We spent the night wandering the port city, talking mostly. Well, I did most of the talking during the darkness. I recounted to Lord Sutton what little I knew about the current politics of the Council, and what other pieces of news I had heard during the centuries since that terrible night. What pieces of news I knew were mostly years, sometimes decades, late by the time we had heard of them. Our only contacts being through the occasional meeting with a clan of elves under the protection of a gold clan several weeks travel East. Still, it was news, and Lord Sutton listened carefully to what information I was able to provide.

     The beginnings of a false dawn were spreading across the eastern sky when I finished speaking. We had found ourselves down by one of the larger sections of floating wharves. It would not be long now until those silent ships bustled with activity. Even now the night watch was beginning to rouse itself. While we waited Lord Sutton spoke more of this Solacia. He spoke of the city, New Dunbouri, and of the Canal he had helped build. Of the family and people who lived there, and of those whom had gone. As I spoke I realized that he was the leader of that clan, of this BoR. It was one of those sudden realizations, as we sat there, on the edge of the pier, watching the waves rock the tall masted ships. I had assumed he would bring his family here, to lead the Clan, to recover what was Cloudkill. Except, that wasn't why he had come. He had come to free our land, to stop the patrols and give us a chance. Perhaps we would see him again when he ended his time as this Grand Commander, but not before then. The Council still wished to try him for associating with Humans, and once the Petition was heard, if we made it that far, he would no longer be safe in the Blood Isles.

     We sat in silence after that, as the sun lit the eastern sky. Watching the ships come to life, sailors swarming over them and preparing for the days business. Some ships had little activity, while others were already busy taking on cargo to set out to sea.

     We began our search for a ship to get passage to the All Clans Isle as the sun cleared the surface of the sea and the day truly began. It was surprisingly difficult to track down a ship headed into the center of the Blood Isles. When the Cloudkill still ruled this land ships were often headed towards All Clans, delivering vassals, food, and items for the Councilor's there.

     We had nearly finished the entire line of ships when we heard of a ship moored at one of the other wharf's called the Sophie. She was supposedly carrying cargo to the All Clans Isle from a blue clan to the South.
A half candle mark later found us onboard the two masted Caravel's deck. Lord Sutton had gone with the ships master to discuss the price of passage. He assured me, after my worried look, that he was quite able to take care of himself. To which I had replied that I was more worried about him keeping that blasted Cloak on, and not revealing himself again. To which he replied, with an audible smile, yes Mother.

     There are days I hate Suttons.

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     Laureine stood by the ramp heading down to the wharf, waiting for her companion to conclude the deal with the ships Master. Her attention was directed upwards, watching the elven sailors jump from rope to rope, checking the rigging in anticipation of the ships departure. A dwarf was busy stitching a tear in what looked like a spare sail spread out over most of the bow of the boat. She was just about to head over to get a better look when a group, all carrying huge sacks over there shoulders, climbed the ramp.

     "Hey Cap'n, we got the...." The lead sailors voice trailed off, and his eyes widened as he and Laureine stared at each other in shock.

     "You!" The sailor from last night yelled, dumping the heavy sack of what looked like grain, onto the deck of the ship and taking a step towards her. The two others behind him looked surprised as well, and followed there companions lead, stopping at the top of the ramp to block her escape.

     "I lost a tooth because of your friend last night, you still owe me a dance." With a sigh the older elf glanced about at the other sailors and then back towards the one standing a few feet away from her. The ship had grown quiet, all hands who were on deck had paused in there work to watch the brewing fight. Only the dwarf continued at his work in the front of the ship. The elf that faced her was a few inches taller then she was, and had at least ten earrings in each pointed ear. An old scar traced a white line down his left cheek, and his nose appeared to have been broken at least once.

     "I don't want to fight you, we can just forget what happened last night." She was going to at least give him a chance to back out. The smirk she received in return sealed that though, and the other elf tossed his shirt to one of his companions.

     "My name is Forlik, its the name of the man that's going beat you to the deck." A ring of attentive sailors gathered on the deck and in the rigging above. Shouted bets could be heard, as the various deck hands placed bets. Mostly on Forlik, although a few bet on the female elf. The dwarf in the front finished on of the tears, and started in on another one.

     "All right, you want to do this the hard way, we'll do this the hard way." Lauriene stripped her cloak off and tossed it into the arms of a surprised gnome who had just emerged from below decks, and with that, the fight was on.

     Forlik had fought in numerous bar brawls, and, on two occasions, against pirates who had tried to board the ship much further south. He was a few inches taller then Lauriene, and a touch stronger.

     Lauriene had spent nearly five centuries as the Kindred of Jean Sutton's father. She had fought by his side through the entire Last Dragon War, and had seen nearly countless fights since. In short, Forlik didn't stand a chance.

     The fight was short and relatively painless, at least for the female elf. Forlik got in one punch, to her ribs, before she had his arm pinned up behind his back and his face shoved into a nearby barrel of water. The shouting sailors went silent suddenly as the one who, at least in there eyes, was the better fighter, was so easily subdued. Lauriene pulled his head, by the elf's black hair, out of the water to let him sputter and gasp for breath. With her lips right next to his ears she whispered, just loud enough for the nearest of the sailors to hear: "You still want to dance?".

     Forlik managed to curse in her direction, while trying to suck in a breath of air. In response to which she smiled wildly and shoved his head back under water. Laureine felt more alive then she had in decades, no, in centuries. Her laughter earned her the fear of more then one member of the crew that day.

     Whatever was to happen next was interrupted by the ships master and Jean Sutton emerging from the captains cabin. The Captain, a dwarf who stood no taller then Lauriene's chest, shouted as he spotted the spectacle on his deck.

     "What in the name of the ABYSS is happening here!?"

     For a moment there was complete silence, only the gasping of Forlik as Lauriene let him up for air and took a step away from the half drowned elf. She could almost see the curious look on Lord Sutton's face under the hood of the cloak, then dawning realization as he spotted Forlik and the other two elves on deck.

     "I was helping him take a bath." Was Lauriene's response, her face completely serious as she looked down to the dwarf. "Captain". The dwarf was no fool, and could obviously see what had been going on. If that hadn't been enough the howls of laughter from the rigging would have clued him in. However, since Forlik did seem to get himself into these situations more often then was right, he simply shook his head and then bowed to Jean.

     "Passage to the All Clans Isle, as long as you and your friend help out on the way over." It was, Lauriene considered, as Forlik shot her an angry look, going to be an interesting voyage.