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Elves are a helpful lot, thank the stars . . . especially these two . . . This comforting thought slid through Rôg’s mind as Carandû and Annû grasped him firmly under the arms and walked him from the rail and down the hatchway steps to the galley below. Despite the buffeting winds, the protected waters of the bay were indeed calmer. He felt his stomach settle down into some semblance of normalcy as they entered the small kitchen area. His nose took in the steamy scent of new brewed tea.
‘Think I could have a cup of that?’ he asked, seating himself at the small table. The Elf at the stove looked him over, taking in the chalky appearance behind the normal olive tinge. ‘Peppermint, perhaps . . . and a little honey, for you,’ the Elf laughed, whisking the pot of regular tea out of Rôg’s reach. ‘What about you two?’ he said, waving two clean mugs toward Carandû and his brother. In the same breath, he asked about what they had seen above-deck. Others of the crew had come down with news of sighting the Corsair ship. From what he could glean from their hurried reports he knew there was only one . . . but how big was she, he wondered. And had they seen any longboats in the water or near the shore. Or any of the skin-boats of the Lossoth tied up to the ship?
Rôg shrugged his shoulders at the Elf’s questions. He actually hadn’t seen the ship, having been otherwise occupied with his perusal of the waves slapping at the sides of the Sea-Spirit. Accepting the welcome mug of honeyed tea from Elf’s hands, he blew across it to cool it a bit. ‘What about you two,’ he said, between small sips of the fragrant liquid. ‘You see anything like that?’
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