Casan had settled quite easily into the rythym of steering a ship. He hadn't been alone at the helm in a long time after his accident with the fishing vessel, but it was all coming back to him quickly, as if he'd taken the helm every day of his life.
Laji was half-dozing on the maps table, using her weight to hold the maps in place and, though she slept, constantly aware of her human's actions, lest he start to do something dangerous.
Casan was navigating his way around an especially tricky turn when someone strode into his little room and clapped him on the back, nearly running the ship aground. "This is the last place I expected to find you, Larotir," the man chuckled. His voice was deep and dignified, and Casan knew he had to be Lord Holder Tagri. Who Larotir was, however, he hadn't the slightest idea.
"I think you have me mistaken for someone else..." Casan suggested, not sure of how one went about correcting a man with more rank and authority in his little finger than Casan did in his entire being.
"I'd never mistake you for anyone else, son," Lord Tagri chuckled, clapping him on the back again, harder this time. Laji gave a squawk from where she was dozing.
Lord Tagri's eyes flicked to the green. "Who does this little lady belong to?" he asked.
"She's mine, sir," Casan replied proudly, wondering if this Larotir, obviously the Lord Heir, had a flit.
"Don't try to fool me," Lord Tagri scoffed. "She's no hatchling and you didn't walk onto this boat with her. But she's so well-behaved around you..."
"I told you," Casan repeated, more than a little irritated now but determined not to show it. "She's mine. And I'm not Larotir."
"Look Lar, I don't know what you're trying to pull, but it isn't funny. Now stop playing seacrafter and let's go meet with the Captain," Lord Tagri put a hand on Casan's arm to try to guide him away.
Laji gave a warning hiss and spread her wings, ready to launch herself at Lord Tagri if needed. "I can't leave my post, sir. Larotir isn't in here, but my guess is that he's exploring the ship somewhere."
"Larotir, you know I don't tolerate lying. Now let's find whoever's supposed to be at the helm and then get going, Captain Ceinule is expecting us," Lord Tagri commanded.
"I'm not lying, and I'm certainly not Larotir," Casan snapped, his patience lost with this pompous Holder. He had a job to do here and Tagri wasn't making it any easier. "Now if you'd please leave, I have to concentrate on steering this ship safely."
"You've got some nerve speaking to a Lord Holder like that if you're not who I know you are," the Holder growled.
"Lord Tagri, you are endangering the lives of people aboard this ship by distracting me," Casan replied in a cold voice. "Please leave before I am forced to alert the Captain that you are being disruptive."
"You're endangering your hind-end by continuing to speak disrespectfully," Tagri threatened.
Exactly what punishment, if any, backed this threat, Casan never knew. As he was about to reply, another irate man and puzzled youth stormed into the small room...