Camilla let out a delighted laugh as she sauntered away towards where she dimly remembered throwing her close.

"Careful," she said back over her shoulder, "Too much of that and won't get out of here until well after dark."

______________________________________

As Reiner had said the Sparrow was impossible to miss. It towered over the smaller river craft, its high forecastle easily twice that of its nearest rival. All of the rope in the universe hung from its various yards and masts and men scampered around them like monkeys doing Camilla knew not what. A banner of white and blue snapped lazily from one of the masts, Camilla supposed it must have belonged to one of the merchant houses or adventuring companies. 

With an irritated sigh she shifted her weapons belt about her hips for the fiftieth time, trying to make the damn thing settle right. They had used a few minutes to convert some of their jewelery into coin and Camilla had purchased a rapier and two new pistols. The rapier was heavier than her old weapon more of an epee really and the weight was disconcerting. The pistols were fine rifled pieces not too disimilar from what the Witchunter Von Koneinswald had used, although heavier in calibre, Camilla did not trust her accuracy to do all the work for her. She had even consulted an armorer about making a new piece of armor for her and paid an extra fee to have it done immediately. The tight corset like chestplate was belted on over her white shirt and she was still trying to adjust the straps to make the thing rest comfortably when they reached the ship.

At the bottom of the gangplank stood a young frecklefaced man, no more than fifteen or sixteen. Sweat was pouring down the boy, no doubt because of the sheer profusion of equipment he was carrying. In addition to a full suit of half plate, with elaborate visored helmet, he carried a polearm at high port, and two heavy longswords were slung across his back. A heavy cavalry hammer hung from his belt as did several pistols.

"You must... be... the guests we were told... to expect," the boy wheezed, addressing Cydric, "Go right aboard sir." There was a titter of laughter from the end of the gangplank but Camilla couldn't see anyone when she glanced up. Exchanging a quizzical look with Cydric she headed up the ramp to where a plump looking man with one eye sat whitling a piece of wood with a knife.

"Don't mind young Klaus there, I'm Sergeant Bonhoff, Reiner's second," the fellow said, sticking out a greasey hand in greeting. Camilla declined to touch the fellow but looked back over her shoulder at the sweating Klaus.

"Formidable," she said in a neutral tone of voice. The man's laughter redoubled as though the comment were the funniest thing he had heard in years.

"No doubt he appears so My Lady," he cuffed, "but as it happens its punishment detail. The fellow fell asleep on watch and now he has to stand there in full gear until Reiner gets back." Bonhoff leanded in close and lowered his voice conspiratorially.

"I've seen the captain sauntering around the docks this past hour, just waiting for the young fool to collapse so he can fall on him like the furies when he does!"

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