With the eggs of the loctors properly marked, and knowledge of the spell spread amongst the crew, the rest of the trip became much smoother. Enoki would watch from the upper desk as ze choked down the stacks of mage tact ze was to consume by the end of the trip as the giant salt crystals glowed softly. It had the bonus effect of acting like lighthouses to help guide them through the sea at night. Even if the goal was to avoid them when possible. 

The hardest thing, more so than the tact, was the constant salt forming on the ship. It formed like frost in the harsh daylight as the splashing waves evaporated. Whenever it got too thick, someone would activate a ship rune and it would send salt flakes flying off and settling down like snowflakes. This led to a small debate with the captain on the last day of the trip.

“What do you mean I can’t keep the salt I’ve been collecting?” Enoki was taking a sack ze had found in one of the magic closets, and was trying to hold it out of reach of the captain.

“It’s considered theft in the country. You don’t have a license to take and sell that salt!” He tried to swipe it away again, only for Enoki to stretch out further. “I am not paying fees because you have spent the last 5 days of this trip collecting who knows how much salt to sell!”

Enoki groaned. “But It’d be so good for me to cook with! Think of the salt baked fish. The Jerky. Potato chips!”

“Enoki, I can’t let you sell anything made with salt that hasn’t been checked or purchased legally. Cast off salt isn’t legal without the licenses. So give it back.”

Crackle let out a sigh as she trotted over. Her mane stayed stiff and upright due to the sheer amount of salt that needed to be brushed out. “Enoki, give over the bag you gathered. We have to be fair.”

“But I helped solve the mystery of the attacking loctors.” Enoki pouted, trying to gain even an ounce of sympathy.

“Maybe, but someone might trace it back to him. And I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble. So hand over the one bag you gathered.” Crackle gently placed her hands on the sack, giving a sympathetic smile.

Ze looked between the two before handing over the sack. “Can I at least have my sack back after you dump it?”

The captain gave a nod and walked back to the aft. As the flakes flew into the air, Crackle patted Enoki’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. This isn’t high quality anyway. We can get better from the salt farms on shore.”

“But what if we need the salt for the cheese making?” Enoki’s gloved hand rubbed the shaved part of hir hair. “Or if we need certain kinds of salt for things later?”

“Oh! If that’s what you’re worried about, then I wouldn’t stress too much.” Crackle leaned in a bit, pulling Enoki to an easier to speak level. “I know where we can get good salt water no matter where we are. Just don’t ask questions, ok?”

Now that was an interesting thought. What magic would be involved in that, ze wondered.

***

Once ashore, Enoki was holding onto Noodles as best ze could. The fairnot seemed excited to finally be back ashore and even more so to see their magic wagon again. As the wagon began to return to normal size, it was all ze and Kraken could do to keep the beloved pet from running inside it. 

“Did you have to keep this furball?! I’m sure we can leave it at a dump somewhere.” Kraken half growled through their gritted fangs.

Enok twisted hir head completely around. “Don’t you ever suggest this sweet baby be left behind.”

“This type of drag- GAH!” Kraken’s thought was interrupted by Noodles stretching to full height on its tail, trying to push Kraken away.

Enoki dangled off Noodles, just a few inches off the ground as the wagon finally got to full size. Hir body swayed slightly as Noodles gave a light sniff. Enoki was knocked to the ground as Noodles ran in a circle and into the wagon. Giving hir head a good shake, Enoki glanced at Kraken refusing to let go as the two disappeared inside.

Crackle chuckled. “Well. We have that sorted. So how quick do you want to get to my hometown?”

“As soon as possible. Even soft cheeses can take a while to get the right texture and flavor. If I need to make a harder cheese… and I’ve never done it before.” Enoki let out a soft sigh. “Which means I’ll probably need to get some quick lessons.”

Crackles ears flopped down. “Yes. I suppose you will need someone to help. But we can figure that out later.”

The movement didn’t go unnoticed by Enoki. But maybe it wasn’t the time to ask. After all, Enoki had the feeling the entire reason Crackle was traveling in the first place was to get away from something. Maybe she was bad at her family craft. Or she didn’t like the idea of joining the family business. There was no telling.

“Hey, I’m going to hit up one of the food stalls before we go.” Enoki grinned. “I want to get some snacks.”

En’mat looked back to Enoki. “Just a food stall! Don’t get into trouble.”

“Sure thing, Mom.” Enoki laughed as ze headed down the street.

Whenever ze was looking for food during travel, ze would bounce between looking at guides, asking the locals, or following hir nose. Today, Enoki had decided it was hir nose’s turn. The air was heavy with the scent of different dried spices and the shouting of merchants. Ze closed hir eyes, reminding hirself that there was only a little bit of time to get the needed food. Hir ears started to focus on the sounds of cooking. The gentle scraping of metal against metal. People biting and tearing into their food. 

After a moment, ze caught the scent of heavily spiced meat. The sound of it gently sizzling away. But not just that. There was the smell of salt. Not like what they had experienced crossing the gulf. This salt felt almost stinging to the nose. Opening hir eyes, Enoki made hir way over to the street vendor. It was a granny centaur woman and a young human male. 

“Fresh Solvat Sticks! Fried koin! Salt fried treats galore! Come one! Come all!”

Enoki looked at the spot. The woman had been here for many years based on the Stones set up with fires roaring away inside. Some of the sand had turned to glass over the years that had blown inside the fires home. Above one fire was a grill. Sticks of meat spiced with what smelled similar to turmeric gently sizzled away as gentle char formed on their surface. Next to it? A pot of green oil bubbling. It’s slightly murky nature made it look like it was almost time to change it out. The granny was scooping out what must have been the koin. Small brown squares of what looked like shaped beans mixed with herbs. 

The last spot held Enoki’s attention the most. It was what ze had hoped to see in person one day back home. Above that fire was a wok filled with heated salt. No water. No oil. Just coarse salt that was slowly changing from pink, to red, to black. The young man shook it and used tongs to check some small erikins and nuts. Enoki stared in wonder as the salt frying continued. Ze had always wanted to try it, but had been nervous about doing something wrong in hir little one bedroom apartment. 

Especially after the popcorn incident.

“Hello friend! Do you want some? We can do a special price for you.”

Enoki already knew there was a high chance ze’d be paying more than one should. But for the chance to try these new foods? Well. 

“Yeah I’ll take one of everything. I’m starving.” Enoki said as ze pulled out hir coin. 

The young man grinned as he quickly grabbed small woven baskets with one hand and scooped out a good amount of nuts with the other. “Not a problem friend! Hunger is always greatest after a good sea voyage.”

The old granny took the coin with a wrinkled hand, blowing on the coins slightly. Her eyes became filled with various runes as she seemed to check the coin’s validity. With a warm smile she put the coin into her apron and started loading up another basket. “Well, with this much coin we can give you double. Let’s make sure you eat well, hmm?”

The two baskets were quickly loaded up with the skewers, fried squares, nuts, and tubers. A third basket had what looked like a shawarma wrap and a healthy serving of purple puffed rice that had been fried in the salt as well. By the time all of that and a few salt fried eggs had been placed into the basket, Enoki was gently wiping the drool from the corner of hir mouth. 

Finally, a proper taste of the area. Sure the cheese and dried fruits were missing, but no culture could truly be contained in just one or two foodstuffs. Enoki happily walked away from the stall, carrying the three baskets as ze put one of the koin in hir mouth. The hard crunchy outside gave way to a yellow and blue swirled fluffy interior. The mix of bean and nut flavors were mellowed by the sharp garlic and onion-like spice. The undertones of the herbs made Enoki feel like ze could just float away with the warm steam coming from the inside.

Too bad instead then grip of a strong blue arm wrapped around hir stomach and dragged Enoki into the air.

“Sorry, my infinite hunger. But we need to run now.”

“My snacks!” Enoki stretched hir hands to quickly cover the food like a blanket, only losing an egg and a few nuts in the process. 

Why did dinner always have to be interrupted by someone wanting to chase them down? This was getting very annoying.