Ashan 55, 717
Bellowing horns blew in the distance, marking the departure of a ship leaving the dockyards. At every corner the pungent aromas of fish, sweat and sea salt filled the air while people bustled about their daily lives. Running with the wind in her hair and a large sack of salmon slung across her back, Lorena scurried through the crowds of people trying to get away from the merchant she had taken it from “Come back here thief!” The fat fishmonger called, running after her with by another man following on behind to try and catch up.
“Oi let it go!” The other man called, gaining on her. Stopping a moment to grin at the stranger Lorena was impressed by the individual's physique. Short black hair, stocky muscles, but a terrifying face and a ridiculously large nose. “Sorry beaky, you'll have to catch me first!” She called back laughing, darting off into an alleyway.
Lorena knew she couldn't outrun the man, but maybe she could hide. Excited by the thrill of the chase, a group of children followed her into the alley “Give us some of your loot miss an’ we’ll help you,” the leader of the small gang of children step forward. He was a cute little thing with blonde hair, dark skin and brilliant blue eyes. Studying the boy she guessed he couldn't be older than fourteen arcs. “Alrigh’,” the woman replied with a vixen smile, changing her accent up a little “take them off m’ case and ya can ‘av th’ ‘ole thing.”
Bright eyed and excited the children bustled around and got into position, ready to fight off the oncoming wave of adults. This was more fun than she had originally anticipated. She handed the salmon to one of the smallest of the children “make sure ye ‘ide this so you n’ ya lil frien’s can ‘ave a yummy meal,” she whispered, lightly pressing a kiss to the child’s forehead before running off.
“Lady,” the young girl called back, her little hand reaching out for Lorena. Unable to turn around Lorena felt a piece of her heart melt away she turned the corner with haste. She wished she could have done more for them.
Out the other end of the alleyway Lorena could hear the footsteps of guards, clunking about the in their armour. Hiding herself behind a crate she waited and listened, hoping the children would at least buy her some time “Split up and cover the area! A female sailor with dark eyes and brown hair. She's a looker boys don't get distracted!”
Lorena raised her brow, well at least somebody thought so. Mildly proud by the sentiment the noble couldn't help but laugh, watching the flustered guards was a lot of fun. Much to her dismay though the show was not to last, she actually had to move if she was going to avoid getting caught. Climbing up one of the crates Lorena tried her hand at trying to lift herself onto a roof. Jumping up she grabbed the tiles “Over there!” she heard a voice shout. Looking down to identify the source, the children apparently hadn't left her much time. Oh shit, whatever would she do. Rolling her eyes Lorena pulled her body up onto the thin ledge and wobbled when trying to maintain her balance. It was a hard job and they were slippery as all hell. “Stay still or we’ll shoot!” called another man’s voice as he loaded across bow.
Of course she would... not.
Daring to jump from one roof to another Lorena mentally prepared herself to land onto the thatched roof opposite to the one she was on. “You're a bloody lunatic,” a voice of one of the guards uttered, watching her. “Little bit,” she agreed winking at the man only to get a few inches short and started to fall. Doing his duty the same guard followed beneath her, knowing she wouldn't make it and within moments she could feel the clank of his armour dig into her back. “You got me,” she said, twitching in pain with a coy smile plastered across her face. The man wasn't Vaughn or Damon, he did however have his own charm. Dark skin with similar dark eyes filled with honour and virtue “Yup and you're spending the next few seasons in a cell.”
“Bummer,” she retorted with laughter “will you be keeping me company?”
Bewildered by her charm the man shook his head “Sorry. I've got better things to do.”
Lorena narrowed her eyes “Oooo, the burn. You'll have to rub some cream on me for that one Mr. Y’know can't do it.” The noble offered him her hands “chains n’ all.”
Shoving her over to the other guards the man laughed “Lady you're crazy.”
She accepted the notion “made ya laugh though.”
Watching his eyes, Lorena knew the man couldn't figure out if she wanted to be caught or if she was an idiot. “Take her to the keep,” he ordered the other men.
Resisting, just to spend a moment longer talking Lorena fought the men holding either side of her arms “Oh come on. At least tell me your name.”
Darky narrowed his eyes “Rogen,” he offered, starring her down “and you prisoner. Do you have a name?”
A wide grin lit up her features “Lorena Burhan,” she answered.
Immediately the mention of her name made the men nervous. She had been notorious in the past for being a trouble maker and had gotten to know the guards reasonably well. These lot were new faces though.
“Lorena Burhan is dead sir,” another one of the guards informed. Equally as confused.
Annoyed now Rogen grabbed her himself “Alright you’re coming with me.”
The grin on Lorena’s face widened “Pleasure is all mine.”
_____
Down in the dark of the Andaris dungeons Lorena was launched into a cell of shit stained walls with a poor excuse for a bed bed and a bucket full of bodily fluids. “Glamorous,” she muttered the snide remark and turned to Rogen “you couldn't at least empty the bucket?”
Twitching behind his stout face Lorena knew she had dug under his skin. “Hopefully you'll learn a lesson in here," he enforced, standing proud.
The noble shrugged her head “unlikely, wouldn't mind some flowers though.”
Rogen shook his head and wandered away from her, laughing to himself. Had they met on another occasion the woman might have asked the man on a date. Bits passed and the dull atmosphere of the cells were starting to get on her nerves. At the door a guard stood, on duty. Evidently he had turned what could have been a fun, albeit drab atmosphere into a ghost town.
So, in her infinite wisdom Lorena decided to do the obvious and start singing “die, die, die, die, die, die, die. They sailed from port one morning when the weather it was fair. A gentle breeze it pushed then and no one gave a care. They laughed and danced sang that night and opened up a keg. They're off to catch the monster whale that ate captain’s leg…” Grinning like an idiot she wandered to the edge of the cell, eyeing the other prisoners and encouraging them to join in “die, die, die, die, dididie, die”, they sang in chorus.
Stocky and confused the guard who usually intimidated the other cellmates casually approached her “Shut up girl," he threatened and the other prisoners went silent.
“Or what, you gonna lash me?” she asked, eyeing the whip in his hand. He was a big man with a wave of shortish soft brown and serious blue eyes "I wouldn't. You’ll be in trouble.”
Confused and agitated with Lorena the man crossed his arms “from who,” he asked with a long, cool stare.
“My name is Lorena Burhan, I know you lot think I’m dead but go ask Damon Andaris and do me a favour. Tell him he's a terrible kisser,” the woman fought, sinking back onto the bed, “until then I'm going to sing and if its not true you can whip me as much as you like.”
Willing to do anything to make her shut up the man relented. “Somebody go find Damon Andaris, tell him a woman claiming to be Lorena Burhan is asking for him and she won't shut up” the guard sounded the order to a younger, blonde boy who Lorena guessed was an apprentice.
“Don't forget the kissing bit,” she called behind the bars, “there's a good lad.”
The boy ran off and Lorena was left singing in the benign company of her prison mates. And instead of sulking used her time to amuse herself by driving the guard mad.
Bellowing horns blew in the distance, marking the departure of a ship leaving the dockyards. At every corner the pungent aromas of fish, sweat and sea salt filled the air while people bustled about their daily lives. Running with the wind in her hair and a large sack of salmon slung across her back, Lorena scurried through the crowds of people trying to get away from the merchant she had taken it from “Come back here thief!” The fat fishmonger called, running after her with by another man following on behind to try and catch up.
“Oi let it go!” The other man called, gaining on her. Stopping a moment to grin at the stranger Lorena was impressed by the individual's physique. Short black hair, stocky muscles, but a terrifying face and a ridiculously large nose. “Sorry beaky, you'll have to catch me first!” She called back laughing, darting off into an alleyway.
Lorena knew she couldn't outrun the man, but maybe she could hide. Excited by the thrill of the chase, a group of children followed her into the alley “Give us some of your loot miss an’ we’ll help you,” the leader of the small gang of children step forward. He was a cute little thing with blonde hair, dark skin and brilliant blue eyes. Studying the boy she guessed he couldn't be older than fourteen arcs. “Alrigh’,” the woman replied with a vixen smile, changing her accent up a little “take them off m’ case and ya can ‘av th’ ‘ole thing.”
Bright eyed and excited the children bustled around and got into position, ready to fight off the oncoming wave of adults. This was more fun than she had originally anticipated. She handed the salmon to one of the smallest of the children “make sure ye ‘ide this so you n’ ya lil frien’s can ‘ave a yummy meal,” she whispered, lightly pressing a kiss to the child’s forehead before running off.
“Lady,” the young girl called back, her little hand reaching out for Lorena. Unable to turn around Lorena felt a piece of her heart melt away she turned the corner with haste. She wished she could have done more for them.
Out the other end of the alleyway Lorena could hear the footsteps of guards, clunking about the in their armour. Hiding herself behind a crate she waited and listened, hoping the children would at least buy her some time “Split up and cover the area! A female sailor with dark eyes and brown hair. She's a looker boys don't get distracted!”
Lorena raised her brow, well at least somebody thought so. Mildly proud by the sentiment the noble couldn't help but laugh, watching the flustered guards was a lot of fun. Much to her dismay though the show was not to last, she actually had to move if she was going to avoid getting caught. Climbing up one of the crates Lorena tried her hand at trying to lift herself onto a roof. Jumping up she grabbed the tiles “Over there!” she heard a voice shout. Looking down to identify the source, the children apparently hadn't left her much time. Oh shit, whatever would she do. Rolling her eyes Lorena pulled her body up onto the thin ledge and wobbled when trying to maintain her balance. It was a hard job and they were slippery as all hell. “Stay still or we’ll shoot!” called another man’s voice as he loaded across bow.
Of course she would... not.
Daring to jump from one roof to another Lorena mentally prepared herself to land onto the thatched roof opposite to the one she was on. “You're a bloody lunatic,” a voice of one of the guards uttered, watching her. “Little bit,” she agreed winking at the man only to get a few inches short and started to fall. Doing his duty the same guard followed beneath her, knowing she wouldn't make it and within moments she could feel the clank of his armour dig into her back. “You got me,” she said, twitching in pain with a coy smile plastered across her face. The man wasn't Vaughn or Damon, he did however have his own charm. Dark skin with similar dark eyes filled with honour and virtue “Yup and you're spending the next few seasons in a cell.”
“Bummer,” she retorted with laughter “will you be keeping me company?”
Bewildered by her charm the man shook his head “Sorry. I've got better things to do.”
Lorena narrowed her eyes “Oooo, the burn. You'll have to rub some cream on me for that one Mr. Y’know can't do it.” The noble offered him her hands “chains n’ all.”
Shoving her over to the other guards the man laughed “Lady you're crazy.”
She accepted the notion “made ya laugh though.”
Watching his eyes, Lorena knew the man couldn't figure out if she wanted to be caught or if she was an idiot. “Take her to the keep,” he ordered the other men.
Resisting, just to spend a moment longer talking Lorena fought the men holding either side of her arms “Oh come on. At least tell me your name.”
Darky narrowed his eyes “Rogen,” he offered, starring her down “and you prisoner. Do you have a name?”
A wide grin lit up her features “Lorena Burhan,” she answered.
Immediately the mention of her name made the men nervous. She had been notorious in the past for being a trouble maker and had gotten to know the guards reasonably well. These lot were new faces though.
“Lorena Burhan is dead sir,” another one of the guards informed. Equally as confused.
Annoyed now Rogen grabbed her himself “Alright you’re coming with me.”
The grin on Lorena’s face widened “Pleasure is all mine.”
_____
Down in the dark of the Andaris dungeons Lorena was launched into a cell of shit stained walls with a poor excuse for a bed bed and a bucket full of bodily fluids. “Glamorous,” she muttered the snide remark and turned to Rogen “you couldn't at least empty the bucket?”
Twitching behind his stout face Lorena knew she had dug under his skin. “Hopefully you'll learn a lesson in here," he enforced, standing proud.
The noble shrugged her head “unlikely, wouldn't mind some flowers though.”
Rogen shook his head and wandered away from her, laughing to himself. Had they met on another occasion the woman might have asked the man on a date. Bits passed and the dull atmosphere of the cells were starting to get on her nerves. At the door a guard stood, on duty. Evidently he had turned what could have been a fun, albeit drab atmosphere into a ghost town.
So, in her infinite wisdom Lorena decided to do the obvious and start singing “die, die, die, die, die, die, die. They sailed from port one morning when the weather it was fair. A gentle breeze it pushed then and no one gave a care. They laughed and danced sang that night and opened up a keg. They're off to catch the monster whale that ate captain’s leg…” Grinning like an idiot she wandered to the edge of the cell, eyeing the other prisoners and encouraging them to join in “die, die, die, die, dididie, die”, they sang in chorus.
Stocky and confused the guard who usually intimidated the other cellmates casually approached her “Shut up girl," he threatened and the other prisoners went silent.
“Or what, you gonna lash me?” she asked, eyeing the whip in his hand. He was a big man with a wave of shortish soft brown and serious blue eyes "I wouldn't. You’ll be in trouble.”
Confused and agitated with Lorena the man crossed his arms “from who,” he asked with a long, cool stare.
“My name is Lorena Burhan, I know you lot think I’m dead but go ask Damon Andaris and do me a favour. Tell him he's a terrible kisser,” the woman fought, sinking back onto the bed, “until then I'm going to sing and if its not true you can whip me as much as you like.”
Willing to do anything to make her shut up the man relented. “Somebody go find Damon Andaris, tell him a woman claiming to be Lorena Burhan is asking for him and she won't shut up” the guard sounded the order to a younger, blonde boy who Lorena guessed was an apprentice.
“Don't forget the kissing bit,” she called behind the bars, “there's a good lad.”
The boy ran off and Lorena was left singing in the benign company of her prison mates. And instead of sulking used her time to amuse herself by driving the guard mad.
