Zandariel's Back Story

[Drake Stormlark]

Zandariel was born in Arehaza. His mother crafted rugs and paintings for export, while his father assisted with the trade of Palm tree products. He was taught both of their crafts as well as how to survive in the desert which surrounded their small port town. Like most from Valencia’s bloodlines, Zandariel was born with the ability to see not only his own but others Black Spirits. The remnants of old Edana Ancestry.

However, unlike his simple parents and town, he had a sense of wanderlust. At the age of sixteen, he took the arts learned from his mother and used it to forge a trade request form. Taking one of his father’s trade outfits, he left an hour before sunrise for Valencia city. Unfortunately, by this time, a good number of guards already knew him quite well, due to previous years antics.

The Trade Magistrate pinched the bridge of his nose in disbelief. “You’re here to trade Valencia goods with Calpheon? With whom we still have a minor declaration of war with?” The Magistrate’s face turned beet red as Zan nodded dumbly. “Lock him up!” He sighed, half-way snarling. “We’ll deal with the palm brat later. I’ve got a line of true merchants waiting for their paperwork.”

“No. Wait!” Zandariel protested as the guards came away from the desk.

Spinning on his heels to bolt for the door behind him, he found it already blocked and none of the other merchants dared to help.

“Give me a chance!.” Zan yelled as the guards moved in to drag him to the Valencia Jail. “You’re making a mistake, it will cost you!”

He sat in the dark cell looking more bored than worried as the guard clanked a wooden baton against the metal bars.

“On your feet Palm Brat!” The guard sneered opening the cell. “you have a visitor.”

Zandariel got to his feet sighing. “What’s it going to be Omarr? Ten Lashes? Thirty?”

His jaw dropped as a slightly round, middle-aged man walked in leaning heavily on the cane. The beard was well groomed, long, and showed hints of gray. A black eye-patch over the man’s left eye matched his all back loose-fitting attire.

“Not who you were expecting?”

Zan shook his head in response, regaining a bit of his composure.

“I assume you already know my name?”

Zandariel nearly hopped on the balls of his feet in excitement. “You’re Lord Kamhui! The greatest traveling merchant from here to Haso! Men want to be you and women throw themselves at your feet! A man whose secrets have secrets!!”

A loud belly shaking laugh reverberated off the prison’s stone walls. “The greatest? So, you can tell some truths. You have a way with words. What’s your name lad?”

“Zandariel Kahntaza.”

“Kahntaza? Hmm. Lord Kamhui scratched his beard in thought. He stepped closer to the lantern showing Zandariel his hands, palms facing up. They were rough and callused from years of hard labor. “When you have hands like mine without the look of them. Then you’re the greatest, hmm?”

Grinning, Zandariel nodded back emphatically.

“So, Zandariel,” he continued. “Men need someone to follow, but should always strive to be themselves. You become like the one you follow, then you’re a slave. Nothing more. Also, never let a woman, friend, lover or foe, ever drop before you. Especially your foes.” His eyes bore a hole straight into Zan’s as he continued to speak. “The weather changes as much as trade prices. We all beg from time to time. A great man does the begging so others don’t have to. Do you agree to the terms of Sahtzahr Kamhui?” He extended his hand out for Zan to shake.

The young man’s smile only fell for a brief moment. “I didn’t understand most of that, but..,” he quickly shook Lord Kamhui’s hand with a firm grip and a shrug. “Yeah!”

“Come boy.” Lord Kamhui turned to the open door of the jail cell. “There is cargo destined for Calpheon and we need to work to get it there. Half of your first year’s wages are going to your parents. You will address me as Master Kamhui from henceforth.”

The man stopped only for a moment to hear Zan’s reply.

His voice shook with a slight nervousness. “Yes, Master Kamhui.”

Zandariel was brought to a place where camels were being loaded with cargo. The crates were destined for Ancado Inner Harbor. At the middle of the pack was a dusty, gray spotted, dark brown camel. Grinning broadly, Zandariel could barely contain his excitement as he walked up to the old camel. A goblin went to stop him when Lord Kamhui shushed him.

A huge smirk graced his face as he addressed Zandariel. “That one is called, Lady Killer.”

“Well, he is cute!” Zan remarked getting closer.

“But Master?!” the goblin fretted.

“Shh. Don’t spoil my fun.” Kamhui kept his eyes on the boy.

“You must be the king of the pack. You’re the most majestic beast I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Zandariel reached out to scratch the camel under the chin. “You have no equal, do you, Boy?”

The camel brayed once, allowing Zan to scratch him. It’s left hind leg lifted up as if to kick out, but then started to thump upon the sand as the camel rumbled happily.

The coin purse in Lord Kamhui’s hand dropped loudly to the sand and he cussed handing the goblin a smaller pouch. “You won the bet. Looks like you were right about this kid.”

The goblin danced a happy jig causing the coins to jingle.

Lord Kamhui snatched up the large purse handing it to the goblin. “That goes to Kahntaza in Arehaza. Be back before nightfall.”

“Yes, Master.” The goblin scurried off with a huge grin.

Lord Kamhui walked over to Zan eyeing him with intrigue. “He got that name because he kills anyone smaller than me.” Smirking, he took the reins. “We’ve got a delivery boy. Help the goblins.”

“Yes, Master Kamhui.”

Lord Kamhui slapped the camel’s neck causing it to buck towards Zan who promptly ran towards the goblins.

“You made me lose a bet.” Kamhui fussed at his old friend, who grumbled once before laying down.

The first few hours on the boat Zandariel spent hanging over the railing puking his brains out. The crew laughed at his misfortune.

A goblin tugged on his tunic. “Master says to chew on this root and take your boots off. The herb will help with the sickness and the bare feet will help ground you.”

The first night in Calpheon::

After everything had been loaded and shipped off to various houses, Lord Kamhui dragged Zandariel to a nobleman’s party. Zan was introduced as the Lord’s apprentice. He seemed to be well received by the nobles due to his exotic looks and way of speaking. The young man was beyond exhausted and most of the evening had passed in a slightly remembered haze.

The heavy wooden doors to the bedchamber rattled, waking Zandariel from a deep sleep.

An anger shout came from the other side of the doors. “Aliza?! Unlock this door!”

The immediate pounding woke the other two occupants.

“Aliza?!” A baritone voice bellowed.

“I thought you said he was in Heidel.” Zan addressed the blonde who shrugged sheepishly.

“He was.” She yawned pointing to the balcony. “You got to go, or he’ll kill all three of us.”

The brunette jumped out of the bed to fetch a robe as the door started to stutter on its frame. She yelled at the doors. “Calm yourself me, Lord. It’s only I who am with your mistress.”

The banging stopped for a moment and the brunette turned giving Zan an irritated expression, motioning for him to hurry. Zandariel leapt out of the bed and rummaged within the pile of clothes littering the floor. Boots, pants, and shirt were found, but he couldn’t find his boxers.

“Hurry!” Aliza hissed.

Deciding to disregard the boxers he ran to the open balcony tossing his boots over the banister. He then tied his shirt around his waist and tossed the pants over his shoulder, proceeding to climb over the rail. He heard the other girl open the door. As she began to speak with the angered man, Aliza yelled at Zan.

“Page me!”

Her husband barged into the room knocking the brunette aside. “Where is he?” He demanded.

“Who?” Aliza asked innocently.

“Oh! So, is it I, you want the message from?” He scoffed.

Zandariel dangled from the lower portion of the rail preparing to drop to the ground when the window directly below the balcony opened. It put the maid’s face close to his nethers which were only slightly covered by the shirt. She screamed and he dropped to the ground with a groan.

“Guards! Guards?!” The Nobleman hollered.

~Damn blondes are trouble.~ Zan thought to himself as he picked up his boots and ran faster than he ever had in his life.

He zig-zagged through the alleys trying to head for the river. His ears were assailed by startled gasp, oh’s, and the clanking of metal armor. Scooting down a narrow passageway, he arrived at a small walkway bordering the river. A little way down he spotted an empty fishing boat.

Tossing his boots and clothes into it, he slipped into the water as the sound of clanging metal came from the alleyway. He ignored the cold water as best he could and used the fishing boat to keep him shielded as the guards ran past. Once they were gone for a bit, he pulled himself into the boat and warmed in the morning sun, laughing as the adrenaline wore off.

Once dried enough, he shimmied on his clothes and hurried to the Inn close to the storage keeper so he could meet up with master Kamhui. The moment he opened the door to his master’s room, he was greeted with a surprising and ever so alarming question.

“What have you done?”

“How?” Zandariel gasped.

Master Kamhui smirked a tad viciously. “All actions have consequences. Come! Leave your boots here.”

Zandariel was taken back to the very house he had fled from. The nobleman wanted to fight Zan in the garden to regain his lost honor. Aliza was there but acted as if the travesty had never occurred and ignored Zan’s questions.

The fight was one-sided for a few hits, despite Zan’s agility. He had received a busted lip and a few bruised ribs. The nobleman was far to hefty of a man for Zan to do any lasting damage till Master Kamhui began to instruct him in movements from the sideline.

The Nobleman received a badly bruised ego and busted nose when Zandariel performed a spinning uppercut. Aliza offered to pay Lord Kamhui to keep the embarrassment of her husbands defeat by a kid secret. The lesson taught Zan the value secrets had with the upper society and they were not any better than any other person. From then one, Zandariel began to train under Master Kamhui in Ernst, learning the martial art of kickboxing.

 

20 years of age:

Zandariel got to see Haso for the first time. He stood in a lavishly decorated room with ink paintings and colorful flowing robes. A young man with hazelnut colored eyes in a deep purple hanfu robe giggled as a handmaiden whispered in his ear. Their eyes were on Zan who returned the laugh with a bright blush. He could not understand their language but got the gist of the conversation.

Lord Kamhui laughed robustly understanding what was going on. The elderly man with a long flowing white beard paused in his business dealings with Lord Kamhui to look at the two people standing behind him.

“Lei Keung, take Lord Kamhui’s apprentice to the garden. Your laughter is too contagious and we’re discussing business.” He waved the young man away.

Lei Keung bowed low. “At once King Zhou.”

Master Kamhui nodded in approval at Zandariel, who then followed the young man out of the room. Lei Keung spoke in a higher pitched tone once outside. He described the garden plants for a while before changing the topic over to Haso’s various provinces. Zandariel listened tentatively, admiring the massive tranquil garden.

Lei Keung stopped at a white stone bench and sat down patting the spot next to him. Zan sat down next to him promptly receiving a timid kiss on the cheek. The melancholy which had plagued Lei Keung’s face earlier had been replaced by the brightest sparkling brown eyes Zan had ever seen. He had never been kissed by a guy before but lifted an eyebrow intrigued. He returned a delicate slightly bashful kiss on Lei Keung’s lips and received a cute giggle for his efforts.

An hour later, the two returned to the palace. Once Zan was back with Master Kamhui they departed for Port Ratt.

“I hope your enjoyment of life lifted Prince Lei’s depression.” Master Kamhui smirked.

“Prince?!” Zan stopped mid-stride.

Master Kamhui laughed never slowing down. “Take this as a compliment. He’s never been heard before.”

There was a very bashful chuckle as Zan jogged to catch up.

“you still have a lot to learn. Live is like the seas. It comes and goes with the tides, providing both sweet sustenance and salt.”

Several months later Zandariel understood the cryptic message. Prince Lei’s province alone with two others known for mining were quarantined due to an illness called the Black Plague. Then one day the letters simply stopped coming. It was the first time Zan had ever cried.

“Why didn’t you tell me? You know about the illness!” Zan accused Master Kamhui with red swollen eyes.

“Because you wouldn’t have ever returned his letters and would have denied you both a friend to keep you going.”

Once docked at Epheria, Lord Kamhui gave his crew the night off taking Zan with him to Calpheon. They went into a tavern and both drank and carried on join in with other who sang shanty tunes loud enough to shake the roof.

Zandariel woke the next morning in a small room at one of the smaller inns in Calpheon. There was a female Vedir with dark skin and midnight black hair to his left, along with a young fiery red-haired Valkyrie cradled in her arms. To Zan’s right, was a young nobleman with soft brown hair. Zan barely recollected the young man had come to the pub to celebrate a birthday disguised as a commoner.

Pulling on his clothes, Zan left quietly. He stopped at a bathhouse before meeting up with Lord Kamhui at his home in the noble district. He knocked on the door to the study and stepped in briefly. Neither man spoke a word to the other. Smiling, Zan gave a curt nod and bowed formally before leaving to help load the wagons.

Age 39:

Zandariel traveled to Haso with Lord Kamhui. It was strictly a pleasure trip for they were enjoying the start of the new year. Already Haso was sending out its best from every province. The rumors as to why they were being sent out were far too sporadic to nail down truth, but a familiar word was spoken: Black Plague.

Zan left Kamhui to haggle with a merchant over a statue. He browsed the various booths set up for the spring festival. Purchasing a few sticks of Teriyaki squid, he kept walking around taking in the various sights. He spied a pair of silhouettes kissing in a secluded shaded area.

~Ah, young love.~ Zan smiled to himself.

He personally found Lord Shu’s province far to strict and superstitious. The areas he liked had both men and women in colorful kimono and painted faces as if they were living pieces of art. Those provinces had more self-expression in all parts of life. He turned hearing his name called.

“I got it!” Master Kamhui beckoned to him.

The prize was an eagle carved from a black stone which seemed to reflect the light as much as give it off. Zan eyed the back spirit to his left.

“I’d be careful with it. Mr. Noisy really likes it.” Zan cautioned.

“Good! It means it will fetch a very high price in Valencia.” he patted Zan on the back. “Come on. I’ve got crates of silk, oranges, and rice.”

“Pop?”

“Yeah, yeah. I heard you. I’ll lock it up, okay?” Kamhui chuckled lightly.

They left Port Ratt by dusk. Lord Kamhui turned in early for the night. Since he was at the ripe old age of sixty-eight, Zan refused to worry about it. He played a game of kulk, a Balenos card game, with a few others on the deck.

In the light of a newly risen moon, a tower of pitch black rose from the ocean reaching for the heavens.

“Waterspout!” Came a cry from the crow’s nest.

The ship became a flurry of movement as the crew bolted into action lightning flashed in the distance. An eerie pale vessel was illuminated from within the storm.

“Phantom! Man the cannons.” Zandariel screamed rushing to the captains quarters. “Ghost ship!” He hollered bolting into the room.

The lanterns were still brightly lit. Zandariel walked over to Lord Kamhui.

“Hey Pops?” he paused mid-stride.

Lord Kamhui lied ashen pale upon the bed, clutching the wooden box containing the stone eagle. Zan’s breath trembled in his chest.

“It’s ours! Take it. It will give you the power to defeat that ship.” the black spirit spoke.

“Yeah?” Zan asked never taking his eyes off the box as silent tears streamed down his face.

“Yeah!” It laughed maniacally. “take it. It’s yours now.”

The black spirit missed the twitch at the left corner of Zan’s mouth. “You want it?” he asked snatching the box.

“Yes!” The black spirit nearly squealed.

Zandariel fled out of the cabin as the cannons roared to life. He rushed straight for the side of the ship and flung the box as far as he could.

“Go get it!’ Zan snarled.

“Nooo!” The spirit wailed seeming to shrink in size.

Zandariel rushed in with practiced ease, helping the crew dispatch with the ghost ship. They then worked on getting the sails set to take them away from the twisting water spout. As the adrenaline rush calmed, Zandariel informed the crew of Lord Kamhui’s passing.

They provided their fallen lord with a burial at sea and decommissioned his ship once at Port Epheria. Receiving their pay most went their own way with only a few remaining with Zan. He ordered them to take a few days off for mourning.

Zandariel sat upon the beach south of Epheria drinking a bottle of rum. His next stop would be Calpheon to handle Kamhui’s estate. He stared at the waves as the sun gently kissed them upon its rising.

“Weather is changing Master Kamhui. It’s beyond time I’ve changed course along with it. Thank you, for everything.” he rose to his feet taking one final swig of rum before tossing the rest into the ocean.

 

Over time, Zandariel purchased a place in Epheria. He had developed his own sense of style and created a gambling place where sailors and nobles alike could unwind. The years progressed and his smuggling trade grew, but unlike Master Kamhui before him, Zandariel smuggled foods and medicines to people under Calpheon’s boot.

One afternoon found him enjoying a quiet drink after a very important meeting with a Heidelian Noble. A flash of red snagged his attention and he turned to the door. A young Musa with bright auburn hair walked to an empty table.

What caught Zan’s attention next was the black puff of smoke with red eyes trailing the young man. The sprite was screaming at the Musa in an ear-splitting volume with mad Zandariel cringe. The young man sat down looking very traveled worn. Something about the man seemed familiar.

~Would be cute if he wasn’t so damn short.~ Zan thought with a slight smile.

Shrugging, Zandariel got up from his table and walked over to the young man. The Musa’s Spirit quieted and regarded Zan with interest.

“Let me get you a drink. I bet that dust bunny from hell has been screaming at you your entire ride.”

The Musa looked up nearly leaping out of his chair. Zan noted the odd sapphire colored eyes.

“you can see it?! What the hell is this thing?”

“You don’t know? How long have you had it?” Zan puzzled.

“Since the meteor hit four months ago.”

“Meteor? Shu’s province!” Zan pointed at the Musa. “I thought I recognized you. You’re Shu’s son, which makes you one of the Haso Princes. You’re the one who wants to court the wine baroness. You haven’t found a backer for your ships yet, have you?” Before the Musa could answer, Zan flagged down a barmaid. “Two ales stat!” he turned back to the young noble. “Sit kid.”

Taey blushed a bit embarrassed and sat down. “I’m not a noble here. Are you an assassin?” Taey had his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Relax.” Zan pulled a chair out.

Once he sat down he extended his hand for a shake. “Names is Zandariel.”

Taey eyed him briefly before letting go of the sword. “Taeydrenn.” he gripped Zan’s hand almost vice-like.

The grip was stronger then he had expected and quickly matched the strength. Smirking Taey squeezed harder. The young noble was strong but Zan had not used his full might yet. Zandariel furrowed his brow, leaning forward, increasing his own grip.  The strain showed on both of their faces as thebarmaidd came by. Rolling her eyes she stood back holding both the ales.

“Not getting off easy Short Stuff.” Zan grinned.

“Nani?!” Taey yelled in a high pitched tone. “Who you calling short?”

Taeydrenn’s whole body shifted left in a blur of speed. Both the table and Zan flipped over, crashing to the tavern floor. Taey shook the pain from his hand as the place around them grew quiet.

“If you two nurse-maids are done comparing cup sizes. Pick my table back up!” the barmaid huffed.

Both gave a quick apology and got the table and chair re-situated.

“Sit!” She ordered slamming the ales on the table and storming off.

Both Zandariel and Taeydrenn erupted in laughter till their faces turned red.

“I’ve got bad news. It was the Epheria Port’s Manager who had those thugs attack your lumber shipment. I know someone here in Heidel who will back you, but first.” Zan pointed to the black puff of smoke. “Listen close, Kid.”

[Author]

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