Inside Under the Crown of Ogotay

[Sinbad]

The captain didn´t reply at once. This came rather surprising and rather suddenly. And besides the fact that the other man seemed to have quite some personal matters occupying his mind and apart from the fact that he had never counted among his closest friends, he was a good sailor. A valuable member of the crew. And besides Sean being a good guy one could always rely on, if he left that also meant that they would be nearly on shortage with deckhands on board the Nomad and as a captain, Sinbad had to consider that as well. On the other hand, the post of the first mate was an attractive one, one that he, Sinbad couldn´t ever have offered Sean and therefore at least that made the other man´s sudden decision somewhat understanding.

After a few moments of consideration, he spoke. "I see..." he said. "That´s kind of suddenly though, Sean."

[Sean]

Sean could understand captain's shock and doubts, especially after their last conversation on Nomad. He regarded Sinbad as his captain and as a friend and it was not simply to leave his crew but that proposition could best chance of his life.
"You know, I have many doubts but I made my decision. I hope you undestand."

[Sinbad]

Sinbad gave a nod. Not one of approval, but one of comprehension. "Does this have anything to do with what we talked about earlier today?" he asked.

[Sean]

Sean looked into Sinbad's eyes to make his answer more believable.
"No, it has nothing to do with that." He said with the sobriety in the voice, even if that stuff still niggled him somewhere deeply.
"I decided to face it myself."
It was not so simple for that young man but against his emotion he needed to do it himself. He wanted to finish it once for all and start a new life, on the new board, with the new crew.

[Sinbad]

It wasn´t the first time that he faced that kind of situation. Especially among the simple sailors, people came and went, staying with the Nomad for a while, many liking it, but when they got a better offer, some of them left again. He didn´t take it personally, there was no reason to, yet he felt responsible for the members of his crew. That, and it might be a good idea to look for a new deck hand. Luckily, they were in a big city, it should be possible to find someone there.

"I understand." he said after a moment. "Just don´t do anything stupid facing them." Sean´s story had reminded him of his own. Of Lea. He could tell what the other man must have been going through, even though things were somewhat different with him.

[Sean]

Sean knew that his captain wished him all bast and he uderstood his care. Their converation, last night put Sinbad in the other point of view for the sailor.
He smiled warmly and siad,
"I won't. Promise, you don't need to worry about me."

[Sinbad]

Sinbad nodded - a sign more of understanding than approval. Sean had proven to be a good sailor, an able deckhand and a good companion as well. As a captain he picked his men with care but that was the reason why he wasn´t too willing to let the other man go.

"Do you want me to tell the others?" he asked, wondering whether that had been another reason for Sean to speak to him in private. "Or will you stay the night and bid them farewell in the morning?"

[Sean]

Most people prefer greetings than farewells, also Sean did not like saying goodbye, especialy to his friends. He wanted to avoid it this time, too.
“Say goodbye to the crew from, please.” He said to his captain with smile and added,
“With the dawn, I’m going to deal with my stuff and then we are leaving with the first outflow.”
He smiled once again, patted Sinbad’s shoulder,
“Take care, captain.”
Then he turned around and walking through the narrwo street, he vanished into the dark of the night.

[Sinbad]

Sinbad looked after him, remaining standing where he was, crossing his arms across the chest as he watched the other man walk away. He still wasn´t quite sure what to think of this. Sailors and deckhands came and went all the time, a natural flow that changed the crew slightly in nearly every larger harbour. It wasn´t anything unnatural, some were just looking to make a little money before they could settle down, others were in on it for the adventure, but still - maybe it was what Sean had told him earlier that day that made Sinbad a little bit worried about him. Because it seemed rather familiar. He just hoped that the other man would not rush into things and not get himself into trouble.

After Sean had disappeared from his side, the captain stayed out for another moment. He hadn´t had quite that much ale tonight, but something, probably a combination from the lack of sleep and emotional strain of the last few days, were making his head rather foggy and a moment alone in the chill night´s air didn´t seem like a bad idea. But leant back against the wall of the tavern, looking up at the stars and seeking a moment of quiet, Sinbad noticed that this didn´t help. Not at all. But this time he didn´t allow memories to come back. Before they could enter his mind, making him hurt again, he turned and walked back into the tavern.

[Kriss]

The tavern was empty already. Kriss was nervously striving around the bar when she noticed that someone walked in. The anger was emit from her but she slowly raised her head to see who was it.
‘Don’t they know that it’s closed already?!’

But it was not drunk guest like she had thought. The archer nodded at Sinbad and smiled from her place.
He seemed to be a bit depressed. Kriss watched him and thought what problems guy like him could have. He was the legendary captain, had a great crew, great friends, could have any woman he wish, just sailing around the world, looking for the new adventures. It sounds like a perfect life. What then could bother him?

[Sinbad]

Sinbad was well aware of the fact that he probably looked every bit as tired as he felt and when he stepped inside the tavern again, seeing the slight frown on the tavern owner´s face he guessed that she probably thought the same and at the same time couldn´t think of a better thing to do than just lay down for a hopefully long, full night´s rest.

"Thank you again for your hospitality." he said as he walked by with a small somewhat tired smile. "I think I should do the same as my friends now and go to sleep."

[Kriss]

It was rather obvious that none of them was not in the mood for a long night chats. Fatigue in his eyes and the smile was quite visible. Kriss was aware of the fact that her emotions were also rather simple to pin down.
She gave him a warm smile, at least her bad mood was not his fault.

"You're welcome, captain." Indeed, it was not big deal, they paid for it and it was just her job.
"So, I can only whish you good noight. And If you need anything, I will be here for the whole night. Guess, I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway."

[Sinbad]

Sinbad smile again as he looked back at her over his shoulder. He might have stayed for a chat, and a few days ago he might have stayed for a little playful talk too, because he was still feeling the same void he had been feeling all year, but he could not have been less in a mood for the latter. He gave the tavern owner a short nod. "I will let you know." he said simply before retiring to his room for the night. The others were already asleep when he arrived and he didn´t even bother to slip off his boots. The last thing he noticed was collapsing on the bed with the good knowledge that he would be able to grant himself a good long night´s sleep. That thought and after that, nothing.

[Kriss]

Kriss nodded and smiled at the young captain once again, and then just watched his leaving up stairs without saying anything. She could see that he was like absentee. She was not in a mood to talking either.

When he vanished from her eyes she turned at her son sleeping on the furry carpet in her private corner of the tavern. She came closer and touched up his blanket. He was a real angel while sleeping. The mother smiled at her sweet only child and walked away, letting him sleep.

She got tavern's front door and locked them. There was not anyone else she excepted. The archer looked around at her empty tavern to check if nothing had stayed on some tables. Then she walked around and put out all the candles. Only one on the bar left.
The darkness which reigned in the tavern seemed to be suitable to her mood. It was very long and not necessarily nice day.
First, Aniel's fuss. He started to show Kriss that dark side of parenthood. His whims had become a routine.
Then, her new guests and the problematic girl. She was aware what consequences that peasant could bring her and if she was not the friend of Caipra, she would not find a place in Kriss' tavern any while longer.
And finally the worst part of the day - guard's visit. Their ruction had left the imprint.

She took the bottle with some strong alcohol, a glass and then she sat by the bar near the only left candle. The pale ray illuminated her grumpy face. She opened the bottle and filled the glass. Kriss looked at it for a while and then drank it. She filled the glass again but before she had drunk the alcohol, she thought for a while.
She did not know but there was something about that guard... she could not name it. He drove her crazy but on the other hand, that was something much differnet and weird in the same time.
That weird and unusual that she decided to drink for it.

The glass had been filled again and again it left in Kriss' hand for a while. This time she thought how irredeemable her life had become after Shaigan's dead.
She had used to be a respected and rich person. She had used to be loved. And she had lost everything and had become the simply tavern's owner.
It was that hopeless that she decided to drink for it, too.

The alcohol was that strong that even the three rather not small glasses which she had drunk
were enough to blur her mind.

She put her head at her crossed arms at the bar, looked at the last candel and blew it out.



[CLOSED]