The early fog had set in and sea birds sang their shanties. With the smell of the docks and its people fresh and unpleasant as ever in his nose, Jaiko stood looking out at the water.
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It was lighter than he had expected. The vile weighed less than a pound yet had the power to engulf an entire trireme in blue flame so hot that it burned even underwater. Dragons blood, not the name I would have chosen, Jaiko thought, placing it back into his rucksackas he waited at the busy dock. He had never seen it used in anything but combat practice and his mother's chambers but he knew of its potential for destruction and suppressed a burning curiosity as he stared out at the ships.
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Sirens Song was said to be the oldest city in all Gresan. It's old tan-stone houses withstood the test of time and were all the more hideous for it. The only highlight of the gray and tan town shrouded in a constant mist was the old pillared temple of the long-forgotten sea-goddess, the siren herself.
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Jaiko gazed up at it as it sat proudly atop its hill, the statue of the mermaid rested above the great doorway into the temple, staring down at him with wanting eyes. It's strange how white the marble remains given the state of the rest of this fish smelling shit of a city.
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Where are you old man? The passenger ship had many aboard it, Jaiko found himself annoyed to see young merchants, many dressed in drab and slightly tattered robes, forcing their way off the ship, ahead of the elderly, women and children. Even the merchants look and act poorly here.
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Jaiko took note of the ugliness of the population as many passed him gawking at his armor. They were the most pale-skinned of all the Gresani people, with skin white as milk and fish-like faces and lifeless eyes they made Jaiko's skin crawl. When they would school around him to stare at his gold and black he would step toward them and they would scatter only to return a few minutes later to Jaiko's annoyance.
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When Jaiko finally saw his face all his disgust and annoyance left him. "Papa!"
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"By all the gods false or otherwise you've gotten big," his grandfather, Jathos said with a warm smile as he walked off the ship.
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They met in a laughing embrace.
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"Well, you look just as old as when I saw you last."
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"I think I'll take that compliment. How are Taavi and Taras?"
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"Zay and Xan are doing fine, both tall as ever; high spirited, rather annoying."
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"And you, how have you been?"
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"I'm going to assume my mother has sent a courier bat detailing my horrible behavior."
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"Well yes Baako, in fact, she did. It's well past time you and Bell stopped your fighting. She is your mother after all."
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"She and I have butted heads since I came into this world alone and with a bastard name."
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"You were not alone Jaiko," he paused, seeming to consider his words, "You will never be alone, there are always those that love you, even if you are a stubborn brat."
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"Firstly, I am no brat, I merely...anger...easily..."
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"Said like the truest of brats."
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Jaiko gave a smile and laugh. "Secondly! Papa I'd like to say we're all too old for these nicknames."
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"You and all my other grandchildren and great-grandchildren shall have them so long as I live, which really shouldn't be much longer anyway, so just stick it out until then."
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"Speaking upon grandchildren...at what point are you going to make me a great-great-grandchild? You're well old enough to have met someone."
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"It'll be Xandio or one of aunt Kassandra's daughters before me."
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"You know Jaiko I will be happy with...whatever or whoever happens for you.
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Take your time as you need but be true to yourself."
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Jaiko could feel the embarrassment in his cheeks. He tried to speak confidently but his voice betrayed him. "Thank you, grandfather," he said, clearing his throat.
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"Now, to my love life. As you know I have been lonely ever since the death of your grandmother."
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"We all miss her desperately."
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"Well Baako, I have found a new lady love."
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"Ew."
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"Hush now, let me tell you about her. She's a dark beauty with dangerous and mysterious eyes. She is awful ornery though."
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"Dark like what? Like an Alorian?"
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"She creeps around at night on all fours hunting mice and birds all around my house."
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"Papa...what?"
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"Her feet are all white, as is her belly but gods help you if you try to give her a pat there."
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A smile ran across Jaikos face. A fucking cat. "You had me there for a moment. What's her name, this cat?"
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"I call her Lady Killmouseski on account of all the mice she kills."
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"Clever papa clever. It's a good name, Sylacian no?"
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"You could add 'ski' or 'ov' to any old word and make it a Sylacian name."
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"True enough."
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"Jaiko all jokes aside, what are you going to do with your life? You've no money and no ship. Knowing your mother this 'ban' will last all the way until you publicly apologize and knowing you that will never happen."
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"I have money papa worry not. I plan on going to my father, he's offered me a title."
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"Good, I know you Baako, I know you will make something of yourself and show this world how strong you are."
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The words burned into Jaikos mind. "Show the world how strong you are." How strong am I?
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Midday had peaked and left and after a long day of eating and visiting and laughing Jathos boarded the ferry back his home on Viel. Jaiko stood and watched the ship set forth. His bag was now a full sack of gold heavier as the old man would not take no for an answer.
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It took him a few hours to find Thontos, fat as he was, in his old castle that seemed to sag like every other building in Sirens Song. The man sat at his high seat in his great hall, ever proud to have a Titan in his court.
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"Tomorrow we will collect the taxes of the town and return here to count them," he said between bites of chicken as grease and spittle collected in his thick gray-black beard.
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Jaiko searched for a captain willing to ferry him for the rest of that day and well into the night with no luck. Come the morning he set out early and found an old gray captain willing to sail to a Titan of Jhyr on his ship for a hefty price before he set out to collect the lord's taxes. Throughout that day, the people spat and hissed and threw rotten vegetables as he went door to door to take their money in the name of a lord not his own. They are just people, Jaiko reminded himself between calming breaths. You would be angry too to have so much of your earnings taken from you to feel such a disgusting man's gluttony.
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When sunset came and the tax bag was full the fat lord ordered the Titan and his personal guard to escort him to the hot baths. "Tomorrow you must show me some of that famed Titan combat."
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"Fine, but I want something in return."
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"My servant demands of me? I think not."
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My servant!? Jaiko could feel his teeth gritting together. "It's merely information I seek nothing more. May I remind his noble self that Titans are more to fit the role of advisor and guard than a servant."
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"I paid for you and your service, that makes you a servant. Do not fool yourself, dear boy."
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I'll kill you. "As you wish."
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"Out of my own curiosity what information were you searching for, surely it's something you could write to your mother about- oh wait, I had almost forgotten your banishment."
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I'm going to drown you in the hot baths tonight. "As that is my situation, I was seeking to inquire about Fyrcon Nysos."
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"Enough with Fyrcon Nysos, your mother's obsession has come with you I see. We've all heard rumors of the dragon there in deep slumber but that's all they are, rumors. Do you truly believe the lord of Aeos has unicorns in his menagerie simply because the rumors say so?"
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"No my lord you are right, it sounds foolish."
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The familiar scent of cum and sweat, a musk that strangely didn't offend, emanated from the hot baths. All the smells of sex and lust ran thick in the air and adhered to Jaiko's nose.
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The bathhouse was full to the brim with an orgy of young prostitutes, and those the sirens citizens deemed beautiful enough to enter. Most were engaged in carnal pleasures, man on woman, man on man, woman on woman it did not matter. Black curls and olive skin thrust and convulsed over white marble floors and atop pillars and benches, few sat to relax in the steam.
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Jaiko tried to avert his eyes as he escorted the fat lord in but he could feel himself growing hard at the sights he saw.
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A group of prostitutes ran to the lord undressing him, kissing and licking him all over. One of the girls walked over to him stark naked and ran her fingers across his cuirass.
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"It's every girl's dream to lay with a Titan of Jhyr," she said as Jaiko averted his gaze from her breasts.
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All arousal left him. "If I wanted for the pox across my cock I would let you know, now step back." A look of offense and disbelief appeared on her face.
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"Don't talk to my girls like that! Come here sweet thing," he said, calling her over and slipping his fingers into her. "Take the taxes to my chambers and begin the count. Have it done by morning."
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The halls leading to the chamber were damp and cold and gray no different than the entire town. They sat unwashed and scant of decoration. The lord's chamber door had the look of rotting wood and Jaiko took note of how few guards patrolled the corridors. All these taxes will go to the baths and prostitutes. How do the people stand for this? He found the door locked and let out a groan so loud surely the gods heard it. Only he has the keys, damn it all, I'll have to lug this back then here again! By all the gods I'll kill that fat bastard.
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The walk back was even emptier and quieter all until he heard the screams. Jaiko ran outside to find all the guards, fighting as a battle took place in and out of the bathhouse. His heart sank when he saw the familiar white masks of the strangers he encountered before. "Prove yourself strong." "Show the world how strong you truly are." I have my chance now. Jaiko knew he would be heralded as a hero but something else tugged at his mind. Why should I? So he can go back to what he did before?
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When their eyes met Jaiko almost ran forward. Thontos stared him down as his guards tried to protect him from the hoards of masked men that poured from the surrounding brush. "Titan! TITAN HELP ME!"
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"No," Jaiko said as he turned his back, the city's taxes in hand, and made for the docks.
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When the morning light pierced through the window in the sad gray-brown inn Jaiko awoke and began his search, he didn't need an overpriced ferry. With significant funds, he could buy his own ship and crew and so he did.
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