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I stepped into the shop. "Well, if it isn't Draegnar's local Shark Hunter. Word travels fast about rats like you, Drakclaw. Who's cargo did you steal to get that loot?" came the voice of Bowin Cethral.
I will not go into too much detail about the man in front of me. Black hair, black eyes, breath of fire and smoke, and soot-covered clothes is what he be. He is a bastard just like me and all the other men on this island. However, if I recall, he is a good smithing bastard, one that I need right now. He was definitely not the best in the line, but for the current trials ahead, he was the best I was going to get on short notice.
"Maybe all the other bastards and bitches who've been trying haven't found the right touch yet. Anyway, I'm not here to chat up your ass, Cethral. I need a pistol," I told him. I watched him place his hands on his counter.
"Yeah, I'll bet you do, brat. Not a day goes by that one of you youngbloods comes into my shop asking for a peacekeeper. Sorry, but I ain't in the mood to hear about a boy blowing his brains over the docks today. Find someone else," he fired back at me.
I closed the door to the shop behind me. "A weaponsmith with morals? I guess even the gulls feast on sharks every now and then. This isn't about me being too young or you caring about what I do. You make and sell weapons. I need one. It's a simple business transaction. What I do isn't your business," I told him.
His eyes stared into mine and he folded his arms. "Well, look at little Drakclaw. Finally developed some cannons beneath your pants, have you? And just what are you going to do if I don't help ya out?" He asked.
"Then I guess news will definitely travel fast of an old man who's gotten soft about who his clients are. Fuckers might think you're starting to smith flower pots, and sea paintings," I returned.
I watched him grumble to himself before he exhaled. "The cheapest gun is 50 silver, Brat. can you even afford it? You are a bilge rat after all. Even I know how poor you and your mother are," He said.
I threw a sack of silver coins in front of him. He stared at in surprise. "I'll manage," I said. I then looked around his shop for what he had. When I look at these designs now, I frown. My pistols were so much better than these. Yet, to get back to the woman who made them would take a long time, years even.
I found two pistols to my liking and placed them on the table. He looked them over. " A Three-Barrel Narak Flintlock, and a Double-Barrel Fellic Flintlock. Can you even fire these?" He asked.
I merely looked at him.
He grunted. "Right, right. Not my concern. Fine, whatever brat. Blow off your fingers for all I care. 500 silver," He said. I paid him, took my purchases, and then left. He threw in holsters for them for free. I placed them away and began moving back home.
If one might ask why someone with the powers of the sea would need other weapons of any kind, then I would tell you that there be nothing better to a pirate than the smell of gunpowder, and the sound of blasting firearms. Additionally, the pistol is much faster, and much more direct.
Lastly, there are places a pirate must go that water cannot.
After that, I spent the next few hours in the gambling dens. On Draegnar, or perhaps in the entire world, gambling is another way to increase profit rapidly. That is if you're good at it. I don't need to tell anyone that I was pretty damn good at it. Of course, that experience came with a lot of losses in my former life.
That was not the case today. Lying, cheating, I used those and more to fill my pockets with coin. By the time I left I had easily made ten times what I had gotten from the undersea fishing journey I had made. Naturally this amount couldn't begin to pay off what I had bought from Ilzahold if she decided to make me pay with coin, but at the very least one could not call my mother and I poor very easily.
By the time I returned home again, the sun was beginning to set. My mother was already cooking the food I had brought home when I threw at least twenty small sacks of silver onto our worn out couch. My mother looked at this amount in surprise. "Where did you get such coin?" She asked me.
"The bastards and bitches down at the gambling dens are just as likely to lose it there as me pilfering it from their wallets. Only difference is they can only be mad at themselves in the end. How is the dinner coming?" I asked.
I look at my mother. I smile. Only a day has passed and I already see some color returning to her skin. She is still pale, but she does not seem to be at death's door any longer. Honestly, though I know the effects, the miracles of this medicine still surprise me.
"It should be ready in about an hour. You still haven't told me who our guest is," sie said.
"Where is the fun in that?" I responded back to her. My mother merely shook her head at me without turning around.
Closer and closer the time came. My face grew less and less pleasant. Sothshore was no idiot. She had already seen what I was capable of. I doubted she would run away. There was no way for her to get off the island in such a hurry without me knowing.
I twirled one of the pistols I had bought in my finger. It wasn't loaded so there was no need to worry about it firing without my notice. The aroma of food from the kitchen was telling me that mother would be finished in about half an hour. I tapped my index finger on my leg repeatedly.
Some more time passed and I slapped my thighs. "Well, it seems our guest doesn't know the meaning of respect. Mother, keep the dinner warm. I'll be right back," I told her.
"Yes, Eric," I heard her say as I closed the door. My eyes flew upwards to the rest of the town that laid above me. The frown on my face deepened. Sothshore was about to learn the price for going against me again. I stepped into the streets.
Most are unaware, but in order to cross from one portion of the island to another, there is a long, wooden bridge that connects the town together. It is rather high at the top of Draegnar. I walked across this bridge and to the other section of town. After a few more minutes of walking, I found myself in front of the Dead Tales, tavern owned by Ellen Sothshore.
Even now, I can hear the sounds of the tavern bard from outside the doors. He spins a tale of a fire-breathing dragon and the heroic bastard that does battle with it to save the town. I have been here many a time to work the jobs that Ellen tasked for me at times. It be rather funny that I now find myself the shadow owner of this tavern. Ellen be mine, and her tavern came with her.
I stepped into the tavern and push past the doors.
As soon as I come in, I see a waitress bringing a plate of swine with stuff potatoes. Warriors, drunkards, and wenches of many nations float around me. Elves, beastkin, humankind, and mages from whatever circle they practice for, are littered around the tables. They feast on plates of rice, soup, meat, and ale. I'm surprised I haven't seen a crushed table yet.
I move through the rows of talking people. I walk up to the second floor. I then turn a corner and walk up to a third floor. That's when I see a door closed and blocked by two grunts. I smirk. Judging by the bandages on top of their heads, they be the same fish gutters I had toyed with yesterday.
I walk towards them, and I get their attention. There is a fear in their eyes when they spot me. "Where is Sothshore?" I asked them. I get to the point because I am not in the mood for games. Ellen has already disrespected my authority by disobeying my order from yesterday. I would have fun thinking of her punishment.
"Lady Ellen doesn't have the time to deal with your games tonight, Drakclaw. She's been very busy today. Come back another time," one of them said to me.
"I ordered Ellen to be at my house before sunset. The moon begins to hang in the sky. What's got her so busy that she can't follow a command so simple?" I asked.
Her stupid grunts were awake when I had made my bet with Ellen. There was no doubt in their mind that they had lost. Ellen was mine to do with as I pleased. They could not stop me, and neither could she.
They laugh at me. Their breath stinks of tobacco and beer. "Your little bet might have satisfied your ego, but Lady Ellen is still one of the main driving forces of this island. She doesn't have time to satisfy your pathetic demands. I can let you borrow some coin to fuck a wench down at the local brothel if you wish. Lady Ellen deals with important business associates now. Get lost, brat or we'll show you just how lucky you were with whatever trick you used to best us," the other said.
Perhaps a man of my age, or perhaps I should say a man of my mental age, should have held greater composure than to let two pea-brained slugs' insults get to me, but as a pirate, I don't take too kindly to defamation of my reasonings.
Be happy, Sothshore. Though your worms pissed me off, I wouldn't kill them. I'd just make sure they were wrapped in more bandages later.
"A trick it be. Is that right? Well, allow this magician to grace you with a grander performance," I told them. The confident looks on their face quickly replaced itself with the fear I had wanted.
I could feel the waters in the tavern bars below. I clenched my hands. The music stopped, and screams were heard. I could feel the water in the sinks, bathrooms, and drinking cups. I threw my hands up and by my command, the water blasted through the floors up to the third and into the air above me.
"Your mouths move faster than your brains! Next time don't be flaunting your arrogance in front of your betters!" I advised them. I thrusted the waters forward and it crashed into them with overwhelming force. I then had the water surrounded them until they were trapped like fish in a fishbowl.
A grin on my face, I swirled my body and my arms and released the water, and my victims, sending them crashing into the adjacent rooms down the hall. As their bodies dropped to the floor, they let out violent coughs from their place on the ground.
"What the hell is going on out here?"
I heard the door behind me open. I turned my head and sure enough I laid eyes on Ellen Sothshore. Her pistol rested in her hands, and she held a look that was ready for combat. Unfortunately, that look didn't last long until she had seen who was in front of her.
"Drakclaw, you son of a bitch!" she told me. I could already hear the disrespect seeping into her tone. She looked down the hall at what I had done. Water laid on the floors everywhere. Holes in the floor leading from the ground floor to here were apparent. Tavern patrons were staring at the ceiling, and us, in disarray.
I fully turned my body to face her. "You're late, Sothshore. Whatever business you have right now, I'm ending it. We're leaving," I told her.
It seemed Sothshore needed to be reminded of whom she was dealing with because she folded her arms. "I'll go as soon as I'm done with my business. Bet or not, I will not ruin the business that I have bloodied my very hands with to be run into the ground by you," she said to me.
By the seas, what a fiery woman she was. Again, I dare not need to repeat how hot Sothshore makes me. Now was no different. It only reminded me that I needed a frimer leash to bring her to heel.
"Wrong, Sothshore. You are mine. Everything you are is mine. Everything you own is mine. Next time you shouldn't make stupid bets with such heavy stakes," I told her.
She looked at me with fire in her eyes and steel on her teeth. I did not give her a chance to offer me a retort. Instead, I stepped into her business office. There I noticed two reasonably fashioned businessmen. Judging by the items on the table, I could already tell what this meeting was about.
"Really, Sothshore? You risk my punishments for these little trinkets?" I ask her. I admit it be a bit brazen of me, but I swipe everything from her table and onto the floor. The businessmen jump to their feet.
"Ellen, what is the meaning of this?! Who is that brat? You better explain yourself or the deal's off," One of them told her.
Sothshore looked like she had been caught between a rock and the broad side of a cannon. Luckily for her, I was her security from now on. She didn't have to engage with sea slugs like this. "Sorry, but Sothshore has a prior engagement that she's failed to keep. Her business no longer be yours. Get out," I told them.
"Watch your tongue, you Draegnar rat. We're here on behalf of Lord Lindengar. He won't take too kindly to his men being disrespected," the other told me. Ah, Lord Lindengar, I remembered him rather not so fondly.
I noticed a pool of water at my feet. A grin expels from my lips. Again, I understand that previously in the day I cared about not letting too many people see the abilities I had possessed, but...my possessiveness of Sothshore got the better of me. One could say my ego did as well, but was I one to care? Not really.
"Then perhaps Lord Lindengar would like to know just how many of his loyal men his loyal wife has led into her chambers. It be not her fault. I too would look for better men if my husband had poor cannonfire," I taunted.
Instantly two guns were in my face. One of them walked until they pressed the pistol right up to my forehead. "You talk too much, boy. I'll look forward to having you and your mother drawn and quartered. Any who speak ill of Lord and Lady Lindengar will not live a long life," this businessman told me.
I laughed, and boy did I laugh loudly. I grabbed a hold of his pistol and tightened it against my head. "Stupid, fish gutters. The dream of men should not be to live a long life, but to live a long adventure, to go where sane people would not, to question what normal people mindlessly believe, to unearth what has been buried, and to lay claim to all that is available. If I am to have a long life, that is fine, but...what is life without the thrill...of the sea?!" I ask.
I stamp my food down and water splashed into the air. I quickly form it into a large orb. Each one wraps around their heads. They gasp and struggle for air, but the bowls of the sea that I had crafted would allow them none. I watched them run around Sothshore's office like headless chickens constantly clawing at their throats. Then I enjoyed the view of their eyes rolling into the back of their heads as they passed out and fell to the floor with hard thuds.
I snapped my fingers and their water masks dissolved into the floor. I turned around to see Sothshore staring at me. She looked at the events that had just transpired in her office. She opened her mouth to speak, but I beat her to it. "You're already in trouble, Ellen. Do you want me to make your punishment more severe?" I asked her.
She closed her mouth rather quickly. "You didn't answer me," I told her. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her clench her fists in anger.
"No Sir," she growled out.
"Good. Now as I was saying, clean up your office and turn out for the night. You're not coming back here tonight. You have ten minutes," I said. I walked out of her office and left her there.
While I waited for her, I heard rummaging in the office. No doubt she was doing something with the bodies of the men I had incapacitated. All I knew was that after the tenth minute, she came out of her office and turned out its lights. "I will make you pay for this, Sir. Mark my words," she threatened.
"I look forward to seeing you try, Ellen," I replied.
Once her threat was over, I led her down the three flights of stairs. We entered the tavern public area where most of the patrons were putting up chairs and tables. They all quickly paused when they saw Ellen come down the stairs after me. Most were surprised that she would even follow one such as myself, and I figured now was a good time to remind her of how kindly I took to threats.
I stopped at the front door. I then turned to her. "The next time I tell you to do something, I expect it to get done, Sothshore. I don't care if you have to sink every ship in the Draegnar pier to do it, but you'd better get it done. Do I make myself clear?" I asked her.
Ellen looked at me as if I had gone utterly insane. In some respects, I probably had. Here, on the somewhat ruined first floor of her tavern, surrounded by many patrons who had come to fear her, Ellen Sothshore knew what I was doing. Even now, the patrons looked at me like I willingly walked into Davy Jones' Locker, Ellen and I knew different. This blond woman was going to submit to me in front of so many people who had nightmares of her.
"Do I make myself clear, Ellen Sothshore?" I asked her.
I could see her trembling with rage. She desired to be rid of me, but she could not be. She had willingly signed over her freedom and her being to me. She had made a rash call and now she paid the price for it. For so much of her life, she had been the one in control and now she was not.
"Yes, sir," She claimed incoherently.
"Louder!" I exclaimed.
"YES SIR!" She elevated her voice more that none could argue what they had heard.
I nodded my head. "Good. Now let's go," I said to her. With that little spectacle finished, I led her into the streets and back to my house.
We arrived at my house after some time and I opened the door. "I'm back, mother." I announce. Ellen falls into step behind me as I guide her into my house.
"Ellen Sothshore?! Eric, please don't tell me the person we're having dinner with is Sothshore," My mother said. I hated to burst her bubble, but the smile on my face was a dead giveaway.
Despite this, I surprised my mother once more when I slapped Ellen's ass making her jump. "Introduce yourself, Sothshore. You're a businesswoman, so you should have the basics of greetings down," I told her.
I received the typical snarl, but Ellen was quick to adhere to my demand. "Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Ms. Drakclaw," she said. She seethed through this greeting, but I allowed it.
My mother looked at Ellen, then at me, then back at Ellen, then back at me again. It was rather funny to watch her do this, but I was hungry and ready to eat. So I gathered my plate and my food. I sat at our table. I noticed mother preparing Ellen's food, but I raised a hand to stop her.
"Sorry mother. That will be your food. Sothshore, stand next to me with your arms raised. Consider this one of your punishments for failing to obey my previous task," I said. I heard no growl, no snarl, and no angry comment. I only watched Ellen move next to me, raise her arms outward, and speak.
"Yes, sir,"
There she stood as mother and I partook on our dinner. Well, I was eating the fish stew from the products of my sea dive from earlier with elation. My mother seemed to constantly shift her gaze between Sothshore and her food.
Meanwhile, I had to hand it to Ellen. She was doing a rather fine job of following this order despite how much hurt I was no doubt putting on her arms. After some time passed, I relented. "You can lower your arms, Sothshore. Come sit, and eat," I told her.
I watched her lower her arms and scan the table. "There aren't enough chairs," she said.
"Doesn't mean there aren't enough seats,"
She and my mother watched me pull out my chair revealing my lap. "Truly you try my patience at every minute, Drakclaw," the mighty businesswoman of Draegnar said to me.
"That's Sir to you, Ellen," I told her. She turned her ass towards me and my legs felt the warm embrace of her thighs when she sat on me. I then tasked mother with preparing Ellen's food. It was not long before a plate was brought to her. She began eating.
I allowed Ellen to take a few bits of her food before I decided to begin with the true reason I had asked for this dinner to be done. "Now then, Ellen, I want you to prepare a ship for me. Prepare one that's capable of carrying at least 100 men. I also want you to recruit these men as well. They'll be paid for the expedition I'm planning to undertake by the end of next week," I said.
