(no confusion at all )

“Just that you follow the teachings of Tyrez in all things you do. That is more than enough reward.”

The trio leave, though nothing is never this easy right? Now Jack begins to watch every shadow until they get back to the ship though Naramis is as vigilant as ever as they set sail back to Brindle. The journey out to Taavar was long and uneventful, the most treacherous part passing the island continent and kingdom of Urik though it is now that they are perhaps an hour out from Urik that a lone ship disembarks in their direction and by the looks of it the vessel is going quick, quicker than any human rowers as it is magically propelled no doubt as the ship steadily moves in their direction.

“Crude. One warship and it's clear we can't out run them. Within the hour they will catch up to us. What are your orders your Majesty?” He hands her the spy glass that he was looking through so she can have a look at the ship and human crew.

The officer on deck was young about her age she supposed equipped with a blue officers uniform with two bandoliers of pistols attacked to it. “Wands” with a single explosive charge that could be recharged.

Victoria frowned at the view through the spyglass. "Damn!" She swore. "Ready the weapons and keep sailing. We need to buy some time." She handed the glass to the captain. "Please join me in your cabin, captain. Naramis, Jack, I shall need you both as well." She headed down to the captain's quarters.

Once they were all inside the cabin she began asking her questions. "I admit I was not expecting a sea battle, gentlemen. What are our options here? Are equipped to fight Urikian battleship? What kind of weapons do we have on board?"

(There is so much I need to know before I can make an appropriate battle strategy here. Which ship is bigger? How close to shore are we? Do we both have magic or just the Urikians?)

(no problem, was planning on getting into more detail with follow up posts)

Jack and Naramis entered into the captain's quarters. Caleb, the captain, was an old salt and knew the most of these things though Naramis knew the tactical side of things.

“If it were a normal warship we would be able to outrun it. It's sitting low in the water so it's loaded up with something heavy, my guess is that they have a full compliment of soldiers.”

“Naval battles against Urik are pointless,” Jack chimes in. “They are the best and since they have an abundance of magic I wouldn't pit it past them to have a few spell casters on board. We are too far out, perhaps and hour for a strong swimmer to make it to the content.”

“With a full compliment they would out number use about three to one and we have no spellcasters of our own to counter act there own. The marines have plenty of weapons of course but close quarter's fighting is to their advantage.”

“They can be beaten of course at considerable risk if we try ramming it .”

“Too, risky. They will over take us in time. The best option," he flicks his gaze at the Princess than the captain not knowing if he were in on the regalia or not.

"The time for secrets is past, Jack." Victoria said, guessing the thief's thoughts. All their careful plans had not prevented their enemies from discovering them. "If Urikian overtake this ship then we'll lose more than just my coronation regalia. If you have a plan then speak up." She was clearly nervous. The odds were very much against them.

He sighs a little then nods. They were probably going to baulk but her goes? “It doesn't look good for fighting. In close they have the advantage and we are still fairly close to Urik too. I propose hiding the regalia. They may not be after the ship or may not even know that we are in possession of it. They may not catch that.

“Once it is hidden find put the want. Surrender if you must. My time as a prisoner has told me that as long as you are alive there is a chance that you may survive. Do so now and plan on escape later, if indeed they desire to take you prison.


“Worse case scenario you ram them, they sink, we sink and the regalia ends up at the bottom of the ocean.”

Victoria frowned, not liking the idea of surrendering to her enemies but she too could see how hopeless their situation was. She sighed, "Well, I admit it is not an attractive plan but we don't have many options." She paused thoughtfully then continued meaningfully. "Surrender will result in the least loss of life. Hide the regalia, Jack. Don't even tell me where it is until we're out of this." She turns to Naramis. "Can we get a message of this ship before we are taken. I need to let my sister know what has happened so she can negotiate for our release."

Jack nods. “It will be done.” Once he has it he will hide the regalia. He being a thief she can be sure that it gets well hidden though she does not act.

“Yes we can,” Naramis answers. “There is the homing pigeon it’s use is limited but back home is one of the places it does know. It is mechanical but without a close inspection you would never know so a long ocean voyage is something it can accomplish readily enough. I will have ink and quill. Fetched for you so you can scribe something for your sister. And here I was thinking your own guardsman in Willis would get you in trouble enough were your father was assigning me to you to me towards the end … I have failed you.”

They still had some time to get prepared before other vessel arrives though which they are in the process of doing.

Victoria quickly handed her regalia of to Jack's capable hands then have instructions to the captain to signal the surrender and prepare to be boarded before rushing off to write a hurried message to her sister. The letter was as brief and to the point as she could make it. She said nothing of the regalia though, just in case the message was intercepted. She merely stated that their ship had been taken be Urikian forces on their journey home and informing her that she was in charge of things until a bargain for release could be stuck. Victoria sighed heavily as she sent off the little clockwork pigeon, wishing she had better news to report.

She found Naramis once she was finished. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and forced a smile. "Do not blame yourself for this. We made the best plans we could given the brief amount of time we had. If we get out of this I swear I'm going to abolish this ridiculous tradition that places so much value on coronation regalia. It makes it too easy for our enemies to forestall the procession of our rulers when they should be spending their time actually ruling..."

Preparations seen too it was just waiting on the inevitable now.

Naramis nods. A royal was touching him, contact was often forbiddden, their were a few rare exceptions though it would have been taboo for him to touch her without one of these reasons unless she wished it.

Still he feels bad, wishes to fight but the odds were to heavily stacked against them. Even if they won the odds were good that they would lack the crew to operate their vessel.

“It is tradition, but perhaps if it weren't a specific regalia and something the new ruler had crafted for their ceremony so as to avoid situations like this. Just a thought, of course, your Highness. Your wisdom in such things exceeds my own. I am a soldier and have been breed for warfare.”

When the ship does catch up to them it pulls aside them. Gang planks are extended and numerous marines board their vessel securing weapons and the like before the officer in blue moves over to their ship. He has a rapier at his side and behind him is a blue robed woman with a hood drawn over her features.

“I assume that you are the Princess of Brindle? I am Captain Naamathite. You have encroached upon Urikian waters and are now guests of the -”

He looks beyond her for a moment.

“Jack?” When the other man nods the two start speaking. Naamithite turns back to the Princess. “Now why would you need a thief? Search the ship.” He commands and brings his gaze on the former prisoner.

“Of course, you are released, Jack. As for the rest of you, you are guests … once my men finish there search I want you to turn the ship around and sail towards Urik.”

Victoria shot the thief a questioning look, wondering what kind of history he had with the Urikian's to warrant them releasing him on the spot. She said nothing though but instead turn to the enemy captain. "I was not aware it was a crime to sail a ship passed your territory, Captain Naamathite. I realize that our countries have not always been on the best of terms but I did not realize we were at open war with each other. We have many allies on the other end of the channel, do the mean to cut off our trading routes?"

“Politics, politics Princess. A violation of international waters not once but twice now is equivalent to launching a raid but if you wish you can speak with the King about these things. I'm willing to bet that the King would see you in time.”

Whatever the relationship between Jack and he it had been clear that the thief and the captain knew one another. Childhood Allies? Perhaps.

Jack says nothing about the regalia though but he makes no objection with being freed either. A search does not turn up anything though it is clear that Naamathite knows there is something valuable on board given the present of the rogue.

“Judging by how soon you came back I would judge you got no further than Taavar. They are our allies so an individual there must be sympathetic with Brindel. It is clear that you have something on board, give it to me ...”

“Third floor board to the left of the crow's nest is a little hide away," Jack grinned, wisely moving to his friend's side. “I was charged with stealing the regelia of Brindel for my weight, nay twice it in gold but it is clear that the Princess cannot pay me.”

He moved behind some of the guards her, Naramis' hand dropping to his sword as if he were going to draw and attack, though could he be stopped before then?

Victoria's jaw tightened when she heard Jack's betrayal. In her heart she couldn't blame him for behaving like a traitor, it was more her folly for having trusted him at all, still if she ever got out of this she would make him pay for it. Still, she had more important things to worry about now. She felt more than saw the tension in her guardsmen increase and she raised her hand to stay his. "Hold, Naramis, you won't serve me any good if you get yourself killed here." She glared at the enemy captain. "I think will see your king, Naamathite. I have done nothing to warrant this treatment. If I were conducting a raid I would hardly have come myself. I merely went to reclaim what was rightfully mine. Detaining me here for such a flimsy reason is a blatant act of war against the kingdom of Brindle."

Naramis was tense though he glared at the rogue. Even without a weapon being disarmed he was still willing to try something. The rogue hides behind some of the Urikians though. The regalia is uncovered of course now that they know what to look for.

“Perhaps not. I do not make the rules I merely enforce the decrees as they are passed down.”

With the regalia uncovered he, Jack, Naramis and herself are brought aboard his ship while a detachment of soldiers are left here to ensure that the crew obeys and follows. The crew is later imprisoned though Naramis is imprisoned at least within Naamathite's estates. Save for a few guards she is left alone with the man.

“The King is busy so until he is ready to receive visitors you will be my guest but I would like for you to bare witness to my hospitality. As a Duke and nobleman I am graced with some comforts. Tonight there will be a play in one of the halls here. I would like you to see it. The King will probably receive you tomorrow at some point.”

Victoria disliked feigning politeness when it was obvious she was little more than a political prisoner. Still, her men were in prison and their well-being could very well depend on her behavior here. "Why of course, Your Grace. You are our host, after all. I would not wish to offend you by denying you my company when you have taken such great pains to arrange entertainment for us. I hope hope that my men are being treated as kindly as you are treating me." She smiled, pointedly. Making it clear she was fishing for reassurance that her men were not being mistreated.

“I assure you that they are receiving the best of treatment.” He had told here. But they both knew that they were playing a game here. That evening though they watch the play a tragedy and it was clear that he was studying her reactions.

It began simply enough. A dying King and two Princes, the eldest had been dispatched on a holy pilgrimage to retrieve a lost artifact for the kingdom that would solidify his position and bolster the moral of his people.

He is met with several hardships along the way but gets back from the ordeal a changed person only to find that his younger brother does not wish to relinquish his borrowed titles and has his brother locked away. In the final act, as befitting to most tragedies the older Prince escapes, masses an army and returns for his birth right but he and his brother kill one another in the end and thus the tale ends rather bleakly.

“A rather dark play, wouldn't you agree your Highness?” The officer slyly looks at her. “I do have a question though about that scene when the bandits show up to try to stop him. How did they ever know where he would be, I thought the road to Fizpal was not traveled all that much.”