Everlight Family/Isana/Arrival

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Arrival at Perdan

Gulls and terns wheel about in the bright sunlight above Isana's ship. The sky is a glorious, brilliant blue, and the city of Perdan shines resplendent under its light.

Isana leans over the rail excitedly. A real city! She had never been able to picture what it would look like. Books were full of incredible, exaggerated phrasing. Towers taller than a masthead, crowding the shoreline like a thick forest. Throngs of people bustling along the wharves, a sea of busy colour. Now she sees. The books did speak truly! And fell short! Exhilaration for the future sings through her.

"Milady?" a youth voices nervously just behind her elbow.

Isana looks back over her shoulder and grins at the young man. "Isn't it incredible? I get to live here, Lucian! This is it! Perdan!" She turns back to the view as if unable to resist its magnificence.

"Y-yes... milady Everlight... I, um..." he clears his throat. "'Sana I'm going to miss you!" he spurts. A red flush colours his cheeks and he looks at his boots.

Isana stands up from the railing. Turning to face him with her head to one side, a sympathetic smile softening her sharp features. She puts one strong hand on his thin shoulder.

"Ey, Luce. I'm going to miss you too. Hey, look at me." He raises his splotchy, embarrassed and sadness-creased face to meet her eyes. Isana reaches out as though to ruffle his unkempt hair. She pauses mid-gesture, and instead tilts up her chin and swings her arm to give a sharp salute and a wry little grin. A spark lights in Lucian's dark eyes at the salute and he snaps his boots and salutes sharply back.

"That's more like it. You're going to make a fine sailor, Lucian. Be sure you write, and come to visit from time to time! I expect news of my brother back on Bel. You know him and writing. Oh! And..." she pauses to pick up a sack by the railing, then hands it to him with a muffled clinking sound. "Here. A bonus for attending me all the way to a new continent--above and beyond your required duty!--and two letters of reference of your combat skill, should you decide sailing isn't your cup of tea."

His eyes wide at the gesture, Lucian stutters a thanks with a deep bow. Isana stops him.

"No, Luce, the thanks are all mine. You have been an excellent study and the best squire a knight could ask for. If Perdan has a page half as good as you for my next appointment, I shall count myself lucky." She offers a hand to shake.

Lucian reaches out to take the proffered grasp, and the grip becomes a one-armed hug. Both parties hold onto each other, misty-eyed, as they know it will be years at least before they see each other again, and theirs is dangerous work.

They pull apart slowly as the bosun calls for all hands to starboard for docking. Meeting eyes once more, Isana repeats, "Mind you write." Lucian nods. She continues, "For information, and for something familiar in this strange land, for me." He nods once more, hesitates a moment, then heeds the bosun's call and runs off to his station.

Isana is left to watch the bustle of the crew for a last time, attention pulled from the novel back to the familiar and dear. She pulls idly at the straps on her knight's armor. I wonder what life will be here...