Kurt was the first indoors and also the first to see the letter propped up on the receiving table nearest the door. He handed the paper to Marcelline as she passed into the home, moving off to the corner to shed his armor and armaments for the time they remained at her residency. While the rest of her companions filed in past her, taking up their positions around the home and settling in for a late repast after a successful mission, both Marcelline and Vasco were left to read their respective papers. Vasco, his personnel file, and Marcelline this mysterious letter.
"What is it, my child?" Petrus brought her a steaming mug of tea after giving her a few moments of solitude to read.
Marcelline handed over the letter as she accepted the tea. "It is a missive from the Lady Morange telling me that a delegation from the de Vespe family has landed on the island."
Though she couldn't see him, Marcelline recognized an exasperated sigh from Kurt from the corner. He remembered the family far better than she. Before her uncle had secured him as her mentor and guard, Kurt had come against the de Vespe's in more than a few skirmishes, some more officially sanctioned than others.
Aphra nodded toward the letter but didn't move from her position near the fire, content for the time being to warm her stockinged feet. "From the look on your face and the sounds Kurt is making, I take it their arrival is not good news."
"That family has a long-standing grudge against the d'Orsay," Kurt grumbled as he poured two generous glasses of port, handing a glass to Vasco before taking up position nearest the stairs, plopping down on the carpeted stairs as if they were a settee, "to put it politely."
Petrus folded the letter and placed it back on the table, "Would you like me to hasten to join the Lady Morange to learn more about this matter while you recover from the night's activities?"
"That would be lovely, Petrus." Marcelline had almost forgotten how cold she was from the night air, still wearing the disguise from earlier.
"I will join you," Siora pushed away from the mantle near where Aphra continued to soak up the fire's warmth, "if these people are a threat to my carants, I want to know."
She laid a reassuring hand on Marcelline's shoulder before moving back outside into the night, followed by Petrus. Marcelline looked back to the rest of her companions. Aphra had closed her eyes and seemed settled by the fire, almost dozing already as she relaxed. Kurt continued to sip the port as he scowled into the shadows by the stairs, and Vasco sat at the writing desk by the far wall, eyes still traveling over the contents of his file.
"I am going to go clean up." Marcelline announced to no one in particular and was not surprised as none of her companions responded. Kurt shifted to the side so she could crawl past him on the stairs, but aside from that, everyone seemed content to remain in their silence as they lapped up the momentary peace of the evening.
Marcelline didn't bother to draw a bath and instead contented herself with sponging off the dirt and sweat accumulated from the day. She was just combing her fingers through her loosened hair, clad in linen black trousers and an oversized white linen shirt when a knock sounded at her door. Padding over on bare feet, Marcelline cracked open the door to find Vasco. He'd since taken off his hat. He'd even removed his headscarf, with the sandy locks of his hair still tied back with a leather string and yet with a few loose tresses framing his face. In the corridor's candlelight, the darkened lines of his facial tattoos glared ever more prominent.
"May I come in?"
Pushing open the door and stepping back, Marcelline gestured for the Naut to come in, watching as he made a beeline for the bay window that overlooked the street below. She left the door partially open for propriety's sake and returned to the vanity where she'd left the leather string she'd been about to use to plait her hair. Vasco had yet to say anything though Marcelline could see through the mirrored reflection that he held the file loosely behind his back.
"Aside from those strange people," Marcelline broke the silence, "it seemed everything went well with retrieving your file. I don't think anyone saw us."
She watched his head bow up and down in a nod, but still, he said nothing. Only after her hair was wrangled into some semblance of order in a loose braid did Marcelline abandon the vanity and move to stand beside Vasco. Unlike the Naut who continued to stare vacantly into the night, her eyes remained on his profile.
"And what have you learned?" she prompted, fisting her hands at her sides to resist the temptation to reach out and smooth the hair away from his face or take hold of his hand again.
Her question finally stirred movement, and Vasco brought the file in front of him, flipping it open but speaking from memory. "My real name is Leander, son of the D'Arcy family from Serene. Nobles, I suppose." At his last remark, Vasco glanced to Marcelline for confirmation, and she gave a nod.
"I didn't realize they had another son, or that they had given one to the Nauts. I remember coming across a younger D'Arcy at my uncle's court. No doubt your brother, but it was a long time ago and I don't remember what he was like or what he looked like."
Vasco hummed in response, his lips pulling back into a humorless smile, "I wonder if we are alike despite our completely different lives." Flipping the file closed, Vasco pulled his hands behind his back again and rocked on his heels. "To think that I spent my childhood polishing ship bridges when I could have been wearing silk."
"I'm sorry for being given up by your family, Vasco, but growing up in nobility is not as simple as it sounds." Marcelline sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she fought the urge to stomp her foot in frustration. "You certainly understand the hierarchy of life among the Nauts and how orders are given and followed, and much of that is the same for nobles, only without the personal sense of investment or the spice of adventure."
"Really?" Vasco's softly spoken question pulled Marcelline from her momentary angst and she watched the same languid smile from earlier in the evening tug at his lips before he continued. "Well, thanks to you, I've learned my real name, and that's what I wanted. And thank you for telling me about my brother. You've given me back my identity, which is more important than most Naut's care to admit."
Marcelline smiled, "So, Leander, do you ever wish you'd never been given to the Nauts?"
"Please," he feigned a shudder, "Vasco will do. And how could I not be regretful that I never got to experience a mother's love or a lavish youth? But I have happy memories on board the ships I've served. I remember the first time I climbed the shrouds and felt like I was sailing in the clouds, that incredible feeling of freedom that came from being alone in the crow's nest and seeing the endless sea before me." His eyes had taken on an energetic light as he spoke and without meaning to, Marcelline had drawn closer to the light, to his voice, his body, as he spoke.
"I can only imagine how it felt." She sighed. "It sounds amazing."
"It was." Vasco smiled down at her, eyes moving over the contours of her face. "I wouldn't trade such memories for all the gold in the world." He surprised them both when he lifted a hand and traced the back of his fingers over the soft skin of her rounded cheek.
"While I don't remember your family well, I could tell you what I do remember about them if you like?" Marcelline whispered, no longer fighting the temptation to lean into the light touch of his fingers against her skin.
Vasco's smile was soft as he gave a quick head shake. "I'm afraid hearing about them may only reopen old wounds my heart has chosen to forget. You've already given me a lot to think about, de Sardet." Leaning forward, Marcelline's breath caught in her throat when she felt his lips press a quick kiss to her brow. "You're a good person, and I'm touched by your solicitude."
Marcelline wanted to stay here, so close to being embraced in his warmth, his hand on her cheek, lips upon her brow, but they both looked toward the door when they heard Petrus call her name from down below. Vasco tapped the end of her nose before making his exit, leaving her to pull on stockings and boots before hurrying down the stairs after him. Petrus and Siora stood near the fire, their clothing damp from the light rain that had fallen.
"Lady Morange mentioned that Lady Aurelia de Vespe is with the delegation and wishes to meet with your cousin as soon as possible. Her entourage has settled in an area Siora says is traditionally only open for donaghada. The lady believes it of the utmost importance that you investigate the de Vespe's before they make it to your cousin."
Marcelline nodded. "My uncle always warned me never to underestimate their trickery. It would be almost a relief if she was here on officially sanctioned business, but I have my doubts."
"As do I," Kurt growled, already pulling on his armor and armaments again. He knew the drill. They would catch a few hours of sleep at camp but head out immediately.
"Aphra, you and Petrus track down Doctor Asili and figure out what's happening in Hikmet." The Alliance scholar nodded. She didn't seem pleased with the mission, but Marcelline remembered the woman had prior experience with the doctor. "Siora, I'll task you with finding Vinbarr's Sanctuary." Her carants nodded, the determined look in her eyes reminding Marcelline that there was little that held this native back. "Kurt, Vasco, and I will track down Aurelia de Vespe and see what her intentions are."
"Where shall we meet when we have completed our missions?" Petrus asked, hat already posed to take its place on his white hair.
Marcelline smiled, "Drinks are on me at the Coin Guard Tavern in San Matheus once this is done."
Her friends disappearing on their missions, Marcelline returned to her quarters to change yet again. It seemed sleep and matters of the heart would both have to wait for another time.