the Saelisian drive-by

[Cassandra Demarais]

Cassandra hardly realized that she was holding her breath. It was likely that she would be able to throw a big enough fit to convince Sevrin to allow them to stay on, but it was a big if. Being the big brother, he would want to protect her (and probably Sarra), she knew...and yet, he also knew what would await her in Tresteria. Henry was gone, and she would be at the mercy of the council once more.

As Noelle seemed to relent, she heaved a gentle sigh of relief. The woman could have a long list of demands and Cassandra wouldn't argue. For once, she wouldn't argue because she was doing her a huge favor. She even grinned as Noelle mentioned keeping her involvement a secret from Sev. "Understood," she answered.

And then her face suddenly fell.

'But...we're not going to Aralore.'

What was this? What did she mean? Cassandra's lips parted, trying to find her voice to ask her before the mercenary was already answering, and she could feel her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach.

Had Aric asked him to do this? Was that why he was here and allowed to come ashore for such a brief time? Cassie didn't know whether to be upset about it, or angry, if she should be annoyed with her cousin. Then again, if anyone was capable, it was Sevrin and the Brotherhood.

Right?

Noelle continued to speak, and they would all be able to hear the anchor rising up by the loud clanking of its metal chain, the shouts of orders above deck. They were departed now.

Cassandra didn't look to the Sisters Haystone; instead, her green gaze dropped to the particular ring she still wore upon her finger. Was she afraid? Well, of course she was (and her fear of being on a ship only intensified), but she wasn't running. No, she had to believe things would be alright, and she knew Sevrin would see her safely to Aralore as soon as it was possible.

"I cannot go back," she answered quietly, surprised by the defiance that still managed to remain in her tone. There was nothing but misery if she stayed in Tresteria. In Aralore? Well, there was more.

'Well ladies, what are we waiting for? Lead the way.'

It was Sarra, and she finally blinked before regarding Noelle with a soft smile. "Thank you," Cassie added, and she deeply meant it.

[Noelle Kingsley]

Noelle didn’t really expect the three women would disagree to her conditions--at least not if they really wanted to stay on board and remain hidden. She only hoped they would respect her wishes if she agreed to work with them.

Her brows furrowed in confusion as Sarra didn’t seem at all bothered by the fact that they were sailing off to the enemy territory. It certainly would be an adventure--one she was nearly certain Sevrin would not want his sister or these women on.

Her gaze shifted to Cassandra as she answered, stating she could not go back. Noelle wasn’t from Tresteria, but she had heard stories, and had she been in either of these women’s situations, she might have been hiding as a stowaway herself. It was what made her sympathetic and want to help (aside from finding slight enjoyment in a little rebelling.

“Suit yourselves, then.” She shrugged her shoulders and the smallest hint of a smile caused her lips to twitch upward.

'Well ladies, what are we waiting for? Lead the way.' Noelle eyed the woman for a moment, unsure of how to feel about the louder blonde. If she was willing to guess, she would be the one to cause them to be found. She better keep her mouth shut.

She nodded in response as Cassandra thanked her, “don’t thank me yet…” They still had to get through the halls of the ships to her living quarters without being caught.

Noelle gestured towards the door, not daring to turn her back on these ladies just yet, but she followed closely by them, stopping at the door. She squeezed through them and opened the door peering down the hall, ensuring no one was coming before she whispered. “We are going down that way,” she pointed in the direction down the hall. “Then at the end of the hall, take a right. My door is the second on the right then,” she quietly instructed. She would be joining them, of course, but wanted to give them the heads up of where they were going so they could walk as if they knew where they were going. She held the door open and motioned them out.

[Sasha Haystone]

Sasha waited once more; the habit of obedience was still strong with her, and she trusted that these older women knew better than she did. After all, they'd clearly been doing this kind of thing a lot more than her. She'd follow their lead. This whole thing was already way over her head--the fact that they were going into enemy territory, that there was an extra stowaway, that this whole thing was probably going to get her killed? It didn't matter much; she had left her comfort zone the second she'd stepped off her father's land. Anything that happened now was up to fate. She'd just have to accept it as it came.

When Noelle motioned them out, Sasha straightened the cap she wore, making sure her hair was secure, then followed Noelle's instructions down the hall. She walked with quick, quiet steps, careful not to trip. All the way down, right at the T, then two doors down. She hesitated at the door but decided it was better to be in any empty room than standing out in the hall. She opened the room and went in, then stood off to the side so the others could still come in. She kept her arms wrapped tight around herself; she didn't want to disturb any of Noelle's things or be a bad guest. Noelle was sticking her neck out for them, so Sasha wasn't eager to do anything that might upset her.

[Sarra Haystone]

She wasn't sure about the others, but Sarra was eager to get this show on the road. The faster they moved the better they'd be. The sound of the anchor was a good sign, as well as a bad one. Everyone would be busy with getting the ship onto open waters, but it also put them at risk the longer they stayed out in the open. If Noelle had found them, then how much longer before someone else did?

Sarra herself had instantly shifted gears. She was glad Sasha was following instructions, and she followed after her sister even if she hated having the other two behind her. It made the hair stand up on the back of her neck, especially because she wasn't sure yet if Cassandra would put a knife in her back for getting her brother banished in the first place. She was alert, her eyes flickering around their surroundings as she followed Sasha down the hall, and listened to Noelle's instructions. Sarra gave the woman a nod of silent acknowledgment before she continued down the way.

As Sasha opened the door, Sarra followed in and then turned around so her back was to the furthest wall, and so she could have each woman in her sights. She set her back down quietly, resting it partially on her feet so she could have the comforting weight of that sword she had within it.

Since the Haystones were "with" Cassandra, Sarra would let her do any further talking. She stayed silent, looking expectantly between the other women.

[Cassandra Demarais]

In truth, this was likely a really stupid idea, but none of them seemed to be backing down from it. And now that she was so close to truly having her freedom, Cassandra wasn't turning back. She would get back to Aralore, no matter the cost.

Even if Sevrin got extremely angry. And now that it wasn't just her, but the two Haystone women as well, her brother certainly going to be livid.

When Noelle gestured for them to move, Cass didn't say anything more or question it, listening to the woman's instructions before following the blondes out of the storage room in a casual, yet somewhat hurried gait. They would hear the footsteps rushing around, preparing the ship for sail, so to look too casual would make them stick out more.

Sarra was worrying for nothing. It was a bit hard to blame the woman for her brother's banishment when Cass knew precisely the type of man Sevrin was and, in ways, still was. It was almost a family trait that fortunately did not fall to their younger sister. Elyscia was a good girl, and Cassandra prayed she would be happy and taken care of with that fiancé of hers. Otherwise, it would be the only reason she would ever go back to Tresteria, and it would be to drag Ely out of there.

Sasha opened the door for the rest of them, and they all filtered in; those green eyes immediately taking in the room. Of course, it wasn't too big and it was already making her feel uncomfortable and claustrophobic, but she didn't say anything about it. She would manage, she had numerous times before.

Once the door was closed, she regarded Noelle once more. "Thank you again," she whispered. "We definitely owe you one, no matter how this turns out." She understood they weren't in the clear, but after a few hours, she could have a talk with Sevrin and handle this. Perhaps they could try to wait out the entire trip this way, but that was a lot to put on Noelle's shoulders.

[Noelle Kingsley]

At the sound of the anchors lifting, Noelle’s heart nearly leaped into her throat. It meant the longer they lingered, the sooner they might be discovered. Still, she showed no sign of panic and remained calm, following behind the three women until they were safely in her room.

She closed the door behind her and leaned her back up against it, letting out the slightest sigh of relief. Her bright green eyes flickered between the three women and finally landed on Cassandra as she was thanking her again. Noelle forced a tight-lipped smile and nodded.

It certainly was crazy that she was allowing three strangers into her room without knowing anything about them except that Sevrin would probably throw her overboard if he knew she was helping them stowaway on their ship. But it hadn’t been the first time she turned a blind eye on someone trying to run away and take passage on the Moirai. She had been in the same position at one point in her life and perhaps she could sympathize with them.

Noelle wasn’t entirely sure what to say or do at this point, so she stood there awkwardly before forcing herself to say something. “I--I’m expected to carry out my duties until we are set to sail fully in the open waters… So--” She looked back and forth between them for a moment. “Make yourself at home…. I don’t have much worth of value to steal, which would be pretty shitty of you if you did try…” Her tone was more sarcastic and dry than it was accusing. “I will try and bring you all back some food when I can… Do you think you will need anything else?”