A Day in the Life

[Xaraphyne]

[[ ...of a bounty hunter. More than one day really, I suck at titles. But I <3 comments and critique, hope ya like enough to give some :D Anyway, this is Xara's intro story, one of the first things I posted on TNG and something I've been working on ever since... slowly... ]]


I woke up as I did on most days: when the light started slanting through the cheap shutters of my inn room. I buried my face in the pillow for a bit, but when the snoring next to me got louder, going back to sleep became a lost cause. With a sigh I freed a leg from where it was twisted in the blankets and prodded my bedmate with one toe.

He woke with a snort and looked around, clearly not remembering how he'd wound up in bed with me. I didn't remember either, but I was pleased with my inebriated judgment, for he was a handsome young blood elf with dark red hair and a nice body. He didn't seem too displeased by what he'd been busy doing the night before either as he took in my body stretched over the sheets and met my eyes with a smile.

"Mornin', handsome," I said with a return smile, folding my hands underneath my chin.

"Good morning, lovely," he said. He slipped one hand over my shoulder and up my neck to cup my face, and I smiled a little more, turning to nuzzle his palm. "I trust you had an enjoyable night?" he added after a moment.

"I'm sure I did, but why don'tcha jog my memory?"

I never got his name and he never got mine, but neither of us minded.

***

A little later that afternoon, I hitched my pack up on my shoulder and shut the door to the empty room behind me. My day was just beginning, and I had a lot of work to do before I could track down the bounty that had brought me here to Stranglethorn Vale.

Truth to tell, I avoided my birthplace if I could help it. I couldn't imagine how my long-lost family would be able to identify me, but the idea of someone recognizing their vanished sister or daughter or whatever just promised to be awkward.

I headed downstairs to the bar room. It was only beginning to fill up in anticipation of the rowdy night ahead. My eyes skimmed over merchants, sailors, and travelers of almost every race known to Azeroth -- and then some. Booty Bay took all kinds, and like most goblin cities it felt like home to me. I absently chewed on the idea of paying a visit home to Undermine as I took in the bounty signs posted on one wall.

There he was: the infamous pirate leader of the Bloodsail, Admiral Elrioch "The Unyielding". It was a crude rendering, but as most blood elves, he was supposed to be on the fine side when it came to looks. I rather thought the generous number stamped under his description somewhat more attractive, however. He was said to frequent the Bloodsail encampments not far from here, but as deadly and distrusting as the Bloodsail were, finding out more was a problem.

Of course deadly and distrusting weren't a problem for me.

I felt something brush my legs and looked down. Partially transparent, a white spotted cat with jade eyes looked up at me with her usual disconcerting stare. "Hey Kitty," I said, running a hand between her ears. She was as uninterested in my affection as ever, without so much as an arch or a blink in response to my petting. "I suppose yer hungry?" I said.

Now she blinked once. I wandered over to an empty table and ordered some food. Kitty settled down at my feet to enjoy an impressive slab of fish, which had come free of charge from the cook; he'd been a big fan of her ever since the first time I came here and she helped take out a few pesky problems he'd been having. You'd be surprised how fast murlocs turn and run at the sight of a cat whose shoulder comes up to my waist.

Once my meal was polished off, I leaned back with a tankard of rum in one hand to do some people-watching. Most of the traders seemed pretty useless, but one or two of the sailors had that shifty eye I was looking for. There was also one other whose profession I couldn't place, but suspected to be on the shady side; a fellow dressed in black leather with a hooded gaze and visible disinterest for the rest of the room. He ordered a drink but never touched it. I decided to avoid him in the case of a bar fight.

I narrowed down my target to one sailor in particular: an especially lanky troll fellow with green skin and hair, and tusks out to here. He had a falchion on one hip, was dressed well, and spent entirely too much money on rum -- and coming from me, that was really saying something.

My pack stayed at the table with Kitty to watch over it, and I moved to the bar to take a seat next to Mr. Green. He got my best smile as I crossed my legs and signaled the bartender for a refill.

The troll didn't miss it, although his gaze certainly didn't stay on my face for long. It might have been my long legs he eyed the most, although the way my mail was cut made even my modest chest worth a few lingering moments. I wasn't nearly as taken with him, although I suppose for a troll he wasn't bad-looking. If you didn't mind the tusks.

"Hey, lady," he said. "What be a pretty thing like you doin' in a place like dis?"

"Just lookin' fer a little company," I said with all the subtlety of a charging kodo. I picked up my drink and lowered my eyelashes. "Yerself?"

His grin was nearing a leer, and the arm he put on the bar top was doubtlessly to keep him upright. Rings glittered on his fingers. "Same."

"Really? That's the whole reason yer here in Booty Bay?" I said. I laid the teasing tone on thick just in case he was too far gone to notice it.

"Well, now dat I met ya, it be reason enough."

I laughed off the flattery and moved the conversation along. "I'm just travelin' around, seein' the world... Been here a few times before, never seen ya though."

"Ah, dis be my first time here. Not really my kinda place, ta be honest." He shrugged.

"Whatcha mean?" I asked.

"Ya know... crowded..." he said vaguely.

I leaned forward slightly to help rekindle his interest. "That it is... but it's fun meetin' new people, eh?"

He eyed me speculatively. "Where ya be from? Ya don' talk like a troll."

Either he hadn't had as much to drink as I thought he had, or his tolerance rivaled mine. He was a bit too attentive for my liking. I shrugged. "Everyone's got secrets, friend."

"Dat dey do," he agreed. His grin suggested he was unbothered. I never understood why being secretive interested men, but it was just as well. I gave him a smirk and lifted my tankard in a toast.

"And once ya meet new people, ya get ta wonder about their secrets," I said.

"Dat ya do." He lifted his and we both drank. "So be yer name a secret?" he asked after a moment.

He was neither drunk nor stupid enough to wring information out of quickly. I was amused at how wrong I had been, but was rather enjoying the prospect of matching wits with him. "Call me Xara," I said.

"Den'jun," he introduced himself. "Captain of the Silvered Maiden."

My eyebrows rose. "Yer the captain of a ship?"

"Yup," he said proudly. "Fastest ship ta sail da eastern seas. She be slim as a troll wench -- no insult meant, lady -- and nimble as a night elf."

In translation, his ship was a rather small vessel. Whatever he was shipping, though, clearly didn't require a large quantity for him to make good profit. Which meant the likelihood of it being legit was rather low. This was looking more and more promising.

"Sounds like a beauty," I said. "I bet ya never have a problem with pirates."

"Not me," he said with a secretive smile, lifting his drink again.

"Really, not once?"

"Just once," he admitted, "but dat was all it took fer me to learn my lesson. Dem Bloodsail, dey don' mess around."

"So I've heard." I looked around the room, then leaned a little closer. It was getting busier, but the noise helped cover our conversation. "I heard a lot of merchants around here actually pay 'em not ta raid their ships, ya know, like a fee?"

"Well, I don' be knowin' about things like that," he said, about evasively as the aforementioned kodo. "Dat be shady business, ya know dese goblins here in Booty Bay would have ta have words with a captain who did dat."

The bartender was conveniently at the other end of the bar. I gave Den'jun a conspiratorial wink. "Don't think I'd blame 'em, myself. It's the smart thing ta do, ain't it?"

He grinned. "Ya could look at it dat way. Pay a little share of yer holdings each time, or run da risk of getting yer ship burned to the waves whenever ya come through?"

I'd never had that rumor confirmed before, so this was pretty nice. Unfortunately, it wasn't actually getting me any further into the Bloodsail camp. I sighed and leaned back. "I always wanted ta meet one of 'em pirates," I said. "I bet they make great drinkin' buddies."

"Dat dey.. might," he almost agreed. Paydirt. I fixed with him my best sweet, wide-eyed look.

"Ya don't happen ta know anyone who maybe could introduce me, do ya?"

"I might be able ta scrounge someone up who be da type to take dat risk," he said, "but dat be dangerous work, lady, for a dangerous result. Why ya be wantin' ta meet a pirate?"

I looked down at my drink and improvised. "Oh... ya know... I might have a thing or two they'd be interested in knowin'. Fer a bit of gold." I gave him a mischievous smile.

"So dat's what ya be doin' here!" he chortled. "I thought ya weren't really da mercenary type. No offense, lady, yer armor just don' have enough nicks in it, if ya be knowin' what I mean."

That was because I was too good to let a hit land on me, but I wasn't going to correct his assumption that I traded information instead of blows. Both were my specialty anyway. I shrugged a bit with a faint smile. "I'd think pirates would be glad ta have more sources of information, ya know, they'd probably be pretty pleased with someone who introduced 'em to a reliable ear."

"Possibly," he agreed. "I'll be seein' what I can do. Don' be expecting no miracles, doh."

Satisfied, I decided I may as well seal the deal. Trolls weren't normally my type, but I actually liked this one, despite his comment about my fighting skills. I let my gaze go languid. "Well.. I was hopin' for one or two tonight..."

***

[Skafloc]

(( ** Disclaimer. Skafloc Ran'Deau has not been to Strangethorn Vale in weeks, if not months except to pass through or patrol the coastline. He has never spent a night in Booty Bay. **

Now, I love this beginning Xaraphyne. I will be following this story. :D ))

[Xaraphyne]

[[ Forgot to mention, this took place a year or two ago. :D *snicker* ]]

[Elrioch]

Great post can't wait to read more!

[Evanthe]

[Awesome! I love it.]

[Xaraphyne]

I actually ended up spending more than one night with the same fellow, which in case you haven't figured out by now is pretty unusual for me. But I actually enjoyed Den'jun's company both in and out of bed as we waited the two days until he got word back from whoever it was he'd decided to get in touch with.

It was unfortunately early when someone knocked on the door to the room we were sharing. I pulled the pillow over my head and insulted the knocker's mother from underneath it. Den'jun, now bereft of pillow, decided he may as well get up and see who it was. I faintly heard few words exchanged before the door clicked shut and his feet padded back toward the bed.

Then there was silence, and curiosity won over sleepiness. I pulled the pillow off my head and eyed Den'jun, who was standing in front of the bed, reading a letter. I also noted that he apparently hadn't bothered to put anything on before answering the door, and briefly amused myself imagining what the messenger's reaction had been.

Den was still reading. "What is it?" I asked with a yawn and a stretch. The sun wasn't even coming through the shutters yet. Heresy.

His eyes flickered to me, sharper than I'd ever seen on him, and I blinked. He said, "It seems I be knowin' someone who can introduce ya," he said.

I sat up and smiled at him. "And I assume he's pleased with ya fer helpin' him out?"

He folded up the letter and tucked it into one of his bags. I'd've liked to see what all it said, but I liked Den too much to go snooping through his things. At least until I was about to leave. "Yup," said the troll. "He hasn't heard of ya, but if ya be good at what ya do, he be owin' me one."

"Ya mean yer not sure if I'm good at what I do?" I asked innocently, leaning back on my elbows and arching an eyebrow.

He looked toward me and smiled. The morning got better from there.

***

That afternoon was just as interesting, albeit in a somewhat different way.

"Err?" I said to the blade held at my throat.

I should have been able to track him, but he was the sneaky type and I hadn't been paying as much attention as I should have. A rogue, I realized, and judging by the scent, a male human. There didn't seem to be anyone else around at this specific cliff near the bay, the place where I had been told to come alone, but my eyes skimmed the low hills and scrubs that could be used as cover just in case.

"What're you doin' here?" he growled from behind me.

"I'm meetin' someone," I said. "Ya don't happen ta know where I can find a fellow named Jason, do ya?"

"Who's askin'?"

"The name's Xara. Weren't ya expectin' me?"

"Maybe." The knife slowly withdrew, and still holding my holds up to show they were empty, I turned around to get a look at him. He was short for a human male and stocky, with dark hair; maybe he had dwarvish blood somewhere. His gaze was predictably paranoid and squinty as he sized me up, and I gave him my best smile.

"I ain't that intimidatin', am I?"

He grunted. "Less questions."

"Okay then." I paused. "What... I mean... Are... No..... Huh."

He was looking less paranoid and more like he was doubting my sanity. "Start movin'," he said, indicating the edge of the cliff.

I eyed him dubiously but moved to the edge, and that was when I saw the narrow path leading down to a small, hidden cove. I would've seen it sooner if he hadn't surprised me and I'd had the time to scout around, because it wasn't especially well-hidden. As I picked my way down, I started humming a merry little tune. Mr. Sneaky, nee Jason, didn't seem amused but apparently gave up on getting me to be quiet.

Tucked up against the cliff at the bottom was a small pirate camp. There were only half a dozen or so men of assorted races, and it was obviously a temporary camp; the beach was marked where a longboat had been pulled ashore, but neither it nor the ship it belonged to was visible now.

"Greetins!" I said to the group, who were all eyeing me with various leveling of interest and suspicion. One of them stepped forward -- a night elf with dark skin and long hair, fitted tunic and trousers, and a vivid red sash made of silk wound around his waist. I was pretty sure he didn't like women, and also sure he knew how [/COLOR]to use the scimitar hung at one hip.

"Greetings, troll," he said, his voice faintly disdainful. At least he knew good Orcish. "You're the one Den'jun sent?"

"Sure am," I said, hooking my thumbs in my belt. "Who're you?"

"Do you know a risk it is to have you here?" he said. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't slay you where you stand."

"Because after askin' me to come out here and meet ya, that would be pretty rude?" I offered.

He glared at me. "Prove your worth, and I might let you walk out of here alive."

"Well, friend, whatcha wanna know? I got news from all over the world. When it comes ta tradin' and transportin', anyway, don't ask me what them important folks up in Orgrimmar or whatever are doin'. But didja know that there's a soon ta be a bounty on the head of Baron Longshore? I assume ya know who he is?"

Judging by the narrowing of his eyes, he did indeed recognize the name of the infamous Southsea Freebooters captain. "And?"

"How 'bout the fact that they just hit a rich mithril vein in Winterspring, and by the end of spring yer not gonna get half of what it's goin' fer now?"

He was silent, not yet convinced. I sighed.

"All right, here's somethin' ya can check out before the day's over, and put it ta good use too. There's a new kid workin' at the docks in Booty Bay... and he's a bloodthistle addict. Likes to keep it on the down-low. Bribe him or blackmail him, I don't care, either way he's gonna be pretty damn useful fer ya."

The night elf nodded. "Very well, troll. We'll see if you speak truth about that at least. If you don't..." He let that hang for a moment. "And the rest, I'll do some checking with other sources, and see if there's anything to your rumors."

"Sounds like a plan." I grinned at him. "When're we meetin' up again?"

"About that..." he said.

***

[Xaraphyne]

"...and after he woke up the next mornin', I bet he was wonderin' how his pants ended up on backwards!"

The camp erupted in laughter and I grinned, lifting my mug in modest recognition of my storytelling skills. It was late in the evening, but the campfire provided plenty of warmth and light for me and my piratey companions. Alcohol flowed freely and there was no remaining trace of the distrust they'd shown for me upon my arrival.

Their boss, the flamboyant night elf whose name I had learned to be Leselin, had yet to return. I was sure he was trying every possible avenue to find a way to discredit me, but highly doubted he'd be able to research up my true profession without my full name or other information that a day's time wouldn't permit him to acquire. In the meantime, I was earning half a dozen contacts that would help me get to the Admiral who commanded the fleet of Bloodsail one way or another, even if Leselin invented a way to be uncooperative.

The human male who'd taken an especial shine to me leaned over to refill my mug from the nearly-empty bottle of rum. I was pondering which story to tell next when he winked at me and planted his other hand on my thigh. An unmistakable testosterone-fueled claim; doubtlessly sparked by the troll to my left who'd been doing some eyeing of his own. Sailors -- spent too much time at sea, if you ask me. Show them one smiling woman and see which head they did all their thinking with.

Before I could remove his hand and laugh it off, the troll growled in distinct perturbation. "Get ya grubby paw offa her," he said.

The rest of the camp fell dead silent. Not with alarm mind you; with keen interest in what would surely become a good fight. "Hey now, I can take care of--" I began.

Anything I said at this point of course went completely unheard. The human jumped to his feet and unsheathed his sword. "Why, you think you've got a chance with her? Ha! You've got as much chance there as you do besting me!"

I sighed and took a drink from my mug.

The troll took him time getting to his feet, unconcerned. He had a dagger sheathed at either hip, but drew neither yet. "Dat so, shorty? Why don' we see 'bout dat?" He straightened to his full height, a good two feet above the human man.

The other sailors started placing bets and calling out insults or encouragement. I got up and moved to the other side of the fire, giving the two plenty of room to duke it out. Jason, the human rogue whom I'd met on top of the cliff, rolled his eyes at me but grinned.

They met in a clumsy clash of blades. Although both drunk, the human hit hard, but the troll was quick and agile. Hoots and cries from the audience marked the ups and downs of the fight as I leaned back and watched with a grin, nursing my drink. They seemed an even match and there were several close calls.

The troll started getting tired sooner, and it might've meant the end of the match if a voice hadn't ended it prematurely.

"What th' bloody 'ell's goin' on here?"

All of the men stiffened and jumped to their feet if they weren't there already. I blinked, because it wasn't Leselin's voice I had heard, but they were all acting like they'd been caught in the act of brawling by their boss. I leaned around Jason curiously to spy out the newcomer.

A blood elf stepped into the ring of light cast by the campfire. The first thing I noticed was his blazing emerald gaze; it captured my attention despite the fact its power was cut in half by the eyepatch over his left eye. Or maybe that was what made it so captivating. His face struck me first as cruel, then something else was hinted to me, but it was gone before I could name it. His hair was pale blonde and he wore red and dark blue.

At that same moment I realized there were lights gently floating out on the bay behind him. The master ship had returned. This fellow was likely captain of the ship, Leselin's boss, making Leselin the first mate. A few more pirates were walking up and depositing supplies to set up camp for the night.

The blood elf's intense gaze fell on me. A strange sensation washed over me then, like I became startlingly aware of everything my body was touching, from the light mail pressing against my hips and chest to the individual grains of sand cushioning my legs curled under me.

It was disconcerting, but I stared back, letting him know I was entirely unimpressed with whatever clout he had over a few pirates. He didn't so much as blink, and for an endless moment we were frozen in a battle of wills. Then Jason standing next to me shifted uncomfortably and the moment was broken.

"Who's this lass?" the blood elf inquired, looking around the campfire for an answer.

"This 'lass' is the one yer crew is here ta see in the first place." I wasn't going to let anyone speak for me this time. Putting down my mug, I got to my feet. "Ya can call me Xara, Cap."

His eyebrows skyrocketed. "Cap?!"

"Sorry." I grinned. "Captain. Whatever. It's been a pleasure meetin' yer crew, by the way, and ya shouldn't blame 'em fer gettin' in a little tussle. It was my fault." I spread my hands apologetically. Jason coughed.

The blood elf crossed his arms and eyed me. "I just met ye and yer already startin' fights, and tryin' ta tell me how to run my crew. Women." He turned away. "Go ahead and take off now, ye ain't worth the trouble."

The pirates snickered nervously. The troll and the human who had been fighting began to unobtrusively put away their weapons and shift away from each other. I frowned. "Yer not even gonna wait fer Leselin to come back and tell ya how good the information I gave him was? That's too bad, guess you'll never know."

He stopped and turned back to me. For a minute he seemed to weigh his options, then he shrugged. "May as well see if yer information is worth the trouble... though it'd have ta be damn good information." He waved dismissively at the men still standing around the campfire. "Quit standin' around like lumps and go make yerselves useful before I make the lash useful on yer backs."

They scattered, but the captain remained, standing across the campfire from me. He clearly wanted to intimidate me, but I wasn't taking any of the bait. Instead, I smiled and gestured at the remaining rum. "Shall we help ourselves while we wait?" I asked.

"Hmm." He seated himself next to the rum, and I lowered myself back down to the sand as well. Around us, the ship's crew was busy setting up tents and more campfires. From somewhere, the scent of roasted meat wafted to me, and my mouth watered. I hadn't eaten all day.

The captain opened a bottle of rum and drank directly from it. I raised my eyebrows, then gave a mental shrug and tossed back the rest of my drink. After awhile it became obvious he wasn't going to initiate any conversation, so I took the cue.

"So how'd ya lose the eye?"

His gaze snapped back to mine, and its power grasped me again. I couldn't even adequately explain it, the way it felt when he met my eyes. Disconcerted, I cast my gaze elsewhere.

"Aye, it's quite a story... Not one fer tellin' around a campfire, though. Least not this early in the night."

I accepted that and leaned forward to grab myself my own bottle of rum. It seemed like half the supplies the original encampment had brought with them consisted of the stuff. Not that I thought that was a bad idea. I said, "Then what story do ya have to tell? I'm tired of doin' all the talkin' 'round here."

He smiled. He had a very disarming smile when he chose to use it. "I've got a damn good one 'bout some fools who thought they knew what they were gettin' themselves into... and found out otherwise."

"Always enjoyable ta hear a story 'bout fools gettin' put in their place." I grinned.

His gaze lingered on mine. For a moment I wondered if he knew what effect he was having on me, despite my off-handed attitude toward him. But likely he was just at least somewhat as intrigued by me.

Winning over this captain would get me one step closer to the Admiral, but I'd be lying if I said that was the main reason I wanted to.

"It starts on this island not far from here, where terrible beasts stalked the shadows and more terrible ones stalked the day... Where of course lay hidden the cache of treasure spoken only in whispers..."

***

[Elrioch]

Oooo its gettin' good!

[Xaraphyne]

"And of course guarding this cache and lording over all the terrible creatures was the most terrible creature of all... a wyrm with eyes like windows into Hell and scales like an abandoned night sky."

I sipped from my mug as I listened to his tale. I'd heard more than a few good storytellers in my time, and considered myself a fairly decent one; but his voice was compelling, rhythmic and faceted. He could have been speaking of animal husbandry and I would have been just as enthralled.

"Three intrepid adventurers set out to fell the beast and make the treasures their own. One, a young, strapping knight with Azeroth's fastest charger and an unbreakable lance; two, a powerful sorcerer who had an army of demons at his beck and call; and three, an unimaginably beautiful huntress with a simple cat at her side."

I looked at him curiously, but he just smiled ever so slightly and continued.

"The lad and his charger forded the reefs to the island and cut their way through the dense jungle straight to the wyrm's lair. Every beast that rose in his path was pierced through on the knight's lance and torn to pieces by the charger's hooves. The horse snorted fire as the knight raised his bloodstained lance in challenge at the entrance to the wyrm's lair."

My eyes were half-closed as I studied the blood elf's face, the shadows and highlights cast on his features by the flames before us. It was very enjoyable basking in the fire's glow, nursing my drink and listening to a tale spun with such expertise. In the shadows away from our campfire, the pirates continued to move about, setting up camp and calling to one another, but it seemed distant.

"The wyrm writhed out of his lair and hissed in fury at the disturbance. He rose up so high he blocked all light, casting the young hero in the deepest shadows he'd ever known. Undaunted, he kicked his charger into a gallop and aimed his lance for the beast's heart.

His lance broke on the wyrm's scales.

The once-fearless charger screamed in terror and made to escape, unseating his knight and leaving him to fend for himself. The knight picked himself up, and with no less bravery than before, took his broken lance and attacked the wyrm."

I interrupted. "I thought ya said his lance was unbreakable!"

"Quiet now, yer ruinin' the story.

Clearly the wyrm was not of this mortal coil, for no natural creation should have been able to break the knight's lance. Realizing this, the knight knew he had to slay the beast lest it grow to threaten all he held dear. As the wyrm struck out at him, he buried his broken lance in its hellish eye, and with all his strength thrust it in as far as it would go even as the wyrm tore his body apart.

Wounded, the wyrm reared back and screeched in unholy fury, such that every beast on the island cowered in terror. The knight slowly collapsed, the breath expiring from his body, his last hope only that the beast would fall as well. But he never got to see his hope fulfilled."

The captain stopped to take a long draught from his bottle. I hadn't noticed him drinking from it that much, but it was somehow already half-empty. I cupped my chin in one hand and put my elbow on my knee, still watching him.

"So he died fer nothin'?" I said.

"Did ye wanna finish this story fer me?" he demanded.

I laughed. "If it's gonna be a tragedy, then yeah!"

"Woman, nothin' worthwhile in this world comes without a little blood bein' shed."

I raised my eyebrows. "Is that so."

"Aye it is. Now shut yer mouth so I can finish me story.

The wyrm was wounded, but not slain, for the lance had been broken too short. Its eye was ruined and its anger was dire. It stalked the island now, sending all the terrible beasts to hide, and adventurers would only speak of it in hushed tones. It was such that the sorcerer heard of its injury and believed he could exploit such a weakness for his own benefit.

He brought with him an imp with great magicks, a felhound with clever trickery, and a voidwalker of incredible resilience. To get to the island he simply walked across the water, and to get through the jungle, he had his imp sear down the trees, his felhound scare away the lesser beasts, and his voidwalker shield him while he dispersed those less intimidated. The island was chaos when he arrived at the wyrm's lair and taunted it awake from its uneasy rest.

With finally a target for its frustrations, the wyrm wasted no time striking out for the sorcerer. But the felhound had cleverly illusioned its master and the wyrm got a mouthful of earth instead of human flesh. Fire seared its ebony hide as both imp and its master attacked with devastating spells. The wyrm rose once more and its hiss could be heard as far as the shores of Undermine."

"That far?" I said.

"That far.

The voidwalker went to meet the wyrm as his master commanded, and no matter how much the wyrm bit and tore, it seemed unable to chew through the demon's energies and get to its master. With the voidwalker as a distraction, the sorcerer was able to move to the wyrm's blind side and prepare a devastating spell.

But the wyrm was a terrible creature, not an unwise one. Realizing the voidwalker for the distraction it was, it whirled and struck out with its tail in a sweep that cut the sorcerer clean in half. The sorcerer did not even have the time to regret his folly before his life was gone."

I let out a breath. "Sucks ta be him."

The captain stopped to drink again. The bottle which I had been using to refill my mug was getting rather empty as well. What can I say, I enjoyed a good volatile rum like the pirates tended to favor.

"Then there was the huntress," he said, and fell silent.

I waited for awhile, then prodded, "And how did she slay the wyrm?"

"How many times do I have ta tell ye ta hush, woman!"

I smirked and shrugged. "How long is it gonna take ya ta finish yer story?"

"Longer if ye keep interruptin'!"

"Okay, fine, fine," I said, waving my bottle at him. "Take yer time. We got all night anyway, yer first mate doesn't seem to be comin' back anytime soon."

I thought I saw a smirk play across his features in the light of the campfire. He drank from his bottle again before resuming the tale.

"Now the huntress...

She knew the wyrm for the creation of evil it was, and the terrors it was capable of manifesting. And she knew she had no chance of defeating it with brawn or spells, for she possessed neither.

But she made her way to the island with her simple cat swimming alongside her."

"What? Why?" I said.

He gave me a look.

"Sorry, keep goin'!"

He cleared his throat before continuing.

"Her beauty was such that her smile calmed all the terrible beasts that stalked the island between her and the wyrm. She spoke to them sweet words and with light touches upon their scaly heads passed unharmed. It was like a miracle that restored peace and order to the island though the beasts were no less fearsome to any other than they had been before.

Upon reaching the lair of the wyrm, the wyrm came out to investigate the scent of sweetness and the gentle coos which had never before been uttered to his ears. Nonetheless, he knew the huntress for an enemy when he saw her with his one good eye, and rose to challenge her.

That was when the huntress began to sing.

Her song was one of sorrow and love, emotions that the wyrm had never before grasped, which stilled him and filled him with wonder. Her voice was so pure and lovely that he sank back to the ground to continue listening. Before long he closed his eye and simply drifted with the melody of her beautiful music. That was when the huntress drew her longbow and notched her arrow, aiming for his one good eye, even as her voice continued to fill him with wonder.

But as the wyrm listened and wondered, he began to think about why he was being given such a gift, for surely he did not deserve it. And that was when he opened his eye and saw her ready to slay him.

For her trickery the huntress was granted the slowest and most painful death of them all, as he bit her with his poison and then left her to die with only her cat for company... and the cat turned and left when it saw its owner was no more use to it."

He sat back and drained his bottle. I blinked. Presently I said, "Wait, so... none of them slay it? That's it?"

"I told ye it was a story about fools who didn't know any better, didn't I?"

"What kinda story is that!" I was seriously annoyed.

He grinned, unbothered. "I happen ta like it."

Maybe I didn't realize what the story was really about until years later because of what happened next.


***

[Elrioch]

Wow it just keeps getting better and better!!

[Xaraphyne]

A cry rang out.

The captain and everyone within sight at the nearby camps jumped to their feet as one. The ringing sound of a great quanitity of steel being drawn almost made me want to wince. I looked around, slowly getting to my feet. My companion was staring into the darkness with a deadly expression on his face and sword in hand.

"What--" I began.

Five figures flew into the light of our campfire, three making for the captain and two for me. I didn't have time to figure out anything about what was going on except that there was a club swinging at my face. I dove straight over the campfire, ignoring the briefly searing heat, and came up at the side of the captain as he parried one of his attacker's swords and nimbly dodged another's. The third received a faceful of sand courtesy of yours truly and choked and sputtered, backing off.

"I'll take care of ye after them, lass," the captain said grimly. I didn't know what he meant, but again had very little time to reflect on such complicated things as my original assailants came around the other side of the fire at me. One had a club and the other a pair of daggers.

It was too bad I'd had the sense to come unarmed. It would've saved me the effort of putting my fingers to my mouth and blowing a sharp whistle.

Out of nowhere, Kathren appeared, coming down to land next to me with her glowing green eyes fastened on the two men. Humans, both of them, and both taken aback by the very large cat's sudden appearance. It gave me more than enough time to snatch up the bow and quiver the cat had harnessed to her sides. I rose from my crouch and took aim at the club weilder, who started to charge, but not fast enough to get too close before I loosed the arrow and hit him in the neck. He collapsed and tumbled to my feet.

Kathren meanwhile shrugged out of the loosened harness and dashed toward the second man. He tried to dodge her and come after me, but the cat bit into his leg with her powerful jaws and dragged him down to the sand. It bought me enough time to get the range I needed to start sending arrows at him, but he writhed and twisted in my cat's grip and I scored only glancing blows.

I looked over and saw that the captain had backed up against the fire, fighting grimly against his three opponents. His sword flashed through the air with unnatural light and his one eye glowed hotly. It actually gave me pause, but when one of the men backed up for a moment to look for an opening, I saw mine. My arrow took him in the side and he staggered, turning on me with a distinctly annoyed face. He had a barbed spear and good reason to close the distance between us.

As he made for me I darted by him, turning to spin by the spear as it pierced through the night sky. He was too slow, and the vicious kick I delivered to the side of one knee made him even slower as I once again gained distance on him. I took him down without much more effort and only lighter by a couple of arrows.

I saw the captain duck a swing and drive his sword through one of his opponents' guts. The other tried to swing again, and the captain simply let go of his sword with one hand and extended it toward him. I started to cry out in dismay as the blade flashed toward him, but then a pillar of light came crashing down, blinding the third man and briefly stunning him. A paladin! I'd never met one before and I almost wanted to watch and see what he would do next, but the attacker with daggers whom my cat had been keeping busy finally caught up to me. I'd been stupid and forgotten about him until his fingers, wrapped around the hilt of one dagger, slammed into my kidney and dropped me to my knees.

Kathren came bounding out of the darkness but the man simply ducked and she flew overhead. I struggled to move through the pain, reaching for the pouch at one hip and dropping something to the ground. The rogue didn't see it as he lifted his dagger, doubtlessly intending to impale it in my spine, but he probably figured out what I had done after the trap exploded and encased him in a chunk of solid ice.

I stumbled to my feet and backed away, notching another arrow with shaking hands. Damn, but I hated rogues. The cheap bastards. I let fly and the arrow broke through the ice, freeing him and burying itself in his chest. He swore and threw one of his daggers at me, an unexpected move that I nonetheless managed to throw myself aside and avoid. I looked up from the sand and saw the captain matching his third opponent blow for blow; he hadn't managed to gain the upper hand, which meant from what I saw that his final opponent was a formidible one.

I heard Kathren hiss and then yowl with pain. The rogue had struck her no few times trying to get away from her before and probably intended to finish her off now so he could do the same to me. I shifted to a crouch and start firing off arrows infused with mana as fast as I could. As before he was hard to hit, but I finally convinced him I was a bigger threat than my cat when one lodged in his upper arm. His hateful gaze turned on me and faster than I thought possible he closed the distance between us.

Did I mention I hate rogues?

Normally I'd've had my axe and probably could have finished him off at close range, but Kitty wasn't capable of carrying that and my bow and arrows and remaining stealthy enough to slink undetected through a pirate camp. I raised an arm to catch the dagger he lashed toward me, feeling the blade pierce through my leather bracers and draw blood. On more instinct than thought I grabbed one of the logs sticking out of the fire and thrust the burning end at his face.

He howled in pain, clutching his eyes and backing away. Kathren tripped him again and now I took all the time I needed to plant an arrow where it would stop him for good.

Blood dripped from my hand, making the arrows I reached for slick, but it wasn't a serious wound. The fight raged on at every other campfire as shouts, screams, and the ring of metal on metal assaulted my ears. I looked down at the bodies littering our campfire and realized that our attackers were dressed in the colors of none other than the Freebooters. Somehow they'd gotten word of the Bloodsail ship anchored at this cove and had seen fit to pursue the opportunity.

I didn't much appreciate them interfering with my business.

I turned to see how the captain was faring, relieved to see him standing and still fighting on. The fire made the sweat on his skin gleam and showed where both he and his opponent had scored blood. They were fighting too closely for me to dare risking shooting into the melee.

The fire crackled and shot up sparks, and suddenly I became aware of the silhouette looming up behind the captain. There was no time to call out; I rose and nocked an arrow, noting the captain's gaze flick up to me -- was that an expression of resignation? -- before releasing. The arrow flew by the captain's head doubtlessly close enough to feel the breeze of its passing before it lodged itself in the would-be ambusher's left eye. He fell back into the fire which threw up plenty more sparks.

The captain finally found an opening and his blade cut deeply into his opponent's side. He jerked it free and the man grunted and staggered; the next swipe cleanly separated the man's head from his shoulders. I let loose a low whistle as the body hit the sand and the head did a short moment later.

"Yer welcome," I said, grinning, as the captain walked up to me.

Considering I had just saved his life, I wasn't exactly expecting it when he seized my neck with his free hand and threw me to the ground.

***

[Xaraphyne]

I looked up at the captain in shock as he pinned me down, his grip almost too tight for me to breathe. His hair fell alongside his face and he had a cut right below his one good eye. More importantly, he stared at me with unmistakeable fury.

"I don't know what yer game is, lass, but if ye think I'm goin' ta let me guard down because ye slayed one of yer own men, yer dead wrong." He planted his sword in the sand alarmingly close to my head and bent close. "Did ye want the fame fer killin' me to yerself?"

"I-- what? These men aren't mine! Do I look like a damn Freebooter to y--"

His grip tightened, cutting me off. I might not have had a chance to further argue my defense if Kathren hadn't growled and pounced on him, knocking him right off me. I rolled to a crouch, snatching up my bow from where I'd dropped it and plucking an arrow from my quiver. I had him dead in my sights with Kathren holding him down when he looked up and saw me.

"You idiot," I said. "I saved your life plain and simple."

I lowered my bow and stood up.

"Kathren, heel."

She growled at the captain one last time before releasing him from under her mighty paws. With somewhat bruised dignity he picked himself up and brushed himself off. Around us, the sounds of fighting were dying out, and it seemed the Bloodsail were coming out on top. The captain didn't seem particularly concerned about the rest of the men as though he'd already assumed they'd be victorious.

"Well, lass," he said presently, "seems I can trust ye at least ta not kill me. Yet."

"At the very least," I said. After I moment I added, "I don't think Kitty much likes ya, though."

Kathren sat on her haunches about ten feet away, glaring at him. He gave her a sour look. "I don't much like yer stupid cat either."

She turned her head and started grooming herself. I grinned.

"Wanna go clean up the rest of these would-be party crashers, Cap?"

He favored me with a long, considering stare before the corners of his mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly.

***

[Xaraphyne]

It was a good thing the Bloodsail weren't early risers. If they were, I would've had to give up on the bounty entirely because infiltrating their ranks would not have been an option. I woke up of my own volition to the gentle tune of a chest rising and falling beneath my cheek.

Last night was hazy, but I remembered well enough. I felt my lips curve through a still foggy cloud of contentment.

My hand was resting on his chest as well; I started to slide it over his skin, but he was instantly awake, grabbing my wrist. His glowing emerald gaze met mine and I found myself breathless all over again.

Then the tent flap rustled. "Admiral, when you have a chance, I have the information for you," came Leselin's nasal voice through it. I listened to his footsteps retreat and blinked.

"That's..."

I stopped.

"Admiral?" I said.

The intensity of his gaze didn't change as he watched me, watched the confusion turn to disbelief and shock. It was so bleedingly obvious, he wasn't a captain. And the description, the blood elf for the bounty, how had I forgotten the eyepatch, the blonde hair? How had I overlooked it? The things he had said, the way the men jumped at his word?

I started to pull away, to push upright, but he captured my other wrist in his grip as well and wouldn't let me. I struggled against him, furious I had been duped, incensed I'd been so willfully blind. Swiftly he pushed me onto my back and pinned me despite my angry protests. It took me a moment to hear the words he was saying.

"Calm down, lass, calm down. What are ye so upset about? I'm not worried and I have plenty more reason t' be." His smirk wasn't exactly kind as he looked down at me, and I went still. "Considerin' I have a bounty hunter in me bed."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. He had known all along? And he'd known I hadn't realized who he was? Had he just gotten me in bed to laugh at me, probably before dispatching me entirely? This wasn't fair at all. My gut felt like it was sinking through the ground.

"Ye gonna kill me now?" he asked.

After a moment I said, "Funny, I was about to ask the same thing."

"Well, that depends," he said cordially. "Were ye only sleepin' with me ta get ta yer mark, or was there a different reason?"

It was something I might have done, but it wasn't why I had done it. Wordless, I looked up at him. If he didn't believe me, trying to tell him that would be pointless. And from what I'd observed the night before...

His quickness to anger at the first suspicion, his resignation to believing the worst when it was possible... It wouldn't matter what I said. He wasn't the type to have faith in anyone. Maybe because of his high stature, his notoriety, or maybe it was just who he was.

"Well?" he inquired.

He leaned a little closer, and I couldn't help it, my eyes dropped to his lips. Even now, knowing he'd let me think he was a mere captain, that he had taken advantage of that to get me in bed when he'd probably never believe I wouldn't prefer to kill him and collect the bounty... Even now, he had an effect on me that no one else had, this undeniable attraction that stole my breath. His gaze narrowed ever so slightly, an emotion I couldn't identify flickering in its green depths.

"I'm waitin'," he said.

"Damnit," I whispered, "can't you tell?"

He came a little closer still. I was powerfully aware of the moment, of our closeness, and of how much hung in the balance -- although the threat to my safety didn't seem most important. I just wanted to know if somehow, against his own nature, he could believe in me. That was what I really cared about.

"Hmm," he said. "Nope. Not sure. Ye should tell me."

"Good gods," I said, "shut up."

I kissed him, and he let me. He didn't take it as artifice, not with the way he kissed me back. Nothing else between us had been so true as this; neither of us could deny it. As simple as that the world around us and all its complications ceased to exist.

Until the tent flap rustled again. "Admiral, my apologies, but it is urgent."

Elrioch drew back and looked at me. He had a smile on his lips. I reminded myself to breathe as I looked at him uncertainly, waiting to see what he would do.

He got up from the bedroll and grabbed his clothing. I blinked and sat up, watching him as he got dressed. He looked at me over his shoulder.

"Not plannin' on lyin' in bed all day, were ye? I got things ta do, lass. The Admiral is a busy man."

Automatically I reached for my clothes. "I... ah... so... What now?"

"Gotta figure out how those damn Freebooters followed ye here," he said. "Least ye can do is help." He buckled on his sword belt as I fastened the clasp on my top. "Comin'?" he said, opening the tent flap.

I snapped my bracers into place hurriedly and grabbed my bow. "Guess so," I said. My heart felt light.

***

[Xaraphyne]

"They put ashore a mile south of here. Their ship got wind of the rout and took sail ahead of pursuit. The only lead for how they found out about this location is her."

Leselin favored me with a long, less-than-affectionate stare. His voice didn't quite border on disgust with the Admiral who had just seen fit to spend the night with me nearby, but his suspicion was justified and he knew it. I looked to Elrioch, who stood facing away from us with his hands clasped behind his back, boots planted in the sand as he regarded the sea.

"I know who her contact was, and he's trustworthy," he said presently. "Den'jun knows better than ta run afoul of the Bloodsail. And he reportedly had the lass under his eye since her arrival here. The lead is no good."

Leselin sneered at me. I grinned and winked at him. When Elrioch turned around I had on my best earnest look. "It's true," I said. "I definitely had no reason ta jeopardize my meeting with the Bloodsail."

As far as I could tell, Leselin still thought I was just an information seller. Only Elrioch knew what my original goal had been. But my words were perfectly true and he knew it. What I intended to do now, well... I hadn't quite figured that out.

"Still, it's too much of a coincidence to ignore. And now one of our locations is compromised." Elrioch fixed me with his unwavering stare and I swallowed. "Somethin' ye did led ta this, no doubt. So yer gonna help us figure it out, or pay the debt another, less survivable, way, understood?"

"Of course," I said casually.

"Start by makin' that information tradin' skill of yers useful back in Booty Bay. Everythin' the Freebooters are up ta, I wanna know. Find yer way into their camps if ye can. Let 'em think we threw ye out, or ye barely escaped with yer life."

"We could take off an ear to make her story more believable," Leselin suggested.

"How about not?"

Elrioch's lips twitched. "I think the lass will manage. She has her ways."

Leselin made a derisive sound, and I narrowed my eyes at Elrioch. Still, I couldn't very well get angry when that was an option in my book, and not one I was above using. Although when I thought about it now, it wasn't really all that appealing. I turned away with a shrug.

"All right then. I'll do what I can. Just lemme know when ya want me again... and what I have will be yours."

I glanced over my shoulder to meet Elrioch's gaze with a challenge. If he was really going to let me just walk off, now would be when he did it. If he was really going to trust me. Leselin looked dubious but I didn't care. Elrioch gazed back evenly.

"It already is," Elrioch said.

I snorted softly and walked away.

To the Freebooters then.

***

[Xaraphyne]

It already is, indeed.

I simmered a little bit on the way back to Booty Bay. Why his seemingly complete confidence bothered me, I wasn't sure. Probably because it seemed so unfounded -- especially from someone I'd seen to be utterly untrusting of anyone. He had to be up to something. But what? Could I trust him?

I wondered why I didn't just wash my hands of the whole confusing situation by going back to do what I'd originally intended, and reaping the bounty for it. Then I remembered the way his emerald gaze had held mine and blew out a sigh. He was too damn interesting, that was why.

This whole thing was pretty damn interesting. How -had- the Freebooters discovered their Bloodsail campgrounds? Was it in fact related to my arrival? For that matter, how had Elrioch known what I was there for when no one else had? Well, that at least was probably just a matter of him having good sources. I wrinkled my nose. I guess I was starting to build up some sort of slight reputation as a bounty hunter after this much time at it.

Such were my thoughts, you can't blame me for being taken by surprise twice in as many days.

The net flew out from the bushes to my right, knocking me down to the dusty path. Kathren immediately growled and dashed toward the two humans who jumped out while I struggled with the heavy ropes. She pounced on one, but he parried her sharp teeth with one vambraced arm, staggering but not taken down. The other advanced on me, a heavy mace in his hand.

Hunters have a few tricks up their sleeve. There are many situations where they can manage the unexpected and turn the tides on their opponents. Tangled up in heavy ropes that my struggles were only worsening, I had nothing.

Well, that's not true. I had time to recognize Freebooter colors before the mace connected with my head and all I saw was black.

***

[Xaraphyne]

I woke up to voices, a headache, and sand pressing against my cheek.

Letting my eyes open fractionally, I immediately regretted it due to the bright midafternoon sun. It did not help the migraine pounding in rhythmic circles around my skull. Nor did the awkward position I was lying in. A slight shift, and I could feel the ropes knotted around my wrists. I started listening to the voices, but they were too far to pick out.

"Hey." Something jabbed me in the back. I grunted and curled up on myself defensively. "Hey," he said again, and I realized the voice belonged to a young boy.

I managed to push myself upright. Around me was another beachside campsite, though this one had jungle rather than cliffs further inland, and judging by the angle of the sun it was on the western side of the peninsula. Freebooter territory. My gaze moved over the medium-sized ship anchored just offshore, to the fire pits, tents, men and women of various races around them, and finally to the little human boy behind me with a stick in his hand and unafraid eyes.

"What?" I said.

"'Bout time ya woke up," he said. He sat back on his heels and regarded me. "Stay up all night or somethin'?"

"What's a kid doin' here?" I asked.

"I'm a pirate," he responded, as though it were obvious. "I'm a watch scout. Right now I'm watchin' ya."

"I see," I said, then, "Do ya know why they brought me here?"

His head tilted. "Ya don't?"

Honestly, I just wanted to know which particular reason it was, but I couldn't say that. "No idea, I'm just a little mercenary lookin' fer work. Did I get on someone's bad side?"

His response, however, opened a whole new can of worms.

"Yer not Bloodsail?" he said. "Yeah right."

Just then, a shadow fell over me. I looked up at a hulking tauren with an eyepatch and a formidable scowl. He leaned down, took my arm, and hauled me to my feet like I was no more than a tiny blood elf lass. Quick as that, I was making my way toward the coastline and the ship floating just beyond.

If they thought I was Bloodsail, they must only have seen me last night, or coming out of the Bloodsail camp this morning. If they'd seen me before that, they'd have known I was a freelancer just looking for work of some kind. How, then, had the camp been found in the first place? Maybe it wasn't because of me after all.

The tauren indicated I should get in the longboat pulled ashore. He easily pushed it into the water and climbed aboard to begin rowing us toward the ship. I fidgeted with the bindings around my wrists and wondered what I should say to whomever he was taking me to, and what I hadn't said that was the only reason I was still alive.

As we approached the ship, I squinted at the prow. The Silvered Maiden.

Speaking of worms.

***

[Xaraphyne]

"Xara."

I glanced around the captain's cabin curiously. It was well-decorated, perhaps not plush, but he obviously didn't want for much. Then I looked back to Den'jun, seated behind his desk with his chair tilted back and hands folded behind his head.

He hadn't sounded very affectionate. I said, "Last I was aware, ya didn't need to hit me over my head ta drag me back ta yer room."

The tauren at the doorway behind me shifted. Den'jun was looking at me thoughtfully.

"And dis whole time, I thought I be da one foolin' ya." He spoke as though I hadn't responded, or he was only musing to himself. "But ya be wit' da Bloodsail all along."

I lifted my bound hands to rub tiredly at my forehead. "What exactly were ya foolin' me fer? And why the hell do ya think I'm with the Bloodsail?"

"Ya think I be gonna buy that now?" He leaned forward. "I don't know how long ya been wit' da Bloodsail, but after ya saved da Admiral's life and slept wit' him, I ain't gonna believe ya be a damn bounty hunter."

I stared at him. "Wait... Are you jealous?"

He shot out of his chair and his hand connected with my face. I stumbled back, and after a moment I lifted my hands to my sore jaw and chuckled. He was leaning over his desk, breathing hard and glaring at me wordlessly.

"So ya know I'm a bounty hunter. All right. And somehow ya know what happened last night. All right, that explains a few things too. But lemme make sure I got this straight. Ya sent me ta Elrioch 'cause ya wanted me ta kill him. And now ya think I'm a Bloodsail agent 'cause I didn't."

He slowly lowered himself back to his chair. Presently he said, "I don' like bein' made a fool outta, Xara. 'Specially not by a woman I thought I had wrapped 'round mah finger, who goes and sleeps wit' another man da first chance she gets. It—"

I had to interrupt. "Excuse me? Ya really thought a woman who slept with ya within an hour of meetin' ya wasn't the type ta—"

"Enough!" he snarled. I sighed. Men. He ignored me, continuing. "But if dat's da way it be, dat's da way it be." He waved a hand dismissively, and I sensed the tauren's looming presence at my back. "We'll see how bad da Bloodsail want ya back. How bad he be wantin' ya back. Alive."

"Wait," I said, not liking this at all, but the tauren's grip was on my arm again. "Wait! I'm not with them! They trust me, don't be stupid!"

I was almost out the door when Den'jun spoke. "Dorne, wait. Xara, ya have one chance ta change mah mind."

The tauren paused, and let me go. I stepped back up to the desk and met Den'jun's gaze. This troll walked a fine line between jealousy and calculation, and I had to choose my words carefully to make sure he didn't fall the wrong way.

"I ain't with them, Den. I ain't with him. I'm my own woman. I didn't know what was with the attack last night, and it screwed up my plans somethin' fierce." It was more not recognizing Elrioch that had done that, but enough was true that my voice rang with honesty. If nothing else, I was my own woman, and I still wasn't quite sure about dealing with Elrioch. "I was playin' it safe, gainin' their trust. They let me walk outta there alive despite the attack. Yer a captain of the Freebooters. Ya ain't gonna throw that away just because it's me."

He studied me for a minute longer, then nodded slightly, and got to his feet. I watched him as he walked around his desk and stopped in front of me.

"Dere's just one problem wit' dat," he said.

"What?" I said dubiously.

"Ya know I be a captain of da Freebooters."

Elrioch's voice echoed in my mind. "I know who her contact was, and he's trustworthy. Den'jun knows better than ta run afoul of the Bloodsail."

Somehow, even though I'd against all probability won Elrioch's trust, I didn't think Den'jun was as likely to let me just walk out of here.

***

[Xaraphyne]

So it was that I had a new mission, and an escort. Den’jun was reasonably sure I wasn’t with the Bloodsail, but he’d invested too much into infiltrating their ranks to risk me revealing him for whatever reason. My escort was the only one between us two who would have any weapons, but have weapons he did; I counted at least four daggers in various places on the human’s person, not counting the two he wore openly sheathed on his belt. He ignored me as I sized him up, Dorne working on the ropes that bound my hands until they fell away.

“Ya do what da Bloodsail thought ya be gonna do,” Den’jun said. “Den ya go back. Get near da Admiral again. And if ya don’t finish da job, Roane will.” He nodded toward the human. “After dat... yer free. Wit’ da Bloodsail not bein’ any friends of yers after dat, I don’t be thinkin’ ya will be wantin’ ta blow our cover then, and not be welcome on eider side of da peninsula.” He smirked.

“How am I s’posed ta bring him in with me?” I nodded toward the human, who continued to ignore me, and rubbed my sore wrists. “They barely trust me at all!”

“Dey be trustin’ ya a bit more dan dat if dey let ya walk away knowin’ everythin’ ya do,” he said. “’Sides, dat be yer problem, not mine.” His smirk widened into a grin.

Dorne moved slightly, suggesting with his body language that now was the time I should be leaving. I looked at Den’jun for a moment longer, then nodded.

“I’d have waited fer a good opportunity, not just the next that came along... but my hide’s on the line either way, now. If I ever see ya again, it’s because I got lucky.”

He didn’t look like he’d miss me. I guess with the possibility of bagging Admiral Elrioch in his grasp, I wasn’t nearly as attractive anymore. “Good luck,” he said diffidently, and Dorne indicated we were leaving now. The untalkative human brought up the rear as he moved back to the rowboat.

We headed back to the shore, then Roane and I left the Freebooters site, headed for Booty Bay. I tried to make conversation with the human but he was about as taciturn as you get, not speaking so much as a word, and giving me no opportunity to be charming. I considered various plans to ditch him in the town, but eventually discarded all of them. Without a weapon or even Kathren – I hadn’t spotted her and for all I knew she’d been killed in the attack on me – my odds of getting away from the human alive weren’t good. He looked to be the type who’d knife me and then vanish. Did I ever mention I hated rogues?

There wasn’t a lot I could do but plan as I waited to hear word about when and where to return to the Bloodsail. So, plan I did the four days I spent in Booty Bay, making a cursory effort to dig up the information Elrioch had sent me to find. I already had plenty, but if I was being watched it wouldn’t do to raise any suspicions.

I explained Roane’s presence as a bodyguard I had hired since no one in their right minds would believe he was a lover with that clearly uninterested mien. He followed me wherever I went, whomever I talked to, and his hands never strayed too far from his daggers.

At the end of the fourth day, I was nursing a drink in the tavern, rather morosely musing on my original meeting with Den’jun here that had sent me down this increasingly convoluted path, when I felt Roane’s familiar presence draw closer. I glanced over my shoulder as he stepped up next to me, his arms crossed and expression a touch more unamused than usual.

He spoke quietly, his voice inaudible to anyone who wasn’t right next to us, which no one was. I blinked to actually hear him speak, but quickly became rather more concerned with the words he spoke.

“If they’re not going to contact you, we’ll head back, and find another use for you,” he said lowly. “So if you’ve been stalling, I suggest you reconsider your tactics.”

“I’m not stalling!” I hissed, putting down my mug. “It’s probably yer fault! They’re not gonna try and approach me with you hangin’ around!”

He shrugged. “That’s your problem,” he said. “Tomorrow we’ll—”

His gaze shifted beyond me as he cut himself off. I hesitated, then turned to look. Another human had walked up to us, this one a woman, wearing sea-worn clothing and a scimitar on one hip. She was looking at me.

“Greetins!” I said.

She didn’t respond, just jerked her head away from Roane. Roane crossed his arms, clearly not about to let me move away from him to talk to the woman. I reached up and beckoned Roane close. With apparent reluctance, he bent down to let me murmur to him quiet enough that the woman couldn’t hear.

“Ya don’t wanna have ta tell Den’jun that I couldn’t do anything because ya tied my hands,” I said. “Ya seem like a capable man. A few feet of space shouldn’t be too much of a risk.”

He eyed me as he straightened, then nodded and moved back, just barely out of earshot. The woman looked at him, then me.

“Come ta the end of the south beach tomorrow at sunrise. Halfway up the cliff is a cave. Don’ bring anyone.” Her eyes flicked meaningfully to Roane, and she turned away.

“Wait,” I objected. “I need him there!”

“That’s yer problem,” she said.

I was beginning to really dislike that phrase. I watched as she walked away and Roane walked back up to me. “Well?” he said.

“Tomorrow at sunrise,” I said, lifting my tankard. “And if I’m lucky, they won’t shoot me fer bringin’ you along before we get our chance.”

***

[Xaraphyne]

[[ Note: the above post was edited and more added after it was originally posted, if you missed it. ]]


Now, I haven’t mentioned this yet, but I tend to think of myself as a free spirit. A lucky one, but a free one.

I was born a jungle troll, to the wilds and savages. Luckily, in my opinion anyway, a goblin raid kidnapped me amongst others and took me to Undermine to be auctioned off as a slave. Then, even more luckily, I was bought not by a slavemaster, but by an orc matron named Nigae. She took me back to the orphanage on the island that raised rescued children of all races, and that’s where I grew up till I started wandering the world.

And wander I have for the past four or five years; wherever my feet felt like taking me. Taking jobs, gold, and what lovers I please along the way; the only constants the rum in my flask and Kathren at my side. It’s a good life and I’d prefer no other. I narrowly escaped being raised as a savage, and even more narrowly escaped being raised as a slave. So I embrace all the freedoms that life has to offer me as my right and privilege as a living, acting woman.

Finding myself in this mess was, least to say, depressing. If it wasn’t my stupid fascination with Elrioch making me powerless, it was Den’jun’s threats on my life. By sunrise when Roane and I were walking up the beach, looking for the path to lead us up to the cave, I was too tired of this business to want anything but out.

With my hide whole. Damn anything else.

No boats or ships floated on the waves. No smoke curled toward the sky. Whoever was meeting me hadn’t brought a large force, but then again, why would they need to, to handle one untrustworthy trolless?

“There,” I said, when my eyes alighted upon one downtrodden plant.

Along the side of a boulder was a very narrow passageway that was easily missed. I squeezed through and Roane followed, hands on the hilts of his daggers. The footing was tricky as we made our way up the zig-zagging path that crept up the side of the cliff.

“Hold,” called a voice. I peered upward and saw poised on the path above us the human woman who had delivered the message last night. Her eye was on Roane but her crossbow was aimed at my chest. “Ya were ta come alone,” she said.

I slowly lifted my hands. “He’s the key ta what I was sent out ta find,” I said. “The Bloodsail will wanna talk ta him.”

Roane’s gaze bored into my back, but the woman eventually nodded, aiming her crossbow upward and indicating we should ascend the rest of the path. When it zigged back, I saw that she was standing aside the mouth of a cave. She stood there, watching, and made no motion, waiting for me to enter. With one glance down the cliff face, I turned to look in the cave.

Elrioch was seated just inside, a smokeless campfire in front of him. I was briefly more intrigued by the fact the fire emitted no smoke than the Admiral; after a moment I realized by the color of its flames that it was fueled by some kind of magic. Then my gaze rose to meet his.

“What’d ye find?” he asked casually.

[Xaraphyne]

“Elrioch,” I said.

I felt Roane move up behind me, surely recognizing the opportunity to take the Admiral when he had only one reinforcement. In moments he would undoubtedly act, regardless of what I did or said; and even if I proved myself loyal to the Bloodsail and turned against him, odds were I couldn’t act with enough speed or force to stop him from taking the unsuspecting Admiral. Either way, I’d never be welcome in Bloodsail territory again; and if I didn’t resist, at least I had the chance to be let free by the Freebooters.

All just as Den’jun had said.

What freedom was there in this?

Elrioch’s gaze moved to Roane. “Hmmm,” he said.

A slight movement at my back was Roane going for his daggers. At that moment, time seemed to slow for me. I could sense Roane moving, and out of the corner of my eye, the human woman instantly reacting, raising her crossbow. To aim for me, as Roane stood opposite myself from her. But mostly, my gaze was focused on Elrioch, watching the subtle changes in his expression as he understood what I had brought back with me: treachery.

What freedom was there in this? Where was my right to decide my own destiny?

I turned, and with more force than either Roane or myself had anticipated I could manage, I launched myself at him. Time suddenly sped up again, events occurring too fast for me to comprehend what I perceived until moments after each had transpired.

A crossbow bolt whizzing by my face, missing by a fingerswidth.

Roane reflexively grappling me, his dagger glinting, ready to spill my blood.

A scrabbling sound as, when he tried to find his feet under the impact of my collision, the loose scree on the path gave him no purchase.

A whiff of a sea breeze whispering past us in the still moment we both realized we were going over the edge.

[Xaraphyne]

We were only halfway up the cliff, so it was entirely possible I wouldn’t suffer anything worse than a broken limb or two; but admittedly, no such rational thoughts occurred to me in those moments when we fell. I wasn’t even worried anymore about the thoughts that had led me to take such a stupid action; action of my own though it was. Instead, my only preoccupation was with the moment the tangle of Roane and myself would hit the hard, unforgiving ground. And if the human would make a good enough cushion.

Then came the moment of impact. I hit something far less painfully than I’d expected, bounced away from Roane, and rolled over the rocky ground before coming to a stop. I was sure I was in shock and that was why I had felt no pain, not even a scrape, but as I blinked up at the cloudless sky, I realized that something shimmered between it and me; and when I dumbly raised my hand, I encountered a bubble-like barrier of some kind.

A blessing of protection?

There came a thud and I pushed myself half up, looking toward the cliff I had rolled away from. Elrioch stood there, the similar barrier surrounding himself testament to how he had managed to descend so quickly without harm. With sword in hand he strode over to the prone, groaning form of Roane and quickly dispatched his life.

I would have then assumed I’d be next, but the existence of the fading blessing left me without any idea of what to expect.

Elrioch turned to me. I watched him walk toward me as I gathered my legs underneath my body, too shaky to trust myself to stand of my own volition. But when I looked on him, I realized I felt no fear.

“That was pretty dumb of you, meeting me practically alone like this,” I said.

“Yer the one who decided tryin’ ta collect a bounty on th’ head of Admiral Elrioch of the Bloodsail was a good idea.”

He offered me his free hand, the other holding his bloodied sword, and I took it. I was more amused than surprised when he used the grip to pull me roughly to him. I had already seen a few nights previous that a bit of sparring would put his gaze to smoldering.

“Den’jun’s a traitor,” I said.

He paused briefly, registering surprise, then simply accepted it. I didn’t think that hearing of betrayal from anyone would faze him; in every moment with him, I had seen him expect it of me, and that he kept choosing to gamble on me despite that was a fact we were both beginning to accept.

“Are ye?” he asked.

“I’m exactly what I want to be,” I said.

He looked at me with amusement, and some patronism, which failed to bother me. “Oh? And what’s that?”

“A woman,” I said. “Just a woman.”

So began my time at the side of Admiral Elrioch of the Bloodsail, and ends the tale of how I gave up bounty hunting to become a pirate.

[Xaraphyne]

[[ Fin. After one year, eight months. Hope y'all liked it. ]]

[Gorvena]

(( Nice. And now I feel the urge to resurrect all of my unfinished stories and cap them off... ))