"I can sing a bit, well, from what I'm told." Aldrik said, his cheeks laden with bits of potato. He hid his mouth behind one hand as he reached for more butter. He had the voice of a singer, and maybe the face too. Both additionally did well for a salesman, but he had rings under his eyes. Faded, as if he had spent long nights studying and was attempting to catch up on sleep. It was probably the most dangerous thing he had to deal with for most of his life. Until the assassination attempt an hour ago, of course. "But I can't carry a sword to save my life, quite literally." 

They started with small talk. Aldrik had a charismatic, easy going way about him while Inez sported a forthright, honest manner of speaking. It was a good combination, they found. 

"No, I wasn't born in Argethafen. I've lived in four places, three since I started my apprenticeship." Aldrik rubbed his chin, staring at his half eaten potato, very much appearing like he was thinking of past events. "I was born in Eisenmark, moved to Visamyrce when my mother passed, and I never knew my father. Went to live with my aunt and uncle, and they didn't have much patience for me. It was stay with them or find a trade." He didn't mention he was seven at the time. That sort of stuff hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things. "I remember hearing from someone... I don't remember who it was. My mother or grandmother, maybe, that I could talk my way into getting anything. Whoever it was likely meant I was just a cute kid, but it stuck with me and I made my decision. I found an associate at the local yard for the League. They let me in after I begged for three days, then after a few years there, I was sent to Hoehenshtauf by the river. Only there for a year, but I liked it. From then until now, I was at Argethafen." 

"And where to now, boss?" Inez asked, popping another bit of potato in her mouth. She had seen fit to make sure there was plenty of dressings on the little dumpling. Aldrik didn't know if he would get used to that moniker, and he looked at her briefly as he thought and reached for his drink. 

"Yhesra." He said. 

[hr] 
[i]3 weeks later...[/i] 

Built on a promontory, Yhesra was one of the twelve great coastal cities on the eastern side of the Central Sea. Even miles away from the ship, its walls and towers could be seen easily by all with but the worst eyesight. The walls were reputedly twenty three miles long and thirteen strides high, and the city bore two great "docks" called Cothons. Artificial, protected inner harbors, both guarded by two keeps with weaponry Alrik wasn't certain of. This inner harbour was circular and surrounded by an outer ring of structures divided into a series of docking bays for ship maintenance, along with an island structure at its center that also housed navy ships. Each individual docking bay featured a raised slipway. Above the raised docking bays was a second level consisting of warehouses where oars and rigging were kept along with supplies such as wood and canvas.

Aldrik had never seen such ingenuity and commerce. The cothon could house perhaps three hundred ships, and he saw what looked to be half the population of Argethafen was bartering, socializing, and working before his eyes as the ship skimmed through the waters towards one of the areas cordoned off to dock. The Captain had finished ordering his crew, the mainsails lowered and the anchor getting prepared to drop. Men eagerly awaited shoretime and getting a cut from the small-time trading they would accomplish. 

For Aldrik and Inez, business was just about to begin.