Chapter one - Haugurafgulli

First chapter of Fateless, where we get introduced to the world, our three main characters and the troubles they are in.

It is said that a long, long time ago the world did not look the same as it does today. That the three world oceans were created due to a special sort of people. People that should never ever exist again. People who were free from destiny. A kind that was called Fateless.

***

The windows of the old dock office was a mixture of green and yellow glass almost covered by dirt. The salty ocean wind made the windows stained in a day so the personal had all but given up on them. You could still make out the outside fairly well, but some of the name tags on the boats were hard to read from this particular spot. The walls of the office held maps. There was one particularly grand map hanging behind the desk off the man in charge. It showed the entire world. You could see the three oceans, Marathris, Yenven and Otirin, which covered most of the map. What was interesting with the oceans was that none of them touched each other. They were all separated by land. The young redhead woman standing inside the room had been yelling at the man behind the desk for a good half an hour. He knew that she was a captain recurring in these waters. While she was going over a greatly composed symphony of insults the office door opened behind her. The captain paid it no heed. Instead she kept yelling about the bizarre decree that no ships were to leave port until further notice. The sharp voice of a woman suddenly cut through the air from behind the scene. It was not a yell like the fiery redhead but it carried through the room halting the captain in mid sentence.

"Excuse me but we need passage on a ship to take us to Arcadia." The woman that had just entered the office was completely covered in black clothing. She wore a plain travelling dress but her gauntlets were of a noblewoman's standard. The newcomer did however not seem to want to be recognized as she wore her hood up, not to mention a mask of metal over her face in the shape of a scull. The woman was not tall. In fact she was rather short but her presence took the air out of the room. As the captain was looking the strange figure over she found herself doubting that she would have the guts to turn away from her. Not knowing how, she did find her voice as the first of all in the room to answer the woman.

"You'd be better of walking there. The King has declared that no ship gets to leave." The woman turned her skull covered face towards her.

"Oh, why is that?" Her voice was silky as if dipped in a thick and sweet bucket of underlying threat.

"There have been several murders over the week, my lady", the officer behind the desk said. "No one gets in our out until the culprit has been found. The evidence points towards a serial killer." The darkly draped woman didn't move her gaze away from the captain.

"You have a ship?" she asked. Still with that same voice that felt like it could tear flesh from bones.

"I... I do. ...But I'm not running a travel agency." The captain answered.

"As I see it," the woman started, finally releasing the captain from her cold stare,"the ships are free to leave as soon as the murder has been caught. Me and my friend here will gladly help solving the case, and as a reward for freeing your ship, you'd take us on as passengers ." The woman gestured towards a figure behind her at the word friend. The captain looked at it confused. The thing standing behind the short woman was a huge humanoid construct. These machines were normally used for hard labor. Since they weren't sentient they were hardly material for companionship.

"The fact remains that I'm not heading towards Arcadia," the captain stated and folded her hands over her chest. "And I'm perfectly capable of freeing my own ship, thank you very much."

"Clearly you aren't," the woman said condescending. "Don't force me to use the less diplomatic way." This time the threat was beyond doubt. At this point however the construct raised a hand and placed it on the woman’s shoulder.

"Now, now Xune. Don't be like that. Did you not hear the man? There is already a murder running around town. You don't have to add to the list. I'm sure this nice lady will help us if we offer her a fair deal." The captains jaw dropped for a couple of seconds at the construct speaking and reacting to what happened around it. "Madam, if you take us on your ship we should serve you as guards during our stay. I am sure Arcadia is on your trading rout at some point and we are good fighters. We can hold off pirates and other scum that might be after your cargo." The captain shook her head to make it clear and coughed before responding.

"If i take you on..." The captain started, her eyes travelling between the pair as if not sure which  she was more comfortable to address, the homicidal nightmare or the talking iron golem. "You'd need to pay for the accommodation."

"We can discuss the terms later" The woman named Xune said. "Right now we have a murderer to catch." She turned her attention back to the harbour officer. “Who do we talk to about these murders.”

“I suppose the Storstarkür.” he replied with a questioning hint in his voice. Mostly he doubted this lady's capacity of performing a physically demanding task. She looked so tiny, especially next to the giant machine. Xune turned on her heel and excited the room. The Construct however reach out a hand towards the captain.

"Name is Meatshield. What's yours?"

"Your name is Meatshield?" The captain echoed in disbelief.

"Yes.” the construct replayed with a happy and carefree tone.

“Well that’s a…. nice name." The captain answered, feeling a bit stupid for actually addressing the thing.

"So how about you?” the golem said still holding out his huge hand.

"My name is Nerissa", the captain said but did not take the offered handshake. "Your mistress left. Shouldn't you too?"

"My mistress?" The construct sounded deeply confused. "Oh, you mean Xune. No, we are just friends." The whole conversation was both surreal and confusing for the captain. She shook her head again.

"Well be that as it may, I would advise you not to make her wait. Property should always be handy at their owners beck and call." The captain circled widely around the golem to leave. The golem followed in a turning motion.

"Are you expected to be at someone's beck and call?" The golem asked. Captain Nerissa stopped and looked back.

"I am not property", she spat.

"Neither am I", Meatshield replayed. “ So what’s your hurry?” The captain did not answer as she departed from the office. What a strange encounter. What was that thing? It looked just like the two golems she had herself stationed on the ship. But all they could do was walk a designated route and perform a specific task when it was required. They did not speak or showed any sign of thinking.

The captain did not get far before the hooded figure of the woman appeared in front of her again. It happened so suddenly and quietly that the captain couldn't help but flinch.

“Meatshield and I share a room at The Golden Fleece. Please have dinner with us so that we can discuss our current situation.” Her voice had only soften slightly from the demanding chill it had held inside the office. Nerissa eyed her suspiciously. The captain had, ever since she was a little girl, been gifted at sensing peoples most surfaced emotions around her. It was one of the benefits of being a wilder, as they called people with psionic gifts that had not been properly schooled. At the moment Xune was emitting eagerness, which was a comfort since that meant she probably wasn’t aiming to inflict severe pain. That could on the other hand change at any time. The second thing wrong with this whole thing was the actual statement. Nerissa could not imagine an inn in this town that would allow golems to walk inside of their establishment. She did however decide to let that one slide. Today had been a bad day enough already. She did not want to start a silly argument. Especially not when they were standing halfway through an empty alley behind the office.

“If I am to take you to Arcadia I’ll expect you to imburse for it. It is not an easy voyage.”

“Well I should think that us helping with watching over your cargo should be payment enough. You don’t even have to feed us. We’ll take care of that our self. By the way what sort of cargo do you dabble with, captain?” Nerissa raised an eyebrow at the other woman. A sudden movement in the ally made them both turn their heads. An arrow flew through the air. It was deflected with a metallic clunk as Xune’s construct suddenly pushed between the two women to charge. A couple of more shadowy figures started to move in the previously presumed empty ally. Xune took a step back and raised one of her gauntlet covered hands. Sparks started to form inside her clenched fist that shoot like lightning through four of the attackers. They immediately fell lifeless to the ground. So she was a sorceress then. Nerissa turned around to see if the passage behind them was free. A man that had just witnessed most of his gang members getting roasted like pigs snapped out of his hesitation and swung his sword at the captain. Nerissa hadn’t even drawn her cutlass. It was mostly there for show. She didn’t need it just as she didn’t need the pepperbox revolver in her belt. She fixed her eyes on him. It all happened very fast and to the outside world it looked very strange. Her mind completely embraced the mind off the charging man. She engulfed it and then she started pressing. With a satisfying crunch that no one could hear the man's eyes rolled into his cull and he collapsed on the ground in a dead heap. The fight had died down just as quickly as it had started. The construct turned back from his defeated opponents.

“Everyone okay?” he asked. Xune nodded as if this was nothing. The captain looked around at the dead bodies before facing the woman again.

“Why did these men attack us?” she asked. “What sort of affairs are you dealing with?”

“Someone is trying to have us killed and we do not know why,” the construct replied even though the captain hadn’t meant the question for it. “Xune heard about this great library in Arcadia. We need to go there to find out more.”

“You won’t be able to get inside a library in Arcadia without a citizenship,” Nerissa enlightened the other two.

“I’ll find a way,” Xune answered without hesitation.

“If they catch you you’ll be executed. Arcadians care little for outsiders. You do not even become an Arcadian by birth. You must prove yourself worthy of it.” The captain continued.

“You do seem to know a lot about Arcadia,” Xune said. It was impossible to know but Nerissa was pretty sure that the other woman was eyeing her through the mask.

“Well… I still don’t promise to take you there but it so happens that I am a citizen of Arcadia. After the first years of trying to do business with them it was just easier that way. But the waiting list to get a test is very long. Like a couple of years. They usually give you a test fitting for your occupation.”

“So, what did you get to do? If you don’t mind me asking.” the construct asked with interest in its voice.

“Hold it right there!” the party turned around facing a couple of guards standing in the entrance of the ally. They were alerted by footsteps that the other exit has been cut off. The man that had spoken stepped over one of the dead bodies and drilled his eyes into the captains, since she was the only one with them fully exposed. “What happened here?”

“We were attacked,” the construct said. The guard did not pay it any heed.

“Well?” he barked again.

“As my friend just said,” Xune started. “ These men attacked us, and we defended ourselves.” The guard looked around again at his men who were examining the bodies, and pulling them out of the alleyway.

“I think you better come with us,” the guard said.

“What for?” Nerissa asked feeling her blood rushing to her muscles. She couldn't fight the guards, that would be bad for business, but so would runing away from the guards...

“The Storstarkür would like a word,” the guard said.

“Splendid”, Xune suddenly exclaimed. “We most definitely want to speak with him as well. Lead the way.” She said it as if ordering a servant. Nerissa gave her a look but the guard just turned and escorted them out of the alley and back into the center of town.

The castle, where the Storstarkür dwelt, was as almost all buildings in Haugurafgulli, built in stone. Xune had a fairly good view from underneath her skull shaped mask. She had been so used to wearing it that it felt like a second skin. It was at least better than the normal reaction her features caused amongst strangers.The closer to the castle and city center they came the straighter and better paved the roads were. Here even the cobblestones were laid down in neat patterns, although some of them had been worn down by the constant passing of wagons. She and Meatshield had passed through her before on their way to the Docks. They needed to get going as soon as possible. She did not know how the seafaring ships managed to get between the world oceans, but it was known that it was the quickest way to travel. Not counting teleportation of course. But to get a spellcaster to make you a teleportation spell that’s reliable was expensive. One day she would be powerful enough to cast them herself but until that time she would have to settle with manipulating the captain to give her and Meatshield free passage. Xune thought for a moment if the captain actually meant for Meatshield to pay as well or if he was free since she didn't think he was a person. That was a very strange. Granted they hadn't met any other Warforged on their way here, but they came from a small part of Rivia. A country mostly know for lumber and farms. This was the capital of Kaupmaður and it was doing pretty well thanks to in strategic placement for trading routes, and rumor has it, to their loose approach towards letting pirates and thieves inhabit there inns, as long as they were paying the establishment off course. Such a worldly place should know better than this. The guard lead the trio to the castle grounds, then he turned and addressed Xune.

“Tell your servant to wait here with the rest of the guards.”

“I will do no such thing,” Xune said insulted on Meatshields behalf. ”He is not my servant and he should see the Storstarkür along with us.”

“That is out of the question madam, we can’t let a construct into the great hall. You will get it back when you're dismissed.”  Xune made an effort to complain but her friend interrupted.

“Now, Xune. We do not need to stoop to these fine guards level. Though their custom seems rude to us we should respect that. I can wait outside for now.” They nodded at each other before the guard continued on leading away Xune and Nerissa from Meatshield. They were escorted all the way into the castles great hall. It was a grand room with large windows on one side and a nicely woven tapestry along the other. It displayed different landscapes and animals than you wouldn't normally see in Kaupmaður suggesting that it was originally made in Zahir, a desert country on another side of the world. Xune had never been there. Actually this was her first time out on a journey, not counting the time her family has forced her out from their home and left her fending for herself in the woods. She was grateful to have Meatshield as her friend.

The room was spacious and fairly empty. There was a table with chairs a little off to the side but in the center at the wall furthest in was the Storstarkür, a middle aged human male sitting in a comfortable throne regarding the spectacle with interest.

“Ah,” he said and got up from his throne. “For what to I owe the pleasure of entertaining captain Nerissa and her friend…?” He trailed off looking over Xunes completely covered stature.

“My name is Xune Barri'afin,” Xune replied. She notices that the captain was looking her over as well. Maybe she had heard of her family name? Not very likely though. Almost no surface dwellers knew the names of her kind.

“Ah, lady Xune. What a pleasure.” The Storstarkür tried kissing her hand but Xune pull herself free. You have to love noble lords so full of themselves that they couldn't admit that they had no idea who you were.

“Pleasure? Do you even know why we are here?” Xune asked.

“I can imagine that our dear, mutual, pirate friend here wants to set sail with her ship.” The Storstarkür winked at Nerissa. Xune looked back at the captain, studying her after the outing of piracy. That would explain a little.

“Well, yes, actually,” Nerissa started, ignoring Xune’s look, but the guard behind them interfered.

“My Storstarkür, we did in fact locate these two women in an alley at the docks. They had killed eight members of The Brass Shark Teeth, including Nathen the Snake.” The Storstarkür looked at them both surprised.

“Eight… the two of you?” he said disbelievingly.

“Actually, we had help from my friend, Meatshield. The guard left him outside but I’m sure he’d like to come in and meet you.” Xune explained.

“Why of course. Fetch him at once. He sounds like a champion this Meatshield.”

“My liege,” the guards started. “You should know...”

“Quiet, and fetch our hero. We can’t have him waiting at the door.” The guard bowed and disappeared. Leaving the three of them alone in the great hall.

“Storstarkür,” Nerissa started. “About letting my ship go…”

“Yes, yes. I’m afraid that is out of the question. We have had a serial killer on the loose for the past week. We can’t let anyone leave until the culprit is found.”

“You could warn people of this as they come through the gate though,” said Xune with  a bit of irritation in her voice.

“Oh, never fear my dear lady. I am sure my guards will find the one that’s guilty soon enough.” The Storstarkür said, totally misreading Xune’s irritation for fear. “Besides all the victims has so far been locals living in the town. No travelers that are just passing through.”

“You can’t hold my ship at the dock like this. If you don’t let us go instantly we might just not come back and patron your pubs and inns next time,” the captain spat irritated.

“Well, some people say that if it wasn’t for all the thieving scum running around our city we would not have a murderer rampaging our streets at night. You are lucky I know how to tell so called scum apart.” The Storstarkür said with an angry tone in his voice as he was looking over the pirate in the room. The footstep of a not so light construct made everyone turn towards the doorway where the guard was returning with the metalman.

“What? What is the meaning of this?” The Storstarkür said as the two newcomer approached. “Is this some kind of joke?”

“This is no joke sir”, Xune said. “This is my friend Meatshield. We fought the men together. If we did you a favour in killing those men, we all did our part.” She emphasized on the word; all. The Storstarkür looked at the construct in disbelief. The construct held out a hand.

“How do you do? Thanks you for letting me inside your castle,” he said politely. The Storstarkür recovered surprisingly quick from hearing the words from a construct. He turned back to Nerissa.

“My, you seem to have encountered some quite unique companions here captain.” Nerissa did not reply. He turned away from them for a moment holding his hand behind his back, then he turned back and pointed at the group. “Tell you what. As appreciation for your help with the bandits I will let your ship go on the same day that the murderer is found. The rest will be forced to stay until the morning after. How about that?”

“Would you mind us helping with the case?” Xune asked.” What clues do you have?”

“I believe that is a mission most suitable for my guards. Now please feel free to explore our fair city. But just as a precaution, try to be inside at nightfall.” The Storstarkür walked over to a nice looking chest on top of a table by the side of the throne. He opened the lid and picked up something before closing it carefully and heading back towards Xune. He reached out a folded sash. “My dear lady. Traveling alone like this is very brave and I understand the distress of not getting to bring your... bodyguard wherever you go. Put this sash with my seal of approval over its shoulder. It should make the stay easier.

At The Golden Fleece people had started showing up early for the drinking. Perhaps because the locals didn’t want to have to go home late at night. The murders was pretty much the discussion at every table, except for the once who were talking about the construct sitting at one of the table with a colorful sash appointed to him by the Storstarkür. Meatshield wasn't sitting alone. His dear friend Xune was with him but besides that the table was empty. Even the adjacent tables where empty as if sitting near him was contagious off some sort. The two friends sat quietly for a moment only half listening to the lit, crackling fireplace and the patrons drinking and buzzing.

“Do you ever miss home?” Meatshield asked.

“Home?” Xune asked puzzled.

“Well Blaviken,” Meatshield clarified.

“I didn’t really live in Blaviken,” Xune reminded him. “And what's there to miss, the whole place got destroyed.” Meatshield thought back to the small village. Something had been poured into the village's water supplies making the villagers go crazy. He had escaped that fate by not normally drinking anything and Xune had been living a bit outside the village. The entire town had however turned on them trying to tear them apart. Their friend Blaze, who had also managed to not get infected hand been killed by the sick mob.

“I miss our friends sometimes,” Meatshield said. “It hasn't really been easy making new ones on the road.”

“Lets just focus on the mission of getting people to stop killing us, then we can worry about making people liking us,” Xune suggested, then shifted the conversation. “As far as we’ve been able to gather there has already been three murders. They have all taken place outside late at night and the murderer seems to steal organs from the victims, like liver, heart or even eyes. The culprit doesn't seem to go after any particular species considering the fact that the victims have been one female elf, a male human and a dwarf male.”

“The only thing connecting them is that they were all fairly famous locals.” Meatshield agreed. Xune glanced around in the tavern.

“...People who are known for some sort of distinctive attribute.” Her eyes landed on a man at the center of the room. He looked unusually huge for a human. Xune stopped a maid in passing and asked her who the man was.

“Why, that’s strong armed Bart, miss,” she replied. Xune excused herself to her friend and headed over to the man called Bart. Meatshield stayed behind listening. Strong armed Bart looked up from his beverage as she approached.

“I hear you’re pretty strong,” Xune said. The man smiled and flexed a muscle.

“They don’t call me Strong armed Bart for nothing.”

“Aren't you worried about the murders? They seem to be targeting people of different talents.” The man laughed.

“I’m pretty sure that I can fight of any punk who thinks that he can try and take me down.” He flexed his muscle again.

“Would you like to test your strength against my friend?” Xune asked gesturing back to her abandon seat. The grinning man froze a little and then sighed slightly.

“Listen dear, I’m strong not stupid. Your friend was probably built to do construction work or what ever. He is a machine. We make machines to be stronger than us, that’s what they're there for. I’m not armwrestling with something that can’t tell when to quit before ripping my arm off.”

“Yes Xune, come back and leave the cowardly man alone.” Meatshield called out from his seat. The tavern got instantly quiet, then strong armed Bart started to laugh.

“That is really cute kid. Can it say something else?”

Meatshield had just about had it with the commoners attitude. He stood up from his seat and walked over to the table taking a seat opposite the man and held up and arm with the elbow resting on the table.

“It can kick your a*s,” Meatshield said. Strong armed Bart pushed away from the table looking at Xune.

“Listen, as I said. I won’t armwrestler a construct. What would that prove?”

“That you’re not a coward,” Meatshield filled in. He did not have the possibility to alter his facial expression but the glow in his eye sockets showed that he wasn’t playing around.

“Fine,” The man said and pulled his chair back to the table. “But if you try anything, I’ll have them melt you down and made into a shovel for the latrines.”

“All that big talk does is reminding me that you poop and I don’t” Meatshield answered flexing his fingers. “Ready when you are.”

The door to the inn suddenly opened with a hard slam and a man stood in the frame yelling to the people inside.

“There has been another murder. One of the town criers has been found dead in an alley,” he said.

“This place definitely has to many alleyways,” Nerissa muttered to herself as she was heading towards the latest murder scene that everyone now was talking about. She didn’t know what she expected to find, the incompetent guards had probably done their damage to the scene already. She only knew that when the murderer was caught she could leave, and that was the important part.

“What was that?” Amelia asked about Nerissa's previous murmur.

“Nothing.” Nerissa said immediately. She had not told the half-elf that she’d been attacked earlier that day. Amelia was Nerissa's first mate and a tiny bit over protective of her. Amelia only knew that there was a murderer loose at night and that was enough for her to insist on tagging along when Nerissa left to investigate. The woman with her pointy ears sticking out between her golden, curly locks was even younger than the captain. Granted it was not by much but it annoyed Nerissa that Amelia somehow still managed to act like a big sister. Probably because they had know each other since they were kids and has served aboard her ship back when it had belonged to Nerissa's father. They turned a corner only to stop right in their tracks. Two well known figures were standing looking at the wall. The constructs was just taking his hand off some marking. Xune had already turned to face them when they halted.

“Ah, its you captain,” Xune said.

“What’s that on the wall?” Nerissa asked without any greeting.

“Blood,” Xune replied. Nerissa took a step forward and sensed Amelia closing in. For crying out loud the woman could not stop embarrassing her. Nerissa nudged the other woman with her elbow trying to make her take a step back. There was no reason for them to look like they’d been fused together. Amelia just gave her a look. Damn that woman.

“Be that a hand print?” Amelia asked. They all looked back at the wall. If it was a handprint the person who left it could only have three fingers. Nerissa leered at the construckst hand. There was only three fingers on it aswell, but all constructs were built identically except for the ghulra rune in their forehead to be able to tell them apart, and a construct couldn't kill people, at least not normal constructs. Nerissa took a couple of steps backwards to get to the center of the path again. On a somewhat safe distance to the huge weird machine. Amelia followed her.

“What do ye think cap'n?” she asked. “'n who be she?” she added in a lower voice. Did she have to sound jealous?

“She is Lady Xune Barri'afin… and the construct she has named Meatshield…. They are either good or really, really bad people.” Nerissa answered just as low. Amelia moved her hand ever so slightly, closer to her hidden pocket with throwing knifes.

“What is that?” the construct suddenly asked pointing upwards behind Nerissa and Amelia. Amelia froze in meer astonishment but Nerissa turned to look. Something big was moving on top of the roof. Without further instructions they all stated follow it along the road. It wasn’t moving fast and seemed to have trouble finding places that would support its weight. It didn’t even seem to notice the people following it down below. What ever it was it was moving back towards the docks and at the direction it was going it would soon have to climb down some where. They hurried around a block trying not to lose it on the other side. As they came around the corner the chased construct landed with a thump on the cobblestones. It was the same built as Xune’s Meatshield, but this one was also covered in barnacles, suggesting that it belonged to an open-sea-faring-ship. Some of the barnacles had blood dripping from them. Nerissa recognized it immediately.

“Noel?!” she exclaimed.

“It can’t be” Amelia gasped. The construct that normally stood nonsentient along its twin aboard their ship was moving around like it had… a purpose? Noel sent out a weird sound from somewhere within his gears. Meatshield stepped up waving his arms saying:

“You’re doing it wrong.” So they where actually communicating? Noel was using his own arms to stop everyone from approaching by violent movements. Nerissa managed to dodge a swing and yelled out to it.

“Noel, I'm your captain. Stand down immediately.” The construct payed her order no heed. Instead it swung at her again. Xune unleashed a light bolt. It hit straight in the chest. Meatshield was in close combat trying to overpower Noel. It was working. With a flash off sparks and a cracking sound the old construct fell over and the rune on its forehead went out. Nerissa shook her head disapprovingly. "It's a real shame. Now we must get a new one and those are expensive..." The construct named Meatshield turned towards her with what felt like an angry stare.

"You're upset that you lost property and not a crew member?” The voice was unmistakable angry. Somehow Nerissa felt the need to defend herself.

"A murderer. That thing was not a member of my crew." Meatshield took a step towards her but Xune laid a hand on its arm just as Amelia steeped in front of the captain in a protective way. The construct calmed down. It looked at Xune.

"I think we should report to the Storstarkür that the murderer has been stopped." Meatshield said.

"Great, you do that while we get the ship ready to depart." Nerissa said and pulled Amelia along with her. She did however not manage to take more than two steps before being hoisted up from the ground and thrown rather harsh over Meatshield's shoulder. "What the depths are you doing. Put me down!" She tried twisting herself free but the construct would not budge.

"No matter what you think this man was under your care. You're coming with us to the Storstarkür to answer for his crimes," Meatshield explained. Amelia, who had already unsheathed her cutlas was just about to engage the huge thing in combat but Nerissa caught her eyes.

"Amelia don't, they'll kill you." Meatshield turned toward the half elf with the human still kicking at the chestplate.

"I am a paladin for the great machine God. I will not kill unless forced too, but justice demand that we report this incident. You may go and ready the ship. Your captain is coming with us but I will make sure that nothing unlawful happens to her. You have my word." Amelia did not look convinced. Rather she looked devastated by the whole situation. Xune took a step forward locking eyes with the first mate.

"For every moment you linger here you are putting both you and your captain in danger." Her voice was again like sharp blades and even Nerissa stopped fighting for a moment. "If we would return to the docks in the morning to find the ship gone our agreement would be broken. We are simply making sure that you will still be there waiting for us. Believe me it's in our interest to return you captain in one piece. Do not give us a reason to do otherwise." She took another step closer to Amelia and lowered her voice in a way that made it almost demonic. "Now get out of our way." Amelia took a couple of steps back before turning and running off into the night. Nerissa felt ice cold and furious at the same time.

Even though it had gotten late the news of a new murder had roused the the castle's inhabitants. Meatshield was pleased to see that he this time was not turned down at the gate. The guard on duty only stopped them to hear about their business. Xune explained that they had to see the Storstarkür immediately, while Nerissa still tried to get loose by twisting on Meatshields shoulder.

“I will put you down if you stop squirming,” Meatshield said. The captain did not halt in her flow of threats.

“If you don’t put me down immediately I’ll have your nails pulled out, your inside drenched with salt water and rust monsters feeding on your shell. Mark my words you’ll be sorry you ever gain the ability to move…”

“Yeah, yeah. I guess the shoulder is comfortable enough for you.” Meatshield said bouncing the woman slightly, feeling strangely pleased with at least being insulted as an individual rather than an object.

As they were brought in front of the Storstarkür for the second time he did however feel the need to let the woman go. She landed in a heap on the carpet still cursing his name before pushing herself to her feet.

“Silence if I may!” the Storstarkür demanded. The captain glared at them both but stopped talking. She looked for a second like she was going to spit on the floor, but didn’t. “So, now that we are all adults. Why do I have this pleasure?”

“We have defeated the murderer,” Xune informed. “We encountered him in a alley shortly after the last murder and stopped him.” The Storstarkür looked at her astounded.

“You, my dear lady seem full of surprises.” He looked back and forth between the trio. “May I know the reason behind the harsh transportation of captain Nerissa?”

“The murderer was one of her crewmembers,” Meatshield said immediately. “A Warforged serving on her ship.”

“My Warforged was nothing like this one,” Nerissa spat pointing at Meatshield with an accusing finger. “Noel and Leon can’t talk or adapt. They were installed to be part of the ships machinery. You can’t hold me responsible for this.”

“Four people from this town are dead. You’re telling me they died because a construct got on a killing spree?” The Storstarkür asked.

“He wanted to be pretty like the fleshlings”, Meatshield explained. The other three in the room turned to stare at him for a second.

“Where is this Warforged now?” The Storstarkür finally asked. Nerissa gave him the location of the alleyway through clenched teeth. Her cheeks almost had the same color as her hair now. The Storstarkür nodded and called for a guard to lead a clean up. Then he turned back toward the captain again.

“It might be true that a part of you ship broke off and killed four people in a freak accident, but if it gets known that property can turn on you when you sleep…. People would panic.” He stopped for a moment as if lost in his own thoughts. Then he looked over at Xune. “My lady, you are free to go. I just need a word with the captain here.”

“I don’t mind you having a word with captain Nerissa in front of us,” Xune assured. ”She is our ride.”

“I never agreed to that” Nerissa spat. “I don’t want that thing aboard my ship,” she pointed at Meatshield with a straight arm. The Storstarkür grabbed her by her upper arm and twisted her to face him.

“Good. Because I don’t intend to let you go anywhere.” They both stared hard into each others eyes.

“Let go of my arm,” Nerissa said slowly with a sharp but tense tone in her voice.

“I can’t punish a pile of scrap metal. The people will demand blood. I need a scapegoat.” The Storstarkür said in a threatening voice.

“Excuse me,” Meatshield started. “You can’t do that.”

“I know, I know, you wanted to ride on her boat. I can assure you that there are many fine merchant ships at the docks eager to leave.” The warforged couldn't believe what he heard.

“No,” he said. “I mean you can’t punish her. She hasn’t done anything wrong. In fact she helped us stop Noel. I would recommend that you unhand her now, or we might have a problem.” The Storstarkür laughed a short chuckle and turned his head towards Xune.

“How much coins do you want to just walk away from this?” Xune tilted her head slightly.

“30 gold pieces,” she then decided.

“What?” Meatshield and Nerissa exclaimed simultaneously. The Storstarkür made another chuckle and unleashed with his free hand a pouch from his pocket. He tossed it at Xune who caught it in her gauntlet covered hands.

“Here is 50 gold pieces. Now take your metal companion and leave us.” Xune weighted the fine sack in her hand. She tossed it once up in the air then caught it again. She turned to look Nerissa straight in the eyes. Then she tossed the bag towards her. Nerissa reflexively caught the small purse with her free hand.

“Will 50 gold pieces cover me and my friends stay aboard your ship?”

“What?” the Storstarkür said surprised and clenched his grip around the woman's arm in anger.

“Yes,” the captain immediately answered.

“Good,” Xune said and promptly turned back to her self satisfied persona as she lifted her hands. “I’d step away from our escort if I were you.” she said before the light started to sparkle from her right palm. The Storstarkür took a stepped back, letting go of Nerissa.

“I can have my guards here in the blink of an eye,” he spat.

“What a coincidence. Because we can leave just as fast.” Xune said and placed a hand on Nerissa's shoulder as Meatshield grabbed onto Xune. She then pulled on a trinket hanging on her robe and the three of them were gone.

Xune knew the teleportation broche would not get them far. They did not need to go far they just needed to disappear. As the world rematerialised in front of them they found themselves right next to the castle ground wall. The sorceress made a quiet prayer of thanks to the fact that they’d appeared on the outside of it. She then freed herself of the others body contact by brushing away some imaginary dirt from her gloves.

“Just as I planned it,” she said.

“Save it for someone who can't read your mind,” Nerissa said in a low voice and turned towards a random direction before breaking into a run. The other two followed her and soon found the harbour district opening up in front of them. The area was pretty dark and deserted by now, but some street lights burned along the main road casting a dim glow to the huge seafaring vessels that had been anchored here for days. Behind them they could hear the sounding of an alarm. Nerissa turned towards one of the ships. Xune didn’t bother to give it any closer look. To her all the ships looked the same and it was amazing that Nerissa could find hers in this plenitude of boats. Then again perhaps she just remember where she parked. Their steps sounded loudly as they hurried up the gangplank.

“Cap'n, ye be back,” the half-elf exclaimed as they boarded the deck.

“Take us out of here Amelia,” the captain said slightly out of breath. “We need to move fast.”

“Them a pair as well?” Amelia asked eyeing the two behind her, although Xune felt like the first mate did try to avoid actually looking at her. Nerissa nodded.

“Show them to the brig. They will sleep there for the voyage.” Meatshield directly brightened up over the fact that he would be given something instead of being overlooked again. Xune however wasn't so sure it was a good thing. She did not know exactly what the brig was, but Nerissa did not look forgiving at the moment.

"Ay, ay cap'n", Amelia answered and gestured to the pair to follow. Meatshield took the lead. Xune remained alert to the commotion around her. As they were going Amelia yelled out orders that made no sense but made people instantly grab on to ropes or leavers. Xune could feel the ship wobble slightly from side to side as people hidden in the night were running back and forth to make the ship leave dock. It looked like chaos but still very organised. Like every shadow knew exactly where they should be, when they should be. It reminded her slightly of home. She was impressed that these creatures managed to perform so well without her ability to see in darkness. They must obviously have spent a lot of time on this ship to know it so well.

“Hey, where do you think your going?” a loud yell suddenly was heard down from the pier. It sounded like the officer back at the harbour Office. Amelia took a step closer to look down.

“We be settin' sail ,ad that be none off ye business” Amelia called back. Xune took a step forward as well. It was the harbor officer. He had probably heard the distant alarm.

“The royal decree forbids anyone to leave. Stop what you are doing immediately or we’ll be forced to fire our canons.”

“Ye be knowin' what? Do what ye must.” Amelia replied. “I be knowin' we will.” she nodded towards one of the other crew members next to her who was holding a firearm ready to shoot. The man from below stopped and backed away. "Thought so." Amelia said in a normal tone before starting to walk again. Xune and Meatshield followed. They were lead down three stairs and Xune imagined that they were close to the bottom of the ship. The place had no windows and she could hear the soft clucking of water from outside. Amelia took down a key from a peg on the wall and unlocked a door with an unmistakable prison barred window in it. "Thar ye be off. All yours." She turned and walked away without another word. At least she hadn't tried to lock them inside. Meatshield walked into the room. It wasn't particularly big. That was made especially clear with the Warforged almost filling it up. Mostly it was empty except for a bucket and what looked like a tied up old hammock to sleep in. It probably would not support Meatshield and Xune wondered when it last had been cleaned.

"Life aboard a ship sure is minimalistic," Meatshield said looking around.

"I don't think that this is a standard suite," Xune replied.

"Well perhaps all other rooms were full," Meatshield suggested.

"I think the captain is being a jerk to us."she said and touched the fabric of the hammock. She couldn't tell much about it through her glove but at least the fabric looked whole and surprisingly strong."Who wants to sleep on this?"

"I don't sleep and you barely do either," Meatshield pointed out.

"That doesn't matter." Xune turned on her heel.

"Where are you going?"

"To see the captain."