Adventure of Kael Umal 1

The chapel stays hushed around the notice board, rain whispering faintly beyond the stone walls. The three stamped tablets rest in Kael Umal’s hand, proof the Star Streak now has its crew.

Maisie tilts her head from the pillar, studying the stars in his armor as if they might rearrange themselves into a map. Miles keeps one eye on the door, though the fear in her shoulders has softened into caution.

Miles lets out a small breath that almost becomes a laugh, then stops herself and rubs at the edge of her tablet.

Maisie’s mouth quirks, wary but warmer now, and she pushes off the pillar to stand a little nearer. The three tablets, the notice board, and the low candles make a small, settled circle in the rain-muted chapel.

Kael Umal leaves Interior of a low stone chapel behind and arrives at the docks and the Star Streak.

The docks groan under rain and rope, and the Star Streak waits with her gangplank down, lanterns trembling in the wet wind. Kael Umal steps onto the boards and the ship seems to settle around him, as if she recognizes command before anyone speaks.

Maisie follows at his shoulder, eyes flicking from mast to rigging to the dark mouth of the hold. Miles comes in a half-step behind, trying for swagger and failing by a hair.

The words land cleanly. A dockhand at the mooring line lowers his head. One of the crew tablets still wet from chapel rain is tucked against Kael’s palm like a seal being claimed.

She says it too fast, but she says it. Then her gaze slips past Kael to the hatch below deck, where the cargo hold sits locked and shadowed, waiting.

A wet gust swings the lanterns, and the Star Streak creaks once, readying herself for the first order.