They sat and read in silence for a few hours. Xan knew he was being supremely unproductive, but the storm was still going strong and thus there wasn’t much work for him to be doing.

Finn sat next to him blazing through the bestiary. He’d always been a voracious reader. This book seemed to have an emphasis on aquatic supernaturals. He’d never been allowed to touch the bestiaries back home. They had always been safeguarded. What he knew were from the stories that his parents, elders, and friends shared. Reading about so many new beings, many of which he’d never even heard of, was fascinating.

He was almost finished with an extensive chapter on sirens when a throat cleared next to him.

“I don’t want to interrupt but I thought maybe you’d like dinner?” Xan had heard the human traffic clearing in the halls which meant they were probably at the end of the last meal for the day.

Finn didn’t have a chance to respond before his stomach answered for him with a fussy growl. He was a bit embarrassed but food was necessary and didn’t appear to be withheld here.

“Would you like to come with me to the galley? I think it’s past meal time so it should be fairly quiet and most of the men will be back in their bunks.”

Finn nodded and set his book aside. He pulled on his shoes and followed Xan out of the cabin for the first time since he’d been dragged on board.

The hallways were quiet, and with no one in sight.

The blue glow of the torches was unnatural and a little unnerving to Finn. There wasn’t much to see but Finn at least knew where to find the galley was now.

When they arrived, Finn saw two men tidying up.

“Think we can grab two more rations before you close up for the night?”

The two men turned to greet Xan before their eyes immediately found Finn behind him.

“We were almost finished cleaning” he whined “but I guess we could do that.” Blay let out a big sigh. He was always dramatic and always there to give Xan a hard time.

“Thank you, how noble.” Two could play at this game.

“It really is, we could just send you to bed with no supper.”

“Like you’d ever turn someone away hungry.”

“For you” his eyes made a sweep across Xan. “I might make an exception.”

Xan laughed. He turned his head and saw Finn halfway hiding behind him, halfway peeking around listening to Blay and him banter. He ushered him forward further into the kitchen.

“This is Dimitri,” he motioned towards the tall, quiet man. “He’s the head cook, his food is great, and he’s not a pain in the ass.”

Dimitri gave Finn a smile but otherwise continued gathering and putting together their meal.

“And this” Xan nodded towards another tall man, this one broader with close-cropped hair and a big goofy grin on his face. “This is Blay, the assistant cook, resident mouth, and residual thorn in my side.”

“I also prep your food so you might want to be a little nicer, hmm.”

“Was that mean?” Blay shot him a look, but they both laughed.

“What’s your name, kid?”

It took Finn a moment to realize someone was asking him a question. He jumped a little when he glanced over and realized Dimitri was leaning forward waiting for an answer.

“Finn.”

“Where are you from?”

“It was a little village called Wellspring.”

Finn wouldn’t meet Dimitri’s eyes and he could see a sore subject so he dropped it.

“Well, I think your food is ready and with no help from Blay so maybe it’ll actually be good.”

Blay let out an indignant squawk.

They shared a laugh at Blay’s expense while he pretended to pout. Xan could see the apprehension still written across Finn’s face. He’d also seen the way the kid tensed when Dimitri had asked about home so he thought it best they retreat back to his cabin.

He quickly and subtly dismissed them from the galley and led the way back to his quarters.

“They seem nice.”

His voice startled Xan out of the silence.

“They are. I’ve been friends with Dimitri and Blay for a long time. They’re good men.”

“You mean Blay hasn’t tried to poison you yet?”

Xan laughed “Not yet but we’ll see what the future holds.”

The atmosphere between them felt a little warmer as they ate. Finn thought about the moments in the kitchen. How Xan and Blay had been joking around, Dimitri had been silent but smiling and everyone seemed to laugh and enjoy the company. It seemed so much more friendly than he’d imagined a pirate ship being.

Maybe he would be okay here.

“How was the book?”

Finn started at Xan’s voice breaking him from musings.

“It’s good I was in the middle of the chapter about sirens.”

“Ooo, sirens. What’d you think?”

He and Xan continued their discussion based around the aquatic supernaturals he’d been reading about. Xan was a wealth of knowledge and Finn couldn’t stop himself from asking every question that came to mind.

Xan was surprised by how talkative he’d finally gotten Finn but he was enjoying talking and sharing what he knew. With the glow in Finn’s eyes he couldn’t have said no if he’d wanted to.

Their conversation continued even after they curled up into bed. Finn trying to ask one more question but drifted off to sleep halfway through.

Xan tried not to laugh out loud and made sure Finn was tucked in, nice and cozy.