It was surprising how much the bootheels hitting the cobblestones sounded like the pounding of the gavel, the cloaked figure thought to himself as he made his way down the streets of the busy little coastal city. He thought back on the meeting of the high council, pondering why it was they sent him of all people on the detail that was usually reserved for newer knights....and why did they decide to send two fresh faced young ones with him today' Curious indeed. Bennet paused to check over his shoulder to ensure both knights were within sight, and his hand reflexively went up to his face to rub over the area where his moustache would have rested, had he not been ordered to cut it off prior to undertaking this assignment. He didn't like the feeling....and the assignment felt a bit off as well. Passing from the storefronts and out onto the wharves, the elder knight paused to allow Jacob and Rennald rejoin him before the trio made their way towards their charge. Bennet's mind drifted back to the tribunal's meeting in which they assigned him the task of arresting a known fugitive. Knowing better than to question the orders, and especially knowing that rebuking the assistance he was given, Bennet grudgingly nodded and departed the great hall with his two eager charges close at heel. Those two are going to be trouble....and certainly haven't ceased with the mindless prattle that only a newly crested knight can spout. Time to put a quick end to this right now. Bennet turned to address both men. "Alright knights, here's how this will work," he started, pulling the parchment out his pocket. "We are to board the ship "Starstruck Siren" and take the fugitive Joshua Beckworth, he's been known to act as the boatswain aboard said ship. You men are to follow my lead at all times. At ALL times, is that understood?" Both men nodded the affirmative, and added a pretty halfhearted "yes, sir." after the fact. A point Bennet made sure to note for the report that was sure to follow. The men wound their way down the docks, searching for the ship in question. Passing along rows of cargo to be loaded or offloaded (Bennet never could tell, ships weren't ever his favorite modes of transportation), the men came to the back of a decent sized ship named the "Starstruck Siren." Bennet shook his head silently as the ship's lines slacked and tightened with the swells of the water, and the quiet groans of the timbers. "Let's go." The three ascended the gangplank with Bennet at the fore, and at the top they were quickly halted by what the elder knight figured was a master-at-arms. The burly sailor stood in front of the knights with his arms folded across his chest as he stared down the trio. "Whaddaya want, this ain't some sightseein' vessel here. Either spit it out now, or git off the Siren." This was off to a great start. So much for quick and quiet. "We've a dispatch here for one Joshua Beckworth. We'd appreciate it if you would point him out, or present him here to us," Bennet spoke quietly, careful not to give away any clues as to their identities or their mission at hand.

Another large man who nearly dwarfed the one talking approached the trio. His thick arms uncrossed as he looked at Bennet, his brow furrowing in slight recognition. Bennet frowned, not quite sure why the big man looked vaguely familiar. "Three o' you pretty lads to deliver one dispatch?" The master-at-arms growled. "Must be something right impressive, or at least heavy. You lads can leave it wit' me, an' I'll see he gits it."

The noise started out normal enough. A scuffle above and a few shouts. It could have been the crew rough-housing for a moment while doing their chores. Ty would undoubtedly keep it under control, not to mention the new master-at-arms she had hired last year.

Or so she would have thought.

Until the shouting and commotion started. Then the urgent knock on her door. The door slid open as Patrick peeked his head in, not waiting for her to answer. "Captain you're needed above deck. We have visitors."

Silver stomped toward the door as Patrick backed out of her way. She tipped an ear toward the stairs. Someone was about to have hell to pay; after all her ship was not a playground.

"WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING ON MY SHIP?"

The thud of her boots fell on the stairs as she ascended into the morning sunlight, stalking onto the deck. Furious, she lowered long, tanned fingers to her doeskin clad hips and raised her eyes to look around. Nearly her entire crew had formed a ring on the deck, seeming to close in toward a common enemy.

Those same hands rose to roughly push aside the men in front of her as she stepped into the fray, narrowed eyes falling to the men on the deck. "What in the hell is this?" She yelled above the men again, the noise on the ship falling silent as they all stopped moving at her furious appearance.

"There are BODIES on my nice CLEAN deck." She continued to roar, a single finger dropping to point to the three men on the deck of her ship. Two were bleeding out and the third was unconscious. However, one of the fallen looked like Joshua. Silver's gaze narrowed as she bent slightly to look over the man again. The tall woman straightened, going rigid and flushing an angry red.

A throat clear had her head snapping up, golden waves tumbling angrily down her shoulders. The large first mate Ty bent his bald head toward the last man standing. The sunlight gleamed off a familiar breastplate and damn near blinded her. She rose that pointing hand to shield her eyes, taking in the familiar form of?"Bennet?"

The word was nearly choked out, her hand lowering as she stepped forward for a better view. Yes, it was indeed him, minus the mustache and the full armor; but the face and stance were still the same old Bennet. Her features softened for a single moment before she looked from the bodies again, slowly returning her attention to the lone Knight with his sword drawn.

"What in the Abyss are you doing on my ship and what the hell is this mess you brought with you??

A fine day this turned out to be.....one dead fugitive, one dead knight, and one knight stone unconscious. This report ought to read really well, Bennet mused. His gaze lingered on the bodies laying on the deck before he turned to address the captain.

"Silver. Hello to you too." His free hand tossed the parchment detailing the arrest onto the body of the fugitive, then he rubbed his temple. "I should have remembered the name of the ship. I really should have. It does make sense now why they sent me."

His brow furrowed as he thought for a moment, yet he kept a firm grasp on his sword. One never could be sure how things might play out. He took a moment to survey the hands topside, looking for anything amiss. Sailors stood around him, albeit in a little larger circle now, but still surrounding him. Some armed, most quite angry. Nothing to do but wait and see, he supposed with a slight shake of his head.

"We were sent here to apprehend that," he said, with a wave towards the dead fugitive. "He resisted arrest and in the process, killed my man. My other charge took it upon himself to both slay the fugitive, and in the process receive quite the bump on the skull. Ty, thank you for the restraint."

"You might want to breathe a little there, Sil. I apologize for the bloodshed, that couldn't be avoided it appears. Now, if you'd be so kind as to have your crew disperse a bit' I'll also need a sworn statement from all the witnesses as to the happenings today."

One lawman stuck amidst a boatload of pirates. You're a funny one, Lancespur....oh yes you are. He could almost hear those words rolling off her tongue. He'd be hard pressed to live more than a couple minutes at best, should she decide to send the crew crashing down on him. Best try something else. Fast.

"You're looking well..."

The conversation was quiet, but the anger from the Captain nearly radiated off her. In contrast, the Knight stood rigid, his head bent toward her furious hissing, his answers composed and collected.

It nearly all fell apart as she slammed the parchment against his mailed chest. Bennet's head snapped up, shoulders rolling back as she stormed away from him. "You think I'm going to let you take him back for a ruling?" She called back toward him. "What' So they can give him a warning; maybe demote him but nothing more because the one he killed was a criminal" I know how it works, Bennet. I was once there, but this is not Solamnia." The stomping of her boots turned into a back and forth pacing on the deck. Her tanned face, moments ago an angry shade of red was slowly returning to normal despite her hands flexing and unflexing at her sides. He had attempted to apologize for the mess, and somewhere beneath her anger, she knew he was truly sorry for what had happened. Bennet had explained how he did not understand why he, of all people, had been chosen to accompany two rookie knights on an errand that was usually reserved for people below his station. How he had been so busy he did not put the pieces together and realize the Starstruck Siren was the very same ship he had sailed on a few years ago with her on another errand for the Knights.

Perhaps that's what got her so riled up. Perhaps, she was mostly angry at the fact he forgot the name of her ship. Perhaps she was angry that he had admitted forgetting about her as well as the -Siren-. Perhaps she was also royally ticked off that her boatswain was dead and she was going to have a hell of a time trying to find a new replacement for whomever she promoted to fill in the newly empty slot.

"Silver.." he called out, turning to watch her angry pacing.

"NO!" She yelled again, the pacing ceasing as she stood frozen to the spot. A single finger jabbed in the air toward Tom and Ty. They had brought a chair up on deck and were now working to tie the captured Knight to it. "That man assisted in the murder of one of my crew, not to mention one of your men, all because the Knights send rookies who haven't learned to stay their hands yet! He?" she stabbed the air again toward the man to punctuate the word. "...now needs to pay off the debt of Beckworth who was a member of my crew until I see fit to release him from his duties. That's how things work here, Bennet."

"I'm sorry, Sil, but I can not go against orders. It's not going to work."

"To hell it's not!" She yelled again, turning those flashing eyes to Bennet again. "Someone needs to work off Beckworth's service." She threatened, widened eyes narrowing again as she stared at the Knight across from her. "And I highly doubt that is going to be you, Lancespur."

The silence of the ship was overwhelming, and destroyed by a single throat clear. Silver's head whipped toward her First Mate. "What?" She hissed at the large man.

He motioned toward the docks where a few people were slowly ambling past, more intent on what was happening on her ship than their errands.

"Hargrove." Came the gravelly, deep voice of the usually silent First Mate in response to the Captain's question.

"Paladine's Beard." She swore, shaking her head at Ty's mention of the Coast Guard. That was the last thing she needed. With another glance shot at Bennet, she growled "come? before she turned and disappeared down the few steps toward her Quarters.

Silver stood staring at Bennet for a good, long moment. For him to tell her what her choices were, on her ship, was outrageous.

"I removed myself from you , the Knights because your idea of "justice" seriously lacked. They aren't the governing body here, Bennet, in case you missed that."

She itched to throw another punch, yet something was telling her it wouldn't be worth it, despite how smug Bennet appeared. Silver almost wanted to laugh at his comment that they'd get off the ship in one manner or another, considering out of the Knightly pair, Bennet was the only one armed. The odds weren't in their favor, but Bennet knew that.

"I don't trust your council. I don't trust your "kind"." Silver's fingers managed to uncurl, rising to fall to rest on her hips. "You standing in is going to do me no good Bennet, considering your sea-legs are non-existent?" She saw his jaw move as if he was getting ready to counter her but she continued on. "And if you do stand in, it has nothing to do with a time of YOUR choosing, considering this is not your domain. Whoever fills this newly vacated position will work until I deem otherwise.

You have no choice."

The two stared at each other for a long moment before Silver pushed past the angry Knight and made her way topside. "Ready to sail!” She yelled, watching as the crew quickly fell into a well-oiled routine. Each and every person aboard her ship had a job to do and none were found wanting for work.

Silver's fingers snatched out to grab Patrick's sleeve as he prepared to scurry past the Captain. She reached down to her hip, removing a hefty bag of coins and dropping it into his palm. "Go secure the Knights" horses and bring them aboard. Also stop by Mr. Titow's shop and get us provisions for a month. This.." She tapped the hand that held the coin. "Should make sure that he has them aboard before the evening tide rolls in."

"Aye, Cap"ain." The boy quickly disappeared down the plank and into the town.

Silver did not even turn around when she heard the soft grunt behind her. "Yes." She answered to the unasked question. She heard the large First Mate shift behind her. "I know.? She responded again with a sigh before speaking again. "Your quarters are needed to house the Knights for the journey." The man grunted again as the rhythmic cadence of the Captain's gait resounded on the deck as she moved away. There was much to do and little time to do it if they were going to be sailing out in a few hours.