My site

Shards of Ravage: The Ascension

Author's Note: So, in here, Regnard sits on a lemon while dancing ‘harlem shake’, just joking. Alright. So Regnard has been kidnapped by pirates to be sold off as a slave.

Chapter VIII: Abduction

"Is it? Then I give his help to you, 80% of his aid should be prioritized to you more, and 20% for us, the whole conspiracy.” Reiner said.

"Thank you.” Regnard replied.

"Now, we have fresh supplies coming from the docks. And it would take a long time if you smuggled it until here; portal exit, walk to the docks, take items you can carry, hide, recall. I mean like, it is tedious job. So I opened the main entrance here.”

"Where are we anyway?” asked Regnard

"We are inside Ardus Mountain, one of the tourist spot of Rarus. Well, not really, but in the outskirts of Rarus, you can’t possibly have a mountain on your city. So, what I did was, I opened the huge entrance, it is large and obvious, you can’t miss it.” Reiner answered. "Take these, you’ll need it.” And hands Regnard forged documents and a shirt of a normal traveller.

Suddenly, Reiner violently tugged off the dirty scarf wrapped in Regnard’s face. "You are a handsome young man, you’re almost 21 but you still have no girlfriend.”

"I don’t care about love or my life. All I want is vengeance; I am a living vengeance, the lust of shedding the blood of those who dishonoured me and made me derelict in such a young age is growing, burning through my veins. If vengeance is what keeps me alive, then so be it. I am Regnard M. Steurn, the retribution of my father’s killer, the harnesser of darkness. The false emperor shall die, not by the passing and ticking of a clock’s hand, but by the vengeance of my own hand.”

Reiner clapped "Wonderful speech, oh how simply astonishing!”

"Please, this is no program. Don’t give me some applauses; those things are just too common.” Regnard said humorously, finally returning a joke.

"Now you’re learning.” Reiner replied, winking. "What I was saying, I am giving you the privilege to make some friends, live a normal life, while at the same time, you work here for us.”

"Thanks anyway for the privilege you gave me.” Regnard said, he had no interest in social life.

"Don’t mention it. That wasn’t even enough actually, but that is something I could give.” Reiner replied.

Regnard quickly dashed to the exit and went to the stables, and he chose two draught horses with a cart behind it.

As he was taking the horses for a walk, maid who was mucking out the stables saw him.

"AAAAAA!!!” She screeched.

Regnard looked at her. "What’s the matter?”

"You-you your eye. It’s missing.” She said nervously.

Regnard sighed to himself. "That’s why I will never have a girlfriend.” He thought and covered his eye socket with some of his chocolate-coloured hair, which had gotten long already.

…..

The docks of Rarus. A place where a fisherman’s livelihood is, the seagulls that fly and scoop for food. It was easier than hunting on land. Fishermen throwing nets, hoping to sell their ‘catch of the day’. In the other parts of the docks, large ships travelling by the breath of wind, anchor there to sell goods brought from distant lands. Others were sea creatures that were tamed by different people and used to transport goods, although slower, it has its own self-defence mechanism,.

Regnard stops for a checkpoint. His papers were checked and his hood was low. He currently wears the Traveller’s Standard Outfit, consisting of a cloak and hood, brown pants and brown shirt. It was made for travellers who love to go an adventure.  It was tougher than usual fabrics and convenient.

"You may pass.” Was an answer he heard from the guards. They opened the gates and he let his empty cargo pulled by the horses.

The strong smell of the sea quickly entered his nostrils. He dismounted his ride and tied the horses to the provided stable. He walked near the shoreline and took off his cloak and hood so the man with the smuggled goods can recognize him.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a raven flew down to his feet. It wasn’t Nightwatcher, for that bird have larger eyes and dishevelled feathers. But why did it rest there? In the shoreline? It should be in the forest.

Regnard still waited patiently, he crossed his arms and watched people come and go.

BAM!

…..

"Ow…” Regnard said. "Where am I?” All he saw was a small hole, small enough only to let his finger through.

He heard men talking, then, he realized he was cramped. "What the hell?” He said. He tried to shake himself, but he can’t. He was cramped.

"Hah. I just got a fresh slave from the docks. Just dun show it to Kennit, that bilge rat is up to no good, he’s gonna hornswaggle us.” An unknown voice said.

"At least we will be celebrating with arrack, not grog. Just make sure the landlubber isn’t a picaroon.” Another said.

"Don’t get yer heads up high yet. Tonight, we either eat salamagundi if successful, if not, it’s hard tack.” Another said.

Regnard’s thoughts had hit the jackpot. Pirates. They were pirates who abducted him.  And he was placed inside a barrel with the lid tied to the barrel, locking him in there.

"Damn. It is hard to break free from this barrel.” Regnard complained to himself.

…..

A few hours later…

Regnard looked at the small hole at the side of the barrel, and he saw the darkness creeping and the sun setting. It’s going to be night after another hour. He must escape with all his might, the conspiracy depends on him.

"Aye!” He heard a pirate shout, and he also felt a shaking motion. "We’re landed ‘ere. Thank the luck spirits she’s still good. She’s the best ship yet.”

"Agreed with ye’ matee.” Another said.

Suddenly, he felt the barrel was being lifted and transported somewhere. All he can see in the hole are different inns and markets, but it was unusual. There was a rumble on the right, and drunkards dancing wildly; lifting chairs and throwing them at walls, dancing in a vulgar way, others removing their shirt and hitting their friends’ faces with it.

Then, the barrel was opened; he was dragged to a dim dungeon. The door behind him was slammed shut and quickly locked. He pounded it and kicked it, but it was of no use, it was made of metal.

"Friend, no, it’s futile.” Regnard heard a voice.

Regnard stopped and looked "Who are you?”

"I am not an I, we are a we. We are children from wealthy families, kidnapped by pirates and sent here to work, with meagre rations and in a poor condition. Some of us, especially the girls, are molested by those scoundrels. Welcome to our world of misfortune.”