The Sea Wolf

---- Allendor is a city that sprawls out over it's land with grace and charm, even an enemy eye could not deny it's beauty. From the long desolate pass the road gives birth to a field blooming with wildflowers, just one single road cutting through until the fortress walls. Inside of the gates of Allendor, the city is spacious, well kept, as it crawls up the side of a large hill ----

--- the people of Allendor call it their mountain, but the people of Palicide would scoff, as it is no mountain compared to the peaks of their land ----

--- to the west of city the neatly kept roads and houses give way to the docks and the beaches, where massive ships come to trade their goods. And every day, the fisherman man their small ships and go out to bring fresh fish and shrimp back to the marketplace ----

--- on the opposite side of Allendor, outside of the walls, stretches fertile farmland where cattle, horses, fruits, vegetables and grains are raised ---

--- No one could deny that Allendor is a wonderful place, and it's no wonder they have to protect their boundaries so carefully ---

--- King Allen is the third generation to rule Allendor, and not the finest. He guards his kingdom and it's treasures with greed which only fans the fires of envy and jealousy from the neighboring kingdoms. ------

--- What King Allen does have is the finest army around. His generals are known far and wide as the best strategists. And their ability to lead men is uncanny ---

--- A strange relationship exists between the vain King Allen and his military. He needs them, and he knows this. But this knowledge seems to eat at him. He claims full credit for their victories and rarely acknowledges their accomplishments ---

---- They whisper and joke about him, question his commands, and often completely disobey his directives ---

--- What keeps the Generals from going elsewhere is their love for the land Allendor sits on, and the overall joy of life in it's borders. While Allen is vain and greedy, he is smart and makes certain that life in Allendor is not a hardship. He taxes well, but provides everything. His people want for nothing and his armies are very well paid ----

--- On this given day, King Allen had called a Meeting. One of his many spies had provided him with information about an attack from Camyron. Camyron was far down the coast. In not such a bad location itself. But it had not been able to produce the kind of trade that Allendor had. It's people were hungry and restless, it's King was reckless and impatient ----

-- Camyron had drafted every last man and boychild to create a massive army for one all out blitz against Allendor ----

-- Allen gave his Generals a missive. Organize a defense to guard the East bank well past the farmlands... and another offensive to march on Camyron and burn them to the ground before they could attack ---

--- The Generals did not agree. And it was not a pleasant meeting. ----

--- in one day, the Generals would round up their men, who were still weary from the last march... and they would move against Camyron ---

Jaeger: (enters his house, not speaking to the guard on the front door as he walks upstairs, unbuttoning his uniform jacket as he goes)

Arissa: (bathed and dressed in the peach sarong, she sits on the ground in the courtyard, back up against a tree, engrossed in a book she took from the library)

Jaeger: (pauses, finding the door unlocked, then pushes it open and looks around the bedroom)

Arissa: (brushing a stray hair out of her face, the sun warming her skin, lost in the book)

Jaeger: (pulls off the jacket, and hangs it, leaving the shirt and pants on as well as his boots, then walks back out of the bedroom, calling tersely) MIADON!

Miadon: (comes from the kitchen as Jaeger reaches the bottom of the stairs) (bows his head to him) Sir?

Jaeger: Where is she? (his gaze on Miadon suspicious)

Miadon: In the courtyard, Master.

Arissa: (plucking a blade of grass, twirling it between her fingertips, turning the page)

Jaeger: (doesn't reply, he just moves out to the terrace doors, stepping through as they are already open and scanning the courtyard)

Arissa: (knees bent, the book propped back against her thighs, oblivious to all else , caught up in the story)

Jaeger: (leans there against on of the posts on the terrace, watching her, a breeze rustling through his loosened hair, the furrow in his brow lightening slowly) ---

Arissa: (tucking her hair back behind her ear as it keeps falling forward, feeling funny wearing the sarong with her arms and shoulder bare, turning the page again)

Jaeger: (watches her for quite a while, as she reads several pages, then eases off the terrace and walks slowly toward her, silent until his boots scrape on the stones that make up the path through the courtyard)

Arissa: (running her hand over the grass, liking the feel of it tickling her fingertips, stilling suddenly as she hears someone approach, lifting her gaze from the pages to see who it is)

Jaeger: (stops on the stone path, looking at her under the tree, the very tree that he himself always chooses to sit and read beneath)

Arissa: (her eyes unblinking as she looks upon him despite the quickening of her heartbeat, feeling as if she got caught doing something she shouldn’t, slowly closing the book)

Jaeger: What are you reading? (the question is quiet)

Arissa: (feeling so small as he looms over her, standing, clutching the book in front of her) The Sea Wolf  (her voice hesitant, barely above a whisper) Tis a story of adventures and tragedy on the treacherous seas ....I ... (quickly closing her mouth, unsure why she volunteered more information than necessary)

Jaeger: .... ah. (drops in a squat, reaching down and plucking up a blade of grass, studying it rather than looking at her) And what is it that drew you to that book?

Arissa: (wetting her lips, her mouth gone dry, feeling as if there is a right and wrong answer) I've never seen the ocean, its very descriptive of the places he travels to.  If I close my eyes I can almost see what he is describing...  (shrugs lightly)

Jaeger: (his eyes lift from the blade of grass to focus on her) Climb the tree.

Arissa: (blinks, taken off guard for only a moment before setting the book down in front of her and turning to face the tree)

Arissa: (wondering how he knew she was adept at tree climbing, jumping up and grabbing the lowest branch)

Jaeger: (rises to his full height watching her)

Arissa: (pulling herself up and tossing a leg over, straddling the branch for a moment before bringing her feet up, slowly standing and reaching for the next branch, quickly pulling herself up from branch to branch til she nears the top, glancing down at him)

Arissa: ((will he order me to jump off??))  (curious and nervous about this new game of his)

Jaeger: (grabs a hold of the branch and swings up, very nimble for his height and broad shoulders. Standing on the branches just below her, his shoulders at her hips, he lets go with one arm, leaning out and points West)

Arissa: (eyes widen in surprise at how easily he moved up the tree, mentally discounting this as a place of safety, her gaze following in the direction he is pointing, turning her body to look)

------ There the ocean glitters in the sunlight, it's waves rolling in to rush under the docks, rocking the boats that are harbored there. it stretches out forever, an endless vision of blue green,  ------

Arissa: (inhales sharply, lips parting in awe at the beautiful vision before her, drinking in the scenery, the endless blue green water, the gentle waves)

Jaeger: (lets her enjoy the scene in peace for several moments then motions to a ship docked by itself)

Arissa: (stretching up on her tiptoes, leaning forward, her eyes settling on the ship)

Jaeger: The Sea Wolf......

-================

---- Next door, in the house of Xavier, the Master slams the door, disgruntled by the demands of King Allen ---

--- the staff hear him utter curses as he walks in, his house being the one true place he can complain about the King and not look over his shoulder ----

Hyku: (moves to follow his Master to help him with his boots)

Imari: (pacing in his bed chambers, brow furrowing as she hears a door slam downstairs)

Xavier: (takes the stairs swiftly and all but kicks open the bedroom door, Hyku trailing him)

Imari: (stills her pacing in the middle of the room, whipping around as he comes barging inside)

Hyku: (trying to take Xavier's jacket)

Xavier: (lifts his arm abruptly to shake Hyku off) Quit fussing on me. Just............ go. (paces to the window, gazing out)

Hyku: (bows as he backs out the door)

Imari: (arching a delicate brow, wondering what he is up in arms about)

Xavier: (props one arm against the window and leans there, looking out past the courtyard)

Imari: (lifts her chin) Am I invisible? And Hello to you too.... (not used to being completely ignored)

Xavier: It is best you don't say too much right now.

Imari: (blinks) I've had naught but my own company for the entire morning and now that you are home I am to stay silent? 

Xavier: (his body still facing out the window, his head turns, his expression dark and brooding) You don't listen too well, do you.

Imari: There is nothing wrong with my hearing! (disgruntled)

Xavier; (drops his arm from the window and turns to face her) Well if you must know... There is an attack brewing from Camyron, the King has commissioned the Generals to launch an offensive to Camyron, and line defenses along the farmlands.

Imari: (spats) All you Allendorians know is war and destruction!  I feel sorry for the poor people of Camyron!!

Xavier: (brows raise slightly)

Xavier: Well..... that leaves our gates to the pass fairly well unguarded.....

Xavier: With the armies of Palicide lurking nearby.... LOOKING FOR THEIR FUCKING PRINCESS that I CAN'T TELL ANYONE is HERE....

Imari: Good!  Then my journey home shall be uneventful !!!  (gasps as he starts roaring at her)

Imari: THEN WHY DON'T YOU BRING ME HOME SO I'M NOT HERE!!!!  (taking a step towards him, green eyes flashing)

Xavier: Because.... YOUR WORSHIP (quite sarcastically) I don't have fucking time. I have ONE day to round up my men and organize.

Imari: Can you NOT DELEGATE??  Or are your armies so INEPT that you must babysit them day and night!!  Do you feed them their stew and read them a STORY at night before bed?????

Xavier: (slow blink)

Imari: (glare)

Xavier: I have a good mind to take you to Jaeger and tell him to deal with it. You are HIS Mess.

Imari: (eyes widen in horror, his threat very effectively taking the steam out of her)

Imari: (taking a quick step back, having so quickly forgotten that HE is the enemy)

Xavier: (moves to the door, bellowing) HYKU!

Hyku: (hurries up to the door)

Imari: (taking another step back, glancing over to Hyku)

Xavier: Take............... (reaches over and grabs her wrist, jerking her to the door and pushing her at Hyku) THIS and put her in with the rest of the servants...........

Hyku: (bows) As you wish.

Imari: (gasps, relief flooding her on one hand for not being sent to Jaeger's, yet unused to being treated so callously)

Hyku: This way. (motions toward the stairs down)

Imari: (snaps her mouth shut, lifting her chin slightly, back ramrod straight, trying to appear as if she is unbothered)

Xavier: (glares at her)

Imari: (gulps, eyes glistening with the injustice of it all, cursing herself ten times a fool for having had waited anxiously for his arrival home all day) ((to get cast aside....as if I were.....NOTHING!!))

Xavier: Well... (motions) GO.. and when I return from Camyron... YOU are going HOME.

--- The House of Jaeger ---

--- A long day has passed, the shadows moving across the courtyard until nothing but an orange glow remains, barely enough light for reading left----

--- in the house, lanterns are lit, the windows illuminate with light ----

--- the servants are busy, putting the final touches on the evening meal in preparation for the arrival of their master who has spent the day preparing his men for an attack ----

---- one of the door guards opens the door and announces within the house that the master is coming up the road ----

Miadon: (shuffles toward the door to greet his master)

Arissa: (tenses as she hears the announcement, replacing the book back on the shelf in the library)

---- the door opens -----

Jaeger: (dirty and damp with sweat, he steps in, dropping the cloak off his shoulders to Miadon)

Arissa: (tracing her fingers over the binding a moment, sighing, wishing she could continue to block out reality)

Arissa: (unsure of what to do, wondering if she should go to the kitchen for her meal with the rest of the servants)

Jaeger: (grunts) I need a bath.... (moves toward the stairs down to the bath) Where is she?

Miadon: Reading, Sir.

Jaeger: Send her down.

Arissa: (hovers near the slightly ajar door, listening)

Miadon: Yes, Sir. (shuffles toward the library)

Arissa: (takes a step back, her hands clasped in front of her as she hears the footsteps)

Miadon: (stands in the doorway) The master calls for you.

Arissa: (nods to Miadon, her face not betraying any emotion)

Arissa: (her stomach fluttering nervously)

Miadon: He is in the bath.

Arissa: (nods again, slowly walking past him and down the hall towards the stairs)

Miadon: (watches the lovely young girl go)

Arissa: (trying to calm her breathing, mentally preparing herself, wondering what he wishes of her now)

Jaeger: (comes up from under the water, slicking his hair back with his hands)

Arissa: (pausing at the bottom of the stone steps, not making a sound, her eyes on him)

Jaeger: (eyes closed, resting his head back against the edge of the pool)

Arissa: (softly) You require my presence?

Jaeger: (opens his eyes, lifting his head to look at her)

Arissa: (standing very still, feeling tremendously uncomfortable in the peach sarong, but not wishing to show it, steadily meeting his gaze)

Jaeger: Come to me.

Arissa: (hesitates but a second, then slowly walks towards him, standing by the edge of the pool)

Jaeger: Wash my hair. (nods toward the vial of special soap on the edge of the pool)

Arissa: (her agitation growing at the close proximity of his naked body, somewhat surprised by his request, wondering what new game he is playing, moves to retrieve the soap)

Jaeger: (ducks under the water momentarily, surfacing again, his hair wet)

Arissa: (tries to think of the best way to go about this, carefully arranges the skirt of her sarong and kneels beside the pool, tentatively reaching out and rubbing the soap in his hair)

Jaeger: (leans his head back and closes his eyes, silently enjoying the touch of her hands on his head)

Arissa: (her touch gentle yet firm as she lathers up his hair, setting the soap down and running her fingers through it making sure she didn't miss any)

Jaeger: (silently letting her wash his hair, moving his head along with the movements of her fingers on his scalp)

Arissa: (a shiver rippling through her, wishing it was one of horror, fearing otherwise, her belly tightening, wanting this to be done, slowly removing her hands)

Arissa: (dipping her hands in the water to rinse the soap off, then folding them in her lap, awaiting his next command)

Jaeger: (sinks under the water, letting the soap seep into the water around him, moving his head back and forth under the water then swimming a few feet and coming up, facing her, his hair slicked back, water dripping off his face as he gazes at her)

Arissa: (her breath catching in her throat, her eyes round, unblinking as she returns his gaze, hoping she doesn't appear as nervous as she feels)

Arissa: (silently cursing the gods for making one such as he so beautiful)

Jaeger: (moves gracefully toward the steps, rising out of the water) Dry me.

Arissa: (averting her eyes from his body, rising and picking up the bath towel, moving behind him and running the towel over his shoulders and down his back, her pulse quickening)

Jaeger: Tell Miadon you will need a cloak. We are going out.

Arissa: (stills, momentarily taken off guard, then continues dabbing at him with the towel before setting it down, wanting to ask a thousand questions but staying silent)

Jaeger: (draws the towel over his shoulders and wraps it around himself, walking without another word toward the stairs and jogging up)

Arissa: (wondering if she will be coming back...)  ((will he get rid of me? sell me? kill me? gift me to some other))  (following quickly up the steps, unsure how she feels about going out, anxious to see the infamous city of Allendor...yet wary of her fate)

Arissa: (looks for Miadon)

Jaeger: (moves across the front room and up the stairs to his bedroom, without saying another word)

Arissa: (finds Miadon) I am to have a cloak for going out.

Arissa: ((would he know where Jaeger will be taking me...))  (wishing E'nasha was around)

Miadon: Ah.... come come... (leading her past the kitchen and to the servants quarters stairs)

Arissa: (following silently behind him)

E'nasha: (sitting on the floor of the servants quarters on a braided rug, sewing some bright cloth)

---- the servants quarters are rather large with several beds along the walls ---

Arissa: (her eyes sweeping around the servants quarters, finding them surprisingly pleasant and roomy, spotting E'nasha on the floor, her face registering no emotion even though she is happy to see her)

Miadon: The master requires a cloak for this one.

E'nasha: (glances up with a blink, her eyes weary from the fine stitching.) Oh! (rising from her knees)

Arissa: ((Is this where I will stay...if I come back....)) (quietly) My name is Arissa. 

E'nasha: Come with me. (motions to her, ducking clear around Miadon)

Miadon: (watches them)

Arissa: (sliding a glance to Miadon, then following behind E'nasha, ever wary)

E'nasha: (rummaging through the old armoire and pulling out a dark cloak) This is the finest that I have.

Arissa: Then I do not wish to take it from you.  I do not require anything so fine, just serviceable. (gently)

E'nasha: No. You must wear the finest. (eases the fabric over her shoulders) Let me fix your hair. (urging her to sit on the floor)

Arissa: I do not know if I shall be returning.  (trying to keep the note of fear out of her voice, pulling the cloak closed in front of her, thankful to have something to cover her bare arms and shoulder) My hair does not do much but hang there..

Arissa: (a quick mental picture of Imari's long golden hair flowing down her back flashing by, pushing away a little stab of envy)

E'nasha: You will come back. (insisting) The master would not wish you to wear a cloak otherwise. (taking the brush and gliding it over Arissa's hair, then braiding small white flowers into it)

Arissa: (somewhat comforted by her words, reaching up and tentatively touching one of the delicate little flowers) You are good at this..

E'nasha: I fix my sisters hair. She is very beautiful. (lifts her chin as she inspects her work)

Arissa: As are you..  (softly, uncomfortable under her gaze, quickly rising from off the floor, pulling the cloak tightly around her in front, the hem just barely touching the ground)

E'nasha: (smiles and wiggles the bracelet off her arm, taking Arissa's arm and pushing it on her)

Arissa: (blinks, shaking her head in protest)  ((he will think I want to look pretty for him...then laugh at me!!))

E'nasha: (holds the bracelet in place) It will please the master.

Arissa: (unsure of that, unsure she wants to please him, but deciding not to make issue of it, tucking her arm back under the folds of the cloak)

Arissa: Thank you.

E'nasha: (smiles brighter and takes her hand, squeezing it and leading her back out)

Miadon: Very good. (nods with approval)

Arissa: (squeezes her hand back, thinking she will miss her if she does not return)

Arissa: (wanting to rip the flowers out of her hair, but not wanting to hurt E'nasha's feelings)

Miadon: (leading the way with his halting gait)

Arissa: (her eyes glued to Miadon's back)

Jaeger: (dressed in a dark tunic and pants, snug to his body, boots and a dark cloak)

Jaeger: (waiting at the front door for her)

Arissa: (following behind him, wondering if she'll find a chance to escape...wondering once again where he is taking her..)

Miadon: (leads her to Jaeger)

Arissa: (stands before him, taking in his attire)

Jaeger: (watches her approach, sweeping his gaze over her with a nod of approval)

Jaeger: (takes her arm and leads her out through the open door, guards following in their wake)

Arissa: (a chill shooting through her at his touch, her heart beating a little faster as they exit the house)

--- the city of Allendor is bathed in orange as the sun lowers ----

Arissa: Where are you taking me? (she said in the merest breath, her eyes alert as she glances around)

Jaeger: (leads her toward a chariot drawn by two black horses, sliding his hands to her waist and lifting her into the chariot, stepping up into it himself, his side touched to hers)

Jaeger: (clucks to the horses and they lurch forward into a canter, taking the chariot swiftly down the streets, people watching curiously at the woman beside Jaeger the Dark)

Jaeger: You will see.

Arissa: (a flush washing over her body as she feels his hands on her then his side pressing lightly to hers, her breathing quickening slightly as she sees all the people staring at them, the color mounting in her cheeks, not liking being the center of so much attention, wishing she could hide in the shadows)

Jaeger: (slowing the horses to a walk, not acknowledging any of the people openly watching them, merchants and their wives, returning fishermen, the children playing on the streets)

Arissa: (staring straight ahead, trying to ignore the stares of curiosity)

Arissa: (wondering if he knows how uncomfortable she is at his parading her around)

Arissa: (thinking once again he has an unbelievable knack for sensing weakness, throwing people off guard)

Arissa: (berating herself for speculating on what the people think of her..)

Jaeger: (slapping the reins once for the horses to hasten up an incline as the street rises up a hill)

Arissa: (her hands clasped in front of her, stealing a glance at him)

Jaeger: (murmurs as they pass more onlookers) Any one of them would slit my throat. They lie behind their smiles and fear the Dark.

Arissa: (takes in his words, thinking them over for a moment before quietly responding) Do you give them reason to fear?

Jaeger: They fear what they do not understand. (replies as they reach the crest of the hill, the road ending at the docks, where the water spreads out before them, an endless ocean of blue, the massive ships docked there, their masts void of sails)

Arissa: Then you should pity them for being so weak minded...(gasps at the sight before her, eyes widening in wonder at the endless blue, thinking it is one of the most beautiful things she has ever laid eyes on, the ships seeming so large and magnificent...the water never-ending..)

Jaeger: I have no patience for pity.... (urging the horses forward onto the wooden docks)

Arissa: (her face softening, momentarily forgetting to keep her face a blank mask, drinking in the sights and sounds and smells encompassing them)

Arissa: (wishing Imari and Staza could see this..)

Jaeger: (pulls the horses to a stop and ties the reins onto the chariot, backing a step and stepping down from the chariot, reaching for her)

Arissa: (blinks, remembering she has no idea what he is up to, looks to his face as she rests her hands on his shoulders, trying to find some clue as to what is about to happen)

Jaeger: (lifts her down and takes her arm, leading her in a slow stroll down the docks) The Sea Wolf.  A Crew of 58... but she can run with as few as 20. She was built in the coastal city of Camyron before the plague took most of their ship builders to meet the Goddess...

Arissa: It is magnificent.  (taking in the sight of the ship, remembering how engrossed she had been in the wonderful book) The city of Camyron, I think I have seen it on a map before.  Is it like Allendor?

Arissa: (it suddenly hitting her what a sheltered life they had all lead in Palicide, only having meager knowledge of the outside world from the few books available to her)

Jaeger: Much the size of Allendor, but not as well built. Since the death of it's ship builders the trade has fallen off, most come to Allendor. It is a dying city that desires our land.

Arissa: Shouldn't it desire to keep the people it has on its own land instead of acquiring new.  (her brow furrowing in thought) I cannot imagine wanting to leave ones home to start anew in a strange city  ((especially Allendor...))

Jaeger: They want our trade. They want our wealth. Our land is developed, fertile, and well used. And they seek to take rather than submit to Allendor and allow our engineers to do the same for them.

Jaeger: (leading her to the ramp that crosses to the ship: The Sea Wolf)

Arissa: I cannot blame them for not wanting to submit to Allendor..  It is a shame their leader is so weak that he can not help them to do for themselves.  (distracted from her thoughts as they move up to the ramp, sliding him a quick glance)

Jaeger: (turns his head to look at her) When Camyron is conquered, and share no doubt, it will fall, then I will claim the Sea Wolf's sister ship, The Jackal. And retire from the army of Allendor to export and import from far lands.

Arissa: This is your ship?  (unconsciously moving closer to him, feeling so small next to the huge ship and endless ocean) Will you not miss the bloodshed and victory of being the most feared commander..

Jaeger: I will miss nothing about bloodshed... (looking slowly over the ship, following up her mast and along her lines, then finally looking at Arissa) I will take my slaves and leave this land to new adventures, and never look back. And you will join me.

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