“All right,” said Cid as the others congregated into the solar of Leonidas’s home, “let’s go over what we know about this job?”

“The ship in question is called The Belamy Blade,” said Hypatia as she went over her notes. “And the crew manning it has gone by the name of Belamy Bastards.”

“I see they love their word play,” said Jeanne, rolling her eyes.

“I kind of liked it,” said Leonidas.

“Of course, you would, you pun-tificating pain.”

“Yet you’re the one who made the pun.”

“Oh, fuck me!” she said with exacerbation.

“And before we get too off track,” said Cid, “what do we know about this Isle they’re on?”

“Well, it’s a reputed stop for privateers in the region to rest and resupply in between voyages,” said Silvius.

“So, we just need to pass ourselves off as privateers,” said Cid. “That shouldn’t be too hard.”

“Is there a certain aura that says ‘pirate’?” Maeryn asked.

“If there is I don’t have it,” said Leonidas, shaking his head.

“I mean, noblemen have forfeited their status and wealth to go sail the seas and seek plunder,” said Silvius.

“Fair enough.”

“Let’s remember not to let our guard down. I do not think any of us have been here before, and I’d rather not get taken into a trap if we can avoid it,” said Cid.

“Does that mean we can’t buy a few trinkets and what-not’s?” Jeanne asked.

Cid pinched the bridge of his nose. “Jeanne … why?”

“Why not?” Jeanne replied.

“Oh for the love of,” Cid said, looking up to the heavens, “if you can find something worth buying, and reasonable, I’ll allow it.”

Jeanne clapped her hands with eager delight.

“Not a boat!” Cid followed.

“Oh,” Jeanne said sullenly.

***

The Wolves made their way to the dock of Victual. The smell of the sea air, fresh fish displayed among several market stalls, and hundreds of people moving back and forth from ships and businesses throughout the harbor. Many pirate crews wore uniforms unique to their crews. Some carrying an air of martial naval bearing, while others had a more bohemian flair.

Hundreds of seagulls flocked the area. Some floating in the air, others resting on the posts sticking up from the walkway. Barnacles stuck themselves onto wood and ship alike under the water’s surface. The occasional visit of sealions and seals poking their heads up to watch the activity on land before diving back into the realm of the sea once more.

Kveldulf stretched his legs and neck as Maeryn took in the sights. “You’ve been out to sea?” he asked her.

“No,” she said, “I haven’t seen the sea much before I left home. It’s almost like peering into a whole new world.”

“Maybe we can see a mermaid,” said Benkin.

“They’re not what they’re cracked up to be,” said Leonidas.

“Should we ask?” Benkin asked.

“Not really.”

“So, what’s the plan, Cid?” Kveldulf asked.

“I’m thinking we find this ship of ours, and start scoping the vessel out,” Cid replied.

“Watch out,” said Jeanne, “someone’s coming.”

A dock official came up, preparing paperwork as they neared The Wolves. “Welcome to Victual,” said the official, “My name is Rofe Horman, and I’ll be documenting your arrival. Names?”

The group gave their names to Rofe.

“Right, eclectic crew, aren’t we? Do you associate with any side for any existing conflict?”

“That’s kind of an odd question,” said Silvius.

Rofe looked up at them. “Is this your first time to the Victual?”

Everyone nodded.

“Right, so whatever side you are on determines which half of the isle you get access to. Last thing we need is the entire place turning into its own warfront.”

“What if we’re just getting started and haven’t picked a side?” Cid asked.

“Oh, then you get an all-isle pass,” said Rofe, handing everyone a token. “Make sure to keep that on your person at all times or you will be thrown off, Rule-Breaker Peak.” As he finished, Rofe pointed to a large sea cliff reaching out over the sea. At the very tip of the peak the group could see people being thrown off into the ocecan.

“That’s something,” said Jeanne.

“We take pride in keeping the isle in good order and rule breakers will not be tolerated.”

“Is there anyone we could talk to for hiring our services?” Cid asked.

“Well,” said Rofe, “If you go to the center of the isle, you’ll see all kinds of stalls of kingdoms, republics, municipalities and who knows what else. Once you decide which side you wish to be part of, you’ll need register your crew with the Office of Hostility first, where you’ll fill the respective duplicate forms out, then you’ll register your crew with the Office of Loyalty, which you’ll need to fill out the two triplicate forms to declare your alliance and patronage with the respective country. Make sure to use the full name of the government, and not the shortened one. Now, is this your entire crew?”

Everyone nervously nodded.

“Oh, that’s not nearly enough heads for the minimum requirement to be a full crew,” Rofe said to them, “You’re going to need to go over to the Barracks of Sails to get yourself up to code on that. And how many of you are actually trained to sail?”

No one raised their hands.

“Oh mercy, you’re gonna need to go over to the Privateering Academy to get your credentials before you can become guild sanctioned privateers.”

“Is there anything else we need to know?” Cid asked.

“I don’t think so, but I’d double check with your respective offices to make sure you’re all right in the paperwork,” Rafe replied.

“I don’t suppose you could give us a suggestion on places to eat?” asked Hypatia.

“As an official representative of the Privateering Guild of Victual, I am to neither speak ill or kindly to any of the fine eateries and brew companies established within the boundaries of the isle.”

“What if you were not on duty?” asked Cid.

“Oh, The Dead Keg, hands down,” Rofe stopped for a moment, “But I didn’t say that.”

“Of course,” said Cid, “Thank you for your help.”

“Anytime,” said Rofe, “and remember, this is the only official guild to sanctify any and all legal pirate activity, those conducting such happenings without explicit approval is liable to legal action from the guild.”

“I thought the general punishment for piracy was death,” Silvius replied.

“After we get through with them, that would be a kindness,” Rofe said to Silvius before he took his leave.

“So,” Cid said to the others as Rofe was out of earshot, “I’m starting to regret taking job on, how about the rest of you?”

“Why are such sticklers about rules?” said Sianna, “I thought pirates were these idols of individual freedom.”

“Maybe it to keep that freedom from setting the whole place on fire,” said Hypatia.

“Aye,” said Benkin, “such things are until someone decides they want to see your house in flames.”

“Well, this might our situation a little harder,” said Cid, “Let’s head to the center of this place and see what nations are trying to kill the other.”

As they move from the docks onto city streets, Kveldulf noticed many law offices and printing presses busy with activity. One legal office he heard a barrister, tapping on a contract on his desk, “You said, here in writing that the crew was to get five percent of the total plunder collected…”

At another office, he heard the captain shout, “What do you mean weevils aren’t good enough to considered citrus! Scurvy isn’t that bad!”

Kveldulf did a quick turn around when heard someone scream, “How does she get half the ship? You can’t make it float without the other half!”

“All right,” Kveldulf said to Jeanne, “I think I don’t want to be a pirate anymore.”

“I know it’s sort of a disappointment.”

“Certainly is took the wind out of her sails,” said Leonidas. Jeanne stopped as her eyes widened and turned to Leonidas, sporting a wide smile.

“Shut your mouth,” she said snarling. He patted her shoulder before she snapped at him.

“Cool it,” said Cid, “We don’t want to attract too much attention.”

“Probably be breaking a rule somewhere if we did that,” said Silvius, sticking his hands into his pockets.

As they reached the center of the island, they found stalls with heraldic devices for each respective city attached to the top of the stall’s sign. Each one had at least one person present, trying to call anyone to them. Some had their leaders made in doll form. Others carried complimentary weapons as a sign on bonus. One had large spikes with a screw at the end.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“What on earth is that for?” Silvius asked.

“I think that’s for attaching severed heads to the railing of your ships,” Benkin replied.

Silvius leaned back. “I don’t even know where to start with that one.”

“I think one place is handing out eyepatches,” said Jeanne, lifting up one eyebrow.

“Are you actually thinking signing up just for an eyepatch?” asked Leonidas.

“Is that wrong?”

“Wrong, no. Concerning, highly.”

“You know, we could sign up and all get matching uniforms,” Jeanne said to everyone who gave her a blank look.

“Oh, like you wouldn’t want to look spiffy,” Jeanne replied.

“No,” said Kveldulf, “I do not want to look spiffy.”

“Well not with that attitude you won’t.”

“All right, what’s all this then?” asked a watchman, with a hand on a long wooden baton.

“What do you mean?” Kveldulf asked the watchmen.

“Sound like some ruckus of a potentially escalating nature.”

“No,” insisted Jeanne, “We’re just like this to each other all the time.”

The watchman turned to the others. “Is this true?”

Everyone nodded.

“All right,” the watchman said begrudgingly. “Well, if something starts to escalate beyond a tête-à-tête between you two, you’ll need to register it with both of the guild’s ministry of justice and the isle’s chapter of the pirating dueling society to schedule a proper and legitimate duel. We’re not having those random scuffles those curs like to have over in Koulberg. This is a respectable community of pirates, thieves, and other ne’er do wells.”

“Wait, you have to register with two offices just to have a duel.”

“Aye, and both of ya will need to fill out the proper paperwork, in triplicate, separately.”

“For a duel,” Jeanne repeated.

“Aye, it not that complicated,” said the watchman. “Now don’t let me catch you disturbing the peace, again."

As the watchman left Jeanne turned to Kveldulf. “I am so confused right now.”

“You and me both.”

“It might be harder to keep our heads down than I first thought,” said Cid.

“What’s our next move then?” Kveldulf asked.

“Well I doubt this place is going to get us anything we want to know, and I doubt a tiny figure of one of Koulberg’s council is going to do us any good.” Cid turned to continue speaking finding Jeanne with an eyepatch over her right eye. He stared at her for a moment, his jaw dropped. “You didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?”

“That!” he said, pointing to the patch.

“What are you talking about?”

Cid shook his head, gesture the rest to follow him. “Let’s go.”

Jeanne, with a skip in her step, softly said, “Argh,” as she went.

***

As they moved down the docks, they passed by several ships, their crew working on handling cargo or preparing the vessel for its outing to sea. Hypatia looked at the ships and asked, “Cid, why couldn’t we go to the dock’s registry to find the one we’re looking for?”

“I’m not saying that is a bad idea,” said Cid, “My only concern is potentially alerting our prey that someone is seeking them out. Since this is a smaller port than most cities, and with a small community as well.”

Hypatia nodded. “And there would be a paper trail, now that you mention it.”

“Exactly, so as much as I would like to use docking records to my advantage, that might be more of a problem for us in this case.”

“Perhaps we could ask to find the ship to join their crew?” Silvius said, “That way any inquiry would be given an explanation and allay any suspicion.”

“I like that,” said Cid, “Why don’t you, Doc, and Hypatia go and find our ship, while the rest head to the one of the taverns and see what we can find.”

Silvius, Leonidas, and Hypatia, went over their way before Cid and the rest moved into The Dead Keg. Most of the tavern was empty, save for a couple of tables with a person or two enjoying their lunch. As they took their seats, a server came up to them. “Afternoon, what can I get yeah?”

“I think a round of ale, for everyone would be a great start,” Cid said to the server. “And we have a few more coming in later.”

“Of course, of course,” the server replied. “Let me get those for ya and I’ll be back shortly.”

As the server returned, dropping off their drinks, she asked, “Will you be wanting any food to eat?”

“Probably roasted fowl would do us fine,” said Cid.

“Good choice, if I do say so myself,” the server replied.

“Also, we’ve been having some trouble finding a specific crew we were hoping to join,” Cid said to her.

“Oh, were you not able to find the Victual Records and Administrations building?”

“We were, but there was a terribly long line.”

“Gods, that’s a bloody truth if I ever saw that.”

“It seems the whole island is a little …” Maeryn said before having trouble finding the right words.

“Bureaucratic beyond words?” the server concluded.

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Well, it didn’t used to be like that, but when the guild was formed it sort of well escalated a bit.”

“But why have the guild then?” Benkin asked.

“Oddly enough, it’s sort of been what’s kept a lot of navies from sending their ships this way. With the system in place, it keeps the crew from going too crazy, and when they do there’s quick accountability. So, it’s sort of paying a small price for some peace of mind.”

“Well, that makes sense,” said Cid, “But would you happen to know where a ship called The Bellamy Blade is at?”

“Oh, of course, it’s a short walk north of here on the dock

The server left to grab the food and when she returned, Silvius, Hypatia and Leonidas returned. Cid waved them over to the table. As they took their seats Kveldulf asked, “How did everything go?”

“Good news is we found the ship,” said Silvius.

“And the bad news?” Cid asked.

“It leaves tonight,” Hypatia replied.

“So, we need to nab this thing tonight,” said Jeanne.

“Precisely,” said Leonidas.

“Well, let’s finish up here quick and be on our way,” said Cid, “maybe do this when there is no one really on the vessel.”

“Agreed,” said Kveldulf. “The sooner we’re off this rock the better.”

Finishing their business at the tavern, The Wolves made their way down the wharf and soon came to a large galleon with the title The Bellamy Blade displayed in gold. Stopping a short distance from the vessel itself, the group huddled around next to a pile of wooden crates and barrels.

“Sianna,” said Cid, “What do you see?”

“At least six sailors on deck. Maybe two in the captain’s quarters.”

“You think we can rush them?” Jeanne asked.

“Depends, how many are on the gangway?”

“Only two at the bottom,” said Sianna.

“And no one else is here to prep for the ship’s departure?” Kveldulf asked.

“This is starting to seem like a trap,” said Jeanne.

“I’m starting to feel that as well,” said Cid.

“You think we were set up?” Benkin asked.

“Can’t say,” said Cid, looking back at the vessel, “But we don’t have much of a choice on the matter at this point. Jeanne, how long can you keep the stone-skin up?”

Jeanne took a deep breath, “Haven’t held it for too long. We can find out?”

“All right, get on deck, try not to kill the crew, and we’ll be right behind you.”

Jeanne nodded before she threw on her hood and marched towards the boat. Cid gestured the others pull up theirs as they followed behind her.

“Oh, this is going to be good,” Kveldulf said eagerly.

Jeanne moved towards the ship undaunted by the guards at the bottom of the gangway. They spotted her, unsheathing their swords and she backhanded the first guard knocking him off the dock and grabbed the second’s sword arm mid-swing and head butted him before punching him in the face with a stone covered hand.

She moved up the gangway and as the two guards fired cross bolts at her they ricochet off her clothes. As they tried to reload their crossbows, she took the weapons and smashed them on the railings and knocked both men out. As she arrived to the door to the captain’s quarters. She gestured for Benkin to her. Benkin had a wide smile on his face as he kicked the down the door.

As the door slammed down with a violent crash a man stood up, dressed in a pristine uniform. “What are you doing here?” the man demanded as Jeanne, still in her stone-skin form grabbed him from behind his head and slammed it against the desk, knocking him out cold. Her skin turned back to flesh as she began opening desk drawers.

Benkin and Kveldulf entered opening cabinets and other drawers as the others reached them. As Cid arrived, he said, “Sianna, you and Silvius stay by the door in case anyone shows up. Everyone else, find the damn thing.”

Kveldulf pulled out a drawer, several candle sticks rolling about inside as he let out a grunt and slammed it back in. “I’m not seeing it,” he said to Cid.

“Neither am I,” said Benkin.

“There’s nothing here at the desk.”

“Jeanne, Doc, do either of you know a spell to find this thing?” Cid asked.

“Not working,” they said together.

“Damn,” Cid cursed, seeing a collection of letters and missives on the desk.

Kveldulf came over and looked over with a quick inspection. He spotted a small emblem on some, causing his eyes to widen and his shoulders to drop suddenly. “Uh Cid,” said Kveldulf, “Some of these have the Council’s seal on them.”

Cid came over and looked at them. “Oh gods, you’re right. Grab as many as you can, and take them with us. Doc put these in your satchel.”

“On it,” Leonidas replied, quickly moving over to the desk.

“Um, we have company,” said Silvius as the others looked out and saw dozens of the crew and two dressed officers blocking the gangway off the ship.

“Ah shit,” said Benkin, “it’s a trap.”

“We were set up.”

“That bastard!” Jeanne said through her teeth, rolling her shoulders and neck, bouncing on the balls of her feet and tightening and loosening her fists.

“I am going to be honest,” said one officer, “This was a pretty impressive insertion. Quick, clean, no dead bodies; most impressive. But we can’t let you leave the vessel.”

“We have one of yours in here,” Cid shouted.

“Are taking hostages?” Hypatia asked.

“Whatever will help with getting us out of here.”

The officer turned to the men. “Oh god, they have a hostage.”

“Does that mean we do get the hostage form, sir?” asked one pirate.

“No I think we need to do prisoner exchange,” said another.

“You idiot, that’s when we have one of theirs,” said the first sailor.

“Both of you be quiet!” said the officer, “

“We did need to do something and quick. Before any of the guards show up,” said Kveldulf.

“Oh gods,” said Silvius, “I can’t imagine the paperwork.”

“Paperwork?” Cid said as an idea struck. “Excuse me, what’s the protocol for hostage taking?”

“Oh god,” said the second officer. “Jonas, please recite the standard procedure for hostage taking and negotiations.”

A sailor cleared his throat and began speaking. “In the event of the first party, hereby known as party A procures, without voluntary acquisition of a member of another group, hereby know as party B, party A will have initiated the process of hostage taking, as stated in local statue …”

As the man continued talking, Cid turned to the others. “I think I bought us a few minutes, I’m not against idea.”

Sianna, notching an arrow and pulling it back half-way on her bow. “Cid … the officer has the bracelet.”

“What?” Cid asked astounded.

“The officer on the left, he has the bracelet.”

“You think you can shoot it off his hand?”

Maeryn pulled the bow back all the way. “We’re about to find out.”

Loosing the arrow, it nicked the strap of the bracelet, which tapped the wood as it hit the deck. The officer looked down as Cid rushed forward and slammed the officer with his shield as Jeanne followed and knocked out the other officer with hard slam with her fists. As Cid grabbed the necklace, the rest of The Wolves rushed out of the captain’s quarters and down the gangway.

Cid and Jeanne followed the others as a pirate cried out. “That’s not proper protocol.”

“Sorry!” said, “It wasn’t personal.”

“Will you please stop trying to be so nice!” Jeanne said to him as they rushed into nearest dark alley and into the night.