<hr/><div align="center">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/5/51/Images-300.jpeg)(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/5/54/Images-4.jpeg)<br/>(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ec/Animated-music-note-image-0012.gif)<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">PROLOGUE TO</span><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">ALIESA  SILVEREYES</span><br/></span></strong></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><em>The Tankard of Eels Tavern, Marsember<br/>1365, NINETEEN YEARS AGO</em></div><br/><hr/><br/>This is the tale of the one night stand Vendyal Rudnik would never forget...<br/>The Tankard of Eels was packed while a thunderstorm raged outside. Tension was hot and thick in the air. Strangers glared at one another.<br/>It was what her late husband would call a night of the long knives. She said a small prayer to Lucha, Selûne, the Lady of Silver, rest his soul.<br/><br/>Since his untimely passing, it was on Vendyal and their daughter Raedr (18) and sons Naval (20), and Sarai (22) to run the tavern in his absence.<br/>Grumpy men complained the place wasn't the same. Raedr and Naval were glad to work but Sarai longed to join the Corymyrian Navy.<br/><br/>Out of the tempest, through the banging door, the white-haired Henry Weaver entered trudging. All at once, the thunderstorm stopped.<br/>He shivered some sleet and soaked leaves off his coat and his black bandore. His silver eyes shone brightly, killing one glare at a time.<br/>Sarai seated him at a table where he stood nearby with seven cloaked jars, refusing to sit down and relax.<br/>Naval said the man hungered but refused to order. Raedr whispered that he was a bard who refused to play!<br/><br/>Vendyal puzzled so. What was a bard doing at a tavern if he was not drinking or singing?<br/>Strange business, this. She gingerly approached his table.<br/><br/><em>"You'll need to buy something, fella,"</em>Vendyal clasped her hands together.<em>"Perhaps something warm to shake off the rain?"</em><br/><br/>The man with the stunning silver eyes glanced and studied her a moment.<em>"I'm Henry Weaver."</em><br/><br/>She resumed,<em>"Some haute cheese soup? Pure whey protein?"</em><br/><br/><em>"Soup, thank you, miss...?"</em>He said nothing else and watched her go. He became pensive just then.<br/><br/>Vendyal told Raedr to prepare the meal when Naval teased,<em>"You've certainly piqued his interest, Mother."</em><br/><br/><em>"Naval..."</em>Vendyal blushed, nearly scolding.<br/><br/><em>"Well! I just see you always hard at work, that's all. Don't you get lonely?"</em><br/><br/><em>"Sensible people don't go looking for trouble. I've aged."</em><br/><br/><em>"Not by much but you're right, Mother. Men must be hellhounds. As I've heard,"</em>Naval mentioned, filling up a mug with frothy Elm Lager.<br/><br/><em>"Didn't Father give you trouble?"</em>Sarai returned from mingling with three soldiers at their table, carrying their gold.<br/><br/><em>"Mischief, sure, but your father never gave me trouble. He was a principled man. It was easy to trust him."</em><br/><br/>With that said and how the boys worried for their mother ensured her that she did indeed raise fine men.<br/><br/>Raedr brought out the soup,<em>"Here. Careful, it's scalding hot. Look, Mother, he's playing!"</em><br/><br/>The Rudnik family and the patrons looked on at this beauty and beast, an arctic wild man in elegant silky clothes standing on stage.<br/>Surrounding his feet were uncloaked jars laid out in a half-moon, gleaming yellow from the lowly humming and swarming fireflies...<br/>He summoned invisible hands, then a silver mandolin for them to hold. He summoned silver drums and together they played on.<br/><br/>He had closed his eyes in the dim firefly glow.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">The Yellow Song He Sang</div><div class="spoiler_body">https://youtu.be/8DiHqk_WkKI</div></div><br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Look at the stars, look how they shine for you!<br/>And everything you do...<br/>Yeah, they were all yellow..." ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>His silver eyes, which became golden, opened and looked at Vendyal. And Vendyal couldn't look away.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "I came along, I wrote a song for you!<br/>And all the things you do...<br/>And it was called, 'Yellow'!!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>The music coupled with his serenading was haunting but fascinating. No one stirred.<br/>The entire tavern was petrified and yellow, paused in time hanging on every chime.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "So then I took my turn!<br/>Oh, what a thing to have done... <br/>And it was all yellow...<br/>Your skin! oh yeah, your skin and bones!<br/>Turn! into something beautiful!<br/>You know! you know I love you so!<br/>You know I love you so!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>He wailed this while moving his head so intensely, with veins from his neck, that you could feel what he felt.<br/>Vendyal shuddered and Naval grabbed her arm giggling,<em>"My stars, can he be our daddy?"</em><br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "I swam across, I jumped across for you!<br/>Oh, what a thing to do...<br/>'Cause you were all yellow...<br/>I drew a line, I drew a line for you!<br/>Oh, what a thing to do...<br/>And it was all yellow...<br/>Your skin! oh yeah, your skin and bones!<br/>Turn! into something beautiful!<br/>And you know! for you I'd bleed myself dry...<br/>For you I'd bleed myself dry!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>Henry Weaver bowed his head in defeat, his white hair hanging down.<br/>Then he looked up right at the ceiling, like it was not even there.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "It's true! look how they shine for you!<br/>Look how they shine for you...<br/>Look how they shine for..." ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>He stopped singing and playing, but the invisible hands still played on.<br/>This was his breather. He rolled and massaged his neck. He played again loudly.<br/>Even more patrons joined in, singing the chorus they've come to learn and love.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Look how they shine for you!<br/>Look how they shine for you!<br/>Look how they shine!<br/>Look at the stars, look how they shine for you<br/>And all the things that you do..." ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>Before Vendyal knew it, she had been clapping and singing too when the song ended on a trailing note.<br/>Patrons applauded as he cloaked the magic glowing jars again, bringing normalcy back to the tavern.<br/>Many approached the Bard, shaking his hands, asking for his name. The Bard said,<em>"I'm Henry Weaver."</em><br/><br/>Attracted men and women soured or grieved, asking why they were not enough to keep his attention.<br/><em>"Henry Weaver,"</em>they echoed as the Bard walked towards the hostess.<br/><br/>Henry had only eyes for Vendyal Rudnik and made sure she knew it.<br/>Raedr and Naval huddled up to an annoyed Sarai behind Vendyal.<br/><br/><em>"Have you my soup, miss?"</em><br/><br/>Raedr, an eager woman, pointed at the bowl set nearby,<em>"Yes, right there, good sir!"</em><br/><br/>Naval stepped forward,<em>"Her name's Vendyal Rudnik. She's a widow and our mother, so be gentle if you want to live!"</em><br/><br/><em>"Naval..."</em>Vendyal gave a warning growl.<br/><br/>Henry chuckled,<em>"You have a very charming family, Missus Rudnik, please to make your acquaintance. Would it be all right if I ate here?"</em><br/><br/><em>"That is perfectly all right--"</em>Naval started before Sarai clasped his blurting mouth.<br/><br/><em>"I don't see why not,"</em>Vendyal said coolly,<em>"If it pleases you to watch us toil away."</em><br/><br/><em>"I can certainly help out, I have manners,"</em>Henry insisted.<br/><br/>Vendyal laughed for the first time in years,<em>"Oh, I hadn't meant to impose!"</em><br/><br/>This surprised and softened even Sarai who decided to pick up the slack. The children worked harder that night so Vendyal could rest.<br/>They adored to see Henry elbow-deep in warm soapy water washing the dishes spotless and handing to Vendyal to dry at their leisure.<br/><br/>Naval stood on tiptoes when Vendyal returned but fell back to reality when her mother said,<em>"Don't get your hopes up, he's leaving tomorrow."</em><br/><br/><em>"Oh, couldn't he take us and the tavern with him?"</em>Naval twirled with stars in his eyes.<br/><br/><em>"No, but I am going with him for a stroll under the moon,"</em>Vendyal smirked, taking off her apron.<br/><br/>Raedr, Naval, and Sarai smiled watching the two open the door, letting in a wet cold draft. They walked out into the silver night.<br/><br/>Naval sighed, resting his chin on his hands at the counter.<em>"How passionate and fleeting. I'm never going to forget this."</em><br/><br/><em>"Certainly no one will,"</em>Sarai crossed his arms. Raedr shook her head in disbelief,<em>"Certainly not Mother."</em><br/><br/><em>"Do you think they're doing it?"</em>Naval asked. They eye-boggled,<em>"Out there!? You really think that way of our mother? She's not a barwench!" </em><br/><br/><em>"Relax, I was only asking what everyone was thinking,"</em>Naval wiggled his eyebrows.<em>"Get back to work,"</em>Sarai gave his command.<br/><br/>Raedr muttered lowly to herself over the steamy stovetop,<em>"I wouldn't mind another sister..."</em><br/><br/><br/><hr/><div align="center">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/5/51/Images-300.jpeg)(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/01/Rrq6pZs.jpg)<br/>(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ec/Animated-music-note-image-0012.gif)<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">PROLOGUE TO</span><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">GROZA KAAL</span><br/></span></strong></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><em>The Harbor, Starmantle<br/>1364, TWENTY YEARS AGO</em></div><br/><hr/><br/>This is the tale of Kor'ak Kaal the proud orc warrior who fell deeply in love with the Bard...<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">The First Song She Said Was a Nice Try</div><div class="spoiler_body">https://youtu.be/G_J8m7ZH0co</div></div><br/><br/><em>"Not you again!"</em>the city guard Kor'ak shouted in the street for all to hear.<br/>The half-naked white-haired man strummed his lute brazenly on a rooftop for all to see.<br/><br/>Kor'ak continued to shake and flail her sword,<em>"You're asking for a thousand nights in jail, pal!"</em><br/>He sang loudly like a howling cat,<em>♪ ♫ "Come a little closer baby!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/><em>"Very fun- If you're not coming down, I'm gun..."</em>she muttered climbing up a ladder.<br/><br/>He hopped along the roof on bare feet, plucking away the strings a crowing rooster under the full moon. This drew a crowd of spectators.<br/><em>♪ ♫ "I feel like laying you down... on a bed of sweet surrender, where we can work it all out!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>She looked down and growled.<em>"You are the devil, sir! Are you seriously going to make me come over there?!"</em><br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "There ain't nothin' that love can't fix. Girl it's right here at our fingertips, so come a little closer baby... I feel like layin' you down!"♪ ♫</em><br/><br/><em>"Sir, stop singing!"</em>Kor'ak screamed in pursuit, stabbing the roof almost losing footing herself.<em>"You're going to get yourself killed!"</em><br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Come a little closer baby, I feel like lettin' go...!" ♪ ♫</em>The Bard leapt off the roof, spun around in the air, strummed his lute, and fell.<br/><br/>Kor'ak rushed to the ledge and dared to look down. He landed safely in a cart of haystacks, and the fool was still singing!<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Of everything that stands between us, and the love we used to know! I want to touch you like a cleansin' rain and let it wash all the hurt away!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>He somersaulted out of the way when her boots came crashing down!<em>"Sir! Sir!"</em>Straws of gold flew!<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "So come a little closer baby, I feel like lettin' go..." ♪ ♫</em>The Bard threw his lute to a woman in the street.<em>"Take it away, Missus Marble."</em><br/><br/>This Missus Marble, an accomplice and accessory to his folly, had the deftest fingers and played even more beautifully than the Bard!<br/>The Bard kept singing, his voice now the most ambrosial, passionate and clearest anyone's heard in Starmantle in the longest time.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "If there's still a chance! Then take my hand! And we'll steal away...!<br/>Off into the night! 'til we make things right! The sun's gonna rise... on a better day...!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>Missus Marble banged her long brown hair back and forth, somehow concealing the delicate features of her freckled face.<br/>Kor'ak had half a mind to go after her first, but the Bard came between and attempted to give the orc a lap dance!<br/>She lunged for his wrists, but he smoothly twisted out of reach. He danced a half circle behind and ducked an elbow jab.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Come a little closer baby! I feel like strippin' it down..." ♪ ♫</em>Her armor clattered at their feet. She had not felt anything cut before this.<br/><em>"How did you-?"</em>Kor'ak stared confounded at this magic. He sang,<em>♪ ♫ "Back to the basics! Of you and me and what makes the world go 'round! <br/>Every inch of you against my skin, I want to be stronger than we've ever been! So come a little closer baby, I feel like strippin' it down...!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>Her amber eyes gazed into his silver eyes, as he was up close now. She was sure now he would escape any guard, any shackles, and any jail.<br/>He just chose not to. He was having his fun, not with the other city guards but with her, Kor'ak Kaal, and she hadn't the faintest idea why.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Come a little closer baby! Just a little bit closer baby! Come a little closer baby! I feel like layin' you down...!" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>The music trembled between their lips, and Kor'ak dodged that kiss to the Bard's astonishment.<br/>She cuffed his wrists behind his back,<em>"Nice try, casanova."</em><br/><br/>Kor'ak looked at an empty street where Missus Marble used to be. As the song faded, it felt to the orc as if she had seen a ghost or a quick vampire.<br/>She could not prove Missus Marble ever existed, but she at least apprehended this mad Bard and walked him straight down to the station.<br/>Scrutinizing his calm behavior, she exclaimed without meaning to,<em>"You have not a drop of spirits in you! You've been sober this whole time?"</em><br/><br/><em>"I don't drink,"</em>the Bard said as bars slammed between them. Kor'ak face-palmed, unable to understand it.<br/><br/><em>"So why the reckless revelry, bard? Who was that Missus Marble?"</em><br/><br/><em>"I'll tell ya if you go out on a date with me, hun,"</em>the Bard hummed throatily.<br/><br/>The other guards grew fatigued and even aggravated from hearing him talk but Kor'ak had sent them home.<br/>She was left alone with the Bard, determined to dissect him apart or break him altogether.<br/><br/>Before she could begin, he did not give her a chance. He conjured a mandolin and sang another song.<br/><br/><em>"Really? This again?"</em>Kor'ak crossed her arms.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">The Second Song That Won Her Over</div><div class="spoiler_body">https://youtu.be/NwRRIVf12CU</div></div><br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Don't worry about the damage done. Just let those words roll off your tongue. Even if you're lyin'..." ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/><em>"Oh way to turn the tables,"</em>Kor'ak shook it off, still dangling the key to his cell.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "If you really don't mean it, I don't care. If you need a little buzz to get you there. Then baby I'm buyin'..." ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>She smirked and checked. Indeed the others had left, and indeed these bars would hold.<br/>The Bard rose his cuffed wrists over his head, leaning back on the wall, spreading his legs.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Well couldn't you? Say you do.<br/>Say you might. For tonight. <br/>Have a heart. Bend the truth.<br/>Even if you don't... Couldn't you?" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>Kor'ak was suddenly glad she wasn't wearing armor. It would have heated up in there.<br/>He certainly knew what he was doing. Perhaps he did some sex work in the past.<br/>She tried not to notice a bulge growing rock hard, pressing through his pants.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Mess me up. Get in my head. Steal my t-shirt. Wreck my bed. <br/>All night long like you used to... Even if you don't. Couldn't you? Say you do? Yeah baby<br/>I'm begging you to lead me on. Say it feels good to be back in my arms and then don't call me, <br/>I don't mind a little smoke gettin' in my eyes. Baby, take your hands, take your lies, and lay 'em on me..."  ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>He sang so quickly, so softly. His lips wet and moved so sensually.<br/>Kor'ak forgot when she stopped thinking and began staring.<br/>She didn't trust him one bit, but he was the finest piece she'd seen.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ Well couldn't you? Say you do. Say you might. For tonight. Have a heart. Bend the truth.<br/>Even if you don't. Couldn't you? Mess me up. Get in my head. Steal my t-shirt. Wreck my bed. <br/>All night long like you used to... Even if you don't. Couldn't you? Say you do?" ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>These things he keeps singing, some part of her wished these were true. She sat back into a chair and listened.<br/><br/><em>♪ ♫ "Well don't worry about the damage done. Just let those words roll of your tongue. Even if you're lyin'... Well couldn't you? <br/>Say you do? Say you might. For tonight. Have a heart. Bend the truth. Even if you don't. Couldn't you?<br/>Mess me up. Get in my head. Steal my t-shirt. Wreck my bed. All night long like you used to...<br/>Even if you don't. Couldn't you? Say you do? Say you do? Just say you do. Girl I'm, begging you. Just say you do..." ♪ ♫</em><br/><br/>Kor'ak decided tonight was going to go differently.<em>"I do,"</em>she said.<em>"I might, for tonight, go on that date after all."</em><br/>She unlocked and opened his cell. He stalked closer.<em>"As long as it means keeping you from going around making trouble."</em><br/><br/><em>"I don't go around making trouble,"</em>the Bard winked.<em>"Trouble finds me."</em><br/><br/>The moment Kor'ak's heart lifted and sank, she knew she was deeply and irrevocably in love with him.<br/>