The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 33 (Patreon)
Content
Greetings patrons,
It's the middle of June and most of the roadmap is being completed. As usual, here is chapter 33 which details some of the voyage to Hæňgaram, stopping at a city along the way. While upon this very brief stop, Eric will not only see hand of Zevmar, but also meet briefly meet a woman that he might not have been expecting to meet!
WttW
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Never had I felt more disoriented than I had in the past three days of my voyage at sea. In those three days, I tried any and all methods of making contact with An’raie, yet she wouldn’t answer me. Though she remained attached to my soul with her own, she neither answered me with greeting nor curse. It was a rather unusual feeling, being ignored and cast aside like this.
I spent at least two of those three nights thinking of any reasons that might warrant the Lonely Wail’s current disdain for me, outside of me sharing a cock like the alchemist. Unfortunately, I couldn’t come up with any appropriate answers. I certainly wasn’t insane enough to try and challenge her authority just yet. Though I’d grown a stronger body, I knew she could still break free of our soulbound if she desired.
That was another thing. Despite her anger, she didn’t seem to want to see me readily killed. Whatever the reason for her disposition, I would have to leave her alone. Just the thought that she’d forced me out of my own mind was a chilling revelation that I still wasn’t beyond her. In fact, I dare say she got more powerful as well from how much she read of Liara’s archives.
Still, the three days left me with plenty to do when my thoughts weren’t occupied with trying to soothe the anguish of the necromancer. Most of those days were spent beneath the light of a candle with a damn sewing machine, putting runes into more clothes. Luckily, Nei and Lei stayed up to keep me company, though a few of their distractions were unwelcome.
I also spent more time fiddling with my rapier, trying to best understand and complete the insufferable weapon put before me. Over the three days, I’d tried at least fifty different magic seals that could restrict or dampen the frost mana embedded in the blade. I hoped that the seals would keep the frost magic’s great power contained long enough for the fire spirits to grow and mature within the blade’s red beads.
However, I’d underestimated the Alchemist’s unfathomable ingenuity. No matter which magic seal I tried, at least with my current mana reserves, the powers of the frost were too strong. It barely took even ten seconds for the seals to be overcome by the frost magic and crushed into mystical powder. At that time, I thought I might have made a mistake in granting Kavtha his urn. If I could make use of it to produce a high-quality flame, then maybe that would produce better results.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t going a route that would easily lead me back to C’ula. Additionally, I was sure every citizen of C’ula would like nothing more than to cut off my head and plant it on a spike. Plus, I’d rather not taint the witch’s good relations with Kavtha. It wouldn’t go well for me.
My experimentation with the rapier got to a point where I became fed up with it and just decided to come back to it later lest I do something I regret. I just pushed away from my chair and slowly exhaled. While I was still optimistic, I feared that I might truly need something great in order to mature the fire spirits inside the ice rapier.
On the fourth day, I decided to finally step out of my room and see how the rest of the ship fared. When I opened my door, the brightness of the sun making my eyes squint, I peered out over the long deck of my ship. As expected, everything continued to run smoothly as some of the crew spoke to each other. I saw a few fishing off the side, not sure what they were hoping to catch on a moving vessel.
Others were hanging on the ratlines, staring out into the vastness of the sea while Ellen continued to direct those on schedule. That said, it seemed like there wasn’t much to do as most of the crew was huddled around a circle playing cards.
My mother came up behind me, a wide smile on her face. “FInally decided to join us outside to the salty air and sweat-soaked shirts?” she asked while I faced her.
When I looked at my mother, it seemed impossible that such a woman would think to end her life by trying to send me away. I cannot fathom just how much I enjoyed the sight of her smile, full of life and expectancy.
I kissed her and she responded back softly. A sigh escaped her lips when I rubbed her beautiful, auburn hair. “Aye. Ain’t much for being a pirate if I keep myself locked in my room like a Draegnar hermit. Besides, it’s always a good day to see the smile on your face. Warms a salty scourge’s wicked heart,” I said before she punched my arm.
“You spoil me with gold and honeyed words, Eric. Ain’t much for it when I’m already sleeping with you. Though, it’s nice to hear anyway,” she said before I cupped her chin.
“Honeyed words they might be, mother, but true they are as well. I shall not grieve you a third time. I will grant you all that you desire from this world and make you great,” I said.
Despite herself, I saw the faint blush on my mother’s face. “Yeah. You did promise me that, didn’t you? If you really want me to desire something, then just don’t get yourself killed in the process. It isn’t right that you die before I do,” she said before I took her hand that was over mine.
“Don’t talk of death right now, mother. It’s kiss shall not touch you yet. Now, go gather the crew. I have something they’ll be keen to hear,” I said while she leaned off me. I noticed another odd smile on her face as she touched my cheek. She then walked away as I watched her go.
She walked over to the other side of the ship where Ellen was. My Quartermaster glanced at me and grumbled. She clapped her hands loudly. “All hands hoy! Don’t make me fucking repeat myself!” She shouted as men and women quickly stopped what they were doing.
A few ran down to the lower decks of the ship to gather those below. Clearly, everyone feared Ellen enough to not test her patience. One by one, they continued to come onto the deck while she made her way over to me. She didn’t seem particularly pleased, but she hardly ever wore a smile on her face easily. In fact, her frown carried a subtle sexiness to it that I enjoyed. Sometimes, I wondered if she knew it too.
“Alright, what the hell is this about? You’ve been rather quiet for the last three days. Figured you’d ruin the fourth,” she said while I walked past her.
“Aye, Eric Drakclaw, Ruiner of the Days of Quartermasters. It be not such a bad title. Though you can rest on an easy conscience for this will be as much about you and my mother, as it will be for everyone else,” I said as Ellen looked at me suspiciously.
Soon everyone was on the deck of the ship. I looked at them all, men and women, bastards and bitches. “Alright, you lot. I didn’t call you up here for any silly reason. Rather, it be an important matter which best be addressed at this moment before the gods decide to say otherwise. The matter on Delverhold had led me to a thought. If I shall be straight with you, I should have done it once we met the vessels of Callamum and Hæňgaram. However, such an opportunity has long been lost. Most of you know what I can do and what I be capable of,” I said as my boots knocked on the wood, everyone’s eyes following me.
“Don’t think I ain’t grateful that you trust me so much, especially since the hair on my chest ain't half as much as those aboard this ship. However, when the next aggressive ship advances upon us, I will not wave hand nor finger unless it be necessary. At that time, your orders will come from both my First Mate and my Quartermaster,” I said much to the shock of almost everyone.
However, none seemed more surprised than my mother and Ellen. The two looked at each other as others began murmuring. Thanks to my enhanced hearing by way of my alchemy, it wasn’t hard to hear what most of them were saying. Some called me incompetent and few thought me cowardly. However, I quickly drew a pistol and fired it into the air. Its deafening noise drew all eyes back to me as I stared at my sizable crew.
“Have you bastards forgotten that this be a pirate ship?! My pirate ship? Most of you were on Delverhold. Most of you were there when I was separated from you. Had you sailed to the second island, you all would have died and left my former ship as nothing more than a ghostly tale for the tavern inns. Where I shall tread is the lands that mortals speak of in hushed tones. Cursed lands, great realms, and dangerous seas are where this ship shall go. Do you think I can freely protect you all the time? Powerful though I might be, I ain’t all-seeing nor all-knowing. Your lives will depend on you sometimes. I want to see you fare without my help. The vessel of a pirate be more than simple pillaging and plundering. Remember that,” I said as everyone remained quiet.
I sighed and pocketed my pistol. “Ease yourselves. I didn’t say I was gonna fucking jump ship, did I? I shall observe all of you and protect the ship as needed. The rest will be on all of you. There be no second chances!” I stressed, yet aware of the irony in my statement.
I saw Maeloson and Aesteal look at each other while Diane had a thrilled grin on her face. Even the members of Raven’s Shadow seemed greatly thrilled at the prospect of combat. That said, it wasn’t like I was one to randomly attack a wayward vessel without reason. What reason should there be to subdue a vessel that can’t offer a challenge?
“Although…” I said, getting everyone's attention on me. I walked with my hands behind my back, feeling rather mischievous.
“I suppose I could test your capabilities against me as well. It might do well to make you experience what it means to try and battle against an incredible power such as the might of the seas. ‘Twill be a good live show, do you think not?” I asked as I watched the horror spread through most of the crew’s faces.
Even Raven’s Shadow lost their enthusiasm. The only ones who seemed to enjoy the idea were Diane, Nz’ia, and Naala. The latter seemed more than ready to polish her pistols at the thought. While it was true that I’d never seen her battle before, I remembered she was one of the first ones racing toward the cannons when I began my assault on C’ula. She’d also distinguished herself as the supervisor of all the cannons on the ship. No doubt her father must have gotten her used to such a life.
“So, which would you lot have? A ship or me?” I asked.
Unsurprisingly, the majority ruled for the ship. I assumed most of them were worried that I’d probably try and kill them. I wasn’t sure where this bloodthirsty idea of me came from, but I respected my crew’s decision. I then dismissed them all and Ellen ordered them back to their duties. Aside from a few people grumbling, they disappeared without hassle.
Naala quickly took the opportunity to approach me, and trailed her finger down my chest. “Shame. We’ll need to have a private firing lesson later, Captain!” she said before she kissed me on my cheek and walked away. My lips curved upwards as I watched her finger twirl the trigger of a gun around it.
Once the ship returned to its normal activities, I called for my mother, Ellen, Maeloson, and Aesteal. Once they were gathered, I spoke. “Come with me.”
I led the four of them to my quarters and closed the door. They each took a seat around one of the tables in my room. One of the fairmaids quickly became excited when it saw Ellen. That got a grumble out of my Quartermaster and a chuckle out of everyone else.
“She likes you,” Aesteal said, stating the obvious while Ellen snorted.
“Yeah, I’m just a fucking likable cunt, aren’t I? Why are we here?” she asked.
Her question quickly sparked my mother’s own, brushing a piece of her hair out of her face to speak. “Yeah, Eric. What are you doing? Not many on this ship are good at naval combat. Most of them are from Draegnar, huddled in poor houses or in alleyways. They be a group used to scrounging around for scraps of silver and bronze, not going out into the treacherous seas plundering other vessels,” she said.
I chuckled with a nod. “Which is why they’ll fucking learn to do it. We’re pirated, mother. You really think the other nations and powers that govern the world are just gonna let us sail and walk wherever we please? Who’s to say I don’t lose my powers again to another moonstone? Or perhaps I’m teleported miles away from all of you with no way to get to you. What will they do then? The three of us shall make them ready to combat the sea and her harsh ways so that they do not die aimlessly,” I said, pointing to Ellen and my mother.
The two looked at each other and then back to me. “Can’t call myself a captain if I can’t even teach my own crew how to be pirates, now can I? Don’t worry. As I said, I’ll cover up any screw ups they might make. At the very least, we won’t fall into Davy Jones’ Locker,” I reassured.
Ellen knocked on my table a couple of times before she faced me. “And how long until you think they’re ready for this shit that you’re planning to throw at us?” she asked.
“At this rate of travel, it’ll be at least a month or two before we reach the lands of Hæňgaram. I expect them to be better than they are right now,” I replied.
“What if no ship provokes us? This is a Callamum vessel. While not the strongest kingdom in the lands, not many ships would dare engage its heavy-plated size,” Maeloson responded.
Given the unsettling look on the elves’ faces, I quickly held up a hand. “Then they will have their mettle tested upon the lands of war in Hæňgaram,” I said.
The two of them breathed easy knowing that I wouldn’t assault an unprovoked ship. While that was within my means, I knew that they wouldn’t like it. I had a favorable impression with Maeloson and Aesteal. For my other ends, I’d rather not ruin it. While I knew Aesteal would follow my orders to assault it anyway, I’d rather not have her make such a decision. Despite her prowess and her desire to come aboard my ship, Aesteal just didn’t have the heart for that kind of piracy. I wasn’t too sure about Maeloson, but given their peace-loving nature, I could only assume the same applied to him as well.
My mother leaned back. “Speaking of that, how are we even going to get into the empire? Every corner of its outer walls is patrolled by guards with enchanted stones that can see into the intent of every foreigner that enters their lands. It’ll be hard to mask that for ourselves,” she said while I grinned.
“No need to worry, mother. I have that covered. Besides, I spoke with Alteria regarding the matter plenty of times on our way back to Draegnar. We’ll be fine,” I reassured her.
She slowly agreed before I walked over to my table at the far end of my chambers near the window. I picked up the three fairmaids and brought them over to the table. Aesteal’s quickly recognized her and wasted no time greeting her.
The silver-haired half-fairy half-mermaid was picked up by my beautiful elf and rested on her shoulder. The two smiled at each other while another of the black-haired ones turned to Ellen. If eyes could sparkle like the fucking stars in the sky, then that’s what the fairmaid’s were doing. I wondered why she seemed so taken with Ellen despite how much the latter clearly didn’t desire the company.
“...goddammit,” Ellen said before she picked up the fairmaid and glared at her.
“Just keep your mouth shut and let me go about my business!” she sternly warned before the fairmaid jumped on her shoulder as well. The last one on the table seemed content to stare at my mother as she stared back.
“Maeloson, Aesteal, I want you both to try educating the fairmaids as best you can. Would be best that they not remain naive, especially since they’re supposed to be adults. Besides, it might go well with us should we meet either fairies or mermaids,” I said while watching Nei and Lei on the table behind me. The two rubbed each other’s cheeks, the former smirking at me lustfully. I prayed that it was the Essence of Vilinlith which had corrupted them so pervertedly. If it was me, then maybe they were right that I was born from my mother and an incubus.
“Why not the other two?” he asked as I grinned.
“I’ll instruct them myself when I have the time. Too much shit has gone wrong in my alchemy that it’ll be a good way to set my mind at ease. Besides, while they have considerable stores of mana, it’d be good to teach them to properly wield it as their knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the world increase,” I explained.
Sothshore snorted. “Better them than me. I’ve got enough shit to deal with,” she answered back.
Meanwhile, Aesteal stood to her feet. “Understood, Sir. We’ll do our best,” she said, her tone rather chipper. It was as I had assumed. She’d gotten a tad lonely without the Hilvirian men and women to teach. My mouth thinned for a moment, wondering when was the last time I’d been alone with her.
With our brief meeting taken care of, I dismissed everyone with the exception of Aesteal. The other’s filed out of the room and she remained seated with her fairmaid. As always, there was a smile on her face whenever she stayed in my presence. I loved that smile.
I grabbed her hand and took her to my bed. However, I enjoyed her surprise when I made no motion for sexual intimacy. Instead, I leaned against the wall. I took off my boots and my coat. Aesteal laid with me as I wrapped her in my arms. I absently noticed Nei and Lei drawing near to us.
“Aesteal, tell me some stories of your life,” I said as we leaned together, her aura mixing with mine as had been done so many times before.
“Now, sir?” she asked, a little amused and confused.
“Aye.”
For the rest of the day, I calmed myself as Aesteal offered me stories of her life in Fgg’rial. Some of her stories were funny, but most were of the deadly missions undertaken for the kingdom. One had her hunting down a powerful demon beast whose aura brought calamity to her people. Another had her speak of her teachers and her lessons under the watchful eye of her Order. She never ran out of stories, and I never grew bored of them. I just kept her in my arms until the sun went down and we went to sleep.
The next couple of days went back very slowly. I continued training my mother and Ellen as best I could while also instructing Nei and Lei in some form of education. Doing so kept my mind off An’raie, and even more my damned rapier. That said, I pitied Maeloson and Aesteal, because trying to teach the two fairmaids I had was a test of patience in itself. I realized that I hadn’t thought this plan out fully. I had no proper reading material to educate the fairmaids easily. All I had were a bunch of books related to complex alchemic shit that neither would properly understand.
To that end, I relied on Liara’s memories to help me craft some types of lessons for them, first starting with Draegnarian letters and words. Nei, as the leader, seemed to take to them faster than Lei but many nights had the two just having fun at my expense. I was sure Nei knew she was doing it as well.
Aside from the fairmaids, I spent some time with most of everyone. Diane and I sparred for a little while. Naala sat on my bed, helping me enchant bullets for Ellen. My mother stayed awake with me as I focused on my rune sewing. Ellen discussed a few plans regarding the Dead Tales and our sea route between us. Nei and Lei slept with me every chance they got, sometimes sneaking into my pants and licking my cock in the morning.
Nz’ia preferred to be left alone, annoyed at how eager Diane was to challenge him. I found this unusual, but he merely told me that the body grows weak when fighting a familiar opponent so many times. I wasn’t sure how fucking true that was, but I didn’t bring it up again nor did I mention it to Burnwood. I was sure she’d lose her shit otherwise.
Maeloson and I discussed a few separate matters from sun up to sun down. The days of the voyage were long and filled with not much for the next two weeks.
“LAND HOOOOOO!” Someone shouted at the top of their lungs.
I looked up from my map with Ellen as we indeed saw the makings of land in the form of large grassy hills with a sandy shoreline. “We’ve arrived in the Lands of Remvir and the Ramilos Sea. Should we dock? It’d give the crew a chance to stretch their legs, especially after your declaration,” Ellen said as I looked at the map.
“Aye, we shall dock here. Rather, we must dock here. There was a faster route to get to Hæňgaram, but the lands of Remvir hold great and powerful blacksmiths if you know where to look for them. They’re also one of the few lands to hold weapon enchanters. Aye, they’re not as proficient in the method as their dwarven practitioners, but their work ain’t shoddy. Also, they’re the best we’re gonna get in keeping with Alteria’s little deal. Besides, I need to give the crap I rune sewed to the men and women I sent with her,” I answered back, staring at the cloudy sky and salty air. It carried with it the smell of rain.
Ellen looked back at me. “How long shall we dock here? Though we’re not in need of food, it would be best to make sure we have a surplus, especially if these fuckers keep gambling their meal tickets away,” she replied.
I resisted the urge to groan. Fucking son of bitches and their gambling habits. “I shall inform you of that later for I’m not sure myself. Also, stock up what you can. Be sure to pistol whip any cunt still gambling their slips. I don’t care if they lose every bit of money they own in their pockets, but there be no greater cause of mutiny than an empty stomach,” I said before I saw a wide grin on Ellen’s face.
“You fucking spoil me. I knew there was a reason I tolerated you,” she said, poking my chest with her finger. She then walked away, shouting orders to everyone to prepare to toss the anchor and make for land.
The helmsman began to guide us toward the land that the barrelman found. I wondered if we might have to venture out into the land tomorrow. The winds grew fiercer and the seas became troubled. I quickly weaved a few treacherous waves out of our path as we continued into the shore.
Once we made land, the crew hung up the sails while I kept the rain off the deck of the ship. Everyone scrambled to put everything away and soon the deck was cleared save for myself. When I entered my quarters, I allowed the rain to fall. Nei and Lei stared at the window in wonder as the might of Zeus rolled through the skies along with vicious drums of thunder.
I decided to unseal some of the reading material I’d gathered from Delverhold. Into the night, I spent most of the time reading from the ancient scrolls, books, and sheets of paper which I’d collected, notably those pertaining to the Rune Keys on the first island. Nei and Lei tried to distract me a few times, but my focus was with me that night. I abstained from their beguiling ways until the needs of slumber became great.
I slipped into bed and snuffed out the candles. Before sleep could take me however, I felt a small shuffling beneath my sheets that quickly became large. My confusion was immediately answered when I saw Nei and Lei peek their heads out of the covers, both of them enlarging themselves to my height. “You shall not tempt me. Neither of you. Though your forms are quite appealing,” I said as their smiles widened.
They rested with me and the sleep came easy under the sound of rain and thunder.
Morning came upon us soon enough. Nei and Lei returned to their normal sizes and I dropped them back in the barrel. I offered them breakfast in the form of fish from Delverhold. I’d tested a bit of their eating habits and they only seemed to show an interest in food from the sea. Give the lasses chicken, cow, pig, or any other land animal, and they’d snub their noses at it like it was the plague itself. The only thing from the land they’d consider eating was fruits, vegetables, wheat, and grains.
Well, there was another thing they were more than willing to eat, but it wasn’t good for a man to give it away so readily day after day. It would sooner leave him withered and weak than strong and wise.
While Nei and Lei ate, I grabbed my clothes and walked outside. Due to the storm last night, the air was rather humid and the deck was drenched with water. Feeling compassionate, I decided to ease my crew’s burdens since they’d no doubt want to get off the ship for a little while. I removed most of the water from the soaked wood and carried it off into the sea. That left the deck looking dry beneath the light of the sun.
One by one, members of my crew appeared on deck. Ellen quickly announced the groups of those who would be going out. Since we’d be staying here for about a week or two, there wasn’t a need for everyone to be off the ship at once. Those who wanted to go out were given their allowance and those who wanted to stay were put into the work schedule.
Unsurprisingly, Nz’ia was the first to go. He didn’t even wait for Ellen to release him. He just stood on the railing and his warrior legs propelled him onto the lands of Remvir. Ellen then released the others from the ship.
What I was surprised by was that my mother wished to go out as well. When I asked what for, she simply smiled at me and caressed my cheek. “Don’t ask so many questions. Consider it a mystery worth your time,” she said, the lustful aura within her flaring up before she left me.
Seas, I loved her like no other. What a fucking bastard I might be that my salty heart would be soothed, if momentarily, by my mother. I wish I could have seen such treasured mirth upon her in my other life.
Once she was gone, Ellen appeared next to me. “Alright, where are you sending me?” she asked, causing me to pull out a local map of the Remvir.
“Here. You and Raven’s Shadow shall head to the City of Ninshil. You’ve yet to properly test the limits of your new body so give it a run along with the others. Trust me, you’ll be fucking surprised. When you get there, visit all the blacksmiths and blacksmith guilds that you can find. Find a guy who’ll be willing to work on the pieces in this paper. Tell him, we’ll triple his pay if he can get it done in two weeks,” I said, handing her the paper, the materials, and the money for this job.
Ellen took them and nodded. “Isn’t triple a bit much?” she asked.
My smile widened. “Of course it is. Just wait and see,” I replied back while she looked at me curiously. She then shrugged and turned around.
“Brant, we’re leaving soon! Don’t make me gather the rest of your damn friends to leave,” she called out to him. The leader of Raven’s Shadow firmly nodded.
“We shall meet you at the front of the ship!” he returned to her before he disappeared below the deck.
When Ellen turned back to me, I kissed her much to her shock. “Why the hell do you always do that?” she asked.
“It keeps you on your toes. Plus, I enjoy you. Now, once you return from your trip you’ll be free of your workload until we sail again. Enjoy yourself as you see fit,” I said.
Her lips curved up and she smiled as well. “I’ll be sure to follow your orders, Captain,” she said, mockingly saluting me. When she turned her back to me, I smacked her ass and watched it bounce in her shorts. She glared back at me before she left as well.
Soon, the size of the ship became notably smaller. Even Goron and Maeloson made themselves vacant. Only a handful of men were left on the deck of the ship, most of them playing cards or casting lots. Others started singing merry tunes before I returned to my room.
A few hours passed by and my activities ranged from teaching Nei and Lei to reading more books. I made a rather pathetic attempt to speak to An’raie, but she still remained cold to me. So, I left her alone and went about my activities. I was researching more of the books on fire magic from the third island. I was curious about what other methods I could use that didn’t involve throwing my rapier into a fucking volcano to keep the fire spirits alive. Unfortunately, a lot of these notes were filled with failings, and it took me a great deal of time to even know what some of these words meant, relying on Liara’s memories to fill in the gaps for me.
I wasn’t sure how much time passed, but there came a knock on my door. My concentration was broken and my eyes were tired. I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked up.
“Enter.”
The door opened and I saw Naala come through the door. There was a mischievous grin on her, even though she tried to hide it. “Captain, Diane asked for you. The Xhaluter ain’t here to spar with her until the floorboards break. She figured that you’d be up to the challenge,” she said as I leaned back in my chair.
“And that’s all she wanted?” I asked suspiciously, my body absorbing tiny embers of her lust into my body.
Naala smiled. “As far as she told me. She even thinks Aesteal could use a lesson without the bow. Of course, if you’re not up to the challenge, then I’ll go back and disappoint her,” my brown-skinned powder monkey said, slowly turning back towards the door.
I watched her for a little while before I noticed Nei and Lei licking their lips from the barrel next to my bed. I thought for a few minutes before I finally stood up. “Fine. Take me to her. We’ll all go for this practice,” I said as I pulled Nei and Lei out of the barrel.
Naala didn’t say a word, guiding me out of my room and all the way across the deck of the ship. We traveled below the deck, spotting a few of the other crew members enjoying themselves.
We went further and further down into the bowels of the ship, oddly enough far away from any… distractions. I noticed the lustful aura in the air growing stronger. “And just what type of sparring challenge am I undertaking?” I asked while Nei turned back to me.
“A very intense one!” she exclaimed before she came up to a door for one of the lowest rooms.
Naala grabbed the door and pulled it open. She stepped inside and I stepped in behind her. Indeed, I was not surprised at the type of sparring that I’d be enduring. In fact, it seemed like Diane and Aesteal decided to get started without me.
The two lasses were already naked. Diane laid right on top of Aesteal, her legs pushing the elf’s legs apart. Their beautiful cunts were fully exposed to Naala, the fairmaids, and I. Their succulent tits pushed against each other while Diane rubbed the top of her mound against Aesteal’s.
“Nnnngh! D-Diane!” Aesteal moaned while Burnwood brushed her silver hair away.
“It ain’t right to train one part and neglect the other, Aesteal. You oughta know that more than anyone e-e-else!” Diane responded before they continued to grind their bodies together.
Unfortunately, Naala cleared her throat. “You said you were gonna wait!” she said, causing Aesteal to open her eyes and notice me.
“Sir!” she exclaimed in embarrassment while Diane licked her lips.
“You were taking too long so we warmed up without ya. But knowing you, it shouldn’t take you long to catch up should it?” she asked as I sat Nei and Lei down. The two immediately ran, or flopped, over to Aesteal’s fairmaid who’d been enjoying the show on one of the bunkbeds.
I stood in the room amused at the sight before me. The wild lust in the air already did wonders for me, energizing my tired state and seeping into my cock. It was already becoming aroused as Naala leaned against me. She began to stroke my cock against my pants. “It’s rare that we ever get an almost empty ship. You’ve also been locked up in your fucking room for like almost two weeks. Plus, you’ve been looking rather frustrated as of late. What kind of crew would we be if we didn’t help you relax?” Naala asked as her eyes stared back at me lustfully.
Diane then turned around and pointed to the bed. “So why don’t you sit down right there and get that fucking cock out? The three of us made a bit of a bet. Whoever can make you cum first get fucked first. We each got three minutes until one of us gets it. The winner gets fucked first!” she said proudly as Aesteal continued to look at me, seemingly unaware of this contest. Her eyes were trained on my crotch as Naala continued to rub me to hardness.
“Sounds like a damn good time doesn’t it, Captain? Three sexy pirate sluts eagerly pining for your cock, just waiting for your cannon to fire a portion of riches into our waiting mouths. Can’t think of a better relaxing time than that, can you?” she asked before I turned to her.
I quickly, yet reluctantly, pulled her stimulating hands away from my cock. The friction against the material of my pants was fucking grand. The essence of Vilinlith increased the sensitive nerves in my cock only making the rubbing more arousing.
I spoke not a word despite the confusion on the faces of the excited lasses at my side. I walked over to the bed where the fairmaids were resting, all three of them greatly interested in the scene playing out before them.
I stood in front of the three and grinned. “Aye, quite the impressive contest you’ve made for yourselves. Very well, but you three have taken me away from my work. That work was meant to help not only you, but the whole crew. I’ll join this little contest of yours. You each get three minutes. If none of you make me cum, then I’ll get to have a little fun of my own,” I said as I sat down.
Aesteal and Naala looked nervous, but Diane seemed thrilled by the idea.
“And just what type of fun is that?” Diane asked, but I waved her off.
“You’ll be sure to find out. Now since you asked, then you can go first,” I said.
Diane rolled off Aesteal and quickly appeared before me. “Good. I got this hard thing first. I’ve had to fucking fight myself to exhaustion just to stop thinking about this damn thing,” she said as she knelt down and pulled my pants off when I kicked my boots away. My cock sprang proudly into the air and like a woman of thirst, she licked her lips.
“Mmmm, fuck I’ve missed this cock. A strong and sturdy one at that,” she said before she quickly got to work. In one fell swoop, Diane devoured my cock until her nose reached the hairs of my pelvis. Her tongue wrapped around the length of my towering cock, striking it up and down before staining it with saliva.
I threw my head back in sheer pleasure. The rapture swirling around me as I wondered if this would be harder than I’d anticipated. As always, the Essence of Vilinlith continued to surge throughout the room. Some of it wrapped around my cock like a glove. Diane’s mouth felt like a soft, wet cunt. She bobbed her head vigorously, her nails clawing at my thighs.
“Mmmmmngh! Hmmmmm! Mmmmhmmmmm! Mnhhaaaaa, fuck! Why is it that out of everyone I’ve met or fucked, you had be the one with the most addicting cock?” she asked when she popped me out of her mouth for a second.
I grabbed a fistful of her hair. As expected, she liked that. I pulled her to me and we kissed. The strong grip of her hands around my shaft were fucking exquisite. She stroked my cock up and down, the wet slaps between her jacking fist moving through the air. Our lips parted and I caressed her cheek. “Cause you know I’ll never fail to raise the mast for you,” I complimented, making Diane of all people blush.
“Don’t think that’s gonna make me take it easy on you!” she said before she grabbed her breasts and enveloped my cock. Her tongue swirled along the tip, even digging into my dick’s small hole every now and then.
“Ngh… yeah! You just lay back and think about firing a cannon’s load of cum all over my tits. I’ve seen you fucking staring at them more than once,” she said as she wrapped her arms together to have her bust trap my cock even further.
“As if I would… make an excuse not to!” I returned as I clenched my teeth. My cock was on fire and my breath was short. Sweat poured down the side of my face as Diane continued to rub my cock up and down, begging for my cum. Unfortunately for me, my slit seemed to answer her if only slightly. Precum started to leak out and made her motions smoother. She stopped for only a moment to swallow my cock, fondling my balls between her fingers.
“That be three minutes, Diane! You’re finished!”
Never had I been so thankful for such words that came Naala’s mouth. I heard Diane mumble something, vibrating my cock in her mouth before she popped me out. She sucked her teeth. “Yeah, yeah! Dammit,” she said as she moved off.
Between Naala and Aesteal, they flipped a coin. It landed on heads and Aesteal swallowed nervously. “E-Excuse me then, Sir!” Aesteal said as she stared at my saliva-soaked mizzen mast. Her eyes marveled at the veiny appendage. Her fingers gently touched it and she remained captivated by its girth.
She licked all the way from the base to the tip. A sigh escaped her mouth as she stared into my eyes. Unable to resist myself, I rubbed her cheek. Her skin warmed by hand like a bunch of hot coals. Her breath teased the flesh of my penis before she wrapped her hands around it. She gave it a few strong tugs before she engulfed it into her mouth as well. “Mmmmmmmgh! I’ve missed your cock, Sir!” she said between breaths, bobbing her head up and down.
I knew not what it was, but something about Aesteal’s technique could always take my breath away. Air flew between my clenched teeth as I struggled to keep my hands on the sheets of the bed. My legs felt numb and I so desperately wanted to just shove my cock into the furthest reaches of Aesteal’s throat. I was sure that would excite her in one way or the other. I couldn’t even stop my hips from lightly humping her mouth as her hands massaged my pelvis.
Unlike Diane’s strong, aggressive, and powerful motions, Aesteal were the exact opposite. Her mouth moved over my cock slowly, taking her time to enjoy herself, panting away as if she truly seemed to love what she was doing. “Does this feel good, Sir? Watching me shove your hard cock in my mouth? Using my tongue to lick this long, virile piece? I hope that you enjoy it, Sir. What you enjoy thrills my spirit,” she said warmly, her aura telling me that she spoke the truth.
She pushed her hair out of the way as she sucked and licked the side of my shaft, staring at me with half-lidded eyes. She also tried to further excite herself by fondling one of her breasts with her free hand. Had she the time, she would no doubt have made me cum in droves. Nevertheless, for my own part in this little game, I successfully held strong when Naala tapped Aesteal’s shoulder.
“My turn!” she said excitedly.
I swore I saw Aesteal grumble before she took my cock out of her mouth. Off to the side, I had a wonderful view of Diane fingering her cunt. “Never thought I’d fucking enjoy seeing a bitch suck a guy’s cock like that since the last time. At this point, you’d better fucking win, Powder Keg, or we’re all fucked in the worst sense,” she said, though she still seemed excited by the idea.
I leaned up and laughed. “And what kind of bastard do you three take me for? I believe I’ve been rather lenient these last few months. Unless you’d like me to change that,” I challenged. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure if I could properly go through with it as I might have tried to convey.
“Unfortunately, you won’t get the chance! You nearly blew your fucking load just having to deal with those two. Now, the best for last will have her attempt. Captain, I’ll make you cum so hard you’ll fill up an entire tankard!” Naala boasted before Diane snorted.
“Less bullshitting, more cocksucking!” Diane retorted before Naala flipped her off with her middle finger.
She then turned back to me and winked as she undressed herself, granting me a little prelude before her turn in the form of a striptease. If I wanted to be an asshole, I could have counted this to her time, but I decided not to. I wanted to properly enjoy this little contest that seemed to be doing wonders for relieving my stress.
Naala swirled her hips until she was completely naked. Of the things she had planned, Putting her snatch on my mouth wasn’t one of the things I expected. “Damn, all that cocksucking got me wetter than the fucking ship’s deck. Let me be the one to push you over the edge,” she said before she, just like Diane, swallowed my cock instantly.
In response, she squealed when I smacked her ass. A drizzle of her female juice ran down into my mouth. “Bold words, Lass. Best make them count,” I fired back as she wiggled her brown ass in my face.
Not one to refuse an invitation, I pulled her pussy to my lips and licked its outer folds. “Hnnnnnnngh!” Naala groaned, her lips vibrating around my cock before she continued sucking me off as fast as she could. My ears picked up on the sounds of her throat gagging on my member while my tongue climbed through the walls of her slimy cavern. Her honeypot was laced with sweet nectar and my tongue scooped it out like a constantly wiggling shovel.
Meanwhile, she took my cock out of her mouth and sucked my nuts. “ hummm Hgammit! H-Huum Ahrahy!” she exclaimed as she jacked off my cock vigorously.
“What’s wrong, Lass? Can’t get your gun to fire?” I asked, pulling on her lower lips with my mouth.
“F-Fuuuuuck! S-Shut… gnnnnnnnngh… up!” she fired back before she struck the crown of my cock with her lips, her tongue piercing the little hole just like Diane had done. However, she quickly tried to wiggle her cunt away from my mouth like this was some form of wrestling. I hesitated to remind her that she was the one who put herself in this position, not I.
Diane proved her skill at cocksucking in every stretch of the word. She pulled her pussy away from my face and knelt on the ground. She tried to keep my arms pinned to the bed as she swirled her head, flinging her hair this way and that. She was actually very close and I wasn’t ashamed to admit it. My voice must have sounded like a wild, angry animal because I wasn’t sure if she was sucking me off or if I was fucking my cock into her mouth. I grunted like a damned beast, feeling the Essence of Vilinlith surging through my cock and balls. It was just waiting to explode a surge of pent up semen straight into her eager mouth.
Had she had another minute, she would have made it. Unfortunately, she groaned when Aesteal spoke. “That’s three minutes. You’re done, Naala,” she said as my brown-skinned beauty cursed and poked my cock with her finger.
“If you weren’t you, I’d almost assume you were fucking gay. Dammit!” She said as she rolled off me and panted. She joined the other two while I struggled to catch my breath. I was sure if I looked in a mirror, then the lustful aura in the air would have seeped into my very eyes.
Nevertheless, I sensed the powerful surges of pent up lust radiating from the bodies of the three gorgeous women before me. When I leaned up, I smiled when I saw Naala accusing Diane of wanting to lose. Unfortunately for her, Burnwood neither confirmed nor denied the accusation. She just looked at me with a grin on her face while I stood up, my cock glistening in the light of the sun through the room’s window.
“Were it any other bastard, I’m sure the three of you would have left the poor fucker with a limp cock on the floor. Unfortunately, fate hasn’t been so kind to you with me here. Now, since I haven’t cum yet, I think it be my turn to relieve the stress of three lasses that have taken me from my work,” I said before I left the room.
I quickly returned with three blindfolds. Aesteal shivered and so did Naala. Diane stared curiously. I quickly tied the blindfolds around them and surprised them with some rope, binding their arms behind their backs. I stared at the purplish aura surrounding the both of them, just waiting to be used.
I lined the three of them on the bed and quickly drew a portion of their lust into my hand in the form of a ball. One thing I noticed with the Essence of Vilinlith, Mother of all Succubi, was that as long as it was sex-related, her power could be used for almost anything provided its potent aura stayed in such intimate places. Its power would quickly dispel were it used for anything else.
I blew the purple mist over the air and I was impressed when two mana clones of myself stood next to me. As they were a part of my consciousness, the lustful aura linking us together, we smirked. I turned back as licked my lips. “The fun be simple. Find out which of you I’m fucking,” I said as I lined my cock with Aesteal’s cunt.
“What the hell’s so hard about that? This isn’t as much fun as I- NNNNNNNNNNNNNNGH!” Naala was quickly cut off when my third self shoved his cock deep into her cunt. I then quickly followed with Aesteal’s. My second self buried himself to the hilt in Diane.
“Oooooooooooh fuck! Mmmmmmmmngh!” Diane cried.
“Gnnnnnnnnngh! What was that? I-I’m… oooooooooh… fnnnnnngh!” Aesteal groaned as all three of us moved our hips back and slammed into the three lasses. My cock pushed into Aesteal’s cunt, warmed by the tightness and choking strength of her walls. Her legs flopped in the air before she wrapped them around my waist.
“Haaaaa… oooooh fuck yes! Fuck me hard! Oooooooh shit! Hnnnnnnnnnnngh, god yessssss!” Naala hissed while Diane groaned. I used the Essence of Vilinlith to share my consciousness between all four of us. The sensation I felt from the copies I made was otherworldly. Pleasure seemed to be wrapping around me in a neverending blanket of lust and passion.
“Gnnnnnnnngh! I don’t know… haaaaa… what you did, but… FUCK… do I love it!” Diane cried as I felt her cunt constrict my length while Naala’s pussy caressed and hugged my girth.
Seas, I wished I had learned of this sooner. My experiments with my mother, Naala, Lei, and Nei had born fruit to this experiment and I fucking loved the end result. Even in my cloudy haze, I heard the fairmaids having their fun on a separate bed. Unfortunately, my mind was too frayed by lust to turn around and observe them.
One of the clones turned Diane around and smacked her ass while the other vigorously rubbed Naala’s clit. I, on the other hand, lifted up Aesteal’s long legs and licked their clear flesh. “Oooooooooh! Oh Sir! Oooooh spirits! Nghalama! Falumro! Handragor!” Aesteal wailed away before I leaned down and kissed her. She fervently kissed me back.
Diane panted with her face on the mattress, her eyes covered but the grin on her face revealing to me her great pleasure. I did the work and the aura worked through me, thrusting my cock inch after inch inside her as she pushed her ass back into my pelvis. “Come on, fuck me harder! M-M-Make me cum from your strong cock dammit! Fuck, I’m gonna cum!” Diane screamed into the bed before my consciousness was quickly pulled into Naala.
I had her pinned to the bed, her legs raised to the ceiling with a look of pure ecstasy on her face. “Ooooh fuck! S-S-So hard! Yes! Plunge your heavy cock inside me! Uhnnnm… hmmmmm… nnngggh! Yes! YES! OH FUCK YES!” She screamed before I felt her clench the cock of the mana clone I was in. I bit my lip and growled before I came, firing long strands of cum into her waiting womb.
“MMmmmmmgh, such hot cum filling me up! Give me everything!” She pleaded as she wrapped her legs around my waist. My cock pistoned through her body before she clung to me tightly, achieving her own orgasm.
Fueled by the lustful aura in the air, my erection never went down before my consciousness was pulled back to Aesteal just in time to hear Diane wail out as well. In the deepest recess of my mind, I felt her sticky fluids drench my cock before she continued wildly thrusting her hips against my pelvis.
In the meantime, I became aware of Aesteal. I grabbed a fistful of her silver hair, bucking my hips and making the bed shake. “Hnnnnghhh… haaaaa… Sir! Oooooooh Sir, yes! I love you! I love you so much! You and your pleasing tool! My body burns… ngh… with the hottest desires! I-I’m cumming!” she said as she coiled around me and came as well.
Her orgasm quickly let me into my own. “Aesteal!” I growled, pulling her hair to lean her head back. I devoured her lips with my own as her chest pushed out from the violent battle between our fucking. I held her close like she’d leave my fucking ship were I to let go, and drowned her cunt in my cum. So overtaken by the lust was I that I couldn’t even stop my movements even while I was cumming.
In fact, I was sure my cock was only pushing it further inside her in the vain hopes that she’d bear my offspring even faster. Unfortunately, with the Mark of Hoɖ imprinted on my spirit by Liara, there was no chance of that at the moment. However, my body and my ever increasing libido sure as hell didn’t think so.
I didn’t even give Aesteal a chance to catch her breath. Instead, I picked her up and pushed her against the wall. Her face was filled with sweat and the passion I’d expected of an elf that had gotten used to such encounters. I pushed my cock back inside her and she trembled. “W-Why does my body shiver with such peace when you’re inside me, Sir? Nnnnngh… I cannot explain it!” she said as I leaned down and suckled on one of her nipples, violently gripping the other between my fingers.
I then moved my consciousness back to Diane. I was back on the bed with her on top of me. I slammed her hips down, grinding my cock through the furthest tunnels of her soaked slit. Her head leaned back, her arms struggling to get free as her sweat stained her blindfold. “F-Fuck! Oh fuck! I can’t feel my fucking legs! Y-You son of a bitch, why is your cock still fucking hard?!” she asked before we both came again. My balls ached and the sensation of clouds filled my head as I fired another stream of male juice through her body. Her walls eagerly lapped them all up before my cock got hard again.
“MMMMMMMMMMMMNGH!”
I looked over and saw one of Naala’s legs on the shoulder of a mana clone as he drove into her, his body just waiting for my consciousness to take over.
If anyone was outside the door, they would have marveled at the sounds coming from the lowest room in the ship. I came, and came, and came, the Essence of Vilinlith allowing me to wring more than a cup’s load of cum into each of the three lasses around me. I never felt such power surging through me as I absorbed their lust and turned it back, connecting their senses together that they all might feed from each other’s pleasure. Sometimes, they’d all cum at the same time, wrapping my cock and my mind in a turbulent sea of female flesh. As if possessed by some otherworldly force, I couldn’t resist depositing my seed anywhere but inside their glorious holes until we were all satisfied.
In one last explosion of either divine or demonic strength, I fired a stream of cum somehow at the same time into their waiting pussies. They each wailed happily before we dropped where we were.
I closed my eyes, panting heavily as lights danced around behind my lids. I heard the panting next to me. “Goddamn, I can’t tell if you wound me up more after that,” Diane said, huffing greatly while Naala laughed.
“I don’t mind getting wound up like that again. Mmmm, it’s dripping down my legs. How the hell did you even do that?” Naala asked into the air since she was still tied and blindfolded.
I leaned up slowly, my mind still frayed by the great sex I’d just had. “Captain’s secret, Naala,” I said. Despite her blindfold, I could practically feel the roll of her eyes though there was still a smile on her face.
I laid there on the bed for a moment before I leaned over and freed my thoroughly satisfied lasses. Each of them growed as I saw a few marks of rope in their skin. Naala stretched and opened her eyes. “Mmmmmm, I somehow feel even looser than before we started. I’m starting to wonder who the hell got the massage in this room,” she said while Diane grinned.
“It was definitely the elf. Near blew out my eardrums. I don’t think any of us is gonna love the bastard’s cock more than her,” she teased while Aesteal blushed, but made no attempt to deny the accusation.
“It matters not,” I said, drawing their attention to me.
“I’d have taken care of you all as best I could. Whatever your purpose was for this gift, I appreciate it. You definitely cleared both my head and my cock. A man couldn’t ask for better,” I said, struggling to find my clothes amongst the masses there.
“Not gonna stay here and rest with us?” Naala asked.
The question gave me a bit of a pause. It had been awhile since I allowed myself a break. Plus, my legs were working against me at this very moment. Even if I wanted to go anywhere, I wasn’t sure that I could. Plus, I noticed Nei and her sisters on the other bed, very much satisfied with themselves. She looked at me seductively, licking her lips before she took her sisters in her arms and fell asleep.
I hummed. Liara said that Nei would be important to me, yet I knew not how. I leaned back on the bed and fell asleep with my three lovers, pondering the question through my dreams for a few hours. I enjoyed the warmth of their bodies as they enjoyed mine, all four of us naked together.
Three or four hours passed before I opened my eyes again. The girls were still sleeping against me and I desired not to wake them up. Instead, I retreated back into my mind. I constructed the same walls and shelves that made up the grand library of Liara’s knowledge in my head. However, this time I made sure to allow An’raie her space. I noticed that not even my intense activities had stirred her.
Well, there wasn’t much else I could do lest she make good on her threat. Instead, I buried myself in a couple of books, once again oddly confused by Ellen’s predicament. She was clearly capable of performing magic. She’d done it rather well in the training back on Delverhold. Yet, I noticed this odd trend that there seemed to be great difficulty whenever she cast a spell alone. I wondered if I was dealing with something different with her as opposed to others. Clearly, Ellen wasn’t incapable of performing magic, but the way in which she gathered mana was slower than most.
I wondered if this was why, despite being such a ruthless trader of magical artifacts and ancient tomes, she’d never bothered to wield the might of these things herself. Perhaps she’d tried at one point and once it failed she washed her hands of it. Someone wanted the coin for it and it was of no use to her. Still, she never bothered to get any of her associates in the arcane to look into her problem. Perhaps that was her own pride getting the better of her. Plus, it would probably ruin her reputation if many knew she had a difficult time wielding magic, not like most don’t anyway. The ways of the arcane weren’t so easily exploited by every man that stepped on this ball of rock and water. I imagined many would seek to exploit my Quartermaster if they were aware such a weakness existed.
Whether the girls sleeping against me knew it or not, the sex actually did help me calm down. My troubles not only with my rapier, but also with An’raie and my recent failures in alchemy, had been greatly reduced for the moment, providing this poor sod of a captain with fresh clarity. I was able to focus through a great number of books, each detailing Liara’s experiences. I hoped Liara had experienced something or someone with a problem similar to this. It might grant me insight in how best to help Ellen as I’d promised.
Unfortunately, aside from curses, demonic possessions, divine retributions, or just an unlucky body, I didn’t find too many particular instances. However, that was only out of the twenty books that I’d read amongst the hundreds of thousands still in bookshelves. It'd take me years to get through them all.
I felt the air around my physical body disturbed and slowly opened my eyes. I noticed my mother standing near the doorway, a curious expression on her face. I noticed her attire was greatly disheveled. She had a torn shirt, roughed up pants, and dirty face. She was also lined with bruises, but she didn’t seem to mind them. I’d have been angry, and curious, at whoever could do such a thing to someone like her, but it seemed I didn’t need to be concerned. My eyes, sensitive to the magical aura in people from the Mark of Hoɖ, saw the increase in density of her mana. Clearly, she’d been practicing in her own time off the ship.
“You look filthy,” I said, my voice rather dead from sleep still.
My mother smiled and her shoes lightly pounded on the floorboards before she made her way over to us. “And you’re a whole different type of it. Seems you really tired out the lasses on the bed. I also see they seem perfectly content as well,” my mother said, nodding her head to the fairmaids.
“There be room for one more,” I said before she rolled her eyes and chuckled. She then leaned over and kissed me.
“Any other day, were I not covered in dust and dirt, I might take my son up on his offer. However, someone’s gotta make sure your crew don’t fucking kill themeselves while you’re… indisposed. Besides, I’m looking forward to a nice bath for…”
My mother paused when we heard someone charging down the ship’s halls. Then came a harsh knock on the door. “Captain, I definitely ain’t one to interrupt a bastard when he’s enjoying the fruits of his sensual labors, but we need ya on deck!”
The noise quickly awoke Diane, Naala, and Aesteal. The three groaned and slipped off me while I sucked my teeth. “We’d better be fucking under attack or I’m gonna punch the teeth out of every guy on this ship,” Diane growled as she scratched her head while Naala yawned.
“I’d be right behind you,” she said as I got out of bed. I grabbed my pants and pulled them up while Aesteal secured the fairmaids.
I opened the door and noticed Daven Wolfkiss standing before me. The same one I promised a drink with when he found me in the crow’s nest on Delverhold. “What is it?” I asked, a little irritated before he hiked his thumb back where he came.
“Tempers run hotter than a dwarf’s burning furnace on the main deck. Yer ‘bout to the captain of a crew with a fewer pearly whites than a noble’s necklace if ya don’t make haste,” he said with his back turned to the door since my lasses were still getting somewhat dressed.
“It seems they beat you both to it,” Aesteal replied while I groaned in frustration.
I grabbed my shirt and marched out the door with the others close behind me. The further up we went, the louder it got. Soon, it was impossible for me to not hear the sounds of battle and chorus of rowdy cheers.
I made it above deck and saw a group of men and women shaped in a circle, shouting and cheering. A few of them were throwing their coin into the air like they were witnessing some type of fighting ring. I looked them all over and noticed two men growling and snarling at each other as they fought like rabid dogs clawing at each other.
“And what the hell is this about?” I asked as Daven came up behind me.
“Fuckers were betting some of their treasure from Delverhold and meal tickets on a game cards. Don’t fucking as me how, but one bastard must have tried to practice a quick one too many. Got accused of cheating and now you see the spectacle before you,” Daven said and I sighed.
This was one of the fucking reasons I was tempted to forbid the gambling of treasure and coin amongst the crew. Shit like this did no one any favors, but pirates were also a stubborn lot. Without much in the way of entertainment at sea, it’d be unreasonable to take away such a pastime.
I passed through a section of the people, most of them stunned. Soon, they stepped out of my way and I was brought before the center of the group. One was currently giving it to the other, caving his face in with a hard blow of fists.
I quickly took out my pistol and pointed it to the back of his head. “Fire one more punch and it ain’t gonna be teeth that are gonna get blown away,” I threatened.
The assailant swallowed slowly and held up his hands. The other groaned in pain as he flipped himself over, spitting out a tooth and a mouthful of blood onto the ship’s deck.
“Aye but Captain, Jolem’s…”
“Utter another word and you’ll only have a mouthful of lead,” I said as I ordered someone to pick up the one called Jolem. Someone quickly rushed to his aid. A mage quickly appeared and was ready to cast some healing magic on him, but I stopped them.
I stepped amongst the people and pocketed my pistol. “This is why I told you dumbasses not to do this shit amongst yourselves. If you’re gonna form a grudge with a bastard, don’t do it on the fucking ship where you’re only separated by a few planks of wood!” I ordered.
“But Captain, Callos…”
I glared at Jolem. His speech was utterly warmed from the bruises to his face that Callos gave to him. He rubbed his cheek and the busted up side of his face. He quickly remained quiet when he saw the unamusement on my face. There went my good mood.
“I don’t care who did what. Return your individual treasures and meal tickets to each other. After that, the two of you can sort out who has the bigger cock in the brig for four days. After that you’ll be swabbing the deck for the next month. Now get off the deck before I keelhaul the both of you!” I said as they stumbled to their feet. Hell, without help they didn’t even look like they could make it back to their damn rooms to receive help.
I assigned a few men to take them away before I kicked one of the fallen teeth off the side of the ship. I then weaved up some water over the bloodstains and receded them back.
With their entertainment gone, the crowd dispersed and I returned to my room. I sat in my chair and leaned my head back. Sometimes, I wondered if I was running a pirate ship or a damn orphanage for adult-sized children.
As the day grew longer and my mood lighter, I decided to spend the rest of the day observing my mother training with Diane. The latter was all too willing to beat the fucking snot out of anything that moved and my mother’s stronger body seemed to give her just enough thrill. Naturally my mother, having lived the pirate life before now, wasn’t unused to getting the shit beat out of her. In fact, I dared say she enjoyed the battle though nowhere near the same heights as Diane. In fact, I doubted even Nz’ia enjoyed it as much as her.
That said, years of an impoverished body hampered any skill my mother picked up earlier in her life. A lot of her strikes were sloppy and her movements slow despite her new body. However, she had indeed been training on her own because I smiled when she landed a firm blow on Diane three or four times. Of course, I wasn’t skilled in hand-to-hand combat either. I was sure I’d be dropped on my ass a few times if the right opponent came before me, however ain’t no pirate captain worth his scars if he hasn’t been in a brawl or two. Diane could attest to the fact that I knew how to fight.
Though other means were efficient, there was nothing more reliable than a kick and a punch. Neither ran out of ammo, and once broken both could more often than not be fixed. Guns, swords, magic, and even my powers, run their due course of fade out by unknown circumstances. I knew not the forces we would face in this little war for Altera, but I knew my mother and the others would probably battle them. It’d take more than guns, swords, and fancy spells to finish them off, well if I wasn’t involved anyway.
Still, the fact that I couldn’t kill Zevmar back in Draegnar concerned me. If I couldn’t manipulate the waters that flowed inside him to bring about his end, then who else in this war or among his allies couldn’t I do it to? Using my powers outwardly wouldn’t be an issue, if other abilities that came with it were blocked off, then I wondered what this could mean.
After the training, more like beating, Diane gave my mother, I brought her back to the ship and healed her. She cursed me more than once, but I pointed out the wide smile on her busted lip.
Once she was tended to, laying down for a nice rest, I did more rune sewing, my eyes glaring at the sewing machine with pure hatred. If I could pay a fucking bastard to do this, then I’d be sorely tempted to give them the best of all my treasure. Unfortunately, there was no one I trusted aboard the ship with this task. The one person I could suddenly went missing and hadn’t returned. How I’d enjoy the explanation from her if I could just fucking track her down.
That said, my pain wasn’t all bad. Aesteal kept me company into the late night, regaling me with even more tales of her previous life with her Order. Sometimes, I wondered if she was doing it for me or for herself. Despite her and Maeloson’s insistence on not returning to Fgg’rial, I saw a deep longing in her eyes when she spoke of her adventures. She spoke of assassinating a noble’s son under the cover of night, an arrow right through his throat. She spoke of hiding, listening to important information beneficial to her kingdom and reporting it back. She disguised herself once as a city lord’s concubine, discovering a secret sect that delighted in sacrifices of D’orn’s many races.
Given her disposition, I found some of these stories rather hard to believe. However, I still remember the fierce look in her eyes when I saw her draw a bow for the first time. Her hands were dipped in blood just as mine were. There was great resolve within her, or at least enough resolve to follow a damn pirate.
We, mostly her, spoke late into the night until we both fell asleep.
The next few days continued on like this before Ellen returned to the ship along with the members of Raven’s Shadow. The former looked notably irritated. Most of the crew gave her a wide berth as she marched over to me. “I take it the citizens of Ninshil weren’t too kind to you, were they?” I asked as she stood eye to eye with me.
“If you fucking tell me that you knew this was gonna happen, I’ll throw you off this damn ship myself! No one wanted to make anything,” she seethed, which made my lips curve up in a smile.
She didn’t share in my amusement, but I quickly tried to placate her. “Well, I didn’t think they’d all reject you, but I assumed they might. Don’t worry, Ellen. You more than likely got quite a few fuckers interested. Of course they’re not gonna know what to do with the fucking materials, nor how to craft it onto the piece of paper. I’d hoped they’d still be willing to make the attempt. Who knows when they’d get the chance to work on the stuff again. Besides, if they don’t show up then we’ll have the privilege of knowing they’ll be regretting their decision for the rest of their lives,” I said while Ellen smirked.
“Well, I’ll admit it wasn’t all bad. The walk to Ninshil didn’t even tire me out, much less the group of “protectors” you assigned with me. Though, they also seemed less curious and more fearful. Don’t ask me why, but I’ve seen the look in some of their eyes. A few of the bastards I’ve worked with had the same. They’re all working for someone and that’s a powerful someone. Dunno who or what though,” she said and my smile on my face lessened.
Now that was a reason I hadn’t expected. However, I wondered if perhaps it was Zevmar’s doing. I found it not to be a coincidence that this happened as we drew closer to Hæňgaram. That said, I toyed with the idea that it was just my nerves messing with me, but I sure as hell didn’t think so.
“Aye, well enjoy the rest of your day then. It seems we’ll only be spending a week here.”
She mock saluted me and walked off while I leaned against the starboard railing. I heard my mother come up behind me. “Isn’t it too early in the day for you to wear a face like that. What’s the matter?” my mother asked.
“The bastard Zevmar’s really fucking up my plans. None of the blacksmiths or blacksmith guilds would take her commission. While I’d expected that, she added that they seemed too scared to. It stinks of Zevmar’s stench,” I said as she leaned there with me.
“You think he could be following us?” she asked.
“Nah. I’d have noticed. It’s not hard to imagine that he might have taken this route to get to Draegnar. So he got them all under his thumb before he came to our island. However, it’s also likely that he just got to this place while we were gone to Delverhold. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is the delay in my work. Clearly, he’s made numerous alliances to get the coin to make strong deals like this. Either that, or he’s stamped down any opposition. Either way, I want to head into Ninshil myself. In fact, I’ll head there and back before the sun goes down.”
“Before the sun goes down?” she asked as I leaned off the railing.
“Aye. If my feeling is right, then there’s no point in staying here. In fact, there might be no point in stopping anywhere for enchanting or blacksmithing on our way to Hæňgaram. More than likely, Lightfucker’s got these isles and provinces working for him. Besides, the further we get into the territory of Hæňgaram, the more nations and cities won’t bother doing business with us anyway,” I responded.
“Cause we’re pirates?”
“Aye. Hæňgaram loathes pirates, bandits, and all the other ilk of that branch. It’s why I imagine the situation with that empire is growing more severe if a knight is asking for our help.”
My mother leaned off the railing with me. “I’ll go with you then. I’m a little tired of getting punched in the face anyway by Diane no matter how many times I get healed. How the hell you managed to beat her is beyond me,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“I’d like to accompany you both as well.”
We turned our heads and noticed Maeloson coming up behind us. “Run out of things to fire at?” my mother asked while Maeloson shook his head.
“I wish to see if this odd city has any materials that I might need. It would add weight to your idea that they are only selling to Zevmar’s forces,” he said as he stared at me resolutely.
Not having the need to turn him down, I accepted his company as well. In the meantime, I had Diane work on training the rest of the crew. She seemed all too happy as she brought them ashore. Some of them pleaded with me for mercy, or asked what they’d done for me to be angry with them. I wasn’t angry. Diane was as fierce a battle they’d get outside of Nz’ia. As I said, my ship was not for the faint of heart to sail on.
Once I was sure they were all taken care of, my mother, Maeloson, and I ventured into the forests of Remvir. Not even ten minutes passed before we found the road that would lead us to Ninshil. “And just how long’s it going to take for us to get there?” my mother asked.
“Probably three days for regular bastards, one for horse-drawn carriages,” I said as they looked at me strangely.
“Three days?” Maeloson asked, causing my lips to curve up into a smile.
“I said for regular bastards, Maeloson. Instead of telling you both how long it’ll take, why don’t we venture out and seek the answer ourselves?” I asked as I walked on the dirt road. I then broke off into a sprint as my mother and Maeloson called out to me. They both soon ran after me.
The three of us ran and ran throughout half of the day, the latter two constantly shocked as we passed by stunned merchant traders, astounded farmers, and scattering animals. Before we even realized it, the walls of Ninshil came upon us. At some point, my mother long passed me, laughing like a madwoman high on some of Draegnar’s local drugs. For my pride, I’d say that I lost on purpose just so I could see her beautiful posterior shake from left to right.
She slowed to a stop as Maeloson and I came up behind her. For this run we were slightly winded, staring at the city from afar. “Did we actually just run that far?” my mother asked as I patted her shoulder.
“Aye. The wonders of what alchemy can do to the body. Now, let’s continue on,” I said once I fully caught my breath. Maeloson stared at his body in wonder.
“Not even the spirit enchanters back in Fgg’rial were capable of this,” he said more to himself before he caught up with the both of us.
Ninshil was a city surrounded by stone walls and laden with buildings of varying sizes. Even just making it to the entrance of the city we saw hundreds of men and women walking up and down the city’s dirt roads. Six guards decked out in suits of armor with embroidered Ninshil fabric on their metal arms and chest stood at the sides of the entrance, guarding it dutifully.
We walked past them and entered the city. Once we were in, I noticed the movements of some of the people. Their steps were stuttered and uneven, a sign of great nervousness. Maeloson seemed to notice it as well. More than a few were looking at our small group with great interest. Or perhaps I should say they were looking at Maeloson that way. My eyes narrowed before I waved my mother and the male elf to my side. “What the fuck’s wrong with these people? They act like they’ve never seen an elf before,” my mother said as we moved through the crowds.
It didn’t take us long to find the first blacksmith store. I pushed open the door and we stepped inside. Immediately we smelled the fire and smoke around the interior of the shop. A man, gruff in both appearance and attitude, stood behind the counter. His body was covered in soot.
He looked up at us and his eyes lingered on Maeloson for a second before he turned back to me. “You look new. Ain’t seen hair nor boot from you before. If you were with that blond lady from a day ago, then you can turn your asses around and leave my shop. I don’t enchant and craft with shit I don’t know nothing about,” he said as I took a look at the wares in the store. Nothing seemed particularly impressive. Well, it might seem so to any normal bastard who came from Draegnar, but I’d seen far better.
I eyed him for a moment and smirked. “Should I then give you a stick and a stone and have you craft a hammer then? Or do I gotta join some nobleman’s group to be privileged enough for you to make me weapons?” I asked as I leaned on the counter.
The man leaned forward. “Listen carefully, son. There are plenty of places to test how much of a man you are. My shop isn’t one of them. Turn around and get out of my shop.”
I frowned and noticed a back part of the shop. Most likely where the man did his smithing. I saw an orange flame burning back there. The furnace was still burning. Without a word, I turned around and signaled for my mother and Maeloson to follow me.
We walked out and entered another blacksmith shop. This one was run by a woman. However, it quickly became apparent that we weren’t welcome. One by one, just as Ellen described, the blacksmiths and those associated with the guild turned us down before we could even place an order. Merchants wouldn’t even sell to Maeloson for general supplies.
Soon, we stood in an alleyway. “What the fuck is going on? We’ve barely gotten a damn word in with any of them and they kick us out. How the hell do they get paid if they don’t accept anything?” my mother asked.
“I might be the cause. Eyes haven’t left us since we entered this city,” he said.
I shook my head. “While their interest in you is odd, that ain’t the only reason. There wasn’t an elf in Ellen’s group and she was turned down like we were. This reluctance can only mean one thing,” I said.
True to form, my mother agreed. “Zevmar’s got his teeth in this city. If he’s got just one then he’s also got others on Remvir. What do we do now?” she asked as I stared up at the blue sky.
“Then we’ll sail off. Clearly there’s nothing for us here and I don’t need Zevmar to make connections about where I’m headed off to. It's a shame, but clearly my work will have to be completed later. Let’s go,” I said as they followed me out of the alleyway.
With our time here wasted, we made it back to the entrance of the city. Again, a few eyes were on Maeloson, but we ignored them. However, before we could leave, we heard the sound of mighty trumpets blasting through the air. People immediately scrambled to move out of the streets, each of them standing to one side or the other.
Interested, I moved to the side and so did my mother and Maeloson. Pretty soon, a nobleman’s palanquin, held up by six bearers, walked through the streets. On the four sides of it were about four guards, each of them fitted in knight attire. A few of them rode on strong, white horses. Their hooves clacked on the ground. Behind them walked ten veiled women. None of them spoke a word, yet all of them walked perfectly in sync, not even a finger was out of place. I found the sight a tad unnerving.
As the bearers walked past the people, the latter began falling down on their knees. Each of them bowed their heads one after the other. Even foreign merchants who’d probably never been to Ninshil performed the same action. One by one, they all fell down until the three of us remained standing. I could feel my mother and Maeloson’s gaze upon me, but I was not one to bow my head lightly for anyone.
As expected, the palanquin stopped and one of the knights turned to us. “Bend your knees and lower your heads before the Son of the City Lord of Ninshil! Should you not, then you and your group shall be drawn and quartered!” he said as I stared at him curiously. However my gaze quickly, almost bizarrely, broke from him and towards a woman I saw near the back of the palanquin.
I noticed her looking at me as well. The two of us stared at each other and my eyes narrowed when I felt the presence of something unfamiliar within her. Her hair was orange, almost like it’d been kissed by the flames of the sun. Her robes were red like roses and crafted like those of a priestess. Her eyes were green like emeralds and her face was beautifully sculptured. Despite her rather bored expression, I saw a streak of fierce confidence behind her gaze. In fact, I’d almost call it arrogance for she stared at the masses like they were simply a bother. It would seem I’d have no need to send Maeloson and Aesteal back into the city for answers. I got all I needed when I saw the familiar insignia of a fallen phoenix pierced by a sword stitched into her robes. Zevmar had indeed allied with this land.
I managed to tear my gaze away from her and turned back to the knight. “This is your lord’s son, not mine. I’ve no reason to bow my head,” I said as people murmured around us.
Immediately, the knights stood in front of us with their swords and shields drawn. My mother reached for her whip and Maeloson reached for his swords. However, before we all could act, a hand pushed past the curtains and waved the knights back. “Do not sour my good mood with blood. I have no interest in dealing with a commoner. I want that woman found before she disappears for my dreams are plagued by her. And as for you, pirate, know that Ninshil is no stranger to your kind. Act out of turn and you’ll be dealt with just like the rest,” he said as the knights backed away from us.
Soon the palanquin continued on its way and exited the city. The orange-haired woman walked behind the entourage, glaring at me and I her as she passed us by. Almost in an instant, I found myself back in that hot, arid desert. The fiery temper of Helios burned against my back as I thought my flesh might become consumed in the raging inferno of fire, smoke, and ash. Through her gaze alone, I remembered passing out in my dreams, the exhaustion of fire and the sun bleeding me dry of water.
Nevertheless, I wondered what she thought of me when she finally broke her gaze from mine, heading out of the city with the rest of the entourage.
I watched them leave as more and more common people got off their dusty knees. We had more than enough attention on us now as I led us out of the city. “Well that was fucking fun,” my mother said as I gathered them around me and quickly cast a spell to take us by to my quarters.
My mother stretched and rolled her shoulders. Before she left, I asked for her to bring me the map I’d been using to sail us toward Hæňgaram. We were still a few weeks away from the nearest territory of the empire’s lands. Even then, we wouldn’t be able to break for land until we got to a neutral territory, one that was welcoming or at least unconcerned with pirates. Per being Alteria’s allies, it wouldn’t bode well for me to begin killing her comrades if they antagonized me. While I could bring down Hæňgaram if I wished, it wouldn’t be without a lot of effort. Besides, I had no reason to go that far.
My mother handed me the map and I opened it, laying it on my desk. Maeloson and my mother stared over my shoulder, the latter pointed to Remvir and the City of Ninshil. “I believe our best bet is to dock here, the Demalian Port off the City of Taptos. Though Hæňgaram forces patrol that city, they are simply an outpost. They are usually more lenient about who they let in so long as no one’s looking to start trouble. We’ll dock the ship a few miles from there and we’ll enter the city,” I said while Maeloson pointed to another part of the map.
“Should we be worried about your bounty? That’s liable to start some kind of trouble on its own. Nevermind that we’re enemies of C’ula, who has very few enemies and a lot of allies. Hæňgaram is one of the latter,” he said as I smiled.
“Illusion magic will be enough to deceive them until we make our way out of Taptos. Before we make land, I’ll contact Alteria. We’ll come under the guise of merchants and we will enter the first of the main cities of the empire, Daugnir,” I replied.
My mother leaned on my shoulder. “And what about their fancy shit walls? I remember you saying they’ve got magic that can detect the intent of the people who pass under it? I don’t think they’ll let us in knowing that,” she said before my lips curved upwards. I placed my hand in her cheek and pushed her eyes to mine.
“Worry not about that, Mother. They will be none the wiser about our motives. Now then, inform the crew that we’ll stay here for tonight and we will leave in the morning. I’ll head out into the forests and bring back Nz’ia,” I said.
My mother agreed and I was left alone in my quarters for only a moment. I wrapped up the map and put it back in one of the barrels. I left my room and proceeded to inform Ellen, who’d been shocked by my sudden appearance, about our plans. She agreed and started yelling at the crew to get back on the ship. It was a shame we couldn’t stay here longer like I’d planned, but my matters could wait. Besides, I could purchase better in Hæňgaram despite its pricey economy.
In the meantime, I went off on my own journey and fetched Nz’ia. As expected, wherever the bastard went, a mountain of animal bones followed. When I found him, he’d taken up residence in a cave with a fire for warmth. Around his neck was a bone necklace, each piece decorated by a different animal's tooth. In front of him was a bowl made out of sticks, leaves, and vines. Its inside was filled with blood. I thought he might drink it, but instead he poured it on the ground, speaking in Xhaluterian tongue. I knew not what he was saying and I didn’t bother trying to disrupt him if he was doing something sacred for himself. Besides, I knew he knew I was here. He’d probably smelled me coming long ago.
His activity finished in about five minutes and his eyes turned to notice me. In the deep dark, I saw shades of yellow surrounding his pupils, making him seem all the more animalistic, raw, and powerful. I walked over to him and placed my hand on his forehead. “We sail tomorrow morning. Finish your business quickly,” I said.
“This I shall remember,” he answered.
I peacefully left him and went back to my ship. The rest of the day moved by rather slowly. I gathered my group together and informed them of why we wouldn’t be staying here like I’d intended. Though disappointed, they continued with their own duties before someone shouted. “Drinks on the captain at the next tavern for this travesty!” A woman hollered and her voice was quickly followed by more.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. Perhaps I should have seen that coming from a group that loved to down ale and mead until their fucking stomachs busted. That said, I wondered how much they could eat with their bruised jaws and broken limbs. Of course, the healers had to start taking care of them all as they ached and groaned. I suppose they deserved that much.
Soon the sun came down and Nz’ia returned to the ship. A few stragglers appeared as well and I quickly announced an early night for everyone. Odd how a damn Callamum noble’s bed still wasn’t big enough to comfortably fit me, Aesteal, Ellen, my mother, Naala, and Diane. Perhaps I’d forgo the crystallized ash and have Alteria buy me a fucking bed that could fit all of us. Then again, I think they somehow enjoyed the tight nature of our embrace.
When dawn approached, we were all awake. The sails were released and the anchor was weighed. With my powers, I pushed the ship away from the Remvir shores.
It might be because I was tired, but I was sure I sensed a group of people headed our way. However, I quickly lost interest as the shoreline got smaller and smaller until there was nothing more to see.
“We ride! We sail! We fight! We hail!
Death be upon me, yet I stand so strong!
Through winds and strife, the sea goes by, I see the sky today.
Sing with me now! I ain’t got the scurvy on me today! For if I do, then my salty soul shall drift away into the bowels of the depths below!
Yaaaaaaaaahahaahaaaaaaar!
By gun and blade
I swing and ride.
Come upon me, my brothers and sisters! Let me tell ya of the sky I saw today!
HAR! HAR! HAAAAAAR!
By gun and blade, we seek the treasures of Olgruon!
We venture deep! We venture strong! The mighty caves and trails begone!
We ride! We sail! We fight! We hail!
I sing! I dance! WE BE PIRATES HEEEEYA!”
I shook my head as I heard the sounds of my crew’s merriment behind me. I wasn’t sure what shanty they were singing, yet it clearly made them all happy. Ellen seemed more annoyed, but she allowed them to have their fun since there wasn’t much of it aboard a ship.
Instead, we continued to plot our course through the lands of Remvir. The days passed by slowly. I continued to teach my mother and Ellen, taking them both into the realms inside the Root. As always, my mother seemed to grasp the lessons more than Ellen, yet the latter persisted. When she thought I wasn’t looking, I observed her as she blew herself up and flung herself across dust and dirt until blisters appeared on her hands. Other times, she’d curse at herself, wondering why she’d was putting up with me and the training. Yet, still she worked.
Ellen Sothshore worked, and worked, and worked. One day, I’d taken over her duties because Goron informed me she’d passed out behind the door we’d been using for training. I picked her up and placed her in bed. Her face had been wrought with dirt and mud, yet she never looked more beautiful to me. Without waking her, I cleaned her up the best I could and let her rest.
I received no measure of thanks for that, but I didn’t need it. Ellen might have thought I was unaware of her gazes, but I saw them and I adored them.
However, unknown to her, I was busy as well. I was busy reading through the library of books I’d crafted of Liara’s memory and knowledge. As I wasn’t the most patient son of a bitch, I’d only gotten through a few books. Yet, I longed to find an answer, a path that Ellen could cultivate her body through the pursuit of alchemy and become as great as I envisioned.
I slowly opened my eyes and rubbed them tiredly. Another night of fruitless reading came upon me. I heard the peaceful sounds of Naala sleeping next to me, a wide smile on her face. The fairmaids were sunk at the bottom of the enchanted barrel, sleeping together and dreaming wonderful sea dreams.
I slipped out of bed and walked over to my desk, staring out the window at the night sky. The moon loomed high over my head before I decided to take a break from all the reading I’d been doing while I slept.
I decided to go outside without a shirt since it was hot. It would only get warmer the closer we got to Hæňgaram. However, I never thought it’d get this hot so quickly. After taking a swig of water, I walked outside and thought I might have some time to myself on the deck. Instead, I saw Diane on deck with me. She stared off into the distance of the portside bow. I wondered why she’d bother with the coat since it was so hot outside, even with the pleasant breeze moving over the seas.
Confused, I walked over to her. My steps weren’t very quiet and she turned back to me for a moment. Despite seeing me, there was a look of longing in her eyes. I’d never gotten the chance to ever see such an expression before. “The battles in your dreams weren’t enough to sate you?” I asked as I came up next to her.
She smirked and snorted. “They rarely do, unlike the ones I partake in with either you or the Xhaluter. I was… thinking about Lady Liara.”
The smile on my face fell as I leaned on the railing with Diane. She continued to stare out into the horizon as did I. “Are you worried about the witch?” I asked.
Diane hummed. “The day I need to worry about Lady Liara is the day that all of D’orn is fucked beyond what she can manage. Nah, I just don’t seem to be much of a guard if the person I’m guarding is nowhere to be found. In the years that I’ve spent with Lady Liara, I’ve come face to face with some pretty weird and powerful shit, most of whom I couldn’t battle though my fists itched for the chance,” she said as she turned around and pushed her back against the wooden railing.
“Wherever she went, clearly Goron and I weren’t strong enough to follow her. It fucking makes me question if there was a use for me at all. I might be good with a gun, but I’m a fighter and a damn good one. However, it’s the only thing I’m good at. I never managed the store well, I had a short temper with the clients, and all I see are weaklings not enough to give me a thrill. Present annoying as shit company excluded,” she said which got a smile on my face again.
“Well, I’ve found some shit you’re good at aside from fighting,” I said while she snorted.
“Aside from playing with your damn cock like the trigger of a gun, that is,” she answered before she grew quiet along with me. When I looked at her, I saw the fleeting embers of a warrior in her eyes.
I weaved a piece of the sea without much purpose. Gently splashing it around this way and that. “It be the responsibility of a leader, Diane. Liara’s lived longer than either of us combined. Can’t count the number of friends and acquaintances the lass has seen turn to dust around her. Some voluntarily and others not so much. Same was for a bastard like me, not knowing the limits of his own pride and arrogance against the harshness of the sea. It be one to lose someone to the annals of time, it’s another to lose them because you couldn’t prevent it,” I said as she looked at me.
I stared out into the sea and remembered my mistakes, both recently and not so recently. Many of them were of my own fault, a young man’s pride too caught up within him to see the bloody river along the seabed. Those of my former crew who hadn’t betrayed me either wound up dead or left by my own incompetence. Perhaps Delverhold led Liara to questions that she couldn’t risk finding the answers to while protecting Goron and Diane.
“You speak from experience?” she asked.
I smirked. “Aye. Once or twice upon a time.”
I wondered what expression I had on my face. I didn’t have the courage to look down into the water’s reflective surface and look. “Seems about right for a piece of shit like you,” she said. I tried not to laugh, but I let out something between a laugh and a snort.
We remained quiet after that for a minute or two before I spoke. “If that’s how you feel then, I’ll just have to make sure you experience a lot of fighting. By the time Liara returns, she’ll wish she’d brought you both with her.”
Diane didn’t respond to my declaration. Instead, she pointed at the sky. “Then make me strong enough to punch the fucking jaw off Hercules’ bastard face. Then I’ll get my fucking revenge on Lady Liara for that loss back in the tavern.”
“Aye. You’ll fight so much that you’ll get sick of it.”
After that, Diane leaned off the railing. “Do you always make these stupid boasts of yours, or is it just with me?” she asked.
“Name any man who ain’t boastful to a woman he fancies. Liara’s probably heard more than her fair share of them,” I answered, making Diane laugh.
“Yeah, and your ass probably added to the list. I was actually convinced she kept a damn log of how many lines bastards and bitches have spewed out to her,” she responded. I wondered if I should tell Diane that Liara definitely had a journal of that. It would probably give her a good laugh.
We settled into another silence before she leaned over and kissed me. I looked at her with confused amusement, but her gaze refused to meet mine. “Thanks for the talk. I suppose even your voice is better than standing out here on my own,” she said as she stuffed her hands in her pockets and walked away, however she turned around near the middle of the boat.
“And what are you gonna do about that ship still following us?” she asked.
In response, I shrugged my shoulders. “Depends on what they want,” I said as she rolled her eyes and walked away, cracking her knuckles with a smirk.
I decided to stay out a little longer. Thoughts of Diane’s words and of my former crew filled my head. Though my anger was great, I made sure to not cause any more storms. Instead, my thoughts drifted to Liara. I wondered where she went and what she might be doing right now. My thoughts quickly made me sleepy and retired back to my chambers. The sounds of the sea pushed me back to the land of dreams as I thought about the alchemic paths I’d focus on for my mother, Ellen, Aesteal, Naala, and Diane.