The Moonlit Seas - Noble Nights

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*The book is bound in dark brown leather, the cover depicts a circular portrait of a ship, sailing towards the moon on a calm sea as the rays of light are cast along the water. The edges of the painting have an intricate lattice of silver.*

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With a flick of her brush, the green leaf of the flower seemed to jump off the page before her. Admiring her handy work as she slowly twisted the bristles between her lips, the waters behind the plant, clear and calm as streaks of yellow sunlight bring color, and warmth to the landscape. With an uncontent sigh Lenore dipped her brush into the vibrant green paint, as her gaze glanced upwards looking towards the coast that she painted full of browns and dead foliage. The vibrant flowers of her dreams don't grow in Calimport.

What else could truly be said of this city laying at the ends of the world. A sun scorched desert, to the north. While an endless tumultuous sea spreads along the horizon to the south as far as the eyes can behold. The city itself, trapped in the center as a challenge to the gods themselves from whatever foolhardy man decided to build a home here. Has flourished from the cool oceanic waters fighting back the endless sands. Becoming a large trading hub for many cultures and civilizations on Faerun.

The harbors, seldom empty, remain a constant influx of traders, bringing or sending their wares from all across the known world. All the treasures and beauty afforded by wealth and power. And yet, for Lenore It has always felt like a gilded cage.

Long ago alongside her mother Luna, she had fled south from their home, roads and waves ahead of them with nothing to their names past the rags and ruins they carried with them. begging for scraps to survive. While her mother looks back at their travels with tears. Lenore looked back on their travels fondly, as her adventures, her only adventures before they ended up in Calimport.

With her Elven blood and beautiful features even as a beggar covered in muck from the roads Luna caught the eye of a wealthy noblemen, Ralum Hummal, his position within the city as Minister of Trade allowed him a sort of life they could have once only dreamed of, Lenore knew it was a marriage of convenience, she would often see Ralum looking her over with his appraising eye as if she was another one of his statues decorating their home. Another piece of art he could parade in front of his guests.

They had been wed shortly after meeting. For her mother a life she only dreamed of, and a chance for her daughter to be raised within the wealth of the city and never again know the struggles of the world, Lenore never blamed her for it, resented? A little. Angry with? Alot. A life of everything, nothing to want, nothing to be concerned about, nothing to fear. And nothing to do..

In the halls of this home, this mansion. this castle. Surrounded by paintings of the world, stories brought to life through brush strokes. Each one a picture of the world around her, a world she was never able to see. As she found herself in her pampered prison. Trying to bring life to her own world through paintings, stealing memories and images of the world around her through others eyes.

Often, she would sneak out with the house maids of the house. Matilda, whom often let her borrow some of her clothing to fit in on the streets of Calimport. Even within the garments of a peasant, her half elven blood from her mother, mixed with her father's looks did little to hide her own beauty beneath the layers of burlap. But did well enough to make her look the part she played.

Her favorite place in the city to wander was the dockside. The large ships coming into harbor carrying all sorts of exotic goods from around the world. Fine silks of any color, fruits and dried meats from strange lands. Once she even saw some flowers that had survived the voyage of the seas, she watched them wilt in a window to where they found their home, neglected as just another bauble purchased on a whim, she found herself in tears when it had died and was removed from her sight wishing she could have done more to keep the oddity alive.

But her favorite thing in the harbor. She and Matilda would often examine the wares on the ships themselves. Most of the men in the city were either poor and starving, or pompous nobility. But the ones from the seas were of a different cloth altogether. She often found herself staring, watching them as they worked in the day, the sun's light pouring down from the skies on them

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((The book goes into detail about their features, and about how Lenore is unbelievably jealous of a drop of sweat as it runs down a sailors body and beneath his belt.))

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Gods, she found herself flushed in the face. Matilda smiled with a devilish grin as they laughed. She pulled Lenore's Arm towards the tavern, smelling much of salt, from the seas themselves and the patrons' hard work of the day. Seating themselves along the bar, the two together were never at odds for company, while she knew plenty of the locals the patrons didn't know Lenore Hummal, no they only knew of Rose, Matilda's cohort who for all the patrons knew, they were both simple maids from the Hummal estate.

The tavern was the only place she felt she could truly be herself. If only while wearing a mask of an identity, not posing for her father's elite friends, no dinner parties, no gallery showings, or theater. In this tavern she fell into the crowd. How she delighted in hearing the stories from long voyages overseas. The terrors, and tribulations.

To Lenore, These stories felt like a romantic dream compared to her life of comfort. The irony of these men working their lives away for a fraction of the gold she sees on a daily basis was not lost on her, it made her hate her life even more for it.

Of all the sailors, and all the merchants there was one she was most excited to see. Rylan, a tall and muscular man, often smelling of fresh lumber. His ruggedly handsome face and unkempt hair that would blow in the wind. Blue eyes with a tempest just beneath the surface framed by high cheekbones and a jaw she loved to feel brush against her.

She had met him long ago on her outings, he would often frequent the coast as such they had grown fond of each other over the years. While only a few years older than her in age, the man had lived his life traveling the world.  Many nights she would spend hours listening to him and his crew speaking tales.of their voyages. She had seen his ship in the harbor,  and could barely contain herself as she glanced around looking for him..

The last time he was in the city, he had finally talked her into seeing the ship he called a home. A motley crew aboard she had shared many drunken nights within the tavern. Each of them hardened by the seas, with their own stories to tell, what was most obvious to Lenore, was how they each hold the other in high respects, a trust earned over years of hard labor not given by badges and promotions. While the crew was pleasant to her in company, they spent most of the evening in his quarters...

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((The next few pages go into great detail?. WOW! Did it just get hot in here??  I should open a window? I mean Can people really bend that way??? And surely their isn't this much room in the cabin!!!))

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They lay there giggling in each other's arms, a long content sigh escaping her lips as he brushed  against her cheek, whispering into her ear "come with me?" was all he had said, and all he had to say. She was here tonight on that promise, to run away with him and leave all her wealth. And all her golden troubles away for a life on a whim. She had planned this for months, stowing away everything she would need in a rucksack, even her friends knew nothing of her plans. As the night went on, and Matilda found herself preoccupied with another sailor, she found herself looking into her glass feeling a fool, alone and left to her thoughts she berated herself. to be tricked by such sweet words, why would he take her as nothing more than a maid into their ship with a long drink from her glass, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"S'cuse me miss." a deep voice called behind her as she spun a Dwarf, haggered with age and sun, smiled at the sight of her. It was Ballin Stonecart, and a member of Rylan's crew. "I Was sent ta fetch ya, we ran into a bit of trouble on the docks."

She couldn't help but smile and a nod Lenore rose from her seat, she was ready. She had been ready since the moment he spoke those words, her heart beated furiously for what was to come as she followed him out of the tavern and onto the docks. As they waited in the night, the calm waters glowing from the moon highlighting the ship before her, she found herself jumping out of her skin with anticipation. The cool night air fought back the drunken stupor she had been feeling a few moments ago. She had never been on a ship so large, let alone LIVED on one.

She found herself deep in thought imagining how she would paint the scene before her. Each curve of the wooden hull, the sails cloth as it fluttered in the night's air. when a crackle of magic and a yell erupted from the streets behind her. The shadows of Several men could be seen fighting the town guards as spells and blades flashing in the night's air as her breath caught in her throat. With one final swipe of a sword putting an end to the exchange in blood. The group came to the boat, and there finally, was Rylan. overwhelmed and confused she rushed him, asking if he was ok, checking him over for wounds.

"I'm fine lass, but need to leave fraid I'm not welcome in town anymore.." with a smirk and an offer of a hand giving her one final choice. Come with him, or to stay in the life she grew to hate so fiercely. she nodded with an uneasy smile as she took his hand.

"Stop right there you pirate scum!!!" boomed through the silent night as Lenore was once again jolted back to the world. as she turned to see the towns guard amasing, at its head, Hendrick the Captain and close confidant to Ralum, the weasel of a man one had been courting her for years.  the mere thought of his soft hands and stuffy attitude trying to confess his undying love through poetry made her retch. As his eyes caught hers he froze, raising an arm to steady his men. "Lady Hummal!?"

Have you ever felt time? Truly the passing of it. like the hands on a cloak as it winds round ticking off each moment. All seemed as still as Hendrick reached for his saber, Rylan drew a dagger to Lenore's throat holding her close to him. His breath on her neck, made her shiver,  the fright, the commotion all round her fell to the wayside as all that was present was him and her. She didn't know what to think, nor what to do, until she felt his lips part as he whispered.

"If you're coming, I'll take you, if you want to stay kick me and I'll let you go, it's always your choice lass." to her and her alone. Under the wind, under the shuffling of metal as blades were drawn. Lenore let loose her voice, first as a crack, then determined words erupted from her. "Hendrick stand down!!" With a soft nod barely perceptible to any around she gave Rylan the confirmation he needed with swords raised they slowly walked towards the gang plank.

"Keep your distance, or I'll give her back bit by bloody bit!!" His voice thundered through the docks. As his strong arm pulled her along, keeping her close to him. As they stood looking down from the ship over the guard. She locked eyes with Hendrick who with a sneer relented, only casting a promise in the night's air "I will find you Lenore, and I will bring you home to me" the damned fool, this whole damned city couldn't see her drowning in the desert, how miserable he and everyone else had made her.

As the sails bellowed in the winds, the group on the docks slowly shrunk before calling out and getting to one of the ships. They would try to make chase, but Rylan knew his ship well and there wasn't a vessel in Calimport that could catch the Gambit. Later that evening at Hummals estate, Hendrick came to rely on the news. "The Dread Pirate Rivers has escaped our dungeons with help from his crew, and taken Lenore captive."

Book two is coming soon! .

Written by Trevor Highdale

Any likeness to folk, or events in the world is merely coincidence, this is a work of fiction. Written for entertainment.

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