[h2][center][color=teal]”Freda”[/color] & [color=orange]”Cyrano”[/color]at Sea[/center][/h2]

[color=plum]“Hey-Ho, Jim, Felix!”[/color] The captain yelled down to the two men leaning against the ship side. [color=plum]“I don’t pay you for your lolly-gagging! Up the rigging and set the sail!”[/color]
	
[color=springgreen]“Aye, aye, Captain!”[/color] The shorter man grinned, playfully saluting before he nimbly rushed up the mast.

The taller man sighed loudly, [color=steelblue]"Aye captain.."[/color] He slowly pushed against the ship side and walked toward the rigging for the sail. His posture sagged at the shoulders and his neck was bent forward. His face had a tired, bored expression on it. How he got the job Cicero couldn't guess.

[color=springgreen]“Come on, slow poke.”[/color] The short one called down to the other one. [color=springgreen]“Last one up gets the weevils.”[/color]

Gwyn blinked. [color=teal]“Weevils?”[/color]

Cicero cocked his head, [color=orange]"I hope they're not on my cot." [/color]

The taller man shook his head and began to climb until he reached his compatriot. [color=steelblue] "One day you're going to get yourself hurt moving so fast."[/color]

The small one just grinned, looking back at him. [color=springgreen]"It won't be so bad."[/color] Then he swung out to the rigging and started unfurling the sails. [color=springgreen]"You'll be there to catch me."[/color]

The two went about doing their business as Cicero leaned over the side of the ship for a few minutes. He stared at the waves deep in thought, [color=orange]"So...Who do you think that hooded figure is then?"[/color]

Gwyn furrowed her brow, joining him in looking over the water. [color=teal]“The one that encouraged you into the tournament in the first place? Would we have enough knowledge to even guess?”[/color] A hand started fiddling with some loose strands in her hair. [color=teal]“True, we can be sure that he’s a powerful sorcerer and that somehow he teleported your blade into the king’s chest. But other than that, we cannot be sure who he is, what he is, what his motives are, or why the king seemed to perhaps recognize his work.”[/color]
[hider=Thorin’s Revenge Save Fail] Gwyn’s roll: 1d20 + 0 = 8. Fail [/hider] Maybe if she had more of that potion from before, she could…She shook her head. How could that possibly help here? 

 Cicero sighed, [color=orange]"Do any of your contacts in magic have a way of discerning this type of thing? Certainly a mage of his level could not remain concealed forever. Perhaps there is a list of most powerful users somewhere."[/color] He turned to Gwyn empathetically, [color=orange]"Pray tell me there is.."[/color]

She pursed her lips. [color=teal]“It would depend on where he studied, and if he was open with the amount of power…I’m not sure I could even rely on my own contacts, as they are. My peers and professors are by and large still within Ispar. They may not care that much about what happens in Alvion, but if they still may care about, my being branded a criminal…”[/color] Her eyes went out into the horizon, growing distant in its stare.

Cicero turned again to the waves and rubbed his eyes in frustration, [color=orange]"Perhaps there's some thread tying his exploits. Rhakkar the demonfolk is all I can think of. Roh was savaged by their ilk. A faint lead to be sure, but the only one we've got.."[/color]

[color=teal]"Yes…Do you think they would know?"[/color]

[color=orange]"Perhaps."[/color] He replied, [color=orange]"We can only try."[/color]

She blinked. [color=teal]“Oh, certainly with them…My apologies, I was wondering about someone else.”[/color]

Cicero looked inquisitively, [color=orange] "Who do you mean?"[/color]

[color=teal]“My parents…”[/color] She pursed her lips. [color=teal]“Of course, I don’t know if they’d even know. It’s not like they are the type who’d commonly look at bounties and the like. But if they heard news that I was on the run after a king’s assassination...How would they even respond to that? Would they believe it? Decry it as false? Would they worry I was mixed up in some dark crowd? They were worried when I told them I wanted to explore the world on my own. This could only prove those worries correct.”[/color]

Cicero scratched his 5 o clock shadow, [color=orange]"Where are they now? Could we get ahold of them?" [/color]

[color=teal]“...They should still be at home, in Ispar.”[/color] She looked to him. [color=teal]“Surely we couldn’t just send them a letter.”[/color]

He frowned, [color=orange]"Without it being intercepted…unsure. Don't you mages have some kind of hand wavy magic message powers to relay pertinent information? I don't know. Like a family heirloom you can make glow or whatnot!?"[/color] He shrugged struggling for some idea that would help their predicament. He really had very little idea about how magic worked. It seemed like something that would take years to understand even the most rudimentary theories about it.

She blinked, then let out a laugh. [color=teal]“No-No…That sort of thing typically requires a seeing stone of some kind. Or many, many, [i]many[/i] more years of study and learning.”[/color] Then she shook herself. [color=teal] “I do know some that could speak right into others’ minds. But that required either years of knowing the other person, the other person to be nearby, and/or having the innate sense on how to do so in the first place. That I never had, though I do hope to see if I could figure it out eventually. None of that though would help with contacting my parents.”[/color]

Cicero frowned. He scratched his chin again in thought. Then his eyes widened, [color=orange]"How about a coded message? Something only your parents would understand, but knew was you."[/color]

Gwyn hummed. [color=teal]“Perhaps…Thank you.”[/color]

[color=springgreen]“Come on, Jim!”[/color] The hobbit shouted from up above. [color=springgreen]“If I didn’t know better, I’d mistake you for a land-lubber!”[/color]

Jim grunted in response as he yanked the sail with surprising force. It seemed that if he put in the effort he could accomplish a lot.

Cicero glanced back from the two sailors and replied, [color=orange]"Well, we're in this together aren't we?"[/color] His tone was serious, but his face was kind. 

[color=teal]“Yes…”[/color] She swallowed, then rested a hand on his on the railing. [color=teal]“We’re in this together.”[/color]

He took hold of her hand firmly and smiled. Her's seemed so small and delicate in his, yet he sensed a faint energy emanating within. Like the power of a storm, or whirlwind, lied dormant just under the surface. Ready to be unleashed at her command. The same power could be used for good or I'll, yet Cicero knew very little about her.[color=orange] [i]That will come in time.[/i] [/color] He thought. They were on a life and death journey together. Their destinies forever intertwined. Without a doubt, the Kingdoms would never be the same because of it. He was sure they would get to know one another over the weeks, months or years ahead? 

Suddenly he heard the shout of the Captain which snapped him out of his musings, [color=plum]"We've got fair winds behind our backs lads! We shan't be too long now!"[/color] He cackled boisterously.

With that the sails furled fully, catching the wind fully as the ship sliced through the sea. The seagulls called out their goodbyes, and the two were on their way to other shores. To clear their name, and find out what lay ahead.