Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Eleven - Scale of the Moon

You all were discussing the specifics of the plan when the door to the tavern swung open, and Cale's messenger stepped through. Your heart sank. "It's too soon... they weren't there..." you thought, when suddenly Drinian stepped in behind him, followed by a young man you didn't recognize.
You and Caspian jumped up from the table and ran to Drinian. Caspian clasped arms with him and pulled him into a hug, laughing. When he released him you gave him your own huge hug. He felt very thin...
You kissed him on the cheek. "It's so good to see you!" You exclaimed.
"I's good to see yeh too, an' ye," he leaned forward and whispered to Caspian, "Yer Majesty."
"It seems you got our letter then?" Caspian asked.
"Aye. Sent the bird ou' righ' away."
"You really shouldn't have come," Caspian shook his head. "You put yourself and the crew in danger by just being in our company."
"If it weren' fer our new friend there," Drininan motioned to the man who was now talking with Cale happily. "I wouldn'a been able teh. No Calormene's daft enough ta attack two vessels, 'specially one as grand as his..."
"Come, sit." You offered. "Tell us everything."
You led him and Caspian to the table with Raxe and introduced them. Then Drinian began to tell his story from after you two were captured, (which he watched the entirety of), he managed to get word to the rest of the crew throughout the city. They searched for you for a day but the guards were starting to take notice of them so they had to cast off. They stayed nearby, in case you got word back to them. ("Which ye did.") Though in their days of waiting their rations began to run out. Even without the refugees on board the crew was beginning to starve. So they had to resort to the same method of hailing a passing ship to trade for supplies.
Luckily, Drinian recognized a unique gem on the hilt of the sword of the Captain, and was able to explain to them that they were sailing with you, the Lord of the Scale of the Sea, which earned this passing ship's alliance. At this point you glanced over at the man who was yet another Lord. He indeed had a bright yellow citrine set into the top of the pommel of his sword. "The Scale of the Moon." You thought to yourself. You observed the man as Drininan spoke. He couldn't have been any older than you or Caspian. He had wavy, dirty blonde hair that was pulled back into a low, short ponytail. He had a pencil thin beard that just framed his jawline, running up to a well maintained goatee and mustache. "He's quite handsome in his own right."  You thought.
Drinian continued his side of the story by saying that Captain Lalin (which was his name) offered to escort the Shade back into Calormen waters to rescue you and Caspian. They were in the middle of preparing when Cale's man arrived with your letter. Lalin recognized and vouched for him, explaining that you must have been in the company of Cale, in which case he had more reason to come into port with Drininan, as he and Cale were good friends.
"Sounds like we both got lucky with our company.' Caspian finally responded, looking at Raxe.
"Aye. It did me heart a wonder teh know ye weren't alone." Drinian agreed.
"I'm going to go introduce myself to Lalin," you told the boys, "thank him for all his help." You gave Caspian a squeeze on his arm, and moved to the other side of the room, where Cale and Lalin were laughing about something.

"Speak o' the devil!" Cale announced as you approached. "Lalin, it be me great pleasure teh introduce ye to our new Lord o' the Scale o' the Sea."
Lalin bowed to you and offered his hand to yours. You took it and he brought yours to his lips and kissed it. "You are a refreshing change of leadership My Lady. It's nice to see such a beauty carry a Scale for once." You couldn't help but blush as his hazel eyes met yours.
"Hey! Ye sayin' I'm no' a' grea' beauty?!" Cale interjected.
"That Scale is the only thing you have going for your looks my friend." Lalin laughed.
"Thank you so much Captain, for helping my crew and my friends. I don't know what they would have done if they hadn't run into you." You said thankfully.
"Please, call me Lalin," he smiled, "and it was my pleasure. Especially if it got me into your good graces..."
Cale shook his head chuckling. "Ye be too late lad. 'Er heart belongs teh someone else." Then he turned to you. "Watch out fer this one eh lass? He'll try teh woo anythin' tha' moves." He laughed and punched Lalin in the arm.
"Hey, if it works, it works." Lalin laughed.