PhoebesAdventure
From IMiA
[ooc - I'm missing the chunk leading into this. If anyone has the emails, please add it.]
Wesley watches as the young lad makes his way up through the rigging. "You'd think he was climbing a tree," he comments, shaking his head. "I hope he doesn't crack his skull on the way down."
Meanwhile, up in the crow's nest, the strange little man peers at Patrice. "You're a lady friend of the Captain's then?" he asks, and then nods as though she'd already answered the question. "I am Maglar, the Ship's Wizard, Master of the Winds, and so on. This is where I....meditate. I can hardly hear myself think down on the decks with the crew and their constant yammering. And now I've got a visitor. And soon two!" He mutters something under his breath that Patrice can't quite make out. "Get your fill of the view then, though I don't know why you'd want to waste your time doing it here in the harbor, with all of that ugly land around." He gathers his cloak and robes closer to him, making room for Patrice to stand.
"Thank you, Master," Patrice says respectfully, and steps into the crow's nest in companionable silence to enjoy the view of her home city.
Jamie has reached the main topgallant yard of the mast now. From overhead, he hears voices - which surprises him a little - he would not have thought a permenant look-out would be stationed in the crows nest while they were in harbour. But perhaps they need to keep a look out for thieves.
At all events, it doesn't seem a good idea to climb the rest of the way. He swings his leg over the yard and rest, his back to the yard. A breeze off the sea blows against his face - he would love to pull off the cap shake out his hair - but realises this would be disastrous for the disguise. So instead her just concentrates on watching the bustling activity of the harbour, and from time to time raising his eyes to the city beyond and the castle on the mountain that overlooks everything.
As his guest looks out at the view, Maglar studies her face intently for a few moments, then rises to his feet. "What is it you seek here in Amber?" he asks, looking out toward the endless expanse of the ocean.
Patrice scans the city and the heights of Kolvir for a long moment before turning to join Maglar in contemplation of the sea. "Many things, Master, but in the end, self-knowledge. It is what drives the rest. I'm not the woman I used to be. And how can a woman master anything else when she has not mastered herself?"
He glances toward her for just a moment, before looking out over the water again. "I could think of better places for that sort of introspection, where every moment of every day wasn't filled with the myriad of distractions that this city tries to force on all who enter it. Why Amber? Why now?"
Patrice smiles. "Here, because when you look for something you've lost, it's generally considered wise to start in the last place you remember having it. Now, because I've been released from other obligations, so that I'm free to take up other duties and pleasures."
"When you put it that way, it sounds very reasonable," the small man agrees. "I hope that these uncertain days in Amber give you the chance to find what you are looking for, and that you do not allow yourself to be drawn into the many schemes and conspiracies that will seek to seduce you. It is a lesson my Captain would have done well to learn."
Patrice nods. "I will keep your wisdom in mind, Master. Thank you for sharing it, and the view you enjoy here. I wish you good travels and good hunting. May fair winds even beyond those you call fill your sails, and may you find that which you seek." She takes a last look around at the heights and the oceans in the distance, and then lowers herself over the side of the crow's nest and back into the rigging.
Looking down, she waves at those on deck and at Jamie below her, and begins moving back down the ropes.
Jamie takes a hand away from the arm he is straddling and waves back enthusiastically - so enthusiastically that he wobbles slightly, and has to grab a rope to steady himself. It is perhaps a little unfortunately that this is a rope of some importance ... Jamie's expression changes to one of horror as, with a strange material sound that is similar to ripping, a sail begins to unfurl.
"Look out!" he shouts to Patrice, although she should still be above that level ...
Juliana swears under her breath. She's very good at swearing, and very nasty about it. She give her favorite black-headed princess a desperate look (yes, another) because if there is one thing Juliana knows, it's that she'd be completely useless at catching falling newspaper boys, while keeping their hats on their heads, and all, much less catching her good sister.
As the sail begins to unfurl, the crew taking their leisure around the spar deck put aside whatever tasks they were engaged in and spring into action, moving quickly to their stations. Some of them immediately begin climbing up into the rigging.
"What is that damn fool boy playing at up there?!" Wesley shouts, though he is apparently confident in the ability of his crew to deal with the situation, as he doesn't move from where he is standing near the ladies.
Patrice curses, looking to see which of the sails has started to unfurl, how much danger Jamie is in, and, less importantly, how much danger she is in herself.
Patrice should be in no danger as long as her balance is good (for the dropping of the dail might cause a slight tremour) for she is still above the descending sail. Jamie, sitting on the spar below, is in far more danger, but a well honed sense of self-preservation makes him drop forward, flat on the spar, with his arms and legs locked around it for dear life. The white sail covers him from view above and below for a moment - but at least he isn't plummeting downwards.
With the sail falling below her, Patrice can see neither Jamie nor any loose pins or ropes that might endanger the visitors or crew below. If the wizard were looking down at her, he might see her start to do something, but the moment passes and she waits for Wesley's crew to settle things before moving again.
The Captain curses, dodging to one side as a pin falls to the deck beside him. One of the crewmen ascending into the rigging is less fortunate, and a heavy blow to the head knocks him loose, sending him crashing hard to the deck below. Wesley rushes over where he has landed.
Princess Florimel remains where she was standing during the excitement above her. She appears perfectly calm and confident that no harm will befal her or those around her. Princess Deirdre too remains in place. Her eyes track every movement around and above her. There is something about her that suggests that while she is perfectly motionless, it is the still of a cat just about to leap.
Juliana follows pins after they hit the deck, not moving from where she's standing. She doesn't look afraid so much as nervous. When the sailor hits the deck she winces, and looks up to try to track Jamie, again.
Jamie too remains in place, buried under the sail. He has heard the crashing fall of the crewman, and is starting to shake. But he maintains a death grip on the spar.
Patrice waits for one of the sailors who is in the rigging to climb to her level and escort her down. When he arrives, she says very little to him, follows his orders, and lets him help her out of the rigging with all due speed. She comes to stand by Florimel once she's on the deck again, looking grim. Her gaze moves between Jamie, whoever has gone up to get him down, and Wesley's examination of the sailor.
Juliana doesn't quite look grim, but she's certainly not amused. She leans over and whispers something to Deirdre, before leaning back against the rail.
"No good deed goes unpunished. I should know better by now," she whispers very close to Deirdre's ear. "There is always a price, and I should remember for larks they are better not paid. I should save my blooddebts for worthier enterprises."
Captain Hobart is quickly joined at the fallen sailor's side by a bearded man carrying a black satchel, who, after a few moments examination, is able to rouse the injured man enough that he and another of the crew are able to help him get belowdecks.
While this is going on, two sailors arrive to help Jamie down from the rigging. They seem none too friendly, and aren't especially gentle as they help the boy climb down toward the deck below, but they are careful not to let him fall.
Jamie is frozen when the men come for him. As soon as the sail is lifted, he looks down at the deck, and his blue eyes widen as he sees the wounded crew man. Then his attention is focused on his descent - his first few movements are clumsy; it is as though his limbs are not under his full control, and it seems to take a conscious effort to flex and bend his fingers and hands. But confidence - in his climbing abilities at least - slowly returns as he climbs lower, and when he jumps down the last few feet onto the deck, his eyes go immediately to where the sailor had fallen. Seeing only the empty place and a dark stain, he gives a sudden shudder, and then turns to look up at Wesley. His expression is a mixture of sullen truculence that any deliquent boy might envy, and a very real apprehension. Periodically he shudders, although the day is not cold. But his gaze is steady on Wesley.
"I'm sorry!" he manages at last. "Is he ... the man ... will he ... " He breaks off as another shudder shakes him. His skin is white and waxy.
Juliana shakes her head at the whole scene, and takes a glance out to sea before looking back at Deirdre, Flora, and then over her good sister in concern.
Patrice looks back at Juliana and then at Wesley. Juliana and Flora might think she looks a little tired, and not the sort of tired that comes from climbing around in the rigging. She waits for Wesley's answer to Jamie before she adds anything to the youth's question.
Wesley looks down at the boy, obviously trying to contain his anger. Those crew members not securing the sail gather around to hear what he will say, and, judging by their dark mutterings, some of them seem to be hoping that blood will be spilled.
"Kernick will recover soon enough, and you'd best hope that you don't run into him in a tavern or on a dark street," the Captain tells Jaime. "If you were a man, I'd be crossing swords with you myself, and you'd end up with a scar or two to help you remember not to make this mistake again."
He shifts his gaze to Julianna. "Perhaps you'd best take him away now, before anyone else gets hurt."
Juliana nods and comes up to take the boy by the arm, but it's Hobart she speaks to. "You'll have the Duke's recompense, Captain, for what is mine is mine and I'm happy to answer for some crimes." She glances at the crew with a look that says while she thinks one of them isn't worth a great deal of her money, she expects to be paying out quite a bit.
Juliana leans close to the captain and whispers, "You should have listened to your instincts and not allowed a pretty face to wile you - you were right all along."
There may be a flash of chagrin on Captain Hobart's face at Juliana's words, but he quickly gets his expression back under control and simply nods at her.
With that done, Juliana leads the boy away, off the ship and toward the carriage.
Jamie goes with her passively, but she can probably feel the coldness of the boy's skin under her hand.
As Juliana leads Jamie away, Patrice comes over to Wesley, unlimbering a small pouch from the waist of her trousers. "'Twas my prank that led to this. Send to me, and *I*'ll make good what I can--there are some things money can't help. For those that it can, I hope your man will accept this to help his family."
Patrice offers Wesley a small handful of coins, not really having looked at them first. When Wesley looks at them, he'll see that they are gold. Her expression is serious, and as she glances around at the sailors, reflects nothing but concern and a little sorrow, or perhaps anger, inwardly-directed. She forces a smile and concludes, "I very much enjoyed the tour of your vessel, Captain, and I'm sorry that the day was marred by the accident. Fair winds until next we meet."
Wesley offers her a quick smile, though he doesn't yet look down at the coins. "I'll wish the same for you, and hope that meeting isn't too far off," he says quietly.
"Thank you," Patrice replies. "I'm sure it won't be." Her expression lightens a little at Wesley's words and tone, and Wesley can see the beginning of a smiile as Patrice turns away, even if it doesn't entirely erase the concern in her eyes.
Patrice stops to offer her arm to Florimel to escort her down the gangplank as they leave the ship in Juliana's wake.
[Dee can walk herself out]
As they reach the carriage, Jamie, who has so far been perfectly passive, stops and turns back to look at the ship. The cornflower blue eyes lift to the height of the crows nest, and then down to the deck below.
"It should have been me," he says quietly, and he leans back against the carriage for support. "It was my fault."
By this time, Wesley has turned to his crew and said something that causes a roar of approval. Anyone glancing back toward the crow's nest will see a solitary figure looking back at them, it's white hair blowing in the breeze coming in off the water.
As she helps Florimel into their carriage, Patrice looks back at the ship and raises a hand in farewell to the figure far above.
-- Main.LizTrumitch - 22 Sep 2005
