Sigmo, Arietes Orbis
Year: 4998

Aule was standing on the slick dock in the pouring rain by the time the Captain arrived. His crew, who had barely touched a drop of liquor the night before, were already set and waiting with only the anchor to lift. They were all of them shaking like mad, partly from the cold and partly from the fear. This was one journey they did not expect to return from.

   "Strange weather!" the Captain called over the wind.

   Aule gave him a sidelong glance, looking bored and angry at the world as she usually did, and simply 'humphed', walking over to the ship. The sailors on board had brought the ship closer to the docks and the Captain and Aule waited for a break in the waves before hurrying up the ladder. 

   "Everything set Captain!" First Mate Shankar shouted, promptly spitting out salt water from a stray wave. 

   "Good...SET SAIL MEN!" the Captain bellowed.

   As the sailors started to lift the anchor Aule decided to get below deck. Holding onto the railing she quickly walked across the deck over to a set of stairs that led down to a door. After fiddling with the wet knob, Aule pushed the door in and slid through the opening with a rush of rain, slamming it shut behind her. It was calmer below deck and the only light was a small lantern hanging in the middle of the room, rocking back and forth with the motion of the ship.

   "Charming," Aule muttered, slowly walking over to a pile of wooden crates.

   They were all more or less the same, roughly built with a rusted latch, but one stood out particularly. At least, to Aule it did. Maybe it was the slightly different wood stain they used, or perhaps it was the broken latch, but to be completely honest, it was probably just because there was someone inside of it. 

   As she had been running her fingers along the edges of the rough wood Aule could hear over the rushing waves and blowing wind the slow shaky breath coming from within. 

   Well, well, Aule thought. Our friend from the Inn?

   Without hesitating Aule flung open the latch and tossed the lid back with a loud bang, nearly frightening the young boy inside to death. Aule stood there for a split second, shocked by the outcome of her investigation, but quickly recovered, frowning at the boy. 

   He was small and skinny with shaggy raven hair and big brown tear-rimmed eyes, staring up at Aule with a forlorn expression. His clothes were thin and warn, practically just rags sewn together, and by the look of him he was most likely an orphan and homeless, just trying to make his way back to Satis. He was obviously Human with no antlers, no pointed ears, and no facial markings like those of the Shefro. It seemed Arietes was crawling with unwanted Humans.

   "Who are you?" Aule asked, speaking in perfect Satarian. 

   The boy hugged his knees closer and continued to stare at her, a large tear rolling down his cheek. Aule made an aggravated growling sound in her throat and turned on her heel. If there was one thing she could not stand it was someone who wasted her time. 

   "C-Caelum," the boy spoke up, his voice like his body, small and thin.

   Aule paused in her tracks but did not turn around. That would be far too much work. She simply continued to speak while scanning the walls lined with crates and other miscellaneous items.

   "Well Caelum, you chose the wrong ship," she said, her eyes still flying back and forth over everything.

   "I didn't."

   Aule paused her searching and turned slightly, looking over her shoulder at the boy. He was still sitting there, a miserable looking being, and still staring at Aule in what she now discovered to be a rather strange expression. 

   "You did not choose it, or you did not choose wrong?"

   "I didn't choose wrong," Caelum replied.

   Aule looked away from him once more and chuckled inwardly, wondering where such a pathetic body picked up that basket of confidence.

   "What was so right about your choice?" she asked, beginning to pace with both hands behind her back.

   "You were on this ship."

   Aule paused in her tracks and twisted around to look at Caelum with cynical expression, one dark eyebrow raised in question.

   "I beg your pardon?" she said, her voice not betraying the confusion inside of her.

   "You...You wouldn't throw me out," Caelum replied, his brown eyes filled with hope.

   Aule narrowed her eyes and threw her head back ever so slightly with a small 'hah', turning around again and walking over to other stack of crates.

   "You have much to learn, Caelum," she said, moving the crates about and looking behind them. "I would be just as likely to throw you out as I would be to kill that halfwit Captain up there."

   "Exactly," the boy answered quietly.

   Aule stopped once more and looked back at Caelum who did not seem to realize how sly he was sounding.

  "Exactly what? Would you like me to throw you out?"

  "You said you would be just as likely to throw me out as to kill the Captain. And since you won't kill the Captain because you need him, than you will be just as lenient with me," the boy smiled, the tears still shining on his dirty cheeks. 

   "Children these days," Aule muttered.

   She continued to search behind and inside the crates, refusing to be distracted any longer by an orphan stowaway. There were only so many places to hide in that small room and it was not as if that girl from the Inn was smaller than Aule and could actually fit in a crate, but nevertheless Aule continued to lift the latches and look inside each and every one them. Most of them were empty with an occasional rat or some kind of unrecognizable vermin, and after crossing out all the other possibilities Aule leaned against the the wall and looked up into the dark rafters.

   "You can come out now," she said, folding her arms. 

   A shadow began to stir and it took the shape of the 'clumsy girl' sitting casually on the beam.

   "I thought you would find me sooner," she remarked, a teasing tone in her voice.

   Aule raised an eyebrow and pushed herself away from the wall, fingering one of the latches on the crate.

   "I already knew you were here. The crates were my second option."

   "And the rafters were your first?" the girl asked.

   "Yes...But then I heard him breathing," Aule nodded towards Caelum. "I wondered if there were anymore hiding about."

   The girl did not reply and it was too dark to see her face, but Aule knew that she was looking at her and could feel an air of disapproval. Not that Aule cared much. There were many that disapproved of her and the sentiment had grown stale.

   "Who are you?" the girl asked.

   "Come down and I might tell you," Aule replied, her voice low and bored. 

   There was a small pause and then the shadow shrugged her shoulder, falling backwards off the beam and landing lightly on her feet. Aule tilted her head to the side and stared at the Human with more curiosity than she had experienced in a while.

   "Well?" the girl asked. "What's you name?"

   Aule took a step closer and looked over the queer attire of the stranger. Her boots were soft leather just like Aule's, but they were a dark red color and folded at the knee, looking like something a performer would wear. In fact, the canvas pants, embroidered shirt and navy blue jacket accompanied by the showcase of doing a flip off the rafters, gave Aule the impression that this girl did not only look like a performer, but was most certainly one. 

   The girl folded her arms and tapped one foot on the floorboards, twisting her mouth and narrowing her eyes in an aggravated manner.

   "Fine!" she said, throwing her hands in the air. "Don't tell me your name...I'm Daphne, and yes, I know, you never asked!"

   Daphne turned on her heel and leaped up onto one of the crates, sitting down and leaning against the wall, elbows on knees. She looked over at the boy in who was still sitting alone, his dark eyes tear rimmed.

   "What's the matter?" she asked, her voice friendly and open. 

   Caelum looked up at Daphne and wiped his eyes on his sleeve, glancing over at Aule who was sitting against the wall with her hood up. There was no way of telling for sure, but from the looks of it she was done with the world and was trying to get some sleep.

   "Why are you on this ship?" Daphne continued to question Caelum. 

   Another tear rolled down his cheek as a large wave crashed against the side of the ship. Daphne's crate was jolted on the unsteady ground and with a short yelp she was sent rolling on the floor. There was another loud roar from the wind and the girl quickly recovered, standing rather unsteadily on her two feet. Aule was still trying to sleep in the corner but Daphne would have sworn that she saw the slightest ghost of a smile playing on the sides of her lips.  

   "I'm glad to see my discomfort amuses you," Daphne muttered, brushing off her pants.

   Another wave hit the side and she lost balance once more, this time managing to grab hold of one of the cross beams that was lower down. The lantern swung about violently, nearly breaking off of it's fixture, and the flame inside began to flicker, casting a strange light about. From the corner of her eye Daphne saw something glitter for a split second, coming from the direction of Aule who still sat undisturbed. Placing one hand on the wall to steady herself, Daphne turned towards the other girl, trying to see what it was. Then it came again. Another wave pounded the side of the ship and Daphne tripped over her own foot, falling onto the hard planks with a great 'smack' and rolling across the floor till the pile of crates stopped her. Aule did not move but Daphne felt just as awkward, laying at the feet that girl like some sort of slave.

   Sighing Daphne got up onto her knees and brushed her hands together, blowing a stray curl away from her face. She wanted to say something to loose the tension but nothing came to mind. There was not a single word she could utter that Aule would respond to. Even if she screamed Daphne seriously doubted that the girl would move.

   "Will we be there soon?" Caelum asked quietly.

   Daphne looked over at the young boy and smiled, her hazel eyes as friendly as ever, but the boy still stared at Aule with dark, frightened eyes.

   "Not for a while yet," Daphne answered, seeing that Aule had no intention of replying. "How did you end up in Arietes?"

   "I don't remember."

   "You don't remember?" Daphne frowned. "How long did you live there?"

   Caelum shrugged his skinny shoulders and glanced at the swinging lantern, his lip quivering. 

   "What are you so afraid of?" Daphne asked, making sure to keep her tone lighthearted. "It's just a bit of rain is all."

   "It's not the rain."

   "What do you mean?"

   "She said she would throw me out," Caelum said softly.

   Aule looked up from under her hood, masking the surprise that struck her, and stared at the boy with a blank expression.

   "You said I would not," Aule replied, lowering her head once more.

   "You said not to count on it," Caelum said, his dark eyes still wet.

   Aule sighed and folded her arms, head still lowered.

   "It's up to you whether you get kicked out or not...The only person you can rely on is yourself," she said, a bitter sound in her voice.

         Salmo, Satis Orbis 1 Week Later...

   Evert stared at the strange houses of Salmo, there walls and roofs made of a mixture of clay and drift wood. Each one was shaped in a slightly different way but all of them were strong and sturdy, made to withstand all kinds of unpredictable weather. 

   The docks of Salmo were more or less deserted and a few fisherman stood alone, hoping to catch something before they froze in the pouring rain. The ocean had continued to lash about violently throughout the whole trip but thanks to a skilled crew and captain, the royal party had made it safely to Satis. As they pulled up to the docks the few people there stared up at the gallant ship in awe and wonder. It was a rare thing for a Cieven ship to sail into their port, especially in winter, and the sentiment between the two Kingdoms was a dangerous balancing act. Half the Humans saw the Cievo as a threat while the other half saw them as a gold mine, and while both halves were just as likely no one knew which half was true. 

   "Greatly lacking in trees this place is," Prince Teo sighed, standing beside Evert.

   "Farther East there are more," Evert replied, turning to look out at the ocean.

   Narrowing his eyes he could see faintly in the distance a small ship, rocking back and forth on the waves like a nervous cat. As it came closer Evert managed to make out a large hole in one of the sails, but other than that the vessel was more or less unharmed.

   "How on Orbis...?" Teo muttered, catching sight of the ship as well. "Is that Cieven?"

   "Surely it is," Evert answered, his tone devoid of any emotion.

   "Are you not surprised?" 

   Evert shrugged and looked at the Prince, saying, "Crazy enough to come we were. Why should they not?"

   Teo looked from the scout to the ship several times, his face twisted in confusion, and wondered if Evert could not see the size difference of the two vessels.

   "What counts is not always size, your Highness," Evert said, bowing his head and walking off.

   The ship had been docked and he wished very much to get out of the rain. Neither Prince Teo nor Evert had brought much luggage so the scout simply swung both rucksacks over one shoulder and walked quickly down the boardwalk, followed close by Teo.

   There was a tall clay building a few blocks down from the waterfront with an old battered sign reading 'Inn' and Evert headed down the connecting street without even asking directions.

   "Do you know where you are going?" Teo asked, trying to be heard over the rain.

   Evert nodded but said nothing. He was too cold and wet to speak. While the Prince had been below decks as instructed Evert had taken the place of one of the sailors who had been washed overboard and even his sturdy uniform had taken more than it's fair share of beatings. 

   It did not take long to reach the Inn and the two of them were inside in a flash, pulling their soaking hoods and glancing around the open room. There was a counter at the other end with numbered shelves behind it and to the right was a staircase leading up to the rooms and a large fireplace. The room was more or less empty except for the lady at the front desk and when Evert and Teo came walking in she looked at them with not a surprised but a curious expression. 

   "Good afternoon," she smiled, her Arieten quite good for someone of common stock. "Would you like a room?"

   Teo walked up to the counter and pulled out two silver coins, placing them in front of the lady.

   "Yes please. One for each of us," he said, nodding towards Evert.

   "Very good, sir...It would seem a common attraction for Cievo we have become," the lady smiled, turning to grab the room keys.

   Evert snapped his head up and looked at her with suspicious green eyes.

   "Who else?" he asked quietly.

   "Oh, some man. Arrived early this morning on a trade vessel...Here you are. Rooms 43 and 44."

   Teo thanked the woman and grabbed the keys, tossing one of them to Evert who caught it with his free hand. The two of them headed up the stairs and once they were out of earshot Teo looked at his bodyguard and said in a lowered voice, "Who arrived do you suppose?" 

   Evert narrowed his eyes and looked down the hall at the door that was not quite closed all the way.

   "Probably a tradesman," he said, unlocking his door and tossing Teo his bag. "Going to sleep I am...Keep your door locked and if in need of help bang on the wall."