TRAVIS

"A Stellan is coming," Paragon's telepathic voice broke Travis's focus away from his book. "She's stopped at the gangplank. Invite her on board; I'll make some tea. But don't invite her inside; I'll put a table and chairs outside." Her tone sounded both excited and nervous.

Travis nodded as he set his book aside and stood. "I'll talk to her for you." He walked out of the aftercastle and onto the still-empty deck. As he enjoyed the dusk air, he looked away from the gangplank first, then noticed the cloaked figure as he scanned the deck. He tried to react as if he didn't know he was there, but Travis was unsure how realistic his reaction was. "Ahoy there!" He smiled as he slowly approached the dark-cloaked woman. "How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Captain Woodgrain." The woman clutched her cloak and held it around herself as she glanced to the name painted on the side of the boat. After a pause, she spoke in a wavering voice. "I've also heard there's a sea serpent that works onboard; I would like to speak with as well."

Travis glanced at the bow, then smiled and offered a hand to help her. "I am Captain Woodgrain, though I prefer to be called Travis. Would you like some tea on the deck? The weather is quite nice today, and we can discuss over tea."

She hesitated, then accepted his offer with the lightest touch and walked up the gangplank. The second she stepped onto the deck, she withdrew her hand. "Thank you," she spoke in a soft voice and glanced around the empty ship.

"Paragon, can you bring out the table and chairs?" Travis smiled in the direction of Paragon's figurehead.

Paragon sent her captain mental affirmation as table and chairs formed out of the deck.

Travis smiled at the shocked Stellan. "I'll go get the tea; please, go ahead and sit." He motioned to the table and smiled in gentle assurance. "I'll be right back." He calmly walked to the galley and entered.

"She's nervous," Paragon mentally hummed as Travis picked up the teapot from the stove and placed it on the tray Paragon provided. "Pour your cup first, and drink from it; her thoughts are racing with possible fears. I want to talk to her, but I don't want to scare her. I tend to be startling."

Travis felt the ship's unease, "I'll handle this; I can explain to her. You can talk telepathically to her after I explain everything. She seems calm enough." He smiled a bit as the liveship slowly calmed.

Travis exited the galley and approached the table, where the woman nervously sat, her ears upright and alert. "Sorry about the wait," He walked over to the table, then placed a white and silver teacup in front of each chair. After Travis set the tray on the small table, the human poured the tea, first in his cup, then in hers. Travis placed the teapot down as he sat in his chair.

"I'm sorry, but Paragon can't join us. The prejudice against magical creatures makes her nervous while in this port. She normally speaks through the figurehead, but if she moves, she fears what the people may think of her." Travis weakly smiled as he sipped the hot tea, the flavorful liquid leaving a delicious taste in his mouth. "Paragon can speak with telepathy if you would still like to speak with her, but I can answer any questions you have."

The woman paused and looked towards the bow, then slowly cradled the teacup in her hands as she processed the information. "Paragon is the ship? My son described her as a silver sea serpent, but he also said the figurehead was a sea serpent."

"Paragon's form was designed by Captain Starport, Paragon's last captain, in honor of a sea serpent that saved his life." Travis drank a bit more of his tea, then held the warm cup in his hands. "He didn't have any heirs, and Paragon chose me as her new captain, though we've had to start from scratch."

The woman slowly nodded. "I would like it if I could speak to Paragon, even if she must use telepathy." She fell silent again as she glanced around the ship. "Captain, do you or Paragon know of The White Phantom?"

"I have never encountered a ship with that name," Paragon telepathically spoke. Though she tried to be gentle, the Stellan woman still jumped and nearly spilled her tea. "Though, people have called me that name."

"The dockworkers whisper that you may be The White Phantom." The woman spoke in a soft voice. "You match the descriptions of the legends, but you look pristine compared to the age of the legends."

"I try to keep my appearance clean; it helps that I'm mostly impervious to damage and rot because of my magic." Paragon slowly relaxed behind the calm in her voice.

The Stellan woman descended into thought, her eyes wavering as she stared down at her warm tea. She remained silent for several moments before she looked up to Travis. "What do you know about Draconia?"

Travis blinked in surprise, "Paragon knows more than I do about its history, but Havenous, the capital, is a beautiful place. So many different sentients all living in peace under Queen Horizon's rule."

"Queen Horizon, when she saw how prejudiced much of the world has become, created the country with the land she earned as payment for her service as a castle guard." Paragon sounded like she had to force herself to remember to call the dragoness by her title. "Originally, it was for dragons, but quickly expanded to everyone who desires to live there." Paragon mentally smiled. "I have taken many people to Draconia after I rescued them after they shipwrecked. I like to think I improved their lives."

"You are The White Phantom..." The woman muttered in a soft voice as she looked down at her steaming tea, then finally took a sip from it. "Your offer to my son, how sincere was it?"

"I pledge on my life that I will gladly ferry any Stellan who wants to come to Draconica, free of charge. And if your son wants to work here, I will gladly pay him for his services. He will be a valued member of the crew." Paragon mentally smiled, "I can promise he will be safe under my care. He will be free to do whatever he wants, including leaving if he so wishes. I will gladly take him to the port nearest to you whenever he asks, and I'll return him as soon as possible."

The woman blinked in surprise at the pledge. "Thank you for the offer, but ultimately, it's up to him. The only choice I have to make is I abandon everything here to move to a new, unfamiliar land."

"You can bring everything with you that you can carry," Travis spoke in a soft voice. "Paragon will find space for everything. If you need help, I can help you carry things on board. I spent today making sure there was plenty of food in the stores as well."

The cloaked Stellan remained silent as she stared at her tea in the darkening dusk light. After she sipped some of the tea, she looked at the figurehead "How do you know if the people of Draconia will accept us?"

"Queen Horizon has never turned people away before," Paragon promised, "And has never been less than accepting."

"But what about the people? Will they accept us?" The cloaked figure clutched her tea as she looked straight into Travis's sea-green eyes.

Paragon had no good answer, but Travis spoke. "As a human, I got some strange looks, but no one challenged my right to be in the city. Everyone seemed to be living in harmony. There's the possibility of some prejudice beyond stares, but everywhere in the world, there's always that risk."

The Stellan woman pensively drank a bit more of the tea and remained silent even as she returned the cup to its saucer with a clink. "Thank you for the tea, Captain Woodgrain." She subconsciously adjusted her hood as she rose to her feet. "When do you leave port?"

"Sunrise, the day after tomorrow," Paragon spoke. "But we can delay departure if needed."

The Stellan gingerly smiled, then glanced up to the stars in the darkening sky. "Captain, thank you for your assistance, but I must get home."

Travis placed his tea on the saucer and stood. "Allow me to help you down the gangplank; I don't want you to slip, madam." He offered her a hand.

"Please, call me Morgan or Mrs. Estell." She accepted his offer. She released him once she stepped off the gangplank. "Thank you, Captain, and thank you as well, Paragon." She slightly waved, then hurried through the dark streets to her home.