When Mirrah arrived at the docks she found Lorena and Wilhelm standing
before one of the ships she assumed was to be their ride to Pelta
Lunata. Only this ship looked too run down to be a passenger ship. The
belly of the ship was coated in a fine layer of rust where peeling
splotches of paint did very little to conceal. Several fog horns were
erected on the rear of the ship, weathered and from what Mirrah could
tell was probably the last place ever cleaned on this ship. The cabins
looked low roofed and the walls were darkened with years of water
damage. The bow of the ship spelled S.S. Pacismulle, probably the name
of the owner, but the weathering of the ship made Mirrah read S.S. Pack
Mule instead.
Wilhelm greeted Mirrah with a grin. "Welcome back, Mirrah. I trust you found everything without too much trouble?"
Mirrah
simply handed Wilhelm the map and compass. The food filled pouch
remained slung over her shoulder as well as the two filled canteens. She
was still frowning at the ship. "Is this our ride?"
Her charge
had already unfolded the parchment and began inspecting the quality of
the work. He cast Mirrah a sideways glance. "Yes. It's a cargo ship but
it's destination is Pelta Lunata." He refolded the map before allowing
the closet on his back to swallow it whole. "It was one of the few that
actually leaves tonight. Plus the price was rather light."
"Room and board included. Quite a package, I must say." Lorena grinned.
Wilhelm was surveying Mirrah's expression with a raised eyebrow. "Not pleased?"
"...It's elegant."
"I'm glad to hear that you approve. Now," Wilhelm extended his hand. "May I have my wallet back?"
Mirrah
pulled Wilhelm's purse from the pouch and dropped it into his hand,
doing absolutely nothing to hide the sudden lightness of the bag. "So
Lorena. You've seen the rooms?"
"Room and I have. Would you like me to show you?"
Lorena
already started crossing the wooden plank that acted as a temporary
bridge towards the deck of the ship. Once Mirrah stepped onto the plank,
she couldn't help but look down. And by the time she did, she found
herself hesitating.
It wasn't as if this were the first time on a
ship, she was sure she boarded some long ago, but she was much shorter
then and the drop between the docks and the boat probably looked like a
short one. But here, standing on such a narrow plank, the fall into the
rocking ocean looked like it took forever.
"Mirrah?"
Mirrah jerked her head up. Lorena, standing at the wooden railing, was peering back down at her.
"Coming?"
"Ah, of course." Mirrah cast one short wary look beneath her before covering the makeshift bridge in two quick strides.
A
man standing at the other end of the bridge, whom she assumed was the
captain, greeted Mirrah with a warm grin and a gruff hello. But that
wasn't the first thing she noticed. Though anchored, the ground beneath
her swayed ever so slightly. She peered at the deck questioningly. The
sensation was quite strange. Mirrah cast a glance over her shoulder.
"Coming, Wilhelm sir?"