Part 1
It had been two weeks since James arrived in Palisade Bay, and he was starting to settle in nicely. Harrod Bearskin, the Innkeeper and his new guardian, had him running errands and doing light work around the inn, because in Harrod’s own words, “an honest day’s work never hurt no one.” Today all he had to do though was deliver payment to the Harbourmaster for the kegs of ale on the last boat, and then he was free for the rest of the afternoon. Harrod had told him to “get out and wander around town”, telling him that the Inn was no place to be on a nice spring day.
After delivering the payment, James returned to the Inn with the receipt, then set off to wander around the town. Most of the buildings were small but well kept, and it reminded him of the residential quarter in Port Nautitis in some ways. The town was small but not too small, he estimated maybe 500 people lived here, enough that you know everyone’s face but maybe not their name. James was sitting on a bench in the town square just looking at people passing by when a girl fell out of the tree he was sitting under.
“Hi!” she said.
“Are you okay?” James asked in shock.
“Yup!” she said, hopping to her feet. “I’ve never seen you before, so you must be new in town!” she said, pointing at him. “My name’s Emma!”
“I’m James, nice to meet you.” he replied.
“You should come with me, I’m heading home for lunch now, maybe my grandpa will tell us a story!” Emma declared, starting to pull James along.
“Wait I only just met you!” James protested.
“Yeah but you already know my grandpa, he’s Jakob Rawlinson, everyone knows him!”
James’s eyes went wide at the name. Jakob Rawlinson, the legendary adventurer! Emma laughed at his reaction.
“See, you do know him! Come on James!” Emma said, pulling him even harder, causing his feet to drag on the cobblestone.
“Okay fine!” James said. “Just stop dragging me!”
“Walk faster then!” Emma replied, continuing to drag James, who was trying to keep up with her. “Come on, we can’t be late!”
James found himself half-dragged to a well kept two storey house on the edge of town. The gardens in front of the house were splendid, and James noticed that as he entered the house there was a distinct smokey smell within.
“Grandpa I’m home!” Emma yelled. “I brought a new friend for lunch!”
“What’s this youngster’s name?” a smooth baritone voice called from the kitchen. “Meet me in the dining room, the both of you.”
“My name is James Hargrave, Sir!” James called back. He heard a clatter from the kitchen and a tall well built man with a gray beard emerged immediately.
“Did you say Hargrave, young man?” the man asked. “Was your father by chance Neville Hargrave?”
“Yes Sir. Did you know him?” James replied, hoping to learn something about his father.
The man looked thoughtful. “Hargrave’s son, huh?” he said out loud. “Alright the both of you, get washed up by the time lunch is ready. Don’t think I don’t see the twigs in your hair, Emma. What would you mother think?”
“She’s not here, grandpa!” Emma said, pouting. “Come on James, let’s go.”
As Emma pulled James upstairs, Jakob went back in to the kitchen, and started finishing off the cooking.
“Neville’s son.” Jakob said out loud. “I guess it’s time, then.”