|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:31 pm
A sigh left the man’s lips before he simply grinned towards Ephrym. “Fine. You do know that if you don’t return with all of these promised goods that things may get a bit riskier for you in this port?”
“Understandable. Good thing I don’t intend to come back empty handed.” Ephrym promised with a smile. “Can we rely upon your support so that we can get out there sooner?”
“Yes, you win again.” Telios chuckled. “Or rather I suppose I win in the end if things go as planned. Take your extra coin.” He gestured towards one of his men who came forward with a satchel that Ephrym took as he stood up from the chair. “And if your sniper wants to stay on dry land for better pay then I would be more than willing to oblige.”
“Enough teasing since you know my crew stays with me.” Ephrym replied without missing a beat as he walked back towards Chrysanthe. “We’ll take the side door so that no one catches me with this.” He gave a wave of farewell, his hands curling around Chrysanthe’s fingers as he tugged her gently along with him.
[Ephrym 8]
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:31 pm
Chrysanthe kept hold of Ephrym’s hand, not even caring about her own pride as she allowed him to lead her out of the twisting passageways. The underground meeting room connected with an older property down the street and it was from those cellar doors that the pair finally emerged. “An interesting patron.” She managed as she finally let go of Ephrym’s hand, a slight flush decorating the back of her neck as she rubbed her fingers together as if getting rid of the strange warmth that lingered there.
[Chrysanthe 9]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:31 pm
“Yes, one that would be very enraged if he knew that we had other patrons.” Ephrym grinned at Chrysanthe as they walked away from the shadowy alleys and into the safety of the mainstreet. The satchel hanging at his side looked worn and matched perfectly with his traveler’s coat so that he was not even worried about the heavy coins nestled inside, mostly sewn into pockets along the inside that were hard to spot. “This does buy our supplies and gives me more access to the things that I need to bribe others before we go on our voyage.”
[Ephrym 9]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“You’re very open about this with me.” Admitted Chrysanthe as she acknowledged the risks that Ephrym was taking for this voyage. “Are you certain he won’t find out?” If Telios found out then how much trouble would they be in? Would Ephrym’s smooth talking continue to save him even then? Though it seemed the hybrid was fully aware of the situation and treating it like some sort of chess game by manipulating all of these dangerous pieces together to capture the king.
[Chryanthe 10]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“I’m positive. It’s been almost a year in the making and none of them know, a perk of having patrons scattered across the continent and from me using other ship names.” Ephrym admitted. “Telios is the only one that knows it’s the Misty Maiden while the rest are making investments with Vance and Neil instead of me.” He gave a slight shrug. “They’ll get what they want in the end but it’ll be delivered in different parcels and in different ways based upon the ships. Telios will technically get his foreign goods first but what is two days in the markets when the other ships arrive and deliver upon their promises?”
[Ephrym 10]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“Fair.” Chrysanthe pursed her lips. “You just have to hope we can actually beat the other ships before they arrive and ruin that plan of yours.” She shook her head as they walked along. “Still, I really need a bath or something after that.” She sighed. “Can’t find any better patrons, I guess.”
[Chrysanthe 11]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“Only if you work in the Academy who supports knowledge and ventures but pays poorly. I’d like to sustain my ship and crew, thanks.” Ephrym replied honestly even though he was planning on donating a few things to the researchers to try and keep some relations with a scholar he knew there. “We’ll definitely sail before the rest. I’m a bit young and reckless but confident that we can go to Kahi without needing full maps. I should get a cartographer, right?”
[Ephrym 11]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“I see.” Chrysanthe frowned thoughtfully as she considered everything. The captain was making some good points. “But why me? Am I truly the best shot you have?” Not that she was doubting herself but it seemed strange that she was taken to these really tense meetings. What if she revealed his secrets to these dangerous patrons? Last week it had been a portly man visiting from the north that they had spoken with and a few days before that a petite woman who acted like the world owed her everything. Ugh. That one she would rather not meet again.
[Chrysanthe 12]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“You’re reliable and came with a good recommendation from a dear friend.” Admitted Ephrym. “Do you not want to attend? I’m sorry if they make you uncomfortable, but I thought it would be good for you since we’ll be working together on the voyage and I wanted to test your mettle.” Thankfully nothing dangerous had happened other than that one brawl at their first tavern which Chrysanthe had handled well with a few nice shots.
[Ephrym 12]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“No, I’m fine.” Protested Chrysanthe with a small smile towards Ephrym. “My job is to help you out and protection is what I was hired for. I guess I’m still adapting to the fact that I’m working like this whereas before I just simply roamed on my own before going to a bakery.” There she had learned to bake but it was a bit different from working in dangerous areas where her fighting skills came back into play. Admittedly Chrysanthe loved both the kitchen and the thrill of fighting as opposite as they could be. “Either way, thank you for trusting me and for you know…not letting some creep paw at me for deals.”
[Chrysanthe 13]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“You’re welcome.” Ephrym chuckled but his gaze was hard as her words registered. “I would never let someone touch you, okay?” He assured her as they walked along, his voice firm as he stopped moving for a moment and faced Chrysanthe. “I hated that he even suggested such a thing and while I knew that having a pretty face can sometimes make negotiations easier I would never have subjected you to such treatment.” His emerald gaze burned. “No patron is worth such a request.”
[Ephrym 13]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
As their steps slowed, so did the world around them. Chrysanthe found herself stumbling, her cheeks heating up at the sudden intensity of the usually carefree captain. “I believe you.” She whispered softly as she almost reached out for Ephrym’s hand before simply reaching up to pat his shoulder instead. “After all, what sort of captain would you be if you let your sniper waste her talents flirting with old men?” And then she found herself moving forward, refusing to linger in that moment before embarrassment caught up to her.
[Chrysanthe 14]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“A silly one indeed.” Ephrym managed as Chrysanthe started walking again. His own cheeks had darkened and he was thankful that she had started moving before noticing it. Even though he flirted a lot there was something…something strange about this one. Not that they had time to waste on such matters, not with the voyage looming over them both.
“If you’re really feeling like it we could always go swimming once I place a few orders.” Ephrym gestured towards the satchel. “What do you think?”
[Ephrym 14]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:32 pm
“I can do that.” Chrysanthe glanced over her shoulder before moving towards the left. “The market district right?” They would have to drop off the money so that the merchants would deliver the supplies to the Misty Maiden. That much of the plan Chrysanthe knew about even though Ephrym hadn’t given her much details on how he had originally planned upon obtaining the funds.
[Chrysanthe 15]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:33 pm
“Right.” Ephrym grinned as he followed Chrysanthe along. The dirty streets became open cobblestone and the silence of the tunnels erupted into chatter as they walked into the thriving crowd surrounding the shopping district of the city. The pair went swiftly towards a general store where Ephrym gave the bag to the older owner. “As promised.” He grinned as the merchant took them to a backroom to sort through the coins before returning the back to Ephrym.
“Give me two days and it’ll be delivered. You wanted extra of the dried fruits, correct?”
“Mmhmm. And if the lady wants anything right now we can take that.”
[Ephrym 15]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
