Taluya hadn't been terribly familiar with the Old Man, and had been very surprised when the summons came for her at the business enclave where the<em>Majesty's Lance</em>had docked. In truth, leaving that crew hit her deeper than news of Arano's death had - especially now with new promise ahead. After all, men die, and old men die sooner than young men, what were the tears over? There was opportunity to be had with what he had left. some sought to squander it; she would build on it.<br/><br/>The sea was not new for her, but the damp chill<em>was</em>. The bite of cold wind stinging her face was one thing, this foggy, murky cold was another. She had bundled herself up in thick wools, only to find after a few hours, the sea and fog had conspired to make them damp, heavy, and just as hold as the rest of the environment. Taluya had decided she didn't like the sea much, and so the halfling spent much of her time either belowdecks, where she could at least pretend to be warm, or, less commonly, far above the ship. Sheeldric was more inured to the cold, but after a few... accidents with overly-curious members of the crew, the huge bird was restricted to the aft deck.<br/><br/>She had just completed one such outing, landing on the deck, a fish the size of a small dog caught in Sheeldric's talons, that she was summoned once again by the Quartermastr of the<em>Savanna Grace</em>. "Miss Wavesun... ah, Weaver..." he stumbled over the name and its odd syllables, until Taluya sighed, pushing wind-whipped hair from her eyes.<strong>"Oh just spit it out! I don't want to freeze my dugs off while you get your formalities straight."</strong>At this, the quartermaster scowled, straightened his coat, and narrowed his eyes. "Captain Sarafina<em>requests</em>your presence,<em>ma'am</em>." The officer's voice was brittle and sharp-edged, and Taluya gave him a puzzled look, glancing over her shoulder at Sheeldric, who was now eyes-deep in his fish.<strong>"O-kay, just let me get Sheel pre-"</strong><br/><br/>"The captain does not wish for more delays,<em>ma'am</em>," the quartermaster rumbled over the thrum of waves and groan of canvas. Taluya had heard that tone before, and again pushing hair from her face, she trotted after the taller man, down to the main deck where the others were already assembling. She didn't even have time to prepare herself for a formal meet! Instead, she stood there, a few drops of water splishing from her damp clothing to the holystoned wood of the deck, peering around Aaron's hips, before finally carefully pushing him aside enough for her to squeeze into the knot of people. At the call of land, she crane on her toes to see if she might be able to spot it, before the Maftet's words drew her attention back.<br/><br/>She stepped three paces back from the noisy chest after her warning, eyes wide, following two treasures to their new owners. She gave a shrill whistle, looking up at Aaron<strong>"It sounds like you're being promoted."</strong>Her eyes dart to the bird-man then. she'd been stealing curious peeks at the creature during their short journey, but this was the first she'd been close enough to see him up close.<strong>"<em>Sain wakha</em>, Shan Yuk. I would offer you a fire to sit by,"</strong>she says, with a glance at Mikhail, including him as well.<strong>"<em>but</em> Captain Sarafina's men probably already want to use me for bait."</strong>A flash of a smile is extended to them, as wel las the other halfling and the mackerel-smacked captain.<strong>"I am Taluya Wevetasun. That,"</strong>she gestures to the enormous bird gorging itself at the other end of the ship<strong>"Is Sheeldric." </strong>