It was on his third day out that Rakka’li finally got his “sea legsâ€.
As it turned out Akkhi was one of three partners for a trading firm that ran goods to and from the Cieldas Southern Isles. She even had some ships sailing as far as what people were calling the “New Worldâ€, a place that Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn herself had discovered in the far western seas some sixteen years ago. It was a strange, wild place, crawling with Mamool Ja and abundant with resources that the Limsans were ever eager to trade for.
Rakka’li loathed the thought of sailing that far for that long. Thankfully the Cieldas were much more reasonable. Though being on the ocean so far south made it hard to Hear the Wood, and he hated that. The constant nausea of his first few days and the crowded conditions of the ship weren’t helping, but what Akkhi was paying him more than made up for it.
It was more money than he’d ever had, ever, and he didn’t really have to do that much work. Mend a hand crushed by a crate, see to scrapes and bruises, things like that. Although they did ask him to help with rigging and other small tasks, most of the time he was out of the way sleeping below deck during the day, or out and about in the quiet night above.
If forced to be completely honest, Rakka’li didn’t hate seafaring totally. There was some excitement to it, even if the boat was crowded and stank. The nights were his and Akkhi’s, and they spent it reminiscing and talking while gazing at more stars than he had ever seen at once.
It was during one of these talks that Akkhi asked about his having a kitten again.
“So who’d you get a kitten on?†She eyed him, brushing the hair out of her face despite the wind’s insistence it cover her eyes.
Rakka’li scowled, drawing back from how he’d been leaning to get a look at the moon’s reflection on the waves, he briefly considered changing the subject, but then huffed and relented. “She goes by Qhon, a city girl. Got a Wildwood husband. Don’t want me to see th’ girl.â€
“Not at all?†Akkhi frowned, turning to face him.
“N’ at all. Her wildwood husband were seedless or something, and she wanted a dauhter m’ guessin’. I were just in th’ right place at th’ right time a few years back. Didn’t introduce herself so much as come out of th’ wood like some spirit and invite me te bed.â€
She laughed, “That’s how I did it to make Mahla. Though I didn’t tell him he couldn’t come around. He drops by with gifts now and then.â€
“Mm, it’s different with city-folk. Me commin’ around would be hard fer the husband I imagine. It’s fine, I ain’t think of it too much.â€
“You ever thought about finding a girl that wants you around?†She cast her gaze back to the sea, even though it was hard even for them to make out anything in the black.
“I did, she were born with a bad heart though, no conjury or anythin’ could save her. Had some time together ‘afore she passed on.â€
She looked back, “I’m so sorry… what was her name?â€
“Kaahi Fahtra, she weren’t raised right among our people, but she wanted to learn…†he trailed off, gaze distant but not really looking at anything.
“Pretty… so no others aside from her?â€
He shook his head. “Other lovers betimes, but I ain’t talk to many folk.â€
Akkhi scowled, “Surely ye have a friend ‘er two.â€
He shrugged, obviously picking his words carefully before continuing, “...honest word? Not really. I got right mean after Kaahi died, drove folks away. It’s m’ own doin’,†Rakka’li paused briefly before continuing, “mother used te say us males were only good n’ small doses. Holds true fer me.â€
She smirked, “Holds true for more than just ye.â€
Rakka’li returned the smirk, turning to face her with one elbow lazily supporting his weight on the railing, “Do got one, Fhen’wo. Goes by th’ name o’ Fate. Kind, older n’ me. Quiet. I were thinkin’ of going to see him after I went to see Rakka’sae.â€
Akkhi brightened, “We’ll go see Rakka’sae together, I’ll bring the girls.â€
That seemed to brighten him too, “M’ sure he’d like that.â€
“You can come around the house as often as you like too, as long as ye kept that mean of yours in check.†She chided gently, “The girls like ye.â€
Rakka’li’s face paled slightly as he recalled how tightly Rhun had hugged him and wailed before they boarded, the melodrama had been painful to endure. It was suddenly funny to him how he could be bold with women all night without fear, but the thought of his niece’s affection terrified him.
“..long as Rhun calms down.â€
Akkhi rolled her eyes, “Thal’s balls I’ve never seen her have it so bad, I’ll talk to her when we get back.â€
His relieved expression belied the need for thanks, so he turned back to the sea, thinking of how happy Rakka’sae would be to see them all.
As it turned out Akkhi was one of three partners for a trading firm that ran goods to and from the Cieldas Southern Isles. She even had some ships sailing as far as what people were calling the “New Worldâ€, a place that Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn herself had discovered in the far western seas some sixteen years ago. It was a strange, wild place, crawling with Mamool Ja and abundant with resources that the Limsans were ever eager to trade for.
Rakka’li loathed the thought of sailing that far for that long. Thankfully the Cieldas were much more reasonable. Though being on the ocean so far south made it hard to Hear the Wood, and he hated that. The constant nausea of his first few days and the crowded conditions of the ship weren’t helping, but what Akkhi was paying him more than made up for it.
It was more money than he’d ever had, ever, and he didn’t really have to do that much work. Mend a hand crushed by a crate, see to scrapes and bruises, things like that. Although they did ask him to help with rigging and other small tasks, most of the time he was out of the way sleeping below deck during the day, or out and about in the quiet night above.
If forced to be completely honest, Rakka’li didn’t hate seafaring totally. There was some excitement to it, even if the boat was crowded and stank. The nights were his and Akkhi’s, and they spent it reminiscing and talking while gazing at more stars than he had ever seen at once.
It was during one of these talks that Akkhi asked about his having a kitten again.
“So who’d you get a kitten on?†She eyed him, brushing the hair out of her face despite the wind’s insistence it cover her eyes.
Rakka’li scowled, drawing back from how he’d been leaning to get a look at the moon’s reflection on the waves, he briefly considered changing the subject, but then huffed and relented. “She goes by Qhon, a city girl. Got a Wildwood husband. Don’t want me to see th’ girl.â€
“Not at all?†Akkhi frowned, turning to face him.
“N’ at all. Her wildwood husband were seedless or something, and she wanted a dauhter m’ guessin’. I were just in th’ right place at th’ right time a few years back. Didn’t introduce herself so much as come out of th’ wood like some spirit and invite me te bed.â€
She laughed, “That’s how I did it to make Mahla. Though I didn’t tell him he couldn’t come around. He drops by with gifts now and then.â€
“Mm, it’s different with city-folk. Me commin’ around would be hard fer the husband I imagine. It’s fine, I ain’t think of it too much.â€
“You ever thought about finding a girl that wants you around?†She cast her gaze back to the sea, even though it was hard even for them to make out anything in the black.
“I did, she were born with a bad heart though, no conjury or anythin’ could save her. Had some time together ‘afore she passed on.â€
She looked back, “I’m so sorry… what was her name?â€
“Kaahi Fahtra, she weren’t raised right among our people, but she wanted to learn…†he trailed off, gaze distant but not really looking at anything.
“Pretty… so no others aside from her?â€
He shook his head. “Other lovers betimes, but I ain’t talk to many folk.â€
Akkhi scowled, “Surely ye have a friend ‘er two.â€
He shrugged, obviously picking his words carefully before continuing, “...honest word? Not really. I got right mean after Kaahi died, drove folks away. It’s m’ own doin’,†Rakka’li paused briefly before continuing, “mother used te say us males were only good n’ small doses. Holds true fer me.â€
She smirked, “Holds true for more than just ye.â€
Rakka’li returned the smirk, turning to face her with one elbow lazily supporting his weight on the railing, “Do got one, Fhen’wo. Goes by th’ name o’ Fate. Kind, older n’ me. Quiet. I were thinkin’ of going to see him after I went to see Rakka’sae.â€
Akkhi brightened, “We’ll go see Rakka’sae together, I’ll bring the girls.â€
That seemed to brighten him too, “M’ sure he’d like that.â€
“You can come around the house as often as you like too, as long as ye kept that mean of yours in check.†She chided gently, “The girls like ye.â€
Rakka’li’s face paled slightly as he recalled how tightly Rhun had hugged him and wailed before they boarded, the melodrama had been painful to endure. It was suddenly funny to him how he could be bold with women all night without fear, but the thought of his niece’s affection terrified him.
“..long as Rhun calms down.â€
Akkhi rolled her eyes, “Thal’s balls I’ve never seen her have it so bad, I’ll talk to her when we get back.â€
His relieved expression belied the need for thanks, so he turned back to the sea, thinking of how happy Rakka’sae would be to see them all.
