Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 271

Chapter 271: Voyage on the High Seas

Lysette shuddered and the ship shook and rattled as the anchor upon it was raised up and Wind Cultivators steered the massive sails on the ship known as the E.S.S. Night’s Reach.  The sound of creaking wood and the bellows of sailors shouting crass obscenities at one another filled the air right along the scent of salt and sand and the crisp ocean breeze.  Winds shifted in the area immediately surrounding the large diplomatic vessel as the sails extended outward, with the chilled westerly wind blowing inland from the coast replaced by a warmer continental one from the southeast.  Before long, the ship turned in tandem with the new winds and began the journey of a thousand miles back to Ereill.

“Now then!” Dennell said, raising his voice.  “Listen up all you rat-faced scallywags, because what I’m about to say just might save your lives.  This here,” he continued, gesturing toward Lysette, “Is Lady Lysette.  She is a special guest of Her Divinity herself.  So I expect that all of you will make certain to treat her with the same deference as you would to His Eminence or His Majesty.  Because I can promise you one thing.  If any of you say or do anything to offend Her Ladyship and she chooses to dispense her own justice as a result,  neither I nor the law nor any of you banding together is going to protect you from her wrath.  Do I make myself clear?”

“Your Excellency, Captain!  You said Lady Lysette but–”

Dennell raised a single finger and the shadow before him extended, grabbing the man by his shoulder and yanking him prostrate on the deck.

“I did not misspeak.  And I suggest you communicate the captain’s orders with all the men currently belowdecks.  Offense against a personal guest of Her Divinity will be seen as an offense against Her Divinity personally.”

“I–  Yes, Captain!  Understood, Captain!”

To his credit, the seahand adjusted quickly and stood at full attention after Dennell’s little display.  Lysette found the display itself a bit distasteful.  The question of why someone with an apparently masculine appearance was being addressed as ‘Lady’ would certainly have stoked questions in the sailors.  Dennell was knowledgeable enough with deities and their capabilities to understand what an avatar was without needing to question it further.  But it might be the first and only time for these seamen— sailing the high seas didn’t seem like a pleasant job, nor one conducive to long, prosperous careers.

“I apologize for the unsightly display, Your Ladyship,” Dennell said.

Lysette cut him off telepathically.  “I would prefer not being addressed so formally.  I dislike being referred to as a ‘Lady’.  Too reminiscent of unpleasant encounters with nobility.”

“I will remember your preferences, Miss Lysette.  However, I would encourage you to take the voyage as an opportunity to acclimate yourself to such addresses.  I will not pretend to know the culture you are fostering in your own dominion, but I think we both would prefer to avoid causing unnecessary diplomatic incidents if we can help it.”

Lysette paused.  Dennell had just lectured her on diplomatic protocols not twelve hours after her own musings about his lack of skill with the same.  A part of her wanted to be offended about it.  But Lysette realized something she’d overlooked before.  Ciricu had no diplomatic protocol.  It had no emissaries, no formal culture or framework for handling international relations, not even a retinue of individuals with information on the laws and customs of the various nations on Aimarion.  Mostly.  Maxwell was familiar with the law and custom of Terea specifically as the closest thing to an intergovernmental liaison, but Lysette doubted even he had much knowledge of Domaria’s royal customs, let alone those outside Kraciell.

Lysette rolled her eyes back in Ciricu, not wanting to irritate her host back on the ship.  Yet one more thing that she would have to add to the list of things she didn’t want to do.  Or even have to consider.  Dealing with more nobles, more gods, and more politics was bad enough.  Having to oversee the construction of a temple, a palace, some sort of luxury amenities for Lysette didn’t speculate how many other people of alleged importance.  Time better spent tending to her actual community.  Mirae’s touch was calming as always, but the whole exchange still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“I understand, Dennell.  Is there anything you need from me in the interim?”

“Of course not, Miss Lysette.  Although the accommodations may not be as pleasant as you are no doubt accustomed to, I would not dare request Her Divinity’s honored guest do more than enjoy her travels until we arrive.”

“If I may make one request?” Lysette asked.

“Name it.”

“I realize I am unfamiliar with the law and custom of Ereill.  Although I might be Zarielle’s guest, I imagine I will be speaking with many other people, both from her temple and the secular government adjacent to it.  The last thing I think either of us want is a war caused by a misunderstanding of our respective cultures.”

“You are quite wise indeed.”  Dennell yawned.  “Unfortunately, I am quite tired.  Ereill’s capital, where we will be traveling, is not far from Aimarion’s north pole.  There, nights are long and even the days are rarely brighter or warmer than dawn.  Because of that and Her Divinity’s influence on the culture, most in Ereill have acclimated to a nocturnal circadian rhythm.”

“Shall we reconvene at dusk?”

“If it pleases you, Miss Lysette, I would appreciate your leave.  Until then, if you have need of anything, please let one of the crewmates know.  I’m sure after my little display, each of them is well aware to treat you with all due respect.  They can also show you to the guest cabin.”  Dennell gave a polite bow.  “As you will.”

Lysette decided to retire soon after the diplomat.  The food she could sense and smell on board the ship was terrible, little more than dry rations, beer and rum that smelled and probably tasted of piss, and fish that was salted far too much for preservation and straight into the realm of desiccation.  The company on board was somehow even worse.  It seemed that, despite Dennell’s warnings, not one of the sailors was capable of going a single sentence without spewing forth an onslaught of obscenities that would make the bawdiest tavern-crawlers think twice about sharing company with them.  It was so bad that she considered for a brief moment taking Dennell up on his implied permission to slap some sense and manners into them.

She didn’t, shrugging off the insults and rude gestures as she headed belowdecks.  Her room for the duration was hardly the epitome of lavish.  A small box of approximately eight feet cubed.  No decorations, no flooring save wood panels that were mostly sanded off and probably wouldn’t splinter into her toes.  The bed was little more than a wooden pane with a piece of padding so thin it was more for show than comfort.  Considering the foul-smelling pot in the corner of the room, Lysette was thankful for her deific lack of need to urinate or defecate, and resented the fact that she couldn’t likewise suppress her sense of smell.

She flared out her aura to take stock of the rest of the ship.  And by the standards of a seagoing vessel, her accommodations were practically queenly.  Further belowdecks were sleeping bunks little bigger than coffins, and probably less comfortable still.  Upon the bottom two floors of the four-story boat, the floor was never fully dry, water leaking in despite the resins used to caulk the wooden structure together.

Hours passed in silence, Lysette taking the time to Cultivate through her Avatar and mentally prepare for whatever trials awaited her.  She dared not mention Thosse’s enmity toward her to the crew.  Whatever preparations they could cobble together while on the high seas were unlikely to do any good against a monster far stronger than these humans.  Humans who’d never had their Cultivation potential unlocked, let alone had the chance to develop that godly power.

A part of Lysette wished she could unlock that power for them right then and there.  It would have been right to do so.  But she couldn’t.  Not just because they bowed to a different goddess, but because her own position was too tenuous to risk the ire of her hostess.  A hostess who might well have been protecting Lysette’s own position far out of sight or mind.

And so she waited, closed her eyes and turned her attentions back to Ciricu.  She sat with Lyon for hours as the excitable polymath went over various plans and details for his bathhouse project.  Sometimes she added her own recommendations and desires for the project, and at others, she simply listened to the proposals of a man whom many would consider mad.

Unfortunately, her own Domain of Reciprocity gave her little insight into the inner workings and natural laws that governed science and nature.  As far as Lysette could sense, most of his theories could have been asinine.  But the way he described them, the Passion which pervaded his entire being, was so genuine and wholehearted that Lysette wanted nothing more than for his every hypothesis to be proven true and for him to one day earn the accolades that he’d surely deserve.

But it was Aurie, not Solanna, who knocked on the door in the late afternoon, bringing with her a notepad as she entered the disheveled room of the eccentric inventor and scientist.  And even more surprisingly, she was in her adult form.

“If it isn’t my new favorite person,” she said, grinning as she nodded to Lyon.  “How are you, my disciple!”

Lysette furrowed her brows.  It didn’t not make sense after reflecting upon Aurie’s Domain, but she was still curious as to when and how those two met and became acquainted.  And as Aurie leaned down, exposing more than a bit of her chest, Lysette wondered even more about their relationship.  All she could do was chuckle.  Lyon didn’t seem Aurie’s type at first glance, but…  love, or at least some sort of attraction, really did work in strange ways.

“I’m well, My Goddess,” he said, not even looking up at his goddess and maybe lover or fling or something.  “I appreciate your taking time to listen to more of my ideas.”

“I mean, I don’t think all of them are right, but you certainly have a great way of thinking about the world.  Not content to accept the wisdom of your predecessors as gospel, always experimenting, considering new ways your observations might fit together.”  She turned to Lysette.  “I hope you don’t mind, Cousin Lysettie.  Some of what we’re going to be working on is a surprise for everyone.  And everyone includes you.”

Lysette laughed.  “I see I’m being dismissed.  Very well.  I hope you two both have a lot of fun with whatever projects you’re working on together.”

“Of course, Lyse,” Lyon said.  “I wish you and Mirae a wonderful rest of the afternoon and evening as well.”

Lysette smiled as she stood outside and embraced the warm wind and sun of the Ciricuan late afternoon.  Soon enough, Dennell would wake from whatever slumber he could manage while on the rocking ship, and after that, she could finally start getting some answers.

Chapter 270: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115926034

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101896170

Chapter 272: https://www.patreon.com/posts/116056213