The Archman

Chapter 12 - A Contencious Cleansing

Silence occupies the space between Eira and the Archman, undercut by the sound of waves crashing against the ship at steady intervals. The air hangs heavy with the smell of salt and tension.

"Excuse me?" Eira asks for clarity, knowing full well that she didn't mishear the Archman at all.

"You'll drown if you try to swim in that." The Archman nods down towards Eira's dress. "So take it off."

"What else can I wear?" Eira protests sternly.

The Archman uncrosses his arms, bringing a hand to his chin. "Do you typically wear something when bathing? That seems quite inefficient."

"No." Eira isn't sure what exactly she's objecting to, but she objects nonetheless.

The Archman steps closer to Eira, his patience clearly wearing thin. He looks down on her with an unflinching stillness behind his eyes. "Either you remove it yourself, or I'll do it for you."

Eira could feel her bout of resistance come to an abrupt end. She pauses momentarily, searching for any cracks or fragility in the Archman's gaze, but it is clear that none were to be found.

"Turn around." She makes a final negotiation.

"I'm not taking any chances." The Archman shakes his head, denying her request.

Eira frowns, though she's actually quite glad to have found an opportunity to retaliate.

"Is the great Archman really too scared to take his eyes off of one girl for a few seconds?"

The Archman remains still, taking several moments to receive Eira's words. Much to Eira's delight and surprise, he slowly turns his back to her.

"Be quick about it."

Eira pauses, making sure the Archman is facing directly away from her. It is difficult to see exactly which way he is facing, given the large hood drawn over his head.

Once she's certain she has the shred of privacy she is promised, she starts disrobing. She reaches a hand over her shoulder, reaching for the knot located between her shoulder blades which holds the back of her dress together. As she does this, she immediately realizes the predicament she is in.

She had gotten into this dress with the assistance of a servant, who tied the knot for her. It would be impossible for her to reach on her own, unless she had some way of conveniently dislocating her joints. She strains her arm back with even more effort, not wanting to give up so easily, though it was clearly an endeavour done in futility.

She sighs in frustration, relaxing her arm at her side. She turns to the Archman, who is still facing away from her in complete stillness. If she didn't just have a conversation with him, she might have mistaken him for a statue. She hesitates for a moment, trying to choose her words carefully.

"Um...can you..." She says with a sheepish trepidation. She feels like she is backtracking on her previous protest for privacy, and is very much not enthused to be asking for any kind of help.

"What?" The Archman asks with a twinge of annoyance in his voice.

"Can you untie this for me?" Eira turns her back towards the Archman, holding her black hair aside to expose the knot in the center of her shoulder blades.

The Archman turns to face her, his eyes lowering down to the back of her dress, which is laced together firmly and held taught by a single knot resting at the top of the back. He steps closer and runs a leather-clad finger under the cord of the knot, inspecting it with a critical observance.

"Who tied this? It's quite sloppy."

"It's a dress, not a ship. It doesn't need to be perfect."

"If you say so." The Archman takes the knot between his fingers, quickly loosening it and undoing it in a matter of seconds.