The ship rocked gently, the night heightened sounds of sailors rotating out of their midnight watches shook Snow out of the light sleep she’d sunken into.
She moaned, propping herself up on her elbows as she pulled herself against the port window, resting her forehead against the metal rim that form fitted itself around the rain soaked window.
The sound of rain usually served to sooth her when her legs ached like they did now, the random intermittent firing of pain felt like someone was dragging lit sparklers through her legs. But not today it seemed, she pulled her legs over the side of the bed, rubbing one particularly sensitive spot as she reached for the medicinal tea steeping on the bedside.
She dug her fingers into the meat of her thigh as drank, the exterior pain a topical treatment to interior hot flash buzzing that made its way up and down her legs in waves.
She wanted to scratch at it, the urge to somehow pull out her burnt nerve endings when they got like this and dump them in cool water, but she pulled her hand away resisting the imposition and gulped down the tea.
It tasted worse in the dark somehow. But her pain soothed slowly and she shakily put the thermos back, wiping her forehead with the palm of her hand. She pulled her fingers through her hair as she looked out at the night, the ocean reflecting the pale face of the moon, distorted by raindrops.
Morning came earlier than she wanted, only managing to catch a few hours of sleep after the medicine kicked in; she split her morning time between working, sorting her documents and practising her plea to the king in the mirror, drafting and redrafting until her room got too stuffy for her to think. Paloma was the one who drew her out of her room.
A note came with her lunch, We are playing cards up on deck if you’d like to join us~
When she came up, pushed along by the staff who'd brought her lunch, she waved at Paloma who walked over to her two cocktails in hand.
“You don’t look too good honey, bad night?”
Snow nodded, brushing her hair out of her eyes.
“I just haven’t managed to put much makeup on that’s all.” she said, as she was pushed into place at the table they were sitting at.
Dalmars apprentice, Elija, who had so far stayed in his room. not even the dark confines of a ship's cot able to stem his seasickness, was out today. Dalmar had taken him up to the deck, so the servants could clean their room and replace the sweat-dampened sheets.
Snow and Paloma watched as Dalmar lifted him by the scruff of his shirt, dangling him over the ocean as he wretched. As Elija was rung out and plopped back on deck, Dalmar patted his back reassuringly, sending him back to his rooms in a wobbling sway.
“Would you like a drink Snow?” Paloma asked, offering her one of the teardrop shaped glasses.
“Oh, yes thank you that’d be lovely” she said, taking a sip. It tasted faintly of berries, the drink fizzing as it warmed its way down her throat.
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Dalmar pushed off the railing and rejoined them at the table, sliding onto the couch next to Sihge he waved over the staff and requested another drink.
“Do you not get seasick Dalmar?” Paloma asked, leaning into Sihge with a sigh, he put one long arm around Sihge's neck and waited for the cards he was playing with to be shuffled, Sihge’s fingers dancing as he cut the deck.
Dalmar brushed his fingers through his dense thatch of hair, glancing at the distant form of Elija now leaning face down against a door frame “I saw you lot watching, don’t worry Elija will be fine, a few more hours and he will acclimate to it.”
“Poor kid,” Paloma said beckoning the staff over for another drink, “I asked about you though Dalmar, fatherhood cured your seasickness?”
Dalmar snorted “Elija’s not mine, he’s on loan to me until he turns eighteen”
“On loan?” Sihge queried,“I’ve not heard of that custom before, what is he apprenticing for?”
He finished shuffling the cards, dealing them out to the group one by one until each had seven.
As the first round began, Snow found herself struggling to keep up with the banter. Paloma and Dalmar were quick-witted, their playful jabs at each other drawing an occasional stiff smile from Sihge, who watched with a usually desultory air. Snow took another sip from the cocktail, trying not to grimace as the slow fire reemerged to burn in her lower calf. At this rate she’d get nothing done, at home she’d at least have been able to pull off a few more hours before Illya would have carted her away for a break, but with now things had been going she’d have to take a few weeks absence to tend to things back home.
Paloma seemed to pick up on her sense of disquiet, “are you alright Snow, does the drink not agree with you?”
“Oh no the drink is lovely, just a bit seasick myself I think”
Paloma raised an eyebrow, laughing a little as he spoke “well Dalmar, you have another candidate if you’re planning to dangle anyone else overboard today.”
Dalmar grinned, flicking a card onto the table as he leaned back into the couch. “Only if she asks nicely,” he quipped.
Snow forced a chuckle, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass. The pain in her legs was becoming more insistent, a dull throb that pulsed in time with the ship's gentle sway. She took a long swallow, letting the sweetness of the drink linger on her tongue before swallowing, the fizz tickling her throat. The ache receded slightly, though not enough to distract her from the conversation at hand.
Sihge’s voice broke through the low hum of the ship. “anyway Dalmar. What is Elija apprenticing for?”
Dalmar glanced at Sihge, then at Snow, as if weighing how much to reveal. “He’s learning the ropes, quite literally. The boy’s got to earn his keep. If he’s to take over his family’s business one day.”
He stalled for a moment, then as if he noticed he was taking too long to answer “he’s not apprenticing for one job really, it’s more a cultural thing”
Sihge gave a thoughtful nod, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the explanation. “A thorough education, then. A bit old-fashioned, have you taught the boy to read?”
“Old-fashioned is what keeps the world turning, and no, his mother did before she sent him my way” Dalmar replied, a note of pride in his voice.
He turned to Snow, his gaze softening. “But enough about that. You really look like you could use some fresh air, Snow. Have someone wheel you around the upper decks maybe?”
Snow managed a weak smile, though she wasn’t sure if staying out longer for fresh air would help or if it would only remind her of how far she was from solid ground.
“Sorry but, I think I should retire back to my rooms.” She said waving over one of the staff. “My house steward has packed me medicine for this trip, I’ll join you another time? Thank you so much for inviting me.”
Snow clasped her hands together and half bowed as she was led away.