Pirates of the Sorcerean II

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"You...you what?" Pierre said, gaping in surprise. "You're leaving. You're leaving the Black Wind."
Percival nodded.
"Well, if you're sure. Do you need any money for the job?"

 

"We'll be takin our share from the battle, mostly in coin, rather than anything else. We want to be quiet about it like."

Percival looked over at the Captain. "I think ye know we handle pirating a bit different. Where I'm going, it's gonna get a bit evil, and ruthless. Not much room for the buccaneer ye be."

Holding out his hand to Pierre, Percival said: "the ship be yers Cap'n. Treat her gently."

 

Pierre clasped Percival's hand tightly and shook it. "Well, I'll be seeing you."

With that, he spun around, and walked back into his cabin, silently wondering who to promote.

 

Zillah kept an eye on Percival and approached him after Pierre departed. She made sure taht no one else was within earshot but still spoke quietly.

"Mr. McSween, burglary isn't my scene. I'm a musician and a sailor. Now that Lamira can bring some real thieving skills to your enterprise, I think it might be best if I stay here."

 

Kraine tried vainly to lift his head up and look around the cell. pulling on his shackles, he longed for a chance to sit. They bit into his wrists, making the whole experience just that tiny bit more unpleasant for him. He had managed to establish that only one other captive didn't speak in a foreign tongue, and they had held a whispered conversation, but ran had not paid much attention. His mind was on freedom.

From his position near the door he could see the hallway, where a guard sat guzzling ale, occasionally looking into the cell with an evil sneer. From above deck, the sounds of a celebration drifted down.

Giving up on the shackles around his wrists, his memory slid back to the days when he was a free man. Picking up occasional work on ships, life had been kind to him. But like any man, he had his price, and it wasn't long before someone approached him with an offer he couldn't refuse. it seemed simple enough. "A merchant has been stealing my business. Kill him for me and i will pay you handsomely."

Kraine did indeed kill the man, but things had taken a turn when guards saw him over the body wiping the blood of his dagger. Realising he had no escape(having murdered the man in an alley) he gave himself up to the authorities, a choice which he still regretted. He let out a low sigh as he wished he had tried to escape.

And so, he had ended up on the prison ship, then onto the black wind. He spat at the floor as a hatred for the authorities burned in his heart. He would get off this godforsaken vessel and seek revenge, he only needed a chance...

 

As the captain parted with Percival, Eldon quickly made his way back.

"I'll play it calmly, not letting on I know" he whispered under his breath.

"I thought you were retiring to your cabin" asked Eldon, still a few metres away.

Eldon had noticed that Percival was becoming increasingy excited at the road ahead. Something wasn't quite as clear cut as it had been before joining with Percival. All he had though about was avenging Captain de Gisors, but now he thought more about the details of all he had learnt, the land deeds, the shadowy characters that could move through the ranks of the military and aristocracy as if it was a mere cover. What were the getting themselves in for?

"How long till we depart?" he inquired looking toward the distant horizon lit up by the moon.

 

"If you be sure that is what ye be wanting Matty, I'll not stop ye. I will admit it'd be a shame, but yer life is yer own."

Seeing Eldon walk up, Percival smiled a wicked grin. "Just the man I be looking for."

Listening to Eldon's questions, Percival thought about it.

"A couple of days 'tll we reach Port Quinn. We'll make sure all things be taken care of. The Cap'n is going to let us go, so we better be ready. I'm going to grab a couple of scurvy slaves to take with us. We might be needing a cover, or some money, and they can deal with both."

Chuckling, Percival turned his gaze over to where Lamira was eating. "We be havin' a new member fer our crew. I be havin' a word with that lass over there, and she might do us nicely. She's got a fire in her, and it warms me soul. Even so, I dont trust her too far....yet. We'll see how she does us in Port Quinn"

 

Eldon's eyes fixed on Lamira "Well, I won't be turning my back to her."

Eldon looked toward Matty... "So the lad is not coming?"

"A pity, could have beena fine thief. Very nimble... even for a young boy."

Eldon glanced back over to the Lamira, a look of scorn etched on his face. Still, he didn't want to give too much away.

"The small vessell is prepped and ready for launch and since its ok with LeVarde, we can leave with less sneaking and the risk of being hung."

"Taking slaves is a good idea as well, my friend"

Eldon's half smile put Percival at ease. He wasn't sure how he was going to react to Lamira.

"Good cover and will provide us with a good supply of cash."

The last comment made Eldon think of the last few days loot he had acquired.

"When we reach Quinn, we should find a place from which to operate from. Our booty from the jewellers in our first endevour and both our shares from the raid will be useful in establishing ourselves there."

He looked hard into Percival's eyes for confirmation. "What do you think?"

 

"Good, but let's be careful. I'm not sue how long we be staying in Pot Quinn. We might befinding that we need to look elsewhere fer our enemies. One small link in a chain etc. But rest easy, We'll find the anchor at the end of that chain, and be tossing him into the drink."

Laughing, Percival turned his gaze over to Lamira. Catching her gaze, he beckoned her over. "Now I know yer a suspicious one me friend, and it's a trait we be needing, but I think it's time ye met Lamira. Ye never know, ye might get on with her."

 

Lamira quirked an eyebrow as she walked over to Percival and his compatriot, wondering why she had been called over. She was perfectly content to merely watch the two from a distance, to see if she could pick up on any details that would help her assess the type of people she would be working with for now. From what she could tell, they were definitely the no-nonsense type, strong, but not exactly known for their smarts. At least not their street smarts.

She smiled to herself as she looked at the quartermaster and his unintroduced friend, she supposed, offering up another bright smile. "Yes, Mr. McSween? How can I help you?

 

"I thought it might be a good idea to introduce you to Eldon here. A chance to get to know the other member of our little trip."

Turning towards Eldon, Percival noticed a slight frostyness. Considering the position, Percival figured it was better to be forthright, then to try sugar coating the conversation.

"Look, we be just joining up, and I be knowing none of us trust each other yet. But since we know we dont be trustin' each other, doesnt that give us a good point to be forming a partnership? Lamira, no need to be so polite to me. I dont be needing sweet-talking. I prefer people to be blunt with me, that way we all make sure we be on the same page. And Eldon, give the lass a chance. The circumstances be slightly strange, but we be needing her."

 

Lamira nodded as she took in the quartermaster's words. It was true, she didn't trust either of them as far as she could throw them, and she was sure that the feeling was mutual. Still, she held the best cards in their newly formed band, whether they liked it or not. But, there was no need for her to rub the obvious into their faces. It would be rude, to say the least, and she knew that she would be spending some time with these two pirates. She didn't want to push her luck any further with them. After all, they were bigger and stronger, and no matter how much they may need her skills, she was replaceable.

"I'll try to remember to be less formal with you, Pervical," she said, turning her head towards Eldon and smiling a bit, extending her hand in greeting. "As you know, I'm Lamira, and I'll be helping you with the things that need a bit of a subtle touch. It's a pleasure to meet you."

 

Taking Lamira's hand in gentle but passive accordance, Eldon decided to be cordial.

"Pleased to meet you miss."

"We are in need of a good thief, while I can make myself disappear when necassary, a skilled sneakster would be ideal. The loss of Matty would have meant I would be taking up that role... heh... well, lets just say I'm more of a fighter and being quiet isn't my most shining attribute"

Eldon's thoughts seemed to turn inward on himself for a few moments. Both Percival and Lamira could see the mechanations going inside his head.

"Perhaps we should have a good meal together later. To get better acqainted?"

 

Glad that his two partners were getting on, of sorts, Percival laid out his plans.

"It will be three days 'till we be reachin' Port Quinn. Shortly before we get there we'll be rowing ashore in a longboat. We'll be havin' some coin from our battle, and I be takin' a couple of slaves with us too, to make sure of our needs."

With that, Percival excused himself and walked around the feast, exchanging back-slaps with the rest of the crew. By doing so, he kept them believing everything was fine.

The next few days passed relatively peacefully, with nothing but the spray of the sea troubling the vessel. Standing on the helm, Percival was looking forward to possibilities of wealth before him.

With the smell of salt air in his nostrils, Percival made sure that the longboat was ready, and proceeded below decks to secure his captives.

 

Kraine looked up as he heard footsteps approaching the cell. As his gaze shifted to the door, he observed a man approaching. He seemed reasonably well dressed, and appeared to be looking round the captives. Maybe he was picking a slave to take? Maybe he was choosing somebody to be executed?
Kraine was torn in his mind, he could either hope he would be picked, and make an escape attempt, or wait and let someone else get shot, or maybe even released. Indecision swirled around him, and he finally made a choice to look the man straight in the eye...

 

Upon entering the slave pens, Percival looked about. In the corner was the guard, drunk as hoped.

good, this will make it a lot easier

Looking around the two cells, Percival considered who to take. He wanted slaves who could make some coin, not maggot food.

Glancing into cell one, he matched eyes with one of the slaves.

fire in his eye? that'll suit him well, if he doesnt die first

Opening up cell one, he unlocked the chains around Kraine.

"Keep yer mouth shut, and do what I tell ye, or yer life wont be long fer this world. Wait by the side while I grab two more."

Looking round the cell, Percival also un chained two others. Marching them out of the cell, he locked it back up. Putting manacles on those he had chosen he surveyed the scurvy bunch.

"Up on deck with ye, but ye best not be causing me trouble."

 

Kraine slumped against the wall opposite the cell as two more captives were dragged out. Even after days of being chained in the cell, he still flinched at the coldness of the manacles. His legs felt weak as they were forced to carry his weight up the stairs onto the main deck. As he stepped outside, he took a second to admire the scene. The moonlight glinted off the water, and everything was bathed in an eerie blue glow. For a fleeting second, memories of his youth flooded back.

Shaking his head, he stepped in front of the man who had freed him. Giving him a percing stare, Kraine stood in his path. "Who are you?" he growled.

 

"I be the person that will determine if ye die or not. The name be Percival, and that's all ye need to know. The three of ye will be taking a boat ride with me and two others. If ye cause trouble, I'll dump ye in the sea."

With that knowledge grimly imparted, Percival led the sullen captives over to where the longboat was prepared.

Looking about the moonlit ship, Percival waited anxiously for Eldon and Lamira to show, so he could put ashore.

Looking back into Kraines eyes, he said: "ye have a sharp tongue, it could suit ye well, if ye survive it"

 

Zillah took up her flute instead of her fiddle so she'd be able to think about things other than lyrics as the party continued. McSween's plot was well-laid but it required a level of bloodthirstiness that she just couldn't summon. Besides, while it might make her very rich it wouldn't bring her any closer to finding the rest of her father's legacy, and that was what really mattered to her in the long run. Whatever happened in the course of finding it was something else entirely...she smiled to herself as she thought of the gems hidden in her fiddle case.

A familiar face caught her eye as she scanned the crowd. It took her just a second to remember the man's name: Louen, he who had come into the "Mermaid's Rest" that fateful night, a servant playing the fop to provide concealment for his master. She didn't know why the other man wanted secrecy, nor did she care at that very moment - she'd have plenty of time to poke her nose into that story, especially if the idea dawning in her mind took hold. She marked Louen's movements through the crowd.

When she next took a break to claim a fresh mug, she worked her way over to Louen. "Good t' see ye 'ere, matey. Things broke up so fast at the 'Mermaid's Rest' tha' I wasna sure ye'd find yer way t'us. Ye migh' be wantin' yer master t' 'ave a word or two wi' th' Captain - 'e finds hisself in need o' a quartermaster, an' summan like yer master migh' be fillin' tha' role nicely."

 

"Louen!" Pierre said merrily as the man knocked on his door, which was actually already open. "Good to have you here. Now y'see, Mr. McSween decided to take an extended leave...no, I didn't kill him...and I am in need of a new quartermaster. You..." Pierre leaned forward, and closed the door quickly. In a quieter tone, he carried on. "And your master...will, naturally, be behind you. Do well."