The wharf had seen better days. It was old, and the wide wooden planks were showing signs of rot. Yet, despite its decrepit appearance, it did not stop the local villagers from setting up shop. Merchants and Fishermen shouted out the names of their products to potential customers in the hopes for a sale. The sharp scents of fish and unknown flowers drifted through the air along the pier.
Humans shuffled and pushed, but as soft brown eyes peered up shyly beneath dark lashes, Ashur ignored it all, his smile widening, as the farmgirls' blush deepened.
"So… may I see you tonight my dear?" He asked quietly taking her hands and lightly brushing his thumb against her knuckles. She nodded.
"Excellent! Now my dear I'll meet you here at …"
"Ashur!"
Ashur grunted in protest as Sigurd's hand shot out seemingly from thin air and pulled him away from the pomegranate stand. The girl's pretty eyes widened in surprise and Sigurd attempted to offer the girl a small apologetic smile, though it came across as more of a grimace.
Mortified, she ducked her head and busied herself rearranging pomegranates, refusing to look at either one of them. Ashur laughed as he was dragged away and catching her gaze sent her a wink, before he shoved Sigurd away.
"Couldn't you see that I was having a conversation?"
"I did," Sigurd huffed looking uncomfortable, "and so did her brother."
At that, Ashur followed his brother's gaze to see a large barrel of a man scowling at them from a shadowed corner of the tented stand. His dyed red hands brandished a large knife as he glared at them.
Amused, Ashur sent him a grin, delighted, as the merchant flushed angrily, rising from his seat just as Sigurd roughly grabbed Ashur by the collar of his jerkin and pulled him into the crowd.
"Will you stop that?"
"It has been too long since I've interacted with a lovely human Sigurd," Ashur smirked, twisting out of his friends grip and maneuvering effortlessly through wharf's crowd.
"And war is lonely work."
"Your loneliness can wait, brother," Sigurd sighed, running a hand through his red hair.
"We have to meet Sadik, We're late."
As Ashur rapped his knuckles against the caupona's desk to get the clerk's attention, Sigurd peered across the heavily shadowed inn's sparse lodgings.
"We are here to see the Thracian, and a man named Viator," He said watching the elderly man jump at the sound of the rap. The man turned, and gave him a onceover, eyeing Ashur suspiciously before nodding to the furthest corner.
"They're over there." The old caupo wheezed.
Catching Sigurd's attention, Ashur turned away without a word, feeling the old man's stare burn into his back as he made his way towards the table.
Dressed in his dark leathers, Sadik sat across from a massive stranger who was currently tearing into what appeared to be a whole chicken.
"Sir?"
Relief flitted across Sadik's amber gaze as he looked over to them, flinching just as his companion successfully tore the boiled chicken in two.
Ashur winced and swallowed thickly at the sight, glancing at a very disturbed looking Sigurd before taking a seat next to his commander.
"Captain Viator," Sadik coughed politely, flicking away bits of flesh from his sleeve, " allow me to introduce you to Ashur and Sigurd two of my soldiers."
"My Boys, this is Captain Viator Modestus."
Viator looked up from his meal, and huffed.
"How many more Turks will I be bringing." The Captain casted a mistrustful glance at Ashur.
" I thought I had only this one to deal with." Viator growled, pointing a chicken leg at Sadik.
Sadik merely smiled though there was no humor in his eyes
"I'm Syrian," Ashur whispered, placing his hand against his chest in mock hurt.
Viator threw his head back and laughed.
Wiping a tear from his eye, Viator chuckled,"You're funny, so I'll chose to overlook it."
Sigurd and Ashur exchanged a look.
"How kind of you." Ashur murmured not bothering to hide the annoyance from his tone.
The Captain raised a brow and grinned, flashing a row of yellowing teeth before he bit into the chicken, grease ran from his lips and into his graying beard.
Ashur frowned.
"This one doesn't like me." Viator smiled, pointing a thick finger at Ashur, while glancing at Sadik.
"Perhaps, I'll chose not to like him either."
"He likes you just fine," Sadik smiled disarmingly at the Captain before looking at Ashur.
"Don't you Medina?"
The warning was clear.
"I like him just fine Sir," Ashur nodded, putting on his best smile.
It seemed to work because the Roman noticeably was put at ease.
"Fine. Now to business Thracian," Viator grunted cleaning his hands on his shirt.
"I'll have to ship your people across the Ionian, We'll stop at Athens for resupply and then make way to the capital, Constantinople, and that is where I leave you."
The Captain leaned forward, tapping the table, and stroking his beard, "It's quite the journey."
"If it's the cost that concerns you…"
"It's the risk that concerns me Sadik, there are pirates and i will need some extra insurance… you know how it is."
"Hmm," Sadik nodded, "Sigurd."
Ashur looked over to witness his brother to lift a sack from under the table and place it on the surface between Sadik and Viator, Silver spilling from the opening.
"Where were you keeping that?" he whispered.
"Shut up." Sigurd hissed.
Viator smiled."More."
With a huff Sigurd produced another bag.
"Is this why you didn't want to go through the wharf? Because you were carrying all that around?"
"Shut up."
"More."
Growling now Sigurd placed a third bag on the table, irritation coming off of him in waves.
Ashur inhaled to ask another question but was cut off by the glare Sigurd sent him.
He smiled instead.
"This will do."
Across from them the Captain happily gathered all three bags and stood.
"Turk, Syrian, ginger whose name i won't remember, it's been a pleasure… I shall see you at the docks in two days time."
Shaking his head Sadik stood, and Ashur and Sigurd moved to follow.
"The Tenebris! That's the name of my ship!" Viator's voice followed them as they left
"What a pain." Ashur broke the silence as they left the inn.
Sadik groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Sigurd, Are the Silivian babes ready for transport?"
"Yes sir."
"Ashur, Have Walder organize Ruz's soldiers to take them back to Gunmar. And have our changelings mine more silver."
"Yes, Sir."
"I want it done before we leave."
"yes , Sir." Ashur and Sigurd echoed.
Sadik stopped and turned. "You two have the rest of the evening to yourselves."
"If you have any plans with anyone," Sadik pinned Ashur with a pointed look, "Enjoy but do stay out of trouble, please, for me."
"Yes, Sir." Ashur smirked.
