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"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

Sendara felt surprise flicker through her and she turned to regard Calico beside her, her eyes curious. "General Morgan was in love with me?" she asked, voice soft and a bit incredulous. She had of course seen the man in her younger days, but he had never shown any outright signs of such an emotion, and her father had never told her he'd considered their marriage. She pondered the thought for a long moment, then let her scaly side brush Calico lightly. "I am glad you are the one I shall give my hand to at long last." her voice was warm and sure. I would be happy with no one else. Your free spirit melds so well with my own. I almost wish... that I were not so tied to the throne. That you and I could both take to the sea as the fancy took us."

After a long pause, she added as if in thought, "Even if Morgan once loved me, he does so no longer. There was hate in his gaze when he thought I had killed my father, and he was so quick to believe I had done so..."

"Yes my beloved, General Henry Morgan, my dearest brother is entirely besotted with you. He is very good at restraining himself and his emotions out of duty. But, you would be naive to think he holds hatred for you, dearest.

His anger was more directed at me for daring to hold you and touch you than aimed at your persona my dear. He was more sore at the fact that I was making lewd remarks and open inappropriate advances upon you than any wrongdoing you could have supposedly have done. I played on such feelings to ensure he would indeed execute me upon our return, if it were not for such love rivalry, his hand may have failed me altogether. I certainly could not ask that off you nor any of my crew.

If I knew no better, Morgan probably would have preferred to see you dead than in a rival lover's arms and the murder charge was just as good enough an excuse... I cannot blame him though, I would feel the very same in his position." muttered Calico in a sigh

"I was very close to murdering Caesar, if it were not for the fact that Taff warned me about retaliations against your empire where innocents would pay heavily for this" admitted Calico sheepishly

If Sendara had been in human form, her mouth might have dropped open at Calico's revelations. How would she behave around Morgan now, knowing this? She looked back to the city, shifting her taloned paws a bit as she felt a flicker of apprehension.

"Do you think he would still try something to keep me from you?" She asked, worry creeping into her voice, wondering if she needed to be on her alert around the man. She had heard plenty of tales of what a man jilted in love might be capable of.

"No, he would do nothing to stop you from being happy... as much as that hurts him within. He is a general devoted to duty and a very honorable man in his own right, Sendara

You have nothing to fear from him. If anything his blind devotion towards you gives me full confidence I can venture out to sea and no harm will befall you whilst you are under his watch" shrugged Calico watching Morgan shout out orders, instructions and rotas, the security enhanced given the grand event.

Sendara relaxed slightly though still wondered a bit if that were true, given Calico had mentioned Morgan might have once preferred her dead than married to another. Still, the man did seem honorable.

She was silent for a while, also watching the men below in formations. Finally, she rose slowly from her crouch and turned to nose Calico. "Perhaps we should practice our dance..." she mused with a twinkle in her eye. "Though I have no doubt you are a very accomplished dancer. I will return to human form and meet you in the dance hall."

"You are going to make me dance? for real?" asked Calico raising an eye brow.

"Whilst my skills are not lacking, I would rather not partake in a dance at all. I mean, it is not for warriors to waltz away with damsels, dancing and reciting poetry and singing songs are three things I much rather give it a miss" muttered Calico following Ryiah to talk her out of it

Sendara was moving toward her rooms where she planned on changing form and donning a suitable dress. As Calico followed with his words however she paused and turned to nuzzle him. "A pirate, scared of a dance? Yes I am going to make you. At least one won't kill us. It's our wedding after all." She eyed him with amusement. "I thought you missed your courtly days, and I would have thought whisking beautiful women around a ballroom a task any man might enjoy. It does not take away from your manliness, I assure you. Quite the oppsite in fact." She gave a draconic grin and resumed walking.

Calico leaned against the wall briefly not amused at her taunting skills

"Very well, as you wish, my empress" granted Calico bowing before the dragoness and going to his rooms to get changed.

A little later, he made his way to the ballroom, dressed in a more appropriate and fashionable manner, in line with his lordly title and lands.



"Welcome... your majesty" greeted Calico bowing briefly "would you do me the honour?" asked Calico offering her his arm

Ryiah, ready as well, had joined Calico in the dance hall, pleased to see him dressed up. She gave a slow and graceful bow, dipping her head and sinking in a curtsy before accepting Calico's hand with a smile, eyes sparkling.

To the side, the musicians began their playing, sliding into the first of many beautiful songs they had prepared for the wedding day, which would play throughout the evenings entertainment. Tonight they would play her favorite so she could practice. Allowing Calico to whisk her further into the room, she explained the steps the choreographer had thought would be best, and shrugged, "But we can do as we please " she said with a small laugh. She hadn't danced with her pirate before, and found herself feeling oddly shy, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Calico was a little tense, clearly out of comfort zone in the attire given and the appointed task.

It was mid dance that Morgan came over to inform the empress, pausing at the door and keeping quiet and still watching Ryiah giggle and twirl with poise and grace and took a deep breath to steady himself, waiting until she cared to acknowledge his presence before talking to the queen.

Ryiah finished the dance with Calico, trying to help him be more at ease with it, finally coming to a drifting halt. Glancing over her gaze found Morgan and she offered a smile, tilting her head a bit. "Yes General?" She asked, moving forward to speak with the man. She seemed to notice his awkward demeanor and, now knowing what Calico had told her, wondered if it hurt Morgan to see her dance with his brother.

She wished to keep relations happy between the two, to help in any way she could. And after Morgan spoke what he needed to, she decided she would ask him if he'd show Calico how to be more at ease with dancing. Perhaps the General would enjoy demonstrating such, and a chance to dance with her himself.

"I am so sorry your majesty... but... I am not sure such would be appropriate considering you are a high damsel who is engaged to marry" noted Morgan hesitant in his voice.

"I would dare not bring your highness disrepute... least this was your command and wish, your grace" explained Morgan with a polite smile

"Morgan, I have danced with many men growing up as a princess. It is not a dishonor, it is a privilege and a form of fun." She looked between Calico and Morgan both, raising an eyebrow. "Frankly I find it hard to believe either of you have spent much time at court if you don't know that ladies may dance with different men without incurring dishonor. Even married women do so, especially if their husband does not enjoy dancing."

She smiled then and shrugged, feeling resigned. "It seems my betrothed doesn't enjoy the dance, and I hate to make him unhappy for long. I suppose I shall have to practice alone. I enjoy the spinning and twirling, as it reminds me of flight." A smile shone on her face as she felt excited for the wedding to come. Turning to Morgan she spoke once more. "What was it you came to say General?"

"Well I would object to spoiling your enjoyment... your grace. In that case, it will be a priviledge to dance with you" nodded Morgan seeing Ryiah disappointed

He bowed lowly before the queen and offered her his arm courteously to escort her to the ball and dance away. He was refined, he was elegant and graceful and clearly, far better and more confident than Calico when it came to the dance floor.
He knew the steps and changed them fluidly, often twirling Ryiah as per the music and dance.

He was a little cheeky too wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her closer and smell the scent of her hair, a sweet memory to keep, a warm smile and a lover's glint in his eyes as he enjoyed this private time with her, at long last.

Once the dance was over, he bowed lowly over her hand and kissed it gallantly, straightening up to salute the queen.
"I was coming to inform that I have placed reinforcement at the port. There were some arrests made this morning due to unruly behaviour from certain brigands" explained Morgan looking at Calico meaningfully as he referred to his rowdy crew

Ryiah caught her breath after Morgan released her, the dance finished, eyes lit with the excitement of the music and steps as well as from the way she'd seen Morgan looking at her during the dance. Dipping into a curtsy she thanked him demurely, then considered his words as she moved to stand by Calico, casually pulling his hand into hers to assure him of her loyalties. "You are indeed a keen and educated dancer General, my compliments." She said finally with a smile.

"Reinforcements at the port are a good idea, but what do you plan on doing with those you've arrested? Hold them for a time and then have then released?" She shot a quick glance to Calico, then back to Morgan, biting her lower lip.