Of Kings & Vagabonds

A Sims 3 Fantasy Blog

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Benicio Casko, 45 year old human Mercenary (Mage)

Benicio has had a long, dark past, which haunts him to this day. He was born of black magic, his parents conceiving him during a blood ritual. They did terrible things, most of which is a blur to him, lost in the fog of trauma. Glimpses of what he had witness do however occasionally flash before his eyes and terrorize him.

When he was seven they tried to sacrifice him to their demons, but he was able to escape. He ran from them, ran so far until his feet were bloodied and lungs almost burst. He’s not sure if they ever searched for him but for years he never felt safe.

Out of necessity he taught himself everything he needed to survive. He started off a thief as a young boy, robbing only enough to keep him fed, but not too much to alarm the authorities. With age and experience he became more resourceful and could talk a beggar out of his last coin. He could also be discreet were it counted and was hired for some assassination jobs.

His wit, charm and sleight of hand got him far in life. He had ways of extracting information and disappearing into the shadow like none other.  He lives his life as a chess player, always thinking ten steps ahead, although to others it might seem frivolous, impulsive and to some degree radical.  He charmed his way into a friendship with the Half-Faye Gilroy to get an in with  Galdor’s royal family. This secured him steady work as a Spy.  Benicio extracted information that the King`s unworthy son-in-law Tarik had broken their agreement and was now residing in Wydda, for what reasons he did not yet know. Furthermore he found out that the Kings grand-daughter Alyssa had escaped and was most likely headed towards Gailrock. Benicio was asked to find the girl and bring her to court, without revealing what their plans for her were.

Benicio had no difficulty finding her, after spreading horrible rumors about the Wydder - rumors which would later have serious consequences - in public. He was soon confronted by a Half-Elf maiden fitting the description of the girl he was searching for.  Enticing her in a riveting conversation he tried to extract more information from her, although she was equally careful not to reveal anything personal and had a clever backstory prepared to explain her knowledge. Isabelle, was her name. His persistent, yet charming ways led them to a love affair neither of them were prepared for. Although he knew she was the King’s grand-daughter, he was not yet ready to give her up and kept her identity a secret.

One day the King had another quest for him. To protect a messenger on her way to the Borderlands. She had important information for the Prince and was suppose to retrieve him and his army.  Benicio and Yara set off. Her fiery hair matched her personality and he rather enjoyed her company. One night he was plagued with terrible nightmares and was woken by Yara. His hands were lighting up in static and flame, a magic he was unable to control. Yara grabbed his face and talked him down. Although she was injured slightly in the process she did not leave his side. That night he found out there was dark magic in him. Magic he would have to learn to contain.  What neither of them knew at the time is that the injuries Yara sustained left a mark on her skin of Dark Magic which would slowly fester.  Covered in sweat, pulse racing, driven by fear, anxiety and desire he stole a kiss from her. Although their relationship never went any further it planted something in him. A feeling he had never felt before, not even with Isabelle. He loved that woman with the fiery hair. The relationship with Isabelle, built on lies did not stand a chance. He confessed everything to her and was dismissed by the Elf. He also confronted the King and told him of his grand-child’s whereabouts. She was taken in, not as a prisoner, but as a long lost relative. After the battle he was back to his old, witty, self, hiding the fact to everyone, but Yara, that there were powers in him he deeply feared. She asked him to join their band of heroes in search for the Lost Prince and on the way find someone who can help detain or take away his magic. Both of them still unknown of the dark mark on Yara’s body.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Ábyrgur Quinnfur, 52 year old Wydder Warrior

Ábyrgur goes by the name Abey. He grew up in a small tribe in Wydda (the tribes don’t have names, often leading to confusion), which would later become the base of Tarik’s Kingdom. Wydders are the natives of Wydda (as the name suggest) and live in harmony with nature, taking only what they need. Both men and women have horns, like of rams, growing out of their skull. They are sure footed and have stamina. They could not outrun a horse in short distance, but remain unbeatable in long distance (there have been many races to prove it).

Abey had always been an honest man, not afraid to speak his mind, which could have gotten him into trouble with the self-proclaimed King, but Tarik being a good judge of character valued this trait, jokingly saying that ‘at least if you ever try to kill me it won’t be from behind.’ Abey was put in charge of guarding Tarik’s daughter, Alyssa, who was locked in a cage. It was supposedly for her own protection, however Abey knew the real reason. Tarik could not control his ‘pet’ any longer. Alyssa was a kind enough child, who was forced to grow up too soon. He felt sorry for her and did not think it was right to keep her locked up. He tried to comfort her, telling her stories of his people. It cheered her up. He started caring for her like his own child and would bring her books and sweets to keep her occupied. He did not hesitate when Saraya approached him in secret one night asking him to assist in Alyssa’s escape. He would get her out of there even if it meant risking his own life.

The escape was successful. He sent Alyssa on a detour to get to Galdor, so they would not know where she was heading. Abey disappeared himself for a few days and try to cover their tracks along the way. He returned to his people and was questioned by Tarik. He convinced the Half Elf that his daughter had escaped somehow and that he tried to track her without success, returning to face his consequences of failure. Tarik liked Abey and although angry, did not punish him, not wanting to lose a good warrior before battle. By then Tarik’s request to have his Kingdom recognized by the other Kings had failed and he was prepared to go to war with Galdor to gain his respect (and overthrow the King, expanding on his Kingdom). Tarik was raising an army.

One day a hunting party returned with a young red haired maiden. She was spirited and had a good head between her shoulders; although young, she was not naïve. Yara reminded Abey of Alyssa and took a liking to her. They became friends. He also helped her escape one night. Tarik could have become suspicious of Abey but by then he was too busy preparing for battle.

Abey, out of loyalty to his people went to battle and fought in the War of the Wydder. During battle he was knocked out cold and did not witness the attack of the Dragon. He woke up in a prison cell, his wounds tended to. Although they had lost he couldn’t help but smile as he heard that his Alyssa had saved the day. Yara and Alyssa stood trial for him in his defense. He was released a month later, the only Wydder that was pardoned. He could have returned home after that, but the memory of his home was soiled. He offered his services to Princess Alyssa instead, as her royal guard, and later join the Band of Heroes with her.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Alyssa/Isabelle, a 19 year old Half Elf Beastmaster

Alyssa was born in the Borderlands to Tarik, the Half Elf and Saraya, former princess of Galdor. She had a good childhood growing up in a camp of former bandits. She was well liked and learned all sorts of skills, like how to assassinate someone discreetly or pick pocket. All things a five year old should learn. Tarik was a good father then and loved his wife. That all changed when they moved to Wydda.

The tribe of Wydda was a peaceful one of hunters and gatherers. That is, until Tarik took a second wife, marrying into their tribe and becoming Chieftain.

Saraya was miserable, living in a foreign country with strange customs. What made matters worse was that the second wife, the Chieftess Leone, did not like her and excluded Saraya. All she had was her daughter. When Alyssa was 12 she realized she had the ability to manipulate animals. What started off with lesser animals, such as rats or birds her abilities grew stronger until she could influence Horses and antelopes. Tarik started using her to gain influence with other tribes. He would ride in on Elephants, impressing all. Soon he would be Chief to all the Wydder and declare Wydda his Kingdom. During all this Alyssa was emotionally and physically drained, her father did not care about her, only her powers. She lashed out, bringing on a stampede, destroying have the village. She was locked up afterwards, rarely seeing the light of day. The only contact she had was to her guard, Ábyrgur Quinnfur, who sympathized with her, telling her stories to keep her spirits up. Saraya knew she could not escape her husband’s clutches, but she could help her daughter. In a risky mission she and Ábyrgur helped Alyssa escape. She fled to Gailrock, the capital of Galdor, as her mother told her. Saraya knew she would be safe there, however warned her never to reveal who she is. Tarik and Saraya were deserters, by breaking the deal in the Borderlands, and she didn’t want to risk her daughter being imprisoned.

Alyssa changed her name to Isabelle, a common Elf name, and found work on a farm.

It was in the city where she met Benicio. Believing it to be a random encounter, she did not yet know he had been hired by the crown to find her. Isabelle fell in love with his flirtatious ways, ignoring the fact he was only so to extract information from her. But she was beautiful and so he let himself fall into a love affair, which ended abruptly after confessing everything to her, even the kiss he shared with Yara during their travel to the Borderlands. Heartbroken and furious she murdered him many times in her mind, but pushed her feelings aside, for they were on the brink of war. Yara asked if she would join them to battle Dragons in the Borderlands. Her abilities might be of use, Yara had suggested. Since all this was her father’s doing she put her feelings aside and agreed to help.

It was not difficult finding the beasts, all they had to do was follow the bodies. Only a dozen soldiers and an Elf stood ground battling two smaller Wyvern and a monstrous Opal Dragon, which could not be slain by mortals. The Band of Heroes joined the fight. Together they slayed the Wyvern, but the Dragon was another matter. The soldiers were dead and the Zionite Rhøn was about to be sliced. Isabelle halted and gathered her energy. Benicio later reporter that her pupils dilated, turning her crystal blue eyes black, and then a silver light flickered, like liquid mercury, the same flicker was seen in the Dragons eye. The beast lowered himself to the ground, becoming an easy target. Rhøn was about to stab the creature when Yara shouted to stop. Isabelle was losing strength fast and didn’t know how long she could hold him. Yara pleaded with her to try and find the strength. If she could fly the Dragon to the battleground of the Wydder she knew Galdor could be victorious. It almost cost Isabelle her life but she did it. She flew the Dragon to the fight and destroyed the enemy. Isabelle was found by the Band of Heroes days later in the Wildlands of the South. She had flown the Dragon back to its home and set it free. Falling unconscious afterwards the Dragon could have easily killed her, but did not. She was brought back to the castle and reunited with her mother.

Saraya’s princess title was restored and therefore Alyssa, too became princess.

Benicio humbly apologized again for what he had done and asked if they could  rekindle their relationship. She still had feelings for him, but denied, not being able to forgive him. She did however accept his offer to join once more their group in search for her uncle, the Lost Prince.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Kwáin son of Hán, 102 year old Elf Ranger

Little is known about his past, even to him. Some believe he was the son of a Dark Elf priestess or the bastard child of royal blood. He usually scoffs when confronted about it and doesn’t believe his past to be that significant.

He grew up as an orphan among the Terra Elves. It is their custom to carry the name of the father, if the father is unknown (or should be kept unknown) the name “Hán” is added, meaning “none”.

The Terra Elves are closely related to Dark Elves, but have their own Kingdom and traditions in the Forest Mountains west of Galdor. Much like the Dark Elves they are Elitist. They are however not bigots, on the contrary. They enjoy a feast or two drinking with the Iron Bog Dwarves, they welcome travelers into their home to listen to their stories, and shower their favorite Galdorian Farms (they import their food from) with gold and diamonds. Their attitude could best be described as, they think of others like a favorite dog. One whose company you appreciate, but still think you are superior. For half a century the Kingdom was ruled by the immature, egomaniac Thróton. The King was very much in love with himself and spent all of his time with his favorite person, himself. His people tolerated this behavior because it meant he left the “tedious ruling stuff” to his respectable council.

Kwáin had all the skills of a Ranger, and a personal interest in fauna and bestiary. He served as the King’s spy and was the first to come across Tarik’s vacant camp. He knew Tarik and his brood were the only defense against the beasts coming from the south. Upon further investigation he found tracks of an Opal Dragon, a highly aggressive beast of impressive size. He tracked the beast to a cave, where instead of the dragon he met Prince Rorik and his comrade Gilroy, who seemed confused of his race and even dared call him a Fae. Being confused with a fairy gnawed at Kwáin’s ego, setting him in a foul temper, however he was before the Prince of Galdor and owed it to him to tell him of his findings.

Tarik had been essential because his men regularly patrolled the borders producing noise, fire and protection charms, making it inhospitable for other creatures. They had been gone too long, so beasts of all shapes and sizes from Ringtail to Slauggerats were migrating north, toward the plentiful land of Galdor. Kwáin reported to his council. As a gesture of goodwill Kwáin, the bestiary expert, was sent back to Galdor to advise the King. Kwáin, Prince Rorik, and his soldiers returned to the Borderlands and battled the creatures. During the Battle of the Wydder Kwáin remained south with only a few soldiers Rorik could spare. When he believed all was lost Yara showed up with 3 further warriors, one of them, Isabelle, turning out to be their saving grace.

After the war he found out his King had been usurped, for not coming to Galdor’s aid, leaving him without a job. Having great respect for the warriors he fought with he joined the Band of Heroes.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Prince Rorik, a 35 year old human Warrior

Rorik was born the youngest of three siblings. While his sister and brother were bright students of academics, he took to the sword. He was competing in sword fight tournaments since he was 8. It wasn’t because he felt particularly skilled in the art of combat, he spent time with it because he knew he was a weak student and the sword felt easier to him. As hard as he fought it, educated he eventually became, only at a different rate. He may never be able to name all 52 towns in Galdor without looking at a map, unlike his siblings, but his intelligence was more of a practical sort. As a teenage boy he watched his sister, Princess Saraya, heiress to the crown, give up her title and inheritance, to marry the rogue Tarik and live on the outskirts off Galdor. It did not make sense to him why she left them. But he had also never been in love and did not understand the sacrifices one could make for it. A few years later Rorik’s brother Damian disappeared without a trace. Rorik and the entire Kingdom searched for him. His father was expecting a ransom note to be delivered, but a note never came. After a few weeks the people stopped searching. After a year the King knew his son was dead, but Rorik never gave up hope that he was still out there. He would have gone to the end of the world if he could, but with his brother missing he was next in line for the crown and with it came new responsibilities. As a dutiful son he stayed and gave up his search for Damian. Rorik grew into a educated, seasoned warrior, a compassionate prince and hopeless bachelor. His mother, the Queen had on many occasion tried to set him up with beautiful, young women. And Rorik tried, for his mother’s sake, yet he never found a woman he could consider as wife. That is until he met Yara. She had all the qualities he never knew he was looking for. She was spirited and adventurous, a talented archer and easy to talk to. But when he first met her in the woods she was young and lost. She had a home to return to and he did not have the courage to say ‘Come with me.’ A few years would go by until they would meet again, but under worse circumstances than the first time. He was in the middle of a losing battle against Demons and Dragons when she added to their dismay by telling them an enemy army from the east would soon be upon them. The soldiers retreated and Rorik spent the night discussing battle strategies with his advisers. He recalled Yara standing silently, listening, in the back. In Gailrock Rorik prepared for battle against the Wydder while the Band of Heroes headed to the Borderlands to battle the Dragons.

Rorik fought among his men during the War of the Wydder. He was prepared to die with them when things started to turn with the coming of the second sun. Isabelle - who he had not yet known was his niece - came flying in upon the same Dragon he had tried to kill. The Dragon seared his foes and turned the war in their favor. The battle was won, Galdor however suffered greatly for it. The Kingdom was in mourning. In an effort to shine hope back into their hearts Prince Rorik sung praises of the ‘Band of Heroes’ and had songs written of their glory, which were sung in every tavern. It had its desired effect.

Once the Kingdom had recovered Prince Rorik had time to focus on a letter he had received before the war. An anonymous letter hinting that his brother was still alive and in hiding. He summoned the Band of Heroes and asked them to join him on his quest to find the Lost Prince. The Band of Heroes was reborn.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

The Band of Heroes They prefer not calling themselves anything, but the frightened people of Galdor needed a beacon of hope, so Rorik gave them their heroes. They are a group of warriors, founded by Yara, in an attempt to defeat the beasts of the Borderlands. Their success in protecting the land was legendary and so their names would go down in history. After the war Prince Rorik brought together the Band of Heroes once more. They could help him find his lost brother, who he believed still to be alive somewhere. If anyone could find him it was them.  In addition they could help others in need and find purpose for their lives (and a handsome sum of coin) along the way.

They are an odd mix of personalities, some who should never be together in the first place. But at least this colorful band of royalty and mercenaries never gets boring.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Tarik and the War of the Wydder

Tarik, a Half-Elf started off a shrewd and charming Rogue, who made a deal with the King of Galdor, to protect the Borderlands from serious crime. In exchange he would have Princess Saraya’s hand in marriage. The King was not pleased, but believed that his daughter truly loved Tarik and valued her happiness. To protect his Kingdom he had his daughter abdicate the crown, as she would have been heir to the throne. By doing this he wanted to guarantee Tarik was marrying her for love and not his own ambitions. Tarik was quite good at his job. He was so successful the King withdrew his patrol entirely and left the protection of the Borderlands solely to the Half-Elf. During this time his daughter would be born, the beautiful Alyssa. Without notice Tarik vacated the camp, leaving the Borderlands unprotected, and striking a deal with a small tribe of Wydda. He took the chief as his second wife and worked his way up from Chieftain to self-proclaimed King of Wydda.    Tarik wanted the other Monarchies to recognize his Kingship, which they did not and King Isaac would declare Tarik a deserter and enemy to Galdor. Tarik would go to war.

In secret he started to build an army. The Wydder were large in numbers and a true threat. Yara, who was living with the Wydder during that time, fled to Galdor where she warned the King. However Galdor was dealing with other problems. With the Borderland being unsupervised for years many large beasts had come up from the South and terrorized the villages among the border. This is when the Band of Heroes was founded.

Galdor called upon its allies to help battle the Wydder, however only the Iron Bog dwarfs showed up. The childish Terra Elf King could not be bothered and was later usurped by his angry people.

The battle was gruesome, the surrounding rivers ran red with blood. The Army of Galdor was losing. That is until the ‘Coming of the Second Sun’. People call it the second sun because for a moment there was confusion on the battle field. While the sun was setting in the West a second sun was shining brightly from the South. As the blaze of sunlight moved closer one could see that the ball of fire was not a sun at all, but Dragon’s breath. The Opal Dragon no one had been able to defeat was being controlled by Princess Alyssa, daughter of Tarik and Saraya and a member of the Band of Heroes. She flew the dragon across the battlefield, drawing a trench of fire around the field and setting Tarik’s army ablaze. Galdor was victorious.

Tarik and a handful of Wydder escaped, the other survivors were imprisoned. Only one was pardoned, a friend of Alyssa and Yara, who only fought in the war out of loyalty to his people, not Tarik. He joined the Band of Heroes afterwards.

Yara was knighted and her Band of Heroes rewarded. Alyssa was given a title as princess and her place in the royal family was restored, as well as her mother Saraya. There are still confusions among the people who the true heir of the throne is. Princess Saraya, who revoked the crown and deserted her own people; Prince Rorik, who was off on his mission with the Band of Heroes; or possibly the Lost Prince, who many believed still to be alive somewhere and where praying for his return. 

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Kingdom of Galdor

Galdor is the largest and most influential Kingdom in the world Tamror. Its people are diverse and all races are welcomed, though humans are the most prominent race. Sitting the throne currently is King Isaac, a noble and wise leader, who puts his people first. There is a strong debate about the heir to the throne. His oldest daughter Saraya abdicated from the crown to marry the Rogue Tarik for love. After the war Tarik was stripped of his titles and disappeared, rendering his marriage obsolete and Saraya free from her vows. The King’s oldest son went missing years ago and is presumed dead, his body has yet to be found. His youngest son, Rorik is the named heir, although he tries to juggle his responsibilities between the Monarch and the Band of Heroes. Galdor is surrounded by various terrains from all sides. To the North, where the capital Gailrock lies, it is a fruitful coastal region. More than ¾ of the population resides there because of its plentiful bounty of fish and crops. Although home to the monarch the people there are mostly simple, hardworking farmers or fishers, making the Gailrock rather homely. The King has however found this to be sobering and believes this is the reason why generations of Kings have stayed so grounded and humble. The crime rate is low and if at all consists of drunken bar fights on the weekends. There are very few beggars, if any at all, because there are always generous souls with plenty to spare. To the East it drifts into a dry steppe, bordering the lands of the Wydda. To the West the mountains tower above the land, which is a popular mining area for dwarves and the like. The Iron Bog, a small Kingdom within Galdor, and surrounding marshes are places to be avoided if you are not an adventurer. Large, ferocious creatures live there and prefer to be left alone. Beyond the Mountains the Kingdom of the Terra Elves Q’uain starts, a deep forest, where sunlight rarely reaches the soil. And lastly to the South you will find the Borderlands. Wizards with dark magic had taken its toll on the land, turning it baron and most dangerous. Only bandits and men of not-so-proper intent live there. There are only two roads that lead through the Borderlands, patrolled by skilled warriors and pardoned Rogues, whose talents where put to good use, rather than rot in a cell.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Lady Yara, 20 year old human Archer

This is Yara’s part of the story I never got to properly tell. Here is the shortened version.  (By reading the other character’s version the story around them will make more sense.)

Yara was born a peasant and lived with her father, a constant drunk, in Old Hawke. After losing a gambling match he sold her to a Gypsy Woman. Mara was rough around the edges and very strict, but did care for the child. They traveled the land together. Mara bought Yara her first bow and arrow, which she would practice with daily and even started to bring home dinner with. 

When she was in her teens she fell down a steep bank and could not find her way back to the Gypsy. It was there she met Prince Rorik. They shared a rabbit and spent the night together (sleeping separately). Rorik told Yara to come find him if she was ever near the capital. 

It took her many days to find her way back to camp and when she did, the Gypsy Wagon was gone. 

She traveled by herself after that for a couple of years, living as a hunter, her archery was improving. One day, after crossing the east border, she came across a Wydder hunting party. She had killed the antelope they had been tracking all day and they were more than peeved with her, but suggested to share the beast. Yara came back with them and met the tribe and also their leader, Tarik. She was invited to stay with them for a while, earning her keep as a hunter. Tarik took a liking to her, but she did not trust his charming way and kept her distance. A man she did learn to trust was the Wydder warrior Abey. He would often tell Yara she reminded him of someone special. Later she found out that Yara reminded him of Alyssa, Tarik’s daughter, a good soul, who by then had already fled the camp and was making her way to Galdor. Yara started seeing less and less of her friend, when confronting Abey about it he told her they were training for battle, he knew little else, but said she should try asking Saraya, Tarik’s first wife. Saraya did not know of her husband’s plans. She had rarely seen her husband ever since they moved to Wydda, but the talk of battle worried her. Saraya tried to help Yara and seduced her husband one night, filling him up with wine, to retrieve secrets. On the same night Saraya crept into Yara’s tent, gave her some supplies and a horse and told her she must ride to Gailrock, the capital of Galdor, at once. She told Yara of the battle plans and that they were planning to strike Galdor soon. She also asked Yara to go find her daughter, Alyssa, who would be living under another name, in the city.

She rode hard for many days until she reached the capital and asked to see Prince Rorik, however the prince was off battling the beasts of the Borderlands. No one would listen to her. While trying to shout past the guards into the yard, hoping someone of importance would hear her message, she did find a person who believed her. Gilroy, one of Rorik’s companions overheard her. He also knew the Devine, his God, had been trying to warn him of something, but he did not know of what yet. The signs were aligning. In haste he brought Yara in front of the counsel and had them listen to her. She gave a convincing speech and was believed. As spies were sent out to Wydda, she was sent out to deliver the message to Prince Rorik and call the soldiers back. The mercenary Benicio was asked to accompany her for protection. On their way south the two bonded. Although at the time Benicio was romantically involved with the half-elf Isabelle, he felt a deep attraction towards Yara and was not afraid to show it. However their relationship, considering the circumstances, never went beyond a kiss. They resumed being close friends. After finding Prince Rorik and his men, they returned to Galdor together to prepared for battle. Yara had a burning desire to go back to the Borderlands and battle the Dragons, while Rorik insisted she should stay and help protect their land against Tarik’s army. Yara infuriated stood her ground telling Rorik he will have no land to protect if they didn’t stop the Dragons from burning it down. Rorik gave his blessing and Yara assembled a team with Benicio, Isabelle and Rhøn, the first Band of Heroes.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

So I’m gonna change a few things. Unfortunately I won’t have the time to continue the chapters. But I still have the story in my head and I love these character, so I will skip to the end of the story, in which they become a legendary, monster-fighting group of royalty and mercs. I will write a bio for each character, in which the story is explained. But this blog will be less plot driven and more pictures and short stories of their lives together. I hope you stay on and join us on our Adventures in Narnia! Wait, no. That doesn’t sound right. Don’t want Copyright infringement with C.S. Lewis corp. Let’s just stick with Of Kings And Vagabonds!

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Chapter 8

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As it started to get dark Yara and Madame Mara set up camp. 

“Boija, take care of horse. I make supper.” Madame Mara instructed.

“But I’ve never-“

“No whining, Child.” Madame Mara snapped, “Anything not-horse comes off. Simple.”

Yara, having no experience with these animals, gulped as she carefully undid the straps, untethering the gelding from the wagon. She tried to lead him away, but the horse did what horses do best, lowered his head and started grazing. She tried pulling on the reins but it wouldn’t move. Deciding that was as good a spot as any for him to stand she proceeded to study the complex structure of harness, following each leather strip. The girth around the belly was undone, then grabbing the Hipstrap she tried to pull the entire thing along his back and over his head, which involved a lot of hopping to even reach over the large horse. Having the entire harness suddenly crash down in front of his head shocked the gelding. He shot his head up and reared back, right into the Vardo, tripping into his harness that became tangled between his legs.

Madame Mara did not look up and plainly ignored the frustrated shouts from Yara and stubborn snorts from the gelding.

Many bruises later Yara had the gelding untangled and wiped him dry with some hay. This was not her most elegant attempt yet she was successful nonetheless.

 “Does he have a name?” Yara asked.

Madame wrinkled her nose and thought for a bit: “Not really. I call him Dranje Oike sometimes.”

“What does that mean?”

“Uhm, how do you say…? Little Shit.”

“Oh, does Boija mean anything?” Yara asked, Madame Mara turned around quickly and continued stirring, mumbling “I better not say.”

After finishing their meal of rabbit stew they prepared a bed of hay and retired for the night. But sleep would not find the young girl. She stared at the open sky and the shining stars, marveling at their beauty. Thoughts of her father rushed through her head, if he was alright without her. However she also recalled that he was a resourceful man when he wanted to be, who never had trouble finding coin.

She listened to the sound of crickets, felt the cool breeze on her skin. She looked over and saw Madame Mara lying on the ground sleeping soundly, without a care in the world. She wanted that as well. Her world might have changed drastically, but it was not an end. 

It took many days but her fear and anger finally subsided. She knew there was a larger world out there waiting to be explored and she would not waste the opportunity she was given.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Chapter 7

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Days had gone by since Prince Rorik’s return to the Castle. His mood was grim at the very least. Most of his time was spent alone, riding through the country, trying to sort his thoughts and gain wisdom.

The Dragon was still out there. The Terra Elf Kwáin had been insistent on the fact that the creature could not be slain, at least not by mere mortals. Rorik also had his suspicions that the Dragon, and the other flying beast weren’t the only creatures roaming the borderlands. The King had his messengers sent out to the remote towns informing them of a threat from the skies. The King was adamant about his people knowing they could seek refuge in the capital should the Dragon find them. It was all that could be done for the time being.

The prince directed his horse off the path and rode up a steep slope. Not without difficulty did the stallion climb up. He was breathing heavy but did not falter ascending in rhythmic strides. Once the peak was reached the prince halted taking in the view. He watched the Seagulls soaring over what would later be his Kingdom. The fate of his people was however already in his hands. With a longing sigh the prince took up the reins and rode on.

Kwáin had showed them an equally unsettling matter. The camp of the Half Elf Tarik and his men was vacant. From the looks of it for some time now. Weeds had covered the old fire pits and a thick layer of dust gathered in the musty tents. They had not left in a hurry. Everything important had been taken and there were no signs of a battle. The standing tents indicated they found new homes for themselves. No word had been sent to the King of their departure. The pact between the King and Tarik had been of great importance to the Kingdom. They lived in the Borderlands of Galdor protecting the outer villages. Galdor was relying on them to be the first line of defense. And now they had disappeared without a trace.

Rorik coaxed the stallion into a slow canter through the woods. The cool sea breeze nipped at his cheeks and rustled through his hair. How liberating it felt to gallop. His stallion started pulling on the bit challenging his rider to a proper race. Rorik let the reins slowly slip through his gloves, each stride of his horse extending and growing in speed until they were a blur on the horizon. Rorik shouted uninhibited, releasing all tension he had stored up. In that moment his fear and anxiety melted away. He dug his hands in his horse’s mane and let the adrenalin rush through him. He felt as if they could run to the end of the world.

There was part of the conversation with Kwáin he kept to himself, a part he was not ready to believe. For that truth held a fearsome promise of war and bloodshed.

Rorik reached the water. A whiff of saltwater filled his nostrils, the gulls were cawing in the distance, the sky was grey and rainy and he loved every bit of it. This was his home. And he was willing to do whatever it took to protect it.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Chapter 6

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The woman helped Yara up onto the carriage. It was a colorful Vardo.

“Are you a Gypsy?” Yara asked politely.

“Not by blood.” She replied and clicked her tongue. The draft horse walked on.

Yara took a last look back and surprisingly spotted her father, downtrodden, walking with a gangly old man. A glimmer of hope arose, he was surely there to save her.

“Papa!” she shouted in excitement, he looked at her only for a moment then pretended as though he did not see her. She stared blankly as the men entered the house.

“A real treasure of a sire t’at one is.” The woman mumbled under her breath. 

 They traveled through the countryside for a long time in silence. Yara stared off into the distance, watching pastures and crop fields pass, realizing she had never been this far out. She had never strayed as far as the city walls.

“What’s your name, child?” the woman eventually asked.

“Yara.” She replied.

“Oh, t’at’s no good. My name Mara, your name Yara. I call you Boija.”

“But…”

“So Boija, I have t’ree rules. One, you stay out of my t’ings. Two, you are free to wander once you done your work but make sure you are back by nightfall. You get eaten by Bear, t’at’s your fault.”

“And three?”

“…never wear sandals over stockings. It looks ridiculous.”

The last part clearly meant as a joke did not spark a smile on the girl’s lips.

More silence passed as they left the city far behind them.

“Don’t be such a Gloompyloomp. I met your sire, you are better off without him, believe me.” Madame Mara coaxed her.

“Where are we headed?” Yara finally asked.

“Here and t’ere. I make sure not to stay in one place too long. Vagabonds are not welcome, as I’m sure you know.”

After further silence Mara almost felt sorry for the girl: “T’ere comes a time in any woman’s life where she has to leave t’e nest. You be brave now. You can visit next time we come. Oke?”

Yara slowly felt her anxiety pass, the old woman with the stern face did not seem so horrible. Still she wondered why this was happening to her.

It would take Yara until Dusk before they spoke again.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Chapter  5

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A thump at the door pulled Yara out of her trance, her heart leapt. The room was lighter which meant dawn was breaking. Her eyes were red and sore, her throat felt dry and she was exhausted beyond belief.

Yara stuck her head out the bedroom door: “Papa?”

There was no answer. Still hoping she would wake up from this nightmare she closed her eyes and opened them again. Nothing changed.

Another loud thump was heard.

She stepped downstairs and crept towards the door. Her heart fluttered. Who would be standing at the other side? Who was so selfishly stealing her away from her home?

Her hand trembled as she pulled the door open. 

“Child, why you make me wait so long?”

An elderly, stout woman with dark hair and eyes stood before her. She spoke in a thick accent which Yara had never heard before. She was clearly not from around these parts.

The woman clapped her hands impatiently.

“ ‘osh! ‘osh! We’ve gotto leave before, what you say, flood of humans comes out. T’en we’ll be stuck, Oi Dranje, the carriage will move slower t’an a dying Dragoudop. And you know how t’ey get?” she chuckled.

Yara did not know.

The woman’s cold expression returned. “You’re not even draped, child. Move!”

Yara was utterly confused. She feared the woman towering above her, she was wondering where her father was, the polite girl in her wanted to invite the woman in and offer her some biscuits, some part wanted to run out the door and not stop running until her legs gave away.

Yara stared at the woman, while slowly shutting the door in front of her.

‘Maybe she will disappear’ she quietly whispered to herself.

“I will do no such t’ing.” The heavy voice said from behind the door.

“Where is Papa?” Yara shouted.

“Your goof of a sire tis passed out in front of t’e Tavern. He will do no good. Now hurry up and pack your t’ings, little one. We be off! I wait by carriage.”

Yara listened to the footsteps descending, shed one more tear then dutifully packed her things.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Chapter 4

Prev/Beginning

Yara was certain she misheard her father. “Why would you lose me?” she smiled sweetly.

“I didn’t have the coin.” He said in a whisper

Her chest tightened, she could not believe her own father would be capable of such madness.

“No. This can’t be true. You didn’t!” she cried and staggered away from him.

“I was supposed to win. It was for us. So much coin we could have had…” Úlrik rubbed his face and stood up approaching her, but she stepped back.

“My life was not yours to gamble with.” She shouted.

She pleaded with him to reverse it. He explained to her that he tried everything, even offered his own life in her stead, but nothing was to be done. The notion of ‘selling’ her off seemed ridiculous. But she also knew the sort of people he gambled with and there was no crossing them. Fury and anger shot through her like a bolt of lightning, quickly turning into pity. Pity for a man so broken and wound up in his sins he could not save himself from his own destruction.

Neither of them spoke for a while, standing in darkness.

“What happens now?” she asked, her soft voice breaking the silence.

“You will leave in the morning.”

He left the house and with it his only child alone in a turmoil of emotions and confusion. She fell to the ground, hugged her knees and cried.

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Chapter 3

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Prince Rorik and Gilroy found themselves trapped in a cave, waiting for the Dragon to settle its temper. As time passed Gilroy tossed a stone out to see if it was still alert. A spout of fire was the answer.

“Well, this is our new home now.” Gilroy sat back down and tried to make himself as comfortable as one could get engulfed by rock. “What do you think the others are doing?” he asked taking a sip from his wineskin and offering it to Rorik.

“Not slaying any Dragon. They’re probably getting help back at the camp” He said grabbing the flask. Rorik was not a consumer of fermented beverages, as he did not think it wise to dull ones senses for the sake of pleasure. This however was an excellent time to start.

Gilroy grabbed a rock and played with it letting it glide between his nimble fingers. “So, Dragons. Here of all places.”

“It is peculiar.” Rorik agreed. A question he had no answer to. “Galdor has never been plagued with such beasts and now two in one day?”

“Sticks burn.” Gilroy realized.

“Your point being?”

“The ground is full of sticks.”

Rorik didn’t always understand the inner workings of Gilroy’s brain. He decided to let his friend spin his thought out.

“If that Dragon finds a way to spout fire in here burning sticks will be the least of our problems.” Rorik pointed out.

“We could make a fire. It would keep us warm. Come, gather those sticks in a pile for me.” Gilroy said with the excitement of a child doing arts and crafts. He grabbed two flat rocks and produced sparks. Soon a little flame started to grow.

“Where is the smoke going to go?” the prince asked concerned, his question momentarily answered. Both men watched the smoke rise up, curl around a boulder and disappear.

“Did you know there was a hole up there?” Rorik asked.

Gilroy shook his head: “The Divine said I should light a fire. So I did.”

Rorik motioned Gilroy to boost him up. He peaked behind the boulder he was unable to see any sunlight, but the smoke was clearly finding a path through the rocks.

“Can we climb out?” Gilroy huffed trying to keep the prince steady on his shoulders.

“I don’t think that’s an option.” Rorik climbed back down.

“We’re back to waiting then.”

 ---

The cave being unaware that people might one day be stuck sitting in it for hours on end did not think to mold itself to support human anatomy, and had therefore shaped rocks with sharp edges and creases poking in all sorts of soft spots. Cramped in unnatural positions they slumped down on the floor wondering how they would ever be able to stand up again.

-- “Someone down there?” --

Rorik and Gilroy looked at each other. The sound had echoed off the walls and sounded like a person was sitting right next to them. Logic however suggested the voice came from above.

“Yes, we’re trapped here. Is the Dragon still about?”

“Saw the smoke coming from the mountain, came looking for the beast.” the voice said.

“So, was he expecting the Dragon to answer him instead?” Gilroy whispered puzzled.

“We’re coming out now, there’s a side entrance.” The Prince informed the stranger.

With his hand near his dagger Rorik exited the Cave. The stranger being equally cautious kept his hand by his sword.

“You’re a Faye!” Gilroy excitedly shouted, not entirely in control of the volume of his voice, “You’re an Elf?... What are you?”

The stranger looked at Gilroy in disgust. He had little tolerance for whimsical behavior. But was aware of the royalty he was standing before.

“I am Kwáin son of Hán.” As was custom with the Terra Elves he went to his knee and up again showing respect toward the prince. Gilroy unaware of foreign customs mirrored his behavior, which unknowingly made a mockery out of it. The elf grinded his teeth in contempt.

“I am Prince Rorik, heir to the throne and leader of the free people of Galdor. We thank you for your service.” The prince held a hand to his chest and bowed his head. There was no such custom among his people but he wanted to present the elf with an equally respectful gesture. Again Gilroy followed suit.

“And what are the free people thanking me for?” the elf wondered.

“I only meant to show you gratitude. The Dragon had trapped us in the cave and if it weren’t for you we’d still be in there for who knows how long.”

Kwáin politely nodded.

“You said you were searching for the Dragon. Could you tell us more about it?”

If it were anyone else standing before him the elf would have left, but his work required discreetness and there was nothing more suspicious then ignoring the wishes of the host whose very land you were standing on.

“I shall tell you what I know.”

[ofkingsandvagabonds]

Chapter 2

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A loud snore tore Yara out of her sleep. She stared at the steadily breathing body lying next to her. Her father let out another grunt and pulled the blanket over on his side. He had come home late again and quite drunk. Barely being able to walk he had stumbled into her bed, which lay conveniently by the door. This was not the first time and although she could have just climbed into the vacant bed, she enjoyed his company. Nestling up to him, the way she used to as a child, made her feel safe. If on some occasions he wasn’t passed out by the time his head hit the pillow he would even wrap his arms around her.

Yara watched his chest rise and fall, traced his boney fingers and worn face. He had changed so much after the untimely death of her mother many years ago. He rarely ate and slept through most the day. She was left as sole provider for the two of them.

Tip toeing out of bed, she kissed him on the forehead and grabbed her garments. In the kitchen she picked up a basket and quietly left the house.

It was early in the morning but the streets were already busy. She made her way through the crowd and stopped by the market stands to buy some food with what little coin her father had left her. She did not stop to talk to anyone, did not watch the children play or stroke the kitten that was rubbing against her leg. She enjoyed all those things, but rarely let herself ‘waste time’ in such manner.

Her father was waiting for her on her return. A mug in hand suggested he was trying to alleviate his aching head with more wine.  He asked her where she had been, trying hard to enunciate every word, but horribly failing in a slur of sounds.

“I was at the market, Papa.” She answered, offering him an apple from her basket. He waved it off and slumped down in his chair taking another deep sip.

“Howmush koin ye haf?” he asked holding out his hand expectantly.

“Not much, I’m afraid.” Yara dropped a few coppers in his palm and he gazed at them intently, hoping they would magically multiply.

By the time Yara put the basket in the kitchen he had fallen asleep on his chair. She knew better than to wake him so she let him be while continuing her chores.

It was a simple life they lead, but simple was good enough. It meant you had clothes on your back, a roof over your head and enough food to fill your belly. Simple was good enough. 

Afternoons was when Yara started her work at the Tavern, cleaning rooms and sweeping floors. It was a simple job worth little coin, but it was steady work. And simple was good enough, after all. Her father was a frequent visitor of the Tavern, a notorious gambler and a friend to all. He had his fair share of winnings, however the longer the night stretched out, the more intoxicated he would become and with it the more outrageous his wages. His worst problem was he never knew when to quit.

—

Yara was torn out of her sleep during the night. This time her father was standing in the door way, sobbing. She jumped up to catch him as he fell to his knees.

“Forgive me, my little butterfly.” He pleaded, “I lost, I lost everything.”

“Papa, what do you mean? Oh, let me help you.” Seeing her father in distress frightened her.

He cried into her night dress making it hard for her to understand him.

“Papa, please tell me.” “I lost the bet. I shouldn’t have. Curse you, Divine!” He cried, unable to look her in the eyes.

The girl went to her knees and held his head in her hands. “Whatever you lost, I’m sure we can spare.” She comforted him. “Why don’t you sleep and…”

“NO! You don’t understand.” He pushed her away and slammed his fist on the floor, “The wager. What I lost…is you.”