Still, it was a topic he could tell the trader wasn't particularly knowledgeable about or even interested in. Which was why he wasn't too surprised when she finally changed the topic to him.
He'd not missed the way she'd been eying him all evening – and though that was hardly unusual for a woman in this world, he had a feeling that she was after a little more than a few candid glances.
"Still, I must say your Law-Son is a handsome young man." Nemoa finally said. "I must admit, I was a little surprised to discover he was the passenger I'd be transporting to the capital."
William rather neatly ignored the way she was talking about him as if he wasn't there. It was just one of things he'd learned to get used to.
And it'd be coming to an end soon enough anyway. Until then though, he'd continue playing his part.
Ignorant of his thoughts, the woman continued. "I mean, I'm aware that humans can afford to be a little more free with their men-folk, but sending him to the academy? It seems like a waste."
Karla simply smiled, catching the subtext immediately. "Oh, it's nothing quite so scandalous as what you're thinking. His betrothed is also attending the academy. This is as much a chance for them to have a proper courting period as anything else."
Sure, his aunt was carefree, but she was still nobility. And thus knew the best lies held a little truth. After all, she could hardly say that he was actually headed to the academy in an attempt to straighten him out and turn him into a proper noble.
"Honestly, I'm not sure why more houses don't do it," she continued. "Girls get a chance to meet their future peers there and form valuable relationships for when they rule. Why not young men as well?"
Indeed, that was honestly why most noble scions attended the academy. Not to learn how to fight, but to make connections.
And act as hostages to the royal family, he thought.
It was after all, no coincidence that the Royal Academy was located next to the national capital. Plus, a formalized and standardized education on war did actually provide significant dividends to the country's military power. There was no term of service after training for noble scions, but still meant they returned home with at least some idea of how to command and fight during an actual war.
Something that had been far from guaranteed with the nobility of Earth.
It was a system that had already proven itself in clashes against both the Lunarin and Solites. Both of the balkanized states had suffered greatly in their last two attempts to reincorporate Lindholm into 'their version' of the old Elven Empire.
Nemoa sniffed. "Useful or not, I imagine most consider it uncouth for a man to learn the arts of war, even if he has no intention of using them."
William tried not to smile at that. A feat made easier by an urge to frown at the unsubtle disdain in the woman's voice.
Still, she'd gotten the hint that he wasn't on the market.
Sure, a human male might have been a bit of a step down for an elf, but given that she was the fourth born daughter of a reasonably small noble house, a man of his stature – and age - would actually be quite a catch for her.
"Yes, well I suppose we'll have to wait and see how it all works out," Karla murmured around her glass, rather neatly bringing an end to that topic of conversation.
----------------------
"Sorry about that," Karla grunted as she practically stumbled across the deck towards their rooms. "I mean, we both knew she'd probably be scoping you out for some kind of match, but it was still probably annoying."
William was barely listening. Truth be told, he was rather irritated. Nemoa had spent the latter half of the evening playing footsie with him under the table. In a distinctly deniable manner of course, but she'd still managed to get him rather warmed up before they finally managed to leave.
After all, just because he wasn't officially on the market didn't mean there weren't other opportunities available for a woman who spent most of her time at sea and likely only laid eyes on a man in the flesh once every few months.
Unfortunately for her, she was also a slaver, and he'd sooner fuck a sky-jelly than that elf.
The scent of the sea breeze and the cool moonlight overhead did serve to cool his ire somewhat. The sun had set while they'd been in the captain's cabin and the ship's wooden deck was empty but for a few night watchwomen.
Of course, just as the last hints of unwanted arousal were beginning to dip away from his thoughts, his eyes happened to alight on a nearby orc. The well-built greenskin woman looking out to sea, a slightly bored expression on her tusked features.
Older than the one that had attended the captain, her skin was also a slightly darker shade of green from time likely spent under the sun. More importantly, she didn't have a slave-mark about her throat.
Which, as the captain had said, wasn't totally uncommon. Just because all slaves were orcs, didn't mean all orcs were slaves.
Lindholm had plenty of 'free orc' villages down South.
They were still second-class citizens relative to both humans and elves – there certainly weren't any orc counts or above - but they weren't universally born into servitude or inevitably taken as war-thralls like they'd be up North.
That was why he felt quite comfortable enjoying the way her decidedly loose tunic was practically hanging on by a single button. The move, likely made out of consideration of the Southern heat, exposed a large swathe of viridian green cleavage and some mouth-wateringly tight washboard abs.
Idly, she started to yawn, only to freeze in place as she noticed him looking. The sailor's surprise lasted only a moment though, before she actually had the audacity to favour him with a saucy wink.
Which, given the difference in their social status, was more than a little risky. Especially with his aunt and protector right next to him. And though she was slightly sauced, she also had a bolt-bow slung over her shoulder.
Sure, Ashfield didn't take orc slaves, but that didn't exactly mean they were paragons of racial equality either.
Quite far from it.
Fortunately, the human woman hadn't noticed her law-son being checked out by a base-born orc woman and William had no intention of informing her.
Which was why he was alone in being able to savour the stunned surprise that came over the sailor's face when he winked back. She'd clearly been expecting him to scowl or flush and look away in embarrassment, which was why she was so taken off guard.
Then she flushed slightly, a hint of something hungry entering her gaze as her eyes continued to track him.
Savoring his small victory after a particularly annoying evening, William continued to stride on.
"You know," he began. "If you wish to repay me for enduring a particularly unpleasant evening on behalf of House Ashfield's reputation, you could do so by spending the remainder of it elsewhere."
"What?"
"I mean, I'm tired and I want to catch some decent sleep. Something that will no doubt be quite impossible with your current… odour." At his guardian's affronted look, he continued. "I can smell the wine on your breath from here. And it was not a particularly good vintage."
"You can't!" Karla hissed indignantly, though not before placing her hand over her mouth.
"Plus, you snore." He continued matter-of-factly, as if she hadn't spoken, resisting the urge to chuckle at her expression.
"What- I do not! How would you even know that!?"
He shrugged. "I have my ways. And more to the point, I'm after a decent night's sleep."
It seemed their short conversation was enough for Karla to sober up a little, as she moved to stand in front of him before he started descending below deck. "Jokes aside, you know I can't agree to that, Will."
She gestured to the quietly watching night watchwomen around them before whispering. "I know this is your first time out in the world and it's exciting, but I'm here for your protection. A ship full of lowborn women like this is not a safe place for an unaccompanied man. You understand that, right?"
He nodded, which seemed to relieve her – until he continued.
"I do. Though I'd point out that said danger is somewhat nullified by the fact that you, me and our dear captain are the only ones on the ship capable of flinging lightning bolts at will." He waved his hand about. "Which makes the prospect of some degenerate overpowering me and dragging me into a dark alcove significantly less likely."
Never mind that he was a man and this theoretical assailant would be a woman. Which admittedly didn't mean much where orcs were concerned, but he had about hundred pounds on just about every human woman aboard.
And the only elf was the captain.
His aunt still looked resolute though, so he continued.
"Look, I'm not asking to roam the ship alone. Just some decent sleep. You can escort me to the door of our cabin yourself and then give me the key. So long as the door is locked no one is getting in without my say-so, or by waking up the entire ship trying to bash the door down."
It wasn't lost on him that the ship's guest quarters had a very heavy door.
He watched the pilot mentally hum and haw for a few seconds before she sighed. "Fine. I suppose a young man deserves a little privacy. I'll see about bunking in one of the spare officer's quarters for the night."
And hopefully for a few nights to come, William thought excitedly.
Outwardly though, he just gave his favorite aunt a beaming smile. "Thanks Aunt Karla."
Moments like these, it didn't matter to him that they weren't actually related by blood. The woman was 'just' a member of his dad's harem when he'd been alive. It changed nothing.
Awkwardness regarding her trying to 'baby him' aside, the woman across from him was family.
"No problem kiddo," she said with a smile. "I know you're a giant pain in the ass, but… I get why you might be. Besides, you've got a good heart underneath it all. And while stealing that Shard was a damn fool thing to do, and nearly cost our house a lot, you did save those two women."
She reached over to ruffle his hair. "This old woman damn near died of pride seeing you flying the old thing – even if you did crash at the end."
His eyes dipped to the deck as he muttered, "there was sea-water in the right ballast."
His aunt just laughed. "Yeah, that tends to happen when you try to perform a sea-landing without floats. And no training. At some point in this trip you're going to have to tell me how you learned to fly, because I know I sure as shit didn't teach you."
He laughed in turn as he followed his aunt below deck.
…Though not before turning back and to throw a small wave and a second wink in his still watching admirer's direction.