Post by Moo on Oct 6, 2012 2:04:47 GMT -8
Once they reached the top of the grassy knoll where they first began, Metanath exhaled with a sigh and looked out across the bay. They are both still on the quay, but it’s almost time for N’kio and I to get back to work. Will you be all right by yourself if I take my leave?
He turned and gave Saphireth a once-over, his eyes a slowly spinning blue. If you need to get down to the docks, here is the path you need to take, he added, sending her the abridged mental map of lower Cliffside. But if you need to find anywhere else, you can always ask me or someone else along the way. These are friendly people here. No need to be shy, he said with a warm thrum in his chest.
Metanath then reached out to N’kio’s mind and took a moment to determine exactly what had happened while he and Saphireth had gone. Eyes widening slightly at the direction his Rider’s mind was going – he should have known, really – he made a discreet exit and kept any thoughts to himself.
I’m glad you came today, Metanath said suddenly. It’s nice to see you. He and I don’t get many visitors. We may interact with a lot of people, but it is not the same thing.
#
“Works for me,” N’kio replied, blue eyes gleaming with approval. With practiced steps, he began to walk backwards along the deck of the ship in the direction of the gangplank. “Ah, wait, just a moment.” He stopped suddenly. “Rules first.” With a small, sheepish smile – how could he forget his own job? – he retraced his steps back to her side. Clearing his throat, N’kio began his spiel. “Right, before I turn you loose, here’s the long an’ short of what you should know about Cliffside. First of all, if you’re a lousy swimmer, I would stay out of the deep. The currents here can be pretty strong if you don’t know where to go.”
The mental image of Elora in naught but her skin was a tempting thought, and he considered adding the idea that she should really swim with someone else – someone who knew the currents well – but at Metanath’s sudden reappearance in his mind, N’kio kept the idea to himself.
Taking a moment to scratch at the line near his hips, he continued, almost sounding as if he had repeated this advice a few times before. “If you do swim, avoid the docks, as they’re always a danger. Try the lower end of the beach if you’re swimming, but I warn you -- tide’ll be leaving soon.”
N’kio glanced up at the sun and squinted in the light. “I’d reckon in an hour-fifteen, hour-twenty, by the looks of it,” he answered, and then turned back to Elora. “You should also keep an eye out for the rip tides. If you come across one, get Metanath’s attention and we’ll pick you up.”
“Ah, so is that how you get your girls, N’kio?” came a man’s voice near the gangplank.
With a laugh – he didn’t even have to look back to know who it was – N’kio replied loudly over his shoulder, “Worked well on your sister! She says hello, by the way.”
“Bless her little heart,” the man replied, a sarcastic smile in his voice. “When you can pull yourself away from…Elora, I think I heard…there’s a check for The Prydwen you should see. Unusual cargo, so it goes.”
He frowned. “Again?”
“Is that what she said?”
N’kio rolled his eyes and focused back on Elora. As much as he wanted to spend more time with her, work couldn’t wait. “I should go. I’ll be along the wharf until sundown, but take your time in exploring the place, and let me know if you need anything. Oh, and try not to distract too many workers along the way."
With a quick wink, he added, "I'll be seeing you," and then followed his friend off The Galley and back into the fray on the lower docks.
He turned and gave Saphireth a once-over, his eyes a slowly spinning blue. If you need to get down to the docks, here is the path you need to take, he added, sending her the abridged mental map of lower Cliffside. But if you need to find anywhere else, you can always ask me or someone else along the way. These are friendly people here. No need to be shy, he said with a warm thrum in his chest.
Metanath then reached out to N’kio’s mind and took a moment to determine exactly what had happened while he and Saphireth had gone. Eyes widening slightly at the direction his Rider’s mind was going – he should have known, really – he made a discreet exit and kept any thoughts to himself.
I’m glad you came today, Metanath said suddenly. It’s nice to see you. He and I don’t get many visitors. We may interact with a lot of people, but it is not the same thing.
#
“Works for me,” N’kio replied, blue eyes gleaming with approval. With practiced steps, he began to walk backwards along the deck of the ship in the direction of the gangplank. “Ah, wait, just a moment.” He stopped suddenly. “Rules first.” With a small, sheepish smile – how could he forget his own job? – he retraced his steps back to her side. Clearing his throat, N’kio began his spiel. “Right, before I turn you loose, here’s the long an’ short of what you should know about Cliffside. First of all, if you’re a lousy swimmer, I would stay out of the deep. The currents here can be pretty strong if you don’t know where to go.”
The mental image of Elora in naught but her skin was a tempting thought, and he considered adding the idea that she should really swim with someone else – someone who knew the currents well – but at Metanath’s sudden reappearance in his mind, N’kio kept the idea to himself.
Taking a moment to scratch at the line near his hips, he continued, almost sounding as if he had repeated this advice a few times before. “If you do swim, avoid the docks, as they’re always a danger. Try the lower end of the beach if you’re swimming, but I warn you -- tide’ll be leaving soon.”
N’kio glanced up at the sun and squinted in the light. “I’d reckon in an hour-fifteen, hour-twenty, by the looks of it,” he answered, and then turned back to Elora. “You should also keep an eye out for the rip tides. If you come across one, get Metanath’s attention and we’ll pick you up.”
“Ah, so is that how you get your girls, N’kio?” came a man’s voice near the gangplank.
With a laugh – he didn’t even have to look back to know who it was – N’kio replied loudly over his shoulder, “Worked well on your sister! She says hello, by the way.”
“Bless her little heart,” the man replied, a sarcastic smile in his voice. “When you can pull yourself away from…Elora, I think I heard…there’s a check for The Prydwen you should see. Unusual cargo, so it goes.”
He frowned. “Again?”
“Is that what she said?”
N’kio rolled his eyes and focused back on Elora. As much as he wanted to spend more time with her, work couldn’t wait. “I should go. I’ll be along the wharf until sundown, but take your time in exploring the place, and let me know if you need anything. Oh, and try not to distract too many workers along the way."
With a quick wink, he added, "I'll be seeing you," and then followed his friend off The Galley and back into the fray on the lower docks.
