The Vengeful Tide Ch. 13

I spotted the coming mist. It would be upon us in another half an hour. "What's your name?" I asked.

"Bol, sir!" he replied. I slowly turned around.

"Trust me, Bol. man's weapons will not defend against what lies in there. What we're doing now is the best defense," I replied. Bol swallowed heavily before he began taking even more things off as well.

Once everyone was as soundless as we could get, I walked down to warn Nz'ia. He did not reply to my words or care to watch me gag Boreli and tie the fucker up like a hog. He only sat in his corner of the room. I decided to leave him alone.

As I returned to the deck, I was just in time to see the mist hit the bow of my ship.

"If you absolutely must speak at all, then get as close to someone as you can and whisper it! You got it?!" I asked.

"Aye Aye Captain!" They resounded.

I nodded as my crew and I held our breaths as the mist crawled over our ship. For the next eight hours, we would sail through here. The name I had given this one was 'I'on D'Faen' or The Clinging Dread.

I could tell everyone around me was tense. Per my instructions, no one made a single sound. The only things which could be heard were the sounds of the ship's creaking wood and flapping sails. Something like those were impossible to deal with.

My words must have shaken everyone because no one knew what they were supposed to be doing. Hell, some of them just sat down for fear that their legs might give out and...whatever was in this mist would seek to devour them. I did not blame them. At most, I would have them treat this as a very long and slow break.

I took a moment to see how Liara was faring and I noticed her eyes staring at the mist as if she was trying to discern all its properties. No doubt we both see the same thing. The mist is a widespread layering of magic that would make any mage go blind from how densely bright it is. To see the mist truly, Liara and I would need to cut off the magic from our eyes.

The ship sailed normally for about fifteen minutes before we all stood and sat still. We could all hear something sloshing through the tides next to us. I already knew what was coming. A loud boom of walking footsteps came crashing down near our ship.

"WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"JUST...FOLLOWWWW MY...VOOOOOOOICE!"

Everyone winced as they covered their ears from a loud, deep, distorted voice over the sailing seas. Someone pointed outward into the thick fog and thought it was too far to tell what it was, but I could see a long, large...thing in the distance. Some of my crew held their hands over their mouths to cover the gasps they would have had.

Bright, glowing, soulless eyes pierced through the crouching fog as a wail of human voices were heard like a never-ending line of agony fit for the fires of Hell. If one were to look close enough, then they could see tiny hands, feet, and moving heads along its body as if they had been melded there. Oozing flags of blood dropped from each body as corpses and bones of the deceased fell into the sea, never to be seen again.

My eyes burned as I stared at that being. No one knows what it is, not even Liara. None have gotten close enough to tell. All that was known of this being is that it is called Ỗxa, the Taker of Voices.

"I'VE GOT YoOOOOOooOOooOoOoOOOOOOU! STOOOOOOOOP SCREAMING!" It screeched as its voice sent shivers down the side of our bodies. Even for me, that voice sent a bead of sweat down my neck. That voice which was an amalgamation of distorted voices scraping against each other in a raspy noise that tried to imitate human speech. Large tentacles like those of the great Kraken wade through the waters below my ship.

They brushed against my ship and rocked it slowly. It made noise, but not the type of noise that this great demon, or god depending on which region you ask, wanted. I watched grown men and women shed tears as they saw slithering tentacles slide across the rails of my ship.

"ABANDONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN SHIIIIIIIIIP!" It cried in a way that was grating on the ears.

Though I could not make too much noise, I pushed the waters forward to move the ship a little faster. The Taker of Voices walks upon this sea time after time. The crashing of waves shouldn't be a bother to him.

"FIIIIIIIIRE...THEEEE CANOOOOOOOOONS!"

I clenched my fists.

Ỗxa, the Taker of Voices.

There aren't many rumors regarding it. As I said before, depending on what region you go to it is classified as either a god or a demon. Most would lean towards the latter of those two.

Some have said that Ỗxa steals voices in order to find the voice of the one who created it. From what I know, even Liara avoided this creature in the few times she had seen it. It does not communicate and it knows no real sentience. All it has known is that it must take voices for its own.

Alongside that, the very few who have survived their encounters with Ỗxa have claimed that the mist which surrounds its body makes it perfect since victims tend to shout to those they can't see. It would certainly explain why this air is filled with such vile magic energy.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Ỗxa screamed suddenly and I have no doubt that everyone felt the full brunt of its distorted voice because they kept their hands over their mouths to keep from screaming. I was no different. Of course, I had the will to not scream so I could focus my hands on my ears but try as I might, even I couldn't stop the full blow of its raspy voice from entering my mind.

I sucked my teeth as one of the women who had been standing fell off balance from the shockwave of the air brushing violently against the ship. I wove a silent piece of water and caught her enough to not let out too much noise. I gently let her down to the Main Deck. She thanked me fervently with lots of bows.

The tentacles slipped off the ship and splashed back into the water. Seawater rained down on us all.

"HEEEEEEEEEELP...MEEEEEEEEEEEEE! IT WON'T DIEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"ASOGAHI GADAVAHE ONENQWIIIIIIIIII!"

"WHAT IS THAT?! IT'S GETTING BIGGEEEEEEEEEEEER!"

"LOOOOOOOOORD ZEUS, DELIVER MEEEeeEeEEEEE!"

The next two hours seemed to go by in a blur of pain, silence, and disturbing voices that would make even the sanest man go mad. Already at least ten to fifteen men and women lay unconscious on my ship because illusions had taken hold of them. I know not what they saw. Maybe they say thought dead family members came back to life, maybe they saw riches, maybe they saw a bunch of lassies ready to take them to high heaven, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the fact that had I not suffocated them with water to knock them out, I would be down about fifteen crewmates literally instead of figuratively.

As this went on, I made a note in the back of my head of everyone that I saw working to keep the insane ones quiet. Some covered their raging mouths and locked their arms and legs with harsh grappling moves that could disable anyone.

"IS ANYONE LEFT? I CAN'T SEEEE IN FRONT OF ME!" The gargantuan beast bellowed as the numerous victims on its body wailed like unholy sirens in the distance.

"THE MIST! IT MOOooOOooOOVEEEEEES! YOOooOU SOnS OF BITCHES SHOUT IF YOOOOOOU HEAR MEEeEeeeEeEeEEEE!" Ỗxa spoke again. Its long body seemed to stretch into the very ends of eternity. We continued sailing.

After those two hours, another four were raked up as the sun began to set. Then, dread filled us all.

"UGH!"

Like a needle falling on some noble marble floor, that noise reverberated through the entire ship. We all turned our heads and noticed the problem. Diane, who had also been restraining someone had been savagely bitten by her captive's sharp teeth. The person tore into her arm, but she covered her mouth with one hand and tried to resist the pain while the blood from her arm dripped on the floor.

Almost instantly, a tentacle exploded from the water and hovered over the side of the ship that she was on. Everyone seemed ready to panic now that our cover was seemingly blown, but my luck was with me that day. Given the way the ship was constructed, and the way everyone was lined up, everyone saw me shake my head left and right. I silently ordered them to not panic just yet. Thankfully, the danger must have made them all obedient because they quickly resumed their silence.

"GAMALAAAAA, I AM HERRrrRrREEEE! SPEAK TO ME, CAPTAIN!" Ỗxa said as the tentacle slammed the ship just inches from where Diane stood. I had never known the guard of Liara to show fear, but the sense of dread on her face as she watched the tentacle expel hundreds of sharp spike-like appendages from its wiggling form stuck in my mind.

"Eric Drakclaw, can you secure Diane?"

I heard Liara's sweet voice in the back of my head as I turned to her. Ah, telepathic magic. One of the more draining spells Liara and I could use.

"Who do you think I am, Liara?" I asked.

I slowly held up my hand and a large rope of water rose from my side of the ship. Everyone watched with bated breath as I wrapped the water rope around her waist. I then pulled her and the person she was holding into the air.

Meanwhile, Liara wordlessly cast a spell that created another Burnwood. The tentacle touched that culmination of concentrated magic and everyone watched the spikes on its body brutally piece through the clone's body before it dissolved into nothingness. The tentacle slipped down into the water.

"UUuuUUUuuUUUUUUuUUUuGgGGGGGGGgHHHHHHHhhhhHh!" The Taker of Voices screeched in a voice much deeper than Diane's, but with no less tone.

I slowly placed Diane next to me and bound her captive's head with water until they fell over unconscious. I then watched Burnwood slowly fall to the Main Deck. For once, the confident woman didn't seem like it. Then again, I suppose if I watched myself die in such a way then I might have been the same.

The last two hours passed us.

After the incident with Diane, we had maybe one or two more close calls like that. However, in the end, I had not lost anyone as we saw signs that the mist was lifting. With it, the monster that wanders its cloudy fog left as well. I think everyone was more shaken than I thought because even though it was easily into the middle of the night, no one wanted to sleep until we got a sizable distance away from the mist. No one wanted to see even a hint of it in the distance.

This I complied with. So, I pushed the waters and my ship rushed away from the Taker of Voices for over fifty miles. When we were far enough away, I decided to allow the crew to party as if it was their last time. The ship resounded with cheers as I allowed food and drink to be distributed to all who could handle it. I suppose that after their brush with death, this was the crew's way of coping with what had just happened.

The sounds of music, laughter, and toasting of tankards filled with ale and rum, rung loud through my ship. Shanties, folklore hymns, and whatever else would have you were sung in high spirits on my ship.

"OH, I see the shining shore! I see the rising line! I find my path, it's the greatest scrath from the seas I've sailed today!

Where, oh where, shall we sail? The bright Bodoul comes for me strong!

That be the time! A time I remember well. Do you hear me, oh shining shore?

The waves on high, the spirits passing by, I wonder where she shall find me!

OH! OH! OOOOOOOH!

OH! OH! AHHHHHHHH!

Shining sea! Oh, glorious sea! Filled with treasures, friend to me!

I dare not ask, I dare not speak, but you be so dear to me!

THAR' BE BASTARDS AND BITCHES! Lasses and wenches! Ale to drink, and mead to feast!

A thunderstrike!

A flash of light!

Oh, shining sea, let me sail forevermore! Until my bones lead me to that wondrous shore!"

To be honest, I wondered if they would all pass out from having no air in their lungs with how loud and how long they sang for.

Clearly, I underestimated the bitches and bastards because then came the dancing. Argh, yes, the dancing came and the ship creaked with stomping feet. What surprised me was how much I had danced. Not necessarily of my own volition either.

I swung leg and body with Aesteal first. Aye, watching her body move so close to mine did wonders for arousing me. Of course, her moves lacked any wanton approach since I assume her elven culture is more dignified in such movements, but she held my lust regardless.

Then came my mother. Now her, I had to grab from the side of the railing despite her protests. If I was going to suffer through this embarrassment then I was going to make sure that she was there with me. This I swore.

It took a bit of time to get my mother moving. Years of her disease had left her rather self-conscious about movements such as dancing. Nevertheless, I told her that I desired to see her move and she obeyed me. Her movements would not hold up in some noble's court ball, but the swaying of her beautiful red hair, her womanly curves, and the bliss on her face fueled the flames of my lust no less than Aesteal. Funny how a brush with death seems to stimulate the cock more than a prostitute's dress has a habit of doing.

I openly kissed my mother before everyone watching. Naturally, it was no big secret that I was fucking her, but if anyone had doubts then they could lay them to rest now. She tried to scold me, but there was no fire in her voice. I was the one who decided what was and wasn't appropriate between us. Anyone else was a non-factor.

I thought Ellen would be my next partner, but I did not see her anywhere.

Anyway, this little festive night was soon drawn to a close. Men and women laid on the main deck passed out while others allowed the food and drink to lower their already abysmal inhibitions. Some men led women away back to their quarters and I even saw some men lead other men away. The same was no different for some of the women. I groaned.

"I don't even think my last ship was this debauched," I thought to myself. Granted, was I truly one to talk? Probably not.

Okay, definitely not.

As everyone slept or spent time doing their own night activities, I retired to my room. I hung up my coat and returned to my room.

I walked down the steps and pulled out the chair from my desk. As I sat down, I breathed a sigh of relief. Despite everything, I still had my crew in one piece. I knew this wouldn't last forever, but a man takes his fortune where he can.

I smiled as I wondered how many fuckers would be bitching about the Devil's Hangover in the morning.

I spent the next few minutes writing in my journal. The calm sound of the churning waves outside provided me with a way to steady my thoughts. The flickering candle on my desk felt much warmer than any other time I might have noticed. I had survived the Taker of voices once again. The thought was a tad surreal. Luckily, if my fate would have it, this would be the only time I would meet him again. Thankfully, we would not have to leave the way we came.

As soon as I closed my journal, a knock came on my door. I closed my eyes. If that was my mother then she had perfect timing. I was ready for bed as well.

"Enter," I said.

I heard my door open. I turned around. I must say I was not prepared for Liara's guard to be standing in front of the door. I noticed the wound on her arm had healed much faster than any natural cause could have done. Clearly, Liara had been healing her guard for some time.

Diane stepped further into my room and found its walls to be particularly interesting. I wasn't too sure what she desired by coming into my quarters so late, but clearly, it was something she had trouble getting out. It felt like a bit of a throw off. Never had I known Burnwood to be at a loss for words. It was like a fire mage not having the formulas to basic fire magic.

Whatever mental blocks she was fighting against, her body was clearly telling me something was going on. For my own sanity, I don't usually connect my senses to the rush of water and blood in people's bodies unless is required of me. If I had to hear the rushing sounds of blood flowing through over a hundred people on this ship then I'd sooner blow my head off.

I say that because I could feel the blood rushing faster than what could be considered normal for a person. Unfortunately, I did not feel like playing Sea Tales with Burnwood so I opened my mouth. As luck would have it, she spoke before I did.

"Look, I hate being in debt to someone. Especially you, but...I wanted to...thank you for saving my life today. I did not think I would see the end of the day and, though the circumstances were extreme, I did fail. I also put the crew in danger. I came before you to...ask...for...punishment," she claimed. She stared at me with a meekness that I find rather foreign on her usually tough face.

I stared at her for a moment or two. The feelings of tiredness that had been invading my body were drowned beneath a sudden rise of excitement and lust. The situation with the Taker of Voices had left me rather stressed and rigid for those eight hours. Like the rest of my crew, I had contemplated fucking either my mother or Aesteal into my bed enough for the boards beneath us to crack, but I decided that it would have been best for them to have ease for this night.

My response was between a chuckle and a snort. "If you want to be punished then go to the crew and ask them to punish you. They're the ones you put at risk. I'm sure they'd give you what you ask. I'm heading to bed," I said.

In order to keep up this farce, I had to turn around. How I wished I could see her face in order to gauge her reaction. I took some deliberate time to allow her to think by slowly doing things I would deem worthless. I furled up my maps. I wiped off my quill pen. I stacked up some of my books. I did shit that would absolutely bore the hell out of m at any other time of day.

"I would like it to be you...Sir," she replied. I stopped my "work" and turned to face her once again. She still stood in that same spot in my room. The glow of my candle just barely illuminated her tall face and her toned body. Both of them were tightly wrapped in an open black coat.

I placed my left foot over my right thigh. "I already said I don't feel like it. You must think I'm a fool. Have you any idea what Liara would do to me should I strike you? The Taker of Voices would be the least of my worries," I said with a bit of perceived annoyance and fire in my voice that made Diane shiver.

Truth be told, I doubt Liara would have too much concern with it, especially considering the fact that she should be aware of Diane's thoughts and motives in coming to my room at this hour. While I don't think the witch orchestrated this, I'm not so naive as to believe that she doesn't know this is happening.

"Lady Liara will not interfere, Sir," she replied. Her voice remained even. She did not rise to the heat in my voice and I found myself thrown off again. Have no doubt that I wished to watch Burnwood's ass jiggle as she sung a sweet tune over the still sea, but I had never been with Burnwood before in such a manner. If ye recall, the last I had come to sex with Diane, she had left me without clothes and coin due to me thinking with my cock and not my head when I was younger. I wished to tread these new waters carefully.

"And you think that you getting punished by me will repay your debts to me?" I asked.

"I...,"

"Who do ya take me for, Burnwood? You come to me asking for punishment and you're the one who decides when and where your debts are paid? It isn't funny enough to take for a joke," I said as I turned away, but I couldn't mistake the way she clenched her hands into fists. She was clearly getting irritated with my words.

"Then what the hell should I do to clear my debt to you, Sir?" she asked.

I smiled.