Eastport (closed)

[ThaDonger]

He steps from the deck of the ship. His bones ache and body is weary. Marcus has not see this place in over 6 years. Scanning his surroundings, lots has changed.

When the crown came calling, his father was to head the call. His father however was old and incapable of battle. So like any son, Marcus took up his fathers sword and honored his houses name.

But at what cost? He had received word 2 years ago of his fathers passing. Now standing on this run down pier, looking over a city in disarray, what is to become of Eastport.

He walks the narrow streets towards his home. True he is Lord now, but there was no one to inform of his arrival. His cousin sit in the Keep, only in name, no true claim.

Marcus pauses outside an old wooden door. He remembers this place. This was the location all the sailors from around the world would visit. Now it sits, empty it seems. Marcus opens the door and steps inside. The lighting is poor to say the least, with only a handful of candles lighting the once grand room.

Stepping to the bar, Marcus takes a seat, the stool creaking loudly under his weight.

Holding up a finger "Mead" he says to anyone within ear shot.

 

[Makisan]

The Red Headed Muff had been seen better days. 7 generations ago, it was run by the current owner's great-great-great grandmother, a feisty and burly woman who could drink any sailor under the table. The great-great-grandmother turned the burly bar into a more sophisticated place, hiring only red-headed maidens to help serve patrons. The great grandmother kept that tradition but went back to her grandmother's way of running things by drinking men under the table. The current owner's grandma almost made the bar into a whore house but the owner's mother damn near hurled her own mother out the bar for that.

A redheaded maiden swept dirt from the floor, another one stood behind the bar, watching the Lord walk in, not sure who he actually was.

"ACK, mead he says!" An old patron spat from the fire. "Might as well be drinkin' HORSE PISS," he wheezed.

"That's enough outta you," someone called from the kitchen area.

"Don't you chastise me, you--"

"Another word and I swear on your father--"

"Don't you bring my father into this! He was a great man!"

The drunk stood up and wobbled, taking a swig of the horse piss he was drinking and walking toward the kitchen.

A tall woman with shoulder length black hair with grey streaks toward the front came into view, the fire making her brown skin glow.

"Come on, then! Take a swing at me so I can throw you out again, Bernard!" She bellowed, rolling up her sleeves and putting her fists up.

Bernard stared at her, said something under his breath and sat back down, finishing his piss.

"Hmph, pansy."

She rolled her eyes and pulled her hair back, looking at the newcomer, her demeanor changing

"Girls, your shift is over," she said, nodding to them. "I'll run your coin to your homes after close. You'll get a full days pay."

The girls nodded back and cleaned up, taking Bernard with them. The bar owner was thankful for that small grace. She walked behind the bar and pulled out a bottle from a lockbox, setting it in the bar. The amber liquid shimmered in the firelight as she poured it into a mug for the Lord.

"I know better than to pour you our horse piss," she joked, smiling at him as she passed him the mug.

 

[ThaDonger]

Marcus takes the mug, tips it in the direction of the woman, then turns the mug skyward. Half gone, he places it on the bar.

"What happened here?" Looking around. "Use to be a nice place" he pauses, realizing what he had just said. "No offense"

"The entire city seems different to me" he admits, finishing his drink.

He pushes the empty glass in her direction. "Another and pour yourself one as well"

It feels good to just unwind. 6 plus years of battle and 7 months on that ship, Marcus was glad to be home, but heartbroken at the same time. His land, his families land, is in shambles and hardly noticeable. His cousin has failed at leading his people. This will be an interesting reunion to say the least.

 

[Makisan]

She raised an eyebrow, pouring him another mug, not following his rule of pouring one for herself.

"War is what happened," she said bluntly. "Do you really think we wouldn't feel the effects of that bullshite?" Her voice was tinged with anger.

"A year after that mess started, the worst of those knights practically assaulted every child free woman and girl child because your father was too old and frail to tell your cousin no. This place was a Haven for them folk because someone thought it would be best to send the best and the up and coming warriors with that bullheaded Thrope instead of leaving a few of them here to check your cousin! Taxes have gone up so he can play pretend king! When you father died, there was an exodus of women folk because they didn't feel safe. When the knights and warriors came home last year, the husbands wondered where their wives and daughters were! And there was almost a fucking mutiny! So many people died trying to stick up to your cousin! Just because war is hell for you on the field, doesn't mean it wasn't for us commoners too."

She crossed her arms and sighed, lowering her head.

"Your father died not knowing what actually happened out here. Those two girls i sent home? They were here to see their own cousin off when he went to war. He didn't come home. So they were stuck watching his house. The tax man came asking for money. They didn't have any. So it was either stoning, servicing the knights in the tower or working for me. And that last option only happened because I happened to walk by. Who knows how many girl folk went to that castle."

She spat on the floor before going to tend to the fire.

"I killed many people in this here bar, you know."

 

[ThaDonger]

Marcus notices she does not pour herself a mug and could you really blame her. Her words resonate inside his head. He knew the cause of all this, his leaving to fight a war for the crown his ancestors swore allegiance to. His young, inexperienced cousin claiming the keep in his absents once his father passed. All these contributed to the down fall of this city, but what he was unaware of was how.

He knew there were less young women around, he noticed that rather quickly. He just assumed that most moved on as their husbands and fathers returned.

He sits at the bar, looking at the mug of mead she had refilled. Did he deserve this special brew? After all, she did refer to him as a Lord. He is a Lord, by birth right, but here he sits on his land as someone else sits in the Keep. He tosses some coin on the bar, pushes the mug forward away from him.

"Thank you Ma'm. Hope that covers what I owe you." He looks around the dimly lit tavern once more "Well for the mead anyway."

Marcus head to the door and out to the cobble stone street. With a deep breath, he begins the long journey up the steep hill to the Keep, passing his people along the way. All look at him, as if a ghost walks the streets.

A couple hours later, Marcus stands outside the walls of the Keep.

"Open the gates!" Marcus yells out.

"Who are you?" a guard replies.

"Marcus, Son of Owen" he quickly answers, observing all the guard post around the gates.

There is long pause of silence before the gate opens. An older knight exits, surrounded by 4 guards, walks directly up to Marcus. Only a couple of feet from him, the elder man stops, staring at Marcus.

"Marcus?" the elder says.

Marcus recognizes his fathers long trusted guard, Barton.

"Yes Barton, it is I" Marcus answers him.

Barton steps up to him, embraces him.

"Welcome home my Lord" Barton says with a smile, one that Marcus does not return. "Come, we have lots to discuss."

 

[Makisan]

She heard him go, still too angry and upset, and prideful, to have that man look at her tear stained face.

Six years ago seemed like such a lifetime ago, where they were both young, even though Marcus was still the oldest one between them. She had just started out on learning how to run the business, sweeping with the barmaids and clearing tables, so that she could get a real feel for how people think of her in this business.

She was angry almost every night, screaming into her pillows fr the fact that she couldn't punch or fight these sailor men in the face for how they treated her.

"Aye, Hera raised this one right, didn't she?"
"Sure did. That one is just ripe for pickin'."

It wasn't until her 4th year as a barmaid, three weeks after her 24th birthday when she finally snapped and pulled a knife on a man, easily on his throat, her nose against his.

"One more word, and I'll spill you dry."

The bar went silent.

She was startled by a knock on the door, the noise distracting her from the memory in the fire.

 

[ThaDonger]

Walking directly intto the Keep, Marcus trying his best to control his temper after hearing the stories from the Bar Maiden.

Approaching the large double doors to the keep, two gaurds stand outside, Marcus does not let this slow his stride.

"Open it!" as he continues forward.

The gaurds recognize Marcus and not to mention the 10 armed soldiers that follow him. The doors swing open, as they enter the hall. Marcus finds his cousin, Philip, standing off to the side at large table with 2 armed men.

"Cousin." Philip calls out, somewhat inquisitively, completely unaware of Marcus' return.

Marcus stops in the center of the great hall, looking towards Philip and what he can only assume to be his men. Marcus took great risk walking into this room the way he did. His military experience prepared him for what very well choild have been an ambush.

"You have lots to answer for cousin" standing with his hand on his families sword. "Take them, lock them away!"

The soldiers following Marcus into the hall, surround Philip and his men, quickly disarming them before taking them away.

Standing motionless in the center of the room, knowing all to well how this could have played out, Marcus takes several deep breaths as Barton walks up to his side.

"You know the Redheaded Muff?" Marcus ask.

"Aye my Lord" Barton answers, curious as to his question.

"Bring the Bar Maid here at once" he commands, walking towards the large seat in the center of wall.

Marcus is no King, and in his eyes, no Lord. Only ever serving his people on the field of battle. He removes the strap that holds his sword to his waist, leaning it against the seat.

**************************************************************

Four soldiers approach the old worn door of the Redheaded Muff. With two turned to protect the rear of the small detail, one knocks sternly on the old wood.

*BOOM...BOOM...BOOM* as the metal strikes the wood, echoing through the old tavern.

 

[Makisan]

She watched the door for a moment, still trying to be in the present before shaking off the sudden rush of adrenaline. She slowly unlocked the door and pried it open, staring up at the guards. She glared at them.

"Unless you're coming to shake me up again, we're closed," she replied, the one banging on the door showing a bit of embarrassment and shame, but mostly anger from being called out for something they had done weeks prior.

"You'll get your mone--" she started before being cut off by a fist to the chin.

"Lord Marcus wants to see you, wench. Move along."

She spat blood in his face.

"You and he can wait the five minutes it takes me for to put this fire out so I don't burn down the only source of drink you'll get for miles," she replied, turning away from the guard.

They followed her in, watching her pour sand on the small flame, doing a quick once over on her stock, locking up various safes and... Other hidden locks.

As she made her way back to the main door, the guard who slugged her grabbed her up by her collar, pulling her close to him.

"Oh, you suddenly got balls now that it's just me and not a whole tavern full of people who hate you?" She cackled in his face, laughing even harder when his face kept getting redder and redder the more she laughed.

He tossed her on the floor. "Hurry the fuck up," he said, walking outside. She giggled, standing up, not dusting off the wrinkles in her clothes, the scratches on her face, the bruise showing up on her face.

She walked between the guards, a smug grin on her face.

The sun had just went behind the horizon, so the sky was full of purples and oranges. The time where people were about to sit down for dinner or getting ready for bed. A few people were out, making the whispers start.

"Why is she being carted off?"

"Is she being arrested?"

"Who will serve us now?"

"Who will protect my daughter while I'm at work?"

"Is my wife being to be alright while I'm out in the fields?"

She waved to a few of them, the grin getting more and more ridiculous as they passed by people.

The guard who hit her tried to hide his anger more. She just laughed.

 

[ThaDonger]

Marcus wanders the great hall, reminiscing his time here as a boy then as a young man. It's unfortunate that he was not a man within these walls until now, now that the fate of everyone is on his shoulders.

Tthe door open to the hall and Marcus turns his head to find the gaurds escorting the tavern lady inside. He stares at her face, seeing the blood upon her lips before he turns back to the painting he was admiring.

"You can leave us." he instructes his gaurds.

"First, I want to thank you for bringing to light the transgressions of my cousin. He and his men will be dealt with swiftly. That you have my word on" he says, not even looking at her.

"You also have my word that anyone, anyone, unloyal or conspiring against these lands will be dealt with swiftly as well" Marcus turns and looks her in the eye. "Anyone"

He had asked around, of course only to the members of his court and gaurds only. The general consensus is, the Redheaded Muff is nothing more than a safe house for a rebellion.

Marcus turns his gaze back to the painting of his father. "He was a great and fair man, and just."

He walks off, towards a door to the back of the Great Hall. "Keep what I have told you at heart. You will not be told again."

Marcus exits the hall, walking a passage way lit by torches, approaching the Lords Chambers. Stepping inside, it is just as he remembers it, the large fire place he would sit in front of, signing with his mother. He steps out on to the balcony, placing his hands on the rail, looking over Eastport. This spot he remembers fondly. This is the spot he last saw his father, where he told him he would fight for the crown in his fathers name.

Marcus walks back into the chambers, his day was long and stressful. Dirty and sweaty Marcus undresses in the center of the room before walking to the wash basin closes to the balcony. He washes his face, splashing wather up from the large bowl, running his hands through his matted shoulder length hair. He quickly washes the essentials, arm pits and critch before drying himself with a cloth on the table.

He steps outside for one last look and one last feel of the cool night air off the bay. With a final deep breath, he walks to the bed, and turns in for the night. Tomorrow will be a busy day.

 

[Makisan]

She watched him stare at the painting, noticing how he was almost the mirror image of his father. The fact that no one noticed him upon his arrival should have been a strike against the entire city of Eastport. It was like looking at a young ghost.

"First, I want to thank you for bringing to light the transgressions of my cousin. He and his men will be dealt with swiftly. That you have my word on."

She nodded, her eyes not leaving his head. She was about to open her mouth when--


"You also have my word that anyone, anyone, unloyal or conspiring against these lands will be dealt with swiftly as well.
Anyone."

She closed her mouth and squinted at him.

"Yes, your majesty," was the cold response.

"He was a great and fair man, and just..."

She said nothing, biting the inside of her cheek. War really does make people forget. She clenched her fists, not even looking at the man who had changed in the 6 years he was off to war. Maybe the person she had been in talks with months before he left died on the field. She pushed that memory back.

"Keep what I have told you at heart. You will not be told again."

The threat made her skin hot. She ground her teeth, listening to him leave, closing the big, heavy doors behind him. She unclenched her jaw, her fists her shoulders and let out a deep sigh.

The walk home was going to be rough. The ass kissers that were in this room hours ago probably lied about her to stay in the king's good graces, as to not have a neck to axe meeting in a few months.

The walk home took hours, finally being able to pay her girls for their shifts.

"Stay home these next couple of days," she said to them. She had a feeling these men would be destroying her bar over and over again.

By the time, she got back to the Muff, she ended up crying after laughing; the bar was already overturned and ransacked. She walked through the damages, seeing if anything was stolen.

The box under the bar was safe, however. She unlocked it, pulling out the bottle she shared with the king before drinking it straight from the bottle. She gasped for air a moment later, the 3/4 full bottle now 1/4 full. She sighed, setting the bottle down. It was almost sunrise. Some of the homeless folk would be lining up outside, but she hadn't even started breakfast.

She closed the door, hammering a sign on it before going home to her own bed.

BAR CLOSED DUE TO BREAK-IN

 

[Makisan]

The first of the homeless gathered around the sign, pulling at the door handles, trying to get it to open. It wasn't until a homeless man that could read let the crowd know what happened. There were whispers from them and yelling from the regular common folk when the homeless hadn't cleared out from their breakfast only to tell even more when the tavern wasn't actually opened.

The mothers started to whisper among themselves about why it wasn't opened, wondering if the bar maid had been arrested, but for what they didn't know.

The rabble started to migrate from the docks where the tavern sat, to the marketplace, to the doors of the castle.

"WHY ISN'T THE MUFF OPEN?!"

"BRING BACK THE REDHEADED MUFF!"

"I WANT TO EAT MY ONLY MEAL OF THE DAY!"

"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KEEP MY GIRLS SAFE WHEN I'M OUT WORKING THE MINES?!"

"I WANT A DRINK!"

The crowd had gotten bigger the higher the sun had gotten.

The marketplaces was nearly empty, the vendors putting their wares away. It was around this time when the bar maid would bring cold water and a small tankard of beer as well as a heel of bread, so they could get through the rest of the day. In return, the vendors would give the bar maid some of their wares to serve for dinner at the tavern.

The woman had great reach in the city and to close the only place for miles to get a decent warm meal and a superb drink, was causing havoc the first day.

However, wherever she was, she hadn't heard news of this soft mob. She didn't stay in the city, no one knew where she actually lived. She never really went home, only taking small naps in the back when the bar was quiet. Wherever she was, she slept hard, drooling into a pillow.

 

[ThaDonger]

The sun edges over horizon, bathing the ocean and bay in it's warmth. Marcus stands out on the balcony feeling the warm rays on his bare skin, his eyes closed and head tilted back on his shoulders. He knows his responsibilities for administrating justice must be handled in the coming days. It is a burden on him, on any Lord, but one he knows he must face.

A knock on his chamber door snaps him back to reality. He turns and enters the cool dark room of his chambers.

Grabbing a pair of linen pants, placing his legs through them "Enter!" Marcus calls out, taking a seat at the end of the bed.

Barton enters "My Lord. There appears to be some commotion down by the docks, in particular the Redheaded Muff."

Marcus looks up at him "Something the gaurds can not handle?" Marcus questions, unsure as to why this is reaching him.

Barton looks at him "My Lord, the bar maid has not opened the doors as of yet." Barton steps closer to Marcus, "She was last seen being escorted here last evening."

He was told by his advisers of her rebellious ways. Secret meetings in the back of the tavern. Her building the trust of the people through manipulation of food and lodging. His advisers informed him a rebellion is coming and coming soon. Marcus took no action against ger the night before as he had no proof and due to his brief history with her before leaving for war.

Marcus looks up at Barton then stands, pulling the linen shirt over his head. "Why has it not opened? Make it your priority. Call it my need to know"

"At once my Lord" Barton turns and exits the chambers.

Marcus walks to window, overlooking the city. He knows this could get bad. He has seen similar actions in war camps. He just needs to prepare himself if what his advisers say about her is true.

Marcus finishes dressing and walks out to the Great Hall. Enter the room, he calls to his lieutenant "Have the prisoners taken to the court yard."

"Yes my Lord" as two gaurds leave the Hall.

Marcus sits for a moment, contemplating his moves, twirling his families sword on the rock floor as time passes and words to no one.

"They are in the courtyard my Lord. They are drawing a fairly large crowd." a gaurd informs him.

Marcus gets to his feet, sheathing his great sword and walks out the Hall. His personal gaurds escort him out to a rock platform at the back wall of the courtyard. Stepping on the platform, Marcus looks out to the crowd, 75 to 100 citizens crowd the ground around the platform.

Standing in the center, the prisoners behind him, shackled and chained, on thier knees awaiting thier fate. He knows what must be done, cousin or not, they betrayed him.

"Treason will be dealt with swiftly and just! Regardless of status or birth!" Marcus begins his address.

***************************************************************

Barton and a group of ten gaurds approach the Muff" pushing thier way through the crowd. Barton knocks on the door with a closed fist, waiting impatiently for a response. Without one, he turns to the gaurd next to him "Do it" before stepping back.

Forcing thier way inside, the tavern is dark and empty. A couple men head to the back room where she is known to nap, empty.

"No ones here sir" his men inform him.

Barton looks around, the place has been ransacked. Broken boottle as furniture thrown about the tavern. What happened here? Who could have done such a thing?

Exiting the door, Barton leaves six of his men behind to guard the broken door as he leaves. He needs to report what he has found to Marcus.

 

[Makisan]

She didn't show back up into town until the wee hours of the next morning, pulling a cart of lumber, nails, hammers and other furnishings.

She gasped, dropping the cart behind her, running up to the tavern. The guard were still there, albeit asleep.

"What did you do to my door?!" She cried out, her temper not flairing up for once.

The sleepiest of the two grumbled and stood up straight.

"The tavern woman is to wait here while we send for Lord Marcus," he said, walking toward the keep.

She grunted, going back to her cart and pulling into the front of the bar. She tossed off her cloak, a brown linen shirt and black linen pants loosely hung on her body. She pulled her short hair back into a ponytail.

"Might as well get to work while we wait," she said, twirling a hammer in her hands. Her regular breakfast patrons showed up, offering to help.

 

[ThaDonger]

He stands on the platform overlooking the crowd. His words blunt. He turns to the prisoners, unsheeths his sword and starting with Philip, the cousin who betrayed his families house, removes his head with a single swing, before continuing down the line with the remaining prisoners.

Wih justice handed down, Marcus returns to his chambers, washes his hands, then sits in a large wooden chair with a goblet of wine. The thoughts of the necessities of maintaining his families name weighs heavy on him until a knock breaks his peace.

He rubs the stress from his forehead with his free hand "Enter!"

Barton enters the Chambers "My Lord. We gained entrance to the tavern. It has been ransacked and the maiden nowhere to be found."

Marcus stares in the direction of the fireplace, "Why would people loyal to her do such a thing?"

Marcus stands, throws his black cloak over his shoulders before grabbing his sword. They exit his chambers, Barton close behind when one of his personal guards walk up.

"My Lord, a solider just reported that the bar maid has returned to the Redheaded Muff" he informs him.

Marcus turns to Barton, "have my mount saddled."

****************************************************************

The sound is almost defeating as ten horses make thier way down the narrow coble stone streets. The group stops outside the Redheaded Muff, forming a barrier between Mracus and the commoners. Marcus dismounts his black horse alng with two of his personal guards. As they approach the front door, or wat once was the door, the guards step inside first, followed closely behind by Marcus.

Standing in the doorway, his large 6 ft 4 frame blocks what lightmanaged to shine in. His eyes pick her from the crowd of peasants with ease.

The loose linen did little to conceal her modesty as Marcus stood there, admiring her form through the poorly fitted clothing. With her short black hair pulled back, lifting boards and basically doing the job of several men, his full attention was focused on her.

Marcus' admiration of her was cut short as the silence is broken when a guard announces his presence..

 

[Makisan]

The common folk stayed on their knees, saying their "your grace"'s and "my Lord"'s, while the maid stood up, wiping the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. She

"What?" She asked flatly. "Can a lady get some work done in her place of business or am I being arrested?" She asked, hands on her hips. The sweat on her chest dampened the linen shirt she wore, the shape of her brown skinned breasts starting to come through.

"Terra, please speak only kindness to Lord Marcus" one of the older men said from the back.

She scoffed. The sun peeked in behind Marcus, landing rays of light into the maid, Terra's, deep honey brown eyes that squinted at Marcus. She didn't move but the guards could tell that she came up to his chin. She was small for her size, but she made up for it in speed and hidden strength in her rage.

"He ain't that different from me or you, ya know? Just because he is his forgotten later when he dies, that doesn't mean people will always remember him." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"That is the commoners truth. We will always be forgotten."

The common folk murmured amongst themselves.

"Is she drunk?"
Maybe she was kidnapped and this isn't actually Terra?"
"Let's just keep cleaning..."

One of the guards, however, perked up a bit.

 

[ThaDonger]

As the commoners remained on thier knees, offering what has been common birthright privileges for centuries, Marcus actually found her defiant attitude rather humorous. He did his best to not draw attention to his gaze once she turned around. The thin cloth did little to hide or diminish the full shape of her breast within the hot tavern.

"A woman sure can" he replied taking a couple steps into the tavern. "And if I wanted you arrested, you would be in chains as we speak" stopping and looking her directly in the eye.

"He ain't that different from me or you, ya know? Just because he is his forgotten later when he dies, that doesn't mean people will always remember him."

Marcus laughs aloud at her remarks "Very true Terra. It is Terra right?" removing his thick heavy cloak and handing it to a guard.

Standing in the center of the room, his large frame towering over all "Is that your objective? To make a name for yourself? Be immortalized?" Marcus chuckles. "Let me tell you wench. I fought for 6 years beside a man who had those same aspirations. Thousands lost thier lives because of it."

Marcus grabs a chair, selecting one that was not brojen to firewood. He looks back to the bar, then to Terra "Have any more of that special mead?"

 

[Makisan]

"Is that your objective? To make a name for yourself? Be immortalized? Let me tell you wench. I fought for 6 years beside a man who had those same aspirations. Thousands lost thier lives because of it."

She smiled and shook her head. "And yet, you will remember his name and not the thousands of other people who fought for him. You Lord's are all the same," she said, turning back to the regular folk. "I can finish from here. Thank you very much, Greg, Fred and Moe."

The three men gathered their things and shook Terra's hand before skittishly walking past the guards and leaving the bar.

"Tell everyone I should be open next week!" She called out to the last one leaving. She looked at the guard who was actually paying attention, staring at her rather hard.

"What?" She asked. He blushed and turned away.

"Have any more of that special mead?"

She stared at his face, noticing the light scaring and five o clock shadow. She made her way behind the bar, pulling out the last of it.

"This is all I have left," she said, pushing the bottle to him. She set a tankard next to him. "All I have left is house swill. I won't be able to get the fan favorites until I reopen." She shrugged, walking from behind the bar and back to her project of rebuilding a table.

The guard slowly walked over to Marcus, leaning up to whisper.

"I know it's just... A wet nurse tale, but..." He took a deep breath.

"You should listen to her, or at least keep her close" he continued, watching her flip the heavy, thick oak table with ease, making sure the legs were stable.

"Commoners Truth... They have sense disbanded, but a lot of people who take care of the common rabble claim to be part of that group but she seems... Like should be. They were very close to kings and lords since they couldn't be with the small folk all the time," he continued, his mouth getting dry.

"She is doing honest work, my Lord. While she is brash, that is their code. They are not better or worse people because of who they are or what titles they got, they won't be remembered in a generation's time, so they help the people who might continue the Truth."

The guard was only half right. While the Commoners Truth was a group that went around helping refugees, old ladies and families, they were also not that close to leaders, the only exception being a person simply named 'Red' being in the courts with Lord Brian, Marcus' great-great grandfather. It was during that time that the Commoners Truth changed; yes, they helped the common folk, but they also gathered information and relayed it to Lord Brian to stop assassin's and war. They also killed conspirators that wanted to take down Eastport. It wasn't until Fake Lord Phillip came that the Commoners Truth was broken. So many pirates and hidden spies, that Terra had made notes about, roamed Eastport before Marcus got back. Who was to say that they wouldn't strike soon?

Terra grunted, pushing another table against the wall, standing back and looking at it. She frowned.

"No, that's ugly there," she said softly, pushing the table the other way.

 

[ThaDonger]

Marcus sits, listening to the guard intently. He turns in his direction "I should?" questioning his sudden loyalty. He shoves the tankard to the guard, stands and walks to where Terra is working on the table. Marcus grabs an end and assist her in moving into place.

He leans in to speak with her in relative private. "I know what you are doing, it's amicable. But your disrespect can be seen as treason." Marcus looks around the room. "If I allow a common tavern wench to speak ill of me...in my presence none the less, does that strengthen or weaken my house?" He leans further in, placing both hands firmly on the table. "You under mind my presence as Lord of these lands again...I will have your fucking head."

He shakes the table top, as if inspecting for stability before he stands, straightens his shirt. He looks Terra up and down yet again. The sweat on her body has caused the thin linen to cling to her as if it were skin almost. He collects himself, and turns to leave.

Throwing his cloak over his shoulder and pausing at this door, he looks to Barton. "Get her what she needs to get back on her feet" then starts to walk forward, stopping again "Oh and take some of the provisions from my storage and have them delivered here."

He looks over his shoulder at Terra "Hope you remember what was discussed and done here today."

He walks from the bar, mounts his horse and rides, followed closely behind his guards.

 

[Makisan]

The guard stammered a bit at the tankard, taking a small sip, mouth open about how good it tasted.

Terra cocked an eyebrow at Marcus and smiled, her face lighting up.

"Of course, your Grace, my sincerest apologies. With all that's happened with the bar, I forgot my place," she said, bowing her head.

When they left, she watched the guard who was staring at her. He looked back, blushed and hurried outside.

She crossed her arms and shook her head, going back to work.

A week and a day later, the tavern was reopened. In the morning, due to rain, it was practically dead but in the late afternoon, when everyone was off work, the bar suddenly picked up business. Four redheaded girls moved through the tables with ease, dropping off food and drink to patrons. Terra was in her tiny spare room, working the numbers, figuring out how much she lost in pay the past week and how long it would take to get back in the black.

She frowned, groaned and tossed her quill on the book, her eyes hurting. She looked up when the patrons started yelling out. She got up and walked into the bar area, watching the drinks greet the sailors who came back from a month at sea. One of them spotted Terra and smiled at her. She grinned and winked at him before heading back to her numbers book.

It was a few hours until close before there was a knock on her door. She pulled it open and laughed when the sailor snuck in, grabbing her by the waist and kissing at her neck as he closed the door. It was still a bit cracked open, but they ignored it, opting to undress her and push everything off the table.

 

[ThaDonger]

A week and a day has passed, Marcus sits in a room on the east wing having just finished a meeting with his advisers. In the short amount of time since his return, moral among his subjects has improved. A given since there was no further it could have sank really. But poverty is still high within the walls of his city and coin is not easy to come by.

Looking out the windows, overlooking the fields and farmers huts Marcus drinks his rum, a gift from the across the sea.

"My Lord" a voice interrupts his peaceful silence.

Turning in that direction, a young nobleman, Kenneth, stood in the doorway. Marcus served under his father during the war. Unfortunately, his father did not return.

"Yes young Kenneth" Marcus replies, taking another drink of his rum.

"You asked to be informed of the Redheaded Muff's reopening Sir. It opened this morning" he informs him.

"Very well. Thank you." Marcus answers without breaking his gaze from the window.

The door creeks as Kenneth opens it to leave. "Wait. Have 10 cases of this rum delivered there today. Call it a reopening gitlft or what ever from me."

"Yes my Lord, at once" he respectfully agrees as he exits.

Once two wagons are loaded with the ten cases, a number of guards, including one who may be smitten with Terra, exits the keep towards the Muff. Being so close to the Docjs, it takes some time to traverse the narrow streets with such two wagons in tow. They arrive outside the tavern a few hours before closing time.

There was no way they were dragging all this back up the hill. A guard dismounts and walks into the tavern. Looking around the place is busy, packed with sailors and locals alike. He stops a redhead as she passes in front of him.

"We need to speak to the wench who runs this place" he commands, not wanting to appear weak amongst this crowd.

"She is unavailable" she explains, before attempting to walk off.

He pull her back slightly "Tell her to make herself available. Lord Marcus has a gift" he tells her, looking around the tavern.

Three other guards step inside as the young redhead walks to the one behind the bar. The bar maid looks over at the gaurds and steps to the back, walking to Terra's private quarters. Just before she knocks, she finds the door slightly ajar.

Peering inside, she finds the contents of the desk thrown about the floor with Terra perched atop the desk and an unknown person kissing and groping her body. She hesitates, not really wanting to disturb the two, but in her experience, if she doesn't the guards will tear the place apart looking for her.


*knock...knock...* she taps on the door gently. "Ma'm. There are some guards here for you."

 

[Makisan]

Terra groaned into the sailor's neck, placing a hand on his wrist, pulling back his hand from between her legs. She slid off the table, grabbing her clothes and pulling them on. The sailor licked his fingers before straightening out his own clothes. He pulled her close once she was dressed, kissing at her neck one last time.

"When the sun kisses the flowers open," he whispered to her, kissing her forehead and leaving the bar with his crew. The bar seemed way more empty when the crew left, only a few locals left behind.

Terra cleared her throat, rolling up her sleeves as she walked out.

"How can I be of service to you?" She asked the guard, bowing her head to him. She peered out the window, her eyes wide open.

"Who are those for? From who?" She asked, walking past the guards and looking at the carts. She placed a hand on her hip and a hand on her chest, surprised that there were ten barrels here.

She turned and walked back inside, staring at the lead guard.

"Have you all eaten yet? Are you hungry? I'll have the cook make you something to eat. Also, I have something to send back with you."

She rushed to the kitchen, helping the cook make several steaks cooked to a medium perfection and a side of potatoes that were somewhat cheesey with a lot of kick from a small pepper that didn't hurt on the way out. She had them sit at a table in the back, away from the common rabble, personally serving them their food and tankards of red wine.

As they ate, she and another rolled the barrels down to the basement, putting them in rotations with her old stock. She rushed to the back, pulling out her ring of keys and unlocking her hidden stock. Hundreds of these golden amber mead she served Marcus glittered at her. She pulled out twelve, rushing back upstairs, putting ten in a bag for Marcus and the other two in another bag for the guards who sat in her bar.

She handed Kenneth the bigger bag.

"Please give this to him as a trade, yes?" She asked, her face dewey from all the running around she did in the past hour. She handed him the smaller bag. "These are for you and your guards. Thank you for bringing me this rum! I thought I was going to have to close again until I got in my shipment."

 

[ThaDonger]

The guards sit and eat, eat as if they were not going to see another meal. Most are very surprised, Kenneth being one, at the level of quality this place has in food and drink. After all, it has been here next to the piers for generations. To be honest it is not much to look at from the outside.

"I will at once. And thank you for the food and drink." Kenneth says, taking the big bag.

They all exit and proceed to thier horses. The last guard, the same from the previous week, turns to Terra "Uumm, sorry if we interrupted anything" then smiles and slides his helmet over his head.

Two weeks have passed, Marcus rides to the piers, eager for this day. In the last couple weeks, he has been working deals with kingdoms across the oceans to utilize Eastport as a port for repair and provisions. His job now is make the port area appealing and to expand the docks.

He and his personal guards ride past the Redheaded Muff before stopping a few feet past. He walks the piers with prominent members of the city as well as black smiths, wood workers and shoreman.

Marcus lays out his plan while standing dock side, overlooking the vast bay that Eastport has to offer. His beluefs are, between the men needed to construct this grand idea and the ships supplying the materials, other business will flourish and spring up around here. In return, they will sink the money back into thier businesses and Eastport will thrive once again.

The time is 2:00pm when they finish the discussion pier side. Marcus invites the two Lords who accompanied him, Francis and William, whose lands Marcus hopes to utilize for lumber. Walking back to thier horses, Marcus instead offers them a drink, a drink inside the Redheaded Muff.

The doors open suddenly, the bright lights of mid day bright into the dark tavern. Several guards, some only the elder patrons recognize the armor, step through the door. Marcus and the two Lords enter behind them, stopping once inside. He looks around, not for a table, but for Terra herself.

 

[Makisan]

The bar was empty, aside from a few dick workers have a beer before work. They finished their beers, leaving their tab and an extra coin for Terra before hurrying out of the tavern.

Terra came out from the back, holding her back of numbers in one hand, a quill in her mouth and pulling her hair out of his normal ponytail with the other.

She blinked, dropping her book and quill, pulling her hair back with both hands before bowing at the three lords.

"Lord Marcus. Lord William. Ser Francis," she said quietly, before standing back up.

She smiled at them before turning her attention to Marcus.

"Anything you need? Mead?" She asked, picking up her book and quill off the ground.

"I haven't thanked you for what you have done," she asked, gesturing toward the tavern itself. The furnishings and decorations were updated, cleaned and we're covered in the colors of Eastport in someway.

Terra was able to get new clothes as well, her red linen shirt and wide, black linen pants wicked the sweat from her body from the hot tavern, not as as thin as her clothes she defied Marcus in.

 

[ThaDonger]

"Yes please. Mead would be great" Marcus says as he removes his cloak and hands it to a guard.

He pulls a chair from the closest table and sits as Francis and William remove thiers and sit. Marcus looks around noticing all the changes she has made in the last few weeks.

"I haven't thanked you for what you have done"

"Please, no need to thank me." Marus tells her, with a wide smile on his face as he notices the new outfit she wears.

He can not compliment her on that, nor can he tell her how beautiful he thinks she looks. Not with the two other Lords seated with him. What would they think? He needs the lumber from thier lands.

"I have heard rumors around the Keep from a few guards in reference tothe food you serve here" Marcus says, looking up at Terra. "Any chance your still serving steak?"

 

[Makisan]

Terra nodded at his request for mead and steak, bowing her head one last time before walking back into the kitchen. The cooks didn't come in for another hour or so, so it was just her. She danced around the kitchen, sprinkling dashes of seasoning on their fancier cuts of meat. One of the dock workers brought in several lobsters, so she boiled up some, pulling out the meat from the tail and claw, whisking then together with butter and her spicy potatoes.

It was about 45 minutes before she came from out of the kitchen, carrying a large tray. On each plate was a steak, cook to a medium-well that still oozed a bit when you cut into it, the lobster potatoes and a small bowl of salad garnished with fruit and nuts. She placed each plate in front of the Lord's before walking off and coming back with their tankards, filled with her special mead.

"Anything else I can do for ya?" She asked, her face shiny with sweat, a bead rolling down her face, down her neck, into her cleveage.