"Myheadhurts," he gushed as he tried to push himself into a sitting position. "Someonestophittingmeintheheadwithahammer."
"Stay down." Tailonna's firm voice and even firmer hand on his shoulder kept the gnome in place. "You were seriously hurt. You need to rest."
"I've got to cook breakfast," he said, slowing his speech pattern.
"It is past breakfast," the sea elf scolded. "But if you're hungry, I can have something brought here for you."
Ilyatha backed away from the cot and started toward the armory door. "Maquesta will want to know they are both doing better. I will get her."
"Wait!" the sea elf called. "I really could do without her company for just a little while longer. Besides, she's busy working on her plan to go after the morkoth. She'll stop by later. Let her be for now, and let Fritzen and Lendle enjoy some quiet."
Ilyatha looked at the comely elf. The captain needs to know, he communicated. With that, he bundled his cape about him and pulled the hood over his head until his face was cloaked in shadows. Letting the sleeves fall below his fingertips, and taking a deep breath, he stepped out into the painful morning light.
"I should help Maq with her plans," Fritz announced.
"No!" Tailonna's tone was more of a scolding than a command. "Maquesta is doing fine alone."
The half-ogre looked quizzically at the sea elf. "You don't like her much, do you?"
"I think she oversteps her authority," Tailonna said simply. "She takes on too much responsibility, and she basks in being in charge."
"I think she's a good captain," he replied. "And I think you're too critical of her."
"It is my way. Sea elves are not like surface dwellers. We are disparate, set apart. We look at the world differently. Perhaps our lack of tolerance for others is because we expect so much. We have high standards." She returned to sit next to Fritzen, close enough so her shoulder brushed against his. "Your blood is tinged with the sea, too. You should understand how I feel."
He stared into her blue-green eyes. "I think all good sailors have a hint of saltwater in their blood and in their hearts. And I think you would do well to find it in your heart to afford Maquesta Kar-Thon some respect. I'd say you owe her an apology. She has more burdens on her back than perhaps you will ever know, and I think she is handling them admirably. Besides, I think she is uncommonly tolerant of you. I've served under many captains, and most of them would have thrown you off the ship for insubordination. They would not have put up with your attitude beyond the first day."
Before the sea elf could reply, the door swung open, the light framing a tired and relieved Maquesta. She grinned widely when she saw Fritzen sitting up, but her eyes narrowed when she saw how close Tailonna was sitting to him. Not bothering to say anything, she strode to the gnome's cot and sat on the edge.
"Maquesta Kar-Thon," Lendle said slowly, "I am glad to see you. And I am hungry. What is for lunch?"
"A passable eel stew. Get yourself well-quickly, my old friend. For I do not think my stomach can survive Vartan and Hvel's… masterpieces."
"Where's Ilyatha? He's been very good to me. I want to thank him for making me well."
Behind Maquesta, the sea elf opened her mouth to correct the gnome, to take credit for his recovery, but a stern look from Fritzen cut her off.
"Ilyatha's belowdecks," Maq replied. "He's sleeping in the darkness of the cargo hold. He stayed up with you all night. But he said he would come by to visit after sunset."
Maquesta turned to Fritzen and explained she had been planning the raid on the morkoth lair. "I think Belwar will help us, though he is nowhere to be seen today. Ilyatha thinks he is traveling on another plane. We'll discuss the plans tonight, after Ilyatha has rested. Perhaps Belwar will be back by then."
Rising, she nodded to Fritz and Tailonna, then left the armory.
"I'm sorry."
The words startled Maquesta. She was at the wheel, staring at the clouds on the horizon and hoping they did not signal a storm. Turning, she saw the sea elf standing behind her.
"I am not used to being around surface dwellers," Tailonna stated simply. "My way is not your way, and I apologize for not following your instructions. We have no captains under the waves. In my community our elders are wise, but they are few, and the hierarchy of authority is not so well defined. I did not mean to insult you. And I will try to remember to seek your counsel and permission before I act."
Maquesta's mouth fell open in surprise.
"I recognize that you are in charge of this ship," Tailonna continued, "and that you make all the decisions."
"But I frequently ask for advice," Maq said. "I need the knowledge and assistance of all of my crew. And I do appreciate what you've done for Lendle and Fritzen." She saw Tailonna's face brighten when she mentioned the half-ogre, and that bothered her. But she kept those thoughts to herself.
Tailonna reached her hands up into the air and wiggled her webbed fingers, enjoying the breeze. After a moment, the sea elf stepped in front of the wheel, looking between the spokes and into Maquesta's dark eyes.
"When I left the ship to search for herbs and other medicines, I swam to my home community. I learned a lot there, information that should help you-and concern you-in your endeavors to capture the morkoth."
Details about a kuo-toa colony adjacent to the morkoth lair tumbled from the sea elf's lips. 'Though the colony is not allied with the creature, there exists an uneasy truce. The morkoth does not attack the kuo-toa, but neither do they prevent other creatures and animals from swimming into its lair. It is rumored the kuo-toa even make sacrifices to the morkoth. Their numbers are considerable, and to get to the morkoth, you and your group will probably have to go through the kuo-toa.
Maq groaned softly. "Nothing has been easy on this trip," she said, letting down her guard a little and feeling slightly more comfortable in the sea elf's presence. "It seems we're destined to ever be challenged."
"I will do what I can to help you," Tailonna offered. "I have no love for the kuo-toa, nor for their associates, who often capture sea elves and force them into slavery. My people tell me the colony works in concert with another nearby underwater community. It is a village filled with koalinth. They are similar to the hobgoblins that walk the land, but these are aquatic, and evil, perhaps worse than the morkoth and kuo-toa."
"I don't know if I have enough sailors to take on a colony of kuo-toa or the koalinth," Maquesta said thoughtfully. "Perhaps a better tact would be to find a way around them, directly to the morkoth." She noticed the sea elf's dejected expression and decided to offer a compromise. "With the morkoth secured and in Lord Attat's hands, my father will be returned to the ship. Perhaps we could recruit more sailors in Lacynos and come back. With a stronger force, and with your people aiding us, we would fare better in a battle against the creatures."
The sea elf nodded. "Fritzen is right: you are wise. And I have been… perhaps… difficult. To bridge our differences, let me offer you a boon."
Tailonna walked to the rear of the aft deck and retrieved a bucket. Attaching it to a coil of rope, she threw it over the side, let it fill with seawater, and then hauled it up. Carrying the bucket near to Maquesta and the wheel, the elf sat cross-legged on the deck and peered into the water. Taking one of the smaller seashells out of her hair, she gently blew on it, muttered some musical-sounding words, and dropped the shell into the bucket.
"I cast a spell that lets me divine moments in the past," Tailonna said. "Look into the bucket and concentrate. You will see familiar scenes and people familiar, but only the past can be known to you."