Land ho!"

Shouts of joy and the sound of running feet drew Richard from his musings with the map and compass. He placed his hat onto his unruly black hair and started for the deck.
He had planned this day for years.

The busy port of Azarath finally came within his reach. Soon he would find that priestess and make her pay for all the heartache she caused.

"Well men, it is a good day for a raid."

He stood on deck and watched as his men celebrated a small smirk on his handsome rugged face.

Arella would pay for her crimes.


Raven stood and chanted the sacred prayers as she walked round the temple. A censer swung slowly from a delicate gold chain she held. As the high priest finished the incantations, the door to the alter grounds slammed and foot steps pounded on the cold marble floor. It was Asha, her apprentice. The dark haired teenager skidded to a stop and nearly tripped on her dress.

"What have I told you about bursting in during prayers?"

"Forgive me but there is unrest in the city. Pirates are raiding the city and are headed for the temple!"

Raven's eyebrow rose. "Interesting. Come with me."

The two hurriedly entered side room of the huge temple. There Raven began to hide several books in a section in the wall. "Mistress, you cannot hope to stay here when the pirates come and you certainly cannot leave wearing that."

A silence ensued as Raven and the young girl surveyed her clothing. A pale lavender halter-top adorned with jewels clung to Raven's curvy frame stopping just above her navel. The sides of the top then dipped down her sides past her navel to form a fringe-like skirt. A pair of low riding purple silk pants covered her legs beneath the fringe skirt and a pair of silk slippers adorned her feet.

"I have a cloak."

The girl shook her head vigorously. "No I have an idea." Stay here."

The young girl dashed out of the room and in a few minutes returned with an old servant's dress. "Here…just put it on top and wear your cloak."

Raven's lips turned down into a frown but she followed the girl's instructions. When she was appropriately dressed, she hid several knives and guns into her corset and the folds of the dress. At the young girl's appalled look, she stated bluntly. "My mother always said to be fore warned is to be fore armed. And I am fore-armed."

The two girls laughed. Raven then pleaded with the girl to be safe and not to get into trouble. After a solemn oath from the young apprentice, they each departed.

Raven had gone a little ways away from the temple before she was spotted and chased out of the city limits. She managed to escape a few of the pursuing men using only her skills with the several knives she stashed among her attire.

Then they began shooting…she had no choice but to return the favor.

Raven was not sure when it happened. Perhaps it was when she tossed her empty gun and grabbed another, or maybe it was when she shot and killed the one they called 'Ralph' but a knife was launched at her shoulder. The blade hit its target and she collapsed biting back the scream that bubbled up in her throat.

Through her pain induced haze she saw a pair of stunning jade eyes staring down at her in apprehension. "Dreadfully sorry Miss. Cap'n said to bring you back in one piece, you were being such a feisty little lass. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

Raven hissed at him. "Filthy Irish bastard."


Garfield did not understand the stubborn pride of the Azartharians. The woman refused to let anyone touch her…let alone allow Roy to remove the knife imbedded in her shoulder. She just plodded on, her face blank and vacant; though we all knew, she was in excruciating pain. Why did Roy even throw the knife at her in the first place? They could have apprehended Arella without having a fight…or without even having to wound her.

The group halted in the road. Garfield marched over to see what the delay was. A little girl, no older that thirteen or fourteen, bared the way pleading to see 'the priestess'. He motioned for the men to let her see Arella.

Garfield watched as the girl clasped hands with Arella and said she would watch the temple. Arella nodded, slipped a gold bangle from her wrist and placed it in the girl's trembling hands.
He watched as Arella continued to slip off her anklets, a pair of dangling earrings from the many that adorned her ears and a single gold necklace. The girl put them on as if in a shock.
What happened next truly sickened him. In a single tug, Arella wrenched the dagger that was impaled in her shoulder and placed it against the girl's forehead.

Garfield felt nauseous, and yet he continued to watch in morbid fascination as the two continued the strange ritual.

She placed her bloody hand against the girl's pale cheek and neck. Then she softly murmured what sounded like a prayer. Finally, she released the girl and spoke in an ominous tone.

"Take this blade, set it against the four winds, and then wait for my sign."

Apparently, the girl understood and she took off as swiftly and as silently as she had come.

"Does is really take this long to apprehend a single woman or must I show you how it's done."

"Captain Richard! Everything has been done as you asked." Garfield reported motioning them to bring the captive forward.

Richard looked on with calculating eyes. "Didn't I say there was to be no blood shed?" His eyes looked scathingly at Garfield who only shook his head and pointed at Roy.
Richard shook his head at the two with a small undetectable smirk...or so he thought.

The captive chuckled. "So the captain shows emotion…interesting."

Richard turned his attention to the young woman.

She stared defiantly back at him through her hooded cape, despite the gushing wound at her shoulder.

"Arella Roth. I have some business to finish with you."

The young woman sneered. "Business? Yet you send your men to hunt me like an animal? I will give or tell you nothing until you treat me with the respect I deserve."

The two locked eyes, his cold and glaring, while Raven's violet eyes glistened with mischief.

Purple eyes? How does one get purple eyes...or even purple hair for that matter... "Very well then. Escort the Missus to the ship."

She removed her arms from their grasp. "Do not touch me…I am perfectly capable of walking on my own."

Raven elbowed past the crewmembers and despite the obvious drag of her shoulder started up the gangplank with dignity…that is until she stumbled. Garfield rushed to assist her but she shoved him aside and sat down cross-legged beside the main mast.

Richard eyed her with slight amusement. Such a great amount of pride in such a small woman.

The ship slowly set sail and Raven looked back at the temple and its spiraling dome. She sighed inwardly. It was only a matter of time-

"Arella Roth. Will you now be inclined to heed my requests? Or will we have to resort to torture?"

Raven looked up into Richard's cold blue eyes..."Wait…did you just call me Arella?" Raven threw back her head and began to laugh hysterically.

When she calmed down, she gazed up at him her eyes twinkling with mirth. "You flatter me, Captain."

She slumped to the floor unconscious.