Anastasia takes the lead

Anastasia was drumming the fingers of her left hand on her knee, looking out carriages the window. Vatarie only seemed to realise she had just climbed onto a carriage with a Princess to find someone she didn't know as she left the academy grounds. The nervous unease that filled her aura didn't last very long as nudged her with your shoulder. She looked over at you and smiled taking your hand in her own and looking out the window. Anastasia had noticed your hand holding and taken your other hand.

You were sitting between the women, holding their hands, thinking about was how slow the carriage was. You could have made it to the harbour and back several times already. However, this trip did encourage you to figure out multi-person flight sooner rather than later, it would make travel so much easier.

The buildings outside the window began to change. From the two and thee storied whitewashed buildings neatly arranged along the roads to the duller one and two storied warehouses. The smell of salt grew stronger and you see caught glimpses of blue as the carriage rolled it's way down the cities gentle curve to the harbour.

When the carriage came to a stop Anastasia took a deep breath and fixed a faint smile to her face. "Follow my lead and only speak if I ask you too." She said opening the door and leaving your and Vatarie alone.

Vatarie squeezes your hand and you look at her she smiles at you and said, "He'll be fine."

You smile back. "I have no doubt." You climb out of the carriage and fall into step behind Anastasia. Vatarie joins you stepping out and walking next to Anastasia. Being behind the two woman makes it rather clear that Anastasia doesn't have have extra security, not even the woman you had seen shadowing her previously. It wasn't like she needed any security with you here but it was a little odd there was no one at all.

The harbour was busy with people carrying various objects around, those not carrying something were ordering people what object they should be carrying, almost everyone was a woman. Something you did note was the usage of magic around you. Everyone carry something was reinforcing themselves with magic similar to how you coated your arms. Though the magic you saw was less elegant, no woven bands of magic instead a simple shell. As Anastasia walked more and more people looked at her and pointed her out to their friends.

You approached the building of import and without even needing to comment people moved out of Anastasia's way bowing as they did. When she reached a bench with several clerks behind it she said, "I require the Harbour Mistress."

"Of course your Highness." The clerk said then scurried off.

As you waited for the Harbour Mistress more and more people came to check out the commotion Anastasia was causing. There were murmurs through the crowd as the presence of a Princess provoked discussion. You kept your eyes ahead but stretched out your perception to cover as many people as you could. They were keeping a respectable distance but the more people who came the more the people at the front were pressed closer.

As the people in the front got a little too close a woman's voice interrupted everyone. "How may I be of service your Highness?" No doubt the Harbour Mistress you looked to see a very tall woman walking towards the bench bowing at the waist as she did.

"I need to find the Thitra." Anastasia answered.

"Without hesitation your Highness." The Harbour Mistress opened a book and began to scan through it. You heard chatting behind you about the ship and felt some people split off from the group coming to watch. The Harbour Mistress flicked through several pages before announcing. "Currently docked at pier fourteen. Would you like an escort your Highness I see you have a rather lightly entourage?"

"Simple directions will be acceptable." Anastasia said. The Harbour Mistress gave rather detailed directions on how to get to the pier. "Your service is noted." Anastasia finished then turned and started walking. The mass of people parted for her without needing any instruction. The two times you'd been out with her you had only seen a few people and she was deliberately covert. Watching as people bowed for her and the reverence you saw in their auras was a better reminder of her royal blood than anything else so far.

Walking to the pier resulted in a large crowd walking with you. You heard a few attempts to try and coral people back to work but they were largely unsuccessful. The closer you got to the ship the more it became apparent you would be putting on a show. What that show is will depend on how Anastasia wants to handle this, personally you hoped to avoid ****.

As you neared the pier the crowd had thinned, more as a lack of space to stand than a lack of interest. You saw the ship waiting ahead. Objectively you know this world had wooden ships but seeing them all docked and waiting as a normal part of this world economy it really hit home the technological disparity. You wondered if there were magic means of propulsion in addition to wind power.

The Thitra's crew were carrying crates on board when they noted the approaching nobility. A few of them ducked back on board and as the three of you reached the foot of the ships docking ramp a woman walked down it. She was wearing a long coat unlike everyone else's so you assumed she was the captain.

"Are you the captain of the Thitra?" Anastasia asked.

"Yes your Highness. How may I be of service?" The captain bowed and you saw some of her crew begin to line the ships railings.

"I am looking for a boy, Edin, I was told he is on this ship."

The captain's aura flickered with worry for an instant. "I'm sorry your Highness I think you may have been misled. We're a merchant ship no place for a boy," she looked at you, "or a man, here."

"Then you wouldn't mind if I investigated?" Anastasia asked taking a step higher on the gangplank.

"I'm sorry your Highness but we don't have time, we are due in Ah'rar in a fortnight, if we don't leave now we'll miss the tides and be late. The merchant guilds won't tolerate delay." The captain said as more of her crew appeared. You saw the mixture of fear and concern rolling through their auras as they see Anastasia.

"I am the Princess of Natira." Anastasia said taking another step. "I am ordering you to step aside so I might locate Edin." She took another step and the captain's hand flinched to a sword.

You took a step to get ready to intervene but Vatarie beat you to the punch. She jumped from the pier to the gangplank between the captain and Anastasia. "She is your Princess and she gave an order." Vatarie stood her to full height, even being down the gentle slope of the gangplank from the captain, Vatarie was taller than her.

The people on the ship stirred at the aggression and Anastasia put a hand on Vatarie's shoulder. "Thank your Lady Vatarie but there is no need. The captain is simply worried for her crew," Anastasia raised her voice a little, "as any leader should be. However, I see no reason for the servant to bare the guilt of their master." The crowd behind you stirred at her words. You didn't recognise the sentiment but they seemed to. The fact it was a generally positive response was worthy of note.

"I am sorry your Highness." The captain started but was cut off by another voice.

"Anastasia?" It was smothered but undeniably Edin, and very clearly distressed.

The captain's hand flashed to her sword again and you activated your magic. Hearing Edin's distress was all the push you needed to step in. You jumped onto the gangplank and disintegrated the captain's sword. You could search the ship like this before anyone had time to react your first move but you still didn't want to leave a potential threat around. However as Anastasia had said the captain was just following orders, you couldn't really fault her for that. You figured that any sailor must know how to swim so, being careful, your picked the captain up and carried her to the other side of the pier from the ship. You didn't want her crushed after all. You left her hanging in the air above the water, double checking the water below to make sure she wouldn't hit anything on the way down and walked back to you place. You deactivated your magic and a sudden noise of confusion, surprised and panic rushed out of the captain.

The splash that followed was the moment Anastasia looked at you. You nodded a little to confirm that was you. "Does anyone else want to interfere with a Royal action?" She announced to everyone. The crew on the ship were still confused about the how but the what needed no more explanation. They backed down and the three of you walked on to the ship.

You stretched out your perception and found Edin right away. "He'd one level down that way." You pointed at the deck where Edin was.

Anastasia glanced around and a hatch was opened for her. "Christopher go and retrieve Edin." She instructed. You didn't argue walking down the hatch and to Edin's door.

You reach for the handle then pause and knock. "Edin it's Christopher you ok?" You turn the handle open the door slowly.

"Christopher!" Edin shouts and you hear a metallic clinking. Opening the door you see Edin wearing his academy uniform with a shackle around his neck. "You came for me." He had tears in his eyes as he said sounding really surprised that you had.

You walk over and touch the metal making it disintegrate and check his neck for wounds. Other than a little redness that fade quickly as his magic healed the chafing. "Anastasia as well." You say checking over the rest of him for any signs of harm.

He wrapped his arms around your neck and let of soft sob. "They chained me up after I tried to get away." He let out a shaky breath but didn't cry further.

"Did they hurt you at all?" The guilt of the master wasn't the guilt of the servant, but the servants guilt absolutely was.

"No, Rasia said I was being sent home to mum and the captain said I was only chain up until they left port so I could try to run away again." Edin said clearly trying to hold himself together.

At that point you felt compelled to ask if would want to see his mother again but now wasn't the time to ask. "Ok, lets get you off the ship."

"Thank you." He said as he broke the hug and stood. Together you walked out up onto the ships deck.

Anastasia walked over and looked him up and down checking to see if he was ok. "Is there anything I should know?" She asked you softly.

Edin doesn't say anything about being chained up so you don't either. "He's fine, just scared." You say with a smile.

Anastasia looks him over again then turns. "Thank you all for your compliance." She walks down the gangplank with Vatarie, you and Edin following. The crew's aura are mixed with fear for what will happen. You are curious as well. If nothing else this had been a tiny inkling that as a ruler Anastasia could be smart enough to know the difference between the innocent and guilty for the actions both take. She looks over the piers edge and says, "If you return to the capital again I will have you arrested for **** a noble." She walked up the pier towards the crowd that parted for her easily. She also showed a threat veiled in mercy something any ruler should know how to do.

With an arm around Edin's shoulders you walk to the carriage. The lack of any intervention or incident to slow you down is rather welcome. When you reach the carriage Vatarie opens the front door for Anastasia and climbs inside with her. You open the back door for yourself and Edin. It would be crowded in the front with four people and you want Edin comfortable not further stressed.

When Edin sits down the carriage starts to move. Edin leans against you and almost immediately falls asleep. You lean your head against his and match his breathing. The trip to the academy is slow but relaxed. Edin's sleeping form left you feeling sleepy yourself.

When you reach the academy you gently nudge him awake. He groggily leans up and kisses your lips. "Thank you for saving me Sir." You both leave the carriage and he clings to you still sleepy.

Anastasia looks at him her aura swirling with a myriad of emotions. "Christopher take Edin to your room so he can sleep. After Lady Stephanie's class you'll tell me all of the details of what Rasia knew." Her aura settled on a gentle seething. "Lady Vatarie, thank you for accompanying me." She looked from her to two. "If you still intend to, I approve of your courting Christopher, however I doubt you will be his only suitor with or without my approval." She nods to Vatarie who bows to her then grins at you.

Vatarie opens her mouth to speak then looks at Edin and closes it and looks at Anastasia. "Thank your Highness. It was a privilege to assist." She bowed as she said it.

"Please accompany me for lunch." Anastasia said walking towards the dorms. Vatarie followed her and you followed them. Edin slows you down as he seemed to be falling asleep. You end up picking him up and carrying him up the stairs to your room.

Opening the door you carry him to his bed and gently lay him down. You aren't sure what the time is exactly but you figure you missed at least your second class and probably your practical, neither of which are a great loss. Edin curls into a ball and starts sleeping. You wonder if he had been awake for the entire duration of his capture.

You aren't sure leaving him alone is a good idea and you doubt Stephanie will kick you out of her class and the academy if you miss a lesson given the circumstances, or she might say how combat will never happen at the opportune time and you need to always be ready.