Private Tales Upriver

[Rayth Keirn]

"You're fucking joking?" Geelyn asked. "She's fucking joking?" she asked Rayth incredulously.

Rayth shrugged. "We'll watch from a distance."

The orc took two steps and loomed over Rayth. She poked him square in the middle of the forehead.

"She's got you soft in the head and hard in the loins. She's gonna run as soon as she's out of your sight."

"Shes not," Rayth replied firmly.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eislyn's golden brows lofted nearly into her hairline. She couldn't stop the heat from rising to her cheek's at Geelyn's words. Had she missed the orc's bluntness?

Throat delicately cleared. Verdants shifted between Geelyn and landing on Rayth.

"Am I still a prisoner?"

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"No."

"Yes."

The tension between the man and the orc as they faced off was palpable. Rayth decided to jump into it with words before Geelyn could get angry enough to truly let rip.

"The Duke who hired us also hired that other ship and that damned assassin to kill her. And us, if we got in the way. So I consider our current contract rather...well it can fuck right off," Rayth told the orc.

She grunted, crossed her arms over her chest and stood tall. Geelyn couldn't find a point in that simple logic to argue with. And she really enjoyed arguing.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

It was like watching a jousting match. Secondmate versus half-orc.

"Now that THAT'S settled, I'm going to go check some of the shops along this waterline. See if any emissary envoys have come in missing their emissary. You two try to behave and stay out of sight."

To re-enforce her point, the princess let her eyes settle silently on each of them individually for a moment longer. Wrapping a shawl more tightly around her shoulders, she turned. She walked like a noble too. Back straight, head held high.

It was hard for her to fit in, even in normal clothes.

Footsteps took her along the cobble-stone path back out of the alley. Breathing slightly through her mouth, she took a breath and disappeared into a fishmonger's shop.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"So...she's in charge now?" Geelyn asked.

"Not entirely," Rayth said, but he heard the weak tone of protest in his voice. It wasn't quite what Geelyn thought. He hadn't just let Eislyn walk all over him. They had sat together and discussed what came next.

There was probably a small element of the diplomat out maneuvering him, even if she didn't see it himself.

"Captain definitely shouldn't put you in charge of this one," Geelyn grunted. She gave a nonchalant shrug, apparently satisfied for now. "We should make sure she doesn't find more trouble though. How we gonna tell the captain?"

 

[Eislyn Gray]

The fishmonger was no help but the man she bumped into on the way out was far more than help. Shoulder hit against a man with a flash of orange hair mixed between salt and pepper. Verdants lifted along the uniform to see the mark of iron emblazoned within a sun. Eislyn blinked up as the distracted man muttered an apology as she exited the shop.

"Geoffrey?" She finally managed, going past shock.

The man froze and his head whipped around. "M'lady!" He fell to one knee in front of her on the street. "I thought we'd lost you for good. Please forgive me."

Eislyn looked around, trying to take his formality in stride. Light fingers quickly tapped him on his broad shoulders. "Geoffrey please, get up. It wasn't your fault. We need to talk."

The man rose and then studied the princess closely. His charge to protect. Worry tinged his brow and a spark of anger. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

 

[Rayth Keirn]

Rayth was coming around the corner, some distance behind Eislyn. He stopped, which led to the orc bumping into him and nearly throwing him to the floor.

"Back, back, back," went Rayth, as he pushed Geelyn back around the corner of the street.

"You know if she's found her people she's gonna have you hung right?"

"Not you?"

"Nah, you're slower than me."

"Trust me, she's not going to betray us."

"Rayth, we snatched her from her ship. And you killed the old Knight guarding her. Best you run now."

But he didn't.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Hands clasped behind her back as she walked with Geoffrey giving him the gist of what happened. Minus all the magic parts. He could never know. He was loyal to her father first and foremost, not her.

Verdants glanced around, looking for Rayth or Geelyn.

She assumed they were nearby, staying out of sight. A small part of her wondered if Rayth left. Had he run? Run back to the Paragon?

Geoffrey placed his hand on the pommel of his sword, gloved fingers tightening around the hilt. "I'll kill him," he spat. "That scoundrel deserves a sword run through his belly."

"You will do no such thing and that is an order. He saved my life."

"He wouldn't have had to if he hadn't taken you in the first place!" Poor Geoffrey was fuming.

"Geoffrey. I will need your help along with his if we are to figure out the larger plot behind the Duke's orders."

"I should take you back to your father right this instant."

Eislyn bristled.

"The duke will be expecting that." She had a point and it might've been the only one keeping her from being force-ably taken back at the moment.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"See that anger? That's the anger of a man who is going to hang you."

Geelyn shook her head slowly as they watched from a side street. Rayth was watching with concern. He wasn't here with the crew of the Paragon, it was just him and Geelyn. If they all decided to cart Eislyn out of here then there would not be much he could do.

"Let's just see what happens..."

"Rayth," went Geelyn in a distinctly serious tone. "We need to get back to the ship. The job is off, but we need to tell the captain what happened."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Geoffrey grumbled.

"Where are the rest of the envoy?" She asked curiously.

"At the docks. Last replacement of the sails should be in. We were going to head out in the next few hours. You're lucky you ran into me."

"So it would appear," Eislyn replied diplomatically.

Geoffrey frowned. "The duke has a lot of resources. I don't think we can bring him down on our own."

Eislyn paused. "What if we can convince the Captain of the Paragon to help us?" Eislyn hoped it wouldn't take that much convincing. If Rayth was right, once the man found out what the duke had done and that the other contract had done to Brin.

"Do you think we can trust them, my'lady?"

Eislyn frowned.

"I trust one man." She glanced around again as she and Geoffrey walked.

Where was he?

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"You're going?"

"And so should you," Geelyn replied. She had placed a hand across his shoulder. She pulled him back, away from Eislyn.

It was the right thing to do. To let Eislyn go back to her people and to go back to his live on the waves. The Paragon would find their own retribution for being crossed. Eislyn didn't need him making her complicated life even more difficult.

"I'm staying," he said, turning on Geelyn.

"Oh for fuck's sake Rayth. You can't leave the crew just to get your end away. Even for her. Just..."

"I'm not..." he started, waving a hand in frustration. When he trailed off he stood tall and met the orcs gaze.

Geelyn narrowed her eyes. A moment of silence was followed by a shake of her head.

"You're a foolish boy. Romantic novels!" she declared, jabbing a finger into his chest. "That's the problem. All those foolish books about heroes falling in love with damsels you keep reading." The orc seemed to be torn between feeling sorry for Rayth and laughing at him out loud. "I'll make sure they don't hang you, but them I'm getting back to the ship. Understand?"

Rayth nodded his head, turning sharply to find Eislyn looking right at him. Her man was squinting, trying to see what she was looking at.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

There.

Eyes locked across the distance with the set of eyes she wanted to keep looking at for a long time. There was a moment of silent understanding before she took a step closer. And then another with Geoffrey in tow.

Rayth was still here.

She couldn't stop the relief from showing.

She approached slowly, recognizing that Geoffrey might have a reaction. All that testosterone and such. "Geoffrey, meet Rayth. Rayth, this is Geoffery, Captain of my guard." Geoffrey's hand tightened on his sword. The man scowled, catching sight of Geelyn.

"The hell. This some kind of ambush. This shithead killed one of my men."

Eislyn quickly stepped her smaller form between Rayth and the fuming Geoffrey.

"Remember my orders Captain." Voice was steely and full of authority. A tone Rayth hadn't heard before. Or perhaps he had and he'd just brushed it off when they'd gotten under each other's skin.

If glaring could kill, Geoffrey would've killed Rayth by now. Very slowly, his grip relaxed from the sword but didn't leave entirely. Eislyn took a breath, eyes flitting between Rayth, Geelyn, and Geoffrey.

"I think we need to put aside our differences and work together to figure out what the duke is up to." They already knew what was at stake; her life.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

Geelyn gave Rayth a gentle nudge in the back. A silent 'I told you so'. Rayth remained calm, his hand a long way from the hilt of sword.

There was a strong temptation to ask Eislyn there and then if she could trust Geoffrey. He knew full well that it would have led to the captain drawing his sword.

It was a question he needed to ask but not in front of him. It was still a little tempting after the captain's accusations.

"She told you about the assassin?" Rayth asked. His hands were more steady than his pulse.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

"Aye," Geoffrey grumbled. "Mask of Shadows is nasty business. I'm surprised you got away." Eislyn pressed her lips thin. Geoffrey could never know about the magic. She hoped Geelyn and Rayth remembered their promise not to tell anyone. At least Geoffrey had a momentary spark of respect for Rayth in his gaze, even if it was for the wrong reasons.

"I'd like to set a trap for some of the duke's men. Interrogate them to see what we can find out. The Iron Fortress is too far to call for more men that would come in time. If it were completely up to me I would take the princess back right now."

Geoffrey sighed and looked at Eislyn. That stubborn tick in her jaw. Those squared off shoulders and straight back of a noble.

"However, I don't want to underestimate the Duke and get caught on the road. She's right in that he'll be expecting us to flee back to the fortress next. And I don't know how many spies he has." Geoffrey rubbed at his beard thoughtfully, a shrewd look to Rayth and Geelyn.

"If we could take one of the duke's ships. Get a man of his alive. That might work. But I'm not risking the princess or my men with your crew unelss you think your captain will help."

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I can imagine he would look to recapture his quarry on the road," Rayth agreed. By now the Duke might have received word that she had slipped through their fingers.

"But right now he probably still thinks his assassin is chasing after Eislyn. And it could be some time before he finds otherwise."

Rayth looked towards Geelyn. The orc was still wearing several dark bruises. The Duke had several very capable vessels. This entire scheme had been to put a stop the diplomacy to allow him to blockade his rivals.

At least that was the start of it. There had to be more to why he was so determined.

"Can't speak for the captain. Should be back here within a couple of days."

"We hope anyway," Geelyn added. "But he probably won't be happy about being double crossed."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

“So it’s settled then?” Eislyn spoke up. It looked as though Rayth was no longer in danger of being impales by Geoffrey.

“We’ll wait out the Paragon here. See if we can count on the captain’s help. If not,” Eislyn’s gaze panned to Rayth’s. “We’ll figure out our next move.”

Geoffrey looked closely between Rayth and the princess. He didn't like what he saw between the two. “You will of course wait with us back on our ship.”

“I have a room already, Geoffrey.”

“Princess, I must insist.”

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"She will be safe here," said Rayth. Geoffrey bristled. "Myself and Geelyn will be in the same inn."

Geelyn, to her credit, managed to get a hand across her mouth before she could smirk.

"So far we have dealt with assassins, krakarl, a ship full of cheap dwarven mercenaries and shriekers," said Rayth. "And...well..."

He broke off before he could point out that her guards had failed to protect her once already.

"If the Duke sends any more trouble it will be by the sea."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Geoffrey's warring emotions showed on his weathered face. That his lady had been put in so much danger already. And that Rayth had a point about where her safety would be best now. A ship seemed like a poor choice. Especially one already marked.

"Then I too, will get a room," Geoffrey announced.

Eislyn pressed two fingers against her temple. At least Rayth was seeing what she had to deal with normally. Geoffrey meant well but he was like a hovering mothering hen with a sword, most days. "You'll have to see if they have any openings. Meanwhile, you should tell the rest of my retinue to watch out for the duke's men. And I need some coin. I'd like to get some supplies at the market."

She wanted to get some more practical clothes. A better pack. And some more dried food. And she wanted extra coin in case she had to flee again.

"You cannot go to the market on your own."

"Rayth will come with me," Eislyn hoped she wasn't volunteering him for anything he didn't want to do. Geoffrey bristled at the suggestion.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

Rayth looked disappointed at the notion of Geoffrey staying with them. Two words improved his disposition no end: adjoining door. They were just going to have to be quiet. Which was a shame as he had wanted to sit and talk with Eislyn through the evening in private.

"We'll look after Eislyn. We have no ship, no horses, we're not going anywhere soon. Geelyn needs a room too. You can share a double with her."

The orc, to her credit, immediately cottoned on to the game. She gave the men a slow look up and down, tilted her head to one side as she appraised him.

"Meh," she went, with a subtle shrug.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Geoffrey sputtered and stepped back.

"I'm taken." His bristling only furthered. He was also a humanist. He was, perhaps, only being partially polite because he was in the presence of Eislyn. Still. Geoffrey might not have a choice in sharing a room with the half-orc.

Reaching in his satchel, he took out a generous coin purse and handed it to Eislyn. "Princess. I will meet you and," he eyed Rayth and Geelyn with distaste. "this lot back at the inn and tavern before supper is served."

He leveled his gaze above the top of Eislyn's blonde hair at the two standing behind her.

"If anything happens to her I will find you and gut you both myself." Without waiting for their retort, he turned sharply on his heel and went back toward the docks.

Eislyn exhaled and turned to Rayth and Geelyn.

"Wasn't so bad." She was lying and it showed.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I'm not having a room if it's next to you two. I need some rest," Geelyn said. "Gonna find some beer," she added, wondering off.

Rayth blushed. This time he actually blushed and starred intently at his own boots. For the scoundrel it was quite shock to see someone else's crude remark actually get through to him.

"That's what you have to deal with? All the time?" he asked. "I didn't know how much you were...well, what you've been through. Doesn't make me feel so good about the jokes when we caught you."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eislyn tore her gaze away from Geelyn's retreating back. A hand came up to tuck blonde hair behind one ear. Other hand secured the coin pouch on her belt.

"I suppose a downside of being a princess. He's rather protective. Me ordering him and the rest of my crew to stand down when you and the Paragon came aboard probably just about killed him."

The truth was, Eislyn couldn't stand seeing other die for her. And when she could intervene, she would.

Verdants didn't miss the color on the swashbuckler's cheeks.

"Why Rayth Keirn. Are you blushing?" She'd loop her arm through his and gently steer him toward the market place. Her arm looped around his as if she'd known him for a long time.

The market was small and rough-looking. Not a place for anyone to be walking alone. Well, unless you were Geelyn.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Well, yes, it turns out that I can. In fact on the Paragon they manage to shock me at least once a month. Just because what Geelyn said went over your head," he laughed.

For now he was glad to have something resembling a plan. Rayth placed his free hand on her arm.

"The crew have agreed not to keelhaul me, is being seen walking arm and arm with me going to piss them off again? He definitely doesn't like me."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

“Perhaps I chose not to let my mind wander.” Eislyn retorted, though her expression remained light. In other words, ignore Geelyn’s comment.

“Are you willing to take the chance or shall I release your arm?” Pink lips twitched in good humor. She could point out that Geoffrey had good reason to hate him and the rest of the crew of the Paragon. Rayth had killed one of her men. He’d wounded Geoffrey’s pride. He’d been shamed. And perhaps living under the fear of execution if he’d been the one to tell her father that he’d failed and lost the only remaining living princess.

Eislyn decided not to bring those points up, pausing at a nearby market stall instead, to look at some of the clothing. There were some sturdy looking long skirts and even...pants.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I'll take the chance," he replied, even leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek. "And you should let your mind wander sometimes. Can conjure all sorts of wonderful things, the imagination," he laughed.

He cast his eyes over the clothes, looking for anything else that might suit Eislyn without looking too fine. He had an eye for clothing.

"You know they will make sure you return to your father," he said in a hushed voice. "His orders will always override your own."