-Age 11-
She dumped the jewelry onto the table and grinned, looking hopeful at the elder Miqo'te man standing across from her. The table was an old scratched work made from oak and clearly had been through some rough times. The ship swayed in the waters slightly and the air was hushed beneath the decks. The rhythmic creaking of the ship was the only sound as the man looked down and then back up at Tomas and Melodia. Her grin began to fade as the man, known to her only as Tauric had a look she'd learned to know well over these past years; and that was one of displeasure.
His voice was gravelly and sounded gruff at all times. Again, something she was used to. "So this is what you bring back. Such a small grab. Tell me, young one....was it worth it?" His green eyes were set against a head of red hair and the Seeker looked every bit the feline with the narrow irises piercing her at that moment. He looked intimidating at most times, but especially so now with his arms crossed and the glare across his face.
"Aye! There be value there, sir! Only grabbed th' bes'!" Her voice was controlled and excited. A youthful expression of enthusiasm.
Tauric groaned, his mouth tight in a flat line as his eyes narrowed on her. "Pick that up off the table." He said it in a low, purposeful voice. She glanced at Tomas, who was watching Tauric as a student might a teacher, not looking at her. She looked back at the jewelry and did as she was told, her hand gingerly picking the pieces up and looking at Tauric with an usnure look in her eyes.
"When you leave you go toss that overboard because that's its value as you so perfectly explained." Again, his voice never lost control. The words hit hard and she looked confused.
"S-sir, I don' unnerstan'. We got -" She started and was cut off by him, his voice a bit harsher and a bit louder.
"Child! It's 'understand,' remember your lessons. And as for that so-called haul you've got, the value is now zero. You were chased by the jackets, had to hide, made your presence known, and now that area is off limits for a period of time. The cost was too high for so few." He paused and leaned in so his eyes were locked on hers. A teacher glaring at a poor student. "The value, therefore, is zero. So you'll toss them." He leaned back and glanced to Tomas and shook his head. "And you are supposed to keep an eye on her. Remember your instructions or I'll take you off of this."
Tomas nodded and his vouice sounded humble as he spoke. "I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
Tauric chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. "That's a load crap and we know it. No, she'll do it again because she can't help herself." He patted Melodia on the shoulder and smiled warmly. "But gods damn it Melodia...if you're going to do something stupid, make it worth it." He shook his head again and held out an open hand. "Give me the damn things. Maybe I can try and resell the things. But mind the lesson, child! Every move you make has a cost...mind that the cost doesn't outweigh the value of the action iteself."
Tauric had been her mentor on the ship for years and his words were always valuable to her. She nodded and kept her head bowed. "Aye, sir. May I be dismissed." Her voice was low, a bit embarrassed.
He nodded. "Yes, child. Tomas, you stay. We need to talk. And child?" He looked at her sternly. "Stay out of trouble. Report back here tomorrow."
She nodded to him and turned to walk back to the deck. "Aye, sir."
She dumped the jewelry onto the table and grinned, looking hopeful at the elder Miqo'te man standing across from her. The table was an old scratched work made from oak and clearly had been through some rough times. The ship swayed in the waters slightly and the air was hushed beneath the decks. The rhythmic creaking of the ship was the only sound as the man looked down and then back up at Tomas and Melodia. Her grin began to fade as the man, known to her only as Tauric had a look she'd learned to know well over these past years; and that was one of displeasure.
His voice was gravelly and sounded gruff at all times. Again, something she was used to. "So this is what you bring back. Such a small grab. Tell me, young one....was it worth it?" His green eyes were set against a head of red hair and the Seeker looked every bit the feline with the narrow irises piercing her at that moment. He looked intimidating at most times, but especially so now with his arms crossed and the glare across his face.
"Aye! There be value there, sir! Only grabbed th' bes'!" Her voice was controlled and excited. A youthful expression of enthusiasm.
Tauric groaned, his mouth tight in a flat line as his eyes narrowed on her. "Pick that up off the table." He said it in a low, purposeful voice. She glanced at Tomas, who was watching Tauric as a student might a teacher, not looking at her. She looked back at the jewelry and did as she was told, her hand gingerly picking the pieces up and looking at Tauric with an usnure look in her eyes.
"When you leave you go toss that overboard because that's its value as you so perfectly explained." Again, his voice never lost control. The words hit hard and she looked confused.
"S-sir, I don' unnerstan'. We got -" She started and was cut off by him, his voice a bit harsher and a bit louder.
"Child! It's 'understand,' remember your lessons. And as for that so-called haul you've got, the value is now zero. You were chased by the jackets, had to hide, made your presence known, and now that area is off limits for a period of time. The cost was too high for so few." He paused and leaned in so his eyes were locked on hers. A teacher glaring at a poor student. "The value, therefore, is zero. So you'll toss them." He leaned back and glanced to Tomas and shook his head. "And you are supposed to keep an eye on her. Remember your instructions or I'll take you off of this."
Tomas nodded and his vouice sounded humble as he spoke. "I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
Tauric chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. "That's a load crap and we know it. No, she'll do it again because she can't help herself." He patted Melodia on the shoulder and smiled warmly. "But gods damn it Melodia...if you're going to do something stupid, make it worth it." He shook his head again and held out an open hand. "Give me the damn things. Maybe I can try and resell the things. But mind the lesson, child! Every move you make has a cost...mind that the cost doesn't outweigh the value of the action iteself."
Tauric had been her mentor on the ship for years and his words were always valuable to her. She nodded and kept her head bowed. "Aye, sir. May I be dismissed." Her voice was low, a bit embarrassed.
He nodded. "Yes, child. Tomas, you stay. We need to talk. And child?" He looked at her sternly. "Stay out of trouble. Report back here tomorrow."
She nodded to him and turned to walk back to the deck. "Aye, sir."
