Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (cont'd)

Aleth gave them polite nods, then stepped down the first aisle, running his fingers down the spines. He didn’t look at any one too long, eyes only very briefly skimming the titles. Finally, he pulled out a book that looked like it might be interesting, bound in leather that had been imprinted with an intricate design. “This one has a cool cover,” he announced, stepping back towards where Emery sat. “What is it?”

Emery took the book, skimming the spine. "Beyond Jordheim," he read. "An account by the Lord Perseus Ash during his voyage across the seas from the years 216 to 220."

Excellent. It wouldn’t be immediately relevant, but Aleth had a habit of collecting every last piece of information he could. And this would give him a strong foundation from which to build.

“Does that seem an appropriate level for me to begin with?” Aleth asked.

"Certainly. It's quite old, though. Expect some ridiculous worlds." Emery opened the book and gestured for Aleth to pull up a chair. "Where shall we start?"

“I suppose it makes sense to begin at the beginning?” Aleth grabbed one of the nearby chairs and pulled it forward, then perched atop it. “Unless you’ve got a better recommendation?”

"None whatsoever." Emery offered him the book. "You start."

(This first bit is talking about the ships that set sail and details the major crew members as well as the weather and Lord Perseus's own thoughts on the voyage ahead. He's optimistic and curious but rankled by the choppy seas.)

(Awesome thanks!)

An account by Lord Perseus himself, written by mine own hand, at the start of an exhilarating adventure across the seas. Find herein records of technicalities of my exhibition as well as exposition on the daunting spectacles we will no doubt face.

“An… ac…account? by… Lord… Per…pers…persee…” Aleth looked up. “What did you say his name was?”

"Perseus." Emery pointed to the word. "The 'eus' makes an 'ayus' sound in Upper Tongue."

“Ohh that makes sense, thank you.” Aleth looked back at the page. He stumbled through more of the words, stopping at ‘exhilarating’ and ‘herein’ to ask for help. He also ‘needed help’ with ‘technicalities’ and ‘exhibitions’. He hesitated after Emery helped him through the phrase, repeating it. “‘Technicalities of my exhibition’… I feel like that was a needlessly complicated way to phrase this.”

"Nobles do things in needlessly complicated ways all the time," Emery chuckled. "Just look at the war we're in. But you're a quick study."

“Fair enough.” Aleth laughed as well. “And thank you. I feel like a toddler, stumbling over my words like this.”

"You're doing wonderfully." Emery looked over at him. "Read some more, or shall I take a turn?"

“By all means.” Aleth handed the book over. They’d get through the information quicker, if he didn’t have to pretend to be illiterate.

"We set out ten hours before the sun split itself upon the horizon," Emery read in a clear, bold voice. "It is the dead of night now and I find myself in a reflective mood. The first day of the journey has been as informative as I hope the new continents will be. I have learned from the crew the details of how to sail a ship, the ins and outs of tending the sails."

Aleth folded his hands in his lap and nodded encouragingly, listening closely to every word Emery read.