A late night (ehtele pls)

[Wilhelm Rochester]

First Cycle Aperitus, Spring


Moonlight seemed to cling to the establishment at this late hour of the night. Faint murmurs floated out of a half open door way that fluttered open with breezes and new patrons. Lamplights illuminated the streets drearily with a faint golden flicker that wandered along cobblestone paths. A pale moon loomed over the doorway, as it glared down on the dark patrons that wandered in.

The daylight hours were greeted with rich patrons, merchants, government officials, even a few nobles. The late late hours of the night were a different manner. When the wood was malted down by spilt ale, the drinking room full of thick smoke, and the waitresses began to wear there attire a bit looser, a whole different group of patrons could be found. Men and women of ill-repute, citizens of the docks.

Ale flowed freely into one small table on this night. A red haired young man with a shipwright tool belt strapped to his waist rested against a small wooden booth. His worn white shirt and patched pants matched the look of a ship worker, but his hands were to smooth to have been a laborer long, and his muscles just barely held the tone of labor. His hands held a heavy mug of dwarven ale, as his eyes lulled over as he looked out at the stars.

His revery broken by the faint grumbling of a card game a few tables away. Someone had lost, and someone wasn't happy.

[Ehtele Leonard]

The night was cold and clammy. The wind was crazy in Aelyria Prime and constantly threatened to throw her over the dock. There was also the annoying bits of sand that flew into her eyes and refused to move out.

Needless to say, Ehtele Leonard was not a happy person this darkening. Her clothes were wet due to an idiot's mistake of landing a pail of seawater right on top of her. Oh, she had yelled at them until they had given up the battle. That would teach them to call her short... She was so not...short. So what if she was barely five feet? Ehtele was fine with it herself, but the others always had to comment on her height.

"I'm not short. I'm not short. I'm not short."

It explained why she was still at the dock, wet and cold. The girl let out a sneeze, loud as a cannon. She was a rather petite girl, almost an adult, but not quite. Her hair was tied in a small ponytail with many of the strands at odd lengths. There was a whole strand that refused to be tied that fell all the way to her shoulders. No matter how she blew the lock away from her face, it stuck like glue. There was also those eyes of her, those "soulless" black eyes that seemed to dig holes into the souls of others. Other than that, there was not much difference between the girl and the other people. She wore a normal shirt and pair of pants. It was her only outfit, not that she cared.

There was a faint light by a place labeled "The Crown Inn". She figured she go in, to hog the warmth or wait till her clothes were dry before risking it out in the cold weather.

Three steps were all it took for her to get in and three steps were all it took for her to get back out. This place...was quite a mess. What happened to all the nobility that got replaced with a bunch of fools and idiots that prowled around in the night?

Wait a minute. She frowned. If she wanted to be a pirate, then wasn't she one of those fools and idiots?

Pushing aside those thoughts, she walked in slowly, taking a glance around at where she should find her seat.

[Wilhelm Rochester]

As the winds gusted and windows flapped the faint sounds of the chill outside could be heard. It was odd for a spring day, but no more odder then half of what happened in Aelyria. A new image came into view as the wet, winded, and petite young woman wandered into the establishment. In a place of warm fires, foaming ale and dark eyes.

Sapphire eyes perhaps the only pair that held no real evil doings, dark deeds, or even a single sinister thought. He peered over as the young woman entered, his ears caught between the shouts of various patrons, and the words of the few men at the bar drinking. Noble faces had been replaced by buck toothed sneers. Full figures in tight corsets and flowing capes had been cast aside for torn cloth and loose shirts.

Most of the men seemed to steer shy of Wilhelm, not out of fear but what appeared out of respect. Shipwright's held a special place amongst the dock patrons of the night, crossing a shipwright wrong might not lead to a bar brawl, but drowning was just as bad of a fate. One of the serving ladies dropped a plate of bread and cheese with a tired smile, as he handed her a crown.

He began breaking the bread and making a sort of cheese sandwhich, rather then just start shooving bread and cheese in his face like most patrons. He smiled as he tasted it, a good a remedy as any to chase away the winds and the night.

He was tired and hadn't gotten much sleep that night. Perhaps it was the bed, but more then likely he just need some time. Sometimes a person just needed to relax and take life in, even if it led them to be all the more tired the next day. Tonight was one of those nights for Wilhelm.

[Ehtele Leonard]

It was noisy in here, no doubt about that. Ehtele wasn't sure where she should find her seat. The folks here were not exactly the merry type that greeted people. She rubbed her hands and peered back at the cold outside. Would it be better to go back out in the docks where it was all windy and freezing or stay in this mangy place?

She sneezed. Mangy place it was. The Leonard went back outside, just a few steps, and squeezed her ponytail like she would a mop and let the water drip. The sea water felt dirty and probably was though she had no other clothes to change into. There was a small part of her that believed that life in Aelyria Prime would bring her happiness. The rest knew it was better to have stayed in Medonia and was currently mocking her. She scowled and walked back in.

The only place she had that was both close to Medonia and trained shipwrights was Aelyria Prime. The other was in Ieffreon, but she didn't want to travel to the island. The travelers she had met told her that there was currently a weird incident going on with the tides.

She noticed a man sitting alone. He didn't look interested in taking part of a brawl. Maybe she could sit there without being threatened to go away or die. Still, it paid to be careful when going headfirst into situations like these. Traveling to Aelyria Prime was her first real adventure away from home and she preferred it to not be her last. She was still young and hoped to live a good old age.

Ehtele strolled up to the young man, " 'ello, would ye mind if I take a seat 'ere?" It was her practiced pirate accent, in case the people here only accepted people that couldn't speak properly. Besides, it was fun for the Leonard to practice her speech. She had always wanted to use it, but never found anyone to practice it with.

[Wilhelm Rochester]

As the winds howled outside the door, the gusts of air fluttered into the large welcoming tavern room. The faint chill of early spring only chased away by the noise of a crackling fire, and the warmths of the few embers that sputtered out of it. Candle flames flickered as the showed images of the lot of misfits and anti socalites that packed in the tavern at this hour. For all there faults it was a time when people could be free to say what they felt, and many welcomed the notion.

Sapphire eyes peered up at the young woman who stood by Wilhelm's table. No one had passed his table with more then a nod or a polite shrug. Bright red hair cast just above his forehead as he gave the a woman a once over, perhaps not in the way of the usual pirate or druken male, but rather just plain curousity. He shrugged his broad shoulders and gestured to the booth at the other side of his table,

"You can have a seat, sure."

As she sat down it was hard not to notice the very large plate of tasty cheeses and fresh breads that rested by Wilhelm, to which he gave a small nod,

"Feel free to help yourself if you want some food. If you want ale though, that'll be on your crown."

A odd comment since women didn't usually drink much, and buying a woman a drink was usually a rather social gesture. Then again the last woman wilhelm had drank with at the tavern was a dwarf who had downed about five dwarven ales in a matter of moments.

Wilhelm leaned back in his booth as he took a sip of his dwarven rock ale,

"What brings you to Prime?"

Wilhelm did not hold the speech patterns of pirates, he didn't even hold the lads and aye's of most dock workers. A more educated backround that he did little to hide. Still he seemed nice enough, though that could just be because he didn't have a weapon in his belt or a woman on his lap like most at this hour. She would have to judge for herself.

[Ehtele Leonard]

The breeze of wind that manged to finds its way in was not the slightest soothing. She felt a chill run through her and she could not fight back a shiver. Her teeth were clattering no matter how much she tried to bite down on her teeth. It was spring, but it felt like the season was still stuck in winter. The fire that the candles held were of little help. She glanced down at the seat, making sure that there were no remains of food. It would stain...

When there wasn't, she sat down, not exactly comfortable with her clothes still wet. The man's red hair caught her attention. She didn't see many with that color, especially a hue that bright. Knowing that it was better to make friends than enemies, she zipped her mouth. From past experiences, she learned that it was better to learn about a stranger rather than to pick at their characteristics.

"I thank you for th' fo'd." Her stomach was grumbling and she was not going to argue with it. She grabbed the food off the plate, took one or two bites before swallowing. "I be swearin' off ale. Don't wan' to be loaded t' the gunwhales."

She was never much of a drinker. Never drank and probably never would. Too many times had she saw drunks in Medonia meet their end because of one too many drinks. The Leonard could not simply comprehend why anyone would risk downing cups and cups of ale to finally walk back home, near the docks. It was plain suicide. If they didn't fall over and drown in the water, they'd probably be mugged. And there was her stupid father. She didn't even want to get started with that subject. Leave the past behind.

It annoyed her a bit that this person did not seem to be speaking like one of the hooligans. In fact, his speech was normal. Her eyes narrowed. There had to be a reason this man was here amongst all the weirdos. Perhaps he was a spy of some sort, sent by the government to capture criminals. The idea was far fetched, but she shrugged. It was possible.

"I came to Prime because I want to," she said, throwing away her disguised speech. It was getting tiring to pretend anyways. A part of her wanted to tell the stranger why she was really here, to join the shipyards. She was lost and her pride refused to admit it. "What are you doing in Prime You don't look like one of them?" At this she gestured her fingers over to one of the tables behind her.

She leaned back on her chair, crossed her hands, and waited for an answer.

[Wilhelm Rochester]

After the vast series of cold breezes had scattered ale, coin and cards, one of the bartenders in a valiant effort managed to firmly shut the door. A tired smile afterwards was recieved with polite and playful cheers from the patrons of his establishment. The cold faded and the fire and candles began to provide considerable warmth, as did all the bodies cramped into the small establishment.

Wilhelm cast his sapphire eyes back at the table she gestured to, a rather large drunkard with a waitress on his lap was chuckling about some sea tale. A few others at the table were listening, and playing cards, pirates always seemed to be multitasking.

Wilhelm chuckled to himself,

"I live here, I grew up in Prime, though not on the docks."

He took a sip of his ale,

"I'm a shipwright over at Mr.Nagri's yard, I'm his apprentice. "

His eyes once more scanned the woman over taking in a almost judgement of her, as if they were looking with in,

"If I had to take a wager, I'd say you hadn't earned your salt yet, I've met harbor women before and sea maidens and you don't quite strike me as either."

Wilhelm cast his hand to gesture to one of the working women and one of the loosely dressed pirates.

Wilhelm munched down a piece of bread as he awaited his reply. He really held nothing against the woman. He was not a priate, not a drunkard sailor, and certainly not adding "matey" and "Argh" to his vocabulary any time soon. Still he felt more at home amongst this lot then most, they did share one thing in common, none of them cared for the ruling establishment or the law, and that sat just fine by Wilhelm.

[Ehtele Leonard]

Ehtele could feel the salt on her skin drying. She scratched, letting some of the white particles fell on the floor. After all, she didn't have to clean it up. Let the waitresses do that. Now that she thought about, she really had to find a way to take a bath. The young woman sniffed at her clothes. Yeah, she would need new clothes after this. How else would she be able to wash her old ones? She groaned. That was wasting money when she could have used it to buy a ship. Granted, that was if she didn't build her own. It was still an amazement to her on how she could have walked all the way to Aelyria Prime with such low food supplies. Many would have collapsed, she suspected, but she went the whole way.

There were many times she thought about going back home, to Medonia and her mother. She sighed. No point thinking about the past if it was going to sadden her.

"Not at the docks? Where did you live then?" She leaned forward, staring at him curiously, "Don't tell me you're one of those mages that ran away from the academy because it was too difficult."

Wasn't there an unbinding process? She heard it was somewhat hard to achieve for the average Joe and many were successful. She frowned slightly and it might not have been noticeable. He didn't look like the type to have given up so easily. Else, he wouldn't be able to hang around here without running off, crying like a ninny. She bit into another piece of break. She had her bad times in these places.

"Shipwright at the Nagri Shipyards? You too? I'm applying for there tomorrow. How is that place anyways?" That was a surprise, nearly causing the Leonard to choke on the bread. She cleared her throat and coughed. "Geez, next time, when you want to say something like that, say it when I'm not eating! You're going to kill someone like that!"

"See me as you see fit, but just you watch. I'm going to be the best pira--I mean sailor in the world." She held her chin high and she stared back at him with a slight grin. It was her so-called pirate face.

It was not long before Ehtele realized the focus was back on her. "Never mind me, I'll worry about that shipyards business first thing in the next brightening...You seem to have free time. What made you a shipwright? You don't exactly strike me as tough guy."

The image in her head of a shipwright was far from what Wilhelm looked.

"Yeah, and me name's Ehtele. Just so you don't keep calling me 'you'." She left her last name out, as usual. It was an unwanted last name and it was better off not used.

[Wilhelm Rochester]

The fire light from the fireplace took on a warm cackle as a heap of wood was piled on it. Several had gathered to embrace the warmth, and the number of bodies in the tavern increased the heat to a cozy level to say the least. As ale sloshed about and faint laughter echoed above the smoky atmosphere the current and future shipwright both sat pondering over each othere.

Wilhelm gave a polite nod off his head,

"As you like Miss Ehtele."

His sapphire eyes swirled about the room, much the way waves rolled over a shore line,

"My grand father was a sailor, I suppose the sea just called to me. After for living quaters, I actually do live at the shipyard. There is a bunk house there, that's where most of us shipwrights, carpenteres and laborers sleep."

Wilhelm scratched his chin as he pondered over the young woman,

"Though as it's all men in the bunk house as it stands not sure miss that you'd be wanting to sleep there."

He took a heavy drink of his mug, the thick dwarven ale chasing away the cold that had clung to him from the day before. He tapped his fingers playfully on the table,

"Mr. Nagri is a good a master as any. Free time is dependent upon the ship. You usually work on a ship, when part of it's done you get a slight reprevie until the next ship order comes in. Your free time is between tasks."

Wilhelm shrugged his broad shoulders, as he nodded to the waitress for another plate of cheese and bread, seeing as this one was going quite quickly,

"I grew up in the city, not the docks. As for toughness, images don't matter, completing the ship on schedule and well is all that matters. I've earned the respect of the yard, which is about all that measures up out there."

Wilhelm had been on a few ship products, and he had already completed a ship or two. While his features held more of the ubranite still then the rough and tumble sea worker, he still held a great deal of respect amongst those on the docks who knew the shipyard. Nagri trusted Wilhelm with his trade, and in turn all those who sailed into the port trusted Nagri with there trade, in such a manner a odd circle of trust was extended to Wilhelm.

Wilhelm gave another smile as another large plate of cheese and bread arrived,

"Shipwrights are tradesmen, half of us never even set sail."

It was a true statement, most shipwrights just stayed at one port. Nagri had been here for years. Wilhelm hoped to sail, but for now his trade was more important.

[Ehtele Leonard]

There were times during the darkening when Ehtele would wonder if she was in a dream or not. The slight warmth that gradually grew stronger in the Crown Inn was like a soft dream. Just mere moments before, she was outside, freezing to death in the cold waters. The images of almost drowning were not pleasant. Had she not acted fast, the cold water would have numbed her body too much, and she would have been unable to wad back to shore.

"Ehtele's fine. No need to say Miss or anything," she said shrugging, scowling faintly. She had expected the man to reveal his name as courtesy demanded it. The girl rolled her eyes. The time she decided to introduce herself, the other person didn't answer her back. "What's your name anyways? Unless you're a criminal and you dun wan' people knowing your name." She raised her eyebrow, "Or, you're thinking that I'm a criminal, in which case, I assure you, I'm not.

Yet anyways.

"Besides, you don't want to be called 'hey you' all the time right?"

She nodded her head, as if she expected Wilhelm's grandfather to be a sailor, "Understand where you're coming from. Mother used to tell me about father's sea--just sea adventures of people." The slight slip of words had snapped the woman awake. The atmosphere here was too warm. She grimaced. "Got obsessed with the sea and decided to learn a thing or two about shipwrights."

There were those Medonian Airboats. She was not done with those yet...One day, she would go back and fly.

"Bunk house? Sweet!" Her face paled after the next sentence, "I-I ain't afraid." Ehtele fidgeted in her chair before looking at the shipwright. "You sure its only men?"

As much as she hated to admit it, there was no way she could have walked around the shipyards without knowing which was which. Seeing as how there was a shipwright sitting across from her, it made sense to ask for her. Ehtele groaned. It was one of her...weaknesses.

"Well...uh...you think, you could show me around the shipyards or something when you have time." Her eyes skillfully avoided looking at him the whole time she said the whole sentence.

"Wait...You don't teach the new apprentice shipwrights right?" That would be bad news. She wasn't exactly being polite.

"I guess respect is all that matters. How skilled are you?" The fact that he talked so calmly, in Ehtele's opinion, was a great achievement. She crossed her fingers and hoped that he wouldn't be deciding whether she got in or not.

"Never set sail? That's a pity! You mean, you've never sail one of your ships?!" It was true that he looked young. Perhaps he was still learning as a shipwright. "One day, come sailing with me! I don't have a ship yet, but I'll make one and then, I'll be off." She smiled brightly this time, a rare event that did not come often, "You should come and experience the thrill of traveling across the seas, just like your grandfather did!"

[Wilhelm Rochester]

As the warmth of the fires and candles continued to illuminate the pleasant tavern it chased the smells of stews boiling and breads baking across the air. Faint aroma of thick liquir and heavy pipe smoke clung in long tendrils to the air. A few hearty laughs and a few small smiles as the patrons conversed.

If the sapphire eyed man before her ever held strong emotions it was hard to tell, he smiled, and laughed to be certain but never to much. His emotions always seemed to held back, for some unknown reason.

One hand grasping the handle of his mug firmly as he took another hardy drink,

"It's Wilhelm or just Wil if you like."

He took in a steady breath,

"Well I sleep there, and I know Tolan's apprentices are men, only woman I know at the shipyard is the secretary and I think she has her own place near the yard. I guess you could always ask her for a spare room if you prefer."

Leaning back in his chair he blew back a few strands of bright red hair that vividly contrast his otherwise pale features. Prime citizens were not known for natural tans, and he was not much of a exception.

"I suppose I could show ya around the yard, I'm not that high up the food chain. Mr.Nagri has a journeyman shipwright who handles most of the day to day work while he trains those of us that need it. I've built a ship or two so I'm beyond the basics of it but i'm hardly a master at the trade yet. At moment i'm building a cutter for a nice lady out of Demios, a jewelcrafter."

He rubbed his chin at her question and perhaps invitation to join her little crew,

"Get your ship, then I'll consider a voyage. At the moment though Prime's my home and that's just fine for a bit."

Of course he knew he would soon run out of time. He had escape his parents wraith and Emily's overbearing questions, but his family and former fiancee would eventually try to claim back the lost heir of the Rochester family line. Perhaps it would be next week or next season, but sooner or later he would have to depart.

Wilhelm gestured to a handful of men over in a far corner that looked like just another bunch of brigands,

"In case you don't read the local herald, if I were you I'd also learn a bit of blade work while I was here. Docks can be a dangerous place."

Wilhelm had already had one incident of having to save a woman and he didn't care to have another. It was just the nature of the lower sides of male society, they never were that safe for a woman. Still she seemed tough enough to Wilhelm, perhaps she'd fair better then he assumed. Time would tell.

[Ehtele Leonard]

Ehtele tried her best to sit still, waiting for the shipwright to answer her questions. She was not a patient person and knew herself that she was impatient. The young woman took the chance to examine the Crown Inn. The people here, she felt, weren't much different from the ones back in Medonia. The people were still rude, obnoxious, and vulgar. She tilted her head to the left, observing the crowd there. After a while, she turned back to the shipwright.

"Wil then. It's easier to say than Wilhelm. That's a mouthful."


"Thanks for the advice, but I know how to take care of myself."
The girl made a mental note to talk to the secretary the first opportunity she got, but Wil did not have to know that. She shrugged again and stretched, yawning. Tears spilled from her eyes and she was forced to rub them. It was a long night and Ehtele was half-asleep.

"If you built a ship or two and is still not high up the 'food chain', where does that put me?" she frowned. "Besides, you have your own customer already. You must be popular or something or else they wouldn't ask you specifically, right?

She leaned closer, rubbing her itchy eyes, "What's your secret?"

"That's a deal then Wilhelm. If I get a ship, and I will, try and accept. The reason I'm asking you this early is 'cause I'm hoping you'd consider it." It was odd that the young woman would ask a complete stranger to travel with her. Perhaps it really was way past her bedtime.

At his next comment, Ehtele grinned, "Family heirloom, got it right here with me." It was a scimitar thought whether it did more harm than help was questionable.

[Wilhelm Rochester]

As the hour of night grew darker and the candle light brighter it was hard to imagine the crown as more then it was at that point in time. The once polished mahogny of the counter had been washed over by a day full of spilt ale and grimy hands. Floors were darker as mud had been tracked in during the night, smearing across the other wise pristine bottom. One might have been able to see the colorful designs of the roof if not for the thick smoke that billowed higher and higher.

Wilhelm pondered her question as he took another sip of his ale, relaxing back in his chair.

"Actually I once met bard woman named Lyssoryl, so my name is far from the longest, but Wil is just fine."

He didn't mind the name, long as no one was trying to nickname him something goofy, he had once heard a man named Wilhelm nicknamed Bill, but that of course just made no sense.

"I'm only popular because a rich jewler wrote me and she cared for my penmenship. You work a bit you'll be popular to. Your first ship wont' take long, your second one will, and then your in the trade. Just because your in it though dosn't mean your the top of it, Mr.Nagri's been doing this for years and years for instance."

He grabbed a small bit of bread and chucked it in his mouth, enjoying the taste of fresh bread that seemed to pull away the ale,

"It's a nice enough blade, long as you know which part goes in the other person. You look like you could use some sleep."

Wilhelm wasn't the type to be overly caring but then again the woman looked tired and he wasn't the type to leave her falling asleep at the table around a bunch of ruffians either. Perhaps she would take his advice and go get some rest, he assumed she didn't have a place to stay but the crown always had rooms, if one could sleep through the racket below that was.

[Ehtele Leonard]

Ehtele rubbed her eyes again, sniffing.

"Lyssoryl, yeah sounds lik a nice name. Pity it's long as well," she yawned again, this time with tears coming out of her eyes. She wiped them with her wet sleeve, only succeeding in wiping her eyes with salt water. She winced and quickly rubbed her eyes with her hands.

"I dun' plan on bein' the bes' shipw'ight so I hardly thin' it matters how goo' I become." She placed her elbows on the table and rested her head though her eyes were still open. They were as wide as orbs and if Wilhelm could see closer, he would find them to be red and demon-like.

" 'Course I know how to use a sword, you jus', you jus' swing it around. I'm tired." She looked around the place, almost examining it. "Who do I tal to for a room?"