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Chapter 1

Lila Beth's Edits

Ryo - The Beginning

The wind had shifted. A rare moment to catch, when they entered the Surana Seas Ryo felt it (what is it that she is feeling? The change in air, what is it?) before she could smelled it. Surana, was a beautiful tropical city, known for many things, but one thing everyone spoke about was the fragrant scent in the air, that came from the nations flower, Jasmine Lilies. (Jasmine Lilies. Surana, a beautiful tropical city known for many things, but Jamine Lilies was what everybody spoke of. When Jasmine Lilies finally reached Ryo, her skin crawled. The Jasmine Lily along the banks was a reminder of just where she was. How she loathed that smell, the Jasmine Lily that settled along the banks of Surana was reminder to locals and visitors alike, and when you didn’t want to be there, that smell reminded you you were.

It has had been six years away from this place, hard labor, simple meals, a small room to live in, all worth it for the relief to not be under the thumb of Surana and it’s people. (Six years away from being stuck under the thumb of Surana and her people. Six years of hard labor, simple meals, small living area, but all had been worth the freedom.) But Unfortunately her Port documentation was expired, and unlike other lands, The Isles would send you back if you didn’t have the right documents. (All had lead to the bad idea of Ryo standing on the deck of a ship, watching the massive docks grow closer and closer on the horizon. )So, Ryo stood there, on the deck of the ship watching the massive docks of Surana get bigger and bigger in the horizon. This was a bad idea, but she didn’t have much of a choice.

Holding onto the railing with both hands, she let her body lean back, stretching her arms, she needed to be physically relaxed if she was going to push through this. Being tense meant mistakes and possible injury if she was stupid enough. There was a small amount of time for her to cross Surana and get out of the city before someone recognized her. With just a few coins in her pocket, she wasn’t sure how she was going to swing it but she was going to have to. Getting caught was not an option. (Holding onto the railing with both hands, her body leaned back, allowing her arms to stretch. Physical relaxation was the only way she was going to be able to push through. Tenseness equaled mistakes and mistakes equaled injury but only if she was stupid enough. There was a short amount of time for her to cross Surana and get out before someone recognized her. Short on coin, she wasn’t sure how she was going to pull it off, but getting caught was not an option.)

“All boarding SXT gather your items, embarking in half the hour.” A voice from the helm boomed out (leading to a flurry of action from the people around her) and the many people around her began to make sure everything they had was gathered close. Catching a passenger ship was lucky, it was easier to slip into the crowd then if she had been on a cargo ship, so she would hold onto that as a good sign for her fate. Finally letting go, she stepped away from the railing, moving to where many were gathered in the middle of the deck, letting the tall figures tower over her to stay out of sight. If she had the energy she would just shift, but she hadn’t eaten more then a few nutritional crackers the last few days and if she tried to shift she would collapse. (Catching a passenger ship was lucky, easier to disappear in a crowd than a cargo ship. This had to be a good sign for her fate. Letting go, she stepped into the mass of bodies gathered in the middle of the deck, allowing the tall figures to obscure her from sight. After just nutrional crackers over the last few days she didn’t have the energy to shift. If she tried now all she would do was collapse.)

Just get to the boarding district. The amount of travelers in the Boarding district gave her hope, there she could swipe a few pockets, maybe snag some discarded meals. The sooner she had the energy the sooner she could shift and walk right out of the city. Just get to the boarding district. She told herself again as she watched the ship get closer to the dock.

Everyone shuffled from the deck once the planks were put down by the crew. Sticking close to a group of people following what had to be a rich baron of some kind, she shuffled her way down the planks that took them from the ship to the dock. Once she was able to step form the wooden dock to the warn cobblestone she broke off and began to push herself through the crowds of people. If Teresha’s was still there that would be her first stop. It was close, a little dangerous, but it was an institution. In a city like Surana the businesses would come and go in a blink of an eye, but places like Teresha’s stood still, the city built and fell around them. Ryo just needed to get to Teresha’s and she would then be able to map out the best route out of the city. (Once the planks were put down by the crew, everyone shuffled off. Sticking close to a rich baron of some kind’s group, she shuffled her way down the planks. Once her feet hit worn cobblestone, she broke off, snaking through the crowds of people. Teresha’s was her first stop. Business came and went in the blink of an eye. Not Teresha’s and similar. They were institutions. The city built and fell around them. She just needed to get to Teresha’s. She could plot her best path through the city there.)

Weaving through the people she gripped the cowled cloth around her neck the cowl and pulled it up over her head. Tucking herself in a bit more, she moved quickly down the streets moving in and out of groups as she walked trying to move in and out of groups to stay out of sight as she walked.

Daigon Village is an option if it gets dodgy. A pivot but it would bring me towards the middle of Eldrel Sand’s but I need to head in Vasrah’s direction. Daigon Village meant doubling back, I don’t have the energy for that. The thoughts raced as Ryo skipped from group to group. No stall nor store caused her to waver as she moved silently through the streets. Only when she saw Teresha’s tavern did she waver. If it got dodgy she could pivot and move into Daigon Village, but that would bring her out towards the middle of the Eldrel Sand’s and she wanted to head in Vasrah’s direction, which meant doubling back, and she did not have the energy for that. Passing stalls and stores she moved quietly, only wavering when the tavern she had been looking for came into view.

Dark rust colored stones made the building, it went straight up, with a short flat front, the walls angling out to get wider as the building went further down the street. At the top, a large iron circle twisted with the windows, an iron Jasmine Lily in the middle. At the top held a large iron circle that twisted with the winds, the symbol was that of a Jasmine Lily made of iron. Further down was a wooden sign with bold lettering that read “Teresha”.

Sooner than expected. Gotta be in better shape then I thought. Mid-day, not a lot of people. Just a few hours and double the people. I’ll be safer with double the people. She made it, sooner then she anticipated, perhaps she was in better shape then she thought? Standing to the left of the building she eyed the already bustling streets, people moving in and out of the neighboring taverns. It was still mid-day, should she wait just a few hours the crowds would double up and she would be safer.

Looking around her she shifted her pack and made her way towards an alley, pushing through a few people and slipping between the buildings out of sight from those on the street.

Walking past unhitched, open caravans, she could smell the trash that came from them as they sat outside their corresponding doors. It was good, if it smelled she was less likely to run into someone around here so she could bide her time until the crowds grew. Finally, she was towards the back of the alley, out of sight of the closest door to one of the tavern kitchens.(Walking past unhitched, open caravans the DESCRIBE THE SMELL, NOT JUST SMELL THE TRASH. Good. More smell less people. I can wait for the crowds to double. Finally the back of the alley, out of sight.) Dropping her bag behind one of the caravans she slid down the wall and closed her eyes as she took in a slow breath. Her heart was racing, when did that happen? She needed to calm down, just be patient for her own sake.

After playing this out in her head over and over for the last few months, Ryo half expected to be grabbed the moment she stepped off the ship, but that didn’t happen. Perhaps she had been gone enough that everything was forgotten. Maybe she was wrong and Her Wei (Is it Her Wei or Hor Wei. Need to be consistent with smelling of names throughout. It says Her Wei here but Hor Wei later) didn’t have the kind of eyes on the city that she thought he did.

⁠

Acot - Wake Up

Mother help him, if he didn’t find a way to power through this hang over he was going to be late. He was told to meet Kimin at. . . Acot stopped tightening his boot and looked around to try and get a gauge of the time. Well whenever he was supposed to meet him likely had passed now. It was Kimin’s own fault, sending the messenger so early, of course he Acot was going to roll over and go back to sleep. Now he was rushing, he just had to get out of his place before Kimin got there, so he could at least say he was on his way. The strap was tight enough and finally snapped into place allowing him to drop his foot and grab his jacket before flinging himself to the door to head out.

Well damn, looked like a couple ships had come in that morning, seeing so many on the streets would have annoyed him a little had he not found it an excellent addition to his reasoning for being late. Pushing himself out to the road he began to weave through people to head in the direction of his friend. His mind was on the possibility of food when he recognized one of the men that Kimin worked with, he passed by not seeing him in the crowd. (So many on the streets from ships coming in would have been an annoyance if it wasn’t such a great cover for being late. Weaving through the crowd towards the direction of his friend his thoughts of food was interrupted at the recognition of one of Kimin’s associates. )

(Seeing him wasn’t odd in itself, the associates had their routes they walked regularly. But another snake tattoo and another peppered amongst the crowd, now that was odd.) That wasn’t odd, they did have their routes they would walk regularly, but when he saw another one of the men he took notice. Suddenly he was seeing more of them, those snake tattoos peppered in amongst the crowd. What were they looking for? As his eyes followed a redhead with the neck tattoo his body ran into what he would think was a damn wall. Large hands grabbed his arm and he looked up to see Kimin’s annoyed face.

“The hell is going on?” he mused getting him the gift of an annoyed look before his friend turned and began to walk. (”The hell is going on?” he mused which gifted him annoyance from his friend. Kimin turned, walking. Acot picked up his pace to keep up with the other’s effortless stride.) Acot had to pick up the pace to keep up with the others effortless stride, he wasn’t a short man by any means, but given that he was only human he would have to put in effort to keep up with his Gnurl counterpart. Sorry, half Gnurl.

“The men are looking for someone that came off the ships. We are going to speak with my father, figure out who it is.” he explained as they moved into the heart of the city. SPACE OUT YOUR CONVERSATIONS IN NEW PARAGRAPHS THEY ARE EASIER TO FOLLOW THAT WAY

“What do you need me for?”

“That’s what I asked, must be something. because My father said to bring you.”

A scoff came from Acot as the other continued at an annoying pace, Adrea was not a man that liked him, he wasn’t so self obsessed that he couldn’t see that, so if he had to ask for him to be there it must have been important. (Scoffing Acot continued the annoying pace. As self obsessed as he had a reputation for even he knew that Kimin’s father didn’t like him. So if Adrea had asked him to be there it was important.)

As they turned the corner he could see the black marred bricks moving up the building in a snake design. that moved up the building and creating a snake design. Gaudy but you can’t blame a person for not having natural taste. A bit gaudy if you were to as him, but not everyone could have natural taste. Kimin threw open the door and Acot followed him into the darkened walkway and to the stairs. With his heart beating a tad quicker with each step they arrived on the floor where Adrea was waiting for them much too soon.A few minutes later his heart beat was a tad quicker as they got to the third floor where Adrea was already waiting for them.

Adrea was big, and for some reason he always forgot that, Acot always thought his friend was massive, but when he would see Adrea he would be was reminded very quickly that Kimin was only a half-blooded Gnurl. With at least a half a foot on Kimin and twice as broad he Adrea could make any room seem too small. “Looks like we were able to raise you from your beauty sleep.” The deep voice drawled out, dark eyes looking at Acot with mild annoyance.

“I’m not on your payroll.” he eased back, and because he wasn’t on the others roster he could get away with comments like that, comments none of the men would dare even think in his presence. BREAK UP YOUR PARAGRAPHS TO MAKE SPEAKING AND ACTIONS EASIER TO FOLLOW ON WHO IS DOING IT

Kimin sighed and shoved Acot into a chair before crossing his arms and looked at his father. “What is going on?” he asked simply.

Acot lounged back in the large chair and watched the two of them, their dynamic had always fascinated him. Sure, he could understand what Adrea didn’t like about himself, he was a bit flamboyant, lavish, he lived to have a good time, and more often then not he could skirt the rules. But not Kimin. Not only did he follow the rules, he was the damn poster child that Hor Wei always wanted, though he personally wondered other things about Hor Wei’s possible children, but that was a thought he kept to himself. Given Hor Wei’s preference to Kimin over any other members irritated Adrea, he saw his son as a threat, and Acot was fairly certain that was a correct response. Kimin, whether he liked it or not was a better leader then his father could hope to be, and everyone knew it.

If Adrea wasn’t in the way Kimin would likely be in Goldspire’s Edge, much to Acot’s boredom, because Mother knew without his friend he would be very bored. So, there they are, Adrea loathed Acot but he helped keep his son from Hor Wei and allowed him a bit more time in charge. Socio economical chess always got Acot so bricked up. There was a problem in this game, he though, because he was already bored, and lately, lately he had been considering a change in sceneries, something maybe exactly like Goldspire. IN ALL HONESTY IS THE UNDERLINED SECTION NECESSARY OR IS IT EXPOSITION FOR EXPOSITION’S SAKE AND CAN BE SHOWN IN THE WAY YOU ARE CREATING YOUR STORY.

“...And so we have the men searching.” Adrea finished his sentence as Acot realized he had indeed not been paying attention to them.

“I don’t get it, it’s been 6 years? How does he know it’s her?” Kimin asked as he picked up a parchment from the desk.

Her? Suddenly this was interesting to Acot, so he shifted in the chair and leaned forward to look at the portrait in his friend’s hand. No, portrait was much too generous.

“How the hell are we supposed to find her when we don’t know what she looks like?” Kimin asked now as he tossed the parchment to Acot.

“I doubt you will. Between you and me she’s either out of Sohemi (What the hell is Sohemi? You’ve only introduced the Isles and Surana, what the hell is Sohemi?) or dead.” he said with a shrug. “but we make a point of looking, because that is what Hor Wei wants.”

Shifting the parchment around in his hands, Acot looked at the silhouette of the woman, but tilted his head as he saw the red on the left hand. Running his finger over the ink on the parchment he found himself wondering just how many out there could be born with a similar marking. “I am going to the Halls later, I can ask around.” he volunteered it before he realized what he was saying, but he just stood and smoothed out his tunic before finally looking to Adrea and Kimin.

“Why not, he might prove himself useful.” Adrea grumbled making Kimin roll his eyes slightly and nudge the smaller male.

“Let’s go.” he said finally. “I have to take care of some things.” he rumbled out with the same curt energy his father had, but before Acot or Adrea could ask what he could possibly be doing, they were out of the room and down the stairs.

Acot bid his time until they were on the street and finally asked, “What are you so busy with?” he carefully adjusted their path as they walked, his sights now on a bakery to help with this headache that was growing from his hangover.

“Hor Wei has requested me.” he said finally, making Acot stop for a step or two before starting back up, causing Kimin to slow a bit. “It isn’t to join him yet.” he said confirmed his friend’s unspoken question. “But he needs me to meet him in Goldspire.”

“What am I gonna do while you are off doing Mother knows what in Goldspire?” Acot whined as he led the way around the corner already smelling the foods that filled the streets.

“Figured you’d come with me.” Kimin answered and before he knew it Acot was grinning as he stopped some feet from the bakery.

“Now that, is not a bad idea.” he said grinning. “The gambling game out there is top tier. And the women, from all over the Realms, delicious.” he smirked at the thought of what he could do in just a few days in Goldspire. “Alright, so how are you going to see him and your father not getting in the way?” he asked now and Kimin sighed.

“That I’m still working on.”

Acot thought about it for a moment before sighing, “I am too hung over to scheme.”

Kimin rolled his eyes and started with the other to the bakery.

“Then get some food and be useful.” he mumbled making his friend laugh and step into the line leading to the counter.

⁠

Ryo - Find Food

OKAY I’M NOT GOING TO EDIT ANYTHING ELSE FROM HERE DOWN BECAUSE I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT I CAN’T GET PASSED SO I DON’T WANT TO EDIT ANY MORE UNTIL I FIND OUT. WHY DID SHE HAVE TO GET TO TERESHA’S IF SHE’S JUST GOING TO BE MOVING AND HEADING TO THE HALL. LIKE WHY WAS TERESHA’S SO IMPORTANT?

As much as Ryo didn’t like Surana, there was something she had missed, the sunsets. As she walked down the sidewalk through the crowds her eyes fell on the horizon over the water. There was a sweet spot in the evenings, when the sun starts dipping down behind the water and the colors spread like a prism. It was as if some passionate painter swung at the sky with a paintbrush filled with soft oranges, cherry reds and the softest purple hues from the West that every said came from the Cyr Cliffs.

Stepping to the side of a group of travelers, she slowed as she saw the port and water, it was a beautiful night. Perhaps, if it was to be her last night this was her gift, her favorite sight, Surana sunsets. It was fitting, her first memory was sitting on the balcony of the little apartment she was put in, with about a dozen other kids ranging her age, on a night just like tonight. She sat cross legged eating a salty piece of bread with nut butter spread over it, she could hear the other kids but she was there just staring at the same sky she was looking at now.

Rubbing her eyes with her thumb and forefinger she sighed, she needed to eat, she needed to get moving. Heading downhill she made her way into the food district and walked past the carts and vendors. It was crowded as others looked for what they wanted, but she had to be smart and not just go for anything. There were rules of stealing food in Surana, and the first one was to never go after the carts, go after restaurants. Those that run carts understood this rule and would often look the other way if someone was suspicious. Second, don’t pick pocket those in line, that is also stealing from the carts, again go for restaurant patrons they are likely to have more coin, anyways. Third and final, you don’t make it obvious.

So she moved through the people with a place in mind, keeping her movement confident to give no indication of how badly she wanted to stop and just drool at the smells. Just get the to Halls idiot, you have dealt with worse. She told herself as she moved through people forcing herself to look forward. Her stomach growled again acting as if it was going to eat itself, but she pushed her feet to go onward, she was going to get her food, she never failed at the Halls.

A tall building stood nestled between small antiquated shops, if it weren’t so much taller then it’s neighboring structures it could easily had have been hidden out of sight. It was what made it such an ideal place for the gambling that took place there, an add arrangement for such a fancy restaurant, but it brought in the wealthy. Tall, sandy stoned built up the walls, with a large dark wooden door, it was designed to come off unwelcoming, to look luxurious and unattainable. There was hundreds of gambling facilities in Surana and thousands of restaurants, but only the upper crust of the port city could and would step foot into the Halls.

It was what made it so ideal for skimming off that top. Stepping towards the building, Ryo let her eyes roam over the large infrastructure the same way a man with low scruples might a beautiful woman. The Halls, like Teresha’s, was an icon. If you doubted the money that hid away in the port city, you would immediately be reminded by this very building and who you just might catch coming in and out of it.

All Ryo needed was a coin purse and she would be set, but she had to be smart. You couldn’t get to greedy with these people, if you went for the big fish that would be a long game to play, and if she wanted to get out of Surana she didn’t have time for that. Stepping towards the building she had set her sights on the ally way beside the Halls, where she could already see the kitchen door propped open for the workers. In the back were a few people in white, crouching as cigarette and pipe smoke billowed out from them.

Perhaps she could try her hand at a game before she resorted to stealing, the last thing she needed was someone else besides Hor Wei trying to hunt her down.

She had only made it a few steps when she felt something hit her, no not quite hit. It was almost as if she threw herself into a wall and was bouncing off when she lost her balance. The unevenness of the cobblestone caught her foot as she stumbled to the side, trying to do what she could to keep from hitting the ground.

A large hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her up before she went down and she was turned to see who the hell got in her way.

“Well,” the voice said with more amusement then she would have expected, and when her eyes lifted she tensed.

“Acot?” she managed out and it pulled a wider grin from the large man that confidently was looking down at her.

“Little Ryo, still very. . . little.” he teased her but didn’t let go of her arm when she tried pulled back.

Shit, this wasn’t part of the plan.

⁠

Acot - Find Ryo

The Mother was lining everything up just for him, he knew that must be it. There was no way it was a coincidence that he happened to head to the Halls to find Ryo, without any certainty that that was who he was looking for, and she would just be right there, in the middle of the street looking up at the Halls itself. No, this was a gift just for him.

Stepping in front of her he rose a brow when she didn’t clock him, her eyes on something by the building as she walked straight into him. Maybe he shouldn’t had tightened his core and pushed back a little, since she was almost sent to the ground. However, it did get her attention, and he couldn’t stop the dark shudder that slithered up his spine when she gasped out his name.

Acot’s gaze darkened as it dropped from her eyes for a moment, letting it look over her cheeks, her lips, that slim neck. He couldn’t see much after given her traveling clothes but his eyes finally landed to her arm that he was holding. His comment about her being small made her bristle a little as she shook the surprise off almost instantaneously. He would be disappointed if he wasn’t curious about something else.

Sliding his hand down her upper arm, his long slim fingers wrapped around her forearm before she could get free of him, his grip tightened and keeping her in place. Whether she was shocked or trying to not make a scene he took the opportunity to grip the leather gauntlet she wore and twist her arm to show to bare underside.

Looking back, Acot couldn’t tell you how she reacted or what her fact looked like, all he could see was something he had never seen before. It was red, just like he remembered, but it was. . . see through? A spirit hand? What in the hells was a spirit hand. As he slid his hand further down her arm along the red flesh, he pressed his finger tips into her palm and was amazed that it felt the same as skin and muscle.

Before more questions could be wondered and answered he felt something come down on him with a bit of force. Looking at Ryo he jerked back, not losing his grip on her hand, but working on dodging the satchel she was trying to hit him with. “Let go.” she hissed out and he gave her a quick smile and let go of her arm and threw his hands up beside him.

“I couldn’t help it,” he mused, “You know me, always the curious one.”

Ryo had pulled her hand to her chest as she glared at him, stepping back as she put her satchel over her shoulder again. “Go away, Acot.” she said simply before turning to walk away from him. Oh no, now that wouldn’t do, she was his ticket to Goldspire so he hand to be smart. He let her walk to the other side of the street before he skipped a bit and moved after her, catching up with a few long strides.

“Are you not happy to see your oldest friend?” he asked as he tucked his arms behind his back and leaned down a little to look at her as they walked. She refused to give him eye contact, but he also had a feeling she didn’t know where she was walking.

“Acot,” she said again, he certain did like how she said his name. Wherever she was from she had a slight tang of an accent so she said his name differently then everyone else, but it still felt right.

“I mean, it has been what? A decade? Decade and a half? When I saw you last you were a little . . . well I suppose you haven’t changed that much.” he joked making her grit her jaw.

“Alright,” she said as she finally stopped and looked up at him, “It was nice to see you again, but I can’t stay and catch up. I’m on a schedule and I need to get back on the road.” she said as she pressed her hand to his chest to send him back a step or two.

“Nonsense,” he said in a dark voice, making her quickly try and pulled her hand away. His hand settled on top of her hand keeping her still as he smiled down to her. “You have time for a meal right.” he said now and she stared at him. She was deciding, clearly, Come on Ryo, fall right in line. He though to himself as his thumb brushed tenderly over her knuckles.

He could see her thinking, she was calculating something and he had a feeling it was going in his favor. Finally her shoulders sagged a bit making his little smile get bigger. “Excellent, come on, I am thinking something like surf and turf.” he teased as he pushed her to the doors of the Halls before she could protest.

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