Castle Shyr

So, Loki said they'd been waiting to read this part for a long time.. and in Loki's opinion the section was good. :) Hopefully you all will think so as well.

More of the boys, and the cuteness they seem to ooze - but that's ok, we love them anyway. And damnit.. I've got to get Loki to put up that picture of them!!

Anyway! Enjoy!


The game had been going on for hours. Austly was a bit unsure how it was played, but it involved darts, a strange looking board, four rat-like creatures and beer. Lots of beer. A little while ago Austly had sent Kylo out on a scouting mission around the ship, since Lan and his crew had vanished earlier that evening. When Kylo came back he came back with news that the whole crew was inside the ship, in some huge room below the decks - playing a strange sort of game. Austly’s crew had been thrilled, they wanted to play, or at least watch. Austly himself had gone down to check out the room for hiding spots - quickly deciding it would be easy to hide his small fellows, he waved them in.

The boys had boarded The Gladiator easily from Fordwych, and had spread out all over the ship at first, separate hiding places to help keep things inconspicuous. Eventually, over the course of a few nights, they found each other, and a space big enough to shield them all. It was a bit chilly, but the boxes stacked around them took the brunt of the wind - and almost acted like walls to keep in the heat. They’d had one or two close calls, the boxes as it turned out were storage and once or twice Kaimyn had come real close to finding them - but their luck always held out. The boys continued to ask when they would be able to get out from behind the boxes, stretch their legs, and actually talk and play and be with Lan and his crew - Austly told them simply: they would know when the time was right.

“Austly,” Yuhin yawned, rubbing sleepily at his eyes as he leaned forward, “when do y’think they’re gonna turn in?”

“Beats me. Though it looks like most of ‘em have ‘ready.” Austly said with a shrug, noting that Lan’s crew, much like his own, had passed out. Yuhin was the only one still awake, just barely, on Austly’s crew, rivaled by Circo and a Nanion Austly had never met named Doyt on Lan’s.

“Should we - wake - them and go back up?” Yuhin’s words were broken by a loud yawn, and Austly quickly shook his head.

“Naw - Lan’s been actin’ kinda funny. I’d be worried he’d spot us on the way up.”

“Austly - when, ‘zactly are we gonna -”

“Yuhin, haven’t I told you all lots of times before.”

“Yeah but - when is the time gonna be right? We’re all kinda achy and sick of hidin’. ‘Sides, Lan is your brother - what do you think he’s gonna do - throw you over board?”

“Course not, Yuhin!” Austly said, almost looking as if he was going to slap his partner, but he settled for placing his hands roughly on his hips, giving the sternest look he could muster. “Why would you say a thing like that?”

“Well - I dunno. I’m just wonderin’ what it is you’re scared of.”

“I ain’t scared, Yuhin.”

“So.. Why don’t you just go out there and say ‘hi’?”

“You know what, maybe I will.”

Yuhin frowned as he peeled open his heavy eyelids to gaze at his leader. The boy was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, looking rather ruffled - obviously seeing a challenge in Yuhin’s words. Yuhin frowned at the sudden discomfort rising in his stomach and stood, rubbing his shoulder. Lan was Austly’s brother - there was absolutely no way he would hurt him, not even if he was a bit scary and loud after having all that beer.

Yuhin stood straight quickly and considered turning to wake up the others as Austly lifted a foot, putting it atop the box in front of him in preparation.

A loud bell rung from somewhere near the crow’s nest above them startled Austly so bad he fell backwards, nearly landing on Til - but caught at the last moment by Yuhin, who had to stifle a groan. Both boys reached up to cover their ears as the ringing continued - loud and obtrusive. They slowly moved their hands, only to be rewarded with the thundering sound of all of Lan’s crew suddenly awake, and tearing up the stairs.

“What’s goin’ on!” Fetwhe shouted as he woke up, rubbing his eyes.

“Aaaaaaaaaahhhh!”

“Somebody hush him up!” Austly shouted, pointing immediately at Til as he was not close enough to cover the boy’s mouth on his own.

“What’s the noise for?” Kylo whimpered, bringing his knees up to help shield his ears from the noise to no avail. “Austly whad’idya do!?”

“I didn’t do nothin’!” Austly shouted, rolling his eyes as Til began to cry. “Sheesh! Listen! Somethin’s goin’ on up there! I think this is the time!” The bell suddenly stopped, and the boys looked to the ceiling for a moment before drawing their attention back to Austly. “Let’s go on up an’ become real pirates!”

“W-wait a minute, Austly,” Yuhin said, grabbing the red-head’s arm as he turned and started towards the stairs. The other boys all paused in their rising to look at him as well, confused as to why he’d be hesitant about something they’d looked forward to for so long.

“Whatsa matter?” Austly demanded, reaching up to adjust his bandana.

“Well - why is now the right time? We don’t even know why that bell rang - something could be wrong. We don’t want to rush in during the middle of a fight or something..”

“Wrong? What could go wrong.. We’re in the middle of the ocean..” Whined Til, still not fully awake as he rubbed at his reddened eyes.

“Geez, Til. Attacks happen on the water all the time. Don’t you know anything?” Mirta snarled, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away. “I.. I kind of agree with Yuhin. Maybe we should find out what’s goin’ on first.”

“That’s a great idea!” Taywah shouted, leaping to his feet. “I’llgoupandseewhat’sgoingon, andthencallyouguysupwhenImakesurethecoastisclear!” He beamed, nodding enthusiastically. Soboe rubbed his head and looked over at Fetwhe.

“Whad’id he say? I’m not awake enough for Taywah-speak..”

“Well - fine.” Austly muttered, clearly disappointed at having his momentum stopped. “Go ahead and check - but don’t let them see you. It’d ruin it if they saw you before they saw all of us.”

“Ok!” Taywah said excitedly, literally bouncing past the others towards the stairs. He took to his hands and knees, moving more like Kylo than himself, and hugged close to the wall, slowly poking his head up to the upper deck of the ship - only what was necessary, of course.

His eyes grew wide.

The left part of the deck was writhing with bodies. The Gladiator had pulled up to a small merchant ship, and Lan’s crew was swinging eagerly onto it’s deck - heavily armed. Doyt and Captain Carrick had stayed behind on The Gladiator, beating back any unfortunate merchant who decided to try and board them in retaliation. On the merchant ship was chaos - the unarmed merchants were being scattered ruthlessly from bow to stern as they ran for their lives. Up somewhere near the mast a torch was lit, and Lan gave a cry of triumph.

Taywah froze to the spot.


“What’s takin’ him so long?” Muttered Austly, tapping his foot against the floor half in forced agitation, half in nervousness. The obnoxious bell had quickly been replaced with an indiscernible commotion - a few hoots and hollers were heard, along with what sounded like screams, and Austly was unable to tell if it was good commotion or bad commotion.

“Maybe Til should go up and find out what’s wrong.” Offered Fetwhe with a slight snort, nudging the young boy playfully in the back.

“I’m not goin’.” He muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. “Ow.” He whispered, more of an after thought, since the nudge really hadn’t hurt. He looked up slowly as Austly sighed and rubbed at his bandana. “You’re not gonna make me go, are you?” He whimpered, recognizing Austly’s ‘thinking face.’

“Naw, I won’t make you go.” Austly said, startling the group with his sudden optimism and energy. “They prob’ly just found him - and are waitin’ for the rest of us to show up! So let’s not keep ‘em waiting!”

“Yeah!” The boys cried, one simultaneous voice as they leapt to their feet and made it quickly up the stairs.

Austly smirked a little as he ran up the stairs. It felt good to be able to move around like normal after a few nights of sneaking and crouching. His happy mood slowly diminished, his anxiety returning as he saw, much to his displeasure, Taywah still crouched at the top of the stairs.

“O-y Taywah!” Shouted Fetwhe, having not picked up on the apprehension sweeping through the rest of the troupe. “Whatcha doin’!”

And then the rest of the boys saw it as well.

The merchant ship was now brightly aflame. The fire had spit up the mast and engulfed the sails first, seeing to it that the unfortunate Nanion would never live to disclose the identities of their attackers. It made it’s way down to the deck and was swarming over the cargo in vicious leaps. Lan and his crew saw too it that only the less costly stock was burned, the rest was quickly hoisted up and tossed across the gap from the merchant ship to The Gladiator. Along with keeping her safe from fleeing merchants, Doyt and Carrick began stacking boxes, pushing them off to one side so that they wouldn’t be in the way.

The merchants were almost completely unarmed - it was seriously taboo to attack a merchant ship, it was a cowardly move to make according to society. Lan’s crew, however, didn’t seem to have a problem with it. They all carried swords, and a dagger or two could be seen hilted on their belts. They slaughtered any merchant who happened to be in their path - save the women. That scarce few were tied up and set on the lifeboats, their cries ignored.

Austly jerked, brought out of his stiffness by the sound of someone retching nearby - Soboe.

“Th-they…” He whispered, his voice sounding hoarse. “The merchants- m-m-must have…”

“Shut up, Austly.” Yuhin whispered, gray pale and shaking. He looked as if he would be next to vomit, and the thought made Austly’s own stomach knot.

Til found a strange urge to run aching through his legs, and so he stood and walked up to stand next to the crouched Taywah. He made a small noise, as if he were trying to say something, but nothing came out aside from a tear which traveled the length of his face to plop in Taywah’s hair, waking the other boy so to speak.

None of the others could mutter a sound, not even as Til and Taywah stood, walked completely onto the deck, and towards all the commotion. They couldn’t breathe, not even as Doyt saw them and froze in his spot, Carrick doing the same. They couldn’t move as the boys made it to the ship’s edge and peered over, catching Kaimyn’s gaze as she turned to toss another box over.

Til’s big eyes were bluer than the ocean as he stared hard at Kaimyn. He didn’t have to speak - she could see the thoughts in his eyes. The girl fell backwards, onto her rump on the deck and made a few sputtering noises. Circo was immediately at her side, checking her over for any wounds until she pointed to The Gladiator. Worriedly Circo looked up, imagining that perhaps one of the merchants had gotten past Doyt and the Captain, but what he saw was much worse. He too seemed to lock up, and almost fell as he stared.

“W-we have to … find Lan.” Circo whispered, head just the tiniest bit clearer than Kaimyn. The girl could only nod, but neither of them made a move to do so.

“Lantipher!” The duo slowly turned their gazes as Doyt leaned over the railing of The Gladiator, shouting. “Lantipher!” He cried again, scanning the jumble of bodies aboard the merchant ship in vain.

Austly and the rest of the boys slowly found their limbs again and made their way higher on the deck, eventually standing a few feet behind Til and Taywah. They didn’t want to look, they certainly didn’t want to be any closer to the horrific scene they’d stumbled upon, but they couldn’t look away, it was as if their bodies moved of their own accord. Somehow they knew, in the backs of their minds, that it was real - that the people they had come to trust had betrayed them - but some part of them still refused to believe it, forcing them to look closer, to stand closer, to realize exactly what was going on.

There was sudden, triumphant cry from the merchant ship, and all eyes flew to the mast.

There was Lan.

The strawberry blond of his hair looked ghastly white in contrast to the splatters of maroon across his features. He was grinning like a mad-man, face split in half by the wicked smile as he twisted his arm. The ship’s Captain, noted by a few medallions on his jacket, a strange hat upon his head, was now stuck to the mast of his ship - by Lan’s sword through his gut. The gore dripped down the sword, over the hilt, to Lan’s bare hands, smearing them in red as he snickered, making faces at the dying man.

Austly didn’t know when he’d started screaming, but he knew he couldn’t stop. He didn’t think he would ever stop. Out of the corners of his eyes he saw Soboe and Kylo drop, arms wrapped around each other as they tried to hide their faces, rub out the memory of what they’d just seen. Up at the railing Til slid to the ground, shoulders jerking so hard his whole body shook with sobs, as Taywah seemed to lock up.

Doyt and Carrick exchanged looks as Lan’s gaze slowly moved towards the ship - oh god’s, he recognized that voice. He didn’t have time to be angry, didn’t have time to marvel at how his brother had managed to not only climb aboard The Gladiator without being noticed, but that he’d managed to keep his troupe hidden for so long, his only thought was on what he was doing, what his brother had just seen him do. He moved his gaze quickly back towards the man dangling from his sword and he met the Nanion’s eyes. He was met by the cold stare of death, telling him it was far too late to repent for this sin - he could never atone now.

Lan quickly withdrew his sword and gave the signal for a retreat, knowing all the crew now knew about the children on their ship. He watched the man crumple, lifeless at his feet and jerked a little, hearing Reyhan release the rescue flare in the distance as the lifeboats were set into the ocean. At least - they hadn’t killed the women. It was an absurd thought - it didn’t matter to the kids. Lan was looking for excuses.

He turned and started towards The Gladiator, his steps stiff, and he looked up just in time to catch Taywah’s gaze. The child was slipping forward, he was unconscious.

“Doyt!” He shouted, scrambling forward now, pointing madly to the boy. “Taywah!” He shouted again, but he was too far, and Doyt heard him too late. The boy toppled forward, chest hitting the railing as he fell, and fell, and fell into the choppy waters, vanishing.

“Taywah!” Lan heard Kaimyn shriek as she and the crew began making their way back.

“Lantipher!” Tahir shouted, coming up behind Lan, breathing heavily. “Wha-”

“Get back to the ship.” Lan said hoarsely. “G-get the children below deck.. I don’t care if you have to drag them.” Lan continued, sounding dead as he shoved his way to the railing of the merchant ship, casting his glance downward.

“A-aye.. But wha-”

“Just do it, Tahir. No questions.” Lan hissed, then threw off his jacket, and leapt into the water.

“Lantipher!” Doyt shouted, startling Morven as he helped her across. “He dove in..” He whispered, as if confirming it to himself. “He dove in!”

“Of course he dove in!” Growled Circo as he reached out to pull Tahir across. “One of the children fell in..” Doyt swung his head towards Circo, looking at him as if he were crazy, or as if the words simply didn’t register. Circo narrowed his eyes and lifted his lip in a snarl, about to snap something back when paused, feeling Tahir’s hand tighten on his arm.

“He sai-d to get the children below deck.” Tahir moaned, looking towards the boys, where Austly still stood, screaming as his body shook. “He said get them there e-even if we have to drag them.”


No matter how many times he jumped in, Lan was never fully prepared for the feeling of suddenly entering the ocean. The water was always so much colder than he thought it to be, the waves so much stronger, the water so much thicker. The fates seemed double-folded against him as he struggled to launch himself deeper, further under The Gladiator.

He could just barely make out the figure of Taywah drifting further and further away. Even without the weight of his jacket he felt so heavy; it was harder than usual to find a pace, to hold his breath and gain speed at the same time. Every time he felt he got closer, the boy got further away, tossed and turned by the ocean herself, as if she too wanted Lan to fail. She didn’t seem to realize he had already failed: Now wasn’t the time to start pitying himself.

He gave another hard kick and reached out, his fingers just brushing the boy’s sleeve. He let out a stream of bubbles and kicked forth again, wrapping his hands into Taywah’s shirt, praying for purchase. He pulled his hand back slowly and found that their was weight to it, the boy moved backwards towards Lan. He had no time to celebrate, however, he himself was quickly running out of air and he’d taken a breath before jumping - Taywah most certainly had not.

He pushed viciously against the yielding ocean, and made it to the surface with surprising ease. The ocean realized, now, what he was trying to do, and knew he’d be punished enough without her aid. Lan broke through the water and sunk back down, pushing Taywah to the surface before popping back up himself. He coughed and gagged on the salty water, trying to bring his eyes into focus as he struggled to keep two bodies afloat.

“Carrick!” He cried, seeing the old man at the railing - searching for him. “Carrick!” The older Nanion nodded and waved back, letting Lan know he’d seen him before he turned and vanished from sight, going to retrieve the rope. Lan took a breath and sunk back under the water, pushing at Taywah’s back to adjust the boy’s weight before popping back up, gasping at a burning in his lungs.

Taywah looked dead.

“Hawk shit!” Lantipher shouted, his voice breaking as he slapped the water, treading like a duck beneath the waves. He was tiring out quickly between trying to keep two bodies afloat, and trying to lift Taywah so he didn’t get pounded by each oncoming wave. Just as he was beginning to feel desperate, there was a strange splash to his left - Carrick had returned with the rope.

Lan gave a quick kick, let go of Taywah momentarily and reached out for the rope. He quickly wrapped it around his hand and grabbed the boy again, looking up and nodding to Carrick to pull. He braced himself and held on to Taywah as hard as he could, knowing a few broken ribs was nothing when one’s life was at stake.

He hissed out slowly through his teeth as the rope began to pull upwards, hefting him inch by inch out of the water. There was a slight jerk and the rope began moving faster, meaning that the old Captain had probably tagged one of the crew to help him pull. The lift was still jerky and painful, and Lan felt his palm slip with every tug, the rope digging deeper into the back of his hand where he had looped it. He dug his fingers further into Taywah’s side and shirt as they neared the half-way point, the boy was slipping and Lan felt as if the strain was going to pull his arm out of the socket. He let out a small grunt and lifted his legs to press against the side of the ship, helping take some of the weight off his legs as he almost walked up the side of The Gladiator.

“Here,” He groaned as he lifted Taywah as high as he could, just barely reaching the railing, “take him.” He tried to keep his feet on the boat as Circo leaned far over the railing and picked up the boy, carefully lifting him to the ship and carrying him out of sight. With the added weight and awkwardness removed, Lan easily hoisted himself onto the deck. He leaned forward, hands on his knees and offered a weak, almost smile to Carrick.

“Th-thanks.” He gasped, receiving only a nod as the older Nanion stepped aside to reveal the commotion on deck. He stumbled forward and landed on his knees next to Taywah. The boy wasn’t breathing, and his lips had turned a sickly shade of blue.

“Th-the rest of the children are below deck, Lan.” Whispered Kaimyn from somewhere behind Lantipher, wrapped in Circo’s arms.

Lan nodded and watched as Morven tried again to breathe air into Taywah’s lungs. He pulled back and rolled the boy to his side as he began coughing up foamy seawater. Lan’s eyes grew wide as he watched the boy’s chest leap and catch, then rise and fall to an almost normal rhythm, though he had yet to fully wake up.

“I-I’ll take him down and get him warmed up.” Morven offered, scooping the child into his arms and starting shakily for the stairs.

Lan nodded, though it was more than a bit delayed, and Morven couldn’t possibly have seen it. He stared hard at the deck, feeling only slightly comforted by the knowledge that Circo and Kaimyn were close behind him. He felt cold inside and out, and knew that it wasn’t because he was wet. He felt his shoulders lurch and he gave in to a sickening retch, wrapping his arms over his stomach and leaning forward to sob afterwards.

Circo and Kaimyn didn’t move - they didn’t know what kind of comfort they could offer, when they themselves were lost.