The Vengeful Tide Ch. 05

My mother exited the bathroom before me. I took the time to look like I had not just been awake into the very late hours of the night. A quick splash of water to my face, a brush of my teeth, and a change of clothes led me to standing back in the living room.

I noticed my mother standing at the door, my captain's coat rested in her arms. I held out my hand to take it, but she shook her head towards me.

"Let me put it on," she said. I was not sure why she wanted to do it, but I allowed her to do so. She stood behind me and slipped my arms through the sleeves. Her eyes trailed over my body like a fancy artist working upon a drawing. Her fingers lingered on my black coat for a time before she placed on my boots. She then stuck my two pistols in their pouches.

"Had we the time, I would have taken you to the tavern for an ale to commemorate you as the captain. You probably be the youngest captain I know of. For both our sakes, I hope you know what you're doing, boy," my mother said. Unlike before, I did not chastise her for that one. I could tell where her intention came from.

With the limited items that our household held, my mother and I walked out of the house. She locked the door behind us. Even now, I could still see hundreds of people working the docks and my ship below.

It be odd. I have sailed the seas for many years. I have fought many a creature that be from both myth and legend. Yet, just the walk from my house to the docks filled my young body with excitement. There be something about the sea and tides that changes a boy into a man. Even for someone of my age, there is a profound fulfillment to be found in a man's first journey.

As I expected, walking through Draegnar in my captain's outfit had drawn attention. Some laughed at me. In their eyes, I might be one of the best Shark Hunters on the island, but I was certainly no pirate. If nothing else, I was just a brat playing dress up. Those people did not bother me too much. I could already see the outcome when I returned.

I arrived on the Draegnar docks. The air was full of seawater and the cursed sound of birds. The sun was hot, but the piers were wet from a storm that had passed a few days ago. No, I was not the cause that time.

Men and women stopped their work to briefly look at me before returning to their own ships. I watched merchants bark orders to servants and slaves while conducting business with other benefactors. Seeing this reminded me that I would need Sothshore for more things than even I had foreseen.

My mother and I walked across the docks. The wooden planks creaked beneath our feet as we came to the furthest ship stationed above the waves. So tall was the mast that it provided a shade to my eyes from the sun.

"10%, and I go no lower!"

"This is not up for debate. You're lucky I allowed you 4%. Do not attempt to haggle me. Greater and richer assjackets than you have tried,"

From the ship, I turned my attention to the war of words in front of me. I saw Ellen speaking with the owner of the ship. He was a man of average height, but a not so average build. His body reflected his potential hobby of drowning his merriment in booze. The belly shows it.

Ellen took notice of me and my mother coming over. She then folded her arms. As always, even when she be looking like the flames of hell itself, she is still beautiful in my eyes.

"You're late, Captain!" she said.

To be honest, just her even saying my title aroused me for...whatever reason. I know she must have said it with the barest amount of spite and sarcasm, but the way her voice sounded like hot fire made me smile.

Unfortunately, I could not live in the moment very long. Someone decided to ruin my mood.

"This...this boy be the captain of this voyage? I have done business with you before, Sothshore, but such a joke goes about as far as novice spit against an urn. Forget the deal, forget the commission, I am not having some skinny bilgerat aboard my ship!" the captain said.

"As of sunrise this day, you are not the captain of this ship. Besides, everything is already being loaded into the ship as we draw breath. If you do not like it, then you can take it up with someone who cares. Just know that no one's backed out of a deal with me and lived to speak about it. You'll be another story of my tavern. It's name is rather ironic, don't you think?" she asked.

The owner glared at her. He then glared at me. His bloated belly fully faced me. He then began to walk towards me until I had to adjust my gaze upwards to meet his own. He smiled at me. I could see the slight decay of his teeth. His breath smelled as rancid as whale blubber.

"How old you be, boy?" He asked me.

I did not answer him. Instead, I turned my eyes to my mother. "Get on the ship, mother. I'll be there shortly," I said.

My mother looked at me. Then at the man in front of me. "Better do as he says, Lass. He'll be there once we exchange some pleasant sea tales," he said.

My mother didn't reply to him either, but I could see the burning fire of a female pirate in her eyes. She moved to the side and boarded the ship. It wasn't long before I heard the men showing their "appreciation" of her in the form of whistles, perverse comments, and laughter.

I did not like it. Those comments...reminded me of things I'd rather not be reminded of.

The owner of the ship laughed as well. He then placed a hand on my shoulder. "There are many like you, boy. A fish believing it was born to be a shark. You try to begin your swim, but you don't know how vast the ocean is. You look like you've yet to even get your legs past the sandy shoreline. A great captain takes command of his crew. Can you even do that?" he asked me.

He then turned to his ship. "Avast, ye Draegnar lubbers! Feast your eyes upon your captain! This be the man to lead you on your perilous journey!" He said to the men and women who would be my crew.

As one might expect, they all stopped their work to look upon me. Hell, even those ships that were not a part of my voyage ceased their duties. When eyes laid upon me, more laughing ensued.

"Hahahahaha! You need more meat on your skin, boy!"

"Who did you bribe to wear that captain's robe? I be surprised it fits you!"

"Nice pistols, boy! I hope they're good for more than just bird hunting!"

"So the famous Shark Hunter of Draegnar wants to sail the seas? Can you even read a map, son?"

"I came here to make a profit, not become a bitch's nanny! Go home before you get us all killed!"

Surprisingly, these taunts did not make me as angry as I figured they would. It happens to every new pirate captain after all. Consider it a rite of passage. The beginnings of a pirate captain are not met with resounding joy and celebration, but backlash, cruelty, and jeers. Why wouldn't it be? In the eyes of others, you are a new problem in the way of someone's glory. Better to snuff you out now than deal with you later.

No, this did not annoy me. What annoyed me...

Suddenly, the owner pulled out a pistol and held it under my chin. The steel was rather cold.. "See this, boy? This is what rules the seas and the tides. This is what changes the course of human history. A single bullet can send armies to war. On the sea, might is right. No one's gonna hold your hand. I give you one chance boy. Take off the hat and the robes, and forget this deal. If you don't, I don't mind taking another treasure that you won't have a use for,"

I didn't need to follow his eyes to know that he was looking at my mother. Any male driven by his baser hormones, like me, would appreciate her figure now that she had recovered. In that respect, I was no different from other men.

However, the one difference between this owner, this laughing crowd, and myself was...

"A true pirate...be not using 'Avast' in such ways. A true pirate...never gives his enemy chances," I said.

Soon a loud noise assaulted the docks. Laughter stopped and silence reigned in its place. The noise reverberated through the air. The gulls scattered away from the shores. They would return later...to feast upon the corpse at my feet.

The trail of a fired round expelled from my pistol. I pointed my pistol at the body. I then fired again.

Then I fired again.

BANG!

Then again.

BANG!

And again.

BANG!

And again.

BANG!

And again.

BANG!

And again.

The shores rang alive with rounds from my pistol. I would be surprised if anyone could even remember what this bastard looked like. He was riddled with more holes than any fancy cheese I might have seen.

Ellen watched me, my mother watched me, the crew that Ellen hired watched me, and all the eyes on the pier watched me as I fired into the corpse until I heard the sound of empty chambers in my gun. "Pity, I hoped to save the birds the trouble of having to tear your body apart to feast on you. I appreciate you giving me the chance," I said.

I stepped over the body and pocketed my pistol away. As I walked past Ellen, I turned to her. "Now all of the treasure and this ship are mine. Enjoy your returning funds," I said. Sothshore looked at me and then looked back at the body of the man I had killed.

"You really are a crazy bastard, Sir," Ellen said. I turned my head and the smile on Sothshore's face made me bring forth my own. I continued to walk up the boarding planks that connected the ship to the docks.

After what felt like an eternity for myself, I stepped back onto a ship deck. It was firm, but I could feel the hands of the sea keep us afloat. I could feel the way the ship moved bit by bit under the tiny crashing waves.

I noticed the men who had laughed at me. They took steps back from me. It was a rather wise course of action. "Continue working if you don't want to end up like him," I said.

I have no doubt that some of them still wanted to protest, but none of them would be able to draw a pistol faster than myself. A rune for improving my speed helped with such a thing.

Unfortunately, it seemed there were still those who hold too much ambition for their own good.

"HA! A still target is easy for even a newborn babe to hit! I'm a pretty fast guy! Let's see you try and shoot me, you damn brat!" a rather small, yet thin man claimed. Between his teeth was a blade. Between his hands were more blades. He held the stature of a thief through and through.

He dashed toward me at a speed that I found not that impressive. True, he was fast, but after the many journeys I've been on, it's hard for any single mortal to impress me. I applaud the attempt however.

Before the crew member made it even halfway to me, an arrow punctured his neck and ferried his soul to the afterlife. His body dropped to the ground. A sigh expelled from my lips when his blood stained the deck. Still, I now see that Maeloson and Aesteal have not been idle in their archery practice.

"Sorry for being late, Sir. Maeloson couldn't stand the fact that I was one gull over him," Aesteal said.

"You stole mine and you know it," Maeloson argued.

The elves stepped onto the boat as well. They continued their bickering of who had gotten how ever many gulls killed that they hunted. This only happened for a moment longer until they decided to begrudgingly accept that this was just another piece of history in their lives that they would never see eye to eye on.

Maeloson and Aesteal took their place at my side. "The sun will reach its zenith, Sir. Should we not begin sailing now?" The male elf asked me.

I took a brief journey to the stairs which led up to the ship's helm. I took a brief seat. "Unfortunately not. Seems my crew plans to mutiny before we even leave the shores of Draegnar," I said.

"Then just leave them here. It's fewer mouths to feed on the voyage," Maeloson replied.

Should it ever be a wonder as to why elves are considered one of the most intelligent races that walk this planet?

"Hmm, perhaps you be right, Maeloson. What say you, Ellen? You were in charge of the recruitment after all," I said.

Ellen seemed rather surprised that I decided to include her in my decision. Nevertheless, true to form, her business-like aura surrounded her body and she became the tough woman that I had always fantasized about. "It's your voyage. What do I care if you leave them on the pier? You need only watch your voyage of the owner's original crew. Once they find him dead, they will pursue us" she said.

I gave a hearty laugh to her words. How so very true she could be. I turned back to the remaining crew members. They each looked at me with anger. Though, there were others I could see that some form of respect was beginning to show itself.

I intertwined my fingers and shrugged. "Well, whatever. If you be finding your path diverging towards another sea, then I won't be stopping you. Out with the lot of you that leave,"

The tension seemed to dissipate as those who had begun holding their breath released them. "Not like we were going to stay here anyway. I might be willing to risk my life for coin and fame, but I'm not risking it for a shitty brat like you. Time to grab my shit and get off this damn boat," a man of portly build said. Others seemed to quickly echo his sentiments.

However, they would all be in for a rude awakening.

My mother and Ellen pointed their pistols to the air and fired. The ringing noise startled everyone in front of me. They looked back at me. I do wonder what would go through their minds when they see four pistols and two bows with arrows at the ready pointing at them.

"What the...,"

"I said you can get off my ship. I didn't mention your possessions as well. Those are mine now. If you don't like it, you're more than willing to go get them. I be not so sure that you'll make it off this ship with them though. However, free choice is every person's right. I only implore you lot to be making the right one," I threatened.

Of course, known only to me, my threat was rather half-assed. My mother had only recently begun handling a firearm again. I have no doubt that some could have evaded her if they wished. Ellen was a damn good shot, but she much preferred the tavern brawls to the shooting ranges. The only real validity of my threat had been Maeloson and Aesteal. The death of the thief prior had been enough evidence to scare anyone. I suppose this crew of about two-hundred men and women could have just rushed the door together, but it would make them all relatively easy targets with the chaos. They could have just rushed us as well, but...I naturally had an answer to that.

By the end of this little spectacle, five more people wound up dead on my ship. After that, twenty others walked off the boat. Expressions of anger and rage burned their way towards me, but what could these Draegnar slugs do? Most of them were not warriors. They were the poor and common folk looking to find a treasure which could elevate their current status, but...they were not the risk-takers. They were the sheep that grazed only on grass that they can reach. They do not go for what is out of their view.

I was left with about a hundred and sixty men and women. These people either stayed for one of three reasons. They were either scared of me, scared of completely losing their precious things, or...they decided that risking their petty lives on the tiniest grain of hope that they had in me was better than living like they already were. I don't hate such people.

"So I take it that no one else wishes to leave? If you change your mind while we be at sea, then I don't mind making you lot walk the plank! We be of one mind?" I asked them.

I'm sure none of them saw me as a true captain. I did not care otherwise. Most of this crew would either be dead or leaving when the journey was over. All I needed was for them to maintain the ship, and all they needed was a voice to navigate them in the right direction.

"Aye, Captain! We be of one mind!" They said. Once they said this, I tasked the ladies and Maeloson to lower their weapons. Naturally, I gave them the order to make any runner into a meal for the sharks if the situation arose.

Just as workers began moving more crates aboard the ship, I felt a surge of magical essence arrive onto the pier. What followed were murmurs from the sailors below. I was made aware that the last piece of my voyage had arrived.

"Hmm, to acquire a ship of this magnitude in such a short amount of time. You continue to impress, Eric,"

I turned my head and noticed the graceful Liara Ilzahold step onto my ship. As soon as she arrived, it was as if a wicked spell had been placed over my crew. The eyes of men and women were captivated by her beauty. The raunchy comments that my mother and Ellen endured couldn't even find their way out of the lips of these fools who had drank in her appearance. Their thoughts be not so difficult to decipher. How could such a vision of such allure and mystery be on the island and they not know about it?

And, true to form, Liara soaked up their appreciation for her appearance like a sea sponge. Naturally, she spared none of them a glance, but it seemed to be some mysterious line between taking what they were giving her and giving them what they wanted which was to see the continued image of beauty that was Ilzahold. By ignoring them, she allowed them to continue to wrap their feeble minds around her existence.

As she stepped forward, Liara locked eyes with Ellen. The two most powerful forces on Draegnar, save myself, stood close to each other. As a man, the mystery of women is still lost on me. There seemed to be some...underlying tension between the two that I could not figure out.

"Sothshore,"

"Witch,"

If I decided to unsheath the cutlass that was attached to my coat, I be wondering if I could slice through this increasing divide that these two seemed to be creating. Naturally, I was ready to intervene, but it seemed that I didn't need to. Instead, the two ladies decided to focus their individual attention to other things.

After Liara came Diane Burnwood and Goron, the big lug that probably provided most of the heavy labor. Once they were on, I decided to address Liara's previous statement.

"You be honoring me with your words, Liara. Your quarters be up the stairs," I said.

The Witch of Draegnar brushed a piece of hair from the corner of her eye when she looked to where I had pointed. She then gave me a rather mysterious smile. "Very convenient for it to be right next to the captain's quarters. How hospitable of you. I'll take them. Diane, Goron, come and help me set up. We have much to prepare for," Liara said.

Both followed her up the stairs, but Diane was the only one to give me a glare. Honestly, you give someone a prized noble family's pistol and there be no gratitude.

"So that is the Witch of Draegnar. A mighty presence she commands. Magic swirls around her as if she were its progenitor," Aesteal observed.

"Yes, there is a boundless strength inside of her body. It actually reminds me of the first time I laid eyes upon you, Sir," Maeloson told me. I have to say that I wasn't entirely surprised to hear that. I couldn't begin to understand the depths of Liara's mana pool. That was like dropping a coin into the ocean and expecting to see it resting at the very bottom of a dark abyss. It is maddening to all who try.

Admittedly, I don't know what strength they might have seen. Well, the abilities that made up my being were vastly different to Liara's. As far as I knew, my ability to command the tides did not revolve around magic. There was no need for me to "ask" the spirit of the waters to grant me its power. I merely took it as I did with anything else that I wanted. If Maeloson was complimenting me, then I would just take the praise either way.

After another twenty minutes, the last of the crates was piled into the ship. The crew that I was left with gathered upon the main deck of the ship. I stared down upon them from the upper deck. At my side stood my mother, Ellen, Maeloson, Aesteal, and Liara.