1st of Summer 512 AV Alric was surprisingly sure-footed on the deck of the ship. He had only ever sailed once before, and it hadn't turned out so well. Still, he had learned a lot from the experience, and he enjoyed the stationary nature of the ship. Something he found positively alien, considering his upbringing in Alvadas. He did not bother to speak or learn from the crew. It would only prove a distraction from other matters on this voyage. He had paid for both his companions, an Inartan named Ainsley and a very odd man named Bones. There was something about Bones that made Alric wary, yet that same thing also attracted Alric. Almost as soon as he thought about it, he realized what it was. It was power. Not the faux-power that Alric possessed, illusions and mind tricks, but real solid power. He was skillful, in many ways Alric did not understand. But he would soon enough. He had brought the man along for three reasons. One, was to learn from him, and prepare for what he might face in Zeltiva. The second, was to protect him from the leering eyes he always found. Even now, the crew of their ship seemed to dislike him. It was most likely the clothing, it almost always was. They did not like such an obvious reminder of their own squalor. Though really, Alric felt that was mostly their fault. His clothes were near a year old, but he took care of them so well, and washed them so often, that they still looked relatively new. He could tell from the stink of the crew that they had not washed theirs. They probably didn't even try to avoid dirt and slept in their clothes, letting their sweat and grime soak in. Alric shook his head. Why couldn't they be more like Bones? He might have been sweaty, and given Alric a dirty look from time to time. But he knew something very important, something others did not truly understand. He knew not to judge a man by his clothing. Such a simple thing, yet so hard in Mizahar nowadays. Or maybe it had always been that way. Regardless, that was the third reason. He trusted Bones for his practical wisdom, and understanding. No other warrior could compare to the beast of a man, in more ways than one. Alric sighed, releasing his thoughts from such things. He leaned against a mast, where a large opening was made, as per his request to the captain. Bones would wake soon, or come from breakfast. Alric didn't know what he was currently doing. But today was to be the first of their lessons on swordsmanship. Alric had bought a rapier a while ago, and while it was good in a bluff, he had no idea how to really use it. That would change in the coming week. |