The Beginning of a New Life

Writers: Len
Date Posted: 12th July 2017

Characters: L'fael
Description: Lafael signs up to be a cabin boy at the Seacraft Hall.
Location: Seacraft Hall
Date: month 12, day 18 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Relik

Lafael knew vaguely where to go, it wasn't like this was the first time ever being at the Sea Hold. He ducked around the group of women hard at work mending a great lump of a fishing net and edged past a few groups of sailors chatting to one another. Just within his sight lay his goal: the Sea Breeze.

She was a tall, proud looking ship. Her lines suggested that she would be swift, with her three masts that looked as though they leaned slightly back. The white painted hull reflected the shimmer of water under her, in such an iridescence way that Lafael found himself mesmerized by the beauty. What would it be like to be a part of her crew?

There was only one way to find out.

"Excuse me," he said to the man closest to the ship. "Can I speak with the caption of the ship?"

The man, rather short and burly, glanced at the boy and nodded his head towards the ship. "He's in the office right now, first door to the right."

"Right. Okay, thank you." Lafael's voice came out in a squeak. He hesitated as he looked up the long gangwalk that led onto the ship. He'd never been on a ship before. Well, he'd never been on a runnerbeast, for that matter either. Or seen a dragon close up, or even touched a fire lizard. The life of a little-regarded drudge. Well, there was only one way to change that.

He placed a foot onto the gangplank. Then another, and another. The board was narrow and there was no handrail to hang on to. Holding his breath, he kept his balance and kept walking up the plank. The ship rocked gently, causing the plank to rise and fall slightly. Thankfully, Lafael didn't lose his balance and stepped onto the boat.

The first right, where was the first right? Under Lafael's feet, the ship shivered. He walked along the long thin wooden boards that made up the flooring until he came to the doorway that led into the ship. Indeed there was a door to the right and Lafael shyly knocked.

"Come in!"

Lafael took a deep breath and opened the door. Before him in a rather cramped room was an older man with a full silver beard.

The captain raised an eyebrow. "Well, you're a scrawny thing, ain't ya?" Without waiting for the boy to answer, he continued. "Can I help you?"

"S-sir?" Lafael's voice failed him for a moment before he again took a deep breath and let all his words out in a blur. "I heard you were looking for a cabin boy and I was--well am--asking if the role has been filled and if I can come aboard as one. Please?"

The captain laughed. "You ever been on a boat before lad?" Lafael shook his head. "You an apprentice?"

"No, I haven't the means yet."

"You one of the Hall's drudges then?"

Again, Lafael shook his head. "No, I'm from the Hold." When the man looked rather disapproving at those words, Lafael quickly added, I spoke with Hallmaster Relik a few months ago and he agreed that I could start as a cabin boy and then perhaps work up to becoming an apprentice." Lafael sighed, if only he could have found Relik this morning!

But maybe it didn't matter.

"Okay lad, tell you what," the captain said. "We do need a boy and you look like you could do with a change of your lot in life, so I'll take you on board. We're only going over to the Dolphin Hall so we'll be skirting along the coastline almost the entire way so if you get sea sick or can't hack it we can always drop you off at one of the Holds along the way. Maybe do you some good if we do," he added under his breath.

Lafael blushed, knowing the sight of his shabby clothing and thin frame hadn't gone unobserved. He fingered the fray on the edge of his tunic.

"Don't worry about that lad, we'll fatten you up and get you into some better clothes," the captain said. "We leave in just three days, so be here early in the morning. No wasting about, got it?"

Lafael nodded, smiling at the kind tone in the man's words. He felt like he was floating as he left the room, then the ship, giving her a little pat as he stepped off. "See you soon," he whispered to her. Freedom! Soon he would be free! He had done it, he really had.

In a welling of pure joy he all but floated through the Hall, looking about at the daily goings on, realizing that soon--very soon-this would be his home. This would be his life, his people.

He barely felt the earth tremble under his feet.

Last updated on the July 28th 2017

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The Beginning of a New Life