Wanderlust - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

They got dressed quickly. Soren was nervous to leave the captain's quarters. He thought they had been relatively quiet, but there was always the chance that someone had heard. Finally, he took a deep breath to steady his nerves, ran a hand through his hair, and walked out into the sunlight.
There were a handful of sailors milling about on the deck. Soren spotted his friends nearby and did his best to act casual while walking over to them.
"Morning, mates. Good night?"
"Aye," Roan mumbled. He was sitting on the stairs that led up to the quarter deck, his head buried in his hands.
"Basically carried him," Ivern chuckled. "He's a bit hungover."
"A bit?" Soren laughed.
"Shh..." Roan hissed. "Wouldn't've hurt to let me sleep longer."
"Where were you, Soren?" Jerios asked. "We thought we'd see you around."
"Oh. Well, last night the captain told me that I've paid off my debt and that I was free to go. So I spent the night thinking it over. And, I... well. I decided to stay. So I'm first mate."
Ivern and Jerios' jaws dropped. Even Roan looked up.
"Officially?" Ivern asked.
Soren grinned. "Aye. Officially."
Ivern clapped him on the shoulder heavily. "Finally! It's about time. Glad you're sticking around."
"Aye, me too," Soren agreed. "Can't be much different than—" he cut himself off when a hand dropped onto his shoulder and suddenly Tanden was standing there.
"When everyone's back, gather them on the deck," the captain said. "I have a handful of announcements to make."
"Already?" Soren asked.
"You want the men to listen to you, don't you? Besides, I have other things to say. It isn't all about you, mate." Tanden smiled and nodded at the other three. "Morning, gentlemen. Fit to work, Roan?"
"Will be, Cap'n, aye," Roan muttered in reply.
"Glad to hear it. Soren, let me know when everyone's here." Tanden clapped him on the shoulder again before walking away.
"Putting you to work already," Ivern commented. "Maybe it will be more work than you expected."
Soren shrugged. "Already doing most of it, wasn't I? The only difference is the title. Reckon I should figure out who we're missing." He walked away to do a quick tally of the crew. Most of the men were back, and while he was still trying to name who was missing, the last few men climbed up the gangway. He spread the word that Tanden wanted to make an announcement, then went up to the quarter deck. Tanden was standing by the bulwark, staring out at the water.
Soren cleared his throat as he stepped up beside the captain. "Everyone's here. What... what are you going to tell them?"
Tanden flashed him a grin. "You don't trust me?"
"For all I know, telling them could be part of the game."
"An interesting thought, but no. At least not yet." Tanden's grin widened. "Don't look so worried, mate. I can be discreet."
"Can you? They all already think you were fucking me." Soren groaned and rubbed his face. "They're going to think we made some sort of deal so that you'd give me more power. This isn't going to work. Wait, what do you mean, not yet?"
"Calm down, mate. Come on. Just stand beside me, cross your arms and try to look intimidating."
"What?"
"Come on." Tanden walked away and after a pause Soren followed him. Tanden strolled down the stairs to hop up onto his usual spot for announcements. Soren, unsure of what else to do, stayed on the deck and crossed his arms. Maybe it did help him look a little more intimidating, but he didn't really believe it.
"Welcome back, lads, I trust you all had a good night?" Tanden paused to allow for some cheers. Soren glanced up at him. He always looked so regal while speaking to the crew from the bulwark. Tanden must have known that, which must have been why he always spoke to crew from the same place. As far as Soren could tell, Tanden almost never did anything without purpose.
"I've got some exciting news," Tanden continued. "I have finally settled on who I want as first mate, and I'm sure none of you will be surprised to hear that the job is going to Soren. I tr—"
"Why?" Borick shouted from the crowd. Everyone went still and turned to face him as he forced in way through to the front of the group. Soren tensed up as the other Crelan came to a stop right in front of him. "He's been part of the crew less than a year. What gives him the right to be first mate?"
"Borick, stand down," Tanden said, his voice icily calm. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you didn't mean to interrupt me. Do it again and there will be consequences."
Borick grumbled something insulting under his breath, but out loud said, "Aye. Sorry cap'n."
"As I was saying," Tanden said loudly. "I trust you will all give Soren your utmost respect. Yes, he's a relatively new addition to the crew." He cast Borick a glare. "But he is the only man here who stepped up to take on the extra work, which is why I've chosen him. If any of you have concerns, I'll listen if they're valid. If you intend to complain because you're jealous, or you don't think Soren deserves the job, you're welcome to leave my ship and I wish you luck finding employment in Stanin. Is that clear?"
The crew was silent. Then someone started clapping and Jerios called across the deck. "Couldn't have chosen a better man, captain. To Soren!"
It was as if Jerios had broken a dam. The whole crew started to clap and cheer. Borick fixed Soren with a murderous stare before disappearing back into the crowd. A couple of the men stepped forward to clap Soren on the shoulder and congratulate him.
They all fell silent the instant Tanden started speaking again. "We will continue with our usual break schedule. Those of you on leave first are welcome to leave as soon as I'm done here. The rest of you will start moving cargo with Soren. Remember that this is the last time off you'll have in a while. We're going to move quickly down the coast and along Deorun and hopefully reach West Draulin in little over a month. Let's get to work, lads."
Tanden jumped down and instantly turned to Soren, answering his question before he could ask it. "Unload the salted fish from the Nir, it's considered a delicacy in Stanin. Keep... four crates. We'll drop one off as a gift to King Deorun on our way past, give one to Rael and keep the other two. And unload some of the kalay, too. Ten crates should do it."
Soren nodded. "Do you want me to try to sell any of it?"
"I'll handle the merchants; you just get everything ready. I'm hoping to take on some more cargo. The caravans bring some interesting things from Setta and the lakes. Do you still have that cutlass I gave you?"
The abrupt change in topic was puzzling, but Soren nodded. "Aye."
"Good. Wear it until we're out of Stanin. And tell me if Borick gives you any more trouble."
Soren glanced at the sailors who were still lingering on the deck, but didn't see Borick. He had probably already left on leave. "Do you think he's going to try something?" Even if he carried the cutlass around, he doubted he'd be very good at protecting himself.
"Not if he has any sense, but if it seems like he'll be a threat I'll fire him. I just want you to be prepared."
"Aye, well..." Soren hesitated. "See, Captain, I'm not actually very good with a cutlass."
"Do you want something else instead?" Tanden had already started moving and Soren once again found himself following the captain across the deck.
"No. I mean, I'm better with a cutlass than anything else. I've just never been trained... right?" Soren almost collided with Tanden when the captain spun around suddenly.
"What? When I gave it to you you said you could use it."
"Well... aye." Soren took a step back. "But, to be fair, you didn't exactly give me much of a chance to talk. And you got so close that—" he cut himself off and frowned. "And you're one to talk about leavin' out important details."
"Difference being that I'm the captain and you're not supposed to lie to me."
"I didn't lie, I—"
"Granted, I do remember toying with you a bit when I gave it to you, so I suppose I can only blame myself. Very well, we'll spar tomorrow. Wear the sword for now, anyway."
"I don't want to fight you. What if..." Soren paused and shrugged, a little embarrassed by his concern, "you get hurt?"
Tanden grinned. "Soren, mate. I once told you that you would be capable of physically overpowering me. But swords are an entirely different matter." He held up his right hand and wiggled his fingers, drawing Soren's attention to his two rings. The one on his index finger was his crest ring, Soren had always known what it was. The ring on his thumb was different, but Soren had never asked. "I went to the Order," Tanden pointed out. "Do you think all I learned there was how to speak other languages? I'm excellent with a sword. You're not going to be able to hurt me. Tomorrow I'll see what kind of work needs to be done with you. For now, go deal with the cargo."
Soren sighed and nodded.
"No, Soren, if you hold it like that you won't be able to raise it quickly enough to stop me." Tanden tapped Soren's wrist with the flat edge of his cutlass. "Up- there you go. That's better. And relax your grip a bit." Normally, Tanden wouldn't complain about Soren holding the cutlass so tightly, the muscles in his forearm were tensed and the tattoo-
He ducked and deflected Soren's cutlass with his own, then took a hopping step backwards. "Thought you could get me while I was distracted, did you?"
Soren smiled slightly and shrugged. It was a hot day, and he'd rolled the sleeves of his tunic up to his elbows. Tanden was sure Soren knew his tattoos would be distracting. Tanden himself had abandoned his jacket earlier that morning, when the sun had warmed the mist coming off of the ocean. He loved it and knew he looked good wearing it, but it was simply too warm to put up with.
"Cutlasses aren't broadswords, mate," Tanden said. "You can't just swing them wildly like that. Not that you could with a broadsword, but at least you might have more luck if you did."
"Why?"
"They're heavier and longer. Your strength would be an asset against someone who didn't know what they were doing." Tanden suddenly stepped forward and swung. Soren fumbled and managed to block it, but it was messy. Tanden backed up again. "Not someone who knows how to fight, though."
"Reckon I could beat you in a tavern brawl with knives," Soren said.
"Reckon you could," Tanden agreed. He gestured with his left hand. "Come on, try something."
Soren lunged forward. Tanden blocked the first swing and forced the swords to point towards the ground. Soren pulled back and tried to strike from a different angle, which Tanden also blocked. Then he went in for a strike to force Soren to take a few steps back.
Once they were out of range, Tanden rolled his right wrist. "You put a lot of force behind those hits."
"Is that a good thing?"
"It helps make up for your lack of form," Tanden said. He wasn't about to admit how much the last attack had hurt his wrist. He was out of practice. Tandar would be furious if he knew. Tanden held up the cutlass. "Again."
Soren stepped forward again and struck towards Tanden's left side. Tanden blocked the strike, ignoring the jarring shock that went up his arm, and twisted his cutlass sharply. His action turned Soren's hand, and Soren's cutlass clattered to the deck. Before he could reach down for it, Tanden lay the flat of his sword across Soren's chest.
"Let's take a break."
Soren pushed the sword away and leaned over to pick up his own. "Worried I might get the hang of this?"
"No, just tired." Tanden slipped his sword into its sheath. "Taking breaks is important. And I have people to talk to this afternoon. You're actually doing fairly well, all things considered. We'll practice again tomorrow."
Soren put away his sword as well. "Tomorrow? Shouldn't I be on leave?"
"You don't get leave."
"Of course not." Soren crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. Had he always had that habit? "Why don't I get leave this time?"
"Because you're just starting up a new position and you're in training," Tanden pointed out. "Besides," he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I'm on the ship. What in Stanin could possibly be more interesting than me?"
His words had the desired effect. Soren's eyes widened and his face reddened slightly.
"Exactly," Tanden grinned. "Maybe we'll take a night off together later in the week and rent out a room in a tavern, how does that sound?"
Soren glanced around furtively, but anyone watching had lost interest the second the swords had been put away. "We can't leave the ship at the same time, can we?"
"Is that your biggest concern? Of course we can. Not that I'm against using my quarters, but it might be too risky now that we have half the crew back onboard at a time. I'll look into a good tavern."
"Wait, really?"
"You don't want to?"
"No, I— Aye, I want to," Soren muttered. "But... is it a good idea to do it so soon? What if the crew gets suspicious?"
Tanden shrugged. "I'll come up with something. I've been waiting since Deor-Morcea, mate. You think I want to wait again? Absolutely not. I'll figure something out, don't worry about that. Just go along with me, all right?"
Soren smiled tentatively. "Aye... all right."