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That night Santiago went to the ancient well outside the temple grounds. There he witnessed Athias' daughter in all her beauty. Allendra seemed slightly amused by his knowing grin and he aimed to find if she had more than passing interest in him. The stars twinkled above them on the blackened canvas of their home as he took a seat beside her.

"Lovely evening. A sky like this is a sailor's dream."

"Oh and why is that?"

He leaned into her, his gloved hand pointing to the sky above. Her hair smelled as sweet as wildflowers in full bloom.

"This is our map of the world, lass. These twinkling lights tell us if we're heading home or whatever other port is calling us. The bright one there is north."

"Ummm." She replied, giving him a sincere smile. She was everything he liked in his women. She radiated passion and her flawless features were unmarred by makeup of any kind. She showed her skin pure. The gentle slope of her shoulders let her hair cascade down the back. Women of her natural beauty were rare back in Castillo. While the fiery red head back at port had been an experience, her eagerness unmatched by any woman Santiago had bedded, Allendra seemed so much more.

His mother had warned him not to take a woman to bed for just pleasure. Feelings of said woman should always be weighed against the lust of a man. She would be sorely disappointed if she knew how many times he had broken that warning. It was not as if the feeling was not mutual with some of them. Still, there were others who had thought they were his only love. Their assumption was not his problem, so he believed. Love, he would snort as he told them, was for fools and men with death wishes. He was neither. The wounded look on their face phased him not but then he'd always remember the profound sadness etched on his mother's face...

Bashear stood in the corner with his arms crossed before him. He leaned heavily against the stylized walls of his parent's guest hall. Another one of his father's flings was in full motion. His jaw tightened every time he saw the hollow look in his mother's eyes. It was as if her very soul had been ripped from her body. Her once healthy glow was replaced by that of a walking corpse. Even with her makeup and the way she waltzed across the room playing the dutiful wife, Bashear saw how the corners of her mouth did not quite break out into a full smile. How she used to glow like the sun! His father, of course, was flirting with the ladies as always. His smile was only matched by the lecherous look in his eyes. In truth he had only seen his father with a cloud of misery once and it was not over his mother as it should be.

His father had asked another lady to their home while his mother was away with her own family's business. Bashear had seen her over many times before and the laughter roared from his father's private study as well as sounds that meant only one thing. When she had stopped coming over and began not answering his father's letters, the man grew unbearable. His mother thought, being his wife, she could help pick him up and let him know she was always by his side. His father wanted none of that and sent her out of his study many times telling her he didn't need her. Bitterness welled at that memory.

Having enough of this, Bashear stood up straight and stalked over to his father's position. His father thought himself the charmer. Time to show him who had the real talent of the family.

"Good evening, ladies." He said with a broad smile on his face. "I do hope my father is not boring you with tales of his mighty ships. If you've seen one ship crash against the waves, you've seen them all." Bashear fixed his glaze and the woman his father had been fawning over the most. Taking her hand up, he first brushed his lip slightly across the back of it before giving it a soft kiss.

"Unless you're in the hold feeling it's every motion, of course." He murmured to her.

"The music is light and relaxing this night, my Lady. It would honor me greatly to share this dance with you." Bashear noticed the faint smile of intrigue on her face and before his father could protest, he led her to the dance floor. Holding her just far enough away to properly dance to the flowing music, he held her gaze steadily. He drank in the sight of this beauty, understanding only briefly why his father would have the interest in this one. The one problem Bashear saw with that was his father was married and shouldn't be looking for another prize. He, however, was a roaming rogue and could partake in any feast that suited his fancy.

She wore only a hint of makeup, highly unusual for this type of party were everyone tried to out do each other. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight, changing from blue to green. Her lips were a rosy red and she pouted every so slightly as they danced. Bashear twirled her around the dance floor, his hand staying steady on the small of her back.

"I feel I am at a disadvantage. You know who I am but I am at a loss of what beautiful name goes with such a lovely woman." He gazed longingly in her eyes, slowly inching his face near hers and using the music to as the excuse.

"Jealonna and I've heard of you, Bashear, that is true." Her crystal eyes swept over his body and he felt her hand tighten around his arm. "Good with a sword, I hear. Is that legend or myth?"

Bashear just smiled broadly back at her. "Some say you have to see it with your own eyes to pass judgment." The music slowed down and he pull her in closely. She lightly wrapped her arms around his neck, her nose touching his.

"This I would like to see, Bashear." Her fingers curled through his hair and she brushed her lips against his. He slowly danced her off the floor and towards the steps, pausing only briefly to give his father a victorious grin.

Jealonna and he had a torrid affair for months, barely able to keep their hands off each other. He smiled fondly at the memories only to have it fade. He had come dangerously close to falling in love with the woman and was glad he kept his emotions in check. Six months into their tryst, she had married a well to do older gentlemen for the money and nothing else. When Santiago found out, he ended their affair. While she was willing to do many things in bed, rutting with a married woman was something he would never knowingly dabble in. He had no doubt she picked up another lover when he declined her offer to be her man on the side. Yet another example of what was wrong with humans in his opinion. Loyalty at the end of a dagger.

"So Santiago. You come not for the stars nor the trees, this I know." She reached over his body and laced her fingers in those of his gloved hand. "Tell me something. I have seen you spar this week and this is not your sword arm. Why then do you wear this?" Her other hand traced a line around the glove before her eyes settled on his own.

"I'm afraid that is a long story, Allendra." He delicately turned his gloved hand over to uncover the back of her hand where he gently applied a kiss to it, his eyes never leaving hers. A bemused smile passed her lips and she licked them before slowly chewing on her bottom lip.

"You've been all words these past few nights, Santiago. Pray tell me you are not at a loss now. The night is young and I have no where to be at the present time."

"Indeed I am, my Lady." He leaned into her, aiming to taste her full lips. Her free hand gently laid a finger to his lips but the smile told him she didn't want to stop him.

"Tell me first." She breathed, squeezing his gloved hand. Her finger stayed poised on his lips as he softly spoke to her.

"It is a brief part of my past, Allendra." He unlaced her fingers from his and removed the glove. "A scar to remind me of why I am here instead where I call home. A reason to better myself with the sword so when I return home, vengeance can be properly exacted on the person who caused it to happen."

Her finger was off his lips and both her hands caressed the scarred hand. The X shaped scar, Santiago's only reason his blade was wielded with his left instead of his right hand. Damn James! Damn him to the lowest reaches of Hell! Santiago seethed from within and Allendra saw the glitter of emotion in his eyes. When his hand flinched, she withdrew her own and looked away from him.

"My apologies, Allendra, but you did ask. It is not a pleasant memory but as I once was told. That which does not kill you makes you stronger." He placed his left hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "The city I grew up in is beauteous indeed but in that beauty also lurks danger. In my youth, I often acted...rash but one cannot hide who they are forever."

"I just don't think revenge is a very good way to live." She continued to stare off in the distance.

"Aye, tis true indeed but there is also this. What goes around, comes around. Everything in life happens for a reason. Perhaps I was cast aside to make me grow stronger and wiser about the world or perhaps I was meant to leave my home port and be here this night with you. To gaze on the stars and feel nothing but blissful happiness."

Allendra turned to me then, her eyes rimmed with tears. Santiago drew her near, letting her rest her head on his shoulders. He idly brushed her hair back and tilted her head up to meet his gaze. Her tears refused to fall and Santiago lowered his lips to hers, drinking deep the taste. This time she made no effort to stop his advance and Santiago felt the fires boil over from within. There was a presence about her that screamed to him never to let go and to surrender all to her. Santiago sighed. Yes, he would have to guard himself or fall into the deep dark pit of no return. Love is for fools, he chided himself inwardly. Even as they both edged closer to the ground still locked in each others tender embrace.