Jared was thinking about who would want to hurt Jade. Jade was a gentle soul and he couldn't think of who on the ship would be crazy enough to do such a dastardly deed. When the Natalia passed him he snapped out of his thoughts. "Excuse me? What do you mean 'small talk'?" He asked before hurrying after the Captain and to visit Jade.
Cobiah took out the folding chair, and sat down. As to not fall asleep, he decided to polish his rapier to fill the time. He poured a blue-ish solution on a rag, and started carefully stroking up and down the blade. While counting his strokes, he heard someone approaching. It could just be any old sailor, but it wouldn't hurt to check. He cracked open the door, and saw the captain approaching. "Captain! I assume you're hear to check in on Jade? She was conscious a few moments ago, but I'm afraid she's passed out from the painkillers we gave her."
Natalia spoke quickly and quietly so as not to be overheard. "I have given you a chance to stay on my boat, even though I am aware of your ill intentions. However, stabbing a member of my crew is unacceptable. I am fond of the term 'innocent until proven guilty', but I'm sure you understand my suspicions." They turned the corner into Jade's room, to see her sleeping, and Cobiah standing guard, and polishing his rapier. "Hello, Cobiah. Yes, we're here to check on her. Was she making any sense when she was conscious?"
"She was quite lucid, in fact." Cobiah said, matter of factly. "She said that she heard her pet mouse, Mo, I think his name is, escape into the hallway, and when she got up to check on him, the attackers got her from behind. They inspected her hand, muttered a curse and ran off without finishing the job. Her mouse was inside her cabin the whole time as well. Whole bunch of bizarre events if you ask me."
Jared felt insulted and offended by Natalia's claims. He did indeed have ill intentions towards the nature of his reason on the ship, but blatantly harming another member of his peers with no valid reasoning was absurd to him. "You think I was-" He started, keeping his voice low, but stopped as Natalia entered Jade's room. He simply folded his arms and grumbled.
"Her hand?" Natalia said, crossing the room, and holding the sleeping Jade's wrist with extreme care. She inspected the arm, her head cocked, and her eyes narrowed. Jade turned slightly in sleep, and mumbled something. "Bees..? Mmph. No hornets." Natalia put down the wrist, and paced the room, her hand clenched into a fist to her lips as she thought. "The stabber left without checking for a pulse. Unless they heard someone coming, he or she must have seen something on her hand that changed their mind. What was it?"
"Not to mention this was a calculated attack as well. They lured Jade out into the hallway. I suggest we take preventative measures to prevent any more attacks on board the ship. More patrols, secret knocks, and the like."
"I agree about the patrols. Obviously, there's going to be an investigation, and whoever did this will be..." Natalia cleared her throat. "Dealt with." She paused. "Although, why Jade?" Almost on cue, Jade stirred once again. She seemed to be a fairly restless sleeper. Natalia watched her for a moment, a rare expression of affection on her face. The moment vanished quickly though, and she turned to the others. "Cobiah, I appreciate you standing guard. I'll send a couple people to join you, and you can take shifts. No need to have one person staying up the whole night."
"Much obliged, captain. I did my share of investigations when I was still with my fathers company. Granted, it was boring old corporate espionage, but maybe I could lend a hand."
"I appreciate it," she said heavily. She cleared her throat, and drummed her fingers on her thigh as she thought for a moment. "Please, Mr. Seatone, if she awakens, send someone to come fetch me." She bid them a goodnight, and went out into the hallway with Jared. As they walked down the hall, Natalia stopped and spoke with a few sailors about guarding Jade's room, and sent them on their way. She went onto the main deck, and turned to Jared. "Alright. Care to explain your alibi, Mr. Rayne?"
Jared kept his arms crossed. "After the feast and when the music started, I went back to the kitchen with the bowls to clean up. When that was done I had a dri- I sat down for a bit then lay down. It wasn't until I head the commotion on the deck I decided to come back up and have a look." He was still angry at Natalie for assuming he hurt Jade.
"Do you have anyone who can back up your claims? Kitchen workers perhaps?" If Natalia detected Jared's anger, she didn't let on. She pushed forward, listening to his story with a cocked head.
Natalia raised an eyebrow. "Forgive me, Mr. Rayne, but you are the only person on this ship who I know has alternate motives. It would be foolish of me not to suspect you." She rubbed her temple with one hand, and sighed. It was then when Jared might notice how tired she looked. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her skin seemed a little paler than usual. "Tell me, Mr. Rayne, do you know Jade well?"
Jared gave this some thought. "Not on a personal level, no. But I have had some conversation with her. She's approached me when I've been on my own and she's a very nice gal, I must admit."
Natalia sighed, and pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. Her hands were on her hips and she stared at the ground in thought. Finally, her gaze returned to Jared's. "I will need to talk with the kitchen aids to confirm your alibi, Mr. Rayne. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me, as offended as you may be."
Jared sighed and looked over in the direction of Jade's room. "It's fine. I'm just wanting to know who would hurt Jade... and hurt us."
