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> Blood on the Moon, A Journey of Discovery
treydog
post May 13 2007, 12:26 AM
Post #1


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Joined: 13-February 05
From: The Smoky Mountains



Here is the link to: Treydog's Other Stories


Prologue


“But sir, if you would only give me a little more time, I am certain you would be interested in my proposition.”

“The answer is still ‘No’, Mr. Beauchamp. I have no desire to listen to anything you have to say. You may leave now.”

“If I gave offense by my earlier remarks, I apologize. It is simply that one sometimes hears things…. I know that financial remuneration is not important to you, but I thought that perhaps the spirit of adventure might be enough to entice you.”

“Mr. Beauchamp, I have everything I need right here. My family is here, my home is here, my life is here. I have no interest in the ‘spirit of adventure’. I have found that ‘adventure’ is simply another way of saying ‘a desperate attempt to survive the situation in which one has stupidly placed oneself’. You will leave now. That is not a request.”

I heard the front door open and close with a finality that punctuated those last words. Then another voice spoke up:

“Weren’t you perhaps a bit hard on him, dear?”

The response was a growl:

“You heard what he said as well as I did- ‘…your well-known talent for getting into and out of tight places….’ He called me a thief, is what he did.”

“Well, yes, but after all, you were a thief, you know. And he did come to you directly, not lurking behind some intermediary.”

“Perhaps I used to be a thief, but I hoped I had put all that behind me. And besides, he came to me arrogantly and rudely, just as if he were a bloody Imperial, instead of a fellow Breton."


“ ’A bloody Imperial?’ ” I could envision the raised eyebrow that accompanied that innocent question.

The voices moved away to another part of the house, and I could not make out the muttered words that I was sure were an apology. But that wasn’t important; I had already heard everything I needed to know. I had a name now and a goal. Louis Beauchamp- and Solstheim!

Leaving home is rarely easy, or at least so I have heard. But I felt as if I had to, as if I was slowly smothering. If I was going to do the things I wanted to do, I must get away. There were places I wanted to explore- places he had never been. How typical of him to disparage the idea of adventure- after he had lived the kind of life others only dreamed of! And then to just…stop. As if he could pretend that none of it had ever happened if he did not speak of it. But others spoke of it- oh yes. Louis Beauchamp certainly had that right- one did “hear things”. It was easy enough to tell others that the meat was no good when you had eaten your fill. But I had tasted nothing but the scraps of someone else’s greatness for my whole life and I could stand it no longer. I would leave that very night- but not for Solstheim, at least not yet. It would not do to arrive in that far place as a penniless beggar. Although we were comfortable, and never wanted for the necessities, money was not given to me in any quantity. And though I knew the location of the family treasury well enough, I would not steal. I would not be named a thief, no matter who my father was.

Once the house had quieted, I gathered a small pack of clothing, the few coins that were my own, and a well-worn quarterstaff. How I longed for a bright blade to hang at my side! How could a ready fellow such as I set off on a grand adventure without a trusty sword? But of course I had never been trained in the use of swords, and I recalled the answer when I asked:

“Violence is the result of a mistake. If you avoid mistakes, you can avoid fights. A good walking stick will serve you better. Anything that cannot be dealt with by a sharp rap on the snout is best avoided.”

As if I had never seen the scars that marked his body, never heard the stories that everyone knew by heart, never gazed at the virtual armory hidden throughout the house.
Most of the hidden weapons appeared to be no more than well-used examples of the crafter’s art…. But some of them seemed to… whisper among themselves and to move of their own volition. I know it sounds foolish, the overheated imagining of a child, but I swear it is true. He had never gotten those swords or those scars sitting in front of the fire, reading books. And yet, when he went to the corner club for a solitary drink, and the other men related their exploits, he said nothing. Instead, he simply sat in the shadows with a glass of wine. Even so, if ever a stranger came through and became too loud or boastful, someone would nod toward the quiet figure in the corner and whisper a few words. And then the braggart would fall silent, perhaps even turn a bit pale.

All of these thoughts and more tumbled through my head as I waited in the pre-dawn darkness for the silt-strider to arrive. Perhaps it was foolish to use such a public means of transport, but I wanted distance. And going to Balmora first would help throw off any pursuit. In any event, I doubted that there would be much concern, at least not for several days. When the strider driver saw me waiting, he grinned and said,

“Going on a trip are ye, young sir? I’ll have you in Balmora before you know it. Just sit back and relax.”

He waved away my offered fare with a jovial snort.

“Oh, no charge for you, young sir. Get yourself on up and we’ll be on our way.”

I took his generosity with bad grace, because I knew that it was not for my own sake that I did not have to pay my passage. I was nobody, nothing- just another who stood in the great man’s shadow. He was the hero of the age- everyone said so. Books and ballads had been written about him. And why not? After all, he was Trey of High Rock, Nerevar Reborn, savior of Vvardenfell. And I was his son.

This post has been edited by Burnt Sierra: Jan 4 2009, 07:10 PM


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The dreams down here aren't broken, nah, they're walkin' with a limp...

The best-dressed newt in Mournhold.
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Posts in this topic
treydog   Blood on the Moon   May 13 2007, 12:26 AM
minque   I don't think so, remember Athlain doesn...   Apr 15 2010, 12:13 AM
treydog   The young woman who approached with a sure step an...   Apr 16 2010, 05:31 PM
Remko   laughed my british boat off with the chocolate com...   Apr 16 2010, 06:14 PM
mALX   ROFL!!! Chocolate responsible for th...   Apr 16 2010, 07:11 PM
SubRosa   I can do without the chocolate myself. I cannot st...   Apr 16 2010, 11:31 PM
Destri Melarg   I can do without the chocolate myself. Blasphemy...   Apr 17 2010, 09:56 AM
Olen   I loved the chocolate comment, who needs calm huma...   Apr 17 2010, 11:24 AM
minque   OK, but since her mother is pretty good with her...   Apr 17 2010, 12:16 PM
haute ecole rider   So ends the speculation of the sword-wielding chat...   Apr 17 2010, 04:09 PM
mALX   However, I love chocolate/cocoa in my cooking (...   Apr 18 2010, 09:12 AM
treydog   Yes, I purposely tried to lead folks astray with t...   Apr 21 2010, 09:15 PM
mALX   and to promise that your patience will be rewarde...   Apr 21 2010, 09:43 PM
Acadian   You have stolen my Wood Elf's heart with tha...   Apr 22 2010, 03:49 AM
treydog   Acadian- I was thinking of a certain wood-elf when...   Apr 24 2010, 04:09 AM
SubRosa   So Athlain survived his encounter with Carnius wit...   Apr 24 2010, 04:56 AM
Captain Hammer   Good stuff as always, Trey. Can't wait to see ...   Apr 24 2010, 05:09 AM
haute ecole rider   I was mighty proud of Athlain, keeping his cool li...   Apr 24 2010, 01:05 PM
mALX   I love the school memories! And the detail ab...   Apr 24 2010, 03:40 PM
Acadian   Wonderful treydog! I loved two parts especi...   Apr 27 2010, 03:44 PM
D.Foxy   Have just recovered from ... well, am still recove...   Apr 27 2010, 03:54 PM
minque   Athynae would have been so proud of Athlain, seein...   Apr 27 2010, 09:33 PM
Remko   Nice touch bringing in the dubiousness of a light ...   Apr 28 2010, 12:33 PM
SubRosa   I believe there was a Club Penumbra in the old Pen...   Apr 28 2010, 04:23 PM
treydog   SubRosa- I have to admit being influenced by your ...   Apr 29 2010, 09:09 PM
Captain Hammer   Captain Hammer- Thank you for reading- and especia...   Apr 29 2010, 10:51 PM
haute ecole rider   For some reason Beowulf confronting Grendel in th...   Apr 29 2010, 10:50 PM
SubRosa   Nice job of keeping Athynae in the story, as you r...   Apr 29 2010, 11:03 PM
Olen   Good part, I remember that quest and must say you ...   Apr 29 2010, 11:20 PM
Black Hand   Keeping up with it, Sir Trey, worry not. Fantastic...   Apr 29 2010, 11:42 PM
canis216   Fabulous as ever, Treydog. :viking:   Apr 30 2010, 02:42 AM
D.Foxy   Just for a moment, I wondered why the final battle...   Apr 30 2010, 03:15 AM
mALX   Oh I loved two things, he had the potions Athynae ...   May 1 2010, 03:00 AM
minque   Wonderful as always! A favourite quote: Just...   May 1 2010, 05:50 PM
Remko   Oooh... loved that! Pain's good, lets you ...   May 4 2010, 04:24 PM
treydog   As I moved back through the Halls of Penumbra, I w...   May 5 2010, 04:30 PM
SubRosa   Athlain's feeling of being partly divorced fro...   May 5 2010, 04:56 PM
treydog   Athlain's feeling of being partly divorced fr...   May 5 2010, 05:08 PM
SubRosa   [quote name='SubRosa' post='114633' date='May 5 2...   May 5 2010, 05:21 PM
Olen   Yay update. The quality was top notch as ever. ...   May 5 2010, 05:05 PM
haute ecole rider   Aye, that's me! Between my deafness and ...   May 5 2010, 05:28 PM
Acadian   Just read the last two chapters. Wonderful (as al...   May 5 2010, 07:39 PM
mALX   I see Foxy migrating to the end of this chapter li...   May 5 2010, 09:04 PM
D.Foxy   I see Foxy migrating to the end of this chapter l...   May 6 2010, 05:40 PM
mALX   [quote name='mALX' post='114649' date='May 5 2010...   May 6 2010, 06:09 PM
Remko   Athynea's musical incapability had me laughing...   May 6 2010, 04:33 PM
D.Foxy   Of course, the sax made the dog howl . . . :blink...   May 6 2010, 05:37 PM
D.Foxy   I knew you would post that!!!   May 7 2010, 02:05 AM
mALX   I knew you would post that!!! I al...   May 7 2010, 02:13 AM
canis216   Ah, well played good sir. I especially enjoy how A...   May 7 2010, 03:45 AM
minque   Hmmm you guys already quoted what I wanted to quot...   May 7 2010, 10:29 PM
Black Hand   Athynae's unability to sing! Heh she must ...   May 8 2010, 09:16 PM
minque   [quote name='minque' post='114713' date='May 7 20...   May 9 2010, 10:44 PM
D.Foxy   HEY TREY OLD MAN!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY...   May 21 2010, 11:54 AM
mALX   Happy Birthday Treydog !!! Hope it i...   May 21 2010, 11:57 AM
treydog   All, thank you for your comments- and especially y...   Jun 5 2010, 02:45 PM
mALX   Woo Hoo! I've never heard of this before...   Jun 5 2010, 04:19 PM
SubRosa   Woof! Athlain has returned! I especially ...   Jun 5 2010, 05:08 PM
haute ecole rider   I had to restrain myself from jumping up and down ...   Jun 5 2010, 05:32 PM
D.Foxy   Please don't leave me so high and dry again...   Jun 5 2010, 05:38 PM
Black Hand   Hah. Classic.   Jun 5 2010, 06:28 PM
Olen   Great to see you back at this. As usual I loved t...   Jun 5 2010, 09:09 PM
Acadian   As always I am transported to Athlain's world ...   Jun 9 2010, 04:37 PM
minque   Hah. Classic. YESSSS!!!! Wonde...   Jun 14 2010, 11:45 PM
mplantinga   Thanks for another update. I don't post here a...   Jun 21 2010, 03:10 PM
treydog   Many thanks for all the wonderful comments, my fr...   Jun 22 2010, 05:48 PM
Captain Hammer   Well written yet again. Mostly though, sorry to h...   Jun 22 2010, 06:30 PM
haute ecole rider   the fight with the skelly, especially the comparis...   Jun 22 2010, 06:46 PM
SubRosa   Brilliant idea of grabbing a rib! I never woul...   Jun 22 2010, 09:20 PM
Olen   Woo another update. A good one too, as ever you t...   Jun 22 2010, 10:55 PM
Acadian   This one hurt. As always I somehow manage to feel...   Jun 23 2010, 03:32 AM
Remko   Sorry to hear about your dog Trey. I know what it...   Jun 23 2010, 11:24 AM
minque   what a great update! I'm so happy to see y...   Jun 24 2010, 07:28 PM
treydog   Writing has been slow to the point of ceasing late...   Jul 10 2010, 03:11 PM
Acadian   Welcome back treydog. Again, condolences on old T...   Jul 10 2010, 05:24 PM
haute ecole rider   ooh more breadcrumbs! I will file this interl...   Jul 10 2010, 09:24 PM
SubRosa   Serene returns! I have to say, after reading h...   Jul 10 2010, 09:56 PM
D.Foxy   Ah, if only Gonzo were a real dog, and had puppies...   Jul 11 2010, 11:15 AM
treydog   Bread-crumbs indeed. I will not say much as to yo...   Jul 21 2010, 10:17 PM
SubRosa   First, let me say hurrah to Princess Juneipurr...   Jul 21 2010, 10:31 PM
Olen   Good to see this started again, and a good job of ...   Jul 21 2010, 11:42 PM
haute ecole rider   I echo both Sage Rose and Olen on the latest insta...   Jul 22 2010, 01:21 AM
Acadian   Darn. You have me shivering and reaching for furs...   Jul 22 2010, 02:33 AM
Remko   Athlain feels like he's wasted his life? Hmmm....   Jul 26 2010, 12:02 PM
D.Foxy   Welcome back Trey!!! And now I have m...   Jul 26 2010, 01:41 PM
treydog   I wanted to provide an update on where things stan...   Jul 31 2010, 10:16 PM
haute ecole rider   What wonderful news! Yes, it sucks having an o...   Aug 1 2010, 12:58 AM
RavenMind   Wonderful work! I'm not much of a commente...   Aug 5 2010, 09:46 PM
treydog   And- we’re back. @SubRosa- Werewolf? There wolf....   Aug 6 2010, 09:53 PM
Acadian   treydoggone it. I needed furs again for this one....   Aug 7 2010, 01:22 AM
D.Foxy   And BRRRRRR!!!! Even in August I ...   Aug 7 2010, 02:48 AM
haute ecole rider   Jagermeister? Jagermeister?? :blink: I loved A...   Aug 7 2010, 03:20 AM
D.Foxy   Hautmistess, the word is in german Or Nordic, or S...   Aug 7 2010, 03:27 AM
Captain Hammer   Impressive work, particularly the fight with the w...   Aug 7 2010, 04:18 AM
Olen   I'm not sure solstheim would be quite cold en...   Aug 7 2010, 10:16 AM
SubRosa   Who let the dogs out? :D (sorry, could not resist...   Aug 7 2010, 08:25 PM
mALX   I should go away more often, you became prolific t...   Aug 8 2010, 12:21 AM
treydog   I normally do not "post-machine" my thre...   Aug 8 2010, 01:52 PM
Acadian   Great description of the cave. The battle outside...   Aug 8 2010, 03:54 PM
D.Foxy   Hwut he said!   Aug 8 2010, 04:00 PM
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