As they make their way onto the ship Elyanna immediately takes the woman, Mila to her, well his, quarters. "You want to explain to me what actually happened?" Dragon asks, turning to face Erik.
"No." Erik actually laughs, "first I want to know why you were the one to come running to help. You are never the first in the line of fire."
Dragon opens his mouth to protest, but finds he doesn't have an answer. Hell when he saw Mila running towards the ship he had thought she was the one who needed help. Mila had gotten to the ship in a panic and Dragon had been ready to send Hatori to help her when Elyanna's name came out of her mouth. He hadn't even thought of sending someone else, he simply grabbed his swords, asked Mila where to go, and ran off. It took asking three people where the tavern was to even find it, and when he did only seeing Erik up on a rooftop enabled him to find them. "I-asked you first." He says lamely and Erik only raises a brow.
His second knew he didn't have an answer, but thankfully decided not to comment on Dragon's childish response. "Look," Erik does finally say. "We went shopping-" He holds up his hands which still held the bags.
Soren and Hatori choose that moment to wander over and each grab a bag before glancing inside at the contents. Hatori whistles and pulls out what looks like a Burgundy swimsuit. "This is pretty."
"This all looks very-" Soren clicks his tongue in thought, as he shuffles through the bag. "Very Anna."
Dragon didn't know what that meant, but grabs the swimsuit and bag out of Hatori's hands. "Erik I'm still waiting on an explanation."
"And I wish I had a better one for you." Erik sighs, reaching into his pocket for his cigarettes. "Look, as I said we went shopping and we were heading back when-" He takes a long drag. "We were talking and she was about to say something when she just suddenly stopped. She looked around as though someone had called her and ran off. By the time I caught up to her she handed me her bag and said she needed a drink. I finally saw where she was going and went to protest when she told me to give her ten minutes, after that-" He shrugs. "I have no idea what happened inside, but after nearly ten minutes she ran out of there, with Mila, and booked it past me. I tried to follow her and lost track-" He was lying, but Dragon wasn't sure about what. "I ended up on the rooftops and saw her turn down a dead end. They got surrounded pretty quickly and the next thing I knew Mila disappeared, Anna caught my eye, shook her head, and proceeded to- well you saw it."
"I got there at the end." Dragon argues, "I showed up and there were nine slavers down."
Hatori starts laughing, "are you kidding? Oh, I love it!"
Erik finishes his smoke and steps on the butt. "This is quite the woman you've brought onto our ship Dragon."
"Quite a troublemaker," Soren agrees, grinning.
Dragon sighs deeply, "yeah I'm aware thanks."
"And now we have two very interesting women on the ship." Hatori grins.
"And one of them-" Elyanna's voice comes up behind him, causing him to jump. How had he not heard her approach? "Is wondering why you have my bags?" Soren walks over and hands her the bag he's holding. She thanks him and turns to face Dragon, an eyebrow raised. He wordlessly hands her the bag. "Mila wants to talk to you, well all of us, but mostly Dragon." She says, turning away and gesturing for them to follow.
They all cram into Elyanna's room where they find Mila on the bed. Elyanna moves over to the dresser and sets the bags on top. Dragon notes that she's favoring one shoulder. Hell she had carried the bags in her left hand.
He catches Erik glancing at her with a knowing look and is about to ask when Mila speaks up, "Dragon right? The vice admiral?"
He turns to her and groans inwardly, shit was he in trouble. Mila really was a beautiful woman. Between bringing Elyanna onto the ship and now Mila his crew was either going to love or hate him. "Yes," he says smiling warmly at her. "My name is Vice-admiral Monkey D. Dragon. It's nice to meet you Mila."
"Likewise Dragon and I thank you for helping me. Though-" she notes, "I think most of my thanks should go to Anna."
"Mila what happened? Before I met you I mean." Elyanna asks, her voice soft and sits down at the edge of the bed.
"There's really not much to tell." She sighs. "My wife and I have a restaurant up in the hills of our home island. Our son got sick one night and I went into the village to grab some medicine. The next thing I knew I was gagged and thrown over someone's shoulders."
"How did you end up here though?" Elyanna asks in confusion.
"This is probably their meet up." Hatori sighs deeply, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "There are probably six or seven groups that go out to nearby islands and collect 'merchandise.' They then come back here, compare, and all go together to wherever they sell slaves." The glare Elyanna gives Hatori sends shivers down Dragon's spine.
"Look," Soren laughs, as Hatori holds his hands up. His posture was defensive and Dragon wonders briefly if a part of Hatori is scared of her. "He isn't saying he agrees with what's going on, he's just explaining-"
"I know!" Elyanna snaps. "I know, I'm sorry, but the fact people profit off of this disgusting-" Mila pushes herself up more and pulls her into a hug.
"We know Anna." Dragon says, "that's why we are trying to do something about it."
"And we won the battle today, or rather you did."
"Yeah but I let the leader get away."
"That was hardly your fault." Erik argues, "he bolted the minute you put on your little show."
"And why didn't you go after him?" Dragon asks, facing Erik, who was doing a great job at not looking at him when he says,
"my priority was Anna." He wasn't lying, but there was still something else going on.
"And unfortunately our priority now is still capturing the Club pirates." Soren says, as always the voice of reason.
Elyanna stands up at that, "I'm getting Mila home."
"And she's welcome to stay until we have time to get her home, but right now-"
"I don't think my home island is far from here." Mila says a bit weakly, "and I have something I think might help." To Dragon's utter surprise, Mila reaches up and pulls something out of her cleavage.
She hands it to Elyanna, who stares at it in confusion and holds it up. "What the hell is this thing?"
Soren gasps, "it's an eternal log pose!"
"Wait, seriously?" Elyanna blinks, handing it over to Soren. "So that's what those look like."
Mila laughs, "I always keep that with me just in case. It's the log pose to my home island Viridia."
"Viridia-!" Elyanna turns to face him. "Wasn't that our destination to begin with?"
"It is." Dragon says, his voice a bit weak. Of course the woman Elyanna found could actually help them. He catches the look of relief on Erik's face and the smile he receives from Elyanna. That would have to be a conversation for later. He faces Soren, "get that to Reo we're leaving."
Soren hesitates and shifts uncomfortably, "are we sure that's such a good idea?"
Dragon sighs, "is this about Elyanna's suspicions?"
"Which I still believe are valid!" Elyanna pipes up.
"And I'm not denying your suspicions, but Soren found nothing on Reo to prove he's a possible traitor."
"I never accused him of being a traitor!" She argues, "I just think there's a reason he doesn't want you going to Viridia."
Dragon stares her down for a good minute, but she doesn't back down. Damn this woman. "My order still stands, get the log pose to Reo." Her eyes flash in annoyance but he continues, "and tell him if he loses this one or takes us off course he should be prepared to be discharged."
"Yes sir!" Soren salutes, giving Elyanna an almost apologetic grimace and walking out of the room. Hatori doesn't say anything, but follows him out.
"I know you don't like it-" He tells her quickly, but she holds up a hand.
"You're the captain, whatever your decision is yours to make."
She didn't sound mad. Hell she didn't even sound annoyed, as if- "do you truly have that much respect for me already?"
She nods once and with no sense of hesitation. "You are the captain and the punishment if he fails is fair." She says, "but with permission I'd still like to keep an eye on him. If only to ease my own doubt."
"Permission granted, and-thank you."
He finally faces Mila, "and thank you as well. Elyanna is right, our destination to begin with was Viridia. With your log pose we're killing two birds with one stone."
Mila smiles at him, but Elyanna looks at him in confusion. "Do we have to kill birds to get to Viridia?"
Erik bursts out laughing and Dragon can't help but follow. "Have you never heard that expression before?" The blank look he receives gives him his answer. "I'm only saying that with her log pose we can get to our destination and get her home."
"Then why not just say that?"
"Again, it's just an expression."
"Humans, "she scowls, lifting a hand to her shoulder.
Dragon was worried Mila had heard her, but she seemed to be distracted by something else. He turns to Erik, but he was staring at Elyanna rather intently. Dragon is about to ask when Erik says, "have you gotten that looked at yet?"
"Gotten what looked at?"
"Your shoulder?" She just looks at him and he says, more forcibly, "you got stabbed in the shoulder with a knife."
Mila and Dragon both yell, "what!"
At the same time Elyanna says, "I did?"
Erik gives her an incredulous look. "How do you not remember?"
Dragon goes for Elyanna and grabs her hand. "We're going to the infirmary now!"
"Why? I'm fine."
"Take off your shirt." Erik snaps, surprising Dragon.
Elyanna gives him a questioning look, but does as he asks, albeit slowly. He lets go of her and steps back and they all collectively gasp as her shoulder is revealed. "Okay," Elyanna laughs nervously. "So I definitely got stabbed, but I'm fine."
She was not fine.
The wound on her was larger than he expected. It extended far from her neck, as if Elyanna had moved with the knife in her extending the wound, and it was beginning to swell up.
"That-" Erik grimaced, "Shit Anna that looks infected."
"Does it?"
"How are you not feeling pain!" Mila panics.
"I don't even remember being stabbed." She argues.
"We're going to the infirmary." He repeats, taking her arm again.
She scowls and breaks out of his grip, "I'm fine!"
"You are not fine!" Erik snaps, "you need to get that looked at."
"I-"
Mila reaches out and takes Elyanna's arm. To Dragon's surprise she flinches, "Elyanna-" Mila growls, her voice cold. "You're going to the infirmary whether Dragon takes you or I have to teleport you."
Elyanna almost looks sick, as she turns to Dragon and says, defeated, "I'll go with you." Dragon looks at Mila who only smirks. Not a fan of teleporting then. Though, he didn't exactly enjoy it either. Without another word Elyanna throws her shirt back on and they leave the cabin.
It was a couple of hours before Dragon was allowed into the infirmary and by then they had left port and were heading to Viridia. Well, he hoped. He walks in to find Elyanna surprisingly asleep and their doctor, gods he wishes he remembers the man's name, washing his hands over by the sink. "How is she?" He asks, as a greeting and shuts the door.
"Healing," he responds and turns to face him. He didn't look pleased, "just what the hell have you brought onto the ship Admiral?"
That was fair, a doctor would certainly be able to tell something was off.
"Look-" He curses inwardly again at not knowing his damn name. "Elyanna asked me to get her out of a bad situation and I did knowing full well that she's not-"
"completely human?"
Dragon sighs deeply, "any idea?"
"She's human," he shrugs, "or at least a part of her is." He moves over to a side table that had several rags of what Dragon realizes are full of Elyanna's blood. Knowing what he's about to do and remembering he had just washed his hands Dragon apologizes, but their doctor just waves him off. "I think it's best if you see this.
Without another word he picks up the blood soaked rag, clenches it, causing the blood to spread on his hand, and drops it back on the table. With a snap of his fingers the blood on his hand begins to glow. A moment later what looks like a mist figurine of a woman appears in the palm of his hand. The name Elyanna D. Swann is shown above the figures head. "You want to try explaining that?" He asks and gestures to beside the figure where her information is. Dragon follows his gesture and isn't really surprised to see,
origin: unknown
Sex: unknown
age: unknown
Status: 65 percent, but healing
Knife wound penetrated subscapularis in right shoulder
Infected, but healing by unknown origin
Poison in bloodstream, but healing
Two broken ribs, but healing
"What am I looking at Vice admiral?" The doctor asks again. "Because I have never seen something like this. You came in here with her shoulder like that and I thought this was going to be a good challenge." He points to the figure, "and then I do my analysis and it turns out I don't have to do anything because her body is healing itself. It took me giving her a sleeping draught to get her to sleep and even before that she's convinced she never got stabbed."
Dragon makes a point of looking at the bloody rags full of her blood.
"It may be healing on its own, but it still needed to be cleaned."
Fair point
"I don't have an answer for you." Dragon admits, "and I trust you to keep quiet when I say Elyanna doesn't have any memories before a few days ago, but she is convinced that she isn't human." He looks at her unconscious form, "and I'm beginning to believe her."
"Well, she has me convinced." Their doctor says, going over to the sink to wash his hands again. The second water got onto his blood soaked hands, the image dissipates. "There's no logical explanation for her body healing itself, at least nothing I can think of. I do however have a theory on the whole not remembering getting hurt."
"And what's that?" Dragon asks, stepping closer to Elyanna's bed. She looked, hell she almost looked peaceful.
"When you are all in the middle of a battle the adrenaline can be both a boon and a hindrance. When I was talking to her she explained that she thinks it happened when all nine of the slavers surrounded her. I'm not going to ask how she managed to take them down, I've seen her muscle strength." He laughs at that, "it's on par with Hatori's."
That surprises him, but he didn't let it show as he asks, "so you're saying that her adrenaline caused her to forget?"
"I'm saying-" He laughs, "that you need to keep an eye on her during battles. When she gets injured, the slightest distraction will cause her to forget about the wound. When she is hurt, even if she is able to heal herself, she needs to be treated. I knew about the shoulder, but the ribs-" He pauses and looks at her. "That happened even before we docked and she left the ship with Erik."
Her practice match with Hatori flashes back to Dragon's mind.
"But I'm not going to ask, not with her healing capabilities." He sighs and says, "just watch her, she's reckless and not afraid of getting hurt."
"Yeah, I'm starting to realize that."
The doctor smiles, "and don't worry I won't say anything."
The door closes behind him with a small click and Elyanna opens her eyes. "The hell just happened?" She asks groggily, making an attempt to sit up.
He watches her face crunch up in pain and he holds her back down. "You have two broken ribs, that knife wound you received was poisoned, and it turns out you are definitely not human."
She lets out a laugh and from the pain on her face she immediately regrets it. "Finally believe me huh?"
He ignores that and continues. "You seem to be healing on your own, but I want you to stay in bed for the rest of today and tomorrow."
She lays her head back and groans, "captain's orders?" He only nods his head. It was odd, but he knew she would do as he says. "Can I at least go back to my quarters? I want to keep an eye on Mila and the bed is big enough for the both of us."
He wasn't going to argue that, not with her agreeing to actually rest. "I'll allow it, yes."
"Thank you." She makes to get up again, but hisses through her teeth.
She must really be in pain. "Do you want some help?" He offers without hesitation. "I mean, I can carry you if you'd like."
She blinks, "really?"
"Or I could just bring Mila in here and she can teleport you."
She actually cringes. "God's no, never again."
"Am I allowed to ask?"
Her face turns into one of contemplation and he wonders if she's going to tell him when she finally sighs and says, "I don't know what Erik told you, but it definitely wasn't all of it."
"Well, yeah I figured that." Dragon almost laughs, "He wasn't inside the tavern with you."
She goes quiet again and he wonders if he's said the wrong thing, but instead of insisting he simply turns around and puts his arms behind him in order for her to climb on his back. "The fighting began inside," She finally says, as they make their way out of the infirmary and into the early evening night. "I had walked in and saw Mila in that brown cloak and I knew immediately what was going on. I was pissed, so pissed that I ordered the strongest drink they had and proceeded to threaten to take Mila myself. After some more arguing I ended up bashing one of the guy's heads with the bottle I was drinking from."
Dragon had to stop at that, of all the stupid, "Elyanna-!"
"You talk as if you wouldn't have done the same damn thing."
He probably would have.
"Anyways," She continues, "we were quickly surrounded and with several pistols aimed right for us. For some reason Mila couldn't talk, but she had gestured to the asshole on the ground and I figured he was holding the key to her handcuffs so I dug through his pockets and grabbed them-"
"I assume all while the others had pistols aimed at you?"
"Yes, but it wasn't like they were going to shoot!" She argues. "They were all cowards and they wouldn't dare harm the 'merchandise' they were planning on selling."
"Elyanna!"
"They had her handcuffed, she couldn't speak, and she was going to be sold off somewhere the gods probably couldn't even find her." She snaps, "so yes I was a little pissed off. I almost wish I had killed the lot of them."
She had a right to her anger he knew that. Hell, he didn't want to imagine what would've happened to her had he left her in that tower, but-
She sighs, "I don't know if I actually mean that, or if I'm pissed over something else. All I know is that selling people is wrong and I won't let it happen right in front of me."
"Seems like a solid policy."
"For what it's worth Dragon, I am sorry."
"For what?" He actually laughs, "Elyanna I'm not mad. You two scared the hell out of me, but it was for a good reason. I can't argue with saving a woman's life."
"Especially when said woman has a way to the next island?"
"That too."
"Dragon-" her voice grows quiet and she tightens her grip around his chest. "Those slave traders-" She pauses as if trying to find the right words. "They aren't even who we're after and yet we ran into trouble-"
"You. You ran into trouble."
She concedes with a wave of her hand, but continues. "Is this your life Dragon? You have your orders to do one thing, but along the way you ignore all the other monstrosities going on around you?"
"I'm not ignoring anything!"
"Maybe not this time Dragon, but how many times have you passed an island like Ferapont because of the need to follow orders?"
"I wasn't exactly following orders when I broke you out."
She scoffs, "I was forgotten by the bastards who stuck me in there in the first place. There were no set of rules when it came to me. "He couldn't argue that point and she continues, "and you're avoiding the question."
"Elyanna-" his anger was rising, but he let out a long breath trying to get his thoughts together and says calmly. "My crew and I try to do as much as we can, you know that."
"But with Mila-"
"Even if Mila's hometown wasn't Viridia we would've dealt with our business with Drake and got her home safely."
"When? After Sengoku gives you another assignment?"
The ship rocks and he drops her. It had been an accident, but the glare she gives him sends ice down his spine. Her eyes soften a moment later, from pain or a realization he didn't know. He holds out his hand to help her back up, an apology on his lips, when she says,
"Why are you in such a hurry to complete this assignment?" She accepts his offer of help and climbs onto his back again.
"Elyanna, we've been stalling." Dragon admits. "We've been after Drake and his crew for nearly five months. The only reason we were even in Marinefold when we found you was because Sengoku called us back and more or less threatened to be banned from docking at any base. And in a more recent letter, he will send us escorts. I think we can both agree the last thing we need are more people from the navy seeing you."
"He can do that?" A hint of panic in her voice.
"He can, which is why we need to find him as soon as possible and get Sengoku off of our ass." He stops them just before entering the hallway to his quarters. The sun was just hitting the water and while the glare off the water was blinding, it was beautiful. "Elyanna-" He says carefully, "I promise you even if Sengoku wasn't on our asses about catching Drake and his team we would get Mila safety home to her wife and son."
She wraps her arms more tightly around him. "I believe you." She murmurs, "and I apologize. I didn't know you were under pressure from your superior."
"It's been a hell of a couple of days. It's alright, but I promise we'll get Mila home."
"Thank you."
He pushes the away from the railing. "Now come on, I need to get you to bed."
"Please," she actually moans. "I feel as though I'm going to pass out."
He lets out a laugh. "That's a surprise coming from you."
"May I remind you I got beaten up and stabbed?"
"May I remind you that fight was your choice." They make their way down the hall and he feels her laugh rather than hears it. "Did you want me to bring you some food later?"
"No." She murmurs so low he almost doesn't hear her. She must be truly exhausted. "But Mila might be hungry later."
He makes a mental note to send Soren up to the room later and knocks on the door once. After a moment with no reply he walks into the room to find Mila passed out on the bed. "Looks like you're not the only one who's had a long day." He chuckles and moves to set her down, but finds her already asleep. "Well she did say she was tired." He amends, carefully picking Elyanna up and setting her down in the bed next to Mila. Elyanna, as if aware of her surroundings moves as close to Mila as possible and throws an arm around her. Dragon's lips curl up in an almost smile before leaving the room.
"Morning Hatori." Dragon waves to his friend nearly at dawn the next morning. Hatori was at the railing, a cup of coffee in his hand. Hatori raises his cup in greeting without turning around. Dragon walks up and leans against the railing next to him. "Tired?" He smirks, knowing neither he or Soren were on watch or came to the bunks last night. He wonders briefly if it had been an anniversary of some kind.
"A bit yeah." Hatori yawns. "Have you talked to Reo?"
"Not yet, something going on?" He asks hesitantly, remembering that he gave Elyanna free reign to keep an eye on him.
Hatori lifts a shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. "He was complaining about the birds or something."
"Birds?"
"Yeah I don't know, you might want to talk to him."
"Yeah." He echoes and turns to face his friend. "First though, you alright?" Something was wrong the first being his friend was not one to be up before dawn and after taking a better look Hatori looked exhausted, and were his eyes swelled up?
Shit, had he been crying?
Hatori was quiet for so long Dragon feared he wouldn't say anything and was about to ask again when, "It's not something I want to talk about, but I'm dealing with it as well as I can."
Well his next stop would definitely be the kitchens.
Damn.
He didn't know what happened, but if Soren and Hatori were going through something he hoped it wouldn't affect everyone.
"Any idea why Erik was so out of it yesterday?" Hatori asks suddenly knocking Dragon out of his thoughts. "Since landing on that island it was as if he had a stick up his ass. I almost felt bad for Anna having to deal with that."
It was true and Dragon could still remember how Erik had acted when the three of them dropped off the unconscious slavers. Hell he hadn't even said anything just dropped them off and left. That wasn't like him at all and the secret glances shared between him and Elyanna worried him too.
What had happened?
Was it a secret of the past Erik didn't want to share?
Or had something else happened on that island?
"Boss?" Hatori asks and Dragon realizes he had spaced out again.
"Sorry I was-" a seagull flies dangerously close to their heads and rests on the helm of the ship. Dragon turns to Hatori, "you were saying about birds?"
Hatori shrugs again, "as I said you might want to talk to Reo."
"Will do and I wouldn't worry too much about Erik, you know how he is."
"Right." Hatori murmurs, still distracted by something.
An idea comes to mind, "of course you can always ask him yourself." Dragon pushes himself off the railing and waves back to him as he moves away. "Though, instead of answering he might challenge you to a fight."
Knowing that besides himself Erik could give Hatori a good fight, and possibly a distraction from whatever is bothering him. There's almost excitement in Hatori's voice as he replies, "maybe I will!"
Hatori wanders off and Dragon begins making his way to the galley. A moment later a seagull flies over his head and something falls onto his head. He lets out a startled gasp as whatever hit him falls into his hands. He rubs his head and looks down to find the eternal log pose to Viridia. "The hell-?" The seagull makes a rather annoying caw and he looks to the railing where the bird is resting. The bird cocks his head in an almost inhuman gesture towards the helm, startling Dragon. He looks down at the log pose again and sighs before making his way to the helm. He finds their navigator at the wheel, his back to him. "Reo!"
"Morning boss did Hatori tell you I wanted to talk to you?"
"Yeah." Dragon tosses the log pose up in the air and catches it once. "Said something about having problems with birds?"
"Yeah that one." He gestures to the one down on the deck and Dragon catches its eyes. "Don't know what the hell is wrong with it but it won't leave me alone."
"Are we still on the right course?"
"Of course, I'm following the log pose." The seagull caws again and he turns back to see the bird, was it pointing? He blinks and realizes the bird is in fact pointing with its beak in another direction. He looks down at the log pose again and sure enough where the bird was pointing matched where the needle was.
A memory resurfaced from when Elyanna first got onboard. "I don't know! One minute I was myself and the next I was staring out of the eyes of a seagull."
God's was she right about Reo?
Dragon pockets the log pose and says, "listen why don't I take the wheel for a bit? It might be you've just spent too much time out here."
Reo turns around and gives him a smile that doesn't quite meet his nervous gaze. "Afraid I can't do that boss, gotta make sure we actually make it to Viridia this time."
Reo was scared that was clear, but of what? Him, or- "I've navigated a ship before Reo, I'm sure I won't get us into trouble if you're gone for a few hours."
"It's not that I don't trust you boss it's just, well after the last time."
When he took them to Ferapont instead of Viridia.
Dragon sighs dramatically, "well now I insist you take a break for a couple of hours. Having a stressed out navigator only endangers the ship more." Reo still looks hesitant, but Dragon holds out his hand. "Just hand me the log pose and go take a break. That's an order."
With a sigh of defeat Reo reaches into his jacket and pulls out an eternal log pose. Dragon blinks in surprise, and almost misses how Reo turns the wheel to move the ship in the right direction, before he hands Dragon the log pose. "As the captain orders." Reo places a hand on Dragon's shoulder before walking down the stairs.
The seagull caws again and a moment later it lands on the wheel. Dragon glares at it, knowing for sure now that it was Elyanna, and pulls out the log pose from his jacket. He wonders which one was the original from Marinefold and waves the bird off the wheel, before moving the ship more in the right direction. The bird make an approving cluck and flies off. Dragon watches it fly out a couple of miles and drop out of the air suddenly, as if falling asleep, before getting a hold of itself. "Elyanna." He breathes, pocketing the log pose again. Though, given the evidence he couldn't blame her. Had Reo truly meant to lead then astray, or had he honestly just lost the first log pose?
He looks out to the sea. Reo had been sailing them in the wrong direction. A headache was forming in the back of his skull. Why couldn't Elyanna have waited to prove her point until after breakfast? A soldier passes him on the deck below. "Hey-" a name clicks, "Sanders right?"
The soldier looks up and quickly salutes, "yes sir good morning."
"You weren't on the night watch right?" He asks, not wanting to hold up someone who probably just wanted a few hours of sleep before returning to his duties.
"No sir."
"Good, can you do me a favor and grab me a plate of food?" He asks. The soldier looks confused and though Dragon knew he didn't have to explain himself he finds himself saying, "I gave our navigator leave before realizing I haven't eaten."
Sanders salutes again, "of course sir. I will be back as soon as I can."
With that he turns and jogs towards the galley. Thank the gods, he was starving. He looked out to the seemingly endless sea, clutching the log pose Reo had given him, and wonders briefly what was going to happen next.
It was hours later when he finds himself in front of the door to Elyanna's room and pauses before knocking.
"Come in."
It was Elyanna's voice and she sounded, almost irritated? He steps in cautiously and finds her sitting up in bed, her black hair tightened in a braid and hanging off her bad shoulder. Her green eyes meet his and he swears there's humor in them as he moves to sit down at the desk. He gestures to where Mila's head is resting on Elyanna's other shoulder. "Is it safe to talk?"
She smiles, "If Soren can come in here, hand us our breakfast, and then proceed to snap at me when I asked what was wrong I think you're fine." Elyanna reaches over and tucks a loose strand of blonde hair out of Mila's eye. "This woman sleeps like the dead. Though, it doesn't help that we talked late into the night."
"She know about you?"
"No. I kept the conversation away from me and focused on her. She was more than happy to talk about her partner-wife, whatever the word is, and her kid."
"It doesn't bother you?" He asks curiously, watching Elyanna carefully reposition Mila in a more comfortable position.
"What?"
"That she's married?"
"Why would it? If you were to tell me Hatori and Soren were married I'd say good for them. I simply wouldn't be sure whether to call them partners or husbands."
He honestly couldn't tell if Elyanna had a crush on the woman or not, but she was certainly being protective. He decides to change the subject and prompts, "what was wrong with Soren?"
"I have no idea." She sighs and turns to look at him again. "He looked upset when he came in here, to the point he wasn't even trying to smile, and when I asked him what was wrong he snapped."
"What did he say?"
"That just because I can recall memories doesn't mean I can just involve myself in everyone's personal life." He gapes at her and she waves a hand in front of her face hurriedly, "or something to that extent, its fine."
"It's really not."
"Look, something is clearly bothering him. He's just upset, its fine I know he didn't mean it. I've been especially careful about wearing my gloves at all times and-"
She rambling, but Dragon couldn't help the scowl from his face. Soren was usually the last one of them to lose his temper. Just what the hell had happened? He didn't like to get involved in personal matters of his crew, especially his closest friends, but if this was going to cause problems-
"Dragon!" Elyanna snaps and his gaze returns to her. "Whatever you're thinking just stop. Yes I'm annoyed with Soren, but he's a good man who will realize his mistake." She smirks, "like you did."
He recalls their recent argument and sighs. She was right, out of all of them Soren was the kindest and probably already regrets what he said to her.
"They're the ones who wanted to keep the relationship secret, just let them figure things out."
He shakes his head in disbelief. "how'd you know that's what was upsetting him?"
"I may have mentioned Hatori to him."
"Ah"
"Yeah, not a great decision on my part."
Dragon only shrugs, and because he needed to say it asks, "So was Soren's visit before or after you decided to test your power over the avian species?"
She looks at him in confusion, but he sees the humor return to her eyes. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
He pulls out the eternal log pose from his jacket. "So this doesn't ring any bells?"
She crosses her arms, "as ordered I've been in this bed since you brought me back last night. If, by chance, I only needed a few hours of sleep and just so happened to wake up and practiced my powers I still technically followed your orders correct?"
This damn woman
"Are you telling me-" he can't help the chuckle that escapes his lips. "That you got me through a technicality?"
"Depends." She grins, "say I was practicing this morning and just so happened to catch a certain navigator slowly moving the ship in the wrong direction. Would I still be in trouble if I informed the captain of said ship?"
He sighs deeply, "of course not. If anything I should be thanking you, again."
She uncrosses her arms and looks at the log pose, almost sadly. "I hope you know a part of me did hope I was wrong. I don't know what his goal is, but it is not following your orders."
"I know, and when the time comes he will be punished, but for right now-"
"We need to find the club pirates and get this one home." She tilts her head to rest on Mila's. "I know, just try to keep us in the direction we're going on now and we'll be at Viridia by this time tomorrow."
"How is it that you know that?" He asks genuinely curious.
"I have a knack for navigation." She shrugs, "I'm not sure where it came from, and who knows maybe I was a bird in past life and saw everything there is to see in this world."
"That's a very specific guess." He notes.
"Again, I think the gods are having a good laugh at my expense." She laughs hotly, "I've decided to just go along with it, at least until my existence makes sense."
"We'll find you answers Elyanna, that I can promise. Whether it's from you finally regaining your memories, or another source we'll figure out who you are."
"Or what I was," she sighs, but smiles at him. "And I don't know how many times I've said it Dragon but thank you. Seriously, if you need anything from me all you have to do is ask."
"Really?"
"Within reason." She warns, knowing he had been teasing.
"I'll keep that in mind." He laughs again, and stands up. "If you'll excuse me I should probably make sure we're on the right path." Pausing at the door he notes, "should probably let our friends know that our navigator may or may not be a traitor as well."
"Good luck with that conversation." She calls out to him before he closes the door behind him.
Dragon finds Erik in the highest crow's nest curled under a blanket with a bottle of booze, rather than a cigarette, hanging off his mouth. "Oh good, so today is the day everyone decides to change attitudes?" He says as a greeting, "wish I got the memo."
Erik cocks an eyebrow and offers the other half of the blanket. "What crawled up your ass?"
"Want the list?" Dragon sighs and accepts the offer of warmth. They were definitely beginning to enter a winter climate. Erik only hands him the bottle and Dragon takes a large swig before saying, "our navigator is a possible traitor, Soren more or less yelled at Elyanna, Hatori-"
"Yeah about Hatori," Erik interrupts angrily, and takes back the bottle. "You want to tell me why you sent his pissed off ass to me? He needed to let out some steam I got that, but damn did he do a number on me."
"Consider it punishment for how you acted yesterday." Dragon snaps.
Erik blinks once, takes a large swig from the bottle, and hands it back over before finally, "you know what, that's fair." He lets out a long sigh and asks, "so what's going on?"
"Elyanna has found a way to prove that Reo is avoiding Viridia." Dragon decides to start off with the easiest thing to explain. Before Erik can ask, Dragon reaches into his pocket and tosses the log pose over.
It doesn't take long for Erik to figure it out. "Is this the one from base or Mila's?"
"I have no idea."
"How did she figure out he still had the other one?"
"Again no idea, but apparently even bedridden Elyanna figured out a way to keep us on the right path."
"She would make an excellent navigator." Erik notes, pulling out, to Dragon's relief, a cigarette. No. He didn't approve of them, but he really needed some sort of normalcy from at least one of his friends today.
"I'm debating offering her the job after I figure out what to do with Reo." He admits. "After yesterday, when she said she wanted to do something useful I figure it would be a good fit."
"So, you don't want her as your bodyguard?"
"Well then what would you and Hatori do?"
"Besides stop you from killing all of us in one of your stupid suicide missions?"
"Because you did such a good job stopping Elyanna yesterday?"
"That-" Erik chokes on his own smoke. "Was not my fault. I would have loved to see how you would've handled that."
Dragon lets out a low groan, "probably not much better than you honestly."
Erik laughs, "then I'm going to ask you kindly to shut up."
Dragon laughs and discards the bottle. "Fair enough."
Erik takes a long drag, "so what do we deal with first? We'll be in Viridia in what a couple of days?"
"According to Elyanna tomorrow afternoon."
"Even better," he lets out a sarcastic laugh. "Meanwhile, we have a traitor navigator, a head chef who can't seem to have a civil conversation without going off on someone, two injured women, and a stubborn shipwright who is challenging anyone worthwhile to a sparring match."
And a captain who's keeping secrets, but Dragon supposes that's the least of his concerns. He opens his mouth to tell him Mila and Elyanna weren't a concern, if anything Elyanna was already fully healed, when something catches his eyes. "Hand me your spyglass." He orders and without a word Erik digs in his jacket and hands Dragon the device. Dragon stands up and looks out to the distance. Something was heading their way. No. Not heading their way, just going in the same direction.
"What is it?" Erik asks, standing up next to him and trying to get a glimpse.
Dragon grins and hands him back the spyglass, a wave of relief hitting him. "Just the answer we need." A plan was already forming in his head and he watches Erik's face go from confusion to grinning widely.
"It's about damn time."
In the distance was a pirate's ship
And it was Drake's
