A Letter for Her Majesty

[marcus]

* a man, dressed in all white, with a golden sash-belt about his waist approaches and bows to you and your entourage. He wears the traditional robes of an Arabian man, and the loose fitting pants underneath, though his feet are booted, and he does not appear to have any weaponry upon him. His face is covered so that only his eyes can be seen. Handing you a wrapped scroll-like document he bows again, handing this to you or one of your party with both hands. Should it be opened, the letter itself is in Arabic, which he offers to translate should none know how to read such. One way or another, you would learn the contents reads as follows:

To Her Royal Highness, The Queen of Windstorm
This is to inform you that I, Shah Asab, son of Rasa of Egypt, Captain of the "Margarita Gloriosa" do hereby offer my services to you, should you wish to partake in this offer. That is to say, that he wishes to be a privateer in service to this home.
I hereby offer you two hundred gold coins, to do so with you wish, as well as my first mate, Marcus, who is also yours to do as you please with. The man has proven himself to be a good and loyal friend and as served me, my family, and my crew faithfully for the last fifteen years. I trust he will be a valuable asset to your home, oh glorious queen.
I also wish to inform you, that while my offer is limited to your generosity, that the gold and the man are, as mentioned above, yours. This is regardless of your decision. I intend to set sail with the light of the full moon in four days time, and humbly request that your ruling on the matter be sent via Marcus to me before that time

[Lady Edfeil]

*A letter had arrived the eve before which had.. unsettled her. She had talked about it. It nae was her wont, but she had. But now... a man presente himself before her. Master Sergeant Gerben had nae been happy about the hidden face, yet he had known better than to speak. The laws of hospitality that she so strictly adhered to would forbid questions or remarks on it. Yet he had acted, moved away from the small guard table near the entrance, and made his way closer, unobtrusively, but closer none the less.
The queen had smiled at him, knowingly and brightly. The stranger a welcome diversion from what her thoughts had been. Eagerly she reached down for the scroll. She recognized the curves and lines as language. Something akin to what Lady Sofia would have written. Yet she nae looked the words. Her eyes had helplessly gone to the messenger who had immediately offered to translate.
And after the last of this words had died down, she looked at the man before her, with wide eyes. She was young though nearly five years on the throne had made her wise, more careful and steadier than she would have otherwise been. Without the garments that marked her status, she would easily be called plain, except for something in her eyes that spoke of kindness, and wamth, and an almost motherly wisdom.

Ye be.. Marcus, goodman?

[marcus]

Nae Majesty, I am but a humble servant....

*the mans voice, accented, spoke softly and quickly, as was a custom in his native lands. As was having his face covered, for that matter*

I shall retrieve him at once however, if that is the wish and will of the Queen...

*not turning his back to you, bowing quickly and walking backwards out of your presence, bowing every three steps as was another custom from his lands. Shortly thereafter a man of six foot three or four, dressed in all black, with dark hair a little past his shoulders and a trimmed goatee approached. He looked the part of a pirate, if pirates were to have a 'look' *

Majesty..

he said simply, bowing lowly to you, hand thudding against his chest in what was a Roman greeting*

I was informed ya wished ta talk to me?

*standing after stating thus, and keeping a good distance of 4 feet between us*

Marcus, of the Margarita Gloriosa....

*standing there actually rather proper, for him, in what could be called a modified 'parade rest' type position, his feet spread lightly and his gloved hands tucked upon each other in the small of his back. If he knew anything about what the Captains letter had mentioned, he did not show it in action or deed, which may lead some to think he was without knowledge of this development in his future*

[Lady Edfeil]

*She looked up. And up. At five foot two, she oft had to look up, but nae oft this much. Yer height reminded her of Sighehelm. And such.. made her smile. Soft, warm. In other ways, the contrast could nae have been greater between the man before her and the Rock of Kent. The gesture of a fist to yer heart reminded her of an other old friend. The combination somehow made her more at ease than she otherwise would have been. With the scroll upon her lap and her hands folded gently on top she looked dat ye.*

Good greetings, goodman. I ah.. received this missive of yer.. Captain.

*She chose words with great care, attempting to avoid the pitfalls that came with different customs, different lands. She had learned much from Sofia, from Senki. From others who had travelled more miles than she. But nae wishing insult or injury to any, she tried to find the right way to speak to those she had nae met before.
A moment she awaited to see iffen she had chosen right.*

He has offered his services.. and yers to the crown of Windstorm, iffen I understand such well?

*she nae mentioned the gold. She was enough of a good housewife to value the coin and what could be done with it. But people would come first. After.. she could speak of further matters. First.. she needed to know more. Ye were described as one that had been in Captain Shah Asab's employ.. in his family employ for a long time. A loyal man. A man who then might mean well for both, out of loyalty to one. She needed to know what was meant with privateer services. Oh she should have payed better attention to Thorgrimm, to Captain Douglas.. and to the one that all had been trying to convince her was a pirate.*