OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part Nine

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu has gathered plenty of henna and even woad, a blue dye, for some experiments with designs on Skellig's skin.

"The blue would look lovely on you, I think," she remarks. "Your fairer skin would show it off quite well. Though I am far more experienced in applying henna."

She's gathered bits and pieces of designs to look at for inspiration. Celtic style knots, viking style abstract patterns and stylized beasts, the mandala and floral type designs he's admired on her, and more.

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[brave_kreyu]

It would be hard for a human to see clearly as they enter the cargo hold, but Skellig's sight in the dark is supreme!

About half the space down here is full of supplies and repair materials, but the other half is where the people are. That section of the hold is lined with stout bars forming two large cages, one for adult men and one for adult women and the few children. There are thirty people all together, all worried, all frightened. They're in relatively good physical shape, all things considered, none sick with disease, fed and watered enough to keep them in shape.

[27_53]

This is actually slightly better than Skellig was expecting - but it makes sense, as if they were to have slaves in poor condition upon arrival to 'market', they would not demand as high of a price as those who were fit and ready to work immediately upon purchase.

"This is all you have?" He asks the nervous member of the crew as he steps closer to the cage that holds the women and the few children, who are huddled near the back, being protected. Skellig touches the bars with a hand and forces himself not to recoil, pushing aside that instinct.

"Yes, that is as many as we could carry for this trip."

Which means there are more, somewhere. Locked up and waiting to be brought to the auction block...Skellig sighs, and then nods. "It will have to do for now. Come on, upstairs." He is NOT letting this man walk behind him, that is for certain.

[brave_kreyu]

Some of the slaves stare at his wings in a mix of confusion and awe, but both emotions fail to overcome their fear, cause them to break their silence.

The sailor is decidedly twitchy to have Skellig at his back, but he doesn't dare protest.

Kreyu relaxes ever so slightly when her eyes see Skellig again.

[27_53]

Skellig assumes the 'dominant' role in this negotiation (even though she is MUCH more powerful) as they arrive back on deck. "There are thirty souls, my love," he says firmly. "All appear to be healthy and strong. Men, women, a few youths."

Yes, he is speaking to the giant eagle. He still isn't exactly sure HOW they want to play this angle; negotiation, brute force, deception and last moment bait and switch...

"My wife and I have been interested in your operation for...quite some time," he offers to the Captain. "You can let him sit up a bit, dear..."

[brave_kreyu]

The expressions on their faces when he addresses the GIANT EAGLE as my love and then refers to the eagle as his WIFE are a sight. Confusion, disgust, disbelief, bewilderment, and more. (Some of them are DEFINITELY wondering how bedroom activities work when one partner is a GIANT EAGLE.)

Kreyu does let the Captain sit up a bit, but she keeps her talons near places the Captain most DEFINITELY does not want them.

[27_53]

It is smart that she is taking some control of the 'situation' and maintaining some leverage.

"Are you simply the courier, or do you profit from the sale also?" Skellig asks straight up, blunt and matter of fact. He knows he will not like the answer given regardless of the response, and it disgusts him slightly to even be having this conversation, even if it is hypothetical...

He needs to know if this is the middleman or the actual one who will gain the most from the sale of these people.

[brave_kreyu]

"The money goes to me," the Captain tells him. "Can offer you a cut, once they're sold. After I've paid the crew their shares, of course."

"We are no more than a day out from the mainland," Kreyu speaks, startling most everyone. "Longer to reach a port that this one could trade at."

[27_53]

Money goes to him - check. Skellig's opinion (already poor) of the Captain just went down a few solid notches, but he keeps his expression neutral.

"What would you figure would you ask to buy the whole lot outright?"

He is not expecting the answer to be a low sum - but he doesn't look concerned by it. He is a winged beast who is calling a giant eagle his wife. The idea that he might be rich should not be too far-fetched. Kreyu will pick up on his tone that this is merely fact-finding, but the Captain shouldn't.

[brave_kreyu]

He's right, the number the Captain gives isn't small. They COULD afford it, though they don't have that much ON them at the moment. Of course, there's always lying.

"We could pay on delivery," Kreyu adds. "That much in gold is heavy to carry through the air." She tilts her head. "Our home is north east from here, a day's sailing." NOT the direction where they came from, Kreyu must have another location in mind.

[27_53]

Skellig has no idea of what location she is mentioning, but he nods and is easily able to follow her lead.

"We have been looking for a decent lot for some time," he says. "The last few that we have come across have been disease ridden, sickly...one ship had three dead upon it, and then dared to ask why I was disgusted when I stepped below deck." He scoffs, rolls his eyes slightly as he moves closer to Kreyu. "I know you would like to see them yourself, love, but I assure you...they are in good health, so far as I can see."

[brave_kreyu]

"I am certain of your judgement, my love."

"You will do as my husband asks, if you are wise," she says, staring down at the Captain. "Or else I may grow impatient and devour you instead."

The Captain pales, clearly terrified.

[27_53]

Pale and terrified is a good thing - that means that they are likely to achieve their goals!

"Have your crew adjust course," he says, glancing back at the...mess...left on the deck from the earlier scuffle. "We would not object if you first wish to tend to your lost, but we would not like to linger."

In other words: tend to your dead, then get a move on.

As the Captain nods and the remaining crew begins to move, Skellig beckons for Kreyu to join him, walking along the edge of the ship away from the other men, to speak to her in private.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu flexes her talons one final time to make a POINT before she moves to join Skellig.

She speaks far too low for the men to hear. "You wished to speak to me, love?" She's keeping an eye on the Captain and crew, on the lookout for trouble.

Her chest looks like a plucked, burnt, chicken, but it could be worse. She reeks of burnt feathers, and there are second and perhaps some small third degree burns in that area of her chest. The pain is only really beginning to be bothersome NOW, thanks to the adrenaline fading.

[27_53]

Skellig is also keeping an eye on those tasked with sailing the vessel, but his focus he finally allows to shift greater to her and her injuries, placing a hand on her (non-wounded) wing to allow himself contact. It is still a little strange, when she is in this shape of her soul, but she is familiar all the same...

"Now that we have a moment, I wanted to get a look at you," he says, voice equally hushed as he studies the burns on her chest, the scent of burnt feathers filling his nose. "I would heal you if you'd allow it, but I do not think I can replace the feathers..."

[brave_kreyu]

"A healing would be most welcome, my love." She chuckles. "The missing feathers will wound only my pride, and that I can deal with well enough."

[27_53]

"I wasn't sure if you wanted to keep the wounds until we had returned to the shoreline."

While the burns will take some effort, Skellig is full of Light at the moment (even as upset as he was just moments ago) and has plenty of energy to spare; he carefully allows his hand to settle on some of the bare skin where she has yanked her feathers out, but doesn't touch the burns outright.

The way their bodies are positioned, it does not matter if any of the crew are sneaking and stealing glances their direction; they will not be able to see that it is him doing the healing (not that there are any outward signs of it anyway) to her skin. He takes the pain away first, then sets on getting rid of the tissue damage.

[brave_kreyu]

"Better to be at full strength, just in case."

Her body language eases as the pain goes, as his Light heals her. She presses her beak against the side of his head in a 'nuzzle'.

[27_53]

Skellig sighs as she 'nuzzles' at him (and he can hear one of the crew who is busy hauling their dead 'friend' towards the railing of the ship comment about the fact that he calls this eagle his 'wife') and turns his head to press his lips against her feathers, not minding that some are crispy and burnt.

(Well, he minds. But doesn't let it stop him from kissing her.)

"They would be fools to try anything else, but you are right, my love." Once he is 'finished', he leans back slightly to inspect his 'work', nodding gently. "Are you wanting to stay on the ship for the full course to the mainland?" The unspoken: where are we headed and what is your plan?

[brave_kreyu]

Some of the sailors are definitely making comments under their breath because they think Skellig can't hear them. (An EAGLE, really? You hear stories about sailors who've been at sea too long...experimenting with alternate methods of relief, but a GIANT BIRD?)

"There's a dock where we going, though it might not be in the best shape," she explains. "Make it easy for them to unload those held below. Supplies too, for those that might need it."

"I fear they and their ship will only carry more lives away, if we let them go."

[27_53]

"I understand."

There is a heavier undertone to his words, for he knows what she isn't saying. Which pains him somewhat, as they discussed earlier before they left for this trip - and while all those on the crew are indeed part of the crew, earning shares of the cut from the sale of the slaves they transport to market...he can't help but wonder if any of them are also simply captives of fate, circumstance. Would they have chosen a different path, had they another opportunity? It is something that is clashing around in his chest, his mind, loud and angry.

Skellig nods, the motion slight as he sets his jaw.

"Will there be someplace for those we free to go, once we make landfall?"

He hears a splash! as a body is tossed over the railing behind him.

[brave_kreyu]

"We can try, with the crew," she says softly. "Once those below are free, you may be able to speak to them, try and see if they might make better choices.

"There is a village not too far away, they will find hospitality there, at the very least. Perhaps even a home, as a sickness came through that area some years ago."

[27_53]

"I can hear all that they are saying," he adds, his voice still quiet where only she can hear his words. He shifts his gaze skyward - squinting slightly against the sun - glancing to the sails as they begin to raise, fill with the wind as the ship shifts direction. "I will listen as we travel. See what I can learn of each of them."

He looks back to Kreyu. "I do not think we should tell the captives of our plan. I would not want it to be known by many, yet. As much as it pains me to keep them in the dark."

[brave_kreyu]

"I agree, though it pains me as well. Better that no one other than the two of us know the truth."

She glances up as well. "We will make it up to them, later."

For now, they have listening and watching to do.

[27_53]

This journey - however short it may be, in terms of 'average seafaring travels' - is going to be the longest time that Skellig has ever spent aboard a ship. It is a good thing that he is not easily squeamish, and that the weather is fair - though he will be taking frequent moments to pause along the railing of the vessel and focus his gaze on the horizon, steady his vision (and his nerves) as he listens and watches.

At first, the crew remains mostly quiet (shock, probably) about their actual intentions for what they would plan to do after they make port and get their cut of the profits from this sale, and the discussion lingers on Skellig and Kreyu themselves - a man with WINGS, and a GIANT EAGLE still seem to be quite the hot topic among the sailors as they go about their work.

One is washing the deck boards where blood was spilled, scrubbing hastily with a lye-based soapy solution, they will never rid the wood of all the stains - but if the majority of the blood is removed, it will lessen any chance for flies, and the sun will take care of the rest of it in time, bleach it away with exposure. His energy is different than most of the others, and Skellig takes note of that...this one might be one he can convince to change his ways...

[brave_kreyu]

The one who was washing the deck is the youngest on board, only barely fully grown. He's what later ages might call a cabin boy, gets all the jobs none of the other experienced sailors want.

One of the other sailors, older, his energy darker, looms too close to the young man as he scrubs, deliberately invading his personal space. "Not what you were expecting when you signed on to pay off your old man's debts, eh? Better get used to blood, boy, there will be more of it before we're done with this trip, can feel it in my water."