Expedition The Urk Expedition: The Measure of The Fox

[Duke Talinn Ryalor]

(Occurs after the Events of Cold in the Crow's Nest and the Performance Thread)

The Measure of The Fox ​

Truth be told, Talinn himself paid little attention to the performance he had ordered, regardless of its quality and the effort put in by Silvertongue and his compatriots, focusing more on the bond between them than what they managed to put together. His thoughts were elsewhere in time and place, reflecting when he had been their age, young, headstrong, with beasts he was loyal to and voice versa. When he still had his freedom, when he still could pretend to himself he was decent deep down, when his star was rising instead of fading. Time, as always, was the great enemy. So many thought of him as a formidable, strict noblebeast, seeing twenty steps ahead, always having a solution to every problem, others thought him a cruel tyrant who relished in the suffering of others. Little did they know he was just a tired old fox, full of flaws and regrets, playing one last, long, game, with all his chips in and where one misstep would see both him and his family cast into the darkness.

When the festivities had concluded, he nodded to Gyles, then had him take charge of the ship as he walked to the bow of the ship, putting one paw on the railing as he looked out over the Harbor, eyes flicking towards his family’s estate on its north side slowly being turned from a residence into a modern fortress. He had also given orders for Ralynn to bring the three beasts to him as the sun began to set in the horizon, twilight playing softly over the timbers of the Golden Hide.

“At ease, Bosun.” Talinn ordered as the three were brought before him, his cool blue eyes sweeping over the three who had caused him so much trouble today. The passionate, champagne-furred ferret who had defied him so brazenly, the naive young fox with a good heart, and...his gaze lingered on her for just an extra moment, the golden furred weasel who had so readily thrown herself into the hole with her friend. Something about Vihma felt strangely familiar to him in particular, though he would have to investigate that later. For now he focused on the ferret, meeting her eyes with his.

“Seabeast Morgan, your punishment is henceforth concluded,” he announced, tapping his black right paw on the railing in the fading light, “it is in my purview whether or not to add it to the ship’s log, thus bringing it to the attention of the Navy and the Ministry of War, where such a stain can be very hard to remove.”

He paused, letting that linger in the air, before he continued.

“I have decided not to do so. What happened today, will, in effect, never exist in any record or history book.”

He turned slightly, leaning back against the railing, front towards turned her, and then the two others.

“I grant you permission to speak freely, and what you say, now, will similarly not ever show up, nor will any punishment be given for what you say. You can ask Bosun Waverunner, whatever else I am, I keep my word. I ask each of you, starting with Seabeast Morgan, two questions. Why do you think I handed out the punishment, and what is your measure of me?”

Talinn glanced over at the rabbit Bosun, his left paw giving her a subtle gesture to exercise restraint.

@Silvertongue Songfox @Morgan Liu @Vihmastaja @Ralynn Waverunner

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan kept her back straight as she walked to the front of the ship with her compatriots, trying to muster some pride and defiance after the attempt to break her. She'd taken his punishments both with a stern refusal to break or blubber, to give the fox anything approaching victory, even as she'd poured her heart and soul into the performance. That has been mainly for Silvertongue's benefit, though; she refused to let anyone treat him like a clown or jongleur, not when he was clearly so passionate about his craft. She could only hope that her performance had been good enough to spare Silvertongue, Greeneye, and Vihma anymore punishment.

She was surprised by the Minister's statement that her punishment was being struck from the record. Immediately suspicion came upon her. She'd heard her mother, in her moments of drunken ranting, talk plenty about the Ryalors and what their reputation had been. Honest and forthright had not been among the words she'd used to describe them. Whatever assurances he made, he could always find some new excuse to punish her.

Morgan stared him down before stating, "First, whatever I have to say reflects on me alone, not on Silvie and Vihma. They are their own beasts with their own thoughts, and punishing them for my transgressions would be the actions of a weak and petty beast - and you can best believe that the whole crew would see it that way too. Collective punishment never earns you respect from anyone, and only makes revolt more likely, because if they're going to be punished for things they didn't do, their only chance for salvation is to rip the rod from the tyrant's paw."

She took a deep breath before stating, "You punished me because you needed to make the crew fear you. You know you're not loved here; the crew don't know you, and plenty have grown up hearing tales about you and your family that cast you in an unfavorable light. You don't have time to win them over, so you have to rule by fear instead. Even if I'd never spoken up, you'd have lined up the crew and gone down the line until you found some pretext to humiliate someone, just to demonstrate that you have that power. If you'd actually wanted to correct my behavior, you'd have gotten much better results by having Ralynn detain me quietly, and then reprimanding me in private. I'd have taken the correction well and retained some measure of enthusiasm and loyalty to you. That you proceeded with public humiliation for as small a slight as speaking up for my friend tells me that you never wanted either enthusiasm or loyalty from this crew. You're exactly the petty, insecure tyrant that everyone on every continent says you are, and nothing you've done here today has persuaded me otherwise."

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Once Morgan has finished speaking, Silvertongue stepped forward. Even though Morgan and Vihma were the only ones supposed to be performing, Silvertongue put a hundred and ten percent of his effort into the show, so he was a bit out of breath.

"Captain, Sir." He removed his hat, which he seemed to do every time he addressed Talinn. "Before I answer, I'd like to thank you for granting us permission to speak freely." He nodded. "Regardless, please consider that I still respect you when I say what I am about to say."

Unlike Morgan, Silvertongue struggled to maintain eye contact. "Captain, I understand the need for discipline on a ship. I have spent most of my life living on one, though I wasn't part of the crew. I have seen far harsher punishments doled out for lesser transgressions in my lifetime, despite Mother's attempts to shield me from witnessing such things. A captain needs to rule with an iron fist while on the seas. That's what my uncle told me. He was a captain, too. I had just hoped that there would be mutual understanding and respect between all beasts in a civilized country such as this. I can see now that dream of mine has yet to become a reality."

Silvertongue looked up at Talinn. "To be fully honest with you, sir, I would have protested any punishment you had come up with for them. Morgan was only speaking in defense of me, and I offered multiple times to take the punishment in her stead. I would do it again, without hesitation, and I likely will in the future if any such instances occur."

He swallowed a bit, hesitating, before he spoke up once more. "The thing with the seawater. It was a unique form of punishment. Was it really necessary for Morgan and Vihma, two fine young ladies, to be standing in nothing but their undergarments in front of a bunch of men? They still would have been soaked to the bone regardless. I understand that 'humiliation' is supposedly part of the punishment, but that was perverted and barbaric. Allowing these two to be ogled at by the crew, is something that I would expect the likes of a pirate to do, and not you, Sir. It disappointed me greatly to think a beast like yourself could stoop to such a low."

 

[Vihmastaja]

Brought by Ralynn before the minister with the others, Vihma kept her back straight, standing at attention, staring more or less into nothing - out into the roofs and streets of the city she'd called home, far beyond the bow. The day's events over, she was content to try and move on. She had survived, and so had Morgan. That was what was important - and hopefully the ferret had learned her lesson, so as not to imperil herself in such a way again.

She was surprised to hear the fox say there'd be no official record of the incident. That brought her eyes back to him for a moment - a flicker of surprise, and perhaps suspicion - before she cast her gaze back at the harbor far in front of her. He went on, and she resolved to give the fox a series of safe answers - perhaps even thanks for omitting their punishment from the log - and get on with her life, her skin still intact, and perhaps her career, if not her reputation.

Instead, Morgan spoke her mind.

The weasel could feel her heart sink with every word. She bit her lip, resisting the urge to interrupt.

Why? Why would Morgan do this to herself?

Of course, the fox had given them permission to speak freely. That was good and well. Officers loved to say as much, but it was a trap like anything else. Even if Talinn kept his word, and struck the ferret's words from any official record, they'd still be in his memory - deep in his memory, now, with all that she was saying. Morgan had doubtlessly made an enemy of one of the most powerful beasts in the whole Imperium.

Thinking back, Vihma realized with a terrible sorrow she'd never truly extracted the promise she'd wanted from the ferret, that she'd try to stay safe from their time in the crow's nest onwards, to keep her head down and not get herself killed. Perhaps she should have tried to push harder. The cold had made it hard to think.

She half-expected Talinn to explode at the end of her friend's monologue. When he didn't - not immediately, anyway - Silvie spoke up, offering up a gentler criticism. In a lighter situation she might have smiled at his manners and his concern for her modesty, but he too took it - in her opinion - too far. Everybeast but herself was taking the bait the minister had set for them.

When Silvertongue was finished, she raised her head slightly, swallowing hard. Her mouth felt dry. What was there to try and say after that? After her friends had all but signed their own death warrants, on the word of a beast called 'traitor'.

They were waiting on her. Were they?

The questions... she'd almost forgotten them, the safe answers she'd imagined having faded away with Morgan's speech.

"On account of the punishment - methinks it was t' instill a sense of... respect... in the crew, sir. Yeh want yer orders to be followed, wit'out questioning."

The weasel continued looking straight ahead, still as a statue, only her cringing tail betraying the fear she felt. Fear that, no matter what she said, she'd be the only one of her group of friends to make it back to the harbour. To tell Bezine and Eirene of what had befallen their daughter - or Silvie, and no doubt his mate Greeneye. Urk was far away. Beasts died often and easily up there. She knew as much very well.

"Speaking freely, as yeh say sir, these beasts don't know the navy's standards. Morgan's only been 'ere a short while, and Silvie... it's not even been a day, sir."

She shifted on her feet, uncomfortable. The latter question wasn't one she knew how to answer. Not safely. Not fully. There was a fragment of a memory in her mind, something from before her enlistment in the Navy, or on this ship. Some slimmer of knowledge she had for the name Talinn Ryalor, something outside all the rumor and noise she'd heard since growing up. Something more than 'Talinn the Traitor' or 'Minister Ryalor'.

It wasn't enough. She kept her mouth shut.

Much had been said already. He'd likely forgotten that he'd asked her the question, stuck as he was with the answers her friends had given him.

Hopefully he was in the mood to prove Morgan's perception of him wrong, or at least to consider her friends' inexperience before making further examples of them.

 

[Ralynn Waverunner]

Ralynn stands at attention as Morgan speaks, her golden fur bristling with each word out of the ferret's mouth. The deck beneath her paws seems to sway more violently than the gentle harbor waves would warrant, and a pressure builds behind her eyes like an approaching squall.

Ye daft, senseless, reckless fool of a jill! she thinks, watching Morgan denounce the Minister with seeming pride. Here he is, bendin' low tae offer ye mercy, and ye're spittin' in his face like it's yer birthright!

With each word from Morgan's lips, Ralynn's stance grows more rigid, her chest tightening as if bound by the very rigging above them. The sunset paints the deck in fiery hues that match the burning in her heart as Silvertongue follows with his own criticisms, gentler but still damning. Even Vihma, though more reserved, fails to properly acknowledge the hierarchy that keeps them all alive at sea.

When Talinn's gaze turns her way, having subtly gestured for her restraint earlier, Ralynn can no longer contain herself. Her ears snap forward, and she draws herself up to her full height—which, despite her efforts, remains unimpressive beside the Minister's towering frame.

"Beggin' yer pardon, Minister, but might Ah be granted permission tae speak freely as well?" Her voice trembles slightly with the effort of keeping it below a shout.

At his nod, the dam breaks. She turns to Morgan, brown eyes ablaze with frustration.

"Ye've a mouth on ye that'd make a salt-soaked smuggler blush, an' nae enough sense tae fill a thimble!" Her brogue deepens with her passion, words tumbling out like water over a falls. "Did ye forget, or were ye so caught up in yer ain' selfishness in the first place, that Ah did take ye aside? An offered gentle reminder, an' the mild punishment o' standin' at report? That then the Minister himsel' showed ye leniency at every turn? That he offered tae let others advocate for ye when by rights he could've had yer floggin' already begun?"

She takes a step toward Morgan, her shadow long in the setting sun. "Ye speak o' the crew, aye, speak for'em like, as if they're all cut from the same noble cloth as yersel' an' it's yer place tae dae sae. But ye knoo nothin' o' the beasts who sail these seas! Ye think they'd see the captain let a beast mock him tae his face an' respect him for it? Nae! They'd see weakness, an' weakness on a ship means death for all!"

The harbor breeze ruffles her fur as she turns back to Talinn, her voice becoming marginally more controlled.

"Minister, it pains me tae say it, but this beast would be naught but a burden on our voyage. She'd be unworthy o' the share o' food an' grog it would cost tae keep her aboard, for she has shown clear as day that she will kick an' scream at any order, an' bite any paw that tries tae help her, all because o' her own bull-headed obstinance an' arrogance."

Ralynn's chest heaves as if she's just climbed from the harbor to the crow's nest in one go. "She speaks o' tyrants an' respect. Respect is tae be given tae be earned, she says, but shows none herself. She took an oath when she joined the Navy, swore fealty tae the Empress an' her appointed officers. If she canna honor that oath, then she has nae place among us who must trust each other with our very lives."

She straightens her uniform, suddenly aware of how heated she's become. The lingering sunlight catches on her brass buttons as she adds, in a voice cold with finality, "In my considered opinion as Bosun, Seabeast Morgan has demonstrated herself tae be fundamentally incompatible with Naval service. It would be an act o' mercy—both tae her an' the crew who'd have tae rely on her—tae gi' her dishonorable release from service before we set sail for Urk. Aye, an let'er be someone else's problem."

With that, Ralynn snaps back to attention, paws clasped behind her back, awaiting the Minister's response with her ears now stiffly upright, eyes fixed ahead, though she cannot entirely mask the flush of emotion still warming her golden-furred cheeks.

 

[Duke Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn, perhaps to the surprise of many who might have known him, listened patiently to the three, and then four, as two criticized him, and one was either wise enough or too afraid to give her real opinion on the matter, and one defended him. All eyes were on the Minister, likely expecting him to deliver harsh vengeance, or, at least, a severe punishment. After all, that’s what a fox of his nature would do, right? Violate his word on the turn of a gilder at the slightest hint of an advantage, or perhaps for glee in his blackened heart? Instead, he waited until Ralynn finished, processing it all, and then he straightened himself, met each one of their eyes, turned to Ralynn for a moment, again motioning for restraint. Then, he met that hateful gaze of Morgan’s, not flinching even the slightest. Then, he did something he had not for quite a long time. He laughed. A small, rueful laugh, but one nonetheless.

“There it is, that is the look! I have seen it for over thirty years, on face after face. So many of you despise me! Traitor! Tyrant! Beast without honor!”

He paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow at the champagne ferret.

“Did I ever punish, or even threaten to punish, the beasts on this ship collectively? Did not Recruit Silvertongue and Seabeast Vihma not beg me, repeatedly and vigorously to put your punishment on them, for something you did? And what did I do, did I indulge them before they broke the law of their own volition in Seabeast Vihma’s case? Did I make Recruit Silvertongue to help you in the performance against his will? Did I ever force even a single beast in the Navy or the Army, now, or even in my entire life to sign the papers which gave me authority over them? Think on that for a moment.”

He paused again, eyes matching against hers as he continued.

“You have passion, yes, even a beast like me can see that, rarer still, you have the ability to inspire it in others, like an open flame. A useful quality, something the Imperium so desperately needs, in so many ways you have so little knowledge of! But just like that flame, it is untempered, and easily blown this way and that by the wind, just as likely to burn beasts to ash as it is to give warmth!”

He paused again, pointing to Silvertongue and Vihma, voice hardening and becoming louder as he continued to hold her gaze.

“Those beasts followed you, without question! Without a second thought! They put themselves on the line for you! And where did exactly you lead them today, Seabeast Morgan? Where could you have led them, since Bosun Waverunner speaks the truth? Many an officer in the Navy, nay, on most ships in this world, would have been far more harsh! And they would have been dragged down into those cold depths right along with you! Without question! Without a second thought!”

He paused, voice harsh and unrelenting, voice even dripping into the vernacular as he spoke.

“You think I did what I did because I wanted to inspire fear? Aye, I did have to do that, once you forced my paw to do so! A light punishment, an educational talk was what I had in mind, but since you made your dissent public I had to give my talk in public! But your sense of pride, your sense of honor, demanded you continue, did it not? No matter who might fall upon their sword along with you! Without question! Without a second thought!”

Pausing again to take a breath, he continued.

“Aye, you are right, I have precious little time! Do you want to care to know why that is, Seabeast Morgan? Because so many beasts think they are smarter than they are! Because so many beasts, officers and nobles included, do not follow their damn orders! They think they know better! They think they could be better! They think it is just a silly little order or rule, made without thought, what would could possibly be the harm in breaking it?”

His eyes took on a rare flame to them as he continued to stare down the ferret.

“Aye, I’m not loved! Aye, I know all the tales spoken about my family and I! Aye, I don’t always have the time to inspire enthusiasm or loyalty for the reasons I said! Perhaps you would have preferred to be under the command of the great and wise Nuori Sken? Marquo Senderjay? Kaeia Malikus? All heroes of the Imperium! All beasts of honor! All those who followed them without question! Without second thought! And do you know where they and all the beasts who follow them are now, Seabeast Morgan? Dead! Blown into so many pieces that we could not even find anything left of them, let alone give them proper burials! And half of Bully Harbor along with them! Aye, they were loved! Aye, they inspired enthusiasm! Aye, none saw them as tyrants! But guess who was the one who was left, Seabeast Morgan? Guess who was the one who had to pick up their mess!”

He paused once more, then continued, voice reaching its peak with a rare tinge of fury on the verge of yelling.

“I do not require your love or your enthusiasm, Seabeast Morgan! I need you to shut the ‘Gates up, deal with whatever slight you may think I have committed against you, and follow the law and your orders to the letter! Because you cannot hope to ever to lead one day without first learning to follow, without the bitter taste of learning to swallow your pride! Because you are damn well not ready to accept the burden of command, where even the slightest mistake or a single beast who thinks they know better defies your orders in even the smallest way and stains your paws with so much blood you can never hope to wash them out! Where you will never sleep a single night ever again without seeing the faces of those you have failed,their shades haunting you from beyond the grave! Where you have to go to their families, their loved ones, their orphaned kits, and then look into their pained and tear-filled eyes that just want to know why the beasts they loved are dead, and tell them sorry, but at the end of the day despite all the excuses you might tell yourself, you just were not good enough to save them! Beasts who followed you without question! Without second thought!”

He turned around at that point, turning his back on her and the others to hide his face. A long silence followed. When he turned and spoke again, he was calmer, voice softer.

“I was hard on you because I see the potential in you, Seabeast Morgan. As I said before, you have a fire in you, a rare natural ability to inspire others to follow you that not one in a hundred, not one in a thousand beasts have or could be trained to have. But if that passion of yours is not tempered in the right way, if you are not trained properly, you will lead so many to their doom that I may as well draw my blade right here, right now, and be fully justified in cutting you down where you stand, because at least then I will only have to explain to one set of loved ones why I failed and why their daughter is dead instead of hundreds.”

Letting all of that sink in to the ferret, he paused, then sighed.

“You will face no punishment for speaking honestly, Seabeast Morgan, now that you have been given permission to do so, one of the first things you learn as an officer is to keep your word in most situations, and be very careful when you decide not to. But do take a moment, before speaking again, to reflect on what I said. Because we are going into combat on this mission, and if I get distracted for even a single moment to deal with a beast speaking out of turn when I am making decisions...” turning to look at Vihma and Silvertongue, the beasts who had followed her this day, then back at Morgan “… the price could very well be in blood, and I will not be the only beast with bloodstained paws if that is the case.”

Giving Morgan a brief nod and letting her think on what he said, he turned to Silvertongue.

“I think, Recruit Songfox, you can take many lessons from what I said to Seabeast Morgan, but let me give you some honest advice. Stop being so quick to offer up yourself for the sins of other beasts. I do not know you well now, but I do see your mate Greeneye cares for you, deeply, and despite his exterior, I think he would be devastated if anything happened to you. As for Seabeasts Morgan and Vihma and their...dignity…, they made their own choices, they can accept their own consequences, by doing so it is the only way they will grow. They are not kits who need to be shielded. And you need to learn, very quickly, that this Imperium, indeed, this world, cares little whether or not you are a gentlebeast or a lady when it comes to bringing you to account. It is better they learn this now under a soft paw in a safe space then…” he gestured out to the open ocean “...out there, where the price to learn such a lesson is much, much higher.”

Pausing, he finally turned to Vihma, perhaps the smartest, or at least the most aware, of the bunch.

“Wanting them to follow my orders is part of it, but not only reason, which I will get to later. And, Seabeast Vihma, you have not followed them completely. What is your measure of me?”

He paused, and it took him most of his strength to continue standing straight, leaning ever so slightly on his cane. He was getting old, and while he still had some fire left in him, he was a fox who was fading ever so slowly, day by day and hour by hour. He just hoped he had enough left in him to turn the raw iron of these recruits into the steel they would need to survive and to support the Imperium. For Dusk. For the Empress. For his kits.

@Ralynn Waverunner @Silvertongue Songfox @Vihmastaja @Gyles @Morgan Liu

 

[Vihmastaja]

Vihma straightened her back slightly, determined not to wilt under the fox’s attention. It shouldn’t have shocked her that he’d remembered the other question – that she hadn’t answered it.

Her eyes flicked briefly up towards him – then back to the harbour. It wasn’t likely he’d let her pretend to have forgotten the question herself. It was one thing to be slack or slow in obeying orders. It was another to lie.

She pressed her tongue up against the roof of her mouth, testing the words in her mind before they came, whiskers bristling in disconcertion.

“Yer the Minister of Innovation, captain o’ this ‘ere ship, all that entails… Duke o’Westisle… use t’be Minister o’ Misanthropy…”

The weasel stopped herself, reflecting on what she’d just said for the briefest of moments – biting her tongue lest it go on speaking without her. However connected the ideas might be in her memory, now, it didn’t make them right or safe to speak aloud.

“I’ve ‘eard it said yer a right ‘onourable beast, so yeh know. Wouldn’t be a minister t’ ‘er majesty’s government elsewise, neh?. Course, on me old ship, t’was forbidden t’say anythin’ mean or the like about you or any the other ministers, though they called yeh ‘traitor’ an’ the like any’ow,

Vihma looked at him, finally, though she kept her expression matter-of-fact, her eyes avoiding his own.

“I wouldn’t know what t’ believe, sir. Suppose it’s not really me place t’be makin’ those kinds of judgements. ‘Ey say yeh turned yer back on the old cause, killed yer ol’ gran’dad for a position at ‘er ‘ighness’s feet. T’me I’d think that sounds a might bit… dis’onourable, sir.”

The weasel took a shaky breath. She hadn’t meant to keep going. Too late to stop, now, though.

“Course, I’m not really an officer or anythin’ o’ the sort, sir. Mayhaps, when a beast ‘s got more responsibility, ‘e ‘as t’make tough decisions… fer the greater good, whatever that be. Could be savin’ the most amount o’ life, like yeh say. Cutting one beast down t’save a hundred. Rotten deal for the beast gettin’ skewered.”

Straightening her back once again, Vihma returned her gaze to the harbour, trying to keep her voice measured and polite, as if her tone could make her words any less abrasive.

“Any'ow, lots o’ beasts would say it’s all just for power. I wouldn’t know, sir. I don’t really ‘ave any greater good. Mayhap you’ve got one, bein’ an officer ‘n whatnot. Mebbe it’s a good one. Dunno, makes it ‘ard to measure yeh. Me, I just want t’see me mates get ‘ome safe ‘n sound, ‘n I’ll follow yer orders wit’out question, long as it’s me job t’do so. Long as it keeps me mates alive, y’know where I stand, sir.”

As long as you treat your tools well, she thought.

As long as you don't abandon them, like you did my mother.

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Silvertongue realized, a bit too late, that perhaps he should not have said anything. For all the effort he took to choose his words carefully, he hadn’t considered the fact that he shouldn’t had chosen them at all. His ears went flat against his head, and his tail tucked between his legs as Talinn started his tirade at Morgan. His eyes darted to the deck once more, and he gripped his hat tightly, hanging his head low.

As Talinn turned his attention to him, Silvertongue flinched, as if each sentence were a physical blow being landed against his body. He knew of course that Talinn was right. That the world was a cruel place, and it wouldn’t spare anyone due to their gender or age. It still made a part of him feel bitter. Why couldn’t the world just be a better place? That was an easy enough think to ask for and wish for, but a monumental task to actually accomplish.

Silvertongue turned to Morgan, his voice faltering as he spoke. “Alright, Morgan… you took your punishment, and you got to speak your mind freely… can we be done now? With the bickering and the dramatics? Please? We’re supposed to be working together on this ship, and everyone is trying their hardest. Especially Sir Talinn. I know you have more thinrgs to say, but I don’t want to see you get into more trouble again.”

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan did something she'd never done before in her life: she listened. She listened as the Minister bared his pain, his hopes, his guilt, his disappointment. She listened as Vihma gave a carefully phrased, but still honest, assessment of the fox, acknowledging his mixed reputation and the complications inherent in the role. She listened as Silvertongue begged her not to do anything more to get herself in trouble. She kept quiet as she processed all of it, rethinking everything she'd assumed. Then, finally, she did something unexpected to everyone present: she saluted.

"Sir," she said quietly, her voice devoid of any of the braggadocio or venom that had laced it before. "Request permission to return to the crow's nest for an hour, sir. In all honesty, sir, the punishment was not taken the first time with the appropriate attitude, sir, nor the correct lesson learned. I would like an opportunity to try again, sir."

 

[Duke Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn’s expression softened as he listened to the weaselmaid’s honest, perhaps as honest as she dared, response to his question. He was not particularly bothered by it, rather, glad that she did not lie to him. It was good to get the measure of what the common beasts thought of him from time to time. It tended to soften any regrets that he might have had over that chilly Frimary day so many years ago, where he could have seized the throne for himself, where it not for Amélie, were it not for…

At any rate, she obeyed the order, even if she was afraid or did not like it, that is all that matters.

He looked at her for another moment, again struck with a sense of familiarity. Something about her coloring, something about her facial structure. If he was not so tired, he could perhaps have recalled it. For now, however, he would just have to let it lie and think on it once he had gotten some sleep. When she was done, he simply nodded at her, then spoke briefly.

“You will find that the truth of such matters, my actions or the actions of your superiors, are often much more complicated than what beasts might think, and may not be readily understood until far later. That is another reason to obey orders and only seek clarification when absolutely necessary or when it may violate your oath to the Empress. Going back to the part you, Seabeast Morgan, and Aide Silvertongue only correctly guessed, the other part of the equation is sacrifice. You fill find that most beasts do not make it in the Imperium without making sacrifices, some small and some quite large. It is in their memory that we follow the orders given to us, because to build this Imperium you benefit from today, many beasts sacrificed much.”

Talinn paused, a rueful look coming across his face.

“Including my family and I, although the truth of it will not be known, I think, until long after I am dead. Let us just say those devoted to the ‘old cause’ were not quite as honorable as they like to style themselves as, and as for my grandfather...he was a soldier. He forced me into a battle I did not seek, he fought, he lost, and that is all I have to say about that.”

He glanced next to Morgan, who finally seemed, after all the day’s events, to have entered a more pensive state and saluted him. He thought for a moment, then spoke.

“You and Seabeast Vihma are dismissed, and you have free time until Taps. How you wish to spend that time is up to you. As I said, your punishment is concluded, but if you find the solitude of the nest helpful to reflect, you may do as you wish. I will be in my cabin from shortly after now until then if you have anything to say later."

Turning to Silvertongue, he noted the muted nature of his aide, and wanted to sigh. He had not intended to be so harsh to him, but there was precious little time before they were going to go into dangerous situations and he did not want him to die. He had taken a liking to the young fox. Perhaps, had his life not gone so wrong from the time he was a kit, he could have ended up as innocent and naive as him. Perhaps.

“Aide Silvertongue, if you would…” Talinn said, taking the key to the Captain’s cabin “...please go and ensure the sheets on my bed are made and grab a few biscuits for me from the galley, would you? Then you may stand on guard duty until Taps when the marines will relieve you. Dismissed.”

Talinn waited until all three of them had left before he took a paw and rubbed his forehead. He was getting something of a migraine. Then, he turned to the Bosun, a tired slight smile crossing his face.

“You may speak freely, Ralynn, and ask what questions you have if any before I retire to my quarters.”

@Ralynn Waverunner @Gyles @Morgan Liu @Vihmastaja @Silvertongue Songfox

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan nodded at the captain's directive, maintaining her salute. "Sir," she inquired, "permission to visit in your cabin in one hour, sir?"

Once she had her answer, she left, keeping quiet for a bit until she, Vihma, and Silvertongue were away. "I'm going back up there," she advised Vihma. "Clothed and dry this time, mind, but... Well," she added a bit awkwardly, "I'd never expect it, but... I wouldn't mind some company if you wanted. We could huddle for warmth if you'd like."

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Silvertongue put his hat back on, and he steeled himself. Now was not the time to be a whimpering little kit. He knew as much, although his struggle with his nerves was far from over. He straightened up when Talinn approached with the key. "Yes, Captain!" He nodded before pulling the stopwatch from his jacket pocket. "I've been holding onto your shiny- your watch, Sir." He held out the watch to Talinn.

That primal part of him, which he had tucked away into the darkest recesses of his mind, screamed out in protest. "How could you give away the shiny?!" It hissed, but Silvertongue ignored it.

Once he delivered the pocket watch back to Talinn, he took the key and made his way to the Captain's Cabin, inserting the key into the door and stepping in.

 

[Greeneye]

Greeneye, who had been a much more unwilling player in the performance than Silvertongue, was standing to the side. Once everything settled down, he watched as Silvertongue made his way to the Captain's cabin. He growled a bit. He certainly wasn't fond of Talinn taking Silvertongue under his wing. Part of him knew it was probably for the best. A navy ship was much more fitting for Silvertongue than his previous living situation, and Silvertongue was easily charmed by fancy things and civilized beasts. Yet he still couldn't help but feel jealous. He had been protecting Silvertongue for so many seasons at this point. He felt responsible for him. Had he coddled his mate too much? He was still so naive despite everything they had been through. Everything that had happened since that fateful battle...

Greeneye, for once, felt like he was the one sticking out, still clad in his ordinary clothes and chest plate. As he stood with his arms crossed, Unbeknownst to himself, he was sporting a sour look on his face. It was likely enough to scare away any decent beast, but this was a navy ship.

 

[Ralynn Waverunner]

Ralynn stands at attention as she watches the exchange between Talinn and the others unfold, her golden fur still bristling slightly though her posture remains proper. Her expression shifts gradually from rigid anger to something more thoughtful as the Minister speaks his piece - his words stirring a complicated mixture of emotions within her.

Pride blooms in her chest at Talinn's speech, seeing in him the embodiment of the Navy and Empire she's pledged herself to serve. The weight of his words about sacrifice and duty resonates deeply, reinforcing her conviction that she's chosen the right path despite today's difficulties.

Yet beneath this pride lurks a faint shame at how her own temper had flared so visibly before her superiors. She'd let Morgan's words get under her fur, responded with passion rather than the cool discipline expected of an officer. That wasn't the example she should be setting.

Relief washes through her when Morgan finally salutes and speaks with proper respect. The tension that had been coiling tighter in her chest begins to unwind. The growing fear that she might need to administer more severe punishment before they'd even left port ebbs away, leaving a hollow feeling in its wake. The memory of raising the rattan against her fellow crewbeasts had left a mark on her as surely as it had on them - though she'd never admit as much aloud.

As she watches them all interact, resentment toward Morgan still smolders like embers beneath damp wood. She's never felt quite this level of grim indignation toward another beast. But as she stands silent, her mother's face flashes in her memory - that particular look she'd worn when seven-year-old Emily had refused to forgive her brother for eating a crown of spring flowers she'd made.

"Lissen here, lassie," her mother had said, brow furrowed with loving concern. "Ah know yer brother can be a righ' 'andful at times, noo one knows better, aye. Bu' holdin' hate in yer heart li' that'll turn it black as an empty burrow at midnight. Make amends, or ye'll regret it when it's tae late."

The wisdom in those words touches her now. While Morgan is no family, a crewmate is the next closest thing at sea. The memory brings others - of countless times after being punished when her mother would later come to her with food and comfort. A carrot to balance the stick.

When Talinn dismisses the recruits and turns to her, offering her the chance to speak freely, Ralynn takes a moment to gather her thoughts, watching as Morgan, Vihma and Silvertongue depart. She turns to face him fully, standing at ease but still respectful.

"Thank ye, Minister. If'n ye don't mind, Ah'd like tae follow them and return their clothin' tae them. Crewbeasts or nae, we cannae have them freezin' tae death before we e'en leave port." She manages a small smile, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Ah ken well tha' Morgan will bear watchin'. The lass has fire, as ye said, but flames can burn more'n ye'd like, aye, an' spread tae'. Mayhaps after she's had her time tae reflect, she'll come around tae understandin' why things happened as they did." She pauses, then adds with quiet conviction, "Duty comes first, always. But perhaps a wee bit o' kindness now might help smooth things for the voyage ahead."

She shifts her weight slightly, paws clasped behind her back. "Permission tae gather their old clothes an' return them, sir? Then Ah'll be at yer disposal for any further orders."

 

[Vihmastaja]

Sacrifice. Was that what they called it? Benefit. Strange words for the weasel’s ears.

Vihma looked back at Talinn as he spoke back to her, maintaining a respectful gaze for as long as she dared, taking in his words without betraying much more of her thoughts. She’d communicated enough already.

That was that, really. She might’ve made an enemy of a powerful beast, speaking so plainly. But it was done now. Irrevocable. Over. Now she’d live with her decisions, and the words she’d chosen to use. Maybe the Ryalor was being honest. Maybe he appreciated honesty. He'd seemed to take to her words easily enough. Of course, powerful beasts could change their minds, much more easily than a common one like her. Maybe she'd further regret wearing her heart so openly today anyway.

When the minister finally dismissed her and Morgan, she struck a snappy salute, then turned on her heel and walked away, not staying to let the fox change his mind, or the bosun find a reason to detain her further.

It would take some time to collect her thoughts, the feelings that mixed around in her chest like a stomach full of non-fish fishsticks. She felt relieved – relieved that the day’s trials were finally over, and neither she nor her friends were too much worse for wear – but also forlorn for the chances lost, the damage done to her ego, her reputation. And, of course, pained at the swirling emotion of half-recalled memories, indignant in a way she hadn’t been in a long time, since before she’d finally seen justice for the hollow scam that it was.

It took Morgan’s voice to snap her back to the present, back on the Hide – where there were still beasts she could care about.

“Eh? Wha-, back up t’the nest?”

The weasel looked to the ferret, somewhat taken aback.

“Didn’t think you were serious about that. Y’sure?”

She eyed her closely, trying to find some detail she was missing. Perhaps the Minister was more persuasive than she’d have given him credit for.

There was something different, though. Morgan seemed quieter, more reserved than she’d seen her. Perhaps that was natural, having been brought before one the most powerful beasts in the Imperium, and idly threatened with summary execution as part of a lofty speech. Vihma knew it’d have that effect on her. She didn’t know where her own strength to speak her mind – even at the Minister’s request – had come from, couldn’t trace its path now that it had fled.

The weasel’s gaze softened. Gently, she reached to place a paw on the ferret’s shoulder, trying to channel a supportive energy, rather than weigh the beast down with more of the same doubts and demands she’d felt all day.

“I mean, just surprised is all. Thought yeh’d ‘ad enough o’ this huddlin’ in the cold for a day, neh?”

She smiled warmly at Morgan, and it felt natural, despite everything.

“Y’know I’d follow yeh anywhere, mate.”

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan's smile was a bit more rueful, and as she shrugged lightly, there was a bit of pain behind it. "I know yeh would," she confirmed, her accent already slipping to match Vihma's own. "T' be honest, 'at scares me a bit fer the first time. I ain' ever been in a position t' drag anyone else int' trouble wi' me. Makes me rethink thin's a li'l bit, y'know?" She looked up at the crew's nest a bit pensively before admitting, "I don' know if 'e was jus' blowin' smoke up me tail'ole, bu'... Well," she admitted, "ain' no one ever said they saw potential in me b'fore. E'en Mum doesn' say it. I kinda got used t' thinkin' o' meself as a screw-up. So, I guess, if'n 'e wasn' jus' fulla guff, well... I dunno." She gave a small shrug. "I think I'd like t' give it a real try, y'know? Maybe try nah t' be a danger t' yeh 'is time."

 

[Duke Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn retrieved his pocketwatch, then nodded at Silvertongue briefly before he went off to do his assigned today. Then he listened to Ralynn before dismissing her as well.

“As you wish, Bosun, and I agree, keep a close watch on her. She has potential for either great good or great evil."

As the little rabbit went off to do what she wished, Talinn leaned even more on his cane and on the railing, watching as the beginnings of night fell over Bully Harbor, shivering a little as the cold descended along with the sun. Sacrifice, he had mentioned it briefly to them, but what could they truly know of it, those young beasts who now lived under the Empress’s peace? So many dreams were broken and so much was destroyed. Was it truly worth the ones they had lost and had to bury? So many years had passed, who were the right ones in the end? And could any of their sins be justified?

The Minister stood there reflecting on that for some time before he turned, and, leaning on his cane, went back to his quarters, giving Silvertongue a brief nod before he returned to his chair, studying the maps that would take them to Urk.

@Ralynn Waverunner @Morgan Liu @Vihmastaja @Silvertongue and Greeneye

 

[Vihmastaja]

Vihma frowned slightly. She didn’t know what to say. There wasn’t a way for her to detach her course from that of Morgan’s – she couldn’t go back to not caring about her strange friends and family – wouldn’t trade danger for loneliness again. And, though she didn’t feel it right to call the ferret a screwup, she knew there wasn’t much she could say to convince her of otherwise.

“Well, if yer ever ‘alf as good at followin’ orders as yeh are fightin’, I don’t think we’ll ‘ave much t’worry about.”

Brushing her whiskers in thought, the weasel suddenly laughed, a soft, tired noise, but genuinely mirthful.

“Mayhaps yeh’ll wind up some kind o' officer like ol’ foxface there, an I’ll ‘ave t’go around salutin’ yeh all the time.”

Finally breaking away from the ferret’s shoulder, she started up the rigging, noticeably faster than she’d been when soaked in freezing water.

“C’mon then, we’ll see who gets up top first, neh?”

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

After some time, Silvertongue appeared beside Talinn. Wordlessly, he placed down a platter of biscuits on a free spot of the table. Afterwards he nodded to the captain and he walked over to Talinn's door, hands folded behind his back as he 'stood guard'. Or at least that is how he interpreted the order from Talinn.

@Duke Talinn Ryalor

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan swore in a very unofficerlike fashion as Vihma got a head start on her. "What th' - aw, c'mon, y'know yeh've longer legs 'n me, ih' ain' fair!" Her complaint was playful, though, as she ran to the rigging and began climbing up after Vihma. This time wasn't even close; though Morgan had great upper-body strength, she wasn't nearly as sure-footed as Vihma, at least not when they weren't both soaked and chilled. She hauled herself up after Vihma, huffing a bit as she slumped into the crow's nest. "Alrigh'," she remarked, sitting up with her back against the mast as she looked about. "Huh. Y'know, when we ain' freezin', it's actually kinda nice 'ere. I'd e'en call it pleasant. View ain' half bad neither," she remarked, glancing over at Vihma.

She took in the view of the Vulpinsula fading away to stern before asking quietly, "Y' ever think abou' yer mum? Wonder what she'd 've done today wiv' all 'at?"