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"It matters not to me if my father approves. He already spoke against it, yet his words mean nothing to me anymore. Too much he has hidden and kept secret, too greedy his reign, and too selfish is his heart." Inwardly she did wish her father would chang his ways, but thought it unlikely.

"I would be glad of a chance to visit your house, and dine with your family." she said, murring at Calico's touch.

The two flew through the remainder of the night, Sendara continuing on even if Calico should fall asleep, needing less when in draconic form. When dawn crept upon them, the striking colors splashing across the sky, Sendara would finally angle back down to the deck, her paws touching down lightly and allowed Calico to climb off. Then, she would retreate to her quarters to change back into human form, for when they made port at her her homeland. The ship had made good time through the night, and by evening today they should be in sight of her Empire.

"Your majesty... I must make you aware that my mother passed a long time ago during a pirate's raid and my father died in battle at his majesty's service, my little brother... does not live with us... you probably know him better by the name of Henry Morgan..." muttered Calico in a light cough which explained the rivalry between the pair of them

Ryiah nodded to Calico, coming out of her rooms, dressed once more in a light gown, and stood by her fiance, hair blowing softly in the breeze. Turning she regarded Calico with a sad gaze. "I am sorry to hear that... and somehow I didn't realize that Morgan was your brother." She wondered how hard it had been for the general to kill Calico when the task had had to be done a while back, shuddering at the thought. It had beem hard enough just watching her beloved die.

Wrapping her arms around Calico's waist she rested her head on his chest, watching the sea move by in the wake of the Nonesuch.

"At times it feels I barely know him myself, I taught him too well in the service to duty, crown and kingdom and then we took separate paths, he's extremly honourable and compliant to given orders where I deviated to darker paths" muttered Calico in understanding

"I knew he would do his duty when commanded, exactly as tasked, I trained him myself after all in the art of fighting and following orders... "muttered Calico patting her shoulder gently

The rest of the voyage went smoothly, and eventually the Nonesuch pulled into harbor at the royal city of the Tellirin Empire, Ryiah standing at the helm as the gangplank was lowered, resplendant with a circlet on her brow to denote her station, her chin raised to behold the beauty of the city which stretched out before her, much of which was carved into the mountainside to serve for better defenses.

As she moved down toward the docks, she nodded at her generals and men which came to greet her and escort her to the palace. As she walked she turned to make sure Calico was coming as well, then regarded one of her advisors with a candid look. "I want preparations for our wedding to commence. Too many seem desirous of taking either myself or those close to me captive, and I wish to be married before such happens again." She glanced to Calico to make sure he was okay with the marriage happening soon, her thoughts going to her father.

Turning to Morgan, she asked, "has my father given you any trouble while I was gone?"

"I am entirely devoted to my duty, it is no trouble to serve the royal family in all that is required. I trust the scallywags have behaved honourably?" quizzed Morgan looking back at Calico and his grinning crew who would not wait to touch port to make haste to the tavern to get drunken and rowdy causing Morgan and even Calico to cringe

Ryiah nodded to Morgan, glad things had been under control while they'd been away. She smirked as she watched the crew head off to the main hub of the city to spend their coin. She glanced to Calico to see if he'd do the same, knowing his pirate ways still hrld strong.

Overhead the clouds gathered, threatening a storm, and it wasn't long until the first fat raindrops fell to splash across Ryiah's cheeks and nose.

"I have greater riches to plunder" muttered Calico holding Ryiah's hand into his and classifying her as his greatest treasure

"Until you are wed, brother, keep your hands to yourself" remarked Morgan not liking at all the open advances he was making on her.

"She is free to look and feel to her heart's content, lesser ranked ones like you get to allow her touch whilst restraining themselves, corresponding to the queen in an honourable manner at all times" noted Morgan putting Calico back into line

"I will not have you bringing disrepute to my family name which we happen to share, after all" murmured Sir Henry accompanying and escorting Ryiah back to the castle

"If that's the case, Sir Morgan, then..." Ryiah clasped Calico's hand in her own, creating the contact herself so the Pirate Captain wouldn't dishonor his brother. She beamed at her betrothed, her heart full as they made their way toward the castle.

Turning to Calico, Ryiah leaned over to murmer in his ear, "Is there anything you desire, any special request for how our wedding goes love?" She knew that once preparations got underway, things would get stressful and busy, the planners demanding attentions and decicions. Marriages of sovereigns tended to be made into much bigger affairs than Ryiah would have liked.

"I wish you and I could sail away together and be wed on the Nonesuch, away from all the prying eyes and attentions of the crowds." She added softly with a sigh as they reached the castle. Then, turning toward Calico, she added as an afterthought, "I suppose it's a good idea for you to go check up on our naval forces, to make sure they are in good shape and ready in case Caesar changes his mind and returns to wage war...he didn't secure my hand after all."

"I am sure my beloved brother, general Morgan of the Imperial army and his ever so righteous sidekick captain Prodius will more than gladly arrest any who dares cross the line of propriety" smiled Calico

"If Caesar does dare turn up, we shall be waiting, drunken or otherwise" shrugged Calico not troubled "It was unfortunate he caught me with a fever" muttered Calico

"As for the arrangements, it shall all be done to your liking, my empress... so long it finally does take place" smiled Calico just as keen

And take place it would! The wedding was set to take place in a fortnights time, Ryiah not wanting to wait longer, and the palace staff was in an tizzy of preparations. Invitations were sent out, banquet preparations were made, as well as decoration, theme, music, and many other minute details - all of which caused Ryiah's head to ache.

In the following week she had little time for anything other than decision making, hearings, and audiences, as she tried to settle differences caused by her choice to marry Calico, a known more for his piracy than for his excellent services to the crown. Through it all Ryiah held firm and looked forward to the upcoming nuptials, spending as much time with Calico as she could afford, often sneaking away from dizzying wedding planners to spend a few minutes in his company.

As the wedding day drew nearer, first only a week away, then a mere three days away, Ryiah felt nerves flutter wildly within her, and she was never seen without a flush of excitement causing a blush in her cheeks, despite how tired she felt from all the demands on her attention.

Calico felt, with three days left to the marriage, he had to try to improve the otherwise strained relations with her father.

He came to the emperor's quarters knocking the door softly and respectfully and waiting patiently to be called inside as he formally came to ask for her hand or aleast smoothen their dealings.

"Lord Calico Jacksworth Pont-de-Ter wishes an audience with his majesty... my emperor" explained and self announced Calico wondering how the man would take the question he wanted to ask off him concerning his daughter.

Late Emperor Cyprian Makar Bet’Luna allowed Calico entrance, standing as always, resplendant in his black robes trimmed in gold. Depite relinquishing his daughter the throne, Cyprian retained his authoritative and regal bearing, as well as his pride. He would turn the full might of this gaze upon the man who he knew was claiming his daughter's hand in marriage, despite Cyprian's initial nay-saying. He had not missed the hullabaloo that had gripped his palace as preparations were made.

"Well?" He asked the Pont-de-Ter, raising am eyebrow and crossing his arms. "What is it?" Clearly he wouldn't make things easy.

"Your majesty... I come to formally ask your daughter's hand in marriage..." explained Calico dropping a knee to the ground and lowering the head.

"I know your reluctance given my reputation, but... I have mostly served you well gathering the gem stones to secure your return and your kindred's release from its curse at the cost of my very life. If such be deemed a worthy enough deed, I would like to set animosity aside to marry into your most honorable family.

I may not be the dragonlord, or even a dragon descendant but I do carry half a heart that aches to be united with its other half" assured Calico

"It would sadden me that my empress was distressed over our strained relationship" admitted Calico

"Hmmm... it is true that your sacrifice unlocked my dragon kindred as well as my owm form. Yet you have committed many crimes as well that somehowy daughter overlooks. How do I know that you will cherish her hand, and not leave her stranded with not only half a heart, but a broken one at that?" His eyes drilled into Calico, stern and demanding.

"You have indeed my word of honor, the fact I willingly surrendered my life for her sake too but if you can think of any other proof I can provide you, besides marriage itself, name it and consider it done from my part" nodded Calico unsure what more he could offer the stern emperor

At Calico's words the late Emporer transformed into his dragon self, towering over Calico, his pure ebony scales glittering and his eyes nearly red as they considered the mortal below. "With my daughter's heart, you will live longer than a normal human, she, will live only as long as you do. Take care that you do not endanger her unecessarily..."

Following his words the dragon king lowered his head and touched Calico's forehead with his snout, a ripple going through both figures as he used his truth sense on the pirate to make sure there was no falsehood lacing his words. It seemed after all, that the rogue was being honest. With another touch of his snout, if the man did not back away, this time to Calico's chest, another shudder would go through the man, as a light grew around the dragon's form for a moment before dying.

Stepping back, Cyprian observed his handiwork, a shimmering iridescent patch that resembled scales on Calico's chest by his collarbone. It would itch and burn for some days, yet eventually the pirate would hardly realize its presence.
"As Sendara is my daughter, it is my right to bestow a blessing. As such, and as you are honest, I have given it. Bear it as you would your own life. As part of the blessing, Sendara will always know where you are, and whether you are safe, you in return will know the same of her."

With those words Cyprian dipped his head, as if dismissing the man, and turned away to look through the large windows, the doors of it spread wide, and lifted his wings as if to take flight, though he paused momentarily should Calico have anything else to say.

Calico nodded, dropping a knee to the ground

"Thank you... father... I shall try to be as worthy a son as I can" nodded Calico

The new patch trully did itch and burn and he strained the urge not to scratch so as not cause himself further injury but he had managed to achieve the unthinkable and came quickly to show Sendara the blessing he had just received from her father no less.

Ryiah Sendara stood on a balcony just off the main hall, in dragon form observing the city as it stretched out before her. Darknness was settling over it, and lightd twinkled in the distance. Only a moment before, Sendara had felt an odd sensation awaken in her mind, as if a new sense had been opened. Turning, she glanced to where, somehow, she knew Calico would appear just as he walked to join her at the balcony edge.

She murred, happy to see him, then noticed the shimmering scale pattern peeking out above his tunic near his collarbone. Cocking her head she nuzzled Calico. "You truly got a blessing from my father?" She hardly believed it, yet here was proof. "You are a brave man. One reason why I love you." She said with a fond smile, crouching to better be at her riders level. Returning her gaze to the city, she was silent a long moment. "Our lives will change soon... are we ready? Truly?"

"Not sure about you but my life is not going to change, I will be who I was, am, and have always been. A soldier in love with his empress, a man in love with beauty itself. All that will happen is that at last achieve my deepest desires of holding you in my arms.

I was but a young boy when I first set eyes upon you, at the time working at the royal armory and stables, mucking the stables and polishing swords whilst you were swinging on the swings at the garden. You stole my heart then and it has been yours since. And, whilst I let the men think me of a reputation for the ladies proper of old sea dogs, in all truth, I have never taken any for my own, it is either the very best one or none at all" assured Calico speaking honestly.

Then my brother Henry Morgan came to the emperor to ask for your hand formally, your father was besotted with the young general and never actually refused... neither outright accepted... he said he would consider such an offer given his loyalty and brilliant services. At that point I knew I was no competition against my own brother so I took to the seas.

Father was dead, murdered by pirates, my brother remained at the royal palace under lord Pentre's tuition and at the royal army's service and we parted ways.

I sought revenge and to right wrongs where he sought honor and glory. I sought fighting where he sought peace, I sought the pirate's ways where he chose the honourable way of the warriors in dutiful service." mused Calico letting her into some of his adventurous past and the love rivalry of the two siblings