I Hope You Know What You're Doing

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor wasn't so sure he was happy with what was going on.  The Black Dagger had changed course and was now heading in a foreboding direction.  It had to be a mistake.  There was no way Erika, as smart and capable a mariner as she was could possibly have willingly sent the ship hurtling toward the Shattered Isles.  Surely there was some mistake.  An inexperienced navigator sent the ship West instead of the ordered direction which Trevor couldn't believe would take the Dagger anywhere near the Isles.

The door to the captain's quarters swung open and Trevor stepped in.  It was only when the door closed behind him did the look of grim determination on his face shift to more closely display his true feelings.  He was worried, concerned and not pleased by any stretch of the imagination.  "Erika."  He said, his eyes finding the captain as he moved further into the room.  He wanted to believe Erika was unaware of the ship's course but he knew better.  Erika was far too proficient a captain for such a huge detail to go overlooked.  "I'm... concerned about the course the ship is on."  He confessed.  There was no intent to change Erika's mind, should she have consciously directed the ship toward the Isles, he was simply hoping she knew what she was doing.  "Are you certain this is the only course of action?  Is you crew prepared to handle... whatever we might find?"

[Erika Smith]

Standing leaned with her shoulder against the cold glass of the window, Erika peered out into the darkness. She couldn't make much out, safe for the dark sky and the waves crashing against the boat. She didn't react nor turn as the door opened. She could feel the gloom presence wrap around the room like a suffocating veil.

"There's another fleet due north," she said calmly. "And you said so yourself; we can't bring the girl towards the Coterie." Though, that was hardly the only reason. He knew that. But telling herself so made it at the very least, feel a bit more justified. "They won't follow us past the Devil's Eye." As for her crew... Well, she supposed there was only one way to find out.

[Trevor Marin]

"There's a very good reason for that." Trevor pointed out, his response coming quickly and with just the faintest trace of distress. It was utterly unlike him to not carry an air of control and purpose and the circumstances he'd found himself in threatened to shake that. When he'd embarked on this journey he expected the worst but never did he imagine Erika would ever be desperate enough to issue the order to travel beyond the Devil's Eye and venture into the Shattered Isles.

A sharp exhale of breath accompanied an almost apologetic glance to Erika. He hadn't put it to words but his doubt of Erika, he felt, was unwarranted. Erika had yet to lead him, or her crew, astray. Trevor wasn't about to begin questioning her methods especially when he was so obviously out of his element.

"Okay." He said the calm, collected demeanor already taking hold once more. Trevor's arms folded across his chest. He wasn't pleased to come to the conclusion that Erika was right but she could hardly be blamed for that. "If we can evade the fleet and sneak our way South there's a private port between Astilon and Goldcrest where we can safely off load your 'cargo'." He said, his ever analytical mind working to plan its way through their predicament. "Goldcrest will certainly be waiting for the Dagger to return to port but if they open your hold and find nothing but crates of imported Astilonian fabrics, you'll be safe until this ransom business works its way out."