Zeph examined the list in her hand as she paced effortlessly back and forth along the four inch
wide wooden railing on the upper deck. On one side was of course the deck of the ship but to
her left was a fifty foot drop to the ground below and the unsuspecting citizens of Ironguard.
She'd been playing in the rigging and high up places since she was old enough to walk, the
railing was a piece of cake in comparison.
Her brows furrowed as she scanned the eloquent scrawl written on the aged parchment. Her
father had given the list to her before he'd left to meet with a contact in the city and ask her to
pick up the items listed by sunset. It was still early morning so she had some time but she
hadn't wanted to go alone. The capital was a big place and while she knew her pa wouldn't send
her anywhere where she couldn't fend for herself she preferred to avoid altercations when
possible. Her being a young lady and all she tended to attract the wrong sorts of attention in
some of the seedier locales. Plus she didn't want to have to carry everything back by herself.
That's why she was giving Corwyn another five minutes to show himself before she went down
into the belly of the ship to drag him out from under the engine and into the open air.
Really, that boy spent more time tinkering with the engine than he did conversing with real
people. Sometimes she swore she heard him down there talking to the damn thing like it was
answering back. She liked Corwyn, he was the only one on the ship who didn't fake a smile
when she came by just so she wouldn't feel that need to give him one. She remembered that first
day after he'd joined up with a warm fondness that made her smile. Her lips puckered into a pout
when she saw that her father wanted them to find a few passengers as well. Zeph was as friendly
as they came but she really hated it when strangers were on board. Things always seemed so
much tenser when they carried travelers. Zeph was also under strict orders not to engage in any
of her 'tricks' and at times the call of the wind was just too strong to ignore.
On top of it all, her pa had that don't ask, don't tell policy and Zeph being too curious for her own
good (some call it nosy but Zephyra considered it nothing of the sort) and it down right ruined her
day not to be allowed to ask. Then there were those people who just didn't feel
right. A
gentle breeze drifted passed her causing her to smile.
"Bout time you drag yourself up here, I
called ya twenty minutes ago! Good thing I wasn't hanging from the riggin' by my toes or
anything," she commented as the scent of oil and other engine fluids assaulted her senses.
Only one person she knew carried that particular aroma, not that it was bad it was just him.