Maji Born

12 - The Stargazer

The day dawned. More accurately they woke to the same greyish bluster they had fallen asleep too and the rain continued to wail down on Nerith.

They bundled up in the blankets and sat in the kitchen. Enjoying the feeling of being completely dry and warm, even with the mud that was still caked to their feet and legs.

Devarak was loading Broker's wood stove with more wood, making certain that the fire would but hot and keep the chill from reaching them. It was the least he could do. If they were warm and dry their moods would stay slightly brighter.

While they waited for Broker, they gathered around the kitchen table to eat the leftover apples from the night before, which were the only thing they had not eaten.

They had slept late and had woken only when the front door had slammed shut.

Lavinia had woken first and had sat bolt upright with a yelp. Now she sat in silence looking extremely sleepy, but also calmer then the others had ever seen her.

She no longer resembled a Princess. Her white hair hung limply from her shoulders in a tangled mess and her features were creased with a thick layer of dirt and dried sweat.

Eirian and Devarak were also worn and coated in muck, but they had seen watched her transition, which made all the difference, they had started out with a base level of grime.

Devarak stood, a winced slightly as his chest and back stung, he needed to check his lashes. He raised his shirt and ran a finger tentatively over them, they appeared to be almost entirely healed now but were still slightly red and swollen.

Eirian was picking twigs and leaves from her dreads with a look of deep annoyance, for once Devarak felt grateful about having no body hair.

Devarak had carefully removed the bag with the stone from his waist and placed it on the table, making sure it stayed within its casing. He needed a few moments without the awkward weight hanging off of him. It was surprisingly heavy for such a small item. Devarak then sat at the table next to Eirian.

It was a little under an hour when Broker returned. He entered the kitchen, a basket of loaves and cheese in one arm. He placed the items on the table and gestured for the others to eat. They accepted. Devarak passed around the bread and cheese while listening to the Broker.

"You'll be delighted to know that I have found a captain willing to leave by tomorrow at dawn. That was the earliest I could get through bribery. As I said he was to leave in a few days. He told me to bring you to the docks around midnight. He'll be waiting in his cabin aboard his ship, the Stargazer. He has informed me that it will be a risky journey due to the storm."

"Everythings a risk," Lavinia said quietly. "He accepted the payment then?"

"He did. He said the trip would take around five days at sea." Broker paused, scratching his short greying beard, "he was reluctant without knowing the full details, but he's done work for me in the past. I urge you to keep your identities close, however, he works for a rather unpleasant organization and only freelances for me when his jobs run dry or it is convenient. If this task conflicts with his organization, he may do more harm than good."

"That's to be expected," Devarak said, Eirian, however, looked surprised.

"Expected? Are there a lot of secret organizations?"

"Only a few. But most are bad news. I almost got involved with one in my youth. They were a mercenary, spy, and assassin guild." He looked slightly grey as he said this. "I got my chance working for the Queen as a lucky break. Everyone knows joining the guilds is a last resort."