something to the sailor who had appeared behind him. At the same time, the beastman bristled and let out a rather unfriendly growl.
The soldiers on duty by the gangway also took notice and looked up. The only person who paid no heed to the commotion was the Ytren, who was lugging a heavy crate. The sailor seemed to be explaining something to the surly legionnaire, but the latter merely wrenched his hand away and snorted. The man, with a haughty expression on his face, descended the gangway. The legionaries below merely exchanged glances and shrugged.
‘Get out of my way, you savage!’ the man shouted the moment his feet touched the stones of the quay. The lad carrying the crate kept as far away from the ship as possible and did not react to the insult hurled in his direction. He didn’t seem to notice the furious soldier at all. The legionnaire, seeing that he had been completely ignored, took a few steps forward and forcefully shoved Ytren off the jetty into the harbour basin. Neither the lad nor anyone else present had time to react.
Einar, without waiting for anyone’s response, rushed towards the shore. He knew full well that certain parts of the harbour’s waters harboured real dangers. Before anyone else could move, the young Toinen was already kneeling at the edge of the jetty, scanning the murky water. Suddenly, a mop of brown hair emerged from the depths, followed immediately by a face contorted with fear. The boy began gasping for air frantically, trying not to sink beneath the surface. Were it not for his gouged forehead and the blood trickling rapidly from it, one might have thought he was perfectly fine.
Einar sprang to his feet when he heard a mocking cackle behind him. The legionary who had pushed the poor lad into the water was laughing his head off. A small crowd had gathered on the deck of the imperial vessel. The soldiers, including Tahon, stood staring at the scene in stunned silence.
‘What on earth was that?!’ Einar roared in fury, whilst trying
