3 Ymiden 717
Breakfast was perfect for the young Burnett boy, who was already assured that this birth trial was going to be the best of them all. He and Edalene usually spent them together, but this arc, they would share their festivities with Duncan. Even in the chilly air of Viden, he felt warmth at the thought. Edalene and Duncan were the true loves of his life, and he would be happy and content to just eat breakfast with them, over and over again.
But duty called, and Aeodan knew that this trial was an important one. The night before, The Seventh Sun docked in the Syneffa Bay. Aeodan had been told a few trials before that he would be hired by the Merchants' Guild to translate between the captain of the ship, Alexios Alexopolous, and the Guild. Though the rumours were that he spoke Fluent Common, the captain was notorious for bending the conversation to his own whims, which often included changing languages to throw his bargaining partners off. Aeodan was excited at the prospect of a challenge.
The ride was arduous and cold, but Aeodan stayed in chipper spirits as they arrived at the trading post. He could see the ship swaying in the Bay, and the excitement in his stomach roared to a blaze. He was prepared to meet the crew of the Sun and was more excited to meet this legendary merchant captain. As they emerged from their carriage, Aeodan couldn't tear his eyes off the ship. He began to make his way to the trading lodge, but Viharn, one of the merchants, grabbed him by the arm.
"Not in there, boy. Up there." And he pointed at the ship.
Aeodan's mouth split into a wide smile, prompting a strange look from Viharn. A little more excitedly than he should, he began to hurry towards the ship. For the weakest legs of the bunch, Aeodan outpaced the entire delegation from Viden. He arrived at the gangplank nearly a full bit ahead of the merchants, panting and heaving all the same. Still, he was ready to climb the plank and meet the crew and captain. It was his birthtrial, after all. He had to enjoy it for what it was.
After a bit, or an eternity, the delegation joined him and they were escorted up the gangplank to the ship. Aeodan's sea legs weren't seasoned, and the swaying of the ship in the bay was strange to him. The merchant behind him, Jamal, grabbed Aeodan's shirt to keep him upright. Aeodan tittered at him appreciatively, too focused on not falling into the frigid water to formulate an actual response of gratitude. As quickly as it began, it was over, and Aeodan was standing on the deck of the Seventh Sun. He stopped briefly and took the ship in, breathing the unique smell of liquor, men and seawater into his lungs. And then, he was left behind.
Struggling to maintain the quick pace now, Aeodan judged every step carefully and fully. He did not want to misplace a foot during a bob in the ship, and tumble to the wood. Instead, he weighed the steps and made it to the cabin where the meeting would take place just behind his fellow Videnese. As they were ushered into the cabin by two of the crew, Aeodan's heart pounded in his chest. He was about to meet Captain Alexopolous.
As he entered the cabin, it took his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. A small oil lamp burned on a corner table, the whale oil smelling deep and oily and filling the room. There was a port window, but it was shut and bolted, and Aeodan assumed the stifling smoky smell was intentional to help bring the negotiations to a close more quickly. Holding back a grin, Aeodan's eyes finally found the Captain, easily distinguishable from his personal garb.
A bright shirt of snow-white linen, open at the chest, sat atop a deep maroon pair of trousers. The whiteness of the shirt surprised Aeodan, as the rest of the ship had a general grunge to it that he thought would pervade the entirety of the ship and its crew. But no, the captain was dressed impeccably, and his golden curls were tight against his head. He appeared no older than thirty-arcs, though his posture and foresight in the negotiation belied a wisdom well beyond his arcs. Aeodan began to get the feeling that he was used to getting his way. He knew the trial would be interesting.
"Captain Alexios..." Viharn stepped forward and offered a hand. The captain stared at it. Jamal leaned forward and whispered in Aeodan's ear.
"He often doesn't shake hands. It's said that, due to his 'all or nothing' bargaining techniques, that's he only legitimate pirate in practice."
As if he heard the whisper, Alexios' eyes found Aeodan's. He examined the young boy for a moment before returning his gaze back to Viharn. When he spoke, his voice was loud and boisterous. The language, though, was one that Aeodan did not recognize. Omyeric, the language of the island city of Nekhet, shared a similar sound to Rakahi, but was quite obviously not. Viharn was puzzled at the words, and so Aeodan did what he came to do.
"Captain..." He began in Rakahi, drawing the captain's attention. It was obvious he did not expect a boy so young to speak such flawless Rakahi, but Aeodan did. The captain appeared impressed.
"Boy..." He responded, mirth evident in his features. He gestured for Aeodan to take one of the three seats opposite him. "Choose two companions. The rest may enjoy the view of the bay." He said in Rakahi, and Aeodan relayed the information. He chose Viharn and Jamal, more for their abilities with economic trends and their investment in Viden's economy than their ability to converse with the captain. After all, that's what they hired Aeodan for.
Breakfast was perfect for the young Burnett boy, who was already assured that this birth trial was going to be the best of them all. He and Edalene usually spent them together, but this arc, they would share their festivities with Duncan. Even in the chilly air of Viden, he felt warmth at the thought. Edalene and Duncan were the true loves of his life, and he would be happy and content to just eat breakfast with them, over and over again.
But duty called, and Aeodan knew that this trial was an important one. The night before, The Seventh Sun docked in the Syneffa Bay. Aeodan had been told a few trials before that he would be hired by the Merchants' Guild to translate between the captain of the ship, Alexios Alexopolous, and the Guild. Though the rumours were that he spoke Fluent Common, the captain was notorious for bending the conversation to his own whims, which often included changing languages to throw his bargaining partners off. Aeodan was excited at the prospect of a challenge.
The ride was arduous and cold, but Aeodan stayed in chipper spirits as they arrived at the trading post. He could see the ship swaying in the Bay, and the excitement in his stomach roared to a blaze. He was prepared to meet the crew of the Sun and was more excited to meet this legendary merchant captain. As they emerged from their carriage, Aeodan couldn't tear his eyes off the ship. He began to make his way to the trading lodge, but Viharn, one of the merchants, grabbed him by the arm.
"Not in there, boy. Up there." And he pointed at the ship.
Aeodan's mouth split into a wide smile, prompting a strange look from Viharn. A little more excitedly than he should, he began to hurry towards the ship. For the weakest legs of the bunch, Aeodan outpaced the entire delegation from Viden. He arrived at the gangplank nearly a full bit ahead of the merchants, panting and heaving all the same. Still, he was ready to climb the plank and meet the crew and captain. It was his birthtrial, after all. He had to enjoy it for what it was.
After a bit, or an eternity, the delegation joined him and they were escorted up the gangplank to the ship. Aeodan's sea legs weren't seasoned, and the swaying of the ship in the bay was strange to him. The merchant behind him, Jamal, grabbed Aeodan's shirt to keep him upright. Aeodan tittered at him appreciatively, too focused on not falling into the frigid water to formulate an actual response of gratitude. As quickly as it began, it was over, and Aeodan was standing on the deck of the Seventh Sun. He stopped briefly and took the ship in, breathing the unique smell of liquor, men and seawater into his lungs. And then, he was left behind.
Struggling to maintain the quick pace now, Aeodan judged every step carefully and fully. He did not want to misplace a foot during a bob in the ship, and tumble to the wood. Instead, he weighed the steps and made it to the cabin where the meeting would take place just behind his fellow Videnese. As they were ushered into the cabin by two of the crew, Aeodan's heart pounded in his chest. He was about to meet Captain Alexopolous.
As he entered the cabin, it took his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. A small oil lamp burned on a corner table, the whale oil smelling deep and oily and filling the room. There was a port window, but it was shut and bolted, and Aeodan assumed the stifling smoky smell was intentional to help bring the negotiations to a close more quickly. Holding back a grin, Aeodan's eyes finally found the Captain, easily distinguishable from his personal garb.
A bright shirt of snow-white linen, open at the chest, sat atop a deep maroon pair of trousers. The whiteness of the shirt surprised Aeodan, as the rest of the ship had a general grunge to it that he thought would pervade the entirety of the ship and its crew. But no, the captain was dressed impeccably, and his golden curls were tight against his head. He appeared no older than thirty-arcs, though his posture and foresight in the negotiation belied a wisdom well beyond his arcs. Aeodan began to get the feeling that he was used to getting his way. He knew the trial would be interesting.
"Captain Alexios..." Viharn stepped forward and offered a hand. The captain stared at it. Jamal leaned forward and whispered in Aeodan's ear.
"He often doesn't shake hands. It's said that, due to his 'all or nothing' bargaining techniques, that's he only legitimate pirate in practice."
As if he heard the whisper, Alexios' eyes found Aeodan's. He examined the young boy for a moment before returning his gaze back to Viharn. When he spoke, his voice was loud and boisterous. The language, though, was one that Aeodan did not recognize. Omyeric, the language of the island city of Nekhet, shared a similar sound to Rakahi, but was quite obviously not. Viharn was puzzled at the words, and so Aeodan did what he came to do.
"Captain..." He began in Rakahi, drawing the captain's attention. It was obvious he did not expect a boy so young to speak such flawless Rakahi, but Aeodan did. The captain appeared impressed.
"Boy..." He responded, mirth evident in his features. He gestured for Aeodan to take one of the three seats opposite him. "Choose two companions. The rest may enjoy the view of the bay." He said in Rakahi, and Aeodan relayed the information. He chose Viharn and Jamal, more for their abilities with economic trends and their investment in Viden's economy than their ability to converse with the captain. After all, that's what they hired Aeodan for.
