[center][h1][u]Marlowe Vallis[/u][/h1][hr]• Windward Island, The Sunken Shepard. Southern Seas •  [hr][/center] 

[indent]The two women were sticking up for him, only piling on the guilt. “Please, you don’t have to—” Marlowe tried to retort to save the girl from Talu’s ire. But it was too late. 

“Marlowe is one of my people. He is my charge. He is my responsibility. You may not care about the consequences of taking him aboard, but I do. I know the moment he joins up with a crew, I have damned him to an early grave. And I made a [i]promise, [/i]” that word [i]promise[/i] made Talu’s voice quiver for a moment, “that I would not let any harm befall him. If that means clipping his wings and tying him to a pole, that is a better alternative than him being torn to shreds by Spinefish or to be devoured along with a ship by an angry Leviathan.” 

Talu’s eyes narrowed at Terhikki, and in that moment, he seemed even taller. He already towered over many who entered the tavern, and whilst he was middle-aged, he was still broad chested and quite stout for a Chief. “The boy is non-negotiable. If you insist on arguing, I will ask for your contracts back, I can annul them, and I will send you on your way. If we must wait a few more days for more divers to come in, that is something I am prepared to do.” Talu promptly walked off, giving Marlowe an icy stare to [i]leave[/i], and walked over to the corner table where a man dressed in furs and a covered woman sat, talking. 

“You—” he began talking to Evander first, “You work with Mr. Rebello, no? I trust he has brought the requested order along with his other supplies. There is a Diver in town who wanted to make sure it arrived when he did today.” He turned to the cloaked woman, “Are you planning on taking the contract as well?”  

Marlowe, in that time, had already walked out of the tavern, wiping at his face. He knew Marea would be following behind, and he did not want her to see him cry. “I know.” he muttered, arguing with the Talu in his mind now since the Chief was busy in the tavern. “I know. I’m cursed. It’s because of me that mother is…and that father is…” he sighed, trying to breathe in deep. “I never asked to be born under that stupid eclipse…” [/indent]