It was broken. Jale wrapped it up, muttering under her breath about coming with them just to stare at a waterfall while they fooled around.

"At least it was a pretty waterfall," she added, smirking.

Luckily, the trip back to Attob was with the current, and Tanden didn't need to use his foot to help paddle. They made it back to the town shortly before sunset. Jerios was waiting with the Waterborne. Before heading out, Tanden paid Queb and Naba for their service, and promised to visit again soon with more goods to trade. They parted ways as friends.

Tanden was insufferable the next few days on the Wanderlust. He refused to rest in the captain's quarters, and instead hopped and hobbled around on deck, getting in the way. Even a gift from Ara—a drawing of the waterfalls—didn't settle him, although Soren noticed that Tanden did pin it up on the map, next to his new maps of Moatt and Attob.

It was easy to know when they passed from Moatt waters to Staedin's coast. The huge cliffs came right up to the ocean. Spires and sea stacks stood tall and thin in the water, defying the ocean waves. One such sea stack was still connected to the mainland by the thin bridge, creating a natural archway.

To cheer Tanden up, Soren called for the anchor to be dropped, and they climbed into the Waterborne. They sailed the sleek cutter through the archway, marveling at the beauty of it. Once back on the Wanderlust, Tanden insisted anyone who wanted a closer look could have a turn, and they spent the remainder of that day anchored near the archway.

The next day, they were shocked to come across a port, built into the cliff side. Sea caves, natural pathways and wooden scaffolding crisscrossed the rock, from the very top of the cliff to the expansive system of docks and stone piers. There was more than enough room to bring the Wanderlust into dock.

Tanden hopped off of the ship as soon as the gangway was lowered, limping off with a makeshift crutch under one arm. Soren shouted at Ivern so he knew to take over, and hurried after Tanden. It didn't take him long to catch up.

"It'll heal faster if you let it rest."

Tanden huffed, clearly not in the least bit surprised to find Soren at his side. "I'm not good at resting. Besides, who would look for whatever passes as a harbourmaster?"

"You'll be trying out Navirian?" Soren guessed. "So, any of the Navirian lads could have done it."

"I imagine they'll speak Navirian here, but I don't know if I'll be able to rely on it in Cratia or Alvara. I wish we'd had more time in Moatt. Queb could've taught me Moattish." Tanden paused at a fork in the docks, then picked a direction and carried on.

"You should hire a translator, like you did for Morcean," Soren suggested.

"I should," Tanden agreed, as they came up to a hut. Tanden knocked on the door. A moment later a man answered, already speaking in Staedish. His words died in his throat when he realized who they were.

Tanden said something in Navirian, tentatively.

The man, his frown deepening, looked between them and shook his head. Then he shut the door.

Tanden, who wasn't used to being so abruptly dismissed, glanced at Soren. "I guess he doesn't speak—"

The door creaked open again. This time a younger man leaned in the doorway, with the older man looming behind him.

"Teltish?" the younger man asked.

"Oh. Yes," Tanden said. He shifted, adjusting the way his crutch was digging into his armpit. Soren barely resisted the urge to reach out and steady him. "I wanted to ask about docking fees, among other things."

"Trading?" the young man asked.

"Yes, if we can," Tanden said. "I was also hoping to learn more about Staedin, and hire a translator to teach me Staedish. And maybe Moattish, if that's possible."

"Staedish and Moattish," the man repeated. Soren got the sense he was only understanding half of what Tanden was saying. "Trade and translate." His gaze went over Tanden's shoulder, and Soren didn't have to look to know he had caught sight of the Wanderlust. "I will find, send to ship."

"Excellent. Thank you," Tanden said. This time, when the door closed, he turned to Soren with a smile. "We'll see what comes of that."

"Can you learn two languages at once?" Soren stepped forward to help Tanden adjust the crutch again.

"I learned Deoran and Navirian at the same time, but they are very similar. So no, probably not. But I don't need to be fluent right away. If I could just get by in these port cities, that would be enough for now. Then I can pick up the rest of the language more organically. It's easier—" he paused with a hiss of pain.

"Should I carry you?" Soren asked.

Tanden laughed breathily. "The lads would never let me live that down. No." Carefully, he kept moving. "I was saying, it's easier when I immerse myself in it, like in Tallen Tiya. Sailing up and down the coast isn't quite the same."

"And it doesn't seem like we'll be spending much time here," Soren said.

'No. But hopefully a working knowledge of Staedish will carry me all the way to Alvara." At the Wanderlust, Tanden took his time limping up the gangway. He accepted Soren's help for the final step down onto the dock. "Let's at least take a look at the cargo, see if there's anything worth trading here."

***

Tanden had finally agreed to sit down and eat dinner, later that evening, when Jale interrupted them. She stepped into the captain's quarters without knocking, a habit only she could get away with.

"Tanden," she called him by name, another habit that was nearly solely hers. "There's a woman hovering on the gangway, looking for you."

Across the table, Soren sighed. "I just got him to stop moving."

Tanden stretched for his crutch, noticing with faint amusement that Soren had placed it just out of reach. "Really? You thought that would stop me?"

Soren didn't move to help. "You could invite her in here."

"No." Tanden awkwardly shuffled his chair over slightly, so he could wrap his fingers around the crutch. He stood, using both the crutch and chair for balance. "I have to decide if I like her first."

Finally Soren moved, stepping around the table to take Tanden's arm and help him steady himself. The gentle swaying of the ship certainly wasn't making finding his balance any easier. "If you hire this woman, you're going to sit on a chair for the next week and learn these languages, and you aren't going to move."

Tanden laughed. "Aye, sir, whatever you say." He pulled his arm from Soren's and crossed the captain's quarters. The doorway gave him a bit of trouble, but he was practiced at it by then, so he made it through without help.

The woman was standing by the gangway, idly talking to Kurias and Starios, two of the Navirians. Tanden went to join them, with Soren and Jale trailing behind. He didn't like that the woman's first impression of him would be hobbling along with a crutch, but that couldn't be helped. And even though it was a vain thought, Tanden knew exactly why this first impression mattered to him.

Without turning, he hissed over his shoulder, "You didn't tell me she was beautiful."

"Sorry, I'll keep your eclectic tastes in mind next time," Jale whispered back.

"My tastes aren't—" Tanden suddenly realized they were close enough to be heard. His mind flickered through a few languages before settling on Navirian. "Hello. Welcome aboard the WDN Wanderlust."

The woman turned away from Starios and Kurias. She was absolutely breathtaking. Alvarian, Tanden guessed, her skin so dark it seemed nearly black in the evening light. She adorned herself with colour. Gold and beads were braided into her long hair, which hung draped over one shoulder. A gold ring glinted from its place pierced in her left nostril. A wide gold necklace hung around her neck, overtop of her bright red, sleeveless tunic. Countless bracelets looped around each arm, from her wrist to halfway up her forearms. Instead of belt, a beautifully patterned cloth was tied around her waist. Dark pants and boots were the least interesting part of her outfit.

She replied in Teltish, her accent all at once warm and somehow bouncy. "This is a beautiful ship."

"Yes, thank you, she is," Tanden agreed, still in Navirian. Then he finally got control of his thoughts and switched to Teltish. "I didn't expect you to speak Teltish, my apologies. You're clearly a very skilled translator."

"Six languages," the woman replied. She crossed her arms, hip cocked to the side. "I heard you were looking for a translator, but I can't offer my services. Not right now, at least. I'm currently employed." She hooked a thumb over her shoulder, gesturing at a large ship across the port. "But I wanted to meet the 'strange Teltish man who wants to speak Staedish.'."

"Five languages," Tanden said without thinking. She tilted her head, and he clarified with a rush. "I speak five languages. Teltish, Navirian, Deoran, Morcean and Tallenese. I want to—"

"Navirian and Deoran are nearly the same thing, so I've been told," the woman said. "But four and a half languages is impressive."

For a fleeting moment, Tanden wondered if this was how other people felt when he spoke to them. "My apologies," he said, trying to gain the upper hand in the conversation. "I didn't properly introduce myself. I'm Captain Lord Tanden. We're explorers, and merchants. This is our first time sailing south of Navire, and I'd like to learn everything I can about these countries. Hence why I'd like a translator to teach me the languages. It's easier to learn when you can communicate with the people you're trying to learn from."

The woman nodded. "Yes, I agree." She patted her chest. "I am Elorie-Eko."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Tanden said. "So, if you currently can't work for me, maybe you know someone who can?"

She shrugged. "Not here. If you want professionals, you'll have to go to Alvara. People around here know bits. Enough to trade, and not much else. It is a shame." She tossed her long hair over her shoulder, and cast a look towards the ship she worked on. "You sound more interesting than my current employer."

"Who is your current employer?" Tanden gave the other ship his full attention for a moment. It wasn't quite as large as the Wanderlust, and it was distinctly Alvarian. Tanden wasn't sure what the proper name for the type of ship was, but he recognized the style. A flatter keel made Alvarian ships better at navigating shallow water. Though the sails weren't unfurled, Tanden knew they would be long and stretched with wooden spars that made them look somewhat like a bat wing.

"A very wealthy merchant," Elorie-Eko replied.

Tanden turned back to her. "I happen to be a very wealthy merchant."

She looked around the Wanderlust with a roll of her eyes. "Is this your only ship? My employer has a fleet."

Tanden almost retorted that his ship was part of a navy, but realized just in time that the fact didn't quite make the impressive point he might have wanted it to. Some rational part of him knew that there was no need to impress Elorie-Eko. Unfortunately, the irrational part of him wasn't used to being second best, and didn't enjoy the feeling.

It took quite a bit of effort to rein in those jealous thoughts, and when he finally managed, he gave Elorie-Eko a curt nod. "I see. Well, as I said, it was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Elorie-Eko. If you do happen to hear of someone who could work as a translator, please send them my way. We'll be here for another day or two."

She didn't seem bothered by the new, stiff note to his voice that he hadn't quite managed to hide. "A bit of cultural information for you, since you seem so keen to learn more. My given name is Elorie. Eko is... a group. We call it your muxil. Not quite family, although they often go together. Not quite a profession or title. When an Alvarian introduces themselves, they give their full name, to help indicate what type of person they are. But when you address an Alvarian, their given name is all you need."

The tidbit was intriguing enough to cheer Tanden up, at least slightly. "What does Eko indicate?"

Elorie smiled. "That is the right question to ask, Captain Lord Tanden. The Eko group are adventurers. Sailors and merchants. People who leave. Those who travel."

"So it's like... a guild?"

Elorie shrugged one shoulder. "There is no word in Teltish for it. It's who you are. Good luck finding a translator to teach you. I will send someone your way, if I can." She nodded a goodbye, but before turning around, her gaze went past Tanden. "I think all Crelans would be of the Eko muxil. At least, every Crelan I've met seemed to fit."

Soren replied. "We aren't all sailors, although that is what we're known for."

Elorie looked at Tanden again. "I do hope you're not counting that Crelan dialect as one of your five languages. That would be quite disappointing." With that she turned, bracelets clicking together musically as she reached for the bulwark and stepped up onto the gangway. Then she was gone, leaving Tanden feeling a bit like he'd fallen off and then been dragged by a galloping horse.

He turned to Soren and Jale. "Is that—"

"Aye," Soren said. "That's exactly what talking to you feels like." Beside him, Jale simultaneously nodded and shrugged.

"That's exhausting," Tanden said.

Soren laughed. "Haven't I told you that before? You are exhausting. But you're also interesting and handsome, so that makes up for the rest of it. Now, will you sit down for the rest of the evening?"

"Fine," Tanden grumbled. "But for the record, Navirian and Deoran are different languages."

"I know." Soren stepped closer and took Tanden's arm, lifting it over his shoulders. "Come on, Captain. Time to get some rest."