Broken Dreams

Chapter 1

The Silven Dagger was a silly name when you thought about it, but it was his. Chosen when barely a child and never regreted, it fit the brightly dressed figure now parading off the gangway of his fathers ship atop an equally frivolously adorned steed into the town of Ith.

With an air of confidence he urged his horse forward into the dock. Around him merchants and fishmongers pushed to and fro, eager to rush their wares onto dry land. A bit of a way off he could just make out the form of another house-lord, a bird-like woman inspecting new shipments as they arrived. Past the docks and beaches, the desolate expanse of the moor stretched out as far as the eye could see.

Pushing his way bluntly through the rabble of lesser workmen he found himself accosted by words and gestures that, had he not been raised among seamen, might have offended him. While the words didn't faze him, the sentiment left him mildly irked. It was a bit shocking, really, to be marching about so publicly without a crowd of well-wishers gathering to cheer him on.

He had known, of course, that it would be different outside of Tarkanan. He wasn't a prince to the people here, just another nobleman; perhaps a bit prettier then the rest but just as pretentious.

"What have I gotten myself into?" he thought with a chuckle. Who would have thought that Prince Silv, in line for a throne in the world's wealthiest kingdom, would find himself in a dump like this?

A year ago these sorts of thoughts would have scared him, perhaps prompting him to turn his horse around and run back onto his father's boat. Now it only thrilled him. Freedom and purpose, what more could a young prince ask for?

Pushing his way through a crowd of sailors and dock workers he emerged at last onto the city of Ith's main thoroughfare. To his left magical gold flames caught his eye as they illuminated a sign. "Skin Deep Inks", it proclaimed, fire twisting around the letters like vines. Across the street, a minstrel played haunting tunes while the skeletal forms of undead danced around him. Above it all advertising banners weaved through the sky like eels dancing for attention.

Tarkanan was, of course, much better managed than this dump. Out here in the thirteen kingdoms businesses decorated every inch with color, but in doing so lost the simple beauties of land and sea. Or maybe this land just doesn't have that beauty, he thought, looking past the buildings at the barren wastelands beyond.

These thoughts didn't distract him for long. Before long he'd have to venture into the wastes east of the city if his quest was to be fulfilled, but that could wait till morning. Nightfall was upon him, and it simply wouldn't do for him to do anything else when there was a new town waiting for him.

"The Final Rest" the sign read as Silv tied his horse and ducked inside a middling bar just off Ith's main thoroughfare. Not a flashy building, but he recognized it as the sort of place that would welcome travelers without threatening their purses too harshly.

Inside, a few dozen faces greeted him without too much attention. A traveling merchant haggling with the local cobbler looked up, nodding towards Silv with a friendly smile. Across the bar a few giggling local women waved him over with alcohol fueled friendliness.

Heading first to the bar to grab a drink Silv made his way towards the group, picking out a charming redhead near the edge of their party in his approach.

"Is this seat taken?" Silv asked with a pleasant smile, gesturing towards a chair near her.

"Go ahead," she replied "who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

"You can call me Silv, and the pleasure is all mine." Silv responded, letting a brief silence hang in the air between them

"But aren't you going to ask my name?" she asked curiously

"Ah, but I thought it rude. With one of your beauty surely your name is recorded in the Archives of Sivis, and only my own ignorance has kept me from learning it till now."

Blushing fiercely with a shy smile the women briefly stuttered "O-Oh stop, you little..."

Behind her, the women's friends broke into girlish laughter, her blush reddening further with the attention.

"My apologies, my lady." Silv responded quickly "What is your name, then, if you still don't mind my asking."

"It.. Its Aradel." She responded, composing herself at last.

"How lovely! Well then, Aradel, please do tell how it is that a beautiful flower like yourself finds themselves in so remote a town as Ith?"

"My mother and I moved out here when I was quite young" Aradel answered simply "it was just fishing back then, though we've since expanded into doing a little of just about everything."

Silv cocked his head to the side curiously "And which of those trades do you find most enjoyable"

"They've all grown a tad stale to be honest, but whenever we get the chance to hunt skyeels I get just a tad more excited than I probably should".

"Just up on the coast here?" Silv asked "I can't imagine there is much worth hunting. I was looking around as I came in and it looked positively barren. "

"Oh to be sure it is, but it isn't all like that." Aradel answered, hints of excitement beginning to enter her voice "The coast to the east of the city is a lot more lush; cliffs up that way form a natural haven where all sorts of exotic creatures find refuge."

"Do they? I would simply love to see that, it sounds marvelous." Silv responded dreamily

"I mean we could always go see it now, if you like" she said

"Can we? Splendid!" Silv responded, jumping to his feet suddenly and offering a hand to guide her. "Away we go then!"

A bit taken aback at the spontaneity Aradel let herself be pulled to her feet, dropping Silv's hand briefly to slip her hair back into a loose ponytail. Behind her her friends giggled and gossiped as she took his hand once more and led him out onto the street.

Lantern light glinted off the paved gravel as Silv and Aradel wandered through the darkened streets of Ith, Silv swinging their joined hands with child-like excitement. With a hidden smile Aradel soon reflected his enthusiasm as the couple made way out onto the moor; meandering together along the coast towards the fathomless depths of the water.