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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arcturion" data-source="post: 3736158" data-attributes="member: 54632">1.0 Darksail ArgosyAccepting Eltera’s offered hand, Rentiki smiled broadly and gestured toward the western lane of the boardwalk, letting out another rumbling guffaw at the mention of his First Mate as they walked. “Aye, he can at that. You know, it wasn’t the first time his tongue had landed him in troubled waters. I found the man just off the Isle of Tysis and it seemed he had run afoul of some Mykosian myrmidons hired by a local lord there. Such disagreeable folk, they are. Apparently, Hashad said the wrong thing to one of his daughters, and was going to have his most delicates removed for the slight against her honor.” At this, Rentiki grinned and placed his free hand against his belly as it shook with remembered mirth.“Well, I recognized a good sailor when I saw one, and offered to buy his freedom instead. Why let a salty dog’s skills go to waste, I thought? The price was rather steep, mind you, but fortunately the scruples of these particular myrmidons were for sale to the highest bidder. They had been ordered to bring back Hashad’s, how shall we say, parts as proof of their success, so what were they to offer as a substitute to placate their lord, they asked? At the time, I was dealing in the ivory and fur trade, something I dabble in from time to time still, and it just so happened I had some extra parts leftover from some rather exotic beasts that would do the trick.“Ah, a thousand pardons,” Rentiki smiled apologetically, placing his free hand upon Eltera’s at his elbow and patting gently. “Forgive me, such talk is unseemly in the company of a lady, I know. But needless to say, Hashad has been in my debt ever since. Eh, your hand, dear Cat? Have you hurts there beneath these bandages?” The Captain’s tone had gone from jovially tongue-in-cheek as he finished his bawdy tale to one of seemingly genuine concern.Trying not to wince from the pain at his touch upon her hand, Eltera gazed up at the large man’s face, averting her eyes for a brief moment as a quick thought formed in her mind to deflect the sudden question. “Oh, this? It’s nothing,” the dark aelf began absently. Strangely, she found herself speaking the Daoshan language as easily as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Had she been talking in the oddly consonant-heavy human tongue all this time without even realizing it? “A parry gone awry, is all it is. What, my dear Captain? You did not think the sword I wear at my side was just for show, did you?” Eltera did her best to sound convincing, using her free hand to pat Amurisil sheathed at her waist for emphasis. She flashed the man a lop-sided smile that bespoke of playfulness she did not truly feel. “In these uncertain times, a lady must learn to defend herself, after all, be it from unscrupulous pirates or lascivious first mates. The role of a damsel in distress does not suit me at all, I find.”At this, Rentiki’s grin was broad indeed. “Well, it’s a good thing Hashad broke off as he did, lest your blade finish what those myrmidons began,” he laughed, sounding quite amused. “A fine blade it is, too, one quite fitting for a female warrior. My, you’re a rare breed, my dear Cat. I would surely like to test your skills at the sword, but I fear I was never much for dueling with steel as I am with words. Bad for business, you see. But the mere pleasure of your company is reason enough for a respite from counting coin and brokering agreements over levies. Tiresome work, that. These Dracians, they so love their taxes. It makes me wonder why I keep doing business here at all. And yet, the City of Spires has a certain charm, wouldn’t you agree?”The Captain was well armed for a business man, Eltera noted, remembering the pistol tucked in its golden sash, the cutlass sheathed at his side, and the throwing knives over Rentiki’s barrel chest. As they walked, the dark aelf tried to listen in on the conversations of the people going about their daily lives around them. Her sharp ears picked up bits and pieces here and there, teamsters haranguing with longshoreman over the placement of goods into wagons driven by long-horned and scaly-hide aurochs, sailors swearing colorful oaths as they threw a game of bones while drunk on grog even in the early morning haze, and fishmongers extolling the virtues of the day’s catch as they curried the favor of potential customers. While some conversed in the Common tradespeak, most spoke in the halting language of the Dracians, a tongue she was not supposed to have known, and yet, she understood their words clear as day.“But, as you say, dear Cat,” Rentiki replied, continuing to talk even as Eltera’s attention was focused on the idle chatter of passersby. “Ah, I just remembered. I have a surgeon on board the Argus, should you require it. He should still be there, as a matter of fact.” The Captain stopped, gesturing back toward his ship. “Perhaps he can tend to your hurts? Please, you can use my cabin.”</blockquote>

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