The waves crashed against the bow of the galleon as it sailed south through the Sea of Dawn.
Teryn knew he was finally moving up in the world when he had a berth on an actual galleon instead of a galley or longship like the last few times he made this trip. Packed and squeezed in like luggage, and having to split rowing duties wasn't to Teryn's taste.
"Klick Klack," said Nocker, clumsily balancing himself on the rail.
Teryn looked at his dragon. Though his wound had healed, he had grown a bit chubby while recovering.
"I'm going to have to learn your language one day little buddy," he said before throwing a stick the dragon had taken a recent fancy to as far as he could. Nocker shot off after it, as fast as his little wings could carry him, almost catching it before it hit the water.
"He's getting closer," commented Oksana.
Teryn was startled slightly, but not much. There was only so many places one could go on this galleon before bumping into another of one of its passengers.
"You're up early," said Teryn smiling at the big warrior woman.
"Just keeping an eye on our lovely couple," she said pointing at a lower deck near the stern.
Teryn peered over and saw Artyom and Katrina, was that her name, talking and sharing a moment below.
"For a political marriage, they seem to get along nicely," said Teryn.
"Too nicely," chuckled Oksana. "I feel like a third dueling dagger when I'm with them."
Teryn laughed even as Nocker returned. The craftsman petted the dragon before offering the stick to Oksana who waved it about before throwing it towards the ocean even farther than Teryn had.
"Well, at least you'll be busy back in your Barony,"said Teryn. "You're the Seneschal now or something right?"
Oksana nodded."Yes, and I suppose I will be busy. I'm sure some of the less used estates in Bancroft are filled with cultists and other things since Frederick was in charge. I'll probably be organizing expeditions to clear them through the summer."
Teryn smiled. "Hmm, I have a gold that says you'll probably be leading most of them."
Oksana shrugged." Probably, I should just appoint a Captain of the Guard, but I can't get good help these days. Speaking of which, what will you be doing after you finish your 'contract' for Count Petyr? Surely it won't take you all summer to re do his blinds?"
Teryn shot her an inquisitive look. "Eh? My work takes a long time. I'll probably be spending sixteen hour days, and my weekends just to…."
"It took you like a day and a half to finish the Catherdal of Vanya," pointed out the big bodyguard with a smug look on her face.
Teryn raised a finger and then lowered it. "Hmm, true enough. It might not take as much time as I estimated. I've only been to Thyatis City, any recommendations of what to see in the Thyatian 'frontier'?"
"Well, if you're not too busy, I could probably use a hand clearing out all the estates and ruins I mentioned earlier. A paladin would be handy."
Teryn rolled his eyes. "This again? I told you I'm not a paladin. I'm a craftsman that specializes in mainly window coverings, though I am pretty good at other woodworking if I do say so myself."
Oksana laughed lightly. "For a woodworker you handled yourself pretty well in the catacombs, and during that fight with the cultists in the main hall, and lets not forget you volunteering to help the guard clear the basement."
"Well, I did have a map, and I didn't want anyone to fall into one of my traps I set up for the undead when I was making my way out," said Teryn sheepishly.
"Of course," giggled Oksana as she titled her head. "Far be it for me to overestimate the prowess of a Blindman."
"Oh, and my master is not some grandpa assassin or whatever you guys think he is," sniffed Teryn. "I mean, the crazy things you aristocrats dream up. He was just in the neighborhood, probably checking up on me, and err….well he was probably just playing along to get good publicity for the business….I once knew a bricklayer that swung a battleaxe around claiming to be the Viking of stonework just to get business."
Teryn looked at Oksana, and saw she was looking directly at him smiling. Her hair was unbraided, and she was wearing a light chain shirt that hugged the curves of her body. He also noted that she had a kind face when she wasn't scowling or looking stern.
"Well enough of this," said Oksana as she reached into her side pack and pulled out a large ornate hammer. "I didn't bump into you by chance this morning, I wanted to give you this."
Teryn took the hammer, and felt its weight and balance. "It's wonderful, but I told you I'm not a paladin. At best, it would sit on my mantle somewhere as a memento, that is if I ever get a house with a mantle."
"It's just a gift to thank you for your service. You did far beyond what we expected, but it's not just a weapon, it's a tool as well. You can use it in your work,"said Oksana.
Artyom was about to point out that the mallets he uses were much smaller and generally wooden. This item would be something a labourer would use, but looking at Oksana's beaming face he hadn't the heart to tell her so. "Thank you for the gift. I'll remember you guys when I …err….drive stakes into the ground."
Oksana nodded as Nocker returned. She took his stick and faked throwing it a few times before lobbing it high in the air. The dragon took off like a bolt after it.
"Is that a new sword," asked Teryn as he noticed her blade looked slightly different than before.
Oksana sighed. "Yes and No. I lost my old blade when they took us prisoner, this is Kaden's sword."
"Oh, " said Teryn realizing his blunder. "I'm sorry…."
Oksana shook her head. "Don't be. He was a good man and I carry his sword to remind me of our friendship, but as in all things. Life goes on, people have to move forward. Like Artyom there, last year if you told him he would be in a diplomatic marriage and have to run the Barony he would probably faint or laugh in your face."
"…or you….I bet you never thought you would be the Seneschal of Bancroft," added Teryn.
"Yes, or like me. I never thought my path would lead me where I am now. I would have figured I would be dragging Artyom's hide out of another seedy dive somewhere…" she said as she stared into the horizon.
Artyom couldn't help himself but he found himself staring at her again. She was a very beautiful woman. However she was practically nobility now, while he was just a simple craftsman.
"You know, I sometimes wish I really was a paladin," said Teryn.
"Eh, why the change of heart?"
"Paladins are pretty charismatic aren't they? They get all the pretty girls."
Oksana chuckled as she turned to him. "You know, women aren't attracted to paladins because they are handsome, they are attracted to them because they are brave. And when I mean brave, I don't mean the 'slay the dragon' type of brave. I mean the 'do I dare kiss the girl that could snap my neck' brave," she said with a wink.
Teryn smiled and stepped up to Oksana. She could probably throw him over the rail, and given the angle. he would hit the lower deck instead of the water, but regardless he wrapped one arm around her waist to pull her in, while placing placing another over her shoulders, before giving her a long kiss. She was probably only offering a peck on the cheek with her flirting, but if he was going to be killed kissing a woman like this, he might as well make it count.
As the two embraced, Teryn suddenly broke off.
"Eh, what's wrong?" asked a disappointed Oksana with a pout on her lips.
Teryn pointed to the waves. Several blue green objects could briefly be seen in it. "I see thirty auras in the water, malevolent ones," he said. Nocker flew down and pecked at the water even as a finned head with razor teeth briefly emerged to snap at him before submerging again. It was hard to tell what they were doing, but they were definitely approaching their ship.
"Sahuagin," she said with blade in hand, as Nocker flew to her side hissing angrily at the water."Shark men raiders. They normally don't infest these waters, but if they're here, that means trouble."
Teryn hefted his hammer and felt a part of his spirit flow into it, making it glow white in fury. "You know, I think this is a good time to test out your gift."