The two young men were brought before him, they where young and strong and very fit, they where tanned from weather and looked as if they could break a wooden pole over their knees with ease. One was taller then the other, with short blonde hair and a wild thick beard but still looked to be in his early 20s. His deep blue eyes caught the Dark Lord’s interest as he did not back away like some of the high born who had been brought before him. Behind him the other one while not as tall or as strong looking looked more graceful looking, like he could swing from a rope down from on top of one of those large sailing ships which moved across the ocean. His jet-black hair and dark eyes where of an interest as well, he lacked the beard of his friend, but he showed great promise as well. Both wore simple and salt-stained leathers, dark sailing boots and the like.
“Yes…I can work with these two.” Said the Dark Lord to himself as his guards pushed the men forward.
“So you two are the sailors I heard so much about, the onese selling passage on ships out of my land.” Inquired the Dark Lord
“Yes, so what of it.” Snapped the blonde man in a show of force as the dark-haired man eyes moved back and forth trying to find a way out, no find a way to attack.
“Yes, he can work with these men for sure.” Thought the Dark Lord
“What are your names?” inquired the Dark Lord
“Richard.” Answered the blonde
“Alexander.” Answered the black-haired man.
“Are you two brothers? Or related in any way?” inquired the Dark Lord as the two men looked at each other wondering why he was asking this.
“No.” answered Richard truthfully, he and Alexander where best friends but not related in any way.
“I see, as Sailors I know what to do with you two.” Said the Dark Lord as he waved his hand as a small box appeared out of no where and floated beside him.
They had heard of his magical abilities but hearing and seeing where two different things.
“Ah…yes this will do.” Said the Dark lord as two necklaces, each with a seashell came shooting out of his hands and wrapped around their necks.
“Take them both to the tank room.” Ordered the Dark Lord as the guards grabbed both men and pulling on the heavy chains which bound the two men.
They where lead through this massive castle/palace past moving statues who followed them with not just their eyes but their heads. Down flights of stairs which hung without support in a grand hall. Finally, they entered a large hall, it had towering high ceilings with carved sea creatures holding them up. On one side it opened into a large patio in which they could both see the nearby ocean and smell the salt air. The other side had equally as tall windows but instead of a seaside view it was in fact full of water. Bright beautiful coral not native to these water and strange fish which neither had seen before swam around without a care. The rest of the room had large tables the like, like one would see in a great hall in a mighty lord or King’s castle but this was not even the grand hall, they had seen that earlier.
The guards lead them behind a large series of stone seashells and up a couple of flights of steps toward a simple wooden door with thick metal bars over it. Above it were the words, “tank room.”
One guard opened the door, while the others pushed the two men in and closed the door. With it closed the chains simply fell away leaving the men alone in the room.
“They can’t keep us locked in a cell forever.” said Alexander
“Are we sure this is a cell?” inquired Richard as he looked around, it looked like some kind of strange bath house, a good amount of steam was in the air and it smelled like a mix of the sea and some distant spices. Large tanks filled the room with stone walkways over them, an actual waterfall came down one of the walls and nearby was a large, raised platform with a couple of inches of water in it but looked to be a bed of some kind. Why anyone would want to sleep in water was beyond them, but the words Master's bed was above it. Along some of the lower tanks they could see small man made caves which seamed to have a bed like slab on them as well.
“What kind of cell is this?” inquired Alexander
“I don’t know.” added Richard