Peopled moved around her, paying her no mind as she slowly walked back to where she had stood before. A food cart was setting up near by. Her stomach growled as the smells slowly began to drift in her direction.

Fen watched the two buildings well into the early afternoon. The food cart seemed fairly popular and a steady stream of people visited to buy various items. Dozens of thoughts and questions darting in and out of her mind. A couple had been arguing as they left the Registry and Fen watched with curiosity as they passed. Turning back to the buildings, Fen noticed a man standing in the doorway of the guild. Her heart began to race as she realized he was watching her as well. He was tall with long dark hair pulled back into a tail. He nodded to her and then turned back in.

Fen cursed as she walked towards the building. What was she doing? Everyone knew the stories about the Shipmaker’s Guild. The dark secrets kept within. Fen didn’t believe most of what she heard, but the stories had to have started from something. Fen stopped in front of the door. Everything around her seemed darker now that she was closer to the building. The door was slightly open. Fen pushed and the door opened too smoothly like the hinges were over oiled.

Inside it was dimly lit, and it took time for Fen’s eyes to adjust. The room around her was sparsely furnished with only a couple of wooden chairs. A hallway led towards the back where she could see light shining from underneath a door. Fen stood for a moment considering her options before walking deeper into the building. Along the wall, Fen noticed paintings of different ships. It was too dark to see them in detail, but the images were more technical than artistic.

As she approached the door from which the light was coming from it opened slowly without her touch.

“Stop your hesitating, and come in,” a rough voice said from inside.

Fen entered the room and squinted against the bright, even light. With a small degree of wonder, Fen noticed the room was lit by four electrum plates placed in each corner. Each had a series of runes etched into the surface. The characters glowed slightly brighter than the plates. They would provide indefinite, even light. The electrum would never disintegrate, unlike stone or other metals. One would cost a small fortune, let alone four for a single room.

The man sitting behind the dark wooden desk watched her silently. He was younger than Fen had first guessed at a distance. Taller too.

The man sat across from Fen silently. He wore a ring on his index finger that he rubbed absently. The ring had a blue stone similar to the one on Fen’s necklace set into the light metal. It was small and Fen noticed the edges of a rune carved in the center. She looked up, realizing that she was staring. The man was watching her with a smile.

“This isn’t the first stone you’ve seen,” he said. “Show me.”

There was something about the man Fen didn’t like, but the smile was so calm and easy. Slowly, she pulled the cord from around her neck to reveal the pendant.

The man leaned across the table, but made no moves to take the pendant. He sat back and nodded.

“One of ours, no doubt,” he said. “That one’s been missing for a long time. How did you come by it?”

“Yours? This belonged to my father. He gave it to me,” Fen said.

“Jae Blackwind is your father?” The man asked. He sat back in his chair for a moment before slapping his knee. “I knew there was something about you… it’s those eyes. Gray like a morning storm.”

Fen looked away from his gaze. “I don’t remember much about him.”

“I suppose you wouldn’t. He has been missing for quite some time. He can disappear like a ghost, and will show up again just as suddenly. Last I heard of him was a rumor a year ago coming out of Linara.”

Fen sat in silence as the man seemed to lose himself in thought. She still wasn’t sure what to make of the man. She eyed him as she moved to tie the pendant around her neck again, but he made no move to stop her.

“How would you like a job?” He asked finally.

“Like an apprenticeship?”

“Yes and no. If you show promise, there would be future opportunities. You see, I am very interested in any information involving either electrum or stones similar to the one tied around your neck. You would simply keep your eyes and ears open. Of course, you would be rewarded for any promising information.” He smiled at her, showing perfect teeth. “No need to give me an answer. If you decide that is something you’d be interested in bring the information to any guild hall and give them my name.”

“I never did get your name,” Fen said standing up.

“You didn’t,” he said with a smile. “You can call me Mire. And yours?”

“My name is Fen.”

“Jae Blackwind’s daughter,” Mire said holding out his hand. “I assume you sail? Is that why you are here at the docks?”

Fen shook his hand, but found herself flushing despite herself.

“Not yet,” she said. “I just became of age to apprentice. I came down today to hopefully find a crew to join, but they won't give me a permit.”

“Well, I just might have something to help with that,” he said as he reached into the drawer of his desk. He pulled out a small sheet of paper with a wax stamp on it. Fen's breath nearly caught as she saw it. “I just so happen to have a sponsored permit here. Were you to agree to helping me, I suppose I could also help you.”

Fen reached out towards the paper, but stopped as she looked into Mire's eyes. It made the hairs on her neck stand on end the way he calmly watched her, like a rodent in a trap.

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Fen took a step towards the door and lowered her hand. I'm not sure.

Mire nodded understandably and placed the permit back in the drawer. Fen's heart dropped a little as she lost sight of the paper. Had she really been that close to her dream?

Fen followed Mire out of the room and into the dark hallway. As they made their way down a door to their right opened and a small man quickly came out of the room, nearly colliding with Mire. The man looked up in shock. As he realized who he had almost ran into, he began apologizing anxiously. The man opened the door to slide back into the room as Mire moved forward. Fen caught only a glimpse of the room beyond. It was dimly lit by lamplight. The only other person she could see was sitting with his back to her and wore a red knit cap. The door closed before Fen had a chance to see more.

“Just think over the offer,” Mire said as he opened the door. It was brighter outside than in the building, and Fen squinted into the light. “And good luck with finding a captain to take you.”

The door closed with a solid thud behind her. Fen could hear the multiple locks click and slide into place as she walked down the steps of the building and into the full light of day. Fen looked back at the guild hall as she walked away. The dark building seemed further away from her than it was, as if retreating into its own shadow.

“Look out!” someone shouted and as Fen started to turn she was hit from the side.

Everything spun for a second as they fell in a tangle of arms and legs. Beside her the boy from the night before was trying to scramble to his feet and gather up a pair of books he had dropped.

“I'm so sorry. My dad says I should run everywhere,” he said looking up. “Oh yeah, it's you.”

“Yeah. It's me,” Fen said as she stood up. Her right knee was burning, but otherwise she was fine.

“Thanks again for helping me out last night. What are you doing over here?”

“Trying to get a permit. Have any?”

“No,” the boy said sucking on his teeth. “My dad does though. It's like all he does is fill out those little pieces of paper. I bet he could get you one.”

Fen considered it for a moment.

“I've already tried. They told me no.”

“Nobody tells my dad no. Except my mom,” the boy laughed. “Follow me!”

He pulled Fen by the arm around to the side of the registry building where a more traditional door was built. The boy opened it and turned down a lit hallway.

“My name is Sel by the way,” he said as they walked. The hallway stretched on for a long time before leading up a flight of stairs. “This is the employee corridors. Normal people don't get to see this. Pretty cool, huh?”

At the top of the stairs another door opened into a more furnished hallway with people walking between rooms. It was much quieter that the main floor. Sel led them to the end where heavy oak doors closed off the hall. A large brass sign was attached to one and read: Seland Yul IV, Port Master.

Sel pushed the doors open and ran into the room beyond while Fen slowly made her way in. The room was similar to the waiting room for Tomelin only much larger and luxurious in every way. Across from Fen a woman watch with a pleasant smile.

“One of Sel's friends?” the woman asked.

“Kind of, I guess,” Fen said as she took a seat.

“That's nice.” The woman turned back to the papers in front of her, humming quietly.

A few minutes later the door to the main office began to open.

“Alright, alright,” a man's voice said with a laugh. Sel had one hand pulling his father's sleeve while the other opened the door. There was no mistaking the two were related; they were nearly identical. As they walked through the door the father righted his cuff and walked towards Fen and extended a hand. “You must be Fen.”

“Yes, sir,” Fen said. His hand firm and more calloused.

“When Sel told me what had happened last night, I was inclined to think he was making the whole thing up. He has a vivid imagination, but when he burst into my office just now talking faster than I could listen...” The man laughed again looking at his son. “He said you needed help with something?”

“I'm trying to apprentice... on a ship.”

“I see. And did you try with Tomelin?”

“I did sir,” Fen could feel the disappointment creeping in.

“I'm sure he explained his reason and concerns for denying you?”

“He did, but after I left I found a captain who will take me. She just can't sponsor me.”

“Oh, and who is this captain?”

“Captain Maolen.”

“Maolen...” Seland let the name hang in the air as he sucked on his teeth. Fen noticed Sel mimicking his father's thoughtful expression. “I suppose...”

“Sir?” Fen asked.

“I suppose if you understand the danger and Captain Maolen has agreed, I can help you with a conditional permit. Follow me.”

Fen's were noticebly shaking as Seland filled out a permit, stamped it with his seal, and handed it to her.

“This is only works if you give it to Captain Maolen. No other captain can accept this. Understand?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“Your welcome. Consider this my thank you for what you did for my son,” he said with a smile. “I trust you can find your way out of the building?”

“I can. Thank you.”

“Bye Fen!” Sel said from beside his father as Fen walked through the door.

She stared at the ticket as she walked through the halls an out onto the street. Once outside she tucked it safely into her pocket and began to head home.