The food, the drink and a lot of the entertainment was free. Why not take advantage of it? Blessed by Cassion, and all that entailed so far as his appetites and heightened sense of daring, what else would he have done. It appeared he could indulge as he pleased, much more than ever before, without paying too high a price. The young man had never lacked for self-confidence. That inclination too had been subjected to a recent boost.
The stone in his pocket was a puzzle, but only for a couple trills. The woman who was apparently observing him supplied the answer before he could ask the question. "Lucky?" he shot back with a grin. "Are you sure?" Or was it bad luck instead? Lots of women around this part of the festivities, he noticed. When she explained, well, he hoped he might never need to find out if it did as reported, or not. Surely that would be a move of desperation. But since he and Vega intended to spend much more time on the seas than ever before, well, you just never knew. Nice to have the thing on hand in a pinch, and he thanked the woman for the information.
The blue concoction in the vial though captured his interest. A little suspicious, Arlo thought. She was taking swigs from the stuff and apparently thought he'd turn her down. But what was a servant of Cassion if not curious and daring? Just a sip then, and he did before going off on his way. He'd dropped the gypsy stone back in his pocket, and then oddly enough found a second stone in the other. This time, a red one.
***
He'd just been thinking that it was getting late, and he might just return to the Wanderlust. In fact Arlo had turned on his heel, back in that direction when he heard a woman's scream pierce the night. So much so that it cut through all the noises of revelry. It was bad enough, and he'd stopped to look back in the direction he thought it had come from. Would Cassion just turn away then? Probably not. The Immortal wasn't known for turning a blind eye or deaf ear towards that sort of thing. Doubtless there was trouble, afoot, but Arlo was well armed.
It was when men started grabbing women and children, none of them seeming to want to be grabbed, that Arlo thought of intervening. Who would want to be dragged towards the scene of a terrified scream after all? But there was also a sense of community at the docks, and since the Wanderlust was docked here too, then she was part of it. He wouldn't guess why the men were dragging the others or assume they were being kidnapped. There were simply too many to take on at once. Considering that then, that ship seemed the place to be so he headed there as well,
choosing a boarding plank if there was one, or a rope ladder if there wasn't.
The stone in his pocket was a puzzle, but only for a couple trills. The woman who was apparently observing him supplied the answer before he could ask the question. "Lucky?" he shot back with a grin. "Are you sure?" Or was it bad luck instead? Lots of women around this part of the festivities, he noticed. When she explained, well, he hoped he might never need to find out if it did as reported, or not. Surely that would be a move of desperation. But since he and Vega intended to spend much more time on the seas than ever before, well, you just never knew. Nice to have the thing on hand in a pinch, and he thanked the woman for the information.
The blue concoction in the vial though captured his interest. A little suspicious, Arlo thought. She was taking swigs from the stuff and apparently thought he'd turn her down. But what was a servant of Cassion if not curious and daring? Just a sip then, and he did before going off on his way. He'd dropped the gypsy stone back in his pocket, and then oddly enough found a second stone in the other. This time, a red one.
***
He'd just been thinking that it was getting late, and he might just return to the Wanderlust. In fact Arlo had turned on his heel, back in that direction when he heard a woman's scream pierce the night. So much so that it cut through all the noises of revelry. It was bad enough, and he'd stopped to look back in the direction he thought it had come from. Would Cassion just turn away then? Probably not. The Immortal wasn't known for turning a blind eye or deaf ear towards that sort of thing. Doubtless there was trouble, afoot, but Arlo was well armed.
It was when men started grabbing women and children, none of them seeming to want to be grabbed, that Arlo thought of intervening. Who would want to be dragged towards the scene of a terrified scream after all? But there was also a sense of community at the docks, and since the Wanderlust was docked here too, then she was part of it. He wouldn't guess why the men were dragging the others or assume they were being kidnapped. There were simply too many to take on at once. Considering that then, that ship seemed the place to be so he headed there as well,
choosing a boarding plank if there was one, or a rope ladder if there wasn't.
