"Yes. Iprotect... my people. Iwill help youfind your people." It was little to give for the aid he would receive.

((I've always found the way people interpret that scripture to be rather odd. It's all pretty obvious, but it seems that no one can ever take it as its said, so they go digging between the lines for whatever they think should be there, and they almost always find it.))

Nima nodded. "I help"

Jean laughed a bit maniacally, loving this, playing the part of the evil pirate queen. "I'm looking for a Mr. Varan Krendle. Ya best be telling me where he is if ya don't want ta be blown sky-high! And hand over that coat o' yers while yer at it, fatty," she added, pointing to a rather portly man in a lovely black and gold coat with her rapier. (The man shivered, but held his ground.) "And any gold and jewelry the lot o' ya have got on ya."

"Varan Krendle, that scoundral!" a rather huffy and upset woman pushed her way past the objections of her husband, "Is that why you're here... no doubt he's crossed you too... that whelp left here after the 'affections' of a Lady, though I do not know the woman's name... I do pitty the child."

She leaned close to him, eyes full of a manic longing as she stroked his cheek. "I knew you would return to me one day, my love," she whispered, a slight hysteria in her tone that made her otherwise pleasant voice a bit shrill. "It's alright... Father will forgive you, and Wendylen has been so longing to see you..." Her fingers brushed his brow then, moving aside his bangs to gaze at his eyes. "She has your eyes..."

"Wend- wh..." the it struck him, inwardly he groaned that any child should be left to be raised by such a nut case of a woman.

"Vanessa, my darling," he said in a soft and loveing tone, "I left you with a child? I had no idea... I do apologize... I would have returned to you earlier."

"I... I knew you would... Father kept you away... He was furious at you... But now... Now everything will be alright again. We'll be together forever..." she answered, soft and yet obviously hysterical.

"I've thought of you often," he said softly, reaching out a hand to brush her loose hair back from her cheek, letting his fingers trail lightly from her cheek bone to trace her jaw line.

He shifted his postion then, holding his arms open to her and leaning back a bit on the couch. "Would you let these arms of mine hold you as they once did?" he asked softly. This position afforded Varan a good look at the cuff around his ankle.

She smiled manically and curled into his lap, cuddling close to him, giving him a kiss. "Oh how I've missed you, My Love..."

((I'd say the lock is moderately easy to pick if you have the right tools (also, it's heart-shaped, showing just how ill she really is, lol). The ankle ring is pretty solid and also strong. Of course, Lady Dumark has the key on a chain around her neck, but it's hidden in her bodice at the moment. Varan might notice the chain.))

"Varan Krendle, that scoundrel!" a rather huffy and upset woman pushed her way past the objections of her husband, "Is that why you're here... no doubt he's crossed you too... that whelp left here after the 'affections' of a Lady, though I do not know the woman's name... I do pity the child."

Jean smirked and limped up to the lady, resting the rapier very lightly on the woman's shoulder, the blade lightly teasing her neck. "And where did they go?" she asked, eyes full of pitiless cruelty as she examined the woman and her rich clothing... It would fetch a pretty price...

Jean smirked and limped up to the lady, resting the rapier very lightly on the woman's shoulder, the blade lightly teasing her neck. "And where did they go?" she asked, eyes full of pitiless cruelty as she examined the woman and her rich clothing... It would fetch a pretty price...

The woman looked at Jean not the least bit detured by her sword... clearly the woman had NO idea who she was dealing with, but she did indeed hope this woman was out for blood, Varan's blood. "All I know is I saw him enter the lady's carrage at the southwestern gate, whither they went I haven't the faintest clue."

He shifted his postion then, holding his arms open to her and leaning back a bit on the couch. "Would you let these arms of mine hold you as they once did?" he asked softly. This position afforded Varan a good look at the cuff around his ankle.

She smiled manically and curled into his lap, cuddling close to him, giving him a kiss. "Oh how I've missed you, My Love..."

Varan stroked the woman's hair softly, leting his fingers glide threw it in gentle strokes as he wrapped his other arm around her. As he did this he examaned the lock on the cuff about his ankle... heart shaped, 'the woman is sick indeed if she thinks "love" can be kept under lock and key' he thought to himself. However he was in luck, at least a little... the lock would be simple enough to pick and he was sure there was some hair pin of bit of jewelry or something around he could use for the job... he had already noticed that his lock picks were missing. 'Thank god she's not a very bright psychopath', he thought to himself.

Jean smirked, looking the lady over... Taking in all her fine clothing and sparkling jewels. Those might fetch a pretty price even if it didn't even BEGIN to make up for the lost cargo on the Swift Vengeance. "That's a nice dress yer wearing... Would probably fetch a pretty price... How about ya give it ta me?" Then her eyes shot to the rest of the crowd. "Any o' the rest o' ya have more? Otherwise it won't just be the dress the Lady will be losing..." she snickered, letting the rapier cut into the woman's neck just slightly, leaving a red line.

The woman shreaked and fainted when Jean's sword cut into her skin.

Varan stroked the woman's hair softly, letting his fingers glide threw it in gentle strokes as he wrapped his other arm around her.

Vanessa closed her eyes and snuggled closer, just content to be in his arms again.

Then the door creaked open, admitting a little girl of about 4 in a white nightgown. She had rather large hazel eyes and red hair that hung somewhat messily down her back. While her features, even in her child state, most recalled her mother's, there was something about the nose and the lips of her sire's. She walked in, but stopped , spotting the strange man her mother was sitting with. "Mummy," she said, eyes on Varan, "I... I couldn't sleep."

Vanessa's eyes opened and she smiled at the little girl with overbearing affection. She stood and opened her arms, picking her child up. "Oh, everything will be good now, Wendylen," she cooed, giving the girl a kiss on the cheek. "Your daddy has returned to us..." She smiled back at Varan with her slightly manic smile. Then she set the girl down. "Go say hello," Vanessa prompted, gently pushing her forward.

Wendlylen stood before the man with wide eyes, staring at him.

Then the door creaked open.

Varan's eyes flew to the door at the sound of a "silent" entry, though he didn't move.

A little girl of about 4 entered in a white nightgown. She had rather large hazel eyes and red hair that hung somewhat messily down her back. While her features, even in her child state, most recalled her mother's, there was something about the nose and the lips of her sire's. She walked in, but stopped , spotting the strange man her mother was sitting with. "Mummy," she said, eyes on Varan, "I... I couldn't sleep."

She was a beauty, a doll of a child, Varan thought to himself... such waste on this woman's insanity.

Vanessa's eyes opened and she smiled at the little girl with overbearing affection. She stood and opened her arms, picking her child up. "Oh, everything will be good now, Wendylen," she cooed, giving the girl a kiss on the cheek.

"Your daddy has returned to us..." She smiled back at Varan with her slightly manic smile. Then she set the girl down. "Go say hello," Vanessa prompted, gently pushing her forward.

Wendlylen stood before the man with wide eyes, staring at him.

"Wendylen," Varan said in a soft and very kind tone, "can I call you that child?" He gave her a soft smile then, "How do you do, little lady?"

Wendylen gave a polite, if somewhat clumsy, curtsy. "Very well, Sir, and you?" She looked back at her mother, wondering if she'd done it right.

Vanessa gave a doting smile and a small nod. Only 4 and already so polite. She was such a bright girl.

Smiling, the girl turned back to Varan, rocking back and forth a bit, arms behind her back. "You can call me Wendylen. Are you really my Daddy?"

The woman shrieked and fainted when Jean's sword cut into her skin.

"Strip her," Jean said to Wes, eyes scanning the crowd before her. "Now who'd that scoundrel head off with?!"

"uh-ubuh-uh-ub-" ventured a man near the front of the crowd. Some of the other people shoved him forward.

"Well?"

"Th-there was a-a-ubuh-uh..."

"Ya've got five seconds to spit it out or I'll blow ya all sky high!" Jean shouted. There could be no doubt of her words from the manic glee shining in her eyes.

Nima nodded. "I help"

The Admiral inserted a key into the lock and turned it. The door protested loudly at being opened, but came nonetheless. "Pleasestay on theship for now. Imust plan." He pulled the lantern up and opened the brig door.

((She's on a different ship from the others, BTW))

"Where other?" she asked, "man-of-the-sea?" ((She's asking where oddfellow is... if he has ANY idea what she's talking about.))

Wendylen gave a polite, if somewhat clumsy, curtsy. "Very well, Sir, and you?" She looked back at her mother, wondering if she'd done it right

Vanessa gave a doting smile and a small nod.

Varan smiled at the girl brightly, standing and bowing to her in one graceful motion.

"Such a little lady already," he said extending his hand to her.

Smiling, the girl turned back to Varan, rocking back and forth a bit, arms behind her back. "You can call me Wendylen. Are you really my Daddy?"

"Yes, my dear little Wendylen," he said kneeling so she could look at him levelly in the face, "I am."

The woman shrieked and fainted when Jean's sword cut into her skin.

"Strip her," Jean said to Wes, eyes scanning the crowd before her.

"My pleasure," Wesly said with a chuckle and a grinn as nimble and obviously practised fingers undid the fasteners and ties that held the woman' dress to her form. He let out a little whistle once the woman was left in her undergarmets and then chuckled... "Pretty thing," he laughed loudly, "no wonder he was so upset... I bet yer Varan took a bit 'o a likin' to t'is one, eh?" he glanced over at the woman's husband with a grin.

The woman's husband rushed to her side and carried her off to the back of the croud once Wes had stood up and backed off a step. He tried to protect her modesty somewhat by putting his coat over her. He was angered nearly more by the comment Wes had made about Varan than the stolen dress... a dress at least could be replaced... But the man kept his tongue in check anyhow.

"Now who'd that scoundrel head off with?!"

"uh-ubuh-uh-ub-" ventured a man near the front of the crowd. Some of the other people shoved him forward.

"Well?"

"Th-there was a-a-ubuh-uh..."

"Ya've got five seconds to spit it out or I'll blow ya all sky high!" Jean shouted. There could be no doubt of her words from the manic glee shining in her eyes.

Wendylen gave a polite, if somewhat clumsy, curtsy. "Very well, Sir, and you?" She looked back at her mother, wondering if she'd done it right

Vanessa gave a doting smile and a small nod.

Varan smiled at the girl brightly, standing and bowing to her in one graceful motion.

"Such a little lady already," he said extending his hand to her.

She beamed up at him for the compliment.

"What do you say?" Vanessa prompted, wearing a fully doting smile, glad that her love was pleased with their child. Wendylen screwed up her face, trying to recall, then turned back to her mother, not remembering. "Thank you, Kind Sir," Vanessa said slowly in a stage whisper.

"Oh! Thank you, Kind Sir," she answered with a big smile, putting her hand in his.

Smiling, the girl turned back to Varan, rocking back and forth a bit, arms behind her back. "You can call me Wendylen. Are you really my Daddy?"

"Yes, my dear little Wendylen," he said kneeling so she could look at him levelly in the face, "I am."

"Mummy said you were handsome," she said, patting his cheek with her small hand. "And Grampa hates you. Why does he hate you, Daddy?"

"Such a little lady already," he said extending his hand to her.

She beamed up at him for the compliment.

"What do you say?" Vanessa prompted, wearing a fully doting smile, glad that her love was pleased with their child. Wendylen screwed up her face, trying to recall, then turned back to her mother, not remembering. "Thank you, Kind Sir," Vanessa said slowly in a stage whisper.

"Oh! Thank you, Kind Sir," she answered with a big smile, putting her hand in his.

Varan chuckled softly, but not in a mean way as he clasped her hand in both of his and then kissed the top of it. "You are most welcome, my dear," he said softly.

Smiling, the girl turned back to Varan, rocking back and forth a bit, arms behind her back. "You can call me Wendylen. Are you really my Daddy?"

"Yes, my dear little Wendylen," he said kneeling so she could look at him levelly in the face, "I am."

"Mummy said you were handsome," she said, patting his cheek with her small hand.

Varan smiled brightly, he had quite the same opinion of himself, actually. "You are too sweet, child," he said grinning at her. He was amaized at how unaflicted the girl seemed b her mother's clear instabilitie.

"And Grampa hates you. Why does he hate you, Daddy?"

"Well... you see... I had to leave rather quickly after I met your mother. I had much... buissness to tend to, and it is only now that I have been able to return to you," he said giving her a grin. Had anyone but this child asked him the same question his answer would have been quick, easy, and effortless, but he had NO intention of staying around here... and he didn't want to hurt the child more than was nessacery... 'perhaps...' he thought to himself fancying the idea of taking the girl with him.

"Ya've got five seconds to spit it out or I'll blow ya all sky high!" Jean shouted. There could be no doubt of her words from the manic glee shining in her eyes.

"She said her name was Lerise Hamelin," came a woman's voice from the crowd, though no one knew who it was.

"Who said that?" Jean asked, looking over the crowd. No one fessed up. "Ya better get yer ass over here and tell me," she growled. A lot of the women gasped at the scandalous use of that word. "Ya've got five seconds!"

"M-me," the woman said, coming to the front of the crowd. "He left only a few minutes a-after her... and he talked and danced with her all night..."

"I've got a name. Where can I find her now?"

A murmur went up among the crowd and they all looked at each other. No one knew. Just then, whistles started blowing and there was the sound of tramping city guards. Jean scowled. She knew when she was outnumbered. "Time ta run," she hissed to Wesly.

A murmur went up among the crowd and they all looked at each other. No one knew. Just then, whistles started blowing and there was the sound of tramping city guards. Jean scowled. She knew when she was outnumbered. "Time ta run," she hissed to Wesly.

Wes huffed... he's rather hopped for a better fight than this... but guess, buissness before pleasure... "Pleasure," he mocked the croud and then left after Jean dress and a few purses and things he snatched along the way in tow.

"Mummy said you were handsome," she said, patting his cheek with her small hand.

Varan smiled brightly, he had quite the same opinion of himself, actually. "You are too sweet, child," he said grinning at her. He was amazed at how unafflicted the girl seemed b her mother's clear instability.

((Only thanks to the perfectly sane maid. ;) ))

"And Grampa hates you. Why does he hate you, Daddy?"

"Well... you see... I had to leave rather quickly after I met your mother. I had much... buissness to tend to, and it is only now that I have been able to return to you," he said giving her a grin.

"Oh," she answered. "Are you going to stay with me now?"

Lady Dumark smiled broadly, hand over her heart as she watched the two of them together. The way he spoke to little Wendylen... She had no doubts that the girl had charmed him and that the three of them would stay together and be happy. He would never leave them again...

"Well... you see... I had to leave rather quickly after I met your mother. I had much... buissness to tend to, and it is only now that I have been able to return to you," he said giving her a grin.

"Oh," she answered. "Are you going to stay with me now?"

Lady Dumark smiled broadly, hand over her heart as she watched the two of them together.

"Oh yes child," he said absolute honesty in his voice, "I do intend to stay with you." Unfortionatly for the unfotionate Lady Dumark, what Varan meant by that was that he intended to take the girl with him when he left. Venessa reminded him much TOO much of his own mother, and he thought it would only e a kindness to remove the child from her presance. ANYTHING had to be better for her than being raised by THIS loon.

"Well... you see... I had to leave rather quickly after I met your mother. I had much... buissness to tend to, and it is only now that I have been able to return to you," he said giving her a grin.

"Oh," she answered. "Are you going to stay with me now?"

Lady Dumark smiled broadly, hand over her heart as she watched the two of them together.

"Oh yes child," he said absolute honesty in his voice, "I do intend to stay with you."

Wendylen beamed and threw her arms around Varan's neck. "I love you, Daddy," she said.

"Oh yes child," he said absolute honesty in his voice, "I do intend to stay with you."

Wendylen beamed and threw her arms around Varan's neck. "I love you, Daddy," she said.

Varan smiled brightly, the kind of smile that reatched all the way to the glimmer in his eyes. He chuckled softly as he slipped his arms tightly around her small form. "I love you too child," he whispered in her ear.

"Now then, dear," he said softly untangling himself from her arms, "it is geting a bit late for you, isn't it? Shouldn't you be off to bed by now, my little flower?"

"Where other?" she asked, "man-of-the-sea?" ((She's asking where oddfellow is... if he has ANY idea what she's talking about.))

"Resting... healing." Tolroy explained. "He is fine." Truth be told, dealing with sea creatures of any kind was like playing with fire. If he could trust them not to run into Jean again he'd rather have them loose then stewing in the brig.

Wendylen yawned, but tried hiding it. "But I want to stay with you," she whined softly.

"Now, Wendylen," Vanessa said with reproach, "You mustn't pester him. I am sure he will be more than happy to spend more time with you tomorrow." She leaned down to give her daughter a kiss on the cheek and a key, hung around the gold chain around her neck, fell out of her bodice. It was rather ornate and golden with a heart motif on the handle. There could be no doubt it belonged to the lock on Varan's cuff. "Now tell him goodnight and off to bed with you," she prompted softly.

The little girl frowned slightly, but gave another little curtsy. "Goodnight, Daddy." Then she turned to go, turning her head and glancing back occasionally.

Wendylen yawned, but tried hiding it. "But I want to stay with you," she whined softly.

Varan gave the girl a small smile. "I'll see you in the morning, Wendylen, my little flower," he said softly to her kissing her atop her head. "Perhaps we can breakfast togeather," he said with a smile. That might be just what he needed to gethimself unlocked without any effort.

"Now, Wendylen," Vanessa said with reproach, "You mustn't pester him. I am sure he will be more than happy to spend more time with you tomorrow." She leaned down to give her daughter a kiss on the cheek and a key, hung around the gold chain around her neck, fell out of her bodice. It was rather ornate and golden with a heart motif on the handle. There could be no doubt it belonged to the lock on Varan's cuff. "Now tell him goodnight and off to bed with you," she prompted softly.

'She is MUCH too much like my own mother, she certinly should not have any possestion of a child,' Varan thought angrily to himself, though no one would know the seathing he felt toward Vanessa at the moment to look at him.

The little girl frowned slightly, but gave another little curtsy. "Goodnight, Daddy." Then she turned to go, turning her head and glancing back occasionally.

"Good night my dear, little lady," he said gracing her with a bow in return.

If all else failed... taking that key by force wouldn't be diffacult... franky she'd probabl unlock him if he asked though... as long as he asked her the right way...

Wendylen yawned, but tried hiding it. "But I want to stay with you," she whined softly.

Varan gave the girl a small smile. "I'll see you in the morning, Wendylen, my little flower," he said softly to her kissing her atop her head. "Perhaps we can breakfast together," he said with a smile.

Wendylen beamed. "Porridge and tea and toast?"

"Now, Wendylen," Vanessa said with reproach, "You mustn't pester him. I am sure he will be more than happy to spend more time with you tomorrow." She leaned down to give her daughter a kiss on the cheek and a key, hung around the gold chain around her neck, fell out of her bodice. It was rather ornate and golden with a heart motif on the handle. There could be no doubt it belonged to the lock on Varan's cuff. "Now tell him goodnight and off to bed with you," she prompted softly.

The little girl frowned slightly, but gave another little curtsy. "Goodnight, Daddy." Then she turned to go, turning her head and glancing back occasionally.

"Good night my dear, little lady," he said gracing her with a bow in return.

Vanessa watched her go, obvious affection on her face... but it was a smothering kind of affection, a desperate affection. That girl was her only tie to her love, the only one she was sure would be able to get him to stay, but at the same time, the girl was sort of a replacement, Varan's small gift to her to tide her over in his absence. She wanted the girl to be perfect just as he was perfect... but at the same time, she loved her daughter and wanted what was best for her... Finally, when the girl had left, Vanessa closed the door again.

"She's beautiful... I knew you two would get along... She loves you already..." She turned to him, eyes soft, but still not quite sane. "She's the only reason I've been able to bear this time apart from you, My Love." She took the seat on the couch next to him again, cuddling closer. "I missed you so much when you left... Was I right? Did father chase you away?"

The little girl frowned slightly, but gave another little curtsy. "Goodnight, Daddy." Then she turned to go, turning her head and glancing back occasionally.

"Good night my dear, little lady," he said gracing her with a bow in return.

Vanessa watched her go, obvious affection on her face... but it was a smothering kind of affection, a desperate affection. Finally, when the girl had left, Vanessa closed the door again.

"She's beautiful... I knew you two would get along... She loves you already..." She turned to him, eyes soft, but still not quite sane. "She's the only reason I've been able to bear this time apart from you, My Love." She took the seat on the couch next to him again, cuddling closer. "I missed you so much when you left... Was I right? Did father chase you away?"

"Yes, my dear, sweet Vanessa," he said kissing her softly, "I simply couldn't stay with him in such a state... I was worried for your saftey as much as mine."

She took the seat on the couch next to him again, cuddling closer. "I missed you so much when you left... Was I right? Did father chase you away?"

"Yes, my dear, sweet Vanessa," he said kissing her softly, "I simply couldn't stay with him in such a state... I was worried for your saftey as much as mine."

"It's alright now, though, Sweet Varan... I've spoken with Father... He has given us his blessing. We can get married like we've always wanted. We'll be a family again," she said, smiling and moving in to give him a deeper kiss.

"It's alright now, though, Sweet Varan... I've spoken with Father... He has given us his blessing. We can get married like we've always wanted. We'll be a family again," she said, smiling and moving in to give him a deeper kiss.

'Marrage! Family!?' Varan might have screamed and fled the room in terror... or laughed and walked out on her mockingly, had he not at the moment been chained to her bedroom wall.

"Family," Varan said softly, "I would like that."

He gave her a brilliant smile then, "Nothing would delight me more than marrying you, Vanessa, my love."

"Family," Varan said softly, "I would like that."

He gave her a brilliant smile then, "Nothing would delight me more than marrying you, Vanessa, my love."

She pushed herself closer to him, kissing him exuberantly. "Remember those nights... You are already husband to me, My Love..."

She pushed herself closer to him, kissing him exuberantly. "Remember those nights... You are already husband to me, My Love..."

"Oh yes, my dear," he said playfully chuckling as he twined his fingers threw her hair and pulled her closer to him... He knew what she felt, at least in part... that longing to be wanted... he almost felt bad for what he was doing to her, but he REFUSED to EVER be trapted by a woman like THIS again... his moher had parished in an 'unfortionate fire' and that was only becaus he could bring her to the death he though she deserved at his own hands so she had died from the smoke long before the flames go to her... she should concider herself lucky."I remember those magical nights," and he did, thought the memories were now stained with the reality of her manic insanity.

He stood then lifting her in his arms and spinning her slowly about the room in graceful turns, mindful not to trip over the chain and drop her as he carried her off toward her bed. That's what he knew she wanted to 'know she was loved and wanted' and that was what he would let her think, because that WOULD give him what he wanted... his freedom from her.

"My lovely, Vanessa," he cooed as he nestled her gently on the pillows, "I've wanted nothing but you always."

"Oh yes, my dear," he said playfully chuckling as he twined his fingers threw her hair and pulled her closer to him... "I remember those magical nights."

He stood then lifting her in his arms and spinning her slowly about the room in graceful turns, mindful not to trip over the chain and drop her as he carried her off toward her bed. She giggled madly, clinging to him as he carried her and pressing her lips to his.

"My lovely, Vanessa," he cooed as he nestled her gently on the pillows, "I've wanted nothing but you always."

"I know," she whispered, giving him a manic grin, reaching her arms out for him, "and I you."

"I know," she whispered, giving him a manic grin, reaching her arms out for him, "and I you."

Varan gave her a loving smile as he leaned down into her arms and kissed her deeply. He let the fingers of one of his hands trail lightly don her side as he gently began to unlace the strings of her boddess.

((And we fade into the background...))

((He really is a bastard.))

((Yeah... but you don't know how screwed up he is eather... not to say it's an exscuse... but Varan's mother saw him as nothing short of a social tool, and used to make him practis eticit for hours... dress him up and show him off like a doll. She drove his noramlly mild manered and rather complaicent father to drink... and when he drank he became a very violent and abusive man... toward Varan. The guy is ALL screwed up...))

((Here is good. I'll fast-forward it to about an hour to sunrise. It's been a long night.))

Later...

It was lighter in the room now than it had been before. Though it would still be some time before the sun fully rose, the sounds of servants rising early to prepare for the day could be heard all over the district. Downstairs the cook was making breakfast for herself and the maid. The maid was dressing in her quarters.

Lady Vanessa lay curled up to her lover, a contented smile on her face, free from worry or care.

Meanwhile...

Jean leaned against the wall in a back alley, hiding in the shadows and watching while a patrol of guards went past. She was tired, hungry, and frustrated. No one they'd interrogated could tell them where to find the woman Varan had run off with. "When we find that carpet-monger," she growled softly to Wes, "remind me ta gut him slowly."

Varan hadn't slept... he'd been thinking as he let Vanessa drift off into a deep sleep.

["Come, come, now Varan," his mother scolded, even though her tone was soft, "I know you can be perfict... if only try a little harder, practis a bit more."

The woamn sighed, dissapointment clear on her features as she staired back at him in the reflection of the merror. A little boy stood on an ornately emblished stool before a merror, his mother behind him combing his hair and adjusting his clothes as if he were a doll.

The boy looked nearly as if he would cry... he had tried SO hard to pick out some form of dress that would impress his mother, but yet again he had only dissapointed her as always. The expresstion on his face only lasted a moment though before it was replaced with a mask of utter serinity.

She frowned slightly. "This will never do... we'll have to to get you a proper suite for your meeting with Young Miss Glouve," she said dissapointedly.

"Now then, come down from there, and let us do this again. Miss Taressa Glouve is such a smart match, and she comes with quite a handsome doury as well... The mayor's daughter," she beamed at the thought, though her excitment was not aimed at the boy at all.

"Now, how are you supposed to greet her when you meet?" she asked sturnly, turning a sharp look on the boy.

Varan bowned before his mother, gace in every movement as he extended his hand to her, "It's such a pleasure to meet you Miss Glouve."

"It IS," his mother corrected sharply, "one would think you have not been to finishing school... nor heard the word 'edicit' before to hear you talk."...]

Varan shivered shoving that memorie from his mind... His mind was made up for sure now... he would NOT alow his daughter to be raised in such a manor... better that she be abandoned in the streets or raised by a criminal than left to this woman's madness.

Varan moved ever so slowly so as not to disturb Vanessa and gently, painstakingly carefully slipped the chain with the key from about her neck.

Vanessa stirred slightly, but didn't wake.

Meanwhile...

Jean leaned against the wall in a back alley, hiding in the shadows and watching while a patrol of guards went past. She was tired, hungry, and frustrated. No one they'd interrogated could tell them where to find the woman Varan had run off with. "When we find that carpet-monger," she growled softly to Wes, "remind me ta gut him slowly."

Wes was equally irritaited, but chuckled softly. "I won't have ta... I plan on helpin' ya."

Vanessa stirred slightly and Varan froze, but didn't wake he moved slowl so as not to shift the bedding and unlocked the cuff around his ankle.

Once he was freed he stood from the bed slowly and then silently dawned his clothes quickly.

Vanessa lay asleep, dreaming of the wonderful days ahead, her lover, her daughter... All one happy family at last.

In her room down the hall, little Wendylen lay sleeping in her bed, though her dreams were slightly troubling... Her mother smiling, just begging her to try curtsying once more, growing taller then crushing her... She tossed and turned, trying to break free.

Meanwhile...

Jean leaned against the wall in a back alley, hiding in the shadows and watching while a patrol of guards went past. She was tired, hungry, and frustrated. No one they'd interrogated could tell them where to find the woman Varan had run off with. "When we find that carpet-monger," she growled softly to Wes, "remind me ta gut him slowly."

Wes was equally irritaited, but chuckled softly. "I won't have ta... I plan on helpin' ya."

"Do ya reckon we ought ta give up looking for him? Seems ta me this 'Lerise' ain't nothing but a ghost," Jean growled in reply.

Vanessa lay asleep, dreaming of the wonderful days ahead, her lover, her daughter... All one happy family at last.

Once dressed Varan crept silently out of Vanessa's room. Glancing up and down the hall as the door opened. He was relieved to see that there were as of yet no servents up and about... though he was sure some were around somewhere in the house. Silently Varan slipped out of the room closing the door behind him.

In her room down the hall, little Wendylen lay sleeping in her bed. She tossed and turned, trying to break free.

As he walked quietly down the hall Varan heard the wrestless shifting of a small body in one of the rooms he passed. Varan paused... trying the door - unlocked. What he saw was little Wendylen tossing and turning helplessly in her sleep.

Varan went about her room and picked up a few things he was sure the girl would want or like. A doll that rested in a doll sized cradle beside the girl's bed, one dress... something rather simple and easy to put on and a pair of shoes... a silver brush and comb, and a few other little trinkets that he slipped into his pockets. The doll he tucked under his cloak.

"Wendylen, my dear little flower," he said softly, gently touching his shoulder.

Wes was equally irritaited, but chuckled softly. "I won't have ta... I plan on helpin' ya."

"Do ya reckon we ought ta give up looking for him? Seems ta me this 'Lerise' ain't nothing but a ghost," Jean growled in reply.

"'Haps," he replied with a scowl, "I;m sure he'll be back by tomorrow looking for his booty... shure 'nough he'll be pissed as the lot of us when he finds it at th' bottom o' the ocean... he'll come looking fer us, don'tch ya think?"

As he walked quietly down the hall Varan heard the wrestless shifting of a small body in one of the rooms he passed. Varan paused... trying the door - unlocked. What he saw was little Wendylen tossing and turning helplessly in her sleep.

Varan went about her room and picked up a few things he was sure the girl would want or like. A doll that rested in a doll sized cradle beside the girl's bed, one dress... something rather simple and easy to put on and a pair of shoes... a silver brush and comb, and a few other little trinkets that he slipped into his pockets. The doll he tucked under his cloak.

"Wendylen, my dear little flower," he said softly, gently touching her shoulder.

She started, then opened her eyes, blearily looking up at him. "Daddy?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Wendylen, my dear little flower," he said softly, gently touching her shoulder.

She started, then opened her eyes, blearily looking up at him. "Daddy?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Yes my sweet," he said in a half whisper, "Daddy has a surprise for you... but you must be very quiet and get dressed quickly for me." With that he produced the dress and shoes.

"'Haps," he replied with a scowl, "I;m sure he'll be back by tomorrow looking for his booty... shure 'nough he'll be pissed as the lot of us when he finds it at th' bottom o' the ocean... he'll come looking fer us, don'tch ya think?"

Jean smirked humorlessly. "I think so. But he can't tell us who the hell burned our ship if he ain't looking."

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