Ronin's Tale part Three
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:25 am
"Knock, Knock," said a soaked, cold, nervous, and scared Ronin, standing outside Sepacuna's tent.
"Go away."
"I brought you something." He stuck the hand holding the bouquet of black roses through the tent flap. Normally he would have just gone in, but the last thing he wanted, especially if he was to die was to barge in on a Sorceress while she changed into her night gown.
Suddenly, a malevolent force seized his arm, puling him in. "You got a lot of nerve, little man!" Said Sepacuna, pushing the boy against the a tent post! Her free hand holding a sharp knife.
"I just came to apologize, but if using that knife in the manner that I think you are going to use it works..."
"Never mind." she said, letting him go. Ronin just slid down the pole holding the tent up, releasing a sign of relief. Sepacuna took a whiff of the sweet aroma emanating from the plants. "The Black Roses of Mor, how lovely." she said. The woman motioned the young general towards a chair next to a warm fire. Taking the hint, and wanting a chance to dry off, he took her offer.
Ronin took in his surroundings, feeling more relived, and even more surprised. The Tent was very frugal, with very little in the way of decor. To one side was a simple bed, a closet with a few gowns, and her saddle. On the other side a small book shelf containing power stones, tomes, scrolls, and small talismans. Then there was where he was sitting: A couple of chairs, a table, and a mettle fire pit.
"I believe we need to get over our differences, and get acquainted if we're ever going to get through working together."
"What do you mean, Lord..."
"I am not a Lord. Even back in Ulthuan, I was a simple farm boy in some backwoods community. So, stop with the Lord this, my lord that. Technically, being a bride of Malekith, you are the Nobility here!"
"More like lesser concubine."
"My point exactly! We don't know anything about each other. Maybe if we understood each other better, then maybe we'd stop quarreling!"
"Ok, but why this way?" She asked, creeping closer to him. "Why not get your information from some other source?"
"Because we both want our information unpolluted by lies and rumors, spread by our enemies."
At these words, she stopped. She could tell he was sincere. The kid was to young to have learned the fine art of deceit. In any case, every one knew the rumors about him: He was honest. He was too honest for his own good. She was at a lost of words.
"My mother always said a “gentlemen lets women take the lead.” Would you mind telling me your story?" He asked.
"My parents," she began. "Were simple soldiers. Both never became rich, but they made enough gold to take care of the family, and keep the Witch Elves at bay. This worked for a few years, but the old crones just got greedier as they got older. One year, my parents couldn't buy their way out of the terror of Death Night! SO they went to the one source they could turn to..."
"The Covenants." said Ronin, shaking his head.
"Yeah, they got the protection, but at the cost of their children. My brothers became tower guardians. One died defending one from rival covenant, another was killed durring one of their rituals, while the eldest became an Anointed of Slannesh. My Youngest sister died early on, another became a general's advisor, while my eldest became the youngest high sorceress in a thousand years!" I still don't know what happened to my mother and father."
"How old were you when you were taken?"
"50." she sighed. The weight of her inner demons was finally affecting her frigid heart. "I never saw my family after that. I heard about my family from older girls learning the dark arts, or from various instructors. I can't even remember their faces, only their names!
"Eventually it came time for me to partake of the trials. Most of them I had accomplished while under the watchful eyes of my instructors, and the High Sorceress I was an apprentice under. Casting spells, aiding in a battle against our enimeis, levitating a black ark, plucking soals, you name it.
"But the rest I had to do on my own. So I road accost the Northern Waists, traveling all the way down to Tilea. There, I found work as a spell caster for a self centered prince, wanting to wage a war. After a few years, he decided to take on a unit of Druchii. The night before the attack, I slit his throat, while he slept, and had the Highborn's Shades slaughter the rest. I returned to Ghround for my final Test, before I became a true Sorceress. But something went wrong.
"I can't remember what happened, but when I awoke, I was naked in an examiner's cell. My skin tuned dark blue, and this scar formed on my body. But Inside, the damage was even worse. I can still perform the joy that comes when a man and a woman become one, but my ability to have a child was forcefully removed! I was lucky to have kept my senses, and my memory, and my abilities." A twinge of anger could be visibly seen across her face. "I wish this never happened. I spent the rest of my days cleaning Malekith's boots. When he and his Generals were off gallivanting around, leaving his dear old mother behind... she rewarded courageous Black Guards with the use of my body! No one would say anything, and it would be my word, the word of a slave, against theirs!
"Then came you, child. You came, and Malekith took interest in you. He took interest in you and your training. And when your training was done, he awarded you with me!" She collapsed. Lucky for her, she fell into Ronin's arms, and not on the hard ground. She held him close, sobbing in his cloak.
Ronin could only hold her. He didn't know why, but the rage building up in him seemed to fill the room. He would make Morathi pay and the members of the Black Guard responsible for her pain.
That night he swore an oath to himself. He was given this woman, almost a century older then he was. She was a gift for surviving the training he received in all of the great cities of the dark elves. He swore an oath to protect her, and to avenge her honor!
Any Fluff corections would be nice!
"Go away."
"I brought you something." He stuck the hand holding the bouquet of black roses through the tent flap. Normally he would have just gone in, but the last thing he wanted, especially if he was to die was to barge in on a Sorceress while she changed into her night gown.
Suddenly, a malevolent force seized his arm, puling him in. "You got a lot of nerve, little man!" Said Sepacuna, pushing the boy against the a tent post! Her free hand holding a sharp knife.
"I just came to apologize, but if using that knife in the manner that I think you are going to use it works..."
"Never mind." she said, letting him go. Ronin just slid down the pole holding the tent up, releasing a sign of relief. Sepacuna took a whiff of the sweet aroma emanating from the plants. "The Black Roses of Mor, how lovely." she said. The woman motioned the young general towards a chair next to a warm fire. Taking the hint, and wanting a chance to dry off, he took her offer.
Ronin took in his surroundings, feeling more relived, and even more surprised. The Tent was very frugal, with very little in the way of decor. To one side was a simple bed, a closet with a few gowns, and her saddle. On the other side a small book shelf containing power stones, tomes, scrolls, and small talismans. Then there was where he was sitting: A couple of chairs, a table, and a mettle fire pit.
"I believe we need to get over our differences, and get acquainted if we're ever going to get through working together."
"What do you mean, Lord..."
"I am not a Lord. Even back in Ulthuan, I was a simple farm boy in some backwoods community. So, stop with the Lord this, my lord that. Technically, being a bride of Malekith, you are the Nobility here!"
"More like lesser concubine."
"My point exactly! We don't know anything about each other. Maybe if we understood each other better, then maybe we'd stop quarreling!"
"Ok, but why this way?" She asked, creeping closer to him. "Why not get your information from some other source?"
"Because we both want our information unpolluted by lies and rumors, spread by our enemies."
At these words, she stopped. She could tell he was sincere. The kid was to young to have learned the fine art of deceit. In any case, every one knew the rumors about him: He was honest. He was too honest for his own good. She was at a lost of words.
"My mother always said a “gentlemen lets women take the lead.” Would you mind telling me your story?" He asked.
"My parents," she began. "Were simple soldiers. Both never became rich, but they made enough gold to take care of the family, and keep the Witch Elves at bay. This worked for a few years, but the old crones just got greedier as they got older. One year, my parents couldn't buy their way out of the terror of Death Night! SO they went to the one source they could turn to..."
"The Covenants." said Ronin, shaking his head.
"Yeah, they got the protection, but at the cost of their children. My brothers became tower guardians. One died defending one from rival covenant, another was killed durring one of their rituals, while the eldest became an Anointed of Slannesh. My Youngest sister died early on, another became a general's advisor, while my eldest became the youngest high sorceress in a thousand years!" I still don't know what happened to my mother and father."
"How old were you when you were taken?"
"50." she sighed. The weight of her inner demons was finally affecting her frigid heart. "I never saw my family after that. I heard about my family from older girls learning the dark arts, or from various instructors. I can't even remember their faces, only their names!
"Eventually it came time for me to partake of the trials. Most of them I had accomplished while under the watchful eyes of my instructors, and the High Sorceress I was an apprentice under. Casting spells, aiding in a battle against our enimeis, levitating a black ark, plucking soals, you name it.
"But the rest I had to do on my own. So I road accost the Northern Waists, traveling all the way down to Tilea. There, I found work as a spell caster for a self centered prince, wanting to wage a war. After a few years, he decided to take on a unit of Druchii. The night before the attack, I slit his throat, while he slept, and had the Highborn's Shades slaughter the rest. I returned to Ghround for my final Test, before I became a true Sorceress. But something went wrong.
"I can't remember what happened, but when I awoke, I was naked in an examiner's cell. My skin tuned dark blue, and this scar formed on my body. But Inside, the damage was even worse. I can still perform the joy that comes when a man and a woman become one, but my ability to have a child was forcefully removed! I was lucky to have kept my senses, and my memory, and my abilities." A twinge of anger could be visibly seen across her face. "I wish this never happened. I spent the rest of my days cleaning Malekith's boots. When he and his Generals were off gallivanting around, leaving his dear old mother behind... she rewarded courageous Black Guards with the use of my body! No one would say anything, and it would be my word, the word of a slave, against theirs!
"Then came you, child. You came, and Malekith took interest in you. He took interest in you and your training. And when your training was done, he awarded you with me!" She collapsed. Lucky for her, she fell into Ronin's arms, and not on the hard ground. She held him close, sobbing in his cloak.
Ronin could only hold her. He didn't know why, but the rage building up in him seemed to fill the room. He would make Morathi pay and the members of the Black Guard responsible for her pain.
That night he swore an oath to himself. He was given this woman, almost a century older then he was. She was a gift for surviving the training he received in all of the great cities of the dark elves. He swore an oath to protect her, and to avenge her honor!
Any Fluff corections would be nice!
