Hessins Daughter
Chapter One

“Looks like mother sea isn’t in the festive mood today.” Captain Jae’lyn Ruce the Jadded Arrow, a young mystic of the sea and hunter of the forests hummed just under the clash of a rolling thunder that rumbled and growled above the small green dragon tavern. A streak or two of bright light flashed past the paned window of the old tavern, illuminating the young female’s face where she sat with a mug of hot drink in hand.

She was really quite beautiful if she would ever just take the time to show it. She had long ebon black hair with the streaks of silver that was trademark of any Ruce. They say it was due to the salt in their blood that made their hair turn white at a much younger age than those that lived further in land. Her shoulders were strapped in leather, intertwined in an intricate manner about her bare chest. A leather corset covered her torso lined with several more straps, six deadly daggers on hip. Hanging at the back of her bench rest was a long, fox furred robe, black as midnight along with a quiver of arrows and a long, flexible staff that quickly turned into a bow when the need arose.

She sat at the back near the hearth with five other hunters, all dressed in black leather and armed with various weapons. They were her comrades and closest friends. She aptly called them her ‘Arrows.’ All around them other hunters, knights, soldiers, merchants and sailors crowded in the little room of the tavern. Waitresses all had to suck their tummies in and stand up on their tiptoes in order to pass through the slender rows to deliver food and drink to the cold, hungry and very disappointed contestants having their tournament rained on.

Every year the kingdom of Ra’vain would hold many tournaments celebrating the four seasons. This year, South Port hosted the Red Zenith. A festival dedicated to the harvest and filled with festive feasts, games, tournaments and masked balls. Unfortunately however, this year the gods did not seem to favor the merriment and brought a mighty storm to dampen the smiles and spirits of those many who traveled far in order to test their metal with other knights of valor.

“Not like that would stop you. Eh Jade?” A young man flashed a grin at the girl. Jade was what the Arrows called her. Jae was the name her father gave her, in representation of the Jade stone. And Lyn was her mothers gifted name. Jade however sounded more like a hunters name and was well received in her pack, the Jadded Arrows.

Jae’lyn smirked at the young man and rose her steaming mug up to lips. “Swimming in the sea during a storm. Of course it wouldn’t. But I promised mother I wouldn’t do anything....stupid. This year.”

“This year?” The boy asked and laughed replaceing it very amusing. Who wouldn’t? Anyone who knew Jae’lyn Ruce knew she was a risk taker. All it would take was one measly little bet and a few passed coins to send the mystic off, stripping armor and jumping into the raging sea.

Still, Jae’lyn narrowed her eyes, scrunched her nose and spat a tounge out at the boy “Shut up. Besides I’m just not in the mood...” she grumbled and sipped her hot brew of chocolet. Storms often put Jae’lyn in a grumpier disposition, perhaps it was because the mother was angry as well....who truly knew or understood her connection with the sea.

‘The Mother’ was a Salt Mans term for the sea. They believed that the Sea was their mother and they her children, sharks that shed their scaly skins and climbed up onto the sands of Ra’vain to further their blood thirsty hunger for gold and blood. Jae’lyn was a Salt Women through and through, her blood was the purest of her people. A Ruce and first daughter of the Salty, leader of the Salt men and women of the coast.

“Well. Come on then.” The boy leaned back and rose his voice casually “Tell us a story, eh?”

The request had several patrons surrounding them within the small tavern to look up from their drinks and stews to gaze at them hopefully before quickly lowering their gaze away when the girl passed a narrowed eyed glare their way. “No.” she huffed wearily.

“Aw common! You always have good stories to tell. Tell us a story, right guys?!” he rose his hands up over his head to signal the patrons around them. A general murmur of agreement rose around them “Oh that was weak!” he called out, lowering the front two legs of his chair to thump down onto the wood floor “Lets try this again...” he stood and rose his mug calling out in a boisterous voice “Who wants a story!!!” That got a cheer to rise up from the crowded tavern, a cheer that roared and shook the building with pounding hands and feet on tables and floors. A musician struck up a dreary tune and the chant ‘Story! Story! Story!’ started. Jade groaned and dropped her head into hand nursing an expectant headache. Although there was a hidden smile there.

“Alright!” she sighed in defeat “Alright, okay! Fine!” She called out, tossing bread crumbs at her torturer who sported a proud and cheeky grin as he flopped back into his chair and rose the front legs back up casually. Arms folded behind head, the act had Jae’lyn rolling eyes.

Slowly the stamping, pounding, chanting and cheering came to a silence, allowing the minstrel’s notes to fill the air while Jade lowered the hood of her cowl and tapped her knuckles against the table’s surface in thought of what story to tell. Eventually she spoke “This old Tavern has seen many owners. As per tradition these owners lived here, right under this roof serving all those who traveled through those green doors. Up at the very top, when the tavern was first created the Tavern owner had a daughter. She was the fairest of all of South Port. Or at least for a commoner.” her last comment had the taverns patrons laughing and grinning, chairs scraped and tables were pushed away as everyone crowded around. Thunder crashed over head but the prospect of a story seemed to make the storm less miserable.

“Her name was Vivian and she was certainly the fairest of all the cost according to one young, adventureful highwayman that would patrol the streets and keep the peace. Every night he would ride his dyster up to the tavern walls, and call up to his fair maiden with song and pebbles to closed windows. They often conversed this way, him upon his horse and her hanging out the window, her golden hair reaching down to brush his raised cheeks hoping to catch that sweet honeyed scent that clung to her soft skin. ‘Look for me upon the moonlight’ he would say to her ‘I’m off to slay the dragon, for you my lady fair!’ and with that, he would trot away.” as she spoke she took up her hands and with a ‘clip clip clop clip clip clop’ she mimicked the sounds of a horses trot upon stones. “Every night he would do this ‘Look for me upon the moonlight...’ and while the daughters heart sang out to the highway man the father observed with jealous and vengeful eyes. He didn’t like the attention his daughter brought upon her, he wanted her fair beauty to himself.”

“Golden hair, honeydue scent to arouse the hunter? Can’t say I blame him.” The young man from before, one of her arrows laughed. He was her second in command. Cyrus was his name and he also happened to be Jae’lyns love interest....not that her parents were very approving of him. They still held hope that careful re-direction could guide her to better prey.

“Well. Back then even a commoner was a fair gem to be own and barter with. Marrying her off to a young noble lord would bring a poor tavern keeper high prestige and wealth to their humble business.” Jade explained “And rumors had it he had his own eyes upon her, the fact that she was his daughter didn’t seem to matter... but then, back in the day many of the coastal survivors didn’t have the same morals and laws we do today. Even still, a young highwayman had no wealth to offer. All he had was fancy songs and pros of daring adventure which, story has it, were all fake and made up to woo the maiden fair. Whenever he was in port he would bring Vivian flowers, tossing them up to her window seal to replace upon morning. And every evening she would sit to watch and listen for that familiar sound.”

Again Jae’lyns hands clapped in the sounds of a horses trot ‘Clip clip Clop Clip clip Clop’ “But he never did return. Days, weeks, even years... Rumor has it the Lord La Seine of South Port had sent a handful of brave men to seek out a legendary dragon. Her champion, the highwayman was one such man. One day a crash broke the maidens closed window It was a burning bottle of oil and fire that had her crying out into the night. Terrified shouts and screams filled the air as the Shark Men, their neighbor enemies rushed into the tavern, dressed in their sarkskin jerkins and armed with their ivory daggers as they raided the Green Dragon stealing meat and coin. The Tavern owner was slaughtered over his own wine barrels and the fair maiden? Well...she was caught and tied like a hog upon her own bedpost helpless to the cruelty of the sharks and their blood induced frenzy.”

“The moon was full this night, a large glowing disk up in the star flecked sky to illuminate the lonely street. The maiden struggled against her bindings, twisting, pulling and turning her wrists to free them while the Shark Men laughed and boasted over new ale and food. It was then she heard it.” her hands clapped as she spoke “Clip, clip clop, clip clip, clop. Her brave knight had returned!! Clip clip clop Clip clip clop....But it would be for not. He did not yet know of the raid on his fair maidens home and was riding towards the dangers that awaited within. Desperate to warn the highwayman Vivians struggles increased with fervor, her wrists bled against her bindings and when she was free at last!! It was all for naught, for one of the shark men had seen her and stood to put her in her place...”

Jae’lyn frowned as she traced circles with a finger upon the tables surface “It was not to be however, the fates were a cruel master and love drives people to do crazy things. With a desperate shout she threw herself out of the window, falling down broken onto the street. The brave act was in vain for the Highwayman had seen the daring fall to save his life and instead of fleeing from the danger he charged his dyster forward calling her name with sword ablaze for vengeance of her death. It was a bloody battle. Shark Men poured out onto the street and ripped the highwayman down from his frightened stead.”

Suddenly a Ivory dagger appeared from Jae’lyns leather sheath, it’s white blade flashing as she stabbed it down onto the table’s surface “Stab!! Stab!! Stab!!!” she roared loudly, thunder crashing overhead and causing the listening patrons to jump. One of the waitresses gasped dramatically at the sudden aggressive show. The Ivory dagger that the storyteller wielded bit into the wood and splintered it’s grain as she held it there to make her point of the bloody act. All listeners fell silent with intent focus and interest.

The fire crackled and the silence lingered for a good time before Jade finally spoke in a soft, mysterious whisper “It is said, that on a cold harvest night when the moon was full and shining bright....the Patrons of the Green Dragon would hear the Dyster riding in the night.” her hands clapped like before “Clip clip Clop Clip clip Clop Clip clip Clop.....His spirit rides for vengeance of his fair maiden, the taverns daughter of the Green Dragon. So if ever you hear that sound, that clip clop in the night. Give a patron gift to the tavern owner and put up your arms so that he might pass you by least you replace your body broken upon the highway street cold and forgotten.”

Again the thunder crashed overhead and lightning shattered the darkened sky. Jade took a drink from her mug, finishing her hot coco before setting her mug down along with several coins more than what her drink cost as patron gift to their host. Standing she took up her quiver of arrows, staff and fox furred robe to return to her room for the night.

The tavern was silent after she left. Many unsure how to react to such a bloody and creepy ending. Some scoffed and returned to their ale, it was to be expected for a Ruce, pretty lass or not. Others sneaked peeks out the nearby windows to gaze up the lonely street in fear they just might see that spectral ghost of the highwayman riding down upon them and a few others managed to laugh and clap at the good natured ghost story. This was the harvest season after all! The Red Zenith!! Spooks and scary stories was part of the fun and spirit of the festivities. “I-its not t-true...is it?” On of the scrawny and more nervous looking ‘Arrows’ of Jades party asked in a quivery voice.

“Naw!” Cyrus laughed and drained his mug of ale “Its just a story, she’s probubly just in gloomy mood what with the sea howling so loudly outside. I’ll go cheer her up. Don’t go worrying yourself none.” he said confidently as he grabbed his own quiver, bow and heavy broadsword.

A third Arrow of the group leaned over the table towards the more nervous one, more coins jingled and and fell upon the tables surface to make Jae’lyns pile a little bigger “Dos’it ‘urt ta be cautious, eh? We should prolly rest ney-ways. Sword and huntin’ tomorrow. Joust too id wager, if the rain stops ‘er ‘owling.”

“Aye...” The nervous boy nodded and fumbled about his own pouch to add to the stash of coin for the tavern owner. “Aye s-sleep sounds alright then.” although...he didn’t feel very tired and kept looking out the window in fear of the highwaymans ghost.