My first sighting of Admiral Horam Jak?Char was a looming shadow in the early morning fog of the docks. The horns and the size gave me a moment?s pause. As did the singular, baleful, red-eyed gaze that manifested with a snort of annoyance when he found me in his path.

Wasn?t long before he was just as wary of you. Such an imposing figure on that bull. I?m usually overlooked at first. Maybe I should be bigger. Do you think I should be bigger?

Do you want to be able to ride my shoulders? You can?t do that if you?re larger, don?t be silly. Besides, you know it?s to our advantage. That first meeting, upon learning his rank, I solicited him with the offer of magical enhancements for his vessel. I?d had no luck with this freelance enchanting business idea thus far, but I was persistent. Superstitious folk and a local legend about a hag that roamed the docks were working against me. He wasn?t the first sailor I?d given that pitch to, but he certainly was the first Minotaur I?ve ever known to command a ship. Let alone a fleet of them.

Hooves on a deck. I can?t imagine the difficulties in wet conditions, but no one overlooks him. People, women especially, are always trying to hug him. Is it because he walks on two legs? I can do that.

Will you be quiet, you get plenty of attention. Horam rarely desires it. Gruff voiced, scowling, glaring. He does his level best to be intimidating and project an aura of ?don?t touch me?.

Unless he?s been in his cups. All bets are off at that point. Remember when he hugged Cianan?

Of course this aura is completely useless most of the time. Blatantly ignored by those who get to know him. Children give him away the quickest. That innate ability of young things to recognize when gruff means ?endearingly grumpy? rather than ?ferocious?. At which point he grumbles and sighs and makes amusingly pained expressions.

Now, don?t mistake me, he can be fierce. His bark is generally worse than his bite, but that?s only when you haven?t earned his ire. He can be brutal and powerful and all of those things you might expect from someone of his build. I?ve seen Horam go hand to hand with one of his own kind, leveling blows with the sort of savagery that breaks bones and furniture. A clash of horned titans in a bar brawl.

I?ve known him to be honorable, generous, dependable. I?ve seen him conflicted about his actions and steely-eyed in his resolve. Fortunately for me, I?ve known him to change his mind. When I first met him, I wouldn?t have been surprised if his distaste for the arcane had kept our dealings at cold, professional detachment. But I?m persistent.

Obstinate. Wait, wait. Bullheaded.

You?re hilarious. Let?s settle with stubborn. Things changed. Caution turned to mutual regard much quicker than I would have expected, especially while I was continually giving him reasons to empty his savings. It took months to work out the details on that contract, but by then I considered him my friend.

Questions for The Mermaid, part 2

The Minotaur led the final stretch to the Sargas Revenge, proud flagship of the Helston fleet under his control. "Aye, aye." Rumbling chuckle and those heavy steps would soon be stomping up the gangplank. The sailors on watch would immediately recognize the Minotaur and stand to attention while casting curious glances at Shae though some knew her on sight from either the Mermaid or past visits to the ship.

The look on her face would have been at home on someone about to go to war. Granted it was a personal one, but her scowl threatened to twist her attractive features into something fearsome. She caught the glance of one of the sailors and schooled herself again when the poor man made a warding gesture. "You're sure Nathan's here?" If that name was wrong, this time it was apathy. The young officer was nice enough, but he was...young.

Towards the bridge and through the double doors into the gallery. She'd recognize the room with the large dining table though cleared of food and without Nathan, and fortunately, Barrin. The ding room itself had four sets of doors and Horam chose the set to the immediate left. The room within was the very perfect of organization. Books were arranged alphabetically, nautical items such as compasses and spyglasses arranged with precision upon tables and desk; the latter having a series of folders arranged as if by a slide ruler to be even upon the surface. "Apparently I'm not."

She followed, the steps secured in her memory to reach this portion of the ship. Eyes took in the orderly setting with a raised brow. "This is the Lieutenant's office?" It was very precise. What else could be said? She admired the organization even though she knew it would be impossible for her to maintain. "Should be able to find the measurements if he has them here." Probably labelled and filed in one of those folders.

He grunted and began pawing through the folders, tossing them aside at random upon the desk with a mutter. Next he began to rummage through the desk drawers, pulling out folders and reading their labels, discarding them into a growing pile before he gave a grunt of triumph and peeled open a manilla to read its contents before offering it towards her. Inside were the measurements, all marked and written down in a handwriting completely in character with the rest of the room. Well, until Horam got here.

She lingered in the doorway, observing the chaos that Horam caused with a faint twinge of sympathy. She certainly wasn't going to clean it up, but she couldn't help but picture young Master Stone in a tizzy over a presumed case of corporate espionage. Faintly, she hoped the man was well paid. The folder, when handed to her, was scanned quickly before being rolled to allow her to tuck it into the bag of holding that was her belt pouch. "Good. Now let's go get that drink."

Little did she know that Nathan was used to Horam creating a chaos in his neat little corner of the world. He gave her a slight flash of a smile and then made his way past her and proceeded to make his way out of the gallery and off the ship. Salutes were returned to the men while giving absent remarks on his health to those that asked.

She trailed, momentary distraction warring with the nagging pit in the back of her mind. There was almost an electric energy to her motion as she flowed in his wake. When they were a sufficient distance down the gangplank she had to ask. "Just...hang on a second." And she turned around. "I'll be right back. I forgot something."

He paused, startled and confused as his body twisted to watch her retrace her steps back. He waited though, wondering and curious as could be but he waited.

Questions for The Mermaid, part 4

"Shall we play a game?" Where was this coming from? Perhaps the bottom of her glass. Shae could see it now. She set the vessel down and pushed it towards him for a refill. "Rebelliously not minding our own business in the form of questions. Whatever you ask you have to be willing to answer yourself. In the case of questions that don't apply to you, you must be willing to field a replacement question of the other's choosing."

He hesitated in refilling her glass as he processed her words. A game? Brows took flight as he stared at her while nudging her glass back towards her. "Alright. Start us off, witch."

Frankly, she was surprised he took the suggestion, and it showed on her face. Still, she wasted no time. "Where is home?"

He was surprised himself. Maybe he was more of a lightweight than he figured. His glass lifted, paused before lips. "Mithas. One of two of the major imperial islands and a hundred more scattered over the Blood Sea. My clan is from - used to be from - a town called Kraz'zak'cul." The rum was shot down and that burning red eye turned upon her. "You?"

"Don't presently have one. Might not have ever, really. Just temporary years in temporary places." Hand reached out for the refilled glass, drawing it closer. "Your turn."

He nodded slowly and began refilling his glass slowly. "Why come here of all places?"

"I think I answered this one before. It wasn't my choice." Her lips screwed together, the next word spit forth. "Banished." And a sip to wash it away. "Shouldn't have been able to do that, but I don't think I was meant to be sent this far." Here she looked expectantly to him.

He grunted and made a gesture. "I know. But here. This city. There is still a lot of world out there."

"I landed in the middle of nowhere and this was the first bit of civilization I found. Seemed better to get my bearings here than keep wandering on without a clue." Shae clarified.

"Fair enough." Another grunt. "I suppose that about covers my reason. It seems more accepting for those obviously not human what with bloody every kind of creature the Gods can think of showing up day to day."

"What was the thing that made you decide to stay?" Her turn now, the glass cradled in both hands as she leaned forward and rested her arms on the table.

He toyed with his glass, frowning as he peered into it. "A paladin. He took me in. I wasn't well when I first arrived and he healed me up despite my..ah unfriendly disposition."

"Unfriendly disposition." The paladin might have been a saint. She was getting the gradual impression that Horam hadn't always been as 'approachable' as he was now. She had another question, but it wasn't her turn. As she set the rules, it would be bad form. "Gratitude. A decent reason." Spacing her words with a sip. "As for myself. Selfishness. I haven't been able to breathe like this in a long time. And part of me is fearful of what I will find if I did return. Forward has been the direction I prefer to travel. I don't think I'll change that now."

Gratitude. He grunted and swished back the rum quickly. The heady feeling that began made him sigh softly soon after and go for another refill. Another two cups and it would be completely drained. "Good advice. Makes me wonder sometimes." He then took a moment to consider this options. He had to make sure they were questions he didn't mind answering in kind which meant some were out of the question. Brows furrowed then. "Have you ever killed anyone?"

"Yes." Her gaze met his as if daring him to judge her for her answer. Have you? They asked.

"More than I can bloody remember." Down went the rum and he made a gesture towards a bored bar maid and lifted the near empty rum bottle for her to bring another.

Tension bled from her shoulders and she downed a fair swallow of rum. "What happened to the paladin?" She obviously had no way to answer this in regard to herself, and so he had a free question to ask her without having to answer it for himself, provided he answered hers first.

"I do not know. He left to deal with a corruption among his order. It has been half a decade and I have not heard from him since." Perhaps it was the rum but the answer brought about a shroud of melancholy. Fortunately the bar maid brought another bottle and Horam was quick to empty the first and begin on the second. He spoke as he began to open it. The question she asked opened up a chance to ask something he himself wish not to answer. "Ever been married?"

"No." Another simple answer. But in light of the dark cloud her previous question had summoned, she thought it only fair to elaborate. "I considered it, but the first time I did so proved to be a disaster. I've been lacking in stability and the general acceptance of most religious institutions since that time. Tends to put a damper on matrimony prospects." Something she seemed unconcerned about. "It's your turn."

Mouth pursed and he lightly ran thick fingers along a crack that ran from the table edge towards the center. "What does it feel like? Using magic, I mean."

"I..." Well that stumped her for a solid ten seconds. A rarity. "I have heard that the experience varies from person to person. That it depends on the type of magic that they use. Much like your arm feels different when you swing a different weapon. The muscles might be the same but the motions are different. Sometimes vastly so." The sip of rum was to buy herself some time. "I assume you want to know what it feels like from my personal experience." She just had to find the words.

He tipped his head politely towards her and took a sip, not emptying it this time, of the liquor to better pace himself now.

Her eyes closed and she gave thought to the answer. When she began to speak it was without opening them. "You've probably felt it. I think most people have. That sensation when events flow the way you will them too, however short term that may be. The hum of a room's energy when a group of people are focused on the same thing at the same time. The way the wind on the shore can feel like the world is breathing, or the silence in a forest that contains more gravitas when you stop to consider it. That flight of fancy when you look up to the stars, realize your insignificance in the grand scheme, and then wonder if you are not just the universe's way of considering itself." One of those would resonate with him, she hoped. "Using magic is like that, but more than a fleeting moment. For me...I feel the underlying design and reach out to make a change. An expansion on that ability to feel the person walking next to you, even when you aren't physically touching. It...And then the air dances with me. Harmonizes with my intent. For a moment I am more than myself." Her eyes open. "That's magic."

It was perhaps the longest string of words she had tied together in a conversation with anyone here, and it made her thirsty. So she drank rum.

He was only able to capture but a small piece of the larger picture she was painting him with those words as he stared at her face, not blinking. He didn't fully expect to be able to relate but it was illuminating at least. A slow, heavy release of air through snout in the manner of a sigh. "There are rumors that there is a kingdom far to the east of the Imperial boundries. Of another civilization of Minotaurs. Ones that wield magic." He might have said more but he finished off the rest of the rum in a small gulp.

Belatedly, she realized that his question did not apply to him. So she had a free one before her actual turn. "Do you want to learn magic from them, or would you? Given the opportunity." That description seemed to have both invigorated her and mentally strained her at the same time. As if the very act was some small price of magic to be paid.

"Gods no! It just makes me wonder, is all." He shifted in his chair with a moment of discomfort as what was typical when magic was brought up around the Minotaur. This time though he had been the one to initiate it.

Now it was her turn for real. And so she asked something she could answer. "Have you ever had children?"

There was the subtle sound of glass slowly cracking from the pressure of squeezing fingers though the bestial features remained with the natural scowl. Though.. there was the faint tightening of jaw. Hand would relax fortunately before glass shattered and down went the rum in a quick gulp. "Yes."

Holy ****. She hadn't been expecting that. Her eyes lowered to the abused glass in his hand, and then raised to his face. She kept her features carefully neutral, but her brows were perhaps slightly higher than resting state would allow.

"Khara and Dharim. Twins. Khara had her mother's eyes. Blue like the mountain lakes of Yhemere." For but a moment he allowed himself to be transported in time and the smile blessed upon that brooding face seemed to dispel the mask of anger. And then it was gone; a brief glimpse of what the Minotaur had once been before expression hardened and bottle was grabbed for a refill that was quickly downed with a snarling grimace. Wiping the back of hand across muzzle he would nudge the bottle back towards her while red eye stared awaiting her reply.

The past tense was registered and what part of her could imagine that loss registered sympathy. Dead or simply gone. Either way. That glimpse. Her reply was quieter. "No. Like marriage...stability was always lacking. I wouldn't bring forth a life to the path I walked. Or the world I lived in. And certainly not alone. There was no one I would hope to trust with such a piece of myself should I not survive."

He shouldn't be drinking yet again. Damn Agrom. Damn his entire species. "Trust. Yes. There is always that, isn't there." Murmured while lifting a hand to briefly rub at his brows and then down to glance towards her. "And do you have siblings?"

"If I do, I do not know them. I was given to understand that my birth parents were dead shortly after my birth. So, no younger siblings at the least." Solitary. Almost painfully so, whether she willed it or not. Circumstances had dictated such a life thus far. That was Shae. "And you?"

"An older brother that died to pirates when I was but a lad and a sister I can only hope is safe, somewhere." Back in the chair he leaned and the wood creaked and groaned.

Her last question had stirred up something she hadn't intended, so she took a little more care in selecting her next one. Several sips of rum later, she had it. "What's a talent you have that no one would expect you to have?"

That had brows lifting albeit briefly. "Talent?" He scratched at the side of his neck, frowning. "I don't--" He cut himself off and cursed. He was angry at himself for coming up with an answer. "Well uh, you see.. being an officer back home and having a certain status I was often invited to the Imperial Palace whenever there was a celebration of some kind.." He shifted, reluctant to answer.

She did her very best not to start grinning at the reluctant tone that crept into his voice. And simply waited for him to get to the point.

He began to drum fingers atop the table top, stalling. For a moment he considered lying or simply not answering. Grumbling, he finally muttered. "Dancing."

Gruff, loud, stomping Horam. Graceful on his feet? Yes. That fit the parameters nicely. Now she knew what the conditions for a future bet might be. And a talent no less! "My, my." Her own response required a bit of thought. "I never know quite what people expect of me, as such things change depending on who you ask. But..." She tapped a finger to her lips.

She, and everyone else, didn't need to know when he had danced the Tango some years back during a Hallows Eve party.

He might not want to lose a bet with her.

He narrowed his eye faintly with her reaction and gave a slow sip of the rum as he waited and none too patiently at that. "Yes? Out with it now. I bet it's giving me fits." Muttered though not quietly enough.

"If it's something you would expect of me, I will think of another, but the first thing that comes to mind is the ability to craft simple weapons and ammunition. My best being crossbow bolts." Giving fits was not surprising. She gave a lot of people fits.

At least her talent was actually useful. He gave a start, staring at her with a tilt of head. "What other types can you make?"

"I know how to make simple bladed weapons, though not how to fold steel like a craftsman. Give me something that resembles a blade and I can make a handle. Clubs, spears, staves. The sort of weapons you don't need a smithy for. Again, my best is crossbow bolts and fletched ammunition. Though I have puzzled my way through crossbow repair before. Curing the wood for a proper bow is a bit beyond me."

"Hmm.." His eye would narrow again though this time thoughtful. "Might have to see about renegotiating additional services from ya then."

"If you're looking to me to arm your sailors, they would be better served with a proper craftsman. I only dabble with what I need to survive." She'd picked up more than a few skills that way. Learning as the moment demanded. "Last question." She warned. The rum was getting to her and she didn't think another round would be prudent. "And it is your question."

Brows furrowed and then he grunted softly. "How'd you end up with Fox?"

It was a question she might have expected. All the same, her guard was evident in her reply. "That's not a short story, but I'll try to sum it up. He found me in the woods, or I found him. An offer of companionship was made and accepted. He has been my balance and my restraint since then, and I have been his voice and his means to experience that which he couldn't otherwise." Since he could not answer the question he posed, it ended up falling to her to respond with the final inquiry. Shae stood and pushed her chair in, standing behind it with her hands resting on the back as she looked at him. "I suppose I am the last question after all, by the rules. So I will ask what I have found myself wondering. Are we friends, Horam?"

He nodded slowly. "I think I wouldn't mind hearing the full story sometime, if it be one able to be told to the likes of me." A faint half smile. He slid his empty glass across the table and then slid his eye up - not too far up as Shae wasn't much taller standing as Horam was sitting - towards her face and the question took him back, He blinked once or twice, lips tight as he considered the question. "Honestly, Shae? I don't know." It seemed he left it there and that half smile was back, more genuine. "I think we can be." Of course she asked him that after he had drank almost two bottles of rum.

The best questions for last. She weighed all that had been said. Compared it to the sum total of what she had shared with others, and nodded. His answer, it would appear from the mirror of that half smile, was acceptable. "Be safe." Her customary farewell as she turned for the door.

"Just like that, eh?" He snorted and gave her a lazy wave of a farewell and ended up tipping over one of the empty bottles of rum in the process. "I'm just gonna pass out here if you still want the cabin. Goodbye, Shae."

"I think we can be too." She added at his faint complaint regarding her brevity, though this without turning around. At the door she paused and then stepped out. She'd take the offer, her head was swimming with rum and she'd rather get lost in pillows than lost on her way back to the Inn. "Goodnight." The door was closing, and she was on the other side of it, but the word would tickle at his ears as she went in search of a bed for the night.

April 25th, the wee hours.

Dancing Lights

Ships that had once laid dormant during the winter were now often a frenzy of activity at port as the bulging galleons came and went with their cargo to deliver it far and wide. Horam's ship was no different though all was quiet with the coming night. The Minotaur missed some of his nightly excursions into the city but only somewhat. He thrived on keeping busy though the mountain of paperwork that came with running a fleet of merchant ships wasn't exactly his idea of what he had in mind. Muttering to himself as he shifted his weight in his chair, hunched over a solid wooden desk that much like the chair was appropriate to a creature of Horam's girth and stature. Candles had begun burning brightly but long into the night had now burned low though it seemed the bull didn't mind or simply didn't notice, occupied as he was with requisition forms, bills, reports, etc, etc. He every so often let out a sigh, taking a moment to hear the splash of waves smacking into the hull of his ship.

Suddenly, from outside. The sound of fireworks. Should Horam step onto the balcony of his ship, he would find it occupied by a barefoot woman in a black evening dress. On the hammock Fox was curled up in a ball. She watched the light show begin off the pier.

Horam's first reaction was his ship was under attack. A stack of papers was sent flying to the ground in haste, chair thrown back as he stood upright and flung open the balcony doors - only to be greeted by the sight of fireworks and Shae and her furry companion. A slow blink before he let out a stream of curses and mutters.

"I'm going to take it by what I just heard behind me that you have no idea what this display is all about." Her voice drifted over her shoulder, as she was yet unwilling to take her eyes off the fireworks. It was as if someone had taken a New Year's celebration and put the entire affair on the finale. It just kept going. Shapes and colors and effects that were probably magic. "Before you blame me I had nothing to do with it."

"I would no be surprised if you were." Grumbled. It wouldn't be any great suprise if he turned around and disappeared back into his cabin. He nearly did just that, body twisting before turning horned head to glance at the fireworks exploding in the nights sky with a frown. A great huff of breath and Horam joined the female, leaning against the railing.

"It'll probably be over by the time you stomp your way over there to see who is behind it all." Her grin was lit up in flashes of color. The entire affair painted her like a kaleidoscope. And him as well once he joined her. "Do you not like fireworks, Horam?" She did steal a glance aside to him then. The last time she had been there it had been to set up her hammock and bemoan his security. The security still was an issue. She'd snuck onboard again, and in that dress no less.

"Hmph. Probably." A long moment to simply watch before the gravelly, deep voice spoke up once again with a grunt. "I suppose I am fond of them.. when they are not interrupting my work." He didn't sound all that annoyed. He would have welcomed almost anything from his hand cramping around a pen that was too small for those large hands. Head turned and tilted down for eye to level on her and finally see the female for the first time. He gave a start and grinned. "Hot date tonight?"

She didn't seem at all uncomfortable in the stretch of silence, watching the display with quiet fascination. "What are you working on?" She remembered something that made her smile before his question distracted her. "Hmm? Oh! The dress. Not quite. I recently did a favor for Antonia. Cianan and Antonia had me over for dinner as a thank you. They like to dress up for dinner, so I joined the little tradition for the evening."

The name of the Drow had him grimacing. He still hadn't forgotten the Zima! "Well. You look very nice." A matter of fact nod before he turned to glance back towards the fireworks. He might have even smiled if not for the inquiry regarding his work. "Paperwork. It seems I can't bloody wipe my ass without needing to sign some sort of bloody form or another.. " He trailed off into a mutter. Something about using the forms as toilet paper.

Shae smiled for the compliment, but smiled wider for his complaints. "Thank you. Don't you have lackeys to sign all the things for you? Maybe you should make a stamp and just..." She pantomimes stamping through a stack of papers one at a time.

"Aye, I have some. But if I want to make sure things are done right without any.. mistakes.. I need to occasionally check on the work myself. I didn't get to where I am now by trusting." He grunted at the stamp suggestion, even gave a bit of a bemused rumble. "Maybe I should."

She lapsed into silence again before her voice breaks through the gunshot symphony of lights. "By the way, I have the estimates worked out if you were ready to sign a contract, while you're thinking about business. We've been dragging our feet for so long I had to take a side job."

He gave another grunt, more solid. "Yeah. I'll sign it as soon as it gets on my desk. Well. Obviously after I look it over, too." A sidelong glance down towards her but just for a moment. "What kind of side job?"

"Well. Two actually. Part time work at the Academy library and...Have you heard of the Whafyle Corporation? They put up fliers looking for entertainers a little while ago. Anyway. I applied and got a job as a contractual dancer. For parties and the like. Show up, perform, get some silver." She turned a bit to be able to watch the display and talk to him at the same time, glancing back and forth between the two.

He began to nod until she got to her second job. Head would shake and then freeze. A furrow of brows and that horned head would slowly turn to fix that eye upon her. "A dancer." It wasn't so much a question as spoken out loud to actually hear what she had just told him.

"What? Did you think you were the only person who was graceful on their feet?" Her smile was amused, and perhaps a touch sly as she looked to him out of the corners of her eyes. She'd never said she couldn't dance. She never said a lot of things. The woman had layers. "Yes, a dancer."

"Should have never bloody told you that.." Muttering with a shake of his head and a scowl before snorting sharply and fixing her with a stare. "Sounds kind'a shady to me."

Her chuckles at his muttering died off at his second statement. "Does it? What makes you say that?" She did take her eyes off the sky now, curious more for his answer than for the light show.

"Nothing. Just worrying over nothing." Brows would furrow again along with another head shake to dismiss whatever thought was currently taking up residence. A flick of an eye towards her and a brief flash of teeth in a grin. "Who do I talk to to get a dance?"

"Worried about me?" Her brows arched as his furrowed. "If there's a legitimate concern, I'd like to hear it..." But then his next words cause the back of her hand to swat at his arm. It was like back handing a tree. "I'm supposed to tell you to contact the company to request me. But we can cut out the middle man and I'll charge you double." Hitting his arm reminded her. "Did you still want that scar we talked about? Your crest?"

"People might hire you expecting more than just dancing." More grunting. There was another from the swat. "Double, eh?" A pained expression. "Should it not be half?" More rumbling that bordered on a chuckle and he would nod. "Aye, I do. One more service for you to talk my hard earned coin."

"I was very clear with Whafyle about the limits of my services. I have it in writing. And I can turn down any offer if I have reason to feel uncomfortable." But her smile is appreciative for his concern. "Okay, the going rate, but only because I like you." There was that businesswoman smile that he was probably coming to hate. "It's not as if I'm not providing you with things you never knew you needed before you met me."

"Yer a bloody menace." That singular eye rolled in his head, bemused by her cutthroat tendencies where his silver was concerned.

In the distance, the fireworks continued to light up the night above the docks. They watched until the last fizzled out. Eyes seeing afterimages cavort against the early morning sky. Then the Minotaur returned to his paperwork, and the Sylph took her leave.

Lantern Light, part 2
From the store to the Docks

"He seems a little.. odd." Muttered softly though most likely not softly enough given the booming tone of the Minotaur.

"Who isn't a little odd around here?" Says the woman who is barefoot, in her pajamas with a Fox, a phone she has no idea how to use, and a set of books for a show she has become obsessed with without knowing what television shows are.

He gave a bemused grunt. "Good point." A glance back towards Shae with a flash of a grin. "Dressed to impress I see."

Mocking curtsy offered. "I was about to head back towards the Docks. I'm staying in the Warehouse district for the weekend, would you care to walk with me?"

"Remind me to speak to the male, Fin. I would like to give my appreciation for his work myself." He nodded slowly. "Aye. That sounds good to me." A curious glance at the mention of her new residence but he kept back any questions for the moment.

"I'll remind you next time you're ever in the same room." Padding towards the door, she holds it open with her hip for Fox to exit. "How long are you in port, this time?"

"I can no really say. Hopefully a week but.. " Broad shoulders gave a shrug as he followed her out. "Spring is the busiest time for myself and the fleet."

On the stroll, she had hoisted the box of books up onto her shoulder. Fox ran ahead, the poor fellow missing a few clumps of fur from his tail. "Did you want to sign that contract while you're in town this time? Or would you prefer to wait until the busy time of year passes?"

"Sooner the better." He grunted and grimaced; all things that were typical Horam. "In truth I wish I had done it before the storm season had passed. Those enchantments would be especially useful with the amount of shipping being done these last couple months."

"If you had more time in port I could, at the least, take care of the Sargas. But it will take more than a week. Several, in all likelihood." Her smile apologetic. "I'll drop the contract on your desk sometime tomorrow night, yes?"

"Better than nothing." He nodded slowly. "However long it takes. I imagine it can no be an easy task on ships of such size. I appreciate it all the same despite you robbing me for the prices you charge." There was a hint of a smile to take off any bite that might have come from the comment. "Aye, that'll work."

"Fair prices for quality work, Horam." Gentle chiding for his mock complaint. "A little steep but still fair." For all the notion that she charged much, a lot of it went to materials. Or was funneled into favors and gifts for friends. She was still living at the Inn for a few reasons.

"Hmph. My father would have my hide for a rug if he found out how much I had let you get away with." Again he sounded more amused than upset. His eye rolled towards her bundle she hauled along. "Keeping yourself busy, are we?"

"Reading distracts me from other concerns. And these are the first books I have purchased purely for the pleasure of it." Patting the box set with a curl of her fingers. "The rest have either been research or on loan from the library."

A brief purse of muzzle. Lumbering stride made sure to keep pace with her own smaller albeit quicker steps. "What concerns might those be?" He had to remember the time that had slipped away since the last few times he had seen her.

Her lips pursed in thought as she considered which words to use. "The matter with the tea may be drawing to a close or coming to a point of violence fairly soon." She began, though this was not the largest concern on her mind at present. "And...well." She hadn't spoken of it since that evening. A frown for her own hesitation, reluctantly adding. "I may have met another of my kind. It marks the very first occasion. I'm not sure what to do about it."

He was nothing but confused on her comment involving tea until he recalled the time she told him that someone or something had tried drugging her. "Just tell me where to be." A hand lifted and clenched into a meaty fist before lowering back to his side. What she said next had him quiet for a long moment. He understood what that meant. He had spent nearly a decade in this realm before coming across his own kind. "I won't pretend to understand your species." That might be the first time he acknowledged she wasn't human despite lumping her into the category often. "But from my own personal experience, it typically means more trouble than good." Good ol' Horam, ever the optimistic.

His offer implied by that large fist earned her smile, but it was not one she'd likely have the chance to use. He'd be out to sea soon and there was no planning such things. The space of silence saw further progress towards the point where he would have to turn onto his pier and she would continue on for the warehouses. Rather than express her personal fears on the matter, she opted to ask questions, instead. "Oh? That have to do with the political situation, or something else?"

"Both." He grunted and barely kept a snarl from contorting features. He still had to deal with Agrom. "Sometimes I think I need to give the Helston's my resignation." He shook his head, having spoken before giving time to collect his thoughts. A flick of an eye down towards her. "Why don't you tell me about this new sylph or what have you."

"If you decide to resign, maybe let me know before I sign a long contract with them?" Asked with a wry little smile. He never had told her what happened with Agrom, she almost asked, but he got his query in first. "I don't know much. I think, as the newcomer to town, I qualify as the stranger in this situation. He's got family here. I haven't mentioned it to him. I don't even know how to approach that conversation."

He waved a hand absently at her in regards to him quitting. It if was going to happen it wouldn't anytime soon. "You can no just walk up and say 'Hey I'm a sylph too. What's up?'"

"No." Flat tones. "I can't do that. For several reasons. Primarily, I don't know what is expected of such a situation and I'd rather not alienate the very first example of my own sort that I've found. What if they have a strict code that I can't follow? What if my circumstances make me somehow against them?" Her eyes looked ahead but didn't truly see the docks.

"Code?" He frowned. "Why the bloody hells would it matter if they have a code? Just because they might be the same as you does not mean you are under any obligation to like them or vice versa." Of course this was coming from Horam who had little to no trouble losing sleep at night over not being liked even by his own species.

Fingers fussed at the end of a sleeve, raising to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her voice grew quiet. "No. No obligation. I could live without their approval. I could. But...it would be nice. Perhaps they could hel-- ah but to think like that is silly, I suppose."

He gave a low sound of a sigh and nodded slowly. "I suppose I can understand. There was a time where I too yearned for the company of my own kind." He gave her an awkward pat upon her shoulder after bending enough to do so. "Chances are the two of you will get along fine."

The pat shakes a bit of raw, vulnerable honesty out of her. "I thought I had put it behind me. All of it. Father never talked about my birth parents. He died and I spent a good chunk of my life without knowing what I was. When I found out I searched and searched. But nothing. And I learned to live with that. Coming here, I didn't even acknowledge the possibility of running into another until it was staring me in the face. Literally. I dislike that it has unsettled me." Shaking her head she shuts her mouth. Distaste warring with her words of apology. "Forgive me. You don't need to hear this nonsense. You've your own concerns. Whatever happened with Agrom? Did he come around?"

"The only nonsense is you saying that it be nonsense." There was a scowl though with little heat behind it. "This is important to you." The question of Agrom received nothing more than a grunt at first. "It is being handled." A lie to be sure but Horam seem unconcerned with it for the moment. "You wish to speak to this other that is of your kind for answers, yes? I still think you should simply introduce yourself and get it over with." A pause. "Perhaps with more tact than my earlier suggestion.

"I did introduce myself." This muttered in faint protest. But of course, not with her heritage attached. Some part of her, perhaps, had hoped that there would be some evident tell that would have given it away upon meeting. Some manner of mutual recognition. Nonsense. It was that. The resurfacing of a fantasy. "I'll think on it." Offered at a normal volume. "And what do you mean, 'handled'. Did he die?"

"There ya go. You can get to know this fella and see about his business and what he be like before perhaps revealing what you be." He nodded almost to himself. It sounded like a sound plan to him. Given Horam's more direct nature it was about as subtle a strategy he could offer. "No. He is very much alive. For now."

She pursued the change of subject relentlessly. Horam's plan was sound, but she wished to distance herself from the things she had said. "Did you learn what he wanted?"

He was about as eager to talk about the captive Minotaur as she was about the other sylph apparently. "No." Features darkened with a scowl. "I've decided to send him where I can get answers. I have been putting it off for too long. I will take a week from my duties if need be to get this over with."

Shae was quiet for a long moment. The sounds of their steps closing the final distance to the point where they would have to split ways. There she paused, tilting her head to look up at him. "Would you like me to try?"

Steps came to a halt and he settled a blank stare towards her. "What would you do?"

Turning, she shifted the box from one shoulder to the other to give her spine a break. All of her just recently tempestuous thoughts had disappeared from her face in the pursuit of this distraction. Emotionless calm dominated her expression. "That depends on how resistant he is. There are a few methods I know to get at the truth. I'd start with the least harmful and go from there."

He muttered to himself and then was on the move once more. Nearing her he went about removing said box from her person to heft it against his chest where it was held easily with one hand. "I will have to think on it." A brief pause. "Why are you living in a warehouse?"

"I'm not. I'm watching a friend's apartment for the weekend. She lives in the Warehouse district." She used the brief pause to stretch and then was motioning for the books back again. "And I'm going to need those back to get going in that direction."

"Ya got sleeping quarters all over the bloody city apparently." Amused and then a look of chagrin as her belongings were returned. "Right." Her items returned there seemed to be nothing more to do than exchange farewells and good nights. Or good mornings going by fiery red ball of sun peeking up over the horizon.

Old Business and New Business, part 2
Early afternoon on the Sargas' Revenge, 5/23

With a small burst of energy, the woman caught up to the longer strides of the Minotaur once they'd reached the streets outside of the Inn. Their path turned towards the docks. A stroll during which she seemed in no rush to speak, only offering one question when they were halfway to those worn boards. "Have you been enjoying the lantern?"

It wouldn't take long before the bloated monstrosity that was the Sargas Revenge would begin to loom ahead. He seemed to struggle with merely answering the question before a great rumbling sigh just before the rough growl of words. "I suppose I am." A tilt of head to glance down towards her, suspicious.

The smiling, tired eyes that greeted him in return were simply pleased that it was so. "I'm glad." Once the gangplank was in sight another thought occurred to her. "If there is any wiggle room with the funding for the ships, would you like me to put some of it towards increasing security on the Sargas?"

He nearly stopped. "What kind of security?" Another downward glance though wary to keep attention ahead as the closer to the pier they got the more crowded it became with the bustle of fishermen and other sailors and merchants going about their business while fat Customs Officials wandered with armed guards.

"I hadn't given much thought to it yet, but I'm sure I could drum up a few options, or just get creative with wards. All depends on what you think you need." A small shrug of her shoulders as they moved down the Sargas' pier towards the aforementioned ramp to the deck.

"If you think the ship needs it.." As always there was a sailor there ready to greet the Minotaur and a curious look to Shae. Aside from the lone human the ship seemed otherwise deserted.

It might be a curious sight to see the woman without Fox in her immediate vicinity. She flashed a smile to the sailor. "I don't think there is so great a demand for your cargo that people might steal it, but you never know." Amusement slipping into her tone as she stepped past and started the climb for the deck. "It was just something to consider."

"Neither do I. Only one I should be worried about taking anything is you." Face didn't crack even a little bit. Through the wide, double doors that led to his cabin.

"Now I'm tempted to have a look." Said with as straight a face as she moved into the room. Her eyes scanned the interior, considering the large chair of his desk before she found a seat on the corner of his expansive bed. "Of course, I'd pay. Wouldn't do to piss off my contract holders, now would it?"

The bed was hardly any smaller as Horam wasn't about to demean himself by settling with human made furniture. Everything here was a little bit of home. The chair was claimed and he turned it to better face her with a snort. "I'll probably never see you again if you did."

She leaned back on her hands. Thought about it. Leaned forward and began to unlace her boots. "That would be bad for business. You know I'm smarter than that."

A slight tilt of head with a bemused glance towards her boots before reclining back slightly in the chair, a hand stretching back to open a drawer and bring out a manila folder. "I guess I could have always paid you in merchandise, too."

"I'm almost horrified to imagine what sort of merchandise you have that could match the wages I'm meant to be getting from this contract. Stars, I don't need that much help." One boot off, now she worked on the other.

There was a sound of a half snort, half snicker. Folder was kept beneath hand while he took a moment to rummage for a pen that Shae might have needed to hands to wield but fit snugly in the Minotaur's large hand. "Horrified. Yeah, that makes both of us."

The second boot came off and, with little care to the crisp lines of the jacket she wore, Shae sprawled on her side along the edge of his wide mattress. Arms stretching out across the cover as she drew her feet up. "I'm going to save part of those funds to buy a bed like this." Murmured with a dreamy air of longing.

Horam blinked. Once then twice. Amusement returned in the form of that throaty rumbling. "Comfortable?" It was difficult to make the gravelly tone sound more dry but he tried. Head shaking slowly with a hint of a smile. Near where his head would lay upon the bed was not just a few pillows but a whole assortment in all shapes and colors. "When I imagined getting my first female in that bed this wasn't exactly how I imagined it to be." Rumbling rose till he threatened to break out into a chuckle. "I think you have enough of my bloody money to buy a bed like that and then some."

"Very." Greedy hands reached for a colorful pillow, drawing it down to prop up her torso so she could talk without her face buried in the blanket. "Ah but this isn't the first time, you recall? You kidnapped me here while I was drunk, tossed me on the bed, grunted something about me needing sleep, and then staggered out to pass into oblivion while drooling on your dining table." Her nose wrinkled in amusement, rather suddenly glad that she'd not left his bedding dyed pink. "Sorry to ruin the fantasy. And I don't as it happens, have that much money, but I should be able to save some with this arrangement."

"Oh yeah. Okay, well it's now how imagined my second time, either." He snorted and folded arms across his chest as he stared at her. "Save some she says.." As if he was speaking to a confidant beside him. "Well you're welcome to use it whenever you want. Gods know I seem to rarely use it." He was losing count of how much time he spent passed out at the Mermaid. Thankfully not always at a table. He had a special room reserved there. Well, it wasn't so much a room as a storage closet with some blankets thrown down on the ground.

Old Business and New Business, part 4

"So glad." Snorting as he got comfortable or some semblance of it, anyway. "So. Do you still wanna tell me what's up?"

Shae deflated to lean on that purloined pillow again, her eyes seeking the threads in the colorful decoration before she spoke. "In a few days I'll be paying witness to a meeting between two parties. One is possibly a friend, the other I sympathize with, to a degree. The latter wants to kill the former." Inhale. "At present I'm keeping tabs on another who I find I feel protective of. Her situation is such that I may soon be waging war on one man's criminal kingdom in the city." Exhale. She looked like she might say something more, but she lifted her attention to him first.

To the first he nodded slowly. He grew up in a society where it wasn't uncalled for disputes to break out between friends, family and even lovers that resulted in a duel to the death. He would have given his sympathies for her but then she continued and brows furrowed, mouth tightening and his eye leveled clearly upon her face into a sharp stare. "Waging a war." Reiterated bluntly.

"Mm. Not by myself, I've two others. The point is she's probably going to be killed if she doesn't get out from under these people. Could just send a message to the one, but that wouldn't solve her problem for long. It's going to require scorched earth and making the business a death sentence to touch." She seemed to have no doubts about this, and she discussed it as if referencing the weather.

There was a moment of indecision as he sat there, hand reaching back to rake fingertips against the back of neck in a scratch. "If you need anything.. I can get my hands on weapons. I also have a bit of an eyes and ears around here." He could thank his old Paladin friend for inheriting that useful network. "Twelve hundred sailors also make one hell of an army."

"For now, just your discretion. I can't risk them being tipped off to our intentions. Things would become...especially dangerous if that were the case. No. For the present, it's information, and that I have handled so far. Thank you for the offer, but I wouldn't put your men at risk. Not to mention, I don't think your employer would appreciate that in the least."

"Fuck my employer." That came without hesitation. "You'd be surprised how many of my men would volunteer. One, for your 'honor'. Two, because they like knocking heads. Three.. well, they like knocking heads." So in reality it would be more like a couple hundred at most.

"The real joke here is you think my honor is involved in this somehow. There's very little honorable about some of the things I do, Horam." Amusement as she propped her cheek upon her hand, but it died slowly. "Mm, if my methods don't work, I'll let you know."

"I didn't say I was the one who thought it had to do with your honor. I'm saying some of my men would." Slight chuckle and then a slow nod.

While she was sure the man would have all manner of unpleasant things to say about her during the 'discussion' that was in his future, Shae didn't make mention of this to Horam. Something else was nagging at her. "Nn." Soft sigh. "Remember when you expressed concern about some people expecting more from my dancing? I assured you I could handle it. And I did, but not in the most ideal way."

"Hah, yeah I do..." He trailed off when he realized just exactly she had switched the topic to. Features darkened more if such was possible. "Oh? Do tell."

Her head lifted to allow her fingers to idly steeple and twine about each other. "A woman hired me last minute, offered a good deal on the contract for the inconvenience. All was going well until I tried to leave. Seemed she didn't like that. We got into a bit of an altercation." Small pause. "She's dead."

Cue a stare of incredulousness. "Why didn't she want you to leave?"

Shae stared at him, speaking slowly. "She wanted another dance. More intimate. Thought she could buy me for the pleasure and didn't want to take no for an answer."

He was nodding before that turned into a shake of his head, trying to process this. "Well. I guess I could say 'I told you so' but I'm not really in the mood for it."

"I didn't discount the possibility. Though I am still rather unsettled by what happened." With a shift she laid on her back, turning to glance towards the balcony doors to get a feel for the time. "I'll be needed elsewhere soon."

"Are you going to keep dancing?" He shifted back in his chair which creaked only slightly; the aged wood had been built with a creature such as Horam in mind and thus took the stress of that weight well. He gave a slight nod though she probably didn't see it. "Alright."

"Of course I am. I just need to have Fox closer so I don't go over the line on the next one that tries to violate the contract on me." A soft sigh as she rubbed at her forehead with the heel of her hand.

He sent her a dubious look. He wasn't exactly sure what a fox could do to help keep her safe but then Horam had his suspicions that it wasn't exactly just your everyday vulpine. Up out of the chair he went with a small stretch of powerful limbs. Towards the edge of the bed he stepped, giving her a light poke to her side. "Hey. Everything'll be alright. Things always work out in the end."

His meaty digit shook her as it prodded against her ribs. And she blinked her eyes up at him. "I know. I've survived this long."

Self Defense
Sargas Revenge, three in the morning, 8/3/15

Between the exertion of the day and the efforts put into her contract work, Shae's reserves of energy were running low. Such that the trek to the Inn for food didn't prove as tempting as the nearby sling of hammock on the Admiral's balcony of the Sargas. The sun had dried the pillows and blanket there, and now she sat untying the laces of her boots with oil stained fingers which felt thick with fatigue. Fox had helped her sneak aboard the ship and was already curled up on the sturdy fabric behind her. Her landing onto the deck lacked a bit of her usual stealth, a lazy thing which had prompted her to wince at the sound of her own landing, but no movement had yet come from past the heavy drawn curtains on the cabin nearby.

Horam didn't have a set sleeping schedule so much as a random time when he'd finally pass out, be it from doing hours of paperwork that followed him everywhere or drinking a touch (or more) beyond his limit at the Mermaid. Tonight it was the former, the giant bull passed out with his head down atop his desk and drooling on a requisition form. Maybe it was the sound of Shae coming aboard or maybe just happenstance but Horam was whipping his head up off the desk at the moment with a slow blink. Muttering softly to himself, he frowned at the moist stain upon the parchment in front of him, back of hand wiping across thick muzzle lips with a scowl. Slowly rising from his seat, those lips would smack after a yawn and a hand would scratch lazily along his ribs as he turned towards the rear door which led to the balcony. Had he heard something? Horned head shook slowly. It didn't matter. Right now some fresh air would do him some good. A brief rattle of door handle and out stepped the Minotaur. It would have been nice to say he seemed no less formidable but then there he stood, yawning against with a fist against his eye. Only after that hand dropped did he realize he wasn't alone on the balcony and he stared - right at Shae.

The witch was in working clothes of the ill fitting variety. Faded jeans and a stained plaid shirt that looked like they had come from someone's discard pile. She didn't even bother to pause as she slid the second boot from her foot. Black hair was loosely tossed into a messy bun. It was only those small personal cues, such as her reflective gold eyes and the hint of russet Fox behind her, that gave her up as herself and not some random dock worker. The Minotaur's singular stare was met with a raise of brows and then a slow smile. "Evening Admiral." The quiet greeting was just loud enough to be made out over the sound of the water. "Apologies if I woke you."

"I'm only disappointed I did not wait a little longer." A heavy grunt ensued by a twitch of lips in a brief sign of a smile before fading. Towering form leaned into door frame, arms folding across the width of bare chest as he stared at her in a mix of surprise and amusement. "It's good to see you again, Shae." From anyone else that would have been the equivalent of whooping and hollering in excitement.

Confusion knitted her brow for a brief time. "Should I start setting ward spells on my hammock to ensure my sleep?" Faint teasing in that tone, which shifted focus with the words that followed. "Do you mean to say you didn't get sick of me when I spent the better part of several weeks roaming all about your ship and hammering markings at all hours?" The tired smile from before flashed wider. "You were either sticking solely to the cabin or determined to stay out of my way. I never thought it would be so hard to see such a big fellow on his own ship. How's that been, by the way? I left off the extras I had in mind in the interest of catching up on the contract itself. I'm still a bit behind schedule, but I suspect I'll catch up in a few more weeks."

"If you have to do that then you would no be here." He muttered with a grunt and a snort. A slight shift of weight and then a tipping of his head. "The work you've done, what has so far been noticeable, has been nothing short of amazing. I don't see how I could ever sail on a ship without your enchantments." He would also wave a hand dismissively to the later of her comment. "I am not worried about you not finishing. Don't rush if you don't have to."

Legs swung up onto the hammock as the woman settled in. Fox protested that she moved him, but eventually settled back down as she spoke with the canid curled against her stomach. "I'm glad you approve. I hope you don't mind that I coordinated the next few ships based on my work projections. I picked the ones with shipments soon to be finished first so as not to interrupt your flow of goods. I suspect you already had such in mind when you were doling out the assigned shipments to them." She propped her head up on a pillow and the crook of her arm. "I intend to finish. I've over a year to do so by our terms, so there's very little rush about it. I do what I can when I can. It adds up. As long as I have the materials, I predict I will finish as agreed."

Brows would furrow. He was still torn on his feelings regarding her taking a year though he was keeping those thoughts close to home. "I want it done right, not quick." He'd nod slowly. It wasn't a warning; he understood that what she did was no simple matter. "And ya damn well know any materials you need you'll get." Light rumble of a chuckle.

"It will be done right." The cadence of her words measured to offer reassurance. "I aim for quality where my output is concerned, Horam. I won't let your ships go floating off without being confident in the work I've done." There a sideways tick of her lips that was trying to be a smile but lacked the drive. "The process is refined with more time. I may come to a point where I can hire an assistant to take care of some of the less demanding steps. And yes, I know. I promise you I will alert you to any problems should they arise."

He grunted softly, arms adjusting in their fold against his chest. He should probably really head back in and let the female get some sleep.. "That's all well and good, Shae, but how the bloody hell have you been, eh?"

She heard something like exasperation in that query. Enough to have her blinking at him and then laughing softly at herself or nothing in particular, it was hard to say which. "Ah. Sorry, I just came from putting a few more marks in wood so I suppose my mind got a bit stuck on the task. I'm...I've been alright, really. I'm quitting my job at the library to take up one teaching at Dragon's Gate. Can you picture that? Me teaching. It feels strange to even say it." With a pause, she considered further. "I suppose I'm acclimating to this city. Some days it begins to feel comfortable, and others remain an exorcise in isolation." This last was ended with a shrug. "How have you been? Any progress with your personal matters?"

"Teaching?" He gave a start, straightening upright from his lean with a hand rubbing at the back of his neck as he peered at her. "I have one question." An exaggerated pause. "What the hell is Dragon's Gate?" He'd shelf the question about his own personal well being and problems after having some clarity.

"The orphanage," she supplied for clarification. "It falls under one of the city districts known as Dragon's Gate." Fingers idly combed through Fox's fur in the lull between words. Statements broken by stretches of quiet and stifled yawns. "I approached with the intention to volunteer and was requested to teach magic there by Shadow. Apparently there's some promise among a few of the residents. They're to be taught self defense."

?From you?? His bass was monotone, but his lips twitched in a manner suggested a double meaning in his question and provided an avenue of further distraction away from talking about himself. ?Going about attacking orphans now?? He scowled in her direction, aiming a baleful eye towards the lump of woman and fox making themselves comfortable on his balcony. Perhaps too comfortable, a second look confirmed the truth behind her lack of answer: the witch was asleep. ?Presumptuous?? His grumble of complaint died quickly, and he found himself watching her instead of the sea.