Private Tales The Mountains Ahead

[Kasim Areth]

Sarkus pulled the ancient bindings off, not feeling any threat From Aviana.

He had good reason for that of course. The chief strong point being that even if she managed to gather supplies and a plan and get passed everything else, they were still in the middle of the ocean.

They would be for some time. The Blackfort had rowboat of course, but the chance of getting one of those in the sea successfully without anyone noticing was a thousand to one, probably worse. Not to mention the Anirian Corsairs, the sailors, The three Dreadlords aboard, and of course Sarkus itself.

Even if Aviana managed to get off the ship, getting far away from them would be next to impossible.

There was no comfort in the situation that she was in. Nothing that would seem as a ray of hope. Even Kasim coming for her was in this very moment...not exactly a good thing. "Do try to behave."

Sarkus told the girl.

"I've always like my nephew, and I don't want to have to hurt you." The odd dichotomy of those words seemed to hang in the air.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

She turned back around to face the man after the restraints were removed, idly massaging her wrists to ease the aching numbness. Looking up at him was too difficult, he reminded her too much of Kasim, so she kept her eyes downcast.

If he didn't think she would try anything, there was a chance she could manage to slip away at some point in the future. For now, she just needed to keep her head attached to her shoulders.

A tentative, nervous smile touched her lips and she dipped her head once.

"Of course... I wouldn't dream of it." She murmured in a soft voice, reaching up to adjust her head scarf.

 

[Kasim Areth]

For a few second Sarkus simply stared at her, frowning for a second and then shrugging.

"Right, off you go then." He gestured her towards the door.

It seemed that Sarkus really wasn't concerned about the idea of Aviana's escape. "I suggest you stay away from the Dreadlords. Prickly bunch this lot."

He stood and waited to the side of the door.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

At first, Aviana wasn't sure to make of the offer as the man stood off to the side of the door. He was just... Going to let her wander around the ship? Wasn't she supposed to be a captive?

The tea he poured her earlier still sat untouched on the small table. Wisps of steam curled over the Amber surface. With a soft sigh, she picked up the delicate tea cup and then stepped out the door.

She found herself in a rather dimly lit, tight corridor. She'd been in such a state when they dragged her on board, she wasn't even sure which way to go to reach the deck. Or where to avoid going so that she didn't encounter the Dreadlords, Sarkus mentioned.

Absently, she reached up to adjust her head scarf so that the fabric partially covered her ears. She didn't want to give any of the corsairs or sailors any reason to hate her anymore than they already did.

She took a small sip from the tea and the glanced to Sarkus. "Is there anything else I should know?"

 

[Kasim Areth]

The man shrugged. "That depends entirely on what you ask."

His voice was almost sarcastic, as if her question was such a silly one that he could hardly answer it in any other way.

There are a great many things you should know. " He told her. "Especially before this ship gets to where it's going."

Sarkus frowned for a brief moment, his odd red and gold eyes shifting over Aviana's shawl as if he had seen something beneath it. His nostrils flared again slightly, but he simply went on. " You are in for a change, my dear. Accept it, and life may be pleasant yet."

The words were darker, much darker. His tone matching them.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Her pale eyes narrowed ever so slightly at Sarkus' ominous tone. She'd come too far to let herself be turned into some sort of pawn. Rage and defiance quietly smoldered in her belly, but she kept the expressions from ever touching her face.

Let them believe you've given in to despair, let them under estimate you, she thought bitterly to herself, But don't you dare let them win.

Instead of saying anything to Sarkus, Aviana just smiled brightly at him.

They wanted her alive, at least so long as they believed she was with child. She would need to find a way to escape before she was too far along, if that was truly the case. There was a time restraint, but it was not insurmountable.

Change had been a constant for Aviana over the past several months. Nothing was forever, at least, not for a mortal. One way or another, things would shift as time progressed. Not even Kasim's frightful Uncle could take that from her.

As she turned to walk away from the man, her fake smile shifted somewhat once her back was to him.

Sipping her tea, she walked off down the corridor.

First things first, she needed to find out if these men knew about Kiovec.

 

[Kasim Areth]

There was no indication that Sarkus even gave her a second glance. If he was at all concerned he did not show it.

Instead he seemed preoccupied with something else together, as if lost in thought about things thats he had just recently learned. The pale of his skin seemed even more so in the dark light of the Blackfort, reflecting even the barest breach of the sun.

As Aviana moved through the ship she would find a host of men.

Most of them would have the same bearing that sailors in Minaris did. They were ordinary men and women, folk who did their duty and their jobs as best they could without putting their heads too far up.

Yet among them was a darker mix.

Corsairs. Those soldiers who had distinguished themselves, pulled themselves up and become something all together. They were of the darker sort, male and female both. They moved about the ship, all of them carrying odd weapons and seemingly staring at Aviana more closely than the others.

But they were not the greatest threat. No, among the Corsairs lurked those in Black Coats. Four of them to be exact, each of them with a demeanor of stone, each of them seeming to appear and disappear as easily as a sea breeze.

These were the Dreadlords on the Blackfort.

Three women and one man, all of them watching. All of them ready to kill.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The crew members wearing the Black Coats were obvious not anyone Aviana wanted to encounter. She avoided them as best she could while exploring the ship. The corsairs were more difficult to evade, as there were so many of them, but she managed to at least ignore their dubious stares.

Unarmed as she was, she wouldn't have been much of a match against the soldiers if one got it in his head to attack her. It was fortunate that she was only valuable to them alive. Dead, she'd likely just be tossed over board and forgotten.

Instead, the lost princess of Minaris kept to the run-of-the-mill sailors. Building rapport with someone on the crew could prove useful, and she reasoned that the sailors were more likely to have loose lips about what they'd seen. She didn't try asking any of them questions outright, instead she just listened.

As the sun started to set, she made her way to a small balcony on the stern of the ship.

It faced East.

She kept her eyes fixed on the horizon, biting her bottom lip. Kiovec was still out there, she could sense him, but it was so faint. This was the farthest the two of them had been separated since the dragon hatched -- and that distance was only going to grow with each passing day.

Kasim must have been with him.

How long until she saw his face again? Not this haunting reflection that prowled the Blackfort with her.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Fuck." Kasim said finally.

It had been a day now since Kiovec had taken him away from the Blackfort and to this deserted island.

In that time he'd managed to find some supplies. Coconuts for water, some weird rat thing for food, and with the help of the Dragon he had even managed to start a fire. The two of them hadn't...spoken, if you could call it that, but both were more than brooding.

"We need to find her." The Jester was not entirely sure that the Dragon could understand him, but he was going to speak to it anyway. Especially because it was the only thing to speak to. "Searching the open ocean is...insane."

He knew that. "Even with flying it would take ages and well...be impossible."

His stomach dropped slightly.

"I know where they're going, but..." He frowned at the Dragon.

He didn't want to say the rest.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The dragon had been absently gazing at the horizon when Kasim started talking. He turned his head towards the human, huffing heavily in return. It might have been unsettling how the creature seemed to watch Kasim while he spoke as if he understood what was being said.

While he couldn't give a verbal response, unsure of the proper way to move his tongue or how to produce the sounds needed -- something his Bond was intended to teach him over time -- he could still imitate the physical cues he'd seen Aviana and Kasim give one another.

He gave a single bob of his head, in a dragon's attempt to nod. A purring rumble thrummed in his chest as he looked intently to the jester.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Alright.

The Dragon understood him.

That was something at least. If he could communicate even rudimentary concepts to Kiovec then he could form a plan...of sorts. It wouldn't be easy of course, but at the very least he could actually get where he needed to go. "They'll be going by sea."

He explained as if the Dragon would understand.

"The Blackfort travels fast, usually under the power of at least Two Dreadlords." He wasn't entirely sure why he told the Dragon that, he doubted Kiovec would understand. Talking outloud though helped him gather his own thoughts, plus...it made him feel better. "I know carrying me isn't fun, but if you can fly us a little bit at a time during the day I think we can still beat them."

Kasim said to the Dragon. "They have to go around the continent. We can go in a straight line."

He made a drawing motion in the air.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The Dragon watched the Jester intently, bobbing his head along while he spoke. To anyone watching the pair, it might have been an amusing sight to behold; but of course, there was no one else to see these antics.

The individual words that the Mate spoke made sense to the Dragon, but the context was lacking. He had no understanding of what a Dreadlord was, or even what the continent was. What he did know, however, was how badly Kasim would want to find Aviana.

That was good enough for him.

He followed the gestures that Kasim made, turning his piercing gaze towards the landmass in the far distance -- the one that was still out of sight for the jester. A rumbling purr thrummed in his chest, considering whether or not he could carry the man to the far shore.

With a tremendous snort of determination, Kiovec pushed himself to his feet, his massive wings still tucked against his frame. He'd be the size of a draft horse by the end of the week, no doubt. As he grew bigger and stronger, he'd be able to carry Kasim further each day.

He huffed once and then lowered his head to be level with the man's face, clicking his maw once.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Okay." He said nodding his head. "I think that's a yes."

It was a guess, but it seemed true enough.

He recalled a time in his life right after he'd run away from Vel Anir. He'd been shipwrecked on an island. Some sort of Elf had found him, and most of their communication had been in...well almost exactly like this.

"We'll rest tonight." Kasim charaded a motion of sleeping, putting his head down and making snoozing noises.

He figured it was clear enough.

"Then we'll head to the mainland tomorrow." The jester continued. "From there we'll let you rest, and just keep jumping as far as we can every day."

As long as the Dragon could manage.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The next morning the Dragon was awake before the sun had even crested the horizon. He was rested and he was ready. When Kasim didn't immediately spring to his feet and leap onto the Dragon's back, he huffed in irritation.

His long neck snaked down towards the ground, impatiently nudging his snout against the man's shoulder.

There was no time to lose. The Blackfort, as Kasim called it, already had a day's head start.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim felt his shoulder get pressed in, shaken awake by a creature that likely could already have eaten him whole. "Alright alright."

The Jester said as he pulled himself out of the small hole he had dug in the sand as a bed.

His morning routine was a quick one. Some of the left over meat from the night before, an adjustment of clothes, and then a signal to the dragon that he was ready. He knew the trip today would be a long one, and something that had little room for error.

They needed to reach the mainland.

Across an open ocean.

"Let's go." Kasim said as he slowly pulled himself atop the Dragon and took a deep breath.

It was time to fly.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The boat swayed beneath her, stirring her from her sleep. The Blackfort was large enough that the ship rarely swayed in the waves, they must have been sailing through exceptionally rough seas. "Mngh..."

It had been more than a week since Sarkus had stolen her away. She'd been given her own quarters, they even had a glass window on the port side, though it did not open and the reinforced bars running across its surface made it impossible to break.

She could hear water splashing against the window, but she wasn't sure if that was spray from the waves or heavy sheets of rain. Brilliant flashes of light flickered through the room, followed by a tremendous crack of thunder. The ship shuddered as another wave pounded against its hull.

Probably both, she thought to herself.

Grimacing, Aviana swung her feet out of the hammock she'd been sleeping in and took several ragged breaths.

She felt ill.

Which was odd. She'd never gotten seasick before...

Stumbling slightly as the ship rocked violently, she made her way to the door, wrapped in a robe she'd been provided as well. One thing she never left her room without, was her headscarf wrapped around her hair. At some point the horns would become impossible to hide, but she didn't want to have to explain them just yet.

Her bare feet pattered softly against the wooden planks as she made her way to the galley. Mint tea would help to settle her stomach, and hopefully lull her back to sleep. She hoped there was some left.

 

[Kasim Areth]

The Galley was mostly occupied by sailors at this hour. Men who had stayed up for most of the night on watch or been ensuring they did not crash into anything.

One other addition sat among the men however. A woman with dark auburn hair, a black coat hanging open, her face completely impassive. A small scar stuck beneath her left cheek, a symbol of some sort carved into her very flesh.

It was the woman's presence that clearly made everyone else in the room silent.

The Sailors were not often quiet, in fact the ordinary men of Vel Anir were boisterous, loud, and oddly kind. Yet the presence of the woman was enough to reign them in almost entirely.

She said nothing, did not even look at them, but none of them dared to speak.

Instead everyone sat quietly, whispering and enjoying their meals in silence.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Aviana offered a tentative smile to some of the men that looked up when she walked into the galley. There were a few scattered through out the different tables that she recognized. A few nods in greeting were reciprocated, but the muted atmosphere was unmistakable.

She didn't try to strike up any conversation once she realized the cause of the mellow mood -- the Black Coat. Instead, the lost princess did her best to stay as small and unnoticeable as she could while she set about making herself a pot of tea.

It took her a few minutes to find the tea leaves she needed, but she managed to do so without having to bother a soul.

She braced a hand against the counter, bowing her head slightly as the ship swayed once again. The dizziness that swept over her was alarming, and closing her eyes did little to relieve it.

By the Depths, was Sarkus right?

Aviana was Minrasin. She was experienced with ships and extended voyages at sea. A storm should not have affected her the way this one left her reeling.

She looked pale and there was sweat starting to bead on her brow.

The tea would help. It was just nerves, she told herself.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"I suppose he was right then." A voice echoed out from right behind Aviana.

It was an oddly soft tone, gently and almost flowing like honey off a spoon. It came from a woman in a black coat, it's laces undone to reveal a bare skin and a set of full breasts that were not even trying to be hid by a small white shift.

A chuckle echoed. "Worst way to find out."

The woman in the black coat shook her head, placing the small plate she had been using on the counter right besides Aviana.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

When she opened her eyes, she was alarmed to find the woman standing so close to her. She was tempted to feign ignorance as to what the Black Coat was referring, but she felt that playing dumb would not do her any good. Her nose wrinkled slightly as the woman chuckled, then she turned her gaze back to the pot, willing the water to boil faster.

If Kiovec were here, it would have taken mere seconds.

She felt a pang of loneliness lance through her heart and she took a ragged breath as she pressed a palm against her uneasy stomach.

"Yes, this is less than ideal." She growled back to the dreadlord, her other hand still braced against the counter. "Perhaps I could persuade you to turn the bloody ship around."

It was an attempt at humor, hoping to distract herself from both the discomfort of the situation and her nausea.

 

[Kasim Areth]

The woman only smiled. "I'm not in charge of the ship."

"I only make it go faster." She spoke with her expression never changing, but as soon as she said it Aviana would be able to see the slight raggedness that hung around the woman. There were circles of blue under her eyes, her hair was a mess, and everything about her looked unkempt.

The Blackfort was going fast, faster than any ship would have been able to, and this woman was clearly one reason for that. Magic always had a price, and it seemed that the price for hers was a tiredness that clung to her even now.

A shrug rolled over the woman's shoulders.

"Besides." She added. "Technically we have turned around."

They were going back to where they came from.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

"Was worth a shot." Aviana muttered, turning back to the pot of water as it started to whistle.

Dread still knotted in her stomach as she poured the hot liquid over the tea leaves in the small cup. Kasim still didn't know about her condition... Hell, she hadn't known for sure until recently.

What was he going to say when he found her? There was no doubt in her mind that he would come for her, but that only frightened her more. She didn't want anything to happen to him. Not because of her.

She tossed a few more leaves into the pot, sighing quietly. Just one cup wasn't going to be enough to settle her stomach.

"Guess I'll need to find the one of you who is responsible for steering the ship then."

 

[Kasim Areth]

The woman smiled slightly, glancing at the pot and then to Aviana Sabel.

"Seems you know very little about The Blackfort." The words were cryptic, and no other explanation was offered up to her as to why Aviana would need to know anything else regarding the comment she had just made.

"How much do you even know about Vel Anir?" She asked. "Did Lord Virak even tell you anything?"

It was clear which Lord Virak she meant in that moment.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Seeing that the woman was not going to simply venture off and leave her be, Aviana picked up her steaming cup of tea and softly blew across the surface. The cup was delicately cradled between both her hands while her back was pressed against the counter behind her balance. As badly as she wanted to busy herself sipping the tea, it was still too hot to drink.

For the time being, she was forced to talk with the Dreadlord.

"Odd, isn't it? Considering how much they both love to talk." She quipped, holding the cup a few inches below her chin.

"I don't know much. One didn't wish to discuss it and I respected him to leave it be, the other seems infatuated with secrets."

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Lord Sarkus has more secrets than many Great Houses." The woman confirmed with a small, almost polite smile.

She watched Aviana carefully, almost as if trying to decide something for herself. Dreadlords were arms of Vel Anir, but they were not without thought or freedom. The way that this woman interacted with Aviana, one might almost think that she was friendly.

"I met your…lover?" It was a genuine question. How did one refer to Kasim from her position. Lord Virak was technically correct, but he was a runaway and thus technically did not befit the title anymore. Not until he was restored anyway. It was a small dilemma for the Dreadlord. Though not enough to stop her from speaking. "When I was sixteen."

She mused. "He was not much older than me."

For a second there was a pause, as if she were going to say something before stopping herself. Still she continued on speaking.

"I and a few others from my class were tasked as an escort for him and his brother." The woman looked almost longingly at the memory she spoke of. "It was one of the few times I enjoyed myself."