Ellian practically leaps from the wagon before it comes to a complete stop. Clutching her leather satchel to her side she sets a hurried pace. Racing up the steps, waving for us to follow.

"Welp, I suppose this is where we get off." I lift my hand to my shoulder and let Kryst step onto her usual perch. She still looks out of sorts as we begin to debus, stealing glances back toward the cage.

With her disclosure of the fairy's mental state, I'm even more interested in finding someplace where she, Cinni and I can speak privately. I too study them for a moment. Now that I'm aware, it's hard to not see the fear written on their tiny faces as they regard the tree overhead.

After swinging down from the wagon I offer a hand to Cinni. She takes it then hops down with a second nature casualness that has her barely bending a knee.

"Once we have replenished the roost, if the offer still stands, I would you like to have you come by and look over the Phoenix for the maintenance you'd proposed." Captain Raven says.

"Definitely." I grin, pleased I may get the chance to check out that airship of hers after all.

"Excellent. While you look to the possible implementations to improve the efficiency of my ships mechtanics perhaps Kryst and I could continue with previous conversations, ey?"

"Huh?" At the mention of her name Kryst snaps out of the staring contest she's having with the cage at the back of the wagon. "Oh, yeah. Sure thing, Raves."

"Won't we see you at this gala ball thing?" I ask.

"To tell you the truth, when I'd received the invitation upon making port I had no intention of attending. But, with you three going…" Ravens looks to Kryst and I and even turns to look at Cinnamon. I can still feel the tension between them as the sexy swashbuckler and my bunny babe lock eyes. "Perhaps it will not be as tedious as I'd first assumed, ey?" Raven gives me a smile that could melt ice.

"Alright. Till tonight then." I reply.

Alec shoots a weird glare in my direction and his posture changes ever so slightly.

Insight vs Alec: Success!

I get the distinct impression that he is just a bit agitated at me. Then, just as quickly, it's gone and his casual smile returns.

"You better get going. It looks like Ellian is about to start screaming curses and breathing fire." Alec lifts his head toward the top of the steps.

True enough, the young woman is practically hopping back and forth on her heels as she waits for us.

"Yeah, you are probably right." I reach over hoist my knapsack from the back of the wagon. Taking care not to jostle it, and consequently, the secret hidden fairy cargo inside." It was good meeting you, Alec man.

"Same, Brian." He extends his fist and I give it a dap. Internally I give a wide grin, pondering if I may have started a trend.

"Let Sully know the same. Hopefully, we can all hang sometime."

"Hang?" Alec gives me a strange look.

Doh! Damn my lack of verbal eloquence and reliance on slang. He probably thinks I'm talking about medieval bungee jumping from the Skydocks, or perhaps lynching people for giggles or some other craziness.

"Hang out. Hit the town for some fun." I clarify.

"Oh!" Alec bobs his head with a smile. "Certainly. Sounds good."

"And Raves?" Kryst calls out. "Make sure you bring that flask of yours tonight. I don't know what they will  serve but to be safe I prefer to have a backup for a decent sip."

"Ready?" Damir the wagon driver asks. He doesn't wait for an answer. Instead, he flicks the reins and slowly starts to guide the wagon along the sidewalk, angling it toward the fountain-like roundabout.

"I'll see to it." Captain Raven laughs. "Mayhaps something with a bit more kick, ey? I believe I still have a bottle or two of Blackwater Brandy stashed away."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Never tried!" Kryst eyes widen in excitement.

"You know what, nuisance? I think you might have a drinking problem." I tease as we walk alongside the wagon for a few steps.

"Problem? Not at all." Kryst scoffs. "They go down real easy."

Captain Raven gives Kryst a laugh. "I should warn you. Last time I partook of that particular spirit the night was wilder than riding a skyshark bareback through a hurricane." Captain Raven meets my gaze with a wickedly carnal, sparkly-eyed smile, "At least, that's the comparison the lad I woke next too had for me."

"HA!" Kryst cackles loudly, causing me to wince. She then annoyingly elbows me in the ear. "See? What'd I tell ya? Told ya she's funny!"

"So you did." I ignore the implication from Raven, glad to see Krysts boisterous, yet somehow endearing, behavior quickly returning to the norm.

I give a wave as the wagon pulls further away and heads back toward the gate and the docks. As we turn I catch a soft suck of the teeth from Cinnamon.

"I didn't find it very funny." Cinnamon whisper mumbles.

**********

We take the steps at a quickened pace. Which instead of calming Ellians impatience only seems to spurn it on. Taking note of our approach she lets out a sigh that I can see even from halfway up the steps. She spins on her heel, moves around one of the large pillars and disappears through the entranceway.

Reaching the top, we follow suit, walking past the archway of the open cherry red, wooden double doors and into a large hall.

The fantasy fanboy in me gives an internal squeal of delight at the sight of the polished marble floors, high domed ceilings and the various floor to ceiling tapestries set around the room.

People walk in and out, some in groups, chatting as they move down the various hallways that branch off from the foyer like entrance. A couple of guards stand at the corners near the doors and a few more on a balcony above. Surveying the people that come and go.

Ellian is exchanging words with a man seated behind a desk placed directly in front of us, between two sets of arching stairways that mirror each other on either side of the room.  The setup reminds me of a sort of check-in or security station.

Ellian turns to wave us over and another feature of the room grabs my attention. Behind the check-in desk, against the wall, almost to the height of the balcony walkway above, is a huge clock.

Like many of the other machines I have observed since my arrival the entire contraption looks needlessly complex in an anime steampunk sort of way, yet oddly appealing in its design. It's a true work of art. Ornately carved with vines and carved filigree it is styled in a similar manner to a grandfather clock from my world. However, what catches my attention the most, is the odd numbering on its face.

It has only a single-arm, and instead of a twelve-hour count, it numbers from one to twenty-five, with each hour broken down into four smaller sized increments. There is another semi-circle of metal that looks to be indicating a block of time of about 7 am to 7 pm and it has small carvings of Suns along its edge to show the waxing and waning of the daylight.

It's odd also that I can make sense of the numbers. I know exactly what each means but instead of the traditional symbols I am used to they have an almost rune-like appearance.

"You will need to sign in." Ellian indicates a large tome on the table in front of her and the man behind the desk slides an inkpot and quill toward us.

She taps under a list of other names and I see a couple of lines have already filled in by Ellian. This too I have no problem reading. Mostly because it looks exactly like English, which I find a bit strange but I thank my lucky stars. I would hate to find out I was illiterate here.

I note the blank section where Ellian wants us to sign has a few notes written on the side. The first is 'Lady Civata- Guest' and the second are the symbols to indicate an arrival time of 14/2, which correlates to the current time on the clock which I guesstimate is around 2:30 pm.

I step forward and do as instructed lifting the quill and without a second thought sign the page in a flourish. I'm taken aback by the nature of the strokes.

My signature never was that nice looking. A bit too plain and simplistic but now it looks perfect. A confident hand with a smooth stylized line.

I regard it for a moment recognizing the similarity to my old handwriting but now transformed. Much like how I could still see my human self hidden in my drow features.

In my youth, back when I had delusions of having a career as an artist, I remember practicing my signature over and over. By no means great, I did have a touch of amateurish talent. Enough anyway to impress my stick figure drawing gaming buddies and even make me a few dollars from time to time. Therefore it had usually been me that had been called upon to sketch up character pictures, paint miniatures or doodle up hasty battle maps in the group. 

Unlocked: Free Background Skill: Artist

x1 Free Background Skills Remaining

Cinnamon is next and she signs with a small, conservatively dainty, ladylike script. Last is Kryst. After she gives a groan of disapproval bordering on disgust she flits down to land on the page and forgoes the use of the ink quill. Instead, a crackle of electric-like magenta energy ignites over her hand and she takes a knee and lightly scorch burns her name. I note that her signature bears an almost kanji like similarity.

Kryst takes off with a buzz of her wing to alight onto my shoulder and the pages flip back in the miniature helicopter-like wake. While the desk jockey secures the inkpot and quill from toppling over I grab the book and hold it still.

Perception: Success!

Something on the previous page catches my eye. Under a similar 'purpose of visit' to ours, that of seeing Lady Civata with an arrival time before noon is a name I recognize.

Written in an oversized, infant-like messy script is the name CrOdRiCk.

**********