Re: Chapter 1 - The Captain
Raff led the two forcefully up onto the deck, where the airship was in full sail. Men and boys were scrambling about, holding odd little cages with fire in them up to the big rock anchored in the middle of the ship. Ropes were strung everywhere, to pull up the weights and winches, to control the sails. The wind was in their favor, and they zipped along at a dizzying speed. The faraway ground whizzed by, creating a feeling of intense motion sickness to anyone not used to such travel.
Once up on deck, the Quartermaster led them up a short set of stairs to a little balcony overlooking the whole ship. The helm was there, as well as rows and rows of levers all for raising and lowering the weights that controlled their altitude and speed. Controlling the boyancy of the flight rock was key in successfully piloting an airship.
Standing at the helm was the Captain. His long red hair streamed back away from his face, and he wore a broad grin as his hands periodically flicked out to a lever and yanked, changing the movement of the ship ever so slightly so that the ever changing direction and speed of the wind didn't alter their course too much. He never took his eyes off of the sky before him, even when he reached for a lever. His gaze seemed to follow the wind currents, and he handled the ship with the kind of skill gained only from years of practice, combined with a natural aptitude for flying.
Raff grunted to let the captain know he was there. Without letting go of the helm, he stepped aside. "Quartermaster, if you would...?" he said. Raff stepped up and took the wheel. The Captain brushed his hair back and pushed up a patterned bandana that had been hanging around his neck, keeping his hair from his face as he turned to face the two would-be stowaways.
"Sleep well?" he asked pleasantly, bowing slightly as he gestured to the door of his personal cabin, galantly stepping forward to open the door. "In here, please."