“Tharos, please make sure you keep that under control. The last thing we need is this place in flames after it was nearly drowned in water.”
Mako said, an uncomfortable look spreading across his eyes.
Ah, and there he goes. I guess we’re even now.
“Are you alright? You nearly jumped out of you se-“
“-at.” Mako looked at Ari as she flinched in repulsion.
He focused on Ari, as she whispered into Dolphus’s ear. His eyes narrowed, and his fingers tapped more rapidly.
Tharos opened his mouth in anger ready to retort. The words died on his lips as with a final soft clack Mariner set the last of his presentation aides up.
The map was arranged exactly as it was the last meeting, except this time the model representing the Caelin’s hand was positioned just inside the northern border of the Armada.
Mariner finally looked up fully from the map, gazing at the entire crew in turn. “It appears some people felt this meeting beneath them.” He referred of course to Rook and Nico, however, Mariner wasn’t about to waste any more of his time waiting on them. “We shall begin without them, if they deign to show themselves, I’m sure they will catch up.”
He gestured to the Port hole behind him. “As you may or may not have noticed, we are approaching the Sea Gate. As I dictated in our last meeting we would reconvene before we crossed to select a Captain of the Privateers. For those who have joined us since then, allow me to explain. You’ll vote to decide who will be in charge of managing the Human members of the Caelin’s Hand. Which is to say everyone but myself, Tharos and the Honoured Dead.”
He then paused to reconsider something, “allow me also to formally introduce you all to Ari and Karl who’ll be joining our crew for a short period. I don’t know how long they’ll be with us, frankly I don’t care, you will allow them to assist us with our mission until the time comes when our ways part.”
When he finished speaking, Mariner sat in his designated seat, folding his hands in front of him. “Are there any questions before we get to the matter at hand?”
Dolphus’ immediate reaction was to suddenly lean away from her, his neck tightening and his hand involuntarily darting up to shield himself. The moment of shock passed very quickly, however, as his brain kicked back into gear. She’s asking you a question, dummy.
Turning his eyes back towards Mako, he opened his mouth to reply, but the shadowed face of the ineffective hunter was glowering out of the gloom with shining teeth set in what was clearly not a smile. He blinked a couple times, mostly wondering why Mako would enter the meeting room with his face bandages completely removed, but eventually brushed it off as ineptitude.
“Given time…” He whispered back to Ari, hoping he was not as audible as she had been. It took the entirety of his mask as well as eyeing a small inkwell in almost the same line of sight as Ari’s face ended up in his vision to not look directly at her, lest something of his heart show through.
Although, having seen it split open, perhaps Ari would be able to pick up on things regardless of his intent. It had not quite gotten through to him that since she operated on a level so far below the cloud-walking that he performed at, his time-honored family tradition of leading people around by the nose simply didn’t work on her.
Dolphus couldn’t help but ogle the map as Mariner mentioned the absence of Nico and Rook, the fact registering but his mind deciding it would officially acknowledge that information in a moment. How in the world did I not notice we were traveling northward? Surely I would’ve been able to figure that out the moment we left the island…
Odd phrasing. His eyes traveled towards Tharos’, peeking out from under his hood, bringing clearly to mind the time they glowed most violently to his apparent naivety. Are you saying he isn’t human?
Unfortunately, that didn’t make any sense. What other… People existed that were humanoid, to-scale with humans, had the correct number of digits, appeared to possess all the necessary features, and yet weren’t human?
I refuse to rule out the possibility of strange iguana-man-hybrid.
Rook’s not here.
Dolphus could feel his cheekbones growing cold. So I have no choice then. But first…
There was just enough of a pause to ensure he was not about to talk over someone else.
“Will the temporary additions to our crew be allowed to vote as to whom they believe will make the best captain on our voyage, despite their limited presence?”
He tried not to think about Ari being on that list. Besides, she’s probably only breaking from the crew after we take her back to the summer armada, so she can acquire a new ship and whatnot…
…Which means I only have the voyage before I have to say goodbye.
Mariner looked over at the youngest member of the crew. He marveled for a moment how he seemed the least immature of the entire ensemble. Still his inexperience shined through at often inconvenient moments.
“They will of course have a vote, as the decision will effect them as well. Indeed it may end up effecting them most of all, as when they leave the crew may be decided by the captain.”
Mariner rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and shrugged. “I see no reason why they should not get a say in their leadership.”
Ari stared at Dolphus for some time, not quite understanding what he meant. Then a look of realisation appeared on her face, followed by a toothy grin, which seemed to get bigger by the second. Then she laughed out.
“Ra-ha-ha!”
Dolphus’s jab raised her spirits quite a bit, and the meeting suddenly didn’t seem as unbearable anymore. She leaned away from Dolphus and returned to her original position with her back against the wall and her arms folded across her chest. A small smile was still present on her face.
But Dolphus didn’t actually answer her question. She didn’t know why she expected the outcome to be any different. She’d need to ask Mako by herself to quell her curiosity about his disfigured face.
She opened her mouth to do just that when she heard the powerful voice of Mariner, immediately cutting her off.
Ari closed her mouth and turned her head towards the Halinth, his presence commanding as much respect when he spoke as the day before. For a moment his eyes met his, as he looked at everyone present in the room. Her question to Mako was going to wait.
So this isn’t the entire crew, huh…
Ari remembered how Dolphus peeked through the door of one of the cabins before they arrived at the meeting, and how his face showed a great deal of concern for what he’d seen inside. Did something happen to a crew member during the storm that Mariner doesn’t know about yet? After all, in a storm like that, there were bound to be casualties…
Ari focused and listened carefully to what Mariner was about to say. For the first time since she entered this room, she was actually paying complete attention to what was being said. How could she not? Mariner’s words commanded the attention of everyone who was present in the room.
Hearing the mention of her name, Ari stepped forward with her hand raised in a greeting and armed with a smile across her face. She looked around the room, turning towards everyone present, and once she made sure that everyone noticed her presence, returned to the place she had found for herself.
Because of her performance, she didn’t notice that Mariner had classified her and Karl, who was apparently a new presence on the ship as well, as a part of the crew, a definition that she didn’t agree with. She did however like that the Halinth mentioned the fact that she was free to leave the ship whenever she wanted. This meant that he understood her intention behind boarding it in the first place. Satisfied, she nodded her head.
Ari’s eyes moved between Dolphus and Mariner. She seemed more invested in the conversation than ever. The kid was asking a good question.
She was convinced that Mariner’s answer would be “no”, but she couldn’t help but wonder what was the point of having her show up to the meeting. A simple one sentence introduction didn’t seem to be a good enough reason, even for Ari, who wasn’t knowledgeable in matters like this at all…
Ari blinked. Then blinked again. Then an expression of utter shock and disbelief appeared on her face and became more and more prominent as Mariner kept speaking.
After a moment of consideration, she concluded that she didn’t mind voting for a captain if she had to. It didn’t really matter to her that she didn’t know the candidates at all, she didn’t really care because she believed that the outcome wouldn’t affect her in any way. How could it? She wasn’t a part of the crew, she was just a guest on the ship, with a goal completely separate from the ship’s mission, no matter who’d get to be the captain…
…but the second half of Mariner’s line suggested otherwise.
Ari stepped forward once more, standing beside Dolphus, and decisively put her hands on the table. She wasn’t about to lash out at Mariner, after all she owed him for allowing her on the ship, but still she spoke firmly and assuredly, and didn’t break eye contact with the Halinth.
“Why should I vote for the captain? I’ve been on the ship for less than a day and I barely know anyone here, how can my opinion matter? You all know what’s the mission of this ship, so you know what’s best for it. I don’t, and it’s not like the purpose of this voyage matters to me. I will help you on your way with everything I can, but I still do my own thing, I ain’t with your crew. As soon as I decide that it’s time to leave, I’m off. That was the agreement.”
Ari’s eyes showed unwavering determination, that exact look was common between all generations of Wholfords, being a token of their strong will.
Mariner leaned forward. “I did not say you had to, I merely stated you could. This voyage takes no passengers, while you are here you will be considered a member of the crew, and in return we will drop you off at the place of your choosing. That is the deal I offer. However, you may wish to choose a captain, as they will decide when the ship heads to that destination.”
He reclined back in his seat. “I notice you carry the Halfshell’s stubbornness, that is good. It will help you survive. We head to Securis, our mission is to discover and return the Heir to the Throne. We will drop you off anywhere on the continent that is on the way to our destinations.”
Mariner barely seemed to blink as he held her gaze. He admired her spirit, but her lack of tact would likely get her killed.
“Any other questions?” He said quite politely.
The speed at which Dolphus’ cheeks turned pink at her display and were forced back to their ice-cold prior demeanor by the mask was impressive, even to him. His brows had crinkled with embarrassment, but returned to being as flat and unsympathetic to the room as they had been before.
Dolphus sent a reassuring glance at Karl, as if he had raised the question specifically for the peculiar assassin’s benefit. It’s not untrue… His vote will be just as important as anyone else’s.
Dolphus could feel himself crumpling backwards as the massive Wohlford crossed the room, placing her hands on the table and staring intently at Mariner. As she spoke, he stood ever so slightly and brought his chair to the table again, comparatively far less noisy than the awful noise the motion backwards had produced.
His heart was trying to listen. It wanted to hear about her inevitable departure, her insistence on breaking from the crew, and to dwell quite heavily on how in the world he would survive without her there. But the mask was impenetrable. These thoughts would not be tolerated for an instant; they would need to wait until later, after the unthinkable act floating about in his mind had been enacted.
Part of him wanted to surrender. That part was taken into a back alley of his mind and gutted like a fish with the broken neck of a glass bottle. I cannot back down now.
The confidence and chivalry with which Mariner replied to the inquiry was impressive. Dolphus knew what to look for; there was no artificial Gorov-isms in his act. Whatever he was conjuring was genuine, stemming from somewhere deep inside him, and could not be faked so masterfully.
Well, unless it was father. Or one of the ancestors I heard Pyotr harp on about who was so great, so fantastic, so wonderful, it was as if he went back in time and reared him as his own son. Which is a completely roundabout logical fallacy what I am doing I have a thing to accomplish focus
His reply was so genuine it was impossible for Dolphus to detect any sort of offense on his part. Regardless, he stood up slightly, resting his fingertips as he once again whispered towards Ari, hoping he was not too audible for the majority of the people assembled to hear his words.
“Voting for a captain who would prioritize your interests and expedite your departure might be advisable, if you do wish to leave quickly.” His eyes traveled to Karl, although depending on what Ari was able to see as the much shorter Dolphus tried his best to reach her ear while also not fully standing, it may have looked like he was eyeing Alexis or even Jade. “As you have mentioned, I do not even know her last name.”
Did he deserve to be hung by the heck until dead for the thoughts flowing through his mind? …Ehh, later him problem. Right now though, his words were spoken with as much of the confidential manner and official nature of an advisor to the late queen, as long as that adviser’s name was not Gorov.
I wonder if Jade is paying attention to things. He slunk back into his seat, the mask still refusing to give way to his aching heart. Some of the comments I made were just as much for her benefit, too…
Ari didn’t try to object. Mariner’s reply seemed to line up more or less with her own interests and intentions, even if she still didn’t agree with him on the matter of being considered a member of the crew. But that matter wasn’t all that important if she could still have a chance to leave whenever she wanted without being stopped. To these terms, she could agree.
She felt that Mariner wasn’t trying to be deceptive and spoke genuinely, and that fact alone helped calm her mind down.
The mention of the name Halfshell was so sudden and shocking to Ari, that it completely overshadowed the revelation about the true mission of this ship. She completely froze and looked at Mariner in bewilderment. She knew the name Halfshell extremely well. Her parents had told her many stories about her ancestor who bore this nickname, but not as many as the stories about the kinds of ships he built. As far as Ari knew, it was a name that only meant something to the Wohlford family, so where could Mariner know it from?
There was only one explanation, but Ari refused to believe it. If it was true, she’d have so many questions to ask Mariner. She knew of the extraordinary lifespans of the Halinth, but the idea that Ari got was too incredible, too unlikely to be true… unless…
Wait, what did he just say? “Discover and return the Heir to the Throne?!”
Ari was much less surprised by this revelation than she thought she would be. With a crew as bizarre as this, it only made sense that their end goal was equally bizarre. Ari didn’t understand what was the point in trying to find a new king or queen for the Armada. As if taking some guy and putting him on the throne would magically fix things in the country… But she wasn’t the one to question the validity of their mission. The reason why they were sailing was none of her business. The only important thing was that they were sailing away from the Armada, and Ari was on their ship with the ability to leave whenever she wanted.
Noticing that Dolphus was trying to tell her something, Ari leaned down slightly to hear him better. When he was done talking, she briefly looked over at him with her eyebrow raised. What the heck was he doing? Trying to give her advice?
Judging by the way he spoke, Ari knew that the kid wasn’t saying these things out of the kindness of his heart, he was certainly trying to achieve something. There was something he was getting at, but Ari couldn’t quite figure out what it was. Her brows lowered.
Why couldn’t he just throw away that roundabout official speech and tell her everything he wanted to say straight up, the way it was, without all of that nonsense?!
Finally, putting the kid’s machinations aside for a moment, Ari turned towards Mariner with a smile and responded:
“Okay then. You do your thing and I do mine. We help each other on the way with what we can, whether it’s votes, ship repairs or whatnot, and when it’s time to part ways, you go your way and I go mine. Sounds like a deal.”
Ari took her hands off the table and folded them across her chest, clearly satisfied by the outcome, but she didn’t retreat to her spot and stayed standing next to Dolphus.
Now she had a motivation to get through this meeting. She wanted to find out what was the deal with Mariner and Halfshell as soon as she could, but it meant that she couldn’t just step away here and now.
Mariner nodded to Ari, then looked around the table again. “No further questions? All right.” He sighed. “Tharos, initiate the vote.” Mariner turned his chair to look more closely at the approaching island and the open see beyond.
At this distance the Islands details were starting to poke through. Most of the landmass was taken up by a large fortress, projecting an intimidating presence over the sea lanes into the Armada. Skirting the shoreline were many Armada corvettes, the low and fast ships could respond to any threat quickly giving the larger ships in the fleet time to mobilize.
Mariner knew far too well the Seagate was far from impenetrable, but still it would be a difficult obstacle for invading forces to pass.
Meanwhile, Tharos cleared his throat. “A quick recap for all of the last vote. The candidates chosen were Rook Andreas, and Alexis. They tied the last vote with one vote each.” He paused before continuing, “now, I’d like to open the floor to any new candidates who wish to enter their name into the contention.” He seemed extremely bored, he hardly expected anything to change from last time. In fact he seemed sure that without rook there to vote for himself Alexis would win by default. Nevertheless, he told himself, protocol must be observed in times like this.
Dolphus could feel his heart twisting inside his chest. How could she make such plans to depart, knowing she held his heart in her grip? Or did she know? Did she have any idea how much it had taken to open himself up to her like that, to be so vulnerable, so exposed? DId she have any notion of what it meant to him, to finally have a shoulder - or perhaps bicep would be more accurate - to cry on? To no longer be trapped in that iron shell, unable to feel the world around him?
To no longer be alone?
But in spite of how hot his face grew, or how much his heart groaned and twisted about, his powerful genes and militant training ensured his greatest strength would not be broken. The mask was as impenetrable as ever, and his brow remained still.
It was clear Mariner did not have much appreciation for the lack of initiative the rest of the crew seemed to possess. Mako had been chatty, but clammed up the moment the deceptive Halinth began speaking, and Alexis had not said a word. Neither had Jade, although that seemed within her brooding nature, and Karl’s silence was perhaps appreciated for the moment.
I need their support. He swallowed. This is only going to work if I convince all of them that I am right. Maybe it would’ve helped to think out my arguments a little before getting to this point…
Out of the protection of the summer armada and out into the open seas of the north. He had mapped the southern armada from memory once, recalling other maps and coastlines to do so, and had gotten in trouble for including the twin sisters of the sea gate. It seemed like a perfectly valid detail to him, so why not include it?
Perhaps there’s something to be said there for how citizens of the armada think and reason through things. His eyes fell off of the window and the very limited view he possessed, due in part to his stature and the rest to Ari’s presence, and back onto the table in front of him. They only seem to comprehend the broader picture and have no time for details.
A bit foolish, if you ask me. His hand tightened slightly. That’s where all the evil lurks.
Therefore, the best captain is someone who knows details all too well.
There was a pause, just long enough to ensure he wasn’t about to speak over anyone else, before he slowly stood, shooting a glance at Ari as he did so - could she see through his mask? Did it appear all too obviously to her how much pain he was in at the horrible deed he was forced to perform?
“The amputation is a horrible thing,” The swordmaster commented lightly, as he bandaged the young fellow’s arm. He winced dramatically at it, but young Dolphus was consumed by so much guilt at the injury that he barely even noticed the reaction. “Through some means a fellow may develop a rot in his arm or leg that threatens to poison his entire body if he does not remove the stagnant limb.”
“Therefore, one must follow the logic backwards to determine the heart to be more important than the hand.” His words were spoken to the young man he addressed, but meant so clearly for Dolphus’ ears that even he sent a glance towards the young Gorov to see his reaction to them. “Sometimes we do things that may hurt others, intentionally or not, but if our hearts remain true, and do not allow themselves to fall into hatred, we will never really hurt those around us.”
“Rather,” He slipped the sleeve downwards to cover the bandage atop the superficial injury. “We may find ourselves more willing to lose an arm than hurt another’s heart.”
“Yes.” Dolphus fully stood, his eyes setting themselves on Tharos with a resolve so impenetrable it seemed like the sight of his face alone would cut the ship in half. The Gorovs carried an extra mental muscle, which, when trained and refined in all manner of cruelty and misdeeds, could break a continent with a stare.
He could not achieve such ludicrous feats with so little experience. But he could feel his mind significantly picking up speed as he flexed the only properly exercised muscle in his whole body. For better or worse, this was going to be the greatest act he had ever performed.
“I am.”
Alexis stood there in silence for a moment to process Dolphus’ proposal. After a long moment she folded her arms an approving scoff flying out of her mouth before she even realized she had made it. The kid had guts that was for certain. Lifting a hand off of her bicep she finally spoke. “Like last time I will save my vote until the end, I wish for the crew itself to decide a captain without my interference playing a role unless absolutely necessary.” The speech was practiced, flowed from her without flaw or stutter.
The absence of Rook however? It bothered her. He had been so dead set on being voted captain in the last vote; the man had gone so far to place his vote for himself after all. No doubt he would feel that this meetings lack of himself would cast the result in an unfair light and he was sure to make a fuss about it.
Either way this vote ended she figured she would be the one who was forced to sort it out.
Although with the entry of Dolphus into the running she was more curious than anything to see what made the kid think he was capable of being a good captain.
Mako’s gaze shifted. He became silent.
So is Alexis the best choice, and now the only-
Makos eyes widened in sheer surprise.
He cocked his head to the side. Mako rubbed his temples, his brows furrowed. Suddenly, he rose from his chair, barely any noise escaping.
“And why would that be?” He asked in a hushed voice, yet it filled the room.
His eyes locked onto Dolphus as he observed him. The chatter was gone. Now it was replaced with a curiosity of strange design.
Dolphus did not take his eyes off of Tharos during Alexis’ speech, not willing to let himself be swayed by her appearance from the course of action he had decided on. It was difficult to tell exactly how she felt about the move; there seemed to be some level of approval but just as much apprehension.
I don’t want to upset her.
That thought was dragged deep into the recesses of his heart, bound and gagged, and stuffed in some cardiovascular broom closet. Perhaps Ari, able to undercut so much of his performance, may have noticed a subtle softening for a brief moment, hidden under several layers of steel.
There would be time for partiality and expectations later. Now it was time to act.
As Mako spoke, Dolphus allowed his gaze to turn towards him. The shadow coated his exposed face, yet his eyes were sparking out from between the linen wraps with an intense glow. He had, rather concisely, challenged his claim for the captainship, and it was time to meet it as best he could.
To prove, to himself if not to everyone else, that he was truly the best choice.
“Experience.” He began, the sharp and commanding appearance still radiating out from his face. “I have sailed on seventeen different vessels throughout my time as a cartographer, and on almost all of them I was requested to take over several of the captain’s duties, particularly in communicating with the crew.”
A rather bold-faced lie. But, at that moment, he was starting to believe it, too.
“I have also dealt heavily in the shipping industry for several years, and have become acquainted with a large swathe of different individuals from across the isles as well as quite a ways beyond them. I am the best-suited among the crew for determining how to go about both collecting information and carrying ourselves on foreign soil.”
That one was pretty much the truth, however. As Dolphus’ family had a stranglehold over international and even domestic trade for several decades, it was unlikely he could not at least fake his way through any circumstance he ended up in, although the news of Gregor’s death and the collapse of the Gorov empire would’ve undoubtedly carried across the globe by now.
I’ll have to avoid anyone who might possibly know me by sight or even know OF me.
“And lastly, importance. I hold very little weight aboard this vessel.”
Dolphus blinked, resisting the urge to visibly acknowledge the self-deprecating joke he just accidentally made. “More specifically, there is a quantifiable task present for every other member of the crew, which without we may do rather poorly. It would be problematic for us to run out of provisions and not have any way to replace them on our journey, which is why you are Hunter. And thus the other positions; Navigator, Helmsman, Quartermaster, all valuable positions that could not afford to be set aside in favor of captainship.”
“Cartographer is temporary. As there are numerous maps of both the summer armada and the surrounding continents and islands, my work will be delegated mostly to crosschecking existing maps for accuracy and confirming our location. I am the least impacted by having the captainship and would be inconvenienced the least while still allowing all the vital positions to continue operating as they have been.”
Almost true. The least person to be impacted by the position was actually Rook, but… well, he wasn’t here, and Dolphus was. Desperate times.
“That is my proposal.” He had gestured lightly to the map as he spoke, and now rested his fingertips on the edge of the table. “I believe the only member of this crew who could potentially outclass my experience is Rook, who appears to have opted out of participating in this vote.”
A pity, too. Were Rook here, I might not have been forced to go through with this.
Is that so? I doubt your composure can always remain the same.
Mako eyes shifted once more. They now seemed glassy, blank. They narrowed.
“So your candidacy is based off of your experience? What of your nerves? Can you assure us that you can hold your own?”
His voice now was of a different tone, still hushed, but now almost a mix of…concern? Worry?
Something odd…
His fingers resumed tapping against the table again.
“If you were to lose composure in an immediately dire moment, as we would then look to you, that could be catastrophic. Are you capable of taking care of that responsibility?”
Tharos looked up at Dolphus in surprise. He genuinely hadn’t expected this development, this initiative from the young man was unusual. Normally he’d just sneer and leave.
Mariner also spun around in his seat. To stare in an inquiring manner at Dolphus. He said nothing, but let his shock show in his body language.
Mariner’s body language regained it’s previous uncaring stern posture. “If only there were two other people in positions of power on this ship that could step up in such an instance…” He let his statement hang to showcase the absurdity of the situation.
“No doubt, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken into account.”
Mako’s eyes flickered over to Mariner.
A bit of frustration was now in his voice.
“One shouldn’t just ignore such a possible scenario.”
Would you like a recreation of what damaged the boat?
Dolphus could feel the moment much stronger in Mariner’s reaction that Tharos’. He did not allow his confidence to slip, not under their collective gaze or during his reply to Mako, but it helped to know he had taken Mariner completely by surprise.
Hadn’t his father said something about never letting people see the real you?
Dolphus did not immediately respond, instead opting to wait for the rest of Mako’s satement. It was painfully obvious that he was alluding to the Thauin attack, and while Dolphus personally felt his reaction could be justifiably excused in that circumstance, it was a legitimate concern.
Whether it comes from a place of actual critique or because he wants to bite a chunk out of me is yet to be determined.
“I feel this concern is only being raised because of my stature,” Dolphus allowed his head to tip, an accusing stare peeking out from under his sharp eyebrows at Mako. “Indeed, such an instance of lost composure is theoretically possible for anyone who would become captain, not just myself.”
“Yet this particular concern has never been raised before.” Dolphus leaned in slightly, his fingertips still resting on the edge of the table. “So allow me to quell any possible concerns over my capability. One year prior to this voyage I was dueling military officers of the Armada, and two years prior I had to be separated from my much older classmates for being too skilled for them to keep up with. There are more duels I have won than there are honored dead on this ship.”
“I will gladly engage anyone in bladed duels who wishes to challenge me on that assertion.” He straightened both his posture and his skull. “I do not claim to be undefeatable, but I can certainly prove the weight of my words. None of my peers could match my skill, and few of the Armada could as well.”
It was important to not come off as accusatory, and Dolphus held his tongue in as matter-of-fact a fashion as he could manage. It didn’t help that his entire story, however true, was embellished here and there with little lies which surely would never come back to bite him. How could they? They were so insignificant.
More concerning for him were the truths he let slip. Big gamble there, Dolphus. They just so happen to run across someone who dueled you in one of the fleets and you’re toast.
“Now, are there any other concerns about my capability that need addressing?”
Yikes. Karl had heard about professional duelists. The men who spent years training with blades, becoming masters and even wizards of swordsmanship. Those at the top were, of course, intelligent enough to avoid actually fighting with the intent to kill, instead merely humiliating an opponent with a scratch or two. Yet the younger ones, hotheads or cold-blooded killers, they were more dangerous, more willing to take the risk of lethal injury or outright murder… was Dolphus one of these?
His manner, the mask of his expertise, could not be pierced by Karl’s knowledge, and so the possibility remained. If his words were true, Dolphus was a dangerous man, one capable of feats with a blade greater than what potential opponents would wish to face. However, he could be bluffing. Karl decided that the young man would bear watching in the future. Who knows, he could be a danger to my mission, he thought.
Mako’s fingers stopped moving. He stood still, as the rims of his green irises shimmered with the umbra of blue.
His hand made a very sudden, jerking movement, before falling to his side.
Oh, what now?
Against a fair fight, of course. And you say that assuming you still had the use of your arm…
Makos eyes lingered over the cloak covering Dolphus’s undoubtedly maimed and scarred side.
He sighed, the sound, a dry and reedy noise.
It was clear he was experienced in fighting and dueling, but against an opponent that could impair his already crippled self, there would be a new level of challenge.
So deadly, yet so defenseless.
He would kill me at anytime. And I could make sure he would never move again.
I do not use a sword. But now… this could help. There is not a doubt such a crew could attract conflict…
“None.”
Mako sat down, the hushed voice disappearing with it, and he seemed to be more comfortable with this new information.
There’s no doubt. He can be worthy… but only if he can be stronger than his hatreds.
Noticing Mariner’s change of position, Ari bent over backwards and glanced out the porthole. The island that had just been a silhouette on the horizon, was now in full view. She didn’t find that view particularly appealing.
That imposing fortress surrounded by Armada ships and likely filled to the brim with Armada soldiers was the kind of place she wouldn’t be willing to go near.
Ari tensed. Even if there was no immediate threat at the moment, she still regretted leaving her weapon in her cabin. Near a place like this, she didn’t feel safe without it.
Hearing the unfamiliar name of the other person confirmed Ari’s thoughts from earlier. Alexis really was the only Captain vote candidate in the room.
Well, that makes things much easier, doesn’t it?
She thought of the concern that Dolphus had expressed to her back in her cabin about Alexis and the prospect of her becoming the Captain, how much that matter seemed to trouble him. She wondered how he must have been feeling right now, given that Alexis taking the leading role in the crew seemed to be guaranteed at this point, no matter who voted for her and how many votes she received.
Ari looked over at Dolphus just in time for their eyes to meet. The kid seemed to be holding well, his face not showing any visible signs of worry, but just one quick look into his eyes was enough for her to determine that he was in great distress on the inside.
Little did she know that said distress had been caused not by the prospect of Alexis becoming the captain by default, but by something completely different that she would have never been able to guess.
Ari’s brows quickly climbed up her forehead in response to the scene that unfolded in front of her.
She wouldn’t have been as taken aback by Dolphus’s initiative had she not been able to see his face. It showed unwavering resolve, to an almost unsettling degree. The Dolphus she had gotten to know over the course of the last day was almost unrecognisable in the person that was now standing next to her. This side of him was almost completely unfamiliar to her, even if she had gotten small glimpses of it before. She found his gaze rather unnerving, it seemed almost unnatural, looking completely out of place on the face of what could only be described as a child. She didn’t know how someone of his age could have such strong resolve.
Needles to say that this development immediately made her forget about her concerns regarding the looming fortress on the horizon.
One quick look around the dimly lit room was enough to determine that she wasn’t the only one stunned by Dolphus’s unexpected move and the way it was delivered. Out of all the reactions, Mariner’s was the most surprising. To Ari he seemed like the kind of person who couldn’t be taken aback by anything, yet now it seemed like he was impacted by Dolphus’s performance the most.
Alexis seemed to be the most unbothered by the revelation, even seemingly finding it rather amusing, which Ari thought was completely in character for her. Just like with Mariner, Ari’s impression of Alexis was that she could hardly be surprised by anything. Ari admitted that it was probably a fairly good characteristic for a captain to have.
What Dolphus certainly managed to achieve with his performance was making Ari pay attention to what was being said. She listened to him carefully all the way through, being too stunned to speak.
His words didn’t leave as much of an impression on her as the way he carried himself throughout his speech did. It was hard to believe that someone as young as him could have as much experience as he claimed to have and be as proficient with a sword as he claimed to be, and the concerns that Mako expressed seemed to be very fair, yet Ari still found herself believing in him. It wasn’t the things the kid said, but rather the confident manner in which he was saying them. If it all was just an act, it was too good of an act for Ari to see through. Much to her surprise, she was being convinced by his performance.
And she couldn’t help but find the confidence Dolphus was exuding during his speech rather admirable, despite initially being unsettled by it. The kid certainly had a backbone, even if it wasn’t immediately apparent most of the time.
Wanting to somehow express her thoughts to him, she gave him a reassuring smile and a nod of approval when he stopped to make his inquiry, looking around the room.