It had been a long time since he’d been to Onny but the streets and shops were clear in his memory. The sun had set and while Lohmen knew the docks would be the best place to find a captain during the day, at night, it was the pubs.
He pulled open the door of the Long Face Pub and found a seat in the centre of the pub. To his right were a group of scraggly looking men deep in their cups and to his left a a group of three men. The tallest had a shirt barely laced together and tall pair of worn buccaneer boots on his feet. The two men with him were a little more understated, thought just as drunk as their leader. Lohmen ordered a plate and a horn and sat down to eavesdrop.
“What’s your fascination with ancient women, cap?” The shortest of the three men to Lohmen’s left joked.
“Ha! I can see you’ve never been with one, Averill, or you’d know. They’re different. Interesting. They’re not predisposed with the nonsensory of modern living.” the assumed captain replied. “They’re too smart for you, I’m afraid.” He posited to a round of laughter. “And my goodness, are they skilled in carnal arts.”
Lohmen looked out of the corner of his eye and saw the man raise a suggestive eyebrow. One of the men chuckled knowingly but the other hadn’t got the joke.
“It means their good in bed, Avy.” the captain said. “Best woman I ever met was an ancient woman…I shoulda never let her go.”
“Why did you?” Avy asked, and the third man elbowed him in the ribs.
“A story for another time,” the captain answered and slumped slightly, any happiness in the conversation had been drained. Avy stood up and muttered something about draining the eel. When he’d left, the other man finally spoke.
“You let her go because you got tangled up with the Kraken,” his voice deep and piercing. “And now we’re in the business of—” The captain interjected.
“You say one more word and I will kill you wear you sit,” the captin replied, glaring at the man. “You’ve been my first hand for twenty years. Why haven’t you left if you don’t like it so much?” He taunted. “Aye, that’s right. You need the coin just as much as I do, and you know you’d make less than half on any other ship. You keep your holier-than-thou thoughts to yourself, Breck.”
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Breck down his drink and thudded the cup on the table then stood and left the Long Face. The captain looked up and noticed Lohmen looking in his direction.
“What are you looking at?” he demanded of the Painter.
“Seems your a captain, and I need passage.” Lohmen said so confidently that he surprised himself. “Where are you headed.”
The captain leaned back in his chair and took Lohmen in, trying to figure him out.
“Are you going to be any trouble?” He asked pointing at the scar.
“I didn’t make the trouble, and you’ll have no problem from me. Where are you headed?” Lohmen asked, but it didn’t really matter. He knew the captain would be sailing east across the Northern Black Sea and any port on the western coast of the continent of rage would be fine. There was a small chance the captain was sailing west across the open Dommian Ocean, but that was a difficult and long journey and the majority of trade for the continent of reflection came from the Angry to the north, and Ragers to the south east.
The captain liked the response from his new drinking companion and narrowed an eye before responding.
“We’re heading to Lorrêr,” he offered, waiting to see what Lohmen might think.
“Perfect. How much for passage?”
“Five Hundred Lords.” Lohmen knew the captain was trying to pull a fast one and quickly countered.
“Two-fifty.”
“Three twenty-five.”
Lohmen nodded then stood and offered the captain his hand. They shook on their bargain and the captain offered that they were already loaded and they’d set sail the next morning.
“Whose ship do I look for at the docks?” Lohmen asked.
“Thammasorn’s.”