Precious Cargo Questioned

Writers: Jelena, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 17th March 2014

Characters: Herlis, Mawul, Stallis
Description: Herlis and Mawul question the stowaway and come up with a plan.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 26 of Turn 7
Notes: Follows Precious Cargo

With the girl wrapped in blankets and safely in his cabin office,
Herlis and Mawul found a seat opposite to the girl as she sipped on
her hot tea.

"Can you tell me your name?" the captain asked gently.

Mawul leaned the wall on the background, letting the Captain to do the
talking.

"S-stallis," she stuttered eyes still wide with fear. She hadn't even
thought about what would happen if she was caught on the ship. She'd
only ever imagined what would happen when she finally go to their
destination.

"Alright, Stallis, I'm Herlis, the captain of this ship and this is
Mawul, my first mate," Herlis spoke softly. "Can you tell me how and
why you got aboard?"

"Yes, that part is very interesting," Mawul murmured, mostly to
himself. After all, when the ship was on port, they posted sentries to
prevent things like this.

She looked from face to face and they didn't look like they would eat
her like her Uncle had always told her about strangers. "I wanted, I
had to get away from there," she said barely above a whisper.

"Well, that part we already figured out," Mawul murmured again.

Her brows drew together and she frowned at the other man before she
turned her face back to the Captain. "So I addressed a crate for
delivery to this ship for transport to River Bluff Weyr and climbed
inside with my
things."

"Fleeing to the Weyr, then?" Herlis said thoughtfully. "What were you
running from?"

How could she tell them what her Uncle had done to her or what he'd
called her after he was finished. It wasn't her fault and she knew it,
but who would believe her. Tears trembled on her lower lashes. "I
couldn't live there anymore."

"There, there, You're safe now," Mawul said comfortingly. He had
daughters after all and she wasn't that much older than them.

"Are you sure," she asked timidly. This place was full of men and she
knew what men wanted from her. Her only hope had been to remain hidden
and now that scant protection was gone.

"Look, both Captain and I have children, daughters. We won't let
anything happen to you," Mawul said reassuringly.

"Exactly," Herlis said gently, but with a calm confidence. "But we
can't properly help you if you don't tell us what you're running from.
Please try to explain just a little."

She clamped her knees together and scowled just a little at Herlis
before she slowly dropped the blanket and bared a shoulder and part of
her back. Welts and bruises criss crossed and obviously some were old
and fading while others were newer. "I didn't want to do what he
demanded of me," she made a face just thinking of the disgusting man
bits he'd wanted to... well she wasn't quite sure where they went but
it wasn't right for an uncle to show them to her. It wasn't right for
him to take her and ruin her chances at a good marriage. But with her
parents dead she didn't have anyone to protect her and she had known
it was only a matter of time before he had her trapped. "So I ran."

Mawul let out few selected swear words when he saw the marks on her back.

Herlis didn't swear, but an anger welled up deep in the pit of his
stomach. He had a daughter too and the vileness of men and the things
they did to girls like this one... Well, he had a job to do now, to
protect her, and there wasn't much room for emotion there. "Do you
think he'll figure out you got away on this ship?"

Her shoulders slumped. "Probably, when he stops yelling and beating
the drudges." She looked up as most of her hope faded away. "You're
not going to make me go back are you?" The horror showed in her face.

"No, but we need to make sure he doesn't come after you to claim you
back," Herlis sighed as he rubbed his forehead in thought. "You
haven't been searched, by chance, that you were heading for the Weyr?"
That would make things easier.

"No sir," she said as relief flooded through her that they weren't
going to force her to return. "He would never let me near when there
were dragons about. I just know if I can get to the Weyr..." her voice
trailed off in hope.

"Do you want to be a dragonrider then? Or live at the Weyr the rest of
your life? Or did you just want to get away, no matter where to?" It
was an important question. Herlis was not above finding sanctuary for
her at the Weyr, but if it was just about escaping, she might end up
miserable still.

"The weyrfolk have sheltered runaways before. If you ask for
sanctuary, they won't let him take you back," Mawul said reassured.

She blinked slowly. Obviously she hadn't thought beyond getting away.
"I-I'm not really sure," she said. "Do I have to be a dragonrider?"

"No, you don't," Herlis shook his head. "But even if you don't become
a candidate, life at the Weyr would be very different to what you're
used to. Wouldn't you be happier in a Hold or Hall?"

She nodded slowly then looked up at the Captain. "But only if I can be
sure he can't make me go back."

"You could marry one of my lads," Herlis wasn't one to talk around a
subject, he'd just come out and say it as it was. "Life as a
Seacrafters wife isn't all bliss, let me assure you. But it will be
hard finding you a husband once we get to shore again, having been on
this ship with only men."

"Can you promise he won't hurt me:," her voice was very small. After
all she'd run away from an abusive Uncle who'd wanted to marry her to
an old man of his acquaintance. A younger man would be much more
acceptable as a match if she could be sure she wouldn't be beaten.

Mawul wasn't so sure that this marriage-idea was good one. He would
have prefered sending her to the Weyr. But as a good mate, he kept his
opinion to himself. You did not question or contradict your Captain,
at least not in front of others.

"I have only decent men aboard this ship," Herlis nodded. He knew his
men well and he knew which of his lads were the gentler sort who would
give the girl the loving adoration which might make her forget what
had happened. "Why don't you rest up a bit and I'll gather my best
young men here in a few candlemarks?"

Surprise lit her eyes with a hope and wonder she hadn't held in some
time. "You mean I can choose?"

"Well, of course my lads have a choice too, but so do you, I'm just
hoping I can make two people happy today," Herlis shrugged. "Take a
bit of time to calm down, we'll be back here in two candlemarks, is
that okay?"

She nodded. Her whole world had opened up with possibilities, but
first if she was about to meet a possible husband... "Um, do you have
a comb and maybe some soap and water?"

"Mawul, can you go find that for her?"

"Yes, sir," Mawul replied and hurried out.

"Good, I will see you shortly, then," Herlis nodded curtly at the girl
before leaving the cabin.

Last updated on the March 21st 2014

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Precious Cargo Questioned