Post by Zen on Mar 28, 2015 23:57:54 GMT -5
10th Pass, 5th Turn, Early 11th Month
Late Autumn
Late Autumn
The Storm’s Eye was the first to fall into the shadow of the harbor cave as his little fleet returned to the one place they had ever deigned to call home. Treyjen had already left the helm in the capable hands of Jusikar in favor of relaxing on the forecastle deck, watching his crew work behind him, calling to each other as they furled the sails. He kept an eye out for anything going amiss, in case he needed to step in to help anywhere, but all was going smoothly. He glanced past the stern of his ship, to where the Bright Wing and Sea Dragon pulled into the cave behind them, sails furling like the wings of some great bird come home to its nest, and couldn’t help the satisfied smirk from pulling at his lips. They’d returned with quite the haul this time, though Mavros was lucky the crew didn’t drink all of that lovely Benden Red they’d procured. He was certainly keeping a case for himself. Perhaps he’d gift a bottle to Mialli; his daughter’s mother surely deserved some sort of compensation for raising the girl mostly on her own. She could always trade it to someone for something she wanted more, if she liked.
Sea blue eyes shifted to the docks and the mostly smaller fishing boats moored there, men and women both milling about, rolling barrels of fish off to be stored away from today’s catch. He leaned leisurely against the deckwall, eager to find himself some companionship for the night. He might even share a glass of his Benden Red with the lucky woman. Ropes were thrown down to men waiting to secure the ship and the telltale sound of the anchor’s chain resonated as it was lowered into the water. His men laid out the gangplank and he waited, allowing a number of them to head ashore first. He watched a number of them embrace wives, a few with young children, before he pushed himself forward and made for land himself.
“Jusikar! Last chance!” he called, waiting at the gangplank. The man had volunteered to stay behind to ensure everyone finished their jobs properly so he could head ashore early for once. Jusikar only waved him off and he didn’t hesitate any longer, running one hand through his hair as he descended onto land for the first time in sevendays. His gaze roamed down the docks to where the Bright Wing was now moored, the gangplank descending from the deck. The Sea Dragon was still maneuvering into its own position at the docks. He headed down toward his sister’s ship, heading up to see her before he made himself scarce for a few days. “Nalyra!”
She was still at the helm, speaking to one of her men, when his call drew her attention. With a last word to the man, she headed his way. He leaned down and gripped her chin in one hand to give her eye a look over, but she pulled away, “I told you I’m fine, didn’t I? It’s a sharding black eye, Trey.”
“Aye, and I’ll give you another if you keep callin’ me that,” he growled, tugging her hair affectionately before she slapped his hand away, grinning wickedly.
“Reminds you of daddy too much?” he took a half hearted swipe at her and she jumped back, but he moved with her and caught her in a loose chokehold, just as when they'd wrestled as children.
“I stole a ship for you, you know. And this is the thanks I get,” he murmured in her ear.
She laughed, “You stole as much for yourself as for me, Treyjen, and you know it. You never do anything if there’s nothing in it for you.”
“Only for you, little sister,” he pushed her forward, releasing her from his hold, “Stop callin’ me that.”
She folded her arms over her chest, “Then stop treating me like a child. You already slit the throat of the man who did it, you’re not satisfied?” Before he could answer she stepped forward and prodded him in the chest, one hand on her hip, “He was MY captive, asked to join MY crew, and you didn’t even let me handle it myself. How is my crew supposed to respect me if my big brother tries to make all my decisions for me?”
“You trust them too soon, Nalyra. You’re lucky all he gave you was a black eye,” he growled defensively.
“You’re dodging the real issue, Treyjen,” she spat back angrily, “Let me run my sharding ship! I was voted in, remember! I don’t see you trying to run Karosh’s ship for him!”
“All right, I’m sorry! I know…,” he sighed, clearly reluctant, “I know I treat you differently… you’re my little sister.”
“Yeah, and you half raised me, Treyjen. I would hope you have more faith in me than this!” Letting out a breath, her gaze softened slightly, “I know you care about me, but I’m not a child anymore. Clearly the rest of the crew thinks I can handle things on my own or they never would have voted me in as captain. I don’t understand why you keep doing this! It completely undermines my authority on my own ship!”
He held up his hands in surrender, “I know, I know-”
“Then stop it!” she interrupted him, “I feel like we just keep having this conversation over and over and you never listen.” He ran his hand through his hair, looking over at her. She wasn’t wrong, but it was hard not to try to protect her. It was ingrained too deeply in him. She threw up her hands in exasperation and turned away from him, “I know that sharding look. Get off my ship! I can see you’re not listening, again.”
She walked away, leaving him standing there, thoroughly scolded. Someone laughed nearby and he turned back the way he’d come, grumbling, “Faranth forbid I worry about my own sister.” He straightened his coat as he descended back to land.
“Oi! Treyjen!” A familiar voice called out to him and he turned to see Mialli heading his way. He grinned and knelt, Trillia racing ahead of her to leap up into his arms.
“Hello there, love,” he murmured to his daughter, giving her a tight hug and lifting her up as he stood, holding her perched up on one of his arms, “Been helping your mother, hm?”
She giggled and nodded as Mialli caught up to her, “You’d best not have brought her some trinket or treat she doesn’t need, Treyjen. She likes you best because you’re not the one around to punish her when she acts up; all you do is spoil her rotten.”
“I’ve been scolded enough today, Mia, can’t you just let me enjoy a moment with my daughter?” He grinned at the little girl and she nestled her head on his shoulder.
“Mmhmm… she has you wrapped around her little finger, Treyjen,” she shook her head, “How long are you staying ashore this time?”
He shrugged, kissing the girl atop her dark-hair, “As long as I’m entertained.”
The woman laughed, “Not long then?”
“A month, actually,” he supplied at last, much to her surprise, “The crew voted. Some of them want some time with their families.” It had certainly been longer than he wanted to stay, but he was overruled by the vote. Some of the men had wanted to stay longer. A month was the compromise that had been reached.
“Uh huh, and you don’t?” she raised an eyebrow at him, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I’ve told you, you should let me take her with when I go out. I was all but living on a ship at her age,” he replied.
“Yes, send a girl of three turns out on a pirate ship, that’s perfectly sane,” she responded dryly.
“Hey now… you’re the one that seems to think I need to spend more time with her, love,” he handed her over as Mialli reached out to take her from him.
“Yes, on land, like a normal parent,” she rolled her eyes, “How much will she see of you during this month, anyway?”
He waved his hand, “As much of me as I can give her.”
“Another way of saying you’ll see her when you’re bored or don’t have a girl in your bed,” Mialli said, raising an eyebrow once more, daring him to argue with her.
“You really want me watching over her while I’m drunk, love?” he asked instead, “I’ve got a case of Benden Red just waiting to be drunk, and I don’t plan to keep it waiting very long.”
Her eyes widened, “Benden Red? You sure were lucky with this haul, weren’t you?”
“Aye, and plenty more where that came from. I thought about offering you a bottle, but since you seem intent on doing nothing but giving me a hard time I’m feeling much less charitable,” he raised an eyebrow at her.
She stepped closer, sliding her free hand up his chest, to his cheek, and raising her lips to brush his. He leaned down to kiss her, but she pulled away, giving his face a few light pats, “As I recall it was Benden Red that first got me into bed with you, so I’ll pass on that offer.” She turned, lifting her hand in a wave back at him as she carried Trillia away, “I’ve work to do, Treyjen. You know where to find us when you grow bored enough.”
“Sharding tease,” he murmured, watching her go, and waving to his daughter as she tried to catch his attention with a wave of her own.
A hand gripping his shoulder had him turning to see Karosh at his side, “I’ll never understand why you so enjoy being pushed around by women.”
He raised an eyebrow at his friend, “What ever makes you say that?”
Karosh laughed, “No reason. Ready to shove off then?”
“Aye,” he clapped his hand on the man’s back and turned toward the caverns, grinning, “Let’s find us some company, shall we?”
He woke the next day to the rather pleasant sensation of soft skin pressed against his own. Opening his eyes lazily he looked down at the woman he’d spent the night with, her cheek pressed to his chest as she slept on, her dark hair wild as a result of the night’s… activities. He drew in a deep, satisfied breath and closed his eyes again, pondering over waking the woman for another romp before she went on her way. Smoothly, he shifted her off his chest and moved to lean over her, but fell back onto his pillow as the unpleasant after affects of far too much wine struck him like a ton of bricks. His groan of pain was enough to wake her, apparently, and the kiss she placed upon his lips did wonders to help his pain, or perhaps it was just because he was laying back down again. Either way.
Her hands roamed over his chest and he felt her straddle him before he opened his eyes, “Ahhh… now that’s a sight to wake up to….”
She laughed and leaned down to kiss him again, “Did you drink too much, captain?” She nibbled his earlobe gently and he closed his eyes again, “Don’t worry, I’ll take real good care of you….” She kissed his neck, working her way to his chest, and he’d never been happier to lay back and watch a woman work.
