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Tales of the Wave Rider, Volume 1 Splintered Light Prologue, pt 3: Nikolay de Sandoval

When Nikolay de Sandoval first joined the crew of the Wave Rider he honestly didn't know how much work went into the operation of a ship, let alone the amount of maintenance required when it wasn't even out at sea. For the first several months he had been given over to the full service of the ship's Carpenter, a shifty, spindly-looking Vole from Wyra... but that ended in the Carpenter's death during a sea battle with two freebooter sloops.

Since then the ship's Bosun had taken over framing and board duties and Nikolay, who'd had plenty of experience climbing trees was reassigned to the rigging. He'd done so well since then that the Captain never thought to change his role, and the Husky's home became the ropes and ails high above the Wave Rider's deck. He certainly didn't mind it, especially since port visits were relatively quiet times for the riggers. Of course, the ship's recent trip to Ilyse was an exception.

As one of the few crewmen aboard the Wave Rider to take any significant amount of shore leave during their week in port, Nikolay was the sole member of the ship who had made the two hour carriage ride to New Southerland. It wasn't the Husky's first time in Ilyse and he certainly didn't expect it to be his last, but one thing he remembered distinctly was that the Ilyseans had no love lost for Soyria their neighbors to the far north-- and Nikolay apparently fit into their preconceived notions of a Soyrian.

As a member of the Wave Rider's crew, it was Nikolay who received the missives from the Captain's family. Generally Captain Jacksoni never had the ship in port for a week, but their extended stay in Ilyse was due to the passing of the Tiger's father; that kind of visit could not be rushed. Nikolay, more a laborer than a true seaman jumped at the chance to get out and about, and so he was sent to fetch the barrister and return with him to the Wave Rider. He'd only returned two days ago, and that time had been spent getting caught up on the work he'd missed.

Although crewmen working on the ropes, sails, masts, and booms of the ship had the right to call themselves a rigger, the ship's officer in charge of said sailors was THE Rigger, and that title was held by a fellow Soyrian, a Snowshoe Hare by the name of Viktor. Unlike Nikolay, Victor did not come from the estate of a noble, which led the Husky to believe that the Hare had either come from a family of sustenance farmers or else had been raised as a part of a municipality or in one of the nation's many orphanages. Despite the Dog's patient and accepting nature he had a general dislike for orphanages; far too many criminals in the northern country came from the ranks of those without families.

Nikolay's thoughts had wandered as he hung from one of the ropes coiling the mast, one foot supporting his weight against the timber and the other looped through one of the guidelines of the furled sail to his left. From his vantage he was able to see the entirety of the ship's crew on deck and a good potion of the streets paralleling the docks. If he hadn't overheard that the Wave Rider was soon to depart then he would have been happy enough to continue people watching, but if there was one thing Nikolay de Sandoval prided himself on it was his work ethic, and he wasn't about to avoid his duties.

The Husky had just finished readying the sails closest to him for a rigging change when the gathering of some officers below his perch caught his attention; at no time during their week long stay in port had the First Mate, Foreman, and Rigger found any reason to stop and talk... and that was exactly what Nikolay was observing. It wasn't long before that meeting came to an end and Viktor ascended away from the other two via a counter-weighted rope; he was likewise approaching the Husky at a great rate of speed. Anticipating the Hare's need for a place to alight, Nikolay swung around to the other side of the mast, leaving a spot open for Viktor, who took it.

The Dog addressed the Rigger in their native language; Viktor was the only other Soyrian on board, and so Nikolay spoke it with him every time there was an opportunity. "What did we do wrong this time?"

It was an unspoken joke between them, or, at least, that's the way Nikolay saw it. The ship's Foreman had no great love for the sailors who worked the rigging; Viktor said it was because they were always the targets for his excuses as to why things weren't 'ship shape'. The Hare, as usual, passed over their native language and responded in Mehnzilian instead. "Foreman Zuider wants to be ready to leave and doesn't care that we need to do a rigging change."

Nikolay nodded, peeking around the mast to the Rigger. "Lateen will work better if we're going to be tacking out of port with the tide."

Viktor nodded, pulling his ears back so he could tie them together. "You and I know that-- every man up here knows that, but Foreman Zuider wants results, not excuses."

The Husky was about to object to the comment but he noticed the faintest hint of an upward tweak in the Hare's whiskers, a subtle-but-sure sign that his comment was not as serious as it sounded. "Well, it's a good thing it's you up here and not him then, Sir."

It had taken Nikolay some time in getting used to calling a nameless, lordless individual 'Sir' but in the time he had worked with Viktor the Hare had certainly proven why he held an officer's commission aboard the ship. The Rigger glanced at the sails. "You're done here?"

The Husky nodded, finally switching over to Mehnzilian since it was apparent Viktor wasn't interested in picking up on a Sooyrian discussion. "Aye, sir. If there was nothing else I planned to head down below to grab a bite before we set sail?"

Viktor grunted approval. "Go to it. I want you back up here before high tide. You'll be on the main sail with Offers and Moot."

Nikolay always made it a point to salute his superiors-- a trait his father had engrained into him from a young age in service to his Lady. Unlike the majority of the other sailors, the Husky preferred the Soyrian salute to the Mehnzilian one; he clenched his paw in a fist and touched his thumb and forefinger to his forehead, to his muzzle, and then to his chest. He smiled when he saw the gesture repeated by the Hare then quickly took hold of the rope Viktor had used to ascend. He followed the route straight back down to the deck thanks to the counterweight that slowed his descent; fortunately the First Mate and the Foreman were both gone when he landed.

The galley aboard The Wave Rider was situated mid-ship right next to the engine room-- in fact, they shared a metal wall. Heat from the steam engine was pumped through a heating chamber for ready-made food and the ship's oven was connected to the boiler. Nikolay didn't know the specifics, which was jut fine with him; he was the son of a wood cutter from a rural province in Soyria-- what need did he have for understanding complicated mechanisms? With that thought in his mind he walked into the galley which was already mostly filled with various crewmen, officers, and passengers.

Back behind the cooking station was the ship's Cook, Ben. The large Water Buffalo was busy putting away the new supplies that had just been loaded onboard. There was a collection of leftovers from a late morning breakfast still out on the counter for any takers; Nikolay had never much cared for ship's gruel but a few pieces of salted pork and a short slab of bacon could make almost anything good so he settled for that and an egg.

Glancing around the galley he saw that most tables had occupants but he knew everyone well enough that he wouldn't feel bad about filling up any extra space. Gustave, the ship's Missionary was seated nearby with Rolf Severna, the Bosun. They were joined by Ephram Zoari, a rather quiet and reserved Monk from Mehnzil; Nikolay had nothing against lizards but the secretive alligator sometimes gave him the creeps. Another table down a quiet disagreement was underway between the ship's Quartermaster, Pierre, a Human from Trevosse and the ship's Master-At-Arms, a Lynx, likewise from Trevosse... but they had plenty of room if he felt like playing peace-keeper.

Even as he reviewed his options, Nikolay saw a few crewmen stand up and leave their table, motioning to Lee, a Jiuyani Tanuki Cabin Boy who was helping to clean the dining area. Lee obediently went to clear off the table, leaving Nikolay an option if he was feeling in a solitary mood. He gathered up his late morning repast along with a mug of breakfast ale and headed for his chosen table with a pleasant smile on his muzzle.