Solo Lost Dreams and Buried Secrets

[Ricky Maze]

Lost Dreams and Buried Secrets
Spring 11th 516 AV, 22nd Bell
Location: The Wildlands

The fire seemed to crack as the wood gave life to its insatiable hunger, a vivid light and overwhelming warmth attempted to comfort Ricky, as he and those walking with the caravan sat around its pit. Of those assembled there two of them were the peddlers who originally started from Nyka, and were in charge of seeing their caravan reach the city of Syliras within due time. The earlier part of the day had been spent with almost endless hiking just to cover as many miles as they could, with only but a few stops for rest here and there to allow their strength to remain in form. "You've been a quiet one ever since we left yesterday." The older one mentioned as he looked over Ricky's way, the two were both men who seemed fairly close if not likely related somehow. One was a younger fellow likely only several years behind Ricky, while the one who spoke to him seemed elderly and experienced. "Surely you must have something to say every once in a while?"

"Actually no." Ricky responded with a small but friendly smile, he didn't want to seem rude after all. "Oi've nothin' worth talkin' 'bout really."

"Ah I see. From the sound of it I'd say you aren't from around here, sound almost like you're um..."

"Foreign?" He guessed a more than obvious statement.

"Well of course! Just tryin' to think where I've heard that accent before." The old coot murmured as he stroked the braids in his gray beard, Ricky could only wonder if this man knew where he was from. "Zeltiva? Sounds about right."

"How'd ya guess?"

"Been there me self a few times!" The peddler laughed after he said that, aware that a slip of the tongue already gave him away just as it did Ricky. The moment he said 'me' there existed a trace of the same accent somehow, a faint if not far off reminiscent echo of where he came from as well. "What brings a Zeltivan all the way out here?"

"Oi could ask ya de same couldn't Oi?" He mused just before he looked away into the fire.

"True. Then again I'm a peddler by trade, roamin' about is what I'm accustomed to. Family trade even, isn't that right son?" He prodded the younger fellow next to him, who merely huffed as he too tried to appear distracted. "But you don't look like no trader, nor any ordinary traveler either. What's brought ya so far from home?"

"Honestly mate... it's a long story t' tell." He reflected to avoid the subject in general.

"Well; good thing we've got a long trip ahead of us. You don't have to tell it if you don't wish to, but hearin' it would surely enlighten us along the way." He reasoned as a means to bargain, at first he remained silent but after a moment to sigh Ricky finally gave in to his request.

"Why not. Oi've not really told anybody de whole story, might as well let it all go now. Besides its not like Oi've anyt'in t' lose." He always did enjoy telling stories after all, therefore it wouldn't hurt for him to indulge in the old habit once again after so long.

[Ricky Maze]

"D'is may be a bit o' a surprise t' ya, but Oi once 'ad a family o' me own."

"Oh? So did somethin' happen to them?"

"No... No they're fine Oi hope. Instead somethin' 'appened t' me, somethin' awful Oi could never hope t' overcome."

"What was that exactly?"

"It was... betrayal..."

Apprehension
Fall 22nd 515 AV
Location: Maze Residence, Zeltiva

Nested in a room of the lofty but rather empty manor that belonged to the Maze family one such room seemed to softly feel the sound of life, the small coos of yet another infant child heard as he slowly squirmed about within the confinements of his would be blanket. A breeze gently caressed the curtains of the window as the cool salty air seemed to permeate the room, which brought a serene sense of home to the happy parents that loomed over the crib of their second baby boy. Small and fragile he would appear to be but such was how every newborn child felt for the longest time, yet it hadn't been but thirty five days ago the child finally came into this world and felt the parent's first loving embrace. A strong and rough hand descended down to the boy as it lightly tucked the child into his nap, a smile brought unto the parent that comforted the boy with a sense of love and paternity. How happy he really felt to be able to look over and watch as his son found rest so quickly, while the beloved wife and firstborn sat together in the armchair situated near the crib.

"He likes it when you tuck him in." The soft gentle voice of his beloved hummed into his ears, like the sweet sound of music from a lilted finch soaring through the air.

"Aye, both 're 'bout ready fer a nap." The father said as he withdrew from the moment with content joy, deeply blue eyes looked over to the other two with bright optimism. "Oi could use one me self actually."

"Well good," Telion cheered as she steadily rose to her feet, "you can take one with Martin. It'll give me a while t' finish a few house chores, seein' as how my hands are constantly full lately." She teased while Martin had been carefully handed over to Ricky, the toddler gently rested from his mother's embrace to his father's without even a hint of disturbance in the transition, as the two chuckled softly before their walks diverted. Telion had went further elsewhere within the building to handle the task of tidying the house, a job that hadn't necessarily proved difficult until their second child came along. Often Ricky did what he could to help out even when he'd returned from a long day of patrol, so that he needn't worry of his dearest overworking herself on the daily.

Ricky entered the doorway into their room with little pause as he strode towards the bed centered at their room, and shortly afterwards he laid stretched out on his back with Martin comfortably rested on his torso. The child awakened shortly when they were once on the bed, but a comfy change in position and a thumb to his mouth quickly lulled him back to sleep. Not long after that the father shortly found himself quietly fallen into the same sense of rest as well, as he'd slipped into the comfort of a temporary sleep while he watched and cuddled with the child in his presence. How happy he'd really become just by living this way, enjoying the way things had been for the past several days now that everything seemed to fall in place. He had a life he could never had hoped to accomplish; where he had a wonderful wife and an adoring family, a career in protecting his own home passionately, and of course a company of wonderful friends that to some extent shared the same purpose.

Things were good now and he couldn't have been happier about it, even when he did miss having a few people around he hadn't seen in a while. Gale, Hannah, Tallis, Valo even. There were so many people he would've loved to meet up with again, to catch up on the old times and learn what had occurred while they were off elsewhere. Yes he really did feel truly happy now, which only felt augmented by the wonderful fact he could enjoy a nap every day with his son. Naps were so wonderful for the family and almost rather therapeutic in a sense, while it was essential for the children to grow it also allowed for more energy within the parents as well. However today his nap seemed to be cut short as Telion seemed to call his name, a number of soft nudges on his shoulder aroused him from the state of rest he'd found himself in; with groggy eyes and a dull yawn while he came around to.

"Ricky; you have company, a few members of the Guard have arrived." She beckoned as he rose just a little, he definitely hadn't expected anybody from the Guard to come by today. Honestly he didn't think nothing of it in the beginning, it could've easily been Macki or a few of the other guys wanting to check in. The Wave Guard was a close community of the city after all, so it was only natural they'd show care for other members in some form or fashion.

"Alroi, alroi. Oi'm up." He assured her as he scooped Martin up within his arms once more while on the rise, sure enough the three were on their way downstairs to meet with the group that awaited Ricky at their doorstep.

[Ricky Maze]

Once the front door to their house creaked open to allow in the light of the outside world, their patio was the first to be seen with two men dressed within their azure uniform. They weren't men Ricky had been ultimately familiar with but to him that hardly mattered, to him every Wave Guard seemed to be treat one another as brothers in arms. This time however they seemed to keep a few feet away as they held grave expressions, as though something bad or urgent seemed to come up recently. "Ricky Maze?" The one on the left questioned with vivid brown eyes, he looked a bit older than Ricky with a lot more scruff on his face. Definitely an veteran sailor and long term Wave Guard, though Ricky couldn't say for sure how long that term was exactly. The other one seemed a little younger and greener, if not a little eager to prove himself in the role he served as a member.

"Aye?" He responded as he placed Martin down onto his feet, the toddler swayed a little as he caught his mother's leg. Deep blue eyes locked on the two guards to gauge the gravity of the situation, of course he had no idea what to expect as to why they were there.

"We need you to come with us sir, we've a writ for your arrest." The veteran guard answered as the other reached for Ricky's wrist, the father pulled his arm away rather instinctively in an appalled manner. What kind of men played twisted jokes such as this anyways, whoever set them up for this apparently found a misplaced sense of humor to begin with. However they seemed rather serious and when the smaller one seemed angered into a challenge, the older one held an arm out before him to prevent a mishap to occur.

"De petch is d'is?" Ricky swore defiantly as he looked back to Telion, who seemed just as offended and confused as he was. "On what charge d' ya 'ave?"

"Sir," The veteran looked down to him, or would've if he were tall enough to do so, "with all do respect we've been charged with apprehending you. You're t' come in quietly and willin'ly, or else we'll be forced t' bring you in with resistin' arrest."

"What?! How?!" Telion interjected next with a serious scowl, Martin definitely didn't look to thrilled to see his parents upset so suddenly. "We are under the jurisdiction of the Council itself, and you will tell us what my husband is being charged with!" The demand didn't seem to produce any better result, only frowns from both the guards as Ricky only so willingly gave his wrists forward to be shackled.

"For treason, that's all I'm inclined to say." He finally said as a panic attack seemed eminent in Telion's eyes, the husband turned to face her before they could lead him off, both hands brought to hold her head so that their eyes would meet.

"It's okay love! D'is is only some sort o' mixup or misunderstandin'. Oi'll get it sorted out when we're at de Head Quarters Oi promise, and t'en Oi'll be back before de day is even over wit'." He reasoned as her heavy breathing seemed to slow down somewhat, the reassurance in his voice a means to calm her down.

"Y... You better. Figure this out Ricky, make sure they're sorry for their mistake. Whatever it is." She spat in disgust as she gave a quick glare to the two men behind him.

"Oi will, Oi will! Meanwhile take de boys back inside, Oi'll be back as soon as Oi can." He promised as he turned to the two guards once more, seeing as how he hadn't all day to sort this mess out, it seemed the sooner he faced whatever this mixup was the better. He hoped to his Goddess that it was just a sick joke someone organized, because if it were then he'd be sure to give them a good thrash for it afterwards. Somehow though the knotted pit in his stomach told him otherwise, that whatever this was couldn't get any better within a few bells.