[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

"Aye, merry times are all well, yet times of woe make friends swifter and truer, I find," the captain said, "it is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of a man such as yourself, my lord. The regent on my deck, imagine!" The captain had a wry grin as he said that, and nodded. "Our mister Smith is a fine lad, and a finer mate."

His eyebrows rose at the number mentioned, "a couple dozen men? It will have to be a tight fit, but my men shall rest above. You may have my cabin once I've tidied it." There was a dry chuckle, "you are quite lucky we have been ashore so long, we have exhausted our trades. All we have in the hold are our rations and a chest or two of coin for the Seat. The room below should be quite spacious enough to at least hold your couple dozen. I am sure our Admiral will furnish you something more suitable for your further journey. A couple dozen in a Songbird! By the Lady!" He bowed as Carrot departed "Within the hour, my lord, and no later. You have my vow."

As the captain and mate returned aboard, Carrot seemed to be beside a storm of activity, orders were called, the crew busied themselves on deck. Out of the corner of his eye, Carrot could see a young boy run into the cabin just below the helm, and come out moments later, his arms burdened with papers that made their way below, perhaps to be stored in the same chest as the gold. The captain had a hushed conversation with a man in a dark brown robe, almost a cassock, their faces were serious, and the man in the cassock gave the captain a solemn nod before entering the same cabin and coming out with a small black rod. The robed men then took to the helm.

Within the hour, The captain called to Carrot from the helm. "Alright my lord! All aboard who's comin' aboard! We're off!" There was amoment as those who were to board the Smiling Maiden climb the gangplank before it was pulled up from the dock, and the sails turned away and unfurled. The wind picked up suddenly, and the sails seemingly burst forward with the gust. The robed figure gripped the black rod tight in his left hand as in his right he held something that he wore about his neck, his brow furrowed in concentration.

With the speed of the winds it was only a matter of moments until the ship was free from the docks, and Carrot was shown to a rather modest cabin with a fine writing desk, though only a stack of blank papers could be seen on it. "With the winds guiding us, we should be by the Admiral before it is too dark, hopefully," the captain said to the lord, "I do hope that is suitable for your purposes, my lord."