Now this was nice.

Not all of the sails were unfurled, but we were still sailing at a nice pace. The ocean breeze and the spray from the waters as the boat hit the waves felt great.

Maybe I’d get lucky and the boat would drift forever… to the edge of the world…

“Get that sail down! Now!” a loud man barked orders, and I turned to watch half a dozen sailors hurry and obey.

Leaning up against the railing, I glanced around. I was in the middle on the main deck of a large barque. A four mast ship, with square sails. And honestly, it was beautiful.

It made me jealous that I couldn’t spend my time sailing the seas.

“Heave!” the men all joined together to unfold the main fore-sail. It unfolded with a pop, forcing the ship to turn a little.

“Well, master Vim? Do ya like her?”

Turning to my employer of the day, I nodded. “I do indeed. Sure you don’t want to give her to me instead of the permit?” I asked Marshal Grilly.

The old woman was as tall as me, but skinny. Her old age was creeping her closer to the bed, and it showed. She smirked at me as she pulled around her long pipe, and went to puffing it. She blew out a thick haze of something nasty, but luckily the brisk ocean wind made quick work of it. “Never in a million years, which f’or you that’s sayin’ something,” she said.

I smiled back at her and gestured to her crew. “These are made for a light crew… but twelve men? Really?” I asked.

“Twelve more than I need. Plus my boy,” Grilly said with a gesture to the lad. He was off at the bow, tying rope.

“Twelve more… I wonder if I could handle a ship this size on my own,” I wondered.

Grilly laughed. “Don’t try an’ fool me now! I heard what you did with my mother in the bays of ice!” she laughed.

“That had been a much smaller ship…” I argued, but knew better than to do so too harshly. Humans enjoyed their legends. Especially when they included their loving parent.

“C’mon. They boys’ll become conscious with us out here,” Grilly gestured for me to follow her inside the boat. To where she had made herself at home, in the captains quarters.

Following her, I took one last glance to the ship and its crew. They were working diligently… and respectfully. They all seemed seasoned, even the young boy who honestly didn’t fit in on the deck. He was still too scrawny. Too slow. But they kept him out of the way, not doing anything too strenuous.

This ship really was built to be manned lightly. Although large, with four sails which was a lot in this era, it was thin. And intentionally built in a way that one man could handle several pulleys without worry. This boat was pricey. It had stood out in the port, even in Lumen.

Yet I knew the reason we were on this boat, and not her true warship… was for a very simple fact.

She had been planning on taking another ship, after all. She had only readied this one once she had confirmation I would be joining her.

Stepping down a few steps, to enter the underbelly of the ship, we walked down a short hallway to reach her quarters. This hallway had two other doors than hers. One for a bathroom, and another that led down a small hallway to the crews section. Though it wasn’t so the crew could come here, really, it was so the cook could bring food to this side of the ship.

Entering the room, she sighed as she went to sit in the large chair that looked out of place. It was a dark black, and looked uncomfortable. It didn’t match the rest of the ships décor, at least in this room… especially since it looked like something a noble would like.

I tapped the golden tapestry that was nailed to one of the walls. It felt like real gold thread. “Who’d you get this ship from?” I asked.

“Two gay men,” she said.

“Two gay…” I frowned at her and she laughed, in a way that told me she had been completely serious.

“And they say I have an interesting life,” I complained as I went to sit in another chair. One that fit a little better. It had red felt and was gold painted, but made of wood.

“I thank ya’ for joining me Vim. I was worried I’d be sinking her instead of reclaiming her, instead,” Grilly said.

“Hm,” I nodded. Yes. That was why she had been willing to bring this, a ship with only a few cannons and not built for war. This thing was made for speed, speed and crew. Not battle.

But me…?

“A large man-o-war. Sixty eight guns, all twice as big as any other. Stolen from me, by a fool who thinks I’m too old to rule,” Grilly said.

I nodded. I had heard most of the story already, from the young lad. I had arrived earlier in the day, as I had promised, and the boy had spent time with me as Grilly and her people prepared for our voyage.

“Why’d you let that happen, anyway?” I asked.

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“I’m sick,” she said.

Although she had said it very… seriously, I honestly hadn’t been shocked or bothered to hear it. She looked sick. She looked old enough that she honestly shouldn’t even be on this boat, or smoking whatever plant she was inhaling like water.

She took another puff on her pipe, and thanks to the many closed windows I was finally able to smell what she was smoking.

“For the pain?” I asked her.

She nodded. “The pain. I hope it doesn’t bother you, but even if it does I’ll risk your anger,” she said.

“Then inhale as much as you need,” I said.

She smiled at me and nodded in thanks. The stuff she was smoking was not just addictive but a poison all in itself. The type of poison that usually made quick work of those foolish enough to get addicted to it. But… she was old enough, and if she was being honest... which she looked to be, sick enough to not need to worry about what could happen to her in a few months time. She wasn't foolish, she was desperate.

“Something in my head. It hurts. It makes me weird,” she told me.

“I see. Then will you be the last to ever call on me?” I asked her.

She shook her head. “The boy. You met him? Little Ronalldo?”

I nodded. Did she not remember that she had introduced me to him a few hours ago? Maybe she had more than just simple pain straining her body.

“He seems a good lad,” I said.

“Well enough,” she nodded.

“So he’s your heir?” I asked.

“Yes. I’ve told him some of your stories. I hope during this venture you will remember him, and maybe also teach him why you're worth the price,” she said with a smirk.

“Price,” I scoffed. Did she forget that most of her ancestors had paid with paltry rewards? There had been one time that I had accepted a small jewel that was…

Where had I put that jewel?

“And if you would… I have another request of you, if you’d willingly hear it,” Grilly stopped me from delving too deep into my memories.

“Hm?” I leaned back. Really. What had I done with that little blue stone?

“I wish for you to place him under your banner,” she then said.

My mind halted for half a moment, and I sat forward. “Excuse me?” I asked.

The old woman took a deep breath, and even though hadn’t puffed on her pipe she still let loose some smoke. “I’m dying,” she said.

“Everyone is,” I told her.

“Yet mine will be any moment. I can feel it. Not even the sea breeze can chill my bones anymore,” she said.

Ah. That was bad. It was soon then.

“I see,” I said gently.

“After this is done… when you reclaim what is lost, and punish those mutinous fools… I want you to take this ship, and the one we’re reclaiming, and give them to my son. But under the condition he captains them under your flag,” she asked me.

For a long moment, as the ship rocked and creaked, I stared at the woman who had at one time been one of the strongest pirate captains in these seas.

“You’re serious,” I said.

“As the pain I endure.”

Taking a small breath, I ignored the sting of the poison in the air. It didn’t affect me as it would others, but it was clear now why she had not really stood outside all this time. It wasn’t just because she was old, and dying, but because she worried for those who breathed in the smoke around her. But it was obvious. She knew what that stuff did. Anyone who sailed the open seas, and dealt with the eastern nations, knew what that stuff was capable of.

“You’re telling me to make him less than he would be. If you perish, and he is your heir, he becomes a man. One who has a throne. You’re asking me to take that throne from him,” I said.

“What throne?” she scoffed.

“I know not your fleet or wealth, Grilly, but I did see your two mighty ships. A ship of war, and this one. And we’re to claim a man-o-war too? That’s a fleet. A powerful fleet. Fleets like that come with thrones,” I said.

She waved my words, and her smoke, away from her face. “A boy his age will lose them all within a day. And he knows it. He knows it well,” she said.

Did he? The number of young men that I could count, who could put down the crown after getting it…

Well…

Only one. In all my years.

And he had not done it willingly, either.

“Please Vim. I already discussed it with him. He agrees to it. If he doesn’t you can just snap his neck and take the ships yourself. Better they be in your hands than he has them for a single moment, and wasted!” Grilly’s voice raised as she spoke, growing upset, and then she doubled over. She began coughing wildly, and even dropped her pipe.

I remained seated, letting her wallow in her pain and lack of air.

There was nothing I could do for her, after all. Nothing anyone could do.

A few minutes passed and she finally sat back up, heaving deeply. “See? That could have been it right there,” she said.

“It could have,” I agreed.

“Please Vim. Do this for me. Please don’t let my bloodline end. Not here. Not like this,” she said.

I sighed and wondered what to say. I honestly didn’t mind it. I could put the ships to use, or at least the Society could… and the boy, if half intelligent, would be fine. And even if, or rather when, the day came that he became a man too big for his shoes, and tried to rebel… I’d just simply take the ships back from him.

But…

“Grilly… he’s not even your blood,” I whispered.

He didn’t have the blazing red hair she and all her family had.

She smiled softly and nodded. “So he aint’ But Vim… Does that matter?” she asked.

No. It didn’t.

“You’re sure?” I asked her.

She nodded. “Please. Let me meet my mother in the open sea beyond, knowing I did the right thing. Else she’ll spank me something fierce,” she said.

I smiled. Yes. Her mother had been quick to discipline. Yet her father, Grilly’s grandfather, had not been. He had treated her mother like an angel. Never raising his voice, let alone a fist.

Which was probably why she had grown up to such a deadly violent pirate.

“Okay. For you, Grilly. For your blood. For your family. I will do what I can,” I said to her. I promised her.

She smiled, and I stood from my seat.

Bending down, I picked up her pipe… and made sure it was lit. Once so, I handed it to her gently.

Grilly placed it against her lips and took a deep breath.

“Let me know when we find that traitor,” she said as her eyes became dull. The stuff was potent.

“Will do. You rest, old friend,” I told her, and then left the captain’s room.