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The sun was about to set in the West, the clouds mostly cleared in that part of the sky and the colors painted on the clouds left above were bright. The schooner was anchored at a place the men knew well, a small cove created by a stream meeting up with the main river. It was not exactly hidden from the flow, but it was hard to get to if you did not know where to go exactly. The wind did not care and brought a coolness to the lingering afternoon heat through the trees that drooped across the cove entrance, a scent of green things and the water on it.
The deck was set for dinner, a table and two chairs and a sideboard that was ready for the food the cook below had prepared. Liam had asked for Laun to dress formally for dinner and she was glad she had packed the red and black dress, just in case. It was her best dress, other than the heavy red velvet thing hanging on her arming tree back at Salam-Dir. She had one blade on her, a small thing hanging off her belt to balance a small pouch, and that was it. She did not feel as though weapons in this circumstance were a good idea. Even if she felt more naked without her harnesses and straps than if she was completely naked except for weapons in front of the men on the ship.
Liam took Laun’s hand and kissed it lightly, a raised eyebrow at her lack of crown and jewelry. Laun thought he was just amused at her choice of clothing, but smiled and let him lead her to one of the chairs.
“I have been told that we have fresh fish and mussels from the river for dinner tonight.” Liam sat and one of the sailors poured from a wide and flat bottomed decanter into similar glasses.
Laun took her glass and appreciated the thought behind the delicate things that were designed not to tip from the slightly swaying table. “I am looking forward to it, Liam, though I have to admit that my pregnancy turned me from fish for most of it.”
He took his glass and sipped the cloudy yellow liquid, smiling at Laun. “I have had little to complain about with this cook. If it is not to your liking, I am sure we can find... Something else for you to sup on.” The smile was openly lustful, though Laun saw a reservation within the man that did not look quite right with his obvious attempt to play the seduction game.
Laun sipped, finding the wine to be sweet and thick, almost like honey but with a woody taste at the back of her mouth. “There are many things that I may be offered at any time, Liam. I do hope that what I taste tonight is just the start of the delicacies you have in store for me.”
“You are the delicacy of the moment.” He raised his glass and saluted her before taking a sip.
Laun appropriately blushed, but she did not look away. “I hope I am as sweet to you as this wine is on my tongue.” Laun took a small sip and drew her tongue across her lips. She watched his reactions and, though it seemed to please him, it was not as good of a push as Laun had hoped.
A small bell sounded and Liam turned. Several of the sailors brought trays to the sideboard, serving out portions to plates then brought to the table for Liam and his guest. Laun smiled and thanked the man who placed her plate, a blink telling her he was not used to being acknowledged in this role. Laun ignored the plate its self until the sailors were gathered, watching, but not taking food themselves.
“It is just us eating tonight?” Laun looked over at Gem and the babies a little further up the deck.
Liam’s eyebrows came together slightly. “What do you mean?”
Laun looked down slightly and shrugged, saying, “I am used to a less formal setting, I suppose. I do not raise myself above the people around me when it is time to share food. They will be having some, too, right?”
He glanced down at his plate and to the sideboard before saying, “Do not worry your pretty head about that. I make sure the men on this ship are well looked after. Not just with food.”
Laun heard several meanings and smiled. “That is good to know. It does nothing for morale if the men know they will never have something their leader is enjoying in front of them.” Laun took another sip of wine and leaned back in her chair, seemingly relaxed, even though she saw reactions in both Liam and his men that made her nervous.
There was a small cry-grunt from Ash as she tried to crawl away from Gem. Laun motioned to the assassin and Ash was allowed to make her way to Laun, a half crawl, half scoot as the child tried to stand a few times and not making it. Laun lifted the baby into her lap and felt Ash try to nuzzle for a breast while in her embrace.
“Child, you haven’t done that for a month. Here, have some of this-” Laun reached for some of the spring vegetables on her plate. She saw Liam move forward, but he stopped and did not do anything else. Laun offered it to Ash who insisted that she wanted a breast.
“I believe they were cooked in wine and that may be putting her off. I’ll have some plain things brought for them. For some reason, I thought you were still nursing.”
Laun took a bite of the vegetable and offered it back to Ash who almost grasped it and then pushed it away. “I have been mostly dry since this one had her second tooth break through. They have been on adult food for most of the Winter as their teeth started to show themselves, but I think it is the change of people and such.” Laun looked at Liam, a flat tone in her voice as she said, “As one of my little training in the presence of one with your superior training, I am surprised that you have such assumptions clinging to me.”
He looked away to the trees hanging over the water screening them from the full flow of the river. “I am a traveler and, yes, you have used what I do while I travel. But, Highness, a broken lock does not get the same training as a clapperless bell.”
Laun saw a stir in one of the men standing to the side. “That is not my only training, Liam. It is good that you are able to make a living with what you do, but you will live happier if you are willing to ask and not assume. Especially with me, Padrone Liam.”
Gem’s head snapped around as Liam tensed his jaw. “Highness, perhaps we should talk about something with a little less tension behind it, like politics.”
Laun laughed, Ash startling slightly and giving a slight cry. “I have been snowed into Salam-Dir for months, Liam. I know little of what is going on in the outside world, and the current politics are a mystery to me.”
A pause went through the host and his crew. Liam turned his head and shooed the men waiting near them away. “Then you have not heard. It looks as though Myrned may be arming themselves against your Kingdom.”
Laun reached for another vegetable and thought of the things Falmir and she had talked about the night before. She nibbled and swallowed before saying, “I hope not. The ambassador I met was delightful, and one of the trade routes from the Northern passes goes less than a day from my land.”
Her host started to eat his fish, discussing the way Myrned seemed to be posturing themselves. Laun ate also, not mentioning anything that she already knew, but making a point of using her information as a question if he brought it up, even peripherally.
The sun was down and the sailors came back with torches and lanterns to light the deck, though not to a brightness that Laun could not see the stars above. The conversation moved from pure politics to the Spring plantings as the plates were cleared and a soup made of the mussels was set before them. Laun saw that Gem was given two plates, one for her and one for the babies. Ash gave up trying to nurse and went back with her sister to gnaw on smallbreads and vegetables.
“...But with the devastation of the crops last year after the coup, how can you be certain that the peasants will be in a mood to try to farm the land-”
Laun pointed with her spoon, a little of the broth dripping back into the bowl. “There. Right there. They may be peasants to you, but they are my people to me. Yes, they have been lowborn, but they deserve to eat and have the opportunity to grow what they have available to them as any noble expects.” Laun slurped the soup and made little happy noises at the unusual, creamy flavors.
Liam had his arms crossed, his wine glass in one hand. “If the Gods did not want them to work the lands for us, they would have been born to better families.”
Laun shook her head. “Do not play that Stick with me, Liam. Blood has nothing to do with where you are in society. It may be a start, a way in. I am proof that you have to work to achieve and keep that which many people think should be taken for granted. I have seen those who should have been in leadership roles smote down by their own actions to less than many of the people of the land. I have seen those who were even worse off than I raise themselves to positions that they should not have, if the world actually ran by your concept.”
He smiled. It was a real smile. Not one covering a game. Not a smile to show lust or contempt. It was the first smile she had seen from him since they had come aboard that was really him. “I concede, Laun. You are very persuasive.” He bowed his head towards her and raised his glass to her again.
Laun shook her head but had a huge smile on her face. “It cannot be that easy, Liam. I haven’t even brought up-”
He held up his hand and laughed. “I see why the King has you at his right hand. You have a way of seeing things that make people think. I haven’t had such a good conversation like this since...” He looked at his wine and said, “Since I left the court to travel.”
Laun held her glass to him and said, “You are a good adversary and have kept me on my toes. Thank you.”
The bloodglint went across his eyes and the smile changed. “Your toes are not what I am interested in, Laun.”
She took a sip and leaned towards him. “You keep hinting, Liam. I hope that this day was leading to something tonight.”
He blinked, the bloodglint lessened. “Highness... Not tonight. I was hoping to get to another mooring before we-You keep me off balance. None have actually asked to start so soon, if at all.”
“This has been a pleasant day, do not get me wrong. I just like to get to the point and I have shown my impatience. Forgive me.” Laun leaned back and sipped on her wine.
Liam’s hands went wide, showing a gesture of acceptance. “To show there is nothing holden to you, may I have the sweet course served?”
Laun found her eye flicking to one of the sailors, a thought and a flare of unbidden heat going through her. She looked back to Liam and said, “Yes, thank you.”
It was simple, but delicious. A confit of walnuts and oranges served with a thick slice of a shortbread heavy with spices. A piece was presented to Gem, also, making Laun smile and nod to her host. With the sweetness of the wine, it filled Laun up and made her feel quite full and happy. She thought of those back in Salam-Dir who may have gone to bed without a full stomach and she internally winced, but still enjoyed the feeling of the food in her right then.
The moon was starting to come up over the tree horizon, the waxing disk giving them more light in the night. Liam stood and offered his hand to Laun. She took it and they stepped to the railing. He led her on a small circuit of the deck, a small walk after the meal as they looked at the surrounding darkened landscape and the stars above.
The table and chairs were removed as the two moved about the deck. One of the sailors brought a blanket for the babies, Laun seeing a look between Gem and he as it went from hand to hand. Liam pointed to stars and they talked about what they were called, Laun trying hard to think of what she had read and had grown up with. Lady Hellon did not let the dancers outside much, and almost never at night. It was yet another different experience and Laun was becoming more comfortable with Liam as he stopped treating her as a conquest and more as a companion, mostly.
Laun yawned, almost not covering her mouth in time to be polite. Liam turned to her and seemed concerned. “It is early yet, but the day has been long. Do you wish to retire?”
Laun looked at Gem and the babies and back to Liam. “That may be best. I did not know I was so tired. Having a full stomach and having good conversation has made this a good evening, Liam. Thank you.”
He bowed over her hand slightly and turned with her towards the way into below decks. “We will be casting off from here, then, so do not be alarmed if we have moved when you wake tomorrow.”
Laun heard Gem gather the babies up to follow. “Thank you for the warning. I hope you have a good night.”
He raised her hand to his lips and she saw the bloodglint yet again in the torchlight. “Sleep well, Laun.”
The women went below and to the cabin, both relieved to be in the seeming security of the enclosed space. Soft calls from outside came to them and the ship started to move under them slightly. The sound of canvas and rope being hauled up the masts and the thud of the large stone anchors being brought up to the deck let them know that they were going to be traveling fairly fast down the river that night.
Gem helped Laun out of the red and black dress and the supportive underthing before undressing herself, the weapons that had been under the plain dark green tunic and breeches showing for the first time that day. Laun had not known how armed the assassin had been, and felt some better in reflection to their circumstance. Laun should have known that Gem would not have let her guard down.
The babies settled down in their baskets as the boat swayed like their cradle did back home. Gem and Laun went to one of the bunks, the women having arms and legs entwined as sleep took them.
Onto the next morning in Chapter 6, where the first Play session has some unexpected happenings
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