May Fortune Guide Us
The next morning provided lovely weather for his early departure, giving Clover just enough sunlight creeping over the cold seas surrounding the icy continent to really, truly take in just how beautiful his kingdom of tundra and snow could be; he stood upon the pier, crewmen loading up their vessel with necessary supplies for the sea voyage and for Clover's quest itself. The formal missive from the trusted advisor of the Valean king, a scholar named Ozpin, rested within the inner pocket of Clover's tunic, ready to be presented upon his arrival.
He gulped. The seas had been dangerous as of late; creatures of Grimm, with their shadowy presences and acrid odors and masks made of blood and bone, infested these waters between Solitas and the southern continents. Why couldn't it have been a beast in Argus? he allowed himself to wonder dolefully for just a moment; if it had indeed been a mission to Argus, to the lands of Anima, their journey would have been cut in half. As it was, Clover needed to enjoy the embrace of dry land, for he was going to be at sea for almost a month- longer if they encountered any mishaps along the way.
Winter stood at the bottom of the walkway leading up into the ship. "Are you ready, Sir Clover?" she asked calmly, appraising him with naught but professionalism and readiness in her eyes.
He took one final deep breath in, held it, then let it out, feeling his entire body relax slightly. Stay calm, he told himself. You've fought many a beast here. If you're too frantic on the water, the Grimm'll find you, and that'll cause problems for the whole crew. Just calm down.
When his heart had settled, he turned to Winter and nodded. Glancing at the elegant script upon the side of the ship, he couldn't help but let out a little chuckle. "I'm ready, but it's ironic that you're the one helping us today. Is this your vessel?"
The Winter Maiden was a lovely, powerful ship, all Atlesian sleekness and elegance. The royal advisor clearly did not enjoy the little joke, taking a moment to glower at the knight before returning to her usual demeanor of calm collectedness; she nodded back sagely, gesturing for him to board. From atop the walkway, the captain of the ship stood at ease. "We're ready for departure, milord," she boomed, powerful voice echoing across the way despite her diminutive figure. "Let us know when you would like to set sail."
"Thanks, Hare," Clover nodded, waving Captain Harriet Bree back to her station. His worries eased slightly thanks to her confidence; after many a journey with her and her crew of ace operatives down to nearest port of Argus, he knew that her crew was more than competent. It helped that he got along with them, too. The rest of the crew watched him from their posts dutifully, all bearing the white, blue and red uniforms of Atlesian men and women. They were hardy folk, brave enough to bear the eternal winter of Atlas. They would take him to Sanus safe and sound.
Winter bowed, not an inch lower than necessary. "Once the anchor is raised, I shall grant you speed." Lifting her chin haughtily, she watched Clover, her pale eyes cold, analytical. "This mission requires great diligence. Do what must be done."
With that, Clover boarded the ship, Kingfisher at his waist and his winter cloak around his shoulders ready to be stowed away the moment they reached warmer waters. The journey would be perilous, but he was ready. Nodding to Harriet and Winter, he took his post at the front of the ship, overlooking the seas carefully for any signs of trouble. Behind him, the crew set off in a flurry of motion, with Harriet's highest-ranking officers barking orders to their sailors and preparing their departure. Once the anchor had been raised, the clinking of giant, heavy chains finally ceasing upon the winch, Clover turned his gaze to Winter, watching her with apprehension in his heart.
No matter how many times he saw it, he would never be able to wrap his mind around Winter Schnee's powers.
The woman's entire body began to exude light as she began using her Aura, her magical core, to formulate a summoning glyph upon the ground. The white rune that appeared seemingly out of nowhere underneath her feet glowed, intricate lines and symbols dancing within one another in circular motions as she began to chant under her breath, creating matter from the air itself. It was a gift given by the Brothers themselves; goodness knows Clover didn't have a lick of magic in his body.
Clover shuddered as the crew unfurled the sails, Harriet's voice projecting across the ship. "Hold it steady! The wind is coming!" At her command, Clover walked over to a railing and held on tight, waiting for the familiar lurch to upset his stomach; it wasn't ask if he truly needed any help doing that, in reality, considering the facts laid out before them.
After all, no matter how dire the situation had been in the past, King Ironwood had never asked his advisor to summon the wind to aid Clover's journey to Argus. The fact that he was using his most powerful sorceress to aid in Clover's voyage boded ill.
Despite his hands gripping onto the railing, his eyes could not be torn away from Winter. The woman's white hair began to fly around her youthful face twisted in concentration as light began to break off and fly upwards from the glyphs underneath her, these shards slowly morphing and twisting, turning into recognizable forms little by little until they took the shape of naught but a flock of birds. Once fifty of the creatures had been summoned, these beings of pure wind and light and Aura fluttering around Winter's head in wait, the woman straightened up and pointed at the sail. From that distance, all Clover could see was the movements of her lips; ten seconds of mouthing spells and incantations, and the birds amalgamated into one hive-minded flock, barreling into the unfurled, braced sail without warning.
And just like that, the manifestation of pure wind was in their sails, the Winter Maiden lurched forward, and Clover could no longer turn back.
Clover enjoyed the solitude of looking out onto the frigid waters until the sun had risen well and proper, shining in a clear sky. With Winter's summoned birds of wind pushing their vessel along its southwestern trajectory as planned, the wind kept Clover's cheeks cool despite the growing heat and his spirits up. As long as he didn't have to see shadows throughout their journey, he'd be happy. I'm already going to be hunting down a shifter, he thought. I don't need any other complications.
It was after lunch when Harriet's newest ranking crew member, a young Faunus boy by the name of Marrow, approached him with a small bag. Once he was close enough, he offered Clover its contents; pitted dates, the savoury dried fruit tantalizing already amidst the biting tang of the magical wind in their sails, the salt of the sea spraying across the bow of the vessel. Clover shook his head, however. "I'd save those if I were you," he said mildly.
Marrow shrugged, surprisingly nonplussed near him despite talking to one of the most esteemed knights in Atlas. Leaning upon the railing as he looked over the calm seas, he said, "But milord, won't your luck guarantee a quick journey? I doubt we'll have to be miserly on this trip-"
"Never take chances," Clover chided lightly. "The Brothers are great, but they also play tricks."
Marrow didn't seem willing to put the fruit away, his canine tail tucking sadly between his legs for a moment. Then, it wagged excitedly when Clover finally sighed, holding out a hand to accept the offering. "Just one. Don't tell Bree," he said firmly.
Obediently, Marrow plopped one date in his hand before another crewmate's voice rang through the air. "Marrow, getchur ass up on the lookout or so help me-"
"Yes ma'am!" Marrow squeaked, waving awkwardly to Clover before rushing away, tucking his dates into the pouch he hung at his waist.
Clover chuckled as the watched the young man scamper up the netting with all the ease in the world, only tearing his eyes away when he heard floorboards upon the deck creak and a throat clear behind him. "I hope you're not wasting my men's time, Sir Clover," Harriet said, deadpan.
He rolled his eyes, taking a bite of the date and relishing in it. "I'm sure your men are able to handle a conversation, at least."
Harriet clapped him on the shoulder. "Fair enough. Better you than some of the other knights I've had on board, I'll say. Just don't be a nuisance."
Before Clover could retort, his eyes locked onto a ripple underneath the water a few hundred feet away from the Winter Maiden. He paused, squinting at it, praying for it to dissipate and blend back into the ocean waves.
Of course, it didn't, the waves only growing stronger and stronger until Clover could spot a roiling, shadowy mass underneath it all. "Hare, you need to get your cannons out," he said quietly. "Keep the crew calm."
Instantly, Harriet knew what to do, silently stalking forward to begin their Grimm evasion protocols. Of course the journey couldn't be easy, Clover thought bitterly, holding Kingfisher in his hands. Well. Day one. Might as well start the hunts now.
It was going to be a long, long trip.