Gunner stopped his story to look at everybody. I took a lot of effort to for him to pour out the most painful part of his young life, even to his friends. Uber sitting in the back, looked as if he was about to nod off. Only because he heard the story before. Mentokka and Merc was listening intensely to his every word, as if they were in the story themselves. Smiling and laughing with every happy moment, frowning and being at the point of tears with the sad parts. Tosh was squirming in his seat as if he was in a hurry to go some where..... any where. And only remained seated because Mentokka had asked him to. And Rand had a look the he couldn't read. He was listing to his words, but he was looking at the girls. Gunner thought if he was in his place, he would be looking at Merc and Mentokka also. He smiled inwardly and thought, "What a group we are, indeed."

Later that day, the ten of us that remained got together in Davon's room. The five men and five women had there chance to speak his or her peace about what would be there next move. To no ones surprise, the girls all wanted to stay together. All except one of the men wanted to go there own separate ways. Davon asked the men one time, was that what they wanted. They all nodded there heads. He gave each man several gold and silver coins and they more or less told him that they didn't know where they wanted to go or do. But he wished them all well. But we both knew that they would more likely be captured again and sold back into slavery, but we could not help that.

Soon after the four men left, the six of us started talking among ourselves. Nianna, with Eleanor staying close to her, talked to Davon and the other women. I kept quite and listened to what was being said. And like the four men that left, the women didn't have a clue what to do. My guess it was the idea of being free for the first time in years for some of them was a little hard to accept or believe. All of the women liked the idea of going to one of the larger cities, maybe the East Lake Republic . The weather was warm all year around. But they wanted to travel together. And they were expecting me and Davon to travel with them. I looked over at Davon and he asked me to walk with out to the pier with him.

The two of us walked in silence until we reached the water. "I take it you wasn't expecting that, my brother." Davon said, a small grin breaking across his face.

"Expected it?.....Kind of. Surprised by it?.....No." I replied. I looked over at him and smiled also. "We are responsible for they safety."

I said it as I was stating a fact. But it sounded like I was asking a question.

"Of course, even though the two of us have many to kill." I nodded.

"Yeah......Two Liege Lords to kill. A girlfriend and father to find and rescue......" I paused for a moment before I spoke again. "And Rerri to find and kill........painfully."

"True, my brother. Not to mention a lot of men protecting them. But all of that has to wait. Nianna and the other need us." Davon said.

I nodded slowly as I looked out towards the ocean. Water and sun glittered like sharpened spear-points on the small waves hitting the pier. I looked out on to the open ocean and smiled. This was the first time in over two years that I 'really' looked out at the ocean. And realized how beautiful it really was. Being a slave can do that to you. But that wasn't all. I raised my eyes to the wind and wept. Pure tears of joy.

Davon seeing this asked me what was wrong. I told him, for the first time since we got off the ship. We were truly free. No longer being chain to a rowing bench. No longer feeling the lash or blows of a cruel master. No longer worrying about pirates trying to re-capture or kill us. We could go where ever we pleased. And no one could stop us. Hell! No one really cared. I fell to my knees, giving thanks to the Nameless Dragon God of the Tine faith that me and Davon belong to. I also gave thanks for having Davon for a friend. For without him, I would still be a slave or most likely be dead.

After a few moments I rose to my feet and told Davon, why don't we stay here in Ragnar for a while. When Davon asked why. I told him it was a quiet out-of-the-way kind of place, the people are friendly enough, the rooms are comfortable, the food is good, the are plenty of out of site places where we can train and gather our strength, because we both knew none of us were not in any condition to journey any kind of long distance. And during this time we can figure out what the girls are going to do with the rest of there lives and ours.

Davon looked around and told me he liked the idea, but he did have one problem with my plan. "What if soldiers from Fatoria come to this town looking for us, because Rerri tipped them off about us?" I looked at him and smile.

"I don't think that will happen, my brother."

"Why not?"

"Because, earlier today before our meeting. I went to the clothing shop, and paid the shop owner's adult son to take a trip to Fatoria with a letter describing a certain stolen Fatorian Escort ship heading to Kenet." I looked a Davon and smiled. "That will keep them off our backs. And, if Rerri is stupid enough to come back here and try to get back 'his' gold and supplies. I think we will be more then happy enough to..........how should I put it?........'Negotiate' to him about these things."

Davon laughed and said he couldn't of thought of a thought of a better plan. I told him I had a good teacher. And so, we spent the up coming winter in Ragnar. Most of the women thought it was a good idea, but two of them were still suffering for the effects of slavery. They spent most of there time with a few of the wives that gossiped among themselves in the market square. I could only guess, that there chatting helped them relax in some way. Nianna helped in the clothing shop. She didn't asked for pay. The skills she were learning was pay enough for her.

Me and Davon trained with each other in the out skirts of town. I practiced with my bow every other day, keeping my skills sharp. Davon trained with his two short swords. Improving his speed and agility. Not like the man wasn't as fast as a blur already. To help me improve my skills with a sword. Davon trained me by the means of using quarter staffs. Always preaching that I had to get faster. Move faster. Strike faster. Counter faster.

Eleanor finally started opening up to me. When Nianna worked in the shop, she stayed with me.Several times she would join me to watch me and Davon train. She seem to enjoy the part when Davon would more or less mop the floor with me when we fought hand-to-hand.

One stormy night, Nianna wasn't feeling well and went to bed early. I trained hard that day and I decided to go to bed early myself. Thunder boomed and lighting lit up the sky. Suddenly Eleanor came into the room and rushed into my arms saying that she was scared. I wrapped my arms around her shaking body, telling her every thing would be all right. I sat on the bed with her falling asleep in my arms. I was thinking about bringing her back in to her room. But she asked me would it be alright if she could sleep with me. Saying something about Nianna groaning in her sleep.

I felt a little uneasy about it. We we rescued her from the pirate ship, I thought she was around fourteen or fifteen. But to my surprise, she was actually eighteen. It was her height and her child-like looks that threw me off. But it was also the was she held onto me. It wasn't an embrace of fear of the weather. It was an embrace of lust. I could feel it also. The desire building in me also.

"Eleanor." I whispered. "I don't think we should do this.......Nianna." She looked up at me with eyes of deep need. That look told me that she didn't care what I thought about Nianna. We were together in my room, in each other arms. I closed my eyes for the briefest moment, then I pressed my lips to hers and lowered our bodies onto the bed.

I didn't know what was more intense. The storm or our love making. But like Nianna before her, I woke up alone, even though I clearly remember going asleep with Eleanor in my arms. I rose to my feet and walked towards the window. The storm had passed. But there was a storm of emotions going off inside of me. First Nianna. Now it's Eleanor. The passions that they gave out was like comparing an Hurricane to a Typhoon. And somewhere in those competing storms the memory of Gisela was slowly disappear. And a part of me didn't think it was such a bad thing. I looked out to the dark skies.

"Don't think too much, Falco." I said to myself. "If your not careful, these girls and feelings are going to drive you mad!...........If they haven't done it already." I sighed softly. Not sure what tomorrow will bring. I was sure it wasn't going to be anything but boring. With that, I turned and went back to bed, and was soon fast asleep.

The next morning and I didn't see Nianna or Eleanor that day. That was a good thing. It would of been some 'uncomfortable moments' between the three of us for sure. Instead of training, me and Davon decides to take a long walk though Rancor's vast county side to the north. I told him about the three of us and he chuckled softly. This surprised me.

"Falco, my brother. Your trying to stand upright on a ship that is getting battered by the stormy seas."

"That's an understatement." I replied, smiling at him.

"I know you too well. Your worried about there feelings. You don't want to hurt them. But these are times you must think about yourself. This will drive you crazy if your not careful."

"Again with the understatement," I said momentary stopping.

"It doesn't matter. They're are going to compete for your feelings. They'll most likely end up breaking up there friendship because of you."

"Me? But I didn't want......" Davon cut me off.

"It doesn't matter. It will most likely end up this way. You so might as well sit back and enjoy it. Because it is going to be a bumpy ride for you..... All three of you." he said as he continued walking. I stood there for a few moments. I looked up to the sky, and sighed deeply.

"I think......it was easier being a slave."