Elowyn had never felt more uncomfortable. The dress was tight around the waist, loose around the chest, and too long. Apparently, the previous owner was taller and more of a feminine figure than Elowyn. But when pondered further, she realized this wasn't very difficult to do given Elowyn's short, plank appearance. She silently prayed that she would begin to grow a chest soon.
Elowyn didn't think she would be able to eat that much food. She had to keep her stomach sucked in to keep the dress from bursting. But shockingly, she did eat a lot. Thanan food was so different from Suditian that she felt she needed to try everything on the table. The captain joked that they would run out of food if she ate like that every day. Elowyn apologized.
"I've never had Thanan food before."
"No need to apologize my dear. We want you to enjoy yourself." He smiled. Chord was smiling at her as well.
"Did Nevarian traders visit Cera often?" Chord asked.
"Sometimes, but mostly traded with Thanans."
"If you don't mind my asking, how is it you came to speak Nevarian so well?"
"My guardian taught me. She thought I should learn my native language so she learned from traders on the mainland."
"Wise woman." The Captain responded.
"Yes, she is. And how is it Thanan sailors all know Nevarian?"
"It is taught in our schools. Nevar and Thana are so similar in dialect, both countries teach both languages."
"It is a shame you didn't learn Nevarian etiquette as well. That may have been more useful." Erik added.
Elowyn looked down. Laying next to her plate was silver cutlery. She had ignored them and used her hands the whole time, as was the Suditian way. She slowly set her food down and put her hands in her lap. She could feel her face getting warm.
"Erik!" The Captain frowned at him.
"I'm sorry miss if my words have offended you," Erik said mechanically, "Excuse me." He stood and left the Captain's cabin.
"You'll have to pardon my apprentice. He will be a brilliant soldier and sailor, but he has no manners."
Elowyn smiled and shrugged.
"Probably a result of being raised at sea don't you think?" Chord added.
"Raised at sea?" Elowyn tried to discreetly drink a sip of wine. It was bitter and hard to swallow, but she forced herself to without making a face.
"Yes," the Captain replied, "Erik's father is of some prominence in Thana. When Erik turned ten, his father gave him a choice: become a soldier or a sailor. So he chose a sailor. He's been in my care ever since."
"That seems a bit sad. To grow up away from one's family."
"Yes, I suppose it is. But such is the way of Thana," the Captain sighed. Elowyn nodded.
After dinner, Elowyn and Chord sat out on the deck and watched the stars. Elowyn shifted, trying to get in a position where her dress wasn't stabbing her.
"Are you well? You don't seem very comfortable." Chord laughed.
"It's the dress," Elowyn confessed. "It doesn't quite fit me."
"You don't have to wear it any longer."
"Oh thank the gods," she exhaled. Without thinking about it, she tore the dress off. Beneath it she wore Thanan undergarments, which still covered more skin than she was accustomed to.
"I didn't mean now... but I suppose that is all right." Chord laughed again.
"Oh!" Elowyn remembered now that Thanan women were generally very modest, never showing their legs.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Elowyn flushed. "It's just that in Cera, most women hardly wear any clothing at all. I don't mean that I didn't wear clothing. I did. Suditian clothing was the only thing that made me look like I belonged. Without it, I would stand out even more..." She trailed off, realizing she probably wasn't helping the situation.
"Don't worry. I've been to Suditi many times. I am familiar with their customs. And I know how you feel. I grew up the second son of a Thanan Lord. I was expected to wear fancy clothing so I would fit in. But I hated it. The first opportunity I had I ran away and became a palace guard."
“You aren’t a sailor? Why are you on the ship?”
“I’m here for a different reason. To protect someone.”
“Who?”
“Well, you now.”
Elowyn felt warm in the pit of her stomach. Chord was her protector. She sighed and looked back up to the sky. Looming high above the ship was a deck-like structure that wrapped around the mast. She pointed to it.
"What is that?"
Chord looked up. "That's a crow's nest. It is for the lookout."
"May I go up there?"
"It's pretty high. I don't think it would be a good idea..."
"Oh please? I have no fear of heights. I could climb the trees on Cera better than any of the men."
Chord looked confused.
"I guess..."
Elowyn jumped up and ran to the bottom of the mast. She began climbing the ropes with Chord following close behind. She glanced down and saw Erik watching them, a look of disapproval on his face.
"I don't think he likes me!" Elowyn shouted back to Chord.
"He doesn't like anyone!" He responded.
In the crow's nest, there was only sky. Despite the waves, Elowyn could see the stars reflected in the water. She didn't care that she was cramped between Chord and the watchman, she felt as if she were floating. She looked at Chord, who was looking at her.
"Could you teach me?" She suddenly asked.
"Teach you what?"
"Teach me Thanan customs. I want to act like a Thanan."
Chord frowned. "Elowyn, you needn't be ashamed of being raised as a Suditian..."
"I'm not," she hurried, "I just... I want to know what it's like. I want to... belong. I don't want to get to Thana and feel as if I know nothing."
He looked at her with uncertainty. After a ponderous moment, he nodded.
"I'll have to get permission from the Captain." Elowyn smiled.
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