Picking up the Captain

 Archduke Dristen approached the Adventure’s Guild… house with a sigh. It was just after eleven, and his day was already hectic. His guards for the day were Calden and Rumbsey, both muscular and if it wasn’t for Calden’s Elven ears, they could be brothers. They had oval, sharply accented, ivory faces, golden blond hair that was long and braided, with blue eyes that searched everywhere.

As his thoughts wandered about all the things that needed to be done within Dahlia Haven. He changed the name back wondering when it and the others around the continent had lost their individuality. Not only that, how had the depravity of his region been kept from his eyes. Why hadn’t anyone spoke out? So many were starving and weak because of the Green Goblins and their inability to fight them. But it had to be more… everything was falling apart. He had talked to his fellow leaders only to hear his worries echoed back. He continued in, not aware of much around him opening the door. Sobs greeted him, which brought him back to the moment. His blue eyes noticed three people talking to the receptionist… Elaine. It appeared they were trying to calm her down. “Well, damn,” he mumbled entering the simple house that wasn’t so simple five years ago.

“May I ask what is going on?” Archduke Dristen started moving closer while his guards began to scan the room. He only recognized one of the three, it was Alden without Londra, that didn’t look good. Alden looked healthier than the last time, with a bit of shine to his braided, brown hair. His uniquely marbled blue-green eyes were the first to notice him since Elaine was sobbing hysterically holding on to a female. Alden touched the male beside him leaning on the counter trying to make Elaine smile.

Was that… Zeke? He was now the same height as Alden… around six-eight with a muscular build. His pure green skin had a sheen that made it look tough and thick. He gave a smile showing his gleaming white, animal like teeth with humor through his long face and golden eyes. His long, dark, mahogany hair appeared healthy and braided like most warriors he knew. While his palm sized, pointed ears proved his Goblin heritage. Archduke Dristen recovered from the shock. “Zeke, Alden, what has happened?” he asked louder.

“It is horrible!” Elaine cried, tears streaming down her round, dark beige face holding a female’s hand tightly. “Duke Eldwin came in yesterday after Master Oscar came back from escorting Julius and Julianna back to the room. That was a mess too but… He arrived…” she paused to sniffle, “and told us to leave or else. But we couldn’t, Londra was still in the Learning Room. He ordered us again, then threatened my Teddy. He even knew where he was and everything! I was so afraid, but Master Oscar got into a yelling match with him about duty and honor. I was pulled out of the guild by someone and tossed to the ground. I was too upset to stay and headed home. Sure enough, another of the Duke’s thugs was right there beside my grandson. He patted me on the head and told me to stay away and not go in until ten-thirty today!” she finished before starting to cry again. A toned, curvy woman with long hair that was a mix of yellow, green, and red was trying to calm Elaine. She was a unique woman with a long, buttercream face and evergreen eyes.

“Where is Londra now?” Archduke Dristen asked with his whole muscular body.

“Still in the Learning Room,” Zeke answered as if it wasn’t a big deal leaning against the desk. “According to what we were able to get out of poor Elaine there is a lock on the door so nobody can enter it after hours. The lock is still engaged, and her Lacrama won’t work. She can’t find Master Oscar.”

“That isn’t like him,” Rumbsey commented still sizing up the three who looked so different. Then again, he had no idea who the female was standing beside Elaine holding her hand.

“No, it isn’t,” Archduke Dristen mumbled. “Jolen, Talen, fine Master Oscar. I am done playing, capture all that have had any contact with him. Use the shadows to find them.” He felt a breeze while he headed around the desk to the locked door touching his Lacrama to the left side where the lock was. The door unlocked and they all let out the breath they were holding.

“Bye! Spella,” Londra said coming out of the Learning Room. She wobbled a bit, but Alden and Zeke were there to make sure she didn’t land on her face. Nobody commented that they jumped over the desk so simply. “Wow, look who is green again! I am curvy again, not as curvy as before. I made a little deal with her. Instead of two hundred pounds I am one hundred and eighty,” she giggled. “And so exhausted, sweaty, and need to use the bathroom!” she finished pushing away from the two. With a passing thought, “I will be in here a bit. I learned how to make a magical bladder then how to purify it, so I had water to drink! I am going to empty mine and that one,” she explained with a big smile. “Hey, Sasha. You look exquisite. So how much did Fenten drool this morning when everything was completed?”

Sasha chuckled, making sure Elaine was stable in her chair before following Londra into the female bathroom. “So much,” she laughed. “But to be fair… he looks so different. Even sounds different, like a babbling brook! He misses Fern and wonders about Zerina but is trying so hard…” with that the door closed, and the males were left there with the upset Elaine.

Alden shrugged before moving to stand guard next to the bathroom. Zeke laughed, tossing his head back, letting his large muscles dance to show they were slightly bigger than everyone’s while moving towards Elaine, hoping to find something to say that would keep her from crying. He nodded at the human beside Archduke Dristen and then the Elf next to the entrance.

“Wait,” Archduke Dristen started. “That is Sasha? Where is her snake tail and her skin should have the look of scales not silky smooth…”

Zeke smiled, “if you get up close you can see the scales under the silky smooth skin. I am going to tell Fenten that one! Silly Fairy is infatuated with her, has been since they met and were both grey. For the other, she is one step away from being an enhanced non-human, like me, not to brag. But she can change forms freely now.”

“Okay… so Londra is fine?” he wondered softly rubbing his temples.

“Yea, pretty Elf boy told Fenten the skin thing,” Zeke pouted, rubbing Elaine’s shoulder. “We can all communicate telepathically now. When she ran out of questions, we added a few we didn’t get to ask. Not only that, but her familiars were also able to learn so she could have a little mind break. Speaking of… Miss Elaine, do you like fluffy cats?”

“Who doesn’t…,” she sniffled, blinking the tears out of her hazel eyes.

“Okay, he is a big softy,” Zeke started as a lion appeared next to him. No, not quite a lion. It was a bit bigger and looked more like a fluffy, yellow and orange cat. “His name is Theda.”

“Oh!” Elaine said when the large cat plopped his fluffy head in her lap, sitting for her to pet him. His hazel eyes showing just how much he wanted the attention. She couldn’t help but stroke. “So soft,” she mumbled, letting her head rest on Theda’s for a moment.

“Well, that worked,” a flying, light grey cat with blue eyes said, causing the Archduke Dristen and his guards to tense up. “All, would you hurt a poor, cute, little cat like me?” he purred.

“Hello?” Archduke Dristen started, unsure of what else today would bring. A panther came out of the female’s bathroom just before Sasha. It looked straight at Alden with piercing golden eyes. Another came out with the strangest markings… a tuxedo cat! Oh, what a day.

“Delta, that is enough,” Londra chuckled, rubbing his large, black head. “You two can stare at each other later. Sorry for worrying you Elaine,” she added with a smile, “but we have so much to do! Come, back into my vault for now. Don’t want you guys scaring everyone.”

“Awe, he was so cuddly,” Elaine sighed watching the four felines disappear.

“We will be back, well some of us. I think Robbie wants to go hunting for herbs, but he still isn’t walking quite right. It makes the wide walkways around our room so useful. To think we wondered why anyone would need to walk around that much,” Londra continued with a laugh. “Anna is working on signing up some supporters just so they can use the Learning Room, and we will rent one of the meeting rooms to make sure everyone gets home, nothing against you, just… HIM, or maybe I should say THEM,” she finished with a growl.

“Anna? Wait, why don’t you have a headache?” Archduke Dristen inquired, watching her smile at Alden before turning him as if he was a child. Next, she pulled his shirt up, exposing the slave crest in the middle of his back. His curse was below it, deep within his body so most couldn’t see it, but she could now. Her mind was too foggy to read it, but she had a duty to seal it for him. Nobody could hear the conversation the two were having as her hands encircled the crest, applying some magic before pulling down his shirt.

“That would be Julianna,” Sasha answered trying not to laugh at the different emotions Alden’s marbled blue-green eyes made. “She likes just Anna better. Julius is Jul, which is strange. I call him Julius.”

“Yep, we are late,” Londra said quickly weaving a bit, but Alden righted her. “Just have to be nice to the sentient spell and there is no headache,” she added breezing by because otherwise she would fall asleep. “Come on Alden, to the Slave Trader’s. I am late for my appointment. I am not walking, and you got a good night’s sleep.” A moment later the four of them were gone.

“An Elf that can teleport better than a Demon? Two is a feat…” Caldon mumbled rubbing his face. “That was a lot. I feel like I understand what Zeona meant.”

“She was in the Learning Room for twenty-five hours,” Elaine mumbled softly. “Who could do that? At least she is nice… right?”

“Elaine, the time stays between those in the room,” Archduke Dristen ordered. “If anything, she came out and waited for us to free her from a meeting room. Elaine, we are leaving. Master Oscar was beaten but will be here in an hour or so. I have so much to clean up.”