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Post by Admin on Sept 24, 2020 6:43:41 GMT
Punching the wall does make her feel better but seems to annoy a neighbour. There is some yelling back and a responding thump. The punch rattles the stock pictures and cheap paintings that were placed on the walls, one of them was shaken enough to fall to the floor, break, and reveal a letter.
It is a manila envelope sealed in silvery wax shaped in a calligraphic 'O'.
On her table is a picture postcard with 'Come Visit Rebma!' printed over a photograph of the undersea city. On the back Llewella has written in elegant script: Welcome back to Amber, Eivor. Come and visit us under the sea when you have the opportunity. You might find the trip worth your while.
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Post by Eivor on Sept 24, 2020 9:35:55 GMT
Eivor manages a smile, appreciating her aunt's sentiment, and slips the postcard into her pack. When she would have the opportunity is debatable, but the gift was well-meant.
She is intrigued by the envelope. Given the lack of time she should probably leave the letter until later, but where better to open it than here? Taking her short sharp carving knife she gently eases open the seal and (barring catastrophe) examines the contents.
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Post by Admin on Sept 25, 2020 2:19:28 GMT
In the envelope is a single sheet of vellum. Written upon it is the following message:
When the moons spin widdershins upon widdershins, When the Dark Forest shows its light, Come, penitent one, to the Horns of Anubis
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Post by Eivor on Sept 25, 2020 7:23:04 GMT
Eivor frowns, not for the first time today. She reads the note then re-reads it.
Riddles now?
She shakes her head, slips it back in its envelope and places the note among her papers, carefully wrapped in oiled waterproof cloth.
What manner of place has more than one moon, and where might the Horns of Anubis be?
Regrettably this mystery had to wait. She was eager to get on her way. Grabbing a bottle of liquor from the cabinet (or purloining it from the nearest one she can find) she checks in with the most senior member of staff available to let Kat know where she has gone and heads down towards the docks to inspect her ship.
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Post by Admin on Sept 28, 2020 8:57:39 GMT
Eivor had been told where the Antelope was berthed, yet she still had to walk the length of the pier twice before realizing which ship was the one she had been assigned. The boat is on the smallish side and, to be polite, a wreck. Sure there were signs of some recent repair work, but the ship looked to be barely seaworthy. Her sad impression of the ship was hardly improved by wheelbarrows of rags and casks of tar - common materials used to plug leaks while at sea - being loaded into the hold.
Watching the loading of the supplies and the working of the crew is the beaming captain. He spots Eivor.
"Ah, Lady Eivor, what a pleasure to meet you!" he says, coming down the gangplank and bowing to her.
"It is rare for the Antelope to have a guest of such great importance."
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Post by Eivor on Sept 28, 2020 9:50:55 GMT
"That I can see," Eivor replies. She was more used to ships that took to the air, but she knew enough about hulls to know when one was sound and one was not. Complaining about it would be pointless though. If Benedict wanted to send her a message, who was she to argue? He wanted her to prove her worth, and crying to the castle was not the way to do it.
"Have you much experience of sailing the Golden Circle Captain? I assume you have been briefed as to our mission?"
"I'll need to speak to your navigator to chart a course, and check with your bosun if we are going to be fit to sail in a few hours."
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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2020 8:25:11 GMT
"Never fear, my Lady, me 'n my crew have been to all the great ports of the Golden Circle and many of the smaller harbours from here to Deiga, Delgos, and beyond. Why we are also contracted on this trip to ferry a couple off to far Kasaba for some odd reason.
"The particulars of your job for the Prince weren't told to me. "Barrett, just get her to Deiga" was enough for me. Don't you worry about charts or sails or navigators, you are a guest on the Antelope so let me an' me crew take care of all a' that."
He looks at the pier with a hint of worry.
"I do hope Lady Shelly gets here soon, for there ain't going to be another ship to sail her to Kasaba for ages if she doesn't come with us."
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Post by Eivor on Sept 29, 2020 8:37:52 GMT
Well this is going swimmingly.
"I don't like to have to repeat myself. I will speak with the Navigator and bosun if you please." Eivor replies tersely, "Kasaba is not on my route, and last I heard was a war zone. I suggest your passenger find another vessel in Deiga; perhaps something a little more robust."
"I was not informed that we would have extra passengers. Who is Lady Shelly? I am already escorting Princess Katerina Alswyck. I don't want any strangers aboard that might compromise her security."
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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2020 8:50:58 GMT
"Lady please understand that I am the captain of this ship and the Antelope is not part of the Amber fleet. I sail where I will and carry what cargoes and persons I wish. Prince Benedict hired me to deliver you to Deiga. Afterwards, I will continue on to Kasaba with my other passengers."
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Post by Eivor on Sept 29, 2020 9:15:46 GMT
"I see," Eivor replies. "Still, you accepted this commission. If you are chartered by the Lord Protector I would expect you to conform to his instructions and be receptive to mine."
"I do not wish to interfere in your business, but understand that if you accept a contract from the Crown that the Crown's mission will take priority. It would inconvenience us both if I were to inform Prince Benedict this vessel was not suited to the journey. I also don't expect he would be too pleased if you were anything less than fully cooperative, Captain."
"Do we understand each other?"
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Post by Admin on Oct 1, 2020 3:46:47 GMT
"This isn't the first time that the Prince has employed me. He knows my business and I know his. If he wanted you to command a vessel then would he not have found one for you?"
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Post by Eivor on Oct 1, 2020 8:00:18 GMT
"Then I shall respect the Prince's faith in you," Eivor replies evenly. "Do inform me when Lady Shelly arrives. I'll leave you to your business, Captain."
She gives him a nod and goes to inspect whatever quarters they have been assigned, hoping they exceed her already low expectations.
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Post by Admin on Oct 7, 2020 1:48:27 GMT
Whatever low expectations she has for the room are unmet. The wood looks to be rotting in a few places - thankfully, in the interior work not on the hull, the furnishings are well worn and rickety, and a strange funk fills the air. A small porthole lets in the fetid air of the harbour waters adding to the unpleasantness,
She hears the voice of her cousin Calvera on the deck and Barrett welcoming him on board. It seems that she will have company on the trip whether or not Kat makes it down from the castle.
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Post by Eivor on Oct 7, 2020 7:07:18 GMT
Eivor sets down her weapons and satchel and makes herself comfortable.
Calvera?
She shuffles through her memories of the family and finds little in the way of enlightenment, so instead shuffles out her cards. She stares at the portraits a while then files them all away. Better she deal with him with a open mind. People change. Instead she takes out one of the softwood slats from her pack, pencil and knife. After making a few guide markings, she begins to carve. It will pass the time, and soothe her mood.
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Post by Admin on Oct 10, 2020 3:25:45 GMT
She hears Katerina's voice from the deck above.
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