Upon stepping onto the bridge, we were greeted by the Purser, not the Captain. He had stood watch the entire night, and was beside himself about the prolonged absence.
He was at the point of deputizing me to take the watch and dragging Elijah along with him in search, when the Captain was returned under armed guard.
His countenance was combustible, but he calmed down enough to give us a rundown. Because the First Mate bears the mark he has been given undisputed claim to the grain ship, and because the Captain won’t take the mark we are being expelled with these guards to accompany the shipment.
But the Captain swears that he won’t leave without a new first mate.
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