A large port city.

Several ships bob up and down in the Portside docks as sailors load and unload cargo of all shapes and sizes, talking back and forth among themselves. Juniper emerged from the lower deck of a smaller vessel with unusual red sails, taking in the warm sunlight and tossing her bag over her shoulder. Her abnormal stature draws the attention of sailors on other ships as she departs the ship and makes her way towards the town.

A raggedy urchin followed the tall woman from the docks. Folks from exotic lands came to Portside by ship, and they always carried such neat (and valuable) items. The trick was to grab their bag when they were distracted taking in the sights. The urchin was around 10, had dirty brown hair, green eyes, and a scar on his nose. His eyes were glued on the bag.

It seemed that everything about Juniper drew attention from passerby's. From her smooth and clean skin and odd height to the bow-blade strapped to her hip and dark leather armor. Though several people stared at her she paid them no mind and continued to wander away from her ship of origin and towards the center of a market, hoping to find herself a meal.

The boy climbed up a small crate onto a tall barrel. He leaped and latched onto the tall woman's bag.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:36, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Juniper stumbles due to the shift in weight and throws her hands back to grab the would be thief."Mother of Vendi!" She shouts as the fights for her bag.

The boy held tighter to the bag and drew a small rusty knife, it looked more like a tetanus risk than a bleeding risk. "Let go! Oi! Give us the bag or I'll stick yer! Honest guv!"

"Stuff it!" Juniper crouched as low as she could and leaped into the air,falling hard onto her back and knocking the wind out of the both of them.

If the boy had eaten in the past three days he might have thrown up. Instead all he could do was lay there and gasp for breath, waiting for death to come in the form of a tall mark. He dropped his knife but was no longer thinking about it, his eyes bugged out.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 04:09, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Juniper quickly sprung to her feet and snatched the boy up into the air in one swift motion, letting her bag lay in the dust as she locked eyes with the young-ling. By now a small crowd of onlookers had began to form and surrounded the two. She held Oscar several feet higher than he must have been used to by one of his arms and spoke "Give me a reason not to toss you into the nearest well" She panted

"They'll 'ang yer for dirtyin' the water! Oi!" Oscar gasped, squirming to get loose. "Let me go!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:20, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Juniper cocks her arm back into a fist and tightens her grip in the boys clothing"Oh really? Not for the murder of someones kid?"

"Me muvver don't care if I'm bloody well alive or dead, she wanted Mike and Mike didn't want me so she told me ter go. I'm just a streetkid, right, the guard would be glad if there were just one less streetkid. But evry geezer 'as ter drink." Oscar cringed away from her fist.

Juniper squinted at the young boy for a moment, contemplating beating the boy in front of the towns inhabitants for a short moment before letting her hand fall to her side and sighing."If you try to take my things again the guards'll need a mop to pick you up" She let the boy fall to his feet and bent to retrieve her bag, snatching the boys knife too"And get a real knife. No ones gonna give their money to a midget with a rusty spoon"

"It's not a spoon, it's a knife! Right! And I'm tall for me age." Oscar drew himself as tall as he could, rising slightly on his bare toes. At that height he could be considered tall for a malnourished ten year old. He wanted his knife back.

"Sure thing shortstack"She chuckled to herself and stashed the knife inside a pocket on her shoulder and began to continue towards the market, pushing through the disappointed crowd and waving goodbye to the young boy.

Oscar gritted his teeth. Not only did he not get the bag, she took his knife. He was already hungry, and getting hungrier. Sighing sadly, the boy headed for the marketplace hoping to find something edible that wasn't watched too closely.

Juniper browsed the market for a a while before finding a stand that sold fresh fruit and bought herself a few of each. Most of the markets patrons were in awe of Junipers unusual clothing and items. She took her new found prizes and retreated from the public eye, sitting down by the road out of town under a nice tree and began to eat.

"Stop! Thief!"

The ragged urchin charged out of the market with a large lumpy potato clutched in a grubby fist with two guards hard on his heels.

"Stop the brat!" One of the guards panted.

By the time Oscar had managed to get in trouble again juniper had already finished an entire orange and was about to begin on a banana when she heard the guards shouting. She sighed and dropped her lunch, knowing full well what had caused the ruckus. Juniper saw the little scamp running towards her and in one movement she scooped him up and held him by the collar once more, holding him at arms length.

"Let me go! Struth! Let me go!" Oscar flailed his skinny legs and beat on the tall woman's arm with the potato in a panic.

One of the guards caught up, the second had fallen behind and was holding his knees trying to catch his breath.

"Give the brat to me." The still upright guard said, his own face was red and coated in sweat.

This was the second time today that this kid had caused her trouble and Juniper had had enough. However she knew if she handed the kid over that his fate would be far from pleasant."He's mine" She replied, still holding the boy.

Oscar's eyes widened. Was she going to crush him again? He stopped kicking.

"If you own him you owe considerable fines. The brat's ours." The first guard said. "He's been a pox on Portside for years, robbing the market, cutting purses and stealing luggage from guests to our city. We have to take the thief in."

The second guard was still several paces away, breathing heavily. "Joshy," He called to the first guard. "Before you start, I call dibs on breaking his hands." The second guard waved his billy club.

Juniper slowly lowered the boy to her side without taking her eyes off the two guards. She took a single step closer and looked down upon the two"I claimed him. Hes mine. But if you're interested in taking him..." Her voice trailed off as she rested her hand on the pommel of her sword, clearly trying to intimidate them.

Oscar hid behind the tall woman and looked for a place to run. His eyes fell on banana and he jumped on it like a cat on a mouse. He might wind up with broken hands or in jail but at least he got to eat something today. He stuffed the entire banana in his mouth so his cheeks bulged out.

"Give him to us or... or we'll take you in too as an accessory to the brat's crimes." Joshy bluffed.

The panting guard finally walked over. "What do you want him for anyway? Streetkids aren't worth anything to anyone."

"Im not anyone am I?" Juniper stared down the guard, unblinking. She knew that the boy would be tossed into a cell if she let them get him." Leave now before you regret it' Juniper gripped her sword in its scabbard and waited.

The guards were prepared to beat up and imprison a skinny boy, not some tall, armed woman who looked like she could take care of herself. They would need backup.

"You'll regret claiming him." Joshy said. "Streetkids are spawned from the filth of sailors, gamblers and tavern wenches."

The guards retreated.

Oscar swallowed the banana with a large gulp. He began sneaking away, still clutching his potato and now holding the tall woman's bag.

Juniper watched the fearful guards retreats for a moment before turning to Oscar."Hands off!" She shot him a look and leaned over to snatch the bag up, letting the boy keep the potato.

"I were just 'oldin' it for yer! Struth! I weren't 'urtin' nuffink." Oscar innocently held his hands and potato in the air for a moment then took a hungry bite of potato. "Weren't 'urtin' nuffink." He repeated sulkily.

Juniper sighed to herself and sat down next to the young boy and rummaged through the bag before producing an orange and handed it to Oscar" This might taste better"

Oscar stuffed the potato in his pocket and bit into the orange like an apple and proceeded to eat it- skin, seeds and all. It did taste better than a raw potato.

"What's your name little one?" Juniper eyed the starving boy and began to crack open a dragon fruit. It seemed she was stuck with him for the time being.

"I'm not wee, I'm bloody well big! Right!" Oscar insisted as he stared hungrily at the dragon fruit. "I'm Oscar."

Juniper chuckled at his comment"Well Oscar my name is Juniper" She followed his eyes and handed him half of the fruit." how long have you been living on the streets like this?"

"Don't know... Five winters maybe." Oscar said between mouthfuls of dragon fruit.

"Wow." Juniper thought hard about that. She hadn't even been on her own that long. She turned and began to rummage through her things before producing a bag of gold coins."Take this" She gave him a small handfull of coins before stowing the bag."Try not to get into trouble anymore. Use these sparingly." She patted him on the back

Oscar had never had more than two coins to rub together before, he nearly burst with excitement. He would be able to eat well on this for weeks! He squeezed the coins in his hand.

"But if i ever see you being chased by guards again!" She pounded her fist into her open palm and gave him a look."There's a friend of mine who lives here that i'm supposed to meet. If you behave i might be able to get you room and board." She stood and gathered her things

"Wot, sleep indoors wiv a roof and evryfink?" Oscar scoffed.

"Only if youre willing to work for him" Juniper responded as she continued, looking through the different shops for her contact here.

"Work?! Wot'd 'e want ter doin'?" Oscar asked suspiciously.

"Ever skinned a deer?" She looked down towards him, grinning and laughing. Juniper rounded a corner and found the place she was looking for. The shop smelt of dried meat and leather and had several signs that showed prices of the selection. She entered the building and had a look around."NO stealing. This is a good friend of mine and I haven't seen him in a long time."

"Skin a deer, then? A deer never did anyfink ter me." Oscar's was already instinctively looking for anything he could lift and run off with.

"That may be true, however they are delicious. And most importantly expensive!" Juniper leaned on the front counter and looked through the back, keeping an eye on Oscar as he roamed the store. Gabriel, her new employer, was usually stuffing himself with some of the product that Juniper brought to him. However she did not mind as he paid well and often had assignments she could take care of.

Why did the tall woman watch him so closely? It was like she didn't trust him or something! Every time Oscar saw something he wanted to lift he'd glance over to the tall woman and see her watching him. The third time he crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her.

Juniper roller her eyes at the kid as someone entered the main room from the back. A hefty man with a thick eyebrows and an even thicker accent smiled widly when he saw the small giant"Juniper! How was your trip overseas?" His voice bellowed loudly through the shop.

"I think id rather walk next time!" Juniper threw her arms around the man and embraced him in a strong bearhug"

Oscar took the opportunity to slip a couple pieces of jerky into his pocket. This was turning into a very good day.

Juniper released the shop keep and began to tell him about her travels. After a few minutes of chatting about how they were fairing Juniper mentioned work." Youknow i didnt come here to gab about the weather. What have you got for me to do around here?"

Oscar was beginning to wonder what he should do when he ran out of room in his pockets, eat the jerky right here? Maybe just be content with what his pockets could contain.

"Well as you know deer and moose are always profitable..." The man began to speak

"What about the A-list?" Juniper intterupted quickly, leaning in inorder to not be heard by Oscar."The contracts?"

The short mans face went pale as she spoke" I thought we spoke about this" he said in a hushed whisper.

Of course lowered voices only had the opposite effect on the boy. When the whispering started he stopped trying to fit things in his pocket. He looked at the tall woman and hefty man and tilted his head to listen.

"Yeah well big brother isnt here, so no repercussions. I know youre sitting on some jobs Gabe" Juniper trailed her fingers across the counter and smiled.

She was correct. Gabriel had been requested to get one of his workers to help out with some not so legal kills"Uhh...."

Questa had an incredibly gloomy ride. Lek was sulking, Sileas was crying, Sileas's millstone was being Yehudit. Questa was relieved when they finally got to Portside, though she was worried a couple guards still had it in for her. She was cleared from the murder charges, but they all knew she was a thief.

"Finally! Right! Yer wanted a book about 'erbs, right, right Sileas, then, eh, luv? Even fough yer've already read too many books so yer should be cross eyed by now."

Sileas dried her tears before lifting her head. The sunlight hurt them, she hoped that would pass. "Yes, a book on herbs. But first, we'll head for the docks and get Lek's information. How does that sound to everyone?"

Yehudit cheered up a little, Sileas wasn't going to make her stay behind. "That sounds good."

Sileas headed in the direction of the docks. "Questa, can you keep an eye on Yehudit while I keep watch over Lek?"

Gabriel looked away from Juniper and towards the back before speaking up" Ill find something for you..." He avoided the eyesight of the giant woman and walked in the back, thinking about the last time this happened.

Juniper smiled and watched the man dissapear from sight before shouting back to him" And give my buddy here something to do for me! He's a bit of a troublemaker!" Juniper turned to leave the store" Come Oscar. More to do"

"I don't want ter wotch Yehudit! Struth! It used ter be funny wotchin' 'er trip over nuffink onto 'er face but it's just gotten depressin'." Questa complained.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 57):

With his pockets well full, Oscar followed the tall woman. "So wot'd yer do ter get yor ears cut?" He asked.

In reply to Questa Cort (msg # 58):

"Please? I can't watch over her and Lek both, as well as keeping myself safe."

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 59):

Juniper looked back to the kid"Pardon me?" The many people that stared at her also took notice to Oscar trailing behind her.

"Millstone should've stayed 'ome." Questa muttered.

Sileas frowned at Questa.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 61):

"Yor ears." Oscar put his hands behind his ears and pointed his forefingers upwards in an imitation of elf ears. "Wot'd yer do for that, eh? Cop caught robbin' a fancy toff?"

In reply to Sileas (msg # 63):

"Just get me a mirror and I'll watch myself!" Yehudit said irritably.

Sileas let out a low growl and reached for Lek. "Let's go find out what you need to know."

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 64):

Juniper reached up and touched her ears. She realized how strange the must look to the others."I was born this way" She replied, keeping the answer simple and avoiding the truth that she was an elf. Juniper was unsure how elves were recived in these parts and didn't want to cause any more ruckus than she already had in her short time here.

Lek sniffled and followed Sileas. He had never been to Portside without his twin, it felt wrong.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 67):

"Oh, right, like that stabbin' girl 'oo only 'ad nine fingers and that cove wiv the wonky eye." Oscar said. "Looks right odd."

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 69):

"Yours look odd" She snapped at him, looking over the crowd to gain a better sense of direction.

"Me ears are normal." Oscar said defensively. "Yors could put an eye out, if any bloke's eyes could reach yor ears."

"Well good thing im tall huh?" Juniper replied as she spotted the docks and changed her course. The sailors had finished working and were relaxing with a drink on deck. A strong drink sounded amazing to her right now.

"Good for them. But yer can't stand up straight in an 'ouse wivout puttin' an 'ole frough the bleedin' roof." Oscar said.

"Well that's the price of being an elf!" She snapped at him, turning her full body to face him. She was clearly annoyed with all of the incessant questions.

Oscar blinked and stared at her. "Shouldn't yer be wearin' a funny 'at?"

"No we don't wear 'funny hats'." She extended a finger and prodded his forehead "Shouldn't you humans be raping and pillaging a village right now?" Her tone began to grow sour.

"I 'aven't raped of pillaged any villages, just nicked stuff ter eat, or buy food, right, or a knife... and yer nicked me knife." Oscar said in a hurt tone as he rubbed his forehead like the tall woman had hurt him.

Juniper sighed and turned away from the boy and headed back to the ship, fuming silently. Most of the sailors paid her no mind however several were drunk enough to catcall her.

"Aintcha gonna give us me knife back?" Oscar demanded.

In reply to Lek Gerthrim (msg # 68):

Sileas tried to give him a reassuring smile. She herself had never been to Portside without her parents or Larrigan.  There had been that one time, but that had before Andy.

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 79):

Juniper sighed to herself once again. She had no idea how much trouble this kid was gonna cause her. She reached into her own bag and produced a small dagger and sheath and tossed it to the kid. This knife was much nicer than his older one."No more robberies"

In reply to Sileas (msg # 80):

"Yer should try pickin' pockets ter see if yer still can do it." Questa advised Sileas.

Sileas had already proven to herself during a trip to Farthington that she couldn't pick pockets any longer. "Not today," she replied.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 81):

Oscar admired the dagger. "Then 'ow'm I gonna eat after the bloody coins yer gave me run out?"

In reply to Sileas (msg # 83):

Questa sighed. Sileas was no fun anymore.

"Make a right here, Lek." Sileas had truthfully only been beginning to regain her confidence with Larrigan's help, and she found herself feeling much like she had during her year in hiding.

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 84):

"Gabriel owes me a favor. Just talk to him and say I told him to help you." Juniper waved goodbye to Oscar and stepped away from the edge of the ship. Although she was glad to be rid of the pesky boy, she wished him well.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 86):

Yehudit hobbled after Sileas. The docks smelled really bad but she was not going to complain, she was not going to give Sileas an excuse to make her leave.

Multiple sailors recognized Juniper and waved her over, handing her a drink. She sipped it with  caution as she looked out over the sea. The water moved and ebbed silently as she thought about where she was.

Sileas's hands trembled until she wrapped her fingers around the hilt of one of her daggers. She hated being here on the docks, she was only here for Lek. Sileas would have much preferred being in the market. Or that Larrigan was with them. Or Wulfsen. Instead she had two knights who she didn't know, but she was certain they didn't give two figs about her or her well-being.

A sailor looked at Sileas funny. One of the knights took Wulfsen's charge to heart by throwing the man against a wall and pummeling him senseless.

At the noise, Sileas stopped walking and turned around. Her eyes widened and she glanced at Yehudit and Questa who were still behind her. Well at least one of them cared for their lord's orders.

Yehudit began whacking the sailor's shins with her walking stick. He must have done something to deserve it.

"Don't break your walking stick, Yehudit!" Sileas called.

"I can get a new one!" Yehudit shouted.

A couple of the sailor's crew mates were beginning to take exception to their friend being beat up and began to move in to interfere.

"Lek! Hold up!" Sileas pulled her bow and notched her arrow. "If you don't want to be meeting your maker today, you'll be backing off about now," she demanded of the approaching sailors.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Fri 22 Jan 2016.

Juniper could hear ruckus on the docks below and walked over to the edge of the ship to see a few soldiers fighting with some strangers. She watched intently, waiting to jump in at a moments notice.

"He's beatin' the tar out of me mate, Funny Eye Jake!" One of the sailors objected.

"I do not know what your mate did, but that is one of the King's own guard, so I wouldn't make any moves against him."

Juniper rolls her eyes at nothing and set her glass down on the edge" OI!" she shouts at the guard who was beating the sailor, trying to get his attention.

The knight let the funny faced sailor fall to the ground and turned on the woman who yelled to him. "What do you want?"

"Leave him alone you poncy git!" She waved and extended finger much to the delight of others on the ship with her. The drink she had been sipping had affected her judgement.

The knight's face turned red. He charged at the rude drunken woman.

Juniper watched the man approach with a haste speed and waited until he was close enough for her to sidestep him and extend her foot at his legs, tripping him." Well I never!" Juniper shouted, mockingly

Uncertain of who this newcomer was or why she had ignored the warning about the knights being from the king himself, Sileas did the only thing she could to negate their involvement in the whole thing. Especially since she had no idea why the knight had gone after the sailor. She dove in and grabbed Yehudit, bodily swinging her cousin over her shoulder. Sileas held Yehudit's walking stick in her other hand and took off. "Questa! Lek! Come on!" She wasn't about to explain to her aunts or her father how the four of them had ended up arrested, especially since even she wasn't clear.

"Hey!" Yehudit objected as Sileas's shoulder dug into her stomach.

Sileas ignored her cousin's protest and moved as far as she could from the fight without leaving the docks completely. Lek still needed his information.

With tears in his eyes, Lek followed Sileas. He needed to talk to sailors, but the knights were fighting with them!

Sileas wrapped her other arm around Lek. In a low voice, she whispered, "Dry your tears, don't show any weakness. We'll find someone we can speak with." Sileas spotted a merchant ship. At least it wasn't a pirate ship. "How about we try here?" She stood Yehudit on her feet and handed her her walking stick.

Lek sniffled and tried to pull himself together as he wiped his face with his sleeve.

"I think you broke my ribs!" Yehudit complained.

"You I'll deal with later," Sileas hissed. "I can't even BEGIN to imagine what you were thinking, doing what you did. I can't EVEN imagine."

"What?" Yehudit asked innocently, not getting why Sileas was so angry.

"I said I'll deal with you later," Sileas said. "Are you ready, Lek?"

Lek gave another sniff and nodded.

This isn't going to go well, I can feel it in my bones. Sileas let out a soft sigh. "Maybe I should do the talking."

"Okay." Lek said in a small voice.

Sileas shot him a quick glance. She had thought that might bring an argument, that he might want to be in charge of gathering information regarding his father. Sileas took a deep breath and approached the sailors unloading the ship. She looked for one who looked like the captain.

Juniper reached down towards the knight and picked him up by his collar and crotch, holding him above her head to the cheers of the sailors. The strangers running away caught her eye and she wanted to interrogate them. With a heave she tossed the stranger into the salty sea and tried to follow the others.

With all the heavy armor the knight sunk to the bottom. There may have just been a murder committed.

Juniper ran down the dock, trying to keep out of sight as she drew closer towards the group of people.

Two knights were working to save their fallen brother. One stripped off his own armor while the other commandeered a rope.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 118):

"Can't take knights anywhere." Questa muttered in disgust to Sileas.

"Apparently not," Sileas said. "I wonder what set him off."

"His chuffin' time of the monff." Questa guessed.

Sileas did her best to hid her snicker.

Yehudit blinked. "But guys don't have..."

"Some do, all the bleedin' time. And they're usually wearin' uniforms." Questa said. Speaking of uniforms one of Portside's own guards hurried past. Questa instinctively touched her shiv. It had been a few years and she was not ragged as she had been, even if she still wouldn't wear shoes, but there were still guards who would like to arrest her for theft even if she hadn't killed anyone.

"Sure they do. Just not quite the same as the way we do," Sileas told Yehudit.

"Oh." Yehudit wondered if that was why Lek was so emotional right now.

Juniper continued to search aroud the docks until her eyes set upon the group. She was angry at their readiness to ignore the abuse of power  that she stopped earlier and decided to approach them." What was that all about? You guys ran without helping the poor man!"

"I was trying to keep my cousins out of harm's way and out of the chances of arrest. Furthermore, I don't have any idea of what that man may have done. He may have posed a danger to the people here. Or us," Sileas stated calmly. "Further, I had been trying to contain things so I could find out what was going on, and keeping the other sailors out of the fight so I could safely do so, but then everything went out of control."

"Your' idea of containing a violent occurrence is to stand by and watch? Ive been here a few hours and im already disgusted." Juniper spoke with her hands, pointing back and forth between the group and the location of the fight behind her.

"Well obviously you missed me holding the other sailors at bay and telling them that it was one of the King's men. I wasn't about to get into the fray when there was a large group of sailors ready to brawl rolling in."

" If the knights cant handle a few drunkards then what kind of pansies you have protecting the kingdom? So weak they have to get some wee lady fight their battles for them!" With that Juniper poked Sileas in the chest with her finger.

"I've been 'ave a lookin' ter get a new finger ter replace the one I lost." Questa threatened, drawing her shiv.

Yehudit got angry.

"Nobody pokes Sileas!" Yehudit roared, raising her walking stick to give this woman a good wallop.

Juniper drew her jagged sword very slowly as she locked eyes with the two. The sword was too large for a normal sized man, however Juniper wielded it with great ease." Those sound like threats"

"Can't yer 'ear me up there, squire? They are freats! Struth! Keep yor nose ter yorself or yer'll regret it." Questa warned.

Yehudit's rage exceeded her sense. Whump! Her walking stick hit the woman's leg.

Sileas stepped between the tall woman and Yehudit and Questa, pushing the sword up. "The knights are perfectly capable and it was their job to restore order. My job, as I said, is to protect my cousins. You have no idea what we have been through in the past twenty four hours, none of us are in the mood for another fight. But keep pushing and you might find one." Sileas' eyes flashed.

Lek burst into tears.

"Not another fight!" Poor kid had lost most of his family and all he wanted was to find a sailor to help him find his father.

Yehudit's temper was up and she tried to get past Sileas.

"The sotah made Lek cry! Let me smash her face!"

The walking stick bounced off of Junipers thick leather armor, giving no pain. She looked deeply into the woman's challenging eyes for moment before sighing" Im sorry. " She sheathed her blade quickly." That was immature of me. I apologize"

"Better be sorry." Questa grumbled. She lowered her blade but her shiv stayed in her hand. She had been in too many street fights where her enemy tried to disarm her with a fake apology.

"I apologize as well. It truly has been very trying for the past two days and we only came to the docks for information." Sileas reached over and lay her hand on Lek's shoulder. "In fact the knights were supposed to be guarding me, which is why I suspect that man made some sort of threatening move but I honestly didn't see what happened. There was no need for those other sailors to be in danger of arrest when remaining knights could have controlled the situation." Sileas sighed. "Unfortunately, there doesn't seem anyone with this ship who is inclined to fin out what we might  need."

Yehudit was not mollified. She gave a string of curses from behind Sileas. She was getting herself so worked up she looked like she might start hitting Sileas next just to get her out of her way.

Lek wiped his eyes with his sleeve and tried to toughen up.

" Do you require help? I wish to right my wrong" Juniper bowed her head slightly as she spoke.

Lek pulled Ila's sketch outlining the island from his tunic.

"We need to know where this island is." His voice was still thick.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 149):

"Boil your $&*@#( ugly head!" Yehudit swore.

Sileas turned around quickly. "Yehudit, behave yourself. An apoloigy was given and accepted. She is trying to make reparation by trying to help Lek."

Questa hated it when the posh Buckley girl used words she didn't know.

"Aw hell fire, if only yor millstone weren't crippled and useless in a fight." She muttered to Sileas.

"Island..." Juniper muttered to herself as she took the parchment gingerly and held it close." Whats on this island might i ask?"

"$^(&*@#!!!" Yehudit leaped on Questa, her walking stick dropped and forgotten, biting and scratching at the other girl's eyes.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 154):

"Papa." Lek said shakily. Then was interrupted by his cousin trying to murder Questa again.

In reply to Yehudit Buckley (msg # 155):

"Will she ever put the mockers on this?" Questa gasped as she was slammed to the ground under Yehudit who was going at her face like a wildcat. Questa still had her shiv but cutting Yehudit was forbidden, a pity that. She couldn't stab Yehudit but she didn't want Yehudit stabbing her so she tossed the shiv away. She tried shielding her face with her arm and grabbing Yehudit's throat.

"Your father eh?" Juniper folded the paper and cracked her knuckles." Follow me back to my ship. I think i can get you there" Juniper turned and began to walk back.

In reply to Questa Cort (msg # 157):

Sileas grabbed Yehudit by the back of her collar and pulled her off of Questa. "You need to get this damn rage issue under control if you want to go anywhere with me," she hissed. "I should have the guard hold you in a cell until we are done. You are out of control Yehudit. Out of control."

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 158):

Lek started to follow her, but he glanced back at his cousins.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 159):

Yehudit said something unintelligible about Questa. She was shaking with anger.

Questa got up and retrieved her shiv. She looked from the tall woman to Yehudit being held by Sileas. She reluctantly put her shiv away, but took out her weighted sock. She was so tempted to sap Yehudit right between the eyes.

After a few moments of traveling down the dock Juniper reached her ship with its tell tale red sails. All the sailors and finished restocking the supplies below deck and were relaxing on the upper deck.

"Hold up, Lek!" Sileas called. "Are you going to calm down and stop attacking people?" she asked Yehudit.

Yehudit was still breathing heavily and her eyes blazed. "I'll only attack them if they deserve it."

"Right. You attacked this woman after she apologized and you attacked Questa for no reason. You were in no danger. Settle yourself down."

"Questa keeps insulting me," Yehudit said angrily. "And that woman started it by poking you."

"And the apology ended it. And being insulted is absolutely no reason to physically attack someone. One of these days, you're going to cause serious harm to someone, and it may be an innocent person and you're not going to be able to live with yourself. You need to do something to get your anger control. This doesn't work any more," Sileas said. "Now I need to catch up with Lek."

"How else do I get Questa to shut up?" Yehudit growled.

"Just...ignore her. Questa has as much right to speak and have an opinion as you do. You are both important to me, but you're just destined to not get along, so just...ignore one another."

"Should cut her tongue out." Yehudit said darkly.

"If you are going to continue to spend time around me, you will figure out how to tolerate, if not get along with, Questa.  And you will learn to tame that anger."

Juniper motioned for Lek to stay on deck as she went below deck to look for her quartermaster. Several of the sailors stared at him as Juniper vanished.

Sileas hoped Yehudit was settled and would control herself. She motioned to Questa and hurried in the direction that Lek had gone with the stranger. Sileas was unsettled and wished she hadn't had to take so long with Yehudit. She didn't even know this woman's name and Lek was out of sight.

Lek nervously stood on deck, his body swaying just a little to the slight bobbing of the ship. He hoped his cousins would show up soon.

Yehudit followed Sileas, cursing Questa and the woman who poked Sileas.

Sileas had several panicked moments of being unable to find her cousin. Aunt Aislyn would be heartbroken if Lex disappeared. Sileas in fact doubted her aunt would be able to handle it. Finally she spotted him. Sileas ran over to the boat. "Lek Gerthrim! What are you doing on that boat? We only came here for information to take to Wulfsen!"

Lek shrugged. "She told me to wait here, she's down there." Lek pointed below deck.

"You shouldn't be on the boat at all. We were to ask questions and return to the keep with the information." Sileas frowned at him. "Has she even given her name? Why did you just go off with her without us?"

"I think she's getting someone who will know where the island is." Lek still did not know her name. "And I thought you were right behind me!"

"I shouted for you to hold up. Come down from there. You can wait down here with me." The last thing Sileas needed was for that boat to leave with Lek on it. It wasn't like she could send a message to the keep that they were going anywhere. Everyone would worry.

Lek nervously looked to the hold, then reluctantly got on the dock. He wasn't happy. What if the woman took offense and refused to help?

After a few minutes Juniper returned from below deck laughing at something unknown to the others on deck. She spotted them standing around waiting for her on the dock and composed herself." The quartermaster agreed to help you" She spoke directly to Lek

Lek bounced slightly and looked expectantly to Sileas.

Sileas put her hand on his shoulder. "Your quartermaster knows of this island? We will need to go for supplies and let our families know where we are going."

" He claims hes used it as a smuggling drop off for some not so legal supplies" Juniper crossed her arms and leaned on a support rope as she spoke.

Sileas narrowed her eyes as she looked up at Juniper. "Recently? He's never noticed a man who was abandoned on the island?" If that was true, or worse, if he ignored him, that was a far worse transgression than not trying to break up a fight between the King's knights and sailors. "Or did he ignore a man in need?"

"Illegal supplies, like to make a potions?" Lek asked, not liking this quartermaster if he had been helping mermen keep his father prisoner and deceiving his mother for so long.

Juniper held her palms out flat" Dont ask like i know. Ive never seen anyone there myself. I dont know if he is there or not." Juniper felt like she was being interrogated." Do you want the help or not?"

Sileas turned to Lek. "I will go on my own. We don't know what we'll run into and I won't take the chance on all of you being lured into danger. If Uncle Nelek is there, I will bring him back," Sileas promised. "Yehudit, tell Papa and Mama that I will be back as soon as possible."

Then she glanced at Juniper. "Yes, we'll take the help."

Juniper winked and smiled" Sound lovely" she joked and hopped up on the railing of the ship, facing the docks

In reply to Sileas (msg # 190):

"Like hell you are!" Yehudit shouted at Sileas. "I'm going wherever you're going!"

"Not 'appenin' mucker, Yer can leave the millstone and crier behind but yor not sailin' off wivout me." Questa looked suspiciously at the ship. "How do yer know it'll take yer where yer want ter go any roads, and not ter some slaver?"

Lek bit his lip. He didn't want to be even further from Millie but this was his Papa!

"I don't, and that's why I want to go alone. I need someone here to tell Wulfsen and Papa what happened if I don't return. We can't just disappear. Someone needs to return to the keep, otherwise no one will no where I've...we've gone. Yehudit, this is as important as going with me."

Sileas looked at Juniper. "How long will it take to go there and return?"

Yehudit's eyes blazed. "I'M GOING WITH YOU!"

Juniper watched the small argument unfold in front of her, watching patiently " Maybe a week to get there. Maybe more maybe less. " Juniper tried to remain out of the scuffle as she produced a flask from her pocket and took a swig.

Why is she so stubborn? "So you'd rather we all go missing and sold, or worse. Your mother's got her statement wrong. You invite trouble." Sileas turned to Lek. "Lek? Will you be our failsafe?"

"Yer need some one ter wotch yor back if yor gonna get on a boat wiv a bunch of blokes yer don't know." Questa said.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 198):

Yehudit crossed her arms stubbornly. "I'm old enough to make up my mind, I'm going with you."

In reply to Sileas (msg # 198):

"He's my Papa..." Lek said, reluctantly.

"I know he is, but I really need someone here that knows what's going on in case something goes wrong. Otherwise, we could all just disappear or worse. You wouldn't want to put your mother through that."

Lek gulped. "I wish Millie was here."

"Millie would be out of her element." Sileas looked at him gently. "You are out of your element. You're not a fighter, explorer or adventurer. You've done a big thing in helping to find your father, you found someone who knows the island. Let me do this for you and your Mother and sister. Let me take over now."

Lek was starting to tear up, he quickly wiped his eyes. He nodded, feeling a lump forming in his throat.

Sileas hugged him tightly. "The first thing I will tell your father is how you fought to find out where he was as soon as you learned what had happened. Your Papa will be very proud of you."

The hug and Sileas's words only made it harder not to cry. Lek choked on a sob. "I miss him."

"I know you do, I know you do." Sileas hugged him tighter. As soon as Juniper tells us how far it is, you go back to the knights and head back to the keep. Make certain to tell Wulfsen and Papa everything you know." Sileas smiled at him. "I can use a hero myself right now. How about it, Lek, will you be my hero?"

Juniper rolled her eyes at the display of emotion and took another drink of her flask." So who's coming and who's leaving?" She interjected.

That was it. Lek was full on crying now.

"The three of us are coming with you, Lek will stay here," Sileas replied. "How long should this trip take?"

Juniper shrugged" At minimum... two weeks" she tucked the flask away and propped her legs up on the railing.

Sileas grimaced. That was very open-ended. She turned to Lek and waited for him to stop crying. "So we should be gone no longer than a month, I would wager." Truthfully she didn't want to be gone longer. Xavier was going to kill her. She lowered her voice. "Tell Xavier when he arrives with those things to put them where you found Questa and me this morning, all right?" She kissed his cheek. "All will be well I promise."

Lek gulped again and looked at Sileas, then the ship.

"Can you fight the mermen?" Lek asked. "If they're there they won't let you just take Papa..."

"I've fought them before," Sileas said readily. "That's why I would have preferred Yehudit and Questa stay behind but since they won't be reasonable and have no sense of self-preservation..." She glanced toward her cousin and friend.

"Oh I 'ave self preservation, ffough we're probably gonna 'ave terrible fings done ter us or die. Getting on a ship wiv a bunch of strangers 'oo will probably sell us into slaright or do us dirty an 'undred times over. Maybe we'll get shipwrecked and drown or get eaten by sharks. If we manage ter get ter this island the bloomin' mermen will probably do uvver terrible fings ter us and kill us. Then this Nelek could also be dead already." Questa grumbled. "But the bleedin' only way yer'd stand a chance at survivin' this is if I go wiv yer, init? Millstone can't fight ter save 'er life and yer can't trust these strangers."

That was Sileas's greatest fear, that they would arrive and find her uncle's body. But she gave no voice to that, she would not upset Lek further. Until they knew one way or another, there was hope. "Truthfully I would feel better if Wulfsen's men were with us, but I doubt she'd let them on her ship at this point." If the mermen or these sailors dispatched her, well, at least she would be with Larrigan once more. The truth was that at this time, Sileas had no sense of self-preservation. While she didn't have a death wish or seek out trouble, as her aunt had accused her of, Sileas had no care of if she lived or died. She rolled her shoulders and headed for the boat.

Yehudit hobbled towards the ship, and nearly fell off the dock.

Sileas really wished Yehudit would stay with Lek, this really wasn't her type of thing. But she wasn't going to argue.

"This is gonna end well." Questa said darkly.

"I wish she'd stay behind with Lek. If something happens to her, it really doesn't matter if the strangers, the mermen or a shark gets me. Aunt Lia will kill me. Yehudit doesn't seem to care."

Yehudit bristled. "I can take care of myself."

Sileas rolled her eyes.

Questa got aboard the ship. "Off ter our deaffs now."

Sileas followed, mumbling something. The only word that could be understood was Larrigan.

Yehudit stumbled around the deck. Hopefully it wouldn't be rocking so much after they set out.

"Maybe you should find something to sit on that's out of the way?"

Maybe Yehudit was just following Sileas's advice when she plopped down where she was standing.

"I had a crate or coil of rope in mind, but all right." Sileas sighed. This is going to be a long trip.

"This is fine." Yehudit said stiffly.

Sileas shrugged and walked over to lean on the rail, peering out at the ocean. She had never been on a boat before. Her father was going to kill her for going off like this with no real word.

Questa prowled around the deck, scanning the crew and casing the ship.

Juniper watched the newcomers board the boat and stood again."We'll be off shortly" She waved once to the crew before heading below deck. The crew immediately began to prep for a voyage, priming the sails and pulling the gangplank and anchor aboard.

After a relatively short prep time the boat was beginning to drift from the docks and out towards the open ocean. Juniper reamerged from below deck and walked over to her new passengers."Shall i show you your quarters?"

To Junipers Boat

"That would be wonderful, thank you," Sileas said. She turned from the side of the boat and followed Juniper.

Wulfsen wasted no time in heading straight for the docks.

Shawn followed him.

Lek was quite pale from the harrowing ride. He pointed a shaky finger to a pier. "The boat was there."

Shawn dismounted and wandered over to where some crews were working near the place Lek had indicated. He began asking around if anyone knew the crew from the other boat and where they were headed.

Wulfsen secured a ship and a couple sailors who saw the red-sailed ship leaving port. He was still very anxious, so much time had passed.

Shawn helped the men quickly stow the supplies on the ship Wulfsen secured. Once they were at sea, they could be put away properly. He prayed they would at least be able to stay heading in the same direction as the girls were heading.

Lek shivered unhappily on the deck. He was scared and missing his twin.

The hot afternoon sun sat high in the bright blue sky. The wind was fair as was the sea. Only a few clouds sat in the horizon which allowed the bright red sails of Junipers ship to be spotted from miles away.

On the main deck of the ship sat the proud owner and captain. She was cleaning the deck with a few of the crew and sweating in the sun as the crows nest spotted port. Juniper dropped the brush and jogged towards the cabin, wiping sweat off her brow.

"I think you guys could brave the heat for a moment to lay your eyes on home again."

She teased her passengers lightly about the unusual wave of heat and walked towards the bow of the ship

"We're almost home!" Sileas exclaimed. She hurried up to the deck, uncaring how hot it was. Just to set eyes on land again and familiar surroundings would more than dull any threat of sweat. And hopefully Papa and Wulfsen were already there and waiting.

Juniper smiled and leaned against the railing as she stared out over the waters at Portside. After a short few minutes the ship had been docked and the crew were moving cargo on and off the ship. Juniper had cleaned up and gotten dressed in her lightweight armor and sword strapped on her back. She stood on the docks waiting for the others to join her.

Sileas had her quiver strapped on and her bow in place as she joined Juniper to glance at Portside.

In her eagerness to get on shore, Yehudit missed the plank completely and splashed into the water.

"Can some bloke else cop her this time?" Questa grumbled, pointing where Yehudit fell in.

Juniper rolled her eyes and laid her chest down on the docks, reaching her hand out for the fallen girl. Her arm reached farther than the others would have and she laughed at the mishap.

Yehudit grabbed Juniper's hand and groped for her walking stick which as floating away.

Juniper pulled the smaller girl up to her feet and brushed her off."You ok hun?" She was eye level with Yehudit as a crewman quickly brought a towel for Juniper to dry her soaked friend off.

"Yes." Yehudit rung out her hair.

Juniper stood up again."Well we're not going to find them standing around here. Lets get moving." She began to walk down the docks and into town.

Sileas followed Juniper, her gaze sweeping over the crowd in the dock area. If Papa and Wulfsen were already here, it was doubtful they had gone in to the market area yet. She stood on her toes. "I think I see Wulfsen over there."

When Wulfsen spotted Sileas's red hair his face lit up. "Sileas!"

Sileas's face lit up. "This way!" She couldn't run in the crowd, so she walked as quickly as she could, taking care to not knock anyone over, toward him.

Wulfsen was not as polite, basically bowling his way to Sileas.

Finally the path was clear and Sileas ran to Wulfsen.

Wulfsen lifted Sileas in his arms. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too!" Sileas said, wrapping her arms around him. "And I managed to bring help against the raiders and the mermen. Juniper and her men would like to join us in the rebuilding and help with protection."

"Good." Wulfsen said, kissing Sileas's cheeks. "They'll be of much help."

"That was what I thought too." She nuzzled against his neck.

Wulfsen kissed the nape of Sileas's neck, ignoring bawdy comments from sailors.

Lek helped his father onto the dock. He was almost home and was so excited to get his family back together again.

In reply to Wulfsen Thornblade (msg # 263):

Sileas blushed and ducked her head. "We should probably get out of the public eye."

Wulfsen blushed too and set Sileas down. A few sailors were still yelling suggestions. Wulfsen held her hand. "Let's get your family and get out of here."

Sileas slipped her hand into his. "I'm still not certain of Uncle Nelek. I think he should be kept separate at the keep until we can be certain. It still bothers me how he didn't use names. He kept calling Aunt Aislyn her. And there was something about the way he said it, when I thought it over the past week. Unless Papa is absolutely certain, that is."

"Aunt Aislyn should know her own husband- hopefully she'll be able to settle this.." Wulfsen said. "He mostly kept to himself and Lek on deck, not saying much. I don't know your uncle very well so I wouldn't know if he acted oddly or not."

"It just seemed odd to me. If I had been on an island, alone, for all that time, I would have dreamed of everyone so much their names would have been on the tip of my tongue. I hope Aunt Aislyn will know, but she didn't realize the first one was a fake. We can't rely on that." Aislyn sighed.

"That merman pretending to be Nelek also seemed to avoid her... Until the end when it looked like he wanted to hurt her the most by being caught with that girl." Wulfsen said.

"Yes, he did seem to be staying away. Although I think at first he was living with the family, but he was cold and aloof."

"This one can't seem to wait to get to her." Wulfsen said.

"Maybe too eager for someone who won't say her name," Sileas observed. "If we were forcibly separated for two or more years, would you refer me to as her? Or Sileas?"

"After being separated from you for what feels like over two years I still think of you as Sileas." Wulfsen admitted, kissing Sileas's temple which got the sailors started up again.

Sileas smiled through her blush again. "And that is my point. Just as I would keep repeating your name."

"Maybe they did things to his mind." Wulfsen suggested.

"Perhaps. Still, I think it would be a good idea to keep him away from the others until we know."

Wulfsen nodded, spotting Shawn, Lek and whoever that man was. "Let's get to the keep, hopefully it can be sorted out there."

"And how do we plan on getting there? I hope we're not riding horses back. " Juniper piped up as she stood in the hot sun. She was more excited to get out of this year than anything. Weeks of sunlight had not changed her moon pale skin.

"I probably will ride back but some of the men went to get wagons and our horses," Shawn replied. He spotted Wulfsen and Sileas and waved them over.

"Then let's get a move on. I don't know how welcome we may be right now" Junuper gestured to the large number of people that stared at the group. She doubted if they meant harm but she was still wary.

Wulfsen walked over, still holding Sileas's hand. "The horses and wagons should be here soon. I know we're all eager to get home."

"I'm anxious to see if Xavier found..." Sileas paused at the rattle of wagon wheels and the clatter of hoofbeats. "Here are our rides now." She glanced at her uncle. "I suppose we females should take one and the men the other."

Wulfsen would have liked to ride with Sileas, but he reached for his horse with a resigned sigh.

Sileas glanced over how many people they had between the knights, Juniper's men,  and family. She glanced at Wulfsen. "The wagon's might be a little crowded. Can I ride with you?"

Wulfsen grinned. "If your father doesn't object."

"If I don't object to what?" Shawn asked, turning after getting Nelek settled in one of the wagons.

"The wagons are going to be awfully crowded, so maybe Sileas could ride with me." Wulfsen said innocently. "My horse can carry two."

Shawn narrowed his eyes slightly. "Have the two of you settled anything? And you're going to keep your hands away from...you'll keep your hands where they belong?"

"I can behave myself." Wulfsen blushed. "Well..." He looked at Sileas.

"Yes, Papa. You can do an announcement for two months from now" Sileas said quietly.

Yehudit clumsily tried to pull herself up on Wulfsen's horse.

"Yehudit! Wulfsen's horse can only carry two, that's all there is room for. You ride on the wagon with Questa and Juniper."

"I weigh less than either of you!" Yehudit said stubbornly.

"Well, our honeymoon is going to be... interesting." Wulfsen mused.

"It doesn't have anything to do with weight." Sileas lightly shoved at Yehudit. "Go get on the wagon."

In reply to Wulfsen Thornblade (msg # 295):

"Uh uh, I don't want to hear about that. Although, I feel for you trying to find any alone time."

In reply to Sileas (msg # 296):

Yehudit clung to the saddle like a fresh scab. "No! I'm going wherever you go."

Wulfsen though if his father knew just how much Yehudit clung to Sileas he would not expect them to produce an heir for quite a while.

"Is there any way to make Yehudit leave?"

"We're going to the same place, Yehudit." Sileas shoved at her again. "I. Want. Time. Alone. With. Wulfsen. NOW BACK OFF!"

Yehudit dug her nails into the saddle leather. "Someone has to look out for your reputation."

"Nothing is going to happen on a horse. GO!"

Always helpful, Questa was leaning against the wagon and laughing. "Aww Sileas, she don't need ter ride the chuffin' horse ter be wiv yer. Just let 'er 'ave 'er usual place 'round yor neck."

In reply to Sileas (msg # 302):

"Like you and him couldn't ride ahead of us to someplace more private and get off the horse." Yehudit said.

"Come on darling. Let them enjoy themselves for the time being. It must have been ages since they've seen each other" Juniper stood in between Yehudit and Sileas , hands on her hips. She was tired of the bickering and shouting.

"I'll have my eye on them," Shawn assured his niece. "I'm riding beside them."

Yehudit only dug her nails deeper into the leather. "I go with Sileas."

Juniper rolled her eyes and sighed. She wasn't in the mood to argue again. She walked past the younger child and boarded the wagon, stretching across two seats and removing her sword.

Sileas sighed. She really didn't want to do this. "But...I don't want you to go with me right now."

Yehudit bristled. "Why not?"

Sileas sighed. "Because sometimes I need to be alone. Sometimes...I want to spend time with Wulfsen. Alone. Time so we can get to know one another. Time to explore new interests. I wasn't joking when I said I was tired of looking for adventures. I want to learn new things, do new things." She glanced at Yehudit. "That's not to say I don't ever want to be with you, I just need space. Balance. It's just starting to be too much."

Yehudit's eyes widened. "You are planning to snog him."

"I am not! But we would like to talk, getting to know each other and about the future." Sileas couldn't believe that was all Yehudit had taken away from that whole speech.

Yehudit finally managed to get a leg over the horse's back. "You did plenty of talking already- can't be much left to talk about. Besides riding a horse might get you seasick again."

Sileas felt like screaming. "Get off of Wulfsen's horse and get your arse over to the wagon. I won't tell you nicely again." She pointed toward the wagons. "GO!"

Yehudit pointed her toes at the stirrups but they were too low for her feet. "You aren't asking me nicely this time."

"And it's going to get less nice each time I have to tell you. If you really love and respect me, you will abide by my wishes and give me time alone, with Wulfsen, with Questa, with my parents. I need space, Yehudit."

Yehudit's eyes filed with tears. "You want to get rid of me."

"No, I don't want to get rid of you. I just want time for myself and to spend with other people that I care about. I won't be as much fun to be around anyway while learning to cook and sew."

"I don't know how to cook or sew without hurting myself." Yehudit sniffled.

"I don't either, but now I have the desire to learn. It's time I learned how to be lady and act like a lady. None of that interests you. It will be good for both of us to spend time with other people and do things on our own."

"I'll learn it if you're learning it." Yehudit said.

"We still need time alone as well. Different friends, different activities."

Yehudit was feeling hurt. She and Sileas had always done everything together. Was Sileas pushing her out because of what her mother ordered, or because Sileas had Wulfsen now? Either way Yehudit did not like it. She stiffened her shoulders.

"We need to get a move on. I'd like to get back to the keep and I'm sure the others would too. Now please, go get on the wagon."

"Only if you do." Yehudit said stubbornly.

Sileas stalked over and lifted Yehudit by the back of her tunic.

"Ow! Stop! You're going to rip it!" Yehudit complained, clutching the saddle.

Wulfen's horse had had enough. He reared up, hoping to dislodge the stranger clutching his saddle.

Yehudit swore and only held on tighter.

The horse grew more frantic, feeling all the emotions of the humans around him. He reared violently and took off.

Juniper was barely awake when the sounds of a reading horse awoke her. She quickly stuck her head out of the carriage to see Yehudit and the horse galloping away. She cursed herself and ran over to another of the jorses nearby, hopping on and giving chase.

Yehudit clung to the saddle, her knuckles were white. She swore at the stupid horse.

Juniper managed to catch up to the horse and dismount the young girl from the saddle and place her on her own. Without a screaming girl the horse began to slow and stop as well as Juniper's.

A few of the raiders were riding toward Portside for some supplies. While they were there, of course, they had every intention of seeking out unattached females. They were just approaching the town when they spotted two. The two leaders smiled evilly. "Well, look here what we found. This should round out the numbers well."

Juniper had yet to see the raiders and dismounted the horse she was on to retrieve the other.

"This is what happens when you act so damn stubborn. The heavens do not revolve around you! You could have gotten hurt! Imagine how Sileas would have felt if that had happened."

Juniper pulled on the reigns of the horses when she spotted the unsavory raiders approach. She motioned for Yehudit to stay back as she reached for her greatsword strapped to her back.

The lead raider nodded toward here. "Oh,come now lass, there's no need for weapons. We're just looking for some brides." He wiped his arm across his nose.

Juniper slowly drew her blade and gave it a few test swings.

"The only bride you'll be getting is your severed hand. Just take your friends and keep walking. Its best that way."

The man beside him and three others fanned out. "So you want to do it the hard way then. That's all right then, my brothers and cousins like gals with fight." All drew blades except for the one man who quickly had a notched arrow aimed at them.

Juniper blade was longer than the raiders and this was her greatest advantage. With one quick swing she twisted her entire body to sever the bowstring and several fingers of the archer.

"That was your warning"

With a war cry, the men rushed Juniper, their blades flashing brightly in the sun. While her sword might be longer, they had more men on their side. Their fists flew as well as they fought to subdue the tall woman.

Juniper quickly reacted, lunging her blade through the abdomen of the closest raider and leaving it there. She had only her fists to strike back with. With a swift right hook she sent one of the men flying unconscious before the rest could get any closer. A raider managed to get close enough to slice a huge gash in junipers arm before she downed another man with a swift kick to the knee, causing it to snap.

The last raider dropped back, but began firing arrows in succession at Jupiter. He figured she couldn't block all of them.

Several of the arrows skidded off the leather covered steel of her armor. Two managed to slice the skin of her left arm and one manage to hit its mark, burying itself in her bicep by the time she was in arms reach of the raider. She shrugged it off and threw a quick punch to the side of the smaller mans head, knocking him to the ground where she began to pummel the life out of the man for no reason other than she wanted to.

The raider reached up to wrap his hands around Juniper's throat and he squeezed as hard as he could, trying to cut off her air.

Juniper kept striking the mans face. Blow after blow began to reduce the raider to a bloody pulp but she continued, seeming lost in the violence and rage. Her cheeks and armor were covered in both hers and the mens blood.

He finally released her throat, but only to weakly push against her shoulders, her chest, anywhere to push her off of him. But the blood loss became too great, and he went limp under her beating.

Juniper felt the life pass from his chest and stopped the beatings. She stood up and examined the carnage before her. With a deep sigh she began to rummage through the pockets of the dead men and took what she liked. After a moment she sat by the base of a tree and examined her wounds to find several cuts, and arrow, and a large portion of her hair cut. Looked over to Yehudit and rolled her eyes as she snapped the arrow and pulled it out, causing her blood to pour out in a stream. She quickly wrapped a strip of cloth around the wound.

Yehudit was beating up a dead man. Several twisted forks were stuck into him, any one of them could have killed him. She had already been angry enough about the horse, this momzer chose a very bad time to pick on her. She was still seeing red and swearing.

 Juniper watched the raging girl for a few minutes more before she heaved her self to her feet with a pained groan and slowly walked over towards Yheudit, retrieving her sword from the chest of a dead raider. Without even speaking to her she pulled her off the dead man and threw her onto one of the horses. Moments later they were back on their way towards the others back in Portside

Yehudit swore and bit the poor horse.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 327):

In the confusion, a young thief decided to help himself to whatever these posh people had in their pockets.

It was just a gentle touch, to the untrained it probably would have felt like a jostle and nothing more. It had been a long time but Sileas knew it the moment the boy's hand went for her coin pouch. She gently grabbed the small hand and turned to face the little thief.

"Oi! Struth! Let go of me lady! Honest guv!" He said, trying to twist his hand free.

Wulfsen was so preoccupied about his runaway horse that he did not even notice when every last coin was taken from him. He jumped in the saddle of another horse that the men had brought and took off after his own horse.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:57, Sun 01 May 2016.

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 354):

"Oh, come now, I'm barely touching you. There is no need to pick my pocket, if you are hungry you only have to ask and I will happy to treat you to some food," she said. Sileas loosened her hold as she knelt down in front of him.

The kid looked at the red-haired mark. He drew back his fist to punch her in the nose, determined to get her coin.

She gave him a warning look. "How long have you been living on the streets?" She was ready to duck at any moment.

"Five winters and I can make five winters longer than yor nose is gonna last! Struth!" With that he swung at her nose with his bony hand with all the strength in his skinny arm.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:08, Sun 01 May 2016.

Sileas grabbed his swinging hand and spun him around with his back to her. "I am not going to harm you, little one. Save your fighting form for when you have a fight on your hands. Where are your Mama or Papa?"

"Never 'ad a Papa. And me muvver traded me for Mike." He panted and tried to stomp on her feet.

"Need 'elp wiv the kid?" Questa asked casually, giving her weighted sock a twirl.

"AAHHH!! Oi!! Oi! THE STABBING GIRL!" Oscar screamed and panicked.

"Mike?" Sileas's brow furrowed. Her gaze softened. "My mother wasn't much better. Do you really like living on the streets and stealing to put food in your tummy?" She lifted her gaze at his cry. "No, Questa, I don't need any help with the little one."

"Overreact much, eh? I'm bloody well not stabbin' some bony kid." Questa grumbled. "Will yer button it before some stinkin' guard come over 'ere?" Questa climbed into the wagon where she wouldn't have to listen to the kid.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 364):

Oscar stopped panicking when the "stabbin' girl" left, though it could be because he was afraid she'd cut out his tongue or something.

"Mike were a mean bloke and didn't like me." Oscar said moodily. "Oh I just live 'ere wen I'm bloody well not in me palace." He scoffed. "They ain't givin' food oray so it's better than starvin' ter deaff."

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 366):

"Your palace? Oh, I would love to see your palace some time." Sileas turned him to face her and held his hand gently. "Would you like a permanent home? I can't promise much right off, we're still rebuilding. But you'll have a roof and good meals. At least until I have a place of my own, you'll have good meals," she laughed. "Though I doubt Aunt Aislyn would begrudge us meals."

"Yer run wiv Stabbin' Girl's gang?" The boy asked.

"Long ago. But neither of us run with a gang now. Questa's not completely settled down, but she's somewhat settled now," Sileas said softly. "I found a family when I was twelve and managed to get off the streets." She gave him a smile. "We could even arrange an adoption, you would have grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and an aunt who's younger than you. Aunt Aislyn, she bakes the most delicious treats. And most importantly, you would know love."

He was wary. The Stabbing girl wasn't running her own gang? That made no sense, she was a legendary thief and cutthroat on the streets. "They a bunch of weirdos or sumfink?"

"My family? Other than Aunt Lia, no, they're not weirdos or anything. Just good people and a big loving family." She laughed and tousled his hair. "I'm sure Papa would love having a grandson to do things with."

"Do wot wiv?" He asked suspiciously, ducking his head when she ruffled his hair.

Family was a foreign concept to him. He'd had a mother until he was around five, she fed him when there was food to be had, sometimes she had him beg or help her steal. Then Mike moved in. For a few days it was better- Mike was able to bring in more food so he ate better. Then Mike started beating him up and resenting Oscar eating his food, told his mother that he didn't want Oscar around so his mother threw him out. Most of the other streetkids he met didn't have much better as far as family went, some had it even worse.

"Oh, things like fishing and hunting. Looking at the stars at night." Sileas grinned. "He and I did those things together too. He'll show you how to build simple things, I was never interested in that. When you're older, there's horseback riding and things like that. Papa had all daughters, who knows what he might come up with to spend the day doing with you."

The boy still looked very wary. "Wotcher want me for?"

By the time Juniper had came back into sight she had lost a lot of blood.  Still holding on to both horses as she got closer and spotted Wulfsen. She waved weakly and tried to force a smile.

"Hey handsome! Long time no see!"

Her voice was beginning to fade and it was clear that the wounds were not stopping. She slowed the horse down as it got to her rescuer and she began to slump over in her saddle.

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 374):

"Because I know what it's like to live on the streets. Because...because I want to be...because I want a little one of my own to love." Sileas closed her eyes for a moment. "Because I want to make your life better."

Oscar gaped at the redhaired woman.

"Wotcher want a wee one for, then? And I'm not wee." Oscar drew himself as tall as a malnourished ten-year-old could be. "I'm bloody well big."

Then someone Oscar thought he'd never see again showed up, the tall elf. Hadn't she given him some warning about stealing? "Oh hell fire -" Oscar started to curse, but the elf slumped over, and Oscar could see blood on her. "Wot 'appened ter yer, then?"

Sileas was about to reply when Juniper showed up and then slumped over. "Juniper?!" Still holding the boy's hand, she hurried over to Juniper. "Someone attacked her! Papa!" Then she realized her father was no where near. Where was Wulfsen?  She rolled Juniper over on to her back.

_{"got attacked in the woods... killed some raiders...hurt bad..."}

Juniper was even paler that usual and fading out of consciousness. She slowly and meekly raised her hand to hold that of Sileas. The wound had stopped bleeding but was still red and raw

In reply to Wulfsen Thornblade (msg # 355):

Wulfsen lost track of his horse, and what was worse he could not find Yehudit either. He hoped Sileas would know where to find her. Wulfsen sighed and headed back.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 379):

Questa looked at the wound. "Stuck 'er good. Too bad we didn't brin' the bloody healer instead of yor millstone."

"Difyr had enough to do without coming along. Surely they have a healer here, right? Could you go find them, Questa?" She tore off a sleeve and pressed it against the wound.

Questa knew there were healers and physicians in Portside but she always thought of them as for rich people and had never actually seen one.

"There's a barber not far from 'ere." Questa said, pointing at the pole.

Sileas paled. "A barber? No. Go find a healer. Tell them we need them in the name of the King." She hoped Wulfsen wouldn't mind a bit of name dropping.

Questa scoffed. "Yer've gotten spoiled gonna the healer for evry scrotch and splinter. A barber is just as right good. Besides, I don't know where an 'ealer is."

To Sileas, it looked like there was no time to waste. "Fine. Go get the barber then."

Questa took off, then returned a few minutes later with a clean shaven man wearing a blood stained apron. He had a razor and a jar of leeches.

Sileas paled and got to her feet, pulling the boy close against her. "Someone stabbed Juniper, I don't know who."

"I better get that bad blood out." The barber opened the jar and pulled out one of the leeches.

Sileas turned the boy so his face was against her and she held him close. She couldn't help but shudder, very grateful that Difyr only used the leeches in the worst of circumstances.

Oscar was finding what was going on fascinating and was actually staring, until the woman turned him away.

"Oi! Blimey! Wotcher doin', isit? I want ter see!" He pushed away from her.

Sileas wrinkled her nose but let him turn. "My apologies, I am used to sisters who don't like to see such things."

"I'm not a girl!" Oscar exclaimed.

"I know that, little one. I have to remember that boys like...yucky stuff."

"I do not! Right!" Oscar stepped away from the redhead.

"of course you don't think it's yucky, you like it," Sileas stated calmly. "Just make certain you don't get in the barber's way."

"I don't want ter get anywhere near that bleeder." Oscar said.

"Good. Our village healer only does bleeding as the absolute last resort. So that's another thing you won't have to worry about."

Wulfsen returned, and he stared. "What happened?"

"Juniper road back into the dock and fell off your horse upon arrival. But it appears she was stabbed by someone. Where's Yehudit?" she asked with concern.

Yehudit was still on Wulfsen's horse, swearing.

Juniper was barely alive. She seemed to be moving in slow motion, completely separate from the world. Her eyes struggled to stay open as she clung to  consciousness.

_{"Hey...it's ok....ill be fine....you worry....too much."}

Juniper smiled weakly and looked at Sileas, her breathing now much slower.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Mon 02 May 2016.

"Help me get her in the wagon, there's a surgeon not far from here." Wulfsen said, slipping his arms under her.

"It's going to be all right, Juniper. You'll be fine." She grabbed her friends feet to help Wulfsen carry her.

Once Juniper was inside the wagon she gave a week thumbs up before slumping over and passing out, her body going limp and cold at the start of her unconsciousness

Wulfsen jumped in the seat and struck the reins. The physician was not far away, just one road over from the docks.

He worriedly looked to Shawn. "I know we shouldn't leave her... But I am most anxious to be reunited with my Aislyn."

Shawn was at a loss. He didn't want to just traipse Nelek through the keep to Aislyn if it wasn't him. On the other hand, he didn't want to keep them apart if it was him. "All right." He headed for one of the wagons.

He climbed into the wagon. "I'm aching to hold her again."

"This will be a supervised visit in a secluded area of the keep. And anything that happens will be up to Aislyn."

Sileas quickly found her young charge. "Why don't we go find some food until Wulfsen returns?"

He blinked. "Secluded but supervised? You will let us have our privacy if Aislyn... wants privacy?"

In reply to Sileas (msg # 411):

Oscar was disappointed to not get to see some more blood and gore, but he brightened when the mark offered food. "Food is good."

Yehudit was coming down from her rage and feeling exhausted. She slumped in the saddle.

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 413):


"Let's see what we can find," Sileas said, taking the tiny hand. "What is your name, by the way? I'm Sileas."

"Oscar- Oscar the Knife." Oscar added to sound more impressive.

Sileas tried to hide her grin. "Oscar, a nice, strong name," she said as they headed into the marketplace.

Yehudit tumbled off the horse and shambled after Sileas.

"I'm strong too!" Oscar pulled up a ragged sleeve and flexed his bare arm to show off what muscles he had.

Sileas smiled. "I'm very impressed. I can't remember when I have seen such impressive muscles in a young man's arm."

Oscar decided to show off what his muscles could do by punching some delicate clay jars on display. The jars shattered.

"Oh, Oscar, you can't go around doing that. It's not polite to break other people's things." She opened her coin pouch and took out a few coins to hand to the vendor. "My apologies."

The vendor accepted the coins, but said the kid was a menace and belonged in the stocks.

"I was just showing you how strong I am." Oscar said, flexing his muscles and looking ready to break something else. Maybe that vendor's nose!

Sileas apologized again, then shook her head at Oscar. "I have no doubt that you are very strong, but there are much more productive ways to use that strength. You wouldn't like it if you had a special something, or something you were selling, and someone came along and broke it."

"He should have made the jars stronger." Oscar said airily.

In reply to Nelek (msg # 412):

Lek blushed. His mother and father wanting privacy was not something he wanted to think about.

In reply to Oscar the Knife (msg # 425):


Sileas laughed and shook her head. "After we eat, we should purchase some clothing for you."

"I already 'ave kit." Oscar scoffed.

"Well yes, but they're looking a bit snug. Boy or girl, I know children your age outgrow clothing very quickly."

"They're not snug! Blimey! I just ate twice yesterday is all." Oscar was feeling insulted.

"Oh is that it? Well it never hurts to have something clean to wear when it's time for your clothing to be laundered either."

"Launderin' kit is for posh blokes. I spose yer expect ter use soap and fresh water too." Oscar wrinkled his scarred nose. Whenever he wanted to clean up he swam at the docks, gave his clothes a rinse in the saltwater.

"Oh yes indeed, there will be a bath in your very near future. And your ongoing future as well. A good scrubbing is always in order."

Oscar looked horrified. He turned to run from the crazy lady only to crash into a guard, got the guard's thick belt buckle right in his nose. Oscar bounced back but the second guard grabbed him.

"Gotcha! Now what've ye stolen this time, rat?"

"I 'aven't nicked nuffink! Oi!" Oscar squirmed but already one guard was tying his wrists together with a cord.

"Nuffing huh? Let's see what ye got in ya pockets." The guard pulled out a surprising number of coin's from the ragged urchin's pockets- some of the coins were even gold. Even the guards look surprised but Oscar was almost dropped when the royal seal turned up.

"Oh ho! That certainly doesn't belong to ye! Yer in fer it now!"

Oscar hadn't known what the seal was when he stole it from the bloke's pocket, just thought it would be worth something. He cursed the bloke for letting it be so easily stolen.

"They'll never let'm out, will they?"

"Naw, but we better break his hands just to make sure. 'old his mitts on that post..."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:24, Mon 09 May 2016.