User blog:SaynaSLuke/Seven Tears Shed



By Sayna

Echoes of Oceans, Tears of the Sea,

Were they worth tears of such as we?

The rose colored tears for which blood was shed,

Their owner shed them into the sea,

Forever safe from greed's clutches they'll be,

No more shall evil stain them red.

These seven tears shed,

A curse to the dead,

Though Ignasa's good will,

These none can fulfill.

Author's Note
Well everyone, this is it. The third and final book of my beloved 'Tears of the Ocean' trilogy. The previous book is The Ocean's Echoes. I know I spoiler a lot of things, but so far I've been able to keep most of this book under wraps. It's gonna be fun! (and tragic/bloody) *ahem coughcough*

Yes, that brings me to the matter of violence in this book. There is quite a bit. (I mean, come on. We're starting a four-way civil war here. Blood is going to spill.) So for some intense scenes, I'd say about PG-13. (Though PG movies seem increasingly violent, so IDK) Either way, just to be fair to everyone, there will be some potentially bloody scenarios. (Like LotR or something)

(I always think you'll find it more shocking than you really do, don't I?) :P

Anyways, who wants ghost ships, treasure, ninjas, dragons, magic, civil war, and dashing anti-heroes? If you do, you're in the right place my friend. ;P

Dedications, wonderful dedications ... this time's a bit different than usual, I have one very specific person I'd like to acknowledge in a short little story-type thing. ;) Cause really, you owe 'Tears' to her.

I have about one, close irl friend, and she likes writing/art as well. One time when we were hanging out, I started talking about a story idea I had .. what was going to turn into 'Tears'. And randomly my friend asks, "Hey, am I in any of your stories?" (cause we both use influences from rl) Well she wasn't ... not until that moment. She's been a great inspiration and comfort to me through what were some of my loneliest years, and I wanted to honor her in the highest degree.

I won't use her real name, but the character I molded just for her .. Grath Longfletch. I dedicate this book solely to her, because I might have given up writing without her encouragement. <3

And here's the fitting music! (with the song names this time) :) (The Island ) (Sky Sentinels ) (Wolves in the Woods ) (Dragonland ) (Sakura Sword ) (Silhouette of Honor ) (Arashi ) (Immortal ) (Dragon Empress )

This song was one I stumbled onto on accident, but it really does fit ...

Chapter 25 Into the Wilds
The Bloodkeel sat silent near the shore of Sampetra in the early morning darkness, members of the crew licking their many wounds, or if they were lucky, having them seen to.

Rasconza held perfectly still as the hazel brown mouse slave cleaned a gouge running from his right shoulder to his elbow. Selina patted the slowly dripping blood away gently, with genuine concern in her eyes. “This is a serious wound, sir ..”

“I’m not going to die Selina, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Rasconza nearly smirked, but it came out as a grimace. “You won’t get a new master anytime soon.”

She kept her eyes everted, muttering, “That is not what I meant .. but it will be hard to control the crew with this.”

Rasconza gave her a hard look. “I can keep my crew in place with one arm missing.”

“Yes .. yes of course sir, I only meant ...”

“Stop patronizing me and do your job.” Rasconza said it in a fairly amiable but distant voice. “I want my arm bandaged, and quickly.”

Selina bowed her head, focusing on wrapping gauze around the fox’s arm as Slashback limped into the captain’s cabin. “Wull, what now captain? We’ve just sunk part of the imperial fleet ... we’re all in the same boat as ya.”

“As I recall, you’ve always been in the same boat as me.” Rasconza said it in a half sneering, half joking manner.

Slashback gave him a cold look. “Aye, but now we’re outlaws like ya.”

The dog fox smiled. “Of course. How am I to end the tyranny alone? Be glad Slashback, you’re doing something more noble than stealing from babes and drinking more than is good for you.”

The rat flattened his ears. “Look here capt’n, I don’t take kindly ta being used an’ tricked like that.”

“It’s the law of a vermin Slashback, are you a rat, or are you a mouse?” Rasconza sneered challengingly.

“I’m a rat through an’ through!” Slashback snarled. “Ya’ve got no right ta insult me capt’n.” Selina took a step back, having tied the bandage tightly. Rasconza stood up. “I’m not insulting you, I’m asking a simple controversial question about what you plan to be. Slashback, you have served me well, and I am truly thankful for that. Now you can thank me.”

His first mate pinned his ears. “Fer what?”

“For saving you and this crew from a bloodbath. Oh, perhaps it wouldn’t have happened, you’ll say. Do you really want to take that chance? The Sampetra of slavery is about to turn into a battlefield. I know Romsca, and she is crazy. Whether she would die in the end or not, she is a ruthless murderer and she will fight. I said before, it will only take one beast who’s mad enough to speak out to start a war.” Rasconza crossed his arms, looking challenging.

Slashback said nothing for a few moments, before scowling. “Aye. Wull, what’s the plan?”

“The plan? We find a defensible place, we heal. Then we make Ublaz curse the day he was born.”

“Is that all?” The rat looked unimpressed.

Rasconza glanced at him out of the corner of his vision. “At this time. To be continued at a later date Slashback. After all ... you really don’t need to know more than that.”

He glanced at Selina, nodding at his first mate. “Slashback’s leg needs attention doesn’t it?

Then you can take care of every other beast on this ship.”

“Sir, what about rowing?”

Rasconza waved a paw at her. “Devoted of you to wonder. I’m giving you the day off, I need your healing skills more than anything at this point. Now get to it.”

He turned to Slashback as Selina collected her supplies with the clank of the chains around her ankles. “Slashback. Do you know of any coves on this side of the island that would offer adequate cover?”

“Wull ... there are the Whispering Caverns, but I don’t know about sailin’ a ship inta one. It’s all new ta us back here, none a those places have been explored since ancient times.”

“Well then.” Rasconza adjusted his hat. “It looks like we’ll be the lucky explorers, eh?”

><><

The clopping of hooves echoed through silent streets, muffling the soft footsteps that accompanied it. Romsca was riding Summer, and despite Sayna’s protests insisted on holding the reigns herself. Xzaris sat behind her, and Durral and Shilo rode Barranca’s gray.

The others hurried on foot, and they did it as quietly as possible. Light was waning as the moon was setting in the early morning sky, but the mist was thicker than ever. It clung to the horses’ legs, to clothing and fur, and saturated the air with the dampness of the sea.

“It’s only several hours afore dawn.” Romsca muttered with a shudder. “Ya can almost smell mornin’ on the air.”

“Aye. An’ the sooner we’re free a here, the better.” Xzaris whispered his reply as his companion guided Summer’s steps down a short set of three or so stairs and onto the dock road.

Two sets of hooves made soft clops on the cobblestone street, and Romsca caught Durral staring behind and up at the magnificent, mist-shrouded city populating the side of the hill it sat on. “It’s a sight Abbotmouse, ain’t it?”

He shook his head slowly. “It’s amazing. The art that went into this place ... the intelligence, such to rival woodlanders. I didn’t expect vermin to be so creative and organized, to be honest.”

“Most vermin don’t live in the same place as long as we have Abbotmouse.” Barranca explained. “Sampetra has been here over a thousand seasons.”

Durral nodded silently, and the conversation fizzled out for a good five minutes as the group made their way along the ancient shore road. The rhythmic hoof-falls stopped as Romsca pulled back on Summer’s reins, and the other horse stopped behind them.

“I docked the boat near hear, cause there’s that tavern we passed. Ain’t it Sayna?”

She shrugged. “My vision’s not what it used to be captain, and fog plays tricks with your mind.”

“Aye, don’t it?” Romsca patted her mount’s neck. “But I think that’s the one.”

Xzaris growled a little. “Arg, if only I could see, I could tell ya fer sure.”

Durral looked skeptical, but Val spoke up. “Aye, he could. Stupid fog ... place sure looks familiar, but ... why do they build those dumb taverns practically alla same? Ain’t fair. I should know ... ”

“Let’s go look. Nobeast could see a thing in this mess.” Arashi started forward, paw poised to draw her katana at any second.

Barranca followed her, and the others did the same with a slight jingling and clopping. Val fell in beside Sayna, muttering, “Where are those Monitors? Ain’t natural how few there are tanight. An’ there should be guards too.”

The mouse kept her sword sheathed to conceal its glow, but she was tense. “To coin your phrase, aye. Your emperor is pretty loose on his defenses, for all you claim he is. One could sail a ship in here and he would never know.”

“Fool!” Barranca had heard her. “I assure you he would. For all you know, he’s known about this all along, and is simply playing one of his twisted games with us.”

It was a sobering thought, and Sayna inhaled, nodding. “I ask your forgiveness, Captain.”

“Forget the formality woodander. Just move.” Barranca vanished into the fog ahead, thicker and damper near the sea.

As they were walking past the old building, Romsca pulled her mount to a stop. “Shh!”

The group froze as foreign footsteps became audible, and Shilo flattened his ears. “Th .. the night patrols, they guard the bay c .. constantly ... I .. I forgot to map out wh .. where they all would be!”

“How many? Arashi hissed.

“P .. probably at l .. least five ...”

Sayna laid her paw on her sword hilt. “We can probably take that many, but if one escapes our cover is blown.”

“Don’t risk it, with me!” Barranca snarled softly. “And keep those horses quiet.”

The stoat ducked into the shadow of a small outbuilding, one that looked decrepit and lonely in the moonlit mist. He grabbed the door, pushing it inward and ducking in. “Come on!”

Arashi, Val, and Sayna hurried in after him, and Romsca pulled Summer back, letting Shilo and Durral take their mount in first. The doorway was just big enough, and Romsca glanced at Xzaris, sitting behind her. “Duck.”

There was just enough room to get the palomino through, and then the sagging rafters were uncomfortably close. Barranca shut the door as Romsca slipped to the ground, her torn sleeve catching on the saddle as she did so and ripping even more.

Val poked her in the dim light, muttering, “Good thing I grabbed a change a clothes fer ya. These look like a horse trampled ya while ya was wearin’ ‘em.”

“They’re fine.” Romsca muttered, but Val gave her a look.

Xzaris reached forward, laying a paw on Summer’s mane. “Do I git off or stay on?”

“I think ya best stay on ... keep him still, ok?” Romsca patted the horse’s nose, before walking slowly over to the others. Arashi was peering out the cracks of the wall, and Sayna glared at Romsca as joined them.

“I told you to stay on that horse.”

“I’m feelin’ better now.”

Sayna grumbled a little, but didn’t press the subject. Shilo crouched down in his saddle slightly, as the guard’s boots outside were audible.

“Who are ya? What are ya doin’ here?” The quiet but defensive hiss of a whisper came from behind them.

As silently as they could everybeast turned around, to see a silky brown stoatmaid standing in a faint splotch of moonlight, her light green dress giving her a surreal quality. Her right paw was extended, a dagger held out in a threating manner.

Arashi looked at her a moment, before stating, “Ye ... ye are the one that protected the injured sailor.”

Recognition flashed across the barmaid’s face, though she still held the dagger out, as if in precaution. “Aye, an’ who is ya?”

Arashi looked down at her fur as if realizing something, and muttered, “I got the water for ye.”

“Ya? Ya don’t look a thing like that beast.”

“Aye, I was ... disguised.” Arashi shrugged.

The stoatmaid didn’t look entirely convinced, but then she noticed Romsca. “C .. capt’n? What ...”

Romsca held a paw to her lips as the steps stopped outside for a moment, then continued on. The barmaid waited a few moments, before hissing softly, “Y .. Yer supposed ta be dead ... Kage said ...”

“Kage?” Romsca’s mouth dropped open. “As in a stoat? As in a the House a the Crab?”

“Y .. yes ..” She stammered. “He was one a yer crew, an’ he said the Waveworm went down with all hands sept him an’ the others in the lifeboat, an’ they was killed when it wrecked in the storm.”

Romsca looked around, asking, “Is he alright?”

The stoat slowly put her knife away, sighing, “I donno. I don’t got the money ta pay fer a proper healer, an’ he’s knocked ‘bout somethin’ awful. Lost a lotta blood an’ nearly drowned. I .. jist donno.”

She pointed at the huddled form on a blanket in the far corner. “I’ve been with him every second I could ... when Kia lets me off work, an’ that’s precious little time.”

Romsca looked over at Kage, shaking her head. “He was a good sailor, warned me a mutany an’ probable saved me life fer it.”

She reached into her satchel, rummaging around in it for a little and finally coming up with a few coins. “This .. ain’t ‘nough ta do nothin’ really, but ya can have it .. as parta his pay. Might help ya buy some herbs or bandages.”

The stoat took the coins, slipping them into the little purse attached to her belt as Romsca reached up for her earrings. “These are pure silver ... ya oughta be able ..”

Arashi stepped forward, interrupting. “Don’t bother with that.”

The older ferret dug in her own satchel, pulling out a fistful of gold and silver coins and dropping them into the stoat’s paws. “His pay.”

The barmaid gaped at Arashi for a moment, before her sharp brown eyes softened, mostly with confusion. “Why? Why would ya do somthin’ like that .. ya don’t gotta pay him, he can’t make ya, an’ I can’t either.”

“That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t.” Romsca snapped, looking frustrated. “I’m sorry I don’t got the money meself.”

The stoat raised an eyebrow, before slipping the coins into her purse. “Wull then. If ya give me that much, guess I don’t really care what yer up ta.”

“Aye.” Romsca nodded. “Ya never saw us.”

“Nah, course I didn’t capt’n ..... Xzaris?” She was looking behind the others at the mounted ferret.

He flicked his ears back, looking stiff. “Is that ya ... Merith?”

“Ya know her?” Romsca sounded counfused.

“She ... works fer Kia.”

Romsca was silent for a moment, before nodding. “Oh.”

Merith gave Xzaris an almost leering look, then smiled at Romsca .. a look that was nearly sincere and probably as grateful as she could possibly be. “Honest capt’n .. thanks.”

The fact the stoat had evaluated Xzaris’s condition and mocked him for it had not escaped Romsca. She lifted her chin slightly, gesturing at Kage. “It’s fer him. Not ya. See he gets proper attention.”

Merith blinked, then put her paws together and bowed. “Yes capt’n.”

Barranca tapped his foot on the ground. “Look, they’ve passed by. We need to go. Now.”

Arashi held up a paw. “Wait, where are we? Which tavern are we next to right now?”

This was directed to Merith, who shrugged. “What’cha think, Kia’s a course. How else would I work as many hours as she wants an’ still tend ta him?”

“I knew it, we’re ta far. We gotta go back the way we came.” Romsca scowled.

“Th .. the ratguards went that way.” Shilo shivered.

Barranca scowled. “Then let’s move .. see if we can evade them before the night’s over, if we’re in this city by dawn, all is lost.”

He opened the door, and Romsca walked over to Summer, trying to hoist herself into her saddle. It was harder then she’d expected, and it took several tries before she clumsily regained her seat, nearly knocking Xzaris off in the process.

Shilo and Durral’s horse was eager to get out of the building and left as soon as Barranca’s back was turned, despite the ratguard’s attempts to order him otherwise.

Romsca spurred Summer after them, into the misty darkness, and Sayna hurried out, followed by Barranca and Arashi.

Sayna pointed back along the shore road, the way they had come. “Quickly, that way!”

Arashi looked at Barranca, gazing at the faint grayness spreading along the horizon. “Aye, move.”

Romsca spurred her mount into a trot and Xzaris grabbed her around the waist to keep from falling off.

“Hang on an’ stay down.” She ordered, drawing her axe.

Val ran alongside them, scolding herself. “I shoulda known that was Kia’s tavern, how could I miss that?”

“It’s a rickety ol’ building in the fog, like alla other rickety ol buildings along the shore.” Xzaris replied a bit sarcastically.

Shilo yanked back on the gray’s reigns as voices become audible. Romsca pulled Summer to a halt beside him, and the others skidded to a stop near the two horses.

“Hide!” Arashi hissed, but it was too late, as two ratguards were already visible and had seen them.

The one that was apparently in charge whipped out his trident as five more hurried to his side. “Wha ...”

His voice was obviously shocked, and Barranca didn’t give him time to react. The stoat drew his saber, rushing forward and engaging him on the instant.

Arashi reached both arms above her head and behind her back, drawing both katana and rapier in the same second. “Take them all!”

There was the sound of scraping metal and a flash of blue light, one that brightened the melee considerably as Sayna drew her sword and jumped toward one of the guards.

Val pulled out her katana, bracing herself as she was faced with burly rat. He drove her back with two swift attacks, backing her against Shilo and Durral’s mount. The horse half reared, causing Val to tumble to the ground under its hooves and freeze as one thudded to the stones inches from her face.

The ratguard grabbed the gray’s bridal, yanking brutally on the reigns. This time the animal threw itself onto its back hooves with a strangled neigh as a little froth drooled from its mouth. Durral tumbled head over heels to the ground with a little squeak, collapsing flat on the cobblestones. The guard let the reigns go with a snap, and they flew back, slapping the horse on the legs and belly .. something that pushed the frightened gray over the edge.

It threw up its heals, tossing Shilo over its head as Val rolled away from the thrashing hooves. She leapt to her feet as Shilo slammed into Summer’s flank, and the palomino shied violently away, knocking the ratguard Barranca was fighting flat on the ground. The stoat didn’t hesitate to finish the fight in the instant.

The rat who had started the trouble grabbed Durral by the shirt collar, yanking him off the ground where he was lying in a half stunned state. Val’s boots pushed against the cobblestones as she lunched forward, yelling, “Oh no ya don’t!”

She slashed her blade into the back of the rat’s legs, and blood stained the ground. He collapsed on top of Durral, who struggled to drag himself from underneath the beast. Val grabbed his arm, yanking him free and away from the injured guard, who fought to move his useless legs and flung more than one dark curse at the vixen.

Durral staggered to his feet, asking breathlessly, “Wha .. what do we do with him? Tie him up? Take him hostage ... I’m trying to think like a pirate here .. I'm probably not doing a very good job of it .. but we can’t let him go.”

“Nope.” Val sounded disgusted. “I know this one. He pushed alla us barmaids ‘round an’ gave poor tips ... an’ now he wants ta kill us. But I know what ta do.”

She stepped foreward as the rat struggled to get to his knees, paw gripping his trident. Val gave him one long condescending look, before raising her sword above his head. Durral’s eyes widened. “Miss! You ... wouldn’t kill him! He’s defenseless!”

“Defenseless? But Abbotmouse ...” She took her gaze off the wounded guard for one second, and he grabbed her leg, yanking hard. Val yelped, staggering as he raised his trident to throw, and she swung her sword, knocking it from his paw. She slashed down at the back of his neck, and then yanked her foot from his nerveless fingers.

Durral stared at the body, then at Val. “You .. would kill a beast?”

“Abbotmouse, I was a barmaid. Barmaids halfta fight an’ halfta break up bar fights .. beast jist ain’t sensible when they’re good an’ drunk. Sometimes ya halfta kill ta keep yerself alive.”

She grabbed his paw, dragging him toward the docks. “Now help me secure a boat!”

TBC~ Romsca    The T e r r o r  of the seas  08:23, July 6, 2016 (UTC)