Battlefield

[Sky Jade]

Sonya looked towards Pesha for a moment as she began casting her spell. For a moment she had a slight chill run down her spine as if she had been watched, but she wasn't certain. Her eyes seemed to glow for a moment with respect for the beautiful Queen, but they returned to normal after a moment. As Adriss left the tent, she finished her meal and then stood up when it returned.

She nodded softly at his request.
"Yes I am ready. And I would request you have some of your men waiting by dawn to return us to camp. I am wishing to move out and back to my capital Pacedon to gather up fresh troops and give my warriors a couple of days rest. I have a feeling we will be on the march very soon."

She stood by the tent opening and looked at Pesha to make sure she understood and was ready.

http://blazedstr7.homestead.com/files/figh27l.bmp

 

[vbabe2001]

- Pesha looked up from her seat, glancing at Ardiss as the disappointment showed on her face. Her attention turned quickly to Sonya as she spoke and Pesha rose to her feet -

"I am ready to retire. M'lord, um.."

- She had approached him, her head down as she secretly nibbed at her bottom lip before she looked up at him -

"Thank you for your hospitality, I am truly humble"

- With that said, even though she wished to say more, she made her way to the tent entrance where Sonya stood -

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ardriss Salonar

After the two Queens had left, he stood staring out at the sea. Twice he started to move, and twice he caught himself. He was not accustomed to this feeling, to wanting and not having, and he felt peeved and foolish, like a child. And that just made him more peevish.

The Panadorans were much given to study and worship of the wind, being sailors all, and so the camp was string with their elaborate windchimes which rang and tinkled softly in the freshing breeze. Their sosund seems not to relax him though, but to agitate him further.

Fianlly he called for the guard. "Bring me four men. With torches." he said, and when they appeared, swords drawn, he said, "Follow me."

He led them across the beach and up the cliffs behind it, not a great way, but the men had no idea of where they were going. When they reached the woods at the top of the cligg he told them. "Now go about and gather me some flowers."

The men gaped at him blankly.

"You know, flowers!" he barked, and the men scattered, anxiously combing through the trees for flowers. When they had assembled an armload of meadowsweet and betonny, jack-in-the-pulpit and daisies, they brought them back to him and he gathered them up into one bunch.

He led them down the cliff and dismissed them, waiting to hear the slightest murmur about the strange mission he'd taken them on. "Not a word to anyone about this." he said, "Or I'll have your balls!"

When the men had left he took his bouquet of wild flowers and hid them in a robe, then walked over to Pesha's tent, rehearsing his speech as he went, as nervous as a schoolboy. " 'Queen Pesha, it is not right that we should spend this night alone when we both know... ' No, no. 'My Lady, I am accustomed to speaking my heart, and I would be honored if you would take me to your bed...' No, that's only worse!"

He saluted the guards outside her tent gruffly, and when he was past them he guiltily dropped the robe, hiding the flowers with his body. "My lady Pesha?" he asked by the door of the tent.

She bid him enter, and he walked in and stood there.

She was sitting on the bed amidst the pillows, combing out her hair in the golden lamplight. Incense burned in the two braziers and perfumes the inside of the tent, and the glass windchimes sang softly. It was a picture of feminine peace and comfort in her tent, and for a moment he was transfixed by her loveliness and by her indefinable spell. "War has its pleasures." he thought to himself, "but, by the Gods, peace does to."

As if noticing the flowers in his hand for the first time, he extended them awkwardly to her. "My Lady. I am an uncouth man, a pirate and uncivilized, I know. But by the Gods I would give up half the sea if I could share your bed tonight."

 

[vbabe2001]

- Pesha sat there, her brush rested against her lap as she looked at him with soft wide eyes. For a moment her heart seemed stopped as she searched for the words to reply to his.. solemn invitation...

Her eyes glanced at her reflection against the mirror and without a word she rose to her feet and placed the brush on the desk.

She walked gracefully over to him with a soft smile and a twinkle in her eyes, carefully her slender digits guided the flowers from his hand and onto the desk.

She rose on her heels as she gripped his shoulders, easing her lips against his... -

 

[Sky Jade]

After getting to her tent, Sonya sat on one of the stools drinking a little wine. She didn't let her maids take her armor off just yet. She wasn't able to sleep so she sat her goblet down and bid one of her maids to walk with her. She took her time strolling through the camp, nodding to some of the guards who were still awake.

"There is too much tension in the air for me to rest. Would you not agree?"
"Yes Mistress. I feel it as well."

Sonya shook her head softly and layed her hand on her sword hilt when she had noticed movement among the tents. She though it was odd and stole after the intruder. She relaxed a little when she noticed King Adriss and then smirked as she saw him disappear into Pesha's tent. She was not ignorant of the King's lust for her, but she would only share a bed with a male if he bested her in combat. She wondered if Adriss really knew that or not.

She laughed softly and then resumed her walk among the tents.

http://blazedstr7.homestead.com/files/figh27l.bmp

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ardriss Salonar

There! He hadn't said it well, but he had said it, and if she puit him out, well, at least he would know. Better to know than to stew over not knowing.

He watched her as she put down her brush and came to him. He could not look away from her eyes, they were like pools that went on forever, clear, deep, and with some ecret treasure sparkling in the depths. He had never seen eyes of such transparent honesty and sweet tenderness, and he felt his heart skip in his chest.

She turned her face towards him and he leaned his down towards her and he felt her lips on his, like a butterfly on a branch, yet so telling and so eloquent that he was quite rocked in his boots. He was used to the passionate kisses of Panadoran wenches, the open mouths and dueling tongues. But never had he felt a kiss that said more and promised more in just that sweet, almost innocent contact. He knew then that he was with a true Fairy Queen, one not entirely of this world, and he knew what the legends said of the Fairy's kiss, but he no longer cared whether he was doomed or blessed.

He put his arms softly around her. She was so small, so fine, and she made him feel so large and gross. He was afraid he might break her, even though he knew from the feel of her body thatthere was inalculable strength in her lithe body , a kind of strength he had never encountered in a woman before. The kind of strength he had only felt in the wind or the waves at sea, something strong and elemental.

She broke her kiss and looked at him again with those seeking eyes and he knew she was seeing right into him, seing who he really was inside. And what she saw would make up her mind. There was no hiding from her.

A sudden gust of wind rattled the tent and made the candles gutter in their stands; the wind chimes sang. For a breath or two she looked at him and he felt such longing as he thought he might die if she turned him away. Then she slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.

This time she closed her eyes

 

[vbabe2001]

- The kiss was definately upon the eyes of blessing, any wounds which had been inflected were now healed, a warmth filling his body as the kiss continued.

Her lips were petal soft against his and she felt her own warmth fill her own body. She felt safe in his arms, she felt that nothing could happen to her, she felt shielded from the rest of the world around her.

Her lips parted from his, and they met the delicate curve of his neck. Soft butterfly kisses danced down the curve of his neck and across his shoulder blade, slender digits guided down his sides to calm and relax him...

There was a sense of strong longing for her, so much that she began to quiver ever so lightly and upon this she pulled herself closer to him, her lips now drawing across to his adam's apple, then up his chin to meet his lips once again.. -

 

[Athena_e19]

Vaxaan

Derryk Tearsmith stared about him angrily. Word had just arrived that the pirate captain had been spotted inside his enemies camp along with the waif like witch queen. This alliance would be deadly. He knew that he would have no choice in actions if these three forces joined together. He made his decision quickly and immediately set it into action. He summoned his magical pet hawk Wraithwing and sent him speeding on his way far too the north where a strong potential ally awaited. Derryk watched the bird for a moment before turning and ordering that 10 of his finest cavaliers join him as they turned and rode straight towards the enemy camp at full speed. It would be only a matter of hours before he arrived with the strong, long-legged Vaxaan stallions carrying them. As he rode he prayed for his wife and child, his hand softly on his sword, the white flag of truce beside his own personal standard.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ardriss Salonar

She might be Queen of a magical land, but her kisses held the heat of a woman's passion as she kissed along his throat and up his chest. Suddenly all his soreness, all the numerous little aggravating wounds of battle magicaly healed ovber, and he knew it was due to her miraculous kisses. What gentle power in this extraordinary woman. He felt her body quiver in his arms with her desire, and with that his own longing for her overwhelmed him.

He pushed her back gently, until she ran into the raised bed and sat down. He fell to his knees before her and took her in his arms as she wrapped her own around his massive shoulders and guided his face to her mouth. Her breath in his mouth was like clover and honey, sweet, like the flowers of the field, and her passion was like the summer sun shining on him and warming him.

He slid his lips down her ivory throat, parted her robe and found her breasts, small and perfect, as if bursting with the stuff of life, and when he captured a nipple between his lips she arcvhed and cooed with pleasure.

He was afire not only with need for her, but with the knowledge that she was no mere woman, but closer to a goddess. The fact that she responded to his kisses and his need only excited him all the more, and soon he was breathless with desire.

She wrapped her slim legs around him as he knelt between them, telling him clearly what she wanted of him, and at this he moaned deeply. As if to banish any doubt, he then flet her small fingers on his manhood, freeing it from the confines of his clothes. Her eagerness, her sudden boldness, made him dizzy.

He broke away and stood, rapidly shucking of his gharments and stood there before her totally nakes, his cock standing proudly from his loins like a stallion, the lamp light glinting off his muscles. He was huge, and he was easily more than twice her weight, but it was obvious to him who was controlling whom in this engagement. Withg no more than her beauty and kisses she had taken his heart prisoner, hers to do with as she would.

She smiled a woman's smile when she saw his hardness. She was ready for him, and he saw it inher eyes.

So much fighting, so much blood, so much weariness he had seen. But now, to be taken within her warm and accepting softness, he knew it was all worthwhile, that ecstasy like this was worth the fighting and dying, the pain and deprivation.

She was hot and eager, and gasped only slightly when he entered her. Her need for him matched his for her and went beyond mere lust. Below him she was like the sea at evening, a gentle swell, then building, building as the winds of need whipped her higher and higher until she was heaving beneath him, her slight form all feminine power, easily lifting him up with the urgent thrust of her hips as she strove to take him deep inside her, as he clung to her with all of his strength, filling his hands with the flesh of her bottom, never getting enough of her.

The wind blew outside the tent, the candles gutted, went out, and under the dim light of the stars and the occult moon they moved together. He was astonished at the pleasure she could give, at the secret things she knew, and honored that she chose to do them to him. And at the height of his crisis, his muscles bunched in knots, his body coated with sweat and a groan of unbearable pleasure tearing from his throat, she took his face in her soft hands and turned him so he was looking right into those extraodrinary eyes, and she told him Yes. She wanted him.

With a chll that gripped his entire body he let himself go, hearing her cry out in her own ecstasy as he poured himself into her, all his frustration and tension, all the grief at comrades lost, freinds dead, she took it all into herself with his seed, healing him and soothing him in a way he could not understand but was mightily thankful for, so that in the end, when He was still arched above her, fighting for breath and trying to collect himself, she healed him again, and again made him feel that he was indeed King.

He took her in his arms and held her close, knowing that something profound had happened with this woman-child, this fairy Queen. But in his embrace now she was again like a little child. She kissed his chest tenderly, and then she was asleep.

 

[vbabe2001]

- She woke up in the middle of the night, her emerald eyes blinked awake as she saw him still laying there with her...

She smiled softly and leaned upwards to kiss his forehead, brushing the hair out of his eyes before she eased herself from his embrace and into her silk robe..

Slender digits parted the entrance of the tent and she slipped through, taking in the cool night air.

She wore no shoes as she walked through the sands, letting the soft sand snake between her soft little toes...

Her ash blond hair reflected the moonlight as she held her robe close to her naked body, she had no desire to get dressed quite yet because she had planned to go back to the tent..

The moon hung low in the sky, like a big pearl cascaded against a blanket of stars. The image filled her eyes brillantly, anyone who caught sight of her that moment would picture her in all of her splendor..

She walked deligentaly towards the water, letting the coldness cover her feet and soon drift up to her ankles, then to her knees... then to her waist...

The water swirled around her soft body, yet she did not shiver... the water was sacred to her people and she wondered at that moment how they were doing... did they miss her?

Her slender digits were rested by her sides, the wind carrying her soft hair in whisps around her face and tiny frame....

.. she knew the enemies were coming... -

 

[Athena_e19]

Entering the Camp

Vaxaan's king rode bravely passed the sentries posts, the massed regiments, the tents, and all the other signs of an army at camp. His men stared straight ahead, glancing only momentarily to the side to check for any threat to their beloved king. They knew what he intended and they would be with him to the end. As the main path curved downward towards the beach, Derryk noticed the small figure of the Witch standing in the roaring tides. He did not take his eyes off her till he was well passed her and her dangerous spells. He was only lightly reassured by the prayers of his men to their gods, this Witch he knew often superceded the gods because of her immediate locale. Gradually the path winded up, towards the center of the camp before finally ending squarely in front of the large tent of Sonya herself. By now a large group of soldiers and archers had amassed around he and his men but he paid them no heed. He and his 2 most trusted knights dismounted leaving the remaining cavaliers to form a protective ring around the entrance to the tent and their horses. With one final glance around him, Derryk turned smartly on his heel, brushed aside the tent's entrance curtain, and stepped into the lightly lit chamber. He looked around cautiously, patiently waiting for the queen to appear.

OOC: I will need someone to send me any replies to my character or interactions I need to know about @ my email address. (Athena_e19@hotmail.com). I am back at school after the holidays and the computer is monitored, except for personal emails so I won't be able to visit the site to often unless I can get a hold of my own computer soon.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ardriss Salonar

OOC Walks--announced--into Queen Sonya's tent, salutes her, and says:
"Queen Sonya, we have reports that King Tearsmith has returned to college and will require special e-mails if he is to remain in the game. I would remind you, with all due respect to the King, that unless someone is willing to take this burden of e-mailing the King unto themselves, that the rules of war permit us to write him out of our world unless another player will step forward to take up the King's crown and command the King's armies. I just thought I should bring this to your attention."
-------------------------------

IC: He awakens very early. The night is fading but the sky is still dark in the east, the night exhausted. He is alone, yet he can still smell her scent on the pillow next to him, and his body recalals her feel in his arms.

Throwing on his clothes he goes to the door of the tent and looks out into the darkness. As he suspected, the guards are asleep. That would get them beaten and broken during normal times, but since last night was the feast, strict discipline can not be expected to be maintained, and he walks past their sleeping formas and along the cool sand.

The ocean is as still as glass, and he suspects it will be a hot and windless day, an oppresive day. Then he sees her in the water, not a great ways out, and he smiles. Quickly he peels off his clothes and enters the water and dives quietly beneath the surface. With long, powerful strokes he swims silently towards her, thinking to surprise her, but he had forgotten about her spellcaster's senses, and when he comes up behind her she is waiting for him.

He laughs, knowing he is found out. "My Queen," he says. "may I join you?"

She is in a quiet mood, though, and he realizes that he might have interrupted her in one of her trances or while she was engaged in seeing. But soon the moment passes, and she shakes her head as if to clear it. He knows she has seen something frightening and unpleasant.

"Is it true, then?" he asks her. "There are more enemies gathering? We should rouse Queen Sonya."

 

[Zirconn]

Eirikr

****

“Wake up Geruy, I heard something outside…”

“Wake up, you lazy excuse for a husband…”

“Unnhhh… What’s it, Olra? Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep? Go back to sleep. There’s nothing outside except a few hungry dogs and cats…”

“No. No. No. I’m telling you that I heard something. Don’t you think I know the difference if the cats and dogs are hungry? No. I’m telling you that this is different. Now get out of bed and go look, or for breakfast and dinner will be boiled liver for the rest of the week. Now get up and go…”

Grumbling, Geruy put on his coat and walked downstairs. The cobwebs were still thick in his mind as he stumbled to the door. The night air was cold, although not biting cold. He could not hear anything except for the soft groans of wounded soldiers in the distance. This was expected as the castle walls had withstood sieges for centuries and had came out relatively unscathed.

Grumbling beneath his breath, “Since when did your cooking did not taste like boiled liver?…” as he went back in to his warm bed, and a cold Olra. He did not see the flash of the axe that severed his head, nor heard the scream of Olra as she was impaled…

****

Eirikr looked out over the battlements at the false dawn clearing over the fog and clouds from his stance on the window balcony. The night had been long, longer than he had anticipated. He thought he could not get tired, but at this point, he felt the weight on his shoulders. The axe seemed heavier than before. He longed to take off the chain mail that was chafing his skin, even under the thick layers of leather between it and his skin. The scar on his chest burned red with a rather comforting pain. He was tired to the bone, a sensation that he had not felt before. It was a sensation that he did not like too much. He longed for a hot bath and a warm bed, but he was a King, and the day’s chores are never done, not until he lies cold in perpetual slumber.

“My Liege, a messenger hawk…”

“Alfarinn, read the message please.”

“My liege, King Tearsmith of Vaxaan sends greeting and possibility of an alliance. But for now, he has ventured into the enemy’s camp to plead for the life of his army…”

Nodding, Eirikr closed his eyes and breathed deeply the chilly morning air. Soon, his boats, commanded by his cousin and best friend, Oddr, would hit the Ardriss’ ships spread out like a picket line. The sailors on those ships would be drowsy and tired after a night’s of celebrations, and the dawn that had yet to arrive. It would be hit and run attacks, as his men were under orders not to take prisoners or treasures. Let the King of the Sea can have the treasures, but King Eirikr have the lives of Ardriss’ men.

“We wait for word when King Tearsmith can be “available”, my old friend. For now, we have much more urgent things to attend to.”

Eirikr turned to Baron Moddyn and smiled. The Baron’s eyes were still locked on his wife’s and daughter’s bodies crucified on the bedroom wall. The had not been raped, as that was not the purpose. King Eirikr was here to take lives, not to enjoy the fruits of war. That would be later, much, much later.

“My dear fellow. Baron. I presume not that you’ll hand over the keys of the castle to me…”

The night had been long and tiring, but it was not over yet.

 

[vbabe2001]

- Pesha nodded warmly as she looked at him, taking his hand in hers as they both headed to the shore. Her green eyes were serious as they made their way to Sonya's tent -

" It is vidal we let her know, I fear they are close.. ."

((ooc: seeing the kid can't pst do we just disregard it?))

 

[dr_mabeuse]

OOC

OOC: We are about to get into the difficulty I've always experienced in war games: Just how real are they goint to be? I haven't played that many, so if someone could tell me how this problem is usually handled, i would appreciate it.

For instance: King Ardriss commands a fleet of cogs and carricks mostly, medieval multi-decked ships with raised fore- and aft-castles which are manned by infantry, namely, archers. More archers are in the mast tops to fire down on enemy ships. This was the norm in naval warfare until the develoipment of the gun in the mid fifteenth century.

Carrikcs and cogs were sailing ships, not that dissimilar from the ships Columbus used, with gunwales that rose about 20 feet from the water at their lowest point amidships. They were of course, wind-sailers, fairly slow and could not sail very close into the wind. They commonoly shipped sweeps--oars--which were only used when they were becalmed for extended periods.

King Erikr's navy is, I take it, composed of viking-style long boats propelled by oar and sail. These ships could move independently of the wind, of course, but their sailing qaulities were limited to running before the wind. The fact that they did not have deep keels or substantial centerboards meant that they couldn't use their sails in a crosswind. However, their shallow draft made them perfect for raiders, who could run them right up on the beach, jump out, and engage the enemy on land. This was the way the Vikings always fought, the same tactics the Normans used when they invaded England in 1066.

Viking ships were totally unsuited for war at sea and the Vikings never engaged in sea battles. Because they were oar-powered, they could not get close enough to another ship to engage in hand-to-hand combat without unshipping their oars or breaking them the collision.

The high sides of the carricks would make it virtually impossible for vikings to board the ship without using ladders and grappling hooks, which was unlikely given the rain of arrows and missiles they would be exposed to when they came close to the higher ship.

So... I hate to be a pill about this, but I know that no one wants to lose a battle, yet there is no way to actually decide who would win unless someone just concedes, which Ardriss isn't likely to do, and I don't think Erikr would countenance either.

Okay. History lesson over.

So what do we do? Queen Sonya? It's your war.

 

[Zirconn]

OOC: LOL, Doc. I wasn’t even thinking of a D&D style battle, where hit points matters. I was going to say that a few of your boats got hit and so did mine. But my understanding is that the Vikings built bigger boats than the single deck ones. We know them as coast and riverine raiders, but since this is a fantasy thread with magick and elves, I presumed that these Northmen do fight ship to ship. And the rain of arrows would come from both sides, with the Dragon boats having ramming prows like the Roman ships, and ship-borne ballistae. Sort of a fantasy of how I want the ships to be , as we’re playing a fantasy.

And I did envision a sort of commando raid at dawn, and then burn and kill and run. But, they are not very good at it, since I mentioned about hit and run tactics knowing that I’d get my butt kicked from King Ardriss’ ships once they wake up and got fully under way. It was meant to be a short and ugly battle, with me tucking my tail and run. I don’t like to play “God” characters. And the good guys don’t always win at first .

Hope this is good enough for you. I didn’t mean for a Battle of Trafalgar to happen anyway, and it didn’t cross my mind one bit. Usually this sort of thing is handled by the individual players. My own philosophy, in practice, is that I hurt as much as you do, sometimes even more. But also I leave enough to fight another day.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

OOC

OOC: Okay, Zirc. I'm sorry to be such a baby about this, but I had an infuriating experience in a game with some sort of robocop guy who just kept on getting more and more indestructable until I finally just had to quit the game. That's why I bristled at the firewyrms, thinking you were going to come up with an army of indestructable monsters.

But as long as we use our armies and fleets for the good of the game, I'm with you. Raid me at will, mate.

 

[Sky Jade]

OOC: I will c&p the posts to her then. Don't want to lose a good player at this point in the game. My email is lostdreamoffire@yahoo.com.


Sonya had spent her time patrolling the camp, as she was used to spending many nights awake and alert. Her path took her along the beach where she stopped to watch Pesha and King Adriss for a few moments, not yet noticed by them. She watched them move back into camp, not certain where they where going.

As she returned towards the camp, she heard the sounds of thundering hoofbeats. She wasn't surprised when one of the messengers came to her and reported of visitors in the camp. She nodded and continued on her way towards her tent.

The two maids drew their swords swords as King TearSmith appeared in the doorway. They made no threatening move towards him, merely watching. Sonya was within a few feet about the same time she saw Pesha and Adriss come into view. She nodded to them, but didn't say anything as she came up behind Tearsmith.
"And what reason would I have for not slewing you here on the spot M'lord Tearsmith?"

http://blazedstr7.homestead.com/files/figh27l.bmp

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ardriss Salonar

He had time to admire Pesha's body once more before she slipped demurely into her robes at the water's edge, and as he dressed he was searching for words, feeling the need to speak to her but not sure of what to say. And then there was a frightful clangor from his men's camp on the shore not a quarter mile away: shouts, orders, the beating of drums and the sound of naval trumpets, the heaving of the boats as they put them hurriedly out to sea. He knew immediately somethging was wrong.

He restrained Pesha and looked out to sea. Several squadrons of the fleet were anchored in the harbor, more stood out about a mile from shore, lying at anchor. The picket ships were standing off beyond the horizon but within sight of one another, allowing them to communicate by signal, and as he watched the closest ship broke out the red and yellow signals for Ships under attack. Give Assistance, no doubt relayed from pickets farther out.

Ships under attack? How could that be? As he wondered a man came running up to him along the beach. "My King! The pickets are under attack. They..."

"I know that, man! I can see! From whom? Where?"

"From the north, sir. Dragon boats."

"Dragon boats? My ass! Those moldy whoreson bitches can't fend off a raider or two in their cockle-shells?"

"No, sir. They've attacked in force. A whole navy of dragon boats. Ten miles up the coast. They've landed an army."

How had they got past the pickets? he was about to ask, but he knew too well. Against orders, the men on the picket ships had been celebrating. They must have all of them got stone drunk and so there was no one to keep watch. That's the trouble with a navy gathered all pell-mell. No discipline, every man looking out for himself.

He too had seen King Terarsmith riding into camp under the white banner of truce. Could that be a coincidence that he was keeping the queen in parley, offering surrender, while the dragon boats landed an army in secret up the coast? He doubted it. The two kings must be in alliance, using treachery where might wouldn't work.

"Go and tell the Queen about this attack. At once! She must know now, before she strikes a deal with Tearsmith. I fear she's being played for a fool."

Turning to Pesha he said, "I must get to sea! At once! Lady, I do not know where your duty lies, but my ships are under attack and I must go. I wish you would come with me where I know you'll be safe, but you must do what you think right."

 

[Zirconn]

Eirikr

****


Oddr made the gestures for silence. The men were as nervous as he was, but they obeyed him. The Svartr Riders had reported that ships were in the vicinity by the deck lights, but it was still too dark and too dangerous for the Riders to get close, as they would be unable to return shipboard. The coast was far, but at what direction, the Svartr Riders could not tell. All they could do was fly high up to catch glimpses of lights on the water, and then returned to the boats.

The oars made little noise as the boats got close to Ardriss’ ships. The dawn was still a bit away, which was a spot of good luck for Oddr. He then gave the command to light and fire the ballistae. The fiery ball arc gracefully in the night skies, and then burst into flames on the sails and hawsers of one of the ships. This was the signal to all the other Dragon Boats to do the same. The sea was not rough, as the Northmen had seen much rougher seas before, but the aim of those ballistae were more of misses than hits.

The flaming balls that apparently came from nowhere caught some of the ships out on the picket line by surprise. The Dragons Boats quickly closed the distance and boarded a few of them. The fights was short and ugly, and quick, as the Northmen had only to kill as many as possible and return to their boats. The fires on some of those ships did the rest.

But that was when Oddr’s luck started to turn. The fires started to get out of control, and some of his own men got burned together with the enemy. The wind picked up, and the embers flew not in the opposite direction, but to the direction of his own Boats. One moment, fire was his friend and ally, and the next, the destructor, as his own Boats started catching fire as well. The attacks broke off, as the Dragon boats retreated to a safer distance.

Then a shout from the lookout at the top of the mast alerted Oddr to the rest of King Ardriss’ ships bearing down on the attackers at full sail in view of the fireballs in the morning skies. Oddr had little choice but to retreat as he was outnumbered and basically, “outgunned”. He knew that, as well as King Ardriss’ ships. The only advantage that he had was the shallow drafts of his Dragon Boats. The hidden rocks of the coast were much more of a danger to the deep drafts of King Ardriss’ ships.

“Sound the retreat, Bruni. The red and yellow signals have been hoisted by other ships. We have done what we came here to do. Our purpose is served.”

“But Captain, we have only just started. This few ships are just a minor inconvenience to King Ardriss. We hardly even scratch him. He might not…”

“Look yonder, Bruni. We’ve lost the advantage and surprise. We just don’t have the numbers. We leave now for the North and the rough seas, and hopefully King Ardriss’ blasted ships will follow close. Hurry, while we still are a distance from them…”


****

 

[vbabe2001]

- Pesha looked at him and shook her head, she could not follow him, she had to get back to her people and her land -

"I'm sorry Ardiss.. I will always be with you in spirit but, my place is with my people. Please inform Queen Sonya that I have gone back home"

- Pesha bowed and in a moment, had vanished from the very place she once stood -

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ardriss Salonar

The Panadorian fleet was not a naval fleet as such, rather it was a a collection of private vessels, converted merchantmen, and privateers over which Ardriss Salonar had nominal control, with a nucleus of military vessels. All that held the fleet together was the prospect of loot and pay, and unless they received com,penmsation soon, he wondered whether he could even keep them together.

He thought about this as he paced impatiently on the afterdeck of the flagship Pearl trying to keep his ships in some semblance of ordered squadrons as they bore slowly down on the burning pickets. It had taken the better part of the morning to get the fleet underway, the crews still drunk and groggy from the night before and scattered over half the coast, and then the morning had dawned hot and windless, the sun red and angry. By the time a breeze sprung up there was little chance of catching up with the raiders, who would have pulled their dragin boats up onto the beaches or into the numerous sheltered coves.

But what bothered him now was not so much revenge or retribution, but strategy, for he knew there was no military sense in dragon boats attacking the heavy carricks of his fleet. The Norse men were wild and reckless, but they were not fools. There had to be some other purpose to this attack. And it seemed a strange coincidence that this attack came at the very moment King Tearsmith was offering truce to the Queen. Something was wrong here.

As far as his commitment to Queen Sonya, Ardriss' fleet had completed their mission and had yet to be rewarded for their efforts. He was not disloyal and he was afraid of no one in battle, but neither was he a fool, and he wondered just how long she expected to retain his services under the present conditions.

He'd harbored doubts about Queen Sonya's ability to rule from the start. He had no doubts about her ability as a warrior, but she seemed to him altogether too much enamored of proving her prowess in battle and too little interested in statecraft and the finer points of the ruler's art. A strange woman, singularly beautiful but obsessed with proving herself by test of arms. It was a game Ardriss had tired of long ago.

So now where did his duty lie? He had given her control of the seas for yesterday's battle, which was what he'd promised to do. But then, to let these Norsemen radiers sneak through undetected was something he'd have to take responsibility for, but the Queen wasn't involved with that.

And then there was Pesha. Had she just used him the same way he himself had used so many women, as a one-night encounter? Or was there more to what she felt for him?

He tunred to his fleet commander. "Signal all ships: break off chase and return to positions. Then take me in to the Queen. I don't think we're done with this damned business yet."

 

[Zirconn]

Eirikr

The head of Baron Moddyn served as a good perch for the numerous crows that were attracted by the fresh meat and blood. The Baron was a stubborn man, full of pride and airs. This grated on Eirikr’s nerves more than anything else, the noble airs. Even though Eirikr was a prince and now a king, he still eats and drinks with the rest of his men in the common hall. This Baron was aloft and arrogant, and he kept saying the word, “barbarian”, to Eirikr’s face. One or two or a few “barbarian” was enough, but Eirikr endured over thirty such insults before finally exerting the energy to loop off the Baron’s head.

The citizens were shocked beyond belief that their presumably “safe” castle and town had fallen to the horde of “barbarians”. Their faces were blank as they were herded out to collect and bury the dead before the corpses started to stink up the city. Eirikr had gotten the best of luck recently, as the town was bulging with grain with the harvest just over. Their wintering here would be very pleasant. The thick forest outside the gates would provide ample timber for making war engines over the wintry months. The trees were thick and tall enough for him to even make mangonels. Thankfully no houses were set on fire, as the smoke might attract unwanted attention from the armies of Queen Sonya. Eirikr was not fully ready for war just yet. Minor preparations had to be performed.

He was surveying the town, port and his still-landing forces when word was brought to him that Oddr had attacked, and was now retreating back in the direction of his homeland. The dawn revealed to the town folks of the extent of Eirikr’s army. The boats were stretched as far as the eyes could see. The beachhead was firmly entrenched in Eirikr’s hands. By day’s end he would have enough men to make forays and forages, and reconnaissance patrols outside the gates. And then, when his men were fully and comfortably entrenched in these shores, the assaults can begin. This time, Eirikr will pick and choose the battles, rather than have his men go berserk and rape and loot everything in sight.

But for now, Eirikr felt the Baron’s soft bed and pillows calling him. He ignored the call the best he could, but eventually he did not even notice Alfarinn removing his boots. His dreams were filled with the luscious and beautiful, and yet eminently lethal Queen, Sonya. His mind’s eyes could see the green agates boring deep into his soul as the restless sleep enveloped him.

 

[Sky Jade]

King Tearsmith

Derryk knew not long after he entered the tent that the Queen was not there. So he looked around calmly adjusting to his surroundings, knowing full well that his armed cavaliers outside were likely being disarmed and temporarily stashed in some prison tent. Oh well, random members of the group had powerful and long prepared plague spells cast on them. Should any of those random members be killed, large numbers of their enemies would die with them, and there was no way to retract the spell except by the carriers own choice. He knew that his men would not give in unless by his orders. He heard Sonya's question and only then chose to face her. "No reason, except for honor. You and I both know that my army has been betrayed and is left at but a small portion of its former strength, and that with your new allies you could swiftly defeat it. But should you choose to attack, you will soon watch your own men wilt and die horribly, green blood gurgling from their throats. To the man, we have drawn lots to decide who will receive plague spells, irreversible by any other magic except by the mage that cast it or by the bearers own decision." Derryk quickly studied his opponent before continuing. "I offer you this chance: honorable combat between you and I. To the death or to surrender and weapon choice will be left up to you. Should I win, my army and I will be allowed to safely retreat behind our defensive borders. Should you win, my men will remove their plague spells and will surrender into your hands. With me, you may do as you wish. If you choose not to accept my offer my men will kill themselves and unleash the plague within your camp. Even with the little Witches spells its effects will devastate the gathered army. Of course the danger is that it will spread into the surrounding area and kill off more of my subjects. But if I must sacrifice a few to save many, I will. The decision is yours," Derryk stated with a tone of finality, patiently waiting for her answer.

 

[Sky Jade]

Sonya nodded silently for a moment as she comtimplated his words.
"In that case, I shall accept you challenge, I shall have my men prepare a place for us to fight."

She nodded to two of the nearby soldiers who moved to make a large circular fighting arena. In only a few moments an area was setup and Sonya moved to the circle drawing her sword. She waited with her sword drawn.

The rest of the camp was up now from the sounds at battle on the ocean, alert and prepared to fight if need be.

http://blazedstr7.homestead.com/files/figh27l.bmp