When the sun rose they left for Aubderdine, Apoch having shoved even more of their supplies into his bag so that hers wasn't as full. Kissing her briskly he faded into the shadows, following her into the town and out onto the docks.
The wharfmaster smiled when he caught sight of her, his grin growing even moreso when she handed over two hundred gold.
"You won't be disappointed, Lady..."
"Lady Sarah," she filled in for him, her smile polite. Setting down her bag he motioned to a shiphand, the human taking her luggage with a bow before heading up the plank. "I also would like to ask you a favor. I had asked the innkeeper to hold a few items for me, would you be so kind to send a runner to pick them up? This should cover the merchandise, along with your time."
The gold handed over was substantial enough to make the entrepeneurs eyes light up, his attention shifting to a young lad standing nearby and snapping his fingers to get his attention.
"It will be taken care of promptly, enjoy your voyage."
"A pleasure, sir," she responded, bowing as a courtesan of her upbringing would before heading up the plank. A crew member showed her to the back of the ship, unlocking the door to the impressive sized room. The decorations were sparse, but the furniture was well crafted and intricately carved, the two plush seats near the glass windows that overlooked the waters far down below inviting, and even more so when her eyes rested on the bookshelf specially designed to keep the books from sliding out when the ship was being rocked.
"It's rivaled only by the captains quarters," he responded to her mask of aired disapointment, and she nodded curtly before handing over a gold coin.
"It will do, thank you."
She took the key and went back onto the deck, walking out stand at the bow to stay out of the sailors way as they readied the sails. There were only a few guests onboard, far fewer than she would've expected when they finally pushed off, counting only half a dozen as they waved to family and friends that were seeing them off.
The ship pulled away from the docks and out of the protection of the small cove, sails that were a deep royal purple hissing up the lines before bloating with wind as the captain turned them out into the breeze. Soon the bumps of waves turned into larger masses, and Iscah was grateful that Apoch had gathered herbs to aleviate her motion sickness. She stayed outside until the land dipped below the horizon, going back to her quarters to find her merchandise wrapped in brown paper on the bed. Shutting the door she waited, expecting Apoch to come out of his stealthed prowl, but when she realized she was still alone she turned back towards her parcels.
The two rings were in a small box, and she hid them under the pillows of the bed before untying the twine holding the paper in place, the blue dress neatly folded on top of the other two. Biting the inside of her lip she grinned wildly, picking it up and sorting out the thin strings before sloughing off her linen robe and slipping into the new one.
It had been a long time since she had felt the coolness of silk, and it caused her to sigh with delight. She pulled the straps up and went to the mirror near the toiletroom, looking over her figure. Her reflection made her blush, the deep cut in the center barely touching the skin of her stomach, its edges held away by her hip bones. Her small breasts fit the top perfectly though, the slippery feel of the dress causing her nipples to harden ever slightly, casting two shadows against the brilliant material.
She heard the soft scrape of metal as the troll picked the lock and pushed the door open, balking at the sight of her for a split second before regaining his composure enough to shut the door before he was seen. The carnal look in his eyes when he turned his attention back to her caused her heart to jump a beat, the shyness of wearing something so exposing doused by a searing flash of heat.
"You like it?"
"I've seen a lot of females wearing that dress," he replied softly, his eyes raking down her figure as he walked over to her slowly. "But none that make it look more beautiful than you."
The color in her cheeks darkened at his compliment, looking down demurely as he cornered here against the wall. She slid past him, backing towards the bed to keep an eye on him as he turned and stalked predatorily after her. Pulling the small box out from under the pillow she held it up towards him, Apoch blinking as the present distracted him for a moment. He opened the wrapping, shaking out the two gold bands onto his open palm.
"This is a human tradition, isn't it? Mates wear these bands to show others they are bound?"
She nodded in response, moving over to him to take the smaller one and slide it onto her finger. He smirked, amused at her sentimental gift before studying the larger gold band that was still nearly four times too small for even one of his fingers. Reaching up he grabbed a shock of his hair and twisted it tightly before sliding the ring down the thick rope, the hair unwinding to hold the band tightly into place when he let it go.
"Now, about that dress," he purred, turning his attention back to his wife.
The days at sea passed uneventful, and whenever Iscah slept, left the room for food or fresh air Apoch would sneak down into the belly of the ship to work out as much as he could in the confined cargo hold. They spent most of the time in the room together, practicing her language skills.
"Tell me about life, how you end up being a rogue?"
"What a silly question to ask. My past is my past, why talk about it."
"I want to know," she pressed, snuggling up against his side further as he folded his hands behind his head and stretched out his form on the bed.
"Parents were killed in a raid and I was taken, sold at a slave auction to an agent of an academy that specialized in producing the finest assassins in all of azeroth. Out of a class of ninety five, I was one of seven that survived the training."
"You must hate them very much."
He shrugged his shoulder she wasn't resting her cheek on, studying the ceiling blankly. "They broke me of that hate very early. There was no room for emotion; you survived or you died. So, when I passed all their tests and proved myself their best student I was chartered out to do some work for an extremist organization, only to have the entire thing go wrong and end up getting drafted by the same General that I had been sent to kill. He paid for my freedom, and owing him a debt of gratitude I fought for him until he died on the field of battle in my arms."
"How sad."
Apoch glanced at her curiously, remembering suddenly how death was a time of mourning for humans rather than a time to celebrate the deads deeds. "It wasn't sad, it was glorious. There cannot be a greater honor than to die in battle."
"But life greatest battle, great honor to live. More to life than death, death is easy part. It sad to know you never will have more memories with General after that. I would have like to meet him."
He snorted, musing over her words about life having more meaning than death. She was right, it was harder to live. Not fearing death had saved him so many times, had allowed him to cull the terror at the thought of an end and turn himself into something altogether different. Iscah had fallen still at his side, mistaking his silence for something different.
"Or would you be embarassed for him to know you with a human girl now?"
His crimson eyes slid down to lock onto hers, turning so that he could prop himself up on an elbow and shadow her small figure with his own ominously.
"Say that again."
"I just thought-"
He snarled, low enough so only she could hear as his lips pulled back, exposing his long canines. She fell silent instantly, flattening against the bed beneath him at the feral display.
"My heart was filled with love for him; when he died I killed in memory of him, but it was a hollow feeling. My heart is filled again, and I am not dishonored by this. Nor should you be."
"I am not," she whispered, watching as he leaned down to touch his lips against her cheek, his warm tusk pressing against the side of her mouth and curve up the slope of her nose. The affection brought the slightest hint of a smile, and she pushed him away before he got too serious. "You told me before you have been on ship. How many times?"
"A few," he replied, recoiling from her enough to lay on his side. "The first time I had hidden in a barrel for a entire day when the crew realized they had a stow-away onboard."
"A barrel? But you are too big for barrel!"
"Yeah," he mused, his grin turning lopsided. "I'm double-jointed. Definate perk for being a rogue. Took me two days to work out all the kinks when I finally got off the ship."
"Do you miss that life?"
"I had retired from it before this whole thing with you began."
"Then why kill humans in Stormwind when you came for me?"
"Old debts that needed to be paid."
They docked the next day, and Iscah took the remaining money to buy a few needed supplies for the wilderness before meeting Apoch north of town. Bu'u was still missing, though the troll seemed unphased by this. Instead he would stop occasionally to rub the underside of his jaw against a trunk or branch to leave a scent trail. When Iscah brought up the idea that an alliance hunter might try to track him down by doing that he merely shrugged, eyes flashing.
"Let them come."
They reached Triki's cave by nightfall, but found it empty. Apoch checked the prints and ashes of the fire before scratching the back of his head.
"Been gone maybe two days. He would have known we were coming, so why not be here to meet us?"
His scowl only deepened when Iscah found the note scratched out on a piece of papyrus.
"Booty Bay."
"I wonder if this has anything to do with the Zandalar tribe. Either way, we'll spend the night here then and take the ship to the Eastlands tomorrow."
Iscah nodded, and while he went out to steal some dinner from the pirate camps she started a fire and put the kettle over the flames, glancing to the door when a dark shadow passed.
"Bu'u!"
The raptor yipped happily, prancing over and bumping his muzzle against her, sniffing her thoroughly until he was sure she was healthy. When Apoch came back with a small barrel of beer and a haunch of roasted pork he greeted him in the same fashion, though he kept his head much lower and his greeting was less enthusiastic. Iscah wondered if that was a submission display, but it didn't bother her too much; Bu'u had never shown any signs of aggression towards her.
They ate their fill of the meat, neither drinking much of the beer. Apoch didn't want to drop his guard too much, and Iscah confessed no taste for the brew. Instead they left it for the shaman to enjoy when they departed the next morning.
The winds were up and favoring the sail east, and the journey that had taken three days headed west only took one and a half. It was dark when a crewmember called land in sight, and Apoch went to the bow of the ship when the flickering lights of Booty Bay came into view, though it was not a welcome scene. Beside him Iscah gasped in shock.
The town was burning into the water.