The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 46 (Patreon)

Greetings patrons!

I see no one cared about my plight. And here I thought I might manage to garner some sympathy. Have no more sympathy to spare for the author who worked so hard on 52 PAGES! (Ahem), all joking aside, I hope you all enjoy this latest chapter. It was a whole lot of fun to write as we finish up.

Enjoy,

WttW

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I woke up staring at the ceiling. Despite the dreams that claimed me, my mind was too locked in on the sensations to forget them, or forget who gave them to me, so easily.

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came to me. Even now, I still felt the womanly warmth that surrounded me in a moment of unnatural bliss. I remembered the touches and kisses of my partner, each one was filling the air inexperience and passion long-thought to be gone.

Attempting to ease my rattled mind, I surveyed my surroundings. In my haste, I suddenly realized that there was no more pain in my eyes. I saw clearly in the dark without much issue, the bright glow of the sun piercing through the curtains in my room.

I also noticed my mother, Naala, and Ellen sleeping with me quietly. It seemed Aesteal was still out with Maeloson. Not only that, but it seemed that I’d slept almost the entirety of yesterday away. Through the sleepy haze, I briefly recalled meeting with Aldwyn and sharing what information I could with him in regard to Alġnoth. The meeting had been long and I wondered if my body could even stand against the exhaustion I felt. It seemed I was able to as I crawled into bed.

Which led me to right now.

“An’raie, explain yourself,” I said quickly, the pleasure that I’d experienced from last night still lingering within me.

I sought no games nor subtleties. With that inexperience, I knew it could only be An’raie, especially with the way her voice moaned into the air when I caught it. I’d gotten one more moan out of her before our business was finished. No lass, not even Liara, moaned like that.

I waited but I received no answer. “An’raie!” I called again, yet still received no words from her.

I called and called, hoping that if I annoyed her enough she might at least flare her mana in irritation, but she didn’t even do that. I was just left in my bed with only the silence to greet me. Had it not been for our link as soulbound partners, I would have thought she’d left me entirely. I still felt her presence around me as always, yet never had I felt so distant from her than now.

After a few more minutes of trying, I finally respected her wishes and left her alone. However, I made sure to warn her that we would revisit this conversation at a later point. I received no response, but I knew she heard me.

Seeing as how An’raie saw fit to ignore me, I decided to look over my body. Not only had my eyes finally ceased aching, but the unpleasant feeling in my arms had gone away as well. In fact, I never felt better. It was like I’d been dumped into a pond of eighth-tier healing magic.

Slowly, I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake any of my lovers. My feet touched the cold, wooden floor and I walked over to one of the tables. I grabbed the lone pitcher that lay there and quenched my hoarse throat with water.

I turned my head, spotting Nei and her sisters sleeping in their barrel. They seemed content to sleep without much concern for anything around them while I stepped outside my room, closing the door behind me.

Being up so early, I ventured to the top of the building that served as the quarters for Lorentia’s male soldiers. When I made it, I was graced with a wondrous view of the Naalin Valley while the sun started to rise over the horizon. On days like this, I might have enjoyed a cup of coffee to liven up my day, especially after the night that I’d endured under An’raie’s care cause I’d never deny that Hæňgaram had pleasant scenery. It certainly looked much different from what it would become in my future.

As I stood on the roof, my eyes drifted to watching at least six patrols of Lorentia’s men marching off into the distance with a commander leading them. From this height, I got a good look at the rest of Ynro. The palace of the emperor was very far away, but I made out its mighty silhouette from where I stood. It seemed like every part of the army was needed somewhere with the city still in lockdown following the event that broke my fucking arms more than a dozen times.

Apart from that, the war hadn’t entirely died down from Zevmar’s little onslaught. Of course, at this point, it would end in the empire’s victory. The lot that stuck their cocks in with Lightfeather had already expressed hesitance to continue due to my interference. I had no doubts that Zevmar might have thought that Seraphina and I might kill ourselves trying to stop each other. Well, either that or he thought Alġnoth might bring about my demise. Thankfully, I counted my fortunes that the bastard seemed keen to express amusement rather than anger.

I wasn’t so sure I could have stopped him at that moment had he taken it seriously. Yet, there were too many supplies that I needed in order to continue to survive someone like him. Hell, I’d barely cracked through all of the alchemist’s notes that I’d gathered from Delverhold. And yet, I’d still left more than a grand library’s worth of them there after the dreadful circumstances had befallen my crew and I.

I sucked my teeth in annoyance. “And yet I’ve got no fucking clue what the fucker needs me for. Clearly, it ain’t something soon since he kept Seraphina alive.”

Back in my old life, I hadn’t been the quietest pirate. Most pirates tried to keep their profiles low as to not attract attention from the likes of Hæňgaram and other kingdoms. Many weren’t so quick as to let a pirate sail through their waters. Thus, most struck small ships or small towns, fleeing off when the storms got too rough.

I, on the other hand, was almost always in the fucking mix of the storm wherever my ship sailed. Nary a day would go back without some form of cannon fire coming upon my old crew and I. My face was infamous throughout nearly the whole realm of D’orn.

Being the bastard that I was, I reveled in the chaos. I sniffed it through my nostrils and fired my brain from its addicting touch. In other words, it wasn’t hard to find me usually. Much as I hate to admit it, the fucking arrogance of my youth would have made me an easy target out of the four of us. I was ready to accept any challenge so long as I had the seas by my side. It was only through numerous defeats that tempered my steel as a captain, and recent failures that made me aware of that glaring issue.

I touched my chest, the single lung still pumping air through the rest of my body. In the end, I imagined this would be matters that I’d have to solve in my own time. I’d make sure that the fate which befell me would not come about a second time. And the next step in making sure that didn’t happen was right in front of me, waiting for me just like all the others.

Anderen Dagnos.

I’d not forgotten him nor his treachery. He lay to the northeast, trapped in the lands of the empire since they’d closed down their borders. Before I sailed away from the empire, I’d make sure his soul sailed away into the lands of Haganthar. I’d let him make peace with his gods long enough.

I watched the sun continue to rise before I headed back inside. Despite my thoughts of my history with Anderen, I tried not to let my mood sour too much lest a storm come upon the empire again. While I enjoyed the rain, I wished for nothing to impede my steps to the northeast.

Returning to my room, I grabbed the door handle. When I opened it, I noticed my mother was already awake. She had the curtains drawn only a little to give her light on the desk. In front of her was a stack of papers. I noticed it was a list of all the supplies we’d need back on Draegnar.

She turned around to face me. “And where the hell did you run off to?” she asked.

I rolled my neck, still feeling the stiffness from the night moving through me. “If there be anything good about the empire, then it be their land. It’s a sight for the eyes in the morning,” I said, my tone not quite selling the shit I was spewing.

Let me tell you that a fucking mother’s intuition was some of the scariest magic of all. The jovial smirk on my mother’s face slowly faded away once she took a prolonged look at me. She stood up and walked over to me and jabbed my arm.

“You got that damn look on your face again. Who do you plan on gutting this time?” she asked as I looked at her. I couldn’t resist the smile that came upon my face when she asked me that. It was honestly surprising to me just how much control my mother unknowingly had over me. Just one question and she had me smiling like a damned young brat. Which, I supposed I was at this point.

“I have personal business to the northeast. Business that I’ve put off for far too long while I’ve dealt with Hæňgaram’s shit. Now that we’re done, this’ll be the last thing I do before we sail off,” I answered, making the frown on my mother’s face deepen.

Raising her hand, she caressed my shoulder. “...should I wake the others?” she questioned.

“No,” I answered. “As I said back on the ship, I’ll be doing this alone.”

My answer didn’t seem to please my mother. Skeptically, she eyed me for a moment. “Yeah, you do mention some shit like that back on the ship. Alright, if you’re so dead set on it, who am I to try and beat some sense into you? Just… make sure you return dammit. I warned you, Eric. I cannot bear it a second time. I mean it…” she said, gripping the chair with her trembling hands.

I watched the anxiousness sail its way over my mother’s face. Despite her pleasant youth, her eyes showed the number of her years and the toll within them. Were I to suddenly disappear, I dreaded wondering what might become of her again.

I approached my mother and pulled her face to me. “You don’t even know what I be going there for,” I chuckled before she punched my arm.

“Throw shit on the ground, Eric. Not in my face. I’m not gonna…”

I ceased my mother’s rising ramble with a kiss. She gasped in shock before I kissed her again, her hands pounding my chest with my fingers swimming through her hair. When we ceased, she panted breathlessly. I pushed my forehead to hers.

“Fret not, mother. You bastard of a son won’t allow misery to become his coat a second time so easily. When the others awaken, wait for Maeloson and Aesteal to return. Once they do, head back to the ship, I’ll be there before long,” I said while my mother cleared her throat.

“Well, what about Diane? We haven’t seen her in fucking days,” she answered.

“Diane knows how to get back to the ship. Liara has numerous agents throughout D’orn. They will get her back into the root. She’ll know what to do,” I answered.

My mother slowly nodded. “Fine. Well, off with you then, and make sure whoever you’re planning on fucking up doesn’t get away this time. Whatever business you got with the asshole, don’t bring it back to the ship,” my mother pleaded.

I stifle any laughter in my throat for fear of waking Naala and Ellen. Instead, I swore that I would not bring trouble back to the ship. I then turned around and walked out the door. “Be safe, you fucking bastard,” my mother whispered, perhaps thinking that I was too far to hear her. I chose not to embarrass her, closing the door behind me.

I stepped outside the building, glancing back at the room my lovers were sleeping in. “There shall not be a second time!” I said, suddenly feeling an uncomfortable tingling sensation in the depths of my chest. All of a sudden, my inner core felt tight.

I moved on, descending the slope of the hill until I made my way to the main training grounds for Lorentia’s men. Surprisingly, there was no one here to give me the usual scathing look. It was a shame. I sort of missed the attention.

Luckily, I didn’t have to go without it for too long as I came up to the gates of the valley. The guards barely gave me anything more than a glance before the doors were opened for me. I walked out and swiftly disguised myself.

It was at this point that I truly found myself alone for the first time in a while. The last time I’d remembered something like it, it was back on the ship before I was set to meet The Lonely Wail. There was nothing but my thoughts to keep me together as I entered the city of Ynro, passing the various soldiers of the empire. They seemed to pay me no mind, working constant patrols throughout the city.

When I came into the city, I saw hundreds of stonemasons working together while mages continued to move away rubble and debris. Various commanders shouted instructions while soldiers marched through the city.

Taking a turn, ducked into an alleyway and pulsed my mana for but a moment. In that alleyway, I stayed for about ten minutes before what looked like a young worker joined me. A towel wrapped around his shoulder, he sighed as he rubbed his face. There was a large, cheerful smile on his face before he spotted me.

“Yes, sir?” he asked, his gaze sharp and focused, ready to take my orders at a moment’s notice. The more I looked at him, the more I was pleased that I’d taken a chance on Aesteal’s mercy of the men and women of Hilvir. I’d not thought that they’d become so a value to me in matters like this. I suppose that spoke to the measure of either her intuition or her wisdom.

“Anderen Dagnos. He still lays to the northeast islands?” I asked.

The man nodded. “Yes, sir. As you wished, we’ve not let him out of our sight. Based on your description, we believe him to be the right target. Given the closing of the borders, he’s moved from the islands and into another part of the mainland. He currently lives in the furthest reaches of the north beyond the City of Hashkin. There is a coastal town called Fakleer. He made his selling fishing boats to the locals. He also runs a rather famous ale house. Apparently, he’s a well-known cook in those parts, especially since the spread of refugees moved there.

Aye, of course the fucker is. The more this lad in front of me spoke, the more I believed this was indeed the man I was looking for.

“He hasn’t tried to leave during the war?” I asked.

There hasn’t been a need to as the town hasn’t become ravaged by the war. In fact, many of the Hæňgaramians have been reported of sending refugees to this town. Strong illusion magic keeps the town hidden, run by a talented group of Hæňgaram mages. Of course, it’s easy to pierce the veil when those with higher mana can sense the magic,” he reported.

I glanced to the side for a moment. I found this only a little surprising since the empire wasn’t known for housing illusion mages. Then again, I supposed every kingdom or empire had its little special divisions that no one else knew about. “Good. Anything happened to him?” I asked.

The man shook his head. “If there has been, it hasn’t reached my ears. Of the things I’ve read in my report, he’s notably on edge. He constantly looks over his shoulder enough that even the townsfolk laugh at him. Many joke that he fears someone stealing his fried fish recipe. However, at night, on four separate occasions, he’s met with a group of four individuals each time. They hand him a type of golden trinket and he lets them inside. We thought maybe they were just friends, but we investigated his house when he left. Beneath his basement, touching the third wall to the left, there was a hidden meeting room. There were lots of blood marks on the walls,” he reported.

My eyes narrowed. When I heard this now, it sure as hell didn’t sound like Anderen. The bastard was the least twitchy shithead I’d ever met. He had a foul temper and a fouler mouth. One poor bastard talked shit about his food and Anderen dumped his head in a pot of boiling water, claiming the heat might fix his tastebuds. Then those blood marks, what was that supposed to mean?

After dealing with one damned god, I sure as hell wished to not have to deal with another so soon. “Any symbols on the walls?” I inquired. If I needed time before I gutted the bastard, then time was what I’d use.

“No, sir. However, I believe you’ll have a much better time with the team stationed in that area. Would you like me to journey with you?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Return to your work. You’ve done an old scourge proud tonight. I’ll make sure you and the others are properly rewarded for this,” I voiced, patting him on the shoulder. He nodded and wished me a safe journey. He then walked out of the alleyway. He laughed as he joined the other stonemasons, apologizing for the short break he took.

I watched him for a little while before I snuck away as well, my thoughts all but guiding me out of Ynro’s pristine city walls. For once, I noticed the lack of sellsword tents surrounding the plains of the outer lands of Ynro. The fields were lush and wide, the thundering hooves of horses dashing off gallantly with soldiers on the horizon. It seemed that Zevmar’s little funeral wasn’t gonna be a watch party for all the city to see. As much as it’d make me laugh to see the fucker burn, I figured there wasn’t much to enjoy when he was already dead.

I ventured a ways away from the city, out of view of anyone else. Once I was far enough past the lot, I kicked up my legs and started running in the direction of the northeast. My feet digging into the rough dirt, the wind in my hair, and the passing of foliage, I ran as hard as I could, making my way toward the town of Fakleer.

For hours I ran, nothing to slow me down this time. Well, almost nothing. Out of respect to the emperor and his agreement to not make shit difficult for me, I decided to quickly mop up any invaders still hanging around in the empire. While most had seen fit to retreat, others still tried to fight it out. I hardly needed to spare them more than a gaze before their heads popped with water. The stunned looks of the Hæňgaram soldiers were a good enough reward for my trouble.

I ran all day and all night for two days, burning through the stores of my mana that enhanced me to run so quickly. I blew past the City of Hashkin and further into the lands of the northern province that lay to the east.

I only stopped when I finally smelled the stench of the sea. I stopped by a tree and panted, resisting the urge to puke my guts out as my lung burned like it was set on fire. I took out a water pill and crunched on it, feeling a torrent of delicious water flowing into my throat.

Refreshed, I jumped to the top of the trees and peered at the town. Indeed, it was hard to find, especially when it was surrounded by so many trees. Yet, the sea was evident and so were the boats sailing out there.

As always, the Hæňgaramian architecture was a marvel to the eyes. While it was nothing as spectacular as the cities, the town had a rather interesting charm to it, especially in contrast to the walls of Mapik.

I noticed the sun beginning to set over the horizon. I wondered when the illusion magic would try to take its hold over me, but I wondered if perhaps maybe I’d already passed it some time ago. Illusion magic of this level wouldn’t hinder me like the stuff on Delverhold. Even without An’raie’s help, I was confident to not get suckered in so easily.

Jumping down, I discarded my pirate coat. Left in only a dirty, white-stained shirt and pants, I conjured up a backpack full of items and began marching toward the town. Had I a mirror, I imagined my face wouldn’t be one that any traveler would be too keen on getting to know. I tried to keep myself calm. Unfortunately, the closer I got to Fakleer, the cloudier it became. Thoughts of Dagnos filled my head as my plate crashed to the ground, my body steadily growing numb from the food I’d eaten.

Somehow, I hadn’t gotten so angry that rain would start to fall. Tales of the rain bringing the Water Mage of the Empire had started on the lips of citizens, and I wished for nothing to give me away.

I continued in my steps before I noticed a carriage of sorts riding in front of me. The mana coming from the carriage was definitely more potent than what any ordinary Hæňgaram could output. Of course, it didn’t take me too long to figure out why when I saw the pristine robes of the Mage Association.

At least four or five mages circled the carriage while the clacking hooves of two horses drummed the ground in front of me. With my pace, it didn’t take me long to catch up. The mages eyes me cautiously, likely either from fear of a bandit attack or a force of invaders.

I briefly eyed the horse-drawn carriage. The coachman was an old shit. His face was as wrinkled as hands soaked in water, his eyes looked tired, and his skin was like that of a withered husk.

In front of him, riding on another horse, was a Hæňgaramian soldier. As always his armor had to shine the sun’s fucking glory off it while his blue cape blew in the wind. Still, best he not catch cold since the hill above his face seemed rather barren.

The soldier turned his gaze toward me and eyes me suspiciously. He held up his hand, causing the carriage to stop. “Hold traveler. From where do you hail?” he asked, putting all attention on me.

I suppose I could have ignored him, but I saw no need to make a bigger issue of the matter than was current. In the end, I stopped. “Glory to Emperor Aldwyn and the Hæňgaram Army! Nice to meet a fine soldier of the empire out here. Been traveling around here for many a day, trying to make way to Fakleer. Spouts of war still ravage the southern lands. My wife and I were forced to flee. In the chaos, we got separated. I pray to Lumnina that I meet her in the beautiful town of Fakleer, we said we’d head there,” I said, weaving the tale as best I could.

The Hæňgaramian frowned. “I see. A refugee from a fallen town. You say you have been traveling out here for days?” he inquired.

I nodded. Over the run, I’d had plenty of time to look up some knowledge about Fakleer. It was thoroughly documented that many had gotten lost trying to locate the town. It took some days, and others it took weeks. Usually, Hæňgaram rangers spotted the travelers and, after determining their level of threat, either killed them or guided them into the town. I figured it wouldn’t be impossible for there to be another.

“Indeed I have. It almost brings a man to tears to see living souls again,” I answered, quickly growing fed up with this conversation.

“You didn’t seem quite so eager when you walked past us,” he countered.

“I’ll be honest, sir, thought you might be an illusion. Seen too many of them these days. Even saw one of my wife. ‘Tis a cruel fate to see your wife who mothered your children only to be fed a lie,” I answered back.

The soldier’s frown deepened, but he continued on. “What is your name, traveler?” he inquired.

“Eran Burnwood. Been a woodcutter to the tenth seed of my ancestors, Sir! Ain’t no finer many with an axe in all the empire than me,” I said. Even though I would admit that this name rather close to my own, I thought to have some fun with this matter for what left if it there was.

There was a brief moment of silence along the road. The soldier finally hummed. “Then you make count your fortunes, Eran. You are on the right path. I shall do my best to locate your wife if she has made it into the town. It will be rather difficult to locate her as the city has become filled with numerous Hæňgaramian refugees. What is her name?” he asked.

“Diane Burnwood,” I replied quickly. Out of all of my lovers, she was the easiest to mention. Most Hæňgaramians hadn’t seen her and wouldn’t so readily make the connection with my crew, at least I thought not. Besides, if it became bigger than it needed to be then I’d just wipe their minds of this matter entirely. Besides, knowing my luck, I ought to not run into her here.

The soldier nodded. “I shall do all that I can to locate her. In the meantime, you shall be under my charge should anything… complicated come about,” he said.

Even without looking at him, I knew what he meant. In the event that I might be lying, he’d rather keep me close by so he could thrust a sword right through my chest at the next available opportunity. Luckily for me, that was of no concern. I wholeheartedly agreed and was allowed into the carriage. I opted to walk, but the soldier insisted.

When I sat in the carriage, I noticed it filled with numerous scholars from the Mage Association. In particular, there was a woman with short, black hair. She eyed me curiously, pushing up the corners of her glasses. I quickly recognized her as one of the lasses in a bar I’d visited back in Ynro when I’d entered the city.

“Please forgive any offense, sir, but have we… met before?” she questioned.

I looked at her and laughed. “Sorry, young lady, don’t know any man who’d forget a face as beautiful as yours. Not too many mages with fancy books where I’m from,” I answered.

She smiled at my comment, though her eyes never lost the curious steel behind them. Luckily for her, I wasn’t perturbed.

Either way, we continued toward the town and I spotted the gate guards. The soldier leading us addressed them both and presented his sigil as authentication. He then ordered me out and presented me to the guards. He told them my story and warned them to keep an eye on me. Of course, they tried to do this secretly, but it’d be next to impossible for such a thing to happen with me right next to them.

Once all the hassle was done, we were led into the town.

As expected, the scent of the sea was rich in the air. Yet, the town was filled with hundreds of men and women, some huddled around tents near the coastline, casting wooden fishing rods into the open sea. Now, I had begun to understand why Anderen had gotten so rich. No doubt he paid for the fish and fishermen paid him for the boats. He cooked the catch and made money off the hungry. Fucker was too smart for his own good sometimes.

The carriage for the mage association was led to an inn on the far side of the town while I was led to a tent of my own. “Please be aware of the curfew, Eran. I won’t stop you from finding your wife, but if you’re out past the curfew, there won’t be any way to save you from the consequences. Do you understand me?” he asked.

“Yes, sir! Thank you for your help, sir!” I said as he agreed, walking away with the beach’s sand digging into his armor boots. Once he was gone, I immediately summoned a mana clone and changed my appearance.

I snuck out of my tent and walked my way up the sandy shore and into the stone roads of Fakleer. I weaved between the masses, pushing some out of my way. My eyes moved through the crowds of people, spotting faces through the waves crashing into me. As expected, many here were farmers, sculptors, herders, and skievers. Not many were suited for combat, and even less for the mystic arts. They just stayed about while the Empire rounded up the rest of the war. Shouldn’t take no more than two weeks to a month, by which I’d be long gone.

Being such a town by the sea, especially filled with so many hungry stomachs, it wasn’t hard to find Anderen’s little tavern. The bastard had a regular swarm of guppies surrounding it like it was a fucking treasure trove just waiting to be plundered.

Finding a free spot to sit, I sat down and waited on the far east side of the town. I watched Anderen’s tavern like the damn thing might disappear before me if I took my eyes off it. I knew he, or at least someone was inside because there were more than a few moving pieces of water beneath the tavern’s floorboards. Deep in the basement, no even lower than that there were at least five or six people packed around one room. It seemed like the reports from my spies had been proven correct.

I wasn’t sure how long I waited. I tried to talk to An’raie again, but she didn’t answer me. That left me to my own thoughts until the sources of water started to move. One moved higher than the others and appeared right in front of the tavern doors.

“A’right, ya slacks. Line ‘em up and ship ‘em out! We be open for business! Hope you got a deep gullet and a deeper pocket!”

It was too hard. It was too damn hard to stop the clouds from gathering and the rain from falling down. That full beard, those crooked front teeth, the whaler’s tattoo underneath the side of the neck, and the missing ring finger on the right hand, it really was Anderen that opened up his store.

I knew not what face I made then. All I knew was that a deafening cannonball of thunder rolled through the sky as the sea turned violent. Men and women who’d been fishing at their leisure screamed in terror as they sailed toward land. Anderen shivered as he looked at the sky, and I enjoyed the look of unbridled fear that raced through his eyes.

As people scattered to try and get out of the storm, I slipped away from the main streets. I ventured up a steep hill. When I was far enough away, I released several quick bursts of my mana. In time, a total of ten warriors appeared in the trees above my head. One of them swiftly landed next to me.

“We await your orders, Sir,” a woman said, her voice muffled by her mask. When I glanced at her, I saw the steel behind her gaze. The rest behind her were more than ready, only a shred of their former lives as Hilvirian men and women left.

I shifted their gazes from me and down to Anderen’s home.

“I’ll be heading there tonight. Make sure no one interferes with me. I don’t care how you do it as long as I ain’t got the quell the flames as well. I’ll make sure the lot of you are handsomely rewarded if this all goes smoothly,” I said.

The woman next to me bowed. “No reward is necessary, Sir. It shall be done!” she said as she signaled out to the others. The lot vanished into the wet overgrowth as I continued to observe the building. It was then that I noticed the other persons hidden in the building were gone. I wasn’t sure when they left but I didn’t care either way.

Deciding to head back to my tent, I waited for the storm to subside. As always, the sound of the rain and drumming thunder were wonderful distractions for my anger. In the end, I managed to keep my anger bubbling beneath the surface of the waves of my being until night finally came.

I opened my eyes. Stepping out of my tent, I noticed everyone else was still settled inside, small raindrops continuing to fall. I quickly made another clone and marched tent. When I entered the streets, I was rather lucky that I wasn’t alone. Even with my new disguise, I didn’t need any of the empire’s soldiers getting in my way. Granted, I’d received the emperor’s word that they wouldn’t, I’d rather keep the lot away from my business as much as possible. I had no way of knowing when their gold-studded hearts would try to mess things up for me.

I walked down the road, my boots kicking up the water in puddles. Once I made it back to Anderen’s tavern, I smirked as I saw a group of men and women sitting in various torn robes on the beach. With broken tin cups, three groaned asking for money from anyone who would come by.

Behind me, two men were talking about the war and when it would so they might go home. Many others were stationed in various spots, giving nothing away. One lass was even entertaining a Hæňgaramian soldier. I never thought I’d see one of the bastards succumb to the wiles of a woman, but war would make any man weary it seemed.

Everything in place, I walked over to the tavern. There was only one person inside since the sun had set. Sensing no interference close to me, I walked up the steps and gathered some water from the air. Slipping the water beneath the door, I sailed it up the other side of the doorframe and tightened my hold on the knob.

It took some maneuvering, but I was rewarded with an unlocked door. I pushed it open and stepped inside. The first thing I noticed was the creaking floorboards. My boots knocked against the wood as I closed the door behind me.

Surveying the room, I noticed round tables with chairs in rows of tens on the left and right. The middle path was clear of all distractions, giving one a smooth walk to the front where counter chairs rested.

Behind the counter were hundreds of liquor bottles, none of it fancy. As expected of a Draegnarian, it was all the shittiest drink that any bastard off his rocker would be caught drinking as he bathed in his own piss back on Draegnar.

However, I couldn’t help looking at the bottles for a long time. When I looked at them, there was an odd feeling welling up inside my chest. The tavern air was thick and laced down with the faint smell of blood. I walked behind the counter and grabbed a bottle, one I recognized amongst all the others.

“Gupper’s Tooth, a piece of shit this is. It was my first taste of alcohol back when I stole the shit from a bar for my birthday. My mother kicked my ass when I puked my fucking guts all over the floor,” I said to myself before I picked up another.

Immediately, the odd feeling turned into something worse. Every bottle, whether from years past or presently circulating, was of stuff that I’d tasted either once or enjoyed a lot. I clenched the bottle in my hand, wondering whether this was a coincidence or whether I was being mocked somehow.

Under my strength, the bottle broke into pieces. Its contents spilled on the floor as the broken glass fell between my fingers. I scowled, yet continued on my way.

Questions rose through me and so did concern. Even if it were possible that Anderen knew I was in Hæňgaram, there was no reason he ought to think I’d be here for him specifically. If Boreli hadn’t known who I was back on C’ula, then Anderen shouldn’t know who I was now. I wanted to assume it was a simple coincidence but I’d started viewing my life as too much shit in a barrel for anything to be so easy.

I made it to the basement where there were tons of wooden crates and dangling ropes of food. I looked at the wall and sensed the magic circulating around the third wall just as my man from Ynro reported.

Breathing slowly, I channeled the Mark of Hoɖ and stared at the wall. Immediately, the odd feeling inside me screamed at me when I saw the symbol of the Cult of Alġnoth etched there. That said, this magic matrix didn’t look nearly as complex as the others I’d seen. Nevertheless, I was cautious. I remembered my Ynro agent had claimed that Dagnos had been seeing hooded visitors to his tavern since he’d made his way to Fakleer from the eastern islands. I wondered if those could be worshippers from the Cult of Alġnoth, but I knew not what they would want Anderen of all people.

It was fairly easy to rewrite the spell to allow me to use it. I’d started growing used to dismantling, enhancing, or even shattering such spells since my time in the Empire.

Once I was done, I put my hand on the wall and channeled my mana into it. The wall slowly vanished away and revealed a set of stairs descending into the darkness.

I walked down the steps, further making my way to the human body of water waiting for me at the bottom. The further I went down, the stronger the smell of blood got. By the time I made it to the end, I thought I was in a fucking slaughterhouse.

As my boots touched the moist rock floor, I noticed a lone candlelight hanging from the ceiling. Underneath that candle sat Anderen at a round, stone table with his back to me. I could tell from the way his hair was tied behind his head, revealing the tattoo of an octopus god that he worshipped. On the table was a dirty glass with a bottle of half-empty liquor.

“If you be here for the best fish this side of the Empire, then you be unlucky. The storm has driven away my sellers until tomorrow. Though, if you came all the way down here, I suppose you just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” he asked, grabbing the bottle. He poured the liquid into his cup and held it up.

“Come back tomorrow. It’s not often I get a break from a day’s work,” he said.

I snorted. “And you won’t get one here either,” I said.

Suddenly, Anderen screamed in pain as he dropped his glass, shattering on the ground. He fell off his seat, clutching the hand he just had his cup in. I watched, not entirely sure what face I must have had while he squirmed.

While he writhed, I stepped up to him and peered down at him, no different from what he’d done to me back on my ship. When he turned over, I saw the cruelly bent shape of his fingers, evidenced by my controlling the water within him.

I watched him cry and wiggle before he finally bent over in front of me with his face buried in the floor. “Kehehahahaha… hahhaa… ahahahaugh! M-Motherfucker, knew I never wanted to be on the receiving end of that. Guess we all don’t know where the seas take us. Ain’t that right, Captain?”

I froze, staring down at Anderen's chuckling. His voice seemed to echo through the walls around us before I grabbed a fistful of his hair and forced him to meet my gaze. After so much time, I finally stared into the eyes of my former cook.

The sight only made me angrier. Behind those eyes was not the gaze of one like Boreli who didn’t know me. There was no hint of confusion, or wondering why such a fate had befallen him. There was only recognition, amusement, pain, and acknowledgment.

Questions raced through my mind like lightning through the stormy skies. How was it possible that Anderen would remember me? Boreli hadn’t remembered me when I first saw him. Even to the end of his life, Astell had died only knowing that I was a tormentor who’d apparently kidnapped him for no reason. I refused to believe he’d somehow gotten himself killed trying to escape me because he knew I was his former captain.

Yet, that didn’t seem to be the case for Anderen. That slightly crazed look in his eye was all too familiar to me. The cocky grin on his face, even in spite of the pain to his fingers, I’d never forget either.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Anderen chuckle. “Y-Ya look like ya’ve seen a ghost, Captain. I must say you definitely look mighty young fer yer age. Then again tales always sung about the salty air. It be good on the skin, ain’t that… AGGHUGHGH!”

Anderen screamed as I snapped his right arm next. He tried to grab it but I broke the left one next, using the water within him to twist it until it snapped. I released his hair and stood up, my face rather numb to his suffering.

I walked over to the table and picked up the liquor bottle. “For a cook, you’ve always had shit taste in drink, Anderen. You always told me you hoped you’d die chugging the shaft of a bottle. A shame to find you were right. I’d always summed you’d go up in flames instead,” I replied as I put the bottle down.

I then sat in front of him as his wails turned to laughter. “Kekekekeke… yeah, I definitely said some shit like that. F-Fuck, this hurts l-like a bitch!” he said, spit and drool trailing off the side of his mouth.

“It’ll hurt more soon enough. Now, how’s about you and I cease the barrel dance we got going on here? How did you know who I am?” I asked.

Anderen chuckled, seething as I felt the rapid movements of his head. His body was clearly trying to find some way to blunt the pain I’d just caused him. “H-How do I know who ya are? H-How could I forget? I’d never forget a bastard like you, Captain. Why, any Draegnarian can smell another Draegnarian’s stink from a bronze coin’s throw a-a-away!” he said.

I glanced at the liquor bottle once more, grunting as I saw the label. “Aye, perhaps that be true. However, there be a stink worse than anything a Draegnarian could bathe in. And you wear that stink very well, Anderen. The stench of a blade to a turned back, the stench of a friend turned enemy, the stench… of a traitor. You know me, and you clearly knew I was coming. How?” I asked.

“Hehehehehehahahaha! How did I know? Weird thing that be. I still remember the days I went about me life, cooking shit up and throwing dung in the pot. Heard of your name and your deeds in C’ula, but I thought nothing of the fucking shit. Then, image my surprise when a lass comes up ‘t me along with her gaggle of fuck nuggets. I’ll admit I ain’t trust her for shit but she offered me a drink, best thing I ever drank in all me life. Then… my eyes were opened, I remembered everything, shit that ain’t even happened yet. I remember you and I remembered… our history,” he said.

I frowned as I listened. “And who was this woman?” I asked.

“Hell if I know,” he replied.

…That wasn’t the answer I wanted. I then started on his leg.

“I dun know! I dun know dammit! Lass never removed her hood. She just told me that you were here and you were set on huntin’ the lot of us down. Ain’t take me long to figure out why. Needless to say, but I was scared for me life. You got quite a mean streak in ya, worse than any Draegnarian,” he answered as I eased the pressure off his leg.

He crawled on the ground like a worm and I watched. “Yet, she told me not to be afraid. Said you wouldn’t make it far enough to reach me. A-A fat load of dog piss that be, right?” he asked.

I hummed. “Aye. It sounds like she betrayed you. A fucking shame that be, ain’t it?” I asked.

“A-Aye, mighty fine shame. And you know what the bigger shame be? I’ll never get ta go balls-deep into Leah’s cunt again. E-Exquisite that one be. Can’t no queen, princess, or witch compare to that. A shame no one on the crew got to experience it aside from the lovers you allowed her to have. I think I measured up quite well to you based on how loud she screamed,” he taunted. He laughed mockingly at me, yet I was strangely calm.

It seemed so odd to me that I’d so meticulously planned out what I’d do to Anderen and the others once I saw them. Yet, even with all his taunting, I couldn’t help laughing with him. “Aye, she must have screamed very loud. She always was a screamer no matter what I stuffed up her holes. Well, I don’t know who informed you about me, but it won’t matter. I’ll make sure they receive thrice the same for getting in my way. Now tell me, before you die, what was it? What were you promised so much that you’d wish to forsake me? Had I not been more than far to you and to the others? I’d given the lot of you your heart’s desires and so much more. I stood by each and every last one of you, even when the world would dare cast you and all like you into the fucking Pit. What were you given that I could not give you?” I asked, my tone steadily growing heavier.

Anderen laughed. Shaking his head. “Keehehehehehe, that be the beauty of it all, Captain. As far as I be concerned, you ain’t do a lick of shit. You know me, I fancy meself a good time, no matter whose bringing it ‘t me. It was a good time aboard yer ship, and the good times just had to roll with yer death. Ain’t nothing personal. We be Draegnarian, you shouldn’t turn your back like that,” he said.

I stood up. “I be a pirate before I be a Draegnarian, Anderen. The island might be a piece of shit, but even in that shit hole, there be men and women that run the decrepit sewers and sail the many boasts in its seas. There be many who distribute coin, and lasses who serve the tired cocks and cunts a fine meal when they be on shift. Were I to deal with you as a Draegnarian, I’d simply slit your throat and let the matter rest there. But there be a much different rule for a pirate, a Captain no less,” I answered.

It was then that I felt Anderen shiver. He looked at me as I grabbed his head and pulled his gaze to mine. He shakingly stood to his feet. “You like stuffing cunts with cock and food, aye? Then, I’ll be sure to stuff you real good,” I said as I got up.

“An’raie, do what you will with him when I’m finished. I’m sure even you can hear that,” I answered into the air. I was given no reply, but it didn’t matter. Somehow, I could tell that she wouldn’t ignore me this time.

I stood up and walked into the corridor that led away from the table room. The corridor wasn’t that big. In fact, it ended sooner than I expected. There were a couple of rooms here and there, mostly empty, but the one with the thickest scent of blood was to the left. When I looked inside, I saw numerous blade and claw marks on the walls. Chanting some words to myself, I threw a sheet of magic over the area, watching the walls illuminate with numerous heretic symbols. As expected, the largest one was the Symbol of Alġnoth.

I briefly wondered if perhaps the woman that Anderen had met had been the same that Liara met years later in my first life. I suppose I could have found out from Anderen’s memories, but I saw no point since he claimed that this woman always wore her hood. Even the reports I’d gotten from my agents said that the cloaked visitors never revealed themselves to him.

I stepped out of the room quickly, not wishing to overstay my welcome. There was nothing else there anyway but the scent of blood and death. When I returned, I spotted Anderen struggling up the stairs with his chin and crooked legs.

My eyes narrowed. “You have no customers this night. Where you be running off to?” I inquired.

I smirked when I saw another shiver.

“Kekekeke… figured I’d get one more cunt lick in while the lickin’s good. For what it’s worth, Captain,  I’d wager you to enjoy the rest of your fuckin’ life for as long as you can. You can’t stop what’s comin’. No one can. Not you. Not that big-titted goddess, Lumnina. Not L-Liara Ilzahold. And most certainly not D’orn. It ain’t you that’ll sit on the throne of the seas. It’ll be her, the Great Priestess. I’ll see ya in hell, bastard,” he said as I stood in front of him.

I swiftly kicked him down the stairs, uncaring of the way he fell. He writhed in agony before I grabbed the scruff of his neck. “Fret not, Anderen. I shall welcome the challenge. I do enjoy proving fuckers wrong after all. As for you, your soul shan’t be ferried to the land of the dead,” I said. He looked at me in surprising horror.

Still, I felt nothing. I pulled him up. “Pray, Anderen. Pray that the spirits receive you before I do, for you shall not escape me, living… or dead!” I said as I dropped him.

“Argh! He… hehehehe… hehee, ya really gots a flair for the dramatic, Captain. Why don’t we let bygones be bygones? I know ya enjoyed the food I put on yer plate…” my former cook answered before I held my fist in the air. I drew in all the water in the air and slowly drew it into his forcefully opened mouth. His eyes widened in horror.

Then, I walked away. I climbed back up the stairs even as I heard Anderen’s frantic gurgling behind me. I filled him up, stuffed him up with water, all that water that he could take, and then some more. Despite the pain, he found his sea legs, scrambling to get wherever he could, his broken arms flopping this way and that.

It was an oddly amusing sight before I waved my hand and snapped his legs. He couldn’t scream for his mouth was too preoccupied. “Rest assured, Anderen. Despite your treachery, I’ll make sure that where you go, you shall still have friends at your side. You can bet a fucking pirate’s promise on that,” I said as I walked up the stairs, leaving him to his agonizing wailing and crying.

I felt myself in a bit of a daze when I left the tavern, dismissing my agents. By the time I returned to my tent, I felt An’raie separate her spirit from mine. She went to go collect the spirit waiting for her. When she returned, she said nothing. Even if she had, I doubted I would have heard her.

As I sat there, I finally felt a brief tint of exhaustion strike my spirit. When I sat down on the bed made of horse straw, I stared out into the darkness. I watched bits and pieces of the rainfall over the sea while others like me huddled in their tents. I shrugged off my coat, replaying the words Anderen had toyed me with.

In spite of everything, I hadn’t expected my former cook to have memories of me or the life we’d lived. He’d claimed that the hooded woman gave him some type of drink that opened his eyes and returned him from a realm in time that shouldn’t even exist anymore. I knew this not to be a coincidence since Anderen told me that he was expecting my arrival. It seemed he’d expected to lay a trap at my feet, yet wound up with a knife in his back just like I did.

I wished I could have done more to the son of a bitch, but I wished not to repeat my failures from before. I had him in my grasp, and I’d make sure he died by my hand. Nevertheless, he was the second of a long list. Yet, it also made me think. There were many possibilities that this woman was the one behind the bringing back of my old crew’s memories. She could also be wielding her hand in someone else’s game, namely Alġnoth’s.

That seemed to be true since Boreli didn’t remember me. Perhaps I’d gotten to him first before they could. I’d also sailed him away and made C’ula a destitute nation, ruining any form of business to be dealt there for a time. If Boreli wasn’t accessible to them, then perhaps they’d used that time to go after the others.

If Anderen knew that I was coming, then it was likely that the others would know as well. Of course, that didn’t matter to me. If anything, it made me all the more eager to break them down. Though the part of me was small, borderline negligible, I did think it was unfortunate that the Boreli I’d captured hadn’t known me, nor the sins he committed against me… or would commit against me in the future. With this, I’d need no such further thoughts. Besides, if Anderen was brought back, then I could have the assurance that Leah would be brought back as well.

While out of everyone, she might be the trickiest to capture, given that she of them all knew me oh so very well, it still mattered little to me. What I would deal to her would be worse than anything my crew might endure. Of course, I wondered what purpose there would be in giving them their memories. If it were to draw me out, then it shouldn’t matter. I was looking for the lot anyway. I also didn’t believe it was to help me either.

“Break him down however you wish, Wail, but I want a peek at his memories again when you’re done,” I said. I hoped that perhaps there would be something left of Anderen that I could use, or study, in my downtime.

Naturally, An’raie didn’t respond to me but I knew that she’d heard me. She heard me when I told her that Anderen was hers to do with as she pleased. I knew not what fate awaited the fucker, but I bore him no pity. Under An’raie’s care, his spirit would never find rest.

I spent the rest of the night thinking about these matters until I fell asleep. I was sure my disappearance would rattle a few soldiers of the empire stationed here, but I’d be long gone in the morning.

After thinking so much, I slowly fell asleep, already dreading the run back to Ynro. However, I was at ease with the gentle hum of the sea amongst my dreams.

In the morning, I was awoken by a rather irritating voice. “Eran Burnwood. Eran Burnwood, see that you open your tent posthaste. I have located your wife.”

Even in my grogginess, the words seemed to pierce through my ears and into my brain like a bullet. It was only when I opened the tent and stared out into the slowly rising sun over the sea, did I wonder if my life was indeed a game to the Fates beyond this realm. Luckily, I managed to change my face before I stared into the eyes of Diane Burnwood. At her side was the same Empire soldier I’d traveled with on the way here.

As always, her toned stomach swiftly drew my gaze as did her black trench coat. I quickly noticed there were a lot of torn parts of her coat. Her body was also raked with numerous sword wounds. She looked at me curiously before a knowing smirk came upon her face.

“Be this your spouse, Ms. Diane Burnwood? He claims to search for a woman bearing your name,” the soldier said as the Guard of the Witch looked down at me. As for me, I was still trying to break the sleep from my eyes when she spoke.

“Nope. If I were to be married it wouldn’t be with a sorry piece of shit like this. I think you’ve got the wrong woman,” she said. The guard looked at me suspiciously before I laughed.

“My Dear Diane. Is this how you repay your loyal husband who led the enemy away while you tried to escape here? Have I not stood by your bed while you were ill, or cooked you sweet porridge by the fire? Didest we not pledge ourselves in the holy temple of Lumnina to shelter and care for each other until our very bones turn to dust? What must I do to make up for my error if I’ve caused it?” I asked.

For my performance, I received a break in Diane’s character. I was blessed with a smirk and a chuckle. Of course, I urged her with a look to not take the matter too far. I’d had a rather eventful night yesterday and wished to know why she was in Fakleer of all places. I’d not felt even a shred of her presence when I entered the town.

After a moment, Diane knelt before me. “Of course, only my shitty husband would say such things to me. Thank you, Sir, for reuniting a wife with her spouse!” she said, smiling as best she could. She threw her arms around me dramatically.

Luckily, that was enough for the soldier. He saluted us both. “All in a day’s work, Ma’am. See to it that you both enjoy Fakleer and remember the curfew. The war is still quite fierce for now, but the empire shall stand tall. We will be moving people out of the town as soon as the areas are safe. You also have my word that your home shall be rebuilt. May Lumnina bless you and guide you. Glory to Emperor Aldywn!” he exclaimed.

Diane glanced at me while I grunted. “Yes, sir. Glory to Emperor Aldwyn! Come inside, Wife. Tell me of your travels and let me ease your burdens,” I said as I brought her inside the tent.

In silence, we sat in the tent for about five minutes. Once the steps of the soldier were gone from us, Diane turned back to me. “You couldn’t give me a fucking better husband than this one? You’ve got a damn face that would be sucking cock in the PIts if I knew you then,” Diane said while I released the spell from around my face.

“I’ll be sure to remember that,” I replied.

“Good. But have no worries. Though I hate your guts sometimes, I still like your face. It’s really punchable, even if it doesn’t hurt,” she fired back.

Despite my mood, I laughed. I then turned to her and touched her face. When her eyes laid on mine, I pulled her in for a kiss. She accepted my advances and pushed her lips against mine, already trying to overtake me. Of course, I refused to let her do so even if the embrace was a wondrous pleasure as was all the other times. It might have been some weeks, but I indeed missed Diane.

When we parted, she panted. “Mmmm, fuck I could use more of those. Though, I think we both got some questions that need answering. Like, what the fuck are you doing here?” she asked.

At her question, I frowned. She must have noticed something in my gaze before she frowned too. “I had personal shit to deal with,” I answered rather vaguely.

“Past life personal shit?” she inquired with a raised eyebrow.

Once again aware that she knew my secret, I nodded. “Aye. Turns out there be more to the matter than even I’d thought. Turns out, he knew I was coming and he knew who I was,” I replied.

Diane stiffened. “He knew who you were even though the realm you guys were in was destroyed when Lady Liara sent you back?” she asked.

I nodded. I then proceeded to tell her about the matters regarding Alġnoth. Just the mention of his name made her scowl beyond anything I’d seen before. “So that shit was true after all. I’d sensed the weird shit happening to the southwest back in Ynro. A lot of magic was being thrown around. I’d have joined if I wasn’t busy hunting down those fuckers you aside to me with that damned knight, Eressa. Still, of all the fuckers to have gaze upon them, it had to be that perverse asshole. I don’t think I need to tell you, but there aren’t many that Lady Liara is friendly with. Even less there are that she absolutely loathes. Given you’ve combated him, I think you can tell which he falls under,” Diane uttered.

Aye, that I knew. I could tell from her memories that Liara hadn’t had a favorable opinion of Alġnoth. Given that he also seemed to enjoy toying with me and the rest of the empire, I wasn’t bound to have a nice opinion of the fucker either. “Well, reports from my agents tell me that Anderen met with a few of Alġnoth’s cultists. I assume it was a hooded woman from among their forces that gave him some drink to refresh his memories,” I added.

Diane offered a grunt before sitting on the tent floor. “There are many ways to restore a person’s memories. Lady Liara knows almost all of them. However, even I’ve never heard of restoring memories from a time that shouldn’t even exist anymore,” Burnwood spoke, her confusion over the matter evident.

We continued to trade information for a little while before Diane noticed the sun beginning to rise. “I’m not even gonna ask what you did to this guy. If he pissed you off this much, I ain’t gonna stand in your way. Though, if we’re done with this farce, I gotta meet back with Eressa. How convenient that we’re also tracking Alġnoth cultists here. The symbols were a little confusing, but now that you’ve mentioned that dogshit name, it’s starting to make sense. The swordsman you had me track down made great use of siphoning magic. Was more fun than I expected before I blew his head off. Still, when the knight checked him, he had the symbol of that god on his chest. We’ve tracked them here. I guess those were the cultists meeting your target,” Diane then said.

“Are they still here?” I asked.

Diane shrugged. “They should be if you saw them yesterday, but I haven’t sensed anything unordinary, and I’ve been here all week. I would have used your agents, but I didn’t wanna fuck up anything you had going on here. If you’d like my guess, either they used your guy to draw your out, or they used you to get rid of a loose end,” she suggested. Neither of those did I enjoy and she knew it. If there was one thing I hated, it was doing someone else’s work.

At some point, the conversation started going nowhere, pissing me off as my mind ran in circles. Not eager to lose my temper already into the day, I merely settled on another matter. If Anderen was a loose end, then clearly that either meant that they’d left or they’d gone into hiding. We’d not find them here. Of course, I wasn’t just gonna let them get away with this.

After a while, Diane and I left the tent and made our way through the open streets. She led me to where she and Eressa were staying. People soon flooded the streets while I continued to appease her curiosity with stories of the events that she missed. By the time we made it, I’d caught her up on most of everything.

“So what be the story of your coat?” I asked, glancing at its torn parts.

“Turns out a fucking sword and a coat don’t go well together. Go figure. And I liked this coat…,” Diane grumbled, clearly annoyed at the work someone would have to do repairing her coat.

She opened the door and we stepped inside. As expected, the inn was packed down with refugees of the empire. There was hardly any space to move without stepping over someone else. Hell, it was hard to tell the families from the individuals. The whimpering of a child in one of the corners caught my ear amidst the groanings and sufferings of the people.

“You sure this shit gets better? Doesn’t look like it,” Diane said as her boots knocked on the stairs.

“Aye, they shall be fine. They’ll have a few more rough nights, but the schools shall teach the next generation of soldiers the glories of how the empire withstood the forces that rose up against it,” I returned.

I noticed a curious look in Diane’s eye when she stared at me, but I wasn’t given the chance to comment on it before she continued back up the stairs. I followed her.

I soon came to realize that the soldiers of the empire were given a bit more special treatment. As the ones protecting the cities and towns, they were given the beds to rest for the battles ahead. Diane took me to her room and knocked on the grabbed the doorknob, pushing it open.

She walked inside and I spotted Eressa on her bed. It seemed like she’d just been given something because I saw a brief glow of light that surrounded a scroll until it was gone.

“Not gonna welcome me back?” Diane inquired which made Eressa glare at her. Her glare got even harder when she saw me enter.

“You should learn to knock. I could have been in a state of undress,” she replied bitterly.

Diane took off her coat and threw it on the bed. “I’ll be sure to remember that for next time,” she said as she took a seat while I closed the door behind me.

“And what are you doing here? I had been led to believe that your services were no longer required, thankfully.” Eressa uttered, turning to me. As expected, it seemed that her loss to me was still fresh in that riddled mind of hers. She stared upon me curiously, perhaps thinking that I hadn’t seen her eyes briefly glance at her sword which was leaned against a corner of the room.

I could have replied the pirate way, informing her that it wasn’t her concern what I did with my own business, but it, unfortunately, was this time. “Turns out your business and my business got mixed together,” I answered.

Eressa frowned, turning her full body to me. “Explain.”

And explain, I did. Other than telling her my relationship with Anderen, I told her the same things that I’d told Diane. The longer I talked, the more unsettled the knight-captain became. When I finished, she stared out the window.

“This is concerning. It was a hard battle, but we’d overcome the enemies that attacked the City of Jokllim. They’d been meeting with a few agents of Alġnoth which led us into Fakleer. If they came to meet up with this man that you supposedly knew, then they might likely still be here. However, I just received a summons from the Grand Elder, I am to return back to Ynro and give a report of what I’ve learned. It seems that with the assault on the capital, the emperor will be taking this matter under heavy consideration. She… wishes to continue to use your agents to root out any more spies,” Eressa said, attempting to stuff out her anger at having to still need my help.

I grinned. “Well, at least they won’t have to tiptoe around you lot like they no doubt would have if not for those words. Yet, it sounds like you wish to leave them for another time,” I surmised, receiving a nod from Eressa, even though I could tell she didn’t enjoy my comment.

“I cannot speak for the plans of the Grand Elder. However, know that indeed we shall not let this rest. I know not what this accursed god would have with you, but I shall warn you to watch your back. The gods can be very petty when they desire,” she advised.

Diane snorted. “Please, the fuckers are more like children than any grown adult,” she commented, rolling her shoulders while Eressa stood up.

“Have your agents watch the tavern where this Anderen stayed at. I’m sure we shall investigate the area when we’ve assembled a group to hunt them down. For now, it does us no good if they realize we’re actively pursuing them. As far as they’re concerned, we know someone tried to attack the emperor and Ynro, but we don’t know who yet. Though, perhaps that cursed god warned them since you’ve been seen in our lands as of late. All the more reason we shall need to put distance between you and us. It might draw them out of hiding, at least a little,” she reasoned.

Despite myself, I chuckled. I assumed that was her non-aggressive way of telling me that my time in the lands of the empire was over. Of course, I agreed. I’d already had my agents to inform me of any other happenings here. Additionally, the emperor and I had struck an agreement of sorts. I’d remain abreast of the tides that shifted within the very heart of the empire. And, if my crew was waiting for me with renewed memories, then I hoped they endured a lot of sleepless nights.

“Aye, that might be the case. ‘Fret not, this’ll be the last you see of me for now,” I answered.

“I’d rather not see you at all in this lifetime anymore. Now, if we’re done, we shall leave when the sun reaches the midpoint of the day. Finish whatever matters you have her,” she said.

“...don’t think I haven’t forgotten what you owe me. I shall collect it at some point,” I pointed out, getting a glare from her for my efforts. Diane quickly perked up at this news.

“You owe a favor to this guy? I never thought I’d feel pity for a Hæňgaramian, but turns out the day is full of surprises,” Diane claimed, clearly finding a lot of amusement in the situation.

Diane’s mirth only seemed to make Eressa angrier before I intervened. “You make it sound like I’ll eat the lass alive,” I interrupted.

Burnwood leaned up. “Oh, I bet you’d like that, wouldn’t you? But if you do go that route, at least let me be there to see it,” she returned, only adding to Eressa’s anger until the knight finally decided to let the matter go. At times, I wondered if she was angry with me, or angry with herself for the predicament.

Either way, I left the inn soon after and gathered my agents in Fakleer one more time in a secluded spot. I tasked them with working with Lorentia to uncover any remaining cultists. However, I sure as hell wasn’t above rewarding them for their efforts with Anderen. I gave them each a sack of gold to do with as they pleased. While their pleading that it wasn’t necessary was nice, a pirate ain’t one to give up gold easily. I all but threatened them to take it lest I toss it into the sea.

Additionally, I tapped the foreheads of five individuals, granting them knowledge of Liara’s shops within each sector of the Hæňgaram lands. They could use them to come onto my ship. Had they not been in inconvenient locations, I might have used them myself. I offered them this in the event that things spiraled out of control and they would need to get away quickly. I was not going to lose them as I had others of my crew, and I’d put in too much work to see them fall like this.

“It shall be done, Sir!” the head of the group said as they quickly moved out of sight.

My business finished, I watched as the people banged on Anderen’s tavern door. Were An’raie in a talkative mood, I’d have asked what she had planned for him. I wished to know if it was as horrid as my thoughts of it were.

Either way, noon came to the sky and we were set to leave. I bothered not with the illusion this time, and it seemed none of the Hæňgaram soldiers cared about it with Eressa as the vanguard of our group. Luckily, I didn’t run into that soldier again.

Once we were far enough away, we all started running back. Thankfully, we had no reason to slow down this time for Eressa. Her body became acclimated to the new power flourishing through it, and she marveled at the increased speed and stamina.

Of course, at some point, we had to stop lest Eressa drain all of her mana trying to keep up with Diane and I. It was four days until I saw the walls of Ynro again. The moon hung in the depths of the sky as Eressa caught her breath.

Diane stretched, granting me a bountiful view of her breasts pushed against the fabric of her shirt. She easily caught me looking but didn’t care either way. In fact, she pushed them out even more, granting me a better view of them. “Mmmmmm, good thing I followed you after all. Slacked on my training a bit after this whole thing. The run certainly helps,” she said.

“Glad I’ve made you happy,” I commented.

“Believe me, you’ve made me a lot of things since I’ve met you. Luckily for you, it’s more good than bad,” she answered.

“And what, pray tell, have I made you of any bad thing?” I inquired.

For my answer, she wrapped an arm around my neck. She then whispered in my ear. “Let’s just say I never realized how good an ass-fucking can be. Maybe you can remind me when we get back to the ship. I think I’ve more than earned my due. I can only imagine what the others got with you all to themselves,” she said, playfully biting my ear when she was done.

“Aye that can be arranged,” I returned.

“And that’s one of the reasons why I put up with you.”

“If you two are finished, it would do us well to enter the city before the night runs any longer,” Eressa said, having caught her breath. The knight still seemed winded from the journey over, yet she pushed herself anyway. I assumed this was to not show any more weakness in front of the two of us.

Diane and I followed her, and she led us to another section of the walls. After verifying her identity, she was led inside along with us. Of course, what would an entrance into the city be without a glare from one of Lorentia’s men?

When we walked inside, I quickly noticed there were twice the number of usual patrols moving through the streets of Ynro. Some of them eyes our little group cautiously, yet they continued on their way as if they couldn’t be bothered to deal with us so late into the night.

Though the walk was long, we eventually made it back to the Naalin Valley. The gates were opened for us and Eressa immediately ventured off. “I shall inform the Grand Elder of the matters we spoke of back in Fakleer. Be on your way,” she said, brusquely walking away without sparing us another glance.

“I’d say she’s warming up to us. There wasn’t a glare that time,” Diane mentioned.

“Aye, give the lass a thousand years and maybe she’ll stomach a smile in our direction,” I replied as we walked back to our lodgings.

I’d almost think myself crazy when I considered that the hills of the valley had become rather familiar to me. My feet naturally pulled me up their steep bodies with Diane close behind me.

“Eric,” Diane called. I turned to her.

“Watch the bastard. There are many of those guys I haven’t meant while I’ve been in the service of Lady Liara. Alġnoth wasn’t one of them, but he was always one that Lady Liara never enjoyed conversing with. In fact, I dare say she outright hated whenever someone wished to see him. His realm is twisted and it makes Draegnar look like the Empire. If these guys really are using your old crew for something, then don’t waste time. Kill the fuckers when you’ve got the opportunity, or it’ll come back to bite you,” Diane warned.

I frowned as I looked at her. There was no hint of play behind her gaze. In fact, I dare say I saw some measure of concern behind her gaze. “I made that mistake once, Diane. It shall not happen again. Anderen was just one and the others shall follow after him, whether they have the protection of a dark spirit or not. Besides, his minions will provide a suitable battle for you, wouldn’t they? I asked.

Diane smirked. “Well, if they’re anything like that swordsman, then maybe being on your ship wasn’t such a waste after all,” she claimed, walking after me until we made it to the top of the hill.

Once we made it, we saw some of the lights in the male quarters still on. As we walked closer to the door, I noticed that we weren’t alone. Seated on the steps, quietly waiting was Alteria. She seemed to have her head down before she noticed us. More specifically, her eyes stared at me and never left.

“What did you do now?” Diane questioned, whispering to me. I knew not what answer I could give to placate her curiosity. There was no anger behind Alteria’s eyes, not even confusion or joy. She seemed as still as the sea against the cool of the night air.

“I think I’ll find out,” I said as we got near to her. Alteria then stood to her feet. It was then that I noticed she, for once, wasn’t sporting any of the Empire’s garbs. In fact, this was the most casual I’d ever seen the lass since she’d been on my ship. I also noticed a large backpack with a couple of scrolls laying on the ground next to her sword.

An air of silence passed through the both of us, so much so that it was impossible to not hear Diane open the door. Each creak was like a drum of thunder and the close of the door was like a war bell. That seemed to be the trigger that would let me speak.

“If you see fit to just stare at me all night, then might we at least do it inside? I’ve journeyed from the northeastern provinces of your lands and even I’m feeling a little tired,” I said.

Alteria said nothing, continuing to look at me as the moon reflected the beauty of her white hair. However, as amazing as this spectacle was, I wasn’t in the mood to continue this game of… whatever she was doing. I was about to walk up the stairs before she stepped down to me.

“Eric Drakclaw, I humbly beg for your presence… one last time,” Alteria said which made me even more confused. I’d never known any Hæňgaramian to beg a pirate of anything, much less to humbly do so. I wondered if we were lucky that none of her fellow soldiers had heard her say that. She’d have been drawn and quartered for that.

Yet, I watched her descend the stairs with eyes of great clarity. I found it hard to believe this was the same woman who tried to kill herself a few days ago. Her eyes were stronger than when I’d met her the first time.

“What for?” I asked.

She didn’t answer that. Instead, she just spoke one word.

“Please.”

That seemed to be all that was needed for me to follow her through the moon-showered trees, each of them sparkling in different colors. Throughout the walk, we never spoke a word to each other. The only sound to be heard was the insects beating their wings in the darkness and the soles of our shoes digging into the soft blades of grass.

We walked for some time until I heard the sound of rushing water. Once we pushed through the trees, I recognized the wide open field as the scene of our talk. It was a scene where the Hæňgaramian had unburdened all of her frustrations to me. Some might laugh at how pitiful a Hæňgaramian would be to confide in a pirate. But not I.

When we were here, I saw Alteria walk in front of me. “Alright. You’ve dragged me all the way out here. What be…”

“I didn’t ask for your help. So why did you do it? What profit was there in seeking to help me? I know not what more I can give you that would suffice,” Alteria said, cutting me off.

After thinking on the matter, I slowly started to figure out what she meant. Amused, I leaned back on the tree that had become my favorite. “Ah, that matter. I take it you enjoyed it? I sure hope that you have, not many get to such an opportunity,” I claimed which made Alteria hang her head down.

“Yes, such an opportunity, one I had not deserved. It was one I never thought I’d receive in my lifetime. Yet, it came to me because of a pirate,” Alteria said as she turned back to me. I glanced at her curiously when I saw more tears like the milkdew of the moon sail down her cheek.

When she stepped back in front of me, of the many things I might have expected… a hug was not amongst them. Alteria threw her arms around me and pulled me in until her chin rested on my shoulder. I frowned as she tightened her grip on me, the sea of snow from her hair like an ethereal light touched by the grace of the moon. So stunned was I by her action, that I knew not what to do next.

“No matter what men might call you. No matter where men might damn you to. Until the end of time, if you would have it, I shall bear the sin of a Hæňgaramian as long as I am able and call you my friend. Thank you, Eric Drakclaw,” Alteria said, her voice barely above a whisper.

As she held me, I looked up at the night sky. A Hæňgaramian had just called a pirate her friend. Next, I wondered if archdemons would become holy priests and demonesses devout nuns.

“Careful, Lass. You’re liable to be beheaded for saying words like that,” I warned, but she only held me tighter.

“If that is my fate, then I shall abide by it. You gave me one chance to be with my mother. For the first time since my birth, I was allowed to stay with her. We walked through the flower gardens of the palace and she shared stories with me, many stories. They are stories that I shall forever keep within the depths of my heart. From sun up to sun down, we never tired of asking questions. My throat even went dry from it all. It was not what I’d thought. It was so much more than that. However, above all, she told me that loved me. She had always loved me as my father loved me. Could you even fathom her next words?” Alteria asked.

Even if I were to guess, something told me I wouldn’t have to.

“She said she was proud to be my mother. I’d done the empire proud,” Alteria finished.

My eyes narrowed, snorting in amusement. “Aye, ‘tis a good fortune on you, Lass. Though ease your thoughts. If you knew the path of blood I’d laid over the last few days, you wouldn’t call me such an honor, Alteria,” I reasoned.

“I would. Even should the world turn against you, I shall forever call you friend. Provided you stay your hand of innocents,” she said as I chuckled.

I shook my head as I thought back to Anderen and Boreli, friends I thought I had aboard my ship. How funny that I might hear such sincere words from a knight rather than my own crew. Yet, I still wondered if she might grace me with such a title if she was aware of my past life.

“Do what you will then, Lass. I shan’t stop you. Aye, even though we be adults, we always desire to hear one last word of recognition from our parents should we get the opportunity. See that it’s not wasted,” I advised.

Alteria finally stepped back. I was then awarded with her bright smile. “It was not. Indeed the pain still hurts, and I believe it always will. However, I shall hold this medicine close when I feel the cruel sting again. It was done because of you,” she said.

I swiftly waved her off. “Aye, aye, enough of your praise, lass. The sails blow hard enough, thank you. Though don’t let the palace life go to your head. See to it that you’re repaid for what you endured,” I also advised again.

As soon as I finished those words, I swiftly noticed something was wrong. The smile on Alteria’s face fell a bit. “I’m afraid I will not get the chance at either of those things. I’m actually thankful that you made it back when you did. By the rise of the next sun, Alteria Balamar, Knight-Captain of the Empire, shall be no more. For my crimes against the Empire, I have been banished from the lands, never to return again. I have also been disowned from the Balamar Estate. I shall never carry the family crest again.”

…that I was not expecting.

With those words uttered, I already knew my mood when the beauty of the moon was covered by the clouds. Drops of rain started to fall. I knew not what about this would make me angry. It shouldn’t have really mattered to me, but somehow I imagined that I might be insane enough to call a Hæňgaramian a friend as well. While her sense of justice and goodwill to others would make me roll my eyes on any other day, I couldn’t deny that I still found joy in her grit and will.

“Is that right?” I asked.

Alteria sighed. “Even with your help, the emperor questioned how you had come into the empire and he hadn’t known about it. His gaze bore heavy on the Grand Elder and I knew, for my sake, she would lie to appease him. However, I wouldn’t let the Grand Elder or anyone of the table smear their tongue to the emperor for my namesake. I revealed my part of the truth and was sentenced for it,” she admitted.

The only thing that denoted my anger was a brief rumble in the clouds.

Alteria laughed. “Please. Do not be angry. There were still my crimes of enlisting the aid of pirates. My punishment was actually set to be worse than this, but the Grand Elder defended me, and even my mother defended me before the Emperor and the judges. No one could deny that the empire would have fallen without your help. I understand why they did it, and I accept it. The law must be obeyed, even by the Emperor himself. It is alright, I have been given more than I could have ever dreamed. I did not do save the empire for recognition, fame, or glory. I merely saved the place my mother and father loved. That is all,” she said.

While it might have been alright to her, it wasn’t as alright to me. My mind seemed like a maelstrom of various thoughts. Hell, I even surprised myself when I stood before her. My next words came out before I could even bite them back.

“Sail with me then. If they would not have you, then come aboard my ship where the salty air shall weave your hair in the wind. Sail beneath my flag and journey to lands that you’ve only dreamed of. I shall take you higher, higher than the Empire and higher than D’orn itself,” I invited, staring at her as she looked at me in shock.

There was silence for a long time. Her eyes met mine until she laughed. “You would ask a Hæňgaramian to become a pirate? You really are as insane as many claim, but I never thought you that much more so,” she chuckled melodiously.

Nevertheless, I didn’t smile. I just looked at her as she found joy and amusement in my words. I waited for her to cease her laughter. When she did, she looked back into my eyes. In spite of her laughter, I sensed the way she clenched her hands.

“...I can’t. I am a soldier and a knight trained in the ways of the Empire, Eric Drakclaw. I do not believe myself a fit for such a lifestyle. I have a feeling your crew wouldn’t enjoy someone like me amongst them anyway. Would it not be any different than where I am now?” she asked.

“Alteria, the pirate’s life accepts all. Under the Captain, all be equal. Merchants, drug addicts, murderers, elves, beastman, king, queen, knight, noble, rich, poor, powerful, powerless, accepted, and rejection, all have heard the call of the sea in their due time. There is a vast world to explore, more than any two legs might take you,” I asserted.

Once again, there was more silence for a time. Yet, the clouds began to part and the moon started to shine once again.

Finally, Alteria placed her hands on her hips. “Very well then, as I am soon to be no longer a soldier of the empire, I’m in the mood to do something a soldier should not do. I admit that this feels quite liberating. I’ve heard that many aboard your ship are advised against this course of action for it only leads to a person’s ruin. You seem to be so good at it. Shall we, make a bet?” she inquired.

I raised an eyebrow, curiously watching as she backed away and turned back to the churning waterfall. “You want me to become a pirate. I don’t want to become a pirate. D”orn is vast and I shall have no choice but to travel it. Should we meet again, my two legs and your ship, if I have not sworn an oath to another master, then… I shall join your crew without another word. If I do not see you again, then I shall not become a pirate. I believe this is a fair arrangement,” Alteria said.

Seeing what she was getting at, I huffed. “You never think to make things easy on yourself, do you?” I questioned.

“I am told to be quite stubborn by a pirate,” Alteria answered immediately.

I listened to the sound of the waterfall behind us for a time. Finally, I sighed. “Be this really how you wish it to go?” I asked, not really believing this wasn’t the way she would want things.

“Yes. In fact, I think it has to be done this way. Afraid you’ll lose?” she joked, gracing me with a rather smug grin. It seemed tonight was the night that I’d get to see all the faces of Alteria Balamar.

I folded my arms. “Fine. We shall do it your way. However, just so you know, I have a sharp eye. Should I catch even a glimpse of you, I shall drag you aboard my ship even if you kick and scream,” I warned.

Alteria smiled. “Many Lumnina be our witness and judge,” she said as she walked past me. She patted my shoulder and we walked back to the male quarters. Once we were there, Alteria picked up her sword and things left on the ground.

“Should the Great Spirits allow may we meet again, Eric Drakclaw,” Alteria said, holding her hand out to me.

I grunted. “Were you not trying to avoid such a fate?”

I received a giggle for my question. “Who can say?” she responded.

I looked down at her hand for a moment and then turned around. “I shall save the handshake for when you step aboard my ship. You made a bet with a salty scourge of the Great Seas, Lass. Here’s hoping you can bear the consequences,” I said smugly as I marched up the stairs.

Alteria lowered her hand and turned around. “Indeed, we shall see. Farewell, Eric Drakclaw. And, one last time, thank you, my friend,” she said as she turned around and walked down the hill. I closed the door behind me and released an exhausted exhale.

“I shall play your game for now, Alteria Balamar. Do not think your mannerisms escape me,” I said to myself as I marched up the stairs of the noble soldier quarters for the last time.

It seemed rather funny that I felt a little melancholy about living in the empire. For as much of a shithole as it was, it wasn’t a boring venture like I’d imagined. I sure as hell never thought I’d get a damn friend out of the ordeal. In some sort of shitty irony, I also laughed that as I killed one former friend, I received another. Truly, my life might be a toy to be played with by the spirits of the higher realms.

I came up to my room door and opened it slowly. Peering inside, I softly chuckled as I saw nearly all the lass who shared my bed sleeping together. Ellen, Aesteal, Naala, Diane, my mother, and the fairmaids rested peacefully around my temporary quarters. As much as I was curious to learn of what Aesteal and Maeloson had found out, I saw no need to wake them up for it. Besides, this seemed to be a matter that concerned them specifically. I assumed they saw no need for me to interfere in the problem.

Discarding my clothes, boots, and other attire. I grabbed the chair next to the desk and kicked my feet up on it. It only took a moment before I closed my eyes and enjoyed the serene ambiance of the empire as I fell asleep.

The next morning, I was awakened by two sets of excited tiny yelps. I mumbled as something like paper slapped my lips over and over. Cracking one eye, I saw Nei and Lei on top of my face, patting me with their small hands. “What reason have you two to be so boisterous today?” I grumbled before a blast of water splashed into my face. My eyes jutted open as they fell on my lap.

I glared at them before Nei glared back at me. “Mate leave. No come back. Mate never leave second time!” Nei growled in the fullness of my mind. I opened my mouth, but Nei quickly beat me to it.

“Mate… no leave second time. Nei with mate always!” she said.

I closed my mouth and sighed. I then lifted them both up on my palms. “These hands be bloody. You ain’t seen the true cruelty of men just yet. Aye, you’ve seen the bits and the pieces, but I ain’t prepared to ruin your curious minds just yet, even if they can get on my nerves sometimes. However, if it be that much of a concern to you, then I shall not do so again. Though, you shall keep your head down while I go about my business. Aye?” I questioned.

Nei and Lei nodded.

I leaned back and shook my head, ignoring the fairmaids and their zealous climbing. Of course, Nei had to settle herself in my hair while Lei settled in my chest pocket. For lasses who apparently loved the water, they sure wished to stay by me all the time.

I thought I might get a little more sleep before I heard a smirk. “And the fucking prodigal captain returns after disappearing into the night,” Naala said, leaning up and granting a splendid view of her rich brown tits.

Seeing as I’d be getting no more sleep, I shifted over to face her. “And here I thought you lasses wouldn’t mind being without me for a few days,” I replied. Naala smirked.

“Oh, someone was happy about it alright. Never thought she could crack a smile in her whole life for something that wasn’t money,” Naala replied, pointing to Ellen. I laughed but saw Ellen shift.

“I’d be happier if you’d keep the fucking noise down,” Ellen said, leaning up as well. That seemed to stir my mother and Diane as well. It seemed all the ladies that I enjoyed saw fit to bless me with a view of their breasts. I couldn’t even resist a lick of my lips when I saw them.

“Strange then that when Diane came back last night, you were the first to ask where the captain was. Especially for someone so happy to see my son gone,” My mother instigated which made Ellen growl at her.

“Keep the fucking sass and I’ll be happy to blow the teeth right out your mouth, Ira!” Ellen fired back while Diane laughed.

I watched the five of them interact, frowning as I thought on the matter I assumed was lost to me. At some point, I remembered Leah’s face. Despite her smile, her words, and her affections, I wondered why I’d never thought to see a glow on her face like I had with these four. While my mother and Ellen argued, Naala and Diane laughed, betting on who would beat the hell out of who first. Aesteal, on the other hand, tried to keep the peace between them all.

I broke apart the noise when I stood up. I walked over and kissed Ellen. Then, I kissed my mother. After her, Aesteal. Next, was Naala. Last, was Diane. I even kissed Nei and Lei before putting them back in place. The ladies looked at me bewildered and flushed as I sat down.

“Aye now, that be enough bickering for one day. I hope you four have gotten enough of the Empire’s hospitality because we’ll be leaving today. In fact, we’ll be leaving in just a few minutes as we receive our pay. As soon as I track down Raven’s Shadow, Maeloson, and Nz’ia, we shall be teleported back to the ship. Best you be prepared because we shall head back to Draegnar for two, maybe three days to restock the ship. Then we shall plot a course to the far southwest. There is a place called Charon’s Landing that I want to look into. I know not what we’ll find there but the Alchemist mentioned it in a journal. We’ll see for ourselves what lays over there,” I announced.

I sensed Aesteal’s aura reach out for mine. I wrapped it in my own and watched her shuffle. “There’s no need to wait on the pay, Sir. While you were gone, the Grand Elder and her men came with our portion. Ellen inspected everything herself, and found no complaint,” Aesteal said.

Sothshore rolled out of bed, putting her feet on the floor. “Yeah, it’s good shit. All of it. More than even I’d seen when I was in the underground market. Fuckers would kill for shit like this. Sell even a quarter-pound of this stuff and the factions’ll be tearing at your door like addicts for a sniff of rat’s mint,” she explained, running a hand through her hair as she reached for her shirt.

“We shall see. A spoil like that will be used. I’ll even keep some of the stuff just to make any other bastard jealous. After all, not many pirates get to claim they got crystallized ash from the empire,” I said as the others started to get up.

Aesteal eyed me as I turned to leave, signaling that she’d wish to speak at a later time. When I acknowledged her, she returned to her business as I made it out the door.

Thankfully, it wasn’t hard to locate Raven’s Shadow. The lot were in one room, all of them except Goron and Rieth naked beneath the sheets. When I woke them up I was bombarded with questions that I didn’t feel like answering. I warned them to be ready to leave or risk being left in the lands of Hæňgaram.

“Music to my ears!” Truon exclaimed as I left.

I then found Nz’ia, which took a bit of searching. As always, he’d huddled himself in some type of cave surrounded by piles of bones, fashioned into a necklace. I told him we would be leaving and he firmly nodded.

After Nz’ia, I found Maeloson. He was on the roof of the building, watching the steadily rising sun. Just as with Aesteal, it seemed that he too had things he wished to tell me. Of course, he settled for thinking on them later.

In about twenty minutes, everyone was stuffed in my room with the fairmaids in my pockets. There were no Hæňgaramians to wish us goodbye nor any celebrations for our departure. Instead, I activated the seal on the ground and we were all enveloped in the light.

Once the light faded, my ears picked up on the smooth sounds of the sea and the familiar creaking of my ship.

“Damn, never thought I’d miss the ship so much!” Daen said, breaking the silence as I heard the men and women outside.

“So long, Empire of Hæňgaramians. I hardly knew you, and will never want to again!” Racaell said as they marched out of my room. Rieth bid me a farewell as the rest of us stepped onto the deck of the ship.

“‘Ey look, laddies, the Captain hath returned to his forgotten crew! Where you been, Captain? Off fucking cunts and sipping ale?” one boisterously laughed while the others joined him.

Still feeling rather tired, I grunted and told Ellen to assemble the crew.

When they all stood before me, I addressed them.

“You lot have done well, and you’ve endured the fucking righteous hearts of the Hæňgaramians. How you haven’t puked your throats be beyond even me. I was mighty close to it myself. However, you’ll have to stomach the lands no more as we sail away from here. Now, before we leave, we lay to the sea those who shall not join us,” I said as my mother handed me the treasures of two of my men that I’d lost to the war.

Everyone remained silent, lowering their heads. I lay the treasures in two small barrels with holes. Dropping them into the cavern’s waters, they sunk to the bottom to rest with the souls of the men that I’d lost.

Aesteal took a step forward.

“Oohn tun la. Zor haaaa uuunnnn.

Te he me laaaaaaa.

Ruk me salmaneeeee ilos.

Illum tagne restuk beleme.

Orkos waatrie. On neh meeeh!

Ooohn tun la.

Zor haaaa uuunnnn.

Zor haaaa uunnnnn.

Oh ha ha ha! Suk sak mik lok.

Fægahar tamos. Este melos!

Zor haaaa uuunnnn.”

My bonded elf sang and Maeloson joined her. The rest of us, stayed quiet for their song-filled eulogy until they were finished.

After the silence, I faced the crew. “Release the sails. We sail into the open sea. We sail to greater fame and glory!” I commanded.

“TO GREATER FAME AND GLORY!” The others bellowed as they swiftly started moving. Men ran up the ratlines and unfurled the main sails of the ship. I weaved the waters beneath the cavern and pulled us out of the cave.

The open sun was there to greet us and the wind was favorable. The ship, caressed by the waves and the wind, turned by the hand of the helmsman. The salty air rained on our hair and stung our noses. I watched the lands of the empire grow smaller and smaller.

“If you would call me friend, then I hope you know what that means, Alteria. Both for you, and for I,” I thought as we sailed away. For a time, I wondered where Alteria might be at this very moment.

Slowly, the ship settled into silence. The few men and women not on duty busied themselves with talks of what they would do with their bounty. Others were cackling to themselves as the seas surged to life beneath the keel of my vessel.

As we sailed, I started to grow suspicious when I saw numerous people glancing at me. Lasses would glance and giggle while men raised their wooden tankards to me. I wasn’t sure what this was about, but I felt like I was being set up for an ambush of sorts. It also didn’t help that my mother and Naala seemed to be in on it.

I questioned my mother about the crew, but she waved me off. “You’re the Captain, Eric. Everyone’s always gonna look at you,” she said.

While that was true, I knew there was something else to all these gazes that were set upon me. It was only when I saw my mother smirk as she walked away did I realize I’d get no help from her.

I also came to understand that Naala was a shit liar.

“I ain’t know a thing, Captain! Anyway, I gotta polish my guns. Ask someone else!” she said as she closed the door to her room right in my face.

It mattered not who I questioned. Whether it was Raven’s Shadow, Maeloson, Aesteal, Ellen, Nz’ia, Diane, or Goron, I received no answer. I even threatened one of my crew with being tossed overboard.

“Even if my body might be feasted on my sharks. Even if my body might drown beneath the tides, I hath nothing to tell you, Captain. Maybe it all be in your head!” the man said. I might have believed him if he wasn’t struggling to keep the cocky smirk off his face.

Aware that I couldn’t fully abuse my authority as the Captain, I sucked my teeth and forced him away from my sight. He disappeared down the hall whistling triumphantly.

Having had enough, I even questioned An’raie if she knew anything. Of course, silence was all that was granted to me. I marched from the barracks across the deck of the ship and back into my room. I sat in my chair, idly watching the fairmaids swim in their barrel.

The strangeness of my crew aside, I reached into one of the drawers on my table and pulled out the long list of my former crew members. I stared at Boreli’s name for a little while before I crossed out his name, grumbling to myself while doing so. I then turned to Anderen. Though how he’d managed to recognize me was still a mystery, I enjoyed no less the terror in his eyes as I left him.

I crossed out his name next and did away with my list. After that, there came a knock on my door.

A little irritated, I still answered. “Enter,” I said.

In came my mother. “Good. I caught your ass before you could start any of your magic shit. The voyage will be long and the seas will be longer, Eric. Free up your day now. If I catch your ass so much as mixing a potion, I’ll be sure to give you a reminder of our shivving lessons!” My mother warned.

Confused, yet oddly amused, I faced my mother. “Is that right? You just expect me to sit here and do nothing?” I inquired.

“You’re damn right I do. Put to practice some of that patience shit Aesteal spoke about,” my mother mentioned, her tone notably jovial. There was also a mischievous glint in her eyes, one that I’d not seen all too often.

“What are you up to?” I questioned. She walked over to me, her womanly curves moving in a tempting way that just begged for my touch.

“Shut up and maybe you’ll find out before the day’s over. Tell you what, you like to read so damn much, go read some shit on your bed,” she said as she punched my arm. She then turned around, gracing me with a view of her supple ass. I might be wrong, but I was damn sure there was a deliberate sway somewhere in there.

Whether that was the case or not, I would never know as my mother closed the door behind her.

I thought to disregard this warning, thinking this was something stupid that might only be good for a laugh or two. However, I didn’t do this. Surprisingly, I acquiesced to her desires and put off any work. Instead, I decided to busy myself with reading some of the Alchemist’s journals, hoping that there might be a way to complete my blade of ice. Hell, if nothing else, it’d be something good to get my mind off my list for now.

With the gentle waves providing me with blessed ambiance, and the soft breeze of the salty air on my face, I read unto the near end of the day’s light.

As the orange hue of the sun basically rested over the horizon, I had basically given up researching for now on the matter of the frozen blade. A stack of five books with some scrolls lay to my right. As I pondered whether to pick out another book or not, there came another knock on my door.

This time was Naala.

“Hey, Captain. Crew needs you on the deck of the ship. Some concern rising amidst the group,” she said as she closed the door behind me.

Were I not so unenthused by my reading, I might have wondered why Naala chose to inform me rather than Ellen. It could have been that Ellen was already dealing with the concerns. Given that there hadn’t been a fired gun just yet, I assumed it couldn’t be all that severe, but I’d made such assumptions before.

As I got up, I was gonna answer the door before I saw Nei, Lei, and the others excitedly splashing the water in their barrel. “Aye, fine. Let’s go see what the matter be,” I said. If there was one thing I’d begun to learn about Nei and her sisters, they fucking loved curious things. Nothing could ever be a secret when their noses had to push into it.

I grabbed the lot of them and walked outside.

Immediately, I frowned when I saw no one on the deck of the ship. Well, almost no one. A few lads of the lubbers were hiding behind barrels or on top of the crow’s nest. There were even a few hiding around the ship’s wheel behind me.

“If this be some manner or joke, I’ll be throwing the lot of you overboard,” I grumbled as I decided to entertain whatever this was. The fairmaids looked around curiously while I made it to the middle of the ship.

As soon as I did, I heard my crew suddenly shout over the open sea. They jumped up and fired their guns into the air cheering like violent monkeys. The mages quickly started casting spells to illuminate the ship as men fired their rounds into the ocean.

“Blessings of the sea be upon you, Captain! May Dionysus grant you a feast, wine, and cunts on your name day!” my crew shouted.

Confused, I was a little unprepared when two men drenched me in a barrel of rum. Women and men burst from the lower floors with wooden plates filled with food. Others grabbed whatever they could, banging on pots and pants like makeshift drums. Others grabbed their lutes and stringed instruments, playing loud music over the open sea.

My lovers then followed suit, appearing from every corner. Even Raven’s Shadow, Goron, and Nz’ia made their appearance.

Naala laughed as she brushed against me. “Hahaha! You fucker! You ain’t tell us it was your name day! Had to learn about it from your mother of all people! This be a time to get shit-faced drunk and dance the fucking night away!” she replied.

My lips thinned as I saw my crew descend into merriful chaos. Aye, how had I forgotten my name day? Well, it wasn’t hard to forget. Even aboard my old ship, I’d never celebrated it. Living with my mother, I had not a lot of fond namedays. We only celebrated it a few times in my life, when I was too young to remember. If I recalled, when she gave me that crusty shiv was the last time we ever bothered with such a day.

“Hahahahaahaharrrrr! Come on, Laddies! Bring out the ale and bread! Let us feast upon the captain’s vessel until our cocks piss into the sea and we lay on the ground in drunken merriment!” another hollered.

“Come on, Cap’n! Start us off! Can’t no one drink a lick till you do!” a woman laughed shoving a tankard of alcohol into my hands.

Truth be told, I wasn’t exactly willing to be bothered with such a matter, but I couldn’t resist those damned hopeful eyes. Besides, I sure as hell wasn’t gonna turn down offered drink. Ain’t no pirate gonna commit such an atrocious sin in his lifetime.

“If you puke your shit, best none of you lot blame me!” I roared as I threw my head back and chugged the ale much to the delight of my crew. They cheered into the air, following behind me.

“Now tell me laddies, where be the mizzenmast?!

The mizzenwhat?

The mizzenmast!

We don’t know the mizzenmast!

How can you know the mizzenmast?

It be the short long tail to the rallying hoe!

What’s a hoe?

Thar’s a hoe!

Hoe what?

THE SAILING HOE!

Come with me, Laddies. Don’t you got no fear?

By the seas, we sail fort to make our claim.

Once we reach that great valley, thar’ll be no one left to blame!

OH HO OOOOOOH!

OH HO OOOOOOOOOOOH!

Now come and let me tell ya about the mizzenmast!

The Mizzenwhat?

The Mizzenmast ya land lubbers!

It be the short long tail to the rallying hoe!

What’s a hoe?

Thar’s a hoe!

Betcha which you had a hoe of your own.

Keep your hoe, I’ll take the fastest way TO THE GOLDEN ROW!

Now sail me down to the dragon’s town as I unfurl abound with the mizzenmast!

The Mizzenwhat?

It be the Mizzenmast, ya cocksuckers! Yahahahaahahhahar!”

It didn’t take long for everyone to start dancing like they’d lost their fucking minds while the musicians blasted their music and song. I savored a plate of bread, cheese, and meat while another tankard was shoved into my hand. Motherfuckers even brought out five whole damned trays of unleavened cake, cheering at the top of their lungs. I could only wonder when the lot had the time or the resources to perform such a thing.

After a time, I saw my mother come up next to me. “And what made you decide to do this?” I asked.

“Shut up and be grateful I did it at all. Gods know you sure as hell weren’t gonna do it. Besides, maybe I owe you. Never found any good in my name day, so I guess I ruined yours too. Ain’t very mother-like of me, is it? Figured I’d give you a good one this time,” she said, drinking her share with me.

I absently watched bastards dance with lasses, spilling fine drink over themselves yet laughing all the same. While I tried not to let the matter get to me, I still remembered how my old crew danced, sang, and partied.

I smiled. “And how did you get Ellen to agree to this?” I asked, watching Nei look at the ale curiously. She took a sip from my cup and licked her lips eagerly. She then dove right in, uncaring of anything else.

“With a lot of fucking patience. So you better enjoy it!” she said, grinning from ear to ear.

I was ready to reply to her before Naala grabbed me. “Dance with me, you fucking son of a bitch!” she laughed as she dragged me to the middle of the deck. I’d say I was forced to, but I very much enjoyed Naala’s crazy movements. The beating of drums and the sounds of strings grew louder as food was traded back and forth.

Naala smiled at me, the crowd whistling and she slipped her body against mine, making me appreciate every curve and sway. “Mmmm, save your strength, Captain. You’ll get to see more than my curves sway before the night’s over,” she whispered, throwing her hands around my neck.

Now this made me laugh. “Be that right?” I asked as her words lit something of a fire within me. I appreciated her efforts and responded in kind by moving with her. I ain’t much of a dancer, but no one cared. We moved, grinding against each other with the smell of alcohol on our lips.

Pretty soon, Naala was switched out for my mother. She grinned, unashamed to dance the night away in my arms as our boots recklessly knocked against the deck. She turned away from me, pushing her ass against my crotch.

“Mmmmm, fuck. Can’t tell if this is a present for me or you,” she said, licking her lips at me. She even winked, brazenly grabbing my cock and giving it a few strokes. Of course that got a few cheers from the crowd.

Still filled with energy and the beginning flames of lust, I was greeted with Aesteal next. Her dance was a lot slower, though no less enticing. She threw her arms around my neck, pressing herself into me. “Blessings to your name day, Sir. Pray we still have time when the night draws long, and it will be… a… long… night. May the blessings of Sael be upon you forevermore,” she breathed out, swallowing her hesitance. Her silver hair swayed beautifully against the dim lights and celebrating party members.

Feeling the atmosphere, I nibbled on her long ears, making her shiver into my arms. Just from the look in her eyes, if I wanted to fuck her right in front of the rest of the crew, I imagined she’d let me.

Of course, she was soon switched out again. This time, Diane took her place. “I’ll give it to you. The crew can throw a fucking party with the best of ‘em. Now get over here!” she said.

“Aye, no. You get your ass over here,” I said, pulling her to me. She stiffed as I held her close, dealing out to her no less than my mother did to me. She grabbed a fistful of my hair, wriggling and sliding against me. Aye, Diane was the wildest of them all. Her body exploded with energy and power, forcing me to keep up with her. Her hands slid along my chest, synchronizing with the rhythmic beat of the instruments.

At some point, our dancing turned into dry humping. She pressed against my pants and the crew cheered.

“Grab ‘er tits, Cap’n! Make the cunt scream! Lady Aphrodite ain’t got shit on her!” a woman called, groaning as a man did to her what I did to Diane. I did as my crew desired and grabbed Diane’s mounds.

“Nnnnnngh! Yessss, you bastard! Fuck that hurts so good!” she groaned. She then turned to me and kissed me, still swaying herself with me. A few others followed suit, dining on their dance partners like the horny bastards and bitches they be.

Soon enough, Diane left me as well and the night continued to go long as I was offered more food, and drink. I imagined how irritated Ellen might be when we’d clearly have to stop for more than we expected.

Of course, I didn’t forget Nei and Lei. They and their sisters formed to their proper height and happily danced around the ship. Others joined them, swimming in the salty sea. Nei just had to get me in too, flashing me with her beautiful eyes. I jumped in and danced with her for a little while. She must have been curious about the whole thing because she also pushed her body against mine, enticed by the lust steadily growing in the air.

The tenderness of her scales brushed against my pants as she playfully bit my shoulder. “Mmmm, mate. Touch good!” she said in my head as I brushed pieces of her soaked hair from the side of her face.

I then danced with Lei for a shooter while. She didn’t seem as interested in the dance as Nei, much preferring to play tricks on those in the water, but I knew she very much enjoyed the contact for what it was worth.

With the party still in full swing, I found myself back aboard the ship. The crowd was still alive with fun and I spotted Ellen leaning against a corner. She spotted me and sucked her teeth as I made my way over to her. “Fuck off. I ain’t dancing again,” she said.

“You will,” I replied. The frown on her face deepened and she glared at me. Of course, that glare couldn’t hold when I took her in my arms.

“Why should I? So I can fucking stumble over myself like the rest of these idiots?” she inquired.

I smiled. “No, because I love to fucking watch you move and because I’ll forever show you that I’ll adore everything of you. If I must stomach my name day, then I’d rather do it with you,” I said as I pulled her. She allowed herself to be pulled.

When we danced, it wasn’t anything special to anyone else. I could tell Ellen was a little self-conscious about her movements. For a lass who owned a tavern, she didn’t seem fleet-footed for the wooden floor like most others. Nevertheless, I pulled her with me and she followed. There was no humping, grinding, or teasing with her. Instead, however, there was an intimacy which I enjoyed. I dared not command about her rose-colored face nor her wandering eye. Instead, I simply let her go when we finished our brief bout of fun.

As the celebrations continued, I started to realize that this day wasn’t as terrible as I’d envisioned. It was indeed nice to have my thoughts distracted for a time. I was offered a few more dances from other lasses on the ship, claiming they’d brag that they got to dance with the captain. While there was a brief bit of teasing and play, the matters never went beyond that. However, to my surprise, I saw even a few lasses stumble over to Nz’ia and Maeloson. The latter tried to ignore them, but the former seemed hardly perturbed when they caressed his muscular frame, swooning over him like acolyte girls in the Mage Association.

Of course, anything more than that, and Nz’ia gently shoved them off. He then departed without another word. It wasn’t so surprising to me since Xhaluters were known for having strict regards to how they mated amongst their kind.

Just as Nz’ia left, I also noticed my lovers were gone as well. Though I assumed they had drunken themselves into their stupors and had either gone to bed or were hidden amongst the masses.

With the night running long, I desired a breath and leaned against the door, chewing on the cake offered to me a moment ago. The alcohol sent fucking warm tide through my senses while I watched a woman cheer, swirling her top in her hands while she rode on a man’s back. Another lass leaned on the railing, chugging a tankard while a man pierced her cunt with his tongue. She moaned, rubbing her hands through his hair.

“Come on, you f-f-fucker! G-Get in there!” she groaned. She hissed in delight, biting her lips while others applauded the man’s efforts.

“Gaiin, if you don’t make the lass drench the deck, you’ll never hear the fucking end of it!” a man shouted, a woman on her knees wantonly blowing him.

If there was anything annoying about my crew steadily devolving into a coming orgy, it was that all the lust had started empowering me. So much energy started moving through me that it had begun to wipe away the alcohol from my system.

Men saluted me as they headed below deck with their partners, whether female or male. To my surprise, even Goron had succumbed to the pleasures of the night. Two lasses laughed drunkenly as he led them away. I wondered what Liara might say if she saw one of her best guards under such circumstances.

With all the lust floating about in the air, I started getting aroused myself. My cock pushed against the fabric of my pants, the precum already seeping out of the hole in my shaft. It felt nice even as my cock ached for relief.

Just before I was about to go off and search for any of my willing lovers, the door behind me opened. “Hey, what the fuck are you doing standing out here? Come here. I need your help with something,” Diane said, grinning at me.

It wasn’t hard to figure out what she wanted with the tempting look in her eyes. She had already been taken over by the sensual powers in the air. “Aye? And what would that be?” I questioned.

“You’ll fucking see,” Diane said as she slipped back inside.

Leaning off the wall, my stomach filled with cake, fine oil, and delicious food, I turned to my quarters and opened the door. What I was greeted with brought excitement to my lips and lust to my cock.

“S-Sir!” Aesteal cried as my mother and Naala spread my bonded elf’s beautifully long legs. I was granted a delectable of her dripping channel. Ellen had Aesteal’s head in her lap while she pinched and pulled at the elf’s twin tips. Nei and Lei were seated behind my mother and Naala respectively, folding their breasts and fingering their cunts.

“We need your help stuffing this elven slut with the Captain’s cock. Think you can do that?” Diane questioned from my right. When I turned my head, I saw her just as naked as the rest, a cocky smirk on her face.

“Though be warned, seeing another bitch get fucked will rile up the others, some more than anyone else. Enjoy it, she’s already warmed up, quivering for your cock to slip right inside her and pound her until the bed breaks…” Diane stated breathlessly. Her arousal was evidenced by her nipples. How I missed looking at her tight, muscular frame.

I looked back at Aesteal. She shivered in delight as my mother licked her lips of Aesteal’s juiced. In fact, she and Naala shared a kiss, tasting the sweetness of the elven fruit for themselves. “Mmmmmm, better hurry up, Eric. Or we’ll finish the damn warm-up!” my mother warned.

I couldn’t help chuckling. The lasses before me knew the best ways to get me going. The lust from the rest of the crew certainly helped and my cock was so hard, it curved up against my stomach. “Aye, very well then. Though best the rest of you be warned that you’ll be no different before the night ends!” I said as I grabbed a fistful of Diane’s hair, something she clearly wasn’t ready for.

The others watched as I kissed her, roughly taking her lips before she could regain herself. Of course, when she did, her hands swiftly started to work. She tore off my shirt and pulled down my pants, letting my cock taste the cool air. However, before she could touch it, I pulled away.

“Though before I fuck Aesteal. I might be in the mood for a warm-up myself,” I said as Diane smirked.

“Oh fuck yes! I’ve needed this for fucking weeks!” she exclaimed. She then dropped to her knees and grabbed my cock. Her hands eagerly started stroking it, giving everyone else a wonderful show.

I inhaled, the pleasure already rising for me. How I missed Diane’s rough, yet delicate hands. Her fingers rubbed over my dick with such lustful enthusiasm.

“Nnnngh, fuck that’s hot. Look at the bitch. Couldn’t wait to get her hands on the Captain’s cock,” Naala teased as my mother leaned forward and nibbled on her chocolate tits, all while Nei continued to fondle her breasts from behind.

“At the risk of inflating my fucking son’s ego. It’s a pretty fucking good cock,” My mother panted, blowing hot air on Naala’s nipples, making her shiver.

“N-Nnnnngh oh fuck, yes it is!” Diane said, stroking it just a bit more before she gobbled it down until her nose reached my pelvis. She then bobbed her head back and forth, sparing no expense in trying to get me to blow my load down her mouth. My legs felt weak and strong at the same time, the lust from the entire ship driving itself into me and invigorating me with might. Had I this much power back then, I bet Alġnoth might have taken me a bit more seriously.

“mMMmmm! Hnnnnnnnmmmm! Fhhhuuck! Yesssssss!” Diane groaned. Her tongue coiled around my cock, rubbing the veins and caressing the crown. Her mouth was hot and wet, practically salivating with desire.

In fact, had I let her, I bet she would have seen the job through. Yet, I managed to find the will to hold her back. When I slipped out of her mouth, my cock was thoroughly ready. With my cock warmed up, I walked over to Aesteal.

“Hurry up and fuck her. Fucking looks like she can’t hold on a second longer,” Ellen said, panting as she continued to stare at my shaft.

I leaned over and stared at Aesteal. “S-Sir! Please fuck me. Grant me your mighty cock. I-I want it,” she pleaded. I lined my cock with her sticky pussy. All it took was one small piercing of my cockhead into her snatch before she arched back, spraying my bed with the residue of her orgasm.

“Shit, she wasn’t kidding. Better give her what she wants before she loses her fucking mind,” Diane said, kneeling next to the bed, her head close to our body parts.

Agreeing, I leaned over into Aesteal’s ear. “I’m gonna fuck you, Aesteal. I’ll fuck you hard on my name day. Your order shall be shocked that one of its greatest members could produce such delicate sounds tonight,” I said.

Before Aesteal could fully process what I meant, I thrust my hips forward and buried my cock into her one shot. “NNNNNNNNNNNNGH! Oh spirits, yessssss! It’s so hard. F-Fuck me, Sir! R-Ruin me for my order’s ideals. Take possession of my body for you and no other shall h-have it! Aesteal wailed before I silenced her lips with mine.

In front of everyone, I pulled my hips back and slammed them back into her. The bed shook as her legs and around wrapped around me.

“Mmmmmmmngh! Fuck that’s so hoooot!” Naala writhed as I felt the sensations of Lei vigorously rubbing her clit over and over.

Aesteal’s pussy was wet, wetter than I’d ever felt before. Each slap of flesh splashed copious amounts of her juices over the others. Every bump and curve was massaging my length expertly. She worked her movements with mine, sparing me no expense of desire and ecstasy as her voice breathed into my mouth. Her tongue wrestled with mine and her fingers toyed with my hair.

“Uhhmm! Ooooh! Nhhhgh! S-Sir! Yes! Ooooooooooh spirits yessss! Oh Gilrdri! Malik! Saril! F-Fuck me! Fuck me for as long as you desire!” Aesteal pleaded.

Truth be told, it was kinda hard to do as her legs kept me pinned inside her. She hardly even gave me the room to do what she wished. However, that didn’t stop me from grinding my pelvis against her, scraping her velvety walls with my man’s mast. My balls rested right between the crevice of her ass.

“Mmmmm, then I’ll do as you wish. I’ll fuck you until we both grow old. One that the Mark of Hoɖ shall indeed leave my soul and I’ll flood you with my children. Shall that turn you on? To see your belly fate with my offspring?” I asked, nay whispered into her ears.

I received my answer when Aesteal’s cunt choked the life out of my cock. “Y-Yesssss! Yessss, please! I shall grant you as many as you w-wish!” she proclaimed, cumming again and surrendering herself to the pleasure.

As I delved into her cunt, I felt pleasure on my balls, lips on each one. Absently, I stopped Diane and Nei, no longer behind my mother, underneath me. They sucked my sacs filled with cum while my mother and Naala licked my nipples.

“Fucking shit…” I heard from Ellen before she leaned forward and kissed me. The lustful essence of Vilinlith swiftly came upon me and I swore the energies wrapped around my cock like a thick coat, shaping it and twisting it to where it would fill every crevice of Aesteal, leaving no bump or nerve unattended.

With so many sensations, it wasn’t long before I fired my first load deep into Aesteal. She arched back, her silver hair sprawling over Ellen’s lap. The explosion of cum from my cock was nearly painful, almost like it was being forced out of me.

When I was done, I slowly dislodged myself from Aesteal.

“Mmmmm, damn. Captain really filled her up good. Look at that load,” Naala commented.

Lei did more than look at it. She swiftly got between Aesteal’s legs and slurped up the cum with her tongue. Aesteal moaned lowly, grabbing Lei’s hair while the others looked at me.

“Alright, Captain. Who’s next? This be your day to pick,” Naala said.

Now that didn’t take me long to answer. I glanced at Diane. “Aye, you shall be next. I’ve fucking missed you more than the seas themselves,” I said as I picked her up and threw her on the bed.

“Then stop talking and start stuffing my cunt with that cock!” Diane exclaimed, wiggling her butt back at me.

I took a moment to admire her ass. I dove my face into it, licking her rosebud and her pussy at the same time. With our shared senses, I felt her tremble, grabbing the sheets of the bed. “Nnnnnnngh! Yessss. Goddamn that tongue feels good. S-Shit! C-Come on, fuck me already. I’ve waited for this for so damn long!” Diane expressed.

I spent a few more minutes tasking her ass, pushing my tongue inside before I smirked. “Aye, fine. Then you shall get your wish,” I said as I lined my cock with her ass and shoved it inside. The essence of Vilinlith coated my cock, letting me slide right in.

“MMMMMMMMMNNGH! M-Motherfucker! Dammit! You really like my ass, don’t you?” she asked.

“I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t mind a taste of it too,” Naala replied. She leaned over and caressed Diane’s cheek. She then kissed her as I fucked Liara’s guard from behind. Her ass was tight, her toned muscles working for my pleasure. I imagined she could break the dicks of lesser men if they tried such undertake such a task. I buried myself to her hilt, pumping away like a madman. All the sensations of Diane and the others around me never made me tire, I just thrust away as if some force had taken possession of my body.

For so long, I’d alternate between Diane’s ass and pussy. My cock would go out of one, and balls deep into the other. She seemed to enjoy slamming her ass back into me, a challenging grin on her face. Of course, I couldn’t let her keep such an attitude. I pinched and pulled her nipples, making her eyes roll into her head.

“FUCK!” she cried as she came, Nei eagerly latching her mouth to her honeycomb. She swallowed every vestige of fluid while my ship descended into the throes of passion that would make even Aphrodite and Zeus jealous.

“MMMmmmmmn fuck! Oh shit! Yessss, rock my ass! Make me cum again. Oooooooh damn NNNNHooOUggh!” She howled as I pulled my cock out of her ass and pierced her cunt again. I only got a few thrusts in before my balls were emptied again. My heart was in my ears, yet I remained unsatisfied.

My spent cock slipped out of her crevice. Just like Aesteal, my cum seeped out of her cavern and onto the bed. At this point, I knew I’d need a change of sheets later.

Diane quivered, panting in the afterglow. Nei and Lei obediently licked my cock clean as my mother and Naala watched.

Once I was clean I turned back to them both. Before Naala could even ask, I grabbed both of them. “I shall dine on you both tonight. Neither of you shall walk straight tomorrow!” I boasted as I laid my mother on top of Naala.

“Fucking prove it then. Can’t have the crew calling my fucking son a liar,” my mother said before she kissed Naala. Their pussies rubbed each other and I watched them for a time. Then, I slipped my cock between them both.

“Haaaaaaaa! Ooooooh fuck, it’s harder than I thought! Come on, Captain. Fuck one of us already!” Naala exclaimed.

Instead of doing that, I simply teased them both. I slowly pushed into my mother and then slowly pushed into Naala, building up the anticipation of who I’d go for. Finally, I made my decision when I speared my mother.

“NNNNNNGH! Damn! Yessssss! Fuck me, Eric. Ravage your mother until she can’t move a step more!” my mother panted out, hissing when Naala bit her nipple. I breathed in and out, flexing my cock into her chamber.

There was something so natural about the way my mother’s pussy caressed my cock. Furious strikes of pleasing electricity fired off into my brain. Her pussy was perfect, already fitted to my shape. I couldn't help thrusting away.

“Could you at least try not to forget about me?”

I felt my head turn as Ellen kissed me, rubbing my shoulders while my hips worked themselves into my mother. “As if I’d ever forget you,” I responded, enjoying the writhing of my mother beneath me.

On the other side, Aesteal had her tongue deep in Diane’s pussy, pleasuring her while Burnwood fingered my elf’s quivering womanhood.

I thrust in my mother enough to make even Naala tremble, their nipples brushing against each other. Soon, I dislodged from my mother and sank into Naala next. “Yesssssss, finally. God, I’ve missed this cock. B-Best damn pistol I’ve ever handled!” she moaned.

“Then handle it you better! Come on, shake those damn hips!” My mother said, pulling Naala’s nipples while simultaneously licking the sweat off the side of her face.

“Mmmmmmmmngh, fuck! Come on, Captain. Fuck… me! H-Harder! Really give it… to me! Fire a load all the way into me!” Naala begged, my mother bracing my gunner’s hips. My legs burned and my chest felt tight.

My mother touched Naala’s cheek. “Look at you, shaking like a slut on my son’s cock. Does it feel that fucking good?” my mother asked.

“Y-Yessss! F-FUCK YES! It feels so good. S-So goooood!” Naala whined as I felt her slimy insides coil around my cock. Then the scalding juices of her lust poured onto my pistoning shaft. Like a hole unwilling to be plugged, the residue of her orgasm slipped out and into the willing tongue of Nei.

My fairmaid slapped her fin on the floorboards, eagerly sliding her tongue against the outer lips of Naala’s pussy before sailing to my cock. She winked at me, not wasting a minute. When I pulled my cock out, she immediately took it in her mouth. When she’s sucked off all Naala’s fluids, she then guided me into my mother again.

“NNnnnnnnngh! Yeah! R-Right where you belong!” My mother complimented.

I grabbed her hair and pulled her back. Touching my cheek, she kissed me in full view of everyone while Ellen vigorously worked her clit. “You’re such a sick bitch. You’d probably lose it if he came right now,” she replied while I felt my mother’s cunt tremble.

“Fuck… you!” she answered.

“Aye, that be what I’m doing,” I said as I felt the call come upon me again. I held my mother, burying myself into her body. I settled for a number of rough, deep strokes which I knew was the way she loved to get fucked. Her eyes rolled up in her head and mine followed. I grit my teeth so hard I thought they might shatter as I flooded her womb with my cum.

My mother’s body spasmed. “MMMMMMMMMNGH! F-Fucking… gods!” she panted, the lustful energies stimulating her to cum right in time with me. When I let her go, she fell on top of Naala.

Before I could even take stock of the rest of my surroundings, Nei pounced on me. I barely even got a word out before I felt the insides of her body. My cock still sensitive, it was rather painful, but the essence of Vilinlith did wonders for getting me ready.

“Nei’s turn! Mate! Mate! Mate! Mate! Mate Nei!” she clamored on, bouncing and slamming her hips up and down on top of me. Her black hair swayed back and forth. The others watched as we fucked. Nei’s wings flapped in the room, spreading colorful wisps of magic through the air.

As always, Nei’s body was unlike any other. She instinctively seemed to know every corner of my body, bending and twisting her to suit my needs. Before I could even brace myself, my toes curled as she slipped her cunt off my cock. I fired a load of cum onto her pelvis.

Smiling, she traced it with her finger and gobbled it down greedily. My mind seemed fried by the power and might being rushed into me. Nevertheless, I tried to keep control of myself even as Nei fucked me again. Her eyes started to glow with the same essence that we’d swam in together.

Honestly, I lost track of how many times I’d fucked Nei. I lost track of her orgasms and my own. I just knew that when she finally got off me, she was a bundled-up mess of exploded nerves. Her chest heaved with a wide smile on her face.

When I regained even a portion of my senses. I noticed the others eagerly watching. As expected, they were waiting for me to attend to another. Ellen turned her head away with a deep growl while the other smirked. “The Quartermaster ain’t too honest, but she can’t wait to get fucked too. Best get to it, Captain! You signed up for this!” Diane said.

Grunting, I leaned up. I made my way over to Ellen.

“Try not to throw your fucking back out, you… f-f-f-uuuuuuuck!” Ellen groaned as I slowly pierced myself into her body. She bit her lip and grabbed my arms. I leaned into her, thoroughly enjoying her flesh and her breaths. She was hot with need and her movements showed. The arousal in the air must have been too much even for her because it didn’t take her too long to start cumming like the others.

“Mmmmmgh, what would those fuckers at the Dead Tales think if they saw their boss grinding on the Captain’s cock like a tavern slut? Betcha they’d be losing their fucking minds!” Diane teased.

“Shut… nnnnnngh… the fuck… oooooooh… up, Burnwood!” Ellen cursed, hissing before I made her look at me.

“And they shall think nothing as I am the only one who shall see you like this. Never shall another have the honor,” I said. Before she could speak, I sealed her lips with mine while my mother laughed.

“I guess we don’t count then?” she questioned.

“I believe we would be the best exceptions for Sir. Especially, when we do this…” Aesteal said, latching her tongue on Ellen’s left nipple. I sensed the pain as my elf’s teeth pulled at my quartermaster’s teat.

“Knnngh! Nnnngh!” Ellen squirmed, wrapping her legs around me while Diane laughed.

“Yeah, we’re pretty good at that,” she said, taking the right nipple. Meanwhile, my mother and Naala took their place at my sides. They kissed my skin and teased my nipples as well, all while I plunged into Ellen’s depths, our flesh mingling together and the lust building like the music of an orchestra.

My thrusts became violent. I wanted more. I needed more. I had to have more! I lifted Ellen’s legs up and slammed into her. She screamed in delight, her voice just one of the hundreds drowning in pleasure aboard my ship. Her legs swung helplessly as her hands gripped mine. She bucked back as best she could, but I drove into her, giving no room for reprieve.

“Nnnngh! Hnnnnnnngh! Kuuuuuukkk! Ooooooh fuck! Shit! Yessss, be rougher dammit! I can take it! Just fuck me! Fuck the goddamn shit outta me!” Ellen cursed.

I did. I did as she wished so hard that I saw a dazzling display of lights behind my eyelids. I fucked and fucked and fucked her until I pulled out and released ropes of cum onto her body. Naturally, Aesteal and Diane took care of the cleanup, lapping it up dutifully.

Finally, my legs feel weak and I flew back before I saw Lei looking at me pleadingly. “Aye, and don’t think I be done with you!” I said as I grabbed her.

Of the things I noticed, Lei preferred a much gentler pace. That seemed to work for me as it gave me the time to recollect on everything. Her body was no less lovely than anyone else’s. She hugged my cock lovingly. Kissing my cheek while Nei licked her cheek.

“Yessssss. Feel her, Mate. Feel her desire to please you. Lei shall be yours as I wish. She feels good. Squirms she does to your body! Your might. She surrenders,” Nei said. I hugged Lei tightly. I plowed into her, suddenly finding a new advantage to the essence of Vilinlith. With the might concentrated on my cock, it made my shaft just a little longer, stretching to reach the places she enjoyed the most.

Lei’s voice panted into the air and the others observed carefully. They watched Lei get fucked like a maiden in her common bed. When I came, it wasn’t fierce. It was simply natural, a slow down from the rest of the acts I’d partaken in. I came in Lei and she came with me, her pleasant innards rubbing out the rest of my cum that it could get.

When I slipped out, I finally fell back. I surveyed my lovers and they grinned.

“Ready for round 2?” Naala questioned, grinning deviously. The others, save Aesteal and Lei, matched her smirk. It seemed like they wanted to kill me with sex like a pack of ruthless succubi or die trying.

Unfortunately for them, they all watched as my cock rose.

“Aye, pray that you live to say those words again!” I said as I descended upon them.

The night drew long and my lust even longer. Screams of pleasure poured from my room between Naala, Aesteal, my mother, Ellen, Diane, Nei, and Lei. My mind and body were pushed to their limits as the essence kept me energized. My lung burned, but I refused to yield. I’d satisfy them all that they’d never think to need another in their lives.

I came when Aesteal kissed Diane. I came when my mother sucked Ellen’s cunt. I came when Nei and Lei passionately embraced. I came when Diane and Naala lay on top of each other. Not a single cunt wasn’t filled with at least three loads of cum before I was finished.

However, when I was done, I was pretty fucking done. I lay on my bed in the darkness as the ship finally started to settle. I wondered if the sea creatures beneath the waves had felt our passionate energy and mated like crazy too. My sheets were soaked with cum and sweat. Writhing, yet satisfied female bodies lay on top of it next to me. They hummed sleepily as the waves of the ship start to lull them to the Land of Dreams.

I’m slowly taken as well, smirking as I sense An’raie’s energy stir. With so much pleasure, she couldn’t hope to stay silent this time. Yet, as the swirling energies of the Mother of All Succubi dissolved, I had not the strength to confront the Lonely Wail. My arms and legs burned, my chest was on fire, and my mind was fried like I’d been out in the sun. The last thing I remembered was the embrace of my lovers as we fell asleep.

Perhaps my name day might be worth celebrating in the future as well.