p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="1f64b8178106ff0228c53750661822c8"For most of her life Jester was busy causing chaos around her home city of Nicodranas; defacing temples, disorganizing libraries, confusing the citizens into following the Travler. Most of all, though, she loved tormenting the Sailor Boy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="de70740fca5f5395edfc8299ae26cb5e"His name was Fjord, but she liked to call him Sailor Boy, and liked to wonder when he would correct her. He never did. He worked on a ship called the Tide's Breath that made its regular port in Nicodranas. He a half elf named Sabina (jester never liked Sabina he was rude and mean) and more recently a Lavender Tiefling named Mollymauk (Jester liked Molly he was often quite nice and friendly) the three often made regular deliveries to the Lavish Chateau, and Jester delighted in ordering Fjord around, making him run pointless errands, and seeing how much she could embarrass him. He didn't speak much, just nodded and met her eyes briefly before looking away, and Jester often found herself fidgeting in anticipation of the day she could make a crack in that quiet facade. What mundane task would he finally refuse to do? What innuendo could she make that would make him respond in a way other than blushing and looking away? When would he look her decidedly in the eyes and say something, anything, other than "as you wish"?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3987c2d7bf386d6681ccf38a38fc14bf"That was what perhaps pestered Jester the most. "As you wish." Did he even know any words other than those three? Why is it that he just spoke those it was wired and there were so many possibilities that could be the reason why he just said those words. But still./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="43590dfaeb97fe2e48ad8e207cce0aea"She pondered the possibilities as she wandered down to the docks, hoping to find some gullible sailors there she could prank, or some ship's names she could paint over and alter so as to make innuendos out of them. She would then hide before the captains of the ships caught her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="9b59404ed956038d148b467a9c5fec54" The coastal air blew her hair behind her as she skipped down the cobblestone streets. Warm sun beat down, deepening the freckles dotting her skin and highlighting the dark, almost-blue tone of her short black hair. As she reached the docks, she could feel her already-high spirits lifting as she saw the Tide's Breath anchored at port. That meant Sailor Boy was in town, good, she could make him run to one of the far districts to pick up, oh, food for her weasel or something or had to be perfect to humiliate him. Maybe this time he would refuse. Never mind that she didn't have a weasel. She quickly ran down to the dock and to the side of the ship, where the grizzled old captain was upon the dock, barking orders./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="4b55c900e80b69a7dacaeeec0e654bc0""Captain Vandran!" She called, waving and grinning, and the bearded man looked away from his sailors to meet her eye./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="efc6b02458c1121a26f54334bb97babe""Mornin', Miss Lavorre," he said in his drawling voice, "how's this morning treating you lass?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="399099f54e463bcee874f5f10309fdac""Just wonderful, thank you! Is Sailor Boy there on the ship?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="056e85f6be4a2ac4072ea09ed6e86551""Already in town, I'm afraid. I think he, Sabina and Mollymauk are on their way towards your mother's place."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2c00400ed1c96a89fd1b3f1f6f569f71"A excitement rose up in her chest. "Thank you, Captain!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2e93141f9be412d0c1d7ef1336c8444f"With his words still fresh in her mind, she took back off running towards the Lavish Chateau, hoping to catch the Sailor Boy before he took off again. When she finally made her way back to the building, she almost ran past the side alley that led to the delivery door, and past the two figures that stood there against the side of the Chateau. But her feet skidded to a stop before her brain did, and after a moment she noticed a young man leaning against the wall, loose white shirt rolled up to his elbows, a bright white smile sneaking across his face. While two other men carried boxes into the chateau./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="06e71f755f2560ca3e005015a4e5b08e"It was em style="box-sizing: border-box;"her/em Sailor Boy, who was holding a large wooden crate in his arms, smiling and speaking quietly with one of the young women who worked for her mama. One of the beautiful women who worked for her mama. One of the young, beautiful women whose jobs were to chat up young men like him and keep them company for the night and be visited whenever he came into port and dreamed about during lonely nights at sea and gazed at like treasures, like Rubies-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="15ab6264fabbe7b6bae3c39ba1ad5c9b"Jester must have accidentally let out some noise of protest, because the both of them turned their gazes to look at her, and em style="box-sizing: border-box;"her/em Sailor Boy lifted one hand from the box in a small wave, his bright smile widening. And she, without a second thought, rushed to the front door of the Chateau, tearing it open she ran inside. Jester shoved two young men who were carrying some boxes and ran past Bluud ignoring his call of greeting while the two young men panicked and quickly started to pick up the contents spilled form the box. She rushed up the stairs to her bedroom, slamming the door and flopping down on her bed with little care or decorum./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="05e37676d2bfa20a4943fed92568623a"Her chest tightened, she could feel it, but not in the light, happy way it usually was when Fjord was in town. It was hot and heavy and she could feel tears stinging at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away, and as she stared at the water slowly sinking into her skin, furious confusion cut through her. Crying? Why on earth was she crying? It was just Fjord, just Sailor Boy, he was just an acquaintance, barely that. She liked to torment him, sure, but he was not hers, he could talk to whatever pretty girls he liked, she certainly didn't care for him like that, he was-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="a100b91b24e2a1a0fa0a1f2c6685b779""If he is nothing to you-" the Traveler (who was her best friend and alway came up with ways to mess with the Sailor Boy) whispered in her mind "em style="box-sizing: border-box;"-then why/em do you feel jealous?" Jester wanted to scoff. Jealous? That was a stupid idea. It wasn't as if she had any feelings for Sailor Boy. Sure, he was handsome, but plenty of young men were handsome and she had never felt anything for them. Sure, he was muscular, but she had admired many strong men and never had such a feeling like this blooming in her chest before. Sure, she loved to watch the blush creep across his olive skin whenever she made an innuendo at him, but she loved to embarrass everyone, not just him. And sure, he had lovely green eyes like the sea after a storm, but-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="9ab2bba9ae8c076037826e80623539e5"But nothing. Dread coiled in her gut as she realized she didn't have a rebuttal. Fjord had lovely green eyes like the sea after a storm. Lovely green eyes that were quick and clever, lovely green eyes that could never seem to hold hers for too long, lovely green eyes that crinkled at the sides whenever she skipped up to pester him with another outlandish request./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3a9f791c93536718813ab5dfdd57bc46""Oh, no," she whispered to herself, "I'm in love with Fjord."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="d8d6aee3df4d5bb3c3f386b957ba839d"What was she to do? She was in love with Fjord, and he was just outside flirting with a beautiful girl who worked for her mama, and she wanted to scream and cry out in anger and go snatch him from that girl and stay in this room forever and weep and feel nothing and do all of it at once. Or, at least, she wanted to do all of that until a knock at her door interrupted her thoughts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3a12d237fcc07b0af7442ee33c124999"She didn't move for a moment, hoping Bluud or whoever it was would go away, but the knock cut through the air again, a little harder, and a voice called out "Jester?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="f65885c0ab3c8c51d99692020abe67ef"Taking another moment before dragging herself off her bed, Jester yanked the door open, looking up to tell Bluud to go away, she was having a crisis here, only to be greeted instead with Fjord and his olive skin and his furrowed, worried eyebrows./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="708567fc03a00a6dc67334daef1ff1b7""Jester, are you alright?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6622001e347ec6028eec7b0e448bdb51"He had spoken to her. He had said something other than "as you wish," and his voice was deep and elegant and full of concern./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="e265bb2fbd5e1cb76659e816e0f9739b""I'm sorry if I'm invading your space, it's just that you seemed a little distraught, and your mother's bodyguard, I think, said you came up here in a rush, and I wanted to make sure everything was okay."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ad1319f0dec9feb22039ac4b41b023d1"Was her jaw touching the floor? She was sure it must be. He was speaking to her. At length. Eloquently. Was this Fjord? Had he been replaced with a magic shape-changer who knew Common?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="cbd87f990a4bcfe580588e87660ab32a""Jester?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="d97abcbd86bdc905cdef60af67d2e7a2""You can speak," she uttered, and he barked out a gentle laugh./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="f1a73e3663a39416778adb917df4e5c3""Yes."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6584d9cdbee3f16aee5cd1fff4e6cb7c""Well, it's just... You never do."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3bb355c8e7c5c669a03a7831ec949f74""I-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="f0d479e23c4fd3bcf00cf9f6dc3faf05""Not to me at least."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="07b10b04969bf55728731c07a587472f""I'm... sorry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="eb48a83ea6c1ad1e29acc61b36decd5c""No, it's-" she paused, unsure of what to say. "It's okay. I thought maybe you were a mysterious stranger who spoke only Zemnian or something."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="1348a0f3f698863ead1e3ab888e85e2a"He laughed again at that, and his lovely green eyes again darted to the floor. "No, I'm just a boring, everyday sailor. No mystery here."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="051771e38b75b3bbb87d54b95d6cca37""You're not boring."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="7a4c2383d937c63aeb1c68bc3e39b64e"His gaze returned to hers, green eyes holding blue for what felt, to Jester at least, for an age. "I don't know that girl."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b903a1fc64158f07a6a752092ad9e587"An embarrassed laugh bubbled up in her throat. "What?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="31dd8ecc2c4671b635839196f33e5203""The girl that was talking to me outside, I don't know her, she just stopped to ask if a friend of hers was still working on the Tide's Breath."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="e1cc533883e8aa86744b4ffec219e0cc""Oh." She felt herself flood with relief. "Okay."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b4661f7357aed216a241df64dda55bf2"He was quiet for a long moment before his eyes fell again to the floor. "I don't know why I told you that, you probably don't-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="1532556629fd6c3bf4a0b841aa2f5880""Fjord." She said, his lovely green eyes flashed back up to meet hers. "Kiss me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3e4a79857c207ba71b336db8be8c72ef"Fjord's face was panicked for a second and confusion hit his face and he said "I- Uhh what!?" Jester said "Please kiss me I-I love you."Fjords mouth was wordlessly moving and Jester blushed panicking saying "Ahh forget please just forget it!" She turned around and a gentle had touched her shoulder. Jester looked at Fjord who smiled at her and said "Jester it's ok I love you to." He then pulled her in and they killed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="e5a385ee9a413e4dcaa61b6f5400393b"There was a chuckle and the two saw a lavender tiefling with red eyes. His curled horns are pierced and extremely ostentatious, with little gems and baubles. With a tattoo of peacock running up his neck and the side of his face and a tattoo of a curling serpent on his right arm. He wears a bright and colorful robe covered with different religious symbols. He was leaning against the wall and laughed saying " Oh you're never going to hear the end of this Lover Boy." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="9f67e55ab0539043027bddaf5d5b696f"Fjord blushed and said " Molly why are you here?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="fa4aed673ea23c9349b9f43af965aef8""Captain wants us back on ship. Oh and I'm never going to let you live this down."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="85fcc92ce0005790004a56becdf6a31c"While his ship remained at port, they spent their days together both happy, and Jester's heart bloomed every time she saw the Tide's Breath return to Nicodranas, for she knew that on it would be waiting her Sailor Boy, aching to hold her again in his arms./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="4deae9fd8c0f99d427ace71825d248d2"But one night, as Fjord lay next to her, he spoke words that she would continue to replay in her mind for the years to come./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6e85e14cb6a3394d4a791709a5fe87bc""I need to make my fortune," he whispered, and Jester turned her eyes upon his handsome face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ff7eb9a6d3f4b37643e31e46ce3c7a09""What do you mean?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="4b1544ba9c272b9093515478a5509ac9""Jester, I love you, and I want to spend every day of my life with you. But I'm a poor sailor. You deserve a better life than I can give you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="36102e6a4a0259e4271f178d2820ea2c""What does that mean?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b49ad4e09d6e3f9116fbeccc500187e3""It means... Vandran has been telling me about all the opportunities for men like us over in Tal'Dorei. I can get money, give you a better life than I would be able to now. Give you, well-" he motioned to the canopy draping across her bed, the lavish decorations furnishing her suite. "This."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2034a5c539ee9c6bee2e98b36b28e7f4""Fjord," she urged, "you don't need to provide anything. You don't need to earn my love. You already have it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ef4be25aca3eda80d7cccdb566fb10f1""I know I do, but... I want to feel like I deserve you, Jester."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="591cd3cdea492e71ec459f24af9a32bf""You do."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="89ad6c7a4b1332cd4d8f4035151f758a""I don't. But I can, it'll just take me awhile. Maybe a few years? And I'll write to you constantly, I promise."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="35c77910e660a64890078dde3da377e8""What if something happens? Those seas are dangerous. I can't lose you, Fjord."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="14cbf067fa7bbe26cbfed149c08f3cdc""You won't," he insisted, cradling her face in his callused hands. "I swear. This is true love. Do you think this happens every day?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b8233b820ce82dc7d6103bbfb2c17a77"True to his word, Fjord went off not long after to seek his fortune, and true to his word, every week Jester received a letter from him. They were sometimes long and sometimes brief, sometimes he waxed poetic about how he saw her eyes in the blue of the sky, sometimes his words seemed to ache with tiredness. And every letter he ended by telling her he loved her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="da7459631ab673ef16d7b64442c894fc"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""The work on the ship is hard and the days are long and the skin on my fingers splits and I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="139f2f59094f66fef4937501f4795009"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""The ocean is endless and beautiful and I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3aa2d91c9fd8afc96d51153c2f31a2b2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""A storm nearly overturned the ship last night but I am alive and I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="bf5be6ade3846e590e69be5845b58d0e"And then one day, her mama knocked on her door, and when Jester opened it, the look on her mama's face was wrought with grief./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2c97033c87a2d8862e5810a2c163a7c2""My dear Jester," she whispered, bringing her daughter into a tight hug. "I am so, so sorry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6f6ac1b3df96512d0e9c020a7d538599""What?" Jester felt her heart sinking in her chest./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="511191981d3d95b7f5db50dc03e5d81f""I just received news. Fjord's ship was attacked."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="39f0e5337a3be9841edf4d1bff37eeb7"Jester shoved her mama away from her chest, looking in her eyes for any glimpse of deceit. "What?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="629e076e6d73e941730cb2a66f114b5b""By the Dread Plank King."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="a8327e63d59f6f6740f08bcbf5758e54""No. No, Mama, tell me you're lying."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="06539705e6be7074b2d83478d0b7b996""I wish I were, my darling girl."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="281741fa3ed608d6a758cdd2ffa5595b""Maybe-" Jester scrambled for excuses- "Maybe he got out. Maybe the King took him for a prisoner."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="467fb709d62a60b3ca85d25122770463""I'm sorry but Fjord and his brother Molly killed. Sabina is the only survivor but barely/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ae076e178f16c6a188642f671ed1dbbd"Her mama said nothing, just held her despairing gaze, for both of them knew that the Dreaded Plank King never took prisoners. And so Jester flung herself back into her mama's arms, weeping loudly, and there she stayed until her eyes could make no more tears, and then she went into her room and locked the door. She stayed there for three days, not speaking , eating , or leaving./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ab2a804ba5b66324e1b67432cc81b9e1"Eventually five years later she left Nicodranas and found new friends and a new life. But the void left by Fjord would never be filled /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="90d67573f0168e761ea0f7fef06dd0ff"strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"AN: Fjord and Molly considered each others brothers so often some people call them brothers. /strong/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="de70740fca5f5395edfc8299ae26cb5e"His name was Fjord, but she liked to call him Sailor Boy, and liked to wonder when he would correct her. He never did. He worked on a ship called the Tide's Breath that made its regular port in Nicodranas. He a half elf named Sabina (jester never liked Sabina he was rude and mean) and more recently a Lavender Tiefling named Mollymauk (Jester liked Molly he was often quite nice and friendly) the three often made regular deliveries to the Lavish Chateau, and Jester delighted in ordering Fjord around, making him run pointless errands, and seeing how much she could embarrass him. He didn't speak much, just nodded and met her eyes briefly before looking away, and Jester often found herself fidgeting in anticipation of the day she could make a crack in that quiet facade. What mundane task would he finally refuse to do? What innuendo could she make that would make him respond in a way other than blushing and looking away? When would he look her decidedly in the eyes and say something, anything, other than "as you wish"?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3987c2d7bf386d6681ccf38a38fc14bf"That was what perhaps pestered Jester the most. "As you wish." Did he even know any words other than those three? Why is it that he just spoke those it was wired and there were so many possibilities that could be the reason why he just said those words. But still./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="43590dfaeb97fe2e48ad8e207cce0aea"She pondered the possibilities as she wandered down to the docks, hoping to find some gullible sailors there she could prank, or some ship's names she could paint over and alter so as to make innuendos out of them. She would then hide before the captains of the ships caught her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="9b59404ed956038d148b467a9c5fec54" The coastal air blew her hair behind her as she skipped down the cobblestone streets. Warm sun beat down, deepening the freckles dotting her skin and highlighting the dark, almost-blue tone of her short black hair. As she reached the docks, she could feel her already-high spirits lifting as she saw the Tide's Breath anchored at port. That meant Sailor Boy was in town, good, she could make him run to one of the far districts to pick up, oh, food for her weasel or something or had to be perfect to humiliate him. Maybe this time he would refuse. Never mind that she didn't have a weasel. She quickly ran down to the dock and to the side of the ship, where the grizzled old captain was upon the dock, barking orders./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="4b55c900e80b69a7dacaeeec0e654bc0""Captain Vandran!" She called, waving and grinning, and the bearded man looked away from his sailors to meet her eye./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="efc6b02458c1121a26f54334bb97babe""Mornin', Miss Lavorre," he said in his drawling voice, "how's this morning treating you lass?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="399099f54e463bcee874f5f10309fdac""Just wonderful, thank you! Is Sailor Boy there on the ship?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="056e85f6be4a2ac4072ea09ed6e86551""Already in town, I'm afraid. I think he, Sabina and Mollymauk are on their way towards your mother's place."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2c00400ed1c96a89fd1b3f1f6f569f71"A excitement rose up in her chest. "Thank you, Captain!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2e93141f9be412d0c1d7ef1336c8444f"With his words still fresh in her mind, she took back off running towards the Lavish Chateau, hoping to catch the Sailor Boy before he took off again. When she finally made her way back to the building, she almost ran past the side alley that led to the delivery door, and past the two figures that stood there against the side of the Chateau. But her feet skidded to a stop before her brain did, and after a moment she noticed a young man leaning against the wall, loose white shirt rolled up to his elbows, a bright white smile sneaking across his face. While two other men carried boxes into the chateau./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="06e71f755f2560ca3e005015a4e5b08e"It was em style="box-sizing: border-box;"her/em Sailor Boy, who was holding a large wooden crate in his arms, smiling and speaking quietly with one of the young women who worked for her mama. One of the beautiful women who worked for her mama. One of the young, beautiful women whose jobs were to chat up young men like him and keep them company for the night and be visited whenever he came into port and dreamed about during lonely nights at sea and gazed at like treasures, like Rubies-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="15ab6264fabbe7b6bae3c39ba1ad5c9b"Jester must have accidentally let out some noise of protest, because the both of them turned their gazes to look at her, and em style="box-sizing: border-box;"her/em Sailor Boy lifted one hand from the box in a small wave, his bright smile widening. And she, without a second thought, rushed to the front door of the Chateau, tearing it open she ran inside. Jester shoved two young men who were carrying some boxes and ran past Bluud ignoring his call of greeting while the two young men panicked and quickly started to pick up the contents spilled form the box. She rushed up the stairs to her bedroom, slamming the door and flopping down on her bed with little care or decorum./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="05e37676d2bfa20a4943fed92568623a"Her chest tightened, she could feel it, but not in the light, happy way it usually was when Fjord was in town. It was hot and heavy and she could feel tears stinging at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away, and as she stared at the water slowly sinking into her skin, furious confusion cut through her. Crying? Why on earth was she crying? It was just Fjord, just Sailor Boy, he was just an acquaintance, barely that. She liked to torment him, sure, but he was not hers, he could talk to whatever pretty girls he liked, she certainly didn't care for him like that, he was-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="a100b91b24e2a1a0fa0a1f2c6685b779""If he is nothing to you-" the Traveler (who was her best friend and alway came up with ways to mess with the Sailor Boy) whispered in her mind "em style="box-sizing: border-box;"-then why/em do you feel jealous?" Jester wanted to scoff. Jealous? That was a stupid idea. It wasn't as if she had any feelings for Sailor Boy. Sure, he was handsome, but plenty of young men were handsome and she had never felt anything for them. Sure, he was muscular, but she had admired many strong men and never had such a feeling like this blooming in her chest before. Sure, she loved to watch the blush creep across his olive skin whenever she made an innuendo at him, but she loved to embarrass everyone, not just him. And sure, he had lovely green eyes like the sea after a storm, but-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="9ab2bba9ae8c076037826e80623539e5"But nothing. Dread coiled in her gut as she realized she didn't have a rebuttal. Fjord had lovely green eyes like the sea after a storm. Lovely green eyes that were quick and clever, lovely green eyes that could never seem to hold hers for too long, lovely green eyes that crinkled at the sides whenever she skipped up to pester him with another outlandish request./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3a9f791c93536718813ab5dfdd57bc46""Oh, no," she whispered to herself, "I'm in love with Fjord."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="d8d6aee3df4d5bb3c3f386b957ba839d"What was she to do? She was in love with Fjord, and he was just outside flirting with a beautiful girl who worked for her mama, and she wanted to scream and cry out in anger and go snatch him from that girl and stay in this room forever and weep and feel nothing and do all of it at once. Or, at least, she wanted to do all of that until a knock at her door interrupted her thoughts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3a12d237fcc07b0af7442ee33c124999"She didn't move for a moment, hoping Bluud or whoever it was would go away, but the knock cut through the air again, a little harder, and a voice called out "Jester?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="f65885c0ab3c8c51d99692020abe67ef"Taking another moment before dragging herself off her bed, Jester yanked the door open, looking up to tell Bluud to go away, she was having a crisis here, only to be greeted instead with Fjord and his olive skin and his furrowed, worried eyebrows./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="708567fc03a00a6dc67334daef1ff1b7""Jester, are you alright?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6622001e347ec6028eec7b0e448bdb51"He had spoken to her. He had said something other than "as you wish," and his voice was deep and elegant and full of concern./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="e265bb2fbd5e1cb76659e816e0f9739b""I'm sorry if I'm invading your space, it's just that you seemed a little distraught, and your mother's bodyguard, I think, said you came up here in a rush, and I wanted to make sure everything was okay."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ad1319f0dec9feb22039ac4b41b023d1"Was her jaw touching the floor? She was sure it must be. He was speaking to her. At length. Eloquently. Was this Fjord? Had he been replaced with a magic shape-changer who knew Common?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="cbd87f990a4bcfe580588e87660ab32a""Jester?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="d97abcbd86bdc905cdef60af67d2e7a2""You can speak," she uttered, and he barked out a gentle laugh./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="f1a73e3663a39416778adb917df4e5c3""Yes."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6584d9cdbee3f16aee5cd1fff4e6cb7c""Well, it's just... You never do."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3bb355c8e7c5c669a03a7831ec949f74""I-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="f0d479e23c4fd3bcf00cf9f6dc3faf05""Not to me at least."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="07b10b04969bf55728731c07a587472f""I'm... sorry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="eb48a83ea6c1ad1e29acc61b36decd5c""No, it's-" she paused, unsure of what to say. "It's okay. I thought maybe you were a mysterious stranger who spoke only Zemnian or something."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="1348a0f3f698863ead1e3ab888e85e2a"He laughed again at that, and his lovely green eyes again darted to the floor. "No, I'm just a boring, everyday sailor. No mystery here."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="051771e38b75b3bbb87d54b95d6cca37""You're not boring."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="7a4c2383d937c63aeb1c68bc3e39b64e"His gaze returned to hers, green eyes holding blue for what felt, to Jester at least, for an age. "I don't know that girl."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b903a1fc64158f07a6a752092ad9e587"An embarrassed laugh bubbled up in her throat. "What?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="31dd8ecc2c4671b635839196f33e5203""The girl that was talking to me outside, I don't know her, she just stopped to ask if a friend of hers was still working on the Tide's Breath."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="e1cc533883e8aa86744b4ffec219e0cc""Oh." She felt herself flood with relief. "Okay."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b4661f7357aed216a241df64dda55bf2"He was quiet for a long moment before his eyes fell again to the floor. "I don't know why I told you that, you probably don't-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="1532556629fd6c3bf4a0b841aa2f5880""Fjord." She said, his lovely green eyes flashed back up to meet hers. "Kiss me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3e4a79857c207ba71b336db8be8c72ef"Fjord's face was panicked for a second and confusion hit his face and he said "I- Uhh what!?" Jester said "Please kiss me I-I love you."Fjords mouth was wordlessly moving and Jester blushed panicking saying "Ahh forget please just forget it!" She turned around and a gentle had touched her shoulder. Jester looked at Fjord who smiled at her and said "Jester it's ok I love you to." He then pulled her in and they killed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="e5a385ee9a413e4dcaa61b6f5400393b"There was a chuckle and the two saw a lavender tiefling with red eyes. His curled horns are pierced and extremely ostentatious, with little gems and baubles. With a tattoo of peacock running up his neck and the side of his face and a tattoo of a curling serpent on his right arm. He wears a bright and colorful robe covered with different religious symbols. He was leaning against the wall and laughed saying " Oh you're never going to hear the end of this Lover Boy." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="9f67e55ab0539043027bddaf5d5b696f"Fjord blushed and said " Molly why are you here?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="fa4aed673ea23c9349b9f43af965aef8""Captain wants us back on ship. Oh and I'm never going to let you live this down."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="85fcc92ce0005790004a56becdf6a31c"While his ship remained at port, they spent their days together both happy, and Jester's heart bloomed every time she saw the Tide's Breath return to Nicodranas, for she knew that on it would be waiting her Sailor Boy, aching to hold her again in his arms./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="4deae9fd8c0f99d427ace71825d248d2"But one night, as Fjord lay next to her, he spoke words that she would continue to replay in her mind for the years to come./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6e85e14cb6a3394d4a791709a5fe87bc""I need to make my fortune," he whispered, and Jester turned her eyes upon his handsome face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ff7eb9a6d3f4b37643e31e46ce3c7a09""What do you mean?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="4b1544ba9c272b9093515478a5509ac9""Jester, I love you, and I want to spend every day of my life with you. But I'm a poor sailor. You deserve a better life than I can give you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="36102e6a4a0259e4271f178d2820ea2c""What does that mean?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b49ad4e09d6e3f9116fbeccc500187e3""It means... Vandran has been telling me about all the opportunities for men like us over in Tal'Dorei. I can get money, give you a better life than I would be able to now. Give you, well-" he motioned to the canopy draping across her bed, the lavish decorations furnishing her suite. "This."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2034a5c539ee9c6bee2e98b36b28e7f4""Fjord," she urged, "you don't need to provide anything. You don't need to earn my love. You already have it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ef4be25aca3eda80d7cccdb566fb10f1""I know I do, but... I want to feel like I deserve you, Jester."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="591cd3cdea492e71ec459f24af9a32bf""You do."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="89ad6c7a4b1332cd4d8f4035151f758a""I don't. But I can, it'll just take me awhile. Maybe a few years? And I'll write to you constantly, I promise."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="35c77910e660a64890078dde3da377e8""What if something happens? Those seas are dangerous. I can't lose you, Fjord."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="14cbf067fa7bbe26cbfed149c08f3cdc""You won't," he insisted, cradling her face in his callused hands. "I swear. This is true love. Do you think this happens every day?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="b8233b820ce82dc7d6103bbfb2c17a77"True to his word, Fjord went off not long after to seek his fortune, and true to his word, every week Jester received a letter from him. They were sometimes long and sometimes brief, sometimes he waxed poetic about how he saw her eyes in the blue of the sky, sometimes his words seemed to ache with tiredness. And every letter he ended by telling her he loved her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="da7459631ab673ef16d7b64442c894fc"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""The work on the ship is hard and the days are long and the skin on my fingers splits and I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="139f2f59094f66fef4937501f4795009"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""The ocean is endless and beautiful and I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="3aa2d91c9fd8afc96d51153c2f31a2b2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""A storm nearly overturned the ship last night but I am alive and I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="bf5be6ade3846e590e69be5845b58d0e"And then one day, her mama knocked on her door, and when Jester opened it, the look on her mama's face was wrought with grief./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="2c97033c87a2d8862e5810a2c163a7c2""My dear Jester," she whispered, bringing her daughter into a tight hug. "I am so, so sorry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="6f6ac1b3df96512d0e9c020a7d538599""What?" Jester felt her heart sinking in her chest./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="511191981d3d95b7f5db50dc03e5d81f""I just received news. Fjord's ship was attacked."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="39f0e5337a3be9841edf4d1bff37eeb7"Jester shoved her mama away from her chest, looking in her eyes for any glimpse of deceit. "What?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="629e076e6d73e941730cb2a66f114b5b""By the Dread Plank King."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="a8327e63d59f6f6740f08bcbf5758e54""No. No, Mama, tell me you're lying."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="06539705e6be7074b2d83478d0b7b996""I wish I were, my darling girl."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="281741fa3ed608d6a758cdd2ffa5595b""Maybe-" Jester scrambled for excuses- "Maybe he got out. Maybe the King took him for a prisoner."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="467fb709d62a60b3ca85d25122770463""I'm sorry but Fjord and his brother Molly killed. Sabina is the only survivor but barely/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ae076e178f16c6a188642f671ed1dbbd"Her mama said nothing, just held her despairing gaze, for both of them knew that the Dreaded Plank King never took prisoners. And so Jester flung herself back into her mama's arms, weeping loudly, and there she stayed until her eyes could make no more tears, and then she went into her room and locked the door. She stayed there for three days, not speaking , eating , or leaving./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="ab2a804ba5b66324e1b67432cc81b9e1"Eventually five years later she left Nicodranas and found new friends and a new life. But the void left by Fjord would never be filled /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);" data-p-id="90d67573f0168e761ea0f7fef06dd0ff"strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"AN: Fjord and Molly considered each others brothers so often some people call them brothers. /strong/p