"I can go. Karri, would you like to stay here and watch over Nadia?"
Karri's grimace fades instantly, replaced by a creeping blush as Demitri and her talk over each other. "Yes, Demitri, I can stay here. If Nadia would like that is." Plus it's better to stay here, of all of us, I think I am the most memorable. Of course you are, you are better than these weaklings...
"I think she would like that very much." Demitri replies looking at his only child.
Nalun shrugs at Demitri and grabs his sword, heading for the door.
The trip back to Trinia's old apartment is somewhat uneventful. As the bounty hunter and the inquisitor walk through the streets, word of what happened in North Point seems to be on everyone's lips.
"...it was over in a heartbeat!... ...I couldn't believe my eyes--she was just burned to ashes... ...it looked like Toff Ornelos himself came out and ended it... ...odd, innit? I thought he'd be taller... ...I heard she tried to drag the rest of the crowd to Hell with her..."
The landlord waves the two through, his eyes firmly set on his papers. It's obvious from his posture that he remembers the two all too well--he's not looking for trouble.
With her bag of art supplies in hand, the duo make it back to Zellara's home without incident.
Nadia is more than happy to stay with Karri. Majenko flies off upstairs, following Trinia up to her room.
The little girl sits at the kitchen table and looks over at the scarred sorceress. "Do you like Daddy? I think he likes you a lot..."
hahahahahahahaaha!!!!
Karri is stunned to silence as Legion mocks her inside her own mind. Finally, she shuts them down and smiles at Nadia. "Your father is a brave man that would go through Hell to save those dear to him. There is much to like about him. And there is no way he thinks of me as anything other than a half crazed mad-woman... But, I think your father has somewhat more on his mind than me." Or, no. Not after... it's too soon... Changing the subject, "Now, what is your favorite table game?" Karri smiles again, feeling a flitter of hope for her own future.
hahahahahahahaaha!!!!
Nadia tilts her head, her black bangs falling over her right eye and uncovering her left one. "Um... table... game?" She asks, slightly confused.
"Do you mean card game?" She straightens herself up and sways her legs, rocking in her chair. "I like playing Hearts... but it's better with more people."
She gives Karri an innocent smile.
"You're old enough we can play Dragon's Hoard if you want to learn. Bring me a deck of cards and I will show you how."
As the men return Nadia shouts, "This hoard has no eights! Go hunting, Dragon!" Karri giggles a bit about Nadia's enthusiasm glad that the girl is so thoroughly entertained.
Demitri walks back in, a smile forming on his face as he sees the girls engaging in a card game. He sets the bag of art supplies down and walks up to the pair. He gives Nadia a quick hug and kiss on her forehead. "Having fun you two? I'll make lunch for everyone so you can get back to your game."
Nervous with what Nadia had said, Karri smiles and says, "Someone has been taking Dragon's Hoard lessons from Majenko, or else she's a natural!"
"My little girl is a quick study. She's better than me at Hearts, that's for sure."
"I am terrible at Hearts. True fact, even the Egorian Acadamae has proven how astoundingly bad I am!"
Demitri can't help but chuckle. "Well, you're good at Dragon's Hoard. And at entertaining younglings."
Nadia bounces in her chair, grinning.
Her smile turns into something mischievous. "Daddy, do you like Karri?" She says, laying her cards down on the table.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I? Why do you ask?"
Nadia shrugs and looks at the scarred sorceress. "I dunno..."
She smiles again, trying to look innocent. It's not very successful.
Trinia comes downstairs, scratching her head. Her hair is beginning to show its blonde roots and her hands are stained black.
Seeing her art supply bag, her face lights up and she moves to pick it up. After a quick look through it to make sure all her things are in order, she looks up at Nalun and hugs him.
"Thanks. Really."
Ah, your welcome. I should go procure you passage on the next boat bound for Absalom. Nalun says
He heads to the door and turns I.. I'm glad you are safe.
And he ventures into the street.
Demitri narrows his eyes at his daughter trying to ascertain her intent. He blinks when he realizes what Nadia is trying to do. "We'll have a talk after lunch." He says before leaving for the kitchen.
Karri blushes furiously but remains silent. Can I be anywhere but here?!
hahahahaahaha
Lyla sits in a corner playing with Zellara's deck, a chuckles as she watches the whole conversation between Nadia, Demitri and Karri.
She can't help but feel a deep satisfaction for the repercussion of their con; despite her own advice to lay low for a while, the halfling girl is eager to walk around town and hear what people are saying. She wonders what Kroft has to say about it, too. When Nalun announces that he is going out, Lyla jumps to her feet, puts away the deck and says "Hey, slim, I'll walk with you to the docks. It'll be good to get her out as soon as possible, before anyone figures out our shenanigans."
They walk in silence for a few blocks, until Lyla decides to ask something that's been on her mind. "So... Absalom. That's quite a journey from here. Are you going with her? I mean, since you guys have a history and all."
She keeps her voice down and her ears open, paying attention to the streets.
My place is here. What the heck would a guy like me do in Absalom? I'm Korvosan... Nalun says with a shrug.
"They say anyone can make a living in Absalom... but I get what you you mean. Us folks born in Korvosa... well, love it or hate it, we ain't leaving home." She smiles with the right side of her mouth and elbows Nalun's leg. "You can still visit though."
Demitri comes back roughly 10 minutes later with ham sandwiches for all still present. He puts a plate in front of Nadia before giving her another kiss on her little forehead followed by a stern fatherly look. He then passes out the rest of the sandwiches while awkwardly trying to not look at Karri. "So I guess we just wait until we hear from Kroft again."
Karri nods, and is straight faced. [b]"That seems best."[b]
Nadia takes Demitri's offered sandwich, but the stern look in his eyes causes her smile to disappear, replaced with an anxious look. She looks down at her sandwich and starts taking bites out of it, avoiding eye contact with her father.
Majenko flits downstairs and perches on the table, eying Demitri with the most innocent of begging eyes he can muster.
<Metoo? Pleaseplease?>
The walk down to the harbour is crowded and cluttered. Sailors and dock workers hurry about, some of them bearing loads of cargo while they're being shouted at by burly, grizzled men. Several ships are tied up at the docks, most of them being merchantmen with only a couple of sloops and brigs carrying something other than luxuries and goods.
Demitri sighs and hands over his before getting up to make himself another one. He cracks a smile though on the way.
Majenko chirps with glee and scoops the sandwich up in his claws before briefly nuzzling Demitri.
<Thankyou!>
He then sits next to Nadia, beginning to take bites out of the sandwich.
Ortik takes this moment to walk into the room. "Oh, excellent, sandwiches!" He picks one up and starts chewing. "The worst part of all of this - I have to be cooped up in here for a few days. Still, it could be worse. Good food, good drink...and good friends." A smile comes easily to his face as he watches Nadia and Majenko eat their own sandwiches. He gets up and approaches Demitri, ostensibly to help make the lunch. "You've done a fine job raising her," he says quietly, "I don't wish to intrude, but if I might pry into a potentially uncomfortable subject, what became of Nadia's mother?"
"Thank you. My wife, she died giving birth to Nadia. The rigors of childbirth were too much. She never knew her. Which would explain her scheming earlier. I don't blame her, I'm not even really upset at her. I just don't know right now.. I want her to have a woman to look up to, but I don't think I can handle that right now."
Nalun will ask around for ships traveling south. Then he will inquire about individual passage and attempt to secure a private cabin berth for one person.
Walking through the docks alongside Nalun, Lyla keeps looking from one side to the toher, reading the names of the ships and hoping one of them will spark her memory. She explains her goal to Nalun "I remember folks talking about this merchant who would take any cargo with him, no questions asked. It's completely unnoficial an the fee is steeper, but it could be safer. He's got some ships, but doesn't sail, so we should be able to find him... if only I could remember his name. Damn." She looks at Nalun and asks "What's our cover? Your little brother is in trouble with some crime boss and we want to get him out of here without a fuss? We've disguised Trinia as a boy before."
"Sorry to hear that, friend," Ortik replies. "And I understand where you're coming from. But you know as well as I do that life is short, and the only constant is change. If not now, then when?" He takes another bite of his sandwich and chews as Demitri ponders his response.
Demitri sighs again as he realizes the wisdom in the dwarf's words. "Well, it isn't like I don't want to. I'm still healthy and in my prime. I will think on what you said."
Karri watches, knowing that the loss of family is the greatest tragedies. She says nothing however, as the Legion seems to relish watching Demitri rehash his memories.
Silence, all of you!
Nadia winces at the talk of family and looks down at the table, her half-eaten sandwich still in her hands. She sniffs.
Majenko, on the other hand, merrily continues to eat his sandwich without a care in the world.
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Demitri puts his food down on the table and takes Nadia by the hand. "Let's take a walk around the block, little girl. You can bring your sandwich."
Once the pair are outside, he begins. "I'm not mad at you, I want you to know that. I love you very much and I know you want a mommy. But you can't expect two people to just fall in love or be together like that. Karri cares a lot about you just like the others. That's why she spent time teaching you a new game and playing it with you. No one wants for you to be happy more than I do. Just give me time. Right now, I have a lot of things to do, but when I can I will look for someone to be with. Someone to be with who will be a great mommy. Do you understand?"
Nadia holds onto Demitri's hand as he leads her out for a walk. Majenko adopts a look of confusion, but doesn't get up to follow.
Throughout the walk, Nadia has a difficult time looking her father in the eyes. At the end of Demitri's talk, she looks up at him, her visible eye starting to water.
She nods in understanding before looking up at him again.
"Daddy, what was Mommy like?"
"She was beautiful. You look just like her. She was also kind and trusting. She always saw the good in people no matter what. The kind of person to pay a merchant a few more pieces of silver just so they can feed their families. And a great sense of humor. It was once upon a time when your dad was uptight and stone-faced. But when I met your mother it was like meeting the other half of me. And even though it was one of the saddest days of my life, it was also the happiest. I lost my wife, but I gained a wonderful little girl. One who I would never give up for anything." Demitri picks Nadia up for a hug, letting her dry her tears on his shoulder.
Lyla snaps her fingers. "Got it! Hey, Slim, I know who can help us. Come, let's go to the halfling corner, just down the docks. We have to find Taven Jeggare's people. Chances are, they'll be happy to help a fellow halfling like me... and remember to stick to our story! We need to get your 'little brother' outta here in the first ship sailing away. 'He' can change ships later to get to Absalom, we just need to make sue 'he' has enough gold." She walks away excitedly, pulling on Nalun's sleeves. "C'mon, you sloth!"
When she spots the first of Taven's ships, she greets a stout halfling man who seems to be working the cargo in an out of the vessel and greets him raising one hand in the air. "Ahoy, friend! How you doing there? Need some help? Soooo... who can I talk to to get a travel ticket in one of Taven's ships?" She finishes the question tilting her head to the side and placing both hands on her hips.
"Ok ok! " Nalun says to the excitable halfling.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Ahoy, friend! How you doing there? Need some help?"
The halfling sailor looks up from his work as Lyla approaches. "Eh? Oh, no need for that, lass--ol' Trilbin's got this nice and squared away." He says as he finishes pushing the crate he was hauling into place. He takes his hat off and wipes his brow before turning to Lyla and Nalun.
"Now, what ya be inquirin' about?"
"Soooo... who can I talk to to get a travel ticket in one of Taven's ships?"
"Well, ye'll need ta talk to the captain fer that. Lucky for you, he's standin' right up there." He hitches a thumb over his shoulder, pointing up the ship's loading ramp.
He turns to the ship. "OI! CAPTAIN!"
The sound of heavy footsteps coming down the ramp herald the approach of a halfling with a very ruddy complexion, clad in a weather-beaten blue duster and tricorne hat. Straight grey hair peeks out from under his hat. A bandolier of knives is visible across his chest, and the telltale *creak* of leather armour can be heard when he moves.
"Aye? What seems to be the matter, Mr. Trilbin?"
"Lass here's looking for ya. Wants to secure passage on the Wanderer."
"Really now." The halfling turns to Nalun and Lyla, blinking as he takes a look at the halfling girl's face.
It's almost as if he recognizes her from somewhere.
"I'm Captain Lorne, and this here's--" He waves to the merchantman docked before the duo. "--the Lovely Wanderer." He folds his arms across his chest. "Now, what's this I hear about you lookin' for passage?"
Nadia hugs her father tightly. When she looks up, her eyes are beginning to turn red and puffy.
We wish a cabin berth for my younger brother to Absalom. When do you set sail? Nalun says to the halfling man
"Nice to meet you, Captain Lorne. I'm Mrs. Fairwoods, and this one here is Mr., hmm, Nalun!" She throws her arm over the captain's shoulder and turns her back to Nalun, leading the captain away from her partner. She glances over their shoulders noticeably, eyeing the human behind them, and then adopts a hushed tone while speaking to Lorne.
"Excuse his bluntness, Captain, there's a little more to it, and, between me and you, I have to come clean: my friend's brother is in quite some trouble... the poor kid hooked up with the wrong girl, and now these thugs want his head for it. You know how ugly things can get down in the Shingles", she says throwing a look of complicity.
"Thing is, my friend Nalun here is quite protective of his little brother—if you'd seen the kid, you'd understand, the boy looks like a stick figure! So, he thought it would be best if the boy spent a few months away until the dust settles, and, being the good friend that I am, I stepped up to help him find some fine, reputable and trustworthy sailor who could do this without too much paperwork." She squints her eyes. "These thugs have lots of contacts, and we don't want to leave a trail, you know. That's when I remembered good ol' Taven Jeggare—the man with the finest, noblest, discreetest people on the payroll—why, how else to describe us halflings, right?"
She looks deep into Captain Lorne's eyes. "So that's the whole story. We'd like to get the kid out on the first ship you got, even if not for Absalom. If you could get him a private cabin and keep him off the passenger list, that would be fantastic. We don't want anyone disturbing him, you know, he's a little scared with the whole situation, so it's be better to leave him be for the time being. I trust food will be delivered to his berth. It goes without saying that we'd be willing to throw in a bonus for your troubles, of course."
She lets go of the Captain and smiles at him. "So, will you help us?"
Captain Lorne arches an eyebrow as he listens to Lyla's explanation, not saying a word.
When Lyla finishes, it's clear from the expression on his face that he finds the story a little... difficult to believe. Trilbin, on the other hand, doesn't appear to think anything is out of the ordinary.
"Aye. I suppose I could." He shrugs. "Since ya asked me nicely."
He starts walking back toward the Wanderer. "Mind ya, the cabins are built for halfling comfort--I hope our newest passenger won't mind hunchin' over until we see Absalom's docks."
My brother won't mind. How much is your berth? Nalun replies.
"Mr. Trilbin?" Captain Lorne glances over at the stout halfling.
"Let's see... the journey's about twenty-six-hundred miles long..." The halfling mutters to himself. "...at 2 Shields per mile..."
"It'll come out to fifty-two hundred Shields." He says.
"Well, there ya have it. Fifty-two hundred Shields, or five-hundred and twenty Crowns." The captain nods.
Demitri smiles at his little girl and carries her back to Zellara's.
Nalun pulls out a pouch of gemstones and holds it up for inspection. This pouch is worth almost Five Hundred crowns, the rest will come with my brother in two hours time.