Drusilia Naïlo: The Making of a Watchman

[Horacio]

Wow, things are moving, and moving fast!

I love your story, Dru!

 

[Drusilia Nailo]

Dru's eyes widened in sudden fear, and she looked to Ivellimor wildly. "Papa will kill me if I get arrested!"

Ivellimor smirked. "I doubt that. And besides...anyone around here willing to say that she killed that man in self defense?" He looked around at the gathered crowd.

A chorus of cheerful 'Ayes' rang out, as a small group of sailors clustered around, each of them telling the two Watchmen their own versions of the story. After three minutes of cacaphony, one of them held up his hand. When he got silence, he turned to Dru. "You killed this man?"

Dru swallowed, and nodded. "Yeah. He charged up with his saber out. You can see that he got me a few times," she said, gesturing at her ripped and bloodied clothes.

The Watchman eyed her narrowly. "You're Tensin Naïlo's daughter, aren't you?"

She nodded, holding her chin up defiantly. "I am. That doesn't mean that I can't defend myself."

The other officer laughed. "No, no it doesn't. Derek, I can't see any reason to hold the girl. There's witnesses and everything."

The other one, presumably Derek, nodded reluctantly. "Alright. We gotta get this cleaned up, then." He turned to Dru, scowling at her. "Don't let me see you getting in trouble again tonight."

Ivellimor put his hand on her shoulder. "Drusilia," he murmured to her. "Come on." He led her away, and down the street. "Can you walk?"

She nodded, although she leaned on him all the same. It did hurt to walk, if she cared to admit it or not, and she didn't mind the prospect of leaning on the handsome man anyway. "Where are we going?"

Ivellimor looked back at the docked ships, and then sighed with a faint smile. "Well, I think that our moonlight cruise has been cancelled. I should take you someplace private, and see about getting those wounds of yours healed."

Dru walked with him, quietly. After awhile, she said, "I do not feel guilty about it, you know."

Ivellimor guided her into a tavern, and into a back hallway. "Well, you shouldn't," he said, leading her into the dimness. "No matter what that little tradesman friend of yours thinks." He stopped, unlocking a door, and opened it. "Come in. This is my place."

They stepped inside, and Dru looked around curiously. "It doesn"t look... very wizardly," she said, in disappointment.

Ivellimor laughed, pushing her down into a chair. "What were you expecting? A magic circle, a demon in a cage? A bat hanging upside-down from the ceiling?"

"Well, yes," said Dru after a moment's thought.

Ivellimor got out a couple of vials, which Dru recognized as potions. "Are those curatives?" Her tone was hopeful enough that it made Ivellimor laugh.

"Yes," he said, giving them to her. He watched her drink, and then frowned. "I hope that your father isn't angry with me for bringing you back here first."

Dru coughed, watching in fascination as her flesh healed itself. "I think he'll be more angry with whoever it was that was supposed to be looking out for me," she said, finally. "Don't worry, Ivellimor, I will tell him how much you helped me." She met his gaze and held it for a moment.

He looked away, sighing heavily. "I should get you back to your father," he said, sounding resigned.

Dru nodded, straightening up. "I suppose," she said. "I don't want him to worry, and you know how gossip works. He'll have heard about this already, no doubt." She frowned down at her tattered shirt. "Do you think I can wear one of your shirts?"

Ivellimor got into his steamer trunk, and pulled out a rakish looking black shirt. He grinned, somewhat embarrassed. "I think this will have to do," he said, thrusting it over to her.

She laughed, taking off the ragged remains of her old shirt, and put on the new one. "I have to say, Ivellimor," she said, "That I'm disappointed that we didn"t get to take our cruise tonight."

He was watching her change, a surprised smile on his face, but quickly grew serious again. "So am I. But I won't have your father upset at me. Come on, I'll take you home."

As it turned out, Ivellimor didn't have to take Dru back to her house. Papa was waiting for them outside of the building. He looked displeased.

He waited for the pair to come over to him. Ivellimor looked abashed. He swallowed, and started to open his mouth, to say something that was going to make him look worse than he already did.

Dru cut him off. "Someone tried to kill me at Swag Fest tonight," she said.

Papa nodded, once. "I heard." He looked Dru over. "You don't seem very hurt," he said. "I understood that you were quite injured."

Dru nodded, gesturing at Ivellimor. "He brought me back to his apartment, and then gave me some curing potions."

Papa looked over at the nervous Ivellimor, and nodded. "Thank you," he said. "You will be reimbursed for the potions."

Ivellimor shook his head. "No...it's not necessary."

Papa nodded again, and put his hand on Dru's shoulder in a rare gesture of public affection. "I hear that you did well in defending yourself."

Dru grinned, proudly. "I held my own," she admitted. "Although," she said, remembering that Ivellimor had a lot more in this to lose than she did, "It would have been much messier without Ivellimor and his magic."

Papa looked back at Ivellimor, who shrugged. "I was up in the crow's nest of a nearby ship, and when I saw what was going on, I took a shot at him."

"It appears," said Papa, "That you take your job more seriously than did Noral, Dru's bodyguard."

Dru's eyes widened. "Did?"

Papa only smiled. "Thank you, Ivellimor. I will remember this." His words made Ivellimor swell up, even if they were still clearly a dismissal.

Ivellimor smiled at Dru, and took several steps backward. "I'll let the two of you be on your way, then," he said. "Good bye, sir, good bye, Drusilia."

Papa glanced from Dru to Ivellimor and then back. He got an expression of what might be grim amusement on his face, and then steered his daughter away. "I think," he said, "That we've both had enough Swag Fest for this year. Let's go home."

Dru nodded, walking alongside him, suddenly weary beyond belief. "That sounds like a good idea." She changed the conversation swiftly. "I don't think Kilat likes me anymore."

Papa's eyebrows rose. "You're best friends. What could have happened to make him not like you anymore?"

Dru sighed. "He was unhappy that I killed that man. I think he was even more unhappy when he saw that I wasn't sorry for what I did."

"Ah." Papa's face was expressionless. "That happens sometimes, Daughter."

"Have you ever lost a friend because you weren't afraid to kill?"

"Yes."

When she saw that more was not forthcoming, she sighed. "I'm not sorry for killing him, though. He was trying to kill me first."

Papa stopped, and turned her so that she was facing him. He met her eyes. "Good. You did the right thing. He only got what he deserved."

They continued to walk, and went the rest of the way home in silence. Once in the front door, Papa waved away the questions of a frantic Kennic. "She's safe. You and I have some security issues to discuss, though."

Dru didn't wait around to hear the rest of the conversation. She didn't really want to hear about Noral's plight, because she was sure that it wasn't a pleasant one. I wish, she thought to herself wistfully, That people weren't always trying to hurt me. Maybe when I'm older people will have learned their lessons. She sighed, thinking about the boat ride that she was missing out on, and was suddenly, fiercely glad that the would-be killer was dead.

 

[Horacio]

Dru, your story is better and better with every new update. I really love it.

 

[Drusilia Nailo]

Dru took in a deep puff from the cigar, and then let the smoke drift back out of her mouth. It burned her lungs a little, but it was nothing like the first time she'd tried this... She leaned forward in her chair, affecting nonchalance, and threw the dice. They bounced across the table a couple of times, both of them rolling high.

Jalin, one of her father's people, and her caretaker for the afternoon, laughed aloud, slapping her on the back. "What a girl! You can tell that you're Tensin Naïlo's daughter, through and through," he said approvingly. He winked. "I'll bet that you can hold your liquor too," he said.

Dru grinned. "I can," she said.

Jalin laughed again, barely giving his son, Alust, a glance. "You're quite a girl," he said. "Someone that a father could be proud of."

Dru watched Alust out of the corner of her eye. The small elf glared at her and his father impartially. He reached out, and took one of Jalin's cigars, lighting it in the candle, and then took a deep puff, imitating Dru. There was a moment's pause, and then Alust turned bright red, and started coughing violently. He leaned forward, putting his head on the table, and wheezed for
air.
Jalin sighed, looking at Alust. "Take a drink, boy," he said harshly, shoving the tankard of ale over to him.

Alust continued coughing, but weakly reached out to take the tankard, and then swallowed some of the contents. This only seemed to renew his coughing. "I...hate....ale," he managed to get out between coughs. "You...know...that."

Jalin grumbled a little bit, looking apologetically at Dru. "He's not as tough as you are, despite my best efforts," he said, as if Alust wasn't even there.

Dru blinked, horrified, feeling bad for Alust, even if he was a little snit.

Alust's coughing finally subsided, and he straightened up, mustering as much dignity as he could in the situation. "Is it my throw?" He threw the dice on the table, and scowled when their sum was lower than Dru's had been.

Jalin snorted, and swept the dice up into his hands, shaking them up. He threw them, and got a perfect roll.

Dru stared at him, incredulously. "That's the fourth time in a row that you've gotten that, Jalin," she said. "I think that you're cheating!"

Instead of taking offense, he laughed loudly. "Cheating, you say? It's only cheating if you're caught. Here, let me show you how I've been doing it," he said, eyes twinkling.

An hour later, they were still playing, letting Dru practice cheating without being obvious about it. "No, no," snapped Jalin, smacking the back of her hand. "I saw you palming the extra die. You can't be that obvious about it, not if you don't want to get caught. Getting caught can be fatal in this town. Think, girl! Use those nimble little fingers of yours for once."

Alust smirked at her, perhaps glad that Dru was finally getting the sharp end of Jalin's tongue. Dru, who was used to her father's dagger, wasn't fazed. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," she grumbled at him. It's only fatal if they're stronger than you in a fight."

Jalin looked at her, and then laughed again. "That's the spirit!"

Alust scowled. "If you're so good in a fight, then why do you have scars all over your arms?"

Dru stared at him, and said icily, "Those were from training. If you had been trained the way that I have been, you'd have scars too."

"More," said Jalin. "He's pathetic with a blade of any kind. But you," he said, grinning at her. "I heard about what happened at Swag Fest the other night. Congratulations!"

Dru felt bad for Alust, suddenly, knowing how she'd feel if Papa ever criticized her publicly. "It wasn't that important," she said modestly. "He was just a human, and wasn't even very good."

"Nonsense," said Jalin firmly. "He was your first kill, and it was well done too. I wish that I could have seen it! Any fight that you can walk away from is a good fight."

Dru shrugged, glancing over at the seething Alust. "I had trouble walking away from it," she said, turning back to the grinning Jalin. "If Ivellimor hadn't taken me back to his apartment and given me some curing potions, I'd still be wounded. He got me and good, right up the belly," she admitted.

Jalin made a hand motion, as if waving away her words. "Nonsense. You got away, and you're still alive. Your opponent isn't."

Dru nodded, and took a sip of the ale. "True."

Jalin smirked at Alust. "You'd better be careful," he said to him. "You're going to lose your lady love to Ivellimor if you don't move quickly."

"Father!" Alust flushed bright red, and leapt to his feet. "She is not my lady love. Ivellimor can have her," he sneered. "Like I'd want a scarred up girl." And with that, he stormed out of the game room of Tensin Naïlo's house. A few seconds later, they heard the outside door slamming shut, as Alust went outdoors.

There was a moment of silence. Dru sat there, embarrassed, not knowing what to say. Jalin finally cleared his throat. "I'm sorry that you had to see that," he said, embarrassed. "His mother coddles him, and he expects everyone else to do the same. How he's even lived to be this age is a surprise to me. But... we can't choose our children, right?" He turned to her, grinning again. "Though I'm sure that your father has no regrets about you. I wish..." he trailed off, and then shook his head. "It's no matter. Now, you cheat again, and I'll watch. You're going to get this right if it takes you six more hours."

 

[Horacio]

Again, a superb update, Dru!

I love your story...

 

[Sniktch]

*nods to Horacio*

We're definitely in agreement on this one. You and DrN inspired me to ask for all the Freeport books this Christmas.

 

[Drusilia Nailo]

Dru took a bite of the lobster tail, and nodded to the anxious chef, who was hovering over her and Papa's table. "It's delicious," she told him.

The man glanced over to Papa, and getting the older elf's nod of approval, sagged in visible relief. "I am extremely pleased that you like the meal that I have prepared for you." He smiled, and then poured wine into both glasses. "Please enjoy some wine, which is of course, on the house, just like your meals." He hurried away from their table then, to the mysterious worlds of the kitchens, which Dru had never seen.

Papa turned back to Dru. "Kennic and I have decided that you have gotten skilled enough with your rapier that you can take one out in public," he said. When he saw his daughter beaming, he said sternly, "Though that doesn't mean you should stop practicing."

Dru grinned at him, and washed a bite of her food down with some wine. "Oh, don't worry, Papa. I want to become the best swordsman the city has ever seen."

"Mmm," he said, noncommittally, sipping his wine.

He glanced over towards the door, and frowned at whoever he saw coming in.

Dru glanced over her shoulder, and felt her heart rate quicken when she saw who it was, Ivellimor. She turned back from the table to see her father studying her. "What is it, Papa?"

He sighed, and shook his head. "What are your feelings about Ivellimor?"

Dru blushed, looking down at her food with suddenly renewed interest. Papa never tolerated anything less than a truthful answer from her, so she decided to not try to be coy. "I like him, Papa." She shrugged. "I'm not in love with him, if that's what you're asking."

He nodded. "Be careful," he said. "Romantic entanglements have been the ruin of more than one person."

Dru scowled. "It can't be all that bad," she said, rebelliously.

Papa scowled right back. "You, being young, do not know what you're talking about," he said. "Do not let your romantic nature be used as a weapon against yourself."

Dru nodded, beginning to eat again.

A few seconds later, Papa did the same, and it seemed that for now, the conversation was finished. However, when they were done eating, Papa added, "I will choose your husband for you. You will marry someone who can benefit the Organization."

Dru looked up at him. "I know that, Papa," she said. "You've always told me that."

"My chosen will not be Ivellimor," Papa said, glancing across the room to where the young wizard presumably sat. "So, dally with him as you will, but do not fall in love. Nothing good comes of it."

"I won't, Papa," said Dru.

He nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Now, I believe that he wants to speak to you, but is afraid to approach because of me." He stood to his feet. "I will see you back at the house, Daughter, tonight."

Dru stood to her feet, and leaned over to squeeze Papa's hand. "Good evening, Papa." She watched as he turned and walked for the door, two bodyguards falling into flanking positions behind him, two staying behind to watch her, from a discreet table on the other side of the room.

To be continued...

 

[dpdx]

Aw, man...

I think I know where this is headed, and I think I now know why Drusilia eventually joined the Watch.

Very good writing.

 

[Horacio]

Dru, your story is simple wonderful.

One of the best I've read in these boards. And you know I've read a lot, some of them very very good...

 

[Drusilia Nailo]

Hee hee. There are so many reasons for Dru joining the Watch that it isn't even funny, but I'll give you a little bit of a hint: the biggest reason for why she did hasn't happened yet.

I know I've said this several times in different ways, but I'm absolutely thrilled that people are enjoying this storyhour. Your feedback makes me look forward to getting online at night!