[PYROS - CH3] Deepest Blue

[Ross Fisher]

Szejmus sat back against the rail. He'd just about enough of this gods-cursed tub. Two weeks they'd been on the water. He should've been home long ago.

Mikki was back there talking a sailor's ear off. Kid had picked up bad habits on this voyage (all the ones he was missing, anyway). 

Yer man the Captain was idly leaning on the tiller back there, waiting for something to happen. Szejmus had interrogated him a dozen times on why they weren't home yet, but he'd just made excuses about doldrums and prevailing winds. Tempers might’ve flared, and now there were guards posted on the aftcastle. 

And so he turned to the only other passenger on this trip; the armoured giant who went by the name Cnaeus. As best as Szejmus could tell, this fella was an Imperial Knight. Part of the court of Emperor Heliandros himself. Why he was on this boat, he wouldn't say. Hells, the man wouldn't even take off his mask during the day. Rest of the time he was holed up in that tiny cabin. 

"Hey Cnaeus, what's the craic? I'm not loving all this water."

"I have no love for it either, little Varcosian. We do what we must in service of the Emperor."

"Oh right? Know him personal, do yeh?"

"I do."

"Get out! You and Heliandros IV, blessed be his name, yada yada? You're tight?"

"I have been in his presence on three occasions."

"Oh wow, three? That's grand!"

"You mock me?" said the soldier, turning to eye him, presumably. With that mask, who would know?

"Ah, don't ye worry bout me. No-one important in yer life would care what I have to say."

"I, for one, do care. I agree with you that this journey has gone on too long. The captain was paid by the day. I suspect he is stretching this out longer than he needs."

"Oh yeah? D'ye have a mind to do something about it?"

"No. I have seen our reserves of food and water. He cannot stretch this out much longer. We shall be in Varcosia soon."

"Truly? It'll be grand to see the Green Country again. Little Mikki is really getting under my feet."

"He has much energy," replied Cnaeus generously.

"And what will you do, when we land? Got plans, have ye?"

"I had a second mission for the throne, in Varcosia."

"No rest for the wicked, eh?"

"Indeed. Which is why I am hoping you will join me."

"Huh?" replied Szejmus. He was really hoping to get back to the old stomping grounds. "Got a compelling reason why I should?"

"Ten thousand compelling reasons. And you will earn them." More money than he had ever seen. He wondered deeply what he'd have to do to be worth that much to the Pyrite.

"Well alright, spin yer yarn and we'll see where we stand."

Edited 2 hours ago by Ross Fisher