Turn 58

Brother Pham looks as if there is something he wants to say...
    "Friends, I have another concern. You all know what I'm talking about. I cannot sit by when creatures like that are wandering free on Bral. I know that I cannot destroy them on my own; I also know that it's not really our job. But I have a duty to help.
    "If the oligarchs are aroused, they'll *have* to do something or ships will stop coming to Bral once they hear. But the oligarchs are not going to be convinced by the feeling of a priest of a, *ahem* minor sect.
    "So, I need proof. The easiest proof would be a ghoul body. Would any of you help me on a little hunting trip before we leave?"
    Val studies the others for their reaction to Pham's dilemma before speaking up.
    "Well, you're one of my pilots now," he says after a moment of obviously deliberate thought. "And a good captain shouldn't just stand by and let his pilots walk into danger like this," he raises his hand to forestall any objections Pham might have of him pulling rank like this. "So I'm going with you," he adds with a grin.
    "Now then," he continues hastily, "I can't speak for anyone else here, nor can I order anyone to help or not. I'm going because Pham is a friend." He looks to both Emmett and Hiro as if to tell them they do not have to go because of him, even though he suspects they might...
    Emmett shrugs. "I'm in. A good craftsman doesn't ignore little problems until they become big problems. We don't want to come back to Bral at some point and find it a ghoul outpost. Be warned, though. The little suckers are a bitch to kill."
    Hiro slyly smiles at the challenge.
    Ibn Fadil revives enough to say, "I also will go along."
    "Of course I will accompany you, Captain," Yestin says, sounding fairly cheerful about the prospect of ghoul-hunting, although not so much about the prospect of doing so in the lower tunnels.
    "It has been some time since I had any opportunity to hunt," Nyala observes laconically.
    Emmett smiles, wondering what has the half elf so down. Surely not just because Val tabled the discussion on visiting Janik before heading somewhere else? "I'm glad to hear it, we're going to need your bloodline."
    Emmett turns to the assembled "Last time I ran into these things I was working crew on an elvish vessel. For those unaware, unless you've got High Blood, these things will freeze your muscles with a touch." Emmett painfully recalls the moments of paralyzed helplessness after he dropped his guard on one encounter.
    Nyala's raised eyebrow at the term "High Blood" goes unnoticed.
    "They hunt in packs, and will drag off frozen victims, so we have to engage them at range as much as possible, and watch our buddies backs constantly. Just in case I'm not making this clear, Pham is not asking us to get involved with a lark. These things are dangerous and deadly. If that's not your brand of whisky, no one will think less of you for not bellying up to the bar. The captain has made it clear this is a friends play and not a ship play, so vote with your gut and don't worry about your job."
    "Speaking of jobs," he looks over at Pham, then glances at Ibn Fadil. "Has anyone talked to Volant about our making this play?"
    Ibn Fadil shakes his head slightly, looking to Pham to explain.
    Pham replies to Emmett. "No, I haven't approached our employer yet. To be quite honest, the resolve to face these creatures only solidified itself yesterday. Ibn Fadil also suggested I tell him my concerns before attempting this. If you wish, I will approach him before we do anything."
    Pham gives a wry smile. "Members of my order are not accustomed to having those in power listen to much of anything we have to say. We usually just do whatever we are called to do. I'm not used to having to worry about consequences from the ranks above.
    "I'll go talk to Volant first thing tomorrow morning and bring my concerns and plans to him, unless any of you would like to go in my stead."
    "I'll go *with* you," Val tells him. "Maybe if your captain shows support, he'll listen to what you have to say." He stops and furrows his brow in thought.
    "Then again," he says after a moment, "he may very well not want us involved... Let's make sure we have a contingency plan in that event, shall we?
    "In the meantime," Val continues, "it seems we have a basic agreement that we'd all like to go the Ginevra's home to try and make a deal. At least we don't have any major objections about this. So be it; that will be our first goal." To Alais and Pham he adds, "We'll need to research the best and safest route to get there. I'll give you what I know so we can do just that.
    "I'm sure I don't need to remind you all what trouble the Victor may be," Val says, quite aware of the irony. "Keeping that in mind, our destination is to be considered secret. *Tell no one.* We don't want any unnecessary trouble, nor do we want the Victor showing up there to ruin what we're trying to achieve. We'll have enough trouble with his people that are already there."
    "Thank you, Val. I appreciate your support, and," Pham looks to the rest of the room, "everyone else who's volunteered to help me. Emmett is right - these things are dangerous. I've personally seen a small pack of them wipe out entire villages. I don't want to see that happen again here. It's very ... heartening to have friends."
    "I'm not sure I see a need for this anti-expedition. Hat should be the domain of the proper authorities, and takes up valuable time," Alais judges. "I would prefer we leave as soon as possible. But in the meantime I'll start the research on our future course.
    "As for the ghouls, if you all insist on going, I shall come along and use the occasion to experiment with our new magic items."
    Val takes Alais and Pham aside to give them the information he has on Rigol, which does not amount to much. From his talks with Ginevra he knows that it is a flat world with a single moon, in a sphere that lies along an offshoot of the Flow farther down the Loop than Janik.Their employers have stocked them for an extremely long journey, given their mission, which is all to the good.
    Afterward, Pham makes an appointment to see Volant first thing in the morning. When asked for the reason for the visit, Pham says, "I need to discuss some civic improvement activities I would like to undertake here that may reflect on Three Trees."
    After the meeting aboard the _Distraction_ breaks up and the crewmembers begin to go their separate ways, energized by their newly made decisions, Val pulls aside Emmett and Hiro a moment.
    "I know you two insist on watching my back," he tells them, "and I certainly *do* appreciate it, so I thought I'd let you know where I was going to see if you were interested in coming along. If not to watch my rear, then perhaps to look around for yourselves." He remembers the stern look Emmett gave him the last time he snuck off to do some personal business.
    Hiro's deep brown eyes answer, Yes.
    As does Emmett's mouth. Emmett, unlike Hiro, uses words. Useful tools, that. "Sure," the Half Man grins. "After all, that's where your back is going...."
    The three of them leave the docks and cross the open square. The Silverstream offices are in the third street back, being a relatively young company, its leader still the newest of the oligarchs. The tall, narrow building of brick and stone faces onto its own miniature square, in the center of which is a set of stairs giving access to the underground. More stairs lead up to the main door to their destination.
    A man attired in elegantly simple yet clearly expensive clothing greets them at the top of the steps with a bow. "Good evening, Captain, and be welcome to these our humble offices." With impeccable courtesy he escorts them into the vestibule, relieves them of their coats, and then precedes them into the next room.
    The bottom floor of the building is one large room, a showroom in fact for Silverstream wares, the fabrics of a hundred worlds. Carefully shielded light sources gleam through gauze, slither from silks and satins, call echoes from brocade and velvet and are lost in sable furs. A middle-aged woman of severe appearance looks up from a ledger book at their entrance. As if they had an appointment, the man announces, "Captain Ehrendrin and companions, miss."
    Well, Val recalls, he *has* been asking around a bit.... And even if he himself doesn't stand out in a crowd, Emmett at least is quite easily recognized.
    The woman comes forward to shake his hand and Emmett's, and bows correctly to Hiro. He almost fails to return the courtesy, thinking for a moment that he hears the silk shifting as if someone moved on silent feet, but a glance around proves all to be still but the faintly dancing flames behind their glass.
    "A pleasure," the woman says crisply. "I am Selina Arden. If I might inquire as to the nature of the business you wish to conduct?"

* * *

    Ibn Fadil is up before dawn the following day, leaving Nyala to burrow sleepily back into the blankets while he runs some important errands. First is to collect the equipment he left in his cache before leaving on the _Cat_, including pens and paper with which to write a message, which he leaves in the usual place. Written as usual in Zakharan and that in the code he memorized years ago, it says only, "Regret departure seemed necessary. Full report filed from Janik. Opportunity too good to pass up." It is not signed in any way.
    After that he can relax a bit and do some shopping, enjoying the opportunity to spend freely despite the occasional verbal dig from a shopkeeper. At Bogdana's armory he purchases several knives and a set of light bracers. The cheerful dwarf tries to persuade him to spend more-- "Company you're keeping these days you might be wanting for more, and you'll want it most when you can't get it," she warns with a grin. "Now that giff crewmate of yours, he's got it right, finished up a beaut set of mail for him just yesterday. You won't find any as good as ours for at least two spheres, and none better."
    "I'll think about it," he promises sincerely; that's a point he's been thinking about himself.

* * *

    At the Enclave, Pham and Val arrive for their appointment and are ushered into a beautifully appointed little room where a table is set for breakfast. A servant pours tea and informs them that Master Volant will be with them shortly, which indeed he is, seating himself at once and waving to them to join him.
    "Apologies for the format of this meeting, but the day was full, and I know you're scheduled to ship out shortly, so.... We very much enjoyed your little gathering the other night, by the way. Well done. Now what's this about 'civic improvements' ? Most people think the best way to improve this place would be to chuck it into a sun." He chews on a scone and looks at the two of them curiously.
    

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