The Vengeful Tide Ch. 13

"Don't remind me," I grumbled as I ordered Maeloson to help me. He grabbed the Xhaluters legs and we made our way back to the brig.

When we returned, I noticed the door had indeed been knocked down. I exhaled tiredly. We then stepped inside and I spotted Boreli hiding in the corner with claw marks across his chest and body. He quickly noticed me and leaned back with harsh pants. I looked at him for a few moments but Astell didn't speak to me. It was just as good since I didn't feel like speaking to him either. My good morning had already been ruined and given that I had to look at him, it was only made worse.

I placed the Xhaluter in some tighter chains this time before Maeloson and I strapped him to the wall again. "Maeloson, have four men guard the brig this time. When he awakens tell them to send for me.

"Yes, Sir," he said.

I then turned to Boreli and healed him. Once that was done, I repaired the door and locked the brig with a key. As Maeloson and I walked back to the main deck of the ship, I ordered him to bring Boreli his food for the morning. The male elf nodded without a word. He did not ask me about Aesteal or what she had come into my room for. In any case, I think my silence was enough to tell him about that anyway.

As we appeared on the deck of the ship, I saw Liara busily healing the men and women who had been hurt by the Xhaluter and his rampage. "Quite the scuffle below the ship, Eric? Shall I take this to mean that your other prisoner is awake?" she asked me.

"He was for the moment. Now he sleeps like a newborn babe. You have my thanks, Liara," I said as I watched her continue to provide aid to the rest of the ship.

"Tis quite alright. Consider it as gratitude for such a splendid evening last night. Such a rich amalgamation of spiritual mana was ripe to be harvested. Though if you also wish to show gratitude then might I ask for your attention in the coming days? I have something I wish to figure out," Liara said.

This confused me as I wasn't sure what I had that Liara wanted, but I merely shrugged my shoulder and would acquiesce to her desires as long as they didn't interfere with my own.

With that little piece of excitement done, I decided to return to my room. I had already left my alchemy for way too long and I didn't need any more breaks to my concentration. While I stayed in my room, I constantly thought of Leah and what Aesteal had told me while I was left alone. My anger and my desire for vengeance fueled me through the long, hard nights.

My ship continued to sail through the Coffin's mouth. Ever since the incident with the Xhaluter, about three or four days have passed. Aside from my mother, Ellen, and Aesteal, no one else had visited my chambers. I think the spouted curses from my lips and the foul stench from my alchemy had something to do with that.

Long days and even longer nights, I laughed at my mother's attempts to stay awake with me, but she would be sleeping on my bed long before I was ready. A thousand compounds and an even greater number of ingredients filled my head to the point that I had a headache for basically a full day.

By the third day, the results of my endless nights had finally produced fruit. On my desk, in a jar, filled to the very top, were numerous Black Cloud Pills that would aid in the survival of my crew during our journey to Delverhold. I shall grant ye an answer of what they are later. I held not the patience at this moment.

I did not care what time it was nor did I care to check. All I desired was to crawl into my bed and shut my eyes for the next few hours.

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

"Eric?"

...I could swear by the Stone Tablets of Plr that someone was fucking with me. I don't know who, and I don't know why, but someone that controlled the threads of my destiny was fucking with me pretty hard. If I knew who they were, I would have added them to my list just to say 'Fuck You.' Those damn Fates better pray to Zeus that I never meet them. I'd make them regret this tomfoolery that they seem to have with me.

That was the voice of my spitfire mother.

I got up from the comfortable sheets of my bed and walked over to my door.

Don't be angry, Eric.

Don't be angry, Eric.

Don't be angry, Eric Drakclaw!

I told myself that stupid mantra over and over. It didn't help that the mantra seemed to perfectly synchronize with the beating of the temples of my head. I slowly opened the door.

"What?" I asked slowly as to not lose the rest of my already waning composure. Above all things, I did not wish to repeat my previous performance of yelling at my mother. That had left my old aged spirit heavily weighted in stone.

Whatever my mother was going to say first didn't come forward. Instead, she hiked her thumb over to the lower levels. "Your other prisoner is awake. Someone was bringing down lunch for the scrawny one when he awoke. They ran for me to you instantly. I bet they fear you might blow their heads off if they did it themselves," she joked.

Unfortunately, I don't think I wouldn't have done that, but what can one do?

I contemplated leaving the matter of the Xhaluter for another day, but I didn't think that would be wise. Chained up though he may be, he had gone without food for too long. Water had been carefully supplied to him while he was unconscious to keep him alive. I did need to speak with the bastard as well.

I kissed my mother's forehead and patted her shoulder. "I see. Thanks for informing me," I said. Then, despite my exhaustion, I had enough fire in me to smack my mother's ass which made her jump as she glared at my retreating form.

I walked down into the lower deck and into the food distribution area. I appeared before those who had been assigned to this area at the time. "What are your names?" I asked.

"J'al Vae, Ghari Dhan, captain!" They both said.

I massaged my forehead. "'J'al, Ghari, where's the food to be taken to the prisoners?" I asked.

"Aye, sir! Astell's already been fed. We're currently making the other guy's lunch since he woke up," Ghari said. My mouth thinned.

"Give it to me. I'll take it to him," I said.

They both looked at me strangely but offered me the Xhaluter's tray of food and drink. I took the tray from them and proceeded down the stairs. On my way down, I passed by Ellen's room, watching her grumble as she looked over stacks of paper. I assumed these to be not just from the Dead Tales, but also for the ship.

I also passed Maeloson and Aesteal giving lessons to those men and women who had been made into their warriors from Hilvir. Since I was in a hurry, I didn't catch much of their lessons, but I was sure I heard something about elven battle practices.

Lastly, I passed Lady Knight's room. As one might suspect, she swung her sword and trained her body well. I can't lie that my eyes lingered on her jiggling tits more than they should have, but I don't think she noticed. If she did, then she was clearly letting me get away with it without trying to lob my head from my shoulders.

That said, I did admire the toned lines of her stomach before I left.

Once I made it down to the lowest deck, I noticed four men standing there. I dismissed them and grabbed the keys from the end of the hall. I watched them walk off while I turned to the door I had fixed days ago. I opened it and stepped inside.

There sat the Xhaluter chained to the wall in more bonds than he had been in last time. He wordlessly glared at me as the sun shone through the window and into the cell. His brown skin seemed to absorb the light fairly well which gave his skin a kind of sheen that some metals have.

"You know, sir, after a meal, it's customary to down it with the best wine from the ship's vineyard,"

I frowned as I briefly allowed Boreli my attention when I looked at him. He sat in the corner of the brig, his arms and legs chained along with a dirty tray. I could still smell the piss and shit that had been dumped out recently.

"While I won't serve you wine, I can give you some shots without the glass if you don't keep quiet," I warned. My fuse was short enough to do it.

Boreli shied away from my gaze and chuckled nervously. "Noted. I'd much rather stay sober," he replied as he made himself as small as possible.

I snorted before I turned back to the angry Xhaluter. I pulled up a chair and sat on it with its back at my chest ad my arms on its head.

"Ya really fucked up my crewmates, ya bastard. When I destroyed that Callamum ships, I didn't think a Xhaluter would be left amongst the wreckage. What's your kind doing all the way out here?" I asked.

The male with animal's ears and tail growled at me. "K'ah raqivadaz ho'faolmore gahad vac'lim asradi GELAX!" He shouted as he snapped his large canine teeth at me. Had the chains not been so secure I think he might have succeeded in getting right up in my face.

"KAZ'SA AKSVIKAN DOLFOLGI!" He shouted at me.

"And here I thought lasses were the only screamers," Astell said to himself behind me. It utterly irritated me how much that made me laugh within my own head.

While I held the tray in one hand, I used the other to pull some of the water from one of the open barrels. The Xhaluter and Boreli watched it swirl in the air in circles before I formed it into a sharp blade.

"Dare ya say that again?!" I asked as I held the blade near his throat.

"Aguaka! Aguaka! Ga haem aguakakaros!" He exclaimed as his eyes stared at the water with no less fear than he had when I had bound him.

I nodded. "Good, now. Let's try that again," I said as I placed my hand on his forehead. A rush of mana flowed from my body and my mind into his own as we stared at each other.

"Get your filthy hands off me, Draegnarian! Your stench makes me wretch!" he spoke with great clarity. Clearly, my spell had worked.

"Perhaps you just need a bath. You're the one who reeks like a dog covered in shit!" I returned.

The Xhaluter's eyes widened in surprise.

"You can understand our language?" He asked.

I shrugged. "So long as I keep my hand to this rattling cage you call a head. Now, I do believe ya were in the midst of insulting me!" I said as I pulled the blade of water close to his throat.

"Cursed is the lands you tread, Sea Mage! Get Hades' Pool away from me!" he said as I stared at the water blade I made.

Hades'...Pool?

"Arrrr, what do ya know? A Xhaluter, said to be one of the most fearsome warriors upon this entire rock, be scared of water. Hahahaahahaahaha!" I barked my laughter as his face grew red with anger. Well, due to his brown skin I think it would have been hard to tell.

"You dare laugh at me, hairless ape?! I'll...," He paused when I pulled the blade closer.

"You'll...what?" I asked.

His teeth gnawed at each other, but he did not complete his train of thought. Instead, he settled for wishing he could burn me to deal with the heat of his gaze. "What do you want?" He asked slowly.

"A name would be appreciated," I said.

The frown on his face deepened, but the Xhaluter spoke nonetheless. "Nz'ia Sak'ran," He said with contempt. I stared at him for a moment before I placed the tray of food in front of him.

"Why does Callamum desire a Xhaluter so much, Nz'ia?" I asked.

At the mention of the Callamum nation, Nz'ia offered a deeper growl and clenched fists. "I wouldn't know why. The day Callamum came was a day that seemed to pass by in a blur to me. All I could remember was constantly killing any soldier bearing the Callamum symbol until...the earth shook and the sand lands of my tribe erupted into terraformed mountains. All done...by one man leading the army. A battlefield turned into a prison and my tribesmen in chains. I know not where they are nor what Callamum desires of them," he replied.

I took note of the fires in his voice. They had dimmed somewhat and that had dampened my mood even more than it already was. It made me aware of my exhaustion.

That said, I couldn't stop my thoughts from running over this information. Had I somehow changed the course of history again? I ask this to myself because when I had encountered Xhaluters in the past, there was no talk of the Callamum forces making their way into Xhaluter lands and capturing them for unknown causes. It was possible that this happened long before I took my steps into the world of the sea, but I found this a little unlikely.

If a kingdom like Callamum got Xhaluters into their forces in my previous life, then they wouldn't have ended the war with Evir in a treaty. They would have most likely conquered Evir without much trouble. Something was clearly not right there either.

Next, there was this apparent man who controlled the earth. The way the Nz'ia described him, I assumed this was no ordinary earth mage. I don't worry easily, but what this might entail did cause me concerns that I would need to address. Perhaps, I ought to sail into the lands of Callamum when I get the chance as well.

I stood up from the chair and placed the tray of food and milk on the floor. I then, much to the Xhaluter's suspicions, loosened the shackles which bound him. "You've got two choices...," I began which made him look at me.

"You either sail with me into Callamum for answers, or ya sail with the Callamum bastards decorating the seabed. I suggest you choose the correct one. There might be those you're familiar with within the kingdom's walls," I said.

He looked at the food and then looked at me as I stood up and made for the door. "Why are you helping me?" he asked.

I laughed.

"Please, I'm not helping you. Callamum has answers and you have a story I need to follow up on. That be all," I said before the magic connecting us was cut. If he spoke, I would no longer be able to understand him. Well, technically that was a lie since I did have some of Liara's knowledge of the Xhaluter language, but that was a whole other thing.

As I left, I smirked as I heard the sound of a clattering tray behind me.

Satisfied, I allowed my tired legs to take me up to the main deck of the ship. The sounds of hard work and singing shanties filled my ears as I spotted my mother speaking with someone about something I was too tired to figure out.

"Wha...Eric, what are you...can you wa...,"

No, I could not wait. Without warning, I grabbed my mother by the arm and pulled her into my room. I heard a round of cheers, but I would have to disappoint them. I pulled her closer into my quarters. Then, I pulled her into my arms and we fell on my bed.

"Eric, I'm busy! I still have to...,"

SMACK!

"Ugggggghh!" My mother groaned as I offered a rebuttal to the coming words. I then place my head on her neck.

"The only work you're going to be doing for the next eight hours or so is being my pillow, mother," I said.

I felt my mother shift in my arms which only prompted me to hold her tighter. "You really are a piece of shit," she said.

"Aye, the biggest piece of shit in the sea. Yet, ya still love me," I said with a heavy yawn and drowsy eyes. As I kept my eyes closed, I heard my mother rustle a little more. I then felt the warmth of her skin. Something clattered on my floor and then my legs tangled with her own.

When I opened my eyes, I saw that my mother had somehow gotten undressed. Her clothes littered the floor along with her shoes which left her naked and to the pleasing of my young eyes.

Well, I suppose another minute or two couldn't hurt. I got up quickly and undressed. I threw my coat, my shirt, my pants, and my boots to the floor which made left me just as naked as her. I think the trails of the seas had their effect on me. My body was much leaner than it had been about a month ago. I was no stone wall, but muscles had begun to grow in the right areas once again.

I slipped back into the bed and my cock nestled between the cheeks of my mother's ass. As nice as it would be to show her just how much I truly appreciated her, I was too tired. Instead, we got back into our established position with my hands around her waist and her legs tangled up in my own.

I don't know how long it took my mother to fall asleep, but I was out as soon as my head landed on her shoulder. Soft dreams filled my head as my mother's body pressed against mine. I oddly felt at peace whenever I am in this more intimate setting with her and Aesteal. I might have been completely gone, but I could have sworn something wet brushed against my lips before my consciousness pulled me away.

Two days more days passed my ship by as I stared at my map. If I wasn't mistaken, then I would need to call the crew together soon. The next trial was set to appear. I had lost maybe twenty to thirty men to that one.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Captain! A dense mist comes over the horizon! We sail straight for it!" someone called.

...Or I could call the crew together right now. Might as well.

I opened my door and quickly ordered my mother and Ellen to round up the ship's workers. Everyone came onto the Main Deck. Alteria Balamar arrived first from the lower deck. Liara, Goron, and Diane arrived as well with Maeloson, Aesteal, and their warriors arriving last.

Once everyone was here, I pointed towards the coming mist. "Alright you lot, if you want to live then from now on, you do exactly as I say and exactly as I do!" I told them.

I then took off my captain's hat, my coat, and my boots. I was left in naught but a white shirt, dark shorts, and bare feet.

"Anything that jingles, anything that shines, anything that makes a sound except for the creaking of this ship better be off! When we enter the mist, Do. Not. Speak! Do not utter a single sound! No matter what you hear, no matter what you might see in the distance or floating near the ship, do not call out to it nor give it your attention. If you can't do that, then I'll offer to shoot you in the head now and save you from whatever will take you later," I said.

Everyone shivered as a tense mood settled over my ship. The mist grew closer to us all. I would already run down and tie Boreli down as hard as I could. I already knew the fucker would try some way to make this trial hell for me if I left him alone. As for the Xhaluter, he had remained mostly quiet so I would give him the warning and leave him alone.

I turned to Liara. "That includes you, Liara," I said.

Admittedly, the witch doesn't have too much that would cause noise, but she does wear some jewelry from time to time that I want her to be aware of.

Liara nodded. "Tis quite unfortunate, but I shall abide," she said.

She was the first to begin taking off anything that might make noise. She took off her belt, some dark earrings, and a belt buckle to a satchel around her waist. Like the horndogs that my ship has, men, and even some women, got aroused at the sight of Liara slowly untying her shoes thus allowing her long, beautiful, sculpted legs to reach everyone's eyes. I can't deny I was among them.

I dare think what was made worse about this situation was the fact that she kept eye contact with me for the entire duration of her painfully slow undressing. I bet this was for me to savor the moment, which I most definitely did.

Her show ended with her bare feet on the wooden deck. She then smoothed her dresses and offered everyone a mysterious smile. "Shall I be the only one following the captain's orders?" she asked.

Her question seemed to be the spell to break everyone from their trance as everyone started undressing and discarding personal items that could make too much noise from the push and pull of the sea. Many scrambled to their rooms and back to put away their belongings and I did the same. Except for my control of the tides, I held no other weapon on me.

"Captain!" someone called to me. I turned around and noticed a man pocketing some ornament of his.

"What if we get attacked? How shall we defend ourselves without weapons?" he asked.