Markus took a deep breath, savoring the spray as he watched the waves three decks below the bow. As his homeland and all he’d ever known vanished, lost to the mist and horizon. He was a bit sad to see it go but there wasn’t much he was leaving and most of what he was abandoning, was in fact, the reason he’d hopped on the ship. He rapped his knuckles on the banister in thought before looking over his shoulder at the crowded deck behind him, the Mist Hauler was a trade ship, helmed by an experienced and skilled crew. They had sailed all up and down the Aralien continent but this would be the first time they’d attempt to reach the lands formerly covered by the spell storm. The 30 crewmen were, however, the minority as the trade ship had packed in its cramped wood shell nearly 70 travelers, pilgrims, settlers, and whatever Markus was supposed to be, some like him had arrived early: selecting good sleeping spots, stowing their gear and adapting to the sway of the ship. The majority however had simply been on time, now scrambling below deck for a space large enough for a bed roll, or looking queasily over the ocean, some even proving to be skilled multitaskers, doing both at the same time, complaining all the while. Markus sighed and turned back to his view over the port side of the prow, it was going to be a long few weeks.
Markus sat contemplating his circumstances for almost 15 seconds when a small inquisitive voice sounded behind him.
“Um excuse me?”
Markus turned toward a girl approximately his age, maybe older, brunette hair framed green eyes sitting on a horizontal spray of freckles all placed on a pale delicate (and slightly impish) face. The girl wore a simple green dress and a practical white-sleeved shirt, far from the standard frilly bonnet and gown he’d expect in this day and age. More interestingly the hem of the dress ended above her ankles revealing leather boots made for travel and work. The most interesting thing however was that he hadn’t heard her walk toward him, those shoes should of made noise on the wooden floor and even maids who were trained to walk silently had a hard time getting within 20 feet of him without his notice, she had gotten so close, that when he turned to look at her he almost crashed into her.
She let out a “Meep” when he did, and his hand smacked the handle of his sword causing him to respond with a surprised “Gack”
She looked at him a second as he shook his wrist then finally looked back to her.
“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle.” She quickly apologized.
“It's fine” he responded flatly, “can I help you?”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
She presented a hand to him “’ I’m- I’m Ellianora, Ellianora Ecksin”
After taking a moment, he shook her hand “Markus Royal” he responded.
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Ellianora had finished setting up her sleeping arrangements and moved to the deck when she saw a welcome sight, someone her age. The boy had black hair and dark blue eyes, a bit taller than her 4’8 but not by much, maybe 3 to 5 inches at most. He was wearing a simple grey shirt that complemented his tanned skin, and dark auburn pants, over which he had a metal chest piece affixed as well as arm guards, and kneepads matching well with the single-edged short sword across the back of his waist, and the revolver on his left hip. Typically the revolver would be on the right hip and the sword on the left but the way they were placed meant that he could draw the sword out with his right hand or across with his left, a curious detail she pondered as she approached him
Alright, it's going to be a long 3 weeks I’m gonna be on this ship so I best start making friends now, she encouraged herself. Start with the name just like always, wait no he’s not looking this way anymore I need to get his attention first THEN the name. As she settled on a battle plan it, of course, fell apart immediately.
“…Um excuse me?” she opened, quickly followed by him turning in surprise and almost slamming into her, smacking his hand on the handle of his sword in the motion making a loud “Twak” noise.
She looked at him a second as he shook his wrist then finally looked back to her.
“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle.” She quickly apologized.
“It's fine” he responded flatly, “can I help you?”
Well this isn’t going well she thought to herself presenting a hand to him “’ I’m- I’m Ellianora, Ellianora Ecksin”
After taking a moment, he shook her hand, “Markus Royal” he responded.
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Markus leaned back on the rail facing her, “So Miss Ecksin, what can I do for you?”
The girl shook her head and put her hands up in front of her “Oh, it's nothing like that.” She paused, “I just, well your kind of the only person around my age on this ship, so I was hoping to have someone to talk to on this…. 3-week journey?”
“4 and a half.” Markus corrected. He thought a moment, then nodded. “Some pleasant company wouldn’t be the worst idea I’ve heard”
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They talked for hours, about places they’d been, things they’d seen, what they’d learned on the road. They slowly opened to each other, having shared many experiences, from eating at the same restaurant on the shore before boarding the ship (he’d been there in the morning and her in the evening), to the violinist who played by its windows and was the best musician they’d ever heard. But what they learned about each other that was most comforting wasn’t from the stories, and quips, and anecdotes, but from the way they were told, both spotted the glimmer of a classical formal education in the other, rare for people of low means, while someone with greater means clearly wouldn’t be in the situation they where in. Neither pried the other, nor asked about the past beyond the travel stories, and they laughed and smiled and shared till the noon sun dropped down to sit upon the waves, ending the conversion for much-anticipated sleep.