Elara nodded at Fletch's observation that they should get going. He was right. She made a quick mental note to have someone on board keep an eye on him. She didn't trust him. At all.
Elara stood up from the table, grabbing the sack of food.
"Aye, Fetch is right. We should get going."
Fenris went and grabbed a bottle of ale from behind the counter. Elara snorted.
"Ye don't need that, we're about to board my ship. I've got plenty."
Fenris sighed and put it back.
"If your sorry pirate version of a good tavern doesn't have this, I'll throw you overboard myself."
Fenris was joking, of course, but Elara's face darkened.
"You'd do well to remember that I just killed my former first mate for threatening mutiny."
There seemed to be a quiet storm brewing behind Elara's eyes. A storm that threatened to turn into a hurricane.
Fenris held her hands up placatingly.
"It was a joke."
Elara merely glared, one hand on her rapier as if someone had actually threatened her.
"Well," Elara said quietly, "Let's head out."
Fenris opened the door for them and once they were outside, shut the door behind them and locked it. She really didn't like just leaving the tavern like that, but she had a feeling that the tavern is the least of her concerns right now.
Elara strode ahead of them, cutting an imposing figure with the way her hand was still resting on the hilt of her rapier. There was something in the way she walked. Her boots hit the ground with confidence, and there was an interesting lilt to her step, as if she's spent more time on her ship than on land.
They walked for a good half hour, going to one of the smaller docks and getting into a rather nondescript rowboat, crewed by two clean shaven but heavily tattooed and armed to the teeth pirates who scrambled to their feet when they saw Elara approaching. She waved them off and they sat back down, both preparing to row out to the ship.
Fenris looked around the small, deserted harbor, but only saw a longboat and a merchant boat.
"Where's the Midnight Marauder?"
Elara didn't even answer, merely gesturing out to the horizon.
They got on the rowboat, Fenris sitting down on the middle row leaving Fletch and Elara to sit down in the front row. As soon as they sat down, the pirates pushed off from the dock and began rowing, going rather far into the harbor and past both of the other ships. It felt like they were in that small, cramped rowboat forever, the air turning rather frigid.
Finally, they pulled up to the side of the Midnight Marauder, the ship looking absolutely breathtaking on the calm ocean. Storm clouds were gathering in the west, and the two pirates hurriedly helped Elara, Fletch and Fenris onto a small, wooden plank that led up to the main deck. Even from where they were, they could hear the bustle of the crew running the ship, the creak of pulleys and the occasional foul word drifting down to them from the main deck. Without a word, Elara walked up the plank, her mind already occupied, leaving the other two to follow her up, the two pirates bringing up the rear.
When they got to the main deck, a rousing cheer went up from the crew, most heartily coming up to Elara and welcoming her back.
"Ye survived the tavern did ya?"
A loud, booming voice cut through the din of the pirates, and they parted, forming a path.
A centaur, dressed rather uniquely, walked up to Elara, bowing quickly and smiling from ear to ear.
"This is Aikios, ship healer and general bringer of good spirits."
"And she means that both ways," Aikios muttered out of the side of his mouth to Fletch.
"I didn't know you were bringing back visitors!" Aikios exclaimed, seemingly noticing for the first time Fenris and Fletch.
Elara nodded.
"This is Fenris and Fetch—-"
Aikios interrupted.
"Nice to meet both of you. Captain, can we talk privately?"
Aikios obviously knew something was different.
"Let's go to my office then," Elara agreed, the two of them turning to walk below deck before Elara turned back.
"Fenris, Fletch, come with us, and I'll show you where you'll be sleeping."
They went below deck, Elara pointing out where the galley, Aikios's infirmary, and the small ship tavern were. They continued down to the third deck, where there were two small but comfortable cabins, each having a hammock, a chest to store personal items in, and two bottles of rum.
"There's soap and rags in the chest, feel free to rest up or go above deck. I'll meet both of you in the galley in about two hours."
Elara explained to both of them, before Aikios practically dragged her away. Fenris promptly went into her room and collapsed on the hammock, deciding to take a short nap.
