A Galley Procured

[ThurnockScormus]

~ A wide brimmed hat covering Brinlars head not needed at
this early ahn, but soon it will be, as la-torvis rises and the heat
increases 2 fold every ahn. He enters the shipyards, looking for Gitambi the
builder, but..am eye out for the massive carpenter Thurnock, who has decided he will be
involved with all the repairs to the Quietus...under the "direction" of
Gitambi, of course. Traversing the rows of vessels upon on raised blocks,
undergoing various stages of repair or construction, the tall dashing pirate
known on Thassa as the Sleen of Cos sees the smooth lines and tarnshead ram
of his beloved ship, a warm feeling settling in his belly ...soon she will
ply the swells of Thassa again, to hunt her chosen prey. He just stands
there..watching men moving over her decking and around her hull, almost
forgetting his main reason for coming here~


::a rence rag wrapped around Thurnocks head crossing his
forehead, catching the sweat that was pouring from his brow, his right arm
lifting and dropping a loud thud heard as the spikes were driven into place,
the rippling of his shoulders could be seen as he brought the massive arm back up
dropping the hammer back down, setting it to the side he turned the large
torso bending at the waist to reach for another plank, as he came upright he
would turn left setting it in to place and butting it up against the adjoining one a notch being cut in it to go around the railing he had
finished in the days before. His left arm lifting, the back of his forearm brought
against his eyes wiping the sweat that had escaped the cloth he reached for a
bowl dipping it in the barrel to bring to his lips a much needed drink of
water

~~A Traveling gaze finally locates the large one atop the
stern castle..Kings..it is hard to miss him, he's white for one thing..wherein
the majority of those workers surrounding him are not, and secondly..he
towers over all. Scaling one of the ladders resting against the Quietus
hull, Brinlar pauses once he reaches the deck and...still grinning, calls up
to him~ Thurnock! do you ever rest, oh large one??

::hearing Brinlar he turned his head, steel gray eyes to
look at him, he chuckled as he set the bowl back in its place:: What's rest
Cap'n? ::the amusement clearly showed as the man seemed to thrive on the
physical challenge the job afforded him::


::He set his kajira by a slave ring near the entrance to the
shipyard, carefully choosing a ring that would be in shade for the whole day
if need be. He set down a bota of water and a small loaf of bread by her
side. "I must go alone into this place, you will be safe her Tara. Keep your
body covered and do not tempt men, else I may let them use you and then I
will remove your flesh with my whip, do you understand girl?" She pouted and
nodded then Salty went through the gates and began to wander around, looking for
the one whom he had heard rumors of in the paga den.::

~ His grin widens and he beckons Thurnock from his
position~ Come down and walk wityh me, my friend...while I seek out
Gitambi...~ Brinlar then descends the ladder to the gorund again and waits
for Thurnock to join him~

::before moving and as he heard Brinlar he scooped a ladle
full of water out of the barrel and leaned a bit pouring it over his head,
giving it a shake a spray of water made, the drops of water flashing in the
rays of la-torvis he looked to him with a nod and set the scooper down, taking
a towel he wiped his face and pushed aside his tools as his massive frame
moved towards the planks bending under his weight as he walked half way
down, then hopped to the dock below with a thud. Walking towards Brinlar::
Whats up Cap'n? ::he called out before him as he approached. as was his
custom he worked with only a pair of breeches and heavy boots, covered in ships
of wood and left over metal scrapings he came to a stop next to him::

::It only took him a few Ehns to find the only two white men
in the shipyard and another Ehn to determine which one of the two was the man
Salty wished to watch and then speak to. He found a shady spot from which he
could watch the two men....by the Kings, he mused to himself, they are giants,
just like the black man...he shivered a bit, he would not want to face any of
them over steel. He decided to wait where he was, having a feeling that they
would soon be aware of his presence in the yard and by sitting, he would
show he was no threat to them.::


~ Clapping a large hand on Thurnock sweaty shoulder, Brinlar
leans close and lowers his voice as he replies to the mans query.To any that
watch it looks like a jovial discussion, but looks to any that perhaps single out the only two white-skinned men in the yards a pleasant meeting.~ Have you seen Gitambi? I wish to lease a river galley from him. I will discuss more as we go look for him.


::he leaned listening as Brinlar spoke, his brow creased as
his eyes lifted to meet his, a quirk to the side of his mouth set his half
grin in place, he stood more upright and looked around, his eyes scanning
those other workers on the docks, a shake of his head as he spoke:: no Cap'n not
as of yet today ::then a nod was given as he moved to walk with him, a last
glance given upwards to where he had been on the deck as if checking on
something first, then a look back to him::


"Well, the dark-skinned one should be in his office, it is
where he usually can be found once la torvis rises above the tree line of the
jungles..~Chuckling as he turns and moves in that direction, booted feet
sculling up small clouds of dust. He continues his low conversation~ I
have engaged us in a quest of sorts, Thurnock" ~ Grinning that grin of his,
the one that those who know him understand all too well~


::the deep low chuckle would be heard as the look indeed
was well understood, the rays of la-torvis beating down were brutal as the
booted feet met the ground beneath them his eyes were kept mostly in front of him, yet hearing of the "guest" he did have to glace back at him twice:: A quest ... ::was all
that would be put into words at the moment, usually meant profit, not
something he necessarily understood yet, but it did in fact pique the carpenters
interest::


~silver-flecked eyes of an uncommon hue of gray sparkle
brightly as he glances up a bit to the slightly taller man~ Aye....you need
to locate Renn and Mateo for me..tell them we need to meet at the harbor,
near the west end. I : will have the galley I need acquire from Gitambi moored
there. All else I will say right now is...~those eyes of his verily glowing
now~ is that it is beyond your imaginings....


::he may be large, he may be a carpenter, but he was far
from being one without common sense and a good mind. As his words filtered
to him he paused his steps and turned a bit more to face him, the grin
broadened to a smile as a nod was afforded him, a light of it's own came
to his blue gray hues, one the captain himself would recognize
the slight dilation of his pupils quickly went back to
the normal size the idea of this quest becoming more intriguing as
thoughts went through his mind:: Aye Cap'n


~the threshold of the builders office, a medium-sized shack
of sun-baked plankings and a woven roof, Brinlar steps up and thumps the door
twice loudly~ Gitambi! Come on out, Schendian...and bake along with the rest
of us! ~teeth white and even as lips split in a grin, he hears
mutterings inside then the door creaks open, the portly form swathed in loose
flowing robes moving into the shade of the porch~ Oh...Lugo of Bazi...what a
most pleasant surprise...~ After the elapsed time the Quietus has been in
dry dock for repairs has not enamored Brinlar of Gitambi, nor the builder of
the rakish pirate~ Brinlar's smile never reaching his eyes though, those are like liquid quicksilver as he replies~ Aye..my day is complete having seen you again also, builder. But..I am not here today to argue the status of my ship. I am in need of a river galley..light
class...you will lease me one for a fair price, aye? ~The tension builds in the
shimmering air quickly as both eyes the other~


::Salty watched the two men closely. A thought came into his
mind, the girl Asi from the Oasis of the Two Scimitars....the girl could read
lips. Salty smiled, if only she was with him now...he had never been able to
catch on to her ability and she had tried several times to teach him. The
sun had moved so Salty was obliged to move also, to stay in the shade...the
heat was one matter, but the humidity, it seemed to suck the strength from a
man's body even as he only sat quietly.::


::himself not thinking much of the tension between the two but one that
could and would easily disuage some of it he looked past the open door and
into the office before letting his gaze shift back to him, the look in them perhaps
telling as he understood the relationship between the two he studied Gitambi's face as he spoke to Brinlar in his quiet tone:: Cap'n ::as he flashed a grin of his own::
I'm thinking that we might discuss this over a large bowl of paga and a Kajirae or three to sweeten the deal? I'm sure his price will be fair ::he had to chuckle::
::he looked back to Gitambi, the air between the Captain and he was charged that was true, but Thurnock had a way of setting situations like this as ease, it seemed to be a forte of his, and understanding the Captain as he did only lent to his abilities to defuse them, small or large::


~Gitambi glances at Thurnock eye level with the man even
though he stands on the raised porch of his office, and loftily agrees~ your
carpenter is wise as well as skilled, "pirate" ~ no doubt in his mind what
Brinlar is, disdain dripping from his mouth, narrowed eyes focused on Brinlar
standing in the bright morning sun~ I had thought to steal him away from
you, he is worth 3 of the sleen here that I employ..~Brinlars eyes narrow as
well,but he just smiles that disarming smile he possesses and mutters~ That
is his choice to make, builder. I need no drink and false pleasantries with
you, so I will state what I want again..a galley. ~jingling the pouch hung at
his belt~ What.... my coin not good enough for your coffers? I will leave you
this whole pouch..as retainer..for i do not know how long i will have need of
your galley


::Salty could hear the sound of many coins clinking against
each other. He smiled, the sound was telling him he had indeed found the man
he was seeking. He kept his place, sitting in the shade. They would find
him soon enough, especially since the black laborers kept far away from where
he sat....they did not often, if ever, see a man of the desert in Schendi and
one seemingly without any fear of them and their numbers.::


::hearing the words of the builder, his laughter came
easily, Thurnock was loyal to the Captain, it would take more than gold to
sway him, unusual he knew for one of the thassa and on a pirates vessel he
simply shook his head::
::Gitambi giving his own flash of an arrogant grin looked
at the pouch then up to Brinlar:: Coin is coin, I'll see to a galley for you
As for the carpenter ::he shrugged:: I'm sure he can ::he held out his hand for the pouch, a look given directly at his eye, the tension seemed to build between them as Thurnock chimed his reply:: The Cap'n's not here to argue with you carpenter, simply to make a business deal and go back to the business at hand. I know you to be fair in working with you ::as he looked back then to Brinlar::
Of course Cap'n if he weren't I could nail his feet to the deck ::he laughed at the thought of the builder not being able to move:: but I don't think that will be necessary ::Gitambi cutting his gaze back to Thurnock then to the
Captain his own eyes sparking at first then backing down to the arrogant
pirate:: Aye, I'll see you have what you need, and at a fair price


~Tossing the robed man the pouch, Brinlar nods once then
comments~ Send the galley to the west wharf..slip 33 by nightfall. Now..I
will not take up anymore of your precious time, Schendian....~starting to
move away, he pauses then turns back and adds~ Oh..and the Quietus will be seaworthy once I return with your galley, aye? ~ a brief flash of the intent in his
silver-grays as he stares cooly at the portly shipwright. Gitambi nods ,
expressionless, and turns back inside his offices, Brinlar moving towards the exit,
espying another man of lighter-hued flesh sitting in the shade~


::Salty's eyelids were half-shut, the custom of his people,
but did not miss the one called captain, turn his head and see Salty sitting
in the shade. Salty nodded his head, just a tad and remained seated.::


::Gitambi catching the pouch curling his calloused fingers
around it slipped it in his belt, a look back at Brinlar his lips curled back
over his teeth in almost sneered smile soon lost on Brinlars words:: ::the door closed he moved back to his table doing quick calculations. Thurnock turned with Brinlar as the two walked he too looked over seeing the man::


~Well..the man obviously is not a laborer or builder, so
Brinlar..being one who disallows out of the ordinary to go unquestioned,
moves a bit closer and raises his hand up, palm inward~ Tal..~ noting the
crossed scimitars the man carries~ Enjoying the heat?


::He had the patience of a stone, as did all of his
kind.....one did not rush around in the Tahari. There was a saying among his
fold, "All things come to the man that waits." good advice, it saved a
man's strength, reduced the amount of water he needed.::
::"Greetings, I am seeking the man called captain, or as some
call him, pirate" the last words spoken lightly and a genuine smile on his
face. "I believe you are that man effendi, yes?"::


::he stayed back a bit, only a step or two behind Brinlar
casually watching the intercourse between the two of them. His own gaze
shifting over Salty perhaps in his own way to assess him. Slipping himself
more into the shade, glad for the reprieve it offered he crossed his huge arms over
the expanse of his chest looking up through the trees at the position of the
lar torvis, it might seem he was distracted but as he looked back to Salty as
he spoke he caught each word and nuance afforded between the two of them::


~Brinlar's smile that is offered is a cool one, few here
know his trade, if it could be called such~ Aye..I am called Captain by some.
I am ...Lugo..of Bazi..Captain of the ram ship Quietus..and you are...?


::"I am called Salty, my tribe name will not be spoken as I
speak now only for myself. May I ask but two questions of you?"::


::his repose relaxed as was Thurnocks way, he stood simply
listening to the dialogue, it not being really his business he took a step
back leaning against the large tem to his side and whistled low a tune of the
thassa::


~his eyes narrow just a bit, making the iris' even more pronounced than usual~ <q> You may ask whatever questions you wish..wether I choose to respond or not is my choice...


::Salty's ears caught the sound of the whistling, strange to
his ears and the man's face seemed somehow screwed up...he turned to
Thurnock, "Are you ill, your face and that sound, what is wrong with you?


::blue gray hues came to rest on Salty's face, a quirked
grin and low chuckle as he tipped his head to the side, to him whistling as
he worked or simply to pass the time:: You've never heard a whistle? ::the amusement in his gaze would speak not only to the humor he found in the situation but the surprise
he held::


~ Brinlar's expression one of amusement, listening to the question and subsequent reply, and he watches the man, waiting for him to ask his questions~


::Salty shook his head and leaned his face to get a better look at the man's face.."We have whistles of reed made to call hunting birds and kaiila, your custom is new to me, but I digress" and he turned back to Brinlar. "My first question, do you know the huge black man called Arculeius?"


::he muttered low as the response was made:: well damn,
and here I thought it was the call of the wild ::his shoulders shook with
unheard laughter as he heard the following of the question to the Captain::


~ A single brow raises up at that name, but perhaps this one was sent by Arculeius..or..perhaps he was sent by Krakatoa..so Brinlars reply is noncommittal~ Aye..I know one such a man...I meet many here in the dens and gathering places. It serve my purposes to speak to many.....why do you ask?


"My second question will answer your question. Should I trust his word?"


::his amusement still held though contained he quietly looked to Salty, the question at first asked by the Captain seemed to have been lost in Salty's eagerness to ask his second question then hearing it answered then seemed to have been taken care of he looked between the two of them, his gaze now shifting to Brinlar::


~Ahh..a game of questions..well..he can play this as well
as any. His teeth flash as he smiles disarmingly~ In what context do you
refer to his word? I do not know the man well enough to vouch for him, unless
I know specifics. As I have just met you, I would wonder why you seek out one here
not of this city to ask..~ silver-grays sparkle and he crosses arms over his
chest and eyes the man~


::Salty nodded, his respect for the captain had increased
measurably. "The man wishes to engage my service for a skill that he needs
and mentioned a sum of money that I find agreeable. However, I have made
inquiries about his ability to pay and few in Schendi will even admit to knowing
the man. I then thought perhaps a gentleman such as yourself, a captain of a
large vessel, might have had dealings with the man." Salty smiled and spread
his hands out in front of his body, palms turned up, "A humble tradesman such as
myself must know if he will be paid for his services.."


~He has to laugh as the self-description Salty offers,
eyeing his blades and the unconscious posture of a warrior~ Humble tradesman,
eh? ~Well..I..also being but a humble merchant captain in my own right can
tell you this. His employer will guarantee whatever monies he agrees to
pay..this much I know. ~ This one cannot be from Krakatoa...having met
Arculeius that 1st time he had raised the same questions himself~


::his hand raised as it ran through his sweat dampened hair,
he would idly listen to the conversation as he again set to his low whistle,
perhaps seeming to some distracted by the scenery in close proximity to
them::


::Salty smiled and made a small bow to Brinlar. "I am
grateful to you for your time and information. I shall not trouble you
further ah, captain. Perhaps I shall meet you and your friend again and you
will permit me to buy you black wine? I must leave you now, my beast is chained to the gate and is undoubtedly in desperate need of my use. May you always have
water, may you always have salt." He turned about and walked swiftly from the
shipyard.


~ he nods~ Be well then..perhaps a drink and conversation will be in order.


::he watched as Salty departed, then looked to Brinlar as he pushed from the tem finally, his whistle stopped, he chuckled:: Imagine that Cap'n he never heard a man whistle! ::turning he walked with Brinlar back towards the moored ship, a silent parting of ways as the carpenter made his way up the ladder to fetch his fishing pole and find in his wanderings a shaded spot
to fish for a time::