Inheritance: Scales of Change

Chapter Four - Summoning

To your great disappointment, he kept his word and didn't try to peek at you the entire bath. Even more so, when it was time for you to get out, he kept his eyes shut tight as he helped you stand, then wrapped your towel around you before picking you up out of the tub, and then finally opening his eyes.
"Thank you." You smiled contentedly in his arms as he carried you over to the bedside.
"My absolute pleasure." He sat you on the bed, and stood back, arms folded, shirt soaked through, showing off the curves of his muscles. It was very difficult not to stare.
"You know I can change on my own..." You cleared your throat, trying to appear unphased by your obvious arousal.
"I was hoping you would need my help with that as well." He smirked. "I'll come back in a few."

* * *

You allowed Caspian to carry you up to the helm deck, the lure of sunshine and fresh air was stronger than the desire to appear tough at this point. He sat you on the table behind the helm.
"Look who's out and about!" Your father greeted you. "How's the ankle Bug?"
"Better today." You smiled. "How have things been?"
"Oh you know... crew's ansty, we're only a few days out and they can sense it."
"A few days? Already?"
"Yup, it's been pretty steady since we got out of that storm."
You looked off the starboard side, the Reina was sailing nearby, just slightly ahead. It looked no worse for the wear. You thought of what it might look like flying a Narnian flag... "Did you happen to mention anything about my idea?" You asked Caspian.
"What idea?" Your dad responded.
Caspian shook his head. "I've been a bit preoccupied with you."
"I had a thought about convincing the pirate Lords to join Narnia's navy as privateers." You began.
Your father turned around to look at you, "Oh?"
"I'm not sure they would go for it." Caspian interjected.
"And I think I can convince them." You argued.
"What prompted this plan of alliance?" Your dad asked.
"Something Sevas said the other night at dinner." You explained. "When he said 'we are pirates after all.' I don't really condone piracy. This has all been a station of convenience so far. But I thought about that pirate ship that attacked Caspian's crew last year, and how if Sevas was getting paid to not attack Narnian ships...but still got the thrill of seafaring they wanted..."
"That they would be better allies than enemies?" Your father finished for you.
You nodded.
"I can definitely say you are the most morally upstanding pirate Captain I have ever met." Your dad laughed. "And I would feel much better knowing you were under the protection of the crown, rather than roaming the seas, attacking random ships just to make a living."
"Honestly though Doleraz," Caspian asked, "as a former Lord, you think these men would go for it? Could they be trusted?"
"I can't speak for them Sire, but I can wager that Cale would absolutely trade thieving for a steady paychest. I know he has a wife and daughter to care for."
"Daughter yes, but his wife passed not too long ago." You responded sadly.
"Oh that's a shame. Everything he did was for his family...he and I found common ground on that. But even so, his daughter is his life. He would give anything to make it the best he can give her." Your dad explained. "Rictor... he's unpredictable, but he always goes with the decision that gives him the upper hand. So you'd just have to convince him it is a better deal to work under you than against you. Lalin, I never met personally but his father was a good man, if they're anything alike I'm sure you can count on him. Sevas I think would join you on your Telmarain heritage alone. I have no idea who the current Lord of the Sun is though. In my day it was a crotchety old geezer named Bodril, though I can't imagine he's still alive. No matter what, I can tell you this: Once a Lord of Scales gives his word of loyalty, it is not easily broken. If you can get them all to agree, then yes, they can be trusted."
"Hmm. Well... I suppose it's worth stating our case then. If it means one less threat to Narnia." Caspian agreed.
"I just have no idea how I'd get them all together..." You thought aloud.
"Your scale Bug." Your dad pointed. "They can summon each other, remember?"
"I thought that was only in case one of us was in danger?"
""Well that's one way, but that's just the Scale reacting to your subconscious intentions. You can get the same reaction by intentionally asking for it. How do you think we got together every year?"
"I just thought you picked a time and place and stuck to it?" You responded uncertainly.
Your father laughed. "You expect a bunch of drunk, chaotic pirates to remember what day of the year it is? No no, we had to remind each other, and followed the hum to whoever summoned first."
"So how do I do it?"
"Take the helm Son." He motioned to Caspian, and traded places with him to be next to you. "It's been a while...but I think I used to just hold it, and imagine discussing something extremely important, whatever the topic needed to be. It won't work if it's just a fleeting interest in conversation. This has to be 'change the world' type of importance."
"Ok... I'll try." You took your necklace off, held the Scale in your hands, and closed your eyes. You concentrated on the topic of becoming a privateer. Convincing them to join you. How world changing it would be for the Lords of Scales to be under Narnian command. How much good you could all do together. How together you can prevent Calormen ships from raiding any other islands, how you could prevent all the despair and trauma that your family went through, how as a privateer in the Narnian navy you would be able to visit Caspian at Cair Paravel whenever you wanted..."
Your Scale suddenly felt warm...no hot. As if you just pulled it from a boiling pot of water, and then you heard a faint humming in your head.
"Do you hear that?" You looked up to your dad and Caspian.
Your father smiled. "No, only Lords can hear the hum."