The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 36 (Patreon)

Hello patrons!

Finally finished is chapter 36. This one was actually a bit more fun than the last one. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it. However, it's interesting that my characters aren't doing at all what I want them to. It's actually kinda funny in a way.

WttW

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

No one spoke a word after my question was asked. Instead, they continued to look at me, one or two with indifference, some with wariness, but all unamused.

“He’s exactly as Alteria claimed he was, even if he is a bit younger than the reports stated.”

My eyes turned to the one who spoke. It was an elf with long, black hair. He was dressed in fine robes that made me think he was some kind of priest. The bastard looked like one of those types who enjoyed his days sitting around mountains of books and old tomes, praying to whatever deity the empire cared about. I knew not which one god he was supposed to be aligned with. The empire had about ten of them, maybe more.

“Even when she told us her report, I’d prayed that it was untrue. Her loyalty in keeping Hæňgaram standing cannot be called into question. However, I question her methods of doing so, especially with one such as this. I’m afraid this stain will be too much to wipe away, even for the emperor.”

The next one who spoke was also a man, but a member of the Leo Tribe. A man with the head and fur of a lion, adorned in prestigious armor. He glared at me, his sharp fingers intertwined together.

“Perhaps not, but we have indeed run out our course so far. This treachery runs deep. Will we even have a home left standing if we do not exhaust every resource? That said, his prowess speaks for itself. This was the man who sailed to Delverhold, a land once thought to be a myth and a folktale. I’d have not believed it myself had Knight-Captain Balamar not been the one to speak it before us.”

This time the one who spoke was a woman. She had a hood over her head, but I could make out her dark-brown hair. However, beyond that, I caught a glimpse of her eyes. There were no pupils in them. I might have taken her for being blind if I didn’t see her looking at the others.

“Indeed. I read her report and it continues to sound even more outlandish each time I look at it. I too share the table’s grievances. The pirate is brash, self-centered, egotistical, rude, and a harbinger of disrespect, nevertheless we must consider the reasons we would undertake this measure. Forces continue to draw close. It would do well for us to remember why we were created in the first place.”

This one was another woman, notably much older than the rest of those around her. In fact, she seemed around my age before my untimely death. Her face sported a few wrinkles here and there. Among those there, she seemed like a senior officer.

“We do not doubt our mission nor the origins of our table. However, we doubt the intent of this pirate. There is a reason the empire detests them after all,” another, a man with glasses said.

“Perhaps Knight-Captain Balamar isn’t as free from her blood as she tries to make everyone believe. She spent many months aboard this pirate’s vessel. It’s not hard to imagine that she might find her allegiances elsewhere,”

“That is uncalled for, Court Magister, especially given that Alteria isn’t here to offer a retort. I believe for now she is being punished enough. She has gained numerous accomplishments ever since she was allowed to join the Hæňgaram military. I have faith that she has the nation’s best interests at heart.”

The Court Magister in question was a skinny fucker. The type to hang around and rub shoulders with merchants, politicians, and attendees to the emperor’s court. Of all those in that stuffy environment, it's ones like him that I hate the most. Though I was a pirate, and ought to admire a ruthless backstab on an unaware bastard, the lot just put me in a bad mood.

The other who responded to him was another beastman, this one from a bird tribe. He had the head of a hawk, with the build of a large man, one easily capable of reaching Goron’s height. His wings remained tucked behind his back with a long, black strap. I also noticed that one of his eyes was missing.

“And how do we know this pirate can be trusted to keep his word? Can we even trust any word he brings before us?” another asked before I grabbed everyone’s attention by slowly holding my hand in the air. The water in their bodies obeyed my command and forcefully turned their heads towards me. Some of them looked shocked, stunned by what I’d done.

“Aye, well for starters, you lot can face ‘The Pirate’ and call him by his name. Now, how about we clear the stale air here? I ain’t your friend. I sure as hell don’t give two shits whether your empire becomes a smoldering crater like Taptos or not. I struck a deal with your Knight-Captain and it’s for that reason I’ve become your ally for now. Once this shit’s over, I’ll be sailing away, and hopefully, we’ll never have to see the ugly mugs of each other for the rest of our lives. Until then, use whatever means you have for yourselves to justify my presence here, but know that you don’t want to cross me unless you wish I make Ynro a seabed like C’ula,” I threatened, utterly fed up with this Hæňgaramian grandstanding.

“You dare… guak!”

I tightened my hold, forcing water up one of their throats. The person gurgled and choked before I eased my hold. “Give me what I was promised and you get to keep standing for many centuries to come. I believe that be a fair deal, aye?”

None on the table spoke a word. I noticed the female Defender of Knights who brought me here seemed ready to attack me, reaching for her sword before one of them raised their hands.

“Very well, Eric Drakclaw. Ease your rage and excuse our rudeness,” the mature female veteran of the table said, though her eyes showed not a single bit of pleasure in having to be polite to me.

That was fine with me. I cared not for it anyway.

I released my hold of them and the scholarly man touched the side of his head. “Fascinating. So this must be the strange water ability the Knight-Captain spoke about,” he said as I took a step forward.

“Now, discuss your hate of me and all pirates later. Why am I here? And why isn’t Alteria here at your little meeting?” I asked as the group looked at each other.

The lion beastman faced me. “Did you think that inviting a pirate into Hæňgaram would bear no consequences regardless of intent? She’s been imprisoned for a short while deep in a secure location under the guise of a failed assignment. She’s been there for about two weeks now,” he said while I hummed. So that was why I couldn’t track her mana through the capital.

“You sure know how to show your gratitude to the stern lass,” I remarked as the lion beastman slammed his fist on the table.

“It might seem uncommon to you, Eric Drakclaw, but here in Hæňgaram, the rules are enforced and punishment is carried out regardless of outcome or intention. That is the reason we have stayed as a place of strong will,” he said.

I offered no retort, even though I was greatly tempted to do so. It was rather hard for me to imagine such a lass in chains and behind iron bars. Then again, that was how I met her the first time.

“Aye, well, save your patriotism for one of your nation’s troops. There were some men of mine that I’d lent to Alteria. I assume since she’s told you lot about me, then she told you about them as well. Where are they?” I asked.

The avian beastman turned to the other members of the table. “What does he mean?” he asked, a stern gaze on his face.

“Alteria returned on a ship with Silver Commander, Ivios Arteus. It was told in her report that Eric Drakclaw’s vessel had a brief skirmish with them and a ship from Callamum. Their memories were erased of the event and some of the pirate’s crew were stationed in House Balamar for a short while. Since then we’ve found a use for them in this deal of ours,” the woman at the head of the table said before a fist slammed down.

“And you didn’t think some of us ought to know about this?! Are we to be overrun with pirates?” the bird beastman asked before the head woman turned to him.

“I know not what type of combat they’ve been trained in, but they are clearly a subtle bunch. None of them draw attention to themselves and handle their work with pride. Besides, it’s much easier to be lent forces that are already aware of the situation at hand instead of risking the leak within our own army. All would have been told eventually,” she said, no hint of remorse found upon her visage. She then faced me.

“Currently, we have asked for many of them to journey outside of Ynro. They are investigating just how deep Zevmar’s inner workings have gone, along with available troops and national ties. The leaders of their groups have consistently warned that the orders of their captain shall take priority above all else,” she mentioned and I couldn’t help the smirk that showed on my face.

Perhaps I’d best reward the bastards and bitches of Hilvir when I found the proper opportunity.

“Hard to believe a pirate could discipline anything,” the lion beastman said with a growl before I stepped forward and pressed my hand against the table.

Everyone’s attention on me, I spoke. “So aside from Lady Knight, this is all the sailing swashbucklers that know about the bastard, Zevmar?” I asked.

The head woman nodded. I clenched my fist and leaned up. “Then, I’ll get the first question outta the way. I’ve had my way around a fight with some of the bastards in your military before. Just from looking at the lotta ya, you seem to be high-ranking men and women. Well, most of you anyway. What stops you from bringing a charge against the bastard and taking him down?” I asked.

Alteria told me a little bit of the reason and I’d conjured a guess for myself. However, I’d need what information I could get to figure out how an event such as this had gone down in my previous life. Also if Seraphina was going to get involved, then this would be a little more difficult than I’d thought. Between her and I, neither of us seemed willing to hold back on any wide-scale destructive abilities. I also had no moonstone on me with which to contain her. Liara had all but taken that from me. I already knew that when we met again, she’d likely be furious with me. Hell, I wondered if the battlefield would turn into hell itself from her fury.

“You think we’d be having this table formed if such a matter were so simple? It’s more aggravating than even having your presence here. I’d like nothing more than to march up to that traitor and have him put on trial for his crimes. Unfortunately, there are no obvious crimes from him that would condemn him as a traitor to the emperor. Not to mention, he’s a very well-respected soldier and a member of the most prestigious clan in the empire.  The contributions of the Lightfeather house aren’t to be scoffed at. If we bring a charge against them without valid reason, we run the risk of being labeled traitors ourselves. We’d be sentenced to being burned at the stake,” the lion said, his claws clenching.

“Zevmar’s also something of a hero to the empire. It was because of his achievements that the empire expanded as far as the northern territories, a place known to be wrought with powerful beasts and unruly bandits. Many admire him and a lot of soldiers volunteer to be part of his elite guard. He’s also established a very strong rapport with several wealthy merchant owners, thus bringing prosperity to not only his house but also Hæňgaram as a whole. Some even consider him to be the reincarnation of Lumnina,” the man with glasses said while I snorted.

Lumnina was supposedly one of Hæňgaram's celebrated deities. A woman of peace and prosperity, she was said to be the one who birthed the angel who mated with the woman to give the Lightfeather house their light magic. I didn’t know how much more people could suck the dick of the Lightfeather house, but even I could be surprised.

“He is very meticulous as well. The war which he plans continues to take shape with no way of stopping it. Sairan troops were spotted near the outer borders of Rappala. Supposedly, they’re here to trade on the resources purchased from an auction on Delverhold. The rewards from there have gotten the entire world moving. I believe we have someone to thank for that,” he said before I turned to him.

“Aye, well thanks for that…”

“Ennan Riul,” the philosopher-like man with glasses said before I continued.

“Well, thanks for that, Ennan, but I sailed for Delverhold for other matters, not just for you. The lot of you are just beneficiaries of that. Besides, I had a feeling that was the case. That’s why you can thank me for getting Zevmar to test just how meticulous the bastard can be,” I said as they continued to look.

“You planned for this to happen?” the hooded woman asked.

“Aye. An ambitious bastard like that ain’t gonna let an opportunity like this go. If any of you see him, I suggest you look for signs of weariness. He’s gonna be in meeting after meeting trying to handle not only his own business but the duties of the empire as well. Something’ll crack eventually. However, best we be quick about it. It only takes one slip up for fuckers like him to catch on,” I replied.

The others remained silent for a moment or two. “He’s more clever than we expected.”

I turned and noticed a woman with red hair, a bit brighter than that of my mother. She was also notably older, seemingly a year or two younger than the woman heading the table. “Indeed. The spoils of Delverhold have brought Hæňgaram many visitors. Even now, they continue to flock toward the empire. Even the Mage Association seeks an audience with the emperor to study the treasures that the empire won from that auction. Murmurs of alliances and trades are heard even on the lips of even the commonfolk,” Ennan said.

“All while lining his own pockets. A pirate indeed,” the hooded woman said with something akin to a smirk.

“You said it lass, not I,” I remarked before a cough got everyone’s attention.

“These benefits are well and nice, but let’s not forget that it’s because of this that there have been a few skirmishes here and there in the outer lands near Hæňgaram. One of the towns near Navos was attacked by the Ssarizan Kingdom. Even some of the less guarded convoys have been attacked and raided. There are curses hidden in these blessings as well,” the avian veteran argued.

“But now you know the absolute enemies from the maybes, do you not? Best concentrate your efforts on those absolutes, lest you let your treasure drown beneath the abyss of your doubts,” I returned.

Once again, they were silent before the head of the table spoke. “This is true. It’s likely that many of these enemies could have contacts with Zevmar. Should we monitor them closely, then we might be able to find some way into his plans. We can only pray for the voyage of the souls of our men lost to keep the empire standing.”

They all offered a brief prayer before the head of the table looked at me. “You have come under the guise of a merchant, Eric Drakclaw. Obviously, you chose that occupation because you knew we’d be receiving an excess of such groups at the entrances. Yet, how did you get in front of the multitudes before you?”

Ah, now that was one of the questions I had for this group of patriotic bastards seated at this damn table.

“Told one of your guardsmen quite the tale. It be so grand that even a pirate such as myself can’t make it up. Told him your city of Taptos has turned into a crater that journeys to the very center of hell itself. Only one survivor of the place remained and something tells me he ain’t gonna be fit for any military duty any time soon. Story shook the guard right down to his steel boots. Apparently, my crew and I are at your little… guest mansion until our story is verified,” I replied, hoping for someone to begin explaining themselves on the matter.

…unfortunately, no one did.

Instead, the Lion beastman stood up. “What?! What do you mean Taptos has become a crater? Explain yourself!” he roared, his voice rumbling the walls and my ears.

“Ragni, control yourself!” Ennan urged as the lion beastman pushed himself away from the table. He walked over to me, standing well over my own height. In fact, I’d say my forehead came just up to his neck.

“You expect me to control myself when a pirate claims that one of our cities has been reduced to nothing with only one survivor and no one in the entire empire of Hæňgaram was aware of it until just now? I refuse to accept this mockery. Who to say this pirate didn’t attack Taptos to grant himself a cover story into the city? We saw what he was capable of doing to all of us just now. We also know what he’s capable of from the reports of C’ula. He could have easily done this,” the one named Ragni accursed, his mane of hair getting right in my face. He bore his sharp teeth at me, almost ready to tear my head off if I allowed him.

“Aye, I could have easily done that. Glad someone else thinks so, but you best know something about pirates. We’re a fucking prideful lot. We don’t take credit for someone else’s work. Whatever happened to your city wasn’t by my hand or the hand of my crew. Take that for whatever honesty a pirate can have. If ya don’t believe me, then wait for those soldiers of yours to return. Now, I suggest you cool the fires of your anger somewhere else, but I repeat our greeting,” I warned as Ragni snarled.

“Fortunately, there’s no need for that. Lina, is it possible?” the head woman asked the hooded woman to her left.

The pupil-less woman slowly nodded. “Of course. If I may have everyone’s silence for only a moment. I wish to focus,” she said as she closed her eyes.

Suddenly, I felt the vast stores of magic within this hooded woman begin to swirl around and take shape. The normally unseen language of magic by which all spells were constructed began to appear in front of me. I then understood what the woman was doing when her magic captured a bird that had been flying in the air above Hæňgaram. The lass was Beast Mage, a special type of arcane wielder that could form temporary contracts with any animal and make use of its abilities.

I was actually a little jealous of Hæňgaram at the moment. Beast Mages were supposedly very rare, yet they are highly sought after. Many tried to use them to get great beasts in servitude to other nations. More often than not, this was met with harsh rejection in the form of death to any parties with the beast mage. However, there have been a few great powers in the past that have successfully formed pacts with beasts via beast mages. Some liked to think that Kavtha became the guardian of C’ula from a pact with a powerful beast mage.

Either way, the woman formed a pact with the small bird outside. She then cast another spell, increasing its speed.

The journey must not have taken very long before we all heard her gasp. “I-Impossible!” she said, her face strained with grief and confusion.

“What is it? Has the boy told the truth?” the avian beastman asked as the woman named Lina swallowed deeply.

The beast mage seemed too afraid to speak, her hands trembling on the table. However, she found her voice after a little while. “I-It’s really gone. The entire city is gone. All of the trees, the buildings, everything is dead silent. No matter w-where I send the bird, I sense no living soul. Taptos has been turned into a land of the dead. No, n-not even that for at least spirits would wail in agony and anguish. There isn’t a single sound out here. It’s as if t-the very land itself doesn’t exist at all,” she said, her voice trembling in nigh silent shudders.

The entire table seemed to descend into an uncomfortable silence. Ragni wordlessly backed away from me and took a seat, his eyes lost and unfocused. Well, it seemed like I wouldn’t be getting any answers on that damn mystery from anyone here.

“How? How could the entire city of Taptos be gone? Could it have been an attack?” one of the other members of the table asked, but no one came up with an answer.

“Are there even spells of such magnitude that can cause such a thing? In all my years of study, I’ve never come across such a thing as this. When the patrols get back, all of the empire will be under high alert. Could this be from Zevmar?” Ennan asked.

Another at the table shook their head. “It wouldn’t make sense for him to do this. Where would he have gathered the power necessary for something of this scale? Even before that, what power is capable of such a feat? Clearly, this requires careful investigation,” the redhead woman said as the head of the group nodded.

“If this isn’t Zevmar, then this is even more concerning than a potential war. However, we must tread carefully. Any odd action could alert Zevmar. For now, until we know further, we shall treat this matter as if it’s related to the Knight-Captain and the Lightfeather House. I trust everyone here to maintain discretion until the report comes in. I shall prepare a team of men to…

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

A blood-curdling scream rang through the air as everyone, even I, stared in shock as Lina, the Beast Mage, fell out of her chair and crashed to the ground.

Panic seemed to set amongst the table. Everyone got out of their chairs and rushed to her aid. Various members tried to ask her what was wrong, but the only thing she could offer them was a violent scream as blood poured out of her eyes and nostrils. For a full minute, her voice echoed with great agony inside the chamber before she finally fell silent. When I walked over to her, I saw that she’d gone unconscious.

“Is she…”

“She still draws breath. I hear the movement of her chest. She seemed to have passed out,” Ragni said as the woman heading the table slowly lifted up the Beast Mage.

“Hila, tend to Lina and take her to the Hæňgaram doctors. Inform them that she’s passed out from night training. Hopefully, they’ll be able to help her and the cause of her outburst,” she said.

I noticed the Defender of Knights who had been standing next to the group salute. “At once, ma’am,” she said. She then slowly lifted up Lina. She took her away onto the platform that we’d used to enter this tunnel.

My eyes narrowed as I watched them step on the array and vanish away in the magical light. “They won’t be able to help her,” I said, getting everyone’s attention.

“What do you mean?” the lead woman asked, her gaze incredibly suspicious of me immediately.

I’d seen the magic that suddenly assaulted the Beast Mage. Her mana rose to an almost impossible level for her to control. The group was lucky that I’d managed to write enough of the language in the spell to only knock the lass unconscious. Had she been hit by the full brunt of its power, she would have died sitting in that chair. Naturally, I used that with the Mark of Hoɖ, but I wasn’t about to tell them that. I doubted they’d believe me anyway.

The others faced me, more than a few seeming suspicious of me. However, I didn’t let it bother me. After all, they were well within their right to feel uneasy around a pirate such as myself.

“Can’t say for sure, but it's quite easy to say that it’s easy to walk into that place, but it ain’t so easy leaving in. I’ve gathered numerous magical artifacts on my voyage which probably offered my crew and I some manner of protection against the adverse effects. Clearly, the lass didn’t have the same privilege. Whatever happened over there, it be clear that someone doesn’t want it found out,” I answered as the others looked at each other.

Ragni turned to the head of the table. “What should we do?” he asked. I saw in his eyes the burning desire to quickly assemble his forces and make for Taptos. Nearly everyone else could see that as well.

“We will continue to wait and survey the situation. Llanna, tomorrow head into the medical building and inform them to be prepared to receive patients should this encounter befall the group already investigating. From there, we shall come together once the emperor has made his own plans,” she answered. I saw the redhead stand and quickly salute the leader of the meeting.

“Yes, Ma’am!” she said with firmness and respect.

I could tell that neither Ragni nor his avian friend shared in this plan, but they kept their opinions to themselves.

“And what about him?” a woman with glasses asked, hiking her thumb over at me. Once again, everyone’s eyes were on me like I was some fucking member of a traveling band of entertainment hands.

“We shall work with him as Alteria has given her word and honor upon this deal. We shall… tolerate his presence so long as he observes the laws by which the great empire has governed itself,” she said while I leaned against the wall.

“I’ll try my best not to blow anything up, if it would please the lot of you,” I returned, already tired once again. I’d had enough of dealing with Hæňgaramians for one day.

The head of the table stood up. “Then this meeting is adjourned. What is our mission?” she asked, her voice moving through the people around the room.

“To protect the empire! To bring long-lasting reign to the nation of Hæňgaram! We operate in the shadows, not to obstruct, but to serve! The last line of the defense is also the first! By light we were born, by light we shall die! May our peace reign and may evil be vanquished! Long live Hæňgaram!”

Aye, that fucking oath never failed to make me laugh, especially when the bastards do it so earnestly. Of course, I’d not laugh aloud. Despite their funny oath and their dedication to it, they reminded me of the men who sometimes took the pirate’s oath to their captain. The same one that some of my crew gave to me right up until my demise. I at least respect that about these ‘warriors of light and justice.’ They seem properly dedicated to their cause and their emperor. Even if I find it rather silly to begin with.

“Aye, glory glory to Hæňgaram and all that wonderful ship’s barrel of good tides. I’ll let myself out,” I said as I walked towards the platform.

“We will be watching you, Eric Drakclaw. Remember that.”

I stepped on the platform and faced them, the mature woman who’d been leading the table the most. “As well you should, lass. As well you should,” I said before I was teleported away.

I was taken back to the empty hallway and walked out of the building. I then made my way to the guest mansion where the rest of my crew were sleeping. Most of Hæňgaram seemed silent, the lights of shops and the like had gone out. There were a few soldiers here and there patrolling the streets, but all was quiet and peaceful. For a Draegnarian like myself, this sort of peace was a little off-putting. Not a single homeless Hæňgaramian littered the streets like residents of Draegnar. If a crime was committed here, it was swiftly stopped and punished. A vast difference from Draegnar. Ain’t no thieves to be found here. If there are any, then they’re fucking good at it to not get caught.

Those like me for example. I grinned as I threw up and down five coin pouches that I’d snatched from a couple of the guards that passed me by. Hoped those fuckers were watching that.

As the mansion came into view, I pocketed my prizes. I then sat down on the stairs, replaying the meeting over in my head. Though I came up with that little lie about how my crew wasn’t affected, I had no idea how we’d managed to get through the city without the fate of that woman befalling the rest of us. Perhaps most of us had been around the powerful magic on Delverhold and that increased our resistance to whatever was happening here. I wasn’t sure, but the disappearance of Taptos continued to weigh on my mind.

What type of spell could cause such a violent outburst from a beast mage so far away from the devastated location? I knew of a few spells that could perform long-distance attacks on the mind, but not one like that. I also didn’t have the fucking patience to go through the library of hundreds of thousands of spells in my head to try and find it either. Still, I might have no other choice.

Well… there was one.

“An’raie, have you knowledge of any spells that would force great quantities of mana into the enemy?” I asked.

As expected, I received no answer. Aside from some sort of mild annoyance, the Lonely Wail offered me no more of her company tonight. I grumbled and leaned back. Well, I suppose I was back to the original option.

“You look tired.”

I opened my eyes and saw my mother standing behind me. She looked down at me and I saw that her eyes were just as tired as mine. “And what pulls you from your dreams? I figured you’d be in bed by now,” I returned as she sat down next to me.

“The dumbass captain of the ship is escorted off by Hæňgaram guards and no one knows where the fuck he is. I’d rather the crew not think I shanked you off in the woods somewhere. You’ll worry the others if you keep doing that,” she replied before a yawn left her mouth.

“Just them?” I asked with a small smirk.

My mother didn’t reply. Instead, we settled on a small silence as the wind blew across the trees, grass, and our faces. Fall would soon be upon the land for these breezes are cold and the leaves would begin to change color. Were it not for the drums of war beating on Hæňgaram’s door, we might have seen the Festival of Colors around this time. Granted, if it wasn’t for the war I wouldn’t have had much reason to come here anyway.

“So what happened?” my mother asked, pulling me away from my thoughts.

“Turns out our cover was blown before we even properly entered the city. Lady Knight’s got some friends aware of Lightfucker’s plot. They ain’t got much for proving it though. It also seems like everyone in these damned lands was unaware as to the fate of Taptos. They plan to send a few out there to investigate once the unit we encountered gets back,” I replied.

My mother snorted. “Damn. Surprised we’re all not arrested and thrown into the stockades. So do we still have to keep with these disguises?” she asked.

“Aye. Only a few of them know of us. The rest of Hæňgaram doesn’t. I doubt they’ll come to my aid if my identity suddenly gets exposed. I think they’d even rejoice in our deaths. However, for now, they’re willing to put up with our presence so long as we stick to our business… under their noses.”

For once, I saw my mother smile. “Do our pirate business the usual pirate way? Hope we can handle it,” she said, chuckling a little until we both fell into another silence. I turned an eye to her and saw the powerful lust swirling around her just waiting to be released. To be honest, I was amazed that she could appear so normal before me right now. This lust was no different from the type that almost made Aesteal sick back on Draegnar.

Without her notice, I slowly waved a hand and drew some of the lust back into my body, hoping to ease the burden on her a little. I felt a little warm, but I was too tired to think of fucking any lass at the moment.

“Feels like my bastard son ain’t the same person anymore. All this shit about time travel and the end of the world sounds like something out of Draegnar’s vandalized library. Not sure how I should act around you now. It felt easier when I thought you were just a horny bastard,” she replied.

My eyes drifted off for a moment, but my ears picked up her soft voice. “You’d be a fool to think I’ve become otherwise. Rest assured that I’m who I’ve always been. I still remember when you beat my ass with a damn switch when I got caught shoveling the coin out of a noble’s pocket into my hand. Ya bought me my first knife, and helped me use it too. Fuck, you were pissed when I lost it,” I said as I replayed those scenes in my mind.

My mother grumbled. “That fucking thing was expensive. Last time I ever gave you shit without you having the coin to put upfront on it,” she replied as I leaned up.

“Like that piece of wood and blade wrapped in cheap iron would have lasted long anyway. I might not remember every memory, but I remember the important ones. On one of your namedays, I stole a bottle of expensive shit from Ellen’s bar. Got myself into a damn chase for it too,” I said.

My mother smirked. “I enjoyed it to the fullest too. Besides, the glass made for good cutting material on the broken stove.”

We continued to trade stories of our lives and my mother huffed loudly. She leaned closer to me. “I was in love with your fucking dad. Thought I knew him like the back of a damned blade and barreled pistol. His breath smelled of fucking saltwater and he’d come home with barrels of fish, turning our house into the Draegnar seas themselves. As it turned out, I didn’t know him well enough. Up and left in the night, leaving me with a hard-headed son of a bitch. You give me the same feelings… same damn feelings. I thought I knew you and at every turn, it seems like I knew nothing. Now I wonder if, like your father, I’ll fall in love with you and you end up gone without a word just like him. And, I’ll fucking fall into the same damn rut I was in when he left. Goddammit, I swore I’d never let myself deal with this shit again,” she said as I watched her. She spat off to the ground and kicked some of the stones off the steps.

I said nothing, deciding to follow Aesteal’s wisdom and… be patient. Aye, this definitely wasn’t what I was used to. Even with all the practice I had in my work leading up to this, I still wasn’t used to it. It just wasn’t in my nature, but I continued to listen as my mother continued to refine her sailor’s mouth and utter every rat’s mouth word under the moon.

Finally, she stopped and sighed. “Look. Just tell me you love me. You’re the head of our family and I’ll listen to whatever you say, but… tell me that you love me, even if it’s a lie. Clearly, I’m stupid enough to believe it!”

She looked at me with great nervousness, a bit uncommon compared to her usual self. However, I remember how my mother looked many other days before our voyage. Her face used to be wrought with worry and insecurity. It seemed her scars ran deeper than even I knew. However, I didn’t let that worry me.

I leaned up and faced my mother. “Never known a lass like you to turn into such a tumultuous sea of strife like this. Best I should take the booze away from you before the sun soaks your brain,” I said, a bit of a laugh on my lips.

My mother didn’t share in my amusement. “Eric…” she warned before I cupped her chin. I then pulled her to me and I kissed her. I kissed my beautiful, nervous, worried mother, not pushing for more with either my tongue or my hands. Instead, we kissed slowly until I backed away. I felt rather pleased with myself when her eyes fluttered for a moment.

“I love you. I shall always love you. If ever I am to leave, it will not be when you’re asleep. I care not for how my father treated you then. He lays no claim to you anymore. You be mine, mother. You shall always be mine. I will sail you from east to west, north to south. Aboard my ship, you will watch many battles and face twice the same, yet you may doubt anything of me except that I would ruin D’orn myself for you. By my ship, and lest my soul be scattered into the wind, I shall always love you. This be not the boast of a boy, but the promise of a man. Of that, you shall have no doubts,” I said, deciding to leave her with those words.

I stood up and finally yawned, letting my body grow even more tired. “If I am to spend the rest of my new life proving such a thing to you, then I dare you to test me. I shall not fail it. Goodnight, mother. No, goodnight, Ira.”

I left her with that. She continued to stay outside as I made it up to my bedroom. When I opened the door, I saw the others still sleeping. Unfortunately, I wasn’t so stealthy as to get back in bed without waking them up. A few grumbled, but I went back to sleep feeling oddly pleased with myself.

I decided to sleep in a little later when the morning came. By the time I’d woken up, it was already past the sun’s zenith. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go out into the city since Ellen informed me that a few of my men had already taken the honor.

I was tempted to do so anyway. A pirate’s natural inclination to break the rules of society was a strong one, but I held against it. I already knew my crew was being monitored and there’d be no profit in stirring up trouble. So instead, I played the good bastard and did some work until the day ended.

When I woke up the next day, I decided to venture out into the empire with Maeloson and Aesteal. I had need of the two of them for a time such as this.

“It’s certainly much cleaner than Draegnar or C’ula,” Aesteal said as we walked through the streets, our disguises still in place.

“That’s not very hard to accomplish,” Maeloson stated as we moved through one of the far outdoor roads that led through Ynro’s land.

For me, Hæňgaram hadn’t changed that much. Soldiers continued to move up and down the roads in units ranging from six to 10. More often than not, the commanders were mounted on steeds. The galloping hooves made could be heard for at least a mile. When one looked through the plain of the empire, they were greeted with luscious green hills that led toward the empire’s white mountains. The hillsides were filled with homes of those not of royalty, modest homes where men worked their sweat and came back to their dutiful wives.

Even these homes would have cost quite a bit of coin on Draegnar, especially with the land owed them. I spotted a few portions of well-farmed land. Jolnir were attached to sturdy equipment made for digging up the ground. The Jolnir were large beasts with ancient stones embedded in their bodies. They were labor beasts used by the first settlers of Hæňgaram. Many liked to call them the gentle giants because they almost never attacked any living thing, except when it came to their young. Most were used by Hæňgaramians for heavy manual labor. Supposedly the creatures red off the special soil that only grew in Hæňgaram. It was probably why one wouldn’t find them anywhere else.

Each Jolnir had a long snout on top of its head. They can bellow for miles and were built more than any elephant I’d ever seen. Large spikes protrude from their bodies, warding off anything crazy enough to try and take it down. Its gray skin also made it hard to see at night.

“Though the scenery’s nice and all, I doubt you took us out here for a leisurely stroll. What are we doing out here?” Maeloson asked.

I spotted the city in the distance. The chattering of its people grew louder in my ears. “We’re gonna contact those men I sent with Alteria. Those bastards on that table had been using them and I want to know what they’ve been up to. Besides, I also want to know if any of them have seen Zevmar before he left for Draegnar. There ought to be plenty of shit for the guy to do with all the possible connections I’ve given him,” I responded, smirking at the thought of just how busy the guy might be now.

That said, when I turned my head I noticed the two elves were greatly pleased by the news that they’d be reuniting with their warriors after a few weeks apart. “How shall we locate them? They could be anywhere,” Maeloson argued as we passed by an elderly couple. The old lady waved at us, smiling as her husband led a horse-drawn cart filled with wheat and barley.

I barely paid them any mind but Aesteal, the ever-warm lass, waved back with a small smile on her face. Once the two were a notable distance away, I spoke. “We won’t have to find them. The ones we appointed will come to us, discreetly obviously. I already need to make a plan for after this little war is over since they’ve been discovered,” I replied.

“Yes. Once their usefulness is over, the empire won’t let them stay here. In fact, I imagine they’ll be rounded up before you’re set to leave,” Maeloson answered.

“Perhaps we could…”

I paused Aesteal’s thought once we made it into the town. No matter where you walked, the might of the Hæňgaram empire was there for us to see. Since we weren’t being rushed this time, Aesteal and Maeloson were given a full view of the grandeur of the empire. Of course, I’d been here before and it all looked the same to me. Though, it was nice to view the towns and cities without having to send a team of soldiers through one of the buildings.

“The empire truly deserves its title. Every building sparkles with the glorious color of Hæňgaram stone. All of it burned and crafted with volcanic ash. There are probably many kingdoms that have begged for even the smallest portion of it,” Aesteal said as I saw her, looking at one of the buildings to our left. A couple dozen young mages surrounded it and I felt the flourish of strengthened mana. A young man dressed in bright white and blue robes talked and laughed with a hooded young girl. She held a tome in her hands.

“Their might is everywhere as well. You don’t dare walk a single step without seeing at least one soldier, whether low or high rank. Not many would dare cause trouble here,” Maeloson said, lowering his voice as we passed by a stone mason’s shop.

“Clearly, they never assumed that the trouble would come from within,” Aesteal returned before we left that town and continued back into the countryside.

Our destination was much further than I remembered, but after walking through the pleasant roads of Hæňgaram, and crossing more than a few stone bridges, we arrived at a more heavily populated district.

This part of Ynro was lined with open merchant stalls and sellers of tradecraft. A few buildings were loud with the voices of men and clanking tankards. Hæňgaram soldiers continued to patrol the area, but they were notably laxer in their attire. In fact, a lot of them seemed to be more seasoned warriors, having been a part of the Hæňgaram military for a number of years.

This was a place where the soldiers and civilians came to relax. Local taverns, food stalls, and entertainment plazas abound here. One might think that a goody shit nation like Hæňgaram wouldn’t know the meaning of the word fun, but they’d be proven wrong.

For all their claims of justice and hatred of all things related to pirates, the bastards could sure as hell chug a tankard like a Draegnar bastard swigs his ale. “This is what we’re here for?” Maeloson asked.

I smirked. “The both of you have done undercover work before. The best places to talk are places that are too loud to be heard,” I replied as I walked into one of them.

As expected, you wouldn’t find Hæňgaram the type of place to be starting random bar fights like Draegnar, but there were plenty of tables filled with off-duty soldiers. There were also a couple of visiting mages and merchants. Particularly, I noticed a woman from the Mage Association seated at a table. I could tell because her mana wasn’t like those around us. Her’s was much more refined and powerful, not something even most high-ranking officers were capable of.

I noticed her turn to look at me for a moment in what seemed to be confusion and curiosity. Her eyes met mine. We only stared at each other for a moment before we continued about with our business. The tavern seemed to have a second floor so we made our way up there. I spotted an empty table and sat there. The two followed suit.

A tavern wench came over to greet us, asking if we desired anything. Maeloson and Aesteal weren’t interested, but I ordered enough to fill the table. “You still haven’t told us what you plan to do,” Maeloson said, tapping the table a little impatiently. He always seemed to do that whenever he wanted to be doing something else.

I leaned back in my chair, staring down at the crowds of cheering soldiers, adventurers, and tavern staff. Aye, though they were loud this place lacked some sharp teeth. There were no knife marks in the wood, no broken tables, and nothing smelled of drunken piss and gunsmoke shit. A Draegnarian might wretch at the sight if they were allowed to even get this far.

“Relax and eat,” I said, not giving anything away.

Despite not knowing, the two elves eased themselves when our food arrived. As expected, the tavern continued to louder as card games ensued. Soldiers started betting their pay away on a large table. Maeloson and Aesteal continued to wait diligently with me before I noticed the door open. A woman with short, black hair came through. She continued to walk around aimlessly before coming up the stairs.

“Good morning. It appears all of the tables have been taken. Might I dine with you three for a short while? I promise to pay for all that I eat,” she said as Maeloson and Aesteal turned to her. The smile on the latter’s face would have been enough to light up the whole room.

I leaned forward. “That depends. I be a greedy bastard after all,” I said as she took a seat.

“I’ve learned to handle greedy folk.”

Once she sat down, the bar was filled with drunken revelry. “It’s good to see you, Captain. I also greet my master teachers,” she said, touching a finger to her forehead and clapping her hands once. An elven way of acknowledging superiors.

“How has Hæňgaram been treating you?” Aesteal asked.

“Hard to move when you have so many soldiers crossing the dirt roads, but it forces you to excel at the training you provided us. How may I help you, Sir?” she asked, turning to me.

“I've heard tales that your services are being used for Alteria’s group,” I said.

Without shame, the woman nodded. “Yes, Sir. It was among the first things she told us would happen once we made for Hæňgaram. We were allowed access into the empire on her recommendation. Although, I’m unsure how well-received that was since some looked at her suspiciously. We’d been staying at the Balamar Estate under the guise of servants before we were called before The Table. Naturally, we’re aware of where we stand with them. They don’t trust us and we merely do as they say so we can continue our own work,” she said.

I leaned back, allowing her to partake in the feast we’d gathered. She graciously accepted. “And what have you done so far?” I asked.

“From what those in other cities have claimed, Zevmar identifies those allied with him by a special crested medal added onto their armor plate. It’d been discovered after more than a few close investigations. He’s also been in several meetings with the Mage Association. Many of them have come here since…”

“Since the Delverhold auction,” Maeloson finished and the woman nodded.

“That said, it’s impossible for him to be in every meeting. He has several commanding men under him who also handle his business. Two of ours have been placed as part of the merchant guild responsible for shipping trade items out to other nations. There’s also a ship’s manifest of Zevmar’s supplies reaching not only Sairan, but also local kingdoms such as Ninshil, Gilflok, and Razmien. He’s also been to Delverhold, recruiting certain noble families there and anyone willing to join with him. Of course, this is under the guise of Hæňgaram’s campaign, but we’ve yet to uncover how he’s supplying all of these nations in this coming war,” she said.

I chewed my food slowly, staring out the window at the passersby. Indeed, not even the Lightfeather House had so much wealth that it could supply good profits to all of these nations. Then again, I was sure the bastard fucked a few willing cunts. Light magic was a rare trait after all. Any kingdom would desire to have it. Alteria claimed the guy was ambitious and that didn’t seem too out of line with what he might do.

“You’ve grown, Ilka,” Aesteal said, putting a hand on the woman’s shoulder. The woman, Ilka, offered a small smile, appreciating the praise given to her.

We drowned out the noise from below, some bastard yelling that he’d been ripped off. Instead, I turned my attention back to Ilka. “Has he come into contact with the Mage Association?” I asked.

Upon this question, she appeared crestfallen. “If he has, then I believe we’ve failed, Sir. Aside from the usual times we’ve seen him patrolling nearby Hæňgaram cities, we’ve not seen him come into contact with the Mage Association. However, we believe this to be because the Emperor himself has been having very extended talks with them. Those like the woman below were more here to study the aspects of nations outside of the association. The real discussions are done with those of higher rank,” she said.

I hummed. Well, I wouldn’t ask for too much. In fact, this was already worth more than I thought. “And where is he now?” I asked.

Ilka slowly took out a small map. She pointed to the northeast. “He sails in this direction, towards the highlands of Varcul. They… they are lands that reach the borders of Fgg’rial,” she said nervously, glancing at Aesteal and Maeloson.

When I judged their expressions, I saw that Aesteal remained neutral, no resentment nor acceptance of her former home. However, Maeloson stared at the table, his expression faltering every little bit. There was anger behind his eyes, not like annoyance or mild unpleasantness. There was a wave of anger like mine, the sting of betrayal left its wound upon him. Even now, I swore that I’d seen someone like Maeloson from somewhere, but I wasn’t sure where.

Still, if Zevmar was headed to Varcul, then no doubt he’d be headed to one of the beastmen kingdoms. In Varcul, there lived a race of beastmen that lived high in the mountains that were said to reach past the clouds. Their lungs were strong up there amongst the thick air. Those that could fly could travel the world in thirty days. Others were strong enough to till an entire field’s worth of dirt with just their claws. The lot weren’t to be underestimated.

That said, this wasn’t bad. Varcul wasn’t a fast journey. He’d more than likely be gone for four weeks to a month and a half. More than enough time for me to come up with something to deal with him, assuming those bastards of the table let me work freely. Which they won’t.

“And what of Taptos? Have you any reports on that?” Maeloson asked.

Though I was already suspicious of the disappearing city, Ilka’s reaction confirmed it. “Taptos? Nothing seems to be wrong with it. Aside from a few unsavory characters, no one’s reported to me anything strange over there. What’s wrong?” she asked.

“There be a lot wrong, lass. The entire city is missing. Ain’t nothing but a crater in the lands of Hæňgaram now,” I said. Her eyes widened, but she offered no outburst. Instead, her face became wrought with sweat.

“But I don’t understand, one of the men under me delivered a report to me of that city just a week ago. I swear that we’ve…”

I held up my hand, cutting her off. I’d expected her response to Maeloson’s question to be the same as other Hæňgaramians to mine. She didn’t know of the fate that befell the city. Apparently, neither did the person she sent out to that city. There wasn’t a point to getting frustrated with the lass for an odd situation such as this. It only steeled my resolve to discover what happened for myself.

“Don’t let it trouble you. Whatever happened over there seems to be affecting the minds of all those who stepped through Hæňgaram. It only means the smell of adventure be on the tip of our noses,” I said, a bit of a pirate’s jest in my voice.

We continued talking for a little while, but soon it would be time for Ilka to leave us. For where she was positioned, it wouldn’t do good for her to disappear for long. Our time together slowly came to a close, but not before Ilka gave me a little more news.

“Sir, we also found one of them. I’m afraid you’ll have to confirm for yourself, but… Anderen Dagnos. He was last seen on one of the nearby islands just east of the Hæňgaram provinces.”

I spoke not a word after that. The weather did that for me. The streets were instantly cleared from the violent downpour of rain and the vicious crash of thunder. If Maeloson and Aesteal said anything to me, I didn’t remember hearing it. By the time I was aware of myself, we were already back at the mansion. My clothes were utterly soaked from head to toe.

When I sat on my bed, lightning flashed across the sky and thunder roared so loudly that the mansion shook a little. I wanted to ease my anger, to tell myself that all would come in due time, but I wouldn’t forget how that day started.

Anderen Dagnos.

He was one of the cooks above my ship in my past life. He was a pretty damn good one at that. Aye, his meals would never be served in any royal court, but the bastard knew how to wrap you around his finger with a damned plate.

Unlike Boreli, Anderen was a Draegnarian like me. However, unlike myself, he’d grown up an orphan. The island’s got plenty of those running around, little bastards doing a lot of unsavory jobs to make ends meet. The only people willing to adopt them were those they could make some coin off of.

Anyway, Anderen quickly learned that if there was any one thing people would always need, regardless if they were rich, poor, or in-between; it was food. Day and night, he’d watch the butchers and cooks of local taverns serve food to their patrons. He’d watch the jingle of bronze, silver, and gold coins across tables as people left with full stomachs and pleased faces. When one could cook, their door to anywhere was open to them.

So, with a few successful and unsuccessful attempts at pilfering ingredients, bread, cheese, and other cooking stuff. Anderen practiced how to cook and he practiced it with any type of meat found on Draegnar until he was good enough that a pirate ship wanted him years later. They’d been too hungry to even walk and hadn’t the money to pay. He gladly offered them food if it meant he could get off D’orn.

He always told me that after that, I’d just been jumping from ship to ship, whether pirate or otherwise, cooking for them and collecting what coin he could. Our meeting wasn’t so pleasant like Boreli and I. We’d met over a disagreement on the food in a bar in the far east. I liked it and he hated it. With the usual insults thrown back and forth, he challenged that he could make a finer meal.

In the end, he was proven wrong, but I was intrigued by his grit. I offered him to join me, to sail beneath me until the fucker could make something worth a damn that was better than what I’d eaten. He joked that he’d enjoy refining the tastebuds of a person used to eating rat shit.

Anderen was one of those… ‘don’t watch me while I work’ types of bastards. Except on rare occasions, no one saw him cook. He had his own station where he was in charge of everything, and people feared the fucker for he could make your damn day or ruin it.

Well, he certainly ruined mine. The night before the morning of my betrayal. He’d offered me a big dinner. I wondered what such a feast was for, but he laughed it off.

“Give the captain his due. That be the way of the ship!”

So I ate the apple of sin, the feast prepared for me, and my days were due. I woke up uncoordinated and sick, my stomach and body growing numb from the various toxins fed to me. I couldn’t have fought back even if I wished to.

Anderen and I weren’t friends. We were Draegnarian. Most lot ain’t ever gonna be friends that come from that island. However, I always thought we had an understanding. I wanted him on my ship to feed my crew, and he needed a powerful place where he could take all the ingredients he wanted and cook to satisfy whatever he wanted. I asked him once what he wanted to do with all of that cooking that he did, but he never answered me. Instead, he always said…

“Even the gods above come down here every once in a while.”

I never knew what he meant by that, but he’d speak no more of it.

I scowled as I lay in my bed. I never knew that bastard had come so close to Hæňgaram. No doubt that son of a bitch was cooking something in a pot while the smoke and fire singed his crusty beard. I touched my chest as I thought about Boreli and my own arrogance. Delverhold was no place for the petty thoughts of revenge and I’d failed to remember that. If not for Ellen, Nei, and the others, my second shot at this life might have been wasted.

Clearly, my original plan wasn’t going to work. I’d hoped to assemble all the members of my former crew again. Once I’d gathered them all, I’d grant them a ship’s death by burning in the vilest sea imaginable. Such a fate was too good for them, but it was one that filled my chest with mirth. I’d give them double what they gave me, but I’d also come up with a problem.

None of the fucking lot knew who I was. I sure as hell wouldn’t feel satisfied crushing them all like slaughtered rats if they didn’t even know me. I also had no idea how to make them remember either. As far as I knew, there weren’t spells that could bring forth the memories of a destroyed future that no longer existed. If there were, then clearly Liara’s mind wasn’t showing them to me. Somehow, it felt like I was always beyond the answers that I sought, all of them hidden behind a deep haze that was the Witch of Draegnar’s mind.

First, I’d have to verify if it was actually Anderen. If it was, then I’d have to move on to another step. Whether he knew me or not, I wasn’t so patient as to allow him to vanish on me, especially not with the state of things now. I’d also rather not track him with a demon like I did Liara. Nothing ought to give me away. Anderen was a slippery bastard sometimes.

After a few minutes of thought, my mood finally eased back from the great anger I felt. Nei and Lei chose that time to interact with me, crawling their soaked bodies across the bed and onto my chest. My fingers toyed with them for a little while, but I continued my silent thoughts until a knock on my door came.

I didn’t remember telling the person to enter or not, but I sensed the presence of Aesteal. She sat on the bed, but I paid her no mind. “What are you going to do, Sir?

Her soft voice was the blade of an assassin, puncturing my ears with their sharp forwardness. They broke the cloudy haze of my thoughts as I pondered her words. Aye, that was the question. What the fuck was I going to do?

“Whatever lots I cast upon the ground, whatever I do, it won’t be the same as last time,” I said, vowing those words more to myself than to her. However, I felt her reach a hand for mine.

“Yes. You won’t be doing it alone,” she said.

I glanced at her and she stared at me firmly. I fought down the chuckle threatening to pierce my gullet. I touched her smooth face, she eased into my touch. I pulled her down and she kissed me, her hands touching my chest for a moment. Unfortunately, the pleasantness of the kiss didn’t last for long. I could sense Nei’s jealousy when she looked at us.

Once Aesteal and I pulled away, Nei replaced her. I wished there was a place for her and Lei to grow larger. Kissing so small a woman was rather difficult, and a bit silly by the way Aesteal laughed at it. However, Nei seemed thrilled over it, slapping her fin on my hand repeatedly.

Lei also seemed jealous, but Aesteal’s fairmaid quickly took care of that. She floated over to Lei and it didn’t take long for them to start kissing passionately. Aesteal and I watched them for a little bit, but I spoke.

“I’ve become quite the sacrificial crew member, haven’t you?” I asked as Aesteal smiled.

“I shall take the title for what it’s worth. Everyone’s been asking about you since you arrived back. Seems they’ve all grown to attribute fierce storms to your anger,” she said.

I sat silently with her, letting those words stew in my mind for a little while before I straightened up. “Bring Ellen to me. Best I inform her of our course,” I said.

My elf agreed. She stood up and walked away, returning momentarily with my Quartermaster. “The next time you decide to lose your shit, can you do it when I’m not outside?” she asked.

When she said that, I noticed her hair was a little damp. It’d been dried with a towel not too long ago. “You’re a pirate now, Ellen. Besides, you’d also lived on Draegnar many a year. Don’t tell me this be the first time you’ve gotten your hair soaked,” I said while she scowled.

“It sure as hell isn’t, but it seems to have tripled in number since I’ve been around you,” she said, garnering a small grin from me before all of our expressions turned serious.

Once those Hæňgaram soldiers return with the news of Taptos, I’ll be journeying to the east of the empire’s provinces. I met with a few of Alteria’s little circle that are aware of Zevmar. No doubt they’ll be off their asses getting us to do this and that. Act as best you can while I’m gone. If all goes right, I’ll be back within a few days,” I said.

“And what’s to the east?” she asked.

“A personal matter,” I replied, the storm growing slightly stronger outside.

Ellen took notice of this and snorted. “Whatever. Just make sure it stays in the east and doesn’t come near me.”

“How shall I see you lay waste to bastards and bitches if I don’t bring the lot to you?”

“Please, like you need to try hard to see me do that. Well, whatever you’re doing, try to keep this last lung you’ve got. I doubt any magic’s gonna be replacing that one,” she advised.

…was that concern I just heard? Perhaps my ears had betrayed me. Nevertheless, I didn’t bring it up. “Aye, that’ll be hard for me to fulfill the promises I made without it,” I returned. Ellen nodded and walked out of the room.

Once this was finished, I gathered the rest of the crew together briefly. Minus a few details, I told them all what I told Ellen. A select number of people were aware of us and would be watching us as we stayed in the Empire of Crystallized Ash. I also told them that I’d be leaving for a few days to the east. Maeloson, Diane, and Naala would be going with me. It would give Maeloson some time to make contact with the warriors stationed in that area. Diane and Naala wished to go merely sick of being stuck in the mansion with very little to do, something I could sympathize with.

I still hadn’t seen Nz’ia. He’d long since disappeared from the mansion as soon as we got there. However, I knew he was still in Ynro. Hopefully, he’d stay out of trouble.

Either way, the day slowly came to a close and I ventured back into my quarters. As expected, my bed was as crowded as always, but I wasn’t one to complain. Instead, Ellen, Aesteal, Naala, Diane, and I slept peacefully.

Well, those four did anyway.

While my physical body rested, my mind delved deep through the vast stores of books I’d constructed out of Liara’s memories. Once again, I continued to stay to my half of this shared space, never bothering to go back to An’raie since our brief bout. Aside from her comments on Taptos, she’d yet to speak to me since then. I wasn’t sure why, but I continued to leave her to her own devices. After all, I doubt we’d call ourselves friends.

Either way, I looked through a few books lined with spells and incantations, wondering if one might explain to me the mysterious occurrence in Taptos. I also searched through one about memory disruption or transference. The former for the Hæňgaram problem and the latter for my own circumstances. Unfortunately, I wasn’t given much information on either. Well, the former had a lot, but not for details in the situation regarding Taptos.

A problem also manifested in that, the spell I needed was probably somewhere in these books that were converted from Liara’s memories. However, the pages of books enough to fill up an entire Mage Association’s library were blank. When I touched it, a sharp pain would come to my hands, increasing with even greater severity when I came close to turning the page. Liara was nothing if not thorough in making sure her secrets were guarded.

After more than a few hours of failure, I became fed up with this investigation. Mentally exhausted, I leaned back in the chair, my eyes gazing up at the library’s neverending ceiling. A dimly lit beam of light shone down upon me. Squinting my eyes, I fell forward and rested my body on the table. I contemplated giving this up for the night. Perhaps I’d have more success after some reports from Alteria’s little friends came forward.

As I sat down, my mind drifting away, I felt two hands rub my shoulders. I opened my eyes and sat up. When I turned around, I noticed that I was no longer in the constructed library in my mind. Instead, I was standing in a forest, in front of the entrance to a cave. This wasn’t so dissimilar to one of the caves back on Delverhold, or beneath Draegnar’s waters.

If I were honest, I wasn’t in a particularly curious mood to find out who was messing with me. It couldn’t be An’raie. She didn’t seem the type. Instead, I wondered if this was some stupid way of my mind playing with me in my exhaustion.

I was about to leave, having had enough of mysteries, but I saw a load of steam begin to exude out the mouth of the cave. When the steam hit my body, it felt like my mental fatigue was being stripped away from my body. I felt energized like I’d actually slept the whole night.

My interest piqued, I walked into the cavern. Copious amounts of the steam quickly washed over me like a sea wave. My nostrils inhaled it as I continued walking. A faint clarity slowly came over me when I felt a sense of arousal that stimulated the furthest recesses of my mind.

The walk through the cave was filled with darkness and intoxicating white mist. I stumbled a few times, aware that my cock had risen in my pants during my venture. My chest began to puff and my eyes became sensitive to the essence of Vilinlith that carried itself with the mist. Everything began to make sense to me when I entered the clearing.

There wasn’t much here except for a large opening at the top of the cave with a large pond of hot, steam-producing water inside. A few stones circled the perimeter of the pond, but nothing resembling vegetation appeared here. It appeared to be a great place for the rest from the stress my mind was under.

Without a word, I took off my clothes. I threw them to the side and slipped into the hot, steamy pond. This manifestation of my mind and my dreams made me sigh in sheer bliss. The fatigue in my head slowly sapped itself away, making me feel like I was actually in a bath of sorts. The water felt good on my cock. The steam and heat wrapped around it like a woman’s pleasant hand, slowly stroking me up and down.

I closed my eyes for a little while, not allowing my mind to wander too far. If I did, I’d fully slip into the plane of dreams. Though, if things continued to progress like this, it might not matter in the end.

A smile came onto my face when I felt two pairs of hands rubbing my legs. The nimble fingers touched my knees and then rose up to my pelvis. One of them brushed my cock. I inhaled a noseful of steam and exhaled it through my mouth in pleasure. The touch was very pleasing. In fact, I hoped it might continue. However, there was no such thing.

The hands rubbed my stomach and crawled up to my chest. Then, two figures flew up out of the water. Both of them put a hand on my cheek, causing me slowly open my eyes. Black hair, lustful eyes, and sexy smiles filled my eyes. My ears picked up on the sounds of moving legs next to mine.

“You two couldn’t wait, could you?” I asked as I saw Nei and Lei floating next to me, about my height from their usually small appearances. Both of them wore sexy smiles, their eyes revealing just how much they wanted to devour me. Their hands on my face and my chest, they stared expectantly at me.

I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised that they’d be able to invade my mind like this. Nei and I were contracted to each other and Lei was Nei’s sister. Of course, she could follow the trail of magic her sister used to connect my mind to hers. Something also told me that they’d done this for a reason more than just pleasure. Now what that reason was I didn’t know, but I was thankful for the break.

The two surely lured me here and they infused the Essence of Vilinlith with the steam in the air of this plane around us. That might explain why I was harder than any iron cannon and ready to blow at any moment. Once again, the power of the Mother of all Succubi surprised me. To think it could even be used in such an abstract existence as dreams was interesting.

That said, my mind was pulled away from my wandering thoughts when two hands grabbed a hold of my shaft. “We mate!” Nei said while Lei licked her lips.

I stared at the two of them. Without even waiting for my response, they began stroking my cock. I sighed slowly, shivering from the hot water and their pleasant touch. Lei’s fingers touched the crown tip and Nei’s rubbed the base.

Slowly finding my nerve, I faced Nei and brought her face to mine. “Then best you not regret it later. I have some frustrations to work off,” I replied. Her eyes stared back at mine, accepting the challenge. Then, we kissed. Her tongue fiercely wrestled with mine and her grip over my cock grew stronger.

“Mmmmmmmm!” she mewled.

I then pulled away from her and turned to Lei. She seemed just as needy as her older sister. I kissed her as well. Lei then withdrew her hands from my cock and threw them around my neck. Her supple breasts pushed against my chest. Her lips tasted of the hot pond while Nei continued to stroke me off.

I then turned back to Nei and kissed her again. She happily accepted, swirling her tongue around in my mouth. Meanwhile, Lei bit on the corner of my ears, sending pleasure down my body. One of my hands grabbed a handful of her succulent breast, my fingers digging into her skin.

Lei moaned in my ear as I continued to kiss Nei. She quickly became more aggressive, stroking my cock even more. The pleasure was pushing through every corner of my brain in such vast amounts that I wondered if my real body held a firm mast beneath the sheets.

I massaged Lei’s tits, rotating them in great circles. She seemed to enjoy the movement as evidenced by her frantically driving the rest of her body into me. Nei and I smacked our lips apart. She stared hazily at her sister, groaning in ecstasy. Not willing to leave her out, I used my other hand to grab Nei’s tits as well. I pulled the both of them to me, bunching their soaked bodies together.

“You two be the finest, horniest sluts,” I said, pinching and pulling their pointed nips jutting out of their large globes. Their squirmed, writhing together beneath me as they unknowingly sandwiched my cock between the gap of their asses. My steel rod of flesh enjoyed the stimulation. Their butts rubbed my cock up and down and their hands roamed up and down my arms.

My mind thoroughly energized, I released them and grabbed Nei. Her human-like form was a worthy sight for the eyes. I imagined that many kings would seek to bed her and have her sire their offspring if they got the chance. I lifted her up and out of the pool. As expected, she’d used the Essence of Vilinlith to sculpt her body to my liking. Her legs were long and graceful. Her pink pussy was puffed, leaking a torrent of sex juice across the rocks and into the water.

She looked at me curiously, yet intrigued. “Spread your cunt for me, Nei. I’ll be awarded what I should have done back on Draegnar,” I ordered.

“Feel good, my mate!’ she said as she pulled her legs apart. Her beautiful pussy was spread before me, granting me the greatest view. Without warning, I bent down and latched my tongue onto her sopping slit.

“Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggh!” Nei suddenly screamed. I shoved my tongue deep into her cunt, licking and slurping up all the juice that fell on my tongue. With one hand, she grabbed my head and drove my mouth further into her luscious cavern. Her other hand was toying with her breasts.

There was an odd taste to Nei’s flesh. Her cunt sucked my tongue in, each curve and wiggle making me strike a different place. Her legs sat on my shoulders, her voice roaming through the air. Whether because of the pond or the intense activity, water glistened down her body, mixing in with the juice of her clear arousal.

However, she wasn’t alone. Soon, I groaned into her snatch when I felt my cock gobbled up in a warm mouth, and massaging tongue. It could only be Lei who had sunk beneath the pond’s surface and sought her own fun. Her mouth was fucking amazing. More than once without rest, she swallowed me down to my pelvis. She grabbed my ass, driving my cock in and out of her mouth.

Lei’s mouth was like a whirlpool, sucking all of my mast down into her ferocious depths. I nearly lost all the feeling in my legs when she wrapped her tongue around my shaft. I was surprised when she even used it to stroke the entire length of my cock for my cum while her head bobbed. My mind started to slip. The only thing which kept me from wandering through the haze of pleasure was my focus on Nei’s decadent womanly hole. Shoving my cock and swirling it around in the same manner as Lei did to me, and hearing Nei’s voice were all that kept me going.

Soon enough, I got Nei screeching when my mouth pulled on the inner lips of her pussy. Her legs suffocated my neck and her torrential orgasm flooded my mouth with bitter waters. While she panted, I thought I’d have a chance to reset myself. I was proven wrong quickly.

My hands quickly reached into the water and grabbed Lei’s head. Nei’s orgasm must have triggered something in her sister because she was bobbing her head so fast I worried she might break her fucking neck. However, that didn’t stop the manifestation of my body in my mind from succumbing to the way she sucked me off. My cock reached all the way into the back of her throat and I fired a hangman’s rope of cum down her greedy gullet.

“Fuck, are you trying to suck my soul out with it?” I groaned before she finally released me. I stumbled in the hot pond for a little while. My mind conjured up sweat to fall down my forehead as Lei resurfaced. I noticed a small trail of my cum hanging down the side of her mouth. She stared at me, clearly aware of what she left. She then flicked her tongue and swiped it up.

She then leaned over Nei and kissed her, no doubt swapping my cum between the both of them. Their mess of soaked black hair clung to their bodies. My cock immediately started to grow hard again as I watched their embrace. Lei fondled Nei’s breasts while Nei shoved her fingers into her sister’s snatch. It didn’t take them long to start rubbing their pussies against each other, their arms caressing and rubbing each other.

Feeling rather slighted about being left out, I walked over to them. I then grabbed Lei’s ass and held it in my face. Her mind clearly crafted a wonderful human body for herself. Her skin was without blemish or imperfection. The same could be said for Nei as they continued to kiss each other.

As I watched their writhing bodies, a thought suddenly came into my head. The machinations of my mind, which had been muddled during my studies, became clearer and clearer. I lined my cock with Nei’s cunt and shoved it inside. “MMmmmMMMmmngh!” she wailed, overcome with pleasure. Her sleek, wet cove gripped the length of my shaft until my balls touched the nape of her ass.

Once my cock was fully lodged into her strangulating snatch, my lips curved upwards. I expelled some of the essence of Vilinlith and manifested myself in front of Lei. Without even asking, I pulled her up. She looked at me teasingly before I turned her around, giving her a full view of my shaft buried deep in Nei’s pussy. This also gave my contracted fairmaid an ample seat to watch my cock be ready to spear her sister from behind.

I sensed Lei’s eagerness. The purple aura of ancient magic linked our minds and our pleasure together. I felt just how full Nei was of my dick, gently humping herself against it. Lei wiggled her ass in my face, her slit dripping with anticipation. I looked at myself, all of the pleasure melding together. My conscious spread between these two constructs of myself, I slid myself into Lei for the first time, piercing her until I was lodged just as deep in her as Nei.

“Aaaaaah…!” She wailed, her head shooting up for a moment. Then, my cocks pulled out of Nei and Lei. Next, I shoved them back in. Deep, strong thrusts were made and the pond became a symphony of debauched ecstasy.

“Yesssssss, my mate! Mate me!” Nei spoke through the depths of my consciousness. My mind was frayed and my cock felt the difference in their cunts. Every bump and curve was something different. Yet, it all wrung the cum out of me all the same. Not even a few minutes in and I was already roaring, firing a stream of cum into their waiting pussies.

“Strong… mate… bonding.”

I then noticed Lei speak, her voice an odd contrast to Nei’s. Her was younger-sounding, perhaps by a year or so of Nei’s adult age. However, her voice quickly gave way to more moans and grunts filled with lust. For not having fucked her previously, Lei matched my pace rather easily. She slammed her ass back into my crotch while she bend her head down and tickled Nei’s clit with her tongue. Between the both of us, Nei exploded in a second orgasm.

Through her embrace with the highest form of rapture, I continued to drive my cock through her pussy. One thing I noticed with Nei was that her cunt focused on squeezing the base of my cock when she was aroused. On the other hand, Lei’s curvaceous honeypot focused on the crown of my girth. The rough impaling of my pistol into her sheath gained a loud orgasm from her. Drip by drip, our combined fluids splashed on Nei’s face. Of course, that didn’t deter her. She pulled Lei’s hips down and licked her clit just as her sister did for her.

Their combined pleasure and mine adding onto each other, It didn’t take me long to fire another cannonball’s worth of cum deep inside their cunts. My mind slipped for a moment, but I was quickly brought back when my cock hardened while inside their womanly pockets.

Our fuck sessions slowly dragged itself back into the water. Nei and Lei laid next to each other, each of them staring at me through the respective bodies I’d manifested. Their legs wrapped around my waste and I tirelessly thrust my wooden mast into them. Nei vigorously rubbed her before Lei jumped into my arms. She bounced on my cock, biting my neck and trembling on the inside of her burning, tight hole.

“FUCK!” I groaned, cumming deep inside them again.

“Yessssssssssss!” Nei and Lei hissed together, throwing their heads back. Their twats quivered with an abundant load of cum that our minds imagined in this shared space of ours.

I absently noticed that my mind continued to get clearer and clearer, the more I intimately bonded with Nei and Lei. Their voices in my ears seemed to clear away the misty fog that I’d come to encounter whenever I delved into things too much. Bit by bit, the shackles which held a portion of my mind down were cut and turned to ash. The rapture and bliss with them seemed to melt my nerves and my angst. Unashamed, I came again and they came with me.

My mind was clearer than it had ever been before. as I lay on the ground, my consciousness constantly shifting between the two fairmaids. They bounced their bountiful booties on my pelvis, revealing my cock before making it disappear inside them. Whenever I saw my cock, it was slathered, caked, and smothered in their individual floods. A mess of bliss filled all of us until I grabbed their hips and thrust my own upwards. With one last bullet loaded in my chamber and ready to fire, my toes curled and my hips locked. My eyes rolled into the back of my head when I came and they arched back, screaming in delight from their final meeting with a mini-death. They lay on top of me and the second manifestation slowly flew away into the air.

As I laid with them in the pond, cum dripping down their trembling legs, I pondered the clarity bestowed upon me. “Understand, mate shall!”

I turned my head and saw Nei smiling at me. Lei had long since fallen asleep, slowly fading away as she allowed her mind to drift. Soon she faded away, separating her mind from ours as she enjoyed her own dreams.

“What are you plotting?” I asked.

Despite her naivete into the world of humans, especially being a mythical creature from Delverhold, I knew Nei was far from stupid. As the leader of the fairmaids, she had to have all the qualities to make the others submit. I’d seen instances of this numerous times. She was the only one allowed on top of my head, nuzzling herself in my hair. She’d snarl and hiss at the others if they tried. The few times I ate my dinner with her, she always ate closest to me. The others drifted off, feeding themselves until they were full. They listened to her and properly obeyed her. Nei was a crafty little thing and a very small part of her reminded me of Leah, something I wasn’t too pleased about.

In response to my question, Nei just smiled. She then yawned. Mate… silly. Nei not against you. Mate makes… Nei happy. Nei laughs when mate fights. Nei defends… mate as mate… defends Nei. Mate… learn… one… day.”

Slowly Nei allowed her mind to wander, leaving me with those words as she detached her mind from mine. I watched her go. The hot pond that they’d constructed for all us slowly began to fade away.

As I drifted through the endless darkness, I thought about Nei’s words. My mind a little clearer, I found myself back in the library composed of Liara’s memories. As I sat on the table, I frown appeared on my face despite how refreshed I felt. I leaned back into the chair and stared up.

“Not against me,” I thought as I put my elbows on my desk. No, I doubted the fairmaid was, but I certainly thought more than a few aboard my ship were. In fact, in my worst of days, there were times that I’d rather not thing about the fact where I thought the whole ship was against me. I’d have nightmares that I might wake up bound in rope, my body broken and touched by a moonstone.

I’d envision my mother, Ellen, Diane, Naala, and… Aesteal standing over me. Each of them in the warm embrace of men just as Leah was. Nevertheless, I’d be cut down from my own ship and dropped into the sea again. In my anger, the seas would not respond to me and I find myself torn apart by the inhabitants of the sea, nothing left to me other than my lingering thoughts like last time.

Never had I thought the sea, my domain, would be so cold and unforgiving. The treasures I amassed, the fortunes I’d garnered, none of them sailed down with me. I was alone.

Utterly alone.

How fitting for a man who’s bed was usually filled with sexy lasses to die alone with none of them to comfort him. I wondered if this was what An’raie felt when the Alchemist condemned her for so many years, I dared say the hate in her had to be more than mine. The lass never got the chance to do her life over like I did, trapped for thousands of years upon an island with only her thoughts to keep her company.

However, as a pirate, I wasn’t used to the earnest sincerity of Aesteal. It had been that which gave me the measure to place trust in the rest of the crew. Perhaps it was not she who needed me, but the other way around. Clearly, I’d changed. The box beneath my bed must have grown cold from no use.

“Ya old, salty dog. You still be a piece of shit like always,” I said to myself as I laid there, wondering if perhaps I was the problem in all of this.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on perspective, I couldn’t hold this melancholy mood for too long. The essence of Vilinlith was still charged throughout my body, making me more excited than my mood might suggest. Even now, I felt my cock slowly beginning to rise in my pants again. Unfortunately, I had no lass to help with it this time. I also didn’t wanna handle it myself because one lapse and my mind might slip away into blissful dreams. I couldn’t afford that just yet, especially not when it felt so clear at the moment.

Deciding to try and tune out the arousal I felt, I scanned through more tomes. My eyes widened when I saw that pages which had been blank before were now filled with words and stories told from Liara’s perspective. WIthin almost all the books that I picked up, there were more pages outlined than before. I remembered this feeling from when Liara and I had sex for the first time. I’d felt so much clarity of mind that I’d uncovered so much to the point of it almost overwhelming me.

I closed one of the books and slowly exhaled, allowing my mind to rest for a moment or two. When I felt more assured of myself, I continued my studies. Just as before with each barrier I seemed to break through, stories and memories of forgotten kingdoms, fatal wars, rise and fall of empires, the progression of D’orn filled my mind. Lands with buried treasure that could put even Hæňgaram to shame passed by in my mind, each of them unfortunately plundered by various men or other rising kingdoms.

As exciting as all this mess of memories was, I had to put my viewing of them on hold. Instead, I grabbed one of the spellbooks which contained some of the memories of Liara’s spells. When I flipped through the page, I redoubled my efforts. I wondered if there might be a spell that caused the disappearance of Taptos.

I only had three guesses at this point. It was either a powerful deity, a spell, or… the one who controlled the earth. I’d only assumed the latter since I just recently had my bout with Seraphina. Still, even if that was the case, Hæňgaram should have had some sentries posted if heavy earthquakes and rock slides befell Taptos. However, that wouldn’t explain why people seemed to be losing their memories when they came within a radius of the city.

I continued to study for a few more hours before I finally had enough. My mind was bogged down by mental exhaustion, the clarity from before slowly falling away. I recalled the books back to their original pockets in the library of my mind. At this point, I felt less like a pirate and more like a scholar.

“At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was one of the rare occurrences that Liara had no knowledge of,” I thought to myself before my eyes suddenly widened with clarity once more. Well, there was another method I could try. However, it’d take some time away from Anderen. I’d have to go back to my ship since that was where The Root was stored thanks to Goron.

Still, I wondered if this was a good idea. I’d been wary of making contact with the forces Liara had come to know as Witch of Draegnar. Getting into business with the wrong one wasn’t a part of my plans. I’d have to take it carefully.

A barely formed plan in my head, I decided to lean back and close my eyes. I was ready to allow my mind to wander into the land of dreams, but something stopped me. It was small, but I certainly felt a spark of lust enter my body. That spark tickled my mind, keeping me aware for a moment.

Had Nei or Lei not left? I didn’t sense their presence.

Curious, I got up. The lust was easy enough to follow. It led me down a flight of the library’s stairs and through a dark corridor. The further in I walked, the more aroused I became. However, I also noticed that the further I traveled, the more I began to recognize An’raie’s domain.

Walls of cursed stone, barely illuminate candles filled with spiritfire, and a sinister green glow that promised misfortune to all but the bravest, or stupidest, passengers that dared venture here laid before me. Still, I wondered what would make lust originate from here. As far as I was aware, the shit revolving around An’raie was how unsatisifed she was. Can’t be lonlier than a lass that can’t receive pleasure. It was why we had this odd arrangement in the first place, at least before she suddenly stopped talking to me.

I ventured forward into An’raie’s half of our shared soul once again. I hadn’t been here since the fleet of cannon fire she blew at me in her anger. I also noticed nothing was around the area of her quarters. Normally, she had posted guards to her side. Seas forbid if she ever greeted me herself. It annoyed me more than once, but it was true that I’d sought her out for aid. Not quite the other way around.

I walked down the steps, the essence of Vilinlith growing even stronger within me. It was only when I came down to the last step that a wave of the aura washed over me, along with An’raie’s voice.

“NNNNnngggHhaaaaaaa!”

The aura overwhelmed me instantly, my exhausted mind not having the strength to combat it. Yet, I couldn’t mistake that noise. It was the sound of a woman in the throes of passion and ecstasy. Unfortunately, I was forcefully removed from her domain. My mind slipped and wandered into my own dreams, a rather pleasant one with the lasses of my ship in a bed that could accommodate us all this time.