The Vengeful Tide Ch. 09

To end my performance, I inhaled and then exhaled. Over my head, I slowly raised both my arms. The seas rose and covered the flaming ships for only a moment. There be a considerable effort in keeping the ocean from swallowing my prizes, but I figured it would be worth it.

Once I had washed the ships of their burning demise, I wove my fingers and guided the water I had used for my platform to bring me back to the ship. I landed back on the wooden deck thoroughly soaked. Even the excess water I pulled out from my clothes did not make me feel any drier.

I lifted my head and I saw my crew staring at me as if I had just suddenly cast a fire spell on myself. Even Ellen, Liara, Maeloson, and Aesteal, who had seen me use my abilities before were strangely devoid of speech.

What came next was something which unnerved even me. I watched those bastards of Draegnar drop to their knees and bow their heads.

"Poseidon Ganvami! Poseidon Ganvami! Poseidon Ganvami!"

My crew chanted this term over and over. The words roughly translate to 'Our Lord, Poseidon' in Draegnaran.

"Aye, enough of your shit! I be not the god of storms! Now get your asses in gear before the Callamum treasures sink into the bottom of the abyss!" I ordered.

"Aye Aye, Captain!" they hollered before they scrambled to get back to work. I'm aware that they must have hundreds of thoughts running through those sea-clogged heads of theirs, but I had no need for questions right now.

...not even from my own mother.

"Eric...," my mother said.

I turned to her and kissed the top of her forehead.

"Later, mother. What I did shall be known to you soon," I told her. I then kissed her forehead one more time in an attempt to soothe her worries of her seeing her son display such grand, otherworldly abilities.

I saw Liara speak with Diane and Goron about something before she made eye contact with me. I felt cheeky so I winked at her. I was a bit surprised when she chuckled from afar before she returned to her quarters.

At the same time, Ellen broke her gaze from me and ordered the helmsman to head for the wreckage. I, of course, had to reassure the scrubs that they wouldn't be turned into cooked seafood from the lightning current rumbling through the sea.

Once the sea slugs be sure that their lives were not in danger, the ship was sailed to where I had caused such destruction. During that time, I asked Aesteal why, with her spectacular elven vision, she had missed such targets.

A shame that I couldn't find fault in her explanation. She had been inside speaking with Liara. It was not her turn to be in the Crow's Nest. She had also been planning the schedules for training of the female populace that stayed from the town in Hilvir.

Of course, those things didn't stop me from requesting her presence in my quarters later this night. How I enjoyed the shiver in her eyes when I said those words to her. My little elf merely nodded and went back to her business.

My ship pulled up to the wreckage of the three Callamum ships. Evidence of my victory laid everywhere. Dead fish, krill, and many other forms of creature that live within the deep floated motionlessly.

My mother stared at the recent ship graveyard that I had made before she cleared her throat.

"What are you skreegs waiting for?! Lower the rowboats!" she ordered. She then organized about five boats with five men each. What surprised me the most was that my mother made Lady Knight and Maeloson the leads of this brief venture. I didn't see fit to argue.

As I watch crew members pick up full nets of seafood, I am already aware that there be no need to get more food for this voyage. At least, baring any form of natural disaster that befalls us, I could feed this crew easily for the next eight months if I had to.

I be a bit gracious that Liara had a method for keeping the food from growing spoiled. I am now aware that I didn't even ask how she had done it the first time when I brought back all of that food on Hilvir. I shake my head at the thought.

By this time, the storm that I had created moments ago had begun to stir once again. The winds grew harsh and the seas grew fierce. Those out on the rowboats seemed concerned so I busied myself with easing the anger of the tides. Crashing waves lashed at each other while I kept those working below safe from the monsters which no doubt lurk below.

They must not have been too worried anymore because the lot began to lollygag as we dug up many sunken treasures. They picked the pockets of corpses, laughed as they threw up gold and silver coins. It got to such a point that Maeloson kicked one person off the rowboat.

"Stop messing around and get back to work!" he shouted. This caused even more laughter from the rest, but they continued their work all the same.

"Ellen, prepare to write down all that we've gained today," I said.

"Aye, sir!" she replied. She then pulled out another accounting book. I be grateful for her truly. While I could do all this shit if I wanted, it be best to leave it to better hands.

The rain came down harder while thunder rolled through the sky. The seas grew more turbulent, but they posed no danger to our venture.

About another hour of search, retrieve, and drop passed for us before everything came into account. I had to admire Callamum ships if only because they were always fashioned with worthwhile materials.

I was satisfied with what we have gotten and made the call for everyone to return, but it seemed that Fate, once again, had other plans for me.

"Captain! Sunken straggler beneath the wooden planks!" someone shouted.

I watched my men push a piece of wood away from a body that had been floating there. Do not begin to question me about how a single person managed to survive an assault that I had personally created, but there they were unconscious in a boat as the oars rowed it back to my ship.

Since it was dark, I didn't get a good look at the person until they were pulled back aboard the ship. It was clear that on the trip up, my crew had bound the person in case they awoke.

They placed him on the deck and I took notice of the rough, yet defined male shape of this Callamum survivor.

His skin like fine bronze. His long hair, well long for a male, was as black as oil. A band kept it tied in a short ponytail behind his head. He was also very fit. I could see the signs of worked muscles everywhere. Tribal markings lined his frame. His ears laid near the top of his head, covered in fur, like some kind of wild ferret. A striped tail of black and brown laid limp to the side.

Once I took this man in, it wasn't hard to notice two things. One, he was a beastman. Two, he was a Xhaluther. More specifically, he was an Xhaluter that was very, very, very far from where his kind should be.

Xhaluters are better known as warrior beastmen of regions with an incredibly hot climate. Their kind is ferocious and a single warrior rumored to hold enough strength to tear tempered steel with their bare hands. So naturally tuned to battle are they that they can last for seven days and seven nights without rest. They are also rumored to wear the hides of their kills and collect their skulls as trophies.

And, these be rumors, but I can fully attest to the fact that their battle prowess is not to be underestimated.

I have fought Xhaluters before. When you be as large a conqueror as I was, you tended to fight anyone and everyone at least once. I...don't have a good time fighting these bastards, especially not in their field advantage. If I be caught unprepared, not even I could stop a tribe os Xhaluters from running amok.

The reason for this be pretty simple. I mentioned that Xhaluters prefer to live in harsh, hot climates. Namely, they flourish in desert regions. One can quickly understand where my point be going with such a thought. For someone like me, the desert is a wandering dead zone where not even I can hold confidence in my own survival. Of course, it be not impossible for me to endure such places, but I do not enjoy them. The lasses there though...

Anyway, Xhaluters are not usually seen so far out as here. It would lead me to believe that this is either a slave or a foreign Xhaluter. I cannot tell.

Now, given what I have said about these formidable people, one might be asking what stops them from becoming a more prevailing force in the world. Well, the obvious one is their numbers. Xhaluters are some of the smallest race numbers in the world. This is simply because...the females are pretty damn hard to impregnate. I have heard tales that one is more likely to drop their golden pocket watch in the ocean, swim down and find it, and return with it than it is for a female Xhaluther to get pregnant.

I cast aside the thoughts for now, and wave the beastman off.

"Send him to the brig. Inform me of when he wakes up," I said.

"Aye sir!" three men claimed. They then picked up this Xhaluter and took him into the floors below. Something in the back of my mind told me that I should have restrained him further, but I had nothing to do this with. I can only hope that I'm on this ship when he wakes up. If I'm not, then only Ilzahold has a chance of stopping him from tearing this vessel apart.

A few more moments passed and all the rowboats were back in my ship. We then continued our voyage to C'ula.

The ship was very quiet amidst the thunderous clouds and the rushing seas. Of course, there was nothing too hectic since I made sure no waves crashed into the boat. I be of the thought that I had overwhelmed my crew and now that there was peace, aside from the weather, it gave them time to reflect.

Ellen passed me a piece of paper and I returned to my quarters with it. Once I sat at my desk, I noticed it was an account of what everyone had collected. The metal which coated the Callamum ships had been stripped off and stowed away. Given that these were ships made for war, there wasn't much in the line of grand treasure, but the jewels and money that flowed out was enough. Of course, they had taken the Callamum armor, weapons, clothing, and other various materials that be of concern.

"I guess any of the magic shit on this list can be given to Liara since I don't need it. However, there be a case for the others if they battle against users of the arcane arts. Then again, I could do some more rune sewing, but...did I have the patience to go through it again? HELL NO!

A knock came to my door. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I watched the flame of my candle dance.

"Enter," I said. I heard the door open and close.

I turned around.

My mother stood at the door's entrance. Her hair was soaked and so was her clothing. It be no surprise what she was here for so I wove the water from her hair and her clothes. She watched me do this in no less wonder than when she saw me earlier.

I opened the window and guided the water out and into the ocean. I then closed the window. Having pulled my chair back to me, I took a seat.

We were both silent for a long while. I think my mother tried to find the right words to start, but she must have come up short. If not for this awkward tension, I might have laughed since she was never one for lacking anything to say.

I exhaled.

"Mother, come to me," I said.

She stayed there for a moment, but her legs began to move and she walked down the room steps into my quarters. I took her in my arms and rested her lovely body on my thighs. She was very cold, but her scent was tantalizing as always.

"Do you fear that I will sprout out tentacles like the mighty Kraken and sink our ship?" I asked. I caressed the side of her cheek with a tender hand.

"So those tales be true in Draegnar. With those...abilities, you truly are the Draegnar Shark Hunter. I see now how you came into wealth so quickly," she replied.

"I be not one to boast," I said. I was happy to hear her laugh at the bullshit that came from my mouth at that moment.

We settled into a brief lull as we heard the sounds of my candle.

"First, the Witch of Draegnar. Next, curing me of this wretched disease that has plagued me for so many years. Now, my son wields the powers of the sea. I...I oddly feel like I can't even call you my son anymore. Can't even begin to figure this shit out," she returned.

I sighed. I then wrapped my arms around her waist. I pulled her as close to me as I could.

"Mother, look at me,"

She turned her eyes to me and I quickly kissed her. Before she could savor the moment, I pulled back and exhaled.

"I be Eric Drakclaw, son of Ira Drakclaw. Should that not be enough?" I asked her. She remained silent for a moment. She then flicked her finger against my forehead.

"You're just a cheeky bastard," she laughed. I then made her inhale sharply when I moved my growing erection across the underside of her thighs.

"Just cheeky?"

"Fine, and horny," she laughed.

I stopped my hips and leaned back into my chair.

"If you truly be interested to know, not even I know where these powers came from. Take my bastard honesty as truth only to my mother. One day I woke up and the seas be at my beck and call. I control them better than any water mage ever could," I said. My mother leaned her head on my shoulder.

"I've been on the receiving end of those fucking water mages before. For an adventure of sea life, it is a hassle to deal with them. Yet, I'd rather be their enemy than deal with what I saw just now. No wonder you held such confidence in this little trip of yours. Had I been gambling against you, I shudder to think what you would do know that I see," she replied.

I smiled as I closed her ear and whispered.

"Hmmm, what I'd do to you. I'd like to bend you over my table and take part in this forbidden fruit in front of me. Make you wail and scream as the storm rages outside. My cock slides between your wet legs just waiting to plunge in this hot cunt. All because you gambled about whether I could lead this voyage or not," I replied huskily.

My mother inhaled deeply and sighed blissfully. Had I the time, I would have made this fantasy a reality, but we would be hitting C'ula in a few hours. After the attack by the Callamum Kingdom, we would need to be on guard for the ships from Evir.

Additionally, I truly needed to pace her and myself. I had been cumming inside her fairly vigorously as of late. Though as I have stated before, the thought of breeding her excited me to no end.

By my own will, I pulled my mother away from my erection and stood up.

"I be your son, mother. From the very first day you spat me out to now. There is no need to fear me. If ever I lay a hand on you then it be to pull your body to mine. No more, no less," I stated.

My mother stared at me before she punched me in the shoulder.

"I know you wouldn't do that. Now let me get back outside so Ellen doesn't have to organize the lot by herself. I'll be sure to call for you when we reach the city of C'ula," she said. She then walked out of my room and closed the door.

As soon as she was gone, I grabbed a hold of my cock and went through about three sessions of crazed self-pleasure. Sure, I could have called for someone to handle it, but...a quiet moment be nice as well. The evidence wasn't hard to get rid of.

"LAND HO! The shores of C'ula and the lands of Fiolomir!" someone yelled.

I opened my eyes and realized that I had fallen asleep. I pushed myself off my bed and walked out of my quarters. The deck was soaked with rainwater, but the sun shined down upon my ship as we all stared at the City of C'ula.

As I see, the city of C'ula truly deserves its title of the City of Merchants. Even from afar, one can see the tall building lined with precious stones, iron walls, and great metals that represents the C'ula Merchant Guild. There be numerous shops, stands, and bazaars that could make one feel disoriented. So much money comes and goes within the walls of this city that it is also called the City of Silver.

C'ula was claimed to be a city that was formed from a commoner who struck gold working in the mines of Fiolomir. Overnight, he became one of the greatest traders of wealth and built an empire of coin where one is able to find anything in C'ula if they be looking hard enough. However, it is also for that very reason that lawlessness within C'ula is nearly as high as it is in Draegnar. The only difference is that there is an armored militia that deals with the problem, albeit about as well as oil has at dousing a fire.

Anyway, the reason that C'ula boasts such a high populace is because it be right between the great empires. Ships and carriages come here and leave to other lands. Naturally, this makes the shift of coin very prevalent. It also be for that reason that many seek to control the City of Merchants. The Kingdoms of Callamum and Evir be just the recent powers that have tried.

It be here that I will sell the body of Saviara, but it's also here that I will obtain the one thing I need to not make the same mistake at Delverhold that I did last time.

Our ship reached the C'ula ports. Even as my crew released the anchor down and tied the ropes to the port stands, I can hear over a hundred merchants discussing business with clients. I bet this be such a place that Sothshore would love. Granted, now that I have this thought, I do recall handing off packages to ships for the destination of C'ula so perhaps this carries more weight than I would assume.

"Alright ya scurvy dogs, we be in the city of C'ula. Eat food, buy scrap, fuck cunts, I don't care what ya do, but if you be not back on this ship in six days then you'll be stuck here with nothing but the coin I give you now. AYE?" I asked.

"AYE CAPTAIN!" they clamored.

Ellen and I then began the tiresome process of granting members of the crew a delicately weighed allowance for these six days. I was a bit thankful that some of the crew didn't seem fit to go anywhere which allowed me to leave the ship with a few people. Unfortunately for these slackers, I asked Maeloson to stay behind for this one day just so there was someone I was familiar with watching the crew and Alteria.

I was a bit surprised that Liara chose to stay behind as well. I asked her why, but she claimed there were delicate matters which she must attend to. I didn't seek to dig deeper. However, Liara did make me laugh when she offered Burnwood to join me in whatever I was doing. Naturally, the latter protested but the witch had silenced her protests and effectively ordered her to follow any whims I had.

I don't remember the expression my face held because I had been too focused on the misery on the face of Diane.

After distributing the allowance of the crew, I then began distributing them into groups. Despite the storm, there were still a few rays of sunlight before the moon would take place. That was enough time to get at least one of my objectives done.

"Liara, before you conduct your own business, I need the body of Saviara. I'll be taking him to the bounty stores beneath the merchant guild. I'd rather not appear bodyless," I said.

The witch offered me a favorable laugh that still sent sparks of bliss through my body.

"Quite right, Eric Drakclaw. I appreciate your willingness to loan me this carcass for study. Have no worries, everything is as it has been since you gave it to me. Goron, present the body of Saviara to our dear captain here,"

"Yes madam," the big lug said as he went inside. He then returned a minute later with Saviara. I expected the corpse to fill the deck with rotten skin, puss, and crawling maggots. However, contrary to my expectation, the body was without flaw. In fact, it looked like it did all those weeks ago when I first gave it to Liara.

"If you have any more exceptional bodies for me to harvest then that would be appreciated. Enjoy the City of Merchants," she said before she closed the door to her room.