Shimmers in the Shade

Shimmers in the Shade: What Was Once Lost

Chapter One: Drink Up, Me Hearties

A flash of light. A thunderous boom. Rain began to pour upon the deck of the ship and the crew members stopped to gaze upon the darkened skies; a few smirked. The Bitch Queen was having a fit tonight, Her rage accentuated with every crack of thunder. To those riding the waves, it was a warning: “Your graves lie below the tide, within my cold embrace.”

The wind whipped and howled as the Captain cried his orders.

“Alright, lads! Seems th'Stormlord's givin' Umberlee a good row! Prep th'ship for all they got!”

A chorus of answers echoed back at him as members of the crew jumped quickly to shelter the storm, preparing the ship for Umberlee’s wrath. “Aye, Captain!”

Several hands began to furl the sails, taking away the Bitch Queen’s breath. They tied down any loose provisions and battened down the hatches to keep rain and brine from spilling below deck. The old schooner had seen better days, that much was for sure. With each rock side to side, the wood creaked and moaned in agony at the power of the waves crashing into the hull. Ropes pulled tightly, threatening to snap their molded and weakened grasp. Worst of all was the sails- patched and torn with their edges gnarled.

The ship should have sunk to it’s watery grave long ago. However, it seemed Lady Luck had Her eye out for the Captain and his crew, for whatever reason. The Captain wouldn’t complain. He was making good money for his shipments, and his mates were happy. The added bonus of shipping people back and forth across the Lake of Dragons? The extra coin was definitely welcome, and it seemed that the two extra members that tagged along had plenty to spare. Half now, half upon delivery- that was the normal deal. He only hoped that the second half of the payment would be without issue, considering the nasty storm they were having.

The woman seemed sweet enough, likely easy to manipulate into giving more gold than originally talked about. A noble, perhaps? He was more concerned about trying to get more coin from the man with the swords. The blades seemed well made, but did the sod even know how to use them? He doubted they’d come around the area again, so why not gamble on a threat and try for more? It was definitely an option on the table. All that mattered now was making it out of Her wrath unharmed. A grin crossed his face as he thought of just how the two would be faring at that moment in time. Likely doubled over and losing their meals, he would bet. They didn’t seem to be the type to sail. It was no matter of his, and his focus turned back to calling out orders around him.

However, all was not as the Captain believed below deck. Neither were doubled over, and one of them certainly had their fair share of sailing. It was quite clear which of the two had the experience- certainly not the woman. With her arms wrapped around her knees, she sat in the corner of their quarters with her head down. A sharp rock of the schooner and she gripped her knees tightly, knuckles going white. Her whole face was yet to be seen, but the auburn tinted hair falling down her shoulders and arms parted ever so slightly to show a glimpse. Judging by the dark rings beneath her eyes and the paleness in her cheeks, it was obvious that she was not enjoying Umberlee’s threat.

Should have taken the land route, even if it was longer, the woman thought to herself. Sure, she'd recently learned to swim, but nothing could prepare her for the fear she was feeling deep within her soul at the fact they were in the middle of a lake. What if the boat sinks? It wouldn't sink, would it? If it did, would I be able to swim to land? Would I get tired and drown? How deep is this water? The flurry of questions danced around her head and continue taunting her the moment they had left the trade route and stepped foot onto the old schooner.

What made everything worse to her was the fact the damn thing looked to be falling apart. She'd spoke with the Captain before and was assured they'd be safe. However, she felt more and more as if all it would take was a swift wind and the safety of the ship would be no more. Granted, she wasn't sure it was all that safe to begin with, all physical issues aside. She knew they had less than legal goods, and figured the Captain and his crew wouldn't think twice about making sure she and her companion kept quiet about it. She offered enough money to make the Captain happy, but she noted the look in his eye. The twinkle with a smile. It was no matter. She just had to think ahead as always.

Unfortunately, thinking was all she had done. And that did not bode well for her nerves.

For the briefest of moments, Kendra stopped to think if this truly was worth it all. But again, it was only for a moment that this thought ran through her mind. If Jeanne was truly alive...if it were actually possible, then it was worth every bit of fear and danger. To see that smile once more was worth death itself.

What gave her more pause was the fact that this could also mean the threat of her companion's life as well. It meant the world to her that he came with her to support her- more than she could begin to put into words. But she couldn't bear to think that something could happen to him on this trip. For that, she'd take every precaution necessary to see to his safety. She swore that to herself. The only issue was that she knew she couldn't do anything about the threat of drowning. Every other risk she had felt confident about. But water? Once more she was regretting setting sail.

On the other side of the coin, she felt that perhaps this was actually a benefit. Jhyn seemed to be enjoying himself, and the small smiles she'd caught glimpses of thus far in her brief glances around were also well worth her fears. She knew what sailing meant to him, and thus she'd decided to take this chance. If only she'd have been able to find a more safe vessel.

The moment the crack of thunder roared across the sky outside, she gave a jump and her heart skipped a few beats. Was this really happening? Clearly the Maiden of Misfortune had a bone to pick. That, or the Bitch Queen was giving Kendra a run for her money. This can't be happening..., she thought to herself, hands gripping to her flowing red skirt at the knees. More 'what ifs' began to flood her mind as a voice spoke clearly through her panic. Though it was soft, it was clear and like a comfort to her.

“Feeling alright, love? I think I’m going to take a trip above deck and stretch my legs. . The air might do you some good, if you’d like to come along?”

She raised her head up and the wavy auburn hair parted to show her face. Honestly, she was a sorry sight and she well knew it. But she couldn't help but smile at him, regardless of how worried she'd felt. The smile turned to a bit of a smirk at his question.

"And see just how far we are from land? I'm unsure that would make me feel very comfortable. Besides, I'm already a mess and I'd hate to have to subject you to even more of my childish fears."

Her gaze moved to his blades as they became sheathed and she still couldn't help but be impressed at their beauty. What was truly amazing to her, however, was his ability with them. He'd said countless times to her that he was not that impressive when it came to combat, but she remembered seeing him a few times. She really believed he was simply being modest about it; never wanting to be in the spotlight about things.

Her own chuckle escaped her lips as she watched him move closer and lean against the wall. Looking up at him, she considered his words. It couldn't be all that bad up there, could it? Maybe the storm would mask the vastness of the water. It was night, after all. At the same time, wouldn't the water be scarier? A dark, black abyss...

Kendra shook the thoughts away quickly. What was with her? The dark hadn't scared her in years. Perhaps it was the fact she was going back to her past. Regardless, there was no room for the fear now- not when Jhyn was there to support her. She smiled softly and gave a bit of a tired sigh.

"You're right, of course. I haven't really had fresh air today, so I suppose it would be a good idea to get up and stretch. You um...you're sure it's safe with this storm?" As if in answer, another crack of lightning echoed throughout the lands, giving Kendra another jump. The boat shifted a bit against the rocky waters and a few normal shouts were heard amongst the crew members.

Tantalizing. Yes, that was the word. There was no better utterance to describe how it felt. Anticipation twisted Jea'nneaste's insides with anxiety, her will and ambition being the only thing maintaining her unknown presence. Cold tendrils of fingers brushed through the air between them. She was like a moth to a flame. But she could not yet touch it. Not now. It was not the right time.

But she had to be the first to take a bite. She had to taste and savor the moment before the others could. The journey on a horrid ship to the Dales was long and tedious. Yet patience would still win out. Afterall, she had waited this long to finally see and speak with her dear Kendra again, what was another few days on a tumultuous, rocking boat?

When whispers came to her that her letter had successfully reached Kendra's hands, Jea'nneaste could not bear to rely on another to give her further information. She had to do the rest herself. Thus, she watched with dark eyes as Kendra and the one called Jhyn stepped onto the docked ship. Her full lips drew into a sneer. This new lover had no right to come. This journey was for Kendra and Kendra alone. Nonetheless, she thought smugly to herself, he could prove useful in the days to follow. Everyone carried secrets in their shadows. His presence could be... tolerated.

The plan was set in place. Everything was in motion. Even more-so was her stomach as the ship tossed and lurched about on the sea.

The half-elf put a hand on her stomach, and one over her mouth, stifling the rancid smells of the ship to prevent their encouragement for her to vomit. To the onlooker, she was no more than a ship's hand holding back his lunch. Her clothes were worn and hooded, shrouding her body and face from the casual observer. Gold spoke much to the captain, and he kept her true gender and name a secret. He knew his place, given her position of "authority" in Westgate. It was a grungy metropolis, overpopulated with humans of all sorts, as well as paranoid, snooty nobles. Everyone there had a story to tell, and a rumor to share. But in the right hands, those stories were worth many lives. Many of which took to their knees before her goddess, knowing that they were at Her mercy. This captain was no different, even if he didn't hold Her name in his heart. Someday he very well might.

Their trip back to Westgate was almost over. Jea'nneaste could smell the air in the breeze as she climbed up to the deck to breathe in fresh air. On the pale horizon, buildings popped up along the landscape, just beyond a vast port filled with a variety of ships. Yes, this was home. It was here she would be most comfortable, and perhaps Kendra would be as well. For now.

After taking a moment to recover she shuffled off to the side, sitting down upon a tied crate as she waited for Kendra and Jhyn to surface and get their first view of the city as well.

Not yet. But soon. Very soon.

With no hesitation, she reached out and slipped her hand into his and stood. There didn't really seem to be anything on her person, save for a pack she had left in the corner of the room they made their save in. Her clothing seemed very well taken care of, the silk fabric without a tear or smudge of dirt. She was simply Kendra- no disguises and no masks.

As she stepped up from her 'safe' little corner, the flame of a candle flickered towards her longing, its light shining against the gold-colored embroidery of her dress. Even her amulet with the symbol of Lliira seemed to brightly shine against the fire's light. Between the light of the flame and the general comfort of it's heat, some color finally rose in her pale cheeks. It wasn't long before the flame gave less of a greeting and dwindled to the absolute smallest stature it could. She moved her gaze to the small candle and tilted her head briefly. Strange...

It was a damp night regardless, so was it really all that strange? Perhaps not. With her free hand, she outstretched her hand over it, tempting it to grow once more. And of course, it did. It stretched out and reached to her hand almost like a child would reach to their mother. A gentle smile crossed her face and she turned her attention back to Jhyn.

"I'm not that clumsy to slip and fall like that." She offered with a smirk. Truth be told, she was pretty clumsy. She couldn't begin to count how many times she'd tripped over her own feet or dropped something important. But she was being extra careful, so there was no way she'd fall now. Not out there.

"Ready when you are, love."

Kendra followed Jhyn's steps with care, but it was clear that she was definitely struggling with keeping her balance. What made matters worse was when her attention was drawn to the galley at the enticing smells and Jhyn's remark. She smirked and gave a bit of a mock-pout. "Aww, that's a shame. I was rather looking forward to an early morning dip in the bottle." She paused for a moment and tapped her chin. "You know, that beef would go well with a bit of red wine cooked into it..."

Her thought was immediately broken when the hatch was opened to the deck and the water came pouring in. It wasn't that she didn't expect to get soaked; she just was extremely taken aback by the ice cold waters. For a moment, she looked down to her soaked clothes and shivered, gritting her teeth from frustration. However, as soon as she looked up and heard the chuckle from her companion followed by the removal of his hood, any bit of frustration she had disappeared.

He was happy. She could see it. The ice cold water, the soaked clothing, the feeling of fear...it was all worth seeing him happy. It brought a warmth to her heart that seemed to make the frigid temperatures disappear and the shivers stop. It seemed silly to her that something as crazy as a storm on a smuggler's broken ship would cause the smile on his face and the relaxation she could see in him. But it didn't matter. If she could help him achieve this twenty times over, she'd do it in a heartbeat. Perhaps she'd have to get more used to sailing.

Her steps were light along the boards, but her balance was still off as she made her way with Jhyn to the deck. This could prove to my benefit, she thought to herself. Always make the best of situations and use them to your advantage. This was something she firmly believed in. If her unsteadiness made her seem like more of a useless and harmless woman to the crew, then that would work perfectly. So long as they didn't think twice. Keep up the act and always play your part. She swayed a bit as the boat continued rocking and looked around sheepishly, settling her eyes on the Captain and giving a small wave as well.

The Captain gave a nod to the two upon hearing Jhyn speak to him. Jhyn could note that for a brief second, his eyes settled on Jhyn's blades before moving back to him. It could be determined that the Captain was sizing him up, seeming to decide something. It wasn't clear just then what exactly that was.

"Evenin, lad. Lady. Port, ye say?" He motioned towards the landscape beginning to build before them. "We be makin' port 'bout when t'sun rises. Ain't be too long. I be expectin t'rest o' my payment, savvy?" His eyes once more settled on Jhyn's blades before motioning his First Mate to take the helm so he could address the man and woman directly. His steps were slow and deliberate.

Kendra's gaze was set on the buildings that had begun to make their view before them. Her expression was...well, it was rather blank. Inside her head there were a number of thoughts swirling, but she couldn't break her act in front of the Captain. Not when she expected him to cause a fuss. She looked back from the buildings, not a hint of recognition in her face and smiled sweetly to the Captain and looped her arm in Jhyn's as she spoke. "It seems we're rather close. Tell me, do you know of the best tavern around the city? I'm terribly dreadful with new places. Forgive me."

The winds were still strong, and the rain continued its drizzle for a time, forcing the half-elf to pull her dreary garb more tightly around her person. It was not the cold that bothered her. Such things were beautiful; their icy daggers pierced the skin and reached her very bones. But she could not embrace this chill among the crew or her to-be comrades. If she did so, her guise would be broken.

It had been a long time since she had to make such use of her skills. Years, even. Admittedly she might have felt a bit soft sitting under a temple's roof for seasons upon seasons. To be drowning in such adventure once again for her Lady thrilled her. This especially, among all her successes, was to be the sweetest.

Jea'nneaste watched predatorily at the display of Jhyn and Kendra as they interacted with the captain, and more specifically at the brief gaze towards the city, its staring recovered hastily as it returned to the captain's face. Gently she bit down upon her lower lip, repressing a smile.

How could one describe the feeling of pleasure, this warranted longing to share with one that was once so close that which you hold within your heart? What if they rejected you? Would you still want them to stay by you, to accept you for who you were? Or would you in turn reject them? Jea'nneaste reminded herself that that could never be so. This was a friendship bonded in eternity, a blood bond woven by history. There could be no shade but hers that would blanket this light.

The woman could not bear it any longer. She had to do something... time was now on her side. As the trio continued to converse, Jea'nneaste turned away, departing the vicinity to gather her "belongings" as the ship slowly neared their destination.

As the Captain finally made it in front of the two companions, a few of the crew members looked on curiously. They tried to make it seem as if they were engrossed in their other duties, but it didn't take a keen eye to note their attentions on the three conversing. The rain continued to pour down onto the heads of the travelers, unrelenting in it's icy cold assault.

Kendra's smile faltered for a moment as she briefly glanced to the sky and used her free hand to tug her blouse closer to her. The fabrics were soaked and she knew it would do little to make her drier or warmer. Still, she felt more comfortable in doing so. Her eyes moved back towards the Captain, seeming to not notice Jhyn's staring. The Captain, however, seemed to notice every little thing.

Taking note to detail was one of his specialties. A twitch of an eye, a shift in body language, subtle movements- all of these were things he noted. A small smirk raised at the corner of his mouth as he noted Kendra's demeanor towards the weather. "Not fond o' t'Bitch Queen's welcome, are ye?" The question was more rhetorical as he mulled over an answer to Kendra's question. "Hrm, I'd say ye'd be best headin toward t'Rotten Root Tavern. Ain't tha best grub, but it be a good enough startin point. So what brings ye out here? Not many out there tha' would come out here for jes a vacation, even if ye ain't been here before. Ain't the most friendliest o' places, milady. But...I be guessin ye got this bodyguard for tha' reason, aye?" He knew full well that Jhyn was not her bodyguard, based on the look he gave Kendra. However, this question was more for his own amusement than anything.

The small woman gave a tilt of her head to the Captain. "Bodyguard?" Her gaze turned back to Jhyn now and she couldn't help but get a small smile before turning back to the Captain. "The Rotten Root Tavern...alright I'll make note of that. You have my thanks. As for why we're here, well, that is our own business. I mean no disrespect, of course. Just as you have business here with your shipment, we have business as well. I hope that is explanation enough."

The Captain gave a nod of his head in understanding, but still seemed a bit skeptical, taking note once more of Jhyn's blades. "I understand yer discretion and I'll nay press further. Just a bit o' a strange thing, a noblewoman and her bodyguard on a ship such as this'n. There be many other vessels tha' would've suited ye, I think." Once more, Kendra tilted her head. "Captain, are you suggesting the coin offered to you for this would have been better spent elsewhere? If that's the case, I believe the high price you asked for could certainly be knocked down a few pegs..."

It was clear the Captain was regretting his questioning and he immediately ceased, shaking his head and waving a hand dismissively. "No no, milady. Ain't no reason fer tha'. Ferget I said anythin. Now, once we get ta' port, I have a specific way o' doin things. First I ask tha ye..." He began to go on with the order of business when it came to Jhyn and Kendra's leave of the vessel. They'd be expected to pay once they made port and would be able to leave after that was finished.

As Kendra listened, her mind began to wander and very slightly her brow furrowed. The hairs on her arms began to stand up and she shifted in place. Something wasn't right. Or was it? She couldn't quite place it. It felt as if they were being watched, but from where? If she tried to start looking, the Captain would have likely began to get worried. There was no need to outright state they were being watched. Not until she could speak to Jhyn quietly about it. If the Captain became spooked, there's no telling what he would do.

Instead, she just continued to smile and nod while waiting for the Captain to be finished. He finally did and then looked to the two of them expectantly. Kendra gave a nod of understanding, then looked to Jhyn.

She looked back at Jhyn and nodded to him. "I think that would be best. Wouldn't want to catch a cold." Turning back to the Captain, she dipped her head. "We'll be off for now. Thank you for the information. We'll have your payment ready when we hit port." With that, she turned and took a better look around the boat.

The hairs on the back of her neck were still standing and she couldn't quite pinpoint where the feeling was coming from. It definitely bothered her. Was it the Skymage Master? Had he come all this way? Maybe he was the one that set everything up to begin with. She knew she wasn't being scryed, so whatever she felt was from something there on board. It wasn't long before the feeling had left her; whomever was watching had stopped.

She definitely needed to relay this to Jhyn and get his advice on it all. If they had already been watched on the boat, that means they had been expected all this time. That someone was already prepared for their arrival. This bothered her. She was always one to stay one step ahead- always having a plan within a plan. This time, however, it seemed Kendra and Jhyn were at a disadvantage.

The small woman turned her attention back to Jhyn and she waited for him to lead the way. It was likely clear to him that something was causing her to be somewhat distracted. The Captain didn't seem to notice and he went back to the helm, muttering something to the First Mate who then nodded back and went to speak to a few other crew members. Kendra waited for Jhyn to take the lead back to their quarters, as her steps were still rather unbalanced. She wasn't about to take any chances with slipping.

Passing the galley made Kendra's stomach growl as well and she looked longingly towards the sound of cooking. Oh...is that...stew? No...what is it? It's so familiar... She thought to herself. Turning away from the scent reluctantly, she followed Jhyn back to their tiny quarters.

It wasn't so bad, she thought. So often there were places she stayed that were so luxurious and...well, to be frank, they were ridiculously lavish to the point of being uncomfortable. It was the little things, really. Small places such as this tight storage closet with a cot. These had a comfort to them in a way. It reminded her of long ago when she traveled so often on the roads. There were times that it reminded her of imprisonment, but such dark memories could stay beneath the surface. They were better off that way.

Like Jhyn, she slipped out of her soaked clothing and dug for some dry ones within her pack. "Mhm...we were being watched. I'm not sure by whom. Could be anyone, really. But they were definitely studying us. This means they're ahead of the game. I figured we could expect this in town, but on the ship we traveled in with? I wasn't expecting that."

After slipping into a rather plain looking set of trousers and a tunic, she turned to Jhyn with a bit of a smile. Her own hair was rather soaked, but she didn't seem bothered by it. Stepping past him, she took up some of his wet items and held them close to her as she began to concentrate on radiating heat to dry them.

"We're going into this at a disadvantage. Whoever this is, is ready for us. What do you think we should do?"

She smoothed out the clothing within her arms onto her lap and took up her own wet dress, speaking as she worked towards drying them. A small smile crept up her face as she realized that drying clothes like this was now becoming a habit. I'm glad not many know about this, lest I become the new clothing dryer..., she thought to herself, shaking her head.

As Jhyn explained his own stance, she nodded. "It doesn't surprise me the Captain has such an interest in you. I imagine you're right. He'll probably try to pull something so he can get more pay. Him looking at your weapons? Probably trying to gauge whether or not you can actually fight." With his belt dried, she handed it over to him and winked. "I'd personally prefer to avoid any fights unless necessary. Especially since we just got here. Not to mention we don't know who exactly these smugglers are tied to. Any sort of scuff with them could mean a scuff with whatever gang they happen to be buddies with."

Jhyn's idea of etherealness gave her a big grin, but there was a hint of nervousness to it. The Ethereal Plane would be fine to avoid the water, but her concern was about the concentration of keeping it active. She never had a problem before, but then again she'd never been in the middle of a lake before. The most she'd used it to escape water was just a small creek.

"Hm...you're definitely on to something. It'd be a great way to get out of this easily. I should be able to keep it active for quite a while, provided my concentration doesn't break. I can only cast it on myself. I assume your own abilities will cover yourself though, right?"

She smiled back at him and tapped her finger on his nose in a sort of 'boop'. "Whichever way you think would be best. I can ward us with other things regardless and they'll last a while. It would be more efficient for us just to be linked so I can conserve some of my energy for another spell, if need be." Standing up from the cot, she brushed her own hand across his cheek and winked.

"You have no reason to thank me, Jhyn. Regardless of how miserable I may have felt, it all melted away once I saw that smile on your face. I mean that." Kendra leaned down and kissed his forehead before moving back to her pack and slipping out what appeared to be her Sister's spellbook. "You get some rest. I need to catch up on some reading. There's a few things in here that caught my interest before and I think I'd like to try something."

It wasn't long before she made herself comfortable once more onto the cot, scooting back to rest her back to the ship's wall. She patted her lap to offer him a place to rest his head, should he wish it and flipped through the pages of the book with her free hand, setting it to the side. "I believe there's a way to contact Karovir in here...just to see if he's safe. I'll need to study it a bit more to see if it's actually something that can happen, and I'll need to get someone to scribe a scroll of it for me if it does look like it will work. If I can contact him, then we'll know for sure he's okay. He had to have made it out okay. I'm sure of it." Her words sounded more as if she was trying to convince herself rather than anyone else.

Below decks, Kendra was still concentrating heavily on studying the spell she'd found in Ahri's spellbook. The small woman closed her eyes after seeming satisfied the spell was indeed what she thought it was. We'll find him..., she thought to herself, and opened her eyes to slip a makeshift bookmark into the pages.

There were a few people she believed may know the spell. And if they didn't? She would simply make a written copy and ask them to learn. There was no way she was going to let this opportunity pass up. Wherever Karovir was, she felt it her responsibility to find him, or at least provide someone with the means to do so.

But what if there were no answer? What if...what if he'd fallen? To think there could possibly be another of the group that was felled...was it all worth it? Were people banding together now and taking the chance the party was trying to provide? If anything, it had definitely bought some time for the innocent people in Shadowdale, but how long until the army grew once more?

...Had they already?

She wiped at her tired eyes, finding a few tears of frustration had managed to escape. A soft sigh left her as she went back to looking through the spellbook for anything else that may help.

Her lips curled into a smile and she leaned her head against his hand. "Everything's alright, love. Better than we thought, I suppose. Found something that may help us find Karovir." She motioned to the Sending spell within Ahri's spellbook before closing it. She didn't know if Jhyn could read it or not, so she simply explained.

"A spell known as Sending. A small message can be sent to the person you are trying to get a hold of. If they're on another Plane, you can face some difficulties. But it's still possible. I need to get a hold of someone who either knows this spell or can learn it and scribe a scroll for me. I know a few I can ask. I just hope..." She paused a moment and furrowed her brows.

"I'm worried about telling him about Ahri, Imesah and Emrys. This is just so difficult, you know? The whole situation of the Undead is just...I wish it would be over. I wish it would go away. That people would band together and just...make it stop." Kendra let out a sigh. The boat gave another rock from the rough waters and Kendra reached out to the wall, as if that would help steady her. A brief chuckle was heard from her and she shook her head.

"Though we do need to depart soon, lest we face whatever the Captain has in s-" Her words were interrupted abruptly with a knock on their door. The Captain's voice could be heard over a couple snickers from two or three crew members.

"Stop yer rompin, kiddies. Be time to pay yer dues..."

Kendra looked at Jhyn and raised a brow, whispering softly. "I don't suppose you have any ideas, love?"