Swamped

Best to start with the Captain. For one thing, he's the only one here with any clue as to whether Nual was satisfied. You start making your way up, dropping off the cross-staff in Chip's room along the way.

You hold onto the halberd, though. Just in case.

When you arrive, the Captain is on his knees in prayer. You hope he's getting good news.

He stands up and turns toward you.

"You put a valuable item at risk, Mr. Resk."

Hells. Figures you'd get criticized. You've heard enough stories about how hard it is to please the gods.

"But it has been claimed by the sea, and is no longer in wicked hands," the Captain continues. "Nual has blessed us with calm waters and the wind at our backs."

"Good to hear."

"I would watch myself if I were you," he says.

"What, Nual's mad because my plan might have let the warden get away?"

"Just the opposite," the Captain says, shaking his head. "He was excited. Nual loves it when mortals take chances, Mr. Resk, and you've taken a lot of them today."

You suppose that makes sense. After all, sailing is a dangerous business, even more when you're going as far out as sea as this ship is. But you don't quite understand his concern.

"So why should I be worried about that?"

"Because, Mr. Resk, when the gods take notice of a mortal, they may select them for a great task. Perhaps even greater than charting a course to a new continent."

Oh, hells. As if you didn't have enough to deal with already.

"I'll keep that in mind, sir," you reply. "But, ah, getting back to why I came here, I have some matters to report."

"There's something else we need to discuss first," he says. He seems strangely unemotional. You've got no idea what he could mean.