New Alliances

You tell her everything. 

You tell her about working on the designs, about the assassins, and about the shadowed creature on the roof tops. You tell her you don't understand why the guards would hunt you.

'And then I met the captain here.' You grin.

She listens to your whole story in silence, her face calm and focused. Farrend mutters under his breath when you tell them how you discovered the pin. A tiny wave from the girl dismisses his curses and silences him.

When you finish, she asks to see your designs.

'I do not understand these works, and diagrams.' She says, leaning over the parchment, and smoothing it out with her finger tips. 'But I recognise this shape here. Where did you discover this knowledge?'

That's one question too many for you. You gather up the papers and tie them safely back in your bag.

'You owe me some answers first', you tell her. 'I'm not a pirate for hire.'

She leans back in her chair, and narrows her eyes.

'I am Lady Igren. My mother is a western lady. I am a lesser princess of Myhdillian.'

Myhdillian does not discard its heirs for sake of blood. You realise her father must have been the late King, and her sister...

'The Queen is your half sister?'

'Yes.' She pulls a concealed pin from her jacket, and places it next to its twin on the table. 'But to anyone outside this room I am Ren -- the daughter of a weathy merchant, being escorted by an old friend of my father's.'

Farrend plays his part, offering a mocked bow. 

Her name is fitting, you recall that the igren is a western bird. Known for its temper, sharp eyes and short harsh beak the name seems perfect for this shrewd girl. You wonder if she sings with the same awful cra-caw as her namesake.

'And that shape in your design I recognise from a stone vault in Myhdillian's white castle.'

She weighs you carefully, judging your worth.

'Now sir, give me your name, and make your decision -- join us if you wish.

We set sail for the south in an hour.'

-- Do you stay on the ship and learn more about Igren?

-- Do you go back out to the dock, and try to find out more about the vault?