That same evening.
A lot of things happened that day.
Let's start with Fynsell.
As soon as she got to her personal room, after the chess match using all of her being to not shout or make a scene on the deck, she did a scene in her room. It was going to be comical if not for the fact that Jay also did a temper tantrum, making the scene more of two children throwing a fit than actually two adults being adults. The True Elf couldn't help herself, she lost to a complete nobody, with no titles or achievements to call his own in her own game, both literally and figuratively.
Connor, as the Wood Elf presented himself, beat her on chess by playing the psychological game, staring at her at all times, barely looking at the board. In hindsight, this did cause Fynsell to become paranoid on what he would be thinking, but more importantly, he just did not react at all to her comments. In the mind games, he was blunt, direct and impolite, contrasting perfectly every attempt at attacking his pride or ego, countering with his own indifference or outright insulting Fynsell directly.
That was already incredibly disrespectful, but not even that compared to what happened next. Maybe Jay's accusation was based around misconceptions and prejudice against slaves, not that Fynsell would argue against it, but the way that Connor handled the situation with blatant calmness was unnerving. Not only did he give a solid argument of his own, but used the slave rune as leverage for it, basically destroying every possible attempt at incriminating him of cheating. A slave beat both of them in tactics, mind games, intimidation and politics, smoothly and effectively damaging their reputation in the ship.
And none of them would admit that, not in the open, at least.
“Damnit! That fucking slave!”, Jay'Ky Latoor kicked a chair inside the room, “I will make him pay, I swear!”
“Hush, Jay!”, Fynsell shouted angrily, “There is nothing we can do.”
“But…”
“If we do something now, we will only make our situation worse.”, She lowered her gaze, ashamed of herself to be humiliated by a simple slave.
Richardson might have known this from the start. The smile he gives never fails in making her nerves jump. But regardless if he knew or not, the point is not arguing with the Foreman, but rather keep quiet for now. There is no reason for them to continue pursuing a losing battle.
“You win this time, Connor.”
“He disrespected you in the middle of the entire ship and tarnished the reputation of the Nyëthilhand!”, Jay'Ky didn't seem to agree though, “Surely you can't accept this! It's the name of your family!”
Fynsell looked at Jay, a mix of sadness and rage, “I know. But our priority is not to have a rivalry or animosity with a slave of all things.”
She glanced at the bookshelf where the crystal is hiding.
“So we are going to just… let it go?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”, Her tone didn't leave any room for discussion, “I underestimated a Wood Elf and I paid the price for it. Case closed.”
That spiked Jay's curiosity, “What's even a Wood Elf? I thought that there were only the True Elves and the White Elves.”
“The White Elves are a new species, yes, one that the Magna have recently met too. The entire world, actually.”, Fynsell sighed.
The White Elves are sort of Albino Elves, a lot of them with heterochromia, usually red and another color, but it wasn't unheard of red not being one of them. They are the only species to not age at all and one of the few examples that every single White Elf is capable of using magic. That would be a lot to consider if there weren't about undet a hundred citizens of the species. Despite the race being “new”, they claim to have existed for ages. Let's just remember that something new to an Elf might not be as new to Humans or other species with shorter lifespans.
“But he is a Wood Elf. What makes him different for you to admit defeat like this?”, Jay asked incredulously.
“The species is considered extinct.”, She started, her gaze barely softening, “They were a warrior race, conquerors by blood and excelled at every Martial Art, even creating some of their own. One of the reasons why I accepted the bet, actually.”
“Sounds like a group of barbarians.”, He scoffed.
“Perhaps.”, Fynsell agreed to an extent, “Then again, they were unrivaled by all known nations at the time. Their greatness was abysmal, their conviction as hard as a mountain and their strength would be enough to shape the continents, although, figuratively of course.”
“If they are so great and so powerful as you say, then why aren't they the ones commanding Caeledrisc?”, Jay mocked the idea that such people would understand politics.
“Strength is not always measured by numbers or visibility. Sometimes, the most powerful forces are the ones you cannot see. The Wood Elves knew that. It's a pity you never will.”, She said coldly to Jay, who immediately gulped.
Of course, that's a hypocritical statement, since she didn't follow this line of thinking before.
“And how do you know that?”, Jay asked carefully as to not anger his Lady.
“Their focus on warfare didn't exclude intellectual achievements. Their education emphasized not just physical but also mental toughness. Their training included music, dance, and philosophy to cultivate well-rounded individuals. They valued wit and brevity. The leaders often had to make crucial decisions under pressure, and their ability to do so succinctly and effectively was renowned.”, She explained, a frown forming after finishing, “And that proved to be the case today.”
Jay frowned too, “Then… Why did they fall?”
“By the same reason they existed. They weren't made to be numerous, despite having the same lifespan as my species.”, Fynsell's gaze finally softened enough, “Their culture valued things differently from the majority. They wanted to ensure that their offspring would have at least some good qualities of both Male and Female, be it tenacity, wits, strength or any other trait worth mentioning. Their marriage was different, their relationship was different, their way or thinking was different, everything was made to ensure a great warrior would come. I don't know exactly what they did or wanted out of the child, but it wasn't normal, not in a bad sense at least.”
“So they were erased because of their tradition.”, Jay presumed, having a little of respect for the Wood Elf.
“The fact that all nations hated their guts helped too.”
“Shit.”, Jay widened his eyes, “And they are still around, huh?”
“Maybe there are a few dozen of them. I don't know.”, She was wearing her usual face now, “Let's just rest for now, we still have a month to spend on this ship.”
“Guard duty.”
“Of course, guard duty.”
For them, especially for Jay, the Wood Elves were basically military geniuses.
----------------------------------------
Connor was picking boogers out of his nose, fingers fully on the nostrils. Hey, he needed to clean those parts and being at sea didn't help it. He was currently eating the not expensive dinner he was allowed to eat, which was already better than the standard slave meal, by the way. Zagul was still too stunned at the previous events that the fact that his friend defended him by attacking, even if was by facing a noble in his own game. And to be honest, it wasn't going to click for now.
“Hey, Henry, what gives?”, Connor asked between munching his food.
“Huh?”, Zagul was brought up to reality, “Oh, nothing aside from what happened earlier today.”
“The chess game? Yeah, but forget about it.”, Connor waved his hand in disinterest.
“How can I do that?”, The Lacerta gasped, “You picked up a fight with a noble. A True Elf of all species!”
That moment, Zagul had a realization. If his soul could, it would hover around the cantina just like Hughes would probably do if he didn't hide inside Connor.
“Oh don't be so dramatic. I only did what anyone would do in that situation.”, The Wood Elf dismissed it, “Although, I will admit I needed to do that on certain conditions, because I wouldn't be able to harm them directly. And since every Goddamn noble has an ego, I might strike there with all my strength.”
“Why did you even do that?”, Zagul asked exasperated.
Connor stared at him, dead in the eye, “Because you are my friend, you moron.”, He made sure to point at him with the fork he was using.
“Oh. OH.”
“Now you get it.”
Henry couldn't tell before, but if it wasn't as clear as pure water, Connor considers him a friend. Even if Zagul himself doesn't fully trust the Wood Elf, the person right beside him just admitted that. But would he do the same if their places were swapped? Would he actually put himself and the secrets of his own race on the line, just to defend the honor of a friend?
Wait, something wrong isn't right.
“Do you even know the secrets of your species?”, Zagul asked, just to be sure.
“Me? I've never seen another Wood Elf in my life.”, Connor shrugged as he bit a loaf of bread.
“Then… When you offered…”
“A bluff, yeah.”, He nodded.
“Shaglacktör… My fate was dependent on a bluff.”, The Lacerta deflated, his head hitting the table.
Shortly after, Yuri and Donovan appeared, grabbing their respective bowls of food and sitting at the same table as the rest of the crew. The cantina itself was… something. The low ceiling pressed down on the space, supported by stout wooden beams that seemed to groan in sympathy with the ship's every movement. Dim lanterns, their flames flickering like the memories of distant shores, cast long shadows and a feeble light that barely pierced the murk.
Provisions were stacked in barrels and crates, their contents as monotonous as they were necessary. Hardtack, tough as old leather, and salted meat, its flavor almost indistinguishable from the sea itself, formed the bulk of their diet. Occasionally, a stew of dried peas and the rare treat of dried fruit would break the monotony. The cook, a grizzled veteran of many voyages, toiled over a small iron stove, coaxing warmth and sustenance from the meager rations.
Truly, a place to behold in the crew's cantina.
On the other side of the ship, there was a more sophisticated and luxurious dining room with way more presentable liberty and respect for the Brigantine.
“Yo.”, Yuri greeted everyone, “Heard gossip of you, Connor. Spill the beans.”
“Why does he still say that?”, Connor mentally groaned.
“I heard about it too.”, Donovan ate a piece of steak, “Something about chess, I believe it.”
“Where to even begin…”, Zagul pinched his nose.
Both Zagul and Connor recapped the events in and outside of the board. Yuri was honestly impressed with the Wood Elf and his mental capabilities while Donovan was surprised but not that much. Well, he was beaten by the Twinsoul, so no actual surprise when they win a chess match. Although, Connor did say that he told Hughes to shut up before the game, which confused them three.
“Then how did you win?”, Donovan asked.
“What? I ain't allowed to?”
“Nah, man. It's just that you aren't the brightest torch around.”, Yuri smiled apologetically.
“You are great with your guts, that we all recognize, but at least for me, I can't say I expected you to be able to strategize so well.”, Zagul gave firm nods.
“But I always strategized my fights.”, Connor said with a poker confused face.
Yuri and Henry looked at each other, “Nah.”
“But I did.”, Connor insisted.
“I guess it's better for you to address chess for now.”, Hughes suggested.
“And how does that prohibit me from knowing how to play chess?”, He dutifully followed the suggestion.
“I mean, uh…”, Yuri didn't have an argument.
“You fight like a brute.”, Zagul said, with a plain face, no shame whatsoever.
“Now that he ain't.”, Donovan voiced himself, “The way we fought was anything but a brawl. His fighting style might not be as refined as the others we know, but that doesn't mean it has less technique. And quite frankly, it amazes me that you didn't notice that, Yuri.”
“Huh.”, Yuri made a noise that basically said oh yeah, “I need to pay attention to specifics”.
“But how did you learn chess?”, Donovan was quick to ask before anyone would say anything else.
“Serenity taught me.”, He said with a smile, “She said it was going to help me hone my mind, or something along those lines. A shame I never really used that before…”
Death was left unsaid. Not that she died, but Connor didn't know that.
“By the way, what's your chick like?”, Yuri asked, changing to a more happy subject, “You always spoke about her, but never how she looked like.”
“Well, where to even begin.”, Connor said, looking at the roof, “She had a round face with defined cheekbones, blonde hair that seemed like a sunrise, soft hands that were always moisturized and comfy to hold…”
“Sounds like an angel.”, Donovan compliments.
“She was more than an angel for me.”, Connor returned to the bowl of food, “I doubt I will find a woman that tops her kindness and care.”
“Hey, never say never.”, Yuri chimed in, “You could totally find someone prettier and more loving. There's a whole world out there with so many different people. And hey, if you get lucky and meet another Wood Elf, maybe you'll even have a kid someday.”
“That has already passed my mind.”, Connor admitted, “The proof of a love relationship, a child.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Have already any good names for the kid?”, Donovan asked.
“If I may suggest, use a name that reflects what you desire out of the child, but don't force it down on them.”, Zagul advised.
“Hey, c'mon now, I don't even know if there is a possibility of having one.”, Connor pushed the brakes, “But I appreciate the advice.”
They continued talking about other mundane things like the church sermons and religious events on Askar according to Donovan, hunting or fishing experiences by Connor, some stories from books and of the main continent by Zagul and music traditions by Yuri, which revealed a lot of the Aborigine's knowledge over songs and other cultural related topics. Apparently, despite not focusing on specifics, Yuri has a great passion for music, it seems.
They were the most unlikely group of friends.
----------------------------------------
The next two weeks were full of nothing aside from sailing towards the Tenure Islands. While the slave crew were doing their respective jobs and duties inside the ship, like Connor doing paperwork while the healer took care of his leg, Yuri helping on the deck and Zagul fishing thanks to his physicality being advantageous on water, Donovan dutifully studied every bit of useful information regarding the Twinsouls (much because Zagul threatened him to do it) and the results… were inconclusive.
It brought even more questions instead of answering them. Zagul just arrived in the previous meeting room they used two weeks ago and Donovan was about to just faint trying to understand what he found, which wasn't much, but gave more perspective.
“So, what did you find?”, The Lacerta asked.
“Good morning to you too.”, Donovan groaned, “Well, not much, but I don't think I needed much to get lost and run in circles over and over again.”
“I know that the books and schools weren't numerous, but at least they offered some clearance, right?”
“My brother in Orïvah, how do I even tell you this.”, Donovan breathed in, “So, we know that Connor and Hughes live in the same body, with the latter being able to leave the vessel, so to speak, on his own will.”
“Yes.”
“If you are familiar with Éter, we have a bunch of things called Éter Coils, basically organs that allow Éter to flow on our body.”, Donovan explained as he grabbed a book and showed it to Zagul.
“I am aware. If they are detected early in someone's life, they can be developed to increase the magicules in one's body, thus increasing the rank in magic. That way a Martial Artist can become a Runecrafter, a Runecrafter become an Alchemist and so on.”, Zagul recalled his own knowledge.
“The problem is, that was already proven wrong. In this book here,” He showed it to Zagul, “we can see that these Coils don't exist on the physical body, but rather on the soul. The body is merely the way that Éter can go out.”
“If you exclude magical artifacts.”, The Lacerta added, “But what does that have to do with Connor?”
“The body has a limit and if that limit is reached you can't develop your Coils anymore, because if they developed more the Arcane release would destroy the body.”, Donovan pointed to his body, “So my biology prevents me from developing it to ensure my survival.”
“That means the Éter Coils come from the soul?”, Zagul asked, a bit unsure.
“Bingo.”, He snapped his fingers, “Basically, two souls in one body, means the double amount of Coils, the double of Coils, the more Magicules there are on Connor's body. And to add to all that, if Connor falls into the category of Elves that have their own magic, I guess you can tell where this is going.”
“His body should be destroying itself right now.”, Zagul gasped, “But how is he alive?”
“That's exactly what I've been asking myself for the past few days.”, Donovan sighed, “And that's not even the most shocking news.”
“There is more?”
“Apparently, and this is just my speculation because there is almost no information here on the ship, they tried to replicate what Connor is right now based on another person that existed a long time ago.”, Donovan picked up a history book and showed to Zagul, “Here, this story was so popular that even some history books documented it.
“Secret experiments held at Getsory Capital.”, Zagul read the headline, “They experimented in various species, causing countless deaths, both to extract the soul and to add it to another person.”
“All of the subjects died of Éter Overdose or Soul Ripping.”, The Believer sat down, his head sweating, “The perpetrators were killed on the spot, no trial allowed.”
“I would have done the same.”, Zagul sneered.
“This search was basically climbing a rock, thinking it was the tip of the mountain only to find that the gap of ignorance is way wider than we previously imagined.”
“Shit.”, Then Zagul noticed, “The experiment was based on a person, right?”
“Yeah, but I haven't found any records about it here. We probably can on Vyzar, but that's something we don't have any control over.”
“Still, a lead is a lead.”, Zagul gave back the book to Donovan.
“I'll give these books back to the Foreman.”, Donovan got up, “I'm not going to get in trouble because of missing books.”
“Thanks for the help, Don.”, Zagul offered a hand and Donovan shook it.
“Always glad to help.”
----------------------------------------
The Quartermaster and the Captain were having a fine breakfast alongside the noblewoman, who now has a more collected face. She was enjoying her own sweets and pastries, focusing on her own mental state, especially since, if the predictions are correct, they should be arriving at the Tenure Islands today. How they would be able to cross the Island still eluded Fynsell, but if the Foreman is so confident on this random slave he spoke about, she unfortunately needed to accept it.
Ever since she was defeated by Connor, she kept quiet, and that killed Jay inside. No need to recall why, but the feeling was there all the same, not to mention that the slave walked with a cane because his leg was fractured. The Wood Elf managed to play perfectly while enduring that pain? Truly an impressive foe, one that as much as Jay hated, he'd left him alone, both as a sign of respect for his commitment and because didn't want to piss off Fynsell.
For now at least.
He tried to get these thoughts off his head, enjoying the food that was served. It didn't help, but he could chat with the Captain, who was actually a very decent person. Despite his position and the country where he comes from, he is very humble, allowing when necessary for his marines to give their opinions and thoughts on what the ship was, the objective of the sailing and other minor details. Zhivko Polanski was very much respected on the ship and that gave a small amount of relief to Jay.
“I believe we should be arriving at the Tenure Islands later this morning.”, Zhivko said as he took a sip of rum.
“I am putting my two coins on you, Richardson.”, Fynsell said in a frown, “You better know what you are doing.”
Richardson gave a polite smile and a courteous nod, “Of course, my Lady. I assure you, I have planned this sailing for a while.”
“You said you did business with them once.”, Jay reminded.
“Yes, I did.”, The Foreman turned to the Magna with a smile, “Pirates seem to like gold and are terrible at evaluating their goods. I gave them a few pouches of Pecunious and they gave me slaves to develop and sell.”
“The profit overlapping the cost, I imagine.”, The Truer Elf guessed.
“Richardson has this weird quirk of his that he can understand the value of things and people.”, Zhivko explained with a chuckle, “I still don't understand how he does it, but I ain't going to complain.”
“It's called scouting, Zhiv.”, Richardson mocked, “Not so different from what the army, navy or nobles do when they want qualified people to do the job.”
Zhivko raised his hands, “I didn't complain.”
The door to the fine dining room opened while a sailor entered, “Cap'n! We spotted land!”
Zhivko got up, “Excuse me.”
As the Captain left, Fynsell still had one question to Richardson, “One slave, right?”
“Yes. His abilities will secure our passage on the Islands.”, He nodded, the smile still on his face, “I will use him to guarantee the success of this sailing, my Lady.”
Both Elf and Magna looked at him skeptically, but otherwise didn't voice their opinions.
As Zhivko got on the helm, he asked about the land they spotted. Soon enough with a binocular positioned, the island was seen as well as the small fleet in front of them. The flags showed a skull with crossbones on them signaling trouble and death to all that came near them. The classic pirate flag if all years of Sailing have taught him anything.
“Raise the white flag! Use the flares!”
The Captain ordered and the crew immediately answered with a boisterous aye coming from the depths of their lungs. The white flag symbolizing that they came in peace and the flare saying that they were expected to come. Soon after a flare of the Pirates was shot, telling that they could come closer with no trouble of the cannons being shot.
“Half sail, boys! Let's go nice and easy!”
While the crew lowered the main sail by half and completely removed the secondary sails, with the Sloops and Gunboats doing the same, they started singing the most famous sea shanty known in recent years.
“Atta boys! What do we do with the drunken sailor?”
That was enough for the entire ship to turn into a party, even though the destination of their mission was anything but. Zhivko could only smile at his crew and sing alongside them. Connor, Yuri, Zagul and Donovan were caught off guard by the sudden singing, but at least three of them joined the shantie as it progressed to the suggestion.
“Shave his belly with a rusty razor!”
And surely enough everyone sang the line, finishing with the so iconic early in the morning. The happiest man while singing was without a doubt Yuri, who somehow was working way harder thanks to the song. It was something to see him working so vividly and happily, but oh well, he likes music, so let him be.
“Hooray and up she rises!”
The song continued until they got near the Pirate ships, when the crew noticed that they had their fair share of fun and now they need to get professional. Eventually, Richardson came out of the ship and performed his duty as Quartermaster, accompanied by Fynsell and Jay'Ky. With four leader figures the crew understood that focus needed to be at an all-time high in order to ensure success. As soon as the Brigantine got closer to a ship, The Foreman walked up to the Captain of the Pirate ship.
“Long time no see, Richson!”, The Pirate Captain shouted, “We've received your letter, but we need to go to the shore!”
“No problem!”, Richardson shouted back, “Just open the way so we can dock it!”
“Aye!”
They saw as the Pirate Captain ordered around to allow passage. The Pirate crew, in the honest opinion of Connor, were the most Caribbean Pirates he has ever seen, even more so than the movies. It was hard not to laugh at the average pirate outfit but thanks to the fact he is using the average sailor outfit that helped him keep shut. Despite the so-called “friendly” welcoming, the ship was still on high alert, with muskets and pistols at the ready and that made Connor nervous.
“This is a delicate situation, eh?”, Connor wondered aloud.
“Quite.”, Donovan said, “Pirates control these islands, but the Terune aren't occupied by just one Pirate clan.”
“Last time I checked there was a civil war around here.”, Zagul said as he sat on a box, “But then again, we can hardly call a group of pirates a society.”
“Anyway, we gotta buckle down and do what the Cap'n says.”, Yuri focused on a serious face, “How are we gonna get past the islands? Is the ship gonna pay them or nah?”
“That's a good question.”, Donovan pondered, “We do have a lot of goods on the ship. Maybe a trade?”
“Who knows.”, Connor groaned, “All I know is that our stay in these islands won't be pretty.”
The ship got near the shore, as near as it could before eventually hitting the shallow waters, which prompted the gunboats to come closer and put a plank connecting both ships to the Brigantine. Soon enough, all marines and slaves started transferring some of the ship's cargo to the Gunboats, who were followed by the Sloops until they reached the shore and unloaded the various boxes and other noteworthy cargo. The Pirates and Richardson were quick to chat and negotiate their plans while the Pirate Crew brought wagons and coaches to load the goods in them. Eventually, the brigantine was lighter and got closer to the shore, docking just a few meters away.
Connor could only wait all this time, thanks to his leg.
“Fucking hell.”
“Long time, Captain Mitt.”, Richardson offered his hand.
Mitt shook it with a laugh typical of your average pirate, rough and loud, “Aye, Richson! Doing business as usual?”
“Yes and thankfully you are going to profit from it.”, The Foreman returned with a smile, “After all, we need your help to traverse the island.”
“I hear ye, Tenure is in bad shape, but still bearable.”, He scratched his belly.
Fynsell could only look at the sight of pirates in disgust.
Jay had his hands on his weapons.
The slave quartet couldn't care less about it.
Speaking of it, Connor was already asking a question, “So, what now?”
“We travel by foot.”, Yuri said, not so enthusiastically, “For a loooong time.”
“Wait, what?”
Yuri just pointed at his neck and Connor facepalmed.
----------------------------------------
It's been two days ever since they started traveling by land. The boats were following them, but only thanks to a river. The passage was narrow most of the time, so only a few crew members remained at the ships while the main part of it got close to the wagons and coaches, ensuring their safety. The crew openly showed their cutlasses, muskets and pistols in case the Pirates felt like doing something funny. By what Zagul could count, all of the ship's crew numbers were about 90 people, while the pirates were just under 30, and yet they were too relaxed for his taste. He kept cautious of them since you can never have enough caution.
The Healer that accompanied them took care of Connor from time to time, but the majority of his time was spent near Richardson and Zagul could see the logic. Better keep one of the most valuable members of the ship close than risking losing him in some way. They traveled about a few kilometers each day, stopping every three or so hours to eat, rest the horses, get quenched and so on. Surprisingly, at each stop, the pirates would have very enlightening conversations with them to the point that someone would mistake the pirates for actual people, like a private militia of sorts.
In these two days, they didn't find trouble with the other Pirate clans, but he had a nagging feeling that sometime it was going to happen. That same feeling could be shared by Fynsell, especially because of her attire choice, the Pirates insisted on flirting with her, despite refusing and sometimes outright insulting them. Jay tried to protect his Lady but everytime he did so they would tease him into being her boyfriend or lover, which made him blush profusely. Connor found the whole exchange amusing to see, but managed to hide his true emotions, while Yuri laughed to the point of wheezing. Donovan was indifferent.
What are they going to do? Kill them?
Ha! Good luck with that.
It was morning, so Zagul woke up and decided to find something to eat. He actually needs to thank Connor for allowing him to have a “protected” state right now. If not for his request about forming a crew for himself, they might have been sold or offered to do arduous work, even here on the journey to Vyzar. Shaking the thoughts off his head, he grabbed a stone and threw at a bird, hitting it on the head. Took it, cleaned it, removed the feathers and skin with his nails and started roasting it on a nearby campfire. His breakfast was eaten in a single bite, but given that his mouth is way wider than other races, no one paid attention.
“Hey! Has anyone seen a yellow Lacerta?”
Zagul glanced at the Pirate who was probably looking for him, since he was the only Lacerta on the ship, “That would be me.”
“Slave, your boss wants to talk with ya.”, The Pirate said, his tone was surprisingly respectful.
“I'll be going.”, He said as he got up, dusting off his pants.
The camp was filled with tents, temporary fences and fires here and there with both the marines and pirates walking around the place. Some places were more good looking than others but that was expected, which helped Zagul arrive at the main tent. Inside said tent was both Captain Mitt and Richardson, probably discussing something important. All he did was wait until his presence was recognized.
“-eaning that they are expecting us here.”, Mitt pointed to the very poorly drawn map of Tenure.
“I expected you to be able to grant safe passage, Mitt.”, Richardson tapped his fingers while his arms were crossed, clearly annoyed, “You should have predicted this.”
“I know, I know. But seriously, what did you expect? Tenure is the Pirate Island for a reason. Folk will try to fuck each other up, in every sense of the word.”, Mitt defended himself with an understandable point.
“Still, that means we are going to fight and negotiate with other pirates.”, Richardson looked at the map, still annoyed, “I can't let anything happen to Fynsell here, you know that.”
“Oh relax!”, Mitt was getting annoyed by the sentence, “The chick will be fine! When did I disappoint you?”
“Do I really need to answer that?”
“When did I disappoint you about protection?”, Mitt reformulated.
“In that case, you never did.”, The Foreman nodded, “But still, this isn't something we- I can afford to risk.”
“What is he doing here?”, Mitt said, noticing the Lacerta just standing there.
“I was asked to come over.”, Zagul said with a bow.
“That is Zagul. He will be our negotiator.”
What?
“What?”
Richardson proceeded to explain what they were discussing previously. The more Richardson spoke, the more it made sense why he was there and the reason for all this was a simple yet surprisingly annoying and infuriating problem.
Terrain.
The coastal areas of Tenure are fine thanks to constant exposure to sunlight, which dried the land, but inside the island where the vegetation is dense and already hard to travel, the river overflowed with water to the point that it flooded the forest, making it literally impossible to cross. The only way they can somehow travel is by the mountain range, which is occupied by groups of named self entitled as “Dragonkin”. And if a dragon, metaphorically or literally speaking, leaves their territory to do something, they always have a snack on their teeth.
Zagul would need to use his past skills in negotiation and diplomacy to try to find a way they can cross the mountain range without risking their most precious cargo, as well as the safety of the Noblewoman they escorted. To add more difficulty to an already hard task, the Dragonkin are at war with the Light Heavens Clan, another pirate clan that is not so receptive of visitors. If what Richardson said is to be believed, they will need to fight the Light Heavens regardless of the outcome of his negotiations.
Things are going to get nasty.