Baradakhus Taber Niler's Story

"oh wait... so... you didn't know I was Qiara?"
Ara tilted her head in confusion, she has assumed he meant he could tell she was a girl just by her sent. Also he had referred to them as displaced... she thought he had figured it out on his own.
"Oh well... I better scat if i don't want to be found!" turning to Phoebe Ara said goodbye.
"I don't want to get you caught... harboring a fugitive is punishable by death so fare well nice Lady..."
Ara Followed Uvan down the way he spoke of.

A man was whistling as he was walking down a road, or the Lizard District. Usually somebody like him, who was a disgusting human, would be killed, thrown out if they were lucky. But. But, Baradakhus Taber Niler, the name of the man, had saved a lizard from a slaver. And then, not exactly welcomed, he was allowed to walk along, minding his own business.

And then he was shoved from behind, almost falling. Another man, with a bag, was running quite fast. Baradakhus could only laugh. He was going to die. And he did. Two lanterns appeared from lizards and spears were thrust into the man. He was dragged away. Baradakhus laughed louder, with a higher pitch. Oh, how he loved murder. He kept on walking...until he saw a lizard with a woman. "What is this? Baradakhus asks himself as he walks down Lizard Lane," third-person talking, all the way.

Baradakhus' curiosity overwhelmed him, he had to find out why, why a lizard-lizard was walking with a womanly-woman. He came up to them with a flourish with his hands and said, after hearing a few words, "Hello, my familiar fiends, how are you this grand night?"

"The lizardfolk care not who gets along with who. What we care is that all are free to hate or love." Uven stated, hoping that Ara would understand his reference to the only reason that a lizardfolk would come out of the Swamp willingly.

"I am no leader. There are few who would follow me, and they would call themselves students. I am better at observing, and stating such observations. I believe your people call it advising. You, on the other side of the tree, are human. Human of royal blood. The high grounds may scoff at you, but you have right. This will help you convince those who work to make this city run. If you can command lizardfolk, other humans may be both suspicious and more willing to listen. 'What level of greatness would it take for a human to have lizardfolk who follow them?'" Uven spoke, his arms moving at points of emphasis.

Then a freer, as the lizardfolk called them, came up with a burst of happiness that was uncommon for lizardfolk to show. "Hopeful, freer, hopeful." Uven then responded to Baradakhus.

Ara looked at Baradakhus then at Uven then back to Baradakhus. Another human!
at Uven's confession of being hopeful Ara sighed and confessed how she felt.
"Overwhelmed..." she paused looking back at her new lizard companion.
"Goodness Uven you sure know how to put pressure on a wanted princess"

Ara looked at Baradakhus, his short black hair shaped his handsome face. Ara tilted her head with curiosity.
"We haven't officially met... what did you call him Uven? Freer? hm... My name is Ara."
Her brown eyes watched him carefully. Ara had learned to be weary of human men but Uven seemed familiar with him.
But still no human man she knew before gave her the vibe she got from this man.
Something about him gave her an uneasy feeling.

"Hopeful, Uven?" Baradakhus laughed, "Hope is a strange concept for me, my scaly friend, but if it works for you, well, hmm, good." Ah, good ol' hope. The stuff's false, but what could people think other than hope in times of danger. Baradakhus had skill on his side. Skill and luck. And win. Lots of win. Winning.

"Huh, Ara...Ara...where have I heard that name before?" Baradakhus frowned before perking up, "AH! You're the princess! Oohh...the bounty on you is quite high! Alas, I am being paid by your friend here, Uven, much more than your bounty! At least 100 more! That may not sound like much, but, eh, you know? It's money. It's gold! It's the life-blood of all things kingdom! But...if the bounty gets higher than what I am being paid...well...that wouldn't be good. But that probably won't happen! Uven here knows how to buy me! Well, his people do anyways, not sure if he himself does...By the by, my name is Baradakhus Taber Niler, Murderer, Mercenary, Mocking Man of the Guild of Mockers. And I'm creating bullshit name's for myself. Just call me Taber!"

While he was talking, Baradakhus was having a fun time looking at Ara. She was quite pretty.

"I would venture to guess that your coin is handed off by Zipac." Uven said to Baradakhus. To him, it was obvious that the boy was looking at Ara. He knew that this 'freer' was rather exuberant. A dark and cheerful one that few lizardfolk in the city didn't know about. However, Uven had met him more than once, the first time being Baradakhus's marking.

Uven then turned to Ara. "The lizardfolk alone can only do so much. We would need someone that other races can rally around. No one outside of our kind would rally around one of our scaly hides."

Ara noted that she had the right vibe from him, handsome and interesting the man could be she noted that she should watch out for him.
Another thing that Ara had learned was humans will betray each other at the right moments. The simplest reason to do so, for a throne for money for revenge. Ara didn't care that he was a murderer so much because all humans had the potential to be dangerous like he could be. If he wanted to talk to her further she would back away or show weakness. Though scared she may be Ara had more hate boiling up as the days went on, wanting to kill all those responsible for her father... and families death."

"Ok Taber. Watch out for that bounty then. because here is the thing..." Looking at Uven Ara smiled "What your asking of me I will do, Uven. Because I refuse to be useless. but take this into consideration... once the Minister of Justice knows I'm alive... not only that... but helping to stop the slave trade of your kind he will not play fair... maybe send assassins or Raise the bounty, as my new and very own friend Taber pointed out. Uven Im afraid its going to get expensive... Are you sure I'm not going to be more of a burden than an asset? if you still believe I will be an asset then I will put my trust in you." Ara looked back at Taber and smiled. Even if Uven couldn't protect her from Taber she didn't intend for him to take her easily. "Nice to meet you Taber"

She could tell he liked the way she looked too, his eyes said it all.
No mater what Ara knew she would have to be brave from now on.

And Baradakhus had walked on Ara just waking up. The man laughed. "Ahh, the organ," Baradakshus reminisced, "I remember that. Took me two days to wake me up. I guess we're the odd ones out, eh?"

And it hurt too. Baradakhus didn't know if it was some type of magic that influenced him, or if it was a faulty organ. It felt like he was on fire, and it hurt for weeks after that. He only blamed it on his family's gods, or The Wanderers, as they were called. As Baradakhus was agnostic, believing there was an actual force out there, he could only think that maybe he desecrated something. Hey, maybe it was the meteorite.

"Well, now that your up," Baradakhus continued, "You can buy me. Not with gold, oh no, I get enough of that from my scaly friends. More like...conditions, Ara, conditions. Of despicable value. Well, maybe despicable. One, is that, if we win this war, I become...king. Yes, I like the sound of that...actually...no...wait, yes. That is one of my conditions. I will contact you of more later."

He smiled a sickening, charming smile at Ara.

Ara didn't take Uvens warning personally, it didn't mean he didn't trust her so much as he seemed to be making sure she knew what was at stake.
"I have no intention of betraying you Uven... or your kind." In that moment Ara went from deep thought to sadness. Her face was unreadable but some could still guess what it was. Ara had already been betrayed by the people she worked so hard to help. All those times of trying to convince her father to help all his poor subject. Now they say he had it coming to him... Maybe he did. If it had only been him killed Ara would not have cared so much. Tradition was the when the king was overthrown his family would simply be exiled.
The Minister of Justice was not fit for his name though... the man was a coward.

Baradakhus walked in just then and Ara raised an eyebrow. This guy really talk a lot...

At his offer she scoffed. King Taber?
Ara sighed looking rather irrigated by his presence at the moment. It wasn't that she didn't like the guy. Because he was rather charming even though he was a bit annoying too. She has met plenty of his kind... Her mother married one in fact! Fell for him then followed his every whim.
"If you wish to become his highness Taber then you would have to get in line... I may be wanted but I'm still betrothed." It sounded silly when she said it. But it was the reason for her irritation, humans only know how to be greedy with power. Most men would thing she was just playing coy.

At his smile she looked away trying to hide her blush with her frown.

"The lizardfolk are looking forward to hearing what you are looking to do next. They will to know if they have made a friend, or an ally." Uven spoke, trying his best to get some distance between Ara and Baradakhus, as he noted her discomfort. He motioned the way out of the room. Uven spoke, motioning the path to the ground floor of the building, "They move along the alleys like they always, but your presence has caused more than a stir that was intensified by the simple fact that you have been given the organ. The sooner that you state your intent or plan, the faster that we can reach a calm among anxious warriors."

And Baradakhus laughed as Uven distanced Ara from him. The lizard and princess left the room, and as he watched them go off, he laughed again. Ahh, fuck royalty. Baradakhus left the room he was in and started to walk. Walk where? Obviously the red-light district. Obviously. There were many a wench and tables of poker there. Fun, to be honest. Baradakhus laughed once more, thinking of his bullshit 'condition.' Why would he, Baradakhus Taber Niler, want to become a king? Goodness, has anyone ever seen his character? He loves freedom, money-which basically is freedom-and killing. He would drive this country into the ground, with death-match tournaments against him. Ahh, but it was a good thought.

Then he saw it! Or, rather, them. Two people, one female, one male. Male one following the female one and...that doesn't sound like a great combination. Or, maybe the woman is the mad wife, storming off from her cheating husband? Maybe, probably not though. "Oayyooo! Look around," Baradakhus started singing, swinging his body around like he was drunk and slurring his words, "You arrre boundd! Bound to seeeeeee...maybe me! Maybe Chan, maybe man. Maybe dark follower of the occult," this is the part where Baradakhus stop pretending to be drunk, "Maybe man. Probably man. Bitch! Look behind you!" He yelled at the woman being followed.

Urturi peered to the side to see a rather confident man stumble around. Noting it off as normal she hurried along. It was when he yelled at her did she turn. Regarding his outburst, she turned around, only to be met with someone's chest. Looking up she was met with a familiar face, although she can't remember where she saw him before.
She spoke with a guarded stare. "Pardon me," she paused studying the male. "May i ask as to why you're following me?"

Ara bit her lip as she looked at the door. "Well I would start by checking out the local slave merchants, we could buy the freedom of a few. Then if they wish to help the cause we'll have some extra helpers. Also... it looks like the guy who wants to become his highness could be useful. Im going to go talk to him, call me if you need anything." Ara waved goodbye and set off to look for Baradukhus.

At first she had trouble finding him but suddenly knew where to look. Ara carefully disguised herself and walked to the red light district.
Finding him at a brothel was different because there was so many. Until she saw a familiar man following a girl and Baradukhus was being an ass and giving him away.

before Anrik could see Ara and the jerk, she pulled him away so he wouldn't interfere. After all she wasn't worried about the girl... Anrik was not the kind to hurt a girl. Ara pulled Baradukhus into an alley.

"You still want to become his highness?" she asked

And then Ara came. He raised an eyebrow when the woman who was obviously the princess pulled him away. "His higness?" Baradakhus asked the lovely woman, then, in an announcer's voice, "All hail King Baradakhus Taber Niler, worst king ever! Honestly no. I was just messing with you. Royalty sucks! I have to say I'm somewhat of a wanderer. Wandering anywhere is what I do. Maybe to do because my family were nomads? I don't know, except that I'd drive this city into the ground with how I would run things. Right. Into. The ground."

And then he realized he wasn't getting drunk and swarmed with slutty women, "Ara, you know what you need? You need to loosen up! Let's go get drunk!" Because getting drunk is always the responsible choice. And hey, it actually might lead somewhere with Ara in a bed with Baradakhus. That's always good for Baradakhus. Because Baradakhus is Baradakhus and Baradakhus needs the booze and Baradakhus need the women or else he'd gone insane by now...well, he would've been much, much more insane than he already is. If it wasn't for booze and women, I mean. Because, let's face it, Baradakhus is one sexy guy.

"Yes... you as his highness would be a true tragedy... thats what i thought at first too."Ara thought for a moment.
"Your lazy and you don't care, your in it for the money and I get that. because nobody can survive without money, unless you want to become the poor or homeless."she nodded.

"thats true but... I'm not so sure you would run it to the ground, and maybe this is just a hunch but I think you also have potential to be a leader... you don't want to be a leader... still that position is meant to be earned. So many men are given a position of leadership and they don't deserve it." Ara looked at him strait in the eyes and smiled "I want to recruit you... maybe Uven would think I'm crazy but i have a method to my madness... hm..."[/b]Ara stopped and tipped her chin "By the way... did you think I would just have offered the kings position without a price or some conditions?"Ara backed away and shook her head. "No sir, i would have started you off as my personal leader in training... so... When you finish drinking and sober up come find me and tell me what you want." walked away with a wave.

Drinking didn't sound like a bad idea however she had a responsibility and should head back to Uven. Also knowing him she would end up in a situation she didn't have power to prevent. It wasn't enough that he was one of the most handsome men she had seen yet, she didn't trust him with her life yet.

Walking back she got the message from Uven and was rather surprised. Finding him in the place he wanted to meet she immediately asked him "What was that and how does it work?" referring to the magical thing with the blood. She sounded like a child who had seen the ocean for the first time.

Baradakhus laughed at Ara's reply. He could only scoff at the answer. Obviously, Ara didn't know Baradakhus at all. Well, they basically did just meet. So, after a few seconds after Ara left, Baradakhus left the alleyway that he was in to see the man from before. "Look who I just found!" Baradakhus screamed in the air with joy, "It is the hound, that was sniffing and following. I wonder where you are going, good sir!" And Baradakhus stepped into the way of the other man.

Some people wouldn't call Baradakhus smart, but he actually was. Piecing together from what he saw of this man before, and the direction he was going in, Baradakhus could only seem to suspect that he was going to follow Ara. He couldn't allow that. She was part of the group that he was being paid to work for. "Hello, hello! My name is Baradakhus Taber Niler, the God-Slayer, the Man with the Night's Sword, the Bogeyman. Of course, these are bullshit name's that I have just mad up, but I do like the God-Slayer, I kind of am one. So, who are you?" Ahh, he loved the act of messing up one's plans. It's quite fun!

Anrik just lost Ara's trail and this guy was in the way. If he had known Baradakhus was involved with Ara then he would have been to say the least surprised. The guy was obviously nothing but trash. So the reasons Anrik wouldn't feel the least bit interested in Baradakhus was clear.

"I will admit." he responded "I don't meet other men who don't mind there own business in the red light district. Most like to keep their business as discreet as possible. I am a man that needs not converse with the likes of you... so run along." Anrik gave him a warning look, hoping to scare him off. Still that was a foolish idea to think Baradakhus would be scared off so easily. Still Anrik was smart enough to know not to take his eyes off the man.

Knowing the little bird he had met just before was still behind him, he was also hoping she would run along too. Baradakhus was obviously dangerous. One was to wonder what the princess saw in a man such as him.

Baradakhus smirked. He liked this guy's attitude towards him. "'I am a man the needs not to converse with the likes of you,'" Baradakhus repeated, "Ahahah! You think you're better than me?" Baradakhus laughed, "No one person is better than I, Baradakhus. Baradakhus is the best because Baradakhus is just better. I can tell that you have an acquaintance with Ara, and you, the woman! What are your goals?"

Baradakhus returned the man's stares. He wasn't daunted, no mortal man could scare him. He wasn't scared of anything except the unknown-unknown's. He was scared of what he didn't know and never will know. He was scared of things that weren't physical. So, Baradakhus' smirk grew into a grin. "Oh, I love the expression on your face. You think you're better than me because of what? Because of who I am? Because I am a mercenary? Because I haven't come from royalty? Oh, people like you amuse me. And, I'm not most men."

Anrik frowned in confusion, at the mention of Ara's name he stiffened. "What is your business with Ara? You talk as if your... " he paused " you ask so many questions. So maybe you can explain to me what your business with Ara is." Anrik countered with the same question, searching for answers in Baradakhus's eyes as well. It was amazing... truly amazing. Ara always saw something in guys like this one... hell... he was one of them.

If Anrik didn't know better he would guess Baradakhus was in some way shape or form protecting Ara from a potencial bounty hunter. Still Anrik didn't think many men were capable of doing something for a girl who was already worth so much money. On top of that... the guy didn't seem to be discreet about being involved in some way with Ara. Meaning he wasn't threatened and had confidence to ask questions and cover his tracks. Anrik could guess this man was not only a mercenary but had killed before.

Anrik ignored all the other questions and waited for Baradukhus to respond to his question, he had no wish to further describe why he had a hunch that this man was no good.

Baradakhus' looked at the man in front of him. Obviously this person was trying to see if he could get anything from his eyes, but...Baradakhus' eyes were bright, bright with the images of slaying this man. Hey, a guy needs contingency plans, and slicing and dicing was a great contingency plan. "So, you're a stubborn one," Baradakhus said, "Well, I guess I'll have to tell you what business Ara and I have together: No business. None at all. I was hired buy the lizard friends that I have over in scale-town. But that could change anytime, honestly. Your father could hire me for more, or Ara's bounty could be raised. And, before you ask how I know who you are, ask yourself this; how do you not know me? I've made a name for myself.

"You know what? I'll just cut to the chase. This first time that I came to this city, what, um...ten years ago? Yeah, I profiled peoples of interest. When I came back a week ago for a contract, not the one of the lizards, mind you, I sought out those peoples of interest and saw if they changed any. And, then, here we are now. You know, this wouldn't happen. I mean, this man-hunt, or even the king's death, if this city had a democracy. Where there is no monarch, there is no king, queen. They have it good in the west because they don't have monarchies. Well, the elves there do, but not our species of Homo sapiens.

"Does that answer your question Anrik? Does it make you feel safe that I could betray Ara, that I could betray anyone? And I could do it too! I have no emotional investment in this retarded city, or Ara, or the lizard-folk. I am a sociopath, I guess, because all there is for me is the money." And then, after that little rant, "God...the elves in the west though...the sex is great...great but kinky. I might go there again after this."