--Chapter Two: Port Legann-
FYI: This is set a year or so after Lady Knight.
I'm introducing a couple new characters, duh kinda had too... And I switched from first person narrative to third person. I was having trouble writing dialogue.
*****: thanx for reviewing. I did think about tha whole Naiya noble thing, I'm not quite sure thou...
Leopard Dance: i feel loved, hope ya like this chappie!
Hyacinth: Thank you for beta reading! I hope this is the chappie you sent. If it's not we'll figure it out when I get back…
lady knight: Glad you like it! Yeah, you were right, the name wa on there... *looks ashamed* Anyway tell me what you think.
Tisa: Glad you like my rotting corpse!
The ground swayed beneath her feet and she'd yet to make it off the dock. I must look completely foolish, walking slowly with my arms stretched out like an off balance chicken. Her feet moved slowly, like the commands her brain gave them aren't transmitting properly. Finally She reached solid ground, it much better.
Port Legann was huge, people everywhere. Surrounded by huge stone walls built after the Immortals War. She guessed it was market day, people were everywhere, buying things, selling things. One stall selling candle holders, another jewelry. The next, looking glasses.
Looking directly into a mirror she saw the same blue grey eyes and white blonde hair, tan skin contrasted with her hair. Long, dark lashes framed her eyes. The sailors had called her appearance dramatic. Watching her grow up they had said she had always looked like that.
Smiling she continued to walk-stumble really, to the nearest bench. She sighed. I need a plan. But what to do? Sorting through her thoughts she decided that she would go to Corus. After the Scanran War the king had ordered there be a census of the entire realm. People still talked about it when there wasn't anything to do. The king's officials running around trying to get everyone's name down.
Naiya walked down the street. She was looking for a ship going to Port Caynn. From there she would walk to Corus. She wouldn't ride a horse; horses were scary, every sailor Naiya had ever met was afraid of horses. It was like the fear land-lovers had of getting caught on the sea in a storm. Sailors liked storms; they were a challenge.
In front of each ship was a wooden sign telling people were the ship was headed. Naiya had to peer through stalls to see them. The pier was very long and ships were clustered around it. More ships were anchored in the harbor. At the end of the pier Nayia found a boat saying it was headed for Port Caynn.
Naiya stepped boldly back onto the pier. It swayed and moved underneath her feet. She smiled as her body took on the beat of the water. She waited as a land-lover tried to get a job. The captain of the boat just looked at him like he was insane. The poor boy was falling over on a dock. He would never make it on the sea. The captain finally got him to leave and Naiya walked up to the side of the ship. She waited until the captain acknowledged her, not the other way around it was rude. He did a few minutes later.
"What'd ye want girl? We've no use for hoes on this ship." He said. Naiya frowned.
"I need a job sir. I have experience and I'll work for you until we've reached Port Caynn." She tried to sound as polite as possible but she did not like being called a whore.
"What ship you come off of?" He asked. She had his interest.
"Nerissa." She said evenly.
"Hu, fine, I'll take you. We set off at sunset." He said before turning away. Naiya smiled. Nerissa was legendary to sailors, you said you had worked on Nerissa and you had the job in the bag.
Naiya walked away, she needed new clothes. Breeches preferably, in light colors that would keep the heat off of her and dry quickly. Jogging down the street Naiya found a small clothing shop.
Smiling she entered the shop. It was cool and musty. Naiya looked around the shop. Shelves lined the walls, full of clothing. Walking over, she pulled green, blue and cream breeches off of shelves. Pink, yellow, blue and cream shirts fell into her arms. A woman walked up to Naiya smiling.
"Are you ready, hon?" She asked. She was a homely type of woman, grey hair pinned up on the top of her head. A ratty, blue dress hung from plump shoulders. Old leather shoes were on her feet.
"Yes'm, thank you." Naiya said smiling. The woman took the pile of clothes from her and went through them. She folded the clothes and put them in a neat pile. "A silver noble please." She said. Naiya smied and handed the woman the money. "There's a leather shop across the way dearie, if you need a bag." She said.
"Alright, thank you." Naiya said before exiting. Taking the woman's advice Lia easily found the leather workers. Buying a leather shoulder bag Naiya slipped the clothes into the bag and headed for a shady area to change in. Finding a grove of trees Naiya slipped into it.
Pulling her old grimy clothes off Naiya pulled on soft green cotton pants and a light yellow shirt. She placed the old clothes under a bush for an animal to use. Placing all of her belongings into the sack Naiya walked back to the docks.
She arrived just as the sunset. The captain was loading food and water onto the boat. Naiya stowed her bag in between two large crates and helped load the boat. Soon they cast off and the sails were raised. They glided out to sea. Only then did the capitain turn to look at her.
"Ye made it." He observed. Nayia just looked at the idiot man. She didn't have to be nice to him anymore, she had been hired to work up to Port Caynn. He could throw her off the boat but it would be his loss. Naiya bit her lip, she would save her barbs for a later day.
"Mh hm." She said.
"Go help cook dinner." He barked. Naiya glared ice daggers at him and turned on her heel. Muttering she walked down the stairs. The boat lurched to one side. Naiya hit the floor as some one slid into her. She squeaked as she hit the floor. She looked up into chocolate brown eyes peering curiously at her.
Both parties rolled away and grabbed onto hand holds bolted into the wall. They looked at each other and then out of the circular windows. The sea was calm. They looked at each other confused. The boy moved away to yell up the stairs.
"Captain, is everything alright?" He yelled.
"Cook!" Was their reply. Naiya groaned and sunk to the floor. The boy glared at the ceiling and stared at the pots and pans.
"Don't know how to cook eh?" Naiya asked grinning. The boy just looked at her.
"Not really." He said. Naiya smiled and stood up. She began opening barrels and cupboards.
"How many crew men are there?" She asked.
"Eight."
"Alright." She said. Pulling salted meat out of a barrel. Bread came out of bolted cupboards. Soon the two had meat frying over the fire and bread warming.
"So, what's your name anyway?" He asked, looking their handiwork.
"Naiya. What's yours?"
"Coven." He said shortly. She smiled. Water god, I like it.
--/--
So, there is chapter two. I hope you liked it. Now, if ya'll could review cuz I feel like nobody likes thid *sniff sniff*.
Anywho, I'm going on vacation! A cruise, I love my daddy. Anyways so yeah, I will be able to get internet thou it will be a dollar a minute (ripp off.) so I wont update for ten days or so! I will have my Palm unit so I will update when I get back!
Review pleze!
-Ana-