True Love's Seventh kiss: Part 2 Dungeon Break

Ch.11 All Aboard

Over the last two weeks, while Marion dodged the advances of aggressive suitors and his mother's nagging about getting enough rest, Siren was one person he didn't have the heart to be rough or dismissive to her.

First of all, because she might cry, and secondly, she had been nothing but nice and innocent to him. Thirdly, he found she was fun to tease, if only mildly, so she didn't get the wrong idea. It also didn't hurt that she was sweet on Erabella who was admittedly the cutest little sister in the world. She was also too innocent and naive to have an agenda, so he didn't have to have his guard as high around her.

"Lady saint, you have my attention," Marion said.

"I... just wanted to say that you have a pretty ship- Oh and that I will see you when we get there," she said nervously.

"It will be a comfort to have your support on this trip, Lady saint. I look forward to our next encounter, and may your travels be protected by the blade of the corsair." He smiled warmly with a respectful bow.

She blushed and then ran into one of her knights as she tried to rush away. He stepped back, used to this occurrence it seemed, and held out a hand to point the way she needed to go as she apologized and left.

Marion turned around and noticed the disapproving look on Whitney's face and the competitive glint in Gianna's foxy grin. His guard instantly shot up to Defcon 10 and sighed. This was going to be a long trip.

"Ladies, Henry will show you to your respective quarters for your inspection while I finish my duties here on the deck," Marion said to the ladies and their guards. "The accommodations are modest, but I hope they are to your liking. One of the upgrades we were able to make was improved cabins below deck, but if they still can't satisfy your discerning taste then we can arrange rooms for you on one of the larger ships on site."

Klayus approached the mages with an excited salute. "To think we are actually getting a whole mage squadron, who would have thought? Come, I'll show you to the room for the Mages, I hope you don't mind bunking up. Even if the rooms are new, there ain't a whole lot of room to work with."

With that, nearly everyone disappeared below deck.

Marion was finally able to appreciate the beauty of his refurbished ship. He walked along the railing and dragged his fingers across the wood grain. The smell in the air was thick with woody tones thanks to the forest and the construction work, the sharp smell of stain and resin nearly touched the back of his tongue, and the ozone smell given off by the engines seemed to welcome him back.

All around him was the clamor of warships preparing to leave the dock as the Whisper and several others would be joining the forward party at the site. Herman and Chaunce dashed around the deck and as soon as Henry was back, he joined them and began his assent into the rigging. When Klayus returned he swapped with Chaunce who eagerly slipped down a hatch that led directly to the engine room.

Marion ascended the short stairway to the upper deck with the steering wheel and looked out at the sights beyond the ship as he grasped the pegs on the wheel. Before him was only the forest and the sky and it brought such joy to his heart. He hadn't realized how strange being grounded was until now. Nothing but the open air in front of him and the endless possibilities on the horizon... and some storm clouds.

But that was expected since the forest's magic made it so that the weather was endlessly unpredictable. Hence why there would be so many active patrol ships.

Marion was so caught up in the majesty of it that he wasn't paying any attention to his surroundings and Gianna got the drop on him.

"So, this is your natural habitat. It looks good on you, Captain." Gianna said as she leaned on the railing in front of him just off to the side of the steering wheel. "I have to say, the belted look is good on you, makes you look as dangerous as the rumors about you."