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Mentions: [@Princess] Edin [@Terrance420] Alden

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That didn’t quite go as Sjan-dehk had planned.

Or maybe it had, but he just didn’t know it yet. Either way, he didn’t receive the definitive answer he had hoped for. Nothing he could relay to Hai-shuun with confidence, at the very least. As far as he understood, there was still a chance of the [i]Celestine[/i] falling into Caesonian hands, and that alone was enough to bring him some measure of displeasure. Thankfully, he caught the dreary sigh of resignation just as it formed in his mouth and manifested it in his head instead. If only he knew more words – better words – to describe the state of the hulk.

Not that the royal tutor would have ever taught him such words, even if plied with the right amount of rice wine from the Sudah’s holds. Sjan-dehk doubted the overly-sober and staid man would ever teach him how to say ‘an utterly fucked shit-heap with piss-all to sail’ in Caesonian. 

Regardless, there was no point dwelling on the matter. Whether or not he would be able to keep his prize was up to fate, and – as many a wise philosopher had said – she was as fickle and uncertain as the wind and waves. In all honesty, he would much rather take his chances with the latter two. At least they could be somewhat predicted.

For the first time since kneeling, Sjan-dehk straightened his back and looked up. With deliberate yet crisp movements, he brought both hands down, lying his left flat on his chest. Had he his sword, his right would be resting upon its hilt. Instead, he balled it into a fist and pressed it against his hip. Normally, he would have waited until permission was given to be at ease like this, but Sjan-dehk doubted either the king or his advisor knew much about Viserjantan courtly rituals. Besides, he felt certain that they wanted this to be over and done quickly as much as him. Mucking about with pomp would just waste everyone’s time.

[color=1E90FF]“[i]Thank you, wise one,[/i]”[/color] he said to the advisor with a shallow bow at the waist. Sharply dressed and with an erudite air about both his words and person, he looked exactly how Sjan-dehk expected a man who could stand beside and have the ear of a king to look. Clearly, he was as capable as he looked, as the king all but echoed his words. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one and [/i]Sada Kurau[i] do not tire fighting pirates. Your words are…[/i]”[/color] He tried to think of an appropriate word, but could only come up with, [color=1E90FF]“[i]most welcome, wise one. This one will pass your words to Lady Adiyan.[/i]”[/color]

Sjan-dehk shifted his gaze over to the king. When the Viserjantan had first stepped into the ballroom, the imposing man had appeared to dominate and fill the entire space. Up close, however, Sjan-dehk couldn’t help but notice how normal the man looked. He still sat in the same domineering position, had the same domineering visage, and domineering posture, but now Sjan-dehk saw dark familiarity in them. Years of fighting in a dreadful civil war had seen him face many such people. Those who had the force of person to seek and acquire power in a time of chaos. Those who crowned themselves king over lands they did not deserve and played with lives them had no rights over. Most of them, Sjan-dehk had slain in battle. The rest, he had sent to the hangman’s noose for a traitor’s reward. 

Biting on his lip, Sjan-dehk averted his eyes and blinked the thoughts away. Now was not the time for him to go back down that hole. The war was over. Only just, but over it was and more importantly, it had been fought on lands and seas far, far away from here. Nothing to do with Sorian. Nothing to do with a king who had so far – understandable snappiness aside – treated him with nothing but courtesy and politeness. 

A king whose question required an answer, no less. Sjan-dehk cleared his throat and focused his gaze on the floor just in front of his foot. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one thanks you, your grace. This one will make sure the crew does not cause your grace trouble.[/i]”[/color] He dipped his head slightly in a quick bow. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one would…Humbly ask that this one is with your grace’s men when they go to Sada Kurau. This one’s crew do not speak your grace’s tongue well. This one also…requests your grace to…inspect the captured ship when this one is present for the same reason.[/i]”[/color]

Telling a king – or any higher-ranked noble, for that matter – what to do was always risky. Sjan-dehk had been on the receiving end of many a tongue-lashing for that very reason before. Usually when said noble made the mistake of believing military acumen came with their titles. He just hoped that this king would be able to see the reason behind his words.

That brought him to the question of trade goods.

Sjan-dehk knew what the [i]Sudah[/i] held in her holds, of course. Every good captain knew better than to sail with a ship whose cargo was unknown. Details of any plans for trade, however, were a mystery to him. As far as anyone on this expedition was concerned, he was just an escort. Lady Adiyan was the one who had been planning negotiations and whatnot. Sjan-dehk couldn’t tell the king that, however; it wouldn’t inspire any confidence and would likely cause Adiyan trouble later on. [color=1E90FF]“[i]This one apologises.[/i]”[/color] A sprinkling of truth was always a good and comfortable way to begin. [color=1E90FF]“[i]Lady Adiyan knows more about trade. But this one knows the[/i] Sudah [i]carries silks, wines, spices, jewels, metals, books, wood works. All the best Viserjanta can offer, your grace.[/i]” [/color]

There were other things Sjan-dehk had seen on the cargo manifests, things he had refrained from telling the king on purpose. War had seen every Viserjantan fiefdom and kingdom manufacture arms on massive scales. Now no longer needed, they were little more than barter goods. Everything from muskets and rifles to bows and swords, from crossbows to cannons, were buried deep in the Sudah’s holds. Judging by the numbers Sjan-dehk had seen on the manifests, there was likely enough to equip a small army. Had he his way, none of that would have been brought here. If Lady Adiyan wanted to trade with them, then she could tell the king that herself. 

He said nothing more. Hopefully, the king would be content with what little details he could share. Well, he had to be. There was not much else Sjan-dehk could add without starting a tapestry of lies, and he wasn't about to do that. There was already enough headaches on his plate, namely the souring of the muscles in his legs from all this kneeling, and the tiring of his tongue from speaking this unfamiliar, foreign tongue.