Night had fallen upon the city. The table in Bellena's room was covered with the official calendars from the Imperial families. She had spent much of the afternoon looking over the projections for the next eclipse, and the various days for the seasons and could not help but notice something was wrong.

Knowing that there was always room for slight variances due to the location of the observer, Bellena took the table out with her onto the balcony of her room and assembled her telescope to begin taking her own measurements. Sure enough, the Imperial documents seemed to have miscalculated the eclipse by nearly two days. She made notes in both Merenaese and Rokugani in order to correct this mistake in a way which her superiors would deem necessary.

She looked up from her work to glance out over the city as she heard a knock at her door. Her head turned first, and then she stood, having a decent idea who it would be from the letter earlier that day she called out, "It is open."

A man dressed in Tortoise garb walked through the door and bowed courteously, "I am here to escort you milady."

Bellena nodded and stood. She threw on a light shawl over the top of her head which reached down to her back to help cover a bit of her hair and protect her from the chill of the autumn night. After walking back to the dock, the guard led her to the boat of Muhaki Zabieru. She walked up the extended plank and removed the shawl from her head and placed it down on her shoulders as she reached the deck of the ship.

The vessel was of looked like any of Rokugani origin, melding with the other vessels that populated the port; in fact if there hadn't been an escort it would have probably been hard to find the correct ship.

The sailors took her towards the captain's quarters, quickly departing after sliding open the door. Inside sat an obviously Merenese man holding a goblet of something and clad in a traditional rokugani garb that clashed starkly with this foreign heritage. "Ahhh... princesa," he said with a grin before taking a sip from his goblet. "Bhang Lassi. Brahmins love this mix. Say it brings them visions of their Gods," he chuckled. "They bring something but I think even with some aguardiente you'd get the same effect."

He motioned to an empty place across him "Sorry for the lack of chairs. It seems like the Empire is against comfort as much as it is against common sense. Do you wish to partake in the Priestly Drink of the Brahmins?"

Bellena smirked slightly and nodded graciously as she took a seat across from him, "I thank you for your hospitality, but I am familiar with the concoction, and I'd prefer not to see any 'visions' on my way home this evening. I unfortunately am not in any situation where I can let my hair down and relax."

She smiled politely and looked around the cabin, "Have you commanded this vessel for long? I see it's registers on the dock reports from time to time."

He chuckled "Very wise, very wise indeed," he set the goblet on the table. "Though I could arrange for a bottle to be delivered to your room. Or twenty-four." he licked the remains of the drink of his lips. "Or you could stay here, after all, this vessel is a little piece of Merenae in an otherwise dreary place."

"Did you know that they don't eat meat here?" he laughed "But at least our clan is not like these backwater savages. They might dress princely but they would last very little if they'd ever ventured into the true world." he sighed "I guess thats where we, or in the very least I, come into play. Making sure they explore safely," his lips twisted into a grin "and what is intended."

"This rickety deathtrap?" he scoffed."No, this is not a vessel I would choose to have had it not been imposed on me. We must pretend to be like the mainlanders."

"Anyways," he leaned back. "I guess you must want to know why I asked you to join me here."

Bellena for her part just nodded and listened until he asked his final question. Then nodded affirmatively.

"I'm going to cut to the chase," he smiled and leaned back. "I want you to be my navigator."

She couldn't help but chuckle slightly at his request, "Oh? For the journey with the Explorers?"

"Not only," he chuckled "But for starters it will have to do."

She smiled slightly but shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I must refuse then. I have an appointment and other duties to my superiors that would not allow me to travel with the Explorers. I need to return to Kameyama with all haste."

Zabieru gave her a wry smile "I wonder if our higher ups will decide to reveal the location of Kameyama."

Bellena tilted her head, "They may... but that is sure to be problematic..."

"Why though?" he smirked "They would be subjected to OUR laws and they'd be in OUR territory. Also if they try any offensive against us, what would they do? Their pathetic vessels can't do squat to ours."

"Today they may not be able to take it by force. But that reveals nothing of the future. Kameyama holds a special strategic position in the middle of the sea. The sooner they know of it, the sooner these power hungry Imperials can plot to take it for themselves... just like they took this city." She replied.

"That is true," he chuckled. "I guess time will see."

"So I guess you will not be joining the expedition?"

She shook her head, "I need to get back as soon as possible. Our forces at sea need to know what is taking place here."

"The offer still stands princesa," he smiled as he shrugged. "Unfortunate that you would deny a position many would kill for but I am still confident you will come around."

"After all, I intend to be leading that expedition and making sure whatever the Empire wins, we win tenfold."

She nodded, "I support your aims even if I cannot assist you with them at the moment."

She shifted her weight slightly in her seat and tilted her head the other way before asking, "Señor Xavier, do you mind me asking a question?"

He nodded pleased with her answer "Who knows what the future will hold."

"You are free to ask princesa," he smirked "Just as I am free to answer."

She chuckled once out of her nostrils, "What is your opinion of the current leadership of the clan? We have many types of men in the Tortoise... what would you say your reasons for being affiliated with this clan are?"

He laughed at her question, "My father was a member of the Tortoise so it was obvious I would seize that opportunity to tag along this Clan. So far it has been very profitable for my family."

"What about you? Did you become stranded in Tortoise lands?"