Caleb watched his younger sister from the stern as he tied down numerous
ropes. He watched her push the hair from her eyes and control the ship from
tossing and turning. Thirteen long years had passed since Lorilie's father
had killed their mother. Lorilie had became the captain of the Windchaser
two years before when its past captain grew very ill and passed away. In
the time Caleb raised his sister he had started an inn with one of his
closest childhood friends from his druid school, Wintercloud. They worked
in Freeport and Lorilie carried supplies to and fro for them.
*****
Meanwhile, back in Freeport, Wintercloud stepped outside the tavern and scouted the sky for Kel the griffin. The tall human shook his dark hair out of his eyes and shoved his hands into his pockets. He looked up and stared at oncoming storm clouds heading his way. A cold wind swept past him and ran up his spine as he stepped back inside his tavern. Slith was working in the kitchen when Wintercloud closed the door. One of Mirk's sons, Slith, decided to go with Caleb and Lorilie to Freeport for work. He was only a year younger then Lorilie, but still seemed like a child from time to time. Slith mostly kept to the kitchens, his room, or hidden under his cloak since people were uneasy around iksars, the odd race of lizardmen.
"Where'sss Kel and that fisssh?" Slith asked Wintercloud while he chopped onions.
"I don't know. He's been gone awhile and the weather just turned bad." Wintercloud sighed.
"How do you think the Windchassser is doing, they were sssupposssed to be here thisss morning." The iksar pushed the finely chopped onions into a clay bowl.
"Hopefully they will get here soon and safely. Maybe Kel is scouted for them."
The kitchen doors flew open and a young half-elf lad came walking in with instrument cases in his arms. He placed them down carefully, pushed back his blonde hair, and smiled to Wintercloud and Slith. The inn's waitress came in behind him and frowned. Lanie was about a year or two older then Wintercloud, but insisted people should treat her like an elder.
"I told this young bard that you were busy, but he just waltzed in anyway." Lanie shot the bard a glare and went back into the common room to tend to the other customers.
"What can I do for you?" Wintercloud shook his hand.
"Brand Nightstar the bard.or something like that." He grinned. "Still have to think of something better." His blue eyes twinkled.
"And?" Wintercloud crossed his arms.
"I've noticed the Windchaser's Port, or so you call this inn, has no entertainment. You can get a bigger crowd with some music and I'm the right fellow to do so." He chuckled.
"Are you any good?" Slith leaned against the counter.
"If you can wait a second, I'll play my lute." Brand opened a colorful case.
*****
The storm finally died down after two day's of its torture. Sun peeked through the dark gray clouds as Lorilie stretched her arms over her head and yawned. Most of her crew was below deck resting while the others walked around and picked up broken pieces of wood and debris. Lorilie's shoulder- length brownish-reddish hair hung in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a tight tunic that exposed a small part of her bosoms, loose breeches, and soft knee-high lace-up boots. She walked lightly on the deck as she surveyed the damage the storm had caused. Caleb came up the stairs and staggered over to Lorilie.
"I don't think I'll come on anymore boat rides." He laughed.
"Why not?" she smiled as she ruffled her brother's short dark blonde hair.
"First off, I have an inn to run, and second, all this rolling and tossing gets me sick." He patted his stomach.
"We'll be docking later today." She clapped him on the shoulder.
"Why couldn't you choose an easier life, like becoming a druid or working at my inn?"
"Get stuck scrubbing pots? Plus magic has never interested me." She inhaled the smell of the saltwater. "The ocean is my life. The sea is all the magic I need." She jumped onto the railing and hung out over the ocean by a rope.
"Get back down here! What if you fall off? Lorilie are you even listening to me?" Caleb rubbed his forehead.
"Don't worry brother I do this..all the time!" She leaned out a little farther then jumped back on the deck.
*****
Wintercloud and Lanie cleared a corner of the common room as Brand surveyed them with a great smile upon his face. After playing his lute, flute, and drums to them all, Wintercloud decided that Caleb was going to need to hire entertainment sooner or later. Brand sure was going to surprise Caleb when he would get there.if he ever got back. Winter and Lanie finished and Brand jumped into his clearing, took out his lute, and started to play. The small crowd in the room turned to him and smiles grew on their faces. Playing a fast jig, some people got up and began to dance along with the music. Lanie clapped her hands and laughed out loud. Brand played for two hours straight until he stopped since his throat was soar and his mouth was dry.
"That was wonderful, Mr. Nightstar!" Lanie smiled.
"Just call me Brand." He drained a goblet of wine that was handed to him.
Slith slipped into the room and handed Lanie a platter of freshly fried fish, "Kel is back and he sssayss that the Windchassser is going to dock soon. Kel hasss to go sssee Jussstyn, Caleb's old druid teacher, too, ssso he isss gone again." He nodded his head and disappeared back into the other room.
"I'll go greet them." Wintercloud said.
He left the others and walked to the docks that lay not far away. He gazed towards the horizon and saw Lorilie's ship in the distance. He waited for the medium-sized ship to pull in and waved to Caleb who was leaning over the side losing his stomach. Wintercloud laughed at his wood-elven friend as he was thrown a rope to tie to the dock. The gangplank was let down and crewmen carried boxes to place them in the warehouse Lorilie owned. Caleb staggered down and Wintercloud had to catch him from falling off the docks and into the dark water.
"Nice trip?" Wintercloud joked.
"I'm never going on another one of Lorilie's trips again. She's crazy." With a shaky hand, Caleb wiped his mouth.
"Oh, what, is your sister to much to handle?" He laughed. Lorilie stood at the top of the gangplank with her hands on her hips and a bag slung across her shoulder. She ran down and gave Wintercloud a hug. "You almost done here?" Wintercloud asked her.
"I'm done. My men are great they know how to close and lock a warehouse and tie off my ship. Plus I paid them so they are eager to go home." Lorilie's laughter was musical.
Lorilie and Wintercloud started back to the Windchaser's Port supporting Caleb between them. On their way, Lorilie told Wintercloud excitingly about her brave rescue. Wintercloud laughed and told her that she exaggerated too much, but Caleb interrupted and said it was all true. Lorilie put on a smug grin as she skipped ahead and through the tavern doors. Lanie greeted her happily and took the bag from Lorilie's back. Brand was sitting at a table playing cards with some townsfolk when Lorilie came in. He stared at her and whistled. Receiving a glare from her, Brand watched her disappear into the kitchen. Caleb and Wintercloud entered the tavern and Caleb sat down at the closest available empty table.
Brand walked over, "Is this the inn owner?" he asked cheerily.
"Who's this?" grumbled Caleb.
"Caleb I've finally hired a bard to draw a bigger crowd." Wintercloud said.
"That's fine, OK, OK, just call for some water." Wintercloud got up and came back a minute later with a large glass of water for Caleb.
"So do you know who that beautiful full-bosomed wood elf was?" Brand grinned boyishly.
"Yeah, Caleb's younger sister." Wintercloud laughed.
The color drained from Brand's face for a moment before being replaced with red patches on his cheeks and ears. Caleb stared at him and tapped his fingers on the table. Lanie came out and placed food on the table and walked around the common room, she shot Brand a few unpleasant glances. Getting back up, Brand straightened his vest and started for the stairs. Lorilie came out of the kitchen eating a large piece of bread; she glared at Brand and sat next to Caleb. Brand stared back, but only for a few seconds before hurrying up the rest of the stairs.
"Who was that half-elf?" Lorilie pointed to the stairs.
"The new bard that works here." Wintercloud gave a half-smile.
"He works here!" Lorilie accidentally spat bread all over the human.
"Yes, and you have to deal with him every day." He said while brushing off crumbs.
It was dark outside the window when Brand came back down to perform. Lorilie sat cross-legged bouncing her foot impatiently. Taking out his flute, the common room slightly quieted. It was a slow, low song that he started with, but with time it began to get faster. The people clapped their hands and banged their cups as more people entered the inn. Lanie, Wintercloud, and Caleb went around clearing glasses or bringing more. Brand was playing his flute fast almost at the climax of the song, the people cheered, Lorilie with them. He was about to his climax and the people waited energetically, but then a scream was heard outside the inn doors. The music stopped and the doors flew opened. Three black robed people glided in; two had mana surging around them. The other pulled a sword out and lunged at Lorilie sitting at the table.
"Get away from there Lorilie!" Caleb snapped before he began to chant.
Wintercloud blasted one robed figure into a wall; it crumpled into a lifeless heap. Slith was out of the kitchens and, like his father would, sent another out into the street with a flying kick to the jaw and stomach. The figure with the sword dodged a spell from Caleb and jumped towards Lorilie again. Brand intercepted and threw the person into a table. Lorilie stared at him before rushing over to Caleb's side. Wintercloud rooted the person before he and Slith tied the two up.
"The Windchaser's Port is closed now. Please leave or if you have a room go to it." The room cleared quickly leaving Wintercloud, Slith, Lanie, Brand, Caleb, Lorilie, and the two tied up people.
"Let's see who these assassins are." Brand walked over to them and pulled back the hoods of their robes.
A dark elf and a human lay unconscious at their feet. None recognized these two. Caleb sent Wintercloud out to get the town guards to take the two attackers to prison or wherever the guard's felt like taking them. Slith returned to the kitchens muttering something about wishing Kel was there while Lanie picked up chairs and tables.
"This is going to cost us." Caleb shoved his hands into his vest pockets.
"Why was that man after me?" Lorilie asked.
"I don't know. Maybe something about cargo, trading with your ship, or you just looked like the easiest target." Caleb shrugged.
"What about the third assassin, he got away." Brand picked up his flute and wiped it clean of dirt.
"Well, at least this didn't happen on a ship, I would have never been able to cast a spell. I'll clean in the morning. Good night." Caleb trudged up the stairs.
"Ummm ..thanks." Lorilie muttered to Brand.
"What was that?" he hid his smile.
"Thanks for throwing that guy off me." She blushed.
Wintercloud walked in moments later followed by four burly looking guards. Crossing to the un-hooded assassins, each guard took an arm and dragged the attackers out of the tavern and into the bitter night streets. Locking the doors after they left, Lanie bid the others a pleasant night and went to her room that was stationed by the kitchens. Brand then collected his instrument cases and gave Lorilie a jovial smile. Peering at him up and down, she let out a small laugh and climbed the stairway towards her room. Blushing, Brand followed slowly.
"Playing hard to get, are you?" He laughed and shut the door to his room.
Lorilie quietly closed her door and said something under her breath that sounded like "typical men".
*****
The last robed figure from the tavern ran through the streets and into a large building that looked abandoned. The dark elf by the door nodded to the person. Running up many flights of stairs, he stopped and pushed a wall open that lead to a secret room. A tall man sat in a chair that faced the fire on the wall. He was stroking a small cat.
"Is it done?" he said in a cold voice. The animal leapt from his lap and rushed out of the room.
"No, there where more people there then we expected. Two were druids. They even had an iksar monk like my old buddy Mirk." Albain Tinderblade pulled back his hood.
"I told you years ago I wanted Lielay Liltreehuggr and all her loved ones dead." The man stood up.
"It's harder then you think. It took me years to finally kill Lielay. Killing Lorilie is harder." Albain barked.
"Why is that again?" the man's voice was filled with anger.
"Because she is my daughter." He threw his black cloak onto an empty chair.
"You were assigned this decades ago and then you married Lielay and had a child with her. Are you really working for me?"
"Of course I am."
"I want all Lielay's family to suffer for what she did to me." The man touched his face. It was all scarred and grotesque.
"No need to tell me the story again. I know it all by heart. Her parents interfered with your poaching and killed your brother, you kill them, Lielay was only seven and she almost kills you." Albain crossed his arms and threw back his head of dark reddish hair that was streaked with white.
"Surefall Glade was the past, I'm talking about the present."
"I know Riley." Albain sat in a chair and stared at Riley's disfigured face and body.
"You really have no heart, Albain." Riley laughed. "You would even kill your own flesh and blood."
"If it pleases you, yes." Albain nodded his head.
*****
Lorilie awoke from her nightmare with her tears covering her face. She looked around her room and sighed. She was dreaming of her mother and father again. This dream came often to her; she had to witness her mother's murder over and over again. She got up; fixed the large shirt she wore as a nightgown, and descended the stairs to the kitchens. Brand was sitting on the counter eating a loaf of bread when she entered.
"Want some?" he offered her a half-eaten piece of bread while eyeing her bare legs.
"Stop that!" she slapped the back of his head.
"What?" he rubbed the spot where she hit him.
"You were staring at my legs." She glared while taking some bread.
"Sorry, can't help it." He laughed.
*****
Meanwhile, back in Freeport, Wintercloud stepped outside the tavern and scouted the sky for Kel the griffin. The tall human shook his dark hair out of his eyes and shoved his hands into his pockets. He looked up and stared at oncoming storm clouds heading his way. A cold wind swept past him and ran up his spine as he stepped back inside his tavern. Slith was working in the kitchen when Wintercloud closed the door. One of Mirk's sons, Slith, decided to go with Caleb and Lorilie to Freeport for work. He was only a year younger then Lorilie, but still seemed like a child from time to time. Slith mostly kept to the kitchens, his room, or hidden under his cloak since people were uneasy around iksars, the odd race of lizardmen.
"Where'sss Kel and that fisssh?" Slith asked Wintercloud while he chopped onions.
"I don't know. He's been gone awhile and the weather just turned bad." Wintercloud sighed.
"How do you think the Windchassser is doing, they were sssupposssed to be here thisss morning." The iksar pushed the finely chopped onions into a clay bowl.
"Hopefully they will get here soon and safely. Maybe Kel is scouted for them."
The kitchen doors flew open and a young half-elf lad came walking in with instrument cases in his arms. He placed them down carefully, pushed back his blonde hair, and smiled to Wintercloud and Slith. The inn's waitress came in behind him and frowned. Lanie was about a year or two older then Wintercloud, but insisted people should treat her like an elder.
"I told this young bard that you were busy, but he just waltzed in anyway." Lanie shot the bard a glare and went back into the common room to tend to the other customers.
"What can I do for you?" Wintercloud shook his hand.
"Brand Nightstar the bard.or something like that." He grinned. "Still have to think of something better." His blue eyes twinkled.
"And?" Wintercloud crossed his arms.
"I've noticed the Windchaser's Port, or so you call this inn, has no entertainment. You can get a bigger crowd with some music and I'm the right fellow to do so." He chuckled.
"Are you any good?" Slith leaned against the counter.
"If you can wait a second, I'll play my lute." Brand opened a colorful case.
*****
The storm finally died down after two day's of its torture. Sun peeked through the dark gray clouds as Lorilie stretched her arms over her head and yawned. Most of her crew was below deck resting while the others walked around and picked up broken pieces of wood and debris. Lorilie's shoulder- length brownish-reddish hair hung in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a tight tunic that exposed a small part of her bosoms, loose breeches, and soft knee-high lace-up boots. She walked lightly on the deck as she surveyed the damage the storm had caused. Caleb came up the stairs and staggered over to Lorilie.
"I don't think I'll come on anymore boat rides." He laughed.
"Why not?" she smiled as she ruffled her brother's short dark blonde hair.
"First off, I have an inn to run, and second, all this rolling and tossing gets me sick." He patted his stomach.
"We'll be docking later today." She clapped him on the shoulder.
"Why couldn't you choose an easier life, like becoming a druid or working at my inn?"
"Get stuck scrubbing pots? Plus magic has never interested me." She inhaled the smell of the saltwater. "The ocean is my life. The sea is all the magic I need." She jumped onto the railing and hung out over the ocean by a rope.
"Get back down here! What if you fall off? Lorilie are you even listening to me?" Caleb rubbed his forehead.
"Don't worry brother I do this..all the time!" She leaned out a little farther then jumped back on the deck.
*****
Wintercloud and Lanie cleared a corner of the common room as Brand surveyed them with a great smile upon his face. After playing his lute, flute, and drums to them all, Wintercloud decided that Caleb was going to need to hire entertainment sooner or later. Brand sure was going to surprise Caleb when he would get there.if he ever got back. Winter and Lanie finished and Brand jumped into his clearing, took out his lute, and started to play. The small crowd in the room turned to him and smiles grew on their faces. Playing a fast jig, some people got up and began to dance along with the music. Lanie clapped her hands and laughed out loud. Brand played for two hours straight until he stopped since his throat was soar and his mouth was dry.
"That was wonderful, Mr. Nightstar!" Lanie smiled.
"Just call me Brand." He drained a goblet of wine that was handed to him.
Slith slipped into the room and handed Lanie a platter of freshly fried fish, "Kel is back and he sssayss that the Windchassser is going to dock soon. Kel hasss to go sssee Jussstyn, Caleb's old druid teacher, too, ssso he isss gone again." He nodded his head and disappeared back into the other room.
"I'll go greet them." Wintercloud said.
He left the others and walked to the docks that lay not far away. He gazed towards the horizon and saw Lorilie's ship in the distance. He waited for the medium-sized ship to pull in and waved to Caleb who was leaning over the side losing his stomach. Wintercloud laughed at his wood-elven friend as he was thrown a rope to tie to the dock. The gangplank was let down and crewmen carried boxes to place them in the warehouse Lorilie owned. Caleb staggered down and Wintercloud had to catch him from falling off the docks and into the dark water.
"Nice trip?" Wintercloud joked.
"I'm never going on another one of Lorilie's trips again. She's crazy." With a shaky hand, Caleb wiped his mouth.
"Oh, what, is your sister to much to handle?" He laughed. Lorilie stood at the top of the gangplank with her hands on her hips and a bag slung across her shoulder. She ran down and gave Wintercloud a hug. "You almost done here?" Wintercloud asked her.
"I'm done. My men are great they know how to close and lock a warehouse and tie off my ship. Plus I paid them so they are eager to go home." Lorilie's laughter was musical.
Lorilie and Wintercloud started back to the Windchaser's Port supporting Caleb between them. On their way, Lorilie told Wintercloud excitingly about her brave rescue. Wintercloud laughed and told her that she exaggerated too much, but Caleb interrupted and said it was all true. Lorilie put on a smug grin as she skipped ahead and through the tavern doors. Lanie greeted her happily and took the bag from Lorilie's back. Brand was sitting at a table playing cards with some townsfolk when Lorilie came in. He stared at her and whistled. Receiving a glare from her, Brand watched her disappear into the kitchen. Caleb and Wintercloud entered the tavern and Caleb sat down at the closest available empty table.
Brand walked over, "Is this the inn owner?" he asked cheerily.
"Who's this?" grumbled Caleb.
"Caleb I've finally hired a bard to draw a bigger crowd." Wintercloud said.
"That's fine, OK, OK, just call for some water." Wintercloud got up and came back a minute later with a large glass of water for Caleb.
"So do you know who that beautiful full-bosomed wood elf was?" Brand grinned boyishly.
"Yeah, Caleb's younger sister." Wintercloud laughed.
The color drained from Brand's face for a moment before being replaced with red patches on his cheeks and ears. Caleb stared at him and tapped his fingers on the table. Lanie came out and placed food on the table and walked around the common room, she shot Brand a few unpleasant glances. Getting back up, Brand straightened his vest and started for the stairs. Lorilie came out of the kitchen eating a large piece of bread; she glared at Brand and sat next to Caleb. Brand stared back, but only for a few seconds before hurrying up the rest of the stairs.
"Who was that half-elf?" Lorilie pointed to the stairs.
"The new bard that works here." Wintercloud gave a half-smile.
"He works here!" Lorilie accidentally spat bread all over the human.
"Yes, and you have to deal with him every day." He said while brushing off crumbs.
It was dark outside the window when Brand came back down to perform. Lorilie sat cross-legged bouncing her foot impatiently. Taking out his flute, the common room slightly quieted. It was a slow, low song that he started with, but with time it began to get faster. The people clapped their hands and banged their cups as more people entered the inn. Lanie, Wintercloud, and Caleb went around clearing glasses or bringing more. Brand was playing his flute fast almost at the climax of the song, the people cheered, Lorilie with them. He was about to his climax and the people waited energetically, but then a scream was heard outside the inn doors. The music stopped and the doors flew opened. Three black robed people glided in; two had mana surging around them. The other pulled a sword out and lunged at Lorilie sitting at the table.
"Get away from there Lorilie!" Caleb snapped before he began to chant.
Wintercloud blasted one robed figure into a wall; it crumpled into a lifeless heap. Slith was out of the kitchens and, like his father would, sent another out into the street with a flying kick to the jaw and stomach. The figure with the sword dodged a spell from Caleb and jumped towards Lorilie again. Brand intercepted and threw the person into a table. Lorilie stared at him before rushing over to Caleb's side. Wintercloud rooted the person before he and Slith tied the two up.
"The Windchaser's Port is closed now. Please leave or if you have a room go to it." The room cleared quickly leaving Wintercloud, Slith, Lanie, Brand, Caleb, Lorilie, and the two tied up people.
"Let's see who these assassins are." Brand walked over to them and pulled back the hoods of their robes.
A dark elf and a human lay unconscious at their feet. None recognized these two. Caleb sent Wintercloud out to get the town guards to take the two attackers to prison or wherever the guard's felt like taking them. Slith returned to the kitchens muttering something about wishing Kel was there while Lanie picked up chairs and tables.
"This is going to cost us." Caleb shoved his hands into his vest pockets.
"Why was that man after me?" Lorilie asked.
"I don't know. Maybe something about cargo, trading with your ship, or you just looked like the easiest target." Caleb shrugged.
"What about the third assassin, he got away." Brand picked up his flute and wiped it clean of dirt.
"Well, at least this didn't happen on a ship, I would have never been able to cast a spell. I'll clean in the morning. Good night." Caleb trudged up the stairs.
"Ummm ..thanks." Lorilie muttered to Brand.
"What was that?" he hid his smile.
"Thanks for throwing that guy off me." She blushed.
Wintercloud walked in moments later followed by four burly looking guards. Crossing to the un-hooded assassins, each guard took an arm and dragged the attackers out of the tavern and into the bitter night streets. Locking the doors after they left, Lanie bid the others a pleasant night and went to her room that was stationed by the kitchens. Brand then collected his instrument cases and gave Lorilie a jovial smile. Peering at him up and down, she let out a small laugh and climbed the stairway towards her room. Blushing, Brand followed slowly.
"Playing hard to get, are you?" He laughed and shut the door to his room.
Lorilie quietly closed her door and said something under her breath that sounded like "typical men".
*****
The last robed figure from the tavern ran through the streets and into a large building that looked abandoned. The dark elf by the door nodded to the person. Running up many flights of stairs, he stopped and pushed a wall open that lead to a secret room. A tall man sat in a chair that faced the fire on the wall. He was stroking a small cat.
"Is it done?" he said in a cold voice. The animal leapt from his lap and rushed out of the room.
"No, there where more people there then we expected. Two were druids. They even had an iksar monk like my old buddy Mirk." Albain Tinderblade pulled back his hood.
"I told you years ago I wanted Lielay Liltreehuggr and all her loved ones dead." The man stood up.
"It's harder then you think. It took me years to finally kill Lielay. Killing Lorilie is harder." Albain barked.
"Why is that again?" the man's voice was filled with anger.
"Because she is my daughter." He threw his black cloak onto an empty chair.
"You were assigned this decades ago and then you married Lielay and had a child with her. Are you really working for me?"
"Of course I am."
"I want all Lielay's family to suffer for what she did to me." The man touched his face. It was all scarred and grotesque.
"No need to tell me the story again. I know it all by heart. Her parents interfered with your poaching and killed your brother, you kill them, Lielay was only seven and she almost kills you." Albain crossed his arms and threw back his head of dark reddish hair that was streaked with white.
"Surefall Glade was the past, I'm talking about the present."
"I know Riley." Albain sat in a chair and stared at Riley's disfigured face and body.
"You really have no heart, Albain." Riley laughed. "You would even kill your own flesh and blood."
"If it pleases you, yes." Albain nodded his head.
*****
Lorilie awoke from her nightmare with her tears covering her face. She looked around her room and sighed. She was dreaming of her mother and father again. This dream came often to her; she had to witness her mother's murder over and over again. She got up; fixed the large shirt she wore as a nightgown, and descended the stairs to the kitchens. Brand was sitting on the counter eating a loaf of bread when she entered.
"Want some?" he offered her a half-eaten piece of bread while eyeing her bare legs.
"Stop that!" she slapped the back of his head.
"What?" he rubbed the spot where she hit him.
"You were staring at my legs." She glared while taking some bread.
"Sorry, can't help it." He laughed.