The Non-Human Society

Chapter Two Hundred and Six – Vim – Rosyln

“Just a tiny push. Away from you,” The Boatwoman guided Renn in rowing.

Renn correctly pushed the rudder just enough to make the tiny boat list to the right. We were now more on course with the upcoming bend in the river.

My companion turned to the boatwoman, who nodded as to inform Renn she had done well, and Renn beamed a happy smile at me.

Smiling back at her, I looked away from the two women and at the river we were slowly floating on.

The water was tinted a little red, thanks to all the clay. It was… pretty, in a way, but somehow it made me feel hotter than I actually was. As if somehow the reddish water was as hot as the red sun in the sky. It was hot, in actuality. Summer was here… but usually, just like the cold, the heat never really bothered me.

“For someone who grew up in a forest, you’re doing well,” the boatwoman said.

“When I bump into something, I’ll remember you said that,” Renn said back, but I could hear her… simple joy of the moment.

She was having a blast. Which was… a little sad, in a way. For something as silly as captaining a little boat down a simple river to make her so thrilled and excited…

Maybe I was being cruel to her. Life should not be so depressing that something like this made her so gleeful. If she was a child, I’d understand, or simple minded… but she was neither. Though she did take joy in life’s simple things, often.

“Hard to bump into anything out here, dear. The river’s deep. Little to no foliage, too! Though ya’ might hit a fish or two sometimes,” she said.

“I’d say that’d be the fishes fault, not ours,” Renn said.

“Such a thing to say! This is their home, dearie not ours!” the boatwoman chided her, but did so with a laugh and happy tone. She was just making small talk.

Glancing back at the two, I studied the boatwoman. She was… honestly a little out of place. Not because she was the captain of a river boat, nor because she was a woman and not a man… but rather, her clothes.

They were far too nice to be worn by a simple fisherman or boatmen out here. She had multiple layers on, and most of what she wore was newer and finer in thread. Stuff usually found in larger cities, not out in the boonies like we were. They were so out of place out here it was almost comical.

We had hired the woman at a small fishing village a few hours up the river. There had been three people with boats on the river at the time, and she was the one Renn had called out to. Not a surprise, really, the other two had been men... but they at least had looked normal. Dressed in rags and slightly dirty from their long hours of labor.

This woman was too clean to be a laborer. Not just her clothes, either. Her nails weren’t as clean cut or polished as Renn’s, but they weren’t jagged and stained like most.

She was as out of place as Renn’s smile out here.

Though I was likely reading too much into it. She did know this boat in and out. She knew this river too, based off the way she was guiding Renn along the currents. Something that someone couldn’t fake so easily. She also spoke confidently, and I’ve yet to hear any outright lies from her.

What was perhaps the reason for her attire was something obvious. She likely had either pilfered it from a dead corpse, from the spreading disease, or had bought it for cheap off someone else who had.

And honestly… even if this wasn’t actually her boat, or she a thief or something… what did that matter?

It wasn’t like she was a threat to us. And we were sailing down the correct river, towards the correct destination.

Though I’d hate to have to kill the woman that Renn was becoming fast friends with.

“Though I must admit, I’m surprised to see travelers these days. Been many moons since I last saw any,” the woman said.

“Oh? Because of the sickness?” Renn asked.

“Aye, that and war. The lands here haven’t joined in, yet, but a lot of the younger men have run off to join in

Ah. She had intended to rob me then, at first. Interesting.

Handing her the bags, I smiled as I watched her drop them thanks ot the weight.

“Wha…” the woman stared at the bags on the ground, and her hands and arms that were outstretched… and empty.

“What’re you doin…?” another woman stepped forward, to help. She bent down to pick up one of the bags, and although was able to lift it… she did grunt and exhale as she did.

The captain chuckled as another woman stepped forward, to help as well.

“Want some help?” Renn asked as she too stepped forward.

I sighed as I ignored the women as they mumbled and questioned the bags, as if they were some confounded mystery beyond understanding.

They were just a little heavy. For humans.

“Come on now, get! And you three! Help Lip get that boat secured! We’re heading to the city!” the captain bellowed some orders, and quickly the entire deck went into motion.

Watching them all hurry to obey, I was rather impressed. Even the younger girl hurried to help out.

The women finally got the bags sorted away, and four of them were hurrying off to the back of the ship. There was a large double door situated next to some stairs that led up to the helm. They disappeared into the doors quickly.

“I’ll show ya to your room, come on,” the captain waved at us to follow.

Renn hurried after her like a lost puppy, and I dutifully followed said puppy… but as I did I spared one last glance around the deck.

The women were using pulleys to lift the boat we had arrived on.

They were battening down hatches, and pulling up fishing lines. I counted nearly a dozen poles tied to the side railing of the ship. Not that uncommon of a sight on ships such as these, but it told me a little about this ship and those who lived upon it.

Had the war and plague done this much damage…?

To make even pirates such as these?

They were definitely sailors, at least. But they were no real pirates. The captain was and maybe a few of the others… like the first woman, who had taken my bags and dropped them. She had the mentality needed to rob someone. But the rest of the women here were more than likely not pirates themselves, but their daughters. Or wives or sisters.

Following Renn who followed the captain down the stairs and into the bowels of the ship, I noted the stuff on the walls we were passing. Clothes were hung up on nails. Little shelves had been shaped and installed, though most were relatively bare and only a few had stuff like candles or small trinkets upon them.

Pirate ship? Hardly. This was a home.

Rounding a corner, we ended up at the last door in the hallway, right before it led down another floor. Likely to where the ship had its storage hull.

The door was already open, and a woman ran out of the room as we neared. She darted down the stairwell, lower into the ship, before anyone could say anything.

I sighed as I peered around Renn and into the room… to see that sure enough, one of our bags was open.

“Uh… If she took anything I’ll make sure to get it back for ya…” the captain said with a strained smile.

“Please do,” was all I said.

“This is rather nice,” Renn said as she stepped into the room. It was a larger room, with not just a bed but a small table and window. Based off the hastily made bedding and the rug on the floor… it was likely someone’s actual room.

There was even some trunks and a dresser, which looked full of clothes and stuff.

“Should do fine right? Just a few days, after all,” the captain asked me.

“It’ll do just fine!” Renn said happily.

I waved at Renn as the captain’s eyes held my own.

The captain nodded, and then coughed. “You uh… can either have dinner brought to ya, or we can eat together if you’d like?” the captain then asked Renn.

“Oh. Yes. Together,” Renn stepped back out of the room and nodded to the captain.

Keeping a groan inside, I glanced down the hallway behind us. Some of the women were peering at us from around the corner of the hallway.

“Dinner it is! Hope you like fish, that’s about all we got anymore lately,” the captain said.

“What’s your name?” I asked her before Renn could tell her an all fish meal would be delightful.

She startled, and laughed at me. “Roslyn! My daughter should be around here too, little Rosie. If I find her I’ll make sure she introduces herself too,” Rosyln said.

“Vim, she introduced herself when we boarded her boat. Or well, the other boat… the smaller one,” Renn reminded me.

Had she? I must not have been paying attention.

Or rather I was likely more interested in her now, which was why I wanted to know.

She had gone from weird out of place boatwoman, to captain of a pirate ship. Which also normally wouldn’t be much a difference in importance to me… but this was interesting.

A pirate ship, made home by a bunch of women and children.

Very interesting indeed.

“An odd man ya’ got, but better than the ones who just up and die on ya,” Rosyln said to Renn.

Renn sighed. “I’m not sure. His problem is he just won’t die no matter what,” she said.

Rosyln busted into laughter, and I glanced at Renn who smirked at me.

“Oh I’ll enjoy this trip, I will! I’d even waive the ferry fee if the world wasn’t so bleak, I would!” Rosyln said.

“I’ll be deducting any lost goods from your fee, Captain Rosyln,” I said as I reached past Renn and shut the door behind her.

Renn stood up stiffly, likely thanks to my action and tone… but Rosyln only nodded and giggled away as if my genuine threat was just a funny joke. “All will be well! Now,” Rosyln stepped towards Renn, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

I watched Renn’s body go stiff upon the contact, and her smile became all wiry and weird… but still one of joy, as Rosyln guided her back down the hall, heading back where we came.

“So Renn, you learnt to steer a tiny boat, how about one with more girth?” the captain asked Renn.

Renn didn’t even hesitate to nod. “Oh yes!”

The captain smirked, and I shook my head at her… and Renn.

Just great. Renn the pirate. If I wasn’t careful she’d be one before nightfall…

Slowly following the two, since they were hurrying up the stairs to the helm… I sighed as we returned to the deck.

Glancing up at the sky, I glared at the darker reds appearing.

Grow darker quicker, please, before Renn starts speaking in tongues and hears the call of the sea.

Since if she did… I’d likely drop all of my responsibilities and join her, and we can’t be having that.

Not at all.