parents sent him to the very best academy. His magical affinity did raise slightly with training and he was able to use his skills to carve out a business in charms and elixirs in the form of colored lip wax and scented perfumes.

His business was what allowed him to fund his own ventures and he was willing to loan substantial amounts to young sailors in exchange for the occasional favor.

Portio led Kay'la to his office in the back of his store.

"So tell me Kay Kay," he reclined in his chair and put his sandaled feet on the desk, "How was the Big Crescent?"  he asked flamboyantly.

Kay'la stood across and crossed her arms, "Rather pedestrian. A nice vacation but I was glad to get your letter."

"I didn't expect you until tomorrow."

"We had a tailwind. Are you prepared to discuss business?"

"Always with business, like you're in a hurry." 

"Like I said, I'm ready to get back to it."

Portio pulled his feet down and squinted at her, "I'm sure you would be." He pulled open his desk drawer and pulled out a stack of papers and notebooks.

 "I'm willing to pay off your debt over this job. It's not difficult per se, just far."

"How far?"

Portio laid out a map of the islands, surrounded for leagues by water except for one spit of land to the south east.

"Have you ever been to the Furthest Reach?"

"Why would I go there?"

"To catch a star."

"A star?" Kay'la scoffed, "Sure let me get my fishing rod."

Portio chuckled, "No need, I'll provide you a net."

Exotic tastes, exotic lands. Kay'la took in the gravity of the task and it's location looking through the papers provided.

"A man of your influence must have a better map and perhaps instructions. I've never caught a star before."

Portio sifted through his desk and handed her a stack of bound papers on subject.

Kay'la leafed through them, taking in the gist of it. Formulating and negotiating materials in her head.

"Your net is a generous offer, but this manual says the stars must be caught by magical means. I'm no magician."

"Correct, my dear. No need to worry a curly hair on that head. My net is already enchanted for you convenience."

"And how do I hold onto a star? It says they're sentient, and impossible to hold onto."

"Have no fear, the net comes with a cage to hold the star." 

"The Furthest Reach is dangerous, I'd like some sort of protection for the ship and the crew."

"And you shall have it," Portio exhorted, "is there anything else I can offer for your journey?"

"Do you have anything of truth to offer about this place?"

Portio stood and scoured the shelves, humming and hawing to himself until at last, "Aha! This is the one and only copy of the Diary of Konradin Christophe."

"Who is that?"

"He was a cartographer, some two hundred seasons ago. They say he went mad charting the strangeness of the world."

 "I don't want more stories Portio, I need something real."

"It is real," he insisted, "it's his handwriting, his words."

"The rantings of a mad man aren't much to go on."

"Would you rather go in blind?"

Portio added the book to the stack of papers, shuffled them together and handed her the lot.

"Now, what kind of protection spell can I offer you?"

They moved back to the storefront as Kay'la described in detail what she was looking for.

"Something easy to operate, castable at will with little affinity required. I want it to envelop the entire ship, keep anything from damaging the hull or falling onto the deck. I'd like it to be castable multiple times."

"You ask a lot Kay Kay but only the best for my best girl."

He opened a large chest and produced a cage made of brass that seemed almost woven together. The top was flat brass with runes etched into it and was fitted with large hook. The whole thing stood up to her knee.

"You're sure a star will fit in here?" she asked skeptically.

"Trust, my precious."

From the same chest he pulled out a bundle of ropes. It was the net, made of thick strands of silk woven into strong ropes. Along the ropes were beads, etched with runes. She slung the netting over her shoulder and carried the cage by it's hook. 

"The net has a launcher, I'll have my porter take it to..."

"Dock three."

"And finally," Portio dipped a quill in ink and scribbled across a piece of cloth. Flapping it around to dry it he explained, "Carve this symbol in the mast. You should have enough magical affinity to activate it, but casting repeatedly depends on you," he bopped her nose with his index finger, "and how fast your affinity can recharge."

"Can anyone with affinity cast it?"

"Oh yes, you can even pool your affinity if you connect when casting."

Connecting was as simple as joining hands when a spell was cast. The crew had all  joined hands and cast a small luck spell before leaving the mainland. None of them had much affinity, but if two strong magicians pooled their affinity they could do incredibly powerful magic.

"Portio," she tried to subtly steer the conversation to a new topic, "are you powerful enough to cast any spells without the words?"

"Though I have paid for all the best in my schooling, I unfortunately do not have the affinity to cast without words."

"But I though the runes held the power?"

Portio leaned against his desk and crossed his arms. "You've never shown much interest in my trade before."

Kay'la gestured to her equipment. "I'm simply curious. You didn't give me any words for the net, but it has runes."

"Runes are conduit, they concentrate magic in a specific space, the words are an activation. Consider it like a door. To open it you must have a key, which in this case would be magical affinity. Anyone with the smallest amount may hold the key.

The lock is the rune, and every rune has a specific function you must understand to open the door. That is why Runesmiths such as myself study for so long. There are thousands of runes for any given number of things.

Which is why you need a word of power to concentrate the effect of your runes. Say you want to start a fire so you draw the rune, but without the word associated you could cause a flicker or a blaze with no control."

"So what about the net, why doesn't it need a word?"

"Some runes can be powered by the affinity of other things. That is why being a Runesmith can be dangerous, the more powerful the spell, and the runes, the more toll it takes on the caster. 

The net is designed to absorb and reflect the power of the star. The more energy it exudes, the stronger the net becomes. Alas, the star is powerful enough to power the runes without words."

"And what is such a powerful item used for?"

Portio wagged his finger, "Ah, now you're really digging for something."

"Not at all, I simply wonder why a man of your talent needs to pad his inventory with flashy baubles."

"Though my customers are content for now, the rich tourists keep getting richer. The more coin in their pocket, the deeper they sink."

"Surely the Mercator Eminencia can offer them something of taste."

"Of course I can - once I have the star." He wore a malicious grin that made Kay'la's skin crawl.

"Have you ever met anyone who can cast spells without words?"

"Again with the words," Portio threw his hands out and gestured for her to leave. "Enough dear. I've given you all I can, now I must open for business." He ushered her to the door.

"But you haven't answered my question."

"No, I've never met anyone who can cast without words. Everyone who has has probably died."

"Died?" Kay'la stopped and Portio bumped her as he kept pushing towards the door.

"Here," Portio huffed. He wheeled around and pulled a small book off a high shelf behind his till. "Magic with no runes is Wylde magic, read about it in here." He thrust the book into her hands with the rest of her items. "Now leave my store before any respectable patrons arrive."

"Many thanks as always Portio." Kay'la cracked a sardonic smile.

He retuned her courtesy, "Any time dear. When your debt is paid off I hope we can do proper business." 

He slammed the door and Kay'la plodded around the rear of the store. The porter and two other men were loading her items to be brought down the mountain.

"Good morning," she greeted all of them. "Could I ask that you folks take all of this to dock three?"

She handed over the net, cage, and stack of papers, along with a handsome tip, and headed down towards the market district.