S1E1 - The Dawn

For ten years I’ve had nightmares of that night. I saw our home destroyed

I watched the closest woman I had to a mother die.

I couldn’t save the one who rescued me.

My greatest teacher was lost as well.

I can still hear Zorin ask

“Where are we going to go? ~Benedict Shieldheart

Hard to port!” The bosun’s cry was heard followed by the familiar and much anticipated pipe. A boy about 20 looked back from the rolling sea. His dark brown eyes fell to the 20 ft wooden arm he currently straddled.

The deck heaved 40 feet below his bare feet as he gently swayed with the tide, the once great square sail pulled up where he had tied it off 20 minutes ago draped below him. He breathed with purpose into his nose, and smiled.
That smell of the dockside fishery was actually a welcome sign. It always reminded him of copper and cucumbers when it was pleasant. Today was one of those days. He could hear the busy dock with workers and laughing sailors taking to the streets ready to spend their coin.
He felt the brown beard around his chin. “3 months.” He could confirm it had been 3 months since he smelled and heard Port L’For. He grinned as he crawled his way to the web-like network of ropes used as a ladder. “Lads here’s your pay. Thanks for all the help.” the stout purser passed out a small bag of coins that jingled to each of them in turn. His blue eyes shone from behind the ruddy face and dark orange beard. A smile broke through. “Welcome home Zorin .”

She walked down the street with purpose. Her long blonde hair was pulled back from her soft cheeks. Eyes Blue like a deep ocean and lips that seemed to draw you closer pulled back with a smirk as she shook her head slightly. She knew there were eyes on her. She just didn’t care, nor did she ever care for the affections men provided. The dark scales of her armor cast a red hue at the edges, held back at the waist by a braided auburn belt. From which swung a sheathed Longsword capped on either end with simple brasswork. It was a sword of purpose. Not a fancy wall hanger it was her paycheck.
Her boots fell on the ground strong as she walked. The strength she possessed could be seen when her arms alone rippled as she walked.
The smell of sweet meadow flowers mixed with oiled steel and leather as she passed by. She had returned from collecting payment for what she politely called a “hunt”. She was happy, as this was another one she was able to subdue without death. She prided herself in returning stolen goods or bringing in wrongdoers without bloodshed. She wasn’t a butcher after all. Be certain though she made a living off what she was good at. That sword was as keen as her persuasive voice and her arm as strong as her startling good looks.
Strong, beautiful, and absolutely dangerous. She turned to the door of the shop where a hammer rang against the steel in the next room. “Good.” she smiled.
Opening the door a wave of heat washed over her, with the smell of burning coals and hot steel. She saw the young man in the dark leather apron hammering a glowing bar. His dark hair fell like raven’s feathers around his face in a very traditional cut. His face was clean-shaven and glistened with sweat about his strong chin. She smiled at her chosen brother.
“Benedict .” He looked up and smiled gently.

He put the bar back in the glowing fire and walked to her with a grin. “Sophie .” He threw his arms around her. “When did you get back?”

“Just now. Thought I’d stop by before going to the house.”
“Thanks. Great to see you. Tonight Cordelia is performing at the Pig and Turtle . Will you join us?”
“Of course!” She thought of their little sister. She was amazing with both her flute and voice. This should not be missed.
“Great, I’ll see you at home.” He patted her pauldroned shoulder and returned to the forge. Sophie smiled. As she left she felt a pang of regret gnaw at her heart. She remembered his brother, the only boy she ever loved.
“I miss you.”
She whispered to herself as she left.
If she would have not been in her thoughts she might have noticed the hammer paused for a moment, as Benedict remembered too.

“Four cups of flour to 1 cup of sugar, a sprinkle of rose water and cinnamon beat 6 quail eggs. “
The kitchen was alive with the sounds of pans and smells of fresh-baked bread. A woman in a dirty apron was reading from an old scrap of parchment, carefully moving each item as she confirmed the ingredients. She paused and pulled her long red hair back from her face revealing her slender jaw, high cheekbones, and her pointed ears. There was a decorated lacy cuff of purest silver around her left ear. It was shaped like a horse's head from the intricate twisting of the knotwork.

Sitting across the oaken countertop sat her younger friend. Long black hair stood in contrast to her white blouse and corset. She was lost in thought as she commanded a small flame to dance over her knuckles. The heat wasn’t enough to harm it was just...
“Cordelia !” Elloveve barked jarring the young girl from her concentration causing the flame to vanish.

Elloveve chuckled. “Are You going to help me or what? It’s for your employer after all”
Cordelia laughed “I’m sorry I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
Cordelia was embarrassed. She wasn’t sure how to respond, she hesitated but Elloveve could read it.
“About what child? Come. You can tell me.”
“It’s just. Tonight is the first time playing this new song. And it’s great you and everyone will be there but…”. She paused and summoned some strength from deep within.
“I wish father and mother were here.”

Elloveve smiled, “oh Cordelia”.
She wiped her hands on a cloth and walked to her, wrapping her arms around the young girl. “I do too kiddo. I do too”.
They sighed and returned to the kitchen. Cordelia picked up the mixing bowl and spoon as she began adding the ingredients.
She smiled suddenly “I’m not sure why Avar likes these cookies so much.” She chuckled “ I think they are a little fancy for a dockside tavern”
Elloveve looked at her with a smirk, “Well even a dockside tavern is entitled to a little luxury now and then I think. “
She laughed thinking of the jovial little man. He was shorter than most at about 5 ft even. Known for bold silks with gold and bronze accessories the owner of the Pig and Turtle inn was a kind and fair man. He wasn’t a pushover though as Elloveve had seen him leap onto a table in order to dress down a drunken Minotaur sailor who was being aggressively rude with one of the barmaids.
Avar loved the ladies that worked for him but his true vice was sensual luxuries like soft silks, bold perfumes, gentle music, and delicate pastries. Some would whisper he was actually a half-Dwarf given his stature and love of the finer things.
The door burst open and in walked Zorin.
His deep purple tunic had been fastened over his white deck shirt carrying his canvas bag of belongings over one shoulder with a small ivory statuette in his other hand. “Yay!” Cordelia dropped the spoon into the bowl and ran to him wrapping him up in a big hug.
He chuckled “Woah there kiddo! I missed you too. But look. I made this as we made the journey to the south lands. One of the mates had a piece of a narwhal’s horn. I beat him in a game of dice for it.” He smiled proudly, but after seeing the look of disapproval on Elloveve's face quickly continued
“So anyway as I was running the rigging and really the journey was very calm this time, there were many hours of sitting on the yardarm or on the larboard side we had a few benches set into the deck. I’d sit there and whittle on this little guy.” He proudly turned the small white dragon over in his hand.

The head was pulled back to where its chin laid against its bowed throat forming a strong S shape. Its lips were pulled back showing the rows of sharp teeth, and the hands and feet were one piece together, with the tail coiled in the original horn’s shape to form the base upon which it sat when he placed it on the counter. No matter the fact Zorin thought it was crude in some areas, Cordelia was entranced.

“Oh I love it!” She said as crouched eye level matching its own gaze.
“Good!” He smiled “because it's yours.”
She threw her arms around him, “Oh thank you!”
“Of course!” Zorin said chuckling turning to Elloveve. “And something for…”.
Elloveve snickered, “you know how I…”
“How you hate gifts.” Quickly recognizing how she hated to be interrupted as well Zorin reached into his belt and pulled out the Pouch of his earnings a shameful apologetic smile across his worried face. Elloveve laughed as she brushed his hand holding the gold aside giving him a hug. “Welcome home you dirty pirate.” They all laughed.

A few hours later Elloveve was finishing packing the small ladyfingers cookies on a shiny silver baking pan she had placed a lace napkin on to make it look more special. Benedict, Zorin, and Sophie were all getting caught up.
Sophie had returned with a nice bit of money enough to probably bring in a roast for the week. Zorin had paid the rent up to date and Benedict had brought in some fresh apples and dried smoked fish from the docks on his way home. Cordelia was absent as she had left to go discuss with Avar the nights events he had planned and how her music would make this “A Night to remember!”
She chuckled. Port L’ For really was a decent place for them. She missed her trees but she periodically could leave and find an afternoon hunting in the forest a few miles out of town. She had her own memories after all and needed time with herself to keep those demons at bay.
Benedict looked so much like his father Lucilius , strong and proud. She smiled as she thought how Cordelia was looking just like Lorahana. Zorin was shaping up to be great man, but humble. Unlike his father Lord Pallus. She looked at Sophie. Sophie smiled at her friends and nodded as they told thier tales but Sophie’s eyes would look out the window and look across the port of L’For into the red orange dusk beginning to settle on the town.

Elloveve sighed. She knew that look. Elloveve recognized that look in herself as she had once loved and lost as well.

But that was…Many years ago. Quickly brushing his memory aside she noted the time.
“All right are we all ready to go?”
“Yes!” Everyone excited rose up to go out into the bustling street where the street merchants had begun to pack up for the day or to head to also join the bustling nightlife of the city.

Elloveve chuckled again as she glanced protectively at the tray of treats in her hands Avars excitement playing in her mind.
“Everyone must come! This will be a night to remember!”