As she sailed, she noticed that the lake was getting narrower. So narrow, in fact, that she could see both sides of the shore at once, which was a strange thing to the little sailor.

     And the current picked up. One night she had apparently not tied the knots well enough to hold, and her little ship drifted away, downstream. She woke that morning confused and disoriented, and Oku sat atop the mast and told her that he could just barely see a landmark they’d passed late yesterday, just before tying up. He said it was far behind them. He also said that there was another ship close to it, that looked an awful lot like her father’s fishing vessel. Aise hefted the sails and put some more distance between them, thanking whatever luck had loosed the knot and guided them last night.

     Both youths were excited. Neither had seen the sea before, and Aislin could tell they were getting close. There were villages on the shore and ships in the docks, some looking speedy as her skiff, only larger.

     She stopped one night near a town, cautious because she didn’t know how far her father’s word had reached in this much time; it had been almost twelve days since she’d left home. But nobody seemed to have heard of her before, or if they had, they didn’t connect the half-sira youth to the missing girl they were supposed to be keeping an eye out for.

     Oku stayed in the skiff, just in case Aislin’s father had told anyone about him, but the little black dragon fly, Zeffi, named after the siran word for ‘gift’, accompanied her everywhere.

     One such trip into town found her taking a meal at an inn, using some of her stash of exchange to buy something other than fish to eat. She was very good by now at putting up a false façade to make her look less like an innocent ten-year-old and more like a hardened sailor who had seen everything and was bothered by little. Behind her, she heard some men talking, their voices hushed. She had very good hearing, however, so even though she didn’t think they wanted her to hear their conversation, her pointy ears picked up every word.

     “The men wouldn’t like it,” one voice objected, sounding worried.

     “The men do as they’re told. We need more experienced sail’rs this trip,” said another, his gruff voice stern.

     “What about the black? Everyone knows they’re bad luck,” the worried one argued, only to be silenced by a third voice.

     “I heard she was born at sea and raised by dragons. The sira are a mysterious people, who knows what she’s capable of. And anyone who watches her tie up says she knows her craft.”

     Aislin almost broke into giggles on the spot. Were they talking about her?

     The gruff voice spoke up again and the other two silenced. He must be in charge... captain, perhaps? “I don’ care much fer fish stories,” he growled, “But I trust my gut, and it’s tellin’ me that she comes aboard, even if the men mutiny because of it. Have to get rid o’ that little boat o’ hers first though,” he added the last bit thoughtfully.

     For a moment, Aislin listened to the silence, then almost jumped as one of the three stood, his chair scraping against the ground. She turned her attention back to her meal, sipping from her cup of berry-juice.

     Oku! she called, excited I think we’re about to be asked to join a real crew! What do I do!

     The dragon’s voice came back, just as excited as hers had been, *I dunno! Tell ‘em that you’ll do it, but you have to keep the boat stored somewhere, or bring it with. Don’t let ‘em talk you into selling it!*

     She was glad he’d been listening in the whole time and knew she’d never want to sell the skiff, since it was a gift from uncle J. She was also glad for her practice with the language, for as the man approached her, she greeted him in siran.

     “Mai'tsanau,” she said “How might I help you?” She even added a lilt of siran accent to her English, completing the little act she was putting on.

     He stopped uncertainly and Aise smiled, turning to see him for the first time. She was surprised at how young he looked, though she tried not to let it show on her face. “My name is Cutter,” he said, fidgeting slightly. It was the one that had spoken of her in such awe, relating rumors he’d heard of her. She was amused that so many wild stories had been spread in such a little time, but at least it helped keep her hidden from her father’s search. Who’s suspect a half sira, born at sea and raised by dragons, to be the daughter of a humble fisherman?

     Apparently the girl’s act was better than she thought. Her face softened a little and nodded encouragingly to the nervous man. “I’m Yaiyani'Shaushanel,” she said, using the name she’d chosen for herself, meaning ‘spell singer.’ She’d thought of it during one of her and Oku’s duets.

     The man smiled back, still uncertain, and continued “My captain would like to have a word with you, if you’ll hear him,” he said, gesturing to the table where the other two sat, watching.

     Aislin tilted her head in a motion she’d seen uncle J perform several times right before he commented on something he shouldn’t have known about. “And why should I join you? I have a ship that serves my needs.” She was pleased to see shock on the man’s face, and he glanced back to the captain, obviously unsure how to continue. All of his wild stories had just gained another level of truth in his mind.

     The girl chuckled “Very well, I’ll hear him out,” she said, “But you’ll not get me to leave my craft behind like some bit of garbage. It’s been in my family for generations.” Which was true, if uncle J was her father.

     She was inordinately proud of the way she’d said that, and so was Oku, who sent her a burst of pride as he leapt off the mast into the water. Aise could barely contain her giggles at that. Silly dragon.