Sail Away With Me

Music danced in the wind long before Nadine’s ship arrived in the port of Riggen. Sailors and passengers alike crowded the deck despite the biting cold just to listen as they approached, anticipation and excitement bubbling amongst them. Nadine drew her fur lined cloak tighter around herself, raking her emerald eyes across the port ahead as she took in the celebrations. If only her younger self could see her now, getting to go to the Festival of the First Landing as she’d always dreamed. Many moons ago, a Camarian merchant vessel had landed in her sea-side town on the Cerulean Coast, bringing tales of adventure and merriment she’d never imagined before. It lit a spark in her, and now, looking out from the deck of the Lonely Armada, it had never burned brighter. Her hand drifted over her gold pouch, a gift she’d been given by her father before she left on her adventures. She traced the embroidered golden dragon with her fingertips, imagining all the amazing things she’ll get at the markets with what she’d been able to save. As the crew shouted their last orders to dock, Nadine pushed her way to the gangway, eager to be one of the first to join the festivities, attaching the gold pouch to its place on her belt. Cheers sounded across the ship as it at last landed, Nadine breathed out for the first time in what felt like ages… This was it. Just a few steps and all those years worked would have meant something. As soon as the gangway connected with the pier, the mass of travellers onboard rushed to get off the boat, pushing their ways to solid ground. Disoriented, as she was caught in the unexpected rush, she barely made it a few steps down the ramp before she lost her footing. Panicked, she flailed her arms hoping to find someone or something to hold on to, to avoid falling into the frigid waters below. A pair of arms reached for her out of the crowd, wrapping around her and pulling her safely back onto the gangway. “Careful little chipper, the water is no good for most this time of year,” a woman’s voice softly spoke in Nadine’s ear, her arm still firmly around her waist, keeping her rooted. Breathing heavily, she slowly came back to her senses as she heard the chuckling of various crewmen watching her. Heat rushed to her face and ears as she realised that she was still being held by the stranger, quickly twisting out of her arms she turned to look at her saviour. Her embarrassed gaze was met by a beautiful woman with piercing blue eyes, standing a good foot taller than her, wearing a long royal blue captain’s coat with decorative shoulder plates. A few cold blonde waves of hair strayed from the coats connected fur-lined hood that framed her face, a small smirk settled across her lips, “Promised safe passage from pier to pier, I couldn’t well break my word,” she said with a hint of amusement, putting one hand into the pocket of her overcoat as she shewed Nadine with the other, “Go on, make good on my promise”. Bright red, Nadine stuttered out, “R-right.. Yes! Of course! Thank you!” as she quickly nodded, turning back to the gangway and hurrying down to rejoin the other passengers on the pier. Her embarrassment quickly got lost at the back of her thoughts as her eyes fell on the vibrant banners and bunting caught in the sea-side winds all across the waterfront. Stalls stood as walls guiding the thoroughfare further into the city, small stages gathered crowds as musicians played discordant tunes, and makeshift bars kept ale flowing freely to thirsty mouths. It was everything she had ever dreamed of and more. Excitement pulsed through her veins as loud as the beats of the musicians drums as she wandered into the bustling streets. Hawkers call in cacophonies to the passers-by, selling everything from cheap necklaces, to suspicious looking bottles of proclaimed specialties, and cloaks made of the finest threads to fight off the bitter cold. Nadine refrained from buying anything, for even with all that she’d saved, it would only be enough for a few items and she wanted those items to be truly special. Ahead of her, the street opened up into a huge open space filled with stalls with a large stage in the middle where bards were performing the story of the First Pirates Landing, and their deal with the Divine Flux, who they know to be the Divine of Wealth. Fixated on the stage, Nadine began moving to join the mass of people gathering to watch when she felt something hit her knee with a shrill whelp. She looked down to find a small goblin just as they punched her leg, “Wa’ch where ya goin’ ijeet!” they yelled, holding their side as they marched off into the crowds. “I’m sorry!” Nadine yelled after them, rubbing her leg, before continuing her way to the stage, now carefully looking at the ground for any folk of short stature. She got there just about for the second half of the performance, showing the founding of the three Prince’s regions and the growth of the Conglomerate into the massive trading nation it is today. Cheers and applause rose from the crowd as the performance ended, the performers taking a bow as one of the show's assistants brought a box around for tips from those who enjoyed it. As the box approached her, Nadine reached for her coin purse, only to find it missing. Her smile dropped in an instant, her hand frantically searching for her missing purse, perhaps she put it somewhere else on her belt? No, she was sure it was right there… But it’s not there now. Her mind frantically thought back to everything since she left the ship, but nothing came to mind, she was so distracted by everything. How could she have been so stupid, she thought. Retreating from the crowd she looked for a guard, anyone, who may be able to help her. Off to the side of the stage, a man in flashy armour, sporting the colours and insignias of the Merchant Prince stood watch, looking rather bored. Rushing over, Nadine quickly grabbed his attention rambling out, “Hi, I’m not from here, and I don’t know what to do, I had this coin purse a moment ago but now I don’t and I don’t know what to do because I don’t have anything without it and if I don’t have money I don’t know how to survive and my ship doesn’t go back for a few days and that’s a long time to get about with no money and the purse is easily recognisable, it has this golden dragon embroidered on it-..” the guard holds up a hand, silencing her, “Tough luck kid, hold onto it more tightly next time. There’s always work at port if you need coin, best get going,” he said, in a way that sounded almost automatic. Stunned, Nadine just stood there for a moment, unsure if he was even being serious or not, but soon it became clear he was, and he had no intention of helping her.  A flash of blue caught her eye, snapping her out of her flabbergasted state, moving down the street nearby. That captain! She’d seemed nice before, maybe she’d help her. Fixated on her blue coat, Nadine began to follow her, pushing through the bustling crowds as she struggled to keep up. It was as if the streets parted for the captain, and closed right up on Nadine right after. Who was she to declare such authority? Is this how all captains of the dangerous seas are treated? Nadine shrugged such questions away from her mind, she had to stay focused. She watched as up ahead the woman entered a building, “The Old Owl Tavern” written proudly on an overhanging sign. Sounds of laughter and cheers could be heard from within as Nadine approached the door, all she had to do was go in, find the captain, and ask her for help. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door, the smell of ale and whiskey filling the air around her as her eyes adjusted to look into the comparably dim building. Many of the crewmen seem to have followed their captain here too, as the tables were full of merry men and women. At the end of the bar, the royal blue captain stood, her hood down now to show more of her wavy cold blond hair. Yet this wasn’t what caught Nadine’s attention, no, for in her hand as she paid the barkeep for her drink was none other than her dragon embroidered gold pouch. Anger filled Nadine’s lungs as she marched towards the captain, fists clenched at her sides. Just before she could get to her though, someone pulled her arm harshly towards the bar, blocking her view of the captain with a new face, the face of a young man, no older than twenty, with shaggy brown hair and a long scar tracing his face from brow to jaw. “I wouldn't advise that love,” he whispered, keeping a solid grip on her arm. Nadine pulled harshly against his grip, to no avail, “Let go of me!” she shouted at him, anger perforating her words. The whole tavern went silent enough to hear a pin drop, making Nadine freeze as she felt everyone’s eyes fall on her. “Let her go, Aaron,” a woman’s voice said calmly yet with such command from the end of the bar. The young man, Aaron, did so immediately, averting his eyes back to the bar and his drink, as Nadine looked up to see the captain swirling her glass leisurely, leaning on the bar, staring right at her with piercing blue eyes, “Can I help you, little chipper?” she asked, that same smirk pulling at her lips as before.

“Y-yes,” Nadine said, straightening up and mustering all of the confidence she could manage, “See, I noticed you have my gold purse, and I-... Well, I need it back.”

The captain shrugged, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, though I am sorry to hear you’ve misplaced it,” she retorted nonchalantly.

Nadine huffed in anger and folded her arms across her chest, trying to look tough, “You do have it! I saw it! You even bought that damned drink with it” she spat back.

The air went cold as the woman swiftly stood, walking purposefully towards her with an air of intimidation, “You calling me a liar, little chipper?”

“I-.. Well, yes? I mean.. Well you do have it.. So..” Nadine stuttered, losing confidence as her eyes darted around to the room full of the Lonely Armada’s crew.

“So you are calling me a liar…” the woman stopped just shy of Nadine, towering over her as her hand drifted to the hilt of the rapier draped on her side. Keeping her piercing gaze on Nadine, she called to the others of the room, “Anyone else in here think I’m a liar?”

The room filled with murmurs of disagreement, many people averting their eyes to take a keen interest in their ales. Nadine shifted uncomfortably on her feet, not knowing what to do. She couldn’t leave with nothing, or she’d have nothing to live on. But if she angered the captain then there was no guarantee she’d be able to get home again, given that the Lonely Armada was her only way home.

“I just… please, I need something to get me through until I return home…” she said, her voice coming out barely a squeak.

The captain smiled, a cold smile, “Tell you what…” she said in a calculated manner, “I’ll let this little insult go, and even give you an opportunity to earn some gold so you can make back what you misplaced. All you have to do is work for me, on my ship. We always need more bodies on deck after all.”

Nadine cautiously looked around the room, any of the crew who caught her eyes quickly looked back to the captain.

“This very generous offer won’t last, little chipper,” the woman said, holding out a hand to Nadine, “So, what do you say? Shall we put this all behind us?”

A cacophony of thoughts raced through Nadine’s mind, what other choice did she have? At least this way she’d make it home safe, then she could leave, right? She looked up to the woman, then to her hand, “Okay,” she whispered, hesitantly taking the captain’s hand.

The woman pulled her in closer as she shook it, “We’ll get the contracts written up then.. Oh, and my name is Captain Ardella Yulis, yours is…?” she purred, her smirk having become a victorious grin.

Murmurs filled the room around them as Nadine kept her eyes on their joined hands, her heart beating drums in her ears, “Nadine… Nadine Orbwood.”

Ardella let go of her hand, turning Nadine by her shoulders to face the room, “Welcome to the crew of the Lonely Armada, Nadine.”