“Well, that is a sight.” Petor whispered to himself and Mesurial.

“Whatcha see?” Mya asked in her worst slang.

“Was having a damn moment up here, you know, peaceful, man ontop of the world, on a mountain, beautiful vistas. Now I got a bar wench in my ear yelling that I owe her for all of last nights beer!”

“I ain’t a bar wench!”

“You’d stop in every bar you could get to and you usually go to the bar because then you can get two drinks for yourself to drink one on the way back to the table,” Petor yelled at the wood as if he could see Mya.

“Well I’ll add that one as a backup,” Mya said as if she was seriously considering it.

Petor rolled his eyes and ground out a sigh.

Mya chuckled. “So what you see out there?”

Petor pulled the spyglass up to his eye again. “The coral extends out of the water and keeps on growing like its still underwater. Its, there’s just so much color.” Different coral, like reaching fingers, others like shelfs, it was hard angles, soft curves, and just capturing.

“Where the corals touch the surface, its like, roots? No, its like massive trees, like a canopy with the branches reaching out everywhere, then the leaves come in and fill it in. The water laps over that where it breaches the surface. I can see bits of it sticking up everywhere. Though there are gaps between the corals. You know trees they reach out to one another and leave gaps so that they don’t take the others sun? Its like that. There are patches and ways through. It reminds me of the canal fields I saw in the south. Though instead of strict lines, these ones weave, curve around the corals.”

“Well, that does sound like a sight to see,” Mya said, sounding distant, carried by his words and returning to the world. “Lets get to the docks. I’m still worried with them not being on Delmara’s island, but at least we’ll get to see some sights.”

The coral grew in size, there were patches of it everywhere, larger ships moved through the outer corals that were battered by the sea, heading to the sea or coming from it. They passed through the outer coral as it softened the sea’s impact upon the islands deeper in.

The corals grew larger, sticking out of the ground more. Coral was grown in different ways to create homes and buildings. The coral islands had inlets and passages that docked ships, a smaller version of the massive Bastion.

The water became calm to the point two person boats crossed between islands and lay down nets to reap their harvest.

People looked up at the ship, some waving to the crew as they moved around them. Like small fish in the water.

“Five degrees to port,” Petor said.

“Aye,” Mya said. She was taking her time through the coral’s passage. Three quarter of the sails up and stored.

“Got confirmation on the dock and the buyer will meet us there,” Mya said.

“Cool.” Petor continued to give little instructions based on what he was seeing up ahead. The corals spread out, as they moved deeper they grew taller, going from sparse single story buildings, to a smattering of two story buildings and greater density.

Time seemed to pass slowly idyllic in a way. Petor took his time looking at the Coral Bastion instead of worrying about how long it took them.

“I see our dock, its facing into the channel trying to keep along the curving line of the coral,” Petor said.

“Alrighty we’ll swing her and use the oars, Desari?”

Petor couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation as checked the dock. Crews were waiting on it with a group standing under umbrellas, that looked as big as one of the main mast’s sheets, against the day’s sun.

The ship shifted underneath him, swinging around as the oars shifted to guide them. The sails wrapped upward as they drifted towards the dock.

Lines were tossed out, workers grabbing them, wrapping them around the massive pylons down the dock and pulling on them, they nearly ran with them as Mesurial brought herself up to the dock.

Petor got out of the nest and started his way down. “Three official looking people, some thirty guards with them, ready for a fight. Another hundred or so people ready to unload us.”

“Well looks like we have an audience,” Mya said.

***

Petor pulled on his breastplate and tightened his bracer, releasing it slightly before he pulled up his hood, cooling him down. “Loving this temperature regulating gear.”

“Right,” Valter said. They shared a grin as the others finished checking their gear.

The gangway tapped against the side of the ship. A long thing that was cranked up at an angle to meet the top of the railing.

“Its all in the walk, all in the walk,” Mya said to the other horsemen as she led the way to the gangway and then down it.

Guards were spread out over the dock, far enough away to not be immediately challenging, but close enough to fight if needed. The three officials waited under their awning.

Petor’s and the other’s boots rang on the timbers, flanking Mya from behind.

“Looking for Delmara?” She asked.

“That would be I,” one of the officials stepped forward, a woman covered in the sweeping robes of those that lived under the waves. Her eyes much larger than a human’s, while her skin was a shimmering pattern of shaded blues.

Mya pulled out a manifest for the woman and moved the last couple of steps. The guards tightened their grips and moved closer.

“Jaxus assured me that this one would make it through. Such trust in that man.” The woman looked at Mya and then the rest of the four horsemen. She moved with a slow fluid grace.

“Ah, well when there’s a problem he calls on us,” Mya winked.

One of the officials scoffed. His hair a deep black pulled back into a ponytail, a cutlass on his hip, his armor formed of polished coral.

A portly man beside him mad a half-step forward, watching him. He dressed in draping clothes to keep himself cool, gems on several rings and pendant hanging to the middle of his chest.

Delmara drew her head over to focus on Mya.

Her eyes slid to the manifest.

“These are all your items,” Mya said.

Delmara took the list, flipping the page over and then the next.

“Miss Delmara would you like to take delivery here?”

“I was told that you would have a card?” Delmara asked.

Mya nodded and took out Limos’ card. Showing the emblem and edging.

“Very well.” Delmara turned to the other two.

“Lord Dysel, and Secretary Yoled, I thank you both for the use of your dock and your help through these times. I will take the delivery of these items at my own coral. If you need anything, you but need to ask.” Delmara bowed her head with liquid grace.

“Are you sure my lady, they have made excuses for weeks saying that they lost your items in transit. Now they are trying to gain access to your island,” The ponytail stepped forward.

His care for the woman, making him on edge against the four horsemen for wronging her.

“I am sure.” Delmara gave a smile. “I am not without my own protection.”

She let out a low warbling song.

The water rippled around the ship and heads appeared out of the water holding spears.

“They moved around the ship when we came into port.”

Lord Dysel bowed his head. “If you need anything Delmara, you but need to ask.”

“Thank you Lord Dysel.” Delmara turned to Mya. “Do you have a map?”

Mya took one out of the coral and a pencil. Delmara took it and drew a path through the coral to another island.

She held out the pencil and manifest. “I will see you there.”

Mya accepted both as the woman walked past them and for the water.

“Time to get a movin’!” Mya said.

They turned back for the gangway. A vessel breached the water, pulled by two squid the ovaloid vessel looked to be made up from the inside of a seashell. Delmara walked off of the dock, the water coming up to greet her, lowering her down and out to the vessel. Attendants opened the doors as she stepped inside.

The heads of her guards dropped below the water as the squids dove, bringing their carriage with them.

“Now that’s an exit,” Mya said as they reached the gang way.

“If you dare to double cross Lady Delmara I’ll hunt you across the water plane.” Dysel called out.

“Just here to make sure she gets her goods, sir,” Mya tilted her hat back to the man.

He pulled on his gloves irately and then waved off the laborers and guards, turning for the carriages waiting at the end of the dock.

“So, guesses on who was leaking the information on the shipments?” Petor asked as they stepped back aboard.

***

The path Delmara drew took them to the reaches of the coral islands. To a small inlet relatively filled with medium sized ships. The kind that could move through the corals but not out to sea.

Each of them showed a life well worn.

“Dropping anchor,” Mya said. The chain rattled out and into the water, Mya activated the ritual on it that would secure it in place even if it wasn’t attached to anything.

“They’ve been raided,” Mya said, pointing across Desari to marks along the shore. “Ballista and cannon fire. Not many people living in the area. Fortifications going up.”

“Guess we know why they need their cannons now,” Desari said. “I can sense the remains of a dock under the water,” She pointed at a darkened section of water.

“Must’ve destroyed it on the way out. This place it was a market of a kind.” Mya shook her head.

Desari nodded, but she was distracted.

“You worried about this contract?” Mya asked.

“No, I think its straightforward, drop off the weapons and head on again. I don’t think that we should be trying to get the rest back from the pirate cove.”

Mya looked at her, waiting for the rest.

“I want to find out what has been happening to those weapons. Break up a bunch of pirates—sure. Though we have our own issues to deal with as well. You, Petor and Valter have your own quests, your information to buy. I have to deal with my brother and the Empire.” Desari shook her head. “It all seems so big. Save a city, kill a god, destroy and Empire?”

Desari shook her head.

A chuckle rose unbidden from the back of Mya’s throat, till it turned into a full belly laugh.

Dersari looked at her as if she’d grown a second or a third head.

“Defeat gods, take on an empire, and kick the pirates ass. How many people in ALL of the worlds can say that? Look at the things that we’ve done already. Sneaking through the Abyssal Plane with words and a few acts you were able to orchestrate the collapse of kingdom that’s been controlling their region for centuries. Take out a fucked up trading group and then take three groups—one that was actively fighting another and turned them into a nation that’s getting stronger at every turn.”

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Mya shook her head. “What a fucking adventure it has been. What an adventure its going to be! Desari, the future ain’t set in stone, it never is. As soon as you think that you can predict what is going to happen. That’s when reality will come around and slap you upside the head, because that mean momma don’t want no one telling her what she can and can’t do. So before you go thinking that this is all going to fall on our heads. Before you start worrying about what’s to come. Its all just one day after the next.”

“But if we don’t look to the future how do we know we’re even going in the right direction?”

“Sometimes we go with our heads, sometimes with our guts, our heart, or where the damn tides take us. If the plan changes, well then there’s time for a new plan. There’s never just one path to take.” Mya’s voice softened, the mirth calming down. “Look, we just gotta try.” Mya shrugged. “If we fail then we fail, but we gotta give it our shot. Hell we fail bad enough,” Mya snorted. “It ain’t really our problem no more. Each of us have these damn blades hanging over our necks, but they’re only as strong as we let them. Instead of just worrying about them, the sooner we do something about them the better.”

Mya looked at the ships that were heading for them. Delmara’s squid carriage glided to the surface, several of her guards on their own mounts surrounding her.

“I won’t lie I wanted to just get this done and head off to go get Limos. Sure that’s the smarter option. But, well no one should accuse me of being smart,” Mya grinned.

“I think you’re much smarter than you want others to know,” Desari said.

“That’s cause you know too much,” Mya waved her off. “You’re putting yourself under all of this pressure. Pressure that you’re creating.”

“My brother and the Empire aren’t created,” Desari said.

“No, but its not all on you to deal with them. You take those weights and you put them on your shoulders. I could tell you ‘take them off, let someone else deal with them’ but you’re not built that way. You see a problem and you charge into it to deal with it, because others won’t do it to the standard you want or they’ll take longer.”

Desari pursed her lips.

“Little too accurate?”

“Just a bit. Though you just said its not on me to deal with it all.”

“Delegate the things that you can delegate and deal with the things that you can deal with. Your brother, yeah that’s probably going to be on you, or on us. Maybe Sarnai, Egrin and Torin. They’re the strongest ones to deal with that fucker. The Empire though? Well ain’t Egrin dealing with that already? Give him and his people pointers, get them going in the right direction. The hard thing is starting things off and letting people take them to completion.”

Desari grimaced and scowled.

“But they’re not going to do the best job?” Mya asked dryly.

Desari winced.

“Yeah that’s what I thought. No one is going to do the job that you can do. Best you can hope for, is sixty percent the first time they do it, then they can get that up to eighty percent. You know what that is?”

“What?” Desari asked.

“It means the job is done and now you can focus on other things. Don’t make it so you’re solving everyone’s problems, else they’re always going to come to you. Then you’ll never get away from Ilus and adventure. If you instead teach them how to solve their own problems, then they start spreading that like a damn plague and shit stops rolling up to you.”

Desari turned thoughtful at that.

“You want to be out here doing this adventuring stuff. I can see it in you. I see it in myself and the others too. We aren’t meant to be chained to a place. We want to wander worlds, see planes, explore shit.—probably kill a bunch of the local shit trying to eat us, plunder, or just be dick bags.”

“It feels wrong, I’m shirking my duty, what I’m supposed to do,” Desari said.

“You feel obligated to do it, doesn’t mean you have to. This life is yours, create the life you want to live in it. Sometimes, we take words like responsibility and duty and use it to encompass a whole swath of shit and don’t take time to look at that stuff and see what really matters.” Mya took a breath. “I have a duty to my crew to protect them. That I’ll see through, though once they’re safe. Then I’ll have to make more decisions. Let someone take up the positions I don’t want to do. Someone who for them that excites them and fulfills them. That for me I do because I think I just have to.”

“Though we gain more responsibilities as we get older, that’s part of it?”

“Sure there are more, but most time people put things on themselves that aren’t really their responsibilities, it just sounds better to have more. Live Desari, that’s all you can do.”

“That seems to be bypassing all of the things that threaten us and we have to deal with.”

“Ah, well for that,” Mya winked and moved for the stairs. “Just get the best damn gear, potions and comrades around to beat those problems into an early and final grave.”

She slid down to the main deck and moved over to where Mesurial had thrown down a netting ladder. The cranes were unfolding as Petor made his way down from the crow’s nest.

Valter was waiting at the ladder.

“Guards coming up,” Valter said, moving back from the edge.

The water rose up as Delmara stepped out of her carriage, around her six guards surrounded her. The water stopped at the railing and she walked over onto the ship with her guards, more getting over the netting ladder.

“How would you like to do this?” Mya asked.

“Lower down the gear to the ships below and they’ll take it ashore. While you’re here I want to know the real reason my shipments didn’t reach me.”

“Pirates,” Mya shrugged.

Delmara’s eyes sharpened into that a of a predator. Mya continued talking. “Someone was telling them about the ships that were headed to you with the weapons. They were intercepted at the singing shoals would be my guess.”

“It is a good thing that we made such a binding contract with Jaxus and the Nether Forge. I do not doubt your words. Though the implications are worrying.”

“Well, if you’re up for some refreshment I’d be interested in hearing more. We’re looking at possibly dealing with the root of the issue, but more information is always helpful,” Mya waved to her cabin.

“I’ll start opening up the holds and checking off the gear,” Valter said.

“Alright, Mesurial Petor can give you a hand too,” Mya said

“Right.” Valter moved to a hatch and pulled it open, putting it to the side as the cranes began unfolding themselves.

“Desari?” Mya asked. The woman stepped off of the top of the poop deck stairs and landed next to her.

Lady Delmara’s steps stuttered before she bowed her head to Desari, then cupped her fists and held them out in submission. The guards with her dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.

“The Liberator.” Delmara said. “This one did not know who she was working with. To know one such as you are part of this crew.”

“What did you do Desari?” Mya asked as she pushed open the door to the map room and her quarters beyond.

“I’m not sure,” Desari studied Delmara. “You many raise your head.”

Delmara stood back up and the guards straightened.

Desari passed Mya holding the door open with a questioning gaze.

I don’t know what that was either. Desari’s eyes and slight shrug suggested.

Delmara waved her guards off and tilted her head to Mya, entering the space within.

“Who did you tell about the weapons?” Desari asked, indicating to a chair. Mya close the door and moved to the seat next to Desari, across the table from Delmara.

“Lord Dysel and his Secretary Yoled. They have supported us and our expansion. I did not want to have to arm my coral, but with the continuing raids we need the weapons to defend ourselves and there are none that would sell to us in the region. Each wants a part of our profits.”

“So you went to a different source,” Mya said.

“Correct, then the weapons continued to not show up. Others offered their protection for us to come under them. To give them a portion of our profits.”

“I’m guessing you deal with quite a bit of trade?” Mya asked.

“Yes, we are one of the biggest traders in the Coral Bastion. As long as one is not a pirate we will trade with them. There are many that do not trade with one another, though they will come here and quietly move their goods while maintaining their posturing.”

“How do you do so? I am sure that there are pressures from many,” Desari said.

“I traded throughout the water plane, made my wealth. In one of my contracts the lord I made it with did not hold up his side of the bargain. He defaulted this land to me.” Delmara blinked. “I took it from him.”

“He wasn’t expecting a roaming traveller to take his land,” Mya chuckled.

“No, he was not,” Delmara looked amused. “I needed people to help. Those that were looking for new opportunity headed to my island. Traders I worked with made it their port as they passed through. We set up the docks. We built infrastructure to take in raw materials and create items from them to sell to the other islands and facilitated trade between all.”

“Then the pirate raids?” Desari asked.

“Yes, convenient no?” Delmara gave a demur smile, showing her pointed teeth. “Anvil Spike opens up all kinds of opportunity, I jumped on it. Though I needed to protect my island without losing my position.”

“Thus the weapons,” Mya nodded.

“Quite. I have ships, but the island is large and I have to protect the most dense locations and those are all underwater.”

“Who knew about us coming here?” Mya asked.

“Dysel and Yodel. Thankfully I can clear them as you made it here in one piece.”

“The five warships we had to go through say that one of them talked,” Mya said.

“What?” Delmara looked between them both. “You’re sure?” There was hurt in her eyes, beyond just the hurt of betrayal. “But Dysel.”

She looked away, her features hardening with her heart.

“When did you tell them?” Desari asked.

“I got word but two days ago. I sent word to Dysel to make use of his dock. Yodel took the message as he was awake.”

Mya raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” She took out the pirates map and checked it and the notations. She ran quick calculations down the edge of the paper. “You’re sure that Dysel was informed in the morning and Yodel at night?”

“Yes,” Delmara said.

Mya checked her calculations once more, before pushing the map to Desari. “Takes a day and a half to get from Demon’s Rest to the Opening on the other side of the singing shoals.”

“Word had to get to the pirates the night that you sent your message so that they would be in place when we came across them the next day. They could have been there over a longer period of time?” Desari asked.

“The supplies. It was near full. They’d eaten some of it, but they didn’t have the empty casks and crates of a ship that had been out to sea for that long,” Mya said.

“I trust your judgement,” Desari said.

Mya faced Lady Delmara. “If you are sure that Dysel didn’t get word in the morning, it could be Yodel. Though if he was working under his lord’s compunction or not? That I can’t answer.”

“I will look into this further,” Delmara swore. “You think that the pirates are using Demon’s Rest?”

“That is the going idea,” Mya shrugged. It would be good to have others know their plans, lest anything happen. I wonder if Limos would lay the smack down on someone that messed with us? Mya remembered the cold look in his eyes talking to Peck.

“What do you know of the pirates in the area?” Desari said.

“They’ve been getting bolder recently, almost frantic as if to make up for the inactivity forced upon them by Lord Osori hunting them down. Now he’s gone they’re back out in force and they’re bolder than ever. We’re in the fourteenth strata, we’re two away from the open sea and they attacked us here. Its bold, very bold. If I was more allied with those in the region there would have been a large response. They’re interested in goods, but they’ve been taking people.”

“That’s not normal for them?” Mya asked.

“No, goods are useful, people? No one but pirates are going to use slaves, or people on the material or abyssal plane,” Delmara said. “Most people have been thinking that it was those from the Nether Forge that were behind the attacks. It is only the fact they don’t have ships that it has not gained more traction. Though people are starting to believe it more and more.”

“That might be a problem,” Mya sat back in her chair.

“Imprisoning people against their will is a quick way to get the Water Lord tearing your shit up,” Desari said, her eyes unfocused as if recalling something.

“It is as you say, there are few things that are likely to get such a response. Though we have sent word to his representatives on this.”

“Large plane and only one lord,” Desari said.

“Quite.”

“Then I guess it is up to us to do something about this. What kind of ships are in the area?” Mya asked.

“Looking at one and two decks of cannons, twenty guns as a normal per deck. Three decks are the biggest, those with about seventy guns per deck,” Delmara said.

“How many will work together?” Mya asked.

“Usually in ones or twos, they’ll group up together for larger attacks on convoys. They use the terrain as they can, funnels like those at the sea wall. That or they’ll anger local creatures, get them to harass ships, then move in to hit them as they’ve just defeated the creatures.”

“How’s their morale?” Mya leaned forward.

“It was bad, but with the recent events I think it is rather high.”

“Could you estimate how many operate in the area?” Mya asked.

Delmara looked up at the ceiling, “I would put it at two dozen ships.” She frowned. Mya held back her questions, seeing the glimmer of something at the edge of Delmara’s thoughts.

“There, is some oddness against their targets recently. At least by my information, the ships and the people that have gone disappearing in these raids. Most are people of the water, though are ones that spend more time above it.”

“That seems oddly specific,” Mya glanced at Desari who shrugged.

“It does, I have made the connection, though it might also be the lens through which I see the world,” Delmara vaguely gestured to herself.

“Do you have maps of Demon’s Rest?” Mya asked.

“I do not, there are always talks of those that who go to study it but are never seen from again. I think we have at least put rest the reason they haven’t returned.”

“Well onto lighter topics,” Mya said. “Beyond the weapons we have a number of items in our holds that are looking for the right buyer.”

“What kind of items?” Delmara asked, intertwining her fingers and resting them on the table.

“Force staffs, fireball staffs, flame gems for beauty, lights that will shine when touched by water. Water purification and several crafting materials.” Mya watched every twitch every movement of her opponent.

“The materials?” Delmara asked airily.

“Common, Uncommon and Rare, cloth and stone material.” Mya took out a piece of paper and slid it over to Delmara. Her eyes tracked down the page, Mya took note of where her eyes paused.

“Quite the list,” Delmara put the page down. “The waterproofing potions and the Zephyr’s Embrace are a nice touch.”

“I thought they might be useful in these parts,” Mya winked.

“I can think of a few things that might be useful in your parts too; wind-falls. A type of coral that when exposed to air creates water, from that the size of your palm that can create a few liters a day, to much larger versions that could put out hundreds of gallons a day.” Delmara smiled demurely. Crap. Those could be used to help supplement all of the villages and cities with continuous water.

“We also have sun-flectors, they’re amulets one can wear to reduce the stresses of heat upon the body—many of those that live under water use them on the surface—though one could also use stronger versions to reduce the effect of fire based attacks. We have a thriving cloth industry, fabrics that will naturally allow one to remain cool without treatment.”

Each of those was bound to be a boon to people in the fire plane.

Delmara frowned. “It is little use to us, but there are Naiad’s tears that might be of use to you?”

“I’ve not heard of this before?” Mya asked.

“Naiad’s tears, each drop placed upon the ground brings in a sedate rain storm that can cover usually an acre of land,” Desari said.

Delmara turned her gaze onto her. “Useful for farmers and the like.”

It will depend on price if we can make this a long term thing. Jaxus will be pleased, this could create a long term network. No wonder he wanted to get these weapons to Delmara so bad. The sooner she could defend herself, the sooner he could start to build up trust and trade.

“Corals and the water plane are diverse in ingredients I’ve heard,” Desari said. “If you have Naiad’s tears do you have other alchemical ingredients?”

Delmara smiled slowly, Mya’s face reflecting hers.

Desari held Delmara’s eyes with casual interest. Make a trader out of you yet!

“Interested in a drink?” Mya pushed up from the table.

“Please,” Delmara said.

“Thank you,” Desari said.

“I have some ingredients of course. Though I would prefer to sell in large quantities,” Delmara took out a piece of seaweed paper and handed it over to Desari.

Mya moved to the side and made up drinks based on each person’s differences. Desari knows what Ilus needs and the ingredients. Nice.

Mya returned to the table, the two of them talking as she sat back.

Delmara’s eyes opened as she took her first sip. “Lovely tartness and enough salt to taste it.” She went for a second.

“Glad its to your liking,” Mya held up her glass with a clear liquid that shimmered in the light.

Delmara held hers up in salute.

“You have powdered Resal Weed here, quantity?” Desari sipped her drink absently.

“Three thousand standard units,” Delmara said without missing a beat and sipping from her drink again.

Ingredients and quantities crossed between them all as a sale was hammered out.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” Delmara stood and clasped her hands.

Mya and Desari stood opposite her.

“And you as well,” Mya reciprocated the gesture and let her hands fall to the side. “Corals are alive right?”

“Yes,” Delmara said as if confused that this fact wasn’t commonly known.

Mya grinned. “Well while I think that unloading all of the weapons onto your ships is fun. Its dangerous even in these calm waters. Thankfully I know someone good at growing things and another that’s good with the water and earth.”

Desari looked at Mya a slow smile spreading across her face. “That could be kind of fun.”

“See, adventure!.” Mya chuckled as Delmara blinked slowly looking between the two of them.

“I’m going to get Petor,” Desari said.

“See, I know that Jaxus will be interested in increasing the trade between yourselves and Nether Forge and the wider fire plane if possible. That’s always just made easier with a dock.”

“It will take us a while to repair ours.” Delmara said, a twitch of anger breaking through.

“No worries,” Mya grinned. “Many people wonder why there are only four crew on Mesurial. I’ll let Petor and Desari show you why. Also a good way to see what Limos Trading Company’s problem solvers can do.”