[center][color=7ea7d8][b][h1][i][b]S[/b] o l i a[/i][/h1][/b][/color][/center]
[right][hr][color=gray][b]Windward Island[/b]
Port Harbor, The Sunken Shephard
[@SunsetWanderer][/color][hr][/right]
Solia followed the flick of Evander’s eyes, to the boisterous table not further in, and found herself smiling again. These too were children, older than the ones at the docks hoisted on their parents shoulders, but clearly no less excitable. 

She lingered still, perhaps too long, on the Imperial girl. The group had clearly gathered to her. Unsurprising, few though they were, the Imperials that had visited Maelstrom Spire garnered no shortage of company. She wondered if, as with then, these children had come to her in hopes of currying favor with the Empire. If so, she wished them luck. It had not worked for her home, but it may for Windward Island. 

Another question from Evander drew her back. This one she could answer just as readily.

[color=7ea7d8]“Certainly. These people are troubled, it would appear direly so. It is nice to see such a volume of volunteers, I can only hope it will be enough.”[/color] 

She thought again of the children at their table, bragging their names and lineage and hopes for glory. It troubled her in no small measure that they too planned on making their way to Gullspire. Whatever awaited them there, she doubted it would be handled easily. 

[color=7ea7d8]“If this forwardness is inappropriate, please forgive me,”[/color] she said, pulling her attention back to Evander. [color=7ea7d8]“But if you have come here so that your captain may trade, perhaps you might consider lending your own hand to this expedition. You seem experienced, capable. Windward Island could doubtlessly utilize your talents.”[/color]

She remembered then that, as often as she’d seen selfless acts among people, it was fair to expect payment for work done. 

[color=7ea7d8]“If the reward troubles you, you should know I have no intentions of collecting on it myself. I’d gladly donate my share, should there be one, and any artifacts the chief has so generously allowed the divers to keep, in exchange for your time.”[/color]