The Vengeful Tide Ch. 11

Now, all I see be staring upon is a goofy young man that would later become my brother if fate held its previous course.

Aw shit, I can't be feeling that sentimental shit that those archbishops of the Unval Church preach.

"Mother, be a good slut and bring me two plates of food," I said. Boreli stared at me in shock. Whether this was shock that he was getting food, or that I had just called my mother a slut to her face be up for debate.

"Yes, Eric," I herd my mother say. I then heard her walk away for a time. She then returned with two plates of food. She gave me both before leaving.

Boreli looked at me rather strangely. "You...call yer mother a slut?" he asked.

"Aye, she be a fine slut. My beautiful slut," I replied. I watched his face scrunch up in disgust.

"I be a crazy bastard, but I ain't that crazy. You some new breed of Human and Orc or something?" he asked.

I decided not to answer him.

I then dismissed Ellen, Liara, and the elves. This left Astell and me alone aside from the sleeping warrior off to the side. I then held out his plate. "Hungry?" I asked.

"Enough to eat dog shit," he replied. While that made me laugh, the image that be pictured within my mind was not good for my brain.

I slowly nodded and placed the wooden plate on the floor. Boreli stared at the food but his shackles kept him from moving toward their savory goodness. I don't blame the poor bastard. Krill, fish meats, fruit, hog ribs, and chicken eggs be a mighty fine meal for anyone. I do be sure that I had eaten far less savory food when I had first started out as a captain in my previous life.

I ate my food vigorously while Boreli watched me. His eyes shook like a dying man and his stomach rumbled like thunder in the skies.

"Well? Why don't ya eat?" I asked.

His chains rattled.

"Captain, ya seem to have placed the food out my reach," he answered. He moved his arms to show me the obvious truth.

I took a piece of rib and ate that as well. "Aye, I guess that be the case. Alright, I'll let ye feast if ye be a guide for me," I stated.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Gull's Gaze on Astell's face. His head tilted to the side and his eyes wide like those of a bird, filled with utter confusion in regards to my demand.

The poor son of a royal bitch opened and closed his mouth a few times before he finally spoke. "A...guide?" he asked.

"I don't stutter. You be a guide for me and my ship and I shall feed you until I decide whether or not you become shark bait,"

Between the both of us, the only sound being made was of the delectable crunch of cooked krill. That does remind me that I best loot some herbs and spices when the opportunity presents itself.

"And where am I...guiding you to? It can't be anywhere with amazing treasures. You think I'd be in debt if it was?" he questioned.

I placed his plate of food on his lap. "Follow directions. That be all you need to do. You'll know when I need you," I returned while finishing the last vestiges of my food. I pushed the chair away and stood to my feet.

"Wait, we have not yet reached an agreement yet!" He exclaimed.

"There be no agreement, Astell. You do it or I cut off each of your limbs and feed them to the wild dogs on the plains of Gidfor. Enjoy your food," I answered.

I turned around and faced the door.

"Well, I guess I don't have a choice in the matter. I'll guide ye as best I can, Captain!"

The only thing I remember after that statement was the sound of thunder. When I turned around I noticed Boreli clutching three broken fingers, each snapped in a different direction from the others. He wept and cried pitifully, his form hunched in a corner like a troll while his food laid ruined upon the floor before I turned around.

"Don't call me Captain," I said, the words flowing through my mouth like searing embers onto the hard ground. I then uttered some magic words and repaired the damage I think I had done to his fingers. I floated his food back into his plate and laid it on his lap before I closed the door. The last thing I heard as I left were sobs of my prisoner.

Once I stepped outside, I noticed my crew looking at me.

"What?" I asked.

Someone pointed to the sky. I looked up and I noticed storm clouds began to gather. My mouth thinned.

...Well dammit.

With a day ruined by rain once again, or by my mood if ye wish to judge me harshly, tomorrow came upon my ship as I stepped outside and breathed the salty air once more.

"If we keep swabbing the deck of rainwater, then the mops are going to lose their hair," my mother said as I watched about five or six men clean the deck once again. I be not ashamed to say that I felt rather embarrassed by this fact.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and laid my head on her neck. "What got ye in such a panty's twist yesterday anyway?" she asked.

I sighed. "My prisoner said one word too many," I replied.

"Should I gag him?" she asked.

"Nah, if you or any other lass on this ship do it then that be a reward for him,"

"Ah, he be that kind of bastard then,"

"That he be,"

As I held my mother, I thought to spend my time leisurely, but unfortunately, that could not be done today. Any leisure time I might have had was supposed to be used yesterday instead of me us waiting for the storms to pass.

Now, perhaps I best clear something else up. Aye, I could have stopped the storms and dispelled with the rainfall if I desired, but...I do rather enjoy the rain very much. Although, I would assume that if anyone be wielding the powers of the seas then they should be well-acquainted with water in all forms. Plus, the rain gave me enough time to not only charter our course for Delverhold, but also it gave time for me to look through Ellen's list of auctions.

It be an aggravating thing I had to sort through because, in my previous life, I had not encountered what I needed for the isles until long before I had conquered them. Apparently, what I needed had fallen into the lap of some pathetic noble that I killed and raided. Due to my anger at finding this artifact, the town that noble had resided in had been sunk into the depths of the sea when the sun rose the next day.

...Aye, not one of me best moments.

I kissed my mother once more before I spoke. "Tell me mother, how would ye like to watch your son take a seat and bet his fortune away at an auction?" I asked.

In response, my mother pulled the side of my cheek. "A pirate's luck may change as quickly as coin changes hands through the City of Merchants. I'd pistolwhip ya if I didn't bet on your crazy mind having some end goal," she replied.

I rubbed my cheek and swatted her ass which made her jump before I moved away to conduct some business. That business was informing Ellen, the elves, and Liara that they would be coming with me to attend the auction tonight. None saw fit to rebuke my decision and with those matters finished, I gathered Maeloson, Aesteal, Ellen, and my mother together. I told them that they would be going out.

"Someone else I'll need to fuck up?" my mother asked, the zeal of a true female pirate upon her visage.

"As much as that be one fine way to turn me on, that be not the case for today," I said. I then handed each of them a rather sizable coin pouch. There be no need to tell them that this was from my own funds.

"Since I wasn't informed of this shit, I assume this be not the monthly allowance," Ellen said as she weighed the hefty pouch in her hands.

"Aye, ye be right, Ellen. If you all remember, I have allowed you all to peer into my book of worldwide materials. Now, here be lists for each of ya. Scavenge the markets and purchase these materials and bring them back to me. There be a vital need for them all," I replied.

They each took their lists and walked down the ship. Maeloson and Aesteal were fully robed to hide their beautiful elven features. Just in case, I decided to split up the elves. Ellen would take Aesteal and my mother would take Maeloson. Not that I believed they would get caught, but if they did then at least they both wouldn't be captured. Of course, I'd drown the city of C'ula into a watery grave if they were.

Anyway, with the members of my true crew scattered into the C'ula streets, I found my fate intertwined with Liara once again. I knocked on her door and instead of either a delectable witch or a stubborn gunslinger for a bodyguard, I was greeted with the towering form of Liara's other aide, Goron.

I actually be surprised that I don't run into the big lug as much as I figured I would. As big as the ship is, I have only run into him a handful of times. Where does a guy this size hide if not in the belly of a Leviathan sea beast?

"Lady Liara, the captain wishes your attention," he said.

"As I had foreseen, Goron. Tis best not to block the captain of the ship from any room he seeks to reside in. Do come in, Captain. Unfortunate about yesterday's weather, I had hoped you would come to see me before the storm," she called.

Goron moved to the side and I stepped through the door. Now that I take a good look at the giant, I find there to be almost no way that he could make it through the door with his frame. How did he even get in and out in the first place?

I be asking ye to not hold it to me too much that I didn't know much of Goron. I had never paid too much attention in my past life. He was a simple afterthought that was not worth too much of my attention. I curiously scanned my Liara's memories, but any thought of Goron seemed clouded in a drape of smoke whose body I could not see over.

When I stopped trying to search, I looked into Liara's eyes and there I found a rather mysterious smile on her face. I cannot begin to explain how uncomfortable that smile makes me, but it is also apart of my attraction to the Witch. It matters not the time nor the age that I might be in, the witch always seems to know something which I do not, even when I hold some of her memories at my disposal.

Also in the room, I noticed Diane staring at me from a corner of the room with a short stack of books in her arms. Though I noticed the unwelcoming glare she gave me, I dare say that I saw her legs tremble and her tits press against her shirt. For her own pride, I decided not to address this.

I turned my attention back to Liara, who was sitting inside an array of magic that had been drawn with animals' blood. Bones and skulls from these various creatures surrounded her as she began practicing her witchcraft. If I remember this spell from all the ones in my head, then I she be communicating with the lost souls on the third circle of Haganthar.

There are tales that a great evil god rules the Ten Circles of Haganthar. The third circle be a rather odd one since it is a rather picky one to get sent to when you die. The third circle consists of all the priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns, and other holy fuckers who had lost their faith and induldged in the deplorable shit that would make even as unruly pirate grimace.

Their punishment is that demons do as they like with them. Rape, whip, torture, devour, it matters not as long as it hurts. Yet, through it all, they must continue to pray and beg for forgiveness from the gods in the hopes that they are allowed dead. If they should stop, whether from death or exhaustion, flames overtake their bodies and are fierce enough to burn both soul, spirit, and body. Once the body dies, the flames burn the soul with searing torment that seemed to bring it back to life to only go through its horrors once again. No one, not even Liara, knows why this is. Some say it to be because these flames are the Flames of Life that are said to burn with such intensity that no amount of water can douse them.

I'd say the fuckers deserved it, but...the thought of fucking a wayward nun did appeal to me. I also be sure that somewhere in those ten circles is a place for me. I be sure that there should have been a place for me had I not been resurrected.

I focused my attention on Liara more closely. I stood just outside of her magic circle. "Liara, I wish you to journey into C'ula with me today and tonight," I stated.

I felt a swirl of magic pressure and the array of mysticism lit up with glowing purple energy.

"Oh my, to require my presence through the cycles of the sun and the moon? Have I bewitched you so heavily, Eric Drakclaw?" she asked, her eyes closed. I saw the smile on her face, but chose not to comment. Even one such as I can get swept up into her ways if I do not proceed with caution.

"You play coy, Liara. You have bewitched many a man and woman with your sultry body. A great treasure surrounded by thorns and thistles that only the bravest man be tempted to venture for. Perhaps it is I who bewitched you, or perhaps we simply have bewitched each other and continue these thrilling exchanges between you and I before we both explode in enough lust that not even legions of succubi could siphon it all off," I said.

Ilzahold laughed. "My, such a forward young man. Very well, I shall attend any activities and festivities you have planned for us today. What might we be doing?" she asked.

"Searching for archaic texts," I said.

To Liara's credit, the witch did not appear to be disturbed by my announcement, but there was the briefest flare of magical aura that led me to believe she was just as thrilled as I was.

"Hmmm, such lofty confidence. I look forward to seeing these seeds bear fruit. Very well, I shall journey with you through the City of Merchants, Eric Drakclaw. I have learned much upon this voyage. I pray that thee continues to keep my attention," Liara said.

The smile on my face thinned. "I'll try to hold your expectations then," I said. I then turned around and gave one last knowing smirk to Diane. With that, I then proceeded out the door.

For the next two hours, I began shifting the scheduling orders of the crew since my Quartermaster, First Mate, and elves were all preoccupied. Some of the crew came to me with concerns in regard to the damage the magic barrier had sustained from the Callamum ships and their cannon barrage. I eased their concerns. Nothing short of the mighty kraken could pierce such a barrier.

With those worries removed and some other important matters discussed, I decided that now be a good time to start working myself back to what my body had been in my previous life. For that, I enlisted the aid of Lady Knight. My crew gathered around and cheered as they watched us have our bout.

I dare think in some aspect, this combat training be a good reliever of the piling stress on Lady Knight. No doubt she was held quite a lot of frustration that required venting. Ala, what better than I be capable of relieving a woman of her tension and stress?

I admit Alteria truly deserved her title of knight. She swung her blade with the ferocity and grace that one thinks when they imagine those dedicated knights of the Hæňgaram Empire. Nevertheless, I did not play to her standard. I played to my own. My use of my powers, my way of fighting dirty, I held none of them back.

As a knight such as her might think, I bet she finds my fighting rather cowardly. Those cute, annoyed looks that appear upon her visage make me smile. I did not mind if she thought my methods to be cowardly. Honor be a cold blanket for a corpse during such things like combat.

By the end, we were both thoroughly without breath. Her once orderly hair became unkempt and unruly. It held a rather interesting feral look to it that drove me wild. I don't think we cared much about the win or the loss. It be a mere session of sparring. Granted, I would have to buy a new cutlass since the lass' blade had effectively cut mine in two. Then again, perhaps exchanging blows with Hæňgaramian steel using Draegnar steel be not the best idea.

However, if there be one thing I didn't much enjoy then it be that smug look on her face when she saw that she had stripped me of my blade. When she walked away with confidence, I couldn't help swirling a small whip of water and striking her bountiful ass which made it jiggle and her jump. My crew cheered and hollered at this action while she took into account what had just happened.

Lady Knight faced me angrily and I finished our little arrangement with a wink of the eye. Naturally, this be just to let her know that disabling me of a mere sword be no cause for celebration. She settled for glaring at me as she left while someone offered me a wet towel.

I soaked my face and washed away my sweat just in time for Liara to walk out of her room. The Witch of Draegnar looked as captivating in the sun as she did in the darkness. Every eye of my crew was stunned by her beauty. Even I stare longer than I had thought when I focused on those wondrous black hair and that mysterious body that seems to hold some otherworldly spell enchantment to it.

"Shall we set off this day, Eric? The duties of the sun wait for no one," she said, her voice laced with sweetness and desire.

"Just do well that I be not fighting off the hordes of men that cannot control their lust when they feast their eyes upon a forbidden treasure such as yourself," I said as I grabbed my captain's coat and lugged it over my shoulder.

"My, I do suppose you make a valid point. Not even one such as I can handle such much responsibility for the madness of men," she answered.

I think I chuckled, but it might have come out as more of a snort. I took her hand and guided her down the ship's docking stairs. Not even a second off the ship and we were already given look of astonishment.

I would say that Liara should have worn a disguise, but I rather pity the fool who tries to tangle with her. Between my abilities and her aptitude for magic, I doubt anything on this planet save for the heathen gods could stand in our way.

As Liara and I walk through C'ula, I am tempted to rearrange my thinking when I see everyone stare at her. Men and women are left with their tongues on the floor at her beauty and I even spot some men displaying their appreciation of her with reckless abandon. I dare say their cocks could pierce their pants if they were any straighter.

"Hmm, well this is a tad unsettling. Let us do something about that," Liara said as I noticed her gather a ball of purple magic in her hands.

"Urunnim," she whispered. Her ball of magic then expanded and then swept over the entire city like a rushing tide of water. As soon as its light settled, everyone seemed confused as to where Liara had gone, even though the witch was still next to me.

"Ah, illusion magic. Must be quite handy," I replied. From what I saw in my Liara's memories, the spell she used had just affected the whole city into thinking that the bewitching woman whom they had been looking at had disappeared for a more average girl. I don't really know what they were seeing since Liara's spell hadn't affected me. I still saw the Witch in all her splendor.

"Tis there to be used, Eric Drakclaw. To not use it when the option be there is only a waste of the energies that have been given to us. Now then, shall we proceed?" she asked.

Who I be to argue with such a fine woman?

Within the City of Merchants, Ilzahold and I beheld the city and all its oddities. Perhaps I best think that she be the one beholding anything since I had my fair share of anything to look at in C'ula. How fortunate that I be in such a mood to see things without the sound of thunder in the sky.

As we walked, I dare say that the mighty witch, who seems to spend her time retreating from the gazes of society, passed her eye over a select number of stalls with worthless trinkets. Nevertheless, I saw something within those unaging eyes. For a woman who seemed to hold the very fabric of the strings of the world in her palms, I briefly saw a look of loneliness in those boundless pools.