Posted with Permission As Usual Days bled into weeks, trade routes of every sort continued whether it be of the legal or not so legal. Aullere spent as much time as possible away from the inner part of the city, though not so far she couldn't be found on the inlet at a specific tavern, whose call was more to the call of propriety. The Grog and Tankard served just that purpose. An easy demeanor had by all, it was where their kind habitated and were not under the scrutiny of the Watch. A constant as soon as the sun began to set daily, today was of no exception to the trickle of swaggering asses and boisterous personalities. Today had been a coin handsome one and much celebration would surely have the local harlot tongues wagging by midnight.

Silver pushed open the door of the Grog and Tankard, a single coin flipping betwixt and between her tanned fingers, the play of the dimming sunlight sparkling on the metal. She tucked the coin in her palm as she entered, immediately spotting the other Captain. A slow smile crept over her face as she crossed the room to Aullere, a hand falling to an empty chair at the table she occupied. "I have some news." Silver teased quietly as she sat down uninvited.

The constant sound of the establishment was almost deafening, but easily ignored. The quill hesitated over her ledger as she heard Silver coming to a halt. Aullere shifted it slightly and it dripped onto the table instead. Leaning back slightly, bright green on her and a brow rose. "Well spit it out, lass..." It would seem that patience didn't increase with age, at least for her.

Silver grinned at Aullere. Nothing changed, despite the passage of time. It was always so easy to fall back into that old pattern, no matter the weeks, months or years. Silver dropped the coin on the table and leaned forward, keeping her voice deliberately low despite the noise of the tavern. "Word is there's a witness, an ex-employee of Blackwater Shipping Company has evidence against their illegal dealings. From the rumblings I hear, it's big" weapons, drugs" millions that are at stake." Silver's words fell silent as she caught the eye of a barmaid, flashing her coin. The woman turned off to fetch her a drink, allowing some time for Aullere to digest the information before Silver continued. "I want that witness and his information."

Silver was one that Aullere considered to be a constant; without fail. Of course the years passed and the girl was no longer one, she was now a grown woman and respected with due right in all she did. Proud of her, but Aullie didn't say it too often, it just should have been one of those things that was known. Taking this in, Aullere leaned the chair back onto two legs and never once did sight leave Silver. But a tip of her bottle was given to the wench for another. "Comin' into our ports?" A hand waved in reference to the general city populace as a whole. "Or elsewhere?" Interesting....hugely in fact.

"He's already here. Apparently under Watch protection and in hiding. I hear rumors on the docks as well as whispers in the government offices. I'm going to try to set up a meeting with the Governor to see what?s going on"." She smiled as the barmaid set down a mug of ale. Silver handed her the coin before looking back to Aullere. "You know?" she started, her grin spreading. "To see if I should keep an ear out for anything illegal on the docks or anything unusual in the ports. Have to uphold the law and all?" Silver tipped her mug to Aullere, that wicked gleam twinkling in her eyes as she took a long sip. The glass was set back down on the old, beaten table before she spoke again. "You know if this gets out, we won't be the only ones trying to find him or his evidence."

Aullere's left eye began to twitch and she leaned forward as the front door kept opening and closing. "Nae, we won't....." Tapping a finger to the surface, the quill was rested down there. "Don't b' gettin' overly greedy lass....ther' be plenty of time for all o' that..." Thinking, she knew Silver could maintain an easy facade, as she had done so in the past. "I'll put feelers out....y' speak t' her an' see if she offers anything easily and without a brow rising. We both ken there is someone with loose lips in his regard. Just b' easy...or we both may b' tuckin' tail and runnin'."

Silver arched a single eyebrow at Aullere, puckering her lips before slyly smiling again. She knew the wheels in Aullie's head were going at full speed. "Since when do you run" or me for that matter?" She snorted into her mug, taking another sip. "I'll find what I can on the legal end while you do your own dirty work." Silver placed the empty mug down. "We can meet up again in a day or two, before word spreads more."

Closing the ledger, the ink was capped off as well and Aullere nodded. Oh indeed, the wheels were turning. "If I ain't here, head down to th' drydocks, gettin' the refittin's done, season is still early, but this may just set us for winter..." Several glancing in their direction, there was nothing ever good to come out of a conversation between the two women....history proved that long ago. "Just dun compromise y'elf, lass....y' worked too hard." Her meaning was heavy, laden in fact.

Silver reached a tanned, calloused hand across the table to briefly squeeze Aullere's. At times, Silver teased her with "yes mother" and "No mother", despite the fact it had taken them well over a decade to get to that point. The younger Captain could remember when she was a crewmate on Aullie's ship and terrified of the older woman. My, how times had changed, though they were still sticking their necks into trouble. "Don't get soft on me you ol" coot." Silver smirked, pushing back her chair and removing her hand. "If I don't hear from you first, I'll send word. Keep yer nose clean."

Weeks faded and it almost seemed a year before Aullere heard back from Silver. The Captain had gone underground for various reasons; reasons Aullie was sure to understand. However, the ~*Siren*~ had slid easily back into port in the cover of darkness, its Captain disembarking quickly and slipping into a smaller boat.

The waters were inky as the small quartet glided over the shadowed waves. The moon was a single sliver in the sky, doing much to help keep the clandestine meeting undercover.

Ah, Silver mused, there she was. The familiar ship rocked gently on the waves. The horrible storm that kept her out to sea for days have finally passed, leaving an eery calmness in its wake. The cove the ship was docked in helped keep most of the weather out, as well.

The ship grew as the small boat pulled up silently alongside it. A call given overboard was answered by a complimentary one given from the rowboat, and the rope was tossed overboard. Silver reached up, whispering words to her companions before she began to ascend, aided by the men above pulling the rope upwards.

Her fingers curled over the rail before her legs went up and over, boots clapping down on the woodenplanks of the deck. Silver straightened herself, her lopsided grin dimpling a single cheek as she eyed the familiar crew, especially the Captain.

"Evenin' Aullie." Silver began sheepishly. "I do believe I delayed our meeting just a bit."