After I had all but finished scrubbing every inch of the stairs a voice suddenly spoke out “hey liam the stairs look great sorry it took so long had to make sure I cleaned out the poison can be too careful you know”
“Sure you did Kassim, just help me finish up this top step is all that's left” , “Sounds fair chief,” he said, a brush seeming to materialize in his hand. I know I just met Kassim but he seems too agreeable like talking to a old friend you just met, he reminded me of a guy who once scamed duient into buying a pair of fools gold cufflinks claiming they were real and had belong to a member of the imperial family and my idiot master had paid three gold for them, I would need to keep a eye on Kassim just to be safe.
“So what are you in for liam” ,I winced at his question “Thats a bit complicated” kassim oddly enough perked up at this “oh dont tell me let me geuss” turning to look at him he seemd to seriously consider it his lips or atleast the area where they should be scruched and his reptilan eyes sqinted like he was deeply focused on the stairs infront of him.
“I got it you tried to kill a pompus nobelmen I bet he had it comeing to probably had a stick so far up his butt he always stood ramrod straight” , a small laugh escaped my lips witch kassim took as an admision “so i'm close aren't I, I had a feeling you where stone cold inside”
I smiled as my reasons entered my mind “yeah Kassim Im a cold-blooded killed no offence” I said chuckling at my own joke but kassims was silent, looking over at him, he seemed to be in pain from his face “Cold-Blooded really laim, don't get me wrong its clever but it feels like something my grandfather would say” a moment of silence pasted as kassim and I just stared at each other before we both busted into laughter.
A moment later we both got our self under control so we could avoid any unwanted attention as we finished the stairs. Standing up kassim gathered the brushes and bucket of now filthy soapy water witch he dumped over the side opposite of the dock before walking back.
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“Alrighty liam I have permission to show you around the ship and explain your dutys which means a easy afternoon for us both, so follow me” kassim said as he spun in place and headed towards the middel of the deck. “This is top deck” kassim said putting his arms out in attempt to gesture at all of the top deck “this is where we will sweep mop and detail when we are in port” as he finished he turned and walked down a set of stairs that where set in the center of the top deck.
A moment later we where in a dimmer area with a enough hammocks strung wetween polls to fit the whole crew “This is crew quarters where is your not careful you will be knocked out cold by a drunken salor” he turned and i noticed what looked like a circular brandon his neck as we continued the tour “back this way is the kitchen” , “kassim what happened to your neck” he stoped and looked at me quizicaly before his eyes light with understanding “Its a copy of the contract token your bound to and no they dont brand it on you its magic of some kind” i just staired at him the disbelief clear on my face “If you dont believe me liam feel the back of your neck” reaching back, I paled as I felt a circular ring lined with symbols of what felt like charcoal “and before you try or ask it can’t come off its part of the magic of a permanent contract marking you as such” ,kassim stated this with such a calm tone dind’t he understand that this meant even if we escape we would forever be marked and eventually someone would find us
“From the hollow look in your eyes you had dreams of escaeping right” kassim said with no change to his typical tone “Yes I had dreams of escaping didnt you” a sight left kassims snout before he responded “Mabie in the beginning but once you received that mark on your neck escape becomes the least of your problems staying free becomes nearly impossible”” pausing he took a deep breath “just lissent to me ok its better to accept it and have some fun with the role you've been forced into than to struggle with no results ” his words seemd to evaporate any of the previous joy and fun in both himself and in the atmosphere
“Then why do you” I spluttered “why do i what lift and hoard some extra coins” kassim finmished my unspoken question “becouse at the start i was like you i wanted to escape i had a plan and refused to be bound to anything by anyone” i paused before asking my next question “what happened why did you give up” looking absolutely annoyed at this point kasiim just said “how do you think I built my immunity to Enchiras poison, one failed escape at a time laim” i just stared at him not knowing what to say, so I just let him continue the tour albeit with less excitement this time