The Blacksmith and the Bookworm

As the curtains opened, the audience was greeted with a breathtaking view of a painted backdrop. A starry night covered the top of the backdrop, with real lights illuminating some of the stars, brightening the theater as the other lights dimmed. The doors to the ballroom could be seen in the backdrop, with glass panels showing the silhouettes of ballroom dancers. A mock balcony fencing wrapped around the front of the stage as two actors leaned against it. A rugged and handsome man with over-exaggerated facial hair stood with a beautiful dark-haired woman in a dark lacy dress. The two were lost in conversation, gazing up at the stars.

“The stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they?” the male actor began.

The female actress leaned in close, saying with a smile, “Yes, they are…But not as beautiful as your muscles.”

“Uh, what muscles?” Adam was taken aback, staring at her in confusion. A head popped up from a prop bush in the corner of the stage, acknowledging the audience as if sharing a dirty secret. “Adam is from the Varian Kingdom. That’s why he doesn’t get it,” the person in the bush said, eliciting howls of laughter from the crowd. A man nearby held up a sign that read “LAUGH,” perhaps cueing the laughter.

“Adam! Those ones right there! They're so big and strong.” The female actress grabbed his bicep.

“Oh yeaaahh. I use these bad boys to create all kinds of weapons…I am a blacksmith.”

“Ugh, that’s so hot!” Raven then lifted her skirt up and pulled a huge book out from underneath. She started fanning herself with the book. Adam’s eyes dramatically shot from her face to the skirt to the book and then circled through the same route.

“I read books, okay. I bring them everywhere. I’m such a bookworm! All I do is ignore everyone and hide in the corner with my books.”

“Books?” Adam echoed.

“Yes.” Raven lifted her skirt up again. Adam shielded his eyes, afraid to see her legs, but instead, a tsunami of dozens of books loudly plopped on the stage, accompanied by a saucy trumpet tune.

“Uhhhh…” Adam stared at the books on the floor. The laughter sign went up again, and people started to laugh.

“I got more where that came from!” Raven started to slowly and seductively unbutton the top of her dress.

Adam grabbed his head in disbelief, and a huge smile crossed his face, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The smile slowly dissipated as more books fell out of her dress.

“You’re a library!” Adam accused.

“I’m a library that’s in love with you, Adam! I don’t care what they say about us!” Raven’s voice grew with passion as she buttoned her dress once again, “They can write whatever they want in that paper! Please court me this summer!”

“Be my library, Raven!”

The two lovers start to passionately kiss, lost in the moment. Suddenly, a well-dressed man bursts out from the doors. He has long black hair and unsheathes a sword dramatically as he yells, his head hanging back as he bellows in a deep voice, "What is the meaning of this?!"

The couple gasps and stares at the man in shock.

"Father!" Raven cries in surprise, recognizing the man.

"The Count!" Adam cries out, recognizing Raven's father.

"DADDY'S HERE!" Raven's father yells with maniacal laughter, swinging the sword around in the air. The curtain begins to close as the two lovers try to process what's happening. As the curtain falls, the theater erupts into applause and excited chatter as the audience members eagerly await the continuation of the story.

The Sada Kurau was, by Viserjantan maritime standards, an odd ship. Granted, her keel hadn’t been laid in any of the Commonwealth’s many shipyards, and she surely wasn’t an indigenous design by any stretch of the imagination. Even so, most captains who chose captured vessels as their commands usually did their utmost to crew and equip them according to conventional naval practices. As much as one could, in any case.

Not Sjan-dehk, however. Of course, he didn’t have much choice in the matter; overly-long for her narrow beam and with a sail plan that exuded speed and agility, the Sada Kurau brooked no argument over the manner in which she took to the seas. She was a ship that accepted no masters, only patient equals who understood that she was a ship one learned to work with, rather than controlled. Sjan-dehk, for the most part, was perfectly happy with that arrangement. It had brought him from victory to victory, and she had saved his crew and himself from violent and premature ends more times than he could count.

Still, the relationship wasn’t perfect. There were a few quirks here and there that Sjan-dehk wasn’t sure he would ever get used to. As he stood on the quarterdeck, looking out over his assembled crew, one such unfavourable trait made itself painfully obvious.

To work the Sada Kurau’s complicated system of ropes and sails required a significantly larger crew of riggers than was necessary for a ship of her size. Coupled with her odd proportions, it meant that when all of the crew were assembled on deck – such as now – she looked almost comically overcrowded. Not only was her main deck choked with men standing shoulder-to-shoulder, those who had no place to stand had to either stand precariously on her gunwale or even cling to her stays and ratlines.

Sjan-dehk wasn’t too worried about the men in such positions – most of them were experienced riggers who knew how to keep themselves safe. Besides, they were in the calm waters of a harbour. More than anything, it was the apparent disorganisation that irked him.

All the more reason for him to get through this bit of formality quickly.

He drew in a deep breath and leaned forward, resting his hands on the guardrail. “All of you should know what I’m about to say. We are, however, the first of our people to make tracks through a city that’s not part of our islands, so I’d advise every one of you to listen up and listen close. We don’t want to be the reason why these fine people–” he jerked a thumb towards the city “–think of us Viserjantans as lousy guests, now do we?”

A murmur of assent rippled through the crowd, accompanied by nodding heads and a scattering of light chuckles. “So,” Sjan-dehk continued and stood up straight, hands behind his back. “It is my duty as your captain to remind you of naval regulations regarding going ashore.” He had said these same words so many times that they didn’t roll off his tongue as much as they burst forth in a droning torrent. “Most, if not all of you, would likely spend much of your time away from your ship. However, bear in mind that you are still bound by Viserjantan law. More importantly, you are still subject to the naval code of conduct. It is thus requested of you that you act as you would in any Viserjantan city. If myself, or any of my officers find out that you’ve been misbehaving, we will not hesitate to take all necessary actions to enforce discipline.”

The implication in his words were clear, but looking at the crew, he may as well have been giving them an update about the weather. Sjan-dehk didn’t blame them; this was a spiel – albeit with some adjustments here and there to fit their current situation – he had to go through every time they pulled into harbour. He didn’t doubt that the older members of his crew could likely recite everything by heart. Still, Sjan-dehk was bound by duty to give them timely reminders.

“Start no conflicts. Be honest in trade. Return what is borrowed. Compensate what you damage. Touch neither thread nor grain. So long as you abide by these five points of attention, all will be in harmony and all will be well.” It was a very brief summary of the code of conduct – one not endorsed by the navy – but it served Sjan-dehk’s purpose well enough. Much as Sjan-dehk wanted to, he couldn’t take the credit for it; his old captain had been the one who first used it, according to naval rumours.

Now, he could move on to what he really wanted to say. “I don’t think I’m lying when I say that I doubt most of us can speak a damn in the local tongue.” He deliberately paused, as if waiting for someone to prove him wrong. Nobody did. “It’s also too late for me to order you all to start learning, so this is how things are going to work. I’ll leave how you want to talk to the locals up to you. You want to use gestures, draw them a picture, or even a whole damn smoke signal, I don’t care.”

That got a few more chuckles from the crew, but they quickly silenced themselves when Sjan-dehk gazed at them with a steely glare. “But if you get into trouble with the law, I expect all of you to cooperate. Even if they insist that you must sit behind bars. I want no trouble while we’re here. Moreso if their laws and their courts get involved. For my part, I will do my best to come quickly to get you out. Of course, if you really did break a law, then there’s not much I can do, so use your reason and think before you act.”

Sjan-dehk thought back to the king. It was often said that the ruler of a land was a reflection of the values held dear by the people. He had found it to be true more often than not, but he hoped that Sorian would be an exception. Then again, the one person who seemed genuinely pleasant had been Saiya, and she could hardly be called a local of these lands. The women who harassed her, however…

He shook his head slightly. It was unbecoming of him to judge an entire people based on just one brief interaction. “These people have ways different to ours,” he said simply. Then, he turned around. Most of his senior crew were standing behind him, with the exception of Hai-shuun. The carpenter had insisted on staying aboard the Celestine for a little while longer with a handful of his men to ensure that every tool and material they had brought with them was accounted for and properly returned. “Any of you have anything to tell the men?”

“No, captain,” Azwan replied on behalf of the others.

Sjan-dehk nodded and turned back to the crew. “Alright, I suppose we’re done here. Just one more thing before you all leave. We’ll be going on a fishing trip tomorrow morning. I expect us to leave before sunrise, so make sure you’re back aboard before then. Make sure you get enough sleep, too. I don’t want to see anyone sleeping tomorrow morning.” He stood back and grinned. “I catch anyone napping while we’re out, I’m making you bait.”

He turned around to the sound of his men’s laughter. “Azwan,” he called out. The first officer replied with a crisp and smart salute. “You may dismiss the crew, then you may dismiss yourself.” Sjan-dehk chewed on his lip for a moment as he considered his next words. Or more accurately, as he worked himself up to say them. “I’m going to take a look around the city. Sada Kurau is…Yours.” He nodded to each of his senior officers, even to the diminutive Sohn-dahn. “I will let you all settle the rostering out yourselves, but I want at least one of you to be on board and in charge at any given time.”

“Understood, captain,” Azwan replied. “First watch will be mine. I understand the rest have duties that will take them ashore.”

Dai-sehk pushed his glasses further up his nose. Dressed in an immaculate blue coat over white clothes, he looked as if he was trying to match the clear skies overhead. “I need to move some of the wounded to somewhere suitable ashore. That may take me all day if my fates do not align.”

“Do they ever, master Dai-sehk?” came Sahm-tehn’s dry response. That earned him a mischievous smirk from Avek, and even a sliver of a smile from Mursi. “Fortune, as I recall from your own words, takes joy in pissing on you.”

Sjan-dehk quickly interjected. “Like I said, how you want to split watch duties amongst yourselves is up to you. As long as I have a Sada Kurau to come back to and nothing bad happens to her while I’m away, I’ll be more than satisfied.” He paused and regarded each man – and boy – with a stern look. “Please, don’t disappoint me.” Though he intended to sound serious, it didn’t escape him that his words may have came out sounding a lot more pleading than he would have liked.

Azwan offered him a smile. Likely, he meant it to be reassuring, but Sjan-dehk didn’t feel it. “We won’t let you down, captain. Sada Kurau is home to us as well. We’ll be sure to keep her safe.”

“I’ll take your word for it, first officer.” Sjan-dehk saluted his men, and they replied in kind. As per tradition, he then turned and quickly jogged down the steps onto the main deck. Only when both his feet were upon the wooden planks of the dock did he hear Azwan loudly dismiss the crew. Normally, Sjan-dehk would’ve been the one to give the order. And normally, Sjan-dehk would’ve been amongst the buzz of activity that now wafted from the deck, wandering across and between decks to supervise work. That, or spend time planning their next course of action.

Sjan-dehk let out a long sigh as he walked towards the city. Though not as well-armed as before, he still had his two swords and a pair of pistols at his hip. It was enough to attract some curious and concerned stares, but he paid them no heed. He barely noticed them. Part of his mind was still ruminating on what he would be doing now were he aboard his Sada Kurau. The rest of it was trying to think of something useful he could do whilst ashore. Exploring aimlessly wasn’t going to do him – or anyone – any favours.

He looked up at the castle in the distance, peeking over tiled roofs. Well, he was here now. On land, in a strange city, and every step bringing him further away from the familiarity of his ship without even the hint of a plan. Sjan-dehk picked a direction, and started walking. With luck, he would find something that would keep his ship and crew occupied over the coming days. If not, then he just hoped he would find something interesting.

Yosri Dali Kadir

Time:13:00
Location: :Bazaar
mentions: @Lava Alckon

---

Farim stood in the park, watching his dear friend run off in a moment of excitement, shock, and bewilderment. Most of the crowd had wondered what just happened, and Farim felt a slight concern creep in the back of his mind. Perhaps I went too far. It was the proper way to end the dance, but I forget I am not home amongst my people. He couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed, but he quickly shrugged it off and walked over to his brother. He made sure to grab his saber from the ground where it had been stuck earlier and inspected its blade. A quick wipe along its edge had removed any dirt or debris, followed by a flick of his wrist to sheath the blade.

”My brother, that was a lovely tune you just played. I hope that Saiya’s rapid departure does not discourage you. I think I may have…. ‘given her the willies’ as they may say here.” He paused for a moment before seeing an armor-clad woman rapidly approach him. He prepared himself for the worst but the woman stopped just a foot short of Farim as he turned to face her. The woman gave a quick bow before speaking abruptly. “Pardon me, Shehzadi, I mean you no harm or offense. I wish to relay a message from Her Highness Princess Anastasia!” A brief pause would follow as Farim gently nodded towards the woman. “She simply wishes to inform you that she is going to be attending to an important matter and wishes to ‘hang out with you and your family later’!” The woman gave a strong salute before running off in the direction she came from.

Farim turned towards his brother with a coy smile. “So…looks like I have a date for the family dinner tonight! What have you been up to brother?”

Dali still gazed at the direction Saiye had just disappeared into. He had not the slightest of clues what had gone wrong for her to be running as quick as she had. The music had taken him into his own headspace. One where no one and nothing could pull him out of, once he got the vibe in his soul.

He turned to his brother, who received an invitation of some sort from the princess. Dali could not help but grin' that grin' at his brother. You know the one, when a brother has a teasing thought about the other, and their gazes are enough to convey the words, without speaking. His brother worked fast as always.
"Inshallahs, brother. A princess of the green shores. She must be a great beauty to have caught your eye" Dali said as the messenger was far out of sight.
" I have been up to my usual Shtick my brother. The wind blew me there and here, seeking those who need my help without knowing it. Life has been blessed my brother, Inshallahs, Inshallahs. The gods are good" Dali clapped his hands together before touching the center of his head in quick prayer.
" and now I am here. Maybe I am here to seek out new lands and learn more about the world. Or maybe I am here to flee from fathers sight. Either way, both reasons are good reasons to sail half a world away" Dali spoke and patted his brother on the back.
"and perhaps on my travels, the gods will reveal the other half of me they created. I am searching for that person still. And I trust the gods will guide me to them. So if you know of any one suitable, that can handle the way I am, do let me know" Dali said with a wink. He twirled his flute in his hands for a bit, before putting it away
"Inshallahs, brother, can you show me around? This place is as strange a place as it can get"

Farim took a few moments to think about the few faces he had seen. He compared that with what he remembered of his brother and had little luck finding someone immediately that came to mind. But he kept that same smile as he addressed Dali. “Brother, as for want of women, you will find plenty here who may pique your interest. Though if you are looking to avoid father’s gaze well….keep walking because that man is very much up everyone’s ass at the moment.” He stifled a chuckle before bringing an arm over Dali’s shoulder and walking off with him in tow.

Farim took the time to show his brother around the park, stopping at various stalls to see if his interest would rise to the various games and food displayed. “Good to know you are well. Right now the festival here in the park seems to be closing up, lots of food and stalls to visit really quick if you would like. I personally was looking to run by the bazaar over to the south to find a pretty piece of jewelry for that same friend of mine you just heard me talk about. Maybe the gods will bring someone close to you and grant you this chance to find your other half!” He optimistically spoke as they began to make their way towards the bazaar.

"At least father is not breathing in my neck to behave myself. His idea how a spiritual man should live, is so very different from my free spirited one" Dali joked with much delight. It always felt so good to poke his father behind his back. It was a sin, yes. But he was human, and no one was fully without sin.

"Inshallas brother. If my other half is here, I will find them for sure." Dali did not specify on gender here. For all it was worth, he did keep it on a low profile he did not care whom he met. Male or female. Perhaps Farim knew, perhaps not. But Dali rather not stir the sand dunes without a good reason to do so.

"Dear friend" Dali raised an eyebrow and grinned at his brother. " I never knew you to be one to spend money on frivolous gifts for lady friends " Dali hummed and tilted his head to the side. Now he had gotten really curious about this princess. "Let us head to the bazaar then. Perhaps the wind will guide me towards a neat trinket or two."

Farim couldn’t help but become slightly bashful at Dali’s remark. He was being rather forward with someone he had just met. Maybe it was something in the air, or perhaps Farim was looking for some adventure. He could hardly say at the moment, but for now he did what he wanted…which was to find some fine jewelry for his new friend. As they approached the bazaar, there was plenty of noise and hustle amidst the ever-shifting crowd of merchants, peddlers, con artists, and bystanders. He took a moment to size up the folks, the stalls, their wares, and quickly let a grin creep along his cheeks.

“Come brother, let us find a few baubles, trinkets, and whatever else these folks may try to swindle us with. I trust you will find something for your…partner.” He spoke with a slight inflection at the end, knowing full well the meaning behind it. His brother wasn’t exactly open about his affairs but Farim could tell when someone was “shopping in multiple booths” as he would put it. Not that he minded. Quite the opposite, he had all the care in the world for his brother so he opted to keep it to himself aside from the rare tease here and there.

Farim and Dali walked together from shop to shop, stopping at a few places, and letting Dali pick out whatever he may desire for himself or for another. It wasn’t until their third stall that he saw many interesting items for sale. This particular shopkeep seemed to have an air of honesty to her, and she watched with interest as each person came to her with questions about her wares. Farim took the time to look over the various items she had, nothing really catching his eye immediately. Then he spotted an enchanting necklace in the shape of a crescent moon with a bright aquamarine inspired gem resembling a full moon nested against it. He let loose a slowly building whistle before beckoning his brother over.

“What do you think of this, eh? Pretty good for some random shop in the middle of Caessonia!” He carefully lifted the necklace from its resting spot to show it off to Dali.

"It shimmers like the moon itself. Its craftsmanship is obvious to even my untrained eye." Dali complimented the price of jewelry. He had no real need for more precious jewelry. His golden headband with a fluorite droplet was all he needed. That one was special to him. A gift from his teacher.

"Will this be your gift to your new dear friend, my brother?" he asked as he pulled his bag back up his shoulder. The only thing he had bought here had been spices and dried foods. He was curious to try them out. And lowkey, he was looking out for any ' nose spices' and tobacco. Just to pass the time.

He was not too sure how many people would be blown upon his path these coming days. But he wanted to be able to get as high as a kite if no one here wished to hang out with him. Seeing the gods and their many colors was one way to pass the time pleasantly.

"Inshallas brother. If this is for your dear friend, her beauty must be unmatched." Dali teased his brother again. It had been too long since they were able to playfully jab at one another like this. To tease one another when a pretty girl waved at them, back when they were young. How flustered they would get before one of them eventually teased the other for staring too long.

Farim could feel a slight warmth in his face as his brother teased him. The one person who he would act so sheepish around would be Dali, as he batted his hand and laughed. “Brother, you flatter me! She is a princess mind you! I doubt she will find that much fancy in a trader like myself…” He would trail off and motion towards the woman who owned the small tent they were in. He gave the woman the price upfront, no questions asked, and even threw in a few extra pieces of gold for good measure. He watched Dali do the same with a few ingredients and “special” spices of his, smirking as they exited the tent.

“Dali, it was wonderful seeing you and getting a few moments together. I truly have missed you. Sadly, I must run off for now, as I have quite a few small things to take care of before dinner tonight. And of course, I hope to see you there! I hear they invited some lovely woman who will likely be preyed on by our sisters and get this…a man who made our father look like a fool in front of the entire royal court! Oh what I would pay to see that man fall from his little throne of his.” Farim couldn’t help but smile at the image now in his mind.

However he did have a few things to see. He had heard of a “Lover’s Lake” that sounds like the perfect solitary spot to have some peace and quiet, as well as a swordplay competition should he feel the need to watch some captivating performances. He thought for a moment, looked to Dali, and extended a hug before speaking into his ear. “Inshallah, my brother. I have some….new imports from the West. I will set up my hookah one of these days and perhaps we can really catch up on our adventures. But for now, may the winds guide you.” Farim chuckled and with a final wave began walking off towards the arena, where in that split second he figured he could watch some fun swordplay.

_{^{L O C A T I O N : Library
I N T E R A C T I O N S : N/A
M E N T I O N S : Lady Thea Smithwood @Tae}}



Sometime during the Archery completion, Prince Felix had taken his leave for the library. It was sometime right after Lady Thea made her dreadful appearance. As much as he felt a dread when he thought of her, he did care about her. It was a troubling feeling, but it existed inside himself nonetheless.

The time was now already three in the afternoon, and the Prince felt as if he had uncovered nothing. The sword competition was about to start, and it appeared that he would be missing it.

He wanted to research all possible scenarios that could have lead to what Lady Thea had mentioned. Obviously, it meant spending time away from the festivities. It was no matter in the long run but a simple show of vanity.

His dinner with the Lady would be in several hours, and he was trapped inside some sort of rabbit hole of information. It was frustrating and confusing, more so than the Lady herself. He had to begin wrapping things up shortly or he would be here all night. Standing Lady Thea up would be completely careless, and he for some reason felt an embarrassing eagerness to give the present to her.

Prince Felix closed the book on the Varian Kingdom. He looked at the papers that were scattered about the wood table. It was a mess. He was normally much tidier, but his chase into the situation left him seeming reckless (much like Lady Thea), but there was little he could do to stop himself.

Whether that was a good or bad thing, he still had yet to decide.

---

"John."

He heard someone calling out for his name. The next thing he knew, he was slumped against his arm. His eyes opened to the concerned look of Alina.

"You fell asleep again?" She asked. "Did you take your medication?"

About that medication. John scratched the back of his head, wondering what to say. After a bit, he decided to whisper it to her.

"Oh alright. Well, I will get you a refill then. Next time don't do that out of nowhere, ok?" She said, as John stood up from his chair. "Are you finished? Feel free to go back to your quarter for some rest."

John rubbed his eyes and temple a bit. "I'm fine Alina." He said. "I'll go take a walk. You can leave the meds in my room."

He didn't want to screw up his sleep schedule by trying to nap further and not being able to sleep later. He'd have to take it through the day. Wandering around the streets of Sorian, he hoped to find something or someone interesting enough to keep him company for a bit.

Time: 1300hrs

---

---

Sounds from the blacksmith were more prevalent than usual, the swinging of more than a few hammers against metal filled the air. Not as many as he thought joined up for the free lessons, a few locals he met in passing on the streets, the two young lads that were tasked with taking care of his things during his stay were there as he did ask them to, and a few odd servants from some of the other nobility were there as well. He was certain they were told to come to this to try and gleam some secrets from his forging techniques for their house as most were a little apprehensive to try in the beginning. Even the two boys were a little unsure when they first arrived, by the way they talked to him or interacted with him Roman could only assume they were abused in some way in their past for getting something wrong.

Roman just offered an encouraging hand, explaining every swing in detail, every color, every spark, every common injury, and even the right heat to keep the forge. It took him the better part of half an hour before they really started to put some effort into their work, correcting where needed but in a way where they would find the correct path on their own. This was the way he was taught, how his elders lead him through the process of working with your hands and figuring out the problem on your own with limited guidance. Even while forging in his leather apron with sweat dripping down him he did not forget about his friend.

Hoping that Sadie didn’t get caught up with something and would make her very original energetic entrance into the shop. That thought made him think back to a past memory one of sadness and anger. A night he remembered one of the few times he almost decided to toss his title and position aside, the night that he was informed of Sadie’s ‘husband’ and what he did. Erik had to physically stop him from disappearing into the night knowing all too well that the lord only had slaughter on his mind. That man was lucky that Erik knows when and when not to listen to his orders, in fact it’s likely the only reason that man was still alive.

Roman grew up learning everything about the royal family as was part of his training, Sadie was and has always been his favorite out of the three royal children. At times seeing her as a younger sister helping guide her and her invention ideas carefully. Pulling himself from those memories as the end of the first lesson drew to an end.

“Thank you everyone for coming, you all did an amazing job for your first day.” Pausing and bringing his hands together with a smile. “Now I will be doing these classes here for the duration of my stay and I’ll keep a schedule posted out front on class times and dates. If you all preserver and complete these lessons you should have enough skill to start your own career here as an apprentice or even set up your own shop.” Pulling off his apron and folding it to set it down next to him. “for those of you who show the best work and put in all your effort to learn and work will be invited to come back to Emberstone with me to train with the other masters, you will be paid during your stay and can bring along your family as well. The only stipulation is that everyone works.” Finishing with a nod to everyone and letting the forge start to cool, “I will see you all here tomorrow, enjoy your day.”

---

Time: 1445 Hrs.

With that the class was over and they began to walk out, some with small injuries, others a bit sore, and all of them leaving with a much better idea and respect for the trade. Most had finished a rough outline of their blade, it will be honed further, tempered, sharpened, than given a handle and a pouch for it. Effectively teaching them a little bit of leather working and wood working in the process. Roman on the other hand needed to clean himself and get ready for the swordsmanship competition. Deciding to cool off on the way to his storage, Roman walked back to the warehouse shirtless and a bit dirty gathering some interesting looks from the people enjoying their day.

It didn’t take to long for the giant to wash up and apply some perfume smelling of flowers, it was enough to hold him over for the rest of the day. He had already sent a missive ahead of schedule to the organizers of the dueling competition. This time he decided to change it up a little from the archery contest as that one was more of a random act. No this time he grabbed a claymore and a domed round shield with a bronze covering and wood reinforcement. Both were crafted with care for combat efficiency and to look good as well, both were sturdy, well balanced, and resilient for their given purpose. But these two were for second and third place, this time first place would get a free commission from him for one weapon or shield.

He honestly preferred the flat round shields most used by his people but this one was not bad either, again both items were commissioned for other people who could not pay the bill for them. With the shield on his arm and the sword strapped to his shoulder Roman set out once again towards the sword competition.

It was hard not to miss the athletic arena, once you cleared the corner of the caste walls it was easy to see. What wasn’t easy for him to see either blocked by the shield or he just got lost in thought was the man dressed in blue that he had to sidestep to miss running into almost tripping himself while doing so.

“My apologies friend I didn’t see you there.” Roman stopped and took a better look at the person before him. They looked and wore things that was refreshing to see in the sea of people who at times almost looked the same. This one seemed average in height and build but his clothes and look were foreign to the giant. Yet it was familiar, from the look of the man to how he was dressed and his weapons he was sure he heard stories of some far off land with strange speaking people.

He took another moment to look over the man, “those are some beautiful weapons you have there, where are you from?” Roman already knew he was running a bit late but figured he could stop to talk for a moment to this interesting individual.

Had the man not spoken, Sjan-dehk would’ve likely never noticed him. So dense was the shuffling crowd and so distracted was his mind that the near-collision had gone utterly unnoticed. Even the man’s offered apology almost went unanswered had Sjan-dehk not picked it out – and only just – amongst the thrum of a myriad of simultaneous conversations. He turned, ready and with the intention to politely dismiss what was really a non-issue.

The first thought that crossed Sjan-dehk’s mind upon laying eyes on the man was that this was a person ill-suited for life aboard a ship. His considerable height and build would’ve likely made navigating the short and cramped lower decks torturous. That said nothing of the space he’d need for his berth, or the troubles he would have with low-hanging tackles that would surely come loose during rough winds.

The second thought through Sjan-dehk’s mind was directed more towards himself. Just how could he not notice such a man? He towered above the milling crowd, with few standing up to his shoulders. Sjan-dehk berated himself mentally. To allow his mind to wander off so simply because he was away from his ship was unbecoming of a Viserjantan sailor, let alone a captain. An unfocused mind, after all, was of little use to anyone, least of all himself.

Granted, it didn’t help that he didn’t have anything upon which to focus his mind, but that sounded like an excuse concocted by his mind for himself. It probably was.

He was just about to tell the man that he really didn’t need to apologise – they hadn’t even bumped into each other, after all – when his weapons and his origin were brought up. Sjan-dehk couldn’t help the little grin that crept onto his face. If there was one thing he took particular pride in, it was keeping his arms properly maintained and always ready to impress. Functionally and materially speaking, they were nothing special. No prestigious smith or carpenters had worked on them. No rare metals or woods were used in their construction. They were simply very well cared for. Sjan-dehk had always believed that that would be reflected in their appearance, and this man’s brief comment felt like vindication.

With a quick flick of a thumb, he pushed one sword out of its sheath just enough to show a gleaming sliver of its blade. Single-edged and backed by a heavy and solid spine, the straight sabre was a weapon built to cleave and slash. In Sjan-dehk’s hands, it performed both with magnificent viciousness, much to the woe of his enemies. “Yes, beautiful,” he agreed, voice carrying with the sort of proudness of a parent boasting about their child. “Used them a lot. Many battles They ah…have been on me? With me for very long time.”

The man’s own weapons didn’t escape Sjan-dehk’s notice. A person’s choice of arms often reflected their nature, and Sjan-dehk could see that adage in action with this man. There was little doubt in his mind that the sword the man carried would be a heavy, two-handed weapon in the hands of anyone else. Even the shield he carried looked like it could be a small roof. That he could carry both as if they were just regular arms was impressive. Very much so.

Sjan-dehk pressed a hand to his chest and dipped his head in a shallow bow. “Wasun Sjan-dehk. Fourth Lesser Marquis of Jafi, of the Viserjantan Commonwealth.” He introduced himself. How many times had he repeated those very words today? He’d lost count. He nodded towards the man’s arms. “You? You are going to ah…A fight? Think you would win.”

Attire: Layla’s Outfit & Hair
Weapons: Layla's Swords

---

After wowing a crowd with her fancy hat, the General made her way to the nearby stadium where a duel was to take place. She was a part of such a duel, and her presence was expected. She walked in through the gates, down to the front desk and gave the receptionist her name. She was then led to the official arena where she would face her opponent.

Eyeing the red line and the small crowd beginning to form, Lyra wondered who her opponent might be. In all honesty, she didn’t care about putting in any substantial effort. This duel was a matter of sport, not life or death. If she wanted to kill someone then they would be dead before they could draw their weapon. She could stand to be bested in a sporty duel such as this.

After resting from seeing her sister, Layla examined the newspaper. There had been a clip about a sword competition. A smirk crossed her face. At least this country had something decent worth doing. She wondered if they used fake swords and cried if they were struck. This would be too entertaining to miss. She quickly fixed up and pulled her hair into a bun with a few strands framing her face. Layla grinned and snatched up a box from under her bed and quickly left the bedroom. With haste, she summoned her servants and was hastened into her palanquin. Shortly after, she was brought to the competition and registered. Her swords were sheathed on her back and waiting to be used.

While Layla waited, she gazed around and examined the participants. There were some people she didn’t recognize and made a mental note to examine them further. She waited with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face which thankfully, caused her to be left alone. While she watched people moving in the stands like ants, she wondered if these people were going to die of a heat stroke because they were dressed so stuffy. She only hoped they stayed away from her as far as possible.

Finally, these dimwitted creatures began the event. The name “Lyra” was called and she looked over with curiosity at who it may have been. She tilted her head to one side with interest and a smirk graced her lips. Then, her name was called, and it was announced that this “Lyra” and her would be the first to duel. Layla waltzed onto the stage and awaited her competitor.

General Carris climbed to the stage, walking with her head up high and focused solely on… Oh, gods have mercy on her. It seemed her opponent would be an unreasonably beautiful lady this fine day. For a brief second, Lyra fought the urge to smirk. On her hip rested a sheathed sword, but from what was visibly, Layla could easily guess that this was no ordinary woman. The sword’s guard consisted of several roses wrapping around the hilt to form a basket-like shape, tempered in such a way that they appeared red against the argent gray of steel. Perhaps, she thought, that losing wouldn’t be off the table indeed.

The Shehzadi watched Lyra like a hawk, not allowing her gaze to divert for even a second. The woman before her was refined, not like a royal, but regal in other ways. She carried herself proudly, and Layla could surmise this sport was a past time for her. The smirk on her face became a sneer instead, masking her expression. She then eyed the sword on her hip. The intricate design was beautiful enough that Layla didn’t have any snide remark. Allowing her gaze to return to the woman, she unsheathed her swords and grinned.

The General stood still, studying every inch of Layla with her arms folded behind her back.

”You must be Lyra. Pleasure,” Layla teased as she gazed at the woman. ”If I am correct, this is a pastime for you. You must be deft with the sword,” She nodded towards her sword and continued. The haughty smirk returned as usual. ”Shan’t keep these peasants waiting. Would be rude. Don’t you agree?” Her voice was light and teasing, as she ignored the crowd cheering them on to begin.

”Indeed. Though, anything is possible when two masters of the sword meet. Do not count yourself out just yet, my lady.” Lyra retorted, with a similarly teasing voice. She withdrew her blade, and the edge was no less sophisticated than the hilt. It was a straight blade that came to a fine point, almost like a rapier, and bore a nearly mirror-fine polish.

Layla’s smirk turned from haughty to genuine amusement. Nobody in this pitiful country had amused her this much. She unsheathed her swords and grinned. Did this woman think she had counted herself out? What a misguided connotation. Nonetheless, she grinned and retorted, “My lady, I never count myself out.”

”Shall we?”

Then she took a deep breath and moved into an offensive stance. ”We shall,” Layla took a few steps forward, then with lightning speed, spun around her opponent to strike her thigh.

Truly, this woman seemed like a cut above the rest. Dual-wielding swords was unconventional, but could potentially be very deadly when wielded properly. Having spent quite a lot of time in Alidahst before, Lyra saw the strike coming. She thrusted her sword downward towards the point of contact, deflecting the sword sideways. Lyra then used that motion to swipe horizontally at Layla, which left her guard open.

Layla’s smirk formed into a look of glee when the woman deflected her. However, Lyra’s next swipe was far too novice for a woman of her stature. She frowned at the open guard and met Lyra’s gaze. Rage burned in her eyes as she struck her hip. Then, she used her other sword to knock Lyra’s blade out of her hand, which she watched clatter to the ground. In fury, she then swiped Lyra’s feet from out under her and bent down as if it were an accident to pick up Lyra’s blade.

”Can’t face me? I didn’t take you for a coward.” She hissed as she stepped back with a glower that would send shivers down her servant’s spines. ”My high hopes for you have been dashed. But I suppose I should thank you.” She stood up without helping Lyra up and kept an eye on the woman to make sure she didn’t try anything cheap. Her swords were gripped in her hands as she went back to her haughty, now deadly, smirk.

”Are you going to wait all day to announce the winner or get on with it?” Her voice was directed at the speaker as she became impassive, contemplating the woman’s unpredictable move.

Lyra promptly fell backwards. Unsurprisingly so. Rather than spit out a string of expletives in response to Layla’s sudden change in demeanor, Lyra giggled. Her hair was scattered across the ground, and her hairs were over her head in such a dainty way, it was like she was a delicate princess and not a hardened veteran. ”Ah… It seems you’ve bested me, my lady. Clearly, you are the better fighter between us.” There was a look of flighty mirth spread across Lyra’s face. She wouldn’t say it out loud, but it was not a victory for Layla. No, Lyra allowed this to happen. After all, she could never forgive herself for hurting such a pretty face.

Layla sneered at Lyra and turned to face her. The way the woman fell was princess-like, and it only further caused her blood to boil. She scowled at her and shook her head with disgust. ”You belong on the ground to walk amongst the filthy insects that call it home.” She ignored the rest of the woman’s words as the crowd cheered and clapped, despite the confusion.

”You are, truly, the champion. I don’t believe I caught your name?” General Carris said, standing up, brushing her hair clean with a hand and collecting her sword. ”I think I might’ve remembered had I heard the name of such a cunning warrior before.” That smile was still there, only less untamed and more… Subtle.

”Oh shut up.” Layla snapped and strode away from the woman without another glance backwards. Her expression was steel and her gaze could turn one to stone.

Finally, the dimwitted announcer stood up and waved to the crowd. ”Our winner is…. Shehzadi Layla Kadir!” The woman rolled her eyes and took her seat back on the bench. She did not look back at the woman and ignored her completely, and instead turned her attention to the next fight.

Lyra simply smirked as “Layla” left. In her opinion, it was okay for that woman to be angry with such an easy loss. It would’ve been unfair for Lyra to use her full breadth of skills against a Shehzadi- A princess. Surely she had her own skills in her own right, Lyra didn’t doubt that. But a cub doesn’t become a lion without mercy from time to time. Royalty and generals were simply different people.

”She’ll be fine.” Lyra said to herself, out loud, and left the stadium, taking her forfeiture with dignity.

---

---

Roman watched the man grin and almost puff out his chest at the mention of his weapons. Obviously he took great pride in the condition of his weapons and now that he could get a good look at the man before him he looked to him to be the combination of ship captain and trader. The introduction the man gave also concreated Roma’s earlier thought of him being a foreigner. Rare but not unheard of, this was the capitol after all. The name of his country did not ring any bells perhaps he was from the Far East across the sea.

It would seem the man was still getting used to the common dialect but was coping rather well. Roman was well aware of what that felt like, having learned their own language first then the common tongue was difficult to work around at times but now even his accent barley showed. Returning the man’s bow with one of his own, at least he still had manners or at least was familiar with the customs of this land.

“Lord Roman Ravenwood, Heir to the Ravenwood name of the Northern Territories of Varian and Master Smith of all things metal, wooden, leather, and stone.” Straightening with a toothy grin and a welcoming attitude. “I am headed to the dueling competition to deliver these weapons that were made by the Ravenwood master Smiths. I’m actually running a little late but you are welcome to join me as my guest.” He moved his hand to motion towards the athletic arena. “But I would win in the fight, yet I am not here to flaunt my strength just the generosity and craftsmanship of our industry.”

“Come friend” he spoke with a smile continuing on his way to the arena and motioning for the man to join him. “Tell me of your home? I have only heard of the commonwealth in passing stories from our traders, what brings you all the way out here?” Roman had many questions, information was key in figuring out if this man’s or his nation’s intentions were hostile or a possible ally to win over to Varian.

By now, Sjan-dehk had grown accustomed to how his conversations in Sorian went. He would manage at least one or two smooth exchanges. Three, if his luck persisted, but eventually his limited command of the local tongue would rear its ugly head and bite hard.

Unresourceful men made poor captains, however, and Sjan-dehk was no poor captain. There was no real need for him to parse every word of every spoken phrase; so long as he could pick out the important parts like a marksman picking off targets, he’d know enough to just get by. It was not a perfect situation by any stretch of the imagination, but it was good enough for now.

With this stranger, Sjan-dehk understood enough to know that the man’s name was Roman, that he was a craftsman of some sort – a trademark of his important-sounding lineage, it seemed – and most noticeably of all to Sjan-dehk, that he wasn’t Caesonian. Or at least, he didn’t sound like one. It was entirely possible that his accent was just one of many that existed within the city, but after – quite literally – running into Alidashti royalty at the castle, Sjan-dehk allowed himself a modicum of hope. Making contact and perhaps even deals with three different lands would surely more than satisfy the trade delegation still aboard the Sudah. It could even mean a quick return to familiar waters and familiar duties for Sjan-dehk.

That thought sat strangely in his head. It should’ve pleased him, and yet it didn’t. Not as much as he had expected, at least.

“Come friend.” Roman beckoned him to follow with both words and gesture. Seeing as he had nowhere to be and no idea where to go, Sjan-dehk saw no reason not to fall in half-a-step behind the giant. “Tell me of your land? I have only heard of the Commonwealth in passing stories from our traders. What brings you all the way out here?”

Sjan-dehk’s brows climbed higher up his forehead. Even in the years leading up to the attempted coup by the absolute royalists, Viserjanta had been in enough simmering turmoil and unrest to keep all but the most dogged and intrepid merchants away. Perhaps the ones Roman spoke of had only reached the very peripheries of the Commonwealth. Far enough away from the major seats of power and thus more-or-less insulated from political and courtly intrigues, these provincial regions – Jafi amongst them – had been the safest places to be. Ironic, considering that most of them grew out of military outposts and settlements to pacify said regions.

Not that it mattered in the end. Like a wildfire, the following civil war burned its way to every corner of the Commonwealth. Sjan-dehk had been present to witness enough of its excesses to last at least a handful of lifetimes. War had a strange way of turning even the mildest person into wanton monsters relishing in their own depravity.

“To explore. To trade.” Sjan-dehk kept his answer simple. Even if he knew the words to describe the recent history of the Commonwealth, he wouldn’t have used them. It wasn’t a topic for casual talk. Or any sort of talk, the more he thought about it. “We had war for many years. Fought…Our own in many battles.” There wasn’t much emotion in Sjan-dehk’s voice. He may as well have been describing the weather. It was all in the past. Whatever grief and sorrow he felt had been expressed all those years ago. Now he was simply talking about a fact of life.

He shrugged. A man standing under an awning loudly hawked skewers of some unknown meat from his little stall. The solid, generous chunks dripped with a sauce that sizzled as they touched the coal-fired grill underneath. “But now we have peace. Less fighting, so ships can do other things.” Sjan-dehk continued as they walked past the stall. He’d have to remember to tell Avek about it later; the smell alone was tasty enough to warrant asking the steward to try his hand at a facsimile. “The High Queen, she ah…Decided that I am more useful here.”

As they continued on their way, the clamouring noise of a distant crowd grew louder, accompanied by the vague sounds of combat. Roman had mentioned an arena, and Sjan-dehk had already roughly guessed what it was that happened there. His ears simply confirmed his suspicions. “Ah, duels,” he said with a nod and a grin. Even in Viserjanta, he had always been keen to observe how others fought in the field of honour. Taking part, however, wasn't something he did. Winning battles was one thing, a duel with all sorts of rules and whatnot was another. “Will be interesting to see, yes? Who competes?”