Early Years -
Aja was born, Princess Aja DaMaris Bird. Two siblings, Serm and Ajay Bird. Serm being the power hungry sort, had his youngest sibling kidnapped and given to the Quistguard Clan. Josie and Tanner were given the responsibility of raising Aja as theirs. A task that they treasured beyond measure as they were never blessed with children of their own.
Aja's boisterous nature often landed her in hot water with other members of the clan as she grew up. Pranks played, jokes told or just her intense curiosity would eventually rub someone's nerves the wrong way. Tanner was always having to step in on her behalf, looking at her sternly in the presence of others than laughing when it was just them.
Josie and Tanner were all Aja knew of family, they were the only ones she trusted in the Quistguard clan. Others were regarded with carefully hidden distain. Tanner discovered early on that she was able to read people's thoughts, a gift that they made sure she never revealed to anyone as it would put her in peril of being taken from them by the power hungry elders of the clan who would've seen her as a possession rather than a person.
Josie died one winter, leaving the two of them to go on, holding each other up when it got hard to go on without her. Aja's gift allowed them time to plan and execute an escape from the clan. Plans to marry her off to a rival clan leader in order to gain more power. Aja planned to go alone, but Tanner, who knew he was dying, decided that was a trip they were both making.
Aboard the Breeze, a ship that Tanner had built in secret from the clan, they sailed off on the high seas. Tanner using the time he had left to teach her everything he could. About business, about people, about life. He hoped to arm her with everything she's ever need to get along without him. Still a teenager, Aja viewed the entire thing as one large adventure. New places, new people and freedom from the clan's watchful eyes. It didn't take her long at all to fall in love with the romance of the high seas and the pirate life. So similar to gypsy ways, she fit right in.
Tanner knowing he was nearing the end of his life, starting hunting for a nice place for his final days and for Aja to start the rest of her life. In a port town called Katan, they happened to meet two people that would play a large part of Aja's future. Rico Tharaden and Nikthanas Silverblade. First meetings with both men would be considered odd by anyone's standards, considering she and Rico were all but enemies right off, and Nikki had been injured. But Aja never thought much about what was normal.
Rico's homeland was the island of Avalon, off the western coast of RhyDin. The mainland coastal city of Arcadia was where Rico worked at a ship yard owned by Tristan Larson. Her first meeting with him was memorable as well. When she accompanied Rico and Tanner to the yards to meet the man, there was a rival crew crossing blades with Tristan and his crew. She joined the fray, helping to defend the yards from the rival crew chasing them back.
Tanner saw the sparks that flew between Tristan and Aja. It wasn't long before Tristan proposed marriage to Aja, who took a little prodding to say yes. She had the memory of what the marriage the clan meant and threatened to run off. But Tristan promised he'd never ask for more than her love and companionship. She agreed and a wedding was held a month later.
Tanner died later that same year, he had done everything he had meant to do. Arcadia had thrived under his supervision, the park in the center of town carries his name in memorial to this day. It was not the only loss Aja would suffer. A year and a half after marrying Tristan he was killed in a battle with a rival crew. Tristan left everything he owned to Aja.
It took a while for her to find what worked for her, but she made a go of the yards. Tristan's crew gave their loyalties to his widow, Rico became her first mate, and second in command at the yards. Parker who had been a loyal friend to Tanner accepted an offer to stay on as medic at the yards. Tristan and Aja's housekeeper Maria looked after her at home.
On the Western Side of RhyDin is the quiet little town of Arcadia. A main street lined with shops and a tavern. At the end of the street lies the Ship Yards. A little way down the coast is a manor house where there lives a Gypsy Pirate turned business woman, named Aja. Does she ever get to know her family' For that, you'll have to tune in for the second installment.
Aja was born, Princess Aja DaMaris Bird. Two siblings, Serm and Ajay Bird. Serm being the power hungry sort, had his youngest sibling kidnapped and given to the Quistguard Clan. Josie and Tanner were given the responsibility of raising Aja as theirs. A task that they treasured beyond measure as they were never blessed with children of their own.
Aja's boisterous nature often landed her in hot water with other members of the clan as she grew up. Pranks played, jokes told or just her intense curiosity would eventually rub someone's nerves the wrong way. Tanner was always having to step in on her behalf, looking at her sternly in the presence of others than laughing when it was just them.
Josie and Tanner were all Aja knew of family, they were the only ones she trusted in the Quistguard clan. Others were regarded with carefully hidden distain. Tanner discovered early on that she was able to read people's thoughts, a gift that they made sure she never revealed to anyone as it would put her in peril of being taken from them by the power hungry elders of the clan who would've seen her as a possession rather than a person.
Josie died one winter, leaving the two of them to go on, holding each other up when it got hard to go on without her. Aja's gift allowed them time to plan and execute an escape from the clan. Plans to marry her off to a rival clan leader in order to gain more power. Aja planned to go alone, but Tanner, who knew he was dying, decided that was a trip they were both making.
Aboard the Breeze, a ship that Tanner had built in secret from the clan, they sailed off on the high seas. Tanner using the time he had left to teach her everything he could. About business, about people, about life. He hoped to arm her with everything she's ever need to get along without him. Still a teenager, Aja viewed the entire thing as one large adventure. New places, new people and freedom from the clan's watchful eyes. It didn't take her long at all to fall in love with the romance of the high seas and the pirate life. So similar to gypsy ways, she fit right in.
Tanner knowing he was nearing the end of his life, starting hunting for a nice place for his final days and for Aja to start the rest of her life. In a port town called Katan, they happened to meet two people that would play a large part of Aja's future. Rico Tharaden and Nikthanas Silverblade. First meetings with both men would be considered odd by anyone's standards, considering she and Rico were all but enemies right off, and Nikki had been injured. But Aja never thought much about what was normal.
Rico's homeland was the island of Avalon, off the western coast of RhyDin. The mainland coastal city of Arcadia was where Rico worked at a ship yard owned by Tristan Larson. Her first meeting with him was memorable as well. When she accompanied Rico and Tanner to the yards to meet the man, there was a rival crew crossing blades with Tristan and his crew. She joined the fray, helping to defend the yards from the rival crew chasing them back.
Tanner saw the sparks that flew between Tristan and Aja. It wasn't long before Tristan proposed marriage to Aja, who took a little prodding to say yes. She had the memory of what the marriage the clan meant and threatened to run off. But Tristan promised he'd never ask for more than her love and companionship. She agreed and a wedding was held a month later.
Tanner died later that same year, he had done everything he had meant to do. Arcadia had thrived under his supervision, the park in the center of town carries his name in memorial to this day. It was not the only loss Aja would suffer. A year and a half after marrying Tristan he was killed in a battle with a rival crew. Tristan left everything he owned to Aja.
It took a while for her to find what worked for her, but she made a go of the yards. Tristan's crew gave their loyalties to his widow, Rico became her first mate, and second in command at the yards. Parker who had been a loyal friend to Tanner accepted an offer to stay on as medic at the yards. Tristan and Aja's housekeeper Maria looked after her at home.
On the Western Side of RhyDin is the quiet little town of Arcadia. A main street lined with shops and a tavern. At the end of the street lies the Ship Yards. A little way down the coast is a manor house where there lives a Gypsy Pirate turned business woman, named Aja. Does she ever get to know her family' For that, you'll have to tune in for the second installment.