Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine - The Party Boat is Already Split

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine - The Party Boat is Already Split

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine - The Party Boat is Already Split

We reached the gantry next to the Beaver Cleaver and paused. Did you want to get aboard first, Captain Bunch? Rosaline asked. Her big smile only grew bigger when Amaryllis harrumphed from somewhere behind me.

Id love to! I said.

With a hop, I bounced up and onto the deck, landing on it with a dull thump of shoes meeting wood.

The Beaver Cleaver was an interesting ship. There were two decks connected together in the middle, with only a bridge allowing for passage between them. It meant that while the ship was actually pretty wide, it didnt have all that much space atop it.

It was definitely bigger than the Shady Lady though not nearly as big as the Silver Boot. I liked it. There werent any weapons aboard, but there were lots of spools and ties for ropes and sails tucked into the sides.

Broccoli! Rosaline called out. Lower the gangplank!

Right! I called back.

Rosaline walked up the plank without a care in the world, but Amaryllis and Awen came together, with Awen clasped on tight to Amaryllis side.

Was she afraid of heights? Or was it the way the plank was swaying a lot over a hundred-foot drop that worried her?

Captain Bunch welcomes you aboard! I said while giving the girls a salute.

Idiot, was Amaryllis quick reply.

Awa, Im glad to be on your ship, Captain Bunch, Awen said. Its very... nice?Fịndd new updates at novelhall.com

Rosaline shook her head. It needs a lot of love, but it has some good... ah... ideas behind it.

I lowered my hand and took in the state of the Beaver, it could definitely use some cleaning up. Its a cool ship, but yeah, it needs some help. Do you think we could fix it up?

Rosalines anwer was a huge grin. Why not? It would be interesting, at the very least. This ship never even had a maiden voyage you know? It would be a shame to wreck it without at least knowing how the design handles.

Huh? It was never used?

The harpy shook her head. Nope. She patted one of the rails, then grimaced as some paint flaked off and stuck to her. This ship has a bit of a weird story. More like a joke among those in the know.

Tell us! I cheered. If I really was going to be a captain, and of the Beaver Cleaver no less, then I certainly wanted to know the ships story.

Rosaline pointed to the other side of the ship. Want to talk on the port deck? Its got benches.

We ambled over to the other side of the ship, crossing the narrow bridge that covered the gap between the two decks until we were on a similar but not entirely identical deck on the other side.

The opposite one, the starboard I assumed, had been all utilitarian. The port side was a bit different. There were benches along the edges and the railings were a lot prettier, with engravings and tooled bars.

The back had what looked like a bar of all things, and the cabin was also a bit bigger. I wondered if the port side was meant to carry passengers while the starboard held the crew and such? It would kind of make sense. There was only one propeller on the ship, right in between the two cabins. It was obvious that the engine was on the starboard side though.

So, the Beaver Cleaver, Rosaline began. It was commissioned some seven or eight years ago by Lord Edgar Corvus of Clan Corvus. It was meant to be a party boat, of all things. So that he could parade around with some strumpets and curry favour with other lords and ladies and so on. This ship wasnt actually built in our shipyards.

There are others? I asked.

Rosaline nodded. The Owl clan has one, as do the Hawks. This one was Owl-built. Their engineers are actually quite good, their other departments... not so much. See, Lord Corvus wanted the front to have a pair of beavers as figureheads for the world knows what reason.

Amaryllis stepped in to save Awen. We can wait until after youre done for the day to head out. The shops will still be open by then. At least, they will if I send Gen-Gen out to ask.

Ohh, thats why youre my second-favourite little sister! Rosaline cheered.

Second favourite? Im your only little sister!

Broccoli is my favourite now.

Hey! I said. What about Awen?

Amaryllis turned to me with a look of complete betrayal on her face. Youre not even going to try and defend my position after usurping it?

You called me an idiot, I pointed out.

She huffed most huffily. That was just me pointing out the truth.

Rosaline giggled and pulled Amaryllis into a hug that she didnt react to. I still love you. And Awen is too precious to be a sister; if you know what I mean.

Keep your degenerate talons off of my friends, Amaryllis warned as she poked Rosaline in the stomach.

We left the deck of the Beaver Cleaver in high spirits. I imagined the ship would appreciate a bit of laughter on his decks after so long being unused.

Our trip backup to the Albatross Aeronautics main offices was faster than our trip down, and soon Amaryllis and Awen and I were saying farewell to a teary-eyed Rosaline who really didnt want to get back to work. But there were a bunch of important-looking harpies waiting for her, and she was dragged away without too much protest.

Are we walking back? I asked.

Certainly, Amaryllis said. The exercise will do us good.

I grabbed onto my friends hands and talons as I placed myself in the middle of them. Great! I said. So, Awen, what do you think about Rose?

Awa? Awen asked as she looked up. Miss Rose? W-what about her?

Oh, I dont know. She seems to like you a lot.

Amaryllis sighed. The subtlety of a Sylph in a goldsmithy. She shook her head. My kinder sister is very... open about her relationship status. Shes been looking for the perfect partner for years. If you think you fit the bill Awen, do try your talon.

Awa?!

I tried not to smile at how flummoxed Awen looked. It... might not have been too nice to play matchmaker, but I wanted Awen to be happy, and Rosaline seemed like a very caring, if a little flighty, person. She wouldnt hurt Awen, at least not on purpose.

And, best of all, it might help Awen come out of her shell a little. It was a neat solution to a lot of little problems.

That didnt mean it would work.

Love wasnt something I was well versed in. I loved my friends lots, but I didnt love them that way. I hoped that this was a better solution than hurting Awens heart. For all that she was a tough girl, I didnt want to see her hurt. Worse, Amaryllis and I were the only support she had in this place.

I, I dont... I dont know what you mean, Awen said.

I let out the tiniest little sigh and pulled her into a sidelong hug. Thats okay too, I said.

***