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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Taboo" data-source="post: 362538" data-attributes="member: 5912">The Voyage to OakhurstThey were ready to head to Oakhurst. Kierwin had already been praying to Elhonna all morning that Minx would keep her temper under control and that Turk would steer clear of her on the trip. She thought maybe she should pray again, just to be safe.Thorin put his little box in the water and spoke the word “NOS”, the box dutifully became a ship. The group, as well as Justice (which made it a little tighter fit, she was a rather large, though very well behaved horse) boarded the ship. They had a 5 day journey ahead of them to reach their destination.This time, there were no sea monsters (whales) to panic anyone. Snap kept completely to himself, as far from the others as possible. No amount of coaxing could yield any results. It was infuriating to his friends to see him like this!  They were running or rather had run out of ideas.Kierwin was getting more and more worried about Rowena’s strange condition. She thought that if it was caused by shock that it should have worn off by now, especially with the care that they’d tried to give her. She decided to spend even more time with her, and even tried healing spells. She got nowhere. Either she was just too inexperienced and Rowena’s condition was beyond her skills or Rowena had something far different wrong with her than everyone thought.  They still didn’t even know her real name, where she was from, or how long she’d been on that pirate ship. This woman was as big a mystery as Snap.Turk continued to care for Rowena, she still seemed to trust him the most. She had ever since they’d all been thrown together on the pirate ship. Whenever Turk wasn’t around, Kierwin watched over her. She made sure she ate and slept, and had whatever she needed.Thorin got along with everyone. Just as he had on the voyage to Aguila, he kept watch for any kind of dangers that might come along. He was a slightly unusual dwarf, friendly, quick to climb around on the mast and just plain do whatever needed doing.  Geirmund spent most of his time at the helm during the day, giving it up only to rest.  He was quiet, but also got along well with everyone.Osa and Turk continued their relationship (for lack of a better word) during the voyage. Kierwin could see Minx’s eyes smolder with fury when she noticed that Turk’s bedding was empty and he was in the cabin with Osa at night during Kierwin and Minx’s watch.  So far, Minx had refrained from starting anything, and had remained true to her word that she’d keep out of it. Everything went fine until the last day of the voyage, that is....At dawn, Kierwin had been praying to Elhonna, then, as usual, Minx took her turn during their shared watch to study her spell book. Just as she finished and stood up to admire the beautiful day and the sight of the ocean, Turk came out of the cabin stretching with a smile and a very satisfied look on his face.  That did it. Minx whispered under her breath that Osa was a tramp, not expecting Turk to actually hear her.  Turk made a beeline toward Minx.Kierwin just dropped her head onto her hands as she stayed at the helm. She prayed with all her heart and soul that the two of them didn’t kill each other and that Minx didn’t burn the ship down in her fury. She also prayed that Snap didn’t come to Minx’s defense and do anything at all for that matter, a quick glance showed her that he was still asleep, but he wouldn't stay that way if things got out of control.  At this stage, she had no idea what Snap was capable of.  She almost wished for a real sea monster right now, or a freak storm just for a distraction. Almost anything would be better than what she was sure was about to become a major fight. She was tempted to beg Elhonna for a storm, but of course, she knew that wouldn’t work!Minx ripped into Turk, what was done was done, there was no going back. “You are a pig, you realize that don’t you? Do you know she’s married? You have no morals! I take that back. You’re worse than that, you’re morally corrupt! And for that matter, Osa IS a tramp!”Turk was turning red with the effort of trying to remember she was a lady and a member of the group and not losing his temper. He was also trying not to say or do something he’d regret, like kill her. “It’s..none..of..your..business..and..I..strongly..recommend..that..you..remove..yourself..from..my..sight..right..now.”Minx never backed down from anything, not when she thought she was right, and right now, she thought she was. “Look! I said I wouldn’t say anything in front of the so-called “ladies” and I’m not! But you… YOU think you’re chivalrous? You’re sleeping with a married woman! I don’t care what state her marriage is in, and that her husband is ancient and half dead! It’s not even so much the point that she’s married, it’s the fact that you’re sleeping with her and you just met her! MEN!  And YOU!!! YOU ARE ONE OF THE WORST I’VE EVER MET!!!  You make me sick!  How can you do that?  You may have Kierwin tricked into thinking you’re honorable and chivalrous, but I can see you for what you really are. A dishonorable pig!”Turk was nearly shaking with rage and trying to contain it.“You need to learn that you are overly judgmental and you can’t force your values on people. You are an intelligent person, but you’ve got a lot to learn about the world little lady. You just flat out don't know what you're talking about.  I find you completely without honor, and you've no right to speak of this here or anywhere else, for that matter! Please drop this before it gets any worse, I have no wish to fight you or to carry on with this. My warning stands, and it's the last one.  Don’t ever challenge me like this in front of Osa, Rowena or any other lady who happens to be around. I won’t tolerate you dishonoring any lady.”  He started to turn and walk away, but this time Minx wouldn’t back down. She continued her tirade, and grabbed him by the arm to stop him. "I wouldn't be surprised if you're bedding poor Rowena, too. It's not like she could even stand up for herself." That was her mistake.Turk pulled off a gauntlet, and threw it at Minx's feet, actually challenging her to a duel. He’d been pushed too far this time.  "I've put up with your endless tirades because you're a Lady, and I will not fight a Lady unless driven to, but you've just gone too far.  If you'd been a man, I'd have struck you down long ago for speaking like this in public. I've asked you to drop this, it's none of your business, and you really don't know anything about it."Of course Minx did back down at the threat of a duel, she had no wish to physically fight Turk, but she certainly found the man to be without honor! She realized her mistake, now when it was too late. Fine, let Kierwin deal with him, she seemed to like him for some odd reason! Kierwin had lifted her head from her hands and witnessed the exchange. Oh, Elhonna, what should I do now? She didn’t wish to interfere, but she also didn’t wish to see either of her friends dead, or the boat burned to cinders and lying at the bottom of the ocean. This stupid mess had to stop. She nearly ran the short distance to the two people. One, whom she’d known all her life and loved even more than a sister. The other whom she’d only just met, but trusted with her life. She took Turk by the elbow and the look on her face and in her emerald eyes begged him to hear her out.He listened to her pleas. It wasn’t much more than she’d said before, Minx had always been hard headed and expected others to have her strict values. She did jump to conclusions, and she was judgmental, but she would hold up her end of the group. Any arguments she had on a personal level would never affect the way she functioned as part of the group itself. No matter what Minx thought of Osa, she would even risk her own life to protect her.Kierwin would talk to her again and make sure she understood just how strongly Turk felt about what she said in front of the ladies. Kierwin knew Turk was hurting, but beyond the fact that he was upset about worrying about Minx bring ing things up in front of the ladies, she had no idea what else was going on in his head or heart. She would keep trying try to keep Minx from blowing up at Turk again. If she didn’t meet those conditions, then Kierwin would go along with what Turk decided. Kierwin wouldn’t stand in his way again and whatever happened, she wouldn’t hold it against him.  Friendship with Minx aside, after this, she wouldn't stand in the way (she didn't mention that she wasn't sure what Snap would do).  If Minx agreed to those conditions, and stayed clear of the ladies, completely clear, Turk was willing to give her one more chance. One more outburst and that was it. The duel would be back on. Kierwin agreed, reluctantly, but she didn't have much choice.Minx went back to Kierwin and the look they exchanged told her everything that Kierwin had promised Turk. Minx knew Kierwin had just kept her and Turk from fighting the duel and what the promise had meant. Minx wished she hadn't said anything about Osa, even under her breath. She had never meant it to be heard.  She really hadn't meant anything about Rowena, even Turk wouldn't stoop to that, it had just burst out in the argument.  The timing, the look on Turk’s face, and just the thought of what had gone on in the cabin had overwhelmed her. After 115 years, she couldn't just change overnight! Her parents brought her up with very strict morals and standards, and she intended to keep them. No matter how hard she tried, she’d need time to work on keeping her opinions to herself. She would work on it, she’d promised Kierwin she would, and she always kept her word, at least she tried.Kierwin prayed again, she had a feeling she was going to be praying a lot during this trip.  This was going to be a long trip and they hadn’t even gotten off the boat and into Oakhurst yet.</blockquote>

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