Chapter 2: Luck and Off Again ----------------------------- Five more hours to arrival. Miguel loved sailing, excpecially on a nice clear day like this. The wind blowing in his hair. The smell of salt water. The sounds of the waves crashing against the boat. The sight of the fish swimming near the top of the water. Miguel could spend days out at sea at a time. His boat was a simply, small sailboat. He traded in two Hero Rings for it. Not a bad deal, considering the mobility he received with this boat. He could now go off to far off places searching for his treasure, and many times it paid off. He measured the direction and speed of the wind and decided he could take an hour to sleep. He really needed it, too. ~ ~ ~ ~ "MIGUEL!" someone yelled. ~ ~ ~ ~ Miguel woke up yelling. He had had that nightmare again; it had become more frequent. He sat there in his bed for a few minutes, trying to shake the dream from his memory. He could not. His dream mixed with stories of the Returners' hideout in Jidoor was just too much. About a week ago, one of Miguel's friends, a Returner, told him that the Returners were in Jidoor. As he would think of himself, he didn't lay that down as law, but the thought has crossed his mind. Then he remember to check his course. He walked to the deck and checked his position with his map. He measured and saw he was only ten minutes from Jidoor! It seemed he had taken more then an hour's sleep. He could see the town and the port now. He sailed the boat into port and tied it to a poll. He talked to some of the other sailors to "shoot the breeze" but mostly to find out where all the great-looking girls hung out. They talked for about a half hour and Miguel decided to get back to his search, since according to the sailors, most of the great-looking girls were either taken or were snobs. He strolled around town and, not surprisingly, saw a few old friends. He avoided most but talked to a few. He didn't ask them any questions about Locke, Rachel, or of the Tintinabar. He wanted to remain inconspicuous. He entered the Auction House to see if he could get something for cheap and sell it higher. This was indeed his lucky day. There was hardly anyone there and he ended up getting some good things. He got five potions, five elixers, and a Black Belt all for the low price of 3500 GP. Yes, he was indeed lucky none of the high auctioners were there. Then a pair of Dragoon Boots came up. He couldn't believe something that usually went for 9000 GP only got to 5000 when it slowed down. He was sure this must be beginner's night or something. He bidded 6000 GP and then no one. "Going once," called the auctioneer. "Going twice..." Miguel felt lucky, but then someone yelled "I bid 10,000 GP." Miguel sank. Damn, so close to a 3000 GP discount. He definitely didn't have the money to keep going. Then he relized who's voice that was. "Gregory!" Miguel yelled. "Hehe, you remember me, old friend," Gregory said. "I sure do. Come on, let's get out of here." Miguel grabbed some of his stuff and Gregory picked up the Dragoon Boots. "Banon wanted me to pick these up for someone." Gregory explained. "You don't know how tempted I was to bid against you earlier." "Well, I'll sell you what I got for 6000 GP," Miguel joked. "I won't, but maybe Banon would," Gregory said. "NO!" Miguel shouted. "I mean, I can't. I'm on a tight timeline here." "Please explain," Gregory insisted. "Alright," Miguel said. "I'm looking for where Locke's old girlfriend, Rachel, lived. Do you know where?" "I sure do. Up in Kohlingen," Gregory said. "Why do you ask?" "I'm looking for the Tintinabar." Miguel said. "Really? You know, we once had it - I mean the Returners," Gregory said. "Yeah? Now where is it?" Miguel asked. "I don't know. I don't know if we still have it." Gregory said. "Maybe Banon knows." "I can't waste the time. I have to get to Kohlingen as soon as possible," Miguel said. "Well, in that case, I hope I see you again," Gregory said. "I hope so too, old friend," Miguel replied and was off. On the way to his boat he met up with a very atractive woman. He hesitated; he gave thought to it, but coundn't waste the time for yet another one-night fling. He had a town to get to. Some of the sailors asked him if he got lucky but he ignored them and was out to sea extremely fast. He was on the verge of something big, he could feel it. He remembered once when going from Jidoor to Kohlingen wasn't so far. But now he has to go around a large mass of land and then twist up and around again. In his sailboat, it now took a good several days to get there. But he felt something extremely big at Kohlingen. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he had never doubted his instincts.