From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 20 Jan 2002 20:31:50 EST
The Skies at Midnight
(Part 1 of ?)
She stood silently staring out across the idle waters. The bay brought to her senses a heavy aroma of crisp, salty freedom. The air was brisk, and filled her lungs with an edge of pain that felt pleasant after the stifling atmosphere in the crowded tavern.
The sun had long since bedded down below the horizon, and the stars held a clarity that only came when the sky was nearly frozen in the depths of winter. She could almost hear them laughing.
How long had it been? Too long, she thought, old friend. Ellisa opened the small hidden pocket in the bracer that snugly hugged her left forearm. Withdrawing two rings from the compartment, she held them close to her face, turning them to try and catch some light.
"I miss you still, Shane." The action of speaking his name aloud brought a familiar sting to her eyes. Her tears had long since run dry, but not so her heart despite her own violent protestations that it had become a desert long ago.
She ran a finger along the plain silver band, and replaced it in its home on her wrist. The other she held out to examine. It was surely worth much more monetarily, with its golden wings sweeping up to curve around a finger, and its' eyes composed of two perfect diamonds. The phoenix ring meant something more to her once ... but the skies laughed at her.
Her chin tilted down to look at the rolling waters of the bay. The tips of her boots hung over the edge of the worn wooden dock, but she felt no fear near water. It was a calm expression that watched the golden sparkle as it plunged toward the jet black waters, hitting the surface with barely a ripple ... and was gone.
Ellisa drew in another cleansing lungful of the bitter winter breeze. "I miss you still, Shane."
Ellisa didn't bother to acknowledge the strange stare of the sailor that heard her as she spoke the words. With a distant expression still holding its grip upon her features, she turned and walked down the dock ... listening to the sky as it laughed.
The Skies at Midnight (Ellisa Morgan)
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From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 23 Jan 2002 20:47:39 EST
To The Bearer of Ill News
(Part 2 of ?)
Galad looked out over the crowd again, and confirmed for the fourth time that the person he sought was in there. He ran his sweaty palms down his breeches again, then shoved them in his pockets.
"Must be some way not to do this." That wasn't quite true, there wasn't any way that he could conceive of to pawn his errand off to another. The man that waited at his home with his mother and sister made it crystal clear that if he didn't do this himself that he couldn't be held responsible for what would happen to the boys family.
Galad frowned, his brows furrowing down to converge at the bridge of his nose. He was aware that he wasn't the brightest kid in town, but he hated being used because he was somewhat slow ... or cautious.
"She's going to cut out my tongue." Galad's frown deepened as he wondered if she actually would do anything of the sort. He'd heard of her before, if he hadn't this would have been much easier. He came down to this town after his father had died, as the port of Sk'lar was no place for a widow and her two children.
He whimpered as his mind went over the stories he'd heard of Captain Ellisa Morgan. Not a one of them was anything less than terrifying. She didn't look so frightening, but he had seen grown men weeping at the prospect of facing her if they'd try to cheat her, or harm her, her crew, or her ship in any manner.
Maybe she'd understand if he mentioned his family was being held hostage! Galad pushed the thick curtain aside to get a glance at the blonde haired woman that sat drinking and speaking loudly in a group of burly looking men. Her smile didn't quite seem to reach her eyes ... and there was something not quite right about them, although Galad couldn't place what the oddity was at the moment.
She was actually kind of pretty, especially considering the battles she'd been rumored to have been in. She wore leather bracers on her forearms, with silver etched dragons adorning them. It was said that she bore horrible scars beneath, and that was why she was never seen without them. She had a pleasant laugh to...
"Fool! Air-headed buffoon!" He slapped the palm of his hand to his forehead. She wasn't some young lass that he wanted to take to the spring festival, she was a killer and one to which he had to take a message of bad news. "Nothing left but the deed."
Galad steeled himself, knotting his fear for his family into a ball of strength deep in his stomach. She didn't seem to notice his approach but when he whispered her name, her face tilted toward him instantly despite the noisy surroundings.
"Did you say something, boy?" Her voice was clear as the church bells on Sunday. It held a strange accent, but it was soft enough that it just gave her words an exotic flavoring.
"I... I... I..." he stammered, his cheeks burning with his discomfort, "I did not want to do it! But he has my mum, and my sister, and he said, he said he'd do nasty things to them if I didn't!" The words came out as an avalanche, "I am forced to bring the message, I didn't've to do with it! I swear! By God's own-"
Ellisa halted the boys rambling with a sharply spoken, "Stop." She focused her gaze squarely on his face and that was when Galad pinpointed the oddity in her eyes; they were blue as the sky on the outside, but there were silver starbursts surrounding her pupils. "Spit out what you have to say. Quickly and no harm will come to you, for I have little patience to spare."
By now the men that Ellisa had been joking with had fallen silent to witness whatever it was that forced Galad to face someone, of whom, he was obviously petrified. Men from all different places, with different skin colour, eye colour, heights, weights, smells, all paused to listen.
"Tom Storm has been taken captive. If you wish to see him alive again you must wait for instructions, and follow them quickly and without," Galad paused for a breath, and to give him a moment to remember the word he was supposed to say, "without deviation."
Galad couldn't say precisely what changed about Ellisa, her expression hadn't seemed to move at all, but he was compelled to step back and away from the stare. Sweat poured down his face, and into his eyes as he stood and waited for some blow to fall from the sentinel that surrounded him.
"Tell me who sent you boy, and leave no detail unspoken." Ellisa's voice was the call of the heart of winter.
Galad shivered as he tried to hold her gaze and failed. Galad noted that the men in the tavern had all looked away, unwilling to pry into her business... If only, Galad thought, I could have done the same.
Date: 23 Jan 2002 20:47:39 EST
To The Bearer of Ill News
(Part 2 of ?)
Galad looked out over the crowd again, and confirmed for the fourth time that the person he sought was in there. He ran his sweaty palms down his breeches again, then shoved them in his pockets.
"Must be some way not to do this." That wasn't quite true, there wasn't any way that he could conceive of to pawn his errand off to another. The man that waited at his home with his mother and sister made it crystal clear that if he didn't do this himself that he couldn't be held responsible for what would happen to the boys family.
Galad frowned, his brows furrowing down to converge at the bridge of his nose. He was aware that he wasn't the brightest kid in town, but he hated being used because he was somewhat slow ... or cautious.
"She's going to cut out my tongue." Galad's frown deepened as he wondered if she actually would do anything of the sort. He'd heard of her before, if he hadn't this would have been much easier. He came down to this town after his father had died, as the port of Sk'lar was no place for a widow and her two children.
He whimpered as his mind went over the stories he'd heard of Captain Ellisa Morgan. Not a one of them was anything less than terrifying. She didn't look so frightening, but he had seen grown men weeping at the prospect of facing her if they'd try to cheat her, or harm her, her crew, or her ship in any manner.
Maybe she'd understand if he mentioned his family was being held hostage! Galad pushed the thick curtain aside to get a glance at the blonde haired woman that sat drinking and speaking loudly in a group of burly looking men. Her smile didn't quite seem to reach her eyes ... and there was something not quite right about them, although Galad couldn't place what the oddity was at the moment.
She was actually kind of pretty, especially considering the battles she'd been rumored to have been in. She wore leather bracers on her forearms, with silver etched dragons adorning them. It was said that she bore horrible scars beneath, and that was why she was never seen without them. She had a pleasant laugh to...
"Fool! Air-headed buffoon!" He slapped the palm of his hand to his forehead. She wasn't some young lass that he wanted to take to the spring festival, she was a killer and one to which he had to take a message of bad news. "Nothing left but the deed."
Galad steeled himself, knotting his fear for his family into a ball of strength deep in his stomach. She didn't seem to notice his approach but when he whispered her name, her face tilted toward him instantly despite the noisy surroundings.
"Did you say something, boy?" Her voice was clear as the church bells on Sunday. It held a strange accent, but it was soft enough that it just gave her words an exotic flavoring.
"I... I... I..." he stammered, his cheeks burning with his discomfort, "I did not want to do it! But he has my mum, and my sister, and he said, he said he'd do nasty things to them if I didn't!" The words came out as an avalanche, "I am forced to bring the message, I didn't've to do with it! I swear! By God's own-"
Ellisa halted the boys rambling with a sharply spoken, "Stop." She focused her gaze squarely on his face and that was when Galad pinpointed the oddity in her eyes; they were blue as the sky on the outside, but there were silver starbursts surrounding her pupils. "Spit out what you have to say. Quickly and no harm will come to you, for I have little patience to spare."
By now the men that Ellisa had been joking with had fallen silent to witness whatever it was that forced Galad to face someone, of whom, he was obviously petrified. Men from all different places, with different skin colour, eye colour, heights, weights, smells, all paused to listen.
"Tom Storm has been taken captive. If you wish to see him alive again you must wait for instructions, and follow them quickly and without," Galad paused for a breath, and to give him a moment to remember the word he was supposed to say, "without deviation."
Galad couldn't say precisely what changed about Ellisa, her expression hadn't seemed to move at all, but he was compelled to step back and away from the stare. Sweat poured down his face, and into his eyes as he stood and waited for some blow to fall from the sentinel that surrounded him.
"Tell me who sent you boy, and leave no detail unspoken." Ellisa's voice was the call of the heart of winter.
Galad shivered as he tried to hold her gaze and failed. Galad noted that the men in the tavern had all looked away, unwilling to pry into her business... If only, Galad thought, I could have done the same.
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From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 30 Jan 2002 11:17:13 EST
The Beginning of an End
(Part 3 of ? )
The door swung shut behind her, silent as the one that closed it. Her home was warm, Raylin must have kept the fire burning in anticipation of her arrival. She doffed her muddy boots by the door before proceeding toward the sitting room.
Jak was unconscious before the hearth, his round barrel chest rising and falling in the rhythms of deep sleep. His favorite toy lay beneath his head, unrecognizable as anything after its rough past with the mastiff. He was getting old, Ellisa thought a bit sadly. She would miss him dearly when he passed on, but she could no more change that inevitable future than she could change her own.
There are some things that can be changed, she thought, and those are the things I must focus upon.
She felt so much older than her 27 years. But then again her life has not been uneventful. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she sank down into the lounging chair ... she looked no older than she had at the age of eighteen.
Her father had looked old for his age when he died ... her mother was reputed to have been a stunning beauty. "Old wounds, Ellisa. You must focus," she chided herself aloud.
"Old wounds still hurt, especially when the weather has turned foul, Ellisa."
Ellisa did not need to look to know that it was Raylin that spoke to her from the hallway. "Aye, but I am not so old as half of your wounds, so I try not to complain."
Raylin huffed at her affectionately as he moved into the room. "What causes your face to grow so long, Ellisa?"
She glanced at Raylin as he moved, impaired by age, and life he limped slowly, favoring his right leg. His face was a riot of wrinkles, and his hair had long ago turning gray. How many more of those she held dear would be claimed by death before it would come for her?
Ellisa had no more energy for "white" lies, and none for a softening of the razor edge of truth, "Gregor has returned, and he has decided to capture Thom as some type of insurance."
Somewhere she felt a pang of guilt over her bluntness, but Raylin never sugarcoated the truth for her, and she would not begin to treat him like a child - as is common faire concerning communication between the young and the old. "It will work, too. It has insured his death."
Raylin stood silently, one unsteady hand resting on the back of Ellisa's chair, "Tell me what you need done, lass."
She could sense him straighten his spine, and the ridged pronunciation of his words were frighteningly like her own when she would not be moved by hell, nor high water.
"Too many things, old man. Let us make some tea so that the night will not seem so long ... nor half so cold." It was going to be a long week, and one she would have given all her possessions to avoid. If Gregor brought harm to Thom she would see him hand fed, piece by piece, to sewer rats, where none would mourn his death.
Date: 30 Jan 2002 11:17:13 EST
The Beginning of an End
(Part 3 of ? )
The door swung shut behind her, silent as the one that closed it. Her home was warm, Raylin must have kept the fire burning in anticipation of her arrival. She doffed her muddy boots by the door before proceeding toward the sitting room.
Jak was unconscious before the hearth, his round barrel chest rising and falling in the rhythms of deep sleep. His favorite toy lay beneath his head, unrecognizable as anything after its rough past with the mastiff. He was getting old, Ellisa thought a bit sadly. She would miss him dearly when he passed on, but she could no more change that inevitable future than she could change her own.
There are some things that can be changed, she thought, and those are the things I must focus upon.
She felt so much older than her 27 years. But then again her life has not been uneventful. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she sank down into the lounging chair ... she looked no older than she had at the age of eighteen.
Her father had looked old for his age when he died ... her mother was reputed to have been a stunning beauty. "Old wounds, Ellisa. You must focus," she chided herself aloud.
"Old wounds still hurt, especially when the weather has turned foul, Ellisa."
Ellisa did not need to look to know that it was Raylin that spoke to her from the hallway. "Aye, but I am not so old as half of your wounds, so I try not to complain."
Raylin huffed at her affectionately as he moved into the room. "What causes your face to grow so long, Ellisa?"
She glanced at Raylin as he moved, impaired by age, and life he limped slowly, favoring his right leg. His face was a riot of wrinkles, and his hair had long ago turning gray. How many more of those she held dear would be claimed by death before it would come for her?
Ellisa had no more energy for "white" lies, and none for a softening of the razor edge of truth, "Gregor has returned, and he has decided to capture Thom as some type of insurance."
Somewhere she felt a pang of guilt over her bluntness, but Raylin never sugarcoated the truth for her, and she would not begin to treat him like a child - as is common faire concerning communication between the young and the old. "It will work, too. It has insured his death."
Raylin stood silently, one unsteady hand resting on the back of Ellisa's chair, "Tell me what you need done, lass."
She could sense him straighten his spine, and the ridged pronunciation of his words were frighteningly like her own when she would not be moved by hell, nor high water.
"Too many things, old man. Let us make some tea so that the night will not seem so long ... nor half so cold." It was going to be a long week, and one she would have given all her possessions to avoid. If Gregor brought harm to Thom she would see him hand fed, piece by piece, to sewer rats, where none would mourn his death.
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From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 18 Feb 2002 09:08:41 EST
Trail Hunters
(Part 4 of ?)
"Find him! He can not drop off the face of the world." Ellisa roared at the sniveling pile of a man that was cowering before her wrath.
"B-b-but, Miss Morgan, I have no idea w-w-where he could be," the man tried to curl in upon himself, presenting a smaller target.
The man that he was following seemed to drop out of existence. Daniel tracked him through the west side of Rhydin, keeping a safe distance, he had been positive that Gregor did not know he was being trailed. He turned down Crossroads way, and toward the old baker shop. Only a matter of seconds had passed before Daniel rounded the side of the building, and was faced with an empty, dead end alley.
"I paid you to find him, not to bore me with lame excuses," Ellisa drew a deep breath, "You will turn over every rock in this town before you come to me again with failure."
Daniel cringed, expecting a blow to land. How in the nine hells a woman that size packed such force into a strike still astounded him. He wasn't fragile by anyone's standards, and yet his cheek still ached where she decked him earlier. For that matter, his back still hurt from the impact against the wall behind him when she had sent him a good two feet backwards from the force of the blow.
Ellisa seethed with anger, and frustration. She probably should attempt to regain control of her temper, she thought, but it was beyond her abilities at present. Daniel was reported to be the best of the best in bounty hunters, and he failed miserably to find Gregor, or any trace of Thom.
Daniel was muttering something as he backed out of the small room and out the door, but she wasn't listening. Ellisa stood alone in the small room thinking. She despised the feeling of helplessness she felt pressing down on her heavily.
After a moment Raylin entered the room, "What needs to be done now?"
"Call in any favor you can, and pry others from people with the lever of gold," she drew in another deep breath, "Be sure to send them to me for inspiration if it is necessary."
Raylin nodded once and was off, knowing well enough that Ellisa would want some solitude to work through her thoughts. He did not allow himself to think about Thom, could not allow himself or else he might not be able to complete the tasks ahead. He thought of Thom as a favored nephew ... the boy was still too young to go through more than he'd already been forced to endure. With a sharp shake of his head, Raylin focused on where he was heading,
he could not allow himself to think of those things now...
Date: 18 Feb 2002 09:08:41 EST
Trail Hunters
(Part 4 of ?)
"Find him! He can not drop off the face of the world." Ellisa roared at the sniveling pile of a man that was cowering before her wrath.
"B-b-but, Miss Morgan, I have no idea w-w-where he could be," the man tried to curl in upon himself, presenting a smaller target.
The man that he was following seemed to drop out of existence. Daniel tracked him through the west side of Rhydin, keeping a safe distance, he had been positive that Gregor did not know he was being trailed. He turned down Crossroads way, and toward the old baker shop. Only a matter of seconds had passed before Daniel rounded the side of the building, and was faced with an empty, dead end alley.
"I paid you to find him, not to bore me with lame excuses," Ellisa drew a deep breath, "You will turn over every rock in this town before you come to me again with failure."
Daniel cringed, expecting a blow to land. How in the nine hells a woman that size packed such force into a strike still astounded him. He wasn't fragile by anyone's standards, and yet his cheek still ached where she decked him earlier. For that matter, his back still hurt from the impact against the wall behind him when she had sent him a good two feet backwards from the force of the blow.
Ellisa seethed with anger, and frustration. She probably should attempt to regain control of her temper, she thought, but it was beyond her abilities at present. Daniel was reported to be the best of the best in bounty hunters, and he failed miserably to find Gregor, or any trace of Thom.
Daniel was muttering something as he backed out of the small room and out the door, but she wasn't listening. Ellisa stood alone in the small room thinking. She despised the feeling of helplessness she felt pressing down on her heavily.
After a moment Raylin entered the room, "What needs to be done now?"
"Call in any favor you can, and pry others from people with the lever of gold," she drew in another deep breath, "Be sure to send them to me for inspiration if it is necessary."
Raylin nodded once and was off, knowing well enough that Ellisa would want some solitude to work through her thoughts. He did not allow himself to think about Thom, could not allow himself or else he might not be able to complete the tasks ahead. He thought of Thom as a favored nephew ... the boy was still too young to go through more than he'd already been forced to endure. With a sharp shake of his head, Raylin focused on where he was heading,
he could not allow himself to think of those things now...
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From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 27 Feb 2002 08:11:34 EST
The Start of the Story
(Part 5 of ?)
Four days had passed and nothing new had been brought to her attention. It made no sense to her, why would Gregor kidnap Thom and then disappear? There were no further instructions, no demands, no contact of any sort.
She felt a twinge of sympathy for the boy that had brought her the initial message What was his name again? "Galad," she said aloud. When they arrived at his home they found his mother and sister dead. It wasn't a sight that was pleasant for anyone, let alone a young boy. She would need to remember his name, she'd taken him aboard the Dragon as a cabin boy, and she knew all of her crew members names.
"I have grown soft." Ellisa growled the words in self disgust. There was a time she would have used harsher methods to extract the information she wanted from others, but she found little heart for such things of late.
When had this begun? She thought back to when she had first heard the name Gregor Stoltz. It had to have been when she was still in London, which meant it was a long time ago. She could still close her eyes and bring to mind the heavy ladened air of London, a mixture of the ocean, and the peculiar aromas of a busy town.
That memory held with others from a time before she was declared traitor to the crown and forbidden to enter the town under penalty of death. A few had tried to collect on the bounty on her head, and found it cost them much more than they had bargained to lose.
Gregor Stoltz, it was a name that had begun to come up in conversations at the oddest times, and with an alarming frequency to Ellisa at the time. It was never in a story of hope, nor accomplishment for the betterment of the society at large. Combined with the tales of incredulous actions, and a stature to envy, it was a recipe that guaranteed that Ellisa would need to seek the man out.
Date: 27 Feb 2002 08:11:34 EST
The Start of the Story
(Part 5 of ?)
Four days had passed and nothing new had been brought to her attention. It made no sense to her, why would Gregor kidnap Thom and then disappear? There were no further instructions, no demands, no contact of any sort.
She felt a twinge of sympathy for the boy that had brought her the initial message What was his name again? "Galad," she said aloud. When they arrived at his home they found his mother and sister dead. It wasn't a sight that was pleasant for anyone, let alone a young boy. She would need to remember his name, she'd taken him aboard the Dragon as a cabin boy, and she knew all of her crew members names.
"I have grown soft." Ellisa growled the words in self disgust. There was a time she would have used harsher methods to extract the information she wanted from others, but she found little heart for such things of late.
When had this begun? She thought back to when she had first heard the name Gregor Stoltz. It had to have been when she was still in London, which meant it was a long time ago. She could still close her eyes and bring to mind the heavy ladened air of London, a mixture of the ocean, and the peculiar aromas of a busy town.
That memory held with others from a time before she was declared traitor to the crown and forbidden to enter the town under penalty of death. A few had tried to collect on the bounty on her head, and found it cost them much more than they had bargained to lose.
Gregor Stoltz, it was a name that had begun to come up in conversations at the oddest times, and with an alarming frequency to Ellisa at the time. It was never in a story of hope, nor accomplishment for the betterment of the society at large. Combined with the tales of incredulous actions, and a stature to envy, it was a recipe that guaranteed that Ellisa would need to seek the man out.
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From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 16 Mar 2002 19:57:19 EST
Up from the depths
(Part 6 of ?)
The pain was in his head, he had finally determined that after he had dragged himself up to consciousness. So long as he kept his eyes closed, it wasn't so bad, but some voice in his head was screaming that he needed to get out. Get out of where was his silent question.
There was no light now. He remembered light before. It was fragmented now, he couldn't align the events to make sense.
His fingers ached. He tried to flex them and heard himself wince. No blood was reaching them, his wrists were bound too tightly. He had spent some time assessing his physical situation, but it was hard without any light. His wrists and ankles were bound, by leather unless he missed his mark. The stinging aroma of hide and sweat pervaded his senses.
There were voices again. Mostly men, and at least one woman. Not Ellisa. He choked back a sob. When was the last time he'd felt this desolate? The bitter taste of powerlessness was making him ill. How did he allow this to happen? The event line was so ... wrong. He couldn't call up the past few days, no matter the effort he poured into it.
It was his head, he must have taken a powerful blow for it to hurt as badly as it did now.
"He's talking again. Should we get the boss?"
The voice wasn't in his head this time. It was coming from somewhere outside his enclosure. More words, he couldn't hear them well ... perhaps the blow to his head had done more damage than he thought.
"Over and over, just Ellisa."
There was a gruff laugh, and the sound of footsteps moving away.
His head hurt, was his last thought before sleep claimed him once more.
Date: 16 Mar 2002 19:57:19 EST
Up from the depths
(Part 6 of ?)
The pain was in his head, he had finally determined that after he had dragged himself up to consciousness. So long as he kept his eyes closed, it wasn't so bad, but some voice in his head was screaming that he needed to get out. Get out of where was his silent question.
There was no light now. He remembered light before. It was fragmented now, he couldn't align the events to make sense.
His fingers ached. He tried to flex them and heard himself wince. No blood was reaching them, his wrists were bound too tightly. He had spent some time assessing his physical situation, but it was hard without any light. His wrists and ankles were bound, by leather unless he missed his mark. The stinging aroma of hide and sweat pervaded his senses.
There were voices again. Mostly men, and at least one woman. Not Ellisa. He choked back a sob. When was the last time he'd felt this desolate? The bitter taste of powerlessness was making him ill. How did he allow this to happen? The event line was so ... wrong. He couldn't call up the past few days, no matter the effort he poured into it.
It was his head, he must have taken a powerful blow for it to hurt as badly as it did now.
"He's talking again. Should we get the boss?"
The voice wasn't in his head this time. It was coming from somewhere outside his enclosure. More words, he couldn't hear them well ... perhaps the blow to his head had done more damage than he thought.
"Over and over, just Ellisa."
There was a gruff laugh, and the sound of footsteps moving away.
His head hurt, was his last thought before sleep claimed him once more.
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From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 30 Mar 2002 13:02:15 EST
Beginning of the Story II
(Part 7 of ?)
Her gaggle of followers were babbling around her, unaware that she had stopped listening some time ago. The party was an elegant one, the Dukes' home had been transformed by his foreign wife to hold a magnificent, and exotic atmosphere. Streamers of pearl white silk decorated the walls and high arcing ceiling, mingled around the golden chandeliers to create a warm, and cozy feeling despite the vast size of the ballroom.
"You look divine tonight, Lady Morgan," a strong, deep voice intruded upon her observations, and so she turned to put a face to it.
She had just turned fifteen, and was still impressionable despite her well-grounded upbringing. Her father was a well-known and highly respected Captain in the Kings employ, and she had become the belle of most of the balls that had been thrown throughout the summer.
She had gone all out for this event, it would be her last before she was to set sail with her father on a mission to the new lands across the ocean. Her adventurous heart soared with anticipation, but even those thoughts could not distract her from the man that now stood before her.
"Lady Morgan?"
He was lovely. Straight, and tall, with dark, wavy hair that fell neatly to his shoulders. Eyes of the clearest blue were set into a husky complexion that caused them to be striking. His athletic form could not be hidden under the formal suit he wore, and at least a minute had elapsed before she realized that she was staring ... and he was smiling.
Thankfully she never blushed, else her pale cheeks would have been seared clean of flesh. "Forgive me, Sir. I fear my thoughts were upon my future."
Those that were usually glued to her side at social functions seemed to have all melted away, and Ellisa found herself somewhat annoyed at being abandoned in the face of this daunting figure.
"Well, I should certainly forgive you for such a thing," he paused, "Especially if these thoughts were invading while you look upon me with those exquisite eyes."
Now Ellisa would have seen him for the trouble he spelled, but then... well then she was fifteen, and he a man that stepped gingerly from one of her day-dreams.
Date: 30 Mar 2002 13:02:15 EST
Beginning of the Story II
(Part 7 of ?)
Her gaggle of followers were babbling around her, unaware that she had stopped listening some time ago. The party was an elegant one, the Dukes' home had been transformed by his foreign wife to hold a magnificent, and exotic atmosphere. Streamers of pearl white silk decorated the walls and high arcing ceiling, mingled around the golden chandeliers to create a warm, and cozy feeling despite the vast size of the ballroom.
"You look divine tonight, Lady Morgan," a strong, deep voice intruded upon her observations, and so she turned to put a face to it.
She had just turned fifteen, and was still impressionable despite her well-grounded upbringing. Her father was a well-known and highly respected Captain in the Kings employ, and she had become the belle of most of the balls that had been thrown throughout the summer.
She had gone all out for this event, it would be her last before she was to set sail with her father on a mission to the new lands across the ocean. Her adventurous heart soared with anticipation, but even those thoughts could not distract her from the man that now stood before her.
"Lady Morgan?"
He was lovely. Straight, and tall, with dark, wavy hair that fell neatly to his shoulders. Eyes of the clearest blue were set into a husky complexion that caused them to be striking. His athletic form could not be hidden under the formal suit he wore, and at least a minute had elapsed before she realized that she was staring ... and he was smiling.
Thankfully she never blushed, else her pale cheeks would have been seared clean of flesh. "Forgive me, Sir. I fear my thoughts were upon my future."
Those that were usually glued to her side at social functions seemed to have all melted away, and Ellisa found herself somewhat annoyed at being abandoned in the face of this daunting figure.
"Well, I should certainly forgive you for such a thing," he paused, "Especially if these thoughts were invading while you look upon me with those exquisite eyes."
Now Ellisa would have seen him for the trouble he spelled, but then... well then she was fifteen, and he a man that stepped gingerly from one of her day-dreams.
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From: cptellisamorgan@aol.com (Cpt EllisaMorgan)
Date: 11 Apr 2002 13:14:32 EDT
Beginning of the Story III
(Part 8 of ?)
He slid his hand onto her arm and began to lead her across the room toward the balcony. "You will forgive my forwardness, Lady Morgan, will you not?"
Ellisa found herself being lead without protest by this stranger. Somewhere in the back of her mind things seemed wrong, her sixth sense tried to warn her without success in the face of so handsome a facade. "I will forgive you, but only if you do one thing for me first."
An unrelentingly powerful gaze turned to look at her quizzically. "Sooth, just one thing?"
"Forsooth, I require your name, Sir." Not as forward as she usually was, but somehow with this man it was more difficult. She felt like a child asking for forbidden candies, made more intense by the soft chuckle the request elicited.
"I am rather unimportant, but you may call me Sansosake." He spoke as he lead her past the glass doors and out into the warm night. The stars were obscured by London's ever-present fog, but it was not an unpleasant evening, and the decorations made it seem personal and festive all at once.
"Sansosake? That rings of an Asian heritage, and yet you do not appear to be from the East." She spoke her thoughts aloud, but fishing for a reply.
"You have been there then?"
She drew in a deep breath before answering. He had deftly sidestepped the query, but she didn't mind. It was definitely a beautiful evening, she was curious as to where his final destination was as it appeared as though they were meandering around the large balcony toward the front of the building.
"Yes, my father took me there when I was a young child." Ellisa put the bait out to see if he would mention her not so advanced age.
"You must have had a charmed childhood, Lady Morgan." The tone in his voice changed briefly, it almost caused her to recoil before he pulled up to a halt on his own.
"Lady Morgan, let me introduce you to Lord Gregor Stoltz. He has some business he cares to discuss in private."
Before she could respond, Sanosake bowed and retreated, leaving her alone with a man she had begun to believe existed only in rumors.
Date: 11 Apr 2002 13:14:32 EDT
Beginning of the Story III
(Part 8 of ?)
He slid his hand onto her arm and began to lead her across the room toward the balcony. "You will forgive my forwardness, Lady Morgan, will you not?"
Ellisa found herself being lead without protest by this stranger. Somewhere in the back of her mind things seemed wrong, her sixth sense tried to warn her without success in the face of so handsome a facade. "I will forgive you, but only if you do one thing for me first."
An unrelentingly powerful gaze turned to look at her quizzically. "Sooth, just one thing?"
"Forsooth, I require your name, Sir." Not as forward as she usually was, but somehow with this man it was more difficult. She felt like a child asking for forbidden candies, made more intense by the soft chuckle the request elicited.
"I am rather unimportant, but you may call me Sansosake." He spoke as he lead her past the glass doors and out into the warm night. The stars were obscured by London's ever-present fog, but it was not an unpleasant evening, and the decorations made it seem personal and festive all at once.
"Sansosake? That rings of an Asian heritage, and yet you do not appear to be from the East." She spoke her thoughts aloud, but fishing for a reply.
"You have been there then?"
She drew in a deep breath before answering. He had deftly sidestepped the query, but she didn't mind. It was definitely a beautiful evening, she was curious as to where his final destination was as it appeared as though they were meandering around the large balcony toward the front of the building.
"Yes, my father took me there when I was a young child." Ellisa put the bait out to see if he would mention her not so advanced age.
"You must have had a charmed childhood, Lady Morgan." The tone in his voice changed briefly, it almost caused her to recoil before he pulled up to a halt on his own.
"Lady Morgan, let me introduce you to Lord Gregor Stoltz. He has some business he cares to discuss in private."
Before she could respond, Sanosake bowed and retreated, leaving her alone with a man she had begun to believe existed only in rumors.