Theirs was a big ship, he discovered, after hearing it’s name and peering at the ships in dock, and the men on board looked fresh to sailing. None had calloused hands yet, and most looked about to be seasick any moment. They really did need some experienced sailors. There was only maybe one or two that he could see that looked as though they knew the ship at all, other than the three inside talking to his bond, of course.

     He wondered what they did, since the ship was one of the ones that looked very fast and not built to carry fish. Maybe they were traders?

     Aise, catching Oku’s curiosity, asked “What is your line of work? Your ship looks fast. Almost as fast as the Ssunaa’ouna.” She tilted her head curiously, intent on the captain, but keeping an eye on the other two as well.

     The men looked a bit fidgety, but the captain smiled broadly. “This and that, mi girl, this and that,” he said expansively.

     Oh. Well, that answered that question.

     Oku bounced excitedly, rocking the skiff with every hop. *Pirates?! Yay! I love those stories! Lets join them, oh please, can we? Pleeeeeeaaase?*

     Aislin couldn’t help but smile, but that was okay, since she was likely to smile in reply anyway. “Ah, that line of work. I see.” She pretended to think about it for a moment, making the two men even more nervous. They both knew that if she didn’t join them, she could very well call the authorities, since sira were known to have connections with the dragon-police. The captain, however, remained calm, and even smiled, amused at his companion’s unease.

     Finally she answered, and outside a loud chirp of glee could be heard for quite a distance.

     The next morning, Aislin moved on board officially, after seeing the skiff safely and securely tied up in the tiny shelter out of town. With Oku draped about her shoulders, pale wings folded against her back, and a little black dragon fly hovering above her head like a raincloud, Aise cut a striking figure as she came onboard. She was pleased that the men gave her a wide berth at first. It meant that she had at least a little of their respect, or at least fear. It meant that they wouldn’t try to do anything to her, or Oku, or Zeffi.

     She tossed her things up onto her new bunk in a slightly separate hold from the rest of the men. They had the main area, but there was an unoccupied room for a couple more men at the aft of the ship’s hold, separated by a locking door.

     Oku set about exploring their part of the hold with Zeffi the second they’d moved in, and Aise watched in amusement.

     Later that day the ship moved out, and at first Aise watched the men work. After a moment, however, she couldn’t watch their stumbling incompetence any longer and ended up showing people how to haul, or tie off. The captain watched her work from the helm, pleased, and nodded to her as she approached.

     “What did you do, hire farmers?” she asked, incredulous, doing a very good job at playing the part of a sea-hardened sailor. The man laughed.

     That night they were well away from the town, and Aislin settled down after dinner atop the hold, her back against the main mast. It had been a long day, full of her remembering and teaching the terms she’d heard her father repeat so many times to his own sailors. It was good to just sit still and listen to the waves and wind, smell the salt air she’d worked so hard to reach.

     Cutter came up beside her and leaned against the mast, looking out over the sea. “The captain likes you, y’know. The men too, though I think their pride was a little mashed when a ten year old girl taught ‘em how to tie off.” He chuckled softly, but then his tone turned serious. “Captain wants to know if you’d like to stay on, like me and Tarol and the few others who can work the sails.”

     Aislin blinked, then shrugged. “Sure, why not,” she said cautiously, turning to peer at Cutter, who smiled.

     “Right, c’mon, lets git you ‘nitiated.” He said, gesturing for her to follow.

     Getting ‘nitiated’ turned out to be easier than Aise had thought. She’d noticed that each of the men that actually knew what he was doing had a gold or silver earring in one ear. Apparently, that let everyone onboard, old or new, that these men knew what they were talking about and you’d better listen to them, or else.

     Aislin ended up with a pair of golden piercings in her left ear, thanks to her siran-touched pointy ears, connected by a delicate red-gold chain.

     Oku watched the proceedings intently, then, after everyone seemed to be done with what they were about, spoke up indignantly. *What about me?* He was a member of the crew too, wasn't he? And he'd stay on just as long as Aise did, wouldn't he? Why shouldn't he get shiny rings too?

     Aise laughed and asked the captain if her bondmate could be initiated as well, since he was practically half of her. The big man laughed, then had a sullen Tarol hunt around in his box of rings until he found a pair of matching plain, silver rings that would just slip onto Oku’s horns. The little dragon wiggled gleefully after being given his rings, and puffed up proudly. Everyone couldn’t help but laugh, and even Tarol gave up his grumpiness and smiled at the wyrm’s antics.