Re: Setting Sail
Not being far from land, birds are reasonably common in the skies, though most of them would be classed as seabirds. The one that answers Vasily's call is, naturally, an albatross. After he gives it his instructions, it flies off. How much of those instructions it understood, or will remember, is problematical. Some birds are noted for how smart they are, of course, but the term 'birdbrain' was coined for a reason.
Time at sea sometimes can seemingly drag on forever, and so it goes now. Alicia's 4-hour watch is nearing the end when the albatross returns. Even as he's reporting to Vasily, Alicia spots a sail on the horizon. Even with a spyglass, not much detail can be made out at this distance, but it appears to be flying the silver-dragon-on-black flag of Eisen. It's not the ship you are looking for, but it is heading in your direction.
The albatross says it could not find the ship Vasily described, but found a pirate ship.