[[Thanks for the responses; I have to admit that simply moving things along was the purpose of my last post as well.  I'm finding myself in the midst of beginning a number of roleplaying campaigns in real life at the moment, which is great news, but it is a bit exhausting creatively.  Don't worry, I will not leave you high and dry!  ...For long, at least.  :)  ]]<br/><br/>The journey to Hestavar through the Astral Sea was longer than the voyage from the Securis to Sigil, but a good deal busier.  The track between the two 'cities' was well traveled, and the tiny longboat often found itself necessarily moving out of the way of larger vessels plying the trade route.  Most passed in silence; a scant few shouted friendly greetings as they sailed on by.  It was not until the third day of the voyage that one actually stopped.<br/><br/>The caravel, which was not that much larger than the longboat, all things considered, pulled up alongside almost without warning, such was its speed and agility.  The crew -- a motley bunch, clearly all career sailors with years spent in the rigging -- flashed smiles, but from force of habit gazes were drawn more readily to the cutlasses and sabres each man wore at his waist.  The newcomers outnumbered the Securis crewmates four to one.