The Void.

A swirling, isolated mass of darkness with few small islands located here and then. Some believed it to be the beginning of all things, others believed it to be the end. Samuel personally believed it to be lonely.

Cold and isolated, forever within sight but just out of one's reach. Besides Erland there is no life out here nor has there been since the Dawn of Time. Its a sad existence, one that Samuel himself will be Damned to upon the Death of his physical body. To be honest, the Boatman tries not to think about it, when the time comes he will honor his part of their deal but for now... Samuel was content to just let things be.

Turning, emerald eyes lock upon the Deity behind him with a sense of mild annoyance.

"There's some Universal Law everyone but me knows about stating everyone has to kidnap me at least once, isn't there?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

The Diety states with a tone of innocence the Boatman finds a little too irreproachable.

"You have the worst of timing, Erland."

An impish smile twisted onto the Deity's face as he crossed his arm, leaning back in the air as though he was relaxing in some invisible hammock.

"I like to think I have to best timing possible. Not only did I manage to pull you out right as the trouble truly stated but by doing so at that exact timeframe I managed to set off an immeasurable about of chaos with just one simple move. When the fighting begins to die down, both groups will notice you missing and assume the other stole you away while under their very noses. I find the after results will be much more entertaining this way rather then just a simple happy ending."

"Of course you do."

The Boatman mumbled more to himself while shifting slightly in place. It wasn't the first time Erland had used Samuel to cause massive amounts of chaos. At times the boatman feels he should come with a warning label so people would know what they where getting involved in before hand. He could practically see the label now:

Samuel Beechworth, Boatman

Comes with One Amaranth and one high unstable Deity likely to bring down Empires, create plagues containing man eating rats and/or accidentally start universal wars for his own personal amusement

"That's not very nice, Samuel."

"But its true."

And to think, the Boatman mused to himself while watching the Deity, This was his Best Friend....

He really needed to get out more.


"So basically you want me to babysit him for you."

"I wouldn't call it babysitting as Samuel's more then capable of taking care of himself... Consider it more of guarding an object of immense value if you will. "

"So glorified babysitting?"

"Well... Yes."

"I can hear you two."

"...You can?"

A unison of dual sighs filled the air as the two mortals stared upon the baffled looking Deity.

"He can't be serious..."

"He is."

"But your literally standing right next to him!"


Gone...

Corvo twirled the rigid wood that created Samuels wand in-between his fingers. He had discovered it laying innocently upon the stone floors after the chaos had died down; its intended master no where to be fount. At first The Royal Protector had immediately blamed the 'Magicals', they had already kidnapped the boatman once. What was to stop them from trying under the cover of battle?

But something about that idea didn't sit right with the Royal Protector. Their actions and accusations where blunt and honest- despite how hard Dumbledore attempted to make it- and a through search of the island proved otherwise, after all; where else could they possibly hide the man in a world not their own? All they currently had was this island and whatever happened to occupy it.

The Amaranth and The Jessamine were still resting within the shore making it clear the boatman didn't just 'sail away' like some of the guards had originally suggested, but without a ship there was no other way off the island and it was painfully clear; Samuel was not here. Which only left one other option:

Someone had somehow snuck aboard the island and taken the boatman during the chaos likely to breed distrust between the Magicals and Dunwall resistant's. Sadly, it was working.

The Magicals thought they had Samuel and a vast majority thought the Magicals had taken the Royal Boatman...

He wonders ponders who could possibly be suicidal enough to kidnap one of the Empress' favored personals and what's so fascinating about kidnapping a Boatman that everybody and their Grandmothers appear to be doing it as of late.


"Now that I think about it, aren't you Corvo's boatman?"

"I am."

"Huh, I could have sworn you where older the last time I saw you."

"I was."

"...How's that work?'

"I died."

Ignoring the startled look from the man next to him, Samuel gazed longingly upon the vast sea before him. The boatman had never really been an 'inland' sort of person, He needed a boat, the swaying of well crafted wood under his feet, the relentless pounding of untamable waters against the hull and the soft singing of sea. Not a Tropical Paradise Island in some uncharted waters with only The Knife of Dunwall for company- Erland had a terrible sense of humor.

"What are you thinking about now?"

Samuel could practically feel his annoyance as said Knife cut into his thoughts.

"Whether or not to offer you to the Tribe of Cannibals on the other side of the island."

What? He said uncharted not unknown.

"Cannibals?"

He nods though to answer the other's question.

"Cannibals. All woman with serious issues against men when they're not using them as Broodmares or Slaves they're usually on the menu."

The Boatman wonders if its natural for one to turn so pale but chooses to ignore it, its not his business after all.

"How do you know this?"

Samuel doesn't bother answer instead focusing upon the glistening waters and the gentle waves clashing against the sandy shore despite it being one of the few things from his youth the boatman can clearly remember. Some stories shouldn't be told.


Emily considered herself a kind and patient Empress, her people loved her and her kingdom prospered under her firm yet gentle ruling. Her people had dubbed her 'Emily the Wise'...

So why was it she couldn't even keep track of a simple boatman like Samuel Beechworth?

And what type of 'wise' empress was she if all she wished to do was hang the a cast majority of these 'Magicals' as her Father had dubbed them? Of course a mass majority of them deserved such fate- though not just for the illegal usage of magic. The one called Draco Malfoy being a Prime example- and Dumbledore himself was looking to the gallows for kidnapping of one of her Courtiers.

Though what she couldn't figure out was why everyone seemed so interested in such a simple man. Or why someone was trying to start up a war using her boatman as the fuse. All The Empress truly knew was that unless she staggered upon tangible proof of a conspiracy, war was a authentic possibility within their future.