Previously
There were three of them, three Knights clad in leather patiently waiting near the wrecked ship. One of them was talking to the shipwrights, while the other two were conversing among themselves, exchanging information. Two Knights carried notebooks and writing utensils, the other one did not. The moment they noticed Yana had reached the end of the rope ladder attached to the side of the ship, they ceased their chatter, lined up, and saluted. She returned a nod, then gestured for them to stand at ease.
“Ms. Squamila has not arrived yet?”
“No Captain. We were heading back, but something caught her attention. She told us she’d be joining us shortly.”
By then, Hannes had caught up, falling in place beside his superior.
“Right. Report. One at a time, please.”
The three exchanged glances to wordlessly determine who’d go first, then the female Knight stepped forward.
“According to the harbor master, the ship was signed in as ‘Storm Breaker’, a cargo vessel of a transporting company. Arrived about two trials ago. Carried spices and luxury goods this time around. Paprika powder, dried basil, black pepper, the like. Storm Breaker is a regular sight here, every--” she paused for a moment, going through her notes “—one hundred fifty trials or so they dock here, stay for about ten to twenty trials, then set sail again. With a few exceptions. But it mostly follows the trading route from here to Scalvoris and back.”
“Anything of note this time around?”
“Not that I know of. Couple of passengers aboard, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary. The cargo was exactly what they said it was, they arrived according to their regular schedule, no problems when unloading.”
Nothing suspicious there then. At least as far as they knew.
“Did you ask about the Captain?”
The Knight nodded, and paged through her notes again. “According to the Harbor Master, the Captain is called Lilly Nowtylles. And she would currently be –and I quote—‘looking for a soft fucking bed, several bucket’s worth of rose petals, and half a dozen shirtless studs with rock-hard abs to pamper her for a trial or so. And after that, she will drink enough to make Illaren jealous.’”
Hannes raised an eyebrow at the female Knight’s deadpan delivery. Somehow Yana doubted that they’d been given a direct quote, but it got the message across anyway. She nodded mostly to herself, and one of the other Knights stepped forward as the woman fell back.
“First of, the Mer have fished a corpse out of the water. Light burns on the skin and clothes, deep gash in the side of the neck. From the looks of it, he was stabbed with something wide and flat, but slightly curved. Irregular shape. Severed one of the major arteries in the neck. Guy didn’t live too long after that.”
Yana and Hannes exchanged a knowing glance, knowing what the other was thinking. The body was their next stop.
“Eyewitnesses saw the crew scramble to leave the ship in a hurry, some jumping into the water, others leaping for the docks. Then the first flames spread to the deck, and well, people knew why. According to the testimony of some of the dockhands, most of the crew who’d stayed behind on the ship were helping out trying to get the fire under control. However, after the ship sank, they were nowhere to be found. They think they headed to one of the dockside pubs to gather up some liquid courage to face the wrath of Thorned Lilly –who I assume is their Captain. Some other of the older dockworkers told me the same thing. Likely, they are waiting for the Captain to return. Or they’re getting their story to line up. Who knows.”
“Have you searched the taverns yet?”
“No Captain. I gathered information as ordered, then returned here. I figured it was best to understand the situation first, then follow leads later. Also the descriptions given to me pretty much apply to most of the types walking around these places, so I thought it would be inefficient--” Yana could feel him carefully pick out the word, as if the man had chosen it specifically to appease her. She knew for a fact he had. How many times had she ranted about efficiency to them? Too many times. Her white Eídisi eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but she didn’t interrupt. “—to go chase around needles in a haystack. At least until we can get someone who knows these people to point them out--”
The Yludih waved her hand, cutting him off.
“That will be enough, Ser Taine. Thank you.”
Kurt closed his jaw midsentence, teeth colliding. One of these trials she’d order him to stop doing that, but not now. When her patience wore out, sure, but not right now.
“Ser Voyce, do you have anything interesting to add?”
At her words, the last present Knight perked up, stepping forward confidently. His facial expression reminded her of a toddler who knew the answer to a tricky question.
“I have something you’ll find quite interesting, Captain,” he said, mentally rubbing his hands together. “Most people who knew something told me the same as they did Kurt. The crew being present during the efforts to extinguish the fire, them probably being in a pub somewhere--” From the corner of her eye, Yana saw Hannes make a gesture towards the man to get on with it. Knight Voyce coughed briefly. “Hm. Right, anyway. Some people report having seen a hooded figure leave the ship not even a bit before the crew abandoned ship.”
A frown creased Yana’s periwinkle brow.
“A hooded figure, you say?”
“Yes Captain. Hooded figure. The kind with the hood pulled almost too far over their face so they don’t see a thing anymore. Dodgy type. Walked off the gangplank and headed straight into the crowd. Determined not to turn around. Even when the ship was ablaze, they kept walking.”
That was indeed interesting. Very interesting. A suspicious figure leaving a ship mere moments before it went up in flames? No coincidence there. Every single one of the Knights present knew it too.
“Any details?”
“Given the body type, most likely a woman. Or a really effeminate man. About this tall--” he held a hand up with the palm down rather than put it in words “—but that’s all we have on her.”
“That is all?”
“Well, most didn’t notice her, and those who did saw her from the back or the side.” He scratched his head, struggling to remember. “Oh, wait, there was something. Someone did see something. Well, it was more a glimpse, so take this with a grain of salt--”
“Get to the point, Ser Voyce,” the false Eídisi sighed.
“Fat lips.”
“Fat…lips?” Hannes echoed, eyebrows raised.
“You heard me,” Samuel Voyce stated, completely straight-faced. “Some real plump suckers. Luscious dick sucking lips.”
“Right, thank you, Ser Voyce,” Yana stopped him before he threw more synonyms out there, pressing her own thin, strict-looking lips together as she mulled over the new pieces of the puzzle.
What they got was a disappointingly little amount of information, but it was better than absolutely nothing at all.
“Captain,” a new voice called out, an Ithecal in the leather armor of the Iron hand Knights walked up to the little group, saluting briefly before continuing. “The Captain of the Strom Breaker has arrived. She’s waiting for you in the Scurvy Scallywag Pub.”
