She is my daughter. She doesn't speak your language, only my own.
[ Like she would never put her at risk. Except that she has, but that was a different kind of risk of course. Calculated. Determined by herself. She doesn't trust his men without her there to defend Devi. ]
[ Wonderful. He tries to place her accent and hopes he isn't rusty in speaking her language. He needs to understand enough that they can't pass any plans between the other without him realizing. ]
Then you can help us find her. [ Not freely, not when she boarded his ship armed. He motions for the guard to bind her hands behind her. That would make traversing the ship with her in tow easier. ]
[ She straightens as they go about securing her, but puts up no more resistance. Her mouth shut grimly and her eyes sharp - she never takes them off him, even as they bind her fast. Slight as those bones as they are, it makes them easy to knot, and when the man yanks harder and the rope burns her skin like he wants her attention - she still doesn't look anywhere but this Captain. ]
Lead on.
[ And like all of this was somehow beneath her, she turned, waiting. They could open the door for her, they had tied her up, after all. ]
[ Proud. He would give her that. He watches her for a long moment, gaze bright and sharp as he meets hers, before he steps past to open the door and lead the way. There was other work a captain should be doing, but he was the only one on board with any hope of understanding their unexpected passengers in their native tongues. ]
How long did you think you could go unnoticed? [ A casual question. He had no intentions of throwing her or her child overboard. Any consequences for her actions would primarily come after they landed. ]
[ being proud when there was nothing else to have was easy, she had found. As the door opens for her and her eyes slide over the man that had done it like she had every right to expect things to be done for her.
His question, though, is easy to be irritable with. ]
As long as I had too. [snapped quickly before she talks at least a little more moderately. ] Out to sea by at least a day.
[ Likely why she had chosen a trade vessel to decrease the chances of that. She's fortunate he's not seeking to overturn that assumption and have her cast off. That would be far too cruel and he was not his father.
He leads the way below deck and watches her expectantly. Was she going to call out for her child or would he? ]
They said you were a good man, a man who had his own rules, in truth, but not one that would lend him to base cruelties.
[ Stiffly put forward - she hadn't just picked any ship. Though she could feel the man in front of her - hears his sneer. Of course a woman would rely on a good man's softness. She does her best to not stiffen too much at the insult. They need to underestimate her. She needs them to think she's weak. They won't ready themselves for the knife then. Much as it goads her.
For her part though, as they reach the lower decks, she straightens herself out and calls in clipped Hindi. ] 'Daughter, your mother needs you.'
[ And sure enough, a girl, small and scrapped and sharp as her 'mother' appears. Comes forward, warily, before she runs straight towards Lakshmi and wraps her arms around her waist. ]
[ If only the woman were wrong. So she had done her research. While the man holding her might be sneering, Duv lets out a long, tired sigh. She was a woman on board with her child, he would not leave them abandoned in a port nor lost at sea.
Which was precisely what she planned. Dammit.
He listens carefully as she speaks in Hindi, brows furrowing as it takes him a moment longer than he'd like to translate it. Well, that had been easier than he expected at least. ]
Do you even know our destination? [ Hopefully with some sort of plan for her arrival. Or did she intend to wing that too? ]
[ It's nothing she would like to admit to, that she has to play on a good man's honesty. He did seem to be good - even if his father's reputation was quite to the otherwise. What she had been able to dig up about Captain David Galeni was that he wasn't that kind, and when he inherited his father's part of the business, it no doubt would become a far different shipping company.
All the best to him, she didn't plan to be there for it. She was otherwise engaged. Or so she hoped she would be. Hopefully to him, no more than a mild irritation. ]
You will be stopping in Barrayar, within two weeks, Komarr after that.
I am going to Komarr, that is where my... beloved is from.
[ A trading port, a port where someone can come and go from, be lost in, just as quickly as they are found. If he can buy such a story, and let her go then - all the better, as Devi wraps around her leg tightly, staring up at him in plain distrust of this man that tied up her 'mother'. ]
And what is the name of your beloved? We may be able to get you in contact with them.
[ Which is truthful, in all regards. If he's able to, he would prefer to bring her where she needed to be than let his father take over. Though the expression on her guard's face says the man has a very different opinion on the matter. ]
[ Why on earth is he trying to be so helpful to her? But - if it got her there in one piece, then... ]
Duv. His name is Duv.
[ She turns down to Devi, her words coming quickly and in understanding. We will find him, soon, I promise, my heart. And to her end, Devi at least knew what was expected, as she buries her face into the material of her skirts. ]
[ Who is this Duv guy he sounds like a complete scrub The name is unfamiliar and he makes a mental note of the name. Captain David Galen would at least look, but he made no promises. ]
And you have no idea of where he may be in Komarr?
[ She shakes her head, holding her 'daughter' close to her and - Devi to her credit - plays the part perfectly. Her sad eyes peering behind her mother's skirts, saying in soft words. 'When will we find my papa?' ]
He never said. He told me nothing. Only that he was from Komarr, he made love to me, promised me always, and left on a ship like this one.
[ It's familiar, a tale told by too many women. Requires little embellishment save the pain and regret in her voice. ]
[ That causes him to stop in his tracks to stare at her. ]
That is the kind of man you are hoping to find?
[ Surely the woman could do better than someone who stole her heart for a night then ran off. He's heard more believable lies from the lips of men and she doesn't carry herself with the air of someone gullible. ]
[ That is the trick, isn't it? No idea if a man is ever worth being near to begin with, until you were already in his bed. A woman's place was to trust. But the way she works her jaw back says that she is loathe on that point, false or not. ]
And travel with a squalling infant who cannot handle being on a ship? I would have gotten caught before I even started, let alone a day in.
It is not my place to do so. [ Not only that, it would be downright insulting if he assumed he knew who was best for her to spend the rest of her damn life with.
He shakes his head. ] You and your daughter will be given quarters. You will be restricted from anywhere that carries our cargo. If you choose, rations can be brought to your room if you do not want to eat in the galley.
[ Since he can't imagine eating with a bunch of men who have not seen a woman in god knows how long to be appealing in the least. ]
[ That makes her look up in surprise. She didn't expect that generosity, that consideration. Perhaps not to throw her into the sea, but certainly to throw her to defend herself amongst his men. She could handle them. Of course she could.
But that he would not ask her too? Either in sincerity or to her role, she sinks down in her own people's show of reverence and respect. ( and perhaps that gives away something, the motion is delicate, light, done in ease. ) ]
[ It's a familiar gesture, one he's seen many times during negotiations and meetings. Who was she truly? It was something he would need to press her about during the voyage though he doubts he's earned much in the way of truth now.
He would have to see what their travel would bring. It wasn't as if they had the space to avoid each other. ]
I would recommend you follow me to your quarters and let the burst of excitement die off. [ And give him time to speak with his crew about this change. ]
[ Ah - that was something, wasn't it? Her head bows, dutifully, gracefully. Like she wouldn't dream of doing otherwise. But it is a test, all to itself, on that reputation she has heard of. His goodness. His lack of stand on that kind of ceremony. ]
Naturally. I will try to remember it. [ Her mouth opens - pausing. ] I am Parvati. This is... this is my daughter, Devi.
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She is my daughter. She doesn't speak your language, only my own.
[ Like she would never put her at risk. Except that she has, but that was a different kind of risk of course. Calculated. Determined by herself. She doesn't trust his men without her there to defend Devi. ]
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Then you can help us find her. [ Not freely, not when she boarded his ship armed. He motions for the guard to bind her hands behind her. That would make traversing the ship with her in tow easier. ]
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Lead on.
[ And like all of this was somehow beneath her, she turned, waiting. They could open the door for her, they had tied her up, after all. ]
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How long did you think you could go unnoticed? [ A casual question. He had no intentions of throwing her or her child overboard. Any consequences for her actions would primarily come after they landed. ]
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His question, though, is easy to be irritable with. ]
As long as I had too. [snapped quickly before she talks at least a little more moderately. ] Out to sea by at least a day.
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[ Likely why she had chosen a trade vessel to decrease the chances of that. She's fortunate he's not seeking to overturn that assumption and have her cast off. That would be far too cruel and he was not his father.
He leads the way below deck and watches her expectantly. Was she going to call out for her child or would he? ]
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[ Stiffly put forward - she hadn't just picked any ship. Though she could feel the man in front of her - hears his sneer. Of course a woman would rely on a good man's softness. She does her best to not stiffen too much at the insult. They need to underestimate her. She needs them to think she's weak. They won't ready themselves for the knife then. Much as it goads her.
For her part though, as they reach the lower decks, she straightens herself out and calls in clipped Hindi. ] 'Daughter, your mother needs you.'
[ And sure enough, a girl, small and scrapped and sharp as her 'mother' appears. Comes forward, warily, before she runs straight towards Lakshmi and wraps her arms around her waist. ]
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Which was precisely what she planned. Dammit.
He listens carefully as she speaks in Hindi, brows furrowing as it takes him a moment longer than he'd like to translate it. Well, that had been easier than he expected at least. ]
Do you even know our destination? [ Hopefully with some sort of plan for her arrival. Or did she intend to wing that too? ]
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All the best to him, she didn't plan to be there for it. She was otherwise engaged. Or so she hoped she would be. Hopefully to him, no more than a mild irritation. ]
You will be stopping in Barrayar, within two weeks, Komarr after that.
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As much as he didn't trust this woman's word, at least she had not been lying about having her child with her. ]
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[ A trading port, a port where someone can come and go from, be lost in, just as quickly as they are found. If he can buy such a story, and let her go then - all the better, as Devi wraps around her leg tightly, staring up at him in plain distrust of this man that tied up her 'mother'. ]
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[ Which is truthful, in all regards. If he's able to, he would prefer to bring her where she needed to be than let his father take over. Though the expression on her guard's face says the man has a very different opinion on the matter. ]
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Duv. His name is Duv.
[ She turns down to Devi, her words coming quickly and in understanding. We will find him, soon, I promise, my heart. And to her end, Devi at least knew what was expected, as she buries her face into the material of her skirts. ]
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Who is this Duv guy he sounds like a complete scrubThe name is unfamiliar and he makes a mental note of the name. Captain David Galen would at least look, but he made no promises. ]And you have no idea of where he may be in Komarr?
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He never said. He told me nothing. Only that he was from Komarr, he made love to me, promised me always, and left on a ship like this one.
[ It's familiar, a tale told by too many women. Requires little embellishment save the pain and regret in her voice. ]
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That is the kind of man you are hoping to find?
[ Surely the woman could do better than someone who stole her heart for a night then ran off. He's heard more believable lies from the lips of men and she doesn't carry herself with the air of someone gullible. ]
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Not to make the same mistake again, I assure you. But my daughter deserves to meet her father at least once.
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[ Not someone who cowardly ran away. Though-- ] You waited this long to seek him out?
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[ That is the trick, isn't it? No idea if a man is ever worth being near to begin with, until you were already in his bed. A woman's place was to trust. But the way she works her jaw back says that she is loathe on that point, false or not. ]
And travel with a squalling infant who cannot handle being on a ship? I would have gotten caught before I even started, let alone a day in.
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He shakes his head. ] You and your daughter will be given quarters. You will be restricted from anywhere that carries our cargo. If you choose, rations can be brought to your room if you do not want to eat in the galley.
[ Since he can't imagine eating with a bunch of men who have not seen a woman in god knows how long to be appealing in the least. ]
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But that he would not ask her too? Either in sincerity or to her role, she sinks down in her own people's show of reverence and respect. ( and perhaps that gives away something, the motion is delicate, light, done in ease. ) ]
Thank you.
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He would have to see what their travel would bring. It wasn't as if they had the space to avoid each other. ]
I would recommend you follow me to your quarters and let the burst of excitement die off. [ And give him time to speak with his crew about this change. ]
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As you wish, my lord, I am at your pleasure.
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Captain will do fine here. [ Any other title that got tacked onto his name was only useful on dry land. ]
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Naturally. I will try to remember it. [ Her mouth opens - pausing. ] I am Parvati. This is... this is my daughter, Devi.
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