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Archives: Building an Empire at Sea

Chapter 5: Taking of ‘The Bloody Codger’

    The other ship, a flagship under the command of Larg ‘the fuzzy dwarf’ Merston, wheeled into position. “Take the ship ’live but slaughter tha crew,” barked the balding giant of a man. His crew got to work as fast as they could, throwing lines over to the Freedom. Though they had more in manpower, Larg severely underestimated the captain of the other vessel. “By the great beard of all that is holy...” he muttered under his breath. “That devil of a man still lives. ‘The Crimson Shrike’.” He called over his first mate, a strapping young man by the name of Thane, “Take your team and concentrate on their captain. That man, I served with him once. He’s a tricky scoundrel to say the least.”

* * *

    Malak looked over to Larg and laughed. “Well, the ‘Fuzzy Dwarf’ has his own ship now.” He looked to Terelyn. “New orders, Terelyn. We capture that ship. Make sure no one kills the captain. There are worse things than death for that one.”

    “Yes sir,” Terelyn said, and dashed off, grabbing a rope on the way.

    The first mate swung around onto the ladder towards the crow’s nest. She got off about half way, and onto a mast beam. The fiery-haired engineer began frantically tying the rope to the beam, high over everything.

    Climbing onto deck, Varun moved up to the captain as he was speaking to Terelyn and got an idea of what was going to go down. Walking with both of his axes in hand to face the other ship, he stood with a grin. ”Alright, who of these fools will try something first?” Narrowing his gaze, he looked for the first spot they would likely board the ship from, ready to cut down the first fool trying to board.

    Red Ear was ready for the invasion. He took to the deck just as fast as he left it, removing any ropes and hooks he could. Any man near him that he didn’t know was either pushed over board or hung by the rope he crossed with.

    Tornalin stood ready, crossbow out and loaded. This invasion would not succeed, he would defend his ship, fellow crew, and captain at even the cost of his own life. “Their blood shall stain the seas red, let them come and see what we’re made of.” He would not let his captain down again, he could not cheat death again here.

    Lilly drew her rapier, but awaited the others boarding before she made her move. Although she was confident in her skill, to take on an entire ship by herself was an impossible task that was way beyond her. She’d need at least a minute of invincibility to hamper most of the crew but even that wouldn’t be enough. She took a couple deep breaths and steadied her hand. This was going to take a lot of concentration and a lot more quick and decisive movements.

    Ursula drew her saber and waited this fight to begin. As the ships approached each other Ursula looked in the dark with hatred. {“You will never get me,”} she murmured in dwarven.

    Mudan drew his blade, and like the rest of the crew, waiting for the enemy to come to him. He took a place near Ursula, acting casual about it. He wanted to watch out for her, and he hoped she would do the same. They were a small crew and couldn’t stand to lose any of their hands.

    The first wave of sailors came across their makeshift planks and their ropes. Four headed for Mudan and Ursula, three for Varun, two to take on the dwarf, four to take on Red Ear, and six to take on Lilly.

    The second wave was devoted to Malak, due to their cautionary advice given to them by their captain. Malak cursed and tied the helm straight. He drew his swords quickly and waited. There was no use rushing things, these people were children and he would soon be their teacher.

* * *

    Tornalin stood ready for them as they approached, he fired off the loaded bolt at the chest of one of the men. He knew that he did not have enough time to reload and fire, quickly switching to his sword he braced himself. Just in time to defend from a strike towards his swordarm, knowing his bolt would not kill the other attacker he slashed across the mans stomach. His attack was blocked but his bolt buried deeply into the mans solar plexus, before he drew his sword he had reloaded and was ready.

    “You’re not going to get past me. Come and get me you bloody swine,” he taunted the other sailor who was wounded, blocking a rather off balanced attack he stuck the man in the gut. The blade was angled up and went into his chest however, so that he would not survive.

* * *

    The battle was just beginning, and Varun was just smiling as the blood rushed through his body. Grinning, Varun easy towered over the three men foolish enough to challenge him, and by the look of their faces, they must think that him being so big he was equally slow. Not waiting for them to get to him, Varun charged hard to the right, heading to the end sailor, slashing out with his right axe. The sailor jumped back as the other two moved to flank Varun.

    The only problem for the sailor was that he forgot that Varun had another axe in his left hand as he buried it deep into the side of the sailor. Varun tossed the screaming pirate over the railing before turning to the other two, his axe dripping with blood. Grinning widely, Varun nodded his head. “Come on is that the best you can do?”

* * *

    Without a second thought, Terelyn wrapped the rope around her arm, pushed herself up, and threw herself through the air, swinging high across the deck and on to their foes’ ship. The first mate caught hold of the rigging with her legs, latching onto Merston’s own vessel. She let the rope drop back towards the Freedom as she twisted upright and onto the mast beams.

    Who knew if they noticed, but she intended to go to work immediately. With nothing more than a hammer for a weapon, the engineer glanced around, hunting for the brilliant. Nothing was coming to mind though. If the captain wanted the ship taken, the sails would be needed. So she grabbed a mast line, which was easily replaceable, and cut that. As the corner of their secondary sail fell, the fiery-haired wizard of ships swung around and down, her feet ready and willing. Her target was the captain, thoughts he doubted he would stand still. Truth be told, he did move, but that didn’t leave her without anything. She plowed straight through a sailor, tossing him straight over the edge. With the grace of her previous occupation, her feet planted on the rim of the ship, a smile on her face.

    “Got the muscles to box this out?” she asked as her legs, in a surprising move to the sailor who attacked her, wrapped around his neck. She tucked her leg muscles carefully under his chin, cutting off his air flow. “As for you... You care coming with me...” Like the last man, she yanked him overboard, relying on the rope to keep her from falling. As he dove head first into the water, though, the captain took things well in hand. By the time she came back up, the captain had her lifeline half way cut.

    “Last words?” he growled.

    “Ya... Chew on this!” Terelyn slung her hammer up at him with a vengeance, which took him by utter surprise. The head hit him in the head. He threw himself back, his nose probably broken. While he recovered, Terelyn got back onto the ship. The captain had the advantage now, but that didn’t mean she would give up. So Terelyn started to whistle as he got ready to fight her, man to man.

* * *

    Red Ear saw the four men coming up on him with fury in their eyes. He drew the red blades quickly and moved in with a high step the first man to reach him would drop fast, but the others would team up and pose a problem.

    Red Ear side stepped the sailor’s blade and ran his hand around the man’s throat, as a red trail followed, the man went limp and fell. When his body hit the floor a burst of blood sent the man’s head rolling down the deck. Red Ear retook his stance and waited for the other three.

* * *

    As four men charged Mudan and Ursula, they broke into pairs, two for each of them. Mudan couldn’t handle two men on his own very well, and he was as good as naked with only his shirt on. His thick coat provided at least a little protection from slashes.

    One pirate swung at Mudan while another struck at his side. Mudan leapt backwards to avoid both attacks, then shot forward with a downward strike at the pirate who attacked him from the side. The pirate parried while his partner circled around behind Mudan. He was aware of the movement, and he wasn’t sure if the man intended to let him duel the other pirate, or just to stab him in the back.

    Mudan feinted a strike to the right of the man he was dueling, then darted to the left, stepping behind the pirate, while he brought his blade back upwards, catching the pirate in the gut before he could block. Mudan gave him a shove forward, knocking him over the railing.

    The one behind him had stabbed at his back, but Mudan had moved quickly and his blade caught nothing. He shot forward again, striking at Mudan as he turned. The blade ripped a shallow gash across Mudan’s bicep, but he still struck back with a slash across the pirate’s stomach.

    Ursula raised her saber as the two men attacked her from both sides. She bent down escaping the blow and kicked the first man in the groin turning him out of balance. Jumping behind his back she cut his chest like it was a piece of paper. Ursula was going to win at any cost; she took off two daggers from her belt as the last sailor raised his sword again. He repelled the first throwing dagger while the other one hit his hand and struck at Ursula again. She parried the blow but not as fast as needed and a broad sword left a small cut on her cheek. Ursula finally lost her patience and making a feint hit the sailor in the face with her saber’s hilt. She cut off his arm and knocked him on the ground piercing through his back with all her strength. A young thief looked behind her grasping the saber’s hit; she was a bit out of breath but tried to bear up. “Watch yer back!” Ursula shouted to Mudan as another young sailor charged at him from behind.

    Instead looking over his shoulder, Mudan stepped to the side and spun around to see who was attacking him. The pirate was a step away from swinging at him, so Mudan dropped down and shot out his leg to avoid a swing and trip the pirate. The pirate face-planted into the deck and Mudan gracefully stood again and swung at the pirate’s neck, partially decapitating him and effectively killing him.

    “Thanks,” he said to Ursula with a wink.

* * *

    Lilly drew back, her right arm taking her blade beside her head. She watched as she was alone to deal with six men. She lunged at the first man, but stabbed the ground between his legs, she released her rapier and kicked the hilt, the springy blade hacking into the man’s legs as it rocked back and forth. As the man dropped his cutlass, Lilly snatched it up and whipped it at the next man’s head. The blade arched and cleaved into the skull sending a small spray of blood towards the young noblewoman. She retrieved her rapier, drawing it across the incapacitated first man as she went into a flurry towards the third. Her rapier nicked the third man’s wrists making him unable to hold a sword properly. Clumsily the third man dropped his blade but all too late as Lilly slid her thin blade through his eye and into his brain. The other three men circled her, waiting for her to strike. This one seemed to be more promising and dangerous than she first seemed.

    Lilly was nearly exhausted from just cutting down the last three, and she still had three more to deal with. She raised her rapier to her face as if challenging them to a formal duel. In jest the three men raised their swords, and as they did, Lilly took decisive action, the man to her left lost his manhood, the one in front took the thin blade across his throat and the final man, the one to her right took the blade deep into his chest. Taking the blade from her latest kill she turned to the shrieking man who lost his pecker. She gave him a soft kiss on the mouth and rammed the other man’s sword deep into his chest and pushed him over.

    “I can be a bitch too!” she yelled at Terelyn.

* * *

    Larg growled and sent more troops forward. They were his loyal men, and the “Fuzzy Dwarf” wasn’t about to take a dirt nap, even if it cost him every man alive. “Take them down.” He growled.

    Malak drew his twin short swords and went to work on the men that came for him. The agile captain, with the blessing of Sylph on his blades, cut into the first two without a second thought, the crimson rain of their blood coating the blades. One attacked from his right, but the blade was quicker than the eye, the blow parried wide and the blade slashing either side of the man’s throat, just to cut the arteries. The man behind Malak tried to lunge forward to catch the captain off guard, but the wary many spun around with a smile on his lips, locking his blade behind the crossguard of the attacker he launched it into the stomach of another would-be assailant. The weaponless man screamed as Malak pierced him through the chest with both short swords and threw him down onto the main deck. The body hit with a sick thud and shuddered for a moment before the light of life died from his eyes.

    The second raid came, the men dispersing a little more evenly this time, three per crew member, save another four for the captain himself.

* * *

    Lilly cursed loudly. Is there no end to these pirates? she grumbled internally. She took a running start at the first attacker, leaping up against him and planting both of her feet on his face and kicking off towards the two behind him. Her daring move however, caught her leg in a precarious position. The man whose face crumpled under her attack flailed and cut open the back of her leg, causing her to tumble down and bowl over the two men. Her rapier skidded away from her hand as she struggled to rise, the pain almost knocked her down again. One of the men recovered by now, his sword at the ready to go after Lilly. She cursed again, and made a dash for her sword. The man followed quickly and cut off her escape by grabbing her wounded leg. Lilly screamed in pain and kicked back to get away from the man. Her kick managed to push the man’s knee out of place causing the latter to release Lilly’s foot and let the woman scramble to her weapon.

    By now the other man had recovered, and it was now two against a hampered noblewoman. Lilly held off on her attack, waiting until they drew in closer. She needed to be able to take them both out with little resistance or she’d never see her child again. The wounded man lunged for her but his knee hampered his movements. Lilly, taking the opportunity to disarm the man spun him around and supported herself against him as she held his throat and her sword out to keep the other man at bay. The man, with no consideration for his crewman rushed forward, only to get bogged down by the man thrust forward. Lilly stabbed forward with all her might, her thrust piercing the men through their chests. Her strength was failing her. She wasn’t used to this, especially after a full day of activity already. She hobbled off a ways and tended to her wounds, hopeful that there were no more surprises waiting for the crew of the Freedom.

* * *

    Varun barreled toward the two sailors he had left, slashing forward at the neck of one of the sailors and watching him jump away barely in time to avoid it. Already having guessed this, Varun shifted his hips, pivoting off his left foot as he twisted his shoulders to slam the axe head deep into the neck of the second sailor. At the same time, he let go of the axe and bolted forward at the one that dodged him. Bringing up his other axe up, he buried it in the under arm of the sailor that was trying to bring down his sword into Varun’s neck.

    Pulling his axe free, Varun barely had time to draw his sword until the next wave of sailors was at him. Lifting his sword up, he catch two the of swords the three wielded while using his axe to catch the other. He glared at the group with a hiss. Pushing away from them, Varun jumped back using the force of the push to give him some distance.

    Moving around the bodies of the fallen sailors, Varun paced, keeping the three moving where he wanted them as they keep focusing on him. They did not even notice how he lead the first one over the bodies, causing him to trip. With one out of the way currently, Varun made his move, darting forward and raising his axe, causing one of the men to use his sword to block. Varun hooked the blade under his axe head to pull it up and hit it against the other sailor’s arm, causing him to redirect his shot into the one that tripped, cutting deep into his neck.

    When the sailor killed his crewmate with his own sword, Varun slashed up with his sword, watching the sword cut away into the side of the sailor, then to snap his wrist to causing the blade to arc down into the upper thigh of the other. Before that was finished, Varun pulled his axe free and drove the head into the face of the sailor he stabbed in the thigh, breaking his nose, as both fell back from him.

* * *

    Tornalin saw the three men coming at him, now they were giving him more of a fight. As the first one approached from the front, the other two tried to flank from either side. “You think your so smart, well yer loyalty will earn you death!”

    The man to his front was quickly cut down with a series of three slashes, the first one knocking his weapon arm to the side. The second one made him stumble back a little, as the third one slashed his midsection open. The other two men were quick to attack, one of them catching Tornalin with a cut across his other cheek.

    “This is for our friend, die scum!” one of them shouted as he lunged forward, only to slice his friend in the midsection as Tornalin moved aside. Using this chance he sliced the last remaining enemy from behind, severing his spine in the middle of his back.

* * *

    The other three man took on Red Ear with vicious intent, but Red Ear would hold his ground. He quickly disarmed them men one by one, and then in the spirit of a fun fight Red Ear took them in to a fist fight. Trading blow for blow, he toyed with them, because he could draw his blade and finish them fast, and he just might have to for when he saw then second wave board the ship he knew it was no time to be playing.

* * *

    “Come on captain, let’s see what you got...” Terelyn said, putting up her fists as Larg recovered from the hammer throw. Of course, no one intended on keeping it a fair fight. Nimbly, the first mate stepped past the first man, rolled away from the second, and let the third run himself right off of the ship. The first sailor came back again with a right hook, but Terelyn made good use of it. As he swung, she pulled his arm out, kicked her leg over his knee, and used her own weight and force to snap his elbow. He screamed and fell while Terelyn grabbed up his sword for the third.

    Without anywhere to go, the ex-circus star leapt onto the edge of the ship as the last came at her. Doing her best to use every part of the sword, she deftly blocked his attacks and leapt over anything that went low. Finally, she caught his blade between her legs and spun, twisting it out of his own grip. As she spun back around, she placed the sword where it belonged: in his throat. Tossing the extra sword aside, Terelyn resumed her approach on the watching captain.

    “Lets see what you got,” she said, brushing the blood off of her hand.

    “Bring it, little girl,” he growled, putting up his own fists.

    No one calls me a little girl, she thought, and threw herself into the fray. Terelyn put heavy fist after heavy fist into him, while doing her best to avoid his rather large, stronger fists. His weakness was in his feet movements, she knew. He wouldn’t kick anyone. Too tight.v

    Terelyn feigned a punch and, as he went to block it, she changed direction, swinging down with her leg. She caught the back of his knee and forced him to kneel before he knew it. As he struggled to pull back, Terelyn landed her knee straight into his nose, just like her hammer. Blood careened from it and he yelled out in pain. Dazed and confused at what happened to him, she grinned. “Little girl, huh?”

    Then she felt it. That cold steel in hot flesh... His dagger was planted firmly into her side. Terelyn groaned, but did not go down. She looked at him, her eyes as fiery as her hair. “You are lucky I’m under orders...” she muttered through the pains as she pulled back her right fist. He looked up at her, surprised she was still standing. “Chew on this!” Terelyn took pleasure in delivering her almost-famous right hook, which earned her the nickname of Tiny Killer. His head was tossed away, his body following after. He was out cold.

    She didn’t know where anyone else was, but she couldn’t help it. Her side was getting cold from the injury. Terelyn dropped to one knee, holding the dagger in place. “Damn it...”

    This crew was huge, and there were plenty of men to spare. They didn’t realize their captain was down, most were focused on killing the Freedom’s crew.

* * *

    Mudan kept fighting frantically. He brought down three more men, and had a mark to show for each of them. A cut across his check, a few more on his forearms, and another across his stomach that he barely avoided. The slice didn’t penetrate to his muscle wall, it only broke the skin and tore his shirt further.

    The pirate dueling him now was much larger, but easier for Mudan to fight. He gracefully dodged a blow from the mace the pirate wielded, then slipped behind him and went for the back of his knees. With a quick slash, he tore through the tendons and brought the imposing giant of a man to the deck. Leaping upwards, Mudan used all his weight to smash his blade through the pirate’s skull.

* * *

    Malak smiled at the handiwork of his crew, but he had to stop the butchery quickly before any more valuables were lost. The four coming after him would not give him the opportunity to bellow out that their captain was defeated. Sheathing both swords he grabbed two of the men by their throats and lifted them into the air. He threw them against the other two coming and watched them tumble down.

    “Alright ye bastards!” he crowed. The other pirates stopped fighting at the Malak’s words. “Yer lives are mine, as your captain has fallen. I want all of yer men topside and accounted for, the living ones at least. If ye follow my commands now, yer lives will be spared. Now hop to it!”

    The defeated crew retreated to their ship and got the rest of their members topside. Malak hopped to the Bloody Codger and slapped Larg awake. “’ello Dwarf.” Malak grinned.

    Larg grinned back. “’ello Shrike.” Malak helped Larg up and both captains laughed. “I ’aven’t seen you since Shank took his final breath. What have you been up to Erstwiel? I thought yer attack by the leviathan woulda finished you off, ye Alecrastian salt.”

    Malak shook his head. “Damn thing almost battered me ta death, but never finished me off.” He sighed. “Ya know you’ve been defeated.”

    “Girl put up an ’elluva fight,” Larg muttered. “Regardless, my crew is yers. Take what you need, or just what ye want, since that seems to be more yer style.”

    Malak grinned. “I’ll let them come to me, thanks anyways, old friend.”

    Larg grimaced. “Ye ain’t called me old friend since the time ye gave me this accursed nickname.” He sighed. “You want something, doncha?”

    “Yer ship, yer crew.” Malak grinned. “We’ll give you a barrel and a paddle.”

    Larg sighed. “Damn it Katricos! If it’s one thing I hate, it’s the fact that you’re the greediest pirate I’ve ever damn well met. I’d rather work under you than-”

    “Accepted,” Malak stated before Larg could retort. “Welcome to the crew, deck swabber.

    Larg’s jaw fell. Busted down from captain to deck swabber...his night wasn’t going that well at all.

    Malak turned to Larg’s ex crew. “Now, most of ye can’t come onto the freedom, I’ll take two more crew from here, the rest stay on this ship but remain under my command. Any resistance will be met with immediate disposal and/or a fiery and most definitely painful death.”

    Terelyn watching her captain reminisce whilst she knelt with a dagger lodged firmly in his side. Her fists dripped with the blood that coated the ex-captain’s face. She held that dagger in place to hold in as much of her own blood as possible. Her head was beginning to feel light from the wound, but Lilly, who was tending to something, hadn’t made it to her yet. “Where’s my hammer...?” she muttered, glancing around. “If I lost that hammer because of you, you slimy bastard, I’ll punch ya again, with or without your stupid butterknife in me...”

* * *

    With the fight over, barely listening, Lilly patched her leg up as best as she could. She broke out the needle and thread and sewed the back of her leg up effortlessly, swabbing the wound with salted water to disinfect. The wound, if treated properly, would leave little scarring, that she was certain of. She wrapped the wounded area with a piece from her shirt and then went to tend to the other crew members’ wounds. She was sure that her medical training, although rather immature, was enough to make it so that at least her crew mates were not suffering. When she overheard the name Katricos her jaw dropped. Katricos Erstwiel, the captain. He’s my uncle. She half laughed to herself. That’s the only reason I’m tolerated on this ship, isn’t it? Well, if that’s the way it’s going to be then I, Lilly Atru Erstwiel, will make a name for myself.

    Varun grabbed up his axe and cleaned his sword before sheathing it. The battle was over and the other ship was theirs, that was always a good sign. Taking the time to measure all that had happened, he noticed that Lilly was tending to wounded and Terelyn was bleeding from a wound to her side.

    Not one to let himself be slowed by wounded crew mates, Varun walked over to Terelyn, ripping off some of his shirt as he knelt before her. “You hold this in place, now let me take care of this.” In all of his time on the sea he had picked up how to tend to the wounded. Using the piece of cloth he made, he worked on wrapping it around her waist and pulled it tight to slow the flow of blood to the wound as he tied it off.

    “I will clean this but you are going to have to wait for Lilly to sew it up,” Varun said. Ripping another piece of his shirt he worked on cleaning her wound after carefully taking out the dagger, making sure to apply enough pressure with his hands.

    “Whatever you say,” Terelyn muttered. Her head was starting to ache. “I got blood on my captain’s jacket. Bastard...”

* * *

    Tornalin touched the wound on his cheek, he had seen worse before and ignored it. The five bodies around him had not fared so well, wiping his blade on his tunic he sheathed it. “I’ll be dumpin’ these bodies meself, I’m not one to leave my mess for others.” He then dumped the bodies overboard, exhausted and looking a little ragged around the edges. He almost lost control in battle, his will however won out as he killed.

* * *

    Lilly made her way to Terelyn. “I assume you want to do this in private,” Lilly stated; as the wound was in Terelyn’s side, the chance of modesty slipping away was greater than had it been her leg or arm. She slipped her shoulder under Terelyn’s arm to stabilize her. “You’ve lost quite a bit of blood, let’s get you out of the sight of the others and we’ll tend to your wounds.”

    “No reason to wait. Do it now,” Terelyn said with a growl. If the others didn’t get privacy, neither would she. It didn’t matter how serious the wounds were. “Just get it done.”

    “Very well then,” Lilly retorted. “I was thinking more for my patient’s comfort than for modesty, Terelyn.” She lifted up the shirt past the midriff and dabbed the wound with salt water, as she did with her own wound. Soon after she began to sew the wound up, making sure that her sewing job was good enough to make sure it would leave as little a scar as possible. Using her teeth to cut the cord, she bit the end of the string and gave Terelyn a small smile. Lilly then pulled the shirt back down over the wound. “Although you may not want to listen to my suggestions, as a physician I suggest that you get some food into you to elate the lightheadedness you feel. I’ll help you to the mess if you would like.”

    “In a few minutes,” Terelyn said quickly. “I better stay here and make sure I’m not needed. When everything is in hand, I think food sounds good.” It wasn’t any sort of forgiveness, while Lilly might have considered it so. But, in this case, Lilly was right. Food would help. While she would maintain authority, it didn’t mean she would be foolish and argumentative for no reason. When Lilly was right, she would get no more than a nod. If she was wrong, she would pay dearly.

    “If you want to help me over, Lilly, now is your chance,” Terelyn said with a sigh.

    Varun let Lilly do the work on Terelyn as he got up, cleaning off his hands. “Rest while you got a chance, no one will argue that you earned it. I doubt anyone on this ship could have done a better job of taking down the other captain.”

    Turning to look over to Lilly for a moment, Varun nodded his head “While you take her to rest, I will finish up checking on the wounds of the others.”

* * *

    Pushing away from the rest of the pirates, Malak could see a tall half-dark elf leading a beautiful and slightly shorter female half-dark elf. Approaching Malak, Kreoss knelt slightly out of respect of his captors. “My name is Kreoss and this is my wife, Tatia. We would like to be the two to join your crew on this ship.”

    Following her husband’s example, Tatia knelt next to him, dressed in an outfit with a black skirt, corset and top, along with her black flat ballerina-like shoes with lace wrapping up her calf to her knees. Her long red hair was in a braid going down her back, being quite long. She just nodded in agreement to her husband’s words, not knowing what else to say that was not said already.

* * *

    Ursula cleaned her saber with a little rag and watched the two half-elves with curiosity. Will he take them with us or not? A young thief smirked, thinking of Malak’s “mercy” towards Larg. She picked up her daggers from the deck and waited to see what would happen next.

    Mudan was relieved as the fighting ended. He wiped off his saber on the back of one of the fallen men, then sheathed it. As he began to relax, he noticed the pain of many of his wounds. The gash on his left arm was the worst, the others were just stung a little. A trickle of blood was trailing down his cheek from a cut and he wiped it away with his thumb.

    Red Ear saw the fighting stop, but laid one last deep punch into his victim, and knocked him out cold. He then dragged the extra bodies that were still alive to the center deck and those that were dead he tossed overboard.

    “Alright Ghost ye’s free to come out!” he shouted. “She be quick and coy; willing to kill a man at the drop of a dime,” Red Ear said to Ghost as she appeared out of no where. “Me thinks I’m in love with the ladies of this ship,” Red Ear said with a huge smile on his face. He had a new found respect for the ladies of the ship. Each one earned it, but T made it most abundant.

* * *

    Malak grinned. “Alright you two, hop aboard the Freedom.” He looked to Terelyn next. “I think we’re well enough that you can take a breather Terelyn, thanks for all your help.” He gave her a soft smile, then turned to face his second crew.

    “Alright you salty dogs, hop to. Senior sailor takes secondary command of this vessel, I want half a league distance between the Codger and the Freedom. That should allow for maximum maneuverability. All previously assigned duties remain,” Malak barked. “If there is no further need of my presence, I will be on the flagship. If there is trouble on this ship, raise a red flag and drop anchor. The Freedom will come to you.”

    Larg nodded. “Well, I’ll be scrubbin’ the decks then, cap’n.”

    Malak grinned. “I jest.” He laughed. “Just take the helm like a good sailor and keep half a league out.”

    “Aye aye Cap’n.” The two old friend’s shook hands again. Malak returned to the Freedom without effort, but waited for the rest of his crew to follow before barking orders at the Freedom’s crew.

    They had gained one more ship and two more sailors to the Freedom. The pirate captain let out a soft chuckle as he looked northward to the sea.

    “Soon my homeland comes to sight,
Soon my people know my plight.
For wreckers and takers such as we
There’s nothing like the open sea.
Crimson scars dance in their heads
and all that cross us soon be dead.
Our veins are salt, tried and true
and soon our hold will have gold from you,” the captain recited. There was no need for poets aboard the Freedom, and with the addition of two half-elves to the crew, it at least doubled their magical artillery.

* * *

    Varun headed over to Mudan, readying some bandages as he nodded his head. “So, you did good.” He tilted his head to look at Ursula. “So did you. How bad are you two hurt?”

    “I’m fine, just a little scratch that will heal soon,” Ursula replied to Varun. “Yer lucky I’ve got some alcohol with me, so you won’t have boils on your hand,” Ursula said to Mudan, taking a small vial from a little pocket on her belt. Of course, Mudan could reject her help; it was his choice after all.

    Mudan wasn’t about to turn down Ursula’s help. He did examine the gash on his arm with a grimace though. “It’s going to be a problem, but at least it’s not on my sword arm,” he commented.

    Ursula took off her gloves, examined Mudan’s wound and then cleaned it with the alcohol. “Hope that will be better,” she added. “The scar will remain after some time but that’s all I can do.” Then she went off past by Varun “You fought well too” she said to him with a smile.

    Nodding his head to Ursula, Varun turned to take care of other tasks. Seeing Ursula take care of of Mudan’s wound was fine with him. He studied the two new members of the crew for a moment, making a note to keep an eye on them to see what they could do. He started to readjust some of the riggings as he knew it would be time to start moving again.

    Mudan allowed Ursula to clean his wound, only grimacing slightly at the sting of alcohol. “Scars are fine. What pirate doesn’t have a few?” he chuckled, but unfortunately, Ursula just walked off. The Azarnian sighed, and gave his wound another look. He’d have to bandage it up. His shirt was in shreds, but he could sew it up. First, he’d check and see what he could loot off the dead. With that, Mudan began checking over the bodies of the men he and Ursula had slain, picking off anything of value.

* * *

    Lilly took Terelyn off to the mess with little a word spoken. There was a natural rift between the two, and Lilly was starting to feel that she knew more of the part her relationship with the captain had to play with Terelyn’s dislike of her. She helped her below decks and took her to the mess, sitting her down at one of the tables she moved off to grab some food for the first mate. Lilly was still limping from the wound in her leg, but she made haste to get some food ready for the light headed red head.

    “Here,” she said, placing the bowl, spoon and bread before Terelyn. “Listen, regardless of him being my uncle, I had no prior knowledge of that,” she stated blandly. “Despite what you may think, I will not let the fact that he is blood...” She didn’t finish her sentence as her leg gave out underneath her weight. “By all that is holy, you’d think I was better built than this...” she muttered, dragging herself up onto a seat.

    Lilly had inadvertently torn her stitches loose with all the excess weight she placed on herself. Tears welled up in her eyes as she restitched the wound. When she was stitched, she got back up and went clean the kitchen. There was no need to finish what she was going to say. Terelyn was muddy headed as it was, there was no need to give her a headache over fickle things like blood and relations.

    “Lilly. Come over here and sit down,” Terelyn said sharply as she went off to clean things. “Now.” It was one thing to skip a meal. One could survive that. But she had no intention of having Lilly open up her wound over and over again. It was stupid. Even Terelyn, with all of her pride, wouldn’t do that. If she had to order the woman tied down, she would. The first mate had no intention of doing the same thing unless absolutely necessary. One of the others could clean up.

    Lilly turned, she was about to snap, but kept her mouth from making a mistake of letting her anger fly. “Fine,” she muttered, walking over to a seat and sitting. She looked idly back to the mess of a kitchen and sighed. “My mother told me a lot that I have a knack for cleaning. Or maybe, obsession is a better word for it.” She continued her monologue. “I left my two year old son back home with my quarter-elven husband to find my uncle. I’m not sure if it was a smart idea or a stupid idea. I knew that he was a pirate now, and that he was responsible for the deaths of my grandmother and my grandfather, although the latter was slain by my own mother...” She shook her head. “This is the first time I’ve ever met the man, and despite the stories back home, I still wanted to meet him, to know someone who would turn away from their own background, forget about their home and just live on the sea. I wanted to know what makes him so strong that other nobles can’t follow in his lead.” She sighed. “I talk too much. Us Erstwiels, we have a gift for leading long speeches and pointless monologues...” her shoulders shook as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Or maybe it’s just me...”

    “Well, you don’t clean today. You should take your own advice and rest. You’ve already ripped open your needlework once. Don’t do it again.” Terelyn sighed, rubbing her fists. They were still a little sore from the match she had with the other captain. The first mate of the ship leaned back in her chair with the plate of food. “A shipmate is worthless if he doesn’t have the brains to keep himself in good condition. And worthless things have a tendency to get tossed overboard.”

    For a “fuzzy dwarf”, he had a hard skull. “Well, you’re a pirate now. You mine as well forget all of that. Any place with a law will kill you. Now, any slaver will do the same. Its stupid to get family mixed up in that.” Terelyn knew it all too well. Its why she always went through Thom.

    “My family is the law...” Lily spoke aloud. “At least, in our own province, that is.” She shut her mouth shortly afterwards. Perhaps that’s why uncle never returned...He was worried that we’d get involved... “But you’re right. I’m a pirate now. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon my child.” She looked at Terelyn with fierce determination. “Nor will I leave my husband. If Lodoss will see me as a pirate, then so be it. If Alecrast sees me as a pirate as well, then so be it. But my family will always see me as family, regardless of what I do. That’s what gives me the strength of my convictions to do whatever is necessary till I can return to them.”

    “Believe what you want,” Terelyn said in between bites of food. Some family she must have, Terelyn thought. They were the law, but they had no problem with a family member becoming a pirate and then just coming back home after a series of murders and thefts? What kind of law was that? “Some law that is, making exceptions because you’re family. Aren’t you lucky?”

    Lilly furrowed her brows at Terelyn’s comment. “Excuse me, I didn’t think that you’d decide to judge me, or my family. But if you really must know, my family has done things far worse than plundering and killing on the high seas,” Lilly stated. “No noble becomes a noble because they are just born into it. It takes power, misdeeds and suffering to accomplish that sort of rank and authority. Since you are a pirate as well, I’d think you’d see no difference between pirates and nobles. We both take what we want when we want it, and we’re both bloodthirsty animals that make our own rules.” Lilly scoffed.

    “Only a narrow sighted individual would think that nobles were perfect and pristine. My mother murdered my grandfather, my uncle killed my uncles and raped my grandmother into committing suicide, and that was only last generation. My grandfather butchered another noble to take his land. Although I cannot say that I condone all this needless violence and death, I must admit to it as part of my heritage.” She looked hard into Terelyn’s eyes. “Besides, the town you decided out of your own head to go to happens to be in our family’s land. We can all avoid being antagonized by the law there, and anyone foolish enough to attack us would feel not only the wrath of this crew, but the wrath of the knights under my mother’s command.”

    Lilly was self assured when she talked. She knew her family better than any outsider, and there was a heavy handed logic to her words that nobody could deny. Nobles and pirates were the same thing, except one made the laws and the other broke them. Other than that, there was no difference in the nineteen-year old woman’s eyes, for naivety or wisdom’s sake, she saw it as it was shown to her by her ever loving mother.

    “Well, where I come from, it works a bit different because nobles are liked and we aren’t. They get parties and we get the gallows. My-” Terelyn bit her lip and stopped. It seemed like she lived a life without consequence. Well, it wouldn’t work like that on this ship. In fact, Terelyn found it to be a proper comparison to consider herself judge and jury as first mate. Where was all of the justice in this world, anyway?

    “Well, its awfully convenient you are safe from everything,” Terelyn said. “And it is still bad law. I’d like to think the people chasing me are better than me.”

    “Nobody is better than someone else. Rank just means that you are more skilled at leadership.” Lilly stated bluntly. “Most leaders have some shameful secret they would like to keep hidden. Regardless of that, the person that puts a warrant out for you is still human too, so they still have flaws. I’m sure there isn’t a perfect person out there.” Absentmindedly Lilly rose to her feet and went back to cleaning the kitchen.

    “Sit the hell down or I’ll have you tied down,” Terelyn barked out harshly. Her voice carried an instant anger. “The only reason you will stand up again is to go to bed. Is that understood?”

    Lilly looked back with a little bit of confusion. “Pardon me?” She stopped cleaning and returned to the first mate. “Sorry, I must have forgotten...” she sat down and placed her head in her hands, so to not see the mess of a kitchen. “I have a thing about cleanliness...” she admitted.

    “Well get over it,” the tough first mate said, clearly annoyed. Everyone else seemed to be able to follow orders. Why couldn’t this one? Terelyn finished her meal quickly and walked very carefully over to the back and placed the dish in the wash bin. Then she made her way back slowly, as she had before. “I’m going to get some rest. I suggest you do the same. But if I hear from the others that you were cleaning again, I’ll set fire to your hair and break your other leg, so you can’t walk at all. Remember, you sit here or you sleep. Those are your only choices.” The first mate walked carefully to the door and left the mess hall for the sleeping quarters, where everyone slept, with the exception of the captain.

    After easing herself into bed, she found sleep come a lot easier than last time...

    With Terelyn gone to bed, Lilly rose to her feet and retired for the night as well. There were dreams of her child and husband to be had, and nothing helped a wounded woman rest more than the thought of her loved ones tucked away in safety. Falis keep my family safe, for all their love is like a guiding light in my life, she prayed silently shortly before drifting off to sleep.

* * *

    Bowing once more to Malak, Kreoss stood, taking Tatia’s hand and leading her away. He looked about the ship for a place for them to talk about what had happened. Kreoss looked at the movements all over the ship. “What do you think, love? A bit soft hearted the captain is.”

    Letting him lead her, Tatia just smiled at him in response and nodded. She was very deep in thought, as Celeste was in Tatia’s shadow. Tatia didn’t have to try to keep track of her, she already knew that Celeste was right beside her through anything. Smiling at him, she whispered, “Yes, he is, or so he appears.”

    Kreoss took Tatia’s hand and he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to it. “I think we should go make some friends as long as we’re stuck on this ship.” Taking a moment to think, Kreoss decided it would be best to find Malak and find out when needs to be known about the crew.

    Tatia noticed how endearing Kreoss was being, but shrugged as she thought nothing much of it. As she clasped onto his hand tightly, she whispered, “Kreoss, please do not leave me alone you know I hate being by myself!”

    Malak snuck up on the new male crewmate and placed his finger at the base of the half-elf’s spine. “Let me tell you a little secret about your illustrious captain...” Malak cited. “There is little room in my heart for compassion. I took you two aboard for your shamanic abilities, no more. The other ship and her crew are mine now too, not out of pity, but out of being enterprising. The more I expand, the less competition I have in the waters. Talking about me behind my back is a bad idea, as I can hear everything aboard this ship, and trust me when I say that the spirits that are under my servitude are stronger and more determined than yours.”

    He clapped Kreoss on the shoulder. “You and your wife find quarters below, then report to the deck for night watch.” Malak walked away from Kreoss and went back to the tied helm. “Get this damned rig moving!” he roared. {“Sylph, harbinger of storms, spirit of wind, fill our sails with thy strength, guide us strong and true towards the northern continent of Alecrast,”} he chanted in Kastuulian. His spirit coalesced and pushed the sails full. Once again, the ship was on the move.

    As she felt so nervous, Tatia’s eyes widened as Malak spoke to Kreoss. She didn’t know what to do or say as she bit on her lower lip, staying quiet. Honestly, she was a little scared. Over the past year she had gone through so many changes, she was not used to that. She was used to her nice quiet, normal life, or what used to be what she considered normal. That was living with her parents, but ever since she got married, everything changed and it became weird. She, oddly enough, became a little clingy to Kreoss and she hated herself for it, but he talked her into it. And now she was slowly beginning to regret it.

    Kreoss was a bit startled from Malak, not used to being snuck up on so easily. Listening to Malak’s words, Kreoss nodded. “As you say cap’n,” he said bluntly as he turned to his wife. Taking her hand, he continued to lead her away to find their quarters. “Come, my love...”

    Tatia blinked at the endearment of “my love” as she eyed him. That was the first time she ever heard him talk to her like that. She stayed silent, following him as she was deeply confused and in thought. Glancing around, she was taking in the scenery of everything around her.

    Red Ear caught an eye full of Tatia’s ankle and followed it up to her thigh. He then gave a deep grin and curled his mustache.

    Meanwhile Ghost caught eye of another cat. She didn’t much care for competition on the ship but wasn’t about to let some young blood take her place. So Ghost walked straight up to the black cat and sat down waiting for the other cat to acknowledge her.

    Red Ear made his way over while adjusting some ropes along the way. He noticed Kreoss, but Red Ear paid him no mind and continued to make his way over to the new comer. It was then he spotted Ghost and her personal agenda. So he decided to let her play out her task before he would move in to introduce himself.

    Ursula went down to the lower deck to see dreams about Mossian shores. Although she was very tired, she slept with one eye open as a thief that never loses caution.

    Mudan tossed the last of the bodies over the side of the ship and had found a satisfying loot. There were a few nice pieces of jewelry, but most importantly, he found a fine dagger and set of throwing knives. He had never used throwing knives, but he intended to learn. He also was able to take a pair of bracers, thinking of the cuts he had on his forearms.

    He was hoping that Malak would order him and the rest of the crew off duty, but he knew caution was best exercised around pirate captains. He looked up the mast, checking the sails. He couldn’t see too well in the dark, but they seemed to be moving a steady clip. It was becoming very obvious that the captain knew magic. Not that Mudan knew much about it himself. His shirt was tattered, so he stripped it off and examined his new wounds. The pirating life led to many scars. Using his ruined shirt and a little saltwater, he cleaned up the cut on his chest, the one on his cheek and the ones on his arms.

    Varun finished making sure all the riggings and sails were at the proper tension. Now that everything was back on track, Varun took a place next to the masts. He took his time to study the dark elves, shrugging it was nothing big, he had a feeling that they would make great additions to the crew. Turning his gaze to study as what everyone else took different places, Varun wondered what was to be next.

    After tending his wounds, Mudan strolled over to Varun, watching the pair of half-elves curiously. He had seen a few half-elves in Raiden, so they weren’t all that alien to the Azarnian, but they were still interesting. Elves were a beautiful race, and always eye-catching. The half-elf woman was attractive and she dressed provocatively with the split skirt and fitted corset. However, it looked like the other half-elf was her boyfriend, or husband, so she was probably off-limits. He still was trying to work something out with Ursula, so Tatia was just eye candy.

    Mudan looked up at Varun. “Damn, I am exhausted,” he complained quietly. He was waiting on Malak’s order. The captain was intimidating, and Mudan didn’t want to assume his orders for the fear of a violent rebuttal.

    Varun tilted his head to look over at Mudan. “Get used to it, I have a feeling that this is just beginning of how the days on this ship will be like,” he chuckled softly. “At least we had a good fight.”

    Mudan smirked tiredly, staring absently at the two half-elves. “I bet it will be,” the Azarnian boy said. He looked away from the couple for the purple-haired rogue he’d been flirting with, but she was nowhere on deck. “Damn, where did Ursula go?” he murmured.

    Kreoss gave Tatia’s hand a slight tug before making his way across deck and down below to find their rooms. He gave the other crew members not much more than a slight nod. He knew this voyage would be a long and stressful one, but at least he would have time to help Tatia get used to him more. Smelling the kitchens nearby, he smiled some as the smell made him feel comfortable for some decent food now and then.

    Tatia followed Kreoss, as did her cat following silently and not wanting Tatia out of her sight as she ignored the other cat. Tatia felt a bit weird being around so many other people. She was not quite used to being around people that were not family or close friends. Keeping her eyes lowered, she didn’t want to encourage any thing in any way. She wondered about how things were going to be now, the uncertain seemed to excite her husband but it just scared her.

    Ghost hissed at the other cat for ignoring her, and then moved over to Red Ear.

    Red Ear chuckled then walked over to Mudan. “It would seem that you have your eye on one purple haired vixen. I saw your glances from the nest. I’ll bid you be careful, but if your looking for her she went below deck,” He said with a bit of humor in his voice.

    Mudan looked to Red Ear as the older pirate spoke. He gave a shrug. “She must have gone to bed then,” Mudan replied.

    Red Ear laughed at Mudan’s shrug. “That’s the spirit lad. Join me for a drink, we’ll toast to bad seas, bad women, bad luck and one ell of a good time, eh?” he said while pointing to the barrel of ale he saved.

    Mudan grinned a little, then turned to Red Ear. “Sounds good to me,” he replied, then glanced over his shoulder at Varun. “How ’bout you?”

    Tilting his head and giving a chuckle, Varun nodded his head. “That sounds good to me.” Moving to follow the two, he had to get too know the crew better so he could work with them to the best of his ability and see how they feel of the captain.

    Red Ear picked up a mug off the deck and swung it, breaking off the tap on the barrel. The ale flowed well in to the mug as he handed it to Mudan. He then picked up another and filled it to the brim as well for Varun. Last he poured himself two mugs and finished off the small barrel. “Hear to new found adventure and evil? mean mischievous maidens,” he said with a hearty chuckle.

    Chuckling, Varun took the mug and took a deep drink, grinning. “I second that, and to the rewards in the future to such adventures.” He studied over Red Ear since this was the first time he had a chance to get to know this member of the crew, he was not going to let anything pass his eyes.

    Mudan chuckled, thinking of Ursula, then took a long draught of ale. Looking into the mug, he considered a conversation starter. “So, how long have you two been seabound?” he asked.

    Red Ear stood proudly, both mugs in one hand and with the other he touched his chest. “I was born a fish, and so I shall die a fish,” he said as seriously as he could before he broke out laughing. “Here be a better question, What brings you to the sea and her dreaded ways?” Red Ear said. Being an older sailor he knew that watching them would tell experience, but not reason.

    Taking another drain of his mug, Varun looked over to Mudan with a soft chuckle. “I have been on the sea for elven years. It has been the best way for me to get what I have wanted in life, so that is why I have been doing it. While the sea has some dreaded ways, I am more than willing to face them to see the riches that they also bring.” Smirking, Varun could not help but laugh. He turned his head to Red Ear. “What about you, why are you drawn to the sea?”

    “Me? Well I enjoy navigating the stars, and a good wench in my chambers, but I came to the sea for my discipline,” Red Ear said with cheer. He meant every word of it too. “Ol’ Red Ear is no fool, you want to put your life on track let the sea straighten you out,” he added.

    Ghost decided to join the group. So Red Ear put his almost empty mug by her so she could polish off the remains.

    Mudan grinned a little at Red Ear’s comments. “I grew up on an island,” Mudan replied. “The only place to go was the sea. I’ve seen a couple cities since I left home, but hell, I guess Lodoss and Alecrast are so much solid land, it’s intimidating to go too far into ’em.” The boy tossed back the last swig of ale in his mug.

    Chuckling, Varun was getting a good idea of these two as he listened to them, nodding his head as he finished his mug of ale in one more deep drink. “Trust me, they are only intimidating if you let them. It is good to get used to everything that you can so you are ready for anything.”

    Mudan shrugged. “Sounds like a good idea,” he murmured in reply. He offered his mug back to Red Ear. Hopefully those two half-elves would be back up soon so they could all get their orders.

    Red Ear took the mug and looked around. “You to young pups might want to do under and get yer night’s rest in. Thing up here will be fine.” Red Ear said with a sage’s tone. He knew the new day wasn’t far from the horizon. He himself would be sleeping on deck under the stars.

    Mudan glanced back at the captain, but he didn’t seem to care about the other crew members going below deck. The Azarnian’s jaw cracked with a genuine yawn, just thinking about sleep. “Sounds good to me,” he replied to Red Ear.

    He turned to head back to the cabin, avoiding stepping on the cat. He didn’t pay much attention to Ghost, but he was aware of her.

    “Hey cap’n, heading to bed,” Mudan called up from the deck to Malak. He was a little intimidated, but what happened, happened. “Want me to check up on those two half-elves?”

    Red Ear picked up Ghost and then laid out in a cargo net on deck. Here the two would fall asleep to the wave and stars, floating past.

* * *

    Tornalin had finished clearing the bodies of his kills, leaning against the railing and looking into the dark water he sighed. Suddenly he gripped the railing tighter, slowly sitting down he could hear them again.

    You killed, but not for us. That man is not important we are... We are your beloved family, don’t you remember? You killed us in cold blood, you murdered us...

    Tornalin closed his eyes and tried to focus, they were close and he could remember. Everything was so clear to him, the look on their faces and their screams. “You’re all dead because you brought it upon yourselves, especially you brother... You were always his favorite, I hated you the most...” He mumbled to himself and to them, as he sat there trying to forget. His knuckles were now in fists, the tips of his nails digging into his thick palm. He could not move from the spot, and the wild look in his eyes was at least hidden.

    You can never be free of our names, don’t you regret it my son? Or did you enjoy slitting my throat, and now you’ve gone and lost my belt...

    He closed his eyes even tighter, the pain of the words drove him to even more frantic mumbling. “I’d kill you again if I could, over and over all of you. Do you hear me, ALL OF YOU!” he mumbled out as his fist slammed into the deck and his shoulders slumped forward, he sat there in a daze like he had been to hell and back.

* * *

    Kreoss helped Tatia to the crew quarters. He noticed how open the quarters were and how much more difficult this journey just became from the looks of things. “Come Tatia, we’ll find you a place in one of the corners and I’ll sleep by you. I don’t trust these people just yet...” Murmuring to himself, Kreoss tugged to lead her to a corner spot and set his things on the bunk closest to where he would like Tatia to sleep.

    Tatia blushed darkly as she realized that for the first time they were actually going to sleep together. She knew he didn’t sleep with her before, because he didn’t wish to push things on her, or pressure her about the physical side to their marriage. Secretly, she had always wanted to join her in bed, not for that, but just to hold her, really. Nibbling on her lower lip as she watched him getting everything ready, she scanned the room curiously before turning back to him whispering, “Kreoss, do you think it wise to continue to want to travel on sea? Perhaps we should go back home...”

    Her cat leaned against her almost tiredly. From her cat’s expression, she could see how it did not enjoy being in this new environment. It did not enjoy being on it’s guard and it was becoming more obvious to her that is how she was going to be until she could trust the people here better. She doubted that was going to happen.

    Kreoss turned to Tatia, hugging her comfortingly and speaking reassuringly in a soft whisper in her ear, “I think if we give them enough time, maybe it won’t seem so bad, but I want you to stay as close as you can to me at all times. Just let me know whenever someone or something makes you uncomfortable, and I will deal with it, alright?” Kreoss leaned back, looking into her eyes for a moment, and felt himself being drawn down as he kisses her lips lightly, for a brief moment before pulling back looking at her reaction. After a moment he let go of her slowly he turns back to the bunk getting it ready.

    Tatia sighed softly at his words, she knew how much he enjoyed the sea’s adventures, but she was beginning to think this was not for her. Mentally, she just shrugged it off, smiling reassuringly to him at his words, assuring him that of course she would tell him. She blinked as she noticed his sudden change in posture as he seemed to slowly lower his head down to hers. A small gasp escaped her lips as she felt him kiss her, but he pulled away before she could even react. Tatia looked up at him curiously as he turned back to make the beds. She waited patiently for him to finish so she go back up.

    She felt weird about the kiss. It felt very nice—very, very, nice now that she thought about it—but what made him kiss her all of a sudden? After a few moments she whispered, “Kreoss, shouldn’t we get going back up there? They’re going to wonder what has become of us...”

    After finishing making their beds, Kreoss stood up looking to her. Giving her a little smirk, he took her hand and started to lead her back to the top deck. He gave her odd looks now and then as they made their way through the ship. He quietly made his way back to report in for their watch.

* * *

    Kreoss led Tatia above deck and they passed Mudan. He took a moment to stretch and flex his muscles, as he knew that if they did good for the first couple of night watches that they would be more accepted into the rest of the crew. His hand rested on his sword as he walked toward the starboard side of the ship to look into the water a moment, letting his lovely wife move about in the fresh air. Taking a moment, he turned to find Malak to report in.

    Before Malak could reply to Mudan, the half-elf couple was coming up the stairs. The Azarnian stepped aside to let them pass and shrugged his shoulders. “Never mind then,” he said, then headed below to go to bed. He cast a glance over his shoulder at the half-elves as he walked away. They were a curiosity to him, and the woman was easy on the eyes, after all.

    Malak’s eyes narrowed at the two half-elves. “You sure took your damn time,” he barked. “The next time I say place your stuff below deck and report back to me, I mean right away. Do you understand?” He yelled the last bit. He didn’t wait for a response. “Kreoss, you take the helm, Tatia, you take the crows nest. Either of you screw up and I’ll personally gut you and feed you to eels.”

    Kreoss grinned as he nodded and gave Malak a bit of a salute. He blew his wife a kiss before walking to the helm, letting his eyes adjust to the oncoming darkness. The sea made the changes between night and day so different then on land, making the ocean seem more mystical in a way. Taking his position, he gave Malak a reassuring gaze, “This should be fun.”

    Tatia’s eyes widened when Malak yelled at them. She didn’t think they had taken that long, but she supposed she lost track of time. She nodded to Malak, turning to Kreoss to see his reaction and seeing him blowing her a kiss, she could feel her face becoming warm. Glancing away, trying to calm down her blush, she made her way to the crow’s nest. Once reaching up high, she every so often would sneak quick peeks down to where her husband was at the helm. She couldn’t help but wonder why he was becoming more affectionate to her...

* * *

    Tornalin lifted his weary body from the deck, he was tired but did not want to even try sleeping. Making his way below deck and past his captain he nodded wearily, his eyes showing signs of the strain on his mind. “How much time has passed? They won’t leave me alone now. What can I do?” he mumbled to himself halfway down the stairs as he headed to his bunk. He would try to sleep despite the initial attack that caused him to almost lose it.

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