Avatar - The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Gang

Lanyin nodded, then pretended to ignore Haile's actions while she went to the markets.

There, she spent a good while haggling and arguing with store owners. Just because she looked different they probably thought she was new or a foreigner they could scam. But Lanyin knew how they worked, and she was low on funds.

If worst came to worst, she could always just take what she needed.

Lord Bolormaa cut in here, sharply reprimanding. "It is of no concern to you what the Fire Nation will or will not do. You have fulfilled your task. You were already fugitives, this changes nothing. Now, for your payment..."

One of the masked men stepped forward bearing a heavily laden sack.

edited 23rd Nov '14 6:35:35 PM by silverpunk

Mizuki stepped forward and took the sack. She untied the top and looked inside. It was full to the brim with silver pieces. She nodded gratefully to the Lords. Internally, she felt just as much contempt for them as she did before. Just when I thought I was out... She had quit her service to the Saltcliff Lords years ago. Was she to work for them once again? I have a choice. If they ask me to do more work, I can always say "no". But... I... this is the only work I like... I'm an outlaw anyway, I can never be honest again.

"Good," Sharif said with a nod, "Come, then. We work from bow to stern on each side, then attend to the masts and lines."

First retrieving a few carpenter's tools from the small supply cabinet, he led the younger man up to the bowsprit and its carved dragon head prow. It was said among the Earth Kingdom that ships were fast because dragon spirits lived inside them, guarding the crew from harm. He knew that any damage was not likely to be to the hull, but he had promised Shouren a proper lesson.

"The age of a ship is seen in the hull," he said. As he talked, he tied off a length of rope to a convenient post and tossed it over the side. "An older ship's hull is darker and weathered from the constant touch of salt water. When careening a ship to clear off barnacles, moss, and other such things that slow it down, a goodly amount of wood is lost as well. Older timbers are weaker to rot and cracks, for a waterlogged piece of wood swells up. This softening of wood allows boreworms to infest a hull and turn it truly rotten. They can be detected by the tiny holes they leave upon burrowing into the wood and if the wood gives under pressure from a man's hand."

He hoisted himself over the side and began climbing down the rope, pausing every few feet to tap with his hammer on the hull.

"If you know so little of the sea," he asked, "Why not flee to some remote village or join a bandit clan? There are more than enough of each in the world to give refuge to ten thousand criminals."

While Lanyin haggled prices with merchants, Haile crept stealthily around the marketplace, pickpocketing anyone who looked like they had anything more than a few coins. By the end of it, he had a pretty good-sized haul. He walked over to Lanyin, desperately trying to keep his pockets from clinking, and said, "How about we go sit down at that tavern over there once you're done?" and motioned to the nearest, most disreputable-looking bar he could find.

"You've got to think I'm some sort of idiot, right? You actually think I'd pay gold for this? The best you're getting silver you horse-dogfaced bas-" Lanyin berated, intimidating the shopkeep she was currently dealing with.

"Oh. Haile. Yes, I'll go with you in a moment. I just have to make something clear with my friend over here."

Soon enough, she lowered the price down to a few silver coins after a combination of threats, bartering, and lying.