Chapter I

Strassepore - Duchy of Saxe-Bavaria

6 Junilis 1613 AF

The horn of the ISS Victorious boomed loudly causing the sound to carry along the Bay of Eider as she entered into the port of the capital of Saxe-Bavaria. The lord city of the Bay of Eider was framed by the mountains that comprised the southern portion of the Gothic Plateau, it had stood for more than a thousand years, never taken by the hordes that called themselves the Goths that resided in the heights of the plateau. The battleship sounded its horn again to announce her presence as those of the crew that were not required to tend to the boilers in the hold quickly gathered on the bow in neat rows.

Able Seaman Karofsky or Dave to the members of this gunnery crew gathered near the port side of the deck waiting for the Captain to finish steering the ship into the Imperial Navy dockyards. Rumour had been circulating that a message had been received when they had docked in Lastra in the Viscounty that certain members of the crew were to be promoted. Dave hoped that his name was on the list. He had joined the Imperial Navy six years previous when a Kindred-Seeker had come calling. He hated the Seekers, always causing problems, upsetting the natural order to announce that this boy or girl was really a Kindred and would hence forth have to live and abide by the Kindred Laws.

Not that it really mattered in the Confederacy where he had grown up. The southern half of the Confederacy were Strathclydians - or South Deltaman as they called themselves - so they publically rejected the Kindred Laws that the Imperial court had tried to force onto the Empire three generations ago. Dave, though was of North Deltaman stock so they paid bare lip service to the Kindred laws. They may be descendents of the South Univer that had moved into the Hiberian Isles in the Terah River delta but that didn't mean they still kept to the Univer's views on life. He was just glad that he had not grown up in the northern or western portion of the Empire where the Family Compact - a massive extended ruling family - held sway. They made sure that the Kindred Laws were enforced. But the southern and eastern portions of the Empire thought that they were queer so it made sense for them to keep to their strange laws.

Dave was jolted out of his thoughts as the ship forced the engines into reverse to slow the great battleship so it would be more manageable. Both the horn and whistle were sounded and Dave moved his head to see the boatswains quickly get the ropes ready to tie the ship up alongside the port side of the dock reserved for battleships.

The engines kicked into almost full reverse retarding the forward momentum and the first of the ropes were cast out. Taking the opportunity to look at the docks he was taken somewhat back by the large brick and stone building that abutted near the docks. There were some other ships tied up bearing the Imperial Ensign but also the Black Eagle Ensign of Saxe-Bavarian coastal defence.

Ropes were thrown overboard and sailors on the dock caught them helping to tie up the ship. Bracing for the stoppage of the engines Dave leaned into his stance and along with the remainder of the ship and crew came to a standstill. It was at that moment that the Petty Officers quickly made sure that all hands on deck were in their formations awaiting the arrival of the Coxswain and the remainder of the officers. The Coxswain was a bushy bearded grizzled Warrant Officer Class 1 who took his job of enforcing discipline and deportment quite seriously that all ranks accept the Captain and the Executive Officer normally jumped out of his way for fear of feeling the wrath of his tongue or his fist. Quiet descended as he took his place in front of the assembled. When he barked for the officers to fall in, they sharply saluted the assembled and fell in front of their men while the Petty officers moved to the rear of their assembled men like a well oiled machine. The Executive Officer and the Captain showed up and took their place in front of the assembled and the captain in a clear voice called out his orders and promotions.

"Gallant men of the Imperial Navy," the Captain called out to the assembled crew, "Before we get to the job of promoting those names that have been put forward I would like to thank you for a wonderful job well done helping to keep the claimed Imperial water free of the scourge of Lacedon air and sea pirates!

"To that end you will be given two days leave, pending the approval of your chain of command to enjoy the sights and delights of Strassepore. We will not be hosting his grace Duke David or his any of his family during this time."

"Now to the promotions," the Captain called out. The Coxswain came to stand beside the Captain and called out names to be promoted to Petty Officer. Dave slightly listened but could not overly care. He was just hoping that he would get the time off and blow some steam off in a cantina or beer hall.

"To the rank of Leading Rate," came the booming voice of the Coxswain over the sounds of the dockyards, "Karofsky!"

A smile broke out over Dave's face as the assembled clapped and his gunnery crew cheered loudly to the displeasure of the Coxswain. He quickly marched up to the Captain and executed a proper naval halt and saluted the captain. The Coxswain seemed to accept the drill movements with a curt nod of his head and helped to put the fouled anchor symbol of his new rank on his shoulders. Shaking both of their hands, Dave stepped back, saluted and quickly marched back into formation. His mate, Strando whispered congratulations to him while the promotions continued.

Once they were dismissed and the Coxswain laid down the law and what punishments they could meet if they broke any rules Dave was congratulated by his crew and told that he had the days off guaranteed.

"Just be sure to report back onto the ship no later than midnight tonight to find out what time we are leaving," his Petty Officer told him as they shook hands.

"Mate it's about time that you were equals with me," came the laughing comment from Dave's best friend. Quickly turning around he grasped Azimio's hand and placed the other on the Algarii's shoulder.

"Thanks there mate, I'm quite happy with the promotion and the pay that comes with it," Dave beamed back.

"Look I got dismissed for the rest of the day and I do not have to back until midnight, so lets high tail it off the ship and head into the city to get some grog into our gullets," Az chortled. Taking that as there marching orders they laughed and sauntered towards the catwalk and down onto the dock looking their best in their naval whites.

-xXx-

Not knowing the city at all, the two sailors stopped at the front gate and asked the bored looking solider doing gate guard where a good place to grab a drink. Sighing, the guard pointed them in the direction of a reasonably priced beer hall less then ten minutes walk from the docks. He did also point out that if one kept walking up the same road they would find themselves in the Kindred ghetto. Dave tried to scowl but Az shrugged his shoulders. Not that it mattered to him, the Algarii were a sea-faring people that had settled all around the Inner Algarvic Ocean, meaning that they took a very lassie-faire view to the customs of other peoples.

Dave scowled at the soldier and stormed off; clenching his fists that he had nicked named the Fury after winning a boxing fight in Wullmach days after he had joined the Imperial Navy. To him it seemed that everywhere that he turned and looked something related to the Kindred was thrown into his face. It was like they were still calling out to him, to join them, be one with them, be one with who he really was; and still he wanted nothing to do with it at all.

Somewhat noticing his actions, Az rolled his eyes and sighed. Here we go again, he told himself, mention the Kindred and the Fury comes right out. He said a quick prayer to the Mawu-Lisa and the Fon that claimed Strassepore to keep them out of trouble. Thinking of changing the subject and get his mates mind of what dark thoughts he was having, Az picked up a broadsheet from a young boy, flipped him a sixpence and quickly scanned the headlines.

"Okay...um…you can read Eiderese right?" Az asked making weird movements of the his face trying to make heads or tails of the broadsheet lettering.

Dave grabbed the paper and looked at it. "Yah…um…'Imperial Senate continues to remain dead locked over allegations of Yej massacres in Al Astine – Al Astine senators condemn Family Compact of spreading lies and falsehoods'," Dave read off quickly making out the bold Saxe-Bavarian script, "yah Eiderese and Common are really close to each other. It's also really similar to the Sunnese that I learned as a kid."

"Well one of us is qualified to do something then," Az chuckled, "How does that saying my father used to tell me as a kid all the time, Ae mae' th'aeth chae' zpeaech thoe th'e birdz vill aelvaeiz fi'd ae velchoeme poerth"

"A man that can speak to the birds will always find a welcome port? Dave quoted back in the Common tongue. Az looked at him with a quizzical eye to which Dave mumbled something about learning the speech of the Sea People's when he was a child. While not the truth it was not a lie, so it would suffice to keep yet another of Dave's hidden secrets out of the public eye. It was one thing to be a Kindred but be half Lacedon, the dreaded pirates of the Inner Algarvic was a yet another matter.

-xXx-

Coming to their destination they found a seat near the clean windows so they could look out and enjoy sunlight the streamed in like a golden ray. Az waved over a buxom girl to place the first order and she returned quickly with two pints of golden pilsner. They clinked their glasses and took a heavy sip relishing the taste of the malted hops as they played on their tongues. Smiling, Dave saluted Az again and took another sip. They continued to drink making sure to tip the serving girl well smiling and laughing about the absurdity of the Coxswain's orders and the funny incidents this person or that person had been involved in. Other patrons appreciative of their jollity and happiness bought them drinks and soon the companions face's beamed red and jolly.

Truly they did enjoy themselves even when Dave drunkly tried to sing some Harvestfest songs that had been taught to him by a couple of Saxe-Bavarian's he had met on the ship. While he was a high baritone, it did not help that he was drunk and slurring the words. He couldn't stop giggling even when he heard bells peel out the time.

"What...wha...time iz isht?" Dave slurred.

"Ish time...I...erp...time I'ze get back to the ship," Az mumbled wondering why his tongue could not work properly.

"Okay, well I'm going to...going...to findz me a whore to fuck," Dave mumbled back. Az noticed the smile on Dave's face looked painted on but something in his mind just was not letting him put two and two together.

Pointing a finger at Dave that waved somewhat around in the process he reminded Dave that he had to be back by midnight and they staggered up from the table and lurched out into the cool summer night air. They embraced and wished the best to each other with Dave doubling over about some joke of Az making sure to not try and mount the ship the wrong way. He wiped tears from his eyes and looking over his shoulder to make sure that Az had rounded a corner and was not looking in his direction, he lit a fag and tried to make his uniform look somewhat presentable. Feeling that he had succeeded, somewhat in his venture, he took a deep breath and headed towards the Kindred Ghetto.