Snippet #2814904

"Ahh..."

"That was quite the sigh."

"Huh? Who?"

She turned in a circle, twice, searching for the source of the voice.

"Up here, miss Cretas."

Looking up, she beheld quite the handsome dark haired gentleman sitting on the beam of the forward sail.

"Oh. Um... What are you doing up there?"

"Enjoying the wind and the smell of the sea. How about yourself?"

"I'm well. Thank you. I don't recall meeting you. Have we met?"

"Not in person. But your reputation precedes you."

He hopped down onto the deck beside her and gave her a slight bow.

"My name is Tora Lithenmiir. A mercenary, after a fashion. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"A mercenary, you say? From your attire, I'd have guessed you were a traveling monk were it not for that sword at your hip."

"I see." He chuckled. [color=#f111796]"Admittedly it puts many off. I come from an old and traditional family. And this attire is more cultural than anything else."[/color]

"Ah. I understand."

"May I be so bold as to inquire why you sought Captain Lohran for this voyage?"

"Mostly because he seemed eager to find the new world, just like me. He's one of the few people I've held long-winded mutual conversations with about the subject. Most people abandon me to my enthusiasm within the first minute." She chuckled nervously.

Tora chuckled in response.

"Understood, milady."

"Oh my. You are traditional, aren't you?"

"Would you prefer another identifier?"

"No, no! That's fine. It's kind of nice, actually, to be addressed that way for once."

"Has nobody done so before?"

"Only my ex-husband when he was courting me. After I agreed to marry him, he stopped calling me that."

"Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to bring up what must be a sore subject."

She gave a wave of her hand.

"Don't worry about it. It worked out well for both my daughter and I to have moved on. He was going down a dangerous and self destructive road. And I didn't want Lemnia to remember her father like that, or worse."

"Quite commendable. Still, it saddens me to hear such stories. Especially if it involves a child."

He turned around and saw Lemnia thanking the crewman who helped her up and brushed her off after her tumble down the stairs.

"She's quite charming for her age. She's what? Ten?"

"Close. She's nine. Going to be ten in about three months."

"I see. So she may enjoy a birthday at sea, then?"

"She just might. And what a birthday it will be with all these people here to celebrate it."

"You think they will?"

"Ooh, they will. Don't you worry about that. If they don't, they're going to find themselves a little less manly when we reach the new world."

Tora was about to comment, but his tongue froze in his mouth as he turned and gave Cretas an incredulous look. She gave him a wink and mimed kicking Tora in the nether regions, which made him quietly gulp at the thought before Cretas burst into laughter and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"Don't worry too much about something like that, Tora. I'm sure you'll be there for her, won't you?" She asked, giving him a sweet and yet somehow subtly dangerous smile.

Tora merely nodded.

"Perfect! Maybe you can put on a demonstration for her with your sword!"

She gave him another clap on the shoulder, and he watched as she made her way over to Lemnia and hoisted her up into her arms to walk her around the deck.

"... I see why the Captain has taken an interest in you, miss Cretas." He whispered while looking up towards the Captains Quarters, where the young man he met in town was just exiting the doors on the upper deck at the rear of the ship.

"You're exactly his type."

Tora took in a deep breath and leaped up, grabbing the beam of the sail and hoisting himself up to sit on it once again to enjoy the breeze while also getting some shade from the sun under the cloth.