The World of Rhune

Sharely moved silently through the market stalls. It was fun to be a peasent boy, or atleast act like one. Not that he'd ever let his mates or the girls know, but when he could provide for them without giving himself away, it was fun. He looked behind him, Cress was a pale shadow and Dove was right behind him. He smiled reasuringly at his rag-tag group he had chosen to bring. He knew today's mission was an easy one. Bring back some fruit and meat for the rest of the crew. Simple, and needed not the best peeps for the job, but would make the littler ones feel important. Perfect tatics, flawless, especially since it was made by the leader; him. Sharley turned back around and headed to the fruit merchant at the end of all the stands trying to sell you somthing. The smell of the warf hit you immediatly after the silk scarf vender, fishy and homey. Not that he was normally near the warf, but he and his group had decieded to set up a second base on the Sacii islands off the top of Xirra. It was smart, and they could trade stuff from the mainland there, help support the ten members of the gang. They approached the food vender, but ducked behind a sow when two Xir guards passed the children. No need to make their faces known, especially Sharley's. But it was the perfect chance to "find" a silver dropped from his own pocket. He put his hand in his pocket nonchalantly and pulled it out, setting it on the ground. The bunch was right next to a sewer pipe, so the coin would somwhat blend under it. he silently dropped it their, and whispered to Cress. "What's that under the pipe, bud?" he asked the seven year old. Cress looked under the pipe, and his face lit up. A silver! A whole silver! Cress smiled briliantly at Sharely, who felt warm inside for causing the little guy such happiness. "You're gonna blind us, you fool, if you keep smiling like that," Dove teased, rustleing his dirty hair. Naturally red as a pepper, but now more an auburn from all the dirt. Cress laughed quietly, being more mature than most for his age, understanding the need for quietness. "Shall we save it, lad? Or spend it?" Sharely knew he would spend half, and bring half back to base, but he wanted to see Cress' view. It was never too early to train the chap to be a leader or a smart man, since he would probably take over a base of his own if Sharely's band became big enough. "I say we keep it, or change it in and spend a little bit," Cress squeezed his thumb and index finger to show how tiny of a bit, exactly like a kind his age would. "I like that plan, we can bring home some veggies now, and maybe a tiny bit of salt." Sharely decided, standing up. Dove looked in awe at her leader. Salt was a rareity, and the bunch hardly got any. Maybe four times a year, Christmas, the group's personal holiday, and maybe once or twice more if they could get their hands on it. No more, usually less. "You guys need some salt, you're starting to look Annorexic Dove," she blushed and punched his forearm hard. For a girl, it was pretty hard. It would leave a bruise on his muscled, sixteen year old arm. "Hey, just stating the facts here," Sharely put his hands up as in defence, and then truged on to the last stall, ten or so venders down the wooden street.

"Hey-o! Seth!" Sharely called when he came up to the vender. They knew well, and he was nice and well off enough to spare for those worse off. "Hey, Sharely-boy, how's Robin Hood?" he laughed heartily, and shook Sharely's hand. "Well enough, going on a short trip, gonna take some extras," Sharely responded with a smile at the twenty-five year old man, laughing lightly at the Robin Hood joke. It was what Seth had always labled him after he had started coming for a while. "K, then I'd get a few limes and lemons, apples, and an orange or two. Also them lettuce, cheap and feeds a lot." Seth pointed to the different produce as he named them. Sharely took out the coins he had brought, or more so his group had to spare. six shillings, and a copper. Good enough for the day's needs. Sharely purchased the food with Cress holding half, and he himself holding the other. "Thank you, see ya around," Seth waved in acknowledgment and turned to his next consumer. "Sure smells fishy, doesnt it Sharely?" Cress said, wrinkling his freckled nose. "Yup, yuck. I'd hate to live here. When we get to one of the islands, remind me not to set base too close to a warf. It stinks here!" Cress smiled at his leader, and then confusion came over his face. And Sharely had the same thought. "Dove...!" they said to each other, though one was squeaky and one was deep. Sharely looked around, no Dove, again, like always. "See any guys identical to me?" Sharely asked Cress, who shook his head. He put the veggies down behind Seth's stall, like he always did when Dove went missing. He would never feel nostalgia about this scenario, it'd been run too many times. Sharely sighed. He would bring Fritz with him next time too, let one of the other guys man base. "Let's go looking, meet back here in five, tops. He didnt need an orphange taking Cress, cause that scenario had happened more than once too. Too many scenerios Sharely thought, and started running through the crowded stalls. Not behind the horses, the livestock, soap maker, fisherman...wait, there? He dodged into an alley where he thought he had seen a flash of white-blonde hair around the cobble corner. Sharely sped down the brick alley and around the dirty corner, to what a suprise Sharely thought sarcasticly. A small gang of boys, three well-kept boys, surrounding Dove and taking turns kissing her. They shoved her off to the next guy laughing at Dove's natural paleness thinking they had caused it. "How sweet, now get the Hell off my girlfriend!" Sharely shouted menicingly at the bunch, who all turned around. Dove even acted like the phrase was true, like all the other times, but her gratefulness was pure. "Sharely!" She sounded like the poor innocent girl she wasnt. Dove tried to run to him but the boys blocked her off. They were about Dove's age, maybe a year older. But Dove was thirteen, so the boys would be easy to pick off if it came to a fight. "Let her go, thugs. She's mine," Sharely started walking towards them with a slow, scary stride. "Yeah? Why aint she wearing a Persephone collar?" the leader shot back, his blue eyes taunting. How funny, same color as Dove's. I'll have to mention that to Fritz...Sharely thought with amusement, not that he let it show. Dove bit her lip at the collar part, her fists curling out of the boy's view. She could give them nightmares for a month had she wanted to, but law didnt permit that. She was living in a man's world, or nation. Girls had no rights really, and guys could do a lot to them, including taking them and and doing what ever if they wanted. As long as there wasnt much physical damage, it was legal. The only thing that stopped them was a Persephone collar, which showed she was another guy's girl. Aphrodite collar meant she was married. And then not to mention girl's names, which had to be determined by class. Lowest to poor middle class had to have animal names, like Dove. Middle class to rich had flower names, and nobles and above had gems, like Ruby except for the royal family. All the rest couldnt be named anything else. There were no restrictions on guy's names,though, or really any laws on them either. Sharely took a second to pity Dove, and then forgot about it. Dove was a girl, he was a guy and he naturally had the power. So why not use it? But in this case, he needed Dove back from these holigans. "Cause I was buying her one from here, dumb ass. Not let her go," Sharely looked. These guys werent budging, ah well, too bad for them. Sharely ran the rest of the way and delivered a quick punch to the left guy, making the middle dude look at his parter so he didnt see Sharely's foot snap up and knock the wind easily out of the guy. Simple tactic that always worked. Sharely was clouded in the ear by the third, and glared harshly at the poor guy. He didnt even give him a second before he punched the guy in the nose, making the wuss fall to the floor. "Talk about a bunch of weenies, c'mon Dove," she scurried to his side and he placed his arm around her shoulder. "Dove, I'm getting tired of this, make that Fritz get you a Persephone collar asap, got it?" Sharely said as they turned the corner. "Yeah, nice language by the way. Though I'm just saying Cress has got one from you too." Dove said lightly, making him smile slightly. His ear was bleeding slightly, and his knuckles were smarting from the punch. "Let's just get outta here," Sharely said, finding Cress waiting with his arms full of produce. "Are we still gonna get some salt?" he asked innocently like Sharely didnt look kind of beat up. He sighed deeply," Sure kido, let's go," Sharely held just Dove's hand and winced every so often if he ran into somthing. The middle guy had kicked his ankle hard when he had punched the first guy, and it felt swollen. He bought two ounces of expensive salt (ten shillings an ounce) and walked to base. 

"Hey Fritz, I got a bone to pick with you. Hey Raven, Amber, and Izzy." He greeted half his crew, and turned back to Fritz pulling him into a corner. "I dont care how you get the money, you better get your girl a Persephone collar, got it? I had to beat up a couple of kids, and got beat up myself, again. Get the picture?" Sharely looked down on his right hand man. "Got it, man" Fritz smiled. Sharely raised an eyebrow and punched him in the forearm hard. "Payback, " he said walking away and dumping the salt in the single cabinet. The place was basically made of scrap stuff under a tree near the slums of the city. The roof was half wood half metal and the walls were made of wood and stone. Mud to seal everything and the floor was dirt except for the sleeping area where there was dried grass and pine needles. An ugly, homey place. Where Sharely could go to get away from court life. He sat on a dirty cushion with his group next to Raven. Most girls in Xirra had bird names, it just fit girls better than other names. Though Kat was an excpetion. "Where's the rest of the gang? Kat, Murphy, and Chachi?" he asked, setting his fist in a small, dirty bowl of water Dove had gotten him. "Out, Kat might have gotten in the same trouble as Dove though...they were going to the city to find some tarp to make an extra sail if need be. They should have been back by now. I'm thinking we really should leave these girls here now, let them do the housework." Izzy said smartly, and the group started cracking up. Like this was an actual house, though he got kicked by Amber. Sharely laid back, the afternoon sun shining through a crack warming him up a bit. His group was happy for the moment. Sharley looked at the ratty bunch. He was sixteen, Fritz was sixteen, Murphy and Raven were fifteen, Izzy, Amber, and Kat were fourteen, Dove and Chachi were thirteen, and Cress was eight. They were dressed in dirty but warm clothes, and he was sure Kat had a hole in her shoe...was Chachi finally getting some hair on his lip? He looked at Dove laying on Fritz' shoulder, and felt Raven shift and slip her hand under his. The beauty of romance. Too bad he couldnt bring Raven into the palace. Maybe as a maid...if he were careful. But Raven wasnt that kind of person. Her streaked and solid purply black hair hung layered to her ribs, and her chalk skin made her look dangerous. Not to mention her unusual blue eyes. While pretty, Sharely had never seen such eyes. They were so blue, they looked like the lightest shade of voilet, but where purpleish no doubt. She looked heavenly scary. Like an angel, but not one you'd mess with. Not that he'd let Raven mess with him. He'd made her half of what she was. Not to mention Fritz...Dove...Murphy...Kat...Chachi...Amber had come a warrior on her own, and he and Amber were training Cress. Sharely smiled at his rag tag group. "Girls, if you would be so kind as to start dinner and so forth. Men, battle time." He looked at the faces. The four girls, glares. The five guys, wicked smiles. "I brought home salt," Sharely added as the boys got the real swords and the wooden ones. The girl's faces looked up at him with annoyance. Only Dove was somewhat happy at the thought, since she'd picked it out. 

"Hit me to the left, my weak point. Dont take pity on me, in battle, the enemy will do just the same." Sharely blocked Chachi easliy as he went for the right instead of the left. He rounded his sword around Chachi's and the sword flipped out of his hand, landing with a wooden thunk on the gravel outside the house. "See? You'd be dead if this were for reals." Chachi bent over to grab his sword and Sharely smacked him in the butt, making him fall. "Hey!" he said, but was laughing. Sharely grinned back and walked over to where Fritz was taking Murphy and Izzy on at the same time. "Left , Izzy. Murphy block for Izzy then kick Fritz for the god's sake! Do you think Triton gave you brains for nothing? Use them!" Sharley coached, but swung and paried with Chachi right as he came full speed to whack him back. "Good comeback," Sharely said, sliding slightly on his bad ankle in the slippery ground. "Thanks," Chachi grunted under the weight of Sharely's wooden sword and force. He managed to break, but Sharely kicked his feet from under him and had him at sword point. "Hades' calling for you, bud," Chachi smiled again and pushed the sword from his chest. That meant the battle was over, but he'd done well enough. If he'd done bad, he would have been called "Dead meat,". Sharely looked at the sun. It was about two hours into the afternoon. He had three left before he had to go back to the castle. "Fritz, you me, now. Murphy, take Cress. Raven, take Izzy." Sharely raised an eye brow and smiled at the silent figure in the shadow watching the boys. She walked out of her hiding spot smiling. "Prepared to get whipped, Izzy?" she called playfully, already swinging a wooden sword. "Raven. Not again," Sharely said strictly. "Yeah, sure." Raven took up a stance with her sword over her shoulder. "Raven," he spoke with more authority. "Whatever," "Raven!" Sharely swung his sword hard at her, but she caught it barely. A milisecond and she would have had a broken rib. Sharely applied all his weight into his sword, making Raven sweat as she tried to hold it up unsuccesfully. "Not again, right?" he said through clenched teeth. "Got it," Raven said strainingly. Sharely stopped applying pressure but flipped Raven's sword from her hands quickly and quietly. He had to enforce disipline every now and then, or the bunch wouldnt listen. Even if it was at the smallest things. They had to get that they needed discipline to survive. Simple as that. Sharely walked away and didnt hear Raven's foot steps as she retreived her sword. "Now," Sharely called to Fritz, worked up and ready. "Haaaayaaaaa!" he shouted as he hit Fritz sword hard.

"Charlemangue, how was your day?" Sharely's father asked formally as the nobles tucked into roasted pig and many other delacacies. "Fine enough. I knocked my ankle coming back here though. I tripped on a stump and grazed my hands. They'll be okay by tomorrow." His father nodded as he listened to his youngest son, ignoring his other two laughing sons. "Mackenzie and Montgomery! Stop it!" Sharely's father finally said, glaring at his middle sons who happened to be twins. They knocked it off for a second before whispering and smiling at each other, making Sharely feel awkward. "It is okay, Charlemangue. We all make mistakes. Some people just point it out more than others," Augustine said with a small smile, but shot an unhappy glance at his younger brothers. "Thanks," Sharely mumbled, and wished he were back with Raven, Fritz, and little Cress. Even moody Kat would be better than his brothers. Though Augustine was okay, and took his job as crown prince seriously. "Virigiania, bring out the deserts," The king requested as he and his sons finished their dinners. The queen immediatly retrieved the tarts and brought them out to her family. Though she was queen, she was still expected to serve her family, everyone else but important officials served her. Virginiana set each infront of her sons and husband before retreating from the dining hall. "Father? I wish to ask permission to go on a trip to the Sacii islands in a day or two. For two weeks at most. I wish to increase my knowledge of our country, and I could report to you of the island's making. Since it was discovered only twenty years ago, and it hasnt been paid attention to much. May I?" Sharely requsted timidly. His real personality was bold and striking, and full of masterful plan. But in his family life, he was forced to be the personality of his child hood, no more. Only General Santiago realized his military smarts and trained him to be just as good as himself, maybe a little weaker. He had even beat the commander's troops in fake combat. Though according to Santiago, he was accustomed to smaller battle space and more troops, which was his only flaw that Sharely helped fill. The king looked thoughtfully at his youngest son he thought was inexpierianced and hardly a man. "The thing is, Sharely. That I would normally send your elder brothers to take care of that bussiness, not my youngest. And you are hardly expirenced in that area, let alone the sea. Not to mention the prince and princess of Cancri shall be arriving here soon enough. Princess Hannah is about your age, Amir is around Augustine's age. You will meet them, if I let you go for a week, understand?" Sharely's face lit up happily. His father hardly ever gave in to his sons, let alone Sharely. "Ofcourse, father. The prince and princess sound facinating, I cant wait to meet them, in a week." Sharely quickly stood up to his father's diapprovment and ran to his room. He needed to plan this with Fritz and the rest of his crew, not to mention set somthing up so he didnt get a royal ship. Santiago! He could help him arrange the trip without any royals really looking after him. "Lilina!" Sharely yelled for his maid. "Send General Santiago in immediatly, understood?" he said when the poor maid came in. "Yes, my sir." Lilina said in her normal, quiet voice. She rushed off down the dark corridor. Sharely began packing and laying out his personal pair of shabby clothes and an old but nice blanket he could bring back. Say he found it abandoned behind some house. He threw the blanket over his clothes just as the general walked in smelling slightly of Ale. "My prince," he saluted with his fist curled but his pinky resting on his lower lip, his left wrist crossing over his right in a cross. He didnt do the salute very often. "I want you to arrange a way, without telling my father, for me to get my own ship, and have my own crew. I want to test myself without any of my father's help. Thank you General," Sharely said politely without denting Santiago's pride too much. "Your highness," he stepped out of the room swiftly, and Sharely began to pack again. An old carpet bag to hold the items he was bringing back, which included some of the trim from the goose he had slipped from the kitchen on his way out. His group would love to eat that in the morning with some eggs of the wild geese. "Lilina! Lock my door and tell all they are not to disturb me. I wish to see no one until late morning. Nine o'clock at the earliest to unlock the door for someone. Who ever breaks my order with suffer, I will make sure of that. Now go, I wish to be in peace." He ordered harshly, feeling bad for the girl. But that was how life went in Xirra, and the women were used to it. Lilina fled quickly from the chamber, fearing punishment from the youngest prince, who usually was not that strict, but Lilina couldnt take chances. She locked the prince's door from the outside. He would be able to get out, for he had a key, but no one could go in. Sharely sighed in relief, and hid his personal key under the bed in a small pocket where he had ripped the fabric. An owl hooted and Sharely thought he saw a garygoyle long off in the distance through the window he was going to escape from. He shoved the blanket into the worn carpet bag and changed quickly into his "gang" clothing. "Anything else..." Sharely muttered to himself absentmindedly. A silver, for sure, and maybe a pair of socks? No, oh! He walked into his huge bathroom and rummaged through his drawers. His group was looking ratty and dirty. Almost wild in their apperance, a comb, brush, and a piece of soap would serve them well. Sharely walked out of the bathroom, his bag slightly heavier with soap, a comb, and a small bristled brush. A towel would have been to fancy, since they were bedecked with threads and his initials all over them. He opened one side of his window, a light breeze ruffling the curtains. Sharely slipped over the sill and shut the window behind him silently and quickly with much practice. He slid down the side of the roof, out of sight of the guards, and jumped off, landing on the crisp cold grass he had seen cut earlier. Sharely started sprinting towards the small, dense garden which would be his ticket out of the castle. He looked around, knowing the guards were patrolling the other side of the east wing at the time. Sharely clenched his teeth as his ankle stung with each step, but there was the garden. It was ten...five...there. He was safe, and all he needed to do was slip under the rock wall through a dirt hole and he'd be dirty and perfect for his pals.

Sharely slipped into the "house" without being noticed. He looked upon his sleeping bunch with a smile, seeing how Chachi was asleep instead of being on guard. He silently made his way to his cot, picking his way inbetween sleeping hunches as he went. Sharely dropped the blanket on top of Cress, sneeking Cress' small blanket from him and putting it on Dove who was somehwhat shivering. She sighed happily and grabbed the blanket closer to her, turning over and facing Murphy's back. Sharely smiled to himself and stepped over Dove quickly, until he tripped on a blanket, and fell on Raven, who kicked him and Fritz at the same time. Fritz then started cussing, waking up Kat, Izzy, and Murphy, and had Cress wide eyed as he absorbed the new vocab. Amazingly the watchguard Chachi, was still asleep. Sharely breathed out and looked up to his crew glaring, half awake, and to Fritz still swearing under his breath. "You been hanging out at the warf? You're cussing like a sailor," Izzy complained, relaxing once he saw it was only Sharely. "Yeah, Warf Sharely lately," Fritz shot back to both of them rubbing his jaw fuming. "Nice kick Raven!" Dove smiled in an innocent voice, but they all knew she was just showing women were capable too. Sharely would have to put a check on that. Cress was wide awake now, still catching a word or two from Fritz. "Chachi! Wake up you weenie. Great watch person you are, I have half a mind to send Fritz to the market and trade you for a watch dog." Sharely said, getting up and kicking Chachi in the groin, making him wake up groaning and moaning, tipping forward, craddling himself. "That's what ya get, so dont throw a fit," Cress said, laughing at Chachi. "If you aint careful, I'm gonna do that to you to." Izzy threatened, trying to get back to sleep. "Yeah right, Sharely'd hit you back worse if you did that!" Cress was hyper now, his eyes dialated and his brain weird from lack of sleep. "Shut up, buddy," Murphy called from the other side of the small sleeping area. All ten of the bunch were packed like sardines on the course grass and pine, huddled in their blankets. "Murphy!" Dove chastised, and had Cress sit in her lap to stop him from getting in any more trouble. "Well, cap'in. Whatcha doing back sooo early?" Raven asked sarcasticly, her eyes blinking the sleep from her head. "Dont know, what're you doing here?" Sharely said back, throwing his carpet bag onto the patchy chair. It was about eleven now, and the bunch was shot sleepy, but they all stayed awake. "Sleeping, until you came thank you very much, smart alec," Raven said, laying back down and curling into her blanket. Sharely glared at her, and took Chachi's pillow, throwing it and hitting her in the face. "A little more respect would be appreciated, girl" Sharely turned his back on her, and glanced at Dove's shocked face. He rarely let gender differential said around the place, let alone him saying it. He motioned for Fritz to come talk to him outside, and only needed a glance at Murphy to tell him he was incharge. Fritz followed Sharely through the brisk cold night up high into an old, warpped tree. "Nice entrance, just saying," Fritz remarked when they stopped at V in the tree. "Yeah, I know right?" he said back sarcastically curling his hand into a fist. "But whatever, you know our plan to the Sacii Islands? Yeah, I'm finding us a way to sail in two days max, thought I should tell you guys immediatly, ya know. We'll be there a week, and I was thinking of setting up base and going back to recruit or leave after. Cool?" Sharely looked straight at his right hand man. "Yeah, lot ta take in. We got the supplies though?" Fritz said cooly, taking it all in. "We'll find the supplies somehow. Even if I have to scrape the city to find fallen change so we can go. I somewhat already have." Sharely replied, and took out a copper, and five shillings. It would be a good enough start to be believable. "Found them in an abandoned cart along with the blanket. I'm going to go back tomorrow while you man base, got it?" Fritz nodded, half smiling at the change. It would buy them enough food for the week at the Islands, or blankets and clothes for the stay. "I think I know though how to get a free ride, or some money at the Islands. Every time I go to the warf, I see Greci for sale for big bucks, and people buy them. The vender says he catches them at the Sacii's, so easy money." Fritz said, thinking logically. "Okay, we got the game plan. Now head down before you fall outta this tree cause your so tired." Sharely commanded with a smile. Fritz smiled slightly back and gratefully climbed down and back to his cot with Sharely right behind. Frtiz laid down and curled back into sleep within seconds. Sharely picked his way through the sleeping bodies again, walking near Murphy instead of Dove. He laid down in his own bed, and pulled a thicker blanket over his cold body. "Raven?" he said, barely audible, but she could hear it. "Raven?" Sharely asked again when she didnt respond, but not like he was giving in. "Shut up, and let me sleep!" Raven hissed, pulling her hood up over her head. "Raven," Sharely spoke again, finding her almost comical. Raven kept still, and he could feel the waves of annoyance and somwhat hurt rolling off of her. "Raven," when she didnt respond, Sharely reached and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her half onto his cot, half off hers. "Stop it!" she complained, struggling. "Uh, uh. Raven's not allowed to do that," Sharely said, siding with Xirrian law. He pulled her closer to himself, smiling as she tried to control her anger. Atleast she'd stopped most of her struggling. "Stop it, Sharely! For Triton's sake LET GO OF ME!" Raven hissed deadly but low. He heard a stiffled grin to find Kat and Izzy looking at them. Sharely glared at them and they both identically stuffed their laughing faces into their worn pillows. Raven felt more humiliated and started struggling again. "Would you just stop? I'm sorry, okay? We're all tired. Just let it slide." Sharely said, still restraining Raven. "Why? Why should I trust a boy? Huh? They all treat me like crap, so why not treat them back like that? Cress always says,"Treat people..." " Raven was quietly cut off. "Because I love ya, okay? And people do stupid stuff, got it? Now would you just let it slide? Or your gonna get a whole lot of sexist insults." Sharely felt Raven relax, beaten. She'd suffered his wrath in broad daylight infront of half the crew. She could tell this time they were all listening in, and Dove was snickering next to Fritz who was muffling laughter with Kat, Izzy, and now Chachi. Murphy was just listening and Cress was up and awake, again. Great crowd Sharley chose to have. She felt Sharley loosen his grip slightly on her, but didnt let go. He lightly kissed her neck and whispered into her ear," Am I forgiven?" "I'll sleep on it," Raven said seriously, wanting nothing but sleep. "Fine, I'll ask again in the morning," Sharely shifted into a more comfortable position. "Can I go a foot away to bed?" Raven said, uncomfortable. The only welcome thing was Sharely's warmth. "Sure, in the morning," Raven rolled her eyes and decided to wake up in an hour when Sharely would be out. "Night, everyone." Sharley said, eyes closed. "Night...Night Sharely....Night.....Dont let the bed bugs bite! (Cress)...see ya (Izzy)...Night...Night...) The group laughed and everyone went to bed, shivering but happy to be together.