The Ambition of the Dreadlord Raveres
Part II: Allies, Foes, and Bargains
Episode Six
Jacque didn't like the way that Sadalsuud had spoken to Raveres.
He didn't like the way he looked at her either. Though the boy didn't understand Arabyan he was still able to discern from Raveres' reactions and Sir Jean's own demeanour as he translated that they were at first exchanging strange words.
'But then they've seemed to have agreed to something? And then that f-fat Arabyan, he's a lowly merchant! He-he kissed and actually dared to touch her!'
Jacque furrowed his brow and tried to bear his discomfort as quietly as possible; thankfully the loud Arabyan and the interesting foreign elf stole all the monks' attention. If eating petulantly was an art form, then the young squire Jacque was well on his way to becoming a master.
When the small dinner had finally ended the monks departed off to their work as Sir Jean and the Arabyan merchant continued to speak with the Druchii Raveres. Jacque was subsequently left to his own devices, and while he was still reeling from his earlier scolding and punishment the squire wasn't yet ready to speak with his master. Unfortunately, this meant that he wasn't going to be able to speak with her.
He was disappointed because now she was alive, she was walking, speaking confidently. Her body breathed naturally and she was restored to some of her natural health and beauty, yet he was unable to talk to her! Worse than that he was unable to try and speak to her as her beauty had made her appear to him; a maiden.
If Jacque was to be a knight, then courting and speaking with noble-women of all races, from around the wide world was to be expected. Yet here he was, barred from his first. Technically she was also the first maiden he'd ever kissed…
'Does my aunt on my name-day count?' he wondered, 'No, no, surely first kisses are different, they're between a maiden and man who are neither intended nor already wed…'
He nodded to himself.
'So yes! I suppose she is my first kiss!' he smirked to himself. 'And how knightly a kiss it was, an actual kiss of life, just like in the stories!'
Raveres had said something and after it was translated the Arabyan roared with laughter. The noise brought Jacques attention back to 'his' lady and he rolled his eyes. Though he was convinced that his envy and his petulant mood was hidden Sir Jean quietly shook his head in disappointment as he stood in between the merchant and the dark-elf.
'By the Lady… this is an unfair cheat if ever I saw one!' the youth whined.
Jacque must have missed what happened after the merchant and Raveres embraced but Sir Jean eventually ended his role as translator and began speaking with the Father Abbot Ulkas. After a very showy bow and goodbye the merchant departed the hall and whistled happily as he exited the monastery, returning to his caravan, guardsmen, and servants.
With that, Sir Jean spoke with the she-elf and she begrudgingly nodded before Sir Jean and the Abbot slowly began exiting the hall towards a corridor. Jacque smiled, now Raveres was alone. She quietly left the hall and the youth became excited that he'd be able to follow her.
'It's okay if I can't speak with her. I… ha I wouldn't know what to say! So, so just her sight is enough.' He nodded to himself.
Sitting up from the table his hopes of being alone with the elf were dashed; the massive monk Sean sat up as well, he followed the she-elf and Jacque sank back down to the bench as his thoughts raced. The squire pursed his lips in frustration;
'Gods damn it! That knight must have been assigned her guard… Gah! What cack is this?'
At dinner he'd hidden his gaze as best he could from the others, but he tried eyeing Raveres as often as possible. Just to see her breathe or the shape of her hands. Any movement she made on her own caused his heart to flutter with a strange excitement. When he first watched her at his and Sir Jean's fire, he was afraid she was going to die, but now?
She was flush with life; and though her skin was naturally pale, her cheeks would often redden with her emotion and her eyes, her lilac-coloured eyes had this bright spark to them, and she looked all around with this strange sense of command. It was as if she was deep in consultation amongst her thoughts, hatching battle plans and thinking of how to order her troops.
Though she was of the fairer sex, the fact that she was in armour when he saved her made Jacque constantly think of her in a martial sense, that together with her stern authoritarian gaze reminded him of how he imagined the Fey Enchantress must have looked. And so, despite Sir Jean's warnings, the youth had become completely smitten with the foul Druchii.
Itching in his seat he finally stood up, 'I'm not about to let some dusty old monk stop me! I've got to follow her!'
Raveres had exited the hall and her monk guard followed her towards a large doorway; the thick wooden portal had been left ajar and wind breathed into the keep from between the stone and iron covered wood. It led to the castle's small herb garden and the mute Sean followed her closely as she slipped through the door from Jacques' view.
'I'm not being left behind to wash dishes!' the youth confirmed.
Despite the monks' who were clearing the table bidding him to stay and assist them, the squire Jacque sprinted across the hall and darted after the elf and through the open doorway. The Brother Sean heard the protests of his fellow monks and the loud clapping of the squire's boots on the stone floor. Smirking to himself he stepped to the side of the door and waited for the boy.
Pushing his leg out at the perfect time the giant monk easily tripped the small squire.
…
Falling forwards with a loud shuffle and yelp Raveres quickly turned her head to see the young Bretonnian now sprawled onto the thin grass of the garden oasis behind her.
"Gah! Curse your eyes!" he swore at the monk.
Wordlessly the former knight reached towards the squire and raised a fist. Raveres stepped backwards and clicked her tongue. Jacque looked away from the scarred and grotesque face of the silent monk and towards 'his' she-elf.
She spoke in her exotic language but immediately stopped herself, realising that neither Jacque nor Sean would understand her. She huffed in frustration and looked at the monk sternly. Though they didn't share a language he understood her and eventually he complied; releasing his grip from Jacque's loose-fitting tabard.
Raveres waved the youth to follow her and she slowly turned towards the small garden. Sean straightened back up and stepped backwards to press his back against the stone wall of the keep. Quickly jumping to his feet Jacque then stuck his tongue out petulantly at the mute and smiled.
Eagerly turning to see his she-elf the young squire followed Raveres reverently. As she stepped ahead of him his eyes felt compelled to watch her legs; each step she took was graceful, or at least it seemed so to him. And though she was wearing simple darkly coloured loose fitting trousers, the hint of her legs' shape through the material was strangely titillating.
Now stepping towards the centre of the small herb garden Raveres stopped in front of an old stone, it was well-worn along its surface, indicating its use over the years as a simple seat. Sighing loudly, she turned to sit and locked eyes with the young squire.
He stopped in his tracks and felt the heavy weight of her gaze. She leaned backwards and took in a breath through her nose as she straightened her back. She snapped her fingers and cleared her throat as she pointed at the squire.
His face immediately dropped and his body felt cool, 'Oh damn… by the Lady, perhaps this was a bad idea?'
Then, like a cool breeze, Jacque was surprised by sound. Raveres hummed a few bars of a song and the squire furrowed his brow in confusion. Then he recognised the tune, it was the one he had sung while they were on horseback. He nodded and smiled as he remembered.
She finished and sighed again, somehow a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Then the squire thought, 'wait, does she want me to sing?'
His confused expression received its answer and Raveres nodded while pointing and gesticulating towards him. He cleared his throat and she shut her eyes as she relaxed on her improvised seat. The youth began slowly, nervously finding his voice as he began singing for his audience of two.
He was nervous somewhat that the mute was there in attendance as well, but he'd sung for audiences before, taverns full of drunk and rowdy patrons, noble halls and castles full of sycophantic courtiers, a mute and a single she-elf would be a walk in the park.
The song she'd requested was one that Jacque's mother had sung to him as a babe and he loved it dearly, he was glad that she had enjoyed it the first time he'd sung it, and now he was happy indeed that she'd remembered it since their riding.
Though it was a somewhat melancholic tune the young squire always felt a rush of confidence and emotion whenever he sang it… but since he set out with Sir Jean he had longed to obtain a lute. Though his mother had long since died he knew that she would have been proud that her little song was set to real music…
The young squire often lamented his want of an instrument and Sir Jean told him that perhaps someday soon Jacque might have enough coin of his own to buy a minstrel's old or unwanted lute. But for now, he made due with his voice, and most people though it was just fine as it was.
…
Raveres felt the cool breeze across her face as the sun began to set.
The young squire's song was exactly what she had wanted to hear and she let the weight of her situation melt away as she enjoyed it. When the boy finished, she opened her eyes and cooed. He smiled and stepped forwards, like a hound pup.
'Such a fool…' she remarked, 'Yet, I wonder what thoughts he hides behind those green eyes of his…'
Jacque's face began to blush under her prolonged gaze and he nervously darted his eyes away as he adjusted his hand's placement on his hilt and belt. Raveres finally realised and her eyes widened.
'Oh the little devil!'
She smiled and then let out a chuckle as she brought a hand to her mouth. Jacque's expression dropped and he realised that he must have been found out. His mouth opened and he nervously stuttered before quickly turning to flee.
"Wait young Breton…" she called.
With a grumble Raveres stood and stepped after the squire. His face was bright red and his pace increased as he tried to run. Jumping over the edge of the herb garden Jacque made for the door way and loudly marched over the stone floor to escape Raveres' presence.
"Wait!" she called again futilely.
She stopped as soon as she reached the door way, but Jacque had speedily disappeared from view. Turning her face to the side Raveres looked up at the monk Sean and he smirked knowingly. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. Raveres nodded and the two shared a wordless conversation.
"Well… big one." She eventually declared.
Walking back towards the garden she stooped and began to inspect the various plants which grew strongly in the small plot of earth.
"What all is in here?"
The monk eyed her with concern and stepped forwards, to stop her if necessary. He tensed as his thoughts confirmed; 'She's an elf, there's no telling what she might be able to concoct with even the most harmless of herbs and plants.' He thought.
…
"Jacque!" Sir Jean called, "Where are you boy?"
He huffed as he pressed his hands to his sides. Abbot Ulkas chuckled and shook his head, "It matters naught. You can share our conversation with him whenever you find him…"
The knight begrudgingly nodded and followed the Abbot towards the monastery's scriptorium. As the two elderly men entered, they were greeted by the loud scratching of the monks at work transcribing new, beautiful, tomes.
"We finished the order that your lord master asked of us. Each volume has been pressed and lined in fine leathers, the words are gilt, and the script is some of the finest that we have produced this year."
Sir Jean nodded, "Duke Meroux will be ecstatic."
The Abbot nodded, "We are always pleased to hear our work is appreciated. Now it is far too late in the day for us to saddle your horses and send you riding into the night."
The Abbot handed Sir Jean one of the exquisitely made books and the knight reverently opened it to the first page.
"So naturally we shall offer our hospitality to you and you squire as long as you would desire."
Sir Jean smiled and shut the book before respectfully laying it back down on the Abbot's desk.
"I am humbled, as always, to accept."
The Abbot smiled and sat in his chair while inviting the knight to sit opposite him.
"How is the Duke?"
Sir Jean wearily sighed, "Showing his age… He's all but ready to depart this world, but this request, as well as a few other matters yet keeps him tethered."
Abbot Ulkas nodded, "And yourself Sir Jean? I'm sure the boy has been trying your limits…"
The knight nodded, "He has… but this matter with the elf has certainly shown me that he needs a younger man to follow…"
Sighing loudly, he leaned back in his chair, "Oh Abbot… by the Lady I miss Bretonnia."
The two shared a laugh before continuing their conversation to more banal subjects.
…
With his heart beating loudly Jacque had found a hideaway in which to privately let out his frustration.
He climbed the outer wall of the castle and entered into one of the few towers which still stood. Its walls had eroded from the desert wind and it was a pale imitation of its former self but it gave him enough seclusion to feel comfortable.
He beat his fists into an old and worn board which was once part of the tower's door and he panted as he felt his emotion and a strange passion overtake him. He tried to remember his prayers and he was doing everything he could to push the sight of Raveres' smile from his mind.
"You barely know her!" he exclaimed.
He shook and rubbed his hands through his short hair. Sitting on a pile of rubble in the centre of the tower he stuttered and tried wrestling with his thoughts.
'You've thought of nothing but lust and lewdness since meeting her, you, you kissed her!'
"Gah!" he exclaimed, "No, it wasn't a kiss! She was… she was drowned, I revived her, no more than that!"
His mind seemed poised against him as he thought, 'But have you not thought of her taste since? When she was pressed against you in the saddle, did you not wish to feel her bare breast against your skin?'
He shook his head, 'Did you not grow hard simply at the memory of seeing her bare body?'
"Shut up!" he called futilely, "Stop! And leave me be!"
He shook and his thoughts began trying to shift the blame, 'She's cursed me! She must have!'
His voice dropped lowly, "Lady… please… help me…"
He dropped from his seat and clasped his hands together tightly as he began praying as hard as he could.
"Please… I… I don't know what to do; I can't stop thinking of her! She's evil… She's a dark creature but… oh gods I… Am I condemned?"
He shook his head and shut his eyes tightly, "Am I given to chaos now? Am I… am I being twisted by ruinous powers? Is this how it begins?"
Doubt crept into his heart and his thoughts shifted again, 'But how could she be evil? She's beautiful! She's… she's fair… her heart seems so pure… an evil creature ought to show its evilness!'
He panted and began sobbing as he shook, "I've seen evildoers before… I've seen the Skaven… I've seen real witches, she… she's…"
He continued trying to pray and loudly bemoaned his current tribulation. The more he thought about her, the worse he felt, and the more guilt built in his chest. His mind eventually began looking for anything he might have done wrong to deserve the way he was now feeling,
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry for disrespecting Sir Jean and his lessons… I… I'm sorry for being proud. I was proud that I had saved her, that's it! I was… I was too proud and now I am cursed for it!"
…
Outside and below the tower the monk Mathias pursed his lips and took in a quiet breath. Listening to the young squire he couldn't help but feel torn.
Eventually the monk decided to leave the youth, 'We each must bear our own trials.' he thought.
'The boy must figure it out by himself…'
The older monk nodded and walked back into the monastery as the world began to darken. The sun was almost gone from the sky and the cool night was beginning to fall over the land.
'I want that elf in a room under lock and key. I know the boy is exaggerating, but I do not like her 'deal' with the Arabyan, nor her looks nonetheless.'
Shuffling across the inner courtyard of the castle-monastery her took hold of his ring of keys and shuddered wearily.
"Oh, by the Lady, this life I lead…"
He chuckled dryly as he entered into the main hall, "One would think that a life this far from the court at Couronne would be devoid of intrigue."
He shook his head and called loudly into the keep, "Where's the she-elf?"
…
As night fell Raveres was led back to the infirmary. And she seethed under her faux imprisonment.
"I know this is not ideal." the elderly monk declared, "But you must understand the lengths that we have gone in merely taking you in."
Raveres stepped through the door and let out a breath, "It is of no consequence…"
The monk Mathias pursed his lips and held his tongue. Turning to Brother Sean he stopped the giant from entering the small infirmary after his charge. In Bretonnian he spoke and shook his head,
"Leave her in the room, I shall lock the door but, she ought to be left alone."
The mute brother nodded and stepped back. Switching back to Druhir he addressed Raveres, "You shall be given the evening and the room to yourself. We rise early here and we shall have a humble break to our fast."
He smiled politely, "As our guest we shall see you fed, along with the others."
Raveres stepped towards her bed.
"We shall then bid you well and you shall depart these walls."
Sitting onto the thin cushion underneath her Raveres let out a breath and nodded at the old man, "Monk…"
He raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"
She opened her mouth and her eyes looked to the monk's side. She smiled to herself before shaking her head slightly.
"Never mind, a fleeting fancy,"
The monk furrowed his brow and was about to ask a question before thinking better of it.
Closing the door the monk pushed his small iron key into its lock and turned it. If she wanted, or if anyone inside really wanted they would have been able to get out. Locking the door was more of a formality and symbolic practise than anything. The giant brother Sean bowed his head to his superior and the elder monk nodded before turning to depart.
…
As the door shut and locked after the monk Raveres quickly noticed that her room was devoid of a candle. After the wooden portal closed the light provided in the hallway from a nearby torch sconce was dampened except for some flickering tongues of orange through the tight cracks in between the aged wooden boards and along the uneven stone floor underneath.
Now alone in her solitary cell the she-elf looked around and contemplated what she'd do for the next while before eventually sleeping. Beside her was one of the room's few thin, arrow-slit, windows.
'These bloody Humans...' She groaned while as she rolled her eyes. Standing up from her bed she walked towards the small view of the outside world.
The world was dark, and though night had fallen she could hear voices and laughter outside the abbey's walls.
'From those traders I imagine.'
She moved around to try and see over the crest of the worn walls for a potential sight of Sadalsuud's caravan; the tents, the fires, or the camels. But it had gotten dark enough and the walls appeared to still be tall enough that she couldn't see anything but the stone in the bluish light of the evening.
Over the sea of sand and rock she seemed to be able to still see shimmering off the horizon, giving the illusion of the coast. Thinking about the open ocean made her sigh and reminded her painfully of her lack of a Druchii crew, or even passage home.
Looking above the horizon, towards the heavens, she saw that the air was clean and devoid of smoke or fog. Unlike her home, with every house burning large fires, and the furnaces and foundries of the workmen roaring day and night the sky above this hamlet was clear.
Like when she was sailing the stars shone brilliantly overhead like hundreds of thousands of jewels, with nothing obstructing or masking their beauty and their light.
Distant clouds of nebulae and formations, constellations of the gods, and pictures forged in the heavens by limitless and great old powers were laid bare for her to see. Being forced to look at it through the small slit window somehow made the stars and night sky look poignant.
Raveres had seen clear skies before, but here she was a prisoner, and however brief she was to remain a prisoner, the fact remained that she was only able to see outside of her small cell through this sliver of a window. And it was that she was in a state of bondage to Humans more than anything which irritated her most.
'Bondage…' she looked away from the window in embarrassment at herself. 'I should have killed that Mariana, maybe then Khaine would have blessed me with victory!'
A flash of the nude Human slave went through Raveres' mind as she thought about her former property for the first time since coming ashore.
'She waved at me along with that fool Annio Bilbali as I drowned. She waved!'
Turning from the window Raveres brought her fist down to the surface of a nearby bedside table.
'I'll kill them both.'
She nodded and turned back towards the window.
"I'll kill you! I swear it! Before Khaine lord of murder, before Drakira goddess of vengeance, before any and all who'll hear my plea!"
"I will gut that Bilbali and I will feed him to…"
'A Nauglir? A Hydra? No, hmm.'
Raveres struggled to find an animal disgusting, grotesque, and fearsome enough to be appropriate, but eventually she lost her train of thought and her words faltered. Groaning in aggravation she exclaimed,
"Gah! What does it matter?! I'll slaughter him and dance over his dying corpse!"
She began pacing the room, nodding and smiling to herself as she pictured her revenge.
"That ship will burn, and all those damned pirates shall hang! But that captain…'
She threw her head back and her hands shook at her sides, "Oh and that slave."
Soon her thoughts began a conversation amongst themselves.
'You think she's not free now? You even agreed to free her, you swore to free her. That's what got you into this mess, and here you are daring to ask the gods to intervene again?'
Raveres opened her eyes widely and brought a hand to her mouth, "I…"
'Damn it all! I, I didn't… I haven't invoked any gods by rites; I haven't made any promises other than seeing him dead!'
She began nodding and exhaling in relief, 'That's it!'
"Okay, I've merely spoken in anger. I've sworn to kill them; I've made no claim as to how I'd divide any offerings."
She smiled to herself.
"I'm in the clear."
Calming herself down Raveres realised just how religiously concerned she was for her own sake. With a nervous laugh she considered the lectures she'd received as a child. Both her parents and the regular sermons from a Death Hag atop the steps of Khaine's temple in Blacklight Tower had served to instill a very tangible fear in her of the religious.
As such she feared and respected both the Cytharai and the Cadai genuinely; and now having brushed so closely with death and failure Raveres was not about to do anything to make herself an enemy of the gods or of any minor spirits in any respect.
Calming herself down and issuing a few meditative prayers and reflections Raveres felt as if she had satisfactorily addressed her earlier semi-theological quandary and shook the worry out of her mind as she returned to daydreaming about how she'd torture and kill her enemies.
In the darkness of her cell, she began thinking about her relatively low body count so far and how it was about to increase exponentially before this 'adventure' was done. Her first kill, the young elf warrior, came back to her and she shuddered as she thought about how it had affected her. Nothing she'd been taught had told her about the strange weight upon one's heart after battle.
It was strange, but when compared to the killing of Lieutenant Hathan, or several of the Human pirates stupid enough to have tried engaging her when they boarded the Witches Wail, it was her first which was the most visceral and affecting.
Shaking her head from side to side she tried to push the anxious feelings out of her body while focusing on the faces of Annio-Luis and the little trollop Mariana. Those two waving at her as she swam for shore… The sight filled her with anger and once again she resumed her previous mood while pacing in the darkness.
"Oooh I'll strip him bare and run lashes across his flesh!"
Raveres' eyes widened as a strange feeling filled her chest.
"I think I'll scourge him within an inch of his life…"
She laughed, "Then I'll finally, wait. Should I set him alight? Listen to him scream and burn?"
She shuddered and her body shook, "Oh! I don't know, perhaps I'll tie weights to him and throw him off his own ship?"
Raveres cackled at the irony as her mind began to race.
'This… are these the children which Mother spoke of?" she paused and recollected before smiling, realising the significance of her new thoughts, "These are the plots, the designs; the desires of a true Druchii!'
She nodded and grinned widely, "Mother! I will see these children to maturity."
She laughed and sat down on her bed, 'I'm becoming… your daughter is becoming a Druchii woman.'
Raveres laid back and cackled as her mind swirled with ideas and possibilities. Her mental sadism and dark desires began to expand to ludicrous bounds as she began thinking more unrealistically.
Envisioning herself at the head of a host of warriors as they put pirates to the sword and took back what she had lost. She had eventually worked herself into a mental frenzy of excitement as the night wore on.
'But what of Maria?' She eventually asked herself.
Through the material of her clothing Raveres had begun to touch her body excitedly as she pictured and imagined the realisation of her revenge. Then her eyes opened widely and she smiled.
Her hands stopped and then she cooed; "Oh, hers will be a symphony of pain…"
Tentatively her hands returned between her legs.
'Will it?' she then asked herself retroactively.
'Why not?! After all she overstepped her place; she's no doubt been revealing your secrets to the captain.'
Raveres tightened her teeth and hissed through her lips as she began masturbating.
"My hands around her throat… I'll choke her to- no…"
She moaned as she began imagining the tanned flesh of the Estalian woman under her body.
"No, that's too good. What else should I do then?"
Her fingers went up to her trousers' waist and pulled down the clothing to her knees.
"Gah, I… I don't know!"
She huffed loudly and threw her head back, "I've been shamed! I lost; I was- he could have killed me? Oh gods!"
Quieting herself she bit into her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood as she worked herself up.
'What is going on here? I'm so… I… oh fuck it! Fuck it! Fuck me!'
She licked her lips and groaned in strange satisfaction, "Yes… fuck me! Fuck me, I deserve it, I deserve it!"
Her eyes watered and she threw her head back while holding the edge of the bed with her left hand.
"I'll kill them! I'll kill them all! Vengeance, blood, glory!"
Riding her own hand, she shuddered and shook with ecstasy, "I am Raveres Naguii!"
She growled and smiled, baring her fangs in the cool air, "I will become a Druchii Tyrant!"
She chuckled at her strange outpouring of honesty, and became completely taken by her own passion. Fluttering her eyes, she nodded and let out a low cackle, "Oh yes!"
She didn't care for shame or propriety; she didn't care if her guard heard her. 'Fuck him!' She thought, 'Fuck these old celibate fools! Let them hear me and despair! Knowing they will never touch or enjoy a woman!'
"I don't care…" she panted, "I don't care if I wake them all!"
Pushing herself onto her fingers she enveloped her index and middle fingers into her warmth.
"I will take everything I want. I'll kill those f-fuckers and… oh fuck yes! I'll wear their skulls! Yes! I'll slit their fucking throa- What? T-too soon! Oh f-fuck…"
Falling back to the bed Raveres shook and shuddered as a violent orgasm rode over her skin.
"No… I…" she took in a breath sharply and her eyes fluttered, "Oh fuck it…"
Rather than resist and prolong her masturbation she mentally and physically gave in, weakly collapsing under shivering pleasure. Usually such a premature climax would have drawn her ire, but she was welcome for the ecstasy. Anything to alleviate her current situation was a looked toward distraction.
Maintaining her position she kept her limbs still as her body twitched around her fingers and she enjoyed the 'full' feeling inside her vagina. Remaining motionless, breathing deeply, and savouring the high from her orgasm she cooed and moaned lowly.
Slowly removing her fingers from her body, she twitched, shaking out her legs, and quietly sighed. Bringing her arm towards her face she smelt her scent off her fingers and smirked as she exhaled a heavy breath.
'Am I an odd Druchii?' she asked herself.
Dropping her arm to her side her whole body felt tired from the exercise she put herself through and she laughed dryly.
'I suppose I'll need rest now. Morning will come soon and I'll have to travel with…'
She raised her lip in disgust and cringed, "That fat Arabyan..."
Taking hold of the bed sheet underneath her she groaned and complained wordlessly as she moved her fatigued body.
'Yes, yes, he's fat, and bearded, and a revolting Human but he's a means to an end. We'll have to play at a supplicant to assure our safe travel but it will all be worth it.'
She nodded and reached for her pillow in the dark.
"It will all be worth it."
She giggled into the material and closed her eyes as she tried to catch her breath.
"I can see it. I can just see it," she moaned, "Ugh, but everything until then?"
She rolled under the thin sheet and kicked off her trousers completely, 'Gods, this is tedious…'
…
When the morning came it was quick, just as the monk had said. Rudely Raveres was ripped from her pleasant sleep and reminded of several discomforting truths:
First; that her bed was lumpy and uncomfortable, the sheet she was wrapped in was some kind of amateur, rough spun, wool and was as irritatingly abrasive and thin as a hair-shirt.
Second; that she was not home, she was a million miles away, in some foreign castle, surrounded not by slaves but 'pious' Human men.
And third; she was not anywhere close to her goals, and now she'd have to work. Intensely, without faltering, without erring, and without slacking.
The door unlocked loudly and was pushed open unceremoniously. Brother Mathias entered and took just one step into the room before raising his voice in Druhir to rouse Raveres from her slumber.
"Dark-elf! Wake up!"
She sat with a start and at first felt panicked, but as the rigours of sleep waned, she remembered where she was and who was speaking. Rubbing her eyes and adjusting her blouse to better conceal her bosom she began tying the loose cords of her open V-neck and the monk averted his eyes politely as his voice softened.
"We've prepared a meal for you and Sir Jean. You shall exit our walls as soon as you are done and ready for travel."
Raveres nodded and finished tightening the cords into a small bow.
The elder monk pursed his lips and turned to leave.
"Monk," she called.
He stopped midstride and turned.
"Would you be at all willing to sell me some of your herbs?"
Her furrowed his brow and fully turned back to face the Druchii.
"That's an odd request. What use does a lady such as yourself have for sage, lemongrass…" he chuckled, "Princes' poppy, or black-heart rose? Are you planning to make that poor squire a bouquet as some kind of apology?"
His smile faded and he grew quiet as Raveres replied, "You needn't concern yourself with what I need or what I intend with what I buy. I only ask if it would be permissible."
The monk scoffed, "Poison. That's what you intend with our plants."
Raveres rolled her eyes, "As I said you needn't feel concern."
Then her expression changed, "But what was that mention of the squire? I have nothing to apologise for. He ran from me before I dismissed him, he's the one ought to apologise."
The monk opened his mouth but stopped himself and quickly changed his words, 'She doesn't know? Oh, by the Lady. I can't wait till they've left this is too much for me!'
"It matters naught, what do you even have to sell?" he looked down at her chest and curled his lip in annoyance, "And don't you forget the Abbot's rules! We cannot be swayed by offers or temptations of the flesh!"
Raveres squinted and cringed at the sudden loudness of the monk's voice.
'Gods, that was too loud, too early, for my bloody head!'
She brought a hand to the left side of her jaw as she relaxed and popped her inner ear.
"I haven't forgotten, nor would I disgrace myself by letting you, or your ilk, see my bare flesh."
Moving her hand from her jaw to her ear she flicked her gold and silver jewelry.
"I have gold you old fool. Gods, with all your celibacy and masculine energies in here I dare say you're the ones with the dirty desires. Not me."
Mathias' cheeks became red under his stubble in embarrassment and he sputtered, "I… w-well gold is never, amiss. But I, I'd have to ask the Abbot."
Looking towards his sandals he shuffled his weight and turned to leave, becoming more flustered than he would have liked. Raveres furrowed her brow and watched the odd display in front of her with confusion.
"Just… come to the main hall! By the Lady!" with the exclamation he finally exited the room and Raveres looked out the door as a deep laugh began to rise in her stomach.
Though still sore and somewhat fatigued she became consumed by a genuine fit of laughter. Throwing her sheet off she attempted to stand before stumbling from her bed to the stone floor. Brother Sean entered with his arms outstretched, concern on his face as the she-elf continued to laugh and writhe around.
Then he saw she was devoid of bottom clothing and her smooth bare flesh was exposed to the air. He stopped and his face became bright red, like that of a tomato. Raveres occasionally whimpered and clutched her stomach, but the laughter continued and she rolled from side to side on her back after seeing the monks' face.
The mute monk's mouth opened and he struggled to understand what was happening. Eventually she calmed down and her laughter dissipated to a chuckle before finally petering out. Bringing a hand to wipe her right eye she groaned loudly and grumbled in pain as she extended her arms towards Sean.
Instead of helping her stand he had located and picked up her trousers. Raveres grabbed the clothes as the monk averted his eyes and began pulling them up her legs, as she spoke,
"Don't worry yourself about it." she declared as she stood. "You've just got a strange bunch of men here is all…" she chuckled, "It's a good thing the squire's departing with us!"
She punched the giant's arm and chuckled while slowly walking past the silent monk.
"If they're this itchy at my presence then the poor squire's got no chance if he were to stay here! Ugh… you Humans; devoid of some kind of release you become quite the licentious creatures, don't you?"
The mute monk moved his brow but maintained his dumb expression of confusion and red embarrassment. Sighing Raveres came to the door and shook her head, "Never mind…"
…
Jacque awoke to the noise of cocks loudly cawing.
He'd remained in his tower all night, going through different emotions, losing his composure, praying, beating his hands against wooden boards, until finally he collapsed and slept on the floor, clutching his short sword. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he scratched his head and shook off his discomfort rather quickly.
'Are we okay now?' he asked himself.
He sniffed and took a breath in through his nose loudly. Rising to a stand he held his sword and directed the blade into his sheath.
'I think, I think I'm okay now.'
He stretched his arms and paused for a moment, staring at the ground in shame and embarrassment.
'Oh, by the Lady Jacque, come on… it's morning I'm sure we'll have to go now.'
Groaning he rolled his shoulders and adjusted how his tabard was sitting over his tunic underneath. As Sir Jean's squire the tabard he wore was emblazoned with his master's sigil and heraldry. He looked over the faded colours of the elder knight and he pursed his lips.
'Someday this'll be my shield, and these will be my colours… Just imagine that?' he smiled and began making for the door of the tower.
'Sir Jacque… of…' he paused.
The young squire hadn't a family name. He'd known this, but it wasn't an issue, there were many knights who hadn't family names… They were of Bastonne, Avignon, Anjou, many county or duchy names became the names of their knights…
His eyes widened as he began his quick climb down the rocky ruin of the inside of the wall.
'Sir Jacque of Araby!'
He smiled and his day dream escalated, 'So great were his deeds as a youth he was knighted by the king with the distinction of Araby as his epithet!'
He innocently giggled and nodded as he jumped the last two feet from the wall to the ground.
"Sir Jacque of Araby…" he whispered under his breath.
As he crossed the courtyard to the entrance of the abbey Sir Jean appeared out of the door, brow furrowed and drawing a deep breath.
"Jacque!" stopping mid yell he smiled and chuckled, "Oh there you are boy!"
The squire nodded and lowered his face shyly.
"Here I am master…" he responded meekly.
The knight sighed in relief as his squire walked closer.
"I'd like to…" raising his face to look at his lord he took a breath and continued, "I would like to apologise my lord, for my absence and, and my behaviour… I-"
Sir Jean raised his hand, "There's nothing to forgive my boy. I was a squire once too, you forget."
Jacque's expression softened and the two shared a knowing exchange.
"Come now… our hosts have graciously prepared us a meal before our departure."
At the knights beckoning the squire followed inside the stone keep.
Quietly Jacque asked, "Is the merchant joining us?"
Sir Jean hid a smile as he responded, "No, no. He's helping his people break their camp."
Wrapping his arm around Jacque's shoulder patriarchally he gave the youth a sideways hug.
"But we will be travelling with them."
Jacque groaned and threw his head back in a childish display.
"Hey, hey. Hush my son… We're heading the same direction, and Raveres will need my services as translator. Neither Sadalsuud nor any of his people speak her tongue."
Jacque nodded and remained silent as they came to the populated great hall. All the monks had awoken and were chatting jovially with one another as they sat along the benches in the hall. Each table was occupied with trenchers of bread and bowls of warm soup. Baskets of boiled eggs and large serving bowls of dates were being passed around as the monks invited their fellow Bretonnians to sit with them.
Remaining close to his master's side Jacque sat together with Sir Jean and continued their conversation, "After our delivery… what will become of the elf?"
Sir Jean thanked a monk as the robed elder offered him a bowl and bread. He pursed his lips and furrowed his brow.
"I know naught… She's intent on revenge and Sadalsuud is most keen to help her realise it."
Jacque had long been brought up to regard the word 'revenge' or 'vengeance' with disdain and to turn his nose up at it.
"Nothing good can come of revenge Sir Jean. We ought to dissuade her!"
The knight sighed and took a sip of the soup.
"There are things which I have no doubt may be redeemed… I have heard tales from the north of Kislev of chaos warriors throwing down their arms and turning to lives of penitence…"
He broke off some bread and Jacque received a bowl from a neighbouring monk as well.
"I have even heard wild tales of penitent witches, cured vampires… but I don't know if goodness is something that is an actual option open to a dark-elf."
Jacque furrowed his brow in disappointment but ate silently.
"You see Jacque… when a race, a whole race of creature, has been mired in dark powers, twisted by betrayal and fed a constant diet of bloody words and deeds…"
He leaned back and huffed.
"I just, I know she seems fair to the eye, but…" he smirked and quieted. "I don't know I suppose, I'm just an old knight now Jacque… What do I know anymore?"
The squire furrowed his brow and began to voice protest at the knight's attitude when Raveres appeared into the hall, followed by the massive Brother Sean.
…
She strode with a restored grace. No longer made weak by the heat or her defeat at sea Raveres was now flaunting her status.
'I am a noble of Naggarond.' She thought, 'I am a daughter of the Druchii, and a member of the Naguii.'
Though she was dirty, though her clothes were stained with her sweat and the salt water of the sea she looked beautiful. The line of her neck was framed by her long silver-white hair and she had combed it back over her ears, deliberately showing off their sharp tips, and the shining jewelry she still owned.
'I am Raveres… and I am not to be humbled by these peasants.'
With a smirk she tilted her head in acknowledgement of the roomful of men. The monks' quieted down and watched her uneasily as she walked towards the table which Sir Jean and Jacque were sitting at.
"Good morning." She announced.
The few speakers of elven amongst the monks understood her while the rest furrowed their brows. Sir Jean cleared his throat and translated as she lifted her leg over the bench to sit. As she lowered in between two awkward monks they continued to push against their fellows and give her more space as she relaxed in her seat.
She smiled and looked to either side as the monks averted their gaze of the she-elf. Leaning towards Sir Jean she raised a lip comically as she spoke, "Not too keen on women folk, are they?"
Sir Jean pursed his lips and stifled a mischievous smile.
She sighed and straightened back, "Or perhaps they are simply too surprised by my appearance? I regret only that I am so dishevelled, was I accompanied by my beautician slave I'm sure they'd be openly gawking at me."
Sir Jean continued eating and the monks slowly attempted to resume their meal.
"My slave, Elianna, she's a Asur you see…"
Sir Jean furrowed his brow, he didn't like to be reminded of the reality of slavery and that the woman right in front of him was a self-professed owner of other creatures. But Raveres continued nonetheless,
"We dress her in silks… She's actually the only one of our household slaves permitted to do so."
Sir Jean cringed and held his tongue.
Sensing his tension Raveres smiled, "Oh fear not, she's treated well! They all are… they're fed well, clothed well, hardly ever even beaten."
She nodded, "I dare say ours are some of the healthiest slaves in Blacklight Tower."
Sir Jean raised his spoon to his mouth and nodded, "It is not my place to judge, but even a well-treated slave is a slave."
Raveres lowered her brow and smirked, "And peasants? What of them? Are they not slaves?"
The knight furrowed his brow and several monks who understood her turned their heads to see her.
"If I'm not mistaken are they not property of their respective lords? Each layer of your caste-system being one of indentured servitude and oath-based slavery?"
Sir Jean was about to respond when the aged and powerful voice of the Abbot rang out, "You are not the first to make such a correlation young Druchii."
The monks all regarded the Abbot with reverence and respect.
"Indeed yours is a wise equivalency. Perhaps it would be of greater interest for you to consider that we are all but slaves?"
Raveres looked at the elder monk and opened her mouth to respond. Holding his hand up to interrupt her, the Abbot continued,
"I know you Druchii, you dark-elves, like to warre with your cousins and spill much blood over the subject of dominance. But are you not slaves yourselves?"
Raveres tilted her head backwards and raised a hand to run through her hair.
"Consider this; your lord, the Witch King, is he not a slave to his passions? Has he not become hobbled by his desire for blood and carnage and wreaking pain upon others?"
Raveres smirked and remained silent.
"What of his mother? It is well known to those who read of the Druchii that Morathi has fallen into a web of lies and deceit spun by her own tongue. What pushed her to make such ill choices and dark deeds if not the compulsion of an unseen master?"
"From these two examples I am sure you may extrapolate that we are all but slaves to unseen forces, in addition to the will of the gods."
Raveres let out a nervous chuckle.
"A peasant is just as much a slave to the elements and his liege lord as his liege lord is to the law, to the court, and to customs of duty."
The Abbot smiled, "And I would wager a Druchii woman such as yourself is slave to many of the desires and customs afforded her own kind and her sex."
Raveres swallowed dryly and looked down briefly, "I am not one for philosophy old man."
The Abbot clucked his tongue in disappointment, "If not a student or a master of it, then you shall be at its mercy."
She furrowed her brow and straightened her back again.
"Like wind and tide, or the seasons. We are all the playthings of the gods, of time, and of the threads of the mind."
Smirking, a flash of Raveres' father echoed in her mind and she bore a somewhat innocent face for a moment,
"You know Abbot; I'd offer to buy you for my father if I didn't fear the journey would kill you."
The monks who understood Druhir sat up and looked at Raveres with hatred in their eyes. Immediately the Abbot cooed and bid them stand down,
"Sit, sit brothers, tis merely conversation nothing more. But the noble lady does have family? We were thinking the sea had orphaned you and your speech was that of a vagrant in want of a name!"
Raveres narrowed her eyes at the Abbot and smiled, "My father often speaks of such nonsense as you. Though a Human I imagine you'd make a queer pair; throwing your 'philosophies' at one another."
The abbot leaned back in his seat and smiled under his thick beard, "An Abbot and a Dreadlord? Ha-ha, a queer pair indeed."
After the awkward breakfast concluded Raveres, Sir Jean, and the squire Jacque were led to the courtyard where the knight and squire's horses had been brushed fed and made ready for their journey. Tying her hair back Raveres re-donned the knight's white riding cloak and pulled the hood over her head.
Regarding the elf with unease the Abbot stood with the great Brother Sean beside him as he bid his goodbyes to his guests.
"May the Lady watch over you old friend…"
Sir Jean bowed and tapped the leather satchel around his shoulder happily.
"The Duke will be pleased as I said… and may the Lady watch over you and your brothers as well Father Abbot."
The small elderly man smiled and pointed to the squire Jacque, "Boy, I have a gift for you."
The youth's expression lightened and his eyes widened happily as he stepped forwards. Behind the Humans Raveres was all but completely back to her usual self.
'What is this cack? Gods below can we depart yet!' she wondered petulantly.
Eventually the Humans finished their ceremony and turned to mount their steeds. Nodding she stepped forwards and took hold of the side of Jacque's horse. 'Finally, we can get this bloody underway!'
Throwing herself up and behind the squire his eyes widened as her chest and body once again pressed against him.
"Sir Jean, let us be underway. I wish to speak with that Arabyan, there's much I need to see to."
The knight nodded and took up his reins, he spoke a farewell to the Abbot and then the two horses turned and began towards the monastery's gate.
…