Camilla plucked the penny from behind Fritz’ ear. Both of the cabin boys laughed in astonishment and several of the nearby crewmen tried not to look impressed. It was a simple enough trick in all truth but one that rarely failed to impress. Seeing Cydric returning she pressed the penny into the boys palm and headed forward to greet her friend. 

They had discovered fairly quickly that the loot they had gathered in the mountains was difficult to move. A jeweled bracelet was undoubtedly valuable, but that was of limited utility if it was worth more than the whole village you tried to trade it in. Worse, they couldn’t let on that they carried such valuables, lest some local get it into his head that two dead strangers was a small price to pay for fabulous wealth.

The practical effect of this was that they only dared spend the coins which had more or less incidentally been collected.  Even this had its problems, as the coins were of strange denominations and even the Imperial ones were ancient. Cydric seemed to make it work though, Camilla supposed that soldiers had ways of disposing of loot, in much the same way as courtesans liquidated a lovers gifts for more portable forms of wealth. Converting the jewelry to cash would have to wait for a large city.

[b]“Did zou get ze souplies? [/b]She asked in her faux Brettonian accent as he stepped aboard. The Imperial pride bustled with activity as it cast off. Men heaved on long oak poles to force the craft away from the dock and into the river's current. It would be a few minutes before the sails were unfurled to speed their progress.

The pair went below decks to their cabin, attracting looks of curiosity and envy from the sailors they passed. More than a few of the passengers cast glowering looks, having been forced to bunk on the deck. Camilla had cleaned herself up as best she could and looked more like the glamorous courtesan she had been, but the ragged clothing, ugly bruising and numerous small cuts gave her a slightly harlequin air.

Bolting the door she turned to Cydric expectantly. Inside the sacks were clothing, wrapped in brown paper, some tools and adventuring items and some personal items. Camilla withdrew a silken shift, a grey hunting shirt and a dark brown coat, all much more to her size than anything she had worn in weeks, as well as a sturdy pair of leather boots that looked like they would fit. There was also a black leather scabbard and some lengths of leather stripping, intended to conceal the opulence of the rapier she had found in the vault.

Camilla ignored all of it and grabbed a simple wooden backed hair brush and began to draw it vigorously through her black hair. Wincing as she tugged at the tangles it had formed itself into. There was a bar of simple coarse soap wrapped up in an oilskin too.

[b]“You are a prince among men,” [/b]she declared.

[b]“Did you have any trouble?”[/b]

[@POOHEAD189]