Letters From Home: Arrival in Boralus Part One

 (Written with Renan and Teralla/Amber)

Ren steps out of the Tidesages shrine and pulls his heavy cloak tighter around himself, squinting into the salt laden wind that was blowing in from the harbour. Looking at the rough and weary souls inhabiting this section of dock his thoughts drifted to the armour he had opted to leave at home; on the one hand he knew the blue of the Alliance would have closed more doors than it opened here in the island nation, on the other his dark leathers and boat cloak would not stop a dagger in the back. Adjusting his cloak so the Silver Hand stitching is visible on his collar and he turns to make sure Kan is still behind him.

She was. Stepping from behind him, she stood at his side. The fur trimmed hood of her heavy cloak pulled away and she surveyed the area around them. A deep breath of the salty sea air taken and she gave a slight grin. Looking up at Ren, she smiles and takes his hand. "Ready?"

Ren squeezes her hand and smiles. "Ready." He looks around slowly as they step further into the city. "There's got to be a fleet master or someone we can ask about Amber's parents..." He looks up, realizing at last that the city extends up as much as out. "...somewhere."

"Maybe we should make our way to the docks? I'm sure there must be a harbor masters office there. Tera said Amber's parents worked on ships right?" replies Kan as she pulls a small journal from her hip purse. Flipping through it, she nods. "Yes. She said that. Maybe they could direct us."

Ren nods. "Sounds good." He takes her hand again as they make their way from the densely packed city toward the water and the famed Kul Tiran docks. Ren whistles as they spot their first ship, a galleon that reaches impossibly high above them. He takes a step closer to the ship, staring at it in a sort of awe. "Closest I've ever been to one of these monsters."

Kan shudders, turning a distasteful eye away from the galleon. "I don't like boats." She pans her gaze through the crowds, looking for a sign that said 'office' or someone who looked like they knew where it was.

A nearby harbor guard somewhat clears his throat and gestures for the pair of them to keep moving. "Unless ye wear the colors of Kul'Tiras, you can't get any closer to the boat."

Ren stops and takes a step back, turning to face the guard. "Sorry. Didn't mean to overstep." He bows a little and steps back to Kan's side. He speaks softly to her, "I'm not a big fan of them either, especially since I'm usually wrapped in metal. Still, I heard a lot of these at work during the war. It's just neat to see one at last." He follows Kan's gaze. "Any ideas?"

Ah! A guard! Surely he would know the way! "Pardon me sir, but could you point us in the direction of the harbor master's office?"

The guard looks at her for a long moment. He gave off an aroma of booze and was that cheese? Didn't matter. He thought for a moment before speaking. His voice was heavy and he  hiked a thumb over his shoulder. "See that there buildin' over there. Green tiles wit' the map on the door. Tha be the officers office."

"Thank you, sir." Ren says, taking Kan's hand and cutting through the crowd of idlers and merchants occupying the docks. As they get out of earshot of the guard, Ren leans down to whisper to Kan. "They've all got green roofs or maps on doors...I guess we're looking for the one with both?"

She chuckles at him, squeezing his hand. "Maybe the one we're looking for will say 'office' too? Let's just look and see." Pulling him along, they start searching for the office.

He grins and follows her, though he keeps his eyes on the crowds which seem to be watching them. "Even with the Alliance allowed to dock and operate here, I think some folk here are just tolerating us."

Kan nods and gives a little chuckle. "It could be. More reason for us to hurry from here. But, try not to look so nervous love, they can pick up on that." She pauses at a door with a huge map on it. Maybe this was it? Raising her hand, she raps her knuckles on its wooden surface.

A moment or two goes by before a well built women answered the door. She looked at the pair of them before speaking. She had a light sweet scent hanging about her. "What do you need mainlanders?"

Ren clears his throat and smiles. "We're sorry to bother you but we're looking for the fleet masters office and one of the guards pointed us in this direction."

The women sighed and shook her head. "It was that fool that reeks of booze and cheese wasn't it?"

Ren clears his throat pointedly, trying not to smile. "Yes, ma'am. It was."

She tilted her head back slightly and let out a frustrated sigh before stepping out of the building and point off to the right. "No matte' 'ow many times i tell 'im he'll never remember. The Harbor master office is that one right there." She points to a building with blue tile and an anchor overlaying a map carved into the door.

Kan offered the woman an apologetic smile. "Thank you very much. We are most sorry to be a bother."

"Oh you ain't the botha lass. its that man. Swear he enjoys doin' this to mainlanders."

"Still, you are very kind. Thank you." Ren replies. With that he bows to the woman, takes Kan's hand and hurries towards the building with the blue tile and the fancy door.

The women shakes her head before going back inside. Some muttering of firing that man is heard as they leave.

Ren hooks his arm through Kan's and laughs. "Well, we must be getting closer."

She chuckled, giving his arm a squeeze. "We'll find it. We've only just arrived."

Ren nods and pulls her close as they walk. After a few minutes they stop in front of a building with a blue tile roof and an intricately carved door. Glancing at Kan, he gives the door a few solid knocks.

Theres no response for a moment or two at the door before a slot in it slides open. A female voice calls out. "Harbor Masters Office. Whats the name of your business." It wasn't so much a question but a demand.

Kan clears her throat. "Yes. We are searching for two fleet workers. Husband and wife. Could you be able to tell us their whereabouts?"

Ren puts a hand on Kan's shoulder and leans closer to the door. "Warren and Serenity O'Marin."

Theres a pause before the slot closes and the door opens. "Go down the hall first door on the right. Personnel manager in there."

Nodding her head, Kaneka steps through the doorway. "Thank you." She kept the conversation short and curt. Seemed the woman liked it that way.

Ren quickly follows Kan down the hall, straightening his cloak and jerkin as they walk. "Why do I feel like I'm on the way to be scolded by the matron?" He says under his breath.

"Because you worry too much, my love." Kan had taken on an air very much like that of a noblewoman. Her back was straight as she walked the hall, her chin turned slightly up. Upon reaching the door on the right, she knocked once and walked in.

The man behind his desk didn't look up from his papers as they entered. "Alrigh' then. Who caused what to be late now." It seemed he was expecting a complaint from someone.

Ren, having a good idea what Kan might be planning, takes position behind and to the side of her, his hands clasped behind his back. Ren clears his throat in an attempt to draw the mans attention.

Kan stands with her hands folded at her waist, looking down at the man at the desk. "I hired two of your fleet workers for a special delivery not three days ago. Their ship is returned and my delivery is intact. I wish to offer additional payment to the pair but am having trouble locating them. I wish to have their last known whereabouts." She stood stoically before the desk.

The man slowly pans up to look at them. A half used cigar in his mouth and a full mustache upon his lip. He shifts the cigar around before removing it and leaning back in his chair to look a the two of them. "Funny that.....shipments ain't do in till tomorrow. Now...I won't object that shipments can come in early....But why don't you tell me a bit more about this....shipment." he leaned back and put the cigar back in his mouth.

A little smile forms on Kan's lips. "Oh, it's a very, very special shipment. I've had to go through great lengths to acquire my goods. So, you'll forgive my hesitation in just blurting out the details of my purchase."

He pulls the cigar out with a puff of smoke off to the corner. "Well tell you what...Miss. Nothin' goes on on these docks that I don't know about. So either you tell me a bit about it, and not all of it, just enough ta find it on my incoming manifest, then I'll be happy to tell you where the workers for it are."

Tilting her head, she reaches to fiddle with some of the things on his desk. "I don't know if my delivery would exactly be on one of your manifests. But if you must know, and if it will expedite my paying the delivery pair their proper due....chocolate."

The man leans forward and pulls a manifest out and goes over it. "Hmmm....I don't see any mention of chocolate comin' in." He sets the manifest back down and looks over the two of them. His gaze piercing through them with an icy stare.

"I told you it wouldn't be. It was a special delivery. It is, after all, an extremely rare highly sought after type of chocolate. From Zandalar." Kan returns his icy stare. "I paid a heavy sum to keep my delivery as discreet as possible. I dont even think the two who brought it knew what was in the box."

The man gives a blank stare at her for a moment before it slowly turns into a smile. He puts out his cigar before chuckling. "There that wasn' so hard was it? Who are the workers ya need then Miss?"

"Serenity and Warren O'Marin."

"Ah, some of my best ship wrights. Jus' a momen' then." He ruffled through some documents before pulling out a dossier and going through it. "The O'Marin's currently live up in Unity Square area. You'd ha'e ta ask around out there to find them." He puts it away before tidying up his desk a bit. "Anythin' else ya need then?"

"Unity Square." She fixes him with a bright smile. "No, that will be quite alright, thank you." She reaches into her purse and retrieves a small stack of gold coins..maybe 3 of them. Sliding them across the desk, she looks at him. "I trust the knowledge of my delivery will be..forgotten?"

The man slides the gold towards him before looking at them. "I know nothing of any deliveres till tommorow."

Ren steps back towards the door and opens it for Kan before standing at attention.

"Wonderful. Do have a plesant day." With that, she turns and heads back into the hallway, pausing to wait for Ren.

He nods before going back to hid paperwork a mumbling heard. "Have a good day...."
Ren quickly shuts the door and, once he’s sure the coast is clear, starts gesturing wildly in silence. After a moment he wraps his arms around Kan’s waist and grumbles. “You just had to be all sneaky, huh?” He teases before stealing a quick kiss. “C’mon, lets get over to Unity Square.”