Post by Sage Aurora on Oct 8, 2010 18:11:46 GMT -5
No tears came as Phaen sat at the bankers desk in her cabin, reading the letter from Azrael.
"I wish to inform you of the death of your mother, Lady Elmier Douquette. "
Phaen read the line several times and the only emotion that came to her was the fondness she felt for Azrael and the humour she felt in his explanations. Nothing touched her heart for her mother. The two women had not spoken since arguing about Ian Xanthe, and whether he should be trusted or cast out. Phaen sided with Ian, she always did.
There always seemed to be loose ends when it came to Sosaria, Phaen had returned twice now to tie them up and now it seemed another trip was needed. Mei shouldn't be burdened by Phaen's mother any longer, Phaen felt a pang of guilt at being party to the oath that bound one of her best friends, she hadn't realized asking Mei to watch over Nyx would be binding. Phaen had to set things right with the Sluagh.
With a soft smile Phaen spoke to her balefire, "I guess you can't leave your birthplace forever."
Phaen felt the soft caress of her fire like a cat nuzzling against her cheek. A pang of regret touched her heart as she stood and brushed her hand against the web of metal tubing that held her fire secured to the ceiling of her cabin.
"I won't leave you like Ian did, I will return as soon as I can," Phaen told her fire gently, petting her as she did so.
Phaen felt trust and affection from her fire, the simple feelings they shared, kept loneliness at bay. Inammorta's Fury was so much more than just a ship; her black sails and deep blue scaled hull had become Phaen's companion and confidant, her ward and refuge. The two were star crossed lovers, and had an almost unbreakable bond. More than once Phaen had been told that a man could become jealous of her relationship with the Fury. Phaen new that no man could compare...
Turning for her door Phaen pulled her captains coat from her chair and pulled up her sharkskin boots; preparations among her crew needed to be made before an extended absence. Phaen stepped out on the deck of the Fury to a bustle of activity, it seems the Atoll they found and its center island were inhabited; the current residence being wild boar. Cookie would be happy of something other than fish to cook with; the Redcap had been complaining.
"Patrick," Phaen called out and jumped with a start as the Clurichaun appeared at her left elbow; his shock of red hair and shining emerald eyes staring up at her.
"I need you to ask Mister Cadwallander, the Navigator, the Quartermaster and the Cook to please join me in my cabin," she told her cabin boy.
"Only if I can stay for the meeting," he grinned up at her.
"Do you ever miss a meeting?" Phaen asked smiling down at him.
"No, but I am never included," he pouted.
"Exactly..." Phaen said with a wink.
Patrick caught her meaning and beamed a smile that could light up a room, then ran off to fetch the Captains crew.
The Captain walked to the railing and looked out over the harbour the Fury was anchored in. The Atoll and its central island were not on any map or chart any of the crew knew of. There were no signs of construction on any of the smaller islands they'd explored; chance seemed to have rolled her dice and handed Phaen a mystery. Phaen had named the Atoll the Isles of Still Whispers. After all the ship and crew had been through since leaving the Port of Westgate, it was good to have safe harbour for a while. Smiling Phaen turned on her heel and headed to her cabin to sort out her temporary absence from the ship.
The meeting lasted long enough for Phaen's crew to learn of her mothers death, and her need to leave for a short while. They discussed resupplying the ship, then taking her back to Port Westgate where she could make arrangements to return to Sosaria. While away the crew would sail back to Still Whispers and if they could find her, they'd finish mapping the Atoll as well as surveying its resources. Patrick had a chimerical seagull, it would be used to keep in contact once either the ship or Phaen returned to the Port of Westgate. They'd decided then how to pursue keeping the islands for themselves if it indeed wasn't claimed by anyone currently, or laying in someone's territory.
Cookie came back a short while after everyone got back to work, bearing a tray set with a small teapot, cup and saucer, biscuits and sliced lemon. Phaen looked up from her charts and bit her lower lip as the Redcap shuffled into her cabin.
"I beat you at cards last night, I didn't think I'd see tea again for at least a week," Phaen said half joking.
"I let ya win..." Cookie grumbled.
"Did you now?" Phaen smiled
With a grunt Cookie set the tray next to Phaen's charts and looked her straight in the eyes, "ya going to be alright on yer own?"
"I dun like ya being on yer own," Cookie muttered.
Phaen poured a cup of the tea and squeezed a slice of lemon into it, picking up a biscuit she took a sip and explained how she'd made the trip a few times now, and had trusted people to meet up with along the journey. The two talked for a while longer about the crews moral and that even though she was not on board Cookie was still not allowed to cook Patrick. Cookie placed a hand on Phaen's before he left and quietly told her not to stay away long and left with a nod of his head. With a soft smile Phaen finished her tea already missing her cook and wondering where the hell he found ginger when they hadn't been in port for months...
___________
"I wish to inform you of the death of your mother, Lady Elmier Douquette. "
Phaen read the line several times and the only emotion that came to her was the fondness she felt for Azrael and the humour she felt in his explanations. Nothing touched her heart for her mother. The two women had not spoken since arguing about Ian Xanthe, and whether he should be trusted or cast out. Phaen sided with Ian, she always did.
There always seemed to be loose ends when it came to Sosaria, Phaen had returned twice now to tie them up and now it seemed another trip was needed. Mei shouldn't be burdened by Phaen's mother any longer, Phaen felt a pang of guilt at being party to the oath that bound one of her best friends, she hadn't realized asking Mei to watch over Nyx would be binding. Phaen had to set things right with the Sluagh.
With a soft smile Phaen spoke to her balefire, "I guess you can't leave your birthplace forever."
Phaen felt the soft caress of her fire like a cat nuzzling against her cheek. A pang of regret touched her heart as she stood and brushed her hand against the web of metal tubing that held her fire secured to the ceiling of her cabin.
"I won't leave you like Ian did, I will return as soon as I can," Phaen told her fire gently, petting her as she did so.
Phaen felt trust and affection from her fire, the simple feelings they shared, kept loneliness at bay. Inammorta's Fury was so much more than just a ship; her black sails and deep blue scaled hull had become Phaen's companion and confidant, her ward and refuge. The two were star crossed lovers, and had an almost unbreakable bond. More than once Phaen had been told that a man could become jealous of her relationship with the Fury. Phaen new that no man could compare...
Turning for her door Phaen pulled her captains coat from her chair and pulled up her sharkskin boots; preparations among her crew needed to be made before an extended absence. Phaen stepped out on the deck of the Fury to a bustle of activity, it seems the Atoll they found and its center island were inhabited; the current residence being wild boar. Cookie would be happy of something other than fish to cook with; the Redcap had been complaining.
"Patrick," Phaen called out and jumped with a start as the Clurichaun appeared at her left elbow; his shock of red hair and shining emerald eyes staring up at her.
"I need you to ask Mister Cadwallander, the Navigator, the Quartermaster and the Cook to please join me in my cabin," she told her cabin boy.
"Only if I can stay for the meeting," he grinned up at her.
"Do you ever miss a meeting?" Phaen asked smiling down at him.
"No, but I am never included," he pouted.
"Exactly..." Phaen said with a wink.
Patrick caught her meaning and beamed a smile that could light up a room, then ran off to fetch the Captains crew.
The Captain walked to the railing and looked out over the harbour the Fury was anchored in. The Atoll and its central island were not on any map or chart any of the crew knew of. There were no signs of construction on any of the smaller islands they'd explored; chance seemed to have rolled her dice and handed Phaen a mystery. Phaen had named the Atoll the Isles of Still Whispers. After all the ship and crew had been through since leaving the Port of Westgate, it was good to have safe harbour for a while. Smiling Phaen turned on her heel and headed to her cabin to sort out her temporary absence from the ship.
The meeting lasted long enough for Phaen's crew to learn of her mothers death, and her need to leave for a short while. They discussed resupplying the ship, then taking her back to Port Westgate where she could make arrangements to return to Sosaria. While away the crew would sail back to Still Whispers and if they could find her, they'd finish mapping the Atoll as well as surveying its resources. Patrick had a chimerical seagull, it would be used to keep in contact once either the ship or Phaen returned to the Port of Westgate. They'd decided then how to pursue keeping the islands for themselves if it indeed wasn't claimed by anyone currently, or laying in someone's territory.
Cookie came back a short while after everyone got back to work, bearing a tray set with a small teapot, cup and saucer, biscuits and sliced lemon. Phaen looked up from her charts and bit her lower lip as the Redcap shuffled into her cabin.
"I beat you at cards last night, I didn't think I'd see tea again for at least a week," Phaen said half joking.
"I let ya win..." Cookie grumbled.
"Did you now?" Phaen smiled
With a grunt Cookie set the tray next to Phaen's charts and looked her straight in the eyes, "ya going to be alright on yer own?"
"I dun like ya being on yer own," Cookie muttered.
Phaen poured a cup of the tea and squeezed a slice of lemon into it, picking up a biscuit she took a sip and explained how she'd made the trip a few times now, and had trusted people to meet up with along the journey. The two talked for a while longer about the crews moral and that even though she was not on board Cookie was still not allowed to cook Patrick. Cookie placed a hand on Phaen's before he left and quietly told her not to stay away long and left with a nod of his head. With a soft smile Phaen finished her tea already missing her cook and wondering where the hell he found ginger when they hadn't been in port for months...
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