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***Mithadan*** · 04-13-2004, 02:49 PM

Saelon sucked on his lower lip as he sat watch at the helm of the Lonely Star. It was a moonless night but, by the movement of the stars, he estimated that two hours had passed since nightfall. The crew appeared to be below decks, resting from a hard day's work. In reality, the work continued below, as all cargo was being secured and, where necessary, lashed down as they made ready to get underway. Saelon glanced over to the larger of the two corsairs. Several men were above decks, cups in their hands, chatting and sometimes singing. It was time.

"Duilin!" he hissed. "Bring up the barrels."

Several men brought up oak barrels from the deck below. Two were large and the third a smaller cask. Wax seals covered holes at their bases and southron runes were written on their sides. "Seems a right shame to have this go to waste," said one of the men. Saelon smiled. "Oh, it won't go to waste if all goes well," he answered. They laid the kegs atop of a cart and wheeled it carefully down the gangway. This action caught the attention of the guards stationed on the dock.

"Oi there!" cried one. "Where do you think you're going?"

Saelon smiled and lifted the smaller cask from the cart and brought it over to the guardhouse. He placed it on a piling and then pulled a spigot from his pocket which he hammered through the wax seal. "Compliments of Captain Mithadan," he said. "We wish to thank you for your help and hospitatility." One of the guards drew a cup from the cask and sniffed at it. Then he smiled and drained it in a gulp. His mates laughed as he coughed at the strength of the draught, but none refused a cup of their own. "And what of these other kegs?" asked one.

"For the crews of the corsairs," Saelon answered. "Its a tradition in Gondor to give gifts to your hosts and show respect to other captains." The guard nodded, but watched carefully as the kegs were delivered. Drink or no, he made sure that the men of the Star returned to their ship before the revelry commenced. Soon, both the docks and the corsairs were alive with loud voices as the contents of the kegs were tapped.

Saelon sat at the helm and watched with a nod of approval. Then he ducked down below decks. There in the hall were four other large casks. He patted them affectionately before ascending the ladder again. An hour later, the voices on the docks and the corsairs were singing off-key and not a few minor arguments had erupted. One or two men were already slumping down onto the decks. All was well. But where were Mithadan and Airefalas?

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04-13-2004, 02:49 PM	#11
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,399	Saelon sucked on his lower lip as he sat watch at the helm of the Lonely Star. It was a moonless night but, by the movement of the stars, he estimated that two hours had passed since nightfall. The crew appeared to be below decks, resting from a hard day's work. In reality, the work continued below, as all cargo was being secured and, where necessary, lashed down as they made ready to get underway. Saelon glanced over to the larger of the two corsairs. Several men were above decks, cups in their hands, chatting and sometimes singing. It was time. "Duilin!" he hissed. "Bring up the barrels." Several men brought up oak barrels from the deck below. Two were large and the third a smaller cask. Wax seals covered holes at their bases and southron runes were written on their sides. "Seems a right shame to have this go to waste," said one of the men. Saelon smiled. "Oh, it won't go to waste if all goes well," he answered. They laid the kegs atop of a cart and wheeled it carefully down the gangway. This action caught the attention of the guards stationed on the dock. "Oi there!" cried one. "Where do you think you're going?" Saelon smiled and lifted the smaller cask from the cart and brought it over to the guardhouse. He placed it on a piling and then pulled a spigot from his pocket which he hammered through the wax seal. "Compliments of Captain Mithadan," he said. "We wish to thank you for your help and hospitatility." One of the guards drew a cup from the cask and sniffed at it. Then he smiled and drained it in a gulp. His mates laughed as he coughed at the strength of the draught, but none refused a cup of their own. "And what of these other kegs?" asked one. "For the crews of the corsairs," Saelon answered. "Its a tradition in Gondor to give gifts to your hosts and show respect to other captains." The guard nodded, but watched carefully as the kegs were delivered. Drink or no, he made sure that the men of the Star returned to their ship before the revelry commenced. Soon, both the docks and the corsairs were alive with loud voices as the contents of the kegs were tapped. Saelon sat at the helm and watched with a nod of approval. Then he ducked down below decks. There in the hall were four other large casks. He patted them affectionately before ascending the ladder again. An hour later, the voices on the docks and the corsairs were singing off-key and not a few minor arguments had erupted. One or two men were already slumping down onto the decks. All was well. But where were Mithadan and Airefalas?