Cut Content: De'Vas Book 2 part 1

Vas: The Tempest

“And the human prince sweeps his Elven bride off her feet and they sail away for the hidden human Kingdom on his mechanized flying machine,” Alyndra said aloud as her quill traced the words. The ship hit a rough wave and her quill scratched across the parchment.

Alyndra let out a groan of frustration as she tossed the page into her scrap pile.

“Oh, well, I did want the last scene to be a sex scene,” Alyndra sighed. “Not that anyone will ever read it.”

The world was ending and she was on her way to an ancient Elven citadel on a remote island with a bunch of old men and women. The Kingdom of Everwood’s last attempt to preserve the greatest minds of the Kingdom by sealing them away. Hoping the powerful runes of the citadel would keep The Vanishing from taking them.

The great work that Alyndra had done to earn a spot on this ship? Writing fantasy smut novels, which the Queen of Everwood was apparently a fan of. This had earned her nothing but vexation from her fellow passengers.

She stared at the ceiling of her dark and damped cabin aboard the Tempest. The ship had originally been a cargo vessel, but carpenters had been hired by the Kingdom to fill the cargo haul with cabins to offer some privacy for its passengers. Something she was eternally grateful for since she would have thrown herself overboard if she had no escape from the old geezers.

Still, even a Dark Elf like herself needs to get out into the sun every once in a while. Perhaps Captain Siraye would tolerate her presence for a while. Their stoic Siren captain was one of the few people on the ship she enjoyed being around. The Captain would even engage her in conversation if she was not busy navigating.

Alyndra slipped out of her cabin and made her way to the deck of the ship. She was extra careful not to disturb the cabin next to hers as she passed, annoying that old swordmaster would probably be the last thing she would ever do. As she climbed the stairs to the deck, she could already hear the geezers arguing about the one topic they all had something to say about, but no one had answers. The Vanishing.

“Clearly The Vanishing is the work of a massive syndicate working together to destabilize all the Kingdoms!” Torin, a Wood Elf known for his works on the genealogy of Everwood Nobility.

“Syndicate? You can’t be serious! For five years ago people of every race and nation have just vanished, more each year are reported missing and you think it’s some grand coup?” Finn, a Civilized Orc known for his lectures on the Philosophy of Magic, said with a glare. “This is beyond any mortal’s control, magic has been weakening since The Vanishing began. I fear this is the end of all time, those who have Vanished are the lucky ones. We will see magic fade from the world and watch it crumble.”

Kara spotted Alyndra as she tried to skirt the geezers debate. A nasty smirk graced the aged Dark Elf’s face.

“Perhaps our local human expert has an insight into The Vanishing? Tell us, Alyndra, do you think those round-eared beings born from the imaginations of amorous authors, such as yourself, are related to The Vanishing?” Kara asked as she covered her smile with her hand.

Alyndra knew this was just Kara taking a jab at her and her profession of writing. Kara as a poet was not far from Alyndra in the minds of the other passengers on the ship in order of the importance of their work. As such, she would often bully Alyndra to elevate herself in their eyes.

“I write fantasy, Kara, as you know I have no opinion on the cause of The Vanishing. I just wish it would stop.” Alyndra said before she went to make her way to the helm where Siraye would be.

“How fortunate for future generations after the great minds solve The Vanishing, that you were granted one of the limited spots at the citadel. Think of the world without your smut in it.” Kara laughed and drew a few more to join her.

Alyndra gritted her teeth and ignored the haggard old bitch.

“Good morning, Alyndra.” Captain Siraye greeted her as she arrived at the helm.

“Captain, how are the seas today?” Alyndra asked.

Captain Siraye never took her eyes off the water, the wind whipped her long black hair that was now showing streaks of gray. Alyndra guessed she was in her mid-forties or early fifties.

“Waves are rougher than I would like, Sea monsters are more common during times like this.” Captain Siraye scowled at the open water.

Alyndra tried to hide her smirk as she imagined a Kraken snagging Kara off the ship and dragging the bitch under. Of course, her mind latched onto the image of the tentacle and ran with it. Perhaps her next book needed a scene on a boat.

“How long do you think it will be before we arrive at the citadel?” Alyndra asked, trying to bring her mind out of the perverted thoughts currently dwelling in it.

“A week, maybe longer if the sea’s stay like this.” Captain Siraye replied.

Alyndra nodded, though the Captain wouldn’t see it.

“You’ve been to the port on the island before. Are there a lot of people that call it home? You know, young fishermen with toned muscles from hauling in nets perhaps?”

Captain Siraye broke her staring contest with the sea to give her a grimaced look and sucked her teeth.

“It’s populated by old men. All of them monks that have taken a vow of celibacy.”

Alyndra stared at Captain Siraye. “You’re joking, right?”

“Sorry, Alyndra,” Captain Siraye sighed. “I wish I was. The island used to refuse anyone younger than fifty before The Vanishing happened and the Kingdom of Everwood requested use of the Citadel.”

Alyndra screamed internally at the news. She had figured there would at least be a fishing village on the island with some boys her age. Now her only hope to get laid was if a phallic-shaped piece of driftwood washed ashore.

“So which side of the ship would drown me fastest if I jumped off it?”

“Alyndra,” Captain Siraye chastised her.

“Tentacles are not sexy!” Alyndra shouted as she dove away from the Kraken’s appendage that was trying to wrap itself around the vessel.

 This had to be a punishment from the gods and goddesses for the newest scene in her book, based on her impure thoughts from the other day. The wriggling mass of flesh swept across the deck of the ship as the crew tried to drive it back with weapons. Many of them were latched onto by the plate-size suckers of the tentacle.

 The tentacle retreated back into the sea, dragging three of the ship’s crew and two of the geezers with it. Alyndr’s legs gave out and she fell to her knees on the deck as their screams turned to silence when they disappeared under the waves to their watery graves.

 A new tentacle emerged from the deep, reaching high into the air, the sun glistening from the water dripping from it. Alyndra’s body refused to move as it started to make its descent towards her. She let out a cry of fear and her bladder gave out on her.

 There was a bright flash of light and the tentacle split in half, the top part falling to the deck a short distance from her. Alyndra looked behind herself, towards the stairwell for the haul of the ship. An Elf with graying hair stood with a sword drawn, light danced on the blade as he frowned. A laugh escaped Alyndra, the Kraken had disturbed the swordmaster.

 The sea turned as the remains of the tentacle retreated. Only for half a dozen more to appear and start thrashing wildly at the ship. The crew and those who had the misfortune of being on the deck when the Kraken appeared, rushed for any semblance of safety.

 The swordmaster cursed before rushing forward, his sword hacking another tentacle, splitting it in half.

 “Get into the haul, girl!” He shouted to her in a grizzled voice, before severing through a tentacle that was dragging a crew member toward the end of the deck.

 Alyndra scrambled to her feet and dashed for the stairwell. Kara was at the top of it with a few of the other geezers. Their mouths were agape and eyes wide as they watched the Kraken attack the ship, Kara started to close the door.

 “Wait!” Alyndra shouted. Kara locked eyes with her but did not stop in her task.

 Alyndra arrived in time to hear the bar being lowered to lock the door. She banged on it with her fists.

 “Let me in! Please, let me in!” She screamed as her knuckles bled from her repeated strikes at the door.

 Half of a crew member slammed into the wall next to her in a splatter of red. Alyndra’s attention broke from the door to the lifeless torso. She let out a scream and ran.

 Tears streaked her face as her legs carried her without thought to the helm of the ship. She heard the screams of those dying and the splintering of wood from the Kraken’s tentacles attack. The swordmaster raced around the deck, desperately trying to save as many as he could.

 Her eyes were fixed on him as he dragged one of the geezers, crippled by the Kraken, to the safety of some crates. Only for him to rush to save a crew member, that two tentacles were about to tear in half. A firm hand grasped her shoulder and she turned to see Captain Siraye hauling her the rest of the way up the helm.

 “Take shelter in my cabin, Go!” Captain Siraye shouted as she shoved her toward the door of the Captain’s cabin.

 Alyndra rushed through the door of the cabin and took shelter behind the captain’s bed, pulling the blankets off of it to try to hide herself. There, curled into a protective ball, she waited to see if she would live through this.

 The violent clash outside finally fell silent after what seemed like an hour of waiting. Still, she didn’t move until Captain Siraye entered the cabin.

 “Alyndra, Swordmaster Rory has killed the damn Kraken.” Captain Siraye called into the cabin. Her tone was a remorseful one.

 Alyndra shucked off the blankets and stood to make her way out of the cabin. Siraye gave her a grimace and looked at the hem of her dress. Alyndra followed her eyes, then turned bright red at the wet spot on her dress.

 “I’ll give you one of my dresses. Their work dress, so they have weights stitched into the fabric to keep the wind from being mischievous.” Captain Siraye said with a sympathetic smile.

 “So he really killed it, not just drove it off?” Alyndra asked as she slipped into the plain work dress.

 “Rory is a legendary Swordmaster. He slew a Stone Dragon, defeated several Orc Warchiefs in single combat, and even led the Kingdom’s forces against the Nightmare Queen when she tried to invade the southern swamps.” Captain Siraye answered as she stood guard by the cabin’s door. “He was more than a match for the Kraken, unfortunately, the sea monster still slew several people and damaged the ship. The mast is especially looking bad, I’ve already prayed to the Sea Goddess that the repairs to it hold.”

 Alyndra made a note to pray to the Sea Goddess as well, and to destroy her latest chapter in hopes to not offend the divine any further. Once dressed she followed Captain Siraye out to the deck of the ship. Everyone was moving about, cleaning, doing repairs, or tending to the dead.

 She made her way straight for Kara, the older Dark Elf woman who tried to advert her eyes and even attempted to move away from her. As she neared the woman’s face took on a look of relief, though fake.

 “Thank the Divine you are safe-” Kara started to say.

 Alyndra’s fist cut her off as it collided with Kara’s face.

 “Ouch, ouch, ouch!” Alyndra said as she clutched her hand. She had no idea punching someone hurt so bad!

 All the stories she had read never described punching someone as painful. Still even with the pain she was happy with the results. That bitch Kara was lying unconscious on the ship’s deck.

 “Damn it, Alyndra! I’m going to have to throw you in the brig for this!” Captain Siraye exclaimed as she rushed towards Kara. She checked the downed poet before placing a firm hand on Alyndra’s shoulder and leading her to the brig. Captain Siraye’s anger faded once they were away from the rest of the passengers, even her grip relaxed to little more than resting on her shoulder.

 “That was a pretty good punch. You knocked that annoying bitch right out.” Captain Siraye gave her a smile and a pat on the shoulder. “Just a day or two in the brig so she doesn’t bitch my ear off. I’ll even loan you some of my books to read.”

 She had not even been in the brig for a day when Captain Siraye returned, a scowl on her face and several crew members carrying crates. The Captain opened the door of the brig and wordlessly gestured for her to exit. The crew started stacking the crates in the brig once she was out.

 “What’s going on?” Alyndra asked as she saw the stream of crates being stacked in the brig.

 Captain Siraye gave her a look that was a mixture of emotions. Anger, fear, and sadness reflected on her exhausted face.

 “The repairs didn’t hold. A strong wind just snapped the mast and we’re adrift.” Captain Siraye said with a look of remorse. “Rations are going to be tightly controlled and guarded.”

 Alyndra’s mouth hung agape. Her mind went through all the scenarios that could unfold. Most were horrible ways they would die.

 “Is there anything I can do?” She asked.

 “Pray to the Sea Goddess that her currents carry us someplace welcoming before we run out of supplies.” Captain Siraye said as she watched the crew stock the brig.