Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 12, 2008 0:11:35 GMT -5
"Too bad some of the more dark stories that went around are the truth. Well, most of them." Drask shook his head, "In fact all of them have a hint of some truth behind them. That's the bad thing about it all. Of course he's dead know, but still there's a lot of those tales still told in memory of my father." He wasn't sure how to began further with his side of these events, Drask pondered over it, deciding to tell from the start. "Are you sure you want to listen to me, Moll?"
Draygo nodded in response to her, "We need all the help we can get on the Venture. Thank you contributing to work aboard my ship." He was at a point where he could add no further to their conversation, then he gestured at his desk, "You can set that down right here."
|
|
carabadgermum
Co-Administrator
~Badger Matriarch~[P:NaN]
the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
Posts: 3,409
|
Post by carabadgermum on Aug 12, 2008 9:17:10 GMT -5
Moll paced as she listened and when he asked his question she was afraid he might have thought she was lost in her thoughts and wasn't paying attention. Truly she was wondering if all this had come about because of the big deal she had been making about the stories of her own father. She had never known him but it was true that there were plenty of the bad to go along with the good. Rawnwave was a pirate after all. But that wasn't what Drask had come to speak to her about and if she wanted to be a good leader she was going to have to learn to give her full attention to her advisers both when they were giving advice and when they came to ask for her help. "Yes of course, I'm listening." She tried to sit on the bed opposite him, the one Jayne would use, but as soon as she hit the mattress she remembered why she had been standing in the first place. She winced and stood back up. "I hope you don't mind if I stand."
Jayne gave a sort of curtsy when he spoke and then she nodded and carefully stepped up to the desk with the bowl of stew. She looked for the best spot to place it, not wanting to spill on anything important. This was made more difficult with the swaying of the ship under her footpaws, but she found a spot not covered in maps and thanks to her years of service was able to deposit the bowl without so much as a drip escaping. When this was successfully done she let her eyes wander to the many rolls of parchment that littered the space. She didn't know much about maps but she could guess that the wide blue areas were the sea they were sailing now and that the brown and green places were islands. She hoped she wasn't being impertinent when she reached over and pointed to one of the mostly green islands. "Is that where we're going?"
|
|
Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 12, 2008 23:07:24 GMT -5
"Do as you wish, Moll." Drask thought over all the memories of the dark past of six-teen years of his life, many stood out, but he decided to take it from the start of the long tale. "Twenty-five years ago my father began his accent to power at Riftguard. At first he brought structure to it's disarrayed army and the port, returning it to its former greatness. Then the power he had went straight to his head. Things went from great to horrible at Riftguard. My father picked fights with the wrong beasts, including several leaders at that time. The beasts that lived on Riftguard were pressed into service to build hundreds of weapons for his army, fortify his fortress, and many were drafted into his army. Any who disobeyed were killed on the spot. He ruled with an iron fist, and kept everything running smoothly, even though his rule was cruel. Soon after the beasts stopped giving him trouble he focused on other things. That was when he married my mother. She was daughter of one of the leaders of a small island called Vardav." Drask now tried to remember the rest of the tale, it wasn't the rule of his father that bothered him so much, but something that the general considered worse.
Draygo nodded, "Aye. That's the island of Sampetra." He had made sure the course was plotted to the tropical island, it had been some time since Draygo's last visit there. This time of year large storms were frequent, such as the one that raked over Akkladia, and that was the biggest obstacle, not to mention the possibility of an attack by Walon's old crew. The captain leaned back in his chair, satisfied that the course was set. Then he looked back up at Jayne before again adverting his gave back to the charts on his desk.
|
|
carabadgermum
Co-Administrator
~Badger Matriarch~[P:NaN]
the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
Posts: 3,409
|
Post by carabadgermum on Aug 12, 2008 23:20:58 GMT -5
Moll tried to imagine the scene. Twenty-five years ago had been when her own father had left her mother on the coast of Sampetra and then sailed off and never heard of again. And this marriage he spoke of, to the daughter of a local leader. It was obviously to gain more power and not for love. It reminded her of her father's own marriage to, oh what was her name, the one Moll had to get rid of to take her place on Terramort. She realized that she was quite caught up in the tale and when he stopped she couldn't wait for him to continue, "Go on."
Jayne had locked eyes with him only for a second when he looked up but it was enough to make her heart skip a beat. "Will it take long to get there?" She asked before she could help herself. She was wondering how long her service would be to the ship but also how long she would have this kind of contact with it's captain. And then as if remembering her place she took a step back from the desk. She wasn't sure if she was to wait there while he finished eating or to come back for his bowl at a later time.
|
|
Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 12, 2008 23:52:01 GMT -5
Drask continued after gathering the rest of the story, "All this happened in one year. He was never one to mess around, once he gave an order everybeast scrambled to get it done. Once his empire had relative stability, in a matter of weeks he married my mother. But all didn't not go smoothly as his reign. He got involved with another ferret, and thanks to that my half-brother and I were born days apart. Once my mother learned of this she sailed away from Riftgaurd, returning to Vardav. Then my father launched an invasion against that small island, claiming it was rightfully his due to his short marriage. That war was lasted only a few weeks because of the determined fighters of Vardav, and my mother was put in charge of everything, as a reward for valiantly fighting alongside the common soldiers. Then for seven years all was quiet, she raised me well, training me to eventually take over rule of that island and of Riftguard once my father was dead. But my father was back on the scene again, this time he invaded Vardav he had one objective; that was either kill my mother, Aspen, or manage to get me away from her, of course he succeeded in one of those objectives. He took me back to Riftguard, told me all kinds of lies about what my mother had done. I went along with it until I was old enough to understand the big picture. By that time Virek was born, Vrelt's brother." Drask went on, the emotionless way he spoke of his father was surprising even to him.
"Not much more than a week." Draygo didn't attempt eye contact with Jayne again, he knew that it was severely distracting to him, if he was going to be able to eat he needed the ferretmaid out of his train of thought, but he very much wanted her to stay longer. "Jayne, the rest of the crew should be gathering in the galley for some of Lumpy's cooking. You can go join them if you wish." Draygo hoped he didn't sound like he was trying to drive her away.
|
|
carabadgermum
Co-Administrator
~Badger Matriarch~[P:NaN]
the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
Posts: 3,409
|
Post by carabadgermum on Aug 13, 2008 11:03:50 GMT -5
"And you never saw your mother again?" Moll asked softly. She had been thinking of her own mother who had died when she was 13. She had been the only parent the weaselmaid had ever known and she couldn't imagine being taken away from her at such a young age and told horrible lies about her. "And the islands are rightfully yours, both of them." The last thought took her a little by surprise. Her general really was every bit as much royalty as she supposedly was. They were more alike than she had known.
"I'm not really that hungry," Jayne blurted out breathlessly before she could stop herself. Then her eyes grew wide with horror at her impudence and she took a few more quick steps backward toward the door of the captain's cabin. He had every right to kick her out, to have her thrown overboard. She was nothing. "I'm sorry, Captain." She stared penitently at the floor. "I'll go if you wish me to."
|
|
Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 13, 2008 21:34:35 GMT -5
"Yes, I've never seen her since." Drask kept his face straight through out the narrative, despite the feelings of resentment that it invoked. "If it wasn't for Vrelt, I would be at Riftguard right now. But to continue with what happened after that. By around fifteen I got out from under my father's control. And most know this much, that for three years I built up a reputation as a heartless marauding corsair, and I caused as much trouble for my father as possible, I raided many of his ships that he sent to hunt me down. He never succeeded in that; the wave of destruction he left behind him, finally it caught up to him, in the form of a ratguard captain and one of his former wives. They started a revolution against him, in the process they both were killed, along with my father. But the civil war kept on going until the remaining beasts loyal to my father were killed. I learned of my father's death when I was nine-teen, and I quickly traveled to Riftguard, but I was too late. Vrelt had moved in, and prepared for an attack. There was nothing left for me to do. And recently, just four years ago, I came to Sampetra. And you know the rest." Drask looked up at her now that the long story was over, "Both those islands are mine by right, unless my mother still lives. But Vrelt isn't rightfully ruling Riftguard, it was only luck he got there faster than I did. Now all that is nothing but ancient history. Thanks to the darkness that surrounded me everywhere I went after those events led to my present attitude, you know of what my reputation rewarded me with. I think this is the most I've spoke to anybeast for seventeen years at least, and that's due to my reputation. Well, maybe it's not just how I act that brought this kind of hell on me."
Her impudence didn't bother the captain, it was only the look of fear on her face that bothered him; it was if Jayne expected him to beat her in punishment for a simple statement. Draygo shook his head, "Don't worry, you can go if you want to or not. But it's not my fault if Lumpy gets mad at you for missing his lunch."
|
|
carabadgermum
Co-Administrator
~Badger Matriarch~[P:NaN]
the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
Posts: 3,409
|
Post by carabadgermum on Aug 14, 2008 19:39:35 GMT -5
Moll looked at Drask closely. "You could have gone to fight for your own islands but you chose to help me secure mine first." She sat down winced but didn't rise. "I thank you. If we live through this I'll do what I can to help you as well." She respected the ferret's honesty, his bravery, and his sacrifice.
"You think he'd be angry with me?" Jayne was going to have to think about this. She had thought that only the Captain would have the right to punish her but he didn't seem to be much disposed to do so. If Lumpy also had the authority to punish her she would have to watch her step around him also. Who else would she have to worry about? Where there any other beasts who could make her life on board the ship difficult?
|
|
Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 14, 2008 22:33:30 GMT -5
"I thank you as well. It's good to have somebeast to trust." Drask greatly appreciated being able to freely speak with Moll, without Walon contradicting every word he said or every action he made. "It's odd to think I'm royalty, isn't it? I still wonder what would have happened to me had my father not taken me from Vardav."
"I don't think he'll be very angry with you, just offended that you didn't eat his cooking." Draygo knew that Lumpy was too soft-hearted to act mad at Jayne, for any reason, even something that normally would have made him furious, but the captain didn't mention that part. The door opened abruptly, and the stoat first mate, Mr. Hayes walked in, he looked at Jayne for a moment before giving her orders, "Lumpy needs you down in the galley." He wasn't afraid to give orders to Jayne, even in the presence of the captain. Draygo opened his mouth to protest, but Hayes cut him off, "Captain, I need to speak with you in private. Miss Jayne has duties aboard this ship she needs to attend to."
|
|
carabadgermum
Co-Administrator
~Badger Matriarch~[P:NaN]
the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
Posts: 3,409
|
Post by carabadgermum on Aug 14, 2008 22:52:33 GMT -5
"He feared you, that's clear enough. He couldn't bare to have her poison you against him." She smiled at the ferret. "Sounds like he was too late for that anyway." Patting her paws down on her legs she stood up again in a swift movement. "We'll go to your mother's island, your island and see what's waiting for you there."
Jayne ran as soon as the order was given. In her haste she brushed passed the stoat. She would keep out of his way in the future but she couldn't help but hesitate just outside the door to hear what he would say. It bothered her that the First Mate spoke this way to his captain but she couldn't help but infer from his words that the Captain had wished her to stay. Torn in her feelings, the ferretmaid ran back to the galley and skidded inside the door. She curtsied politely to the cook, "You needed me sir?"
|
|
Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 14, 2008 23:55:18 GMT -5
Drask stared at her, that was something rather surprising that she just said, he would have never guessed that she would do such a thing. "Moll, I thought we were going to restore order at Sampetra? Why do you want to go to Vardav now?" Drask didn't believe it was just because of him, she must have been joking. But the no nonsense look on Moll's face said otherwise.
Lumpy nodded, "Aye. Help me get all this stew into bowls for all the sailors comin' down. Jimmy can help you. Jimmy?" The young weasel had been standing off to one side of th' galley, and he now snapped to attention. "Aye sir?" Lumpy gestured to the tables leaning up against the walls on the far side of the galley, "Get th' tables ready." Jimmy obeyed his orders and started off setting up the tables. This wasn't the kind of work he enjoyed.
|
|
carabadgermum
Co-Administrator
~Badger Matriarch~[P:NaN]
the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
Posts: 3,409
|
Post by carabadgermum on Aug 15, 2008 10:09:03 GMT -5
When she had said it she had meant eventually, after Sampetra maybe even after they settled the Terramort mess, but the more she thought of it the more she liked the idea. "Well, yes, why not? It'll be the last thing your crew or Walon's will be expecting and possibly we can recruit some others to come with us. It has to be better than just showing up with this." She waved her paw around at the shabby little ship they had found themselves on.
Jayne got right to work. She was glad that Lumpy didn't seem angry at how long her last task had taken her and she was glad that she was again working along side Jimmy, even though she could tell this wasn't his favorite work to be doing. She nudged him as she past and gave him a smile. Maybe she could do her work so well that he could get on to the sort of thing that was more important to him. She would try anyway.
|
|
Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 15, 2008 23:32:12 GMT -5
Drask smiled, this was becoming a better idea every second, they might come back with more soldiers, perhaps new allies, and he would learn what ever became of his mother and her island. "Yes, that would be a wise thing to do in these circumstances. Walon's old ship might get tired of waiting for us to come back, and we might not have to fight them at all."
Jimmy smiled shyly back to Jayne before resuming his job, which he worked hard at so he could get back to deck, or be the first in line for a serving of Lumpy's cooking. The old cook was watching Jayne and Jimmy work on turning the galley into a dining area for the crew, soon all the various beasts would file in and take their seats for the meal.
|
|
carabadgermum
Co-Administrator
~Badger Matriarch~[P:NaN]
the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
Posts: 3,409
|
Post by carabadgermum on Aug 16, 2008 0:37:28 GMT -5
Moll looked determined now. She finally felt like she had a sense of purpose. "Then we must tell the Captain that there has been a change in plans. I'm not sure where your Vardav lies but I'm sure it will require the alteration of our course." She extended a paw to the ferret and it was not the gesture of a queen to a servant but of one monarch to another. "Let's get this tub turned around."
As they worked Jayne caught the rhythm of Jimmy's movements and was able to play off him perfectly. She grinned as she tossed a spoon to him here and slid a chair to him there. In no time they had finished. She laughed and patted him on the back. Jayne had not laughed often in her life and the sound of it shocked even the ferretmaid herself.
|
|
Vrelt
Moderator
[P:0]
Go Seahawks!
Posts: 1,349
|
Post by Vrelt on Aug 20, 2008 0:57:24 GMT -5
Drask's lips curved into a smile, "That sounds excellent." Their paws met halfway between them, and Drask shook hers, that gesture meant a lot to him, it seemed he had taken an unsteady step forward, and perhaps found an ally in Moll, as well as a friend. Drask was ready to go give orders to this captain right then, but he waited on Moll to give the order.
Jimmy was pleasantly surprised how quickly Jayne had gotten into the grove of this work, and she made it a lot more enjoyable to the young weasel. He smiled at her now that they had finished the job, and by that time another sailor had entered, it was the swift looking weasel, Choi. That one was the first down to grab some of Lumpy's stew. Jimmy made one glance at the tables, making sure they were finished before taking a seat next to Choi, leaving another chair for Jayne to sit next to him.
|
|