AChapter 15
The University of Emberstrand, a good as place as any for Ainsley and her companions to meet before setting off on the next stage of their journey. It is not an easy trip to plan for, Nubswood Necropolis is a very long way from Emberstrand across Archadea and considering the state of affairs between the city and the Empire travel across the boarder is growing awkward. There are only several routes available, the airship to Salikawood a trip of about a week but the one most likely to result in awkward border questions. The second option is to join a Funeral Procession of the departed who can afford to be laid to rest in the Necropolis but those are usually family affairs. There is always the nuclear option of covincing Lee to fly there but that would risk exposure for himself and the final option is to travel by land, sneak over the border and then continue overland to the Necropolis which is the longest option.
The University of Emberstrand, a good as place as any for Ainsley and her companions to meet before setting off on the next stage of their journey. It is not an easy trip to plan for, Nubswood Necropolis is a very long way from Emberstrand across Archadea and considering the state of affairs between the city and the Empire travel across the boarder is growing awkward. There are only several routes available, the airship to Salikawood a trip of about a week but the one most likely to result in awkward border questions. The second option is to join a Funeral Procession of the departed who can afford to be laid to rest in the Necropolis but those are usually family affairs. There is always the nuclear option of covincing Lee to fly there but that would risk exposure for himself and the final option is to travel by land, sneak over the border and then continue overland to the Necropolis which is the longest option.
"If we try for a Funeral Procession," Ainsley says, her arms crossing, "We could get there expediantly, but... Nobility is significantly difficult to speak to for me." She lets out a heavy sigh, rubbing at the feathers on her head. "I guess the safest option would be to head over land. We would have to deal with the beasts we run into, and the mists could get problematic, but..." She rubs at her neck. "The Knights of Restoration would have to deal with that, as well."
"Unfortunately," Silmeria says as she rummages through her backpack, apparently re-sorting its contents on the spot, "our pursuers would be more likely to simply talk their way through at the border, and get there ahead of us. Assuming we're *not* simply accosted on the road, that is... Personally, I'd suggest we simply go by airship, and explain that we're simply on pilgrimage to Nubswood. It's true enough, after all, and I'd not suppose anyone would be terribly comfortable with conversing too long with anyone who'd revere Lord Hades enough to seek out the Necropolis."
Lee nods, standing next to Ainsley, his own pack at his feet with the scholar's, arms crossed over his chest under his black cloak and wide-brimmed hat pushed back a bit atop his head, his thick accent rolling smoothly, "I'd figure th'stickiest part'd be th'border i'sself. If'n we kin git past that, movin' around *inside* Archadia may'ap won't be that 'ard. Ains'n I 'ave a fair bit o'non-local currency stashed away 'tween us, mostly some bullion outta Zara'Qum we both got paid with fer a job out that way, could 'elp us stay outta suspicion if we don' use local coin."
The sound of heavy footsteps precedes the arrival of a young, red-haired hume. She pauses nearby, glancing about before making her way to the group. "Hello, sorry I am late." , she says, her Archadian accent obvious. She offers a quick bow to Ainsley. "I hope I have not caused the delay of the expedition. She nods to Lee, and offers Silmeria a smile. "Azar, reporting for duty."
When Lee's suggestion comes up, Ainsley waggles her finger at him, "That's right! We could use that. And if we say we're on a Pilgrimage, it'll be way easier to approve." She makes a little throat-clearing noise, and speaks in a heavy Giruvegan accent, "If I talk like I am foreign, it will be very easy to believe." She grins at the rest of the group. Her gaze turns to look at Azar. "Oh! Yes," she motions to Azar, "This is someone I hired. She uses the blade. She should be useful to have along with us, if things get sticky."
Silmeria chuckles quietly, looking up from her backpack and bobbing her head toward Azar. "We've met, actually... I do think this will be a good journey for her. And you're not late at all, Azar, we were just discussing our options." Knitting bag placed on top of the rest of the bag's contents, she closes the upper flap and sits up straighter. "And it seems that we'll be crossing the border by airship, if that doesn't give you too much cause to worry. Between Lee's foresight, and our destination, we can hope to have little trouble getting to Salikawood. After that..." The blond shrugs. "Things become less... smooth, more than likely." Silmeria has reconnected.
Lee tips his hat to Azar, with a crooked smile, as she arrives and introduces herself, "You may've, Silm, but I've not." Then, to Azar, "Name's Lee, pleasure t'make yer acquaintance an' t'ave ya aboard." That done, he nods to Ainsley, "Masqueradin' as a pilgrimage could work, though we should think 'bout believable destinations if'n we use that ruse, or claim returnin' *from* a pilgrimage. I'd figure, it's either that, or we try ta find a trade caravan 'eaded that way, and tag along wi'that somehow. 'Ired guards'r summat, that kinda thing." He nods to Silmeria, "Airship's viable, certainly, an' wouldn' undermine a "pilgrimage return trip" ruse. Tha speed there's pretty attractive, gives us th'best chance ta keep ahead o'that damnable pretty-boy an'is flunkies." That last said with a mixture of a grimmace and a sneer.
Azar grins brightly when she is introduced. "Nice to meet you, sir.", she says to Lee, nodding in agreement with Silmeria. "Aye, Silmeria and I have formed a fast friendship, and that friendship is partly why I am here." The woman blinks at the mention of the airship, and she shakes her head. "No, no problem with airships at all. Not me, no ma'am." Azar goes quiet for a few moments, and seems to be giving the issue some thought. "If things get sticky, I have a trump card I can play. But it's the sort of card I can only play once." She looks over at Lee. "Er, who is after us, exactly?"
Lee grimaces again, "Tha 'who' is a tossah goes by name o' Savourn. He's got prettier hair than most girls I've seen, carries wif 'im a smug, know-everything attitude that really makes y'wanna stab 'is eyes out wif a spoon, an' leads, or at least represents, a cult or sumfin' devoted ta bringin' about tha return o' Shemhazai, an' wants ta kidnap, abscond wif, or otherwise possess Ainsley 'ere in order ta make it 'appen." By the time he's done, he has an arm protectively around Ainsley's shoulders, and his distaste for the man Savourn is almost palpable.
With Lee's frank assesment of the Knights of Restoration and an airship decided as the most viable mode of transportation it's a simple thing to relocate to the Aerodrome down by the river and a bit of hunting about find three airships going in that direction. One of them is a luxury passenger liner, even with war as a rumour on the horizon the rich and powerful are still moving about. The other two are cargo vessels, one of them is BIG and bulky and slow whilst the other is small, silver hulled and rather slick looking and unlikely to be doing anything legitimate.
The explanation is punctuated by the most lethal look in Ainsley's eyes, "And if he touches me again, I will make him breathe hellfire." For some reason, she's gotten real good at the cold and murderous look, without raising her voice at all. And then she smiles, "Wasting daylight," she says. When the group finds the airships, she slows to a stop and tugs on Lee's hand, which she had taken to holding to provide him with some comfort, after having to explain Savourn to someone. She points at the bulky ship, "That one would work best, don't you think?" And then motions to the luxury ship, "But then, could we convince anyone we belong on that ship?" She looks over to Silmeria and smiles gently. The silver ship is given a precarious look, but no comment.
"Hmn," is Silmeria's answer, chewing on her bottom lip as she looks between the three. "We *could* buy passage, but on that? Likely it'd eat up most of our purses," she says of the luxury liner. "On the other hand, there isn't a single fast-moving cargo ship I've known that wasn't happy to ferry pilgrims. Something about legitimate business, or other..."
Lee keeps hold of Ainsley's hand as he agrees with Silmeria, nodding, "Tha liner'd likely cost us more'n it's worth ta get 'em ta accept us wi'out raised eyebrows over our looks. Tha other two..." He shrugs, "Either would work better fer our ruse, though tha faster one might be more likely ta get stopped if'n tha border forces are sniffin' out smugglers. Tramp freighters like that, higher risk o' authorities payin' attention, though easier fer them ta slip around borders as well, if that's what they're about." He looks to the others, "So, either fast an' a bit more risky, or slow an' safer. Balances out about tha same t'me, either way."
Azar lets out a low breath and continues. "There is a famous Archadean arena gladiator by the name of Yosh. As one of his biggest fans, I have one of his blades. One he used in his record winning most wins in a row. The luxury liner is Archadean, therefor the captain is Archadean. He just might be a gladiator fan, many of the upper crust of Archades are. I could probably exchange this blade for passage, maybe with a few more silvers thrown in?" She tugs at the scabbard of one of the blades in her belt, one looking both plain and ornate at the same time, as if the silver and polish were added long after the scabbard was made. Azar has reconnected.
Ainsley turns her attention to the scabbard, and then rubs at her chin. "Hmmmmm," she sounds out, quite the caricature of serious thought. "But what if they don't believe that you would have such a thing, in the company of us? Silmeria could easily be someone who would be with someone like that, but I would have a difficult time convincing them." She smiles lightly. "Let's give it a try, though. If the price is too high, we're just scouting for a ride, right? We can pick one of the other airships."
You page, "I can talk and run this once it is over I have to shoot right off" to Thaylorn. Thaylorn pages, "Alrighty! I was wanting to talk a bit about Thay and the Stellazio scene we were doing...I was thinking maybe Thay should stay behind at the end of it all." to you. You page, "You want him to stay in the Water Realm? You can do that sure if you like. Can I ask why? Want to free up a character slot for something new?" to Thaylorn.
Lee rubs his chin with one hand, cocking his head slightly as he considers Azar, "I've no objection, if y'wanna try... Personally, I'd be loathe t'trade such a memento fer passage anywhere, but might jus' be me." He nods, "An' true 'nuff that we could try th'others if th'captain claims too steep a price, regardless." He grins to Silmeria, "I'm game, so guess it's up t'yer silvered tongue, Silmeria?"
Azar shakes her head to Silmeria, "No. Ladies of Archades do not beg passage onto a Liner, Silmeria. I shall go as your personal assistant and body guard, but you shall wait by the gangplank, so that the captain might see you standing there. Ainsley and Lee can pose as retainers, whom I shall excuse by saying M'Lady likes to pick up raggamuffins and try to reform them. I can use the excuse that we were set upon by thieves in the city of Emberstrand, and that that is why you are travelling light, unfortunately they got your coin purse. However, there is this blade, and we did find a few silver at the bottom of her bag... All you need do is look pretty, which comes naturally to you. Please wave if you see the captain. How does that sound?"
Silmeria chuckles quietly. "Actually it won't be necessary to beg passage, I think... but do keep the sword handy, it'll likely have its use, should it come to that. Lee, Ainsley, Azar, if you please...?" Gathering up her skirts, she sweeps toward the passasge liner, to ever so politely and calmly request four tickets to Salikawood.
As the party approach the sleek luxury liner the party can see her name. She is the AAL Pearled Amethyst and she really is a spectacular thing. Five decks of gorgeous looking, gooey decadence with a covered promenade deck and a string quartet playing a beautiful waltz as parties of well dressed gentry make their way up the gang-plank. As Silmeria swweps up and requests those tickets in her most polite and ladylike voice the steward maning the entry booth bows to her. "Ah my lady..." he looks at Silmeria then down in an appriasing but polite manner and his eyes glitter with green as he then bows a bit deeper and sets his list aside, "We are somewhat full for the journey. I am afraid but we do have one state-room remaining however, the Imperial Suite, it has ample room for your ladyship and your ah.. retainers..." he picks up a small square of card. "Who should I have it made out too my lady? So that we can forward the neccessary paperwork to your estate."
Ainsley looks at the airship appraisingly, but gives Azar a bit of a sour look when described as a 'raggamuffin.' And then giggles, because she realizes it's probably accurate after a moment of consideration. She stands back, and continues holding Lee's hand... and hums along gently to the music of the quartet.
"Silmeria," the blond answers, dimpling at the young steward. "Lay-priestess of the Halls of Silence, thank you. I'm certain that all should be taken care of, once the paperwork reaches the Temple." Reaching out, the priestess rests a gentle hand on the steward's shoulder. "Thank you, sir, very much. You should know, you're helping to make a small child's last wish come true... And that's much more than worth the price of this voyage, to me and my retainers."
Lee blinks at being called a ragamuffin, and even opens his mouth to respond before thinking better of it, though it looks like his response would have been one of feigned outrage had it gone forward. Instead, he clears his throat and follows along with Ainsley behind Silmeria, standing strait, expression one of carefully-schooled neutrality, cloak shrouding his form (except for the hand that holds Ainsley's), head shaded by the wide brim of his hat, and eyes hidden by midnight-black bangs. All in all, he *tries* to look as dignified as his below-average stature and typical shaggy appearance will allow, while at the same time adopting a deferential attitude towards Silmeria herself. The last wish of a dying child is serious business, after all. Very serious business.
Azar grins at the reactions from Lee and Ainsly, and follows Silmeria as she boards the ship and requests tickets. The red-haired woman stands behind and slightly to one side of Silmeria, her hands within easy reach of her blades. She scans the place as thoroughly as she can, keeping an eye on anyone or anything that seems... suspicious.
The steward hesitates a moment and looks over the party and then gets distracted by Silmeria and smiles at her and makes a few notes on his piece of card and holds it out for her to sign. The price is huge... incredibly huge, five figures huge... the temple is going to have words with Silmeria over this when she gets home! He then tucks it away in a folder with a big grin on his face and motions a steward over. "Enrico, please see Lady Silmeria and her retainers to the Imperial Suite and inform the captain we have a new VIP guest onboard." Enrico bows, the smartly turned out burmecian in his pristine white stewards uniform escorting the party aboard ship and toward the front. Their suite is on Fore-ward A deck, a raised fo'castle at the front of the ship. There are massive wrap-around windows in the prow of the ship so they have the best forward looking view. The upper deck is their private promenade accessible only from inside the suite. There are five bedrooms, three bathrooms, dinning room, breakfast room, living room, private study, personal safe and two stewards on duty at all times to attend their every needs. It is a minature floating palace dedicated to the comfort and care of the Pearled Amethyst's most influential guests! The party have barely been in the room ten minutes before one of the stewards delivers a host of hastily prepared invitations from the captain and first class passengers of importance. It's clear from their tone none of them are sure who "Lady Silmeria of the Halls of Silence" is but she is in the Imperial Suite so she must be important and if she is important then they want to be seen with her! Society is calling... High Society and the party are all involved for even the servants of such a High Lady are sure to be drawn into he socio-political strata of a ship of this class as it soon takes to the skies.....
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