Kuyeix stopped by the tangled mess of a discarded net and the various treasures trapped in its twined strands. A broken seashell; a warped branch of driftwood, freshly swollen from the retreating tide; feathers from noisy gulls; a few crabs that were too small to consider eating and a few dark and mushy looking strands of seaweed. All useful things. She stooped to pick at the feathers and tease the crabs with her fingers; the feathers were discarded and the crabs disappeared in short order.
Sighing, Kuyeix looked up at the rough sailor with eyes narrowed against the glare of the sun, and studied him. There was something broken in him, a place that should be filled by tribe and raven. He was dull and dim, leaking the effervescence of a birthright that his family had been too ignorant to give him. But he knew, instinctually, no matter the wary denial he might pin her with. He knew, and Raven knew too.
"You want power. Strength. True home. I can give that."
Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
With a curse, Shiv stared at the woman. Just who in the hell was she? She didn't know anything about him. Didn't know who he was, or what he was about. And she would stand here and make assumption? Tell him what he wanted in life? Bah. He spat at her feet. He didn't need some painted whore of a witch telling him what he needed. He sure as hell didn't need her bad luck following him around everywhere, telling him what was what and ruining his life. True enough, spirits damn her to the watery hells.
"I don't need ye. I have a home. It's the sea, which I was almost back ta, until ye run yer damn fool mouth and the harbour official kicked me from the passage I needed."
"I don't need ye. I have a home. It's the sea, which I was almost back ta, until ye run yer damn fool mouth and the harbour official kicked me from the passage I needed."
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Irritating fledgeling. He spat at her, a gesture she didn't well understand but knew by the set of his face that he was displeased. Why? Like a stubborn child, a test set to her to overcome. She untangled the driftwood from the net, the small work giving an ease to her that made her want to smile, so she did. She smiled up at the bigger man, herself dark and muscled and so different that as far as she was concerned he was another species entirely. But it didn't matter. Raven knew His own.
"I can give that," she insisted, eyes crinkling up with amusement at him as she stood in a single fluid motion. "I, Totem. I take you." She tilted her head to the side, the movement birdlike as she looked past Shiv towards the docks and the ships that floated beyond. "I find brothers-of-clan. They, I have tracked here. This I cannot do alone. You help me, and I take you home." Her teeth were a sliver of stained ivory as her lips parted, a not-quite smile bared at the world.
"I can give that," she insisted, eyes crinkling up with amusement at him as she stood in a single fluid motion. "I, Totem. I take you." She tilted her head to the side, the movement birdlike as she looked past Shiv towards the docks and the ships that floated beyond. "I find brothers-of-clan. They, I have tracked here. This I cannot do alone. You help me, and I take you home." Her teeth were a sliver of stained ivory as her lips parted, a not-quite smile bared at the world.
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
He stopped for a moment, staring at her.
"Sure as sure?" He looked into her eyes, trying to find the truth there. But he couldn't see it, it was so mixed up with everything. But to go home... to go home would be good. The sea had been his home for most of his life, but he would never forget the dark forests, never forget the sound of boar and eagle. Back when he was Erik, the son of Ragnar. Back when his secret name was Pwyll, and only the spirits and the men who spoke to them knew that.
"If ye can take m' home. I'll go wit' ya. But only if ya speak true."
"Sure as sure?" He looked into her eyes, trying to find the truth there. But he couldn't see it, it was so mixed up with everything. But to go home... to go home would be good. The sea had been his home for most of his life, but he would never forget the dark forests, never forget the sound of boar and eagle. Back when he was Erik, the son of Ragnar. Back when his secret name was Pwyll, and only the spirits and the men who spoke to them knew that.
"If ye can take m' home. I'll go wit' ya. But only if ya speak true."
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Kuyeix looked into Shiv's eyes and smiled.
A deal was worked out between them, one measured by the way they sized each other up to determine the trustworthy nature of the other. Kuyeix wasn't trustworthy, but on some certain oaths she'd keep her word. Or, at least, keep it in a way that adhered to the letter of the oath itself, if not the spirit. Raven's honor wasn't quite the same, maybe as what the man before her expected. Oh well.
Even if reluctantly, Shiv had agreed to help her. She outlined what had happened, what she suspected, and what she needed to know to move forward. Shiv took her on a tour of the dockside buildings, and though she tried eventually it was left to Shiv to ask the questions and cajole answers out of the hardbitten men and women who frequented the docks. Kuyeix stood out too much, was too odd and had strange manners. People who'd back away from her had a better chance to talk to Shiv. That didn't mean that all the world opened up to them, but things were better.
It still took a long time. Shiv got impatient with her a time or two, but she insisted they make sure of what they were doing, because as soon as they took off after a lead that would mean a wrong one would make it all the more likely she wouldn't find the right one. Failure wasn't an option. It just wasn't.
But they kept hearing the same things over and over. Slavers, strange dark haired men, a ship down the coast of Tian Xia. After enough of Shiv's brusque words and repeating stories, Kuyeix finally committed them to it. Shiv got them a ship that followed the same route, and that was that.
Kuyeix stood on the deck of the ship, which was a strange thing to her. Her stomach didn't like the way it moved, and that had hurt her pride when she'd been unable to keep the contents down. No matter, it had stopped after a few days and the result was that she stood on the deck like she owned it and stared up at the vast sky, watching the birds or the clouds or just taking in the sheer size of it. She'd been told to stay in very specific parts of the ships, and most of the sailors had given her dirty looks and made incomprehensible signs at her with their hands. The captain had given her a small, crude little figure to keep in her cabin that she shared with Shiv, telling her it would keep them safe or some other nonsense.
Clearly, they didn't know Raven.
But the deck was smooth under her feet, and the smell of the ocean was a good one. She stayed near the rail where she'd been repeatedly instructed (as if they could keep one of Raven's from going where she wanted to go, but she was tired of arguing, and even Shiv hadn't been pleased with her so she'd decided to let them have their way for the moment), and stared out over the ocean.
A deal was worked out between them, one measured by the way they sized each other up to determine the trustworthy nature of the other. Kuyeix wasn't trustworthy, but on some certain oaths she'd keep her word. Or, at least, keep it in a way that adhered to the letter of the oath itself, if not the spirit. Raven's honor wasn't quite the same, maybe as what the man before her expected. Oh well.
Even if reluctantly, Shiv had agreed to help her. She outlined what had happened, what she suspected, and what she needed to know to move forward. Shiv took her on a tour of the dockside buildings, and though she tried eventually it was left to Shiv to ask the questions and cajole answers out of the hardbitten men and women who frequented the docks. Kuyeix stood out too much, was too odd and had strange manners. People who'd back away from her had a better chance to talk to Shiv. That didn't mean that all the world opened up to them, but things were better.
It still took a long time. Shiv got impatient with her a time or two, but she insisted they make sure of what they were doing, because as soon as they took off after a lead that would mean a wrong one would make it all the more likely she wouldn't find the right one. Failure wasn't an option. It just wasn't.
But they kept hearing the same things over and over. Slavers, strange dark haired men, a ship down the coast of Tian Xia. After enough of Shiv's brusque words and repeating stories, Kuyeix finally committed them to it. Shiv got them a ship that followed the same route, and that was that.
Kuyeix stood on the deck of the ship, which was a strange thing to her. Her stomach didn't like the way it moved, and that had hurt her pride when she'd been unable to keep the contents down. No matter, it had stopped after a few days and the result was that she stood on the deck like she owned it and stared up at the vast sky, watching the birds or the clouds or just taking in the sheer size of it. She'd been told to stay in very specific parts of the ships, and most of the sailors had given her dirty looks and made incomprehensible signs at her with their hands. The captain had given her a small, crude little figure to keep in her cabin that she shared with Shiv, telling her it would keep them safe or some other nonsense.
Clearly, they didn't know Raven.
But the deck was smooth under her feet, and the smell of the ocean was a good one. She stayed near the rail where she'd been repeatedly instructed (as if they could keep one of Raven's from going where she wanted to go, but she was tired of arguing, and even Shiv hadn't been pleased with her so she'd decided to let them have their way for the moment), and stared out over the ocean.
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Shiv hummed and sang snatches of song as he climbed through the rigging, checking the ropes to make sure they were all in good shape. No fraying so far, which was a good thing being out in the ocean. He didn't want to spend his time running new ropes up the mast. The ship, which he had been told it's name meant the Green Whale, was a good ship. It was carrying them well, and the Captain was a man who understood the spirits and the luck that they needed for success. It was good they had found him. Even thought Squinty had taken a shite long time of it.
She had told him her name of course. Even told him how to pronounce it several times. But he preferred Squinty. Glarey didn't quite have the ring to it he wanted, and that seemed like all she did. Squint at him or the horizon, glare at him or the horizon, and throw up the first few days. He hadn't called her Pukey out loud, but it had been fun to refer to her in that way in his mind. He had thrown it out a few times around her just to see, and she hadn't reacted. She didn't react when he called her anything really. He had to snap his fingers in front of her eyes to get her attention. At least she was a quiet woman.
He hooked his legs in some of the ropes and sat there, looking out. Nothing but beautiful blue ocean as far as his eyes could see. What else in the world could a man ever want than this right here? He was sure others loved their woods more, or their wives and children, but what need did he have of those? He was married to the salt water, and it would always be his true love.
She had told him her name of course. Even told him how to pronounce it several times. But he preferred Squinty. Glarey didn't quite have the ring to it he wanted, and that seemed like all she did. Squint at him or the horizon, glare at him or the horizon, and throw up the first few days. He hadn't called her Pukey out loud, but it had been fun to refer to her in that way in his mind. He had thrown it out a few times around her just to see, and she hadn't reacted. She didn't react when he called her anything really. He had to snap his fingers in front of her eyes to get her attention. At least she was a quiet woman.
He hooked his legs in some of the ropes and sat there, looking out. Nothing but beautiful blue ocean as far as his eyes could see. What else in the world could a man ever want than this right here? He was sure others loved their woods more, or their wives and children, but what need did he have of those? He was married to the salt water, and it would always be his true love.
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
The shapes of men up high and across the deck, moving like crabs caught Kuyeix's attention. It was easy to think of them falling. It was easier to imagine helping them along. Kuyeix didn't particular care for their deaths, but the thought of such men so obviously seasoned with their work tripping up was worth a few chuckles. Those were the nature of her thoughts whenever she looked at the men. Perhaps they knew it; there was a tendency to make gestures at her when they saw her stares. She suspected it was not an attempt at communication, for they would thereafter attempt to stare her down or divert their eyes.
Being an outsider was something Kuyeix was used to. It was the disrespect that galled her. So she imagined pranks she might play upon them. She'd managed a few, mostly having to do with food, but nothing that truly satisfied her. The 'ship', as they called it, was not to her liking for that.
She resumed staring out at the ocean. This time, she noticed a dark shape over the waves. Though still distant, it vaguely looked like another ship skating over the water's surface. Kuyeix didn't think much of it, but within a few minutes there was shouting from the man whose job seemed to be staring out over the water. She didn't think it much to fuss over, but clearly the sailors thought otherwise. She frowned and looked for Shiv.
Being an outsider was something Kuyeix was used to. It was the disrespect that galled her. So she imagined pranks she might play upon them. She'd managed a few, mostly having to do with food, but nothing that truly satisfied her. The 'ship', as they called it, was not to her liking for that.
She resumed staring out at the ocean. This time, she noticed a dark shape over the waves. Though still distant, it vaguely looked like another ship skating over the water's surface. Kuyeix didn't think much of it, but within a few minutes there was shouting from the man whose job seemed to be staring out over the water. She didn't think it much to fuss over, but clearly the sailors thought otherwise. She frowned and looked for Shiv.
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Shiv heard the yelling, the calls out from the the man working on the yard. He didn't need more than that. His eyes couldn't see out that far anyways. It was better to take a sharp eyed mans words for it when you weren't sure of what was going on yourself. He ran down the length of the ship, trying to reach where he had stored his equipment. If there was a fight, then he wanted his weapons. The Quartermaster shouted in Shipspeak, telling them all to get to positions if they weren't needed. Marvelous language, Shipspeak. It combined languages of most major ports, helping with communication issues that sailors that just hopped on would have.
He bumped into Squinty, turning around and grabbing her. "C'mon Squinty, work to do." He fair drug her, knowing she would be highly angry and have that look like someone rubbed shit on her upper lip on her face, and it was slightly worth it to him. Even if he didn't really need her to do anything. But she was some kind of medicine woman or shaman, and that was helpful at that. Finally reaching their berth, he drug his seabag out and started grabbing items from it.
"You. Start prayin'. Cause we're probably gonna need it." He slipped his feet into the nail toed boots, throwing the leather belt to his cutlass scabbard over his shoulder and running back up the deck. If it was pirates, he'd fight 'em. Work out good either way, cause if he fought hard and they won, might get a full time berth here. Fight hard, survive, and his ship lose, pirates usually took up hard fighters on their own crews. Either way today, he might win.
He bumped into Squinty, turning around and grabbing her. "C'mon Squinty, work to do." He fair drug her, knowing she would be highly angry and have that look like someone rubbed shit on her upper lip on her face, and it was slightly worth it to him. Even if he didn't really need her to do anything. But she was some kind of medicine woman or shaman, and that was helpful at that. Finally reaching their berth, he drug his seabag out and started grabbing items from it.
"You. Start prayin'. Cause we're probably gonna need it." He slipped his feet into the nail toed boots, throwing the leather belt to his cutlass scabbard over his shoulder and running back up the deck. If it was pirates, he'd fight 'em. Work out good either way, cause if he fought hard and they won, might get a full time berth here. Fight hard, survive, and his ship lose, pirates usually took up hard fighters on their own crews. Either way today, he might win.
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Kuyeix did not appreciate being manhandled. Not even the Matriarch would do a thing, and there would be harsh score to settle if another Totem touched her in such a demanding way without first asking permission. "Lucky you, Raven-touched," she hissed at him, "No hands on me. Ah!" He stopped, and she snapped the sound out to get his attention. He wasn't listening, he kept talking as if he was Eagle herself.
This time it was her hand to reach out. She did not grab him, since that was not the way of things. She slapped him on the shoulder. "Do not take hold of me. Understand? Yes?"
It was obvious from looking around that some sort of altercation was expected. Kuyeix did not know why. Even among the log-canoes, conflict was not determined so quickly. Besides that, with the size of their "ships" it was not guaranteed that any such blood would be sent to Otter or even humble Whale. "Now. Tell me what happens."
This time it was her hand to reach out. She did not grab him, since that was not the way of things. She slapped him on the shoulder. "Do not take hold of me. Understand? Yes?"
It was obvious from looking around that some sort of altercation was expected. Kuyeix did not know why. Even among the log-canoes, conflict was not determined so quickly. Besides that, with the size of their "ships" it was not guaranteed that any such blood would be sent to Otter or even humble Whale. "Now. Tell me what happens."
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Shiv lost his temper, and he turned around and gave her a stiff arm shove to the shoulder. He'd ignored her for a reason, he needed to be able to hear what was yelled out by anyone. They had already shouted that it flew a pirate flag, and it was moving low and fast over the water, straight for them. Would it come to them for a straight fight? Or would they try to lie and parlay first? He didn't know. He didn't like not knowing. He had told the captain, they should have sent a little bread and meat out into the water for the spirits. But he hadn't listened to the 'strange tattooed man'. And who ever did? They all ignored him. And then the spirits took their revenge, and everyone thought he had witchcraft over it. But at least now he had a fighting chance. He ran his finger across the blade, checking it's sharpness. The ridges of scar tissue on his thumb pad was where he had been taught long ago not to check it by running it down the edge. He still remembered.
He finally answered her, his voice soft as his mind was focused elsewhere. On the possibility of a coming fight, on the voyage, on thoughts of if the spirits were appeased enough that they'd let him live, and not turn a stray arrow into his throat, or break his cutlass at the hilt and let some crazed pirate split him from stem to stern.
"Shut th' hell up, you old stinky bird. I'll do what I want so you don't get killed, though I shouldn't care. There's pirates. We're a merchant. We're gonna fight. Simple enough." He smirked as he looked at her, "Or do you need me to write it down for you?"
He finally answered her, his voice soft as his mind was focused elsewhere. On the possibility of a coming fight, on the voyage, on thoughts of if the spirits were appeased enough that they'd let him live, and not turn a stray arrow into his throat, or break his cutlass at the hilt and let some crazed pirate split him from stem to stern.
"Shut th' hell up, you old stinky bird. I'll do what I want so you don't get killed, though I shouldn't care. There's pirates. We're a merchant. We're gonna fight. Simple enough." He smirked as he looked at her, "Or do you need me to write it down for you?"
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
"Is me you wanting fight?" Kuyeix bared her teeth in a cozy little grin. "I have thought no. You may have Raven mark, but I am Raven totem. Heed. I watch your back, or curse. You choose."
Kuyeix knew she was not supposed to be angry, knew that Raven would disapprove. She even knew that she was scrambling her words up in her haste to spit them out. She was a totem, not some casual slave to be batted at whenever the master felt like it. If she wanted contact, she would ask for it. Those manners mattered, even when there was danger at hand. Let the knot go to rot, and it would not support you when you needed it later. That was the way of things.
She stared him back, eye to eye. She was taller than him, and she lifted her chin just to look down at him.
Kuyeix knew she was not supposed to be angry, knew that Raven would disapprove. She even knew that she was scrambling her words up in her haste to spit them out. She was a totem, not some casual slave to be batted at whenever the master felt like it. If she wanted contact, she would ask for it. Those manners mattered, even when there was danger at hand. Let the knot go to rot, and it would not support you when you needed it later. That was the way of things.
She stared him back, eye to eye. She was taller than him, and she lifted her chin just to look down at him.
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
"You put your hands on me first, you ugly bitch."
He lifted his cutlass, placing the tip of the blade on the column of her throat. How convenient she had lifted her chin. She might be taller than him, but didn't she know? Even the tallest trees fell from enough axe blows. And there was some things that Shiv didn't know, but he knew how to cut down an uppity tree. He had done it enough times before, in ports all the way from Pretanna to Tian Xia.
"Watch my back, or the pirates take you. And they might not be as nice as me." He flicked the blade away, the tip leaving a small cut on her skin. "And if you curse me, I'll cut you into bite sized pieces and feed you to the shark spirits. I might be cursed, but you'll be dead. Now get ready. They're coming."
He lifted his cutlass, placing the tip of the blade on the column of her throat. How convenient she had lifted her chin. She might be taller than him, but didn't she know? Even the tallest trees fell from enough axe blows. And there was some things that Shiv didn't know, but he knew how to cut down an uppity tree. He had done it enough times before, in ports all the way from Pretanna to Tian Xia.
"Watch my back, or the pirates take you. And they might not be as nice as me." He flicked the blade away, the tip leaving a small cut on her skin. "And if you curse me, I'll cut you into bite sized pieces and feed you to the shark spirits. I might be cursed, but you'll be dead. Now get ready. They're coming."
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
A blatant lie did the Raven-marked man speak. Shiv had manacled her wrist with his hand and pulled her as if she was a wretched orphan to be corralled and put to work. Worse, he had called her ugly. That alone was unforgiveable. Raven knew very well how much she prided herself in her appearance, and even stripped of her favorite ochre and jewelry, she knew herself to be more than fair. That he would insult her woman's pride, and behave so disobediently showed that it was time he fell. Raven tested her, so too did the marked.
Kuyeix smiled sweetly at Shiv. The prick was nothing before her swelling emotional reaction. Lessons were hard to remember when she faced the worst breach of manners she'd ever experienced in the whole of her life, counting even those mishaps as a child. Still, there must have been a reason for it, or else Raven would never have lead him crossways into her path. The moment they experienced together would be the turning point that would lead to him learning exactly where he sat on the totem pole of their relationship.
Beneath her.
"You choose. Go fight." She flicked her fingers dismissively. "I watch back."
Her hand dropped to the materials that remained in their pouch at her hip. She beamed at him.
Kuyeix smiled sweetly at Shiv. The prick was nothing before her swelling emotional reaction. Lessons were hard to remember when she faced the worst breach of manners she'd ever experienced in the whole of her life, counting even those mishaps as a child. Still, there must have been a reason for it, or else Raven would never have lead him crossways into her path. The moment they experienced together would be the turning point that would lead to him learning exactly where he sat on the totem pole of their relationship.
Beneath her.
"You choose. Go fight." She flicked her fingers dismissively. "I watch back."
Her hand dropped to the materials that remained in their pouch at her hip. She beamed at him.
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Shiv smiled, more like a rat snarling than anything. And with his squinty little eyes, he did look a bit like a rat. He rolled his shoulders, looking at the ship coming towards them hard. Even from this distance and with how blurry it was, he could see it listing a bit. Maybe it had been in a battle? Maybe that's why it was attacking such a small merchant junk. To replace men and supplies. Maybe his luck was finally starting to turn. Maybe he could jump ship here, leave Stinky behind, and be gone about his merry way.
"I don't think droppin' the hand to the pouch you keep your wee little herbs in is a sing of trust and understandin', do you?" With another huff or 'what the hell am I doing?', he held the small crossbow towards her, stock and grip first. "Here. Hold onto this. Don't know how desperate these men are, or if they're even followin' the rules that most pirates do. So hold onto this. Any of 'em raises a sword at you, you put one in his eyes." He grinned a bit, the dark stained tips glistening wetly in the sunlight. "Just don't get a scratch. I don't think you'd like th' poison. They won't either. So even if y' barely knick 'em, it'll help."
"I don't think droppin' the hand to the pouch you keep your wee little herbs in is a sing of trust and understandin', do you?" With another huff or 'what the hell am I doing?', he held the small crossbow towards her, stock and grip first. "Here. Hold onto this. Don't know how desperate these men are, or if they're even followin' the rules that most pirates do. So hold onto this. Any of 'em raises a sword at you, you put one in his eyes." He grinned a bit, the dark stained tips glistening wetly in the sunlight. "Just don't get a scratch. I don't think you'd like th' poison. They won't either. So even if y' barely knick 'em, it'll help."
Re: Hear the Blackbirds Cry
Kuyeix snorted at Shiv. "You know nothing of what I do, so do not be putting your suspicion on my doings. What is this?" Kuyeix touched a finger to the crossbow with her free hand, even as she pulled a long string of beads on sinew out of her pouch. She wrapped it one handed around the opposite wrist, then twisted that hand around to tie it off. She looked at the crossbow but did not touch it again. Then she glanced towards the approaching ship-thing, her bearing that of idle curiosity rather than self-preservation.