"I don't care," she said, "it's what I want to do."

"You've certainly changed from the young woman I met in Draybourne."

"I suppose I have," she said, taking his hand. "Now, let us go and talk to this Temple Knight."

They drew closer, slowing to allow their target to finish his conversation before they spoke with him.

"Excuse me," said Athgar.

The knight turned. He had closely cropped hair the colour of sand and sported a neatly trimmed beard, shaved near to his face. He was fitted out in chainmail armour, a brown tabard worn over it, displaying the holy symbol of his order, a common axe.

"Yes?" said the Temple Knight.

"My name is Athgar, and this is Natalia," the Therengian said in greeting.

"How do you do," replied the man. "I am Brother Cyric of the Order of Saint Mathew. Is there something I can assist you with?"

"Yes, there is," said Natalia. "We are seeking passage to Corassus. Have you heard of it?"

"I have," he revealed. "As a matter of fact, I'm travelling there myself, aboard this very ship. What takes you to the great city-state if I might be so bold as to ask?"

"I am seeking information," responded Athgar. "We have travelled all the way from the Duchy of Holstead."

"Then you have travelled some distance," the Mathewite said, "though I wonder what information would bring you so far. Are you seeking the Archives of Corassus?"

"The Archives?" said Athgar. "I'm afraid I've never heard of them. What, precisely, are they?"

"A great repository of knowledge," offered Natalia, "unless I miss my guess."

"They are, indeed," said Cyric.

"Is that where you're bound," asked Athgar, "to The Archives?"

"Alas, no," the Temple Knight responded, "though I might visit them once I'm there. No, I have been reassigned. The Church has seen fit to move me to a new location where I can do the Saints work."

"Is that common?" asked Natalia.

"Common enough," he replied. "I've been in Clearwater for some years now. It's only natural that they should move me."

"Do you know the captain of this vessel?" Natalia asked. "We would like to talk to him about passage."

Cyric laughed, "You might say that. The truth is Captain Runell works for the Church."

"He's a knight?" she asked.

"No, a merchant," corrected Cyric, "but he carries cargo under the auspices of the order, or at least he does now that he's under contract to us. He's a hard man to pin down, he's been sailing the world. I can introduce you, if you like?"

"If you would be so kind," said Natalia.

"Harnen," called out Cyric, "there's a couple of people here who want to talk to you!"

A man on deck came closer. He was heavily tanned and had a weather-beaten look to him. His unkempt hair was tucked beneath a ragged-looking cap. "And who might you two be?" he asked.