The captain gave instructions to her crew. Markos would assume leadership for a while and the Bloody Galia would continue to prowl the river while Sanya was on shore leave. She would still receive a share of prize credits for being the ship owner but it would be less than if she were leading them into battle.

And then with that settled, she returned with Drokko Kira to his tent. If any of her crew or the beast riders had an opinion about that fact they didn't voice their objections at least not to the face of either the captain or the beastlord.

For all of their boasting and innuendo in front of an audience, when they were finally alone together, Sanya and Drokko found themselves to be hesitant and at a loss for words. She didn't tell him that Jak had been her only lover and he didn't say how he was never sure if the girls who threw themselves at him were actually interested in him personally or in the power that the Kira name represented.

He kissed her tenderly and she responded to his touch. Things escalated rather quickly after that until he noticed the tattoo on her inner thigh. He stopped and as he ran his thumb over the anchor design and the three letters woven into it, he chuckled.

She tried to think of an excuse. "His family, my family. It's what they want. It's what they've always wanted. All I have ever wanted is to be free of that."

"It seems to me like you're letting them control you now," he chided.

"I'm not!" she countered. "That's why I'm here, with you."

"But you don't love me. Dxun if you did…" He appraised her with a deep sigh. "You love Jak."

"I don't," she lied. "I can't." And then she begged softly, "Help me forget him."

He groaned and pulled her closer but after a minute or two he shook his head and backed off enough to look her in the eyes. "You'll never forget him. He's part of you."

She couldn't deny it. With half a sob she curled up and laid her head on his shoulder. "Do you think I've lost him forever? I sort of marooned him on an island."

Drokko laughed. "You marooned me on an island. It didn't stop me from loving you."

"I know I'm not being fair to you. I should go."

But he hugged her. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you need to. Besides, who else could I find at this short notice to go with me to meet the king."

"He's not the are." She swatted him. "And of course I'll go with you."

…

Going with him Iziz for a meeting with the throne warden was one thing. Getting there on the back of one of his beasts was an entirely different story.

"No No No!" Sanya asserted when he stepped up to the saddled beast with no prior warning. "There's no kriffing way you're getting me on that thing!"

"It's the only way." Drokko grinned with his arms folded over his chest.

"Oh no it's not! I know the river flows all the way to the city. We can take my ship!"

The other beast riders were laughing at her and she felt her cheeks heat up at the sound. She wasn't the captain here and they all knew she had spent the night in their leader's tent even if they weren't privy to the fact that all he had done was hold her while they spoke.

"Sorry, Captain." Kira turned to pet the beast but she could tell he was also hiding his laughter. "Your crew has already sailed off to whatever heading it was you gave them."

Kriff it! He was right. "But it's…" she protested, pointing at his mount. "They breathe fire! It'll kill me!"

"Nah." He turned back to face her and held out his hand. He had mastered his expression and he beaconed to her gently as if she was the creature who might bolt. "It's this or walk and it's still a long way through dense jungle if we don't fly over."

One of the other beast riders called out. "She's scared stiff!"

That more than anything got her moving. No one would say that Captain Sanya Harkon of the Bloody Galia was scared of anything.

She surged forward and the creature turned its four large jade eyes upon her and squawked loudly. Sanya jumped back with a curse which elicited more laughter.

Drokko left the reins in the keeping of another handler and went to her. He took both her hands in his and looked her in the eye. "It's alright. I would never let him harm you. And he doesn't breathe fire. He's a ruping not a drexl."

She didn't really know the difference. Though she had of course heard that Miara Blackwell had within her possession the last known drexl eggs. Sanya had held those eggs in her own hands all those years ago. But something in Drokko's voice calmed her. It was probably the same tone he used to calm skittish beasts.

She nodded and allowed him to draw her closer.

Again the creature bucked, the handler tightened his grip on the reins, and Sanya retreated. "He doesn't like me 'cause I'm northern. He might not breathe fire but he might still eat me or throw me off his back."

"He won't." Drokko stood between the young woman and the beast and held out a hand to each of them. As if he was weaving some kind of magic spell, both of them approached once again. He touched the ruping's snout and took Sanya's hand. Slowly he brought them closer together until he was able to guide Sanya to place her hand where his had been on the creature's head. "There. See? He's not so scary. Just take it easy. You'll get used to each other."

…

She would never admit that she had enjoyed it. Flying over the jungles on the ruping's back was similar to standing in the bow of her ship as they sailed into the wind. It was freedom and she could definitely see why Drokko would prefer this over being stuck in a palace in the city.

They had to land however, just outside of the high walls and enter through the gate on foot. And the city itself was something altogether different than Sanya Harkon had ever seen. The streets were full of people and beasts of burden and vehicles. She was overwhelmed by the noise and the activity and the smells.

"Welcome to Iziz," Drokko rumbled.

Sanya glanced up at him. He didn't seem to be any more comfortable with the place than she was but he took her hand with a brave smile and led her on through the metropolis.

…

"Coming!" a deep friendly voice sounded through the door on which Drokko had firmly knocked. A moment later it was opened by Hiram Gerrera with a surprised grin at his old friend. "Hey!" he welcomed Drokko with a hug before he noticed the petite red-head behind him. "And… it couldn't be… Meg! Look and see who's come to visit us! You'll never believe it!"

Sanya stood back not sure what she would see. The image in her mind was still of the medic, Marlon, who had sailed with her and taught her so much life and the ways of men. She didn't know if she was prepared to reacquaint herself with this woman who had left her service as a crew member aboard her ship. She had felt betrayed when Meg left to be married. And now here was her husband welcoming them to their home.

Mhaegen approached wiping her hands on an apron that had large pockets. She was wearing a modest, serviceable dress beneath it and her thick dark hair was beginning to grow out and was styled in a more feminine style. "What is it, Hi?"

"We have visitors," Hiram grinned.

She noticed Drokko first and gave him a polite nod and then she saw who was cowering uncharacteristically behind him. "Captain."

Sanya didn't say a word, just stood there staring until Drokko reached back and gave her a shove forward. "Hello, Marl… Mhaegen."

Meg seemed to be similarly lost for words before she remembered her own manners. She wasn't a lowly sailor now. This was her home. "Forgive me. Come in. Tell us what brings you both to Iziz."

It was a very humble dwelling, nothing like Bralyk Keep where Sanya's sister had taken up residence, or Drokko's tent community in the jungle. It reminded her more of the little cottage on the island where she and Jak had spent their last night together. He would still be there if someone hadn't come along yet to rescue him.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Mhaegen asked hospitably.

"Let me do that." Her husband bent to kiss her cheek. "You visit."

Sanya dropped her gaze to the wood floor. It was all so overwhelmingly domestic.

Drokko gave her another shove forward and she dropped into one of the rustic yet comfortable chairs.

"Thanks for having us," he said politely in his deep purr.

His knee bumped Sanya's and whether he meant it as a nudge or not she mumbled. "Aye, it's a nice place."

"How've you been?" Meg asked. Her voice was higher in pitch than Sanya remembered but she guessed the former medic had lowered it when she spoke as a part of her deception.

"Fine." Sanya glanced up and then back down. "I've been fine. We got a new nurse. He's alright I guess but I told him you'd already checked me over before you left so I didn't need him poking at me."

"And how are the others? Markos? Freddie? Jak?"

Sanya's head shot up. "Jak didn't come south with us. He's still up north."

Hiram came to join them just then. The small tray with four cups looked small in his big hands. He set it on the table between them and Sanya instantly shot out a hand to grab one of them and take a drink. She was a little disappointed that it was only some sort of fruit juice and not anything stronger.

Meg scooted over a little on the settee so her husband could sit down next to her and he took her hand. Then he attempted to fill the silence that had fallen. He directed his question to his cousin. "You decided to accept Dendup's invitation, then?"

"Yeah," Drokko leaned forward and set the cup he had already drained back onto the table. "Didn't really see anyway around it. So I'll say whatever it is they need me to say and leave them to it."

Sanya was glad that the conversation had turned away from her. Until, that is, they dragged her back into it again. "And he's convinced you to go along with him to speak to the warden?"

She looked up not sure at first if they were actually talking to her. "Guess so, if he's too craven to go on his own." She smirked. She assumed it would just be a simple thing. They would go to the palace, assure this Dendup person that Drokko wasn't going to claim his right to the throne and that would be that.

"Would you like me to help you find something to wear?" Mhaegen asked.

"I'm sorry, what?" the sea captain was honestly taken aback. "What's wrong with what I've got on?"

"Well I mean it's…" Meg skirted around the issue.

Sanya had gotten some looks from the people in the streets of Iziz. She was used to that sort of thing. Not many people were used to seeing a woman in trousers with a man's button down shirt and long coat. But Drokko had asked her to come with him, and he'd never seen her in anything else. He surely didn't expect her to change who she was for some wannabe king. She gave him a sharp look.

"Well, it is a formal dinner they've invited me to," he shrugged guiltily.

Sanya folded her arms over her chest. "What I've got on was fine enough for my sister's kriffing wedding at Bralyk Keep!"

She was supposed to be attending a formal dinner in the palace on the arm of the rightful king of the planet. She clearly hadn't thought this through.

"It's only for one night." A smile played around Mhaegen's lips. "I'm sure we can find you something suitable."

Sanya grimaced. She had promised. She remembered the last time she'd worn a dress when she had impersonated Talya to be taken aboard Braylkburn's ship. It was only a costume.

"Alright," The captain agreed grudgingly. "But just for the one night."

Drokko gave her his most feline grin.

…

She didn't ask where the dress came from or how Mhaegen knew what size. But then she had been the Bloody Galia's medic for several years and before that she had known a thing or two about how to dress to please a man.

The dress was green and gold brocade with a high waist and a low neckline. It would certainly draw attention to the tattoo of her ship that sailed across her chest and though she wasn't in any danger of spilling out of it, there did seem to be more of her there to be noticed then there had been the last time she had worn women's clothes.

"It's not too tight is it?" Meg asked, pulling the laces at the back and tying them securely.

"No, I think I can still breathe." She turned in a circle. "Will it serve?"

The medic studied her with a critical eye. "You said you wouldn't let the new nurse examine you?"

"Aye." Sanya smoothed down the skirt of the dress self consciously. "There was no need. I felt a little under the weather for a short time after you left. I figured it was something I ate. And then I got in a fight with young lord Bralykburn." She held up her hand that was healing nicely but would always be scarred. "I was concussed and that made me a little nauseous too."

Meg still observed her without speaking.

"What? I got over it soon enough, got my appetite back." Sanya laughed. "Maybe a little too much so. Hasn't been much action to keep me fighting fit since we came down river. Soon as I get back to training every day… Drokko doesn't seem to mind."

"And what about Jak?"

The smile dropped from her face. "What about him?"

"You said he didn't want to come south?"

Sanya had always been able to be honest with her friend. "He wanted me to go back to Blackhold with him. I couldn't do it. Left him to think about it."

There was a double meaning in that, whether she had left him so that he could think about it, or whether she had left him so that she could consider the prospect. It was most likely both.

"Sanya," Mhaegen began but before she could say what was really on her mind there was a knock on the door and Hiram told them that Drokko had returned from getting himself ready, and had a carriage to take them to the palace.

"She's nearly ready." Mhaegen called out to him and smiled, tabling the conversation for a later time. Then she said in a softer tone to Sanya, "Would you like to see for yourself?"

The sea captain shrugged hesitantly. What could a bit of cloth and a brush through her hair and a little color on her lips and cheeks have really done in so short a time?

All Meg had was a smallish hand mirror but this she held up for Sanya to see her own image.

Other than her tattoo, it looked like Talya standing there. Red waves fell over her shoulder and the green of her dress was just a shade darker than her eyes. "So this is the trouble one has to get up to to meet a throne warden?" She pushed the mirror away, uncomfortably. It didn't feel like that girl could possibly be her.

"Sanya," Meg returned to seriousness again before she ushered her out to the men waiting for them. "Maybe you should go easy on the wine tonight."

"You think I can't hold my liquor?" She laughed again, trying to cover her nerves. "Or maybe you think letting myself go is how I've gotten so kriffing fat."

Okay she wasn't fat really but the belt on her trousers had gotten markedly tighter over the past few weeks. Sanya resolved again to return to a regular exercise regime when she went back to her ship. Maybe she'd institute a daily sparring practice. That would be good for the whole crew.

For now she couldn't worry about that. "Guess I shouldn't keep Drokko waiting."

…

Neither Hiram Gerrera or Drokko Kira had ever seen Talya Harkon/Bralykburn so neither of them had anything to compare the image that Sanya presented when she exited the bedroom other than that of how she had entered it. It was a complete transformation. Both men were speechless upon her arrival.

She rolled her eyes at the reaction. "Osik! Can we just get on with this?"

Mhaegen went to her husband's side and he stage whispered to her, "I knew you were a damn good medic but I had no idea you were a miracle worker."

Sanya shot him a glare and very nearly showed the stave or rather the knife that she had hidden up her sleeve. She had told Mhaegen that she wouldn't go without at least one of her blades secreted on her person in some easily accessible location. She had learned that lesson after stowing aboard Yutton's ship. She was going into a dangerous situation again now and she wasn't going to make the same mistake.

Drokko did his best to distract her from killing his cousin. "Shall we go then, M'Lady?" He bowed and for the first time she realized that the change in him was also as dramatic as one in a fairy story.

The beast lord filled out the formal tunic and pants very nicely to say the least. His long dreadlocked hair had been pulled back with a royal blue ribbon and he was clean shaven. He held out his hand to her.

She smirked at him and then took on a more bored expression. "I suppose someone has to protect you in the big evil palace."

She took his hand and he escorted her out to the dalgo drawn carriage.

He noticed as she stepped aboard that she still had on her worn, comfortable sea boots hidden under the hem of the fancy dress.

"They make a handsome couple." Hiram observed to his wife as they watched the carriage drive away. "I thought she'd never give up that quartermaster Frasier."

"She's still running away." Mhaegen shook her head. "Unless something forces her to settle down."

"Ha!" her husband laughed. "You think that will really ever happen?"

The midwife's daughter was not ready yet to voice her suspicion.