The ship pulled majestically out onto the river as night fell. It seemed to Camilla that this was a strange time to set sail but one of the crewmen, a leathery old man with only three fingers and a thumb on his right hand, informed her that because the Sparrow was so much larger than most of the other river going ships and barges, it was actually safer for it to maneuver at night when there were few other ships to cause it problems. At least she thought that is what he said, his River patois and her limited command of Riekspiel made it impossible to know for sure.

Despite Reiner insistence she decided to ask Captain Kemmler if it might be possible to rent a cabin, even the captain's own for which Camilla was willing to pay, the prospect of another night of privacy more than enough to loosen her purse strings. For her trouble she received a blistering lecture on the loose morals of foreign women and how their slatternly ways were running the empire. She deduced from this that Herr Kemmler had a bit of a wandering eye. Camilla concluded the exchange with a few choice words in Tilean which the captain clearly understood well enough to storm off, growling to herself.

Dinner was fresh rations of all sorts, it wasn't nearly as good as what the Duke had provided but Reiner had clearly splurged. No hard spirits were present but there was a cask of wine from which each man was permitted to take a cup. Watches were assigned for the night. Cydric was excluded on account of having already watched the harbor and Camilla was excused on account of the fact that no one on watch with her could be expected to see anything. The mercenary Captain's whimsy confused her, on the other hand, although she was no judged the twenty or so troopers seemed like solid soldiers. They were well equipped and well, if plainly turned out, they seemed to trust their captain too although there was something else there.

After dinner Camilla joined Cydric at the bow rail looking across the dark expanse of the river as it slipped by. She settled at the railing beside him and giving his arm a quick squeeze.

[b]"Busy day,"[/b] she commented, spitting a cherry pit into the water with a plop.

[b]"Seems almost anticlimactic dosent it?"[/b]

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