The Vengeful Tide Ch. 04

Anyway, speaking simply, there was no reason for her not to be. Where I would be taking Ilzahold would continue to expand the woman's own current abilities by at least ten times their current amount. It was not an opportunity that she could let go on a chance. Plus, if she was ever dissatisfied with me should just kill me, or at least that was perhaps her reasoning.

"So what are you going to do for me when I prove you wrong?" I asked curiously. She twisted my arm rather painfully.

"Fuck my ass and call me Bitch for all I care. At least, you'll have some good dreams for how ever long your freedom lasts," she answered. Given that I was in front of her, she didn't see the smile that came upon my face.

It wasn't long before the Lindengar estate came into view. Seeing it makes me grunt in annoyance. It's not the most spectacular mansion that I have ever seen. It's a large house constructed from marble stone with more windows than any ship has. Gardens flourish on both sides along with separate walkways that lead into the back of the mansion.

I remember this place because Ellen had me delivering quite a bit of stuffy noble shit to this manor. The Lord was as much a Draegnar bastard as any other man on this island. He seemed to get his rocks off berating the common folk. Nevermind that most know his wife to be a bigger slut than any woman in the whorehouses. Even when I was in my prime, I did not understand the mind of noble people. Hell, I still don't, but Liara's knowledge certainly helps in that regard.

Burnwood pushed me in front of the guards. "Hold there, Burnwood. Lord Lindengar's not expecting any visitors today. Have you an appointment?" One of them asked. If I was to give a brief description of these idiots, then it would be bastard dressed in armored metals that makes the eyes squint in disgust. Swords forged in Alexandrian steel rest at their hips.

"No such thing. I just heard a little rat talk about causing trouble during a business exchange between the representatives of the prestigious lord and the owner of the Dead Tales. I just figured I'd like to maintain proper a proper business relationship since we trade so very often," she said.

The guards looked at me and I looked back at them. Even I couldn't believe it took the slugs at least a few seconds to understand what Diane meant. "Ah, Eric Drakclaw. Word in the taverns is that he got Sothshore to call him 'Sir'. Wouldn't mind her calling me sir too. And to think that the Lord was gonna send us out after him in one or two days. Good work, Ms. Diane. We'll take him from here. Once the Lord is done with his meeting we will send him for you," they said.

Burnwood then roughly pushed me into their arms. "Good, maybe I can get a bath from the smell of rats on me," she replied. The gates opened and Burnwood was allowed inside.

Once she was gone, then came the threats. It be no different from the threats that Ellen gave me a few days ago. Punishments such as death by firing squad, hanging, or me being drawn and quartered like a caged animal, there was no end to the slew of words as I was pushed through the mansion and into the prison holding cells.

As Sothshore is one of the leading forces on Draegnar, there is no true law or order to be had on the island like there is for other nations. No one is going to arrest you if you kill someone in broad daylight. A bastard could rape a bitch and it would be another day on the island. A wench could stab a guy in front of everyone and others would go about their day. The illusion of order comes from the nobles.

Nobility doesn't usually have a problem with commoners here. Unless one crosses the other, there is usually no bad blood lost. The nobles don't care what people do to each other as long as it doesn't interfere with their business. Commoners are willing to be degraded by nobles as long as they get paid. It's a simple business transaction. What I be getting at with this is, if I was not currently who I was, no one would be coming to save me. No officials would be there to lend me their help.

Lastly, if one were to ask why the nobles did not simply band together and become the rulers of the island, then it is quite simple. In fact, it's almost laughably simple. Their egos be too big. Nobles...hate each other here. In the end, they are not so different from the rest of us.

I grunt as I was tossed into one of the holding cells. "You stay right there, Drakclaw. Lord Falvor will deal with you soon enough," they said. Their echoing laughs began to fade away as they got further and further away. I found this scene rather nostalgic. It had been a long time since I had been in a prison cell.

I leaned up with a winded cough and pushed my back against a stone wall. It took me a moment to get used to the darkness of this cell since I had been out in the sun for so long. The only thing that provided even a minimum of light were the lit candles around the cells.

I quickly came to realize that I wasn't alone. To my left were two dirty elves. Even though it was dark, I could not mistake their long, narrow ears nor their white, silver hair. One was male and the other was female. Both were at least my height, but I won't begin to wonder about their age. Elves are a race I've never been able to truly figure out.

It was clear to me that the male elf was protecting the female by keeping her as close to the corner as possible. They were both glaring at me, but I soon tuned them from my mind.

I continued to sit on this cold floor for about ten minutes or so. The two elves did not talk to me and I did not talk to them. I would like to say this was rather relaxing, but the constant moans and groans from the other unfortunate asses in these cells was grating on my nerves.

Suddenly, I heard what sounded like a faraway door open. Footsteps echoed through the halls. It wasn't long before I came face to face with Lady Anastasia Lindengar. As far as whores and sluts go, even I admit that she is very beautiful. Her full lips lined with precious lipstick drive any man wild. Her smooth skin illusions men that a divine angel comes to be with them. Her eyes offer a sensual longing. To most, she is a grand treasure. To me, she is a treasure that many plundered, but none have taken the most valuable pieces yet.

If I recall, Anastasia Lindengar would become the next ruler over the Lindengar household due to an unexpected death of her husband. I always speculated if she had commissioned someone to kill him herself, but she didn't seem like the type. Oh, she was an ambitious slut, but she wasn't the type of woman murder someone. Then again, no one on this island is who they appear to be sometimes. That said, I did come here for a purpose. It wasn't her, but...I could make a detour. She did have what I needed.

Connections. Influence. Money.

If I could have her and Ellen, discovering whatever was after me wouldn't be as difficult as it was now. Looking back at it now, at least from more of Liara's memories, the house of Lindengar became a central authority in the future after my death. It had begun to specialize in the trade of ores and materials. What this was for I didn't know, but I was going to find out.

"So, this is the one who ruined the negotiations with Sothshore for my husband? Not only that, but I do believe I'm in the presence of Ellen Sothshore's 'Master' or is it 'Sir'?" she asked me.

I grunted. I could hear the haughty tone most noble women use when they speak to the lower class. At most, it just sounds like the buzzing of a fly around my ears. Naturally, that doesn't mean I couldn't fire back.

"You be willing to find out, Dearest Anastasia? I can teach you the difference between the two," I told her. Her response was a glare.

"Don't get carried away, Drakclaw. I could present your head to my husband right now if I wished,"

"You husband be not in the mood for my type of head. I be placing bets that you are though. A dirty slut like you needs a firm hand to rein her in,"

The cell door opened. My head jerked to the side from a slap that exploded across my face. I snickered painfully as a string of blood fell from my lip. Anastasia stood above me and looked down. "You're still young, Boy. You have a lot to learn about manners, but I wouldn't expect such positive notions from a pauper like you. Take him to the back. Teach him some manners," she said. The guards who were with her suddenly started laughing. She then left as well.

Once I was sure she was gone, I jumped to my feet. Before the guards could even react, I punched one into the steel bars. I then turned to the other. I grabbed his vest symbolizing his allegiance to the Lindengar household. Over my shoulder, I threw him into the wall. His armor released a series of crashing sounds that woke the cells.

Both guards groaned, but they didn't realize that they would already be on a trip to the Ten Circles of Haganthar. I gathered the unseen water that permeates the air into the palm of my hand. I admit I be in the mood for the dramatic at the moment, so I gathered the water in a grand display that made it seem as if my hand was the very epicenter of a grand whirlpool. The two elves stared at my power in shock of my performance.

I then raised my hand into the air. The waters obeyed my command until I swung them down. Five sharp spikes of water formed and pierced the chests of both guards. Their body spasmed like a drunk man after ten ales. They then laid on the ground without life. I could see the blood pouring from their bodies and clinging to their armor and clothes.

Perhaps now is another good time to briefly explain something else about my powers. I can control blood, however there are a few...conditions that need to be met in order for me to do so. Those would have to come later. Additionally, it requires much more concentration to pull off that I enjoy giving.

"Fäēgahar,"

I turned my head in the direction of the sound. There was no surprise to me that I had just heard some type of elven speak. I just wasn't sure which one of them said it. Nevertheless, I turned back to what I was doing. I took off the clothes from the guards leaving them as naked as babes. I pulled out the cell keys from their corpse and tossed both their bodies a separate corner from the elves.

I opened the door to my cell and stepped outside. I then cleared my throat. "If any of you landlubbers want out of here, then you'd better stop your stupid moaning and say 'AY!" I shouted. My voice echoed through the underground prison, but the sound of the keys must have echoed louder.

"AY!"

"AY!"

"AY!"

I already knew the guards would begin wondering what happened to their companions. As much as I would enjoy drowning out the Lindengar estate of both person and pouch, that wasn't my goal for this venture. No doubt if they entered the prison chambers then they would be hearing the echoes as well.

"Then I suggest you all shut your traps while I open the doors," I said.

I quickly began unlocking each and every cell door. I rolled when everyone began sprinting towards the doors to freedom. As soon as I had the bars unlocked, I was pushed out of the way by nearly every captive in this place. Well, as much as it annoyed me, I decided to let it go. After all, most of them would die trying to escape and that would at least make the guards forget about me while I moved through the estate.

Once the last of the prisoners was gone, I spent my time roaming through the prison for a moment. There was no point in me going with the dead.

As I roamed the empty cells, I found that I wasn't so alone. The two elves were still sitting in their cell that they had shared with me briefly. They both looked at me cautiously. There be something in their eyes I could not figure out, but soon the female stood to her feet.

"You sent those men and women to their deaths,"

As far as I could tell, this wasn't an accusatory statement. It was just an observation.

"Those who can get away will get away. Those who can't will die. Besides, it would have been easy for at least two of them to dress up as guards to fool the sentries outside. Everyone knows the Lady's nature. It be not so hard to figure out what she be needing men and women for. Who would argue it? They just didn't use their heads is all," I replied.

"A point you do have," she replied.

The male elf then decided to speak. "Don't compliment him. We would be just like them if we decided to go," he said with steel in his voice.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Then that be your own fault. Draegnar does not cater to you, and neither does life. You elves should do well to remember that. No matter how powerful you are, life always finds a way to push you back to the bottom," I said. They didn't reply back.

As soon as I finished talking, we all heard the shouting outside the cells. That was my signal that I could continue. I left the two elves alone in their cell...or at least I was supposed to. I heard footsteps behind me and I turned to see the elves walking close to me.

This wouldn't have concerned me if they had just passed me and kept walking, but...they stopped when I stopped. They moved when I moved. They offered me no explanation. They just followed me like children being led by an adult.

I stopped.

"What do you two think you're doing? I'm not here to rescue you. Get out on your own!" I exclaimed.

"We are loathe to admit it, but we have as much a chance at survival as those you sent before us. Our mana is low so we can't call upon the forces of the earth for aid. We also have no weapons. Following you is our best chance at seeing the sunset tonight," the female elf said.

As pleasing as this was to my ego to hear, I fully faced them. "Don't press your luck. What stops me from turning you two into those guards from earlier?" I asked.

"Then at least we will be one with our ancestors instead of the slaves of the living," the male said. It was clear to me that he didn't much like this idea either.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind until I finally relented. "If nothing else about you elves, I respect your grit," I finally replied.

"What are your names?"

"Maeloson," The male elf said.

"Aesteal," The female elf said.

Judging by the bit of elven culture that I knew, I understood that these were not their true names. According to the elves, true names are only given as a sign of complete trust or complete servitude. Most mythical creatures or beings have a true name that they hide away from others. When a person learns the true name of a being the actions that follow are numerous. Not all of them are good either. There are many ways to acquire a person's true name. Not many of them were easy.

I turned around. "Fine, but you both better keep up. If you make this difficult for me, I'll make you both wish you stayed in that cell. Understood?" I threatened.

Maeloson grumbled, but Aesteal quickly nodded. "Understood. You are in charge," she said.

Seeing this, I exhaled. "Good, then follow me," I said. They did so without words of complaint.

I led them to the end of the prison. We could hear the fighting going on outside. Screams blasted against the door until the cruel sound of a blade came down. Then came bloodied gurgles. I slowly grabbed the door handle and pushed it open. It was rather hard to open, but I soon found out why. The body of one of the prisoners had been pressed up against it.

Just a ways away from the door stood guards running outside. I beckoned for the two elves to follow me. We ran down an elegant hallway and then ran up one of the stairs. I ushered them against one of the walls. "After them! Lord Falvor is furious!" a guard shouted. They quickly ran off as well.

We stopped sneaking and started walking. I opened one of the doors but found nothing of interest inside. Well, there were many things I could collect and sell, but that was easily traceable and I didn't need the hassle.

After some time, I opened another room. Judging by the desk, I figured this to be Falvor's study room. Just behind his desk laid one of my desires. The Lindengar family antique pistol.

The history behind this thing is that the gun had killed a mighty mage which led to the Lindengar's rise to power. I didn't know if this was true or not, but...given the things that happen to me, I am prepared to believe quite a few new things.

I grabbed the gun from atop a desk. I stuck it behind me and into my pants. "We came here for a pistol?" Maeloson asked.

"Wrong. I came here for a pistol. You two just need to make sure to beat anyone that comes through that door to the ground. I'm going to be looking through this stuff," I said.

Soon I took my attention away from them while I searched around Falvor's desk area. Luckily, for the guards outside, no one disturbed me and lost their life in the process. I sucked my teeth as I sat in the chair of the desk.

"Nothing but a collection of ship manifests. Every record is more useless than the last one," I cursed. I was ready to destroy this room and all its contents in my anger, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a book more out of place than the others on a bookcase.

I took the book and an open space stared in front of me. I reached into the space and felt around. Then I touched something hard. I pulled out a black box. I opened the box and inside was a black ring. I stared at it for a long while. It shimmered like a jewel, but it wasn't made of any material that I knew about, and that was combining both mine and Liara's memories.

"Which one of you can draw?" I asked.

"Provided I have an artist's pen, I can draw fairly well," Aesteal said.

"Draw this. Make it as detailed as possible," I said. I threw the ring to her. She took it and examined it just as I had done. She then handed it to her companion. While he held the ring, she grabbed a pen and paper. She would spend the next thirty minutes drawing as per my instructions.

Once she was done, I took the paper and stuffed it into my pocket. I placed the ring back in its box and hid it back in its place along with the book.

As we exited the study, I noticed that all the shouting had stopped. More than likely the guards had either killed the rest of the escapees or were chasing those who had gotten away through the island. It wouldn't be long before the place would be filled with more ants. I suppose this little adventure would have to be put on hold.

"Alright, let's get out of here. What I came for isn't here," I said. They seemed all too happy to agree with my decision.

"And how exactly are we going to do that? I doubt we're going to get to walk out the front door," the male elf said to me. I chuckled as I guided them around a corner. They took notice of a lone window that overlooked the sea.

Ah, perhaps I should have mentioned that the Lindengar estate was next to a cliff. Silly me.

"Well, it be a matter of perspective, Elf. It's not a door in the traditional sense, but we're going through it," I said.

They both looked at the beautiful hall window and then at me. "You...You're crazier than those Bruthian savages!" Maeloson said.

"If you want sane then you can go back to your cage. I'll help you make a decision," I said. I then kicked the window open releasing in the wind from outside.

"I heard a noise just now! Someone's still here! After them! If any of them escape, I'll have your heads!" someone yelled from far off. In the meantime, I turned to the two elves and stood on the windowsill.

"You two told me that dying be better than life in a cage. Show me the weight of that elven stubbornness," I told them. I thoroughly enjoyed the look of shock on their faces when I jumped as hard as I could out the window and into the seas below.

With my hands and fingers, I wove the seas to my command. A stream of water rose into the air to catch me and break my sail through the windy air. I quickly swam for the surface. Once I was above water, I bore sight to something that made me outright laugh.