Read Online Without Rhythm (The Lament) by P.S. Power - Free Book Online
Authors: P.S. Power
Tags: Fantasy
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stranger.
"I'm your new roommate it looks like. Pran. I guess 'Apprentice Guardian Pran'. That's kind of tentative, but we'll see. You are?" She shouldn't have had to prompt anyone to give their name, but she was the one that had just showed up in his room while he slept. He had a right to be a little put out by it.
"Oh, Royce. Everyone calls me Roy though. Um, Apprentice Shipmate Roy. Right now I'm working in engineering, since we're always shorthanded there. I have to go and see to my shift, after breakfast. Do... you need to eat?" It wasn't a real question, just an attempt at being polite. After all, for all he knew she might be going right back to bed after talking to him.
"Yes, please help me with that. I haven't eaten in... nearly two days now, I'm starving. I need to wash too. I don't have any other clothes than these, but I'd rather reek a little less if possible." It would be great to have a shower and maybe brush her teeth too, but she didn't have any way to do that at the moment, having come in with nothing but what she wore.
"OK. I'll get you set up from ship's stores. After we eat. We'll need to run unfortunately, I can't be too late to my shift or I'll have to have a beating. Since I'm in charge of myself right now, that's hard to do. I'm sure you see the problem." He grinned, which made him look a little like a picture of a monkey. His ears stuck out goofily and his nose was large, but he seemed affable, which counted for a lot in her book, if they were going to be sharing a room.
"Lead on then, please. We should all avoid beatings whenever possible."
As an act of kindness Pran was taken by the restroom first, and allowed to take care of that before Roy did. Then they ran, literally jogging, to the galley which was where they were supposed to eat or the kitchen, it was a little hard to tell. There was a pot of oatmeal set out for the early crew, along with some dried fruit. It wasn't brilliant food, but Roy assured her that was because of the time of day, not that they were singled out for special mistreatment, due to low station.
"Or... I mean, at least I'm not. I've never seen a Guardian apprentice before. Our two are nice enough, but scary. They never take a break or go into town to just look around. When they aren't guarding the Judge or doing duties for the world, they train and practice. I think that's part of why no one wants to do the job. They never seem to get to just have fun. I mean, I work hard, but the Captain makes sure I get time for hobbies and leave, when we go someplace interesting. They might starve you or expect you to go on half rations at least. I don't know." He wasn't teasing in particular, but the words didn't make Pran worry.
Half rations would be a full half more than she probably would have gotten on the streets.
Ten minutes later, bowls washed quickly, but well, in a sink at the back of the tiny room behind the wooden tables. Then they jogged to a storage closet that was very nearly the size of the eating space, but was filled with cabinets. Roy didn't hesitate, opening the door and grabbing things for her, pulling a writing pencil from a front pocket of his own tan outfit.
"You can get what you need from here, unless told otherwise, but if you do, make sure you log who you got it for and what was taken. Otherwise it's considered theft. You said your name was Pran? Is that your full name or..." He waited, as if there would be more.
Most people had three names after all. She didn't.
"Yes. Just Pran." Her voice was a little cool, ready to defend herself with snark or sarcasm if need be, but the man just wrote quickly, handing her things as he went along. Soap, two towels, a single set of black clothing that he held up to her first, grinning.
"Too big, but the smallest size we have in the right color. It isn't Guardian black, but it should be close enough, I hope. If not I'm sure I'll hear about it."
Then, being an amazing creature, Pran decided instantly, he handed her a
"I'm your new roommate it looks like. Pran. I guess 'Apprentice Guardian Pran'. That's kind of tentative, but we'll see. You are?" She shouldn't have had to prompt anyone to give their name, but she was the one that had just showed up in his room while he slept. He had a right to be a little put out by it.
"Oh, Royce. Everyone calls me Roy though. Um, Apprentice Shipmate Roy. Right now I'm working in engineering, since we're always shorthanded there. I have to go and see to my shift, after breakfast. Do... you need to eat?" It wasn't a real question, just an attempt at being polite. After all, for all he knew she might be going right back to bed after talking to him.
"Yes, please help me with that. I haven't eaten in... nearly two days now, I'm starving. I need to wash too. I don't have any other clothes than these, but I'd rather reek a little less if possible." It would be great to have a shower and maybe brush her teeth too, but she didn't have any way to do that at the moment, having come in with nothing but what she wore.
"OK. I'll get you set up from ship's stores. After we eat. We'll need to run unfortunately, I can't be too late to my shift or I'll have to have a beating. Since I'm in charge of myself right now, that's hard to do. I'm sure you see the problem." He grinned, which made him look a little like a picture of a monkey. His ears stuck out goofily and his nose was large, but he seemed affable, which counted for a lot in her book, if they were going to be sharing a room.
"Lead on then, please. We should all avoid beatings whenever possible."
As an act of kindness Pran was taken by the restroom first, and allowed to take care of that before Roy did. Then they ran, literally jogging, to the galley which was where they were supposed to eat or the kitchen, it was a little hard to tell. There was a pot of oatmeal set out for the early crew, along with some dried fruit. It wasn't brilliant food, but Roy assured her that was because of the time of day, not that they were singled out for special mistreatment, due to low station.
"Or... I mean, at least I'm not. I've never seen a Guardian apprentice before. Our two are nice enough, but scary. They never take a break or go into town to just look around. When they aren't guarding the Judge or doing duties for the world, they train and practice. I think that's part of why no one wants to do the job. They never seem to get to just have fun. I mean, I work hard, but the Captain makes sure I get time for hobbies and leave, when we go someplace interesting. They might starve you or expect you to go on half rations at least. I don't know." He wasn't teasing in particular, but the words didn't make Pran worry.
Half rations would be a full half more than she probably would have gotten on the streets.
Ten minutes later, bowls washed quickly, but well, in a sink at the back of the tiny room behind the wooden tables. Then they jogged to a storage closet that was very nearly the size of the eating space, but was filled with cabinets. Roy didn't hesitate, opening the door and grabbing things for her, pulling a writing pencil from a front pocket of his own tan outfit.
"You can get what you need from here, unless told otherwise, but if you do, make sure you log who you got it for and what was taken. Otherwise it's considered theft. You said your name was Pran? Is that your full name or..." He waited, as if there would be more.
Most people had three names after all. She didn't.
"Yes. Just Pran." Her voice was a little cool, ready to defend herself with snark or sarcasm if need be, but the man just wrote quickly, handing her things as he went along. Soap, two towels, a single set of black clothing that he held up to her first, grinning.
"Too big, but the smallest size we have in the right color. It isn't Guardian black, but it should be close enough, I hope. If not I'm sure I'll hear about it."
Then, being an amazing creature, Pran decided instantly, he handed her a
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