Jaysehn (prime)/Reflections/Old Salts

The breaking of a vermillion sky over the eastern horizon heralded the end of a fruitless night of searching at sea.

Physically tired and mentally drained, the various ships of the Sentinel Fleet pulled themselves into North 'Haven Quay one after the next. Jaysehn left a weary Akenna to converse with the even more haggard appearance of Jarnsaixa while he made his way off the gangplank of the Grey Hobgoblin. He didn't often use the little sloop for much these days and it remained the anomaly in his fleet as the only ship not named after a celestial body or painted that same bone white color as his others. She had been their first ship, back before 'the Fleet' was even a dream.

He met with Captain Orlov and Senzai, who were coming down onto the docks now from Silver Sun and Onyx Eclipse respectively. All three men knew there was no news to share. Failure was the word of the hour and it was writ large on every face on the docks, many of whom were friends also just returning from similar attempts. Some cast hopeful glances his way, clearly expecting the 'Commodore' would have an answer.

He did not.

Turning to his other Captains, he gave simple and clear orders. "Rest the crews, resupply. We'll go again at the ninth morning bell. Golden Dawn should arrive in port sometime before noon. We'll have her out this afternoon."

He glanced back at Akenna and the kindred bodyguard at her side. He took in a short but heavy breath for his wife's troubles. She had taken the loss of Sayilla personally. Compounded by the murder of Lady Kasendra and the subsequent accusations of 'charges' in her death, he knew his wife was bearing a terrible burden of late.

Turning back to Orlov, he continued, "The Steward is unlikely to relent. You take the Grey Hobgoblin back again as soon as you are able. Serve at her pleasure. If she wants to search, you search. If she wants to return, return."

Orlov squinted at Jaysehn with his ruined, ugly face and squared his lopsided shoulders up at the Commodore, "I take orders from....her....now?'.

"Your orders come from me. And my orders are to obey her wishes...within reason."

Orlov grunted in the way only dwarves could make sense of, letting the sound convey everything and nothing at the same time. In the end though, he didn't respond beyond that. Instead, the squat man walked past Akenna and the Steward, offering a tip of his forelock with his wide fingers as stomped up the gangplank to take command of Grey Hobgoblin.

Jaysehn knew his wife wouldn't rest either. She had smelled and examined those glass bottles that were found in the Starseeker's cabin. He knew she would be up throughout the day pouring over her materials and probably even contacting her father for more information.

Probably best, he thought to himself. Let her stay busy so she doesn't have to ponder the fact that she has to answer to those same charges in Illistim that even now dogged her husband and several of their friends.

Aware that eyes were on him from around the dock, Jaysehn forced his shoulders back and his chin up. He tried to project an aura of confidence and control, something he had been taught by many instructors throughout his life from the Master of Kitchens at the Academy to his friend and mentor, Aetheri.

Lowering his voice enough so that he could be certain he was not heard, he gave a final set of commands to his comprador, Senzai.

" Go East. Learn anything and everything you can about Illistim law. I want to know what Akenna and I are walking into when we answer this summons by the Sapphire Guard. I'll handle affairs here."

Senzai nodded once in understanding. He saluted with a crisp motion and then walked down the pier. Jaysehn watched the Caligot and asked himself which particular difficulty would choose to present itself next.

Fate decides, he reminded himself, Fate always decides.