Amidst the tide clawing at his being and trying to engulf him, cues that Snow might've read if calm had slipped past him. With most of the drifter's masculine features below the water, it had been nigh impossible to deem him a man. Snow kept his mouth shut.<i>Rather stupid of you to not notice, regardless, </i>he thought. The catatonic man that had been pushed to near death in the water was now trembling like he was a wind chime during a storm, eyes darting about, questioning where he now was. The cold had taken his words, and although he could see the man release a cry, there was no noise to match the movement.<br/><br/>Soon the stranger's eyes closed, and in turn his body slowed. The shivering remained, but it had been reduced to the subtle tremors of an old crone. Snow crouched down and dangled his fingers just beneath the man's nose. A faint warmth brushed against the skin of his fingers, quietly telling him that the man was, fortunately, still alive.<i>Still alive. How long were you in the water for? </i>He rose to his feet steadily, and eyed the captain. "Have two of your men carry him to my quarters, if you please. I'll not have him die after having to jump into the sea himself."<br/><br/>"You heard the man. Riel, Cartyr, bring him down below decks." At the captain's behest, Riel and Cartyr, placed themselves on either side of the man. The two were stocky and strong, muscle built from years scurrying upon the decks of ships and about docks. Effortlessly they hoisted up the stranger, one with his arms hooked under the slumbering figure's arms and the other grasping hold of the man's shins. Snow adjusted the blanket placed upon the man, if only to preserve the man's dignity.<i>Pitiful enough that you were brought back from near death, that you must suffer all seeing your body.</i><br/><br/>Once Riel and Cartyr had disappeared beneath the deck with their passenger in tow, the captain turned to face Snow. He shook his head disapprovingly. "Are you mad, my lord? Pardon my words, but what would you have done if you had lost hold of your rope? Drown, is what. My orders from the King were to ferry you down here to Igna's End. Alive. Pray tell would I say to the King if you had died?" The captain glared at him intensely. "You may not value your life, but I do mine. I have a woman and a boy back at the capital who need me on the ship here."<br/><br/>Snow reciprocated the stare in equal intensity. "I assure you, I value my life as much as you do yours. I thought it was possible to save the man, and so I did. And yet I am still here, alive. I have faith in my ability to hold onto rope; a death by drowning is rather agonizing, I imagine," Snow retorted calmly. "I would rather not cheat a honest man out of his work, anyways. Anyhow, if I lost hold of my rope, I would presume you wouldn't be incompetent and leave me to drown, would you?" The captain said nothing. He pulled his cloak tighter upon himself. "I thank you for your concern, though. Now, I wish to examine the man that is now in my quarters." Without further word Snow turned away, heading to his quarters. On cue of his steps, Diens began to follow behind him.<br/><br/>Down the steps he went, sauntering down the hallway towards his door. His door creaked open at the push of his palm, and once he and Diens were inside he pushed it shut. As ordered, the man was in the room - lying peacefully in his bed upon his gut, covered in a sheet to keep him warm. He approached the bed, gently pushing the sheet aside for a moment to observe the man's body. Then he knelt down beside the man. The man was covered in blotchy bruises, from his face all the way down to his thighs. Wrapped around his torso was linen, blood stained where it wrapped around on his back. On his hip was a branding, with an odd, intricate design. Snow touched his hand against the man's chest, finding it warm despite the man having been frozen moments ago.<i>Whatever happened to you? Are you possibly a slave?</i><br/><br/>He found himself slouching against the bed, wanting to close his eyes. For some reason, everything felt warm and comforting - even what was supposed to be the icy flesh of the man. Snow felt like warm honey was being poured over him, entrapping him in its stickiness. H<br/><br/>"My lord?" Diens questioned.<br/><br/>"... Yes?"<br/><br/>"Have you forgotten that you're wet?"<br/><br/>"... Am I?" The words came out slow and mellow, as he rested his head against the mattress.<br/><br/>A pair of hands rested upon his shoulders. The touch was soothing, until Diens began to yank his clothes over his head. Water flicked over the perpetually damp floor, as his clothes came off, exposing his skin to the air of the room. The cloak was rewrapped around his shoulders.<br/><br/>"Most men die to the cold. You on the other hand, are more likely to fall asleep." Diens murmured. "How perplexing. I would advise taking off all of your garments."<br/><br/>Awareness surged back into him. He fumbled and removed his trousers, as Diens passed onto him new garments to wear in lieu of his waterlogged ones. There was no embarrassment to be had; Diens had likely seen him nude countless times. Quickly, he dressed himself up.<br/><br/>"Do we have any garments that might fit him?" Snow asked. "It would allow him to warm easier.<br/><br/>"No; he is rather tall. I don't believe that any clothes large enough to fit him well could be found. The blanket may do for now... what is more pressing is procuring some rope," Diens replied.<br/><br/>"Rope? There is some to be one of the desk's drawers." Diens pulled the drawer out, taking into his hands a length of thick rope.<br/><br/>"We do not know who this man is. We must tie him up."<br/><br/>"I refuse."<br/><br/>"I refuse to let you be murdered if this man turns out to have a bloodthirst for you."<br/><br/>"No."<br/><br/>"I'd advise against that."<br/><br/>"You will not tie this man up."<br/><br/>"I will, and you must allow me so that you don't fall to your folly."<br/><br/>"... Fine. I relent."<br/><br/>The man was tied up, arms and legs spread so that he formed an X. Once the tying was complete, he secured blankets over the man, his and the one that was first used to cover the man upon the deck.<br/><br/>"Now... now we wait."