The parchment was crumpled by delicate, porcelain fingers balling into fists. Leaning forward waves of smooth, well-brushed hair hid a young tear-stained face. Her shoulders convulsed slowly as the young woman let her heart sink beneath the sobs. Perhaps if she cried hard enough she would achieve the impossible; maybe with just enough prayer he would turn around and simply return home. If she had even an ounce more strength she would simply allow herself to join him in the Great Beyond.<br/><br/>If only wishing made it so. None of that was possible, though. Nor was it reasonable. Gilles was not coming back. And it was entirely his fault.<i>Argh!</i>No. It was his fault. He did this, him and his silver tongue, with promises of fortune, and power. How she detested that old fool with every fiber of her being!<br/><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F23%2F7b%2Fa8%2F237ba8a780724753216f44c60519d050.jpg&amp;hash=790c6de3c36385a39a992cbbffd9d05c" href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/23/7b/a8/237ba8a780724753216f44c60519d050.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Neya Orsini</a>had loved her father once; she adored him. Her father, Rodrigo Orsini, had been her entire world, and he had made her into a formidable, headstrong woman. Everything she had: her education, her station, her zeal—all of this were the things he taught her to be. And now he sought to rob her of it all… and all because she was in love. Did her father’s ambitions have no boundaries? His selfishness?<br/><br/>Lord guide her, she didn’t know what to do. It was hopeless. It would only be a matter of time before she received word that her husband, like so many others, would be reported as lost in action; another merchant’s vessel that simply vanished. Neya was to be a widow before her marriage had survived even a year.<br/><br/><b><i>Thud!</i></b><br/><br/>The girl’s head snapped up, her face pale, save for the rosy streaks of her tears. Her red-rimmed eyes were wide, as she took in the rogue, covered in street dust. Even from her small distance she could smell the tavern upon his breath—cheap day-old stew that had likely been washed down by wheat ale from barrels left out in the heat for too long. This was the last thing she needed today: some cut purse who had already decided he wanted more than her gold.<br/><br/>Slowly, Neya shook her head as she crossed her arms across her still-loose bodice (in today’s heat, no woman in her right mind would suffer a properly laced<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sarahfrench.net%2Fimages%2Fhistorical%2Frenaissance%2Frenaissance-middle-class-bodice-striped-skirt-detail.jpg&amp;hash=09d50c2cb814250a7bc5f45081506d00" href="http://www.sarahfrench.net/images/historical/renaissance/renaissance-middle-class-bodice-striped-skirt-detail.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">corset</a>). Narrowing her cool moss-hued eyes she slowly pointed to the window and opened her mouth to order him to return to whichever stone he crawled out from beneath.<br/><br/>The young woman never got that opportunity, as she heard voices and the echo of boots from just outside the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F2a%2F0c%2Faa%2F2a0caa6bfa08cc4ed2e81fc36682753a.jpg&amp;hash=d8d9d89cc2fe2e735ed5902e4b85bed9" href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2a/0c/aa/2a0caa6bfa08cc4ed2e81fc36682753a.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">bedroom </a>door. Looking up, she cursed the fickle God above, and quietly asked him what she did to deserve today’s injustices. The immortal Old Codger was almost as bad as her father.<br/><br/>Her gaze leveled back at the rogue in front of her, and she jabbed her thumb at the old rickety<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F564x%2Fff%2F39%2F8d%2Fff398d12a2a1a752131820ff6d5d1c0c.jpg&amp;hash=7993f995616f103e77e406069f6853b1" href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ff/39/8d/ff398d12a2a1a752131820ff6d5d1c0c.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">wardrobe </a>behind her. “Get in!” she hissed through her teeth, “and don’t make a sound!”<br/><br/>Taking control of the situation, she rushed over and just about shoved the man into the small cramped space among the mess of linens and hanging apparel. Quickly, she slammed the door shut just as the bedroom door opened. Neya wasted no time.<br/><br/>“<b>You son of a whore!</b>” She threw the balled-up parchment at the older man who now stood just inside the room. “This is all your fault! I swear I could claw your eyes out with my bare hands, and leave your feeble old carcass for the vultures! Why did you do it, huh?!<b>WHY?!</b>He’s my husband!”<br/><br/>Just as fast as she could speak the girl found new objects to throw at the older man standing in the doorway—her bedside candlestick, a wooden cup, and finally her own straw pillow that came apart and showered down upon the humble bed she shared with her husband. He stood tall, as he always did, in bright finery as would any merchant of his stature. Frowning, he merely stood there in the doorway, hands clasped together, looking down his rather large and distinctive nose.<br/><br/>After a brief silence between father and daughter, the man raised a bushy white eyebrow. “Do you care to hear my explanation? Or would you like to throw a few more objects at me?”<br/><br/>“You know that expedition is cursed. And folly. And foolish.<b><i>And not real!</i></b>It doesn’t exist, never did. It’s just some savage’s folklore.<br/><br/>“And you… you knew that we were happy just as we were. He was making a fair wage through the docker’s guild.” New tears started to well as Neya’s lips trembled. “It’s not fair!”<br/><br/>“And what makes you think this time will be like the others? I have as much at stake as you, but Gilles is a competent sailor. And first mate now. Did he not tell you of his promotion before he left this morning? I promoted him myself, and will be serving under Captain Flannigan. This time I spared no expense for the best crew, and I ensured that Flannigan hand-picked every able-bodied man from the quartermaster down to the lowly swab. This time, you’ll see, and when we find what we’re looking for we will be rich. Your husband will be rich enough to see that you live comfortably,<i>as you should</i>, for the rest of your life.<br/><br/>“Now, then, if you are quite finished having your little outburst, I have come to invite you to come stay with me until your husband returns. It is inappropriate for you to live… in a place like this while your husband is at sea. I’ve already had Sancha prepare your rooms.”<br/><br/>“No. I’m not going. I want nothing from you. At all. Ever again.” Neya crossed her arms, and looked toward the open window where the sun’s blinding light cast its stifling heat into the small room. Was there nowhere comfortable on these blistering days?<br/><br/>The older man sighed, his cheeks turning flush as they always did when he got upset. “Now don’t be ridiculous. If you stay here, then it will only be a matter of time before you find yourself in trouble. Why just now I saw a band of unsavory individuals with clubs looking to-”<br/><br/>“I’ll take my chances,” Neya spat, “I’d rather live down among these cutpurses and murderers than spend another moment with someone like you. At least these ‘filth’ as you call them are honest. Now get out of my home!”<br/><br/>“Neya…” the man warned as he slowly un clasped his hands, his shoulders stiffening as if he were about to move from his spot.<br/><br/>She merely shook her head, and held her ground, knowing full well what her father was capable of doing should he wish to force the matter. Raising her chin she looked him in the eye, almost daring him to try. It was mere moment that passed between the man--one of the five<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F40%2F49%2Fa1%2F4049a10ee40f77600d64c4c4a641bd8d.jpg&amp;hash=d71ff4469012b58a6db436159c66e960" href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/40/49/a1/4049a10ee40f77600d64c4c4a641bd8d.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Merchant Princes of Arisent</a>--and his daughter, but it was the span of a lifetime. She was certain that she did not breathe, as if the silence were disturbed then she would lose. In the end, however, she did, in fact, win. It was a small victory, and her father was not one who liked to lose.<br/><br/>Shaking his head, Orsini turned back from the door strolling through the small living room and out the door. “You have until sundown tomorrow to return of your own free will, daughter. After that I will return and have you dragged out of here if necessary.”<br/><br/>Closing her eyes, Neya swayed where she stood, and quickly sunk down onto the bed, before her nerves turned her legs to water. Slowly, Neva took a long steadying breath.<br/><br/>“You can come out now,” she said quietly to the wardrobe, as she stared blankly ahead, trying now to make sense of her ruin that was now her life.