Raign took the stairs belowdecks two by two, the ease with which she navigated the ship speaking of long familiarity. Another short flight of steps took her into a broad room hung with hammocks and partitioned off into two sections by sheets hung from the low ceiling, one section markedly smaller than the other. Within it was every hammock excepting Raign's, which wasn't a hammock at all but a bunk in her cabin. She and Lucan had fought over that, loudly and not at all politely, Raign vehemently asserting that she had no more right to a cabin than anyone else - it might have been her ship but she was not the captain - but he'd won in the end. She could let him have the smaller victories, she supposed, though even with the great amount of common sense Raign possessed, it rankled. Not for the first time, she wondered how, being younger, she was the leader.

Shaking off the continuous debate, Raign scanned the hold and ducked behind the curtains, to find the personage she'd been looking for. Teirha raised a questioning eyebrow. "My lady?"

"We'll need three more hammocks here. And..." she paused to glance over at the opposite side, "five over there, if there's room. I'll - "

She stopped. Teirha just grinned. "I'd counted already, m'lady. There's room, if they're not averse to jamming in a little tight."

"They'd better not be," muttered Raign under her breath, ducking under the hung sheets again and striding towards the stairs, intending to speak with Captain Valtair.

_________________

Endymion had done her own shopping for what she needed for the journey before heading to the ship. She had gotten two bags of taffy, one her favorite flaver, the other a discusting taffy that made her puke. Both would serve her well on the trip if her stomach started acting up. She also bought a special liquid to help calm her stomach if the need arose, all was bought with her own well earned money. And it arose sooner than Laraina had hoped it would.

As soon as she stepped onto the ship, her stomach started doing backflips. Endymion hightailed it to below deck. A few minutes later she felt her lunch coming up, but new it would stay in her throat for awhile and torture her. That's where the bad taffy came in. She stuck a small piece in her mouth.

And then she ran up onto deck, and leaned over the rail, and she lost her lunch. Breathing hard, Endymion, drank deep from the liquid for her stomach.
"Motion sickness is not fun," she mumbled, leaning on the rail. "Especially if you travel as often as I do." Endymion sighed, and took another gulp from her flask of liquid...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

<i>"So...?" Siyem left the question open. Garvan had been trying to think of a suitable answer from the moment he had left the building.

"It was an old friend of mine from the army- we were in the same battalion. Well, he's gone into the tradin' business and needs help guardin' this shipment he's got. He knew I live here, and thought he'd offer me a job." He spoke confidently, lightly. He was a master at hiding thoughts and emotions- a skill learned from years in weapon training. "It doesn't pay bad, I can tell you that."

Siyem frowned. "Why you? There are plenty of swords for hire."

Nodding, Garvan said. "Aye, but you never know how many of those you can trust. I won't be tryin' to cut his throat and make off with his money in the night."

After more questions, Siyem had fallen silent. Garvan knew that was the closest thing to a 'yes' he was going to receive, and started packing. He only took a small bag, with his bedroll, cloak, and a few other essentials. He also put his sword, bow, and arrows into the pack, leaving his two daggers in their usual place at his belt.

He convinced Siyem to stay at the house instead of going with him to the docks. After warning that it could be a long trip and he would have many chances to write to her, they had said goodbye. Siyem seemed a bit distant in his arms. Maybe she could tell something more was happening. Garvan thought about it on his way to the ship. He was a good liar, yes, but a good enough one to fool his own wife?</i>

Stepping onto the ship's deck, Garvan had to stand still a moment. It had been years since he had sailed, and he wasn't used to the roll of a ship. Hopefully he would get his sea legs soon. He went belowdeck, not wanting to talk to Arren or any of the others.

In a quiet corner, his thoughts went backwards. Why had he come to this ship? He could have stayed at his home, or maybe left with Siyem for a few days in case anyone came to find him. His fingers traced the scar on his arm again. A friend had risked his own life to save Garvan's. He had told Siyem if it wasn't for his seven years in the military, he wouldn't be the man he was, physically, mentally, or emotionally. <i>I owe my life to those men.</i>

Yes, perhaps quite a bit of the call to duty still lingered within him. He couldn't deny, though, that fear had also been part of his reason. That Melwyn had made it clear treachery would be rewarded with death. <i>I'm not afraid for myself.</i> He thought. <i>But I did show Siyem that letter. If I didn't go, who knows what might happen to both of us?

Here I am then, sittin' in the innards of some broken-down ship. Breen, you should'a thought through this more. What if something happens? Siyem would-</i> He cut of that line of thought. Standing, he walked back up to the deck and leaned against the rail, looking out over the water.

"Boring ain`t it?"

Fyreg inquired casually as he suddenly appeared next to Garvan, who didn`t seem to want anything to with the rest of the group all tough truth be told none of them were making friends amongst each others. Fyreg himself found this as the perfect opportunity to study and examine his fellow `companions`, what a load of.... They were all alone in this world, groups, cities and the empire itself were lies. Everyone was out for themselves and others had managed to be born into a noble family or gain their power, wealth and fame. It really took him back, back to the day he had been just a kid.

He had been all alone on the streets, the other kids and gangs that were around were only seen as competition. He had crushed those that had been weaker and avoided those stronger than him, he had crawled and struggled to achieve his skills. Those skills might have seemed petty to a soldier of the empire, but then again Fyreg was not the type that liked to play fair or give mercy. Whatever you did was acceptable as long as you survived.

"As I earlier on said, I am Fyreg, so... what brings you to this happy cruise? Devotion to our glorious empire?" He guessed with the sarcasm and hate shining trough in his voice. "Or perhaps you own gain?"

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"Boring, ain't it?"

Garvan looked up to see the red-haired man join him at the rail. He nodded as Fyreg continued.

"What brings you to this happy cruise? Devotion to our glorious empire? Or perhaps your own gain?"

Garvan shook his head and shrugged. "Neither, I s'pose. That "High Captain" of ours didn't make it sound like we had much of a choice in the matter." He glanced at Fyreg, then back at the small waves lapping against the ship's side. "The way I see it, I'd rather die facing some monster than with a knife in my back in a dark street. B'sides, it's been a long time since I was off this island. Maybe I wanted a change of scenery, too."

He stood and stretched. "So, what about you?"

Fyreg hmhed quietly at his answer and scratched his neck after brushing aside his ponytail, he gazed at the sea quietly and once again looked back at his childhood. There had been many times he might have been stabbed in the back literally and yet he had managed to slip out of those situations as, if he had become immune to daggers. Yet he knew his limits and never overestimated his own armor or defense in any manner, that`s why he preferred to stay on the offensive. He glanced at Garvan quietly before looking at the sea again.

"Just in for the money, bashing some skulls on the way hopefully and at the end of the day drinking my well earned ale. It`s thirsty work.... killing that is... and in the end it doesn`t matter who or what I kill, as long as I get payed for it."

He answered with a wide smirk on his face as he made the last remark and gave the impression that he clearly enjoyed what he did, but there was a moment of apathy in his words in the end.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Arren shook his head. "No, I do not smoke. I have spent so much time in forests and deserts, that I am used to more...natural aromas," he said.

Leaning against the wall near Danil, Arren looked around. There wasn't anything that either of the two of them knew that the others didn't, but neither was this meant to be a general conversation, either. Thankfully, there was no one, at least--nobody close enough to overhear them.

Still, he pitched his voice lower.

"I think that you are trustworthy, Danil, and that you would even fulfill this mission without the prospect of pay," Arren said, "but what about the others? Do you know any of them? I confess--I have never seen nor heard of them, and I do not know how far to trust them. Once we are on Andayon, there is little to prevent them from vanishing. The island is large enough that it would be easy enough at first, and if they were tracked down, there is little we could do. I dislike having to fall back on another man's threat."

He sighed. For all he knew, even without anyone deserting, they might still be killed by whoever was out there, waiting.

Rubbing his temples, he continued. "It is perhaps a little early to be forming plans of action, but I think it would be best to try to get to know all of our companions as well as possible--if only to gauge what their actions will be. After all," he said, "we can't afford traitors, as the High Captain said. I'm only a thief hunter, and occasionally I hunt other things as well, but I will do what is necessary."

He barked a laugh. "Well, I have given all of my thoughts on the matter--I suppose I should let you have a turn at it, then."

Sometimes, doing what was necessary involved not telling the truth, even to those whose trust was necessary. Those thoughts that he hadn't mentioned would need a little more consideration.

---------------------

Okay, guys, I'm going to be gone tommorrow and the day after, so....Ellie and Melda, feel free to powerplay Arren if need be. Also, while perhaps a pirate attack or something would spice up the RPing while I'm gone....I'd hate to miss it.

_________________

Garvan nodded as Fyreg talked. He wasn't sure how to respond to the man, but he knew he would have to say something. <i>To hesitate, to pause even for a split second can bring you death.</i> It was one of the first rules he taught his students, and it had saved his life several times. <i>Who knows if I'll survive this little trip, though? All the rules and thoughts in the world might not help me.</i>

"Money is always helpful." he said lightly to the other man. "I suppose that was a draw for me, too." He paused for a moment, running a hand through his short hair. "It will be nice to use a sword again- a real sword, not those wooden practice ones."

"Will we need to port in Ghorindin for supplies, then?" With a finger Raign traced the route charted on the parchment spread over the table. "I hope to have the resources by then," she added, glancing once up at the man opposite.

Valtair was a greying man in his mid-forties, built solidly and broad through the shoulders. His hands, when he reached for the nearest instrument atop the table, were large and calloused from two decades of captaining a ship. He had been the Sea General before the cataclysm of the Jewel Isles, in charge of nearly the whole navy. A few other seamen remained, but Valtair was the only one of his rank. "They'll hold," he replied, voice slightly rasping from an old wound across the throat, and settled back into the desk chair bolted to the cabin floor. "See that none of the - passengers - use ought but their own supplies, and Andayon'll see us well provisioned, m'lady."

The ship listed slightly to one side in a swell of the ocean, and Raign unconsciously shifted balance, adjusting smoothly to the change. She had never had sea legs as a princess, but after being forced to flee, sea sickness had laid her low for almost two weeks, and she'd never been bothered by it since. "I'll keep an eye on it, then, Captain. You have my thanks." She turned, absently brushing stray tendrils of hair out of her face, and paused with her fingers on the doorknob as he spoke. "If it's all the same to you, m'lady, I don't trust a one of 'em. Would be a shame if things went aught awry."

Raign recognized what he warned against, in a roundabout sort of way, and a smile flickered over her lips. "Aye. That it would."

With that less than explicit reassurance, she exited, and wove through the crew of warriors-turned-half-sailor to make her way belowdecks. A glance into the hold told her sleeping arrangements were taken care of, and Raign retreated to her cabin. She felt a vague stab of annoyance, on passing a group of three talking (one of them the self-important man she'd somewhat clashed with earlier), at the complete lack of helpfulness any of the 'passengers' seemed to be exhibiting, and stifled it more out of habit than cause. Luckily the cabin did have a door that shut.

_________________

Endymion stood there a moment, leaning against the railing, eyes closed, chewing her favorite flavored taffy hard. After awhile the stomach ache was just a lull slightly tugging on her stomach. Her head was still pounding, but that didn't bother as much. Endymion could tell that she could hardly eat anything on this part of the journey. Nibble on some bread, sip some water. Anything more and she'd be worse off.
I should try not to be a burden, she thought, as she straightened. I should be usefull somewhere. Asking around with the crew, she found that she could help mend rope in a corner of the deck. She'd be out of the way, and still helping. Endymion sat in the corning under the steps to the wheel, and started working on mending the thick ropes after one of the crew showed her how...

_________________

(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Arren put his hand out as a means of getting Danil to be quiet for a minute. Raign was walking past, and she didn't look very happy. He thought quickly. She had offered her ship, though she had still demanded payment; she was of some position that was very hush-hush, if the attitude of her sailors was anything to go by; and most importantely, she seemed angry.

With a slight grimace to Danil, and wondering if this was the best thing to be doing, Arren headed after her.

"Mistress Raign!" he called out, catching her by the arm before she could enter her cabin and seal it to the outside. He drew his arm back quickly, though, before she could take it amiss. "You have offered the use of your ship for this mission, and seem to possess a position of high rank as well--you are practical and apparently accustomed to command. I am sorry I did not ask this earlier." Arren paused, then, realizing that perhaps his words could be taken the wrong way, he hurried on. "Would you come and take counsel with Master Tharkan and I, in order that we may have a suitable plan, approved by three people with very different mindsets?" he asked, throwing a quick glance over his shoulder to see how Danil would take it--the Craandorian could hear them without a doubt, but he had also not seemed to get on the best with Raign.

He realized that that might present a difficulty from Raign's point of view, as well.

"Please, Mistress Raign--put aside whatever strife or ill-will that you bear towards our good Craandorian Captain, and work towards the accomplishment of that for which we have been hired. Your advice would undoubtedly be a great asset to us," Arren said, his voice sounding somewhat earnest, but also somewhat doubtful--after all, who could know what went on in the mind of a woman, save the woman herself? He had never professed to be able to, at any rate. Perhaps he had somehow gravely insulted her, in which case, if women he had known in the past were anything to go by, she would be almost unbearable to be near for the next few days at the least.

And so it was with earnestnous in his voice and trepidation in his mind that he asked for the counsel of a woman.

-------------

Okay, that last bit was totally random, and I have no idea where it's going to go. It would seem to be up to you, Melda. And Ellie, since Danil must react. o_O

_________________

Raign would have agreed with very few qualms to give her opinion - she certainly had one, and to have any effect on the proceedings would certainly be a good thing - and she certainly didn't mind being asked, but it rankled that this man would assume she and the commander behind him were somehow at odds. Aye, he'd been somewhat unhelpful earlier, and Raign had taken no great liking to him, but in all pragmatism there wasn't a particle of sense in letting that cloud her judgment. Had she really given such an impression as to make this Arren so very sensitive?

It mattered very little, in any case. She didn't care how they perceived her - indeed, the group in general was the least of her concerns. Raign turned, folding her arms, and met Arren's gaze. "You are welcome to my opinion," she conceded, inclining her head very slightly, "though I wonder that you would think me averse to assisting you merely because of a less than glowing first impression." She indicated Danil as the object of such, and paused momentarily. "Aye, then, you'll have my counsel."

A last thought did occur, and Raign debated inwardly whether to voice it. "I am not a mistress, nor a lady," she added as coolly as she could manage. This was where pride had to be stamped upon, and with vigor. Lucan's reaction would have been a sight; fortunate that he was in his cabin. "'Raign' will suffice." Even among her own, she did not quite condone the use of a title. Its remaining was almost solely due to 'Lord' Lucan. That had been the catalyst of another argument. If Raign had been the type, her expression would have twisted in resigned wryness at the thought.

_________________

(I'm back! *enters awkwardly*...)

From her vantage point on the forecastle, Aidne had noticed the girl - the young one - and especially her reaction to seafaring. Now, as she bent to her task with the stiff, dry hemp, Aidne approached her. From the pocket of her coarse skirt, she produced a handkerchief, in which was knotted a small bundle of brown, withered herbs. "Here, lass," she offered, "chew on a few of these." She popped a few in her own mouth for emphasis. "I'm not too partial to the sea m'self. Still, you can get used to it if you have to." Her green eyes glanced piercingly into the girl's face, which was half-covered by hanging hair, for just a moment. "It's Laraina, no? Your first time in the straits, then? Just be glad we're not on the true ocean."

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Laraina jumped slightly when she heard the womans voice, and looked up. She had had all her attention on fixing the rope, that she didn't see her come up. Thankfully she put a few of the hurbs in her mouth that she was offered. It helped a little more.
"Thank you, and yes, it's Laraina. But usually I go by Endymion. Also, it's not my first time traveling by ship. I do it regularly. It's just my stomach hates me sometimes," she said, standing to stretch her legs which had fallen asleep on her...

_________________

(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

((*runs in* Sorry for not posting sooner- I've been having a bit of trouble signing on the past day or so))

Garvan looked up as a woman joined the two men. <i>What's her name?</i> He was beginning to wish he had paid more attention when they had first met back on land. <i>Lee... Líadán.</i> That was it.

"How are you liking our ship ride?" He asked her, turning around to lean back against the rails. His own stomach didn't quite agree with sailing, but he found if he thought about other things, it helped. There certainly was plenty to think about, too.

Aidne peered up at the girl for a moment, eyes veiled. Trying to fit in with the menfolk, then? Recognition and camaraderie were slightly more difficult than a name change. Well, no matter at present, but it did reveal a little more about her.

Rising as well, she merely agreed, "Aye, stomachs are funny things. Just when you've got 'em under control they decide to leap through your throat."

The Craandorian calvaryman was nearby, staring intently at something over the rail. Following his gaze, she found the small boat, bobbing nonchalantly on the waves. "What'll that be, Captain?" she asked him, raising her voice against the wind. "Some fisherman or other?"

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>