Kalos’ eyelids parted to an empty mattress beside him.

After getting dressed, he grabbed the key from the table. He heard loud voices and laughter boom from around the corner as soon as he stepped into the corridor.

Reaching the main room, he recognized three distinct groups of patrons. Near the bar were at least half of a dozen sea folk all tightly crammed together in a small group. Occasionally they would all take a gulp from their mugs at the same time while laughing over some indistinguishable comment that one of them had made.

The second unique group was made up of random people scattered all throughout the pub. Most were simply minding their own business in lieu of the noisy lot near the bar.

The last group consisted of those he recognized. Near the front sat Grimm, Doogin, and another familiar face he couldn’t quite make out.

Doogin quickly greeted him as he approached, “Ello, lad. Slept good I presume?” The twinkle in the old fellow’s eyes didn’t reveal his inner thoughts, but something churned in Kalos’ gut, alerting him to the subtle innuendo hidden in his tone.

He pretended not to notice, “I sure did. What happened, anyway? Next thing I know there were explosions and pirates all over the city. And who’s this Cap’n Sniveler anyway?”

The other three men exchanged glances before Grimm turned his full attention to his son. “Captain Sniveler? If it’s the same man I think it is, his real name is Lord Fardeis. He was once a duke of the Good King’s court. When the Black King assumed power, Lord Fardeis immediately started revealing all he knew about the Good King and the full extent of his influence and power to gain the Black King’s favor. Of course, his sniveling, ratty nature earned him the nickname ‘Fardeis the Sniveler’ among the people. He was eventually rewarded a fleet of his own and given new orders to sail south on the king’s behalf.

“Truthfully, the Black King never had any respect for him because of how quickly he turned. His new orders were for him to pillage and plunder the Black King’s enemies as far south as the fleet could carry him. He thought it was a grand promotion at first, but eventually he realized the real reason behind his mission.

“The traitor was apprised of the truth after suffering a terrible loss from a large group of seafaring barbarians from beyond Sultra. He came back to harass the Black King and his court on the high seas after realizing that he was never intended to return to Ceirlan and reap the rewards of his efforts from the beginning. The Black King knew about the barbarians in the south and sent him there hoping he would never make it back.

“Last night was the boldest move he’s made against the Black King, not that he ever set foot on land, himself.”

“Ay! And if e’r does set foot’ere again, we’ll gut’m like langfish and toss’is heart’n the sea li’da chum he is!”

Someone from the first group had crossed the room and now stood listening to their conversation with interest. The distaste in his face over the mention of “Cap’n Sniveler” seemed more intense than anyone else’s had.

The third man in Grimm’s group, whom Kalos couldn’t quite put a name to responded right away, “A fine sentiment, friend.” He lifted his mug, offering the pirate a friendly nod.

The pirate nodded back, launching his mug so ferociously into the air that some of the liquid sloshed out onto the floor. “Aye!”

“The name’s Lugor!” The pirate stepped forward again with a wild, but sincere smile as the warrior quickly stood to his feet and locked hands without hesitation.

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“I’m Avestus,” the warrior proclaimed with great pride, “Anyone willing to gut that stinking wretch Sniveler is a friend to me as far as I’m concerned!”

The two of them had already forged a strong sense of camaraderie in only a few short words.

Kalos finally recognized the man. Avestus was the one who’d let slip that Grimm wasn’t his real father in a drunken frenzy the night before. Now that he was sober, and had shown how open and friendly he was by nature, Kalos couldn’t help but admire him to some degree. Everything that happened after he ran away from his father the night before seemed like a dream after all that’d happened.

“Don let’m fool ya, he’s slimy as a squid’n twice as limp!” Someone from Lugor’s group yelled across the pub at them, prompting a rumble of laughter to fill the room.

“Scalliwags, the lot of ya,” came another shout, not as boisterous as the last, but sharp and intimidating, and had an immediate effect on everyone all at once. The front door of the Prince’s Glaive swung open fully, revealing Elana’s luscious frame glowing in the light of the morning sun.

One of the pirates dropped his mug and stiffly stood up straight. The entire establishment fell silent almost instantly.

Avestus rocked back in response, as if the power in her voice caused him to stumble like an unexpected sea swell. He quickly downed the rest of his drink and set the empty mug on a nearby table with an expression of curiosity about the new arrival.

“Top’o the mornin’ to ya Capn’Lana. Me’n the boys were just enjoyin’ a spot’o sailors’ bread to clear the noggin while we wait for ya.” Lugor’s tone was overly respectful and pathetic as if he were begging for mercy in the most irresistible manner Kalos had ever heard.

“Left me high’n dry last night, all of ya. Don’t bother butterin’ me up now, Mr. Lugor.” She towered in front of them as if the whole place belonged to her.

“Nevermind that now, we got a long journey ahead of us, boys.” She tromped through the pub toward the bar and tossed a heavy sack nearly as big as she was onto the counter in front of them.

“Some things to help us along the way.” When she opened the bag, a heavy, leather boot fell out onto the counter in front of them. “Suit up! We haven’t a moment to spare.”

The men grumbled as they began dragging more boots out of the bag followed and bundles of heavy garments that’d been wadded together in a messy ball of cloth and twine.

Elana walked away, leaving Lugor with the others at the bar to sort it out while she quickly crossed the room to where Kalos stood, nearly bumping into him, and gave him a soft nudge with a spark of mischief in her eyes, “Let’s get huntin’ shall we?”

#

Kalos threw a saddle over the back of his horse and glanced toward Grimm, who had already finished preparing his own mount for the journey ahead.

“So we’re chasing Cap’n Sniveler’s men, now?” Kalos asked, trying to mask his incredulous tone with confusion. He felt oblivious about all that had transpired since falling asleep the night before. Nothing he heard after learning that Elana and her men would be joining them to go hunt down a bunch of stray pirates in the woods made any sense to him.

“Yes,” Grimm responded shortly.

A few minutes later, his father sighed and looked at him with a troubled expression. He stepped over and squeezed next to his son to help secure his saddle and gear.

“When we are clear of the city, I’ll tell you more. I have kept too much from you for too many years.” Grimm spoke in low, hushed tones almost too quiet for Kalos to hear.

“I thought it would be for the best, but in the end...” Grimm shook his head regretfully before placing one hand on his shoulder, “Just give me a little more time.”

“Everyone’s ready, Sir,” Avestus slowly made his way over as he spoke from several paces away, politely trying not to interrupt them again. Grimm stepped away from both of them to address the group.

“We have a hard journey ahead. Some of us are driven by honor, others by the promise of great riches to be won.

“Remember, to achieve our goals we must work together as a single unit while we go. We do not know how great their numbers are, but we must make them pay for their actions.”

Grimm paused to let his words sink in. Though the group was only twelve strong, the fire in their eyes made it seem like they were ready to reach up and pluck glory from the heavens above for themselves.

Elana’s voice broke the silence, “And may this ring clear as the crystal vases of Zhunlai in yer ears; Should ya choose the same fate as these scalliwags by turnin’gainst your comrades, there’ll ne’er be found in hell a flame hot enough to quench the agony you’ll get at my hands!”

Elana’s handsome steed, dark chestnut brown with a long, black mane and tail, shifted beneath her as it seemed grew antsy under the weight of her words, alone.

Grimm turned to mount-up in silence, but just before climbing on, he paused to give Kalos a subtle grin and a wink of approval, causing his son’s cheeks to burn red yet again on Elana’s behalf.

©2024, K. M. Plum, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED