Cinnamon Bun Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty - Captain's Logs

Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty - Captain's Logs

Squaring things away didnt take long, not with the size of our rooms and the few things we brought. I dont think anyone had plans to really get changed for what would be a day-long flight.

So, well be reaching the capital before night, right? I asked.

Amaryllis situated herself on a bench at the very front of the passenger quarters. There was a small porthole there, but because we were at dock, all there was to see were so tal struts a ter or so away from the window. I think so, yes. It would depend on when we leave. Theyre still unloading the ship.

Really? How do you know? I asked. The noises from the other side were all clangs and bangs, nothing really telling.

Amaryllis pointed to the window. Were rising, slowly, but its visible.

Huh, I said. Youre such an observant bird.

She huffed.

I wonder if I can look around the ship later, Awen asked.

The door leading into our compartnt opened and Captain Galebane slid into the room and clicked the door shut behind her. I would be honoured to show you around, she replied. We have a chanic aboard, all ships do as a matter of protocol, but hes an apprentice from Goldenalden. A little wet behind the ears, but well-aning.

Hello captain, I said. Your ships very neat.

Why thank you, she replied. I ca to ensure that you were all settled in. My first mate is taking care of things above. He needs the experience as well.

Thats two new people on your crew, Amaryllis said.

The captain nodded. Indeed. I think over half the crew is green, or nearly so. Most of the better sailors have been dragged off to the navy. Promises of better pay and the like are robbing us of a lot of good experienced people.

Thats unfortunate, I said.

The captain shrugged a shoulder. It is what it is. I dont bla them for accepting more gainful employnt, even if it might only be on the shorter term.

Arent you worried? Such a green crew can be troubleso, Amaryllis said.

Oh, theres no worry. Most of those green sailors are from the navy. Sylphfree allows companies in good standing to hire personnel to train them further and give them a bit of applicable experience. It ans that part of their wages are covered, and the navy gains more people who have a wider breadth of experience.

Thats clever, I said. Our crew is pretty mixed, experience-wise. The captain was being very forthcoming about things. I looked at her, and had the impression she hadnt had the opportunity to rant about things in a good while.

Captain Risa nodded. Your ship is that... interesting twin-hulled vessel? I saw it while coming in to dock.

Thats the Beaver Cleaver, yeah, I said. Hes a good little ship. Though I guess hes a little weird-looking.

Certainly unique, the captain agreed. Have you been a captain for long, Captain Bunch?

Nope! I said. Its been... uh, about... a week? How long ago did we leave the Nesting Kingdom? I know that I spent a few days sick, so that might have been throwing off my sense of ti.

A week, she repeated.

A very busy week, I agreed. We got off track over the Darkwoods, then we ended up stopping a smaller war between a big company and so dryads, then we visited Needleford where Awen was kidnapped by pirates. We damaged their ship--wait, is it sinking a ship if the ship is an airship?

It is, she said.

Cool! I thought so, because ships kind of sink out of the air, I said. Not that we sank the pirate ship. We just did a number on their engines.

Awen looked like she was holding back a giggle, and Amaryllis just shook her head and pulled a book out from her bags and started to read it.

You took out a pirate vessel? Captain Risa asked. Ill admit, I have ten years as a captain, but they were mostly safe. Other than a few run-ins with so nasty creatures, Ive never had the misfortune of fighting a pirate aboard my vessel.

Oh, we didnt use the Beaver for that. We used a skiff. The pirate was called Golden Rogers, and hes a nasty, an guy.

A skiff?

Like, a really small boat that flies?

Im aware of what a skiff is. What sort of vessel did the pirates have? she asked.

Uh, I replied. I couldnt recall the na of the ship. It was quite big. Maybe half again the size of your ship? But more water-ship like. His crew was rather large, I think. But we managed to save Awen, even though shed mostly managed to save herself, really.

It was called the Golden Groves Revenge, Awen said. And it couldnt operate because I destroyed the engines and I think Broccoli lit the insides on fire.

Just a little, I said. It was , Amaryllis, and Bastion. It was very scary.

Three of you took on a pirate ship? Captain Risa didnt sound entirely convinced.

I crossed my arms. I can hold my own in a fight, you know. And Amaryllis is scary too. Not to ntion Bastion. Hes a paladin, so hes great at butt-kicking.

Ah, she said with a nod. I had the impression that everything just clicked for her. The people in Sylphfree seed to think very highly of paladins. I suppose that it was quite the adventure.

I know! And that was only in the first three days! Then we got to Innsmouth, fought in two dungeons, then we ran into so very angry cry and had not one, but two battles in the air against them! They have rocket-powered planes and airships, but it turned out okay because we have Awen and we made so cry friends. Did you know that lasers are terrible for airships?

I can imagine?

They really are. We ended up almost-crashing on the Lonely Island, I said.

The penal colony? she asked.

I nodded. Thats the one.

I imagine that must have been harrowing, landing in a place so hostile, Risa said. She smiled as if it was entirely self-evident.

Huh? No, not really? I an, the airship fight we had over the island was scary but the people of the island were pretty nice. Not super welcoming, and I wish we had more ti to spend there so that I could make proper friends there, but they seed about as nice as the people from Granite Springs, for example.

Ah.

Anyway, then we made it here after so repairs. And thats about all the adventures weve had since launching the Beaver Cleaver. Its been a busy week and a bit.

I... see, the captain allowed.

The door to the passenger quarters opened, and in walked Bastion, looking as fresh as ever with a bag by his side and so equipnt in a sack slung over his shoulder. Bastion! I called out as I bounced to my feet. I was getting worried.

Hello, Broccoli, he said. Amaryllis, Awen, and you must be Captain Galebane?

The captain stood taller. Indeed. Its a pleasure to et you, sir, she said.

Likewise, captain. Your first mate gave permission to board, but I had hoped to et you at so point.

O-oh? Risa asked. Was she blushing?

Its nothing very urgent, he said. He tossed his bag into one of the rooms where it landed on the bed with a thump. Were you entertaining others?

Broccoli was telling her of our adventures, Amaryllis said off-hand. She turned the page in her book. As it turns out, Broccoli has a gift for understating things in such a way that they sound grander than they were. Its outright bizarre.

I didnt exaggerate anything, I said.

You didnt, Amaryllis agreed. If anything you did the opposite, but you also listed more wild adventures than most sane people would experience in a lifeti.

I wiggled my ears in thought. That made sense, I supposed, we had been through a lot together. I kind of like having big adventures though, I said. Its fun. But... well, do you guys like that kind of thing?

Amaryllis snorted. Its harrowing and terrifying, but you have no idea how rapid our growth is compared to most.

Awen shrugged. Uncles stories were about as full of adventure, so I think its kind of normal.

Im not sure if using Abraham Bristlecone as a asuring stick is entirely wise, Bastion said. But I suppose compared to the likes of him, this crews travels have been quite calm.

I grinned. For all that the passenger section on the Little Atlas was a bit cramp and spare, it was still a lively, happy place. Mostly because it was filled with so many nice people in it. How did things go? I asked. With the general and the commander and all the soldiers?

Relatively well, Bastion said. The... event fell into disarray once the main threat was eliminated. Fortunately, it was the better sort of disarray. So of the miners had cooking equipnt, and the mole people brought so barrels of mushroom ale and shared it around. There was sothing of a party, though I doubt the official reports will call it that.

I laughed. Thats great. Itll give everyone a chance to make friends.

Indeed, Bastion said. There are so crates of salted at coming with us, as well as so decently large segnts of amphiptere leather. A fine reward for a days work.

I'll ensure that everything is properly secured, sir paladin, Risa said with a small salute.

Thank you, Captain. But Im certain that your crew will do a fine job. Now, if no one minds, I havent slept since yesterday, Im quite overdue for so rest.

I raised my arms for a hug as Bastion moved by, and he allowed to give him a quick squeeze. More experience! And more hugs too!

If anyone needs , then feel free to wake up, he said before carefully closing the door to his quarters.

Captain Risa placed her hands over her face. I didnt offer him my cabin, she muttered.

I dont think he minds, I said. Bastion seems like a simple sort of guy. Anyway! We have a long trip ahead of us, is there anything you do for fun? Usually on the Beaver Im too busy doing captain things or training. I like both, but I dont think we can do either here.

Ill bring over a deck of cards, Captain Risa said. Maybe I can teach you a few gas later. There are a few that are quite popular with the crew, and there are the more noble gas, of course.

Noble gas? I asked.

Amaryllis lowered her book. So card gas are considered lowbrow, often depending exclusively on chance; more involved gas are customarily the purview of the nobility. They tend to be a little more complex and rely more on deception and ones ability to read people than on pure luck, though theres usually so elent of luck at play.

Oh! Why didnt we ever play any of those? I asked.

Because you have about as much chance to deceive soone as a puppy has of hiding a misdeed, Amaryllis said. And at the sa ti, your ability to read people would make playing against you just plain irritating. Youd be at once a terrible opponent and a terrible player.

I bet I could beat you though, I said with my smuggest grin on.

Amaryllis carefully dog-eared the top corner of the page she was on and set her book down. Captain, would you be so kind as to get that deck? I have to teach my dear friend here a lesson shes unlikely to ever forget.

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