The water in the harbor laps at the edge of the quay. Along the pier, a priest of Netari walks back and forth ceremoniously, offering a supplication to his god for a safe and rapid voyage for the vessel. As the water reaches the high tide marker, the captain looks over at the hourglass perched in its gimbals next to the ship's bell, an impatient look on his face.
He says a word to his clerk, who runs below deck, and returns a minute later with the mate in tow. The mate and captain converse quietly, the captain scowling, and the mate with a look of weary suffering.
Then the clerk, standing by points towards the land end of the pier. As all eyes follow, they can see a fancy looking carriage turn onto the quay, drawn by four horses. The carriage pulls to a stop near to the ship, and the door opens, in such a way that the crew and passengers of the Starlight's Veil can get a reasonable look inside.
Lord Adelin Mallaby steps out, his elegant town clothes not made one whit more martial looking by the addition of a long rapier at his side. His hand remains clasped to that of the attractive and well-dressed lady who stands in the open door.
"Farewell, my dear," Mallaby says, "I shall not be too long." He bends forward to kiss her hand, and then separates from her, moving towards the ship, his fingers lingering on hers briefly before he lets go, smiles, then turns and walks up the gangplank.
"Captain," he announces, "I have come on board. Are we ready to sail?"
"Ready, my lord," the captain says. Then in a booming voice yells "All hands on deck! Stand by to cast off!"
There is a rush of activities with sailors running in all directions about the ship. The hawsers holding the ship to the pier are drawn in, the anchor is weighed, and as the outgoing tide pulls the Starlight's Veil towards the harbor mouth, some of the crew clambers up the masts and unfurls the topsails.
"Well and sailorly done," Mallaby says. He turns to his new companions. "Let us go below. I'll show you your cabin myself, and we can take a look at the map."
He turns, and walks down the short stairway leading under the poopdeck.