Day 9, twilight
Dan Hiri laid back on the hard bench with his eyes closed. He smelled the sea air around him as he listened to his men shuffle around squabbling and growling on deck. He knew he should stop them but the truth is he didn't really give a damn about any single one of them. Knowing if he tried to intervene he'd end up making at least one of them walk the plank, he stayed where he was. Quiet and calm. The truth was, he could block out just about anything when he felt the warm breeze gently kiss every bit of exposed skin. His tanned body delightfully took in the sun's rays as he remained lazily passive. It was only when the distant shout of one of the crew high in the crows nest declared a ship was closing in off the port bow did he jump out of that skin and start moving. Bellowing out orders and knocking skulls together to get his men to pay attention was the easy part. The hard part was outrunning the Royal Navy. The Queen was always after him for some reason or another. And he was not about to let himself get caught. If there was anything Dan Hiri couldn't stand, it was complications.
Looking through the handheld spyglass Dan Hiri tried to determine exactly what was after him. Deciding it wasn't part of the royal fleet he tried to figure out which of the 10 Noble's was on his heels. This was always important due to the fact that half of the Noble's believed him a Pirate, while the other half found him to be a simple adventurer discovering new lands and resources for the Demon Kingdom. He wasn't sure how he created such controversy amongst so many of those in high places, but, in the end it was only the Demon Queen herself that mattered. And God only knows what she believed. It depended on who she was talking to this week. Either way, proving himself not a Pirate could be seen as a bit difficult. Most of the scoundrels he did business with would declare him the finest bastard amongst their ranks in the grand scheme of things. Thats only because Dan Hiri liked to conduct his business affairs in the most colorful fashion. However, did he make it a practice of being a thief? Well, not really. All in all it only counts if they catch you. He was caught once, and ended up saddled with a wife and kid to gain his freedom. Unfortunately, he didn't think his ex wife, the Queen, would fall for that again. Well, maybe she would, however, it was just best all the way around if he "got away". And away, he did go.
Unfortunately, he didn't go fast enough. Indeed it was an approaching enemy ship, though, not one of the ten nobles. It appears word had gotten around that Dan Hiri's ship was carrying some very precious and extraordinarily valuable metals. He'd never moved faster. No one would dare try to board his ship again after hearing of Dan Hiri's quick disposal of each and every invader. Then, just as he was cutting down the last pirate trying to swing onto his ship, he felt his boat lurch underneath him. What happened next hit like a ton of bricks. Right across his skull. He felt himself grow suddenly dizzy and just before he passed out he saw his queen, standing high on the bow of her luxury liner. Of course, he had to be dreaming.
When Dan Hiri finally woke, his head pounding and his hand feeling for the enormous bump that swelled above his right temple, he looked around cautiously. When his thoughts began to clear he realized what had happened. The attacking pirates were just a mere distraction. Whether it was intentional or just pure coincidence his queen had managed to use that opportunity to launch a sneak attack. It hadn't at all occurred to him his ex-wife was trying to rescue him and his precious cargo. Just the same, he had to admit, it was exciting. That she'd go through the trouble and all. However, being locked in her clutches was just not an option.
It was obvious when he got a look at his surroundings where he had ended up. He knew in a moment he was in Blood Pledge Castle. Yet, not the dungeon like he would have thought. He so does underestimate his Cheri. The beautiful girl still loves him after all. Dan Hiri moved through the halls, though no one would know. Stealthiness was his specialty after all. Things seemed a bit different then he remembered. It hadn't been too long since he'd last escaped this place, yet even the stone walls seemed a slightly different color. In fact, the very idea he could have ended up here at all seemed impossible. How did they manage to keep him unconscious for that long? He would have expected to wake in the Queens bedchamber's on her ship long before the time it would have taken for them to get all the way to the castle. It would have taken days to get here. But if luck was on his side, it wouldn't take but a few moments to get out. The place may have looked different, even smelled different, but the floor plan was just as his keen mind remembered. Just a few more steps to that rarely used rear entrance. Then it would be a dead run until would finally make that easy leap over the wall. Well, easy for him. Freedom.. its such a wonderful thing.
Looking through the handheld spyglass Dan Hiri tried to determine exactly what was after him. Deciding it wasn't part of the royal fleet he tried to figure out which of the 10 Noble's was on his heels. This was always important due to the fact that half of the Noble's believed him a Pirate, while the other half found him to be a simple adventurer discovering new lands and resources for the Demon Kingdom. He wasn't sure how he created such controversy amongst so many of those in high places, but, in the end it was only the Demon Queen herself that mattered. And God only knows what she believed. It depended on who she was talking to this week. Either way, proving himself not a Pirate could be seen as a bit difficult. Most of the scoundrels he did business with would declare him the finest bastard amongst their ranks in the grand scheme of things. Thats only because Dan Hiri liked to conduct his business affairs in the most colorful fashion. However, did he make it a practice of being a thief? Well, not really. All in all it only counts if they catch you. He was caught once, and ended up saddled with a wife and kid to gain his freedom. Unfortunately, he didn't think his ex wife, the Queen, would fall for that again. Well, maybe she would, however, it was just best all the way around if he "got away". And away, he did go.
Unfortunately, he didn't go fast enough. Indeed it was an approaching enemy ship, though, not one of the ten nobles. It appears word had gotten around that Dan Hiri's ship was carrying some very precious and extraordinarily valuable metals. He'd never moved faster. No one would dare try to board his ship again after hearing of Dan Hiri's quick disposal of each and every invader. Then, just as he was cutting down the last pirate trying to swing onto his ship, he felt his boat lurch underneath him. What happened next hit like a ton of bricks. Right across his skull. He felt himself grow suddenly dizzy and just before he passed out he saw his queen, standing high on the bow of her luxury liner. Of course, he had to be dreaming.
When Dan Hiri finally woke, his head pounding and his hand feeling for the enormous bump that swelled above his right temple, he looked around cautiously. When his thoughts began to clear he realized what had happened. The attacking pirates were just a mere distraction. Whether it was intentional or just pure coincidence his queen had managed to use that opportunity to launch a sneak attack. It hadn't at all occurred to him his ex-wife was trying to rescue him and his precious cargo. Just the same, he had to admit, it was exciting. That she'd go through the trouble and all. However, being locked in her clutches was just not an option.
It was obvious when he got a look at his surroundings where he had ended up. He knew in a moment he was in Blood Pledge Castle. Yet, not the dungeon like he would have thought. He so does underestimate his Cheri. The beautiful girl still loves him after all. Dan Hiri moved through the halls, though no one would know. Stealthiness was his specialty after all. Things seemed a bit different then he remembered. It hadn't been too long since he'd last escaped this place, yet even the stone walls seemed a slightly different color. In fact, the very idea he could have ended up here at all seemed impossible. How did they manage to keep him unconscious for that long? He would have expected to wake in the Queens bedchamber's on her ship long before the time it would have taken for them to get all the way to the castle. It would have taken days to get here. But if luck was on his side, it wouldn't take but a few moments to get out. The place may have looked different, even smelled different, but the floor plan was just as his keen mind remembered. Just a few more steps to that rarely used rear entrance. Then it would be a dead run until would finally make that easy leap over the wall. Well, easy for him. Freedom.. its such a wonderful thing.