"You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Will Rogers

The Swift

The journey through the archipelago had been precarious and for some nigh on perilous, not because of the sea monsters, pirates, or slavers, those had been avoided with ease. Seen from a distance the speed of the Swift and the captain’s skills kept us safe from harm. No, it was the leviathan we carried in the belly of our hold or rather the elf who had commandeered the captain’s cabin. She was always deadly serious or seriously deadly in everything she demanded.

“Why were we the ones tasked with bringing Acacia?” Cadmus complained in a hushed whisper. The senses of this elf in particular seemed particularly insane.

“You know why,” Mercurio muttered in response. "They only just trust us as it is."

Things had started off simply enough with them being led out of the Seneschal’s office by her. However, things quickly escalated in complexity. First, they visited her home, then they had to ensure the majority of her belongings were packed up. The number of items she owned was enough to make it feel as if they were moving an entire household’s belongings rather than just an individual. Then it had all been required to be stowed away within the Swift’s hold. This was all overseen by her and woe betide anyone who dropped, damaged or even scuffed a single item.

To be fair it had only taken a day for all of this to be completed. But it had not left them a lot of time or space to ensure their own change or choice of cargo. A significant portion of the hold was filled with Acacia’s belongings, so there was significantly less space for actual goods to be traded. They were unlikely to make a profit on their outward-bound journey barely breaking even. It was only once they had delivered the tutor and picked up the pearls that they would begin to make a profit on this venture. They were all looking forward to the return journey for one reason or another.

There’s was not to reason nor to question why simply to do as they had been commanded. At least that was what the Seneschal had informed them before the meeting even began. It had certainly played out that we as it ended.

Once aboard, we were commanded to sail immediately. We did as soon as the final goods arrived. Then Mercurio had the next surprise of the day.

“You need to sail straight there.” She emerged from her new cabin to make her second demand.

“Beggin your pardon Lady Acacia but there are a fair few stops to be made between here and our destination.” Mercurio vacillated in vain. There was no halting her words or her commands. The first time may have caught us both a little off guard but we were beginning to get a little more used to the skill infused in her voice.

“We don’t have time for stops.” She explained. “If the daughter is about to hit her 10th birthday then I simply must be there before she does. There will be only so much I can do to undo the damage from a commoner's upbringing if I am able to direct her allocation of Stats. However, if she allocates them herself the damage she causes could be impossible to undo.” She continued to explain her reasoning. “We simply cannot afford to stop. I will not have you make an already challenging prospect an impossible one.”

“Lady Acacia, we will have to stop if only for food and fresh water.” Mecurio pointed out their own impossibilities in making it in one straight trip.

“Very well, but the bare minimum only Mercurio. We will not be visiting every island in the Archipelago on our way." She both capitulated and reiterated her point. "Alderman Cadmus, good day.” She turned without waiting for a response or allowing further debate and departed for the former captain's cabin now hers.

“So where are you sleeping then?” I asked as I watched her head forward and inside.

“Silly question really Cadmus. Dungballs roll downhill don't they? I’m having your room! The question is my dear friend where are you sleeping?” Mercurio sardonically laughed and I was left unsure whether he was laughing at himself or me. Either way, I needed to go work out where I would be sleeping.

A month later . . .

“Lady Acacia, we simply must stop here. Our food and fresh water supplies are running perilously low.” Argued Mercurio. It seemed strange to see him in this light. He had always been the king of his kingdom but now there was an Empress breathing down his neck and his reasons or rationalisation were rarely seen in a favourable light.

“There are still rations and water enough for us to reach the next island after this one.” She replied. “I’ve checked with your galley cook.” I imagined that he would get a cursing out by Mercurio later but having been on the end of Lady Acacia's questions myself I doubted he could have said anything other than the truth, her tongue had thorns.

“Yes but that leaves us no room for error. A storm, monster or even having to run from a slaver would put us over the line having us starving as opposed to merely rationing as we are now. I really must insist that we stop here. If only to safeguard yourself.” He continued to argue. The month of back and forth demands and counteroffers were finally giving him enough of a spine to begin to refuse some of her direct orders but only if he had the reasoning and evidence to support his disagreement. Also only if she actually agreed or found the facts irrefutable would she relent.

“Very well” she sighed “ And how long can I expect this delay to last for?” she sighed once more in exasperation. The entire journey she had pushed for more speed, a straighter course, she was both direct and determined.

“Not long at all.” He mollified. As soon as she descended below, he quickly and silently signalled his first mate, Brutus.

“We’re going to have to do this quickly. Start bringing up the trade goods now and lash them to the top decks. When we hit the harbour we need everything ready to go. Foredeck with trade goods, aft deck with empty water barrels and empty provisions. This will have to be an exceedingly quick turnaround. Less we raise her ire again.” He detailed how we would be hitting the harbour, all in a harsh whisper and all after Lady Acacia had left the deck and delivered the dulcet tone of her door closing.

2nd month . . .

“We are making fantastic time, we are. It would simply be safer to let the sailors have a little longer rest than the five minutes while I bargain and pay for our provisions.”

“1 hour.”

“An hour is barely time enough to land and turn around as it is.”

“Well have them draw lots. I have heard them gambling enough as it is. Half to load and unload. Half to have, half a pint.”

“That’s all they’ll have time for,” Brutus muttered from the steering wheel. Far enough away that most would not have caught it but it was still answered by Lady Acacia.

“And they should be grateful for it.” She turned to respond to Brutus before turning back to Mercurio. “We do not have time to delay. If water was not such an issue I would have had you press on. But it is so we are. However, do not make me regret my decision to delay. So it shall be for only a moment and no longer." She tapped the railing looking up at the birds passing by overhead. "Sea swifts that is what this archipelago needs to speed things up.” she murmured to herself, "Too late now though."

How she had noticed them I had no idea based on how high their flock was flying.

“Beggin your pardon but how would the little birds speed our Swift up?” Mercurio asked cautiously curious.

“You could send your orders on ahead. By the time we arrived in port, the water and food provisions could be ready for collection. It would allow us to put in and leave so much sooner.” It would save us some of that stoppage time. “I do realise that I have been pushing your crew and your vessel. They will be suitably compensated when we arrive. However, this was not an issue I was prepared to argue over.” She added with words that were the closest I had ever heard to being an apology. God’s help the Silversea family. This woman could defend them with her words alone against all manner of enemies. Fingers crossed they wouldn't ever be needed.

Finally, within sight of Wester Isle . . .

“Rather foreboding isn’t it?” She said as she perused the island in the distance. The cliff walls seemed to climb up out of the water with no end or entrance insight. The waves crashed against them as the ship continued to head for what looked like a dark shadowed cave at their base.

“The outside may seem a little grim but there is a beautiful lagoon lake within the cliff walls of the island. The town itself has gradually grown beyond its initial walls and the family have taken up residence on an island within the central lake. Despite the distance from the capital, the island’s wealth in salt, pearls, and lumber has helped it to grow beyond the port towns on Little Wester and Wester Levante. The people for the most part are relatively prosperous and self-sufficient,” Mercurio mediated on the island’s behalf.

“Hmm, we will see.” She frowned. As first impressions went Wester Isle left a lot to be desired judging by her frown.

. . .

The ship docked around midday easing into the shadow of the cliff before docking within the cave. Now that we had finally arrived there was a lot to unpack again. So much so that it was going to require the majority of the crew to carry it all to Wester Town. A select few were chosen to watch the Swift, the poor fools who had won the gamble last time around, while the rest picked up a box of Lady Acacia’s belongings to begin the long climb up the crevice staircase to the top of the cliff.

“Let’s get started then.” The unencumbered lady set forth up the stairway with Mercurio and Cadmus in tow. A long line of fully encumbered sailors lumbered their way up the steps after them.

While she always left a strong impression wherever she went it could be easy to forget just how strong she was. It was moments like this when she led the way with Mercurio breathing hard and Cadmus wheezing that drove home just how strong she truly was and what an advantage the extra years actually gave most elves in building up their base stats. It wouldn't be polite to ask a lady's age but she had to be at least as old as my parents were before they passed despite still looking younger and fairer than me.

“Now this is much more picturesque.” She called down to the two men struggling to keep up with her. The seamen under their burdens had been left far further down the stairs in the chimney as they had marched hard to keep up with the gradually accelerating elf and her continuous climb. The fact that they would be finally given an afternoon off after over two months of solid sailing was probably the only thing motivating them to make the climb as quickly as they were while as heavily loaded.

“Yes . . . a . . . beautiful . . . place . . .” gasped Mercurio as he joined her at the top. Cadmus still out of breath remained bent over and breathing hard. Removed from the conversation by the sheer need to get more oxygen into his lungs before he could even attempt to respond.

Laid out below them were the town, lake and island. The slope and its path led down to the walled town which was completely unaware of what was about to descend upon it. An individual with as much force of personality as the storms that hit the cliff walls of Wester Isle. However, she was within the walls and beginning to descend.

“Let’s not keep them waiting then.” She smiled before she started forward once more. Her sullenness at waiting on others disappeared now that she could set the pace for the final sprint. She strode forward once more. Which was the first impression? The image of the cliffs rising to the sky of a desolate island or the image she now held in front of her. A steep slope to a quaint town below. The bright blue lake that filled the caldera or the spike-like island that stuck up from its very centre.

“Let’s . . . not . . .” Mercurio repeated as he followed on after. He left Cadmus behind while he attempted to catch up to Lady Acacia. If ever someone needed an introduction to Mr Smit it was Acacia. I had no idea what on earth she would be saying or attempting to do tomorrow. The silver lining of course was that it wouldn't be his problem anymore.

. . . .