On the Ship from the Monster Hunt

As Swannport appeared on the horizon, Matilda could see Seraphina up near the prow of the ship - as far as they would let her anyway. Sitting on a capstan and looking out past the rigging.
 
It seemed Matilda was in fact earning their passage. She had in her hands a strange, brass instrument and that familiar book tucked under her arm. Today both the moons were visible and hung low in the sky, despite the presence of the sun all day. She seemed to be studying them, taking some kind of measurement and referring to the book as the fishing boat continued to make its way toward Swannport.
 
Seraphina drifted a whispered message to Matilda. “What are you doing? Seems interesting. “
 
Matilda glanced Seraphina's way, smiled, and walked over. "Navigation! Bobby is feeling a little under the weather and asked me to check his heading for him. With these instruments, and knowing the date and general time of day, I can verify our heading with some degree of accuracy. Navigation can be a bit tricky! And so skill in doing so is very valuable on any ship that goes to sea far enough to lose sight of land."
 
She added, "So, what has drawn you here?"
 
Seraphina replied, “Just looking at the town. I can see the towers of sorcery in the distance I think. Just thinking that it was only a few months ago that I returned here for a funeral…and how so much has happened.”
 
"Hm," Matilda considered. "Might be masts of the Tall Ships you are seeing. We should still be at least thirty leagues out, by my measurements." She opened her book again to double-check. The pages to which she opened were covered with scrolling artwork that looked like it might be a map, perhaps. There might a trick to reading it. "Yes, thirty-one leagues." She closed the book and looked toward Seraphina.
"I'm sorry. Was someone close?"
 
“My father,” Seraphina said.
 
"I'm very sorry. How is your mother?"
 
“She’s mourning still. Taking care of my younger brother and now heading the household and my father’s affairs. I think she’ll stay at least until he’s grown. The earthquake recently killed one of our household as well. Its been a hard few months.”
 
Seraphina let a single tear drop. “Her name was Nora. I blame that Lantican for her death. My father…well he was old. A life well-lived.” D
 
Matilda frowned, put an arm around Seraphina in a show of support and sympathy. "I wish I knew why the earthquake happened at all. It seems like such a senseless, random thing. Why would a fire elf come here, apparently alone, and risk everything? Could she really be so arrogant and convinced of her power that she could survive retaliation?"
 
Seraphina shook her head, “I don’t know either. So much death and suffering, daring us to go after her. I don’t understand why either.” She added, “She could have killed us the first time we encountered her. She didn’t. She uses these poor wretches to…”
A thought crossed her mind. Matilda could tell as Seraphina wasn’t hiding it.
 
"To what?" she asked, her curiosity biting the hook Seraphina dangled.
 
“Its bugged me why she’s using these creatures. Maybe, that’s all she has. Maybe, like me, she’s on a wandering of her own. A test, either of her self or a theory that we might be vulnerable. But she is otherwise alone.”
 
"I suppose one wonders if she will remain so, or if she is preparing the way for something."
 
"That's the problem. Is this a lone actor or part of a play to which she is but the opening act," Seraphina noted. "It feels she's goading us into a trap. Us being the city or perhaps champions she can kill off one-by-one. But still, she could have killed me easily at our first encounter. Maybe I'm just the understudy. She may be after the primadonnas."
 
Seraphina sighed, "I don't think we are who she is after. I fear it is our leaders or the bravest of us."
 
"If she is establishing some kind of power base, then I suppose she might be trying to acquire staff, guards, warriors that are competent, and trying to get them trained enough to be useful to her. That would make your team her unwitting instructional tool for her own team, though, and that's rather cynical. Let's just assume she underestimated your team when she first met you!"
 
"Or we were overconfident and she didn't call our bluff," Seraphina joked.
 
"Either way, I think your team had a solid win in that first encounter." Matilda watched the waves in front of the ship where a pod of dolphins had appeared to lead the way.
"So, have you thought any more on whether you will pursue your new sorcerous abilities, or continue on your path toward spellsinging?"
 
"Why not both? I'll always be a Dréama. It is a sisterhood I have devoted my life to. But, what skill I learn in my portfolio is up to me. I think sorcery is something I must explore further."
 
She added, “And my mentor agrees. What’s next to prepare for the covenant?” (edited)
 
"Since you haven't family in the Covenant already, it falls to someone else to sponsor you for membership. But as I mentioned before, I'm happy to do that for you. I'll speak with Archmage Thorburn on your behalf. Based on my recommendation, he'll -- oh and never call him a she, okay? always a him -- he'll probably ask the Tower of Dragons to admit you. This might take a week or so, depending on where people are. Sorcerers adventure a lot. And then you'll probably get an official mentor!"
 
Seraphina nodded, “Good, that would be helpful. And…thank you for the sponsorship. Might I ask, why couldn’t you mentor me?” She paused and then added, “What’s this he vs she situation with Thorburn?”
 
"First question - because I haven't been assigned to be . Maybe I will! I don't know. Second question - the Archmage was born a woman, but prefers to life his life as a man."
 
"He doesn't like to be reminded of that fact. Even if he does look a bit feminine for a man... I did NOT say that, though."
 
Seraphina nodded, “Men do have a lot of advantages in Duskhan society. It isn’t the first tale I’ve heard of such, though first I would have met in real life.
 
She looked back, “Wait, is he really a he or is he actually a she? Does he sound feminine?”
 
"Uh... yeah a bit. It's fairly obvious to most people after a few minutes of conversation. But he cuts his hair short and wears mens clothes. And, if you misspeak and call him a her, they say the Archmage never forgets."
 
“It takes all kinds. I’ll remember. Now, what do I need to do? How do I impress with those who might wield such wonders?”
 
"All there is for you to do is wait, honestly. You'll be contacted when it's time." She smiled. "Patience."
 
Seraphina smiled, “I’ve spent a dozen years learning the ways of the Dréama. Eight years before that with tutors from age 4. I can be patient.”