Captain, O' Captain | Private

Soft hoof falls sounded in Balthier’s ears. He glanced over his shoulder to see Jinxx had backed away slightly in alarm. She must have made the connection to the chains and the smuggling of slaves. He couldn’t blame her reaction, in fact he’d have been more worried if she hadn’t reacted. “Don’t worry most our slaves come from Talori. Plus it is hardly profitable to capture, feed and transport one single slave to market, no matter how beautiful she is.” He said attempting a light tone, hoping a touch of humor would put the mare at ease once more.

Another moment nosing about in the dark amid the disorderly items in the hold. “This will do.” The rogue muttered at last and stepped back into the circle of lantern light, a sturdy looking hammer held in his teke. With little ceremony, he raised the tool and brought it smashing down on the hunk of ice which shattered sending a half dozen fruit spilling at their hooves. Balthier singled out a large coconut. Whap! The hammer fell again, cleanly splitting the tough shell in two.

He offered one-half to the mare. “Care to share a treat which has crossed the vast oceans all the way from Aquore in a ship overrun with some of the most vile n’ feared pirates alive?” He asked using a much thicker sailor’s accent which resulted in him hardly being able to keep from laughing by the end of it. Maybe one day when he was far more weather worn and gray he could pull it off, but not quite yet. One would think I’d downed a half keg of rum acting like this with someone I’d just met. He thought with a half smile.

Time seemed to speed up from the moment the rogue offered Jinxx the fruit. She was laughing, then she was close and Balthier leaned in. They kissed, hesitant at first but then with increasing passion. Finally Balthier stepped back, more to catch his breath than anything else. There was a taste of coconut in his mouth. He spoke, his voice soft and almost apologetic. “You know I’ll be leaving in the morning and though it is a shame, it is unlikely our paths will cross again.”

Hireath was a vast land, even with all his traveling, Balthier rarely saw the same face twice. Commitment and being tied down in one place where galling to the pirate who never felt quite at peace until he was out on the sea. Jinxx needed to know this.

The rogue rested his neck against the mare’s, enjoying her touch, enjoying the closeness that they shared. Balthier wouldn’t have minded if the moment lasted forever, the only sounds the beating of his heart, Jinxx’s soft breath and the muted slosh of the tide as it slowly crept about the ship once more. Everything else was silent and asleep.

The stallion looked away not able to meet the mare’s pleading green eyes. If he looked too long he just might stay. “I’ll have this place fixed on my maps and will stop here on my return from Skeldr. But after that many moons will pass before I sail this way again.” Balthier said with some regret. His trips to the northernmost regions of Onea were few and far between as he would only risk the venture in the summer when the winter ice receded. Any other time the waters became too treacherous for his liking.

“Even if Cascade wills the tide to bring me here again, you are a wanderer of the land just as I am of the sea, your path takes you far and wide. It is more than likely that we will miss each other.” He arched his neck, tenderly returning her kiss with his own upon her cheek. Just this once he allowed himself to imagine if he were not rogue if his dreadlocks were free of the sea salt; then he’d be at peace to settle here, near the beautiful lake with Jinxx. The thought melted away as the sound of the waves increased. The tide was coming in and the Rancor creaked as if welcoming the water around her hull.

"I may not be as young as I once was, but forget you? Never." Balthier said meeting the mare's gaze. He sensed there was something she wasn't telling him, some fear that trembled just behind her pale green eyes. But before he could ask, she was gone, like a bird slipping from his grasp. The promise of her return in a few hours hung in the air as the stallion slowly made his way up to the deck of his ship. Once there he did not descend to the beach, there was no way he was going to sleep now, better to wait out the morning. The captain leaned against the railing, he blinked several times telling himself it was the salty wind that drew the tears from his eyes.

Balthier wasn't sure how long he remained there at his vigil but the light of dawn was beginning to spread across the eastern horizon. The tide had come in well past the ship's bow and he could feel her rocking gently beneath him, free of the sand and tethered in place only by the anchors. He strode across the deck, stretching his stiff muscles. As he walked down the gangway he cast a hopeful glance along the treeline. Nothing... well it was still hardly morning. Since the tide had risen, Balthier was treated to a short walk through the chest deep sea water before he reached the beach. Once there he surveyed the camp, devoid of movement, aside from the cook who had risen to begin preparing breakfast.

He planted his hooves firmly in the sand to portray a commanding confident air that he certainly didn't feel at the moment. "Get up you lazy rats! Daylight is a burning!" He bellowed in a voice that could challenge a thunderstorm. A chorus of startled sleepers, complaints, and swears arose from the tents but one by one the other pirates emerged and made themselves useful about the camp. Balthier moved over to his tent and began disassembling it. Pitch, his first mate joined him. "Our water supply is filled to the brim." The younger stallion reported. "Good," Balthier muttered tersely, his focus more on the trees than the task at his hooves. Pitch followed his gaze and he gave his captain a look of understanding. "Do you think she will return?" He asked softly. Balthier grunted, then replied. "We aren't leaving until she does."

The sky had gone from a deep purple to a soft pink. The seagulls were already out scavenging the beach for anything that had washed ashore during the night, their cries mingled with the surf. The distant sound of hoofbeats on sand caught Balthier’s ear, his ears flicked forward as he turned to see Jinxx. She was galloping towards him, her mane catching the first rays of the dawn.

The brown stallion moved away from the camp at an eager jog until he met the mare. His neck extended as he nuzzled her neck in a fond greeting. “Jinxx…” It was all he could say, all he could think to say. A bittersweet smile crossed his weathered face. He was glad she had turned up but now that she was here it made saying any sort of ‘good bye’ all the more painful.

An indistinct call from the ship. The crew were storing the last items aboard and making ready to sail. His full attention returned to Jinxx, “I will return.” He promised. It was more of a hope than anything else, so much could happen in the time it took for him to return from Skeldr, so much could go wrong.