The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 34 (Patreon)

Greetings everyone!

Here it is 40-41 pages of a new chapter for you all this month. Man, this one was a lot of fun! 

As Eric continues to edge closer and closer to Hæňgaram, he comes across a second encounter one that he'd not even had in his last life.

Enjoy!

WttW

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The next morning, I sat at my desk, staring down at my rapier again. I tapped my finger on the table, my thoughts gnawing away at me. I’d wasted a lot of precious materials trying to blend the ice and fire together. I was starting to wonder if it could be done at all. There’d never been a record of trying to merge together two naturally opposing forces like this. All I had to go on was the Alchemist’s old works, and fuck if there wasn’t a lot of it. I wondered how many years he’d worked on this damn thing before he finally decided on calling it quits with this endeavor. I’d read so many of his notes, and unfortunately I wasn’t a fucking alchemist. All the knowledge I had was given to me by Liara. Whatever I thought of, the Alchemist had long thought of it and it failed like all the others.

That said, I found a bit of a thrill in this blade testing my patience. If I could somehow wield its great powers over fire and ice, it’d help in combating my foes. Hell, at least I’d have something reliable in case my powers left me for a third time. Hell, given this war of Alteria’s, I was wary that someone might be carrying an arrow, blade, spear, sword, or even armor forged from a moonstone.

My anger swelled at my ignorance back on Delverhold. I’d not be caught unaware again. Then there were my own plans. I had no doubts that Alteria’s empire wouldn’t be so keen as to accept help from a pirate, especially not one who’d laid waste to C’ula, a valued ally for them. In fact, I was more than aware that despite giving her word, Alteria couldn’t exactly promise the reward she’d claim to give me. I highly doubted her empire would give over its prized material to a pirate, much less one like me. Still, even without that, I desired to help her. Not because I cared whether the empire was left standing or not, but because of my own curiosity. I had to know why that bastard Zevmar survived despite how many times I tried to unknowingly kill him with my powers. If I couldn’t affect him, then who else couldn’t I affect? I had to look into this, especially if I was going to drive back and hunt down those bastards who bring about the end of D’orn.

Besides, even if Hæňgaram didn’t give the reward to me willingly, then I’d just take it. Above all, I wasn’t a bastard who worked for anyone for free.

I leaned back and continued to look at my rapier until I’d finally had enough. I cursed my fortune and pushed my chair away from my table. “And here I thought it was a lass that could infuriate a bastard the most,” I said to myself as I stood up and moved from my desk. A yawn escaped my lips, no doubt from me having woken up in the middle of the night yesterday.

I saw Nei in her barrel, smiling as she brushed her small fingers through her black hair. She quickly noticed me and smirked, giving me that same troubling look when she found something amusing. She quickly hopped on top of the barrel and jumped towards me. She landed on the upper pocket of my coat and climbed up until her soaked, wet body drenched my shoulder.

“You’re a stubborn lass, you know that? I told you not to climb on my shoulder when you’re wet!” I said with a glare while she slapped my shoulder with her fin.

“Mate drier. Mate warm!” she said within the corners of my mind. I rolled my eyes before she licked my cheek.

I sucked my teeth and decided to ignore the soaked part of my coat’s shoulder. Nei smiled and I found myself unwilling to argue with her petty retorts. Instead, I walked outside and felt the heat of the sun on my face. My eyes squinted as I stared at the might of Helios. Clearly the bastard was upset about something. His anger was great over the seas and we all felt his sting. Men and women were drenched in sweat while others dipped their heads in barrels of water.

Even Ellen seemed perturbed by the intense heat. Her usual coat was wrapped around her waist, leaving her in a sweaty undergarment shirt.

My mother was on another side of the ship, giving orders to some of the men and women. She wiped her forehead and her sweat stained the deck of the ship.

Hell, even Diane didn’t seem to be in the mood for combat. The heat had long since sapped away her desire to confront anyone on the ship. Like Ellen, she’d taken off her shirt as well. However, unlike Ellen, she had no undergarment underneath. Her breasts roamed free as she draped her shirt over her head, trying to provide herself with some measure of shade.

Of everyone, I sympathized with Maeloson and Aesteal the most. The two were higher up than anyone else, seating themselves in the crow’s nest. Given that they usually resided in northern lands which were notably colder, I worried how they might fare in the heat. Maeloson didn’t seem to be doing too well while Aesteal simply tried, and failed, to ignore it.

My eyes then drifted over to Naala. She was seated near one of the cannons, fanning herself with her hand.

I didn’t see Goron anywhere, but I imagined he didn’t have this issue what with him tending to The Root and some of the clients from the more… supernatural side of the world. He’d only bring lists for me to sign off on, which were quite a few sometimes. I just didn’t have the time nor desire to dedicate myself solely to Liara’s business and I knew my temperament would most likely not go appreciated by a number of powerful bastards whom I couldn’t tend with just yet.

Of everyone on the ship, the only ones who seemed to not mind the heat were Nz’ia and the fairmaids. The former was seated in the middle of the deck, his eyes closed and his large body unmoving. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised since the bastard came from a clan of warriors deep in the desert. No doubt they were used to the harsh ways of the sun and sand. I bet the fucker felt right at home on that spot of the ship.

As for the fairmaids, well they were enjoying the sun in their barrel of water made for the outside. In fact, I dare say I saw Lei and the others sunbathing their tails and wings in the heat of the sun. Nei had just gotten out of the barrel in my room so she must have enjoyed the sun as well. I saw her stretching her body, jutting out her breasts from the hair covering them.

I stared at the poor state of my crew and bit my lip. I might have to take over for the voyage and I desired not for my crew to pass out from heatstroke. I still didn’t have a proper ship’s doctor aboard. While adept in healing arts, Liara was hardly what one could consider a doctor. Additionally, she was gone.

Of course, I could do some, but not with what I had at the moment. I sucked my teeth, tired of looking at my crew in such a miserable state. I clapped my hands, bringing everyone’s attention to me. When they looked at me, I saw the harsh sweat falling off the side of their faces.

“You all look deader than a butcher’s pig. Utterly pitiful. Cease your work for the day. I’ll take over for the ship before the lot of you pass out and fall overboard. Also, whichever of you has pissed Helios, then I suggest you raise a middle finger to the fucker. Now, hurry yourselves below deck and cool off in the shade before you stain my deck even more.”

My words seemed to be the light in the darkness for all those of my crew. “May the seas favor you, Captain!” someone said before they ran off to the rooms below the deck. It didn’t take long for others to follow. In less than five minutes, the deck was clear of my crew save for the ladies that I usually shared my bed with.

“A seas’ day off? Didn’t know you cared,” Naala said as she fanned herself with her top, walking over to me.

The others walked over to us, Diane covering her eyes and looking up at the sun. “Maybe you’re the fucker who pissed off that piece of shit up there. Dammit, I haven’t felt heat like this Lady Liara sent us to Giim,” she said, causing Aesteal to turn to her.

“The realm where the fire spirit, Ung, lives? I thought it impossible to venture there. Myths claim fire burns so strong there that even one’s spirit can become consumed,” she answered back in surprise which made Diane laugh.

“You’d think the bastard wouldn’t care so much about getting his shit face stoned with bilim juice, but he sure loves the fucking stuff.”

“It’s already hot outside! Do the both of you need to make it hotter?” Naala fired back before I touched her shoulder. She looked at me and I soothed her with a grin. She then grumbled while I turned back to the others.

“Head below and enjoy your time to yourselves. I’ll make sure we stay on course.”

They all looked at each other and, one by one, disappeared from the deck. Ellen looked back at me with a small glare. “If I come back up here and your fucking ass is passed out on the deck, then I’ll throw you overboard myself,” she said before she walked away.

…I thought that a poor choice of words considering my past, but I felt not too much anger. In fact, I dare say I felt honored that my Quartermaster would dirty her hands with throwing me off my own ship. That she wouldn’t threaten to plug my head with a bullet must have meant that I was in her good graces.

I scanned the empty desk, rolling my eyes as most of my crew literally dropped the things they were doing or working on. Two mops, three brooms, a beaten pot, and three broken barrels were left on the deck. “I oughta hang those bastards and bitches up by the ratlines,” I thought to myself before I began the effort of cleaning up the deck.

Thankfully, that endeavor didn’t take too long. Once the deck was clean I leaned against the portside railing. With only the fairmaids to keep me company, I sailed us toward our destination. However, I felt the churn of the waves. It sounded like they were a day or two away from my own. My lips curved upwards as I pushed my ship slowly.

I used my coat for shade until the sun finally went down. Even with it gone, the sea air still seemed hot and nigh unbearable. I looked down at the map, using the flame from a fire spell to give me light. The seas, saved for my ship’s disturbance, seemed mostly quiet along my journey. Of course, I wasn’t going fast either. I wanted to know what ship this was that would tail me so ruthlessly. Of course, I could go back and find out, but there was some odd childishness within me that wanted the fun of guessing.

I yawned, my coat still over my head. I used my rapier to release a sheet of ice over the ship. That seemed to cool it down if only for a moment. It usually didn’t take long for the ice to melt from the heat. The deck would become soaked and I’d weave the water off the ship. It got to a point where I felt I was just wasting the mana.

I picked up a cup filled with water and a few sprinkles of ice from my rapier. Its coolness refreshed my sun-bathed throat. The ship continued to move slowly as I read a book from the Alchemist’s vast library. I wondered if I might experience an ascension like Liara did when I’d get to her level.

I was broken from my thoughts when a plate of food was brought to me, consisting of shredded fish, some dried fruits, cheese, and flavored spices. I looked up from my book and saw my mother standing in front of me. There was a wide smile on her face while she had one of her hands on her hips.

“I was told you hadn’t eaten. You worry me enough as it is, so I brought your fucking food. No need to thank me,” she said, holding it out in front of me.

“Aye, you also brought me a meal on a plate to go along with my food,” I replied rather cheekily.

My mother blushed for a moment before she sat down on the railing with me. “Shut the fuck up and eat,” she said, shoving the plate into my chest. I smiled as I took it. My mother stole my map from me and held it close to her bosom while I shoved a piece of fish in my mouth.

Somehow, I found my gaze drawn to my mother. Once again, as with many other times, I was left stunned by her beauty. She smiled as she looked out over the sea, her auburn hair coming to contrast with the light of the moon. One long, beautiful leg over the other. She smiled as she looked out into the sea and I thought about what I’d do when I finished my revenge, on my crew and those bastards who plotted my demise. Aye, the gold, the treasure, even the world itself mattered not too much to me so long as I might have this beautiful woman aboard my ship.

Unable to resist myself, I place my plate behind me for a moment. I then reached out my hand and touched my mother’s cheek. When she looked at me, she stilled when I kissed her. It took her a moment, but she quickly kissed me back, her arms grabbing my shoulders. Her fingers rubbed up and down my arms as I kissed her over and over. My thumb pushed a piece of her hair away before we separated, breathless from the exchange.

“And what was that for?” she asked.

I didn’t answer her question. Instead, I grabbed my plate. “Tell me, mother. Are you happy?” I asked as I continued to eat the food off my wooden plate.

It didn’t take my mother long to scoff. She then looked out into the endless sea. “Never thought I’d be able to answer that question in my life again. The sea air on my skin, the wind messing up my hair, the violent sounds of guns and swords, I never thought I’d experience them all again. Even when we were in the midst of some fucked up shit back on Delverhold, still I smiled. I remembered my damn heart beating like a drum inside my chest. I never thought I might experience voyages like these again. No, I’d not even experienced these back when I first started out. This damn smile on my face almost seems stuck like fucking glue,” she said before she paused.

I watched her for a time before she turned to me and chuckled. “When I sleep, I think back to those times. A nightmare here and there. Yet, consistently I wake up to my piece of shit son. Yeah, I think I’m pretty fucking happy with my life. Why?” she asked.

I tried to keep the grin off my face, but it proved impossible. “Because you be the greatest treasure when you’re happy, and I shall endeavor to keep you that way,” I answered back as I stuffed a piece of apple past my lips.

My mother then slapped my arm. “I don’t think the flattery’s needed when you continue to plow your cock into me on a daily basis,” she returned before I looked at her. Her eyes widened when I cupped her chin with my thumb and forefinger.

“Indeed, it might be flattery, mother. However, there is a pirate’s truth in my words to you. I dare not count how many insults you’ve endured as you raised me. Therefore, I shall make you forget each of them with a tantalizing word of how beautiful a treasure you are for me. Aye, I love you,” I boldly stated, unashamed of myself.

My mother looked at me in surprise before she bit her lip. “No. I love you, Eric, my son. Should you let me, I’ll stay upon this ship and any other you sail on. Though don’t expect me to say that sappy shit all the time. I… I ain’t the best at it,” she said.

I wondered why she was acting like I wasn’t aware of her attitudes. I knew my mother wasn’t one to have such an emotional spiel as this day after day. It just wasn’t in her when she reached this age. Besides, I imagine Delverhold had beaten that part out of her if she ever had it.

“Rest assured, I’d treasure it when we’re alone. Just like the first time we were intimately alone,” I replied before she growled and smacked my hand off her chin.

“Shut up and kiss me again before I throw myself off the side of the ship in disgust of myself.”

I laughed and so did she. We kissed again. Unfortunately, it was too hot to take anything further, but we enjoyed this feeling. Yet, I had to think that somewhere in the depths of my scourge heart, I might have enjoyed this more. Perhaps it was not me who saved my mother, but the other way around.

My mother stayed up with me until very late, regaling me with her tales of her pirate life before she had me. I remembered when I was a young bastard, I’d ask her from time to time about her adventures, but she’d always shoot me down or dismiss me. In fact, I thought sometimes she downright hated to talk about them as if they were a stain on her tongue. Yet, she spoke of them now as if they were fond memories.

Soon, we retired to our chambers. I wished I could say I did something about this erection wedged into the crevice of her ass, but… I’d be lying. Nevermind that she seemed to enjoy it, constantly rubbing against me silently before we fell asleep, her in my arms.

The next few days passed by slowly for the ship. It was still hot, so I decided to create a magic barrier to help regulate the heat. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but at least no one would be passing out from the intense heat. I was then allowed to focus on my work, or perhaps I should say my failures as I continued to waste materials away in a vain attempt to work on my rapier. Most of the nights I went to bed irritated at my failures, wondering if it might actually take a trip to Glim. At least there I could cultivate a powerful enough fire spirit that it wouldn’t fan out from the powers of the ice.

That said, it wouldn’t be long before I had something to vent my frustrations out on. Our days of slow sailing by my hand would finally come to a halt when one of the women in the crow’s nest hollered. “Cap’n! Ship spotted in the distance! Toward the stern! She sails her flag toward us!”

My lips curved upwards as those around us slowly stopped working. Ellen eyed me for a second and rolled her eye at me. “So you were going slow on purpose. I shit have you gotten us into now? Don’t tell me this is about some cunt you fucked and left in the morning,” she said before I leaned up.

“Only cunts I’ve fucked be aboard this ship. Well, aside from one that seems to have mysteriously vanished on me. The motions of the waves were disturbed by their ship behind us for a few days. Should this be a simple matter of our ship sharing the sea with another, then we need only go about our day,” I said.

Ellen grunted in response. “Yeah, and something tells me you sure as hell don’t want it to just be that,” She answered as she rubbed her head tiredly.

The news of a ship brought most of the crew out of hiding in the lower decks. Everyone was aboard my ship, staring at the vessel that sailed behind us. Unfortunately, I was proven both right and wrong at the same time. Or so I believed anyway. The woman in the crow’s nest shouted. “They raise their flag, Captain! They desire a parley!” she said.

Ellen’s eyes narrowed as did mine. Even my mother frowned when she came up next to me. Naala came up to me as did Maeloson, Aesteal, and Diane. “A parley, sir. Whoever they are, they’re serious,” Aesteal said to me while Naala twirled her gun around her finger.

“Aye, everyone’s got their own code of conduct, don’t they? Thieves have theirs, kings and emperors got their own, and pirates have ours. So what do we do, Captain?” she asked, most likely summing up the question in everyone’s question.

I imagined no one around me needed to be enlightened on the gravity of a parley. Aye, yes there were only two ships here and who would tell if one of them drowned beneath the seas. However, rumors such as these tend to spread no matter how hard one tried to keep them quiet. It’d be fucking hard to make a deal with anyone should they learn that anyone violated a parley. Besides, crewmates tended to talk when drunk.

“Raise the flag. We shall agree to it. Let’s see what these scurvy dogs got for us that the seas might judge us fairly,” I said.

“Aye, Cap’n!” someone shouted as they passed by Diane and Goron. Another moved past Nz’ia. He continued to glare out at the ship.

As the ship got closer, I noticed the ensign of the ship. It sailed proudly in the wind. It was the City of Ninshil’s flag, two swords crossed in front of a large bear head. “There are a lot of them,” Aesteal warned as the ship continued to sail toward us.

Her words spoke the truth. I could sense over a hundred bodies on that ship as its size rivaled this Callamum vessel I’d taken. On the deck of the ship were guards lined in iron armor. Some wore spears, others wore shields with blades. I noticed a few gunmen in the crow’s nest of their ship and a few mages clad in fabulous Ninshil robes standing beyond the knights and guards of the ship.

Based on its rather grandiose appearance, I assumed it to be a royal ship, or at least not one a common unity would be seen sailing in this part of the sea. We watched it sail up to our side. I made sure to we hid our fairmaids carefully. Of course, being the curious ladies they were, they couldn’t help poking their heads out to watch the occasion.

No one on my crew spoke a word and no one aboard the Ninshil ship spoke a word either. The only thing we all heard was the sound of footsteps from the stern of the vessel opposite of us. Out came the man in the carriage that I’d seen leaving the city a few days ago. It was the Ninshil city lord’s son along with an entire entourage of guards, even more than the last time.

The man was dressed in an assortment of fancy leather and cotton clothes from his shirt down to his pants. Nevertheless, he walked with great poise and posture. No doubt those were acquired from many shit lessons in the courts of Ninshil and his father’s house. I noticed a standard rapier strapped to his side, its guard was fashioned in pure gold.

He stood before us, his arms neatly wrapped around his back. “Prissy fuck,” I heard someone on my ship mumble to soemone else before they spat off the side of the ship in disgust.

“I shall make this brief. I am Taylin Fanderfall, son of Rolin Fanderfall of the City of Ninshil. Who amongst you is in charge that I might speak with him in the matters concerning this parley so that the seas might judge us fairly?” he asked into the air and into the ears of my shipmates.

Naturally, all the eyes fell onto me, some moving out of the way so that I might stand before this man without interruption. I leaned off the railing and walked toward the portside of the ship. Ellen and my mother walked with me, both standing behind me as I spoke. “Eric Drakclaw. I be the captain of the vessel. What do you want that you’d invoke a parley with my ship?” I asked.

One would think that by this time I would have gotten used to people looking skeptically at me when I announced myself as the captain of a ship. I suppose it wasn’t surprising why, but it was a tad annoying. However, I quickly noticed a few of the soldiers talking to each other on Taylin’s ship. My enhanced ears picked up on the talks of C’ula and my bounty.

“I thought him taller. He’s no older than my son,” one of them murmured to the other.

I turned my attention back to the son of the city lord of Ninshil. “You?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

I heard Ellen snort in amusement behind me.

“Aye, me. Now the days be long and my patient isn’t. Hurry up before I sink your vessel to the bottom of the seabed,” I spoke fiercely.

My threat got a few quiet chuckles from the other side. I suppose they’ve dealt with pirates before and had dealt with such threats before. They were lucky I allowed them to stand in their own ignorance, besides we were still in the midst of a parley.

Taylin raised his hand and all noise stopped. “I see. It was you that was in my city more than a week ago. You are an infamous man, Eric Drakclaw. C’ula has offered to pay a large sum of gold to any man who can lay claim to your head. You have made an enemy of a nation with many allies, Ninshil included. It is fortunate that I meet with you now under different circumstances. There’s no need for blood to be spilt over these waters this day. My request is simple. I would like to trade with you,” he said.

I glanced at the guards on his ship for a moment before I turned back to him. “Oh? And what are we trading?” I asked, not particularly interested either way. There was nothing this man could offer me that I’d be willing to trade with him. Well, maybe that was a lie. I could use a blacksmith from Ninshil, but that wasn’t worth sailing all the way back into that city for.

Taylin snapped his fingers and out of his quarters came ten beautiful women, each of them more beguiling than the last. Most of their faces were covered with masks save for their eyes. All of them were dressed in white robes tied with golden sashes and embroidered jewelry. Something told me that I wouldn’t enjoy where this was going. Though they tried to stare upon me neutrally, I saw great fear in some of their eyes. I wondered if they thought I’d fucking eat them alive, bones and all.

“In the interests of the parley, I wish to deal fairly with you. Behind me are a few ladies from my castle back in Ninshil. They are some of the best that I’ve had. I wish to give them to you that you might do as you please with them. I ask that you release the blond woman behind you to me for my heart has been set aflame by her beauty.”

“No.”

As soon as his words left his mouth, mine came out just as quickly. In fact, mine came out so fast I don’t think anyone properly reacted to them until they saw the glare on my face. I decided to continue onward. “If you sailed all this way for that, then you’ve wasted your time and mine. Take your cunts and continue on your way,” I said, my anger steadily rising.

The man stepped forward. “I ask that you reconsider. I have fallen in love with her and would like her to be wed to me, and be by my side that we might grow old together. If you are worried about her place on your ship, then do not fret. Hanhal has great experience in managing the ladies that live in my castle. She could be a valuable asset to you,” he said.

“Do not make me repeat myself. I said this discussion is over,” I answered, absently noting a strike of thunder through the slowly graying sky.

Taylin inhaled and exhaled slowly, however I could sense the aggressive circulation of water moving inside his body. “I am in love with her, Eric Drakclaw. The thought of a castle without a woman such as her has strengthened me to even take this voyage. I would not expect a pirate to understand the complex matters of love, but when I look upon her I imagine that I can, and will, do anything. I wish her to be at my side and no one else’s. Should you give her to me, I shall pretend that I never saw your ship. I will also secretly ally with you that none capture you,” he added in as my hands tightened on the railing.

“You have upset many nations, Eric Drakclaw. The average pirate ship doesn’t sail for long upon these waters. Without my help, it would only be a few months before the nations of D’orn rise up against you and overwhelm you. You and your crew shall surely meet a grim fate and I wish her not to be a part of it. I am asking that you reconsider!” He stressed strongly.

I tapped the railing of my ship vigorously before I turned back to Ellen. My mother laughed. “This be the time for you to have a fucking admirerer?” she asked before my Quartermaster scoffed.

“I’ll blow a hole through his fucking nutsack if he keeps talking. Like I don’t have enough time dealing with other shit to put up with this,” she answered back while Naala laughed.

She draped her arm around Ellen’s shoulder. “Betcha the fucker was jacking his cock every night to the thought of you before he sailed up to us. Cum’s probably still on the sheets,” she joked as my mother and Ellen looked at her strangely. Naala shrugged her shoulders while I turned back to the Ninshil ship.

“Those who stand against me will drown in the tides of Poseidon. I have no need of your help, nor do I care for your harem of cunts over there. Even if you offered every other lass that you’ve got hidden away in that castle of yours, none of them would amount to my Quartermaster. If that be all, then we’re finished,” I said with a tone of finality.

I pushed myself off the railing and turned to Ellen. “Have the men weigh anchor. We’re leaving.”

“Thank the gods. Next time, just sink the bastard please,” she said as she turned around and ordered the crew to get moving. As I turned around, I saw the look on Taylin’s face. His once pleasant, and accommodating expression had morphed into a visage of great anger and rage. His hand choked the handle of his blade and I saw a few of the guards on the ship stare at him with great fear and worry.

“Tell me, pirate. Have you ever been in love?” he asked.

Any trace of clear blue skies was gone as a strong burst of lightning moved through the sky. I looked up and smirked. “Aye. It has made many a man stupid, even I,” I said as I walked away.

“Gird thineself, Drakclaw. That man-spawn remindeth me of the Betrayer. Every mannerism hath made mine spirit tremble with great rage.”

I stopped for a moment in surprise. I hadn’t been expecting the Lonely Wail to contact me like this. I especially didn’t expect this since she’d blown me off what a reason that I still couldn’t ascertain. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the time to bring that up. “Aye, he would have made a great pirate,” I said before I ceased contact with her.

My ship started to pull off as I gathered Aesteal and my mother to me. “Prepare the crew. We go to battle,” I said. Though surprised, they obeyed my orders. Without a word, they left me and began to instruct the rest of the crew. I noticed more than a few of them itch with excitement. They grabbed their pistols and their swords. Those who practiced the mystical arts began strengthening themselves and their defenses with enhancement magic.

My mother grabbed her whip while the elves quickly climbed up to the crow’s nest. Our ships began to sail away, getting further and further away from the vessel from Ninshil. However, I saw the great anger and dissatisfaction on the bastard’s face. Fucker probably wasn’t used to getting rejected. However, I wouldn’t trade Ellen for anyone. Not even a thousand of those lasses could equate to her current worth. When I fulfilled my promise to my quartermaster, those women wouldn’t even lift her side of the scale.

Pretty soon, my ship was twenty cannon shots away from the Ninshil vessel. The excitement in my crew slowly started to wane. I bet they all wondered how a ship would engage them from so far away. The vessel hadn’t fired neither gun nor spell our way. “Captain, we’re getting further away. Perhaps the bastards aren’t prepared to fight us,” someone said as they lowered their sword.

I felt Ellen glance at me while I stepped forward. I leaned my hands on the railing and frowned. No, I’d sailed D’orn’s seas for so many years and I’d braved through much combat. By trials of fire and smoke my ship and my body were tested. I knew when I saw the eyes of a man that knew no surrender. Nevertheless, I wondered what they were waiting for as well. I hoped they’d attack us as it’d give my crew a chance at naval combat, something I was sure they’d all like.

Aye, we could have attacked first, but it wouldn’t be much of a combat scenario if we were the ones taking the enemy by surprise. It’d be much better for the bastards if the enemy was already antagonized to them. The more I sailed my ship, and the more enemies I made, it was obvious we could get attacked at a moment’s notice. Best they all be prepared for such a problem. It be the life of a pirate, especially one such as I.

Suddenly, the stormy clouds in the sky parted and even I couldn’t without my shock. It seemed that I was proven right. The Ninshil vessel had launched an attack. However, I clearly underestimated what type when I saw a pillar of fire explode down from the sky a few feet in front of us. Its might was so great that I thought Helios himself had smote the sea in front of us.

My crew screamed as the flames crashed into the sea, pushing up massive waves so high that they’d easily capsize my ship if they stayed their course. My mother, Ellen, and the others fell to the ship while Nz’ia viciously roared, hanging onto the starboard railing.

I quickly lifted up my hands and rose the waters beneath us. With a wave of my left hand, one of the giant waves quickly split itself in two. We passed through it and sailed back down. The flames continued to burn with such rage and intensity that I thought my ship might catch on fire just sailing next to it. Hot steam started to pour out from the sea waters below.

I weaved the seas to carry us away from the pillar of flames as Naala leaned up. “Holy fucking shit! What the hell kind of fire spell is that?!” She asked before someone answered.

“I-Is it even a spell? I sense no mana within it,” one of the mages said in shock as the rain continued to fall down around us.

Almost instinctively, my mother, Ellen, Diane, and even Aesteal looked at me. I could feel their sharp gazes and my eyes narrowed, my fist clenching. They didn’t need to speak to me because I had the same feeling as well. I’d never seen such a grand display of fire except from the most powerful fire mages, and none of them ever resided in Ninshil as far as I knew.

“Hand over the woman and live or die and I take her anyway. That is the end of your parley, pirates!”

We all heard the voice of a woman come from within the tower of fire. A large hole appeared in it and out came that same red-haired lass I’d seen back in Ninshil. I remembered the way she looked at me and I at her. “You ain’t taking our Quartermaster, bitch!” someone shouted as they fired their flintlock at her.

The cheers of my crew suddenly turned to shock when the bullet aimed at her instantly burned up in a pile of ash. The woman, her clothes flapping away as she floated in the air, glared down at him. She then turned to me. “I won’t ask a second time,” she warned as she held up her hand, no magic words, no flow of mana, no incantations. A ball of fire appeared in her palm.

Ellen turned to me. “How many of you fuckers are there?!” she asked before I stood to my feet. Now I understood why the Ninshil ship hadn’t followed or engaged us.

I patted Ellen’s shoulder. “Ellen, mother, you’re both in charge until I get back. Sink that fucking ship. I’ll make sure she doesn’t stop you,” I said before my mother gawked.

“Eric, is this really the fucking time?! Why can’t you kill them?” she asked.

Aye, that question seemed to be on everyone’s mind, but it only made me angrier. How could I tell them that just like Zevmar I couldn’t kill anyone aboard that ship of Ninshil with my powers? Aye, I could sense the water within them moving around, but I couldn’t control it like I wished. Had no answer as to why. Since Zevmar, this had never happened to me before. I even discreetly tested it on some fish in the water. Naturally, I killed one effortlessly, yet it just wouldn’t happen for that ship and now one like me appeared before my ship.

“Now ain’t the time, mother. Just do as I say and sink the bastards along with anyone else aboard their ship. No one bars my vessel from traveling anywhere!” I exclaimed as I jumped onto the railing. Right before the woman in the flaming sky, I walked off my ship and wove my arms. The sea swirled around me and I saw utter shock on the lass’ face as I swirled a pillar of water into the air. I flew towards her and stood in front of her. Then, with a wave of my hand, I pushed my ship back.

“Fucking dammit! Helmsman, turn this ship around! We’re gonna sink those fucking bastards if its the last thing we do on this goddamn ship!”

I heard Ellen shout as the ship quickly started to turn away. However, I kept my eyes focused on the woman in front of me. Her eyes continued to stare into mine as the flames danced around her as the sea around me. It didn’t take either of us long to hear cannons fire and men holler over the seas as my ship did battle with the one from Ninshil.

“So your feat in C’ula wasn’t an exaggeration. The name of Eric Drakclaw shudders all of C’ula,” she said, clearly unamused by my presence.

“I give you one chance to walk away, lass. I know what you are and you know what I am now. I’ve been looking for you and it won’t benefit me to kill you,” I replied, no hint of playful banter found in my voice.

The woman chuckled. “Hahahahaha, I’ll admit that of all the pirates I’ve slain, you’re the only one that’s made me laugh this much,” she answered back as we continued to stare at each other.

“Well, try and best me, my brother of the water. You’ll make a fine example when I show your crew the remains of your charred corpse!” she threatened as she threw her fist out. Immediately a blast of fire escaped her knuckles as I wove the waves to move me to the side. The flames crashed into the sea next to me.

Seraphina roared, throwing volleys of fire blasts at me like a thousand cannon shots. I formed a wall of water from the drops in the air. Each ball of fire crashed around me before I maneuvered the water to grab her leg.

I yanked my arm and the rope of water dragged her out of the pillar of fire and into the waters below. Immediately, the sea began to bubble before she launched herself out. Her body coated in the flames of the sun, she held her hands in the air. A great ball of flames so hot the inside seemed white appeared over her head.

I gathered a piece of the ocean in the air, rotating my arms so that more might gather to me. When she threw the ball at me, I flicked up my finger. I covered the ball with as much water as I could. Steam rolled off it violently as I gathered more and more water. The heat was intense, more intense than anything I’d ever encountered before. She then flew around me and cackled again.

“To think I didn’t even wanna come on this stupid trip! I’ll have to give Agir my gratitude!” She hollered before she threw another fistful of fire at me.

“Wrong, lass! You’ll rue the day your ship crossed that of the Son of Poseidon!” I said as my eyes followed her. A wall of water instantly formed in front of her. Her face crashed into it and she screamed in pain when spears of water stabbed into her skin from the wall she collided with.

With that edge, she threw the ball of white-hot fire off into the distance. The skies grew orange like the dusk of the day as the seas exploded away. I then swiftly moved my hands left and right. All the water around this woman of fire that I could use, I used it. By the time she recovered, I’d captured her in a prison of water in the air. She gritted her teeth at me while I smirked.

“I’ve been at this way longer than you, lass. Killing me ain’t no easy feat,” I said before I noticed the prison of water start to bubble.

“Hmph, you look no more than twenty, Eric Drakclaw. Your handle of your powers shall never compare to mine. However, rest assured that I, Seraphina Xhalbrun, Daughter of the Sun Dragon, shall be the one to end your existence! It’s a shame that you’ve chosen a life such as this. I might have enjoyed your company otherwise!” she exclaimed as the skies opened again. Another pillar of fire poured down on top of her. My prison of water was instantly vaporized as she floated before me.

Seraphina Xhalbrun. I was sure I heard that name before, but I couldn’t remember where. I snapped myself out of my thoughts when a large claw shaped in orange flames headed towards me. Amused, I launched at Seraphina with a water claw of the same size. The two crashed into each other, the sea beneath us parting ways. A thousand drops of rain fell upon us as we heard our ships battle in the distance.

I briefly spotted them. A myriad of magic spells and gunfire were being released into the air. My ship had already linked up with the Ninshil one. Warriors from both sides were crossing onto each other’s ship.

“Don’t you worry. You’ll join the rest of your ship in flames before the day is over!” she claimed with a wide grin on her face.

I matched her grin with my own. “My ship is stronger than you might think,” I replied as I swung my arm. A piece of the shot up into the air and crashed into her body. She rolled through the air before the flames surrounded her again. She flew off, dashing this way and that. My eyes followed her as best they could. Nevertheless, I was surprised that even with my eyes that had been enhanced with alchemy, I had some trouble keeping up with her.

I continued to follow her as best I could before a gunshot rang through the air louder than all the others in my ears. It must have been the same for her because she stopped momentarily. We both looked back at the battle. Though chaos and war continued to erupt over the seas, I bore witness to the fate of the City Lord of Ninshil’s son. He lay dead on the ground by Ellen’s hand. The side of his face had been blown off as smoke trailed out from the barrel of her pistol. She viciously glared at him and spat on his corpse. She then ruthlessly stepped on his chest and walked over him before she fired at another soldier, the side of her cheek marred by blood, sweat, and smoke.

I grinned. “Perhaps I should have bet money on this little gamble between you and me as to the fate of my ship,” I said before she frowned at me. She then smirked.

“Don’t think this changes anything. In fact, I’ve got half a mind to let you go since you saved me the disgust of working under that lecherous pig. It’s all because of his cock that we’re even out here. One look at your walking slut over there and he’s utterly infatuated, acting like he was kissed by the lips of a succubus. Imagine having to guard his quarters as he fucks one or two cunts imaging it to be the ‘Beautiful Goddess of Blonde Hair.’ Sure, his father will be pissed, but it’s not like I give a damn, this was a tertiary assignment anyway. As a thank you, I’ll at least kill you and your ship now so that the City Lord won’t torture you later!” She exclaimed before the flames exploded from her body again. She then launched herself at me.

More volleys of fire came and I countered them all. A spiraling wheel of water was my guard as each shot laid into it. More and more steam came around us before she charged at me. “HA!” She screamed as her fist expelled enough fire to fill the maw of a volcano at me.

From the air, I formed another wall of water. I then slammed my hands together as her blast collided with my shield. Her movements in the air were swift and focused despite the ferocity in her strikes. She then flew above me. Lightning and thunder roared across the sky before its stormy visage turned orange again.

From the clouds came down a multitude of dragon heads, each of them shaped by the flames of this woman, Seraphina. She unleashed them all upon me as I stared up, oddly excited. Each of them was large enough to swallow a warship whole, leaving not but ruination and hot death.

However, I wasn’t deterred. I swung my right arm and the sea answered my call. They churned and roared like a violent beast before I released an innumerable number of spiraling sea spears, each of them long and wide enough to challenge the mighty kraken itself.

I was rather surprised when her dragons broke through my powers of water without much effort. I smirked and quickly moved myself away, the seas propelling my body low to the ground. I weaved the swirling waves beneath me as I dodged to the left and to the right. Each dragon which fell burned with such heat that I thought my clothes might catch on fire.

Seraphina flew after me. I enjoyed pissing her off as she slammed into more and more walls of water that I’d made, each hard as stone and unable to be seen. As her attacks fell down upon us, I watched her dive into the flames. They neither singed her hair nor scared her body. The lass seemed perfectly at home there.

“As usual, all a pirate is good for is running away!” She taunted as she jutted her fists out, one after the other, storms and harsh rain of fire fell down upon me. Nevertheless, none of them reached me thanks to the water in the air easily available to me. Even the steam itself was on my side as I covered my escape. As I thought, she came into the steam with me.

I held up my hand and the ocean exploded in front of me. A wave large enough to drown C’ula itself rose into the clouds. I doubt she cared.

However, I didn’t need her to. The wave came crashing down upon her, and I made sure its reach wouldn’t harm my crew far in the distance. They were still fighting as well, great flames raging around them. Far off I saw Ellen blow someone’s head off with her pistol while she and my mother stood back to back, both of them with wide grins on their faces.

Turning back to my own battle, I waved the steam away and I saw the fruits of my efforts. Seraphina floated in the air, her body racked with bruises, cuts, and lacerations. “Aye, you’d make a good pirate, Lass. Never seen one so merged with the water since myself,” I said with a grin on my face while she snarled.

“And you shall make a good mount in my quarters!” She said, seething at me. Her anger quickly intensified the flames around her, drying both her hair and her soaked clothes. She slammed her hands together. I wondered what she might cook up, but I quickly felt my surroundings grow hotter by the second. What came next made me perfectly aware that though fire was supposed to be inferior to water, Seraphina was truly a lass worth her title.

Xhalbrun jutted her hand out like the claw of a beast. I barely had the time to move my head as a beam of white light crashed into the sea behind me. Had I not fought her just now, I might have thought she was a member of the Lightfeather House.

It seemed that her technique was hard to control because she released it soon after. Nevertheless, I felt the glory of the sun behind me as the sea exploded in a grand temple of fire behind me. I turned my head and saw the widened pillar of flames ascending into the sky. The beam of light split apart, revealing the molten rock scorched trail that led to the grand mansion of flames. It was so hot, I could feel the water that kept me afloat starting to turn to steam.

When I looked back at Seraphina, she clearly looked winded. Steam rolled off her body like it threatened to consume her. She sucked her teeth, frustrated that either she’d missed me or I’d effectively dodged her blow.

“I see even a pirate’s luck is something to be feared. You won’t get a second chance!” She said before she slammed her hands together again. Unwilling to let her do what she’d done again, I wrapped a tail of water around her leg and crashed her into the sea. Not even a second later, she exploded out as I saw more flames dance around her palm. She then clenched her hand and threw the ball of fire at me.

Its speed wasn’t anything impressive, but its size quickly got bigger and bigger. In haste, I weaved the waters to pull me down. I fell into the sea and, below the depths, I saw the glory of the sun as ten to twenty spikes of fire exploded in every direction, stabbing the water just barely out of my reach. I swam away, using my powers to propel me through the cold ocean.

My feet landed me at the bottom of the wet, sandy ground under the waters. I closed my eyes and lifted my right hand up. I then yanked it down and lifted up my left. I yanked down my left and lifted up my right. Over and over, I alternated between the two and the seas grew angrier. They bowed themselves to my will as I felt every corner of the area around me for at least three miles churn and twist.

“Thine ways confuse me. What is thine end goal with this woman? Thou hast told me to not interfere and yet thine doth not release thine other talents. Why doth thou keepest up with this farce?” An’raie asked as I continued my motions. It seemed my opponent grew impatient because she started firing sprays of fire into the ocean. I wondered if she thought she might make it all dry up, if she could.

“All my life, An’raie. All my life I thought I was the only one gifted with this mysterious might before my death at the hands of my crew. When Liara brought me back, she spoke to me of three others just like me. She even told me that I might need them to save the world of D’orn. How can I make use of them if I can’t even see what they’re capable of? Besides, if I’m gonna need them, then they’re gonna need me. If I used magic before her, how would that look in the lass’ eyes? She’ll probably think she’s forced me to use a means other than this to deal with her. Indeed, I don’t play fair, but she isn’t worth using underhanded tricks on. Besides, she’s shown me one of her best moves. I’d insult her if I didn’t do the same.”

I continued to move through my motions, but I sought to hurry. Doing this made it much harder to hold my breath. I drew up the seas and I dragged them back down. I drew up the water in the air and I dragged it back down. I drew up the water in the storm clouds and I pulled them down. A grand choir of water and lightning struck the sea as I sectioned off the lightning current from my body.

“Continuing to hide like a small fish? Fine! I’ll turn this entire sea along with your ship into piles of scorched D’ornian rock!” I heard her voice through the mufflings of the water in my ears. Even now, when I stood underwater, I felt the heat of her presence. Aye, she was very powerful. I’d grant her that much praise.

Then… I raised my hands into the air. The water muffled my ears, but couldn’t mistake the roar of the ground shifting beneath my feet and hundreds of earth plates broke into pieces. The waves wrapped around and the seas parted, granting me a clear view of the sky. I saw a glimpse of the sun and there, at its center stood Seraphina. With a shout so loud that her voice might go hoarse, a commandment of fire came down from the open sky. The water I used quickly formed hands that could even contest the grip of the Frost Troll of Delverhold.

Each arm crashed into the tower of fire. The ground beneath my feet cracked as my lips curved upwards. Even from here I could feel the fire. The lightning coursing through the water of my powers slowly began to flow through the fire as well. The fire was so hot, I could feel it drying up the grip of the hands I’d crafted. Nevertheless, I continued to hold it up before I sucked in my legs.

Seraphina Xhalbrun, I wondered what you might become when you were my age. I wondered how powerful you’d be had I met you at the height of my reign. As you were now, you were too naïve.

I got a good glimpse of Seraphina’s face when her ball of fire exploded as thousands of water shards blasted out from its center. Aye, so much water, it wouldn’t have lasted long against such a powerful flame without drying out, however if I’d use the lightning to coat the dense water then it could if only for a moment, even then that wasn’t long since the lightning would dry it out as well. Yet, so much water to fuel its travel through that hot ball of fire was exactly why I’d made such beasty hands. They could stand the heat long enough for the rest to travel.

Seraphina floated in stunned shock before ten ropes of water bound her body. I yanked her down to me. She snarled as I held her by the throat. “You be twenty years too early to contest me, lass!” I said as I slammed her into the ground. She gasped from the blow before I drowned the both of us in a tide of crushing water, each wave crashing down upon the other. I even felt the earth tremble beneath my feet. Such a blow quickly rendered the Daughter of the Sun Dragon unconscious. Fortunately for her, I made sure not to kill her with the crushing pressure. We still needed each other after all.

Rather winded, I brought the both of us to the surface for air. As I held her up, I finally got a chance to look at her. Of all the fuckers like me that I could have met, it had to be the one that was the exact opposite of my element. Well, that at least answered the question that the four of us weren’t friends, not even close. It also seemed like she’d heard of me, but might have thought me to be a mere water mage like most others.

Her hair draped down over her face like a wet rag. Were she awake, I wondered what she might think of this position we currently found ourselves in. I imagined the waters would be boiling, steaming with rage. I sighed as I continued to hold us up, moving a piece of hair from her face. “You’re lucky I have need of you. Most who attack me don’t get to live the next day,” I said before I felt the waters in the heated sea moving.

Waves started to grow stronger and more violent. Were we not in the sea, I might mistake us for Davy Jones’ Locker itself. The sun had been covered by dark, angry clouds again. Furious winds were howling through the air, mixing with water. Sea typhoons blew in the distance and strikes of Zeus’ fury rained down over the sea.

A massive wave, easily large enough to dwarf my ship, rose over us. I swiftly got rid of it by swiping my finger down. It fell into the sea without much incident as I exhaled. “Now, what to do with you,” I said to her, knowing that she couldn’t respond.

I grunted and threw her over my shoulder. I then weaved the water to push me up into the air. I flew back to my ship, taking the time to survey the damages. Aside from a few broken pieces of wood from cannonfire, my ship still seemed intact. The crew also seemed to be well off. Those Ninshil natives who survived were tied up. They ought to be considered lucky. A majority of their men were dead, some riddled with bullets, others corroded by magic, and a few hacked to pieces by blades.

There didn’t seem to be any casualties on my side. Clearly, Ellen managed the men and women very well. Only someone like her could accomplish that. Her management skills were second to none. That was one of the many reasons I desired to have her aboard my ship.

I sailed over to the Ninshil vessel, or what remained of it. I let myself down in front of Ellen and my mother. The two of them were stained with blood. The Ninshil City Lord’s son laid dead at Ellen’s feet, a bullethole right through his head.

The two continued to look at me, utterly surprised by what they’d seen following their battle of ships. Even Diane, Goron, and Nz’ia were off to the side, staring at me in surprise. “Be it that surprising by now?” I asked as I took the woman, Seraphina, off my shoulder and gently laid her on the deck of the ship.

“The day I’m not surprised by any of the shit you pull off is the day I realize how fucking insane I’ve been this entire time. Goddamn piece of shit!” Ellen snarled as she ruthlessly kicked the corpse of the city lord’s son.

Meanwhile, my mother brushed her hand over her face, cleaning it if only slightly. She noticed the woman I dropped and pointed. “So either she’s a very powerful fire mage or she’s someone like you. I’ve been in a fight with mages once or twice, and I’ve never seen any of them pull off what you two did.”

I smirked and stared at my unconscious victim. “Aye, let’s talk about that later. For now, you lot didn’t do too bad. So how was your first naval battle under the flag of Eric Drakclaw?” I asked.

“A bit underwhelming. One blow and the fuckers go down like a tree against a wellian axe.”

I turned again and noticed Diane. She kicked one of the armored men off the side of the ship. His body fell into the sea with a splash. “I best find you a grander stage then,” I returned as Maeloson, Aesteal, and Naala came to meet me.

“Speak for yourself. Not all of us can just punch our damn problems away. Sea gods know I’d fucking like to. Also, I hope we make land soon. Turns out a gun ain’t the best thing against a broadsword,” she said as she held up the remains of her pistol. The barrel had been completely broken, which left only a trigger and handle. Aesteal hummed.

“Shall I endeavor to craft you a bow?” she asked, jokingly I assumed.

Naala smirked. “I’ll be sure to preorder one from you if ever I need it,” she said as she threw her handle and trigger into the sea. She then dusted off her hand and looked at me.

I stared back at her and chuckled. “I’ll buy you a new one when we make land then. This be my idea after all,” I said, causing her to smile.

“And that’s why I put up with you, Cap’n!” she returned before I faced the rest of the crew.

“And what are you lot standing around for? Plunder everything worth coin that you can find aboard this ship. You’ve earned it!” I said to them all.

The men and women hollered before they started rummaging around the ship’s decks, finding anything that they could. “May the captain sail his flag forevermore!” someone hollered and the rest of the mates began to echo their statement. Ellen rolled her eyes at their proclamations before she lazily pointed her pistol and the captives they’d taken.

“And what about these fuckers?” she asked, not exactly caring one way or the other about their fate.

I glanced at them. Most of them were tied up in groups of five or six. I noticed that none of the women of the city lord’s son’s harem had been killed. Each of them looked terrified of us. I assume they never imagined their Ninshil vessel would be overrun by a group of pirates. I also took note of a few other noncombatant men and women. A few of them were in armor clothes, but nothing that would denote them as part of the Ninshil army.

“Perhaps we should get rid of them. They are allied with the captain from the Lightfeather House. He’ll know we’re headed to Hæňgaram if they let them live,” he said while I smirked. In any other circumstance, I’d be inclined to agree with him. Unfortunately, killing them would be meaningless.

“No. They shall not find their souls in the depth of Haganthar this day,” I said, surprising them all. I saw the small smile on Aesteal’s face. Even if she tried to hide it, her pleasant aura mixed with mine and I felt her spirit ease. Unfortunately, this wasn’t done out of some noble cause.

“Why not?” my dark-skinned powder monkey asked as I hiked my thumb over to the unconscious Seraphina.

“Because I need this one alive and there’s no real way to restrain her. Aye, as some of you saw, she’s just like me and, for reasons I can’t explain, I need her alive. Bringing her with us isn’t an option. Aside from a moonstone, I don’t know any other feasible way to seal her powers. Aye, she controls fire, but she can even boil it. She’d steam it quickly, same for any of it around her. Besides, if she wakes up on this ship, then we’re all going to be watching a vessel slowly sink into the sea,” I said while the others grimaced.

“Don’t you have some fancy mind control spell or amulet to bring her with us?” my mother asked.

I laughed. It was true that was also a consideration, but I waved that off. “While I ain’t got no trinkets, I do know a spell or two revolving around mind control, but they only last for a few hours, taking mana to reapply the spell. Even the most powerful spells, that I’ve been allowed to read on, can only hold such a technique for about twenty days. The mana to perform such a thing is heavy, especially if we’d have to do it over long distances like what I’m planning. Ease your worries. She’ll retain her mind and all the will of her own body, however she’ll still provide me with what I want even without all of that,” I said with a smirk as the group looked at each other.

I turned back to the captives and stood in front of them. “Which one of you lot can sail a ship?”

“Burn in the seas of hellfire, pirate!” someone cursed to me, spitting on my boots in the process.

…Well, they didn’t need all of them alive.

I shot that one in the head and he slumped over. A few whimpers came, but I ignored them as I repeated the question to the others.

Surprisingly, one of the harem women raised her hand hesitantly. She seemed to be the smallest out of the bunch. I pocketed my pistol. “Good. Then it be your lucky day. Once my crew’s done raiding this ship of any valuables, then you’ll be free to sail off. Pray that the next master’s mind ain’t plagued by pretty lasses in frilly skirts. To steal a priceless treasure of a pirate be the greatest insult upon the seas of D’orn,” I warned before I turned back to my business.

My crew came out of the ship’s lower quarters with plenty of food, weapons, and valuable jars filled with seasonings, rich perfumes, and treasured jewelry. The poor fucker was indulgent if nothing else. He might have made a good pirate if not for his foolhardiness. I hated to think it, but he reminded me of myself back when I was a young shit. Someone needed a fucking swashbuckler’s boot primed with the salt of dead fish to bang against my head to learn such a lesson.

I grabbed the wielder of fire and dragged her to the deceased captain’s quarters.

When we were inside, I pulled her to the center of the floor. I wasted no time lest she wake up and we begin this dance all over again. I placed two fingers on the top of her head. “Men Li,” I said within the confines of my mind as I felt a portion of my mana slip out of my mind. It slowly entered the focal point of all mana, the brain. From her brain, my mana would slowly acclimate to her body and I’d be able to sense it anywhere.

Had that light on the first island of Delverhold not separated us, this would have been my preferred method of keeping track of everyone instead of using a demon’s help. Plus, this would let me keep tabs on the bitch without her knowing it, unlike the demon I’d used to find Liara.

The transfer only took a moment. I took some of her mana and she took some of mine. Once it was done, I took my hand off her forehead and wiped some sweat off my face. I then picked her up and threw her on the bed. She groaned for a moment before I turned around and walked out.

When I came out a few of the captives looked at me in horror, and others in rage. I thought nothing of it and walked over to the others who were standing there waiting for me. I saw a large smile on Ellen’s face. “Rich bastard had quite a few chests filled to the brim with money in them. I don’t think he’ll mind making a donation to the Dead Tales,” she said as I watched men and women carry crates from the Ninshil ship and onto mine.

Looting the ship took the better part of an hour or so. Once it was done, we released the ship of our hooks and I untied the lass that would sail the Ninshil ship. Wisely, she desired not to combat me. I was the last to jump back onto my ship. I then weaved the waters beneath us and we began to sail away. Naturally, I made sure to leave the bastards with at least a little food so that they might not starve on their way back. That certainly wouldn’t benefit me.

As the Ninshil ship got smaller and smaller, Ellen and I took stock of everything we’d taken. The crew certainly seemed happy, knocking wooden tankards filled to the brim with ale, ginger juice, and seasoned cider. “How are they?” I asked as Ellen surveyed the groups of men and women. Not even the storm seemed capable of dampening their spirits.

“They’ll live. We also retrieved some medicine from the ship. Though I hope you plan on getting a doctor for these bastards, because I sure as hell don’t play nursemaid,” she answered as I laughed. I patted her shoulder, understanding her point.

Aye, there were just some illnesses that magic couldn’t fix. I was aware of my need for a doctor, but the person who used to be my doctor aboard my old ship was far away. It’d take me months to get to him if I sailed normally, weeks if I used my powers. I wasn’t sure I had that kind of time.

Fortunately, what I did have time for was doling out the payment and rewards for each shipmate who took part in the battle. Having been in a good mood that I’d found another person like myself, I didn’t lay claim to any of the treasure. I’d hardly done anything to earn it. So I gave what would be my share to Aesteal, Maeloson, Diane, Naala, my mother, and Goron. I wanted to give some to Nz’ia, but he turned his head away from the money. Clearly, the brown-skinned warrior wasn’t one for monetary gains.

My mother tried to return it to me, but I let her have it. She’d earned it for such a brilliant battle. Once everything was settled, I disappeared into my room for a time. I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Seraphina Xhalbrun. As I controlled the seas, she controlled the fires of the sun and flames beneath the crust of the earth. Not only had this been my first time meeting someone like myself, but it’d also been my first time fighting them as well. She was definitely more than I expected, despite her clear inexperience at using her powers compared to me. Aye, she was still powerful, more powerful than any fire mage I’d tangled with before.

Unlike me, it seemed she didn’t need an external water source to use her powers. The powers of fire could explode from within her without limit. Unfortunately, I can’t do that. In very dry places, there’s hardly any water to use. Aye, while I could make clouds gather and rain fall, it wasn’t the grandest method for someone like me, especially since she could clear the skies with the power of the sun. I contemplated the thought that should she improve, she might actually become more powerful than even me.

The thought was both chilling and exhilarating at the same time. I hoped I might fight her again, or the other two hiding somewhere on D’orn. Still, I worried about what I might need the other three for if our deaths led to the end of the world.

A knock on my door broke me from my thoughts. I really desired no company, but clearly my mouth didn’t think so. “Enter.”

The door opened and I noticed Aesteal come through, her silver hair as beautiful as always. She closed the door and walked over to me. She smelled of fire and smoke. She also still looked a tad dirty from the battle. “What is it?” I asked, not even bothering to lean up. For once, I was content to just lay my head against my pillow.

“She wanted to see you, Sir,” Aesteal said. From around her shoulder, I saw Nei glaring at me. She then jumped down and landed on my chest, beating it with her fists indignantly.

I turned to my bonded elf. “Just her?” I questioned when I saw Aesteal avert her gaze from mine.

“The others believe you’d been possessed by a great evil spirit to not share in the wealth of the conquest. They sent me to here to ascertain your motives,” she said, taking a seat next to me as I snorted.

“They won’t get used to it. I merely gave you all what you were owed as is the captain’s duty. Though I am indeed sharing my soul with an arguably evil, and temperamental spirit, I’ve yet to be taken over. Though if I were, then clearly that means that you’re the sacrifice to appease me,” I returned, sensing her spirit’s excitement.

“Seems I would have no choice, but to comply then.”

I didn’t need to look at her to see the smile on her face. I was oddly pleased that Aesteal had continued to show a wide range of emotions despite her order’s decree. She’d always been one to speak with respect, but hardly one to give or receive humor. She was a bit like Maeloson in that regard, stiffer than a captain’s fucking pegleg until recently.

“You don’t seem particularly turned off by the idea.”

Embarrassed, she turned her eyes from mine. “Perhaps I’ve come to learn many insightful things about myself had I not known them under your touch. The entry wasn’t very welcoming, but the end makes my spirit stronger than before,” she reasoned before we both fell into silence for a little while.

I hadn’t kept track of how much time passed, but I heard Aesteal speak again. “Sir, that woman. Was she…”

“Aye.”

Of course, I assumed that was the reason Aesteal was in my room. Having spoken with her about my past life and death, I also told her what the Liara of my time told me. There were three others like me and I’d need them so that we might prevent D’orn from falling into chaos. Exactly how the hell I was supposed to do that I wasn’t sure. Nevertheless, this at least confirmed that there was indeed another like me and for all her inexperience, she was still a formidable opponent. Aye, she was just like me when I was a young bastard.

When I looked at her, Aesteal stared at me firmly. This warrior elf with a powerful gaze that could make men tremble in their pants looked to me before speaking. “I saw your battle as did most of the ship. Though you despise the title, many indeed call you by your old title ‘The Son of Poseidon.’ Some even claim you to be Poseidon himself. Others believe that woman’s the daughter of Helios. Though I do not believe in either, I continue to believe that the Divine Spirits of Water and Fire have blessed you both considerably,” she said as I stared at the ceiling.

I wasn’t sure what I could say to make Aesteal change her mind. For all my life, I’d never toyed with the idea that I was Poseidon, the son of Poseidon, or the Divine Spirit of Water. I didn’t care about who had been with my mother before me. She was mine and I was myself, Eric Drakclaw. Perhaps I might have been interested in my father when I was a lad, but at my age the care dwindles away greatly.

“You all will be greatly disappointed then. I doubt I’m either.”

She laughed as got out of the chair and boldly laid down next to me. Nei climbed over my face and into my head of hair, clearly enjoying her annoyance of me. “It was both scary and beautiful, your battle. Some wondered which would be worse, drowning in a sea of water or in a sea of fire. They bless their gods that they’ve survived. I’m not sure any magic is capable of such grand mastery,” she said before she turned to me.

“So what will you do? From the battle, it didn’t seem like you didn’t have the chance to discuss things with her. Though, she didn’t seem the type to listen either,” Aesteal said next.

I turned to face her, gazing at her lovely elven face. “One thing you best learn about us, Aesteal, we’re a prideful bunch. Now ain’t the time to speak with her. Not only does she work with Zevmar, but she’s also never met one like herself. She wouldn’t believe me, and I’ve got no way of proving this terrible force that’s hunting us. Besides, I know where she is. I can always talk to her when I’m ready,” I answered back.

“Could you not show her your memories of what Liara gave you?” she asked.

“Memories can be fabricated and I already have one fiery lass close to my head. I’d rather not have another unless there be no other means available to me. Besides, I was like her once, believing I could fucking take on anything and anyone without consequence. I’d easily become drunk off my own power. Perhaps my death had given this old pirate his well-deserved humility. Even for one like me, I can be overthrown.”

I grabbed a piece of her silver hair and moved it through my fingers. “Worry not. The time will come that we might not desire to kill each other. Besides, I’ve only met her. I’ve still got two more to find.”

I hoped to reassure her with my words and touch. She smiled and touched my shoulder. “It’s not me that needs reassuring. I can tell your mother is worried about you,” she said before the smile on my face fell slightly. Aesteal stared at me and my ship continued to sail towards the territories of Hæňgaram.

After my battle with Seraphina, about five days passed for my ship. Aside from some rune sewing, enchanting, and messing with my rapier, there wasn’t much I got done. I found myself staring at my mother. Sometimes she stared at me when she thought I wasn’t looking. Despite how much she tried to deny it, I indeed felt her care for me. It only made me all the more determined to grant her the life and prestige that I hadn’t been able to in my other life.

However, I hoped that she’d never think that just because I knew bits of my future that this was the reason I’d sought an immoral, yet fulfilling relationship with her. I’d not regretted my course of action, and I hoped that she might not regret it either. Naturally, I was more than capable of taking care of myself. I was older than her by a wide margin after all. However, I doubt that no matter how old I got, some part of her would always worry for me. I knew that I would need to speak with her eventually. A path like mine would have too many questions and danger strong enough to need those questions answered, especially with the trail of blood I’d leave in my wake.

As I contemplated this problem before me, Ellen raised a hand for me. When I came to her, she pointed out into the sea. “I ain’t no navigator, but best I can tell we’ve entered the Plim Sea, off the west coast of the empire. We’ll make land in about two or three days. If I know those bastards, they’ll have ships docked around the Damalian Port off the City of Taptos. If you’ve got something that’ll keep us out of the line of Hæňgaram fire, then you best tell us all now,” she replied, looking at me curiously.

I stared out into the open sea. I then faced her. “Who be the one in the crow’s nest on that third day?” I asked, causing Ellen to reach into her pocket for a journal of sorts. Her fingers flicked through some of the pages for a moment.

“Lronn Hornsickle. What about him?” she asked.

“The fucker just got a lucky break. Tell Maeloson that I want him up on the crow’s nest that day. He sees further than anyone else. The entire crew got the chance to see a Hæňgaramian ship, so it’ll be easy to spot. When we see one, then I'll make sure that we’re not spotted.”

My Quartermaster looked at me with a note of skepticism, but she just rolled her eyes and went back to her work. “So long as we’re not getting fired at, I don’t care,” she replied as she walked away. I watched her go before I turned my attention back to the open sea aware that my mother was observing me from afar.

As Ellen and I expected, it took three days for my ship to fully enter the Plim Sea. Maeloson had taken his post in the crow’s nest and less than four hours into his shift, he signaled to the rest of the ship that a Hæňgaram vessel was coming upon us from the portside.

I placed one of my books away while Nei quickly crawled down my shoulder and entered one of my coat pockets. Once she was secured, I informed Ellen to gather the crew quickly.

While she did that, I wove my hands and fingers around the firmament above us all. Fierce, dark clouds started to form and come together. Furious booms of thunder and streaks of Zeus’ fury rolled through the upper heavens. Rain began to fall in a great multitude as the sun became blotted out as I started to form rough seas and large waves.

“Captain, what the hell are you doing?” Naala asked as I saw everyone staring out into the seastorm around us. A piece of lightning slashed through the sky and thunder boomed like war drums.

I slowly let down my hands and addressed her. “We won’t be seen amidst this storm and the sight of Hæňgaram means that we’ll reach the Damalian Port in another hour or two. We shall rest the ship near a hidden cove embedded in the Eralu Mountains. There the ship can stay without being disturbed by anyone. Besides, it wouldn’t do well for the lot of us to go attacking the bastards we’ve been paid to help,” I said as one of the waves crashed against the side of the ship.

“Aye, but captain, how’re we gonna sail the ship in the giant storm you’ve created? Can’t even see the path from the stormy waves. Hell, even if it’s you we might be thrown overboard from Poseidon’s anger!” someone else shouted over the storm while the helmsman tried to fruitlessly drive the ship as another wave, twice the size of my ship, threatened us. Without a word, I lazily waved it away and it flew off to the side.

I smirked. “Ya really think I’d craft a storm that I couldn’t navigate?” I asked as I sat down and held up my hands.

Immediately five large tendrils of water, like those of a great squid, wrapped around my ship. Everyone screamed as I weaved the tendrils to pull my ship beneath the raging seas. Soon we were all submerged by the ocean and I could sense the panic in everyone as they vigorously moved and tried to swim for the surface.

Their angst proved unnecessary as I separated the water from my ship, weaving it away from every corner and crevice of the ship except for the keel. I heard the various gasps around me and smirked. Unfortunately, I couldn’t savor the shock of my crew as I’d always had trouble with sailing my ship underwater the other times I’d tried it. This required just as much focus as rune sewing, if not more.

I slowly brought the ship down to near the bottom of the sea. I flexed my fingers and wove my hands, the undersea current carried us toward our destination while the waters around us never threatened to overwhelm us.

“By the fucking gods!” I heard someone say before I tried my best to tune out all other distractions. I opened my eyes only for a moment to see everyone staring at the large dome I’d created that kept the water from crushing my ship and my crew with its great pressure. Some of them stuck their arms out, feeling the sea in all its power around them.

The crew began to sing praises of me, but Ellen quickly shot their merriment down. “Sing any louder and I’ll throw you fuckers into the seas right now. Keep quiet so our captain can make sure we don’t fucking die down here!” she hissed and seas did I love her for that.

For the next two hours, I focused on keeping the ship safe. Truly, we were in the lands of Hæňgaram because I also sensed at least five ships pass us by in that half hour on the surface of the waters. I pushed the ship and the keel glided on the waters beneath the ship while the water overhead swam its course.

In those two hours, Ellen kept me company, only talking to inform me of where she thought we were. However, they say that the time grows short when a man grows busy. I felt the waters crash against a large piece of land and slowly opened my eyes. The crew was sitting quietly on the deck of the ship, some playing cards and others casting lots, but nothing too serious. Unfortunately, some had to test how drunk off their ass they were by shoving their heads outside the bubble and into the water. Were I a heartless bastard of a pirate, I’d have used the water to grab them and fling them off the ship.

Diane and Naala sat together, cleaning their pistols. My mother busied herself with walking up and down the deck, making sure no one was doing anything too stupid. Maeloson and Aesteal were teaching the other fairmaids while three of them stared at a book with foreign text on it. Goron kept to himself, leaning against the wall, staring out into the sea as numerous fish passed us by.

The members of Raven Shadow had a long list of papers in front of them, speaking softly to each other to pass the time. Hell, even the mighty Daven Wolfkiss was laid out on the deck of the ship, sleeping off an empty bottle of some good shit. I almost hated to ruin his time with Morpheus.

…Almost.

“Ellen, I be bringing us up. Inform the crew,” I said. I slowly turned my head and saw her close the book she’d either been reading or writing in. Amusingly, I saw the fairmaid assigned to her, reading over her shoulder.

“Great. Nothing against you, but being underwater this long like this is making me more anxious than any shootout,” she replied as she stood up. She stopped on the deck, getting everyone’s attention immediately.

“All of you, get up! Our fucker of a captain’s gonna bring us up!” she announced.

Everyone sighed in relief and began to move about the ship. I slowly released my hold of the sea. I moved the waters beneath us to push the ship up while making sure the rest of the water wouldn’t crush us. Before long, we surfaced out. The ship crashed down on top of the open sea. The waves were still turbulent, but nowhere near what they were two hours ago.

I groaned and rolled my shoulders, tired from holding them up for so long. I rubbed my arms as the rain continued to fall down upon us. In front of my ship lay the steep cliffs of the Eralu Mountains, the outer rim lands of the City of Taptos. Though nothing to celebrate about, we’d made it into Hæňgaramian territory.

Some of the crew quickly tried to move so that the winds could carry us, but I decided that it wasn’t worth the effort. I sensed the water flowing into the cavern off the side of the cliff. It’d be easy to conceal with some illusion magic. I’d rarely had the chance to test such magic while I was aboard my ship.

“Captain, best we make haste lest we’re thrown overboard! The seas grow angrier from your hand!” Someone warned while I rolled my eyes. To be thrown overboard by a storm that I’d crafted, ain’t nothing on this ball of water and dirt could be more humiliating than that.

Using the sea, I swung the ship around and we eventually came to the large hole struck deep in the side of the mountain. Its maw was easily wide enough to fit the whole of my ship. The crew stared in silent awe as we passed under the sharp, teeth-like stones embedded in the top of the cavern, the furious storm outside slowly drifting away.

“Fuck! How much coin for someone to make a bastard not look like a drenched fish?” Another said as others laughed around him.

I slowly pulled the ship next to land. One of the crewmates threw the anchor overboard while five others jumped down with the ship’s ropes. With a quick earth spell from the mages aboard, we tied the ship to two stone posts.

Once the ship was secured, I stood up, hearing the storm viciously howl outside. Lightning struck through the sky and thunder voiced its anger. “Captain, how the hell did ya do all that? I’ve tried me hand at fishing before. Became quite good at it too. Fished in quite a number of great spots, but never would I have thought to see fish swim next to our ship. You sure your mother ain’t fuck the god of the sea?” a man asked as others started looking at me, namely my mother, the woman in question.

“It’d take more than three barrels of ale to try and explain the fucking shit. Just be happy that the fish were all you saw down there. Also don’t expect me to do it again, it ain’t possible for probably longer than that,” I said before I dismissed everyone.

Tomorrow we would journey towards Taptos and I would trek toward the empire and meet with Alteria. I hoped for no complications, but such fortunes ain’t mean for those who walked the path of a pirate. After all, our very blood thrives on messy complications.

As some settled in their quarters, and others on the rocky shore of the cavern, I stayed in my room with Ellen. As we’d be staying in Hæňgaram for a little while, I had her set the crew up with another allowance. Since they’d just been paid from the raid on the Ninshil ship, this allowance wouldn’t be nearly as generous as with the temporary crew. Hell, I wondered if I was being too generous already, but I was aware of just how unforgiving the economy in Hæňgaram might be, especially given that they might be on the brink of civil war.

Just like before, Ellen and I selected a few distinguished bastards and bitches that could make sure no one caused trouble with any Hæňgaram authority during our stay here. I wasn’t about to lose this deal just cause my ship had a bunch of impatient fuckers.

Ellen passed me a sheet of paper. I handed her one back. She looked it over and sucked her teeth. “I hope you realize that shit like this ain’t just gonna be lining the shelves of the average stall. Hell, I’ve dealt in most of this. No fucker’s gonna be carrying this in…” My quartermaster paused when there came a knock on my door.

“Enter,” I said and I noticed my mother come through the door. She looked at me and I looked back at her. Hell, she didn’t even need to speak for me to know what she might be here for.

It must have seemed obvious to Ellen too because she stood up. She pinched the bridge of her nose and collected her things. She then left without another word, closing the door behind her albeit a bit roughly.

Once we were alone, I circled around my desk and moved some of my things away. “You had that look before, you know. Back when I first revealed my powers to you,” I said as I walked over to her. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to my bed. Just as we’d done so many times, I leaned against the wall and she leaned into my chest.

I found the silence to be rather unnerving. It was obvious to both my mother and I that she’d been avoiding me for the past few days. Since my battle with Seraphina, she sometimes looked at me like she didn’t even recognize me. I wondered what she thought of me right now, but I had not the gall to invade her mind. As the bastard I was, I’d have to hold my tongue and wait.

After a few minutes, my mother turned to me, staring at me strongly. “Make love to me,” she said, her voice so clear it was like fine crystal.

I stared at her for a moment or two. Something told me her demand wasn't as simple as it seemed. In fact, this reminded me of the many treasured crates I’d feasted my eyes upon. I expected gold and I’d sometimes find a pit of vipers.

“Why?” I asked.

My mother fully faced me and grabbed my hand. “Don’t make me fucking embarrass myself more than this, Eric. Just… please. Just like when you and I had sex for the first time. As your mother, I ought to understand you,” she said, no jest in her voice.

With the essence of Vilinlith, I could feel her rising lust for me, yet she kept it tempered. I searched her eyes and I knew I saw a moment of weakness in them. They were the same eyes as that decrepit woman on Draegnar a few months ago.

I touched my mother’s cheek. She nodded. She took my hand and laid it on her breast. “Now?” I asked, my voice low almost like we were discussing some sort of secret.

“It can only be now dammit. Now come on, don’t fucking make me beg anymore,” she answered before she kissed me.

My mother’s ips were incredibly soft as always. They tasted of the salty air and waters below. She exhaled huskily into my mouth, taking my arms and wrapping them around her lithe body. Her tongue quickly flew into my mouth, tangling and coiling with mine like two snakes. She placed her hands on my chest, her fingers slowly unbuttoning my shirt.

I’d lived with my mother for many years and I felt I knew her better than she knew herself. The way she fumbled with my shirt and the hasty nature of her salty kisses told me that she was nervous, almost scared even. I also knew that this had to come from the few days that passed of her watching me, yet avoiding me.

I separated from her and she looked into my eyes. I saw her hesitance that she tried to make behind a tempting smirk. “What’s up? Ship can’t sail tonight?” my mother asked before I cupped her chin.

“Not since myself have I thought to meet a bigger fool,” I replied before I returned her kisses. My mother stiffened, groaning when I nibbled on her tongue. I pulled her closer to me, her breasts pushing against my chest. Her arousal slowly became evident. Her nipples pushed against mine through the fabric of our clothing.

“Mmmmmm… nhaaaaa… oh Eric!” my mother panted as we traded short, sweet kisses with each other. The lust between us continued to grow and my body quickly started to show its appreciation for my mother’s advances. My cock pushed against the material of my pants until it pressed against her thigh.

My mother hummed, brushing my cock with her legs while she threw her hands around my neck. Her silky breath tickled the hairs above my lip while one of my hands caressed her cheek. “Mmmmmm… yesssss… I love kissing you. I’ll never tire of it,” she claimed before she bit on my lower lips.

“Then you shall have no need to,” I answered back, making her gasp when I used my strength to pick her up. I then laid her back onto the bed, never breaking my lips from hers. Her fingers ran through the follicles of my hair. My hands weren’t idle either, rubbing up and down her beautifully sculpted stomach. Her body was hot and sweat began to fall, glistening down the side of her body.

As we swapped spit, loving each other in this immoral embrace that I’d treasured so heavily, my mother threw my coat off my shoulders. It must have fallen on the floor because I didn’t remember feeling it on the bed. She rubbed my arms, her fingers touching every piece while mine dug into the mountains of her ass, pushing her crotch against mine. She rubbed my cock vigorously, trying to dry hump me.

Finally, we stopped kissing for only a moment. When she looked at me, she didn’t say a word. Her face was flushed, whether from our kiss or from sheer embarrassment I wasn’t sure. Nevertheless, my mother grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my head. She tossed it to the floor while she bit her lip. My ego was thoroughly pleased from her reaction to me. It seemed odd that though we’d done this so many times, I always enjoyed when she laid her eyes upon me. Almost as if the past me that she’d always cast aside and belittled had grown to overpower her much to her delight.

I then groaned, when she touched my cock, rubbing her palm over it. “Are you gonna fuck me with this? Gonna fuck your mother with this hard, powerful cock of yours? Make love to me with it?” she asked, a sultry grin on her face.

“Perhaps. If you’re a good slut,” I returned, grinning as she never stopped stroking me.

“And what do I have to do to be one?” she asked.

“I can think of some things.”

My mother quickly found out what I meant when I unbuttoned her shirt, revealing her bra. I didn’t even bother with trying to unclasp it. I just grabbed it and forced it up. Her breasts bounced out like two beautiful world globes, both of them full and made for holding in each hand. “You really like my breasts, don’t you?”

“Aye, that I do.”

I leaned down and took one of her nipples on my mouth. “Ooooooh! Yes! Ooooohhh fuck yes! Oh my god, I love it when you do that!” she said as I swirled her right nipple on my mouth. The other, I twisted and pulled between my fingers before moving onto it.

She cradled my head, squealing in delight, but never stopping in stroking my cock through my pants. I was fully hard by this point and she knew it too. She already took her hand off my hands and started unbuckling my pants. When she loosened them enough, her hand snaked inside and I shivered in pleasure when her fingers wrapped around my raised mast.

“”F-Fuck. So hard! Hard for me,” she panted, pressing her thumb down on the crown tip of my cock while I rolled her breasts in my face like balls of fresh dough.

“Aye, that it is. It longs to be inside you everyday,” I teased while she licked her lips.

She smirked. “And I want him inside me too, almost all the fucking time,” she returned before I bit her nipple and gently pulled it. Her lust exploded around the both of us. She screamed, her erotic thoughts rushing into my head. They told me just how much I pleased her and how much I loved her. Seas, did I love her. I loved her more than Leah. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that now.

In fact, I thought I might love them all more than my former love. However, there was something about a man’s mother that made her special above the rest, a treasure to be respected, loved, and tended to with the greatest of his strength.

My mother’s voice thrilled me to the point where I decided not to wait any longer. I leaned back and tore her grip from my cock. Her face was marred by sweat and unkempt hair. I brushed a few strands away while she looked at me, her eyes clouded by ecstasy.

I pulled her pants and her underwear off and she kicked them away, leaving her beautiful naked form as a feast for my eyes. Her pussy was ripe with fresh juice, slowly beginning to seep out of his channel.

I grabbed her hips and pulled her close to me. Just before my cock could plunge into her snatch, she spoke. “Wait,” she said, getting my attention.

She pulled me close and touched my cheek. “Look at me while you do it. Stare into my damn eyes and make me realize who’s fucking me right now. You… and no one else,” she said.

“Me and no one else,” I replied as I granted her request. I pulled up her legs and, staring into her eyes per her desire, kicked my pants off. I then lodged my cock deep inside her in one thrust. Her cunt was already wet enough to accomodate me.

Her stern expression slowly broke. Her pussy gripped my cock firmly until my balls settled against her ass. Her legs spread, and her feet planted on the bed, she smiled. “Just… nnnngh… like the first time. Your cock feels so good! It’s like it was made for me,” she said before I leaned down and kissed her.

“...It is,” I said before I slowly withdrew my hips and pushed them forward. The nerves in my dick felt every jolt of pleasure as I drew it out and moved it back in. My mother sighed, closing her eyes with her hair sprawled over the bed.

“Mmmmmngh! Hnnnnngh! Yes! Mmmmm, this feels so good. Fuck me, Eric! Make love to me and make me cum!” she said, wiggling her hips making her pussy coil the length of my girth.

“You feel good. The greatest treasure for a poor pirate bastard.”

My mother blushed. Aye, she didn’t do that too often.

In my quarters, my mother and I made love against the sound of the storm outside. The candles offered a rather dim, yet personal ambience to our lovemaking. “Mmmmmm, I love you, mother. I love you so much!” I said.

“Shut up and kiss me then!” she replied before we locked lips again. Her grunts from my thrusts moved through my mouth. The pace was so slow that I could feel my flesh pistol harden through her sleek cavern. Every nook and cranky being massaged and scrabbed with her body.

I couldn’t hold my first shot, grunting when I released ropes of cum deep inside her. Her back arched, but her legs continued to hold my hips in place, not allowing me to even think about pulling my cock out. “Mmmmmmmngh! Damn, I love it when you do that,” she said before my cock hardened inside her, the essence of Vilinlith fueling me.

I slowly pulled my cock out and it was mixed with a bountiful sheen of my mother’s juice and my semen. She rolled over until she was face to face with it. “Fuck. Hard to believe you’ve stuffed me with this thing so many times,” she said before she grabbed it and swallowed it effortlessly.

I threw my head back. “Ngh! Yes, mother! Devour my cock like it’s the last meal you’ll ever have,” I said. Her sucking quickly got stronger. Her fiery tongue licked the underside and the roof of her mouth scraped the crown. I grabbed a handful of her breasts, pawing at them with her nipples pushing through the crevices of my fingers.

“Mmmmmmnnngh!” she groaned, her lips producing unfathomably pleasant vibrations through the length of my shaft.

My mother’s blowjob didn’t last for much longer. She gave me a few lasting bobs before she pulled her mouth away. Around the corner of her lips was a trail of semen that she quickly licked up with her tongue. When she looked at me, her face was a mess. Nevertheless, I loved her. Aye, the pirate’s salty heart within me and the storms of my fury were mended and silenced when her eyes stared into mine.

Before I knew it, she pushed me back and straddled me. “Tonight, all your cum’s going in here. Nowhere else,” she said, grinding the slit of her cunt against the firm weight of my wooden mast. She stroked it a few times, making me moan like a hoarse animal. Her warm, slick fingers massaged the tip and fell all the way down to the base.

My mother then lined my cock up with her pussy and buried it in her hatch again. “Nnnnnnnnngh! Ooooooh fuck!” she whimpered, her body shivering and her cunt strangling me. The influx of lustful energy told me that she’d just orgasmed from taking me inside her again.

After a moment, my mother leaned down and kissed me, lifting her ass up and slamming it back down on top of my dick. “Mnnnngh! Nnngh! HGNNNNGH! Fuck, I love your cock. Your strong, pussy-massaging cock! The cock of my son, the pirate!” she said while I kissed her back. Her words only made me stiffer, the flood in my balls slowly but surely building to be released.

Over and over my mother rode me. She fondled her tits, her face toward the sailing. The bed creaked when her powerful hips met mine. My hands on her ass, she bounced up and down, in and out. “Mmmmmmm, it’s so hot inside you! Hot and wet,” I said, causing her to look at me.

“Good. Cause… hnnnng… you caused this!” she answered back before I grabbed her hips and started thrusting into her. The harsh slaps of my skin against her was as loud as the thunder outside, the pleasure as fast and unending as a lightning storm. Her hands fell from her breasts and to my chest.

“Ooooooh! Fuck! Yes! Yes! YES! Ooooh my cock! Eric, fuck me! Fuck me harder! Make me fall in love with your cock all over again! Drown my cunt with your cum!” She wailed.

I did just that. My cock hardened and my teeth clenched. My mother groaned with me, the both of us cumming simultaneously. My cum fired from my cock like a water jet, staining and coating the walls of her pussy white.

Even as we both orgasmed, we never stopped thrusting and pounding into each other. The essence of Vilinlith slightly numbed our sensitivity so that no matter how many orgasms we had, there’d be no need to stop. My cock certainly seemed to agree.

One time my mother slammed her cunt down. We met pelvis to pelvis. I tried to thrust, but she stopped me. She just stayed there, gazing down at me with the entire length of my cock hilted inside her like a sword with a sheath. She wiggled her body, the bumpy, stimulating insides of her body pushing my cock this way and that.

“Where’s my cock, mother?” I asked, feeling cheeky.

My mother smirked. “Inside me. Buried all the way up inside me. Just keeping it here is driving me mad. S-So hot and hard. It’s almost like… gnnnnngh… enchanted stone.”

I sat up and her legs wrapped around my back. Her hands on my shoulder. “Good. It’s that way any time I be in your embrace,” I returned as I kissed her. She kissed me back, her nails gripping my shoulder. I picked her up and slammed her down, our bodies perfectly formed to the other by now. When we broke our kiss, I suckled on her neck. “Ooooooh shit! N-Not there dammit! Mmmmmmmmmngh!” She wailed as I pistoned in and out of her until she came again, screaming in ecstasy.

My mother and I ran through almost every position we could think of. I lost count of the number of times I came inside her. I only remember watching copious amounts leak out of her cunt before I plugged it back up. We rested on our sides, one of her legs in the air while her hands caressed my thrusting cock and balls. She turned her head to me and used her other hand to caress my cheek. Her voice in my ears, I soon came again. My balls ached, but my lust was strong. In some way I hoped that the Mark of Hoɖ might take a brief break and allow my mother’s belly to swell up with my spawn.

“F-Fuck, how much of your cum have you blown inside me?” she asked, rubbing my balls through her question.

“Perhaps as many times as there are grains of sand. Perhaps not enough,” I answered as she stiffened when my cock grew inside her again.

Our last position brought us back to where we began. She laid on the bed and I settled for a slow rhythm on top of her. She received a clear view of my cock being fucked into her. Gently, the body of a man and the body of a woman continued to come together in a loving embrace amidst the lawlessness outside the cavern. “Fucking damn me to hell if I don’t love you. I ain’t one to say it a lot, but I do. I swear upon the seas that I do. I love you so much, my motherfucking son,” she said as she pulled me down closer.

“Put me to the test that I might prove how much I love you as well. I shall make you great, mother. Greater than any that came before and any that come after,” I boasted, but her pussy strangled my cock. She must have been pleased by my words.

“Oh fuck! I’m gonna cum! I’m gonna cum from you fucking me! Fuck me utnil I come! Just shove it all inside me! Use my damn cunt until you cum too. Stare at me when you d-d-do! Let me see you cumming inside me for the thousandth time! I want… Mmmmmmmwwhaaa!” she panted when I silenced her with a rough kiss.

The last of my strength flew into a powerful range of thrusts and grinds. I wanted to fulfill her wish as her juice spilled onto the sheets. My back bled from her sharp nails digging into it. Her voice was loud in my ears, making them reverberate every moan. “OOOOOOOOOH FUCK! ERIC!” She cried as she clenched my cock so hard I thought she might actually pull it off. Her warm, sopping slit drowned my cock in hot juice that stimulated my own coming orgasm.

I fucked, pounded, and thrust my way, holding her in my embrace while her legs locked around my waist again. I continued to stare at her for as long as I could. I sensed the warm, virile cum sailing from my sack and through my dick. Her walls begged for it, pleaded for it. Like that of a succubus, her body hoped to leave me as a mere husk of a man, draining my lifeforce through the cum in me.

Finally, I closed my eyes and locked my hips. My mother arched back in delight, not letting me even think about escaping her grip. I buried my cock down to my damn balls before a torrent of cum, more powerful than the others flooded her womb again. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as wonderful shivers ran through my body. The cum never seemed to stop. It just kept flowing out through the slit of my cockhole and into my mother’s eager body, which her pussy was more than happy to keep receiving.

Finally, I had nothing left to give and rolled off her. She hummed happily and I sensed the stream slowly flowing out of her overstuffed pussy.

We slowly started to come down from our high and I saw my mother staring at the ceiling. Her face was still a little sweaty, but she didn’t seem bothered by the fact. She looked more contemplative than anything.

“...that woman you fought a few days ago. Was she…”

My mother didn’t finish, letting the question hang in the air.

“Aye. I control water and she controls fire. Why do you ask?” I questioned as I held her in my arms. She turned away from me and exhaled tiredly.

“Don’t think less of me, but I did this because I really wanted to know if you were my son. You’ve changed so much. You used to be a stupid, brash, headstrong, irresponsible little bastard. Now you’re just stupid, brash, and headstrong,” she said with a smile on my face.

…I sure as hell couldn’t deny that, but my eyes narrowed as she continued.

“Everything you’ve done, places you’ve sailed me to, I couldn’t help wondering if my son had been taken over. Ever since that moment you took me to meet that crazy witch, I wondered if my son had been replaced. When I was on that ship, cutting down the bastards of Ninshil, I became distracted by your battle. It was grander than any mage arena I’d ever spectated. You looked powerful, impossibly powerful. Even when you faced that water god, I speculated but… I knew I was being fucking stupid. Now, I wasn’t so sure. I…”

I stopped my mother when I turned her to face me. She stared at me unyieldingly. “I be Eric Drakclaw, the Son of Ira Drakclaw. I was there when you first taught me to pickpocket, lost two of my teeth that time. I brought home ten bags of bread that I picked from the local baker. It was that bread that got us through the cold months on Draegnar. I was there when you sat on our ragged couch, staring in anger and sadness at the life your disease had stripped from you and forced you to endure. I was there when you’d shut the door in my face, bitter at our life. I was there when I watched man after man exit our house as you stared at pouches of coin with the greatest disdain.”

My mother stayed silent as I caressed her cheek. “Know that I be your son. None hath taken me over nor would they have the gall. I be the man who has unashamedly fallen for your wicked charms. What you ask of me, I shall give you, whether pain or pleasure, gold or glory, I will make it yours,” I said before she laughed.

“...You didn’t have to bring up all that shit just to convince me. I know you’re my son. When you look at me, I know. Perhaps I always knew,” she said, looking at me as the candles dimmed.

I had not thought that I’d changed so much my own mother would suspect that I wasn’t myself. It was then that I remember I was a man in the body of a young lad. My actions, my thoughts, my ways, they were not those of a small bastard. I closed my eyes and a thousand thoughts ran through my head. Were I to continue on this path, my path of revenge against my former crew, I knew that it would raise questions not only from my mother, but the others as well.

“Aye, I am your son. Of that you have no need to worry. However, mother, let me… tell you a tale.”

“Now?” she asked.

I nodded slowly, my eyes resolute. “Aye, now. It be a tale of… the Son of Poseidon.”

As the candles went out and the ship went quiet, I told my mother everything. I told her of Leah. I told her of my reign. I told her of my betrayal at the hands of my former crew. I told her about my rebirth. Other pirates would shame me to the pits of hell for this, but I spoke the truth, and only the truth, to my mother.

As the night went on, just like with Aesteal, I told her everything.