The Vengeful Tide Ch. 08

...I cannot lie, that deal nearly made me explode in an earnest agreement. Volcanic Crystal Ash, along with the Witch of Draegnar, were not things that I had experienced so early into my voyage previously. To get some now would go a long way in crafting not only my ship but also the weaponry for my mother, Ellen, the elves if they passed, and Liara. However, I quickly steadied myself.

I looked upon Lady Knight with folded arms and a frown.

"...right. Let me tell you something, Lass. No fish would be willing to nab a hook when it can see what lies beyond it. I'm expected to believe you would be willing to hand over one of your empire's most valuable resources to a pirate? I'd sooner think you'd set me up to this deal just to imprison me in the empire's catacomb cells," I said to her. I felt this was a valid argument especially when it concerned me of all people.

"How do you know about...no, it doesn't matter now. You think I would dare turn back on my word?! Not all of us have grown up in a den of serpents. A pirate like you might find it hard to believe, but there are people who keep their word even unto death!" she returned back to me.

"Tell me, Lady Knight. If you were not raised in a den of serpents, would you still be in this situation you be in?" I asked her.

She fell silent after this. She opened her mouth once and then closed it thereafter. She did this a couple of times before she settled for holding her head down. It was pretty obvious to me that she was upset she had no counterargument to me.

"I...am sorry for my earlier comments. I do not know what I can say to make you believe me, but I swear upon the name of Alteria Balamar of the Balamar noble family. If you do help me, I will honor our deal. If I do not, then my life will be as you see fit. This I swear," she said to me urgently.

I dare not tell anyone how much the conviction in her eyes both aroused me and irritated me. Being from Draegnar, I was used to the backstabbing ways and underhanded methods that people used to move forward with their lives. It be my first time in such a while to see resolve like that along with a blunt-faced honesty that shivered my boots. A glorious flame silently blazed behind those wonderful eyes of hers.

Even in my Beloved, I had not seen such a gaze. It was that gaze that silenced my questions and steadied the doubt in my chest.

"Fine, but we journey for your country when I say we do. I be in the midst of my own business and my priorities take precedence. The contents of my soul quite literally rest on this voyage. Additionally, while you be on my ship you will follow my orders. Think otherwise and I won't hesitate to throw you for a dip into Davy Jones' Locker! Understood?"

"...I understand," she replied.

Once I saw this, I held out my hand for her to take.

"Then, welcome aboard the ship of Eric Drakclaw," I answered in a hearty laugh that one might expect from a pirate. Allow me to shed some light upon the subject, we...don't laugh like that...much.

She took my hand and I pulled her to her feet.

"Have you any plan for Zevmar? Should you return empty-handed then suspicion will fall on your crew. No doubt Zevmar will attempt to overwhelm your ship," she said.

"Don't worry your pretty little Hæňgaramian head. Just follow my lead," I said. I then opened the door to the brig. We both walked out and saw the person I had originally come down here with still waiting for us.

"What's your name?" I asked

"Canen Seacrest, sir" he replied.

I nodded. I then instructed Canen to raise his voice and sound the alarm of an intruder missing in less than a minute. He was then instructed to bring my mother and Ellen down here will he spoke with the Aesteal and Maeloson. I then told him to direct me toward his quarters. He did so and once we were there, I pushed Alteria inside.

"Get some clothes on. You have about twenty seconds," I told her. She didn't even get to ask me why before I closed the door in her face. It might have been a wee bit rude, but time be of the essence!

"SOUND THE ALARM! THE PRISONER ESCAPED!"

Just as I had planned, the upper deck threw itself in an uproar. A thousand boots knocking against wood came as loud as thunder. I had to give it to Seacrest, he had done a better job than I had thought possible. I did feel a tad bad that I had thrown my crew into disarray over something I had planned, but I'll bother to call it a harmless jest for now.

As Maeloson was no doubt getting the rest of the crew under control, Canen returned with my mother and Ellen. I then tossed him the pouch of silver coins that I had been given from Zevmar.

"Good job," I told him.

"Thank you, captain!" he said before he ran off looking just as happy as a child with a stolen pastry. I had no real use for the coins anyway. The money I collect from the seas is enough.

I could already see that my mother and Sothshore were concerned so I decided to quickly get to my point.

"I'll explain the details later, but the prisoner's coming with us. There be a bigger prize than Saviara that's fallen into our lap. It also comes with a few troubling matters. All you need to know is that I'll, unfortunately, have to make us spend a late night of working. Ellen, it's gonna suck, but take about fifty men and send them in the direction I have written down. I want all the treasure there back on my ship," I said. I then handed Ellen what I had on where we had traveled that morning.

"Fine," she remarked. She took my materials and then walked off while I turned to my mother.

"You're with me," I said to her. She quickly agreed as Alteria came from the room. She looked no less grungy than the rest of my crew which served the purpose just fine.

Once Alteria looked the part, she, my mother, and I ran out from the lower deck. I could see that Maeloson and Aesteal were already gone with some members of the ship.

"Fan out! Search the trees, search the sea! I want that bitch found so's I can keyhole her!" I exclaimed.

"Aye Captain!" they shouted.

I watched Ellen take a good ten handfuls of people into the direction I had pointed out to her. I knew it would be a rather long trip, but hopefully, it would only be one that they had to do once.

I jumped off my ship and landed back on the sandy shores. I then pounded my boots into the dirt until I stood face to face with Zevmar Lightfeater. It be a bit jarring to tilt my head up to stare into his eyes seeing as how he was quite a bit taller than me, but I had no power over my growth.

"It seems your prisoner was not as secure as you assumed," he said.

"Funny. I best never find out that you had something to do with this or you're in for a rude awakening!" He told him. I will never forget the glare he gave me. It be the gaze of a crazy man who had stared into the very depths of hell itself.

"It will be kept in mind," he said to me, but I could tell that he took my threat with a mixture of jest and a cocksure tone. The thought in my head was indeed to drown him right then and there, but the thoughts in my head led me to keep him alive.

I then signaled for my mother, Alteria, and a few other men to follow me. I watched Alteria send Zevmar a deep glare, but he must not have caught it.

Our group ran into the fields of Hilvir. The fields quickly turned to forests and the forests quickly turned into hills. It was at this point that I introduced my crew to the prisoner we were supposed to be searching for. I then found myself grumbling inwardly as I had to explain to the group why I had just sent us all into the dark woods. It be at this time that Draegnar bastards are not the most attentive group.

I think I am reminded that this crew is a temporary one. My actual crew is very small, but I nixed that point since there would be no helping the fact that I already made the deal. So, I decided that while we "searched', we would stock up on more food. Aye, it be kind of stupid since I had more than enough from using my abilities to fish from the sea, but...there be not much else that we could do.

"Captain! The soldiers are leaving!" a scout I had posted said.

I had never been happier to hear those words than for since an hour or so had passed between us coming here and now. I figured that once Zevmar realized my ship's incompetency of holding a prisoner then he would set off to do his own search. It be good fortune that I was proven right.

"Alright, ya slugs! Let's haul the booty back to the ship! You don't get to sleep with the bugs tonight!" I said. The group was all too happy to comply.

We returned to the ship and they moved everything away that we had gotten from the fields and the forests. By the end of it all, I could easily say that I was not in the mood to deal with anything else.

After setting up Alteria's quarters, I retired to my own. I must have been more tired than I thought because all I remember was falling to my bed and dreaming of a sea of coin and treasures.

The next morn, I heard Ellen shouting her lovely voice over the crew. When I had dressed myself and stepped outside, I saw Ellen moving countless boxes filled with riches up the planks of the ship and into the decks below.

I tapped her on the shoulder for her attention. When she turned around to greet me, she lightly jabbed me in the shoulder.

"That was much farther than you claimed it was. We didn't make it back to the ship until well into the night. Not only was hauling the shit here a pain, but I had to assign these idiots to guard the boxes until morning. We're fuckin' lucky no one decided to plunder any of it," she warned me.

I didn't think to tell her that I would have had Liara track them down for me if they had, but all the same it be a good point.

"You're not the least bit pleased with me for what we've brought in so far? Did you ever think I would bring in such wealth from a fallen raider? Just imagine how much more I'll give you," I told her. I then kissed her on the cheek which made her blush and grumble.

"You got fuckin' lucky," she answered me. I laughed and kissed her once more before I turned away.

"When you're finished taking stock, put the former prisoner in charge of its guard," I said.

Even though I had my back turned, I could probably see in my mind's eye the confusion on Ellen's face.

"Why her?"

"...Cause she's ain't no bilge rat!" I returned.

It would be on Ellen to figure out what I meant while I spoke with my mother. I had given her the orders to inform the crew that as soon as the adventuring party had finished their quest, then we would be leaving. They were scheduled to return in the next two or three hours.

Thankfully, those two to three hours had passed by in a swift blur of activity for the ship. For the town's men and women who would be staying in Hilvir, I gave them what I had promised. I offered them a portion of my treasure to rebuild their town in exchange for it becoming one of many information havens that I would set up. I had to thank Aesteal for this idea since, in order to find out not only why my beloved, Leah, had betrayed me, but also how she got that stone which vanquished my powers, I would need information into the world. I obviously didn't care too much for the world since not even I was too familiar with Hæňgaram's coup. I only cared about adventure and treasure, but...that could no longer be such a simple case.

In order to continue with the life that I desired, I best know my own enemies. For now, that meant learning more about the world which had been my kingdom before. Perhaps aiding Alteria would be the first step in that.

The townsmen readily agreed and after brief goodbyes and wishes of safe passage with others who were staying, they set off for their town in the hopes of rebuilding. I thought to leave behind some men and women to defend the place, but I'm not stupid. There is nothing keeping my men from doing the same thing if they were given the opportunity. There be not one person on Draegnar with a bleeding heart. You don't last long otherwise.

By the time the group had returned from their quest, we were fully prepared to continue our voyage. I made sure to ask anyone if they had any other place of utmost importance that I had not heard about. No one had said anything and I took that to mean that there would not need to be any more stops until we reached Fiolomir. Liara claimed she had some...method of keeping my prize from rotting away, so I gave the corpse to her.

"Weigh anchor, and set sail ya scurvy dogs! We're bound for greater treasure!" I hollered.

"AYE CAPTAIN!" They returned to me.

The ship was pulled away from the barren shores of Hilvir. The helmsman turned our ship away and I discreetly pushed the waters beneath my vessel before we were carried away by the tides. It was not long before the lands of Hilvir grew smaller and smaller.

"...Captain! We have a problem!"

The crew stopped working for a moment as did I. I looked up to the direction of Aesteal's voice from the Crow's Nest. Into the distance, she pointed and though I could not see what she was pointing at, I knew something had to be there.

"Hæňgaramian ship! It's following us!" she alerted.

I sucked my teeth angrily. All clues pointed to the fact that Zevmar Lightfeather was following me. Either he assumed that I had played him and his platoon for a bunch of patsies, or he wanted something else of my attention. Unfortunately for him, I was not in the mood to receive that.

"Don't bother with it. Keep sailing forward. They won't be following us," I said. Though the crew as concerned, they got back to work while Ellen, Maeloson, and Aesteal looked at me expectantly. Who was I to disappoint?

I ordered Aesteal to give me as precise coordinates to the ship as she could.

Once she did, I pushed one hand forward which allowed the tides to carry us even faster. I think this speed had surprised some of the members because they fell down a bit. I then pushed my other hand towards my back. Beneath that Hæňgaram fleet vessel, I punctured the hull of the ship with a sharp blade of water.

"They are veering off, Captain!" she called out.

I smirked at the thought. Don't push your luck, Lightfeather. I have dealt with far greater threats than you.

Once that was done, I was finally greeted by four days of quiet travel. The pleasant sounds of the sea rung in my ears. The moving tides beneath my vessel laid my chest with ease. The smell of saltwater stung my nose as it always had.

"Dấữň! Dấữň! Dấữň! Dấữň! Crecevish Mvak!

OH! OH! OH! OH! OH!

Korthur!

Korthur!

Zxavema Xian Oian! OH Lxaethram! Cafur Edmafdiv!

HA! HA! HAAAAAA!

Suvima salima zuzila galioma klovia froliom!

Anddrelum! Xxuluefa! HA! HA HAAAAA! Callibrum!"

Then, as always, the crew voiced that they were a little bored by immediately singing some shanty that spoke of the Draegnar folktales about a young boy turned god with the blood of great serpent meant to plunder the world of its riches and slay evil. I now be reminded that perhaps it's worth investing in a shanty book for these scallywags.

Anyway, while the crew sang songs of various folklore, I decided that now was a good time to draw my mother and Ellen to my quarters. As they came with me, I looked back and stared at Maeloson and Aesteal.

I have always known myself to not truly be a regretful person nor a guilty one, but I am reminded of how I acted with them both due to my own fears. One might ask if I have the same fears from Ellen or even my mother. I'm not ashamed to say I do, but...I feel that they be different, especially my mother.

"Aesteal, Maeloson, get over here!" I called.

Both elves looked at me and then at each other. Maeloson spoke to some of the men under his command and moved them away. Aesteal climbed down the ropes that led to the Crow's Nest until she landed on the deck.

I opened the door to my quarters and ushered them all inside. It was there that I began to speak with them about Alteria Balamar and the Hæňgaram Empire. I also told them about Zevmar Lightfeather and the deal made between the Balamar lady knight and myself. I hate to say that this story and explanation took me about half an hour, even with such...calming shanty music playing.

"Hæňgaram Empire Crystalized Volcanic Ash, why didn't you generate profit like this when you were working for me?" Ellen asked. I laughed.

"Would you have believed me?" I returned.

"...Fair point, though a damnable one as well. How I would have loved to get my hands on some of that shit for my stocks. I've only seen it about three times in my life and no negotiation ever went through when I tried to get it," Ellen said with a frustrated face. I had not been there for those negotiations, but I could tell that it was something that greatly displeased her.

"Are we sure she'll actually go through with such a deal? There be a lot of prosperous merchants, nobles, and leaders that have tried buying and looting Hæňgaram ash crystal. There's also a reason that not many tales reign of victory in those endeavors," My mother returned.

I was silently impressed that ever since my mother's health had returned, she had taken a worthy cause in educating herself in what she had missed for so long. Granted, I paid for the books, but I could not deny her if she asked in those sexy, but non-sexy ways.

Aesteal and Maeloson looked like they wanted to speak, so I allowed them free reign.

"The Hæňgaram Empire has its own share of those bound in honor and duty. Some come from low birth, and others come from a rich ancestry. To stake her name and honor of her house on this, if she is proven wrong, then no will seek their favor, dealings with pirates or not," Aesteal replied.

"That doesn't mean we should be lax. The empire is known for its disdain of pirate activity. If the worst happens, then not only will the empire not honor our deal, but we'll also be killed along with her," Maeloson argued.

Naturally, these all be valid points. Of course, I would not let that happen, but as I am constantly understanding...the world has a way of not caring about what you want to have happen or not. It be a concept that anyone with a brain knows, but...that be the case when fortune favors you too much.

"Eric, you must also keep in mind that this crew under your command is only a temporary one. As it stands, the members of your crew are all the people in this room, aside from those men and women Aesteal and Maeloson are training. When this voyage is over more than half of this group will be gone, whether dead or retiring. Many ships grander than this have been sunk by Hæňgaram," my mother expressed.

That was indeed true as well. A ship this big could not be maintained by five, six counting Alteria, people. Granted I had about 10-20 men from Hilvir under Maeloson and 7-10 women under Aesteal, but if those two did not join my crew then I'd have far less. I did hope that once Liara joined me then naturally Burnwood and Goron would follow her. That would be a nice handful of people, but not nearly what I needed. If that was the case...

I must have been smiling because Ellen smacked my shoulder.

"What's the grin for? Something we outta know?" she asked.

"Nothing, I just be surprised that all of you have figured that I've already unearthed the treasures Delverhold to be making plans to go elsewhere. It brings a salty tear to the eye," I chuckled to myself.

I was then punched in my arm by both my mother and Ellen. Let me tell ya, it's not a great feeling having to keep such bitches in line. I enjoy them all the same though.

"Captain, a question. What would you even use the crystal ash for?" Aesteal asked.

"...now that be a surprise, my lovely elf!" I told her. I don't think Aesteal was as satisfied with my answer as her visage made it appear, but she did not comment further.