Story Part 18 (Patreon)

Portodorado.

Captain Carlotta walked down the long corridor to the Port Offices. It wasn’t first time a member of the Admiralty had requested her presence—but in those instances, she had always known why she was being summoned. Halfway down the hall, she heard footsteps behind her, catching up to her, a peculiar and familiar uneven gait. Carlotta walked faster, but didn’t turn to look.

“Well, if it isn’t the overstuffed peacock herself!” an exuberant voice called out. Carlotta stopped dead for a minute, groaning in frustration. “What are you doing here, Gabbi?” she responded coldly.

“What, not excited to see your good old first mate?”

“You haven’t been my first mate for ten years,” Carlotta said, continuing her walk to the Offices.

“Ah, and it’s been a good ten years for me. How has it been for you?”

Not dignifying the question with a response, Carlotta opened the large door in front of her.