Sailing Into Trouble

[Northen Light36]

Flash surveyed the deck thoughtfully, noting everyone's position carefully. Damien, looking a touch green from seasickness that still refused to leave him alone, sat talking quietly with Shadow. Both men had taken the journey to work out some of the issues between them and restore their old friendship. As they chatted, each of them would occassionally glance over at Ann.

Flash couldn't blame them for their protectiveness. The young Fire had been getting increasingly restless during the long trip. Understandable, there wasn't much for an energetic child to do on the ship. But her restlessness had her getting into mischief... Like now, when she was perched dangerously on the bow rail.

"Ann!" Damien's voice rang out. "Get down from there!"

"But... I can see land!" the eight year old called back, looking over her shoulder. Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "We're nearly there!"

"Just in time to stop that child climbing the mast in boredom," Flash remarked to Lya with a grin. "Though I'm beginning to think poor Damien will never lose that green tinge."

[Kender Bard]

Lya rested a hand on her stomach idly and smiled at Flash. "I can admit that I sympathize." She shivered faintly. "And I'll be happy to be fully dry for a while. This sea breeze is tiring."

As the ship drew nearer to land, it was obvious they'd been spotted. Three ships off the port were beginning to make their way over to them, sporting flags of black and gold. The eclipse was emblazoned upon them.

Lya frowned at that. "That seems familiar," she murmured.

[Northen Light36]

Flash frowned as well, eying the flag uneasily. "It should," he murmured. "It looks very like the symbol that priest wore. I don't think I like this..." He caught Damien and Shadow's eyes and saw they had begun to look wary to. "Ann," he called quietly. "Go to your uncle, sweetheart."

Picking up on the unease of the adults, Ann's excitement was dampened down instantly. Without a word, she got carefully off the bow rail and hurried over to Damien as swiftly as the slippery deck would allow.

Damien patted her shoulder then murmured, "Go below deck to our cabin and stay there until I call you." He gave his niece a little push in the right direction as excouragement to obey swiftly, but never took his eyes off the approaching ships.

Ann hesitated, glancing around at the adults, then scrambled below deck as ordered... But not to her and Damien's cabin. She stayed on the stairs leading below deck, just high enough that she could see what was happening but duck out of sight if need be.

[Kender Bard]

The ships moved swiftly, cutting through the water, and broke into a formation to partially surround the royal vessel.

The man in the crow's nest exchanged shouted words with another before floating down on a cushion of wind. "My lords, they request to dock and speak with us," the crewmate told them.

[Northen Light36]

"Do we really have a choice?" Damien remarked, his tone tripping with dry sarcasm.

"Probably not," Shadow replied grimly. "But let's try diplomacy and tact before we get hostile... But be ready for trouble, Dami." He nodded to the crewmate. "Tell them we will allow it." With that, he and Damien made their way over to Lya and Flash. "Lya, do you want to go below deck with Ann? They're sending someone on board, apparently to talk but there could be trouble."

[Kender Bard]

"I... think that would be best," Lya agreed unhappily. She headed for the stairs, worried.

A gang lank was placed, linking the ships. A richly dressed man boarded their ship, flanked by three guards.

[Northen Light36]

Ann scrambled hastily down the stairs when she saw Lya approaching so it didn't look like she'd completely disobeyed, but she couldn't make herself go to her cabin without answers. "What's happening?" she asked when Lya was downstairs, looking up at the queen with wide eyes.

Flash shifted slightly so he'd be better able to draw his sword and kept a wary eye on the three guards as Shadow and Damien exchanged a brief look, silently deciding who'd take the lead.

After a moment, Shadow stepped forward. "Welcome aboard," he greeted the man, politely. "I am King Shadow Brightmore, ruler of Kingdom Caelium in Naruta."

"And I am Honoured Leader Damien, ruler of the nation of Naurorod in Naruta," Damien added. "Who might you be?" As he spoke, he casually looked the man and the guards over, looking for any hint of their signs.

[Kender Bard]

Lya sighed, tried to turn Ann around towards the rooms. "A man from one of the ships wants to talk with us," she explained. "Probably the harbor master. Your uncle and Shadow will see to him."

The man who crossed the gangplank was richly dressed, far more than the three guards he had brought with him. One of the guards was clearly a Beast, a rat affinity. The second and third guards' signs were hidden from view. A slit in the pants of their leader showed a faint flash of yellowish skin, possibly a Storm sign.

"I am Captain Sune of my lord's ship," he replied with a small frown. "Your titles are strange. Foreign. What is this Naruta?"

[Northen Light36]

"Naruta is the land across the sea," Damien replied, saying no more then required to answer the question.

Ann allowed Lya to lead her back to the cabins, though she slipped into Lya and Shadow's cabin rather then go to her and Damien's. "Why's everyone worried then?" she asked, not satisfied with Lya's answer.

[Kender Bard]

"Because it is a good idea to be cautious with strangers," Lya explained as she sat on the edge of the bed.

The stranger frowned at the clipped answer, trying to puzzle out what was afoot. "If you speak of some Anarlinan island, I will still need to see your safe passage papers."

[Northen Light36]

Ann accepted this answer. It was close enough to the clans attitude about strangers that it rang true to the little girl. So she sat quietly next to Lya and asked, "What do you think the new land will be like?"

"Analina? I'm afraid we don't know of what you speak," Shadow replied. "Naruta lies a long journey across the sea."

"Is there perhaps someone of higher rank we could speak with?" Damien added.

[Kender Bard]

"I bet it's not much different from Naruta," Lya said with a small smile. "People toiling in the fields or working in a shop. Just trying to get by."

The harbor master began to give a sharp reply, but then hesitated. He began to see potential for profit or at least being owed a favor. "Yes," he answered curtly instead. "Although it will take a short amount of time to send a letter and fetch him. Would yo uprefer to remain on your ship or would you like to dock? Stretch your legs a bit, share some wine and cheese?"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow and Damien exchanged a thoughtful look. The offer seemed harmless enough, but both men still felt unsettled and wary. As nice as it might be to be on land, here on the ship they were on their own turf, so to speak.

"I think we'll remain on the ship for now," Shadow replied. "Though I thank you for your offer."

---

"Do you think I might make a friend?" Ann asked quietly, looking up at Lya. "I'd like someone to play with."