120 Vhalar 716
The boat was rocking on the frequent rolling waves and a bit of dawn light was filtering through the portcullis of the cabin. The yellow light passed across her eyelids and stirred her from her sleep. She became aware of the creaking of the wood and the ropes of the hammock. Rei felt warm arms wrapped around her form, the skin of an arm serving as a pillow for her head. She groaned, disoriented for a moment as she slowly remembered where she was. The arms around her were not Wendell, they were Patrick’s, and she was trapped on a boat in the middle of the sea.Slowly she gentle moved Patrick’s arm from around her waist, her head swimming as she readjusted to the rocking of the boat beneath her. Rei threw her legs over the side, gently rocking the hammock as her feet met the cold wooden floor. She stood up and pulled on her boots, tightening up the laces. With a sigh she leaned over Patrick and pulled the covers up around him and placed a light kiss on his forehead. He would likely get up soon after her. They had come to know each other’s routines.
Rei plucked her black woolen scarf from her bag and wrapped it around her neck and shoulders. The chill in the air seemed a little more prominent than it had the trial prior. She went to the dining hall and ate up a few rations and drank some rationed out water before heading to the supply galley. The big sacks of grain were still stacked up, and she examined the back of her hands. They were getting rough and stayed red and irritated with scratches. But it didn’t matter. She had to keep practicing if they were going to be taking a ship and crew of competent sailors.
With a grunt, her leg flew and impacted the sack, making a little indentation. Next came her fists, swinging in fury then she threw her elbow with all of her weight behind it. The sack saw a small tear form, a bit of grain leaking out like sand. “Woops,” she whispered to herself before driving her knee headlong into the sack. It tore a little more, so she switched to the other side. After thirty bits of so, she could feel the sweat beading on her forehead and trickling down the curve of her back. She wondered where Patrick was. He had been watching Gorroc warily and it concerned her.