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Mentions: [@Princess] Edin

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The guard commander snapped to a smart salute and turned back to Sjan-dehk. Furrowed brows and lips pressed together in a thin crack upon his stony visage loured at the Viserjantan captain. Whatever doubts and misgivings he had, however, remained unsaid. With a crisp wave of his hand, the rest of the guards took up positions on either side of Sjan-dehk. “[i]Calmly now, stranger. Keep your hands by your side and no sudden moves.[/i]” He nodded to his guards and turned, leading the way towards the king.

It was all quite strange. Deep in his heart, Sjan-dehk knew he should feel intimidated – even cowed – by this display of power and authority. The amusement he felt came as a surprise even to him. Perhaps it was how unnecessarily careful the guard commander was behaving that did it. What could Sjan-dehk do to the king as an unarmed man? Saunter up to him and slowly beat the man to death while everyone patiently watched? Just the very thought was incredulous enough to make him want to laugh. Thankfully, he managed to keep it to just a flash of an impish smile.

[color=1E90FF]“[i]You worry too much. Too much stress. Not good for health, no?[/i]”[/color] Sjan-dehk said to the commander, voice light-hearted and kept low. The look the man shot over his shoulder told him that the advice was neither wanted nor welcome. Sjan-dehk merely shrugged in response. [color=1E90FF]“[i]Just advice. Captain to captain, yes?[/i]”[/color]

He kept quiet as they passed the princes. As the king drew nearer, Sjan-dehk became all too aware of his lack of preparation. If only he had committed more of the tutor’s script to memory. Though he had looked it once over before leaving his Sada Kurau, he now wondered just how much of it he could reproduce with both accuracy and the proper customs. Neither did he feel properly dressed. Much as he disliked wearing the overly-smooth silks and overly-decorated robes of courtly dress, they would certainly suit this situation better than his simple captain’s garb. 

Well, it was all too late for that. Sjan-dehk would have to – like any good sailor – tack to the winds and turn to the waves as they came. He tugged on the thin scarf between his clothes and armour, pulling it up and tighter around his neck to straighten out the creases. Whatever laces and drawstrings that kept his attire on his person had been tucked somewhere secure when he first threw them on, but all the same he gave himself cursory glances and surreptitious pats to make sure. The least he could do before speaking to the king was to make himself look as neat as possible. 

[color=DDB775]"[i]Now give me your name and reason for appearing. I doubt you are here to seduce my sons and surely hope that's not the case. I will hear you out for a brief time. I am a very busy man![/i]”[/color] The trailing laugh at the end aside, the king’s words were a touch stricter and harsher than before to Sjan-dehk’s ears. Not that it was unwarranted, of course. Sjan-dehk was likely interrupting something important and – as he had long ago learned the hard way – kings and queens were loath to have their schedules disrupted. 

Even so, the king still had the politeness to end his words with a, [color=DDB775]“[i]Thank you.[/i]”[/color] 

Now it was up to Sjan-dehk to repay that little bit of courtesy with some of his own. Slowly, and using both hands, he pushed his hat up and back. It hung by its chin-straps on his back, and revealed his scarred and weather-beaten face. How was he supposed to act, again? The tutor had instructed him on certain actions and gestures, but those were for someone lesser than a king. Surely going through those motions in front of a king would be a mistake. 

And so, Sjan-dehk simply did what he knew. He hadn’t met a monarch who didn’t enjoy seeing a display of humility and self-deprecation. 

Sliding his left foot back, he dropped to a knee. At the same time, he brought his open left hand up to his chest. All the while, he kept his head bowed and eyes averted. It all felt so false and melodramatic, but a court demanded courtly things. For now, he was just an actor with a part to play. [color=1E90FF]“[i]Your grace,[/i]”[/color] he began even as his mind raced to recall the proper words. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one…[/i]”[/color] What was that word again? [color=1E90FF]“[i]Apologises for…[/i]”[/color] If only he had practised a little more. [color=1E90FF]“[i]Interrupting court.[/i]”[/color]

He cleared his throat, bringing his left hand forward to meet his right above his head, directly between the king’s eyes and himself. The fingers and thumb of the latter wrapped around the base of the former’s thumb. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one is Wasun Sjan-dehk. Captain of [/i]Sada Kurau[i] and fourth lesser marquis of Jafi. Servant of Viserjanta and her most eminent and wise, High Queen Daraya, second of her name.[/i]”[/color] Sjan-dehk made a note to thank the tutor later; though his tongue tripped over a syllable here and there, the words were still flowing a lot smoother now that he had memories of the script to fall back upon. Of course, he was certain he had missed a word or two here and there, but the king was a busy man. Surely he would appreciate it if things were kept short and to-the-point.

[color=1E90FF]“[i]This one was sent with ships to your city to trade. We sailed for many weeks,[/i]”[/color] He continued. All he had to do was focus on recalling the script. Then he would be done here in a short order and back aboard his [i]Sada Kurau[/i]. [color=1E90FF]“[i]But pirates attacked us days ago. Lady Adiyan, the–[/i]”[/color] he cleared his throat as he tried his damnedest to remember the specific word, but ultimately failed. [color=1E90FF]“[i]–one who speaks on such things, was injured in the fighting. This one apologises for her absence.[/i]”[/color]

After so many words, he could finally address his real reason for being here. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one and [/i]Sada Kurau[i] captured the pirate ship and crew. It was a damn good fight. Sada Kurau razed the bastard.[/i]”[/color] A little grin crept across his face as memories of the fight began to fill his mind; of the perfect stern rake they had inflicted on the Celestine; of the pirate’s confidence turning to dread; of the swelling ecstasy of victory filling him at the end. 

Then his mind caught up with his mouth. Perhaps the words were flowing too smoothly. His cheeks heated up and he drew in a sharp breath. [color=1E90FF]“[i]...As this one’s crew say, your grace,[/i]”[/color] he quickly added, hoping the king wouldn't take too much offence by his brief slips of the tongue. In his mind, Sjan-dehk apologised to the tutor. Best he finished things up quickly lest he sabotage his own efforts thus far. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one is here for two reasons, your grace. The prisoners are people of your grace’s land. This one would hand them to your grace’s court for…your grace to decide what to do with them.[/i]”[/color]

He paused to catch his breath and consider his next words. How best to offer a king the [i]Celestine[/i] while also highlighting its dismal state? [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one also offers you the ship this one captured, your grace, but she is very badly…damaged, your grace. Her mast and stern, they are spoiled. Her hull has many holes. She needs a lot of repairs. But this one captured her in your waters. So this one must offer this ruined and…unworthy ship to your grace.[/i]”[/color] That was probably good enough. It had to be; he didn't know enough words to vocalise the rest of his thoughts.

Sjan-dehk let out a long breath at the end. That was enough polite and courtly speech and mannerisms to last him a good long while. Now he just had to hope the king was in enough of a rush to end this quickly.