They returned to the ship. Xasan kept trying to prompt Brysys for an opinion of her afternoon, but she managed to distract him by asking questions about the town. It wasn’t difficult because everything she saw was novel. She just let her mouth say everything her mind came up with for a while. Xasan was pleased to inform her, he enjoyed showing off his city, and he was often too busy to go around with newcomers.

When they reached the Maiden he went to get changed and she took a seat on deck to wait. He promised that he wouldn’t be long. Most of the sailors were long gone, out to enjoy the town while they were docked. They’d come back sometime late in the night to pass out for a few hours before doing it all again the next day.It was all anyone had been able to talk about for the past several days.

Although they’d had many conversations about drinking and escorts, she hadn’t gotten a full picture of the sheer variety Trove could offer. It was a proper city, albeit laid out differently than any she’d seen. Deelah had mentioned something about going to a blacksmith, but none of them had talked about all the services offered. A matchmaker? In a city like this? Why would they even need that? 

Deelah arrived as though she were summoned, over her back she carried a large fishing net that was bulging with various spikes. Brysys tried to lean and get a better look but her outfit and hairstyle prevented her. 

“You’ve been busy,” Deelah noted as a way of greeting.

“Mm, as have you. Are those all for the ship?” The mesh was fine so she couldn’t see it very clearly, but it looked like she had a bear trap in the assortment!

“These are for me, actually. Just good to be well supplied, never know where you’ll end up.” Brysys nodded along. Those were words to live by. She certainly hadn’t anticipated ending up in her current situation. “What’s with the getup? I almost hate to ask.”

“Dinner, apparently. With Xasan’s fathers.”

It was time for Deelah to return a sage nod. “Good luck.”

Would she need luck? “You’ve met them?”

“Oh, aye.”

“What are they like?” She’d met the one so briefly, and hadn’t really talked with him.

Deelah shrugged and set her bag down on the deck for a more comfortable chat. “I liked them. Learned how to sail on their ship. Wasn't too bad, actually, probably would have stayed if Captain Fancy Hat wasn’t paying me so well.” She grinned at her own private thoughts. “Of course, I wasn’t being introduced as his girlfriend, was I?”

Brysys opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Deelah continued instead. “Sorry, or was that fiancee? So hard to keep track of your whirlwind romance!”

“It’s just a misunderstanding,” Brysys managed. “We’re clearing it all up at dinner.”

Deelah looked her over again with an expression full of innocence. “Oh, yes, that dress sure says clearing things up to me!” She shouldn’t tease the girl, she knew Brysys wasn’t as equipped to handle sarcasm as Xasan, but she’d been doing it for so long she didn’t really know how to stop. “But Seriously, you look- uncomfortable.”

“I can barely breathe,” Brysys confessed.

“Aye,” there was no way he’d have gotten her into something like that. She would have just stabbed him and dealt with the consequences. She’d never minded them before. “Think my day went better than yours, but enjoy dinner. At least the food will be good.” She’d always enjoyed eating with them. Good company, and there was a reason Xasan employed some of the best chefs he could find, it’s what he was used to growing up. He’d never survive on normal sea faire. 

Xasan appeared a moment later, looking more like a peacock than usual. “Well, that’s my cue,” Deelah excused herself, picking up her things again. “Enjoy dinner.”

Xasan frowned at the sack she was carrying. “Do you think we’ll need all of that?”

“With you? There’s no telling.” He conceded her point. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a night of drinking ahead of me that I’m sure to forget.”

Xasan grinned. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

“Oh, I absolutely will,” she promised before disappearing from sight. 

He turned towards Brysys when Deelah left and offered her a hand. With her body caged as it was she’d hardly manage alone. Those dresses weren’t practical or comfortable, but they were nice to look at. He could hardly look away, in fact.  It was obvious that Brysys was beautiful, even in the perfunctory, practical clothing and hair she normally wore. It wasn’t that she smelled badly before, or was overly dirty, but she was beautiful in an entirely different way than he was used to seeing her. That’s probably why it was so difficult not to stare, he was just noticing all the little changes. 

He was a painter, after all. It was basically his job to observe the look of things so he could capture them on canvas. It was an important skill that he needed to hone at all times.

“Are we ready?” 

Her words drew him from his contemplation. “Yes! Yes, of course. I was just admiring Vanysa’s handiwork.”

Brysys smiled, her voice turning saccharine, “You weren’t staring at her handiwork.”

“Oh? Wasn’t I? I must have been distracted by something.” He flashed her a smile and she chuckled in a way that assured him she hadn’t taken offense to his admiration. 

They walked together along the ship docks which were also, in a way, the market plaza. Brysys asked questions at first about what to expect from dinner, but Xasan was cagey in his answers. A brief check around told her why. If they had to go through all of this just because they were seen together, then being overheard discussing his fathers was also a bad idea. 

Or maybe he was just concerned that someone would try to poison them if they heard too much. Apparently that was something she needed to be worried about. Her hand rubbed unconsciously at the place the needle had pierced her, although it no longer hurt. It was just so rude to try and kill a stranger, and for what? Dinner with someone who literally never mentioned you outside of the context of your job. Pathetic.

Since she couldn’t get any useful information out of him, Brysys made small talk with Xasan as they journeyed to his father’s ship. He wasn’t inclined to talk about his plans in Trove, or where they might journey afterwards, but he was plenty eager to joke about Terry’s dancing and if he’d ever considered a new hairstyle. It was all so frivolous and shallow. She hoped he’d be more open to these discussions once they were alone.

“Hmm, they must be here long term,” He murmured when the vessel came into view. They were tucked away in a corner, where it was easy to stay out of the way of passing ships. Those only staying a few days or weeks often docked closer to the exit, so there was less hassle when they were preparing to leave. 

The ship was impressive, but not at all how Brysys would have imagined a renowned pirate ship. She’d have pictured something a bit rugged and unkempt, with black sails and an aura of death. This ship was beautiful. The light wood sported carvings on the outside of various sea creatures, winding their way around the planks that gave way to the upper decks. The railings looked like they belonged on a castle’s staircase not a ship at sea, the balusters twisted around like waves cascading over each other.

She wouldn’t pirate in a ship like that. She wouldn’t even sail it. She’d be too afraid that it might be damaged.