#maps maps maps

Not enough fingers.

Otherwise, there are some fun similarities.

Drama king

Badass archer

Spends all his free time with a stocky redheaded gentleman who likes gems

Even the map is interestingly shaped!

Chapter Six, Page Five

maps maps maps

 He had started his second day surrounded by small children, all babbling at him at once. 

“Did all those piercings hurt?” one asked as she touched his ear curiously. 

“No silly they don’t hurt! He’s big an’ brave an’ they don’t hurt mama too!” another girl replied brightly, snuggling into the tired red head’s lap. “Mister Blackblade can you braid my hair like yours?”

Saeris smiled faintly, leaning back against the rock he’d perched under. “Sure. Hol’ still though cause I gotta go slow, fingers don’ work tha’ great.” he warned her, and she nodded and made a determined face as she held still as a statue. 

Stories came then, from him this time, he told them all the stories of the Reed he’d learned, one boy helping him translate if he lost a common word here or there. Each child demanded a fox tail and a braid or three while he spoke, giving them Vel’s silly story of Captain Blackblade, and of course random stories of the great Trade Lord Captain An’diel. Soon all of Sunspire was on the children’s tongues, and they all looked just like Saeris, including those with shorter hair that had brought him beads or bits of leather to weave into their hair. 

“Ha! Take that Kurel! Don’t you steal that cargo!” One girl said to another boy, pushing him over. 

“Ow hey! That hurt!” He whined. 

Saeris snickered, picking the last little boy out of his lap and standing up. “Hey now, don’ hur’ each other. Tha’s jus’ in th’ story.” he chided, his attention pulling slowly to a group passing through the town. An impossibly tall Kaldorei flanked by two very rough looking humans, dressed like sea farers, with Alliance sigils on thier belts. His ears twitched as he couldn’t take his gaze off the violet skinned elf, frowning when he heard on the wind a single word...Blackblade.

“Kids go on, s’ lunch time, an’ there’s a goo’ stew in i’ for you.” He encouraged and they all fled to follow their stomachs, leaving him time to grab his bag and head for the backs of the houses. All he needed to do was get on the road on the backside...he’d find his way from there. He had almost made it when he heard a noise behind him, and turned to block a blow aimed at his head. One of those humans had found him. 

The other soon popped up out of nowhere, and Saeris grit his teeth, going toe to toe with the two of them. He had one go into an old water trough, the other dropped as he got a good kick between their legs, when large arms went around him, hauling him back into a heavy chest. Saeris growled. “Oh no’ this again, fuck you!” he snarled as he launched his legs up, bringing his body down with full force, dragging his would-be assailant forward as he slammed his head back, a grunt of surprise and pain and arms letting him go sending him rolling as he came up, glaring daggers at the massive kaldorei captain. 

“You all can fuck righ’ off, leave me alone.” he snapped at them. 

The massive seven foot tall elf rubbed his steadily bruising jaw, golden eyes glowering at the red head. “Captain Blackblade, my name is Captain Swiftwind...I’m here to take you back to Sunspire, per the Reed’s request. There have been...issues.” he growled. 

Saeris blinked, frowning as he got out of his defensive position. “Th’ fuck you mean, issues?” he asked sharply. 

“Please, come with us, I don’t have much information but I know I need to get you there as quickly as possible.” the tall Captain replied, moving to help his woozy crewmates off the ground, turning to head for a nearby set of horses for them to use. 

The trip to Swiftwind’s ship wasn’t long, a few hours time and they were arriving at a ship type Saeris didn’t recognize except that it was very...kaldorei-y. When he stepped aboard he could feel the oddest thrum of nature magic beneath his feet, but he followed along behind the Captain to a small but pleasant room where he could put his items. Swiftwind offered him a small smile, nodding as he began to give a tour of the ship while they got ready to sail. 

“This is my own private study, I spend a lot of time here while we are at sea.” The white haired tall male said as he opened a door, and Saeris’s eyes nearly fell out of his head. 

All around him were maps, beautiful parchment, leather carved, maps of every aspect of Azeroth, star maps, ship maps, the entire room was a cartographers dream. Multiple tables had all manner of tools, rolled up maps lined the walls, Saeris wanted to touch and see everything, it was almost impossible to hold still. 

 Swiftwind smirked as he watched the smaller Sin’dorei’s jaw drop...oh Reed had been right. “Are you alright?” he asked casually. 

“I...you’re a map maker?” Saeris asked, almost shyly. 

“Mm, it is a hobby I picked up somewhat out of necessity, but now I find I enjoy it. Is it something that interests you?” Swiftwind prodded gently. 

“I...yeah, I mean...’s somethin’ I started learnin’ an’...how did you do all o’ this?” Saeris asked, finally unable to keep himself under control as he went towards the constellation map. 

Swiftwind chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s two days back to Sunspire from here...I’ll show you. Just don’t headbutt me again.”

Saeris looked back at him then, grinning sheepishly. “Deal.”