About halfway up the wooden slabs, just below the noble's quarters, Fenris was snatched from the ladder. He immediately began to retaliate, thinking the hunters had caught him; but when he spun around, an elven deckhand shushed him. Fenris snarled at the man, but followed after him cautiously, hand still within reach of his sword.
The deckhand led him to a dimly lit room at the far end of the hall. He gestured for Fenris to step inside. The silver haired elf glared menacingly at him, slowly entering the room. The door swung shut behind him, and another candle was lit.
"Put that away, Fenris." A stern Nevarran voice commanded. Fenris dropped his hand and sighed.
"You can't blame me for being cautious." He stated. Triss stepped out of the dark of the room.
"No blame is being passed. I understand your need for secrecy. The slavers are frightening to us." She sat on the semi-padded bed, placing the candle on the little table beside her. Fenris didn't move from his position.
"Why did you bring me here? It's safer below deck." He asked. Triss nodded towards him.
"Slavers are on the ship disguised as nobles and bodyguards. Bottom is where they'll look first; and you, my friend, stick out like a sore thumb. Captain agreed that the best way for you to hide is with someone who hides best." She informed. Fenris arched a brow at the little woman.
"And you are that someone?" He asked. Triss bowed slightly.
"That I am. I'm the best." She said. Fenris took a steady step forward.
"Why are you helping me?" He asked finally. Triss sat forward and breathed deeply.
"I honestly can't answer that sufficiently. I could say that it's the right thing, but I can't believe it is." She replied.
"Why not?" Fenris took another tedious step.
"You never know what the Fates have planned until you draw your final breath. The only thing I have ever proven to do was to protect and destroy. I suppose that's what I do now, no? I have to assume that it's right." Triss shrugged and gestured the other elf over. Fenris sat on the opposite edge of the bed and looked questioningly at her.
"What did you do before this?" He asked. Triss fell backwards onto the bed, hands behind her head.
"That's confidential." She replied. Fenris decided not to pry any further.
The two sat in semi-silence for a while, the only sounds being the lapping waves on the side of the ship, and the commotion up deck. A loud banging at the door interrupted their thoughts, and Triss shot up. She stood and began rattling her hair and striping off bits of clothes. She barred off the door with a nearby quarterstaff.
"What's that?" Fenris asked, alarmed at the sudden change in attitude.
"Slavers! They're probably using your lyrium to track you down." Triss replied, getting down on her knees to look under the door.
"Why aren't you protecting the others?" Fenris asked somewhat angrily. Triss stood and stared.
"It's not unusual to find a ship full of slaves, but you'll be found out immediatly. Judging from the ammount of lyrium in you're skin, you're extremely valuable not just to your master, but to the Imperium." She gestured to him. The banging came more forcefully.
"Get under the bed. Now!" She commanded in a frantic whisper. Fenris had no time to argue before she pushed him off the bed. He crawled beneath as the loud banging came again and again. He heard the door swing open and a whimper from Triss. Fenris began to feel guilty for not being able to help, but pushed away the thought as she spoke.
"I do not understand…" She cried quietly, defenseless in the slaver's grip.
"The tattooed elf! Where is he?" A slaver roared, squeezing the elven girl's arm. Triss whimpered again.
"I haven't seen… any tattooed elf…" She stammered. Fenris heard a thud on the floor and watched silently as a slaver kicked at Triss's side.
"This love-wench is useless; only use in her is for rousing up." A slaver snickered. He lifted her off of the floor by her crimson hair and showed her to his companions. They chuckled with pleasure.
"We could certainly cause a ruckus with this pretty thing." Another stated.
"Leave her. We should get going." The third included.
"Oh, shut up will you?" The first snickered. An unfamiliar voice joined in.
"Gentlemen, I ask that you be careful with my wife. She is rather fragile." A raspy, commanding voice interrupted. The slavers snarled at have being interrupted.
"This bitch is your wife?"
"Of course; I am the only one who can enjoy her. Clever, no? Again, I ask that you put her down, now." The strong voice demanded.
"Yes… Captain." The slavers spat and dropped a rather limp Triss to the floor. The clanking of their metal boots faded along with them up deck. Fenris saw the captain bend down to Triss, offering her a strong, tanned hand. She grabbed at it, no longer a fragile little elf, but a strong, fortified woman.
"Shadows be damned. What a rough bunch." Triss scoffed. The captain chuckled and helped dust her off.
"I'd suggest being a bit less lenient in the future." He smirked to her. Triss returned his friendly smile.
"Now take care, both of you." The captain announced with a wave, heading back up deck. Triss bent down and gestured for Fenris to come out, comforting him like a child hiding from a storm.
"Come on. We're safe now." She said as he crawled out from the tight space.
"I thought you said you were hiding." He said. Triss shrugged.
"The Shadows aren't just about being unseen. It's also about deception." She informed. Fenris sat back down.
"They will be back." He frowned.
"Not on this ship they won't. Captain's already scared them off."
"Speaking of the captain…" Fenris began. Triss laughed.
"No, we aren't married. We are full of different lies and tricks for different parties." She looked to Fenris. "Would you be jealous?" She asked. Fenris scoffed.
"Your affairs are your own. I have no say in a stranger's life." He replied. Triss nodded.
"Good. I don't like you either." She joked. Fenris smirked. She was an interesting character. Then his oppressed frown returned. Earlier she mentioned his markings being lyrium.
"How did you know about my markings?" He asked with a hint of accusation in his tone. Triss turned to him, confused. Her gaze softened and she sighed, barring the door off again. Fenris watched curiously as she whirled back around, removing one of her long, black gloves. He stared with wide eyes as she revealed her own tattoos. Thin black lines trailed her arm; rivers of shimmering red swimming by them. The design was intricate and unusual, like that of old, undescovered ruins in fables.
"You aren't the only one who's suffered this punishment." Triss said, her arm hypnotizing the elf.
"What… is that?" He asked; his breath whisked away. Triss pulled her glove back down, hiding her curse.
"A deadly poison." She informed, "Engraved into any other sod and they'd be dead within seconds." Triss sat on the bed next to Fenris, scoffing and turning a smile on him.
"Enough of this. Tell me of your markings. We need good conversation to pass the time." She smiled. Fenris looked down at his lyrium etched skin and frowned, knowing that is was best not to pry right now.
"Magisters…"