At the entrance of the Grocery Store across from Shallow Water Pier, Jasper, covered in injuries, sat slumped against the wall.
Luckily, the Grocery Store Boss still had some conscience. He brought out a blanket from inside and wrapped it around Jasper. There was a dark purple swelling the size of a bowl on Jasper's chest, left by a crewman jabbing him there with a pole.
Every breath made his chest burn with pain.
The night sea breeze swept over him, and he tugged the blanket tighter around himself.
Roy limped over from Deep Water Pier and immediately spotted Jasper sitting against the wall.
He crouched in front of Jasper, grabbed his shoulders with both hands, and said excitedly, "Jasper, it's wonderful that you escaped! I was worried you'd be trapped in the Bottom Cabin. Sorry, I couldn't keep my promise. I couldn't get you out of there!"
Jasper weakly raised one hand and forced a smile.
"It's fine. That naga assassin brought back an axe and a chisel, so we made a hole in the bottom of the ship and escaped!"
"I've been waiting here for you for quite a while."
He added weakly.
"Come on, I'll take you back to the temple and have High Priest Reed treat your injuries!"
Roy crouched down, draped Jasper's arm over his shoulder, wrapped an arm around his waist, and supported him toward Brown Street beyond the pier.
"Roy, did you call all the coastal troops over here?"
Jasper looked at the Great Elf Archers on the pier and asked enviously.
"I just reported that we were trapped aboard the Sea Wolf to the port Guard Squad..." Roy said.
The two supported each other as they slowly headed toward the Goddess of Freedom Temple.
Before long, they disappeared into the vast