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Adventure in Misadventure 3

Alrick sat with his back against the cold stone walls of the prison. The moonlight streamed in through the bars in the window. The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs nearby making his heart ache for the freedom he'd enjoyed less than eight hours ago. His body quivered with cold, fear, and rage. "You should get some sleep," the cell guard remarked, leaning back against the bars.

Alrick looked towards the cell door, less than two meters away. He fought back the choke in his voice. "Sleep? Why should I." He said tilting his head, "Tomorrow morning I'll be geared up for a parade through the town, with people on all sides throwing anything that comes to hand at me, followed by a march up the rams. Then," He said, standing up and stretching, "Then I'll take the longest sleep." He put his face against the bars. "If tonight is all I have left to live, then why should I sleep it away."

The fox on the other side twitched her ears and shrugged. "Don't know, but it might make the whole ordeal more peaceful."

Peaceful? Alrick thought, walking to the window at the back of the cell. What is going to be peaceful about this? He looked out on the water for second, appreciating the way the moonlight danced in the waves. He began to sing an old bard's song, that started to come to his mind.

"Take this night, wrap it around me like a sheet.

I know I'm not forgiven but I need a place to sleep.

So take this night, and lay me down on the street.

I know I'm not forgiven, but I hope that I'll be given some peace."

He sat down again. His voice still filling the quiet of the prison halls. The song of pain and sorrow echoed through the deathly silence. None of the guards tried to stop him or silence him. Why should they? He'd be dead tomorrow and they'd never have to think about him again. As he finished his song, he curled up on the floor, finally given up. Rage giving way into sorrow, and self-pity. His arm still throbbed from the saber slash that ran through it, barely stitched together to prevent him from bleeding out, but no care was taken to make it less painful. They didn't want me to die before they killed me. He thought, clutching the wound tightly, somehow reveling in the pain.

Not even half the day ago, he stood proudly on the deck of a frigate. A corsair, surrounded by his mates, smiling and drinking, and singing bawdy tunes 'til their blackened hearts were content. They had just pulled off a successful raid against one of Queen Stargazer's medical ships, and were returning to the Jackal Empire of Ahnu'Khan to receive payment. The ship sailed smoothly through the warm water. The entire crew caught in the throes of celebration. Everything was fine, but then something broke through the ship above Alrick's head, throwing splinters in every direction. Several deep thrums filled the midday air, as cannon balls wreaked havoc on the wooden hull. "Is it the navy?" The ferret captain shouted up from the helm to the crow's nest. The raccoon inside looked towards the approaching vessel.

Long and massive, the ship plowed through the waters with sail and oar, a large ram affixed to the front. The ship turned from its broadside attack to a ramming attempt. "NO CAPTAIN!" The raccoon shouted back sounding terrified, "IT'S ONE OF THE PIRATE LORD'S SHIPS!"

The larger ship, a Man O' War, was coming on faster and faster. The waves echoed to the sound of massive drums beating out time. The smaller ship had little chance, it broke violently as the other ship's ram slammed into the side, several of its crew flew into the ocean below. Volleys of arrows filled the sky, and the air was filled with screams of the struck and dying. Soon the larger ship turned, further scraping the side of the smaller ship as it went. Pirates from the larger ship jumped the gap onto the deck of the frigate. Sabers rang out as pirates battled pirates, they crew kept coming. The frigate was out gunned by at least eighty cannons, and seven hundred ruthless sailors. Like a black and blue wave the men of the Pirate King's fleet kept coming, The last thing Alrick remembered was a saber slash taking his sword away, followed by the hilt of same sword knocking him into a deep black void.

When he awoke, he was in a cart with five others, three of whom were dead, the other two were shaking nervously. All five of them, regardless of living or dead, were chained to the sides of the cart with large iron chains. Two horse guardians, a stallion and a mare, were pulling the cart through the streets, of the massive city, with its square stone buildings squatting on either side of the street. As they passed over a river bridge the two horses stopped, they moved to the side of the cart. The chains around the three bodies were unlocked, and the cuffs relocked into the large iron staples in the side. Between the two of them they hefted the bodies out of the cart, and over the side of the bridge. Alrick recognized the crest on their chest plate, and panicked inwardly. They bore the blue star, and ribbons of Queen Stargazer. He knew his fate was surely sealed, as the cart once more resumed it's slow crawl to the castle. Like the hearse leading a funeral procession, though those still aboard were not yet dead.

Without meaning to, he'd drifted into a long dreamless sleep. Across the town in a large university, built in the center of an ancient and enormous tree, Clarin sat looking over a text book. She rubbed her temples cursing to herself in the dark, empty library. She just couldn't seem to get the basics of foresight, it eluded her at every turn, just when she thought she had it her vision would clear and she'd find herself staring at the musty, yellow pages once more. Frustrated, she threw the book across the room, screaming profanities at it. She lay her head in her curled arms, resting it on the table. That's when the dream came, even though she knew she was awake. A gray wolf swung on a gallows, gurgling softly as his eyes rolled up to the sun. Behind him stood the six remaining Penitents, Humility not yet replaced, they watched the wolf stoically. The queen sat, her face in shadow, on a throne miles above the ground, on a long and winding stair. The wolf was cut down from the gallows, his body no longer moving. As the crowd pulled the body past her, the corpse's head turned to look at her. "Save me," He begged, "Save me, please, I don't know how, and I don't know why, but I know you can." The wolf was drug away from her as the crowd cheered, nearly pulling the poor thing apart.

Charity, and Kindness both placed their hands upon the young squirrel's shoulders. "I'm here, I will help," Charity said, her voice loud and booming, drowning out the cheers and whoops. "Seek me at the top of the stairs, let none stop you, show me the generosity of your self-sacrifice and I shall aid you."

"Show me your kindness to this poor beast, show me that you would brave any sword to prevent his death and I shall aid you."

The squirrel woke up, her heart racing. Looking out at the castle she swallowed hard. She kicked the chair out from under her on accident as she bolted out of the large tree, sprinting at full tilt towards the stone towers. It was late, and the castle dark. The throne room was quiet, yet the two Penitents stood on either side of the empty throne, not needing sleep the two held their assigned vigil. The hall outside was filled with an uproar, guards yelling, swords rattling. The throne room doors broke open revealing a panicked squirrel charging through the confused guards. She stopped in front of the imposing golden figures. Charity, a long and lanky ferret, and Kindness a large and stoic Doe. The squirrel fell to her knees, dropping into a low bow. "My ladies of penitence, please hear what I have to say!"

The guards burst in, yelling their insults, and surrounding the squirrel. "LEAVE HER!" Kindness said, she and Charity placing their bodies in between the squirrel and the guards. "Why have you come here?" She said, turning to the squirrel.

"I... I had a dream, a dream of a wolf who was to be hanged, he begged me to save him. In my dream, you promised me your aid if I came here and braved the castle guards."

Charity held up her hand, "Guards leave the throne room, return to your posts, this one is in our charge now." Carefully, she helped the squirrel up, brushing her off gently.

"Thank you," The squirrel said, adjusting her glasses.

"This wolf, where is he now?"

"I do not know my lady."

"Dawn shall rise soon enough, when those condemned shall be marched out, but why of all of these wretches who have earned their fair punishment, save him?"

Smiling, Kindness removed her helmet, "Dear sister Charity, Mercy would not approve of your views."

The ferret straightened. "You're right, but still I must know."

"I think," The squirrel said quietly, "I think he's innocent, I don't think any blood has spilled by his hands..." Her mind flashed to the vision, the crowd had their hands stained red with blood, the other bodies from the gallows as well, even the Penitence in holy golden armor. "In my vision, his hands were the only ones clean of blood."

Kindness and Charity looked at each other and nodded. After the rise of dawn, the wolf was beaten brutally into a waking state. The guards grabbing him forcefully and pulling him through the cell door. Unlike some of the others, he didn't cry out, he just let them drag and shove him along. He stood on the rams, his eyes cast down as the priest read her prayers to the gods, not shifting as the rope tightened around his neck. Just as the priest said "May the gods be kind to you, and let you find rest beyond," the lever was pulled, and he dropped through the floor. His body wanted to breathe, unable to. His legs scrabbled to pull himself up. Suddenly there was a bright gleam over his head, a sword severing the rope. He fell to his knees in the mud below, his throat burning as he sucked in air.

The golden ferret stood him up amidst the crowds confusion. She placed a hand on his shoulder, aiding him into the castle. "Why did you save me?" He said, looking into the golden helmet. "I'm a pirate, I deserved to hang alongside the others."

"I didn't save you." The ferret said quietly, "She did." She sat the wolf in a chair in the library across from Clarin.

The squirrel looked him over, rough and dirty, his eyes ever watchful of his surroundings. "I'm... I'm... I'm Clarin, I know you're not like them. I know you were worth saving."

Alrick looked at her, unused to that kind of gentle thinking. He smirked, "I'm Alrick, the pirate. Maybe you made a mistake saving me." He laughed humorlessly, even though it was obvious the squirrel didn't believe him. He sighed, resting his head on the table, "Thank you, I don't know how I can ever repay you, or my debts."

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Alrick's eyes opened, the mechanical doctor standing above him, gently placed his hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, go back to sleep." He said softly. Alrick looked for Clarin, but he was weak, and fighting to stay alert, "Your friend will be back in the morning, she said she had to make a report to your superiors." The doctor said. Relaxed, knowing Clarin was safe and returning, he quit fighting, slipping back into a deep sleep. His dreams more pleasant this time around.