The Legend of Dead Kel part 1

-Rathir; Upper District-

Alyn Shir woke up. She woke up in a way she had never woken up before. At all times she would be wide awake the moment she opened her eyes, ready to continue with what she did yesterday. Always alert, always ready…. But now… she woke up, her eyes slowly opening, her body limp and tired like it was still sleeping, and she noticed that she had no clothes on. She also noticed that she lay in a soft, comfortable bed with soft pillows, warm covers and a thick, feathered matrass.

At first she hardly recognized where she was, like she did not remember last night. She pushed herself up and looked at the dark, stone walls and the tapestries that hung from them. A meek, orange light fell through the windows, indicating that it was dawning. A small table stood beside the bed and her armour and daggers lay on it.

"Ugghh…" she moaned to herself. "Where am I?... What happened?"

She heard a soft grunt behind her and she turned around, pulling the covers up to cover her chest. She saw a large man lying next to her, fast asleep. His long, black hair lay over his shoulders, and she saw his large chest going up and down under his breath. Alyn recognized the man and she remembered last night, and she felt a warmth entering her body and she smiled. She lowered the covers, not afraid anymore, and she looked at how Archon slept. He took large breaths through his nose, his chest went up every time he breathed in, and unless Alyn was mistake, she saw the covers going down a bit with every breath.

Archon moved in his sleep and turned his back to her. Alyn gasped slightly when she saw his back. She knew that Archon had fought many battles and was a warrior without equal, but she saw large, red lines on his back. They almost looked like old, badly healed scars, and she gently touched them with her fingers. She suddenly realized where these lines came from and she bit her lip and smiled. She remembered that it was no beast that did that to him… but her… last night.

She let herself fall back on the bed, letting out a deep sight as her head fell back in the pillows. She looked at the arced ceiling and closed her eyes. For a few moments she felt calm. Calm in a way that she had never felt before. She took a quick glance at her armour that still lay on the table, and then she took a long look at Archon. For a few moments she lay there, considering. Considering what to do. A part of her practically screamed to her to stay… to sleep till it was noon, to have nothing to worry about… to have a second, third and fourth bout with Archon, even more than the previous night, until neither of them could walk... But another part of her said 'no'. She knew that the Order would not tolerate it and that both of them would be dead before week's end. No, she had to report back.

She stepped out of the bed and put her armour back on. To her surprise it was not damaged at all, and all the leather straps that were cut, were now as good as new. Like they had never been damaged at all. She found this strange, but new that she had to go. There was no time to go over all of this, and she also knew that she couldn't wait for Archon to wake up. She just couldn't. After she put her armour back on, she strapped her daggers to her hip, and went for the door. She found it locked tight.

"Dammit." she whispered to herself. "Where is the key?"

"Looking for this?"

She turned her head so fast, she almost strained her neck. Archon lay on the bed, leaning against the headboard with an annoying, smug smile on his face and a key in his hand.

"You really wanted to sneak away without saying goodbye?"

"For old time's sake." she replied. "You know me."

"I suppose I do now…" Archon said. "I got to know a lot about you… more than I expected."

"Don't push it… and wipe that smug grin of your face."

Alyn walked to Archon and she saw that he obliged her, although the grin was still slightly visible.

"Now give me the key."

Archon chuckled and held the key far behind him, out of her reach. Alyn did not really feel like playing around, but he was much stronger than her. But she knew of other ways to get what she wanted. She gently pushed Archon back on the bed and climbed on top of him, while the key was still out of her reach. She gently pressed her hand on his chest and slowly ran it downward, over his chest, down his belly and over his loins. Archon's expression turned from smug to surprised and now Alyn smiled, and without warning she grabbed him by his manhood.

Archon gasped and his body contracted and froze. Alyn had decided to return the favour he gave her yesterday and wanted to see Archon squirm, and she had already achieved that.

"There is something else you should know about me, Archon." Alyn said and her voice was quiet and seductive. "Just because I like you, does not mean that you shouldn't fear me. On the contrary… you should fear me doubly so."

"W-why is that?" Archon asked hesitantly.

"Because now I have two reasons to kill you… One; if you tell the truth about Alabastra. And two; if you tell anyone about what happened here… last night."

She smiled when she saw Archon's face. She felt exited to see him like this. The most powerful sorcerer in all of Amalur, and she had him by his balls… literally and figuratively, and she asked him in her sweetest voice.

"Do we understand each other?"

Archon nodded and she let him go, but not before running her hand back over his body to his chest. Her face now hovered just above his head, and her lips almost touched his.

"Now, please… give me the key."

Archon felt no reason to stop her and so he gave her the key, and as she picked it out of his hand, she planted a quick kiss on his lips before walking to the door.

"I will see you around." she said as she unlocked the door and left.

"Wait!"

Archon jumped off the bead and walked quickly to the door.

"Wait a moment, just-"

"BY THE GODS!" Gwyn Anwy had appeared in the door opening and she froze as soon as she saw him walk toward her. "I-I- I'm so sorry, Archon."

Gwyn's eyes opened wide as she saw Archon standing in front of her, and he quickly realized that he was not wearing anything. She turned around and started stammering apologies and he jumped back into the bed and pulled the covers over his body.

"For the sake of the Gods, Gwyn! You don't knock?"

"I-I-I'm sorry…. I saw… I thought… the door… it was open… I thought… I'm sorry. A-are you?…"

"What? Oh, yes.. yes."

Gwyn Anwy slowly turned around, and Archon saw that her pale, Dokkalfar skin was now as red as a tomato. Her pointy ears were trembling with embarrassment and she only looked at the floor, with only quick glances at Archon.

"I-I thought you… were already up, and… I heard… Was someone here?…. With you?"

Archon was about to say 'yes', but he stopped himself just in time.

"No, why? Wait… you didn't see anyone in the hallway?"

"Eh, no… no I didn't see anyone… Why do you ask?"

"I… eh… I thought I… heard something outside."

Archon had to quickly make up an excuse, because he knew he couldn't tell the truth.

"Oh.. I- didn't h-hear anyone ou-outside." Gwyn stammered on. "I heard you say something. Were you talking to someone?"

"Eh… no… no I wasn't. There was no-one here."

"Then.. why did I…"

"I was talking to myself, alright." Archon quickly said. He knew his excuses were getting worse and worse by the second.

"To yourself?" Gwyn asked, and she took a short look at Archon. "But why-"

"Sometimes I need a professional opinion." Archon interrupted her. "But.. eh, look Gwyn. Why are you here?"

"Well… I thought… there is…"

After another few moments of stammering and stumbling, Gwyn managed to pull herself together and showed Archon a letter.

"This was left for you here… I mean downstairs… I mean on a table downstairs. I think it is from the Alfar merchant navy, judging by the seal on it."

"The navy?" Archon asked aloud and he took the letter from Gwyn. "What do they want?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it is about some pirate. I didn't open the letter, but I heard some of the men talking about it in the tavern."

Archon unfolded the letter. It was indeed sealed with the crest of the Alfar navy, and he read.

Report to Rathir

Take head, intrepid travellers, seasoned adventures and brave men and women of Amalur. A fiend is loos in the Frostbake Sea. Dead Kel has returned and his crew of hanged men trail a bloody wake.

Will you let this stand?

The Alfar Merchant Navy seeks dauntless souls in their pursuit of the Pirate King. Do not delay! Draw your swords. Raise your sails and set a course for glory!

Visit Rathir today. Report to Commodore Garrick in the Seafoam Tavern, and sign up for a glorious hunt.

"So…" Archon started. "It seems another fiend is on the loose."

He sighed. It was not the first time he was contacted to help. He remembered how he signed up for the Warsworn. How he was contacted by Ost Odura in Gorhart. This felt awfully familiar, but there was something about this name that was different. 'Dead Kel'…. A pirate who was dead?

"What do you know of this Dead Kel?" he asked Gwyn.

"Nothing." she answered. "I know his name, but that is about it. I didn't even know he was a pirate."

"I thought you read almost every book the Warsworn have in their libraries?"

"Yes… the Warsworn books. This is the Alfar navy. As far as I know the Warsworn have never encountered this Dead Kel…. I only remember the name from some footnote somewhere."

Archon stared at the letter for a few moments and he considered. He was not sure what to make of it, but something about this story had peaked his interest.

"Are you… thinking of helping here?" Gwyn asked.

"Maybe…." Archon said. "This does not seem like a standard pirate issue. And this name… Dead Kel… He seems to be a pirate king? I guess than that this guy is not ordinary fiend harassing a few ships."

-Rathir; lower district-

A few hours later Archon had gotten dressed and now walked down the massive stairs to the lower district of the city. He had read the letter another few times and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that this was indeed no normal contract on a normal pirate. Gwyn Anwy had left him to himself after apologizing another few times and disappeared behind the door with a red face. Archon now headed for the Seafoam Tavern, the same tavern where Gwyn was staying, and he hoped he wouldn't run into her there. He did not look forward to another awkward encounter with her.

Ever since Archon had defeated Anru Besin atop Cloudrest Mountain and resealed Khamazandu, Gwyn had become enamoured with him. Archon had noticed this, but he never gave it much thought. He saw her as a strong warrior and a good friend, but he had never seen her as anything more or even thought about it. This was not because he was plainly not interested, but because he always had other things on his mind. Fighting the Tuatha, liberating Mel Sinshir, killing Gadflow were all things that he was too occupied with. He never really saw anyone as a potential, romantic partner…. Although… that was not true. He had became enamoured with Alyn Shir, almost from the moment he saw her again in Isa. She had always been illusive, secretive and distant, but it was just that, that intrigued him. The mystery that surrounded her, the confidence that she had and her fighting skills all added to the fact that she was a beautiful woman. Elegant yet fierce, mysterious yet simple, seductive yet restraint… Archon could go on. He knew that he had fallen in love with her, and he also knew that she felt the same about him.

The tavern was filled with merry people who were drinking, cheering and toasting. Archon made his way through the men and women to the innkeeper. He asked if she knew about a 'Commodore Garrick', and was pointed to a room at the far end of the hallway next to the bar.

He entered a small room and saw a man sitting next to a desk, and he had his hands in his hair. As soon as Archon walked through the door the man looked up. His pale skin and pointy ears indicated that he was Dokkalfar, with deep, brown hair. He wore strong, steel plated armour with plated gauntlets.

"You're here about the notice, aren't you?" he asked immediately.

"Yes… how do you know?" Archon asked.

"Hmpf… because no-one but potential applicants would even speak to me. I guess it is because I reek of desperation, of sending young souls into a certain doom."

"What do you mean?"

"Well…" Garrick continued. "when you hear the details of the job, you will know… and you'll lose interest. Everyone else does."

Garrick leaned back into his chair and let out a deep sigh, like he was about to tell something he had told it a thousand times.

"We of the Alfar Merchant Navy wish to hire a… representative… to track down and kill the notorious Pirate King Dead Kel, and his crew of murderous Hanged Men. Dead Kel is a pirate like no other… one that was defeated and killed a long time ago. But it seems he has come back from the dead and now the Frostbake Sea is dangerous to travel. We need this pirate dead, permanently, to continue the trade. He sails on a large pirate ship called 'The Requiem'…. and he takes no prisoners."

Archon stood there for a few moments, listening to the desperate man and his tale of certain death. A story of nightmares and one that does not have a 'happy ending'.

"Alright… I'll do it." he said.

"As I thought…" Garrick said tired. "I guess I have to wait for another fool to…. Wait what? Are you serious?"

Archon nodded.

"Well.. I… I did not expect this development."

Garrick was completely surprised and his face lightened up, as he grabbed a large purse from one of the drawers of the desk. "Here is your pay, made in good fortune. Once you have prepared yourself, go to the Quays and ask for Captain Rast Brattigan. She will be your escort. Rast is a good and loyal companion, and a competent sailor… despite what they say."

"'Despite what they say'?" Archon asked. "What do they say?"

"Ehh… Rast is a young sailor." Garrick said hesitantly. "Some say 'too young'. She has a reputation, and some say that she is crazy… but she is also brave enough to join the hunt for Dead Kel….. Although some would say 'foolish enough'. But, don't you worry. She will help. May Lyria protect you, and may her breath be ever at your back. Good luck."

-A few Hours Later; The Quays-

Archon was looking around for anyone that looked like a young captain. He had changed into his Archsage robes and had bought a new staff. His old one had broken during the events at Alabastra and he was sure he was going to need a good staff. He immediately used up his entire pay from Garrick, but he was now ready and armed, and he now looked over the people walking around on the docks with crates or yelling orders.

"Archon. Archon!"

He turned around and saw Gwyn walking toward him.

"I hear you took the job." she said. "When are you leaving?"

"As soon as possible, Gwyn." he answered. "I need to find the captain that will escort me, but I haven't found her yet."

"You're leaving immediately?" Gwyn asked, and Archon saw a sad look on her face. "I thought you'd stay for a while… I… I thought you would…. Eh… be tired from the battle."

Archon saw that Gwyn did not say what she wanted to say, but he thought it would be a bad move to ask her about it.

"I don't know if I will leave now." he said. "I just need to find the captain and then I'll hear more."

"Who are you looking for then?"

"Rast Brattigan."

Gwyn knew where she could be found, and pointed Archon in the right direction. He thanked her, but before Gwyn could say anything, a few Warsworn soldiers walked up to her with new orders, and she was forced to leave. Archon headed for the end of the dock and saw a ship moored, and the name was clearly visible.

'THE CALAMITY'

Beside the wooden gangway he saw a young Ljosalfar standing. She had white hair, deep blue skin and a buxom figure. A sword hung from her hip and she was looking at the men and women on the docks, as if she was looking for someone. Archon walked up to her.

"Captain Rast Brattigan I presume?"

"Don't bother me, I'm waiting for a passenger." she said to him and waved him away. Her voice was high pitched and she indeed sounded young, and Archon guessed that he was at least six years older than her. "Some suicidal idiot I'm supposed to escort. Can't be caught chatting. I want to make a good impression."

"Ah, I see." Archon smiled when he heard what she thought of him. "Well… I am the passenger."

Rast did not seem unnerved on bit. "Well tie me up and drag me under. So you're the one they sent to travel to Gallows End and kill Dead Kel."

"Yes, that is me indeed, and I will go on this 'suicide mission' and I hope you will bring me there."

"Há! You think I was joking?" Rast laughed in disbelief. "It really is suicide, believe me. Just ask the others… oh, wait. You can't... they're dead. But don't worry about them. Like my mother always said: 'Don't weep for the fallen. Even if they could hear you, they wouldn't care.'"

Archon looked at Rast for a few moments, sizing her up. He remembered what Garrick said about her, that she was 'a competent sailor despite what everyone said'. Now he slowly started to see why. Rast seemed jolly and careless, even in a mission that she herself saw as a suicide mission.

"Alright then…" Archon said. "So, captain. When can we set sail?"

"Right now if need be." Rast answered. "My Calamity and I are ready to go. You'll find her to be both swift and seaworthy."

Rast turned around and walked up the gangway to the ship and Archon followed her.

"I predict an uneventful voyage." Rast continued talking. "We might even get bored…. Just don't go down into the hold. There is a leek down there…. It's big."

Archon started to slowly regret his decision of going on this fool's errand... this suicide mission. The captain was clearly too young and jolly to captain a ship, the ship had a large leek in the hold, and he did not even pack an extra pair of trousers. It would seem that he was in over his head again. And with a last thought of maybe turning around and finding another ship, the gangway was dropped on the dock and The Calamity set sail. To where? This not even its captain knew.

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes.=

And we're off to Gallows End. I do hope you are exited for this part of the story, because it might take a while for me to finish the chapters. I have a hard time motivating myself to write anything, and this chapter was one of the easier ones. So, stay tuned…. And stay patient.

PS: I'm Dutch (from the Netherlands) so if there are any mistakes in spelling/grammar, please let me know.