Fandom The Dragon Prince: Deep Trouble [Closed]

[cleopat]

Once upon a time, Aaravos would’ve felt some guilt over seeing her tears, or killed anyone who caused her that pain. But now it was temporary satisfaction, knowing she was stewing in her own turmoil as he had been.

But that temporary satisfaction was very, very temporary.

He began to feel the pricklings of…resentment, to himself, over it.

“Oh, but you don’t have to get used to it.” He sat on the arm of her chair, leaning slightly to get closer to her. “I’m here now, and you wouldn’t do anything to get rid of me, now would you? After all, I’m sure we’ll see each other in just a few days.”

He would let her decide if that was a threat, a promise, or both. But if she concealed his name once more and forced him into complete isolation for those last few days, then his anger would indeed only grow.

~~~

Willow was familiar of what happened in Lux Aurea. People talked, and she heard many accounts of what happened, some from the sunfire elves who managed to escape alive and unharmed. “It’s certainly not something I would fool around with. Just find a human dark mage.” As if that was an easy task.

She didn’t know how many there were before Lux Aurea, and before the borders opened, but now? The number may be smaller. But to kill an archdragon…that required a lot of preparation and skill.

But, Willow realized, she wanted to see it done.

She scoffed at Finnegrin. “Tame? Something tells me that’s not even a word in your vocabulary.” Imagining anything taming Finnegrin was just…hilarious. He was cruel and vindictive. There had been stories surrounding him for years. He was as tameable as the sea.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘I would, and you tempt me every second.’ Lethe didn’t say that. She was trying to ignore him again. She forced herself to read, and endure his comments with minimal reactions. She couldn’t quite stop reacting, not when she was too torn up about him being present. However, it did mean she also tried to tune out everything around her.

And so she tuned out Jove until he finally shocked her, quite literally, with a small bit of lightning.

Lethe jolted up immediately, “Why did you—” taking herself from the world of the book, she understood why. The sky had changed from blue to hues of orange and red. “Shit,” she put the book on the table and gestured for Jove to follow, going to the railing and jumping off without a second thought.

Jove didn’t let her down, swooping in to catch her, “We have to find the others,” they were either distracted by their own readings, or were trying to find her so they could leave together, considering they’d agreed to leave together, to talk about whether or not she’d seal Aaravos’s name again.

“Callum?” it was the main name she remembered. “Rayla? Ama…,” Amaya wasn’t going to hear her. What was the sunfire name? She already forgot.

“Here!” Rayla called, and Jove dove down, “Amaya went to find Callum,” she said, and with a nervous chuckle, “don’t suppose that stormbird can carry more, can it?”

Lethe gave a bit of a nervous grin in return. “Maybe one.” She doubted it, though. Definitely not Amaya, but maybe Callum or Rayla. Maybe Kazi, but only with one of the kids. “It’ll be okay,” it was not going to be okay, nothing about this day had been okay.

~***~

Finding a human dark mage was an option. Finnegrin had no hesitance in that. He could easily keep a dark mage in line, and see to it they fulfilled his desires, if they wanted to live. Certainly, they wouldn’t claim the knowledge to kill a dragon without being able to, given it would definitely cost them their life.

What he found curious was how Willow wasn’t opposed.

He did laugh at her comment, “Right?” He was definitely not tame. It had never been a word one applied to any Tidebound elf, but certainly not him. “Domina will learn in due time, once I can find the way to put an end to her reign. So you see, you may be more capable of that than I – that human side of you seems to bleed in with thoughts of dragons.”

She wasn’t opposed at all.

Hopefully, that meant she was actually onboard with it.

“Finding that, my dear, would pay off your debt far quicker,” even if he might enjoy having a pretty thing to look at now and then when he was bored, he’d rather have Domina dead. That was the most important thing of all.

 

[cleopat]

Aaravos lingered for a little longer, relishing how obvious Lethe was in trying to ignore him. But his presence weighed heavily on her. Good.

Eventually, Aaravos left her alone with the full intention of reaching out to her again later. When she least expected it, or maybe when she was fully prepared to face him. He fully returned to his current present of isolation in his cell, biding his time while he waited for the pieces to fall into their final places.


The hours passed by much faster than anyone anticipated, but everyone read through so many books and scrolls. It was Amaya who first noticed how late it was getting. She made a movement to gain Kazi’s attention, and she signed We need to leave. I’ll go find Callum.

The young mage had wandered into a different section of the library a while ago in search of more answers. Amaya headed off when Lethe called for them, prompting the others to head in the direction of her voice.

Amaya didn’t have to venture too far before she ran into Callum, who had been headed in her direction after hearing Lethe. He was beginning to get antsy with the time. If they were lucky, they could still all make it out in time. We need to go. The others are waiting.

Callum nodded and they made their way back to the group, now with Lethe with them. “Okay, so I believe we found an answer to how to kill Aaravos.” He sounded excited to tell Lethe, but prompted by a look Amaya sent him, he chuckled nervously. “Which can definitely wait until we’re out of here.”

~~~

Willow wanted to tell Finnegrin that it wasn’t just her human half that was the reason for her disdain towards the dragons. Earthblood elves also viewed dragons in a more negative light than most elves, and she even recalled her mother telling her about the Drakeriders of Drakewood even tamed and rode dragons as a rite of passage.

She looked over at him with curiosity, not pausing in her walk to her place, when Finnegrin mentioned how it would pay off her debts quicker. Helping him find a way to end Domina’s reign.

Damn it, she would do her damndest to find that end. Dark mage may be her best way, but how often did a dark mage venture into Scumport? “I shall remember that.” And she would. She would do anything to escape his servitude faster.

Willow walked them inside a building, gave the woman tending to the entry room a polite wave, walked up a flight of steps to the second door down the hallway. Inside was a small apartment with nothing too flashy. There were a few hints of her Earthblood heritage, such as a few plants along the windows.

But her current mission for why she was there flew from her thoughts when her mind recognized there was someone else in her apartment. Another second later, Willow realized it was Drake, who had obviously been pacing in restlessness, no doubt over her and the rumors that were going around after being spotted alongside Finnegrin.

He looked over when he heard the door open, relief flooding his body when he saw Willow. “I was so worried-” Drake took a step towards her, but paused mid-step and mid-sentence when he noticed a certain pirate captain behind her.

“It seems our business ventures are over, my dear friend.” She gave him a soft smile, tinged with sadness, before walking up to him and giving him a quick hug. Finnegrin’s appearance there be damned.

 

[Lucyfer]

Callum’s news was not something that Lethe could meet with enthusiasm. ‘If there was a way….’ She didn’t want him dead. She didn’t want him imprisoned. Nor did she want him freed. Lethe didn’t know what she wanted, except for none of it to have happened in the first place, and Aaravos to be, well, innocent of crimes.

That wasn’t the case, and he was most definitely going to kill her. She ought to support Callum’s goals here, but she agreed with Amaya’s look.

Later.

She dropped back to the ground, “I’ll be around to listen,” she promised as they approached the door to exit the Bookery. Only, when Amaya threw it open, there was a corrupted banther out there, eating one of the mounts the others had brought, and not taken in.

Amaya immediately shut the door and held her hands to it a second – before signing something that Lethe didn’t understand.

“Barricade!” Kazi translated, though Lethe was sure there was a bit more to it than that, “Yes, we’ll have to wait them out until morning,” Kazi agreed, “everyone go find—”

The banther must have heard them, because there was a sudden tremble as it ran towards the door. Amaya braced, but it was no good – she was sent rolling as the banther burst its way into the bookery.

Lethe was quick to get back on Jove and fly up – she wasn’t a fighter by any means, and knew her place was better not being a hindrance to others who could fight. Besides, she could still rain down lightning from on high, which was where she intended to get as more banthers appeared from out of the shadows and stalked in as Amaya pulled her shield off of her back, and Rayla took out a bow.

Kazi definitely didn’t look prepared for this.

~***~

Whether or not Willow succeeded remained to be seen. There were others in Finnegrin’s crew who knew the goal, others who wanted similar freedoms. It was a useful reward to dangle in front of them, and it would one day pay off. He had to believe that.

They returned to Scumport without fanfare, and into a building. Finnegrin cast the woman there a cheery grin, following up to Willow’s local haven, and letting his eyes fall upon her friend. Drake. He kept that cheery grin on his lips, but the glint in his eyes was far more malicious. He really should add Drake to the crew, as well.

“Quite right,” Finnegrin chimed in, walking forward even before they broke apart in their embrace and clapped a hand down on Drake’s shoulder, “Dear little Willow-Waly here has come to join my crew to pay off the enormous loan I’ve given her by letting her work so long without paying her proper share – and wouldn’t you know it, she seems to be working off your share as well.”

Would guilt be enough to possess the man to volunteer? Hard to say.

Perhaps lack of it would be enough to drive a solid wedge between the two. That would make sure nothing happened when Willow did get her freedom, years from then. The business ventures would suffer and decay, never to annoy him again.

Not that it would – Willow would remain working for him even after she left the crew. She’d pay her proper taxes in the future.

“Quite the amount you two racked up, in all that unpaid interest, too – but she’s a champ. It may take her twenty years, but by the tides, she’ll come up with it.”

 

[cleopat]

Oh, a corrupted banther. That wasn’t good.

And before they could reinforce the door, the banther burst through the entrance. Everyone rushed out of its way as they quickly thought of a way to kill it. Callum immediately sought to look for Rayla, who looked ready for battle with Runaan’s bow in her grip.

Callum smiled before his brows furrowed in concentration. Seeing Lethe rain down lightning onto the bear sparked an idea in him. “Fulminis.” A bolt of lightning shot out of his hand and struck the banther. That, mixed with Lethe’s own lightning, struck the banther down.

“Yes!” he celebrated with a fist pump into the air.

“I wouldn't celebrate just yet,” Kazi said nervously, backing up as more banthers stepped out of the shadows. Amaya’s eyes narrowed at them, and her grip tightened around her sword. She lunged at the closest one, piercing the sword into its torso. Down it went.

“Aspiro frigis.” The spell sent a wave of ice towards one of the banthers, restraining and trapping it in its icy grips.

~~~

Drake kept shifting his gaze between Willow and Finnegrin. The captain may have been a fellow Tidebound elf, but he wanted nothing more than to plunge a knife straight into his cold heart, especially as the pirate placed a hand on him. Finnegrin was enjoying the moment far too much.

He looked back down at Willow when they parted from the embrace. She gave him a sad smile and saw how Drake was about to protest. The fool may even volunteer to give away his soul as well, and Willow couldn’t have that. They both didn’t deserve to suffer.

“You saved my life once, and now it’s my turn to save yours. Consider us even.” She placed her hand on his arm to offer him a comforting squeeze before pulling it away.

Oh, Drake wanted to protest. “But that’s-”

“Unfair?” She smiled a fake smile. “When has anything in my life been fair? You should go.” Please, before Finnegrin decides to take you too.

He struggled in his decision for a moment, but ultimately, Drake sighed and nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on things, and Pucca…”

“She wanted to come with me.” Willow opened the bag enough for Drake to peek in. The pichi was curled up, asleep.

He smiled at the sight before pulling Willow in for one more hug. “Just remember, ‘though there be fury on the waves, beneath them there is no.’” Returning the embrace, she chuckled, and after they parted, watched as he left. Safe, for now.

Wordlessly, without sparing a glance at Finnegrin, Willow turned toward her dresser. She opened one of the bottom drawers and pulled out a small bag, similar in size to the one she gave Finnegrin at her house.

 

[Lucyfer]

Lethe did what she could in forming the sign and murmuring the spell to keep throwing down lightning, but there were more and more banthers, and the opened door wasn’t helping. She adjusted, helping where she could as Rayla had to run to gain distance, in order for her arrows to be effective. Kazi just tried to avoid fighting at all, and Amaya was always in the fray.

Amaya didn’t need much help, though.

Callum and Rayla needed some, but poor Kazi needed the most, even if she did her best to stay out of sight, and out of mind. Lethe didn’t stray far from lightening and gusts, though Callum did invoke other aspects of the sky arcanum. She knew where she was comfortable, and while she could do those things, doing them in the heat of a fight didn’t come to mind.

And then, Jove jerked in an unexpected fashion.

Lethe lost her balance and slipped from Jove’s back in time to see Jove fly out of the path of a banther who lunged from one of the higher floors to him. ‘Okay, I can’t fault that.’ She did fault the pain that shot through her back on the fall, and she faulted the trajectory of the banther, but she was on her feet and scrambling for higher ground soon enough, even if higher ground was just on top of a desk.

“JOVE! Jove you—augh—ventus validus!” the banther was tossed aside when it tried to lunge at her, and she hopped off the desk, realizing she was just a target in the open like that.



Jove wasn’t coming back, although Lethe didn’t know why, he had a good reason. He sensed the passing nearby of a greater being, and soon, he saw Zubeia flying over Lux Aurea. He had to catch her, he had to alert her to the problems down below.

~***~

Drake did want to join.

Well, want was a strong word.

He was compelled by love of his friend, and his friend was compelled by that same love to urge him away. It would have made a lovely, heart-wrenching scene in some theater show, where at the end the two confessed undying love for each other, and all that other nonsense. Finnegrinn just chuckled at it now.

Well, at least Drake was avoiding his fate.

All because he saved Willow’s life, once. No, this really wasn’t fair at all to poor Willow. He scoffed at the comment of Drake, and noted when the man was walking off, “He’s never been caught in a current,” he went to collect the gold from Willow, “Best not to believe that little white lie of your friend. Ain’t nothing calm beneath the waves, halfling. There’s monsters and currents of all sorts, willing to drag you down so deep you’ll never even dream of the sun again.”

Of course, that wouldn’t happen on his ship.

But she shouldn’t think she’d be safe.

 

[cleopat]

Amaya was the one who noticed Lethe falling and landing on her back, and she almost rushed over, in the middle of the battle, to help her up, but the Skywing elf seemed to recover quick enough. Amaya could continue slaying banthers all evening, but the others, Callum, the young elf…They would tire quicker.

Or they would slip and make a fatal mistake.

Callum continued throwing spells at the banthers, one after the other as they came to mind. In the corner of his eye, he saw Bait trapped by one, fear clear on his face. “Bait!” he cried. Callum performed the fulminis spell on the banther looking for a small snack, and the young mage sprinted over to the glow toad and picked him up, adjusting him so one arm carried him.

More banthers came out, seemingly more of them in every batch, and in that moment, Callum wondered if it was impossible to escape alive. It seemed impossible.

But sometimes even the impossible was possible. Glass rained down on them as a large creature - Zubeia, Callum recognized - crashed through to land on the floor. “Callum!” cried the familiar voice of his younger brother.

“Ezran!” There was also Soren and Corvus sitting behind him, urging everyone to get on.

~~~

Willow sent Finnegrin a confused look, not understanding what he was saying at first. But then the pieces clicked in her head, and she laughed as she made the realization. “Oh no, that wasn’t a lie. He is well aware of the dangers hidden under the sea.” She understood how the statement sounded to someone who didn’t know, to someone who was well aware of the dangers the sea had to offer.

“It’s just…a thing between us.” Willow wasn’t exactly comfortable explaining the nuances in her friendship with Drake to the elf forcing her into his service. In their years together, they developed many stories and inside jokes, little things they would say to one another to cheer them up, or calm them down. “I would never underestimate the ocean.”

She checked the other drawers for anything she may have forgotten. Nothing. Then she went over to the bed and knelt on the floor, looking underneath. Just some old books she would keep there. She wouldn’t keep anything of sentimental importance in that place. It was too easy for someone to break in and ransack.

Speaking of which…When she stood back up, Willow reached underneath a pillow on the bed and pulled out a small knife, which she slid inside her boot. “Alright, I’m ready.” No, she wasn’t, but she would never be ready. Not for this.

 

[Lucyfer]

Lethe couldn’t continue fighting. Nor could Kazi. It was with a quick grab and then a spell, that Lethe did her best to get them both out of the situation, swirling a whirlwind around them that threatened to shred anything that tried to pass through it. Kazi continued to look worried, watching the banthers that prowled outside the whirlwind, looking for purchase – one batted its paw and tore it away quickly as the wind did shred it.

“We’ll be okay, we’ll be okay,” Lethe thought she should try and get the others in the whirlwind, but lowering it was too risky.

It turned out it wasn’t foolproof, either, as the same banther who batted his paw lunged. Despite the whipping winds, his mass got him through, even though he slid on the ground and looked worse for wear. Kazi let out a terrified sound as the other banthers clearly realized they could do the same, and Lethe murmured the wing spell before the second got through.

Up went herself and Kazi as the whirlwind died – but Kazi was heavy.

Everyone was heavy to Lethe.

They went down shortly after the momentary burst, out of the surrounding banthers, but not safe at all.

Until, there was the sound of raining glass. Lethe was quick to scatter any that mind fall on her and Kazi, and noticed Jove had returned with Zubeia. Her eyes went wide in renewed terror, even as the others seemed overjoyed, and recognized the people with Zubeia.

Now wasn’t the time for such scruples, though, even though she saw the flash of recognition in Zubeia’s eyes before lightning struck out en masse with her terrible roar, helping to clear a path to her.

“Go!” Lethe told Kazi, turning to send another wave of wind at the banthers who had surrounded them earlier and were recovering from their misses and whirlwind wounds. Kazi only hesitated a second, as Jove returned to Lethe’s side, and ran for Zubeia.

The two soldiers with Zubeia jumped down from her back to rush out and help get people to the dragon, taking over fights. Rayla was freed from her engagement by Corvus and able to run to Zubeia, where she could launch more arrows from semi-safer ground.

Soren went to try and help Callum break free as well, cutting across a banther’s face as he slid into scene, before crouching into a stance, “Get out of here, Callum, I’ve got this,” still all smirking swagger as he held the gaze of the corrupted creature.

~***~

A thing.

Finnegrin arched a brow at that, but didn’t question it deeper. People had weird inside jokes. He had several. He didn’t need to know it, either, so long as she wouldn’t underestimate the ocean. The last thing he needed was her trying to escape via the sea. That wouldn’t end well for her. Especially if he wasn’t there to see.

The ocean was a cruel mistress.

Not even he could tame it.

Although, one day, he fully intended to have better control – like a rider with an unbroken mustang on reins. He would improve his mastery, day by day, even if the mustang would never heed him.

He saw the knife.

She probably didn’t intend that. “Good. You can hand over the gold, but keep the knife,” he wanted her to know. “Never know what dangers you’ll run into,” likely it was meant for him, but he wasn’t that stupid.

There were enough weapons on his ship she’d be able to grab, anyways. It wasn’t as if they were locked up tight. Engagement with a foe could happen at any moment, his crew needed to be prepared to fight! Or at least, de-fang a captured leviathan. “We’re going sailing tomorrow for leviathan, so you have to get the ship in ship-shape! Don’t worry, plenty on the crew can show you the way.”

He clapped a hand on her back as he led the way out, to return them both to the ship.

 

[cleopat]

“Soren! Corvus!” Callum could laugh in relief as he watched them jump down to join the fight. Kazi was already climbing up the dragon, their one party member that couldn’t fight well, and now Callum could sigh in relief as they made it to relative safety.

Amaya smiled at the two men who joined them, and when she made eye contact with Corvus, in a brief second of peace, she signed It’s about time you two got here. Corvus smirked, “Just gotta save the best for last.”

The soldiers engaged back into attack when banthers lunged at them, each one struck down with a swipe of a blade. Amaya could take one by one with ease, but she noticed more were surrounding her. If they could just get the kids out of there…

Callum, with Bait still in his arms, had to make sure Rayla was okay and had a clear path to the dragon. She could take care of herself better than he could, but he still worried. He couldn’t lose her again.

“Callum!” Ezran called out again. “Come on!” Callum snapped his attention back on Ezran and Zubeia and he hurriedly climbed on her back to join Ezran. At least up there, he had the vantage point of striking down banthers with lightning.

~~~

Willow had no intention of hiding the knife from Finnegrin. Nor did she have any intention of leaving it behind if he demanded it. She was going on a ship with a crew she didn’t know and a captain with no sense of boundaries. She didn’t quite have his name written on the blade, but she wouldn’t hesitate to use it to protect herself from harm.

Consequences be damned.

She moved into her new, hopefully very temporary, life aboard the ship. After she was shown her quarters and given a quick tour of the ship, she was pushed headfirst into her own personal form of torture: cleaning. Would now be a bad time to tell someone she couldn’t swim?

No, a bad time would be when they ventured out of port the next day, and the telling signs of an approaching storm started. The birds flew back toward shore, and the waves gradually worsened, causing Willow to feel sick to her stomach for more reason than just the choppy seas.

Her hands would grip anything attached to the ship tighter than necessary as she ran through the motions of their Leviathan hunting venture, with the assistance of another crew member to help her learn the ins and outs of the process.

 

[Lucyfer]

As Lethe did her best to flit away from the banthers and avoid harm, or blow them back, she did see the gathering of people heading towards Zubeia. ‘Good.’ Soon, she could get out of here, too. She had Jove, who was assisting in blasting banthers with lightning, but she wanted to see all of them get up on Zubeia.

They were more necessary than her to the future. She might even be a hindrance.

Yet it was the face of one of the new ones that she kept looking towards. When she’d seen him, she’d almost stumbled, seeing a ghost of the woman who asked her to betray Aaravos. Then, she realized, it wasn’t the Queen of Katolis – it was some young boy who looked strikingly like the Queen.

A descendant?

There was no time to really think on it, though her mind kept turning it over as the banthers backed her up into the fighting lines of Amaya, and the two soldiers.

The blond one ended up taking a quick step in front of her, between her and a banther, “Go on to Zubeia, we’ll hold them back.”

“I—I have Jove, I can leave whenever.”

“Huh?” he looked back, and saw the stormy bird, “Oh.” His moment of looking away, however, caused the banther to lunge.

The soldier with the dark hair caught the banther with his strange chain weapon, managing to wrap the chain around its neck and pull it off target with a grunt.

Zubeia let out a cry, perhaps pain, perhaps frustration – the blonde seemed to think the latter, “Right, okay, retreat!” the blonde said, rushing back towards Zubeia for he had no bird.

Lethe mounted up on Jove as Zubeia spread her wings, only for several more banthers to appear, sensing the weakness, as well as their chance fading away.

Amaya and the other soldier were cut off from Zubeia.

~***~

Despite the restrictions that the Queen of the Ocean tried to enforce, Finnegrin always found his ways around it. He skirted the shore for a while, before venturing further out, to a place few came to hunt leviathans – at least, yet. It wasn’t truly leviathans he was looking for, though that was what he told everyone.

It was glow toads.

He’d been told they lingered near the rocky areas, as the leviathans and other sea creatures couldn’t navigate the waters well, and there they laid their eggs. Even the eggs would be enough for Finnegrin, but he’d prefer an adult, so he didn’t have to waste his time waiting for them to be old enough to be useful bait.

Still, he knew leviathans did come these waters, also looking for a stray glow toad or glow tadpole to devour. He was just as willing to take one of them back to sell, too, and his vessel was prepared for it.

They navigated near the rocks, but didn’t venture within them, as Finnegrin saw no sign of the glowing toads right then. Of course, the overcast sky and the choppy waters also made him a bit more hesitant. Sure, Sea Legs would navigate well over the rocks, but it was such a hassle getting her ready for it.

He barely took notice of the new crewmember, except to smirk to himself at her obvious illness. “If you get sick on the deck, you’ll have to clean it up!” he called down to her. Not his problem, of course.

Her problem.

 

[cleopat]

Everyone save for Amaya and Corvus made it onto Zubeia. Callum could breathe a sigh of relief at that, and he turned to encourage the two left to hurry up and climb on, but his breath hitched at their predicament. Numerous banthers closed in on them from all sides.

“Amaya!” he called out, at the same time Soren called out for Corvus.

Corvus didn’t glance at Soren, as he remained focused on one banther closing in on him. “Leave now, while you still can!”

“No, we won’t leave you!” Callum couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “We can help-”

But before he finished, Amaya had turned to Callum, determination set on her face, and in a moment that will remain seared in his memories for the rest of his life, she yelled out, “Go!”

He heaved a deep, shuddering breath, and nodded at Amaya. Her face softened, and she smiled back at him before returning to fight off the banthers. “Okay, let’s go.”

Zubeia climbed up to get them out of the bookery, and with one last look over his shoulder, Callum watched as Amaya and Corvus slipped inside the bookdrop, where they’ll be safe until morning. His shoulders dropped in relief. “They’ll be okay.”

~~~

Willow wasn’t exactly worried that she would get sick on the deck. Her body was merely getting used to the shifting floor beneath her, while she spent her whole life with both feet planted firmly on the unmoving ground. Even one of the crew members noticed her unease, and assured her that she would eventually get used to the movement.

But that wasn’t her concern. Her concern was the sea, growing more turbulent by the second as the storm approached. The rain began, first as a gentle shower, but soon grew into a downpour that continuously struck everyone on the ship with cold drops. Willow hated everything about this.

They were expected to continue working in these conditions? I can barely even see right now!

The waves crashed against the sides of the ship, large enough to splash water onto the deck. “Until you get the hang of your sea legs, I would suggest you keep a tight grasp on anything that’s secured to the ship. When I was new, I would often grab the ratlines.” The crewmember motioned to the series of ropes that formed a makeshift ladder up to the mast.

With the waves growing larger, and Willow questioning the integrity of Finnegrin’s ship, she decided to heed the crewmember’s advice. Someone she vowed to get the name of later to thank them. Staying near the railing in case she needed to grasp onto it for support, Willow began her way over to the ratlines, just a few feet from where she stood, but a particular rough wave caused her to stumble over her feet.

That would prove to be her mistake. She struggled to find her balance as the ship continued to rock back and forth, and in her struggle, she didn’t even see the large wage bearing down on the ship until it was too late. All she felt was a cold, wet force knocking her off her feet and taking her with it as it pulled her into the sea.

Panic immediately set in. So this is how I die. The sea was cold and relentless, and even as she managed to somehow break through the surface, the seat continued to knock into her and try to pull her back under into the dark depths. Unable to swim, all Willow could do was flail and cry out, a true miracle for anyone to hear in the rage of the storm, until the waves pulled her under and the last of her strength left her.

 

[Lucyfer]

Lethe did worry about Amaya, and the other soldier, but there was no way Jove would carry her and one of them. Not even Amaya on her own. Yet, Amaya spoke – ordered them away – and so Lethe urged Jove to follow up, up, and away.

But she flew some distance from Zubeia, with the consideration of flying away entirely.

Vanish.

Seal Aaravos’s name again. No discussion. She could hide away from these people, right?

“Hey!”

The boy with the crown was waving over to her from atop Zubeia. ‘No, you can’t leave.’ He looked too much like that damned Queen, and so, Lethe turned Jove closer.

“Thank you for sending Jove. He told us where everyone was,” apparently, the boy also had the same talent as the Queen. She forced a smile to her lips, not finding herself surprised by this fact at all. A simple nod was what he got for that, “I’m Ezran,” he introduced, “we’re going back to the sunfire camp, I’m sure they’ll let you have rest there.”

“Ah…maybe,” maybe because of these people. She wouldn’t press her luck. “I’m sorry about Amaya and the other.”

“It’s okay,” Ezran said, “Callum saw her go into the bookdrop. She and Corvus should be okay,” if the boy was afraid, he did his best not to show it. “He said you helped a lot in the Bookery as well, finding information. I found some as well,” the boy-king smiled, “we have a lot of notes to compare.”

Lethe felt Zubeia’s judgment, even if the queen wasn’t looking directly at her. This was not going to go well. However, if Zubeia wasn’t speaking, she wouldn’t suggest anything amiss. The fact that Zubeia’s injury was keeping her thoughts occupied was unknown to Lethe.

It at least made for a non-argumentative flight to the sunfire camp, where they were all able to land, with both humans and elves rushing to greet them – rushing for news.

~***~

The storm didn’t bother Finnegrin in the least. He rather felt in his element, although he knew some changes had to be made. He called out orders to lower the sails – it was time for Sea Legs to do the work, after all, to keep things afloat. The wind was only going to cause more chaos with the turbulent sea, and he’d rather not deal with that.

He was watching the deck as the sails were stowed, when he noticed the wave lash the side – and noticed how the new earthblood halfling went over the railings. “Oh, by the tides,” he grumbled, irritated with this.

He could let her drown.

He considered it, but opted against it. Her debt was still rather substantial, and she was one of the few who had a hope of talking to humans on his crew. Perhaps not well, but better than Deadwood had. Deadwood, who caught his caught his coat as he shoved it into the lackwit’s arms, “Hold that,” it would only weigh him down. “KEEP HER STEADY!” he roared over the storm, before seeing where Willow struggled, bobbing above the surface, only to vanish.

He dove into the sea, and underneath.

The water didn’t bother his eyes, so he was able to keep them open and head down, down, down, after the woman as she sunk like a stone. He was able to catch up with her, and wrap an arm around her to pull her back up.

He was plenty strong, and the water only really empowered him.

Of course, it was Sea Legs that would prove the major help, popping out of the ship and offering her claw for Finnegrin to get atop of, and pull Willow onto as well, to lift them back onto the ship.

 

[cleopat]

Janai was the sunfire elf leading a small gathering over to the returning humans. Her eyes scanned the group for signs of her fiancee, and her exuberance over their safe return diminished as she couldn’t spot Amaya. “Where is-”

Kazi climbed down from Zubeia and interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. “My Queen, Amaya will be safe. She slipped inside the book drop. The banthers can’t attack her in there.”

Janai relaxed and smiled at the news. “And I trust everyone else is unharmed?” She looked over them, and no one had any injuries she could see. They all escaped unscathed.

They all nodded, and Callum spoke, “And we may have actually found some helpful information.” And all that danger wouldn’t be for nothing.

Janai smiled and nodded at the young boy. “Good. That’s good to hear.” There was the addition of two other boys who didn’t leave with the group, but she briefly remembered who they were. The human boy-king and one of his soldiers.

But there was one more addition, the Skywing elf who had most certainly not left to go with them to the Great Bookery. Janai narrowed her eyes as she studied the elf, familiarity pricking at the back of the mind.

Callum jumped in to be the one to introduce them, “Oh, this is-”

“Lethe?” Janai finished, crossing her arms. “You were banned from the Great Bookery many years ago. Why were you there today?”

~~~

Down, down Willow sank below the sea. She couldn’t see anything through the murky waters, and with her lack of ability to do…anything, she accepted her fate. This was how she was to die. Not surrounded by the trees of the deep forests, as her mother’s ancestors had, but by a cold, watery grave.

An unexpected arm wrapped around her and began swimming them towards the surface. Opening her eyes, she tried her best to see who her savior was. She couldn’t make out too many details as her eyes strained to see anything in the salty water, but she could see enough that Finnegrin was her hero.

Finnegrin. Her savior. Willow wanted to laugh.

Her lungs screamed for oxygen right before they broke through the surface. The shock of everything, and the instant chill in the air with the ongoing storm forced her to feel everything at once. And her body felt nothing but fatigue.

She was brought back onto the deck, and immediately she turned on her side to cough up water she unwillingly swallowed in her struggles. Her back fell back onto the deck, and she took in deep, gasping breaths, replenishing her body with that sweet, sweet oxygen.

But now, as she trembled with chill and fatigue, Willow wanted the darkness to swallow her back up.

 

[Lucyfer]

Lethe landed near the others, though Zubeia pulled away from the group as they all began to dismount. Lethe paid that little attention, and offered a hand for Jove as Janai approached. She remembered Janai.

She remembered Khessa.

Aditi.

Jove placed his head under her hand as explanations were given to Janai, and again she considered just slipping away – but no, that didn’t happen. Janai noticed her, and knew where she’d been picked up from.

Lethe couldn’t lie. ‘I assumed it was only a ban for a skywing elf’s lifetime, so….’ A joke in poor tastes, and she’d already told the others what she was doing there.

“Wait, why was she banned from the Bookery?” Rayla was curious about that as she joined the others on the ground, “She helped us.”

That emphasis hardened Janai’s gaze, but she explained, “Lethe was banned from the Great Bookery to limit her access to books she could use to lift a spell she put on them centuries ago,” Janai explained, “Which I am sure, she did not lift, did she?”

Rayla and Kazi exchanged a glance.

“I can put it back,” Lethe said, “they wanted my help and they thought it was there.”

Ezran remained pensive, silent, as he tried to understand what was occurring here. There was a history he didn’t fully grasp in Janai’s anger, and the way Lethe was trying to shrink away.

~***~

Finnegrin let Willow go once they were on the deck and he rose as she coughed up water. ‘Hells.’ She wasn’t going to be well. He dipped back down and grasped her under her shoulders to pull her up, “Sea Legs,” he called to the crab itself, “Get us back to shore! This is a bust,” he grumbled in complaint, before he picked Willow up more fully in his arms to walk her back towards his cabin.

He let her drop to the floor there as he continued forward, “Get out of those wet things,” he directed, “or else you’re going to be very sick for a very long time,” he didn’t know how well humans or earthblood elves dealt with this, but he didn’t imagine it was well.

Neither were terribly attached to the sea.

He pulled a blanket off of his bed, intending to drape it over her just as soon as she had prepared herself. “You need to be warmed up quickly.” She’d understand that, at least, wouldn’t she? If she was in soaking wet, cold clothes, that was not going to help her warm up at all, no matter how many blankets he threw on her. It was also the reason he didn't carry her all the way to the bed.

No point getting it soaked more than necessary by her.

 

[cleopat]

Janai felt the fury simmering under her skin. Not only did Lethe cross into forbidden grounds, but she lifted a spell that could be dangerous if information fell into the wrong hands? She took a deep breath, cooling down some of her anger.

But oh, it was still there.

“It may already be too late, if you reversed the spell.” The information about Aaravos in written scrolls and books wasn’t just contained to the Great Bookery. There were others out there, scattered throughout the world.

“Believe me, we’re the ones who begged her to temporarily reverse the spell, and there was the full intention of reversing it immediately, but then we lost track of time…” Callum chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. It may have been a little white lie, as they hoped the spell would remain lifted a bit longer so they could read more in the future, but did she have to know that?

Janai sighed and rubbed her forehead. “It does not matter right now. What’s done is done. But you still haven’t answered me, Lethe,” she looked at the elf, “why were you there?”

~~~

Willow was aware that she was moving, but she didn’t process what was going on until she fell back on the floor, this time in a closed quarters. And given its size and that Finnegrin was there, she surmised it was his cabin.

She wanted to get out of her clothes and get in a warm bath. But when Finnegrin told her to undress, she frowned. It was clear he wasn’t going to leave the room, but rather watch her. She did not want that at all.

Willow knew that telling him to leave so she could undress and wrap herself in the blanket was futile, so she opted for the next best thing. “Look away.” Her hands reached to pull her soaked tunic off, but she paused when she realized Finnegrin did not, in fact, look away. She paused, and then huffed as she continued to pull the shirt off.

Her desire to get out of her clothes and get warm was needier than some false sense of modesty.

Her pants, a little difficult to tug off while sitting on the floor, were next. She refused to take her underclothes off, though, because of the simple fact Finnegrin still stood there, unashamed to watch her.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘It’s not too late. People don’t know it was lifted.’ Although Lethe knew someone who was desperately trying to unlock it, may have found the right time to look. That was always possible. Even then, what were the odds?

Well, it didn’t matter, now.

It was done, and Janai still wanted her answer. Lethe looked off to the side, body still tensed from anxiety and the need to flee, but she stayed. She answered, “I was researching magical theory,” deep magic, in particular, but adding that in…that would just spiral into dark magic, and she didn’t want to get into that subject.

Callum had already rejected that immediately.

Janai knew Lethe’s history with it. Lethe hadn’t touched it since being purified, but she knew people doubted that. She knew Janai would doubt it, especially without a way to look any longer, or a way to purify it out of her body. “I still don’t understand why I’m alive, Janai, and the mysteries plague me.”

But it had been why she was forbidden much.

All roads led back to Aaravos, who knew the most about magic, who could have the answers she wanted.

Rayla nodded, though she did remember the part about dark magic. Love of Callum, and that understanding of how it could be innocent, caused her not to bring it up.

Kazi, however, did, “I hadn’t heard of it before, deep magic – she said it had ties to dark magic,” because Kazi felt the tension, and they knew it could be relevant to whatever reasons Lethe was banned from the bookery. Now, they were afraid they’d made a huge mistake in bringing Lethe here.

Lethe’s face burned with the outing, but she didn’t speak to deny it, or even defend herself. What point? She was exhausted defending herself for centuries.

~***~

No, Finnegrin did not look away. Why would he? He basically owned Willow until the debt was paid, if it was ever paid, so he’d enjoy the perks of having her around on the ship. That didn’t mean he delayed in dropping the blanket over her once she was free of most of her clothes. She kept her underwear on, which he could protest, but that would get them nowhere towards warming her up.

Well, maybe through anger, but that wasn’t what was needed.

Once he dropped the blanket, he kicked off his shoes, removed his dripping tunic and pants, and then bent down to pull her back up to her feet, “C’mon, I’ll behave myself,” even if he didn’t want to, he understood there were some acts that not even the fear of icy death would make people tolerate.

And he preferred to have her alive and active on his crew, then dead because he couldn’t keep it in his pants.

Or, well, underwear in his case.

The blanket would help separate them a bit, but the warmth would still spread when he ushered her back to the bed so he could more easily wrap around her, “Although there are other ways to pay debts if you really hate cleaning,” he couldn’t help himself adding that.

Why not? If it paid off….

Or maybe the heat of the thought would help.

Either way.

 

[cleopat]

Janai tensed and her eyes narrowed at Lethe with the new information given to her by Kazi. “We ban you from the Great Bookery, and yet you were there. We purified you of that dark magic, and yet you seem to seek it out again, even as you trespass in the ruins of its aftermath.”

“Well,” Kazi piped up in a small desire to help the elf that aided them greatly in their search, “she just mentioned to us that a dark magic connection was simply theories she ran across. It seemed like she was looking for something…beyond that?”

Janai opened her mouth to reject that idea, to remind them of her connection to Aaravos in the past. She recalled in her childhood that a common fear about the Skywing elf was her having a change of heart and releasing Aaravos. What if she was doing that now?

“And if this deep magic is truly pure magic with an arcanum,” Callum piped in, “then it could prove to be useful in killing Aaravos!” Some of the others nodded with his idea.

It just wouldn’t be fair for Lethe to get in trouble for something they didn’t know or understood. And she helped them! That counted for something.

~~~

Willow snatched the blanket the second he dropped it, securely wrapping it around herself. Cold had set in deep in her body, that the blanket didn’t immediately provide much warmth. And there was the matter of her wet underclothes. As soon as she made the decision to remove them while she had the blanket shielding her body, Finnegrin began to disrobe himself.

She paused in mild shock, her mouth slightly open, as she suddenly saw Finnegrin in way less than she ever cared to. The worst part was that she didn’t hate what she saw. He pulled her up, which Willow did not have the energy to fight in any way. “W-what are you doing? Is this completely necessary?”

Willow hardly believed him when he said he’ll behave himself. Not when the only things that separated them were underwear and a blanket when Finnegrin positioned them in some sort of lovers’ embrace on his bed. She was so fucking uncomfortable about the entire situation. It was just weird.

She struggled a little to pull herself out of his embrace, but his hold remained strong. Even at full strength, she didn’t know if she would be able to fight him off, but right then, it was simply a waste of any energy she was slowly regaining.

At first, Willow didn’t comprehend Finnegrin’s suggestion in the way he intended. “Like wh-,” right then it clicked. Heat flushed her face in humiliation at the thought. “You’re incorrigible,” she hissed. “I will not subject myself to such a thing.”

 

[Lucyfer]

There it was – the expected fury. Lethe did not look to meet Janai’s gaze, nor even Kazi as they tried to backtrack. Lethe kept her gaze out in the distant nothing, simply waiting for the command to fall from someone’s lips. Eventually, there would be one.

Leave.

Replace the spell.

Go straight to jail.

Perish.

‘If you think it would be such a mercy to Aaravos, why not show yourself the same mercy?’

Callum spoke in defense, and Janai seemed rather tight-lipped at all the voices opposing her. For a moment, Lethe felt the heat of Janai’s gaze, before another voice chimed in, “I don’t know what’s going on,” the boy king intruded cautiously, “it sounds like there is a lot of history here, and it sounds like Lethe’s done a lot to try and make up for errors if she went through a dark magic purification ceremony.”

Ezran knew about it. He knew that was lost to the Sunfire elves. “We all make mistakes for those we care about.” Callum had. Those who used dark magic weren’t irredeemable – some learned immediately how bad it was. Callum had! Lethe must have!

“That is the entirety of the problem,” Janai stated, for it was Lethe’s lingering affections that could cause trouble, but relented with a sigh. The others did not know, and much time had passed. Full explanations, at least, were deserved given the situation, “However this is not a conversation to be had standing in the midst of camp. Let’s go inside.”

Janai turned to lead, and grudgingly, Lethe followed, motioning for Jove to wait for her atop a building.

~***~

Yes, it was completely necessary. Finnegrin just rolled her eyes at his protests, and held her tight against him as she tried to squirm away, no doubt bothered by it all. He saw her underwear on the ground, after all. That had to make her feel quite vulnerable, especially after his words clicked.

He chuckled, “That is your choice, love. If you prefer vomit on your hands, who am I to stop you?” He wouldn’t note anything else about it, just rub his hands up and down her side, her arms – he wasn’t quite sure which, given the blanket in the way, but he knew some movement, some friction, would help to warm her.

“This is quite necessary, though. The cold’s sunk in deep, and the blanket wouldn’t be enough to warm you up with how cold you were, halfling. An addition of body heat aids, and I’m not nearly as impacted by the cold rain or water.”

He’d shrugged that off like nothing; it didn’t sink into his bones at all. He could have swam in it and been unbothered even after an hour. One of the perks of what he was, though he supposed there were probably earthy-related perks to her earthblood status that came naturally.

What they were, he had no real idea, but it hardly mattered.

It was the human influence he cared about more.

 

[cleopat]

Janai led the group inside, into a more private area. The guards that were there, as their duty, were waved away by the queen. They needed complete privacy given the sensitive nature of the matter.

She wished Amaya was there, standing behind everyone, yet offering her that reassuring smile she loved so much, and oftentimes needed.

“When the plans to imprison Aaravos were coming together, they realized they needed a way to lure Aaravos into a trap. But how can one lure in a master manipulator who is always a few steps ahead of everyone else?” Her eyes landed on Lethe, and she motioned over to her with a sweep of her hand.

“Lethe knew Aaravos better than any of us. She was perhaps the closest one to him. But I feel like that side of the story should be best left up to her to tell.” Janai motioned for Lethe to tell the group anything about her relationship with Aaravos, and what led up to the events of his imprisonment and after the fact, her banishment from the Great Bookery, and…everything else.

Janai may have held onto her preconceived opinions regarding Lethe, despite not actually knowing her back then, but ever since taking up the helm as queen, and combining humans and elves into one refugee camp, she tried to keep an open mind for everything.

Every side deserves to speak, no matter what.

~~~

No, Willow did not prefer vomit at all, but to undergo such a salacious agreement with him to pay off her debt, someone who had threatened and tortured her, was a horrible idea. She did try to keep her last shred of dignity. That would completely strip it from her.

Even as her mind filled with thoughts of how nice and firm his arms felt, his hands strong from years of sailing. The sight of his bare body, minus his underwear still covering him, was burned into her memories. And now, as he held her securely to his body, her senses flooded with his scent.

She hated him so much. Willow may have found Finnegrin a conventionally attractive elf, he was still a cruel pirate.

Still, she whispered the question she would immediately regret, “...what exactly would these other ways entail?” She wished she could recall the question and force Finnegrin to forget she ever asked, but if she told him to forget about it, he would no doubt somehow use it against her and torture her with his words.

 

[Lucyfer]

Guilt.

Shame.

Regret.

Of course, Janai would start it out with why they should not trust her, and leave it to her to find the words to explain betraying a beloved friend. The surprise in their gazes was not unfamiliar, even if she was not looking at them. Resolutely, she still found a place to stare within the room, that did not have anyone in her direct line of sight.

“What more is there to say, Janai?” Lethe all but whispered the question, because she wanted to scream. ‘It was simple. I was his friend. He trusted me. I betrayed him. He will never trust me again. If he ever breaks free, I will die.’ It did not matter how conflicted she was, so long as she still wished to live.

She did not leave it at that. “I trusted Aaravos. It was a mistake many of us made, even Queen Aditi,” it should not be a sin she bore alone, but it was. “He was my friend, and I was asked to betray him. I was told what he was suspected of doing, and I did not believe it – but I agreed if he was guilty, I would help.”

And he was guilty.

“So I found the proof they lacked. And then I helped to see him imprisoned,” her gaze moved from the wall, to meet Janai’s. It was not the tempest of a storm that swirled, but that terrible agony of a solar flare – of a star. Of a sun. “And still, I silently endure the sin of being the one who trusted him, because I am the only one he trusted.”

One could have easily dropped a needle and it would have been heard hitting the floor, as everyone registered the information.

Ezran was the one to break the silence, “Thank you,” softly said, and it broke Lethe’s gaze from Janai, to him, “It’s not easy making the right decision, especially when it goes against someone you love. Especially, when it has to hurt them.” Her gaze dropped away from him, skirted away to a wall again.

She’d said enough.

Too much, at the end.

She could retreat again.

~***~

Finnegrin heard the whispered question, and paused in moving his hands over her to warm her up further. Well, this could certainly go a different way if she was humoring it. It’d certainly warm her up quicker, which he’d just consider a debt she owed him. After all, she was incurring minor debts by working under him.

Food and board, of course, had to be considered.

Saving her life.

Warming her up.

“Ah, love, don’t tell me you’re so innocent to have not caught on?” she certainly reacted as if she had caught on after a moment, and he was certain she had. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him as he dipped his head so his lips were by her ear, “Or did you just want me to start whispering all the ways I’d love to see your body start paying back the debt, bent over my desk instead of crawling on the deck?” he couldn’t help the grin that pulled at his lips.

He still let his hands behave, he’d promised that – until she agreed to other things.

“Or perhaps how I’d prefer to see you crawling across the floor to kneel between my legs?” A far better look than scrubbing the wood with a rag, “polishing off a wooden knob with your lips?” he could speak of ideas all day long in all sorts of metaphors, but he was fairly certain she got the hint of what he meant by paying off her debt in other ways.

 

[cleopat]

Another moment of silence.

“Wow, that sucks,” Soren bluntly said. With realization, he winced at himself. “Sorry, didn’t quite mean it that way. I meant it as in a…tough situation you were placed in where you couldn’t win, either way.”

Damned if she betrayed, damned if she didn’t.

Callum nodded his agreement, feeling more pity for the elf than condemnation that the other elves seemed to hold.

“And it’s because of this close friendship that many believed she may try and release him eventually.” A change of heart swayed by romance. But, Janai sighed, and her shoulders fell. “But sometimes I feel as if we are making enemies where we should not, and we should allow someone to prove themselves.”

Janai looked to Lethe, who obviously had been silently suffering for so long. She vowed herself to be a more understanding queen in their changing world. “Do you know of the two dark mages who are currently on their way to Aaravos’ prison to free him?” she asked, just one more question relating to dark magic and Lethe.

She wanted to believe that Lethe had trespassed the Great Bookery for better reasons than what her first instinct told her. But with the secretive information held there, Janai was a little paranoid.

~~~

Oh yes, Willow definitely regretted asking that question to satisfy her terrible curiosity. The moment his hands paused and his arms wrapped back around her, she knew she was in trouble. Well, greater trouble.

She may be literally and figuratively, fucked.

His salacious words sent a shiver through her body, one not because of the chill that was fading, and she let out an involuntary whimper. At the realization, heat flooded her face, and she wanted nothing more than to plunge back into the icy depths of the ocean. She was lucky she couldn’t see Finnegrin’s face, but his arms around her did not help things at all.

She wanted to get out of there and back to her quarters where she could hide her shame. She wanted to bury her face into his neck while his hands explored under the blanket. But it was all so wrong.

“I hardly think any of that would be appropriate given our…relationship.” It didn’t sound convincing at all to her, but she couldn’t do it! Nope, not at all.

 

[Lucyfer]

The soldier was the next to speak, blunt and tactless. Then came Janai, and Lethe’s eyes dropped to the ground. ‘That you believe I would try to free him. I don’t even know how.’ Lethe knew how he was imprisoned, but that did not give her the key to knowing how to release him. The lock didn’t work the same way to unlock.

‘I proved myself years ago.’

Still, when Janai asked a direct question, she lifted her gaze once more to the Queen, “I was told of them by this group, but I do not know any dark mages personally. I have not for a very long time,” which was true, but then, how could it be proven?

“Yeah, uh,” Soren was the one to speak up, “it’s…my dad, and my sister. Viren and Claudia.”

The reason he spoke up made sense to Lethe, then. She almost wanted to repeat his words, but she did not.

Rayla interjected, “We’ll make sure they don’t release Aaravos, but if they do, we’ve found a way that might kill him – thanks to Lethe unlocking the knowledge,” Rayla rushed to add, “something called a Novablade, held at the Starscraper. Don’t know where that is, but maybe we should head there next? We don’t know where Aaravos is, unless…?”

Lethe shook her head, “I don’t know where his prison was put.”

“I have an idea for that,” Ezran spoke up, “I spoke with Domina Profundis. She didn’t know where Aaravos was, but she knew about the prison, and knew who was involved in creating it. Archmage Akiyu – she might know where it is.”

~***~

“Oh? Why, plenty of people pay off debts this way. Or just make some extra coin. There’s nothing wrong about it at all,” Finnegrin wasn’t convinced. Not given Willow’s whimper, or the way he could feel the heat rushing through her. So, of course, given that he had sat her between his legs, he allowed them closer.

To rest right alongside her own.

“Unless you think there’s something inherently wrong about people who use their bodies to make ends meet, but then again, we all do. Even when you’re cleaning the deck, you’re using your body to do that work. Not very pleasurable work, either.”

This could be far more pleasurable work.

He let one hand move from being wrapped around her, to fall on her blanket-covered thigh.

“You don’t have to suffer, my little pebble. You could enjoy your work. Isn’t that the dream, anyways? Get paid to do something you find…pleasurable?” Never mind he’d charge her for receiving pleasure.

Little details.

“But as I said…how you pay your debt is your choice.”

 

[cleopat]

Janai supposed it was both a blessing and a curse that the dark mages in question were related to the group. Everything seemed connected through these humans, including how she became close with Amaya.

And she was confident these humans could help with Xadia in its hour of need.

“Do we know where this Akiyu lives?” Callum asked.

Ezran nodded. “Yeah! Domina Profundis told me.”

“Lethe,” she turned to the elf, “will you go with them and help them? They may be able to use your expertise with what lies ahead.” A slight smirk tugged on the corner of her lips, “After that, maybe we can rediscuss your banishment from the Great Bookery.” Maybe others would argue with her on that, but Janai wouldn’t hear that. She had a gut feeling that she wanted to see through.

Callum beamed at the idea of Lethe accompanying them. “Yeah! And maybe along the way, you can teach me some things about the Sky arcanum?” His eyes were as wide as a little kid asking for a treat.

~~~

The bastard had to make sure there was even more body contact between the two of them, as if his arms around her just wasn’t enough for him. As if their compromising position wasn’t humiliating enough for her as is. “No, there’s nothing wrong with that form of payment at all.” it happened at Scumport all the time, though Willow could imagine how narrow that line between willing and dubious consent could be. “But it is not one I’m interested in.”

She had a moment of weakness. Her mind was simply craving any form of comfort it could after her near death experience. That had to be it.

And so she tried to bat away his hand on her thigh with her hand that was trapped underneath the blanket. She wasn’t about risking indecency to pull her hand out from under the warm blanket. “Why do you want this? Why me? Do you offer this…payment plan to every new crew member because you're just some lonely pirate, or am I just special?”

Oh how she wanted to escape from his cabin and go hide in her quarters. Finnegrin was a powerful elf, in several ways, with no qualms about killing people to get what he wanted. And Willow repeated that in her head as he helped with drawing the chill out of her body. She was definitely feeling warm now.

Maybe she could get out of his cabin soon.

 

[Lucyfer]

'Rediscuss when Aaravos lies dead at my feet?' would it really be enough for them to stop these dark mages? Others would come in time. There was one truth: the threat Aaravos presented, and so the threat she presented, wouldn't be gone until Aaravos was dead.

Lethe would not ask Janai to clarify.

She let herself be taken in by the innocent inquiry of the human mage. "Don't you already know the sky arcanum?" There was no denial to teach him more, but there was a second question there: is that really what he wanted?

The stars were an option.

One he was likely not find anywhere else.

"I'll accompany them if that is what everyone wants." Ezran smiled and nodded, no doubt for the sake of his brother having a teacher, and Soren threw a thumbs up her way. She didn't think she offered much at all except history, but perhaps they would find use for it. Well, and knowledge of the Starscraper if it came to that. "May I rest here tonight, then, Queen Janai?"

She still half expected to be kicked out of the camp.

~***~

Finnegrin remained amused with the earthblood elf as she denied this as a want. She could lie to herself, but Finnegrin was positive it was a desire of hers. She just hadn't accepted it yet, too fresh to all of this, and caught up in what she thought she should be feeling, instead of what she actually was feeling.

A common problem. "Oh love, lie to yourself if you like, but no one humors that offer if they aren't a little interested in how chains feel," metaphorical and literal ones.

He laughed at her inquiry, *I do hate to disappoint you, pebble, but I'm not lonely. I do enjoy new, shiny things – but who doesn't?" He squeezed her leg as she batted at his hand and lifted it off to wrap back around her waist. No, he definitely had others eager enough to please for the simple pleasure, or other rewards they imagined could be won.

She was likely disappointed not to be special, but she shouldn't have asked.

"Whenever you do want to try something new, well, you know where to find me, love," he would keep the offer on the table. "And you'll have a very long time to consider that offer," and a very long time to remember how it felt to be wrapped in his arms.

 

[cleopat]

Callum smiled at Lethe. “Yeah, but there’s always opportunity to learn more!” The pupil who is always eager to continue learning in life. It was why he loved to be surrounded by books. So much information! So much knowledge!

He was relieved that she agreed to come along with them, and he gave her a comforting smile at that. Maybe an extra set of hands, and wings, would be that boost they needed to catch up to Claudia and Viren.

Janai regarded Lethe for only a second before she replied, “Yes, you may. You all may rest here tonight and take what you need for your journey.” They were already well prepared for battle, but extra clothes and food were always needed.

The camp may still have its struggles, but the resources were there for the group to take.

“And be careful, I don’t need Amaya worrying about everyone too much.” A smile touched her lips at the gentle tease.

~~~

Oh, Finnegrin just had to say chains and conjure up images in Willow’s mind that she didn’t need to see right then. Manacled to the bed, helpless to whatever he decides to give, or not, give her….

She huffed, not at all amused by his constant teasing. Would that be a constant thing on his ship? Or will he get bored of her and move onto the next ‘recruit’ when they came aboard? She wouldn’t mind if his attention was less on her. It may give her a chance to plot a way off the ship and away from him.

And what was that poking her…Oh. Oh.

Heat spread through her at the realization. “You know, I’m not feeling cold at all anymore.” A segue to get out of there. “I think I should be good to return to my own room.” She squirmed to get away, to separate herself from his obvious thoughts on their predicament. His thoughts that would be hard for her to forget.

She would sprint across the deck to her quarters with only the blanket wrapped around her if she had to.