Snippet #1889650

Relief washed over Shaafir as the woman finally accepted his hand, his solid frame easing her to her feet with little effort. It took a strong soul to turn your back on that which frightened you, held you prisoner. Briefly the Elgoysian envisioned himself years ago, staring out the ragged hole in The Skyward Star, the splattered remains of Heldreg stretched out behind him. It had taken him nearly a full minute to leap from the ship to his salvation, his mind conjuring images of the angry wrath of his vicious captor following him, even in death. Shaafir saw so much of himself in her as she stood beside him. There was a slight gloss to her eyes, as if fighting back tears, not out of frustration or fear, but that of apology. Almost as if embarrassed by her own status as a victim. She wobbled uneasily, hand clamping down around his own.

John’s reaction wasn’t at all unexpected. In a single fluid movement a sinewy arm wrapped itself around the native woman’s waist as Shaafir lifted her against him and turning his body like a shield, keeping his vision faced towards the fuming fraud. In truth Shaafir had half heartedly hoped another man, let alone an Elgoysian, touching his wife in any capacity would send John over the edge. The tension in the air had been palpable the entire day, John doing nothing but make enemies upon first arrival of the docks, Shaafir had simply discovered the means to provoke it sooner than the others. It would be another notch against John’s continuance as their “esteemed” map maker.

Kaitsu’s reaction however, caught Finch off guard, the tiny boatswain oozed with a malice which seemed to chill the air around her. Perhaps hearing the woman referred to as property had marked the end of her fuse, for now she seemed an entirely different creature. Predatory and menacing, there was the tinkle of metal as the candlelight caught on the blades of her hidden knives. He gave Pavati a brief once over to make sure she was able to hold her own footing before turning attention back to Kaitsu.

Pinned to the corner with a look of sheer horror upon his face, John seemed to be fighting the tremors which wracked his alcohol dulled body. Though Shaafir doubted Kaitsu would lose complete control of herself, he didn’t wish to give the idiot any leverage when it came to telling his side of the story.

A firm calloused hand gripped Kaitsu’s shoulder, turning the woman to face him.

“Unworthy,” His face was stern as he referenced the cowering drunk in the corner, his tone even, displaying a keen understanding of the situation. They had to do this right way. If Gareth’s tactics failed, more blatant actions were sure to follow.

“Captain.” he stated flatly.