The Last StormRider

Dancing with Demons

Thankfully the Captain had taught me how to dance, at the time I thought it was a waste. Today I was glad that he pushed for me to pay attention as Abigail praised me "Wow, and ye've only been dancing for a bit? You dance better then those boys." nodding her head behind me.

As the dance rotated our positions I saw who she was talking about. Standing in a corner was Ervin and his collection of cronies. Unsettled by their returned glares I focused back on Abigail "Why do I feel like I've just made some new enemies?"

Smiling under her Ivory mask she replied "Oh, ye've had enemies for a while now. As soon as the council got wind of ye're claim....well let's say it wasn't pretty. Once we, the heirs that is, heard someone was waltzing in all high and mighty with his-" she trailed off smiling sheepishly at me as my high and mighty eyebrows went higher.

"No, please. Don't let my mightiness stun you. Continue." I said smiling as we maneuvered past a couple who needed to learn how to not be sticks.

"Well, we weren't happy. Ervin the least of all, he in fact tried to get the Princess to silence you as soon as the Patchwork made to shore. She would have none of it. Princess Aria was curious to see who would claim such a hefty, yet dangerous title willingly." Abigail explained twirling under my hand as the music reached a new pitch.

Suddenly acutely aware of every glance, and stare I replied awkwardly "Yep, that's me....living dangerously." Quickly my eyes shifted from one masked to the other as I thought. A party where nobody can for sure tell who's who is a great place to commit murder.

With relief I stepped away from Abigail as the song ended returning to the Captain's side. Chuckling he asked me, mischief glinting in his gaze, "Did you enjoy the dance?"

Smiling coldly I responded, "Oh, yes. It was educational." Turning back to my thoughts I located every exit, every entrance, every hiding place, and every spot that I would use if I was an assassin.

Never leaving the Captains side for very long the day turned darker as the night began to set in. Soon I realized that we were making our way to a side door, that I'd seen several wealthy looking Pirates had gone through.

"Where are we going?" I asked the Captain as we stepped through the door entering a small, almost cramped looking staircase.

"To the second most dangerous room in the world." then turning to me I could see a glimmer of mischief in his eyes as he continued, "Very different from the first, but we should be no less the wary."

Nodding my head, one eyebrow raised in confusion, I followed him through the door at the top of the staircase. Stepping through the door way I walked into an open space. Looking around me my other eyebrow decided to join it's ascended brother in amazement, as I gazed at the room around me.

In the center there was a long table seated with a great number of chairs, along the walls were several glass displays each containing a unique artifact each carrying it's own story. In different clumps the many Pirate nobles made they're way around the room, keeping to their own packs.

Following the Captain, we made our way along the right wall, taking a few moments to read the items name, and any interesting trivia about them. "Bonecrusher, Daemon Cloak, Thunderwave Gloves, Ship in a Bottle..." I commented, with each name my growing amusement at the names becoming apparent, "I don't even-What even is that?" I asked looking to the Captain.

Sharing in mild amusement he replied, "I believe that is a Cannonball on a chain, but that's besides the point. You shouldn't mock. Some of these may pertain to you?"

"Oh, yeah?" I said scoffing, "I've heard of this place. The only time any of these items are removed is if ya can prove ye're their rightful heir, or it's in time of great distress or war."

Raising an eyebrow the Captain gestured for me to follow. Leading me across the room he continued by saying "Didn't ya ask for a Trial by Knaves?" Nodding my head I gestured for him to continue, confused at where this was going, "Well the last person to claim such a Trial became King of Dargys, and with the Kingship he was able to change that kingdom's warring clans for the better." I continued to nod my head, none of this new information. "Well, I've seen what happens when ya try to practice the spells Firstmate Jim was trying to teach ya." He stopped turning to me, daring me to deny it.

Heat rising to my face I replied "Ya, so what all I can accomplish is a crack of Thunder, a few lightning sparks, and a small wave?"

"Small!" The Captain roared, his face contorting to a gasping chuckle as he continued, "It was not small, as ya put it. It capsized the dingy you were in. Also those few sparks of lightning and Thunder caused a huge storm that kept us in port for a fortnight."

"I don't see ye're point." I said stiffly hoping to get back onto topic before anybody else could walk in to join the already significant amount of people trying really hard to not show that they were eavesdropping.

"Well, ya see t'e last person, on record, who had the much trouble with a few wind spells, and a couple knot tying spells was Valner Rusjinet. Who was the last Stormrider." the Captain said with a flourish revealing the fact that he'd been standing in front of a glass display.

Looking in the case I have to say, I was disappointed. I was expecting something along the lines of the legendary man's Spear, maybe the amulet which was fabled to hold all his power. But no, instead my eyes were graced by the unimpressive view of old looking boots. Not just old but well worn. Don't get me wrong they might have once been nice when new, the fur inside nice an fluffy, the leather shiny proudly in the dawn light. But it had been centuries since the pair of boots were considered 'New'.

Looking down I read the plaque on the aloud "The Boots O'Thunder. A prized possession once belonging to Valner Rusjinet. These boots were made from the remains of his....Thunderbird!" I exclaimed quietly turning to the Captain my eyes wide.

Shrugging the Captain responded, "Everybody cracks at some point. He did when his bird died." Then at the ringing of a bell he gestured for me to follow leading me towards our assigned seats.

The dinner was great, I was seated between the Captain, on my left, and Abigail, on my right (obviously), And enjoyed the great many selections of food placed in front of me. Along with the food I had an interesting conversation with Abigail and the Captain about swordplay.

Every now and then I'd feel a pair of eyes on me. Flicking my eyes up the table they'd come to rest on the curious, yet steely gaze of the Princess. Always looking away first, each time I pretended to not see her stare. It seemed to work at first. That is until her neighbor had noticed her attention was no longer on him. "Great." I muttered now seeing that Ervin was glaring daggers at me as well.

By the time the dinner was done, and conversations had turned to politics I was about ready to get out of my chair and jump out a window. Thankfully all attention was turned to the topic of who would propose to the Princess first. Curious I willingly looked up to the princess watching her change in expressions. She seemed explosively frustrated that the council continued to pretend she couldn't hear them. It was quite entertaining.

Turning away from them I leaned back in my chair, resting my head back against the seat. I closed my eyes and slept.