Normally I am quite a sensible Scurillian. I am driven by enlightened self interest in all things - and yet I find myself soft these past few days. And I dislike it. Passing up good money to save the crew? Ridiculous. But I did it, curse my sentimental heart.
We stopped in Kiera and went shopping while the captain sent others to chase down news of the privateer with this item we required for the hags. I needed to obtain a nice new axe - my hammer was starting to get a few dents from my enemies, very inconsiderate of them - and some lockpicks. I've been needing a pair since we were last in Kiera, but they have been hard to come by. And I have money finally.
I found a man who would sell them - but it turned out that he was a bit of an untrustworthy sort who informed on me to the Kieran authorities. As we went to pick them up, and I took along some others from the crew in case it was a trap, I was ushered downstairs. And into a room with an officer of the Kieran authorities.
He seemed to know exactly who I was and what I was about - which is odd as I would have expected that he would have killed me if he knew, but then maybe he wasn't sure of the strength of the men he had with him. Considerable numbers of men. He offered me a choice, I could tell him things about our ship or....well, the alternative was not spelled out, but given the large number of armed men and threats to hurt me I can guess it would not have ended well.
It seems we already have a spy aboard - a man who will identify himself to me with cuttlefish. And I should help him. The officer wished to know our interest in the prison colony in the Grey Isles - I deflected that well with the story of saving the world - and he also wished to know what we had done, what about slaves, and what about fugitives. I saved the captain on slavery, but my provarication made him suspicious.
He seemed to know that we had someone on board - I'm guessing his informant had tipped him off to Serene. When I tried to delay he called me on it - in the end my choice was between myself and therefore the crew if they did not have me (and without me I am unsure the Kierans would not just sink her) and Serene. So I did the only sensible thing, I confirmed the information they already had and hoped that the Captain might come up with a plan.
In return for this? I was to get 500 a month. He also had the lockpicks I came for, which was useful. Alas I could not get paid in advance. Still, I got the others and headed back to the ship - I would tell the captain what had happened when I arrived and we would work out a solution to keep the ship safe.
When I arrived I told the captain we had to leave port now, before they changed their mind, and that I must talk with him. He tried to dawdle - the man is infuriating. You would think the number of times I've saved the crew that I'd have earned some trust. But no, no, the constant degredation of my status continues.
He levelled accusations at me, that I had seemingly willfully done this and all the rest - very hurtful given my sacrifice of good money to inform them - and even put us all at risk with talk of telling people. As if he would not believe my word that there was a spy on board. And to think, I've been following orders and supporting him since his idiotic choices that lost him his shadow and put slaves aboard the ship. Very hurtful of him to impugn my dignity.
He seemed to grudgingly accept some of what I said though and so we made moves to cast off - Serene it seems was safe. As we left Sira seemed to be waiting menacingly with a weapon. Hrm. Very worryingly. If the captain is going to get quite so confused and impulsive, he will put us all in danger. I could always find another crew I suppose, but I am quite attached to these ones.
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