Chapter 7 (Jolly Roger)

     Well the story is progressing and I’m having fun. :) Also just to let you all know this is a story that I’m writing in my free time from my own imagination. I also have not posted it anywhere else and it should only be here. ;)  So have fun and let's find some pirates. YEAH!! LOL.

Znomad

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Random Pirate POV

     “De seas ‘av been rough de last few days” A young lad said looking out of the crows nest.

     “Yeah it ‘as been.” The other lookout  replied.

     “Rumors are dat a giant kraken ‘as been spotted after de fallin’ star.” The first lookout said with a frightened look on his young face.

     “Don’t woory Jimmy dohs are jist worthless rumors an’ blarney shared by scarred an’ superstitious auld fishermen.” The older lookout said with a cocky grin on his face.

     “But really why wud they spread rumors aboyt a kraken Roger it wud be brutal for business?” Jimmy asked with a perplexed look on his face.

     “Mabye they were tryin’ ter scare us away from gran’ score.” Roger replied.

     “Quit blatherin’ an’ git ter spottin’ yer damn kids.” A red faced salior bellowed at them from the riggings

     “Aye Sir” Both Roger and Jimmy yelled back as they quickly turned to look back out at the vast sea in hopes that they would be the first to spot something.

----Elf Capital-------------

     “Where is she?” The queen Vanya said with a slightly pinched look on her face.

     “I regret to inform you my queen that Princess Shonna whereabouts are presently unknown.” A elf dressed in a arrangement of earth tones and plant shades said as she kneeled in front of the queen with her head bowed. “I have my best rangers scouring the land.” She said.

     A similarly dressed elf silently entered the chamber and with a formal salute then also knelt in front of the queen. With a simple wave of the queen's hand both rangers stood up.

     “What is the updated report ranger Hayha?” The queen asked the ranger who had just entered.

     “My queen” Hayha said with a bowing of his head. “The princess incapacitated her guards and escaped into the city. After tracking her movements and questioning witnesses we have discovered that she did not leave the city by teleportation magic nor did she exit the city into the forest. She was however joined by the ambassador's daughter Emma and a man we presume to be low noble Jonah.” A deadly and dark aura seemed to emit from Hayha as he finished his statement.

     “What is the presumed heading of my daughter and her companions?” The queen asked and the chilling effect of Hayha’s aura instantly dissipated.

     “It is assumed that princess Shonna has departed for the port city of Venetiae my queen. We are currently preparing the teleportation circle with magic to send two of our scouts ahead to find the princess as soon as possible.” Hayha said with another bow of his head. 

     “What are you doing my precious daughter?” The queen muttered under her breath.

     The rangers and guards pretended to not hear what the queen just said and the two rangers pledged to themselves that they would find the princess at all costs. They quickly saluted and left the palace at a sprint heading for the teleportation circle in the magic laboratory on the far side of the city. The two seemed to effortlessly flow on little or untraveled paths often going across roofs and fences in the city causing a few pets to make a fuss and some people to stop and stare at the strange sight. The two flipped off the low roof of a building flipping and rolling as they landed before running to the door of a guarded building. Both of the guards by the door quickly saluted the arrivals and pushed open the door. Inside of the building guards stood in each of the corners of the large octagonal room had guards standing at the ready. A large crystal sat in the center of the room and numerous circles and arcane symbols and writing all seemed to lead to and from the crystal. At fixed points outside of the circle thirteen powerful mages poured magic into the circle and large glowing crystal. Two rangers stood in full gear outside of the circles waiting for their cue to enter in.

     “Rangers switch with us we are going on the scouting mission” Hayha commanded as he started transferring the gear over to himself and the commander prepared for the trip.

     “Good luck General Tamara and Sergeant Major Hayha.” One of soldiers said with a quick salute as he backed up to the edge of the room.

     Tamara acknowledged the soldier with a nod as she quickly donned the rest of the gear tossing on the heavy pack with ease. Turning her head she saw that Hayha already had all of his gear on and was looking at the lead mage for the sign that they should enter the circle. He seemed to show no signs of worry or care and treated this as just another routine outing. A bright flash of light indicated that the spell was ready and both of the rangers walked towards the crystal and then disappeared in flash of light as most of the mages dropped to their knees in exhaustion.

Erich POV

     Looking out over my first legion in pride as the troops stood in perfect formation their helmets gleamed in the sunlight and their perfectly matching equipment was a work of wonder. Having funded much of the five thousand man legion out of pocket they were all selected as the best of the best in any unit. This was considered the elite force of the human empire and it was rightly said that each of the soldiers of the first could match ten soldiers of any army.

     The legion was currently at a parade rest with their lightly armored horses standing in their well groomed splendor. Each of the horses was a dark brown color that made the red armor and white shields seem to pop out at you. A short sword sat at the side of each soldier and a small quiver of arrows was strapped on their backs and short cavalry horse bow also sat on the soldiers back. A blood red cape that matched the soldiers armor billowed gently in the breeze behind them. On the horses a roll containing five days food rations and bedding was on the back of each horse. Each unit of ten soldiers had split between them four timber axes a hundred caltraps and five hundred extra arrows.

     This was the most feared legion not for its size or its armor nor even its speed it was feared for its ability to do the impossible and exploit any and every situation to their advantage while putting their enemies into a severe disadvantage. One of the most feared aspects was its infamous commanding general. Erich was known for not only his brilliant tactics but also his loyalty to his soldiers and their undying loyalty to him. A captured prisoner of the first knew that help was coming for they never left a fellow soldier behind. If torture or magic was to be involved to a man the soldiers had always committed suicide instead of giving away information no matter how trivial for this was their code of honor.

     “Men of the First today we depart for the border town of Venetiae.” I called out with a loud voice assisted by magic that clearly broadcasted my words to every portion of the parade grounds we currently occupied.  “The locals of the area believe that they have sighted a kraken and we are going to go and make sure it does not enter the Marajo river and attack the fisheries.” Finishing up the informational part I rallied them with a final call. “Let's show those Navy wannabes how to catch a kraken.” I said with a little bit of a dramatic flair.

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     A responding shout of “HOOAH!” reverberated throughout the valley roosting birds from trees and causing people on the far road to stop in shock at the sudden loud outburst from the soldiers.

     I smiled as I turned and mounted my own steed. It’s lustrous brown coat matched the rest of the soldiers. Every officer wore the same armor and gear as the rest of the soldiers to signify the unity in the legion as well as making very hard for enemy bowmen and mages to target officers or noncommissioned officers(NCOs or non-coms).

     The sergeants efficiently got each of their ten men squads mounted and ready to ride. Each of the sergeants reported to their platoon Lieutenant before a check was done and each platoon of fifty paired up and reported to the Captain of each company. The each of the companies formed up into separate battalions with a Major as their commanding officer. The battalions each had five hundred troops and every two battalions are under a Colonel and a  Command Sergeant Major that reported directly to my command staff and me.

     The legion was on the road within the hour riding for the river  Marajo and the port city Venetiae. The time it would take us to ride to our destination would be around two weeks. I sat back in my saddle and thought about what all we might find near the elven kingdom.

Shonna POV

     “Wow do people really live in those little boats?” I asked Jonah who seemed to have a slightly annoyed expression on his face that I ignored in my enthusiasm.

     “Yes some people actually live on the ships in the river instead of homes instead of homes in Venetiae.” Jonah replied with a roll of his eyes.

     “Yeah Shonna it’s because this is an island city in the center of the Marajo river instead of a place where people can live outside the city. So I think many of them decide to live on boats beside the city.” Emma said with a sage nod of her red head.

     “Oh but how about all the canals and little rivers through the city make this place so pretty” I said as I looked at a pretty stall that was selling exotic spices that had colors I had never seen in food and some mouth watering smells wafted over across the street at an Inn and Tavern right on the canal.

     “I will give you that although I wish it could be a bit cleaner like it is at home” Jonah grumbled as he looked at all the dirt and many of the uneven cobblestones on the street.

     “A little dirt never did a person harm.” Emma quickly retorted with a little bit of fire in her eyes.

     “Now, now Emma we all know and respect your dwarven ancestorery but truly this city is nothing like the dwarven cities either.” Jonah responded with his hands raised in a defensive and calming pose.

     “I don’t think he meant any harm Em. Really.” I said trying to calm the situation.

     “Hum. Fine but we need to find a tavern I’m thirsty for a good drink.” Emma said with smile on her face.

     “Ugh not again.” I muttered under my breath. Dwarves are known for being able to drink beer almost as soon as they were born. Unfortunately Emma was only a three quarters dwarf so she lacked the full immunity to the terrifying quantities of beer and wine she could drink. It also did not help that she got dwarven height but lacked most of the mass making her look like a well developed kid more than a dwarf maiden in her prime.

     “Damn kid is trying to get drunk again” Jonah muttered under his breath just a little to loud.

     “I heard that Jonah.” Emma said with a terrifying smile on her face. Red flame magic dripped to the stone causing it to get scorch marks. The fire magic seemed to coat her red hair making her look almost like a fire spirit dyed with dark red blood. The ground began to melt a little with the severe heat she gave off.

     “No stop please guys” I said as I set up a very strong magic barrier around Emma and Jonah as I stood outside of it.

     “Hell why did you not put just the damn firecracker inside the barrier and let the brat cool down.” Jonah yelled as he put up his own barrier and covered his hands in a glowing green magic that also matched his hair.

     Onlookers had started to gather and seemed to be entranced by the sight of this elf man and what looked like a young girl in a duel. “Go kid you can do it” yelled out a random member of the crowd.

     “I’m not a kid! Damn you all to hell you fuckers.” Emma yelled in a rage. Some of the mothers in the crowd covered their kids ears and others dragged their kids off. With a roar of rage and fire that was barely contained within the barrier Emma went to town on Jonah's shield until it cracked and finally broke.

     “Mercy, Mercy please I’m sorry” Jonah pleaded as he lay curled into a ball on the ground.

     “You don’t deserve it. Die” Emma screamed as she mercilessly kicked him until his pleas stopped. “And that is what I do to people who try and treat me like a kid.” Emma declared as she looked out at the crowd.

     The crowd of onlookers looked uneasily at the young looking kid and couldn’t help but think that she was acting like a bit of spoiled kid. None of them said anything though and they all quickly dispersed from the scene of the fight.

     “Em did you really have to do so much damage to him?” I asked.

     “Sorry Shonna I did not mean for you to do clean up.” Emma responded with a glum look. Looking up with a sudden smile she said “We could always just leave him here to wallow in pity and think about his miserable ways.”

     “You know I can’t do that” I said as I prepared some healing magic to cast onto the presently unconscious Jonah. I quickly and efficiently cast a full recovery and healing spell on Jonah and all of his injuries quickly disappeared. He groggily stood up without a word as we helped him to the nearby tavern by the canal.

-------Venetiae POV-----

     A dark shadow on the roof overlooking the street disappeared as the three entered the tavern and inn. Only to seem to float away on various roofs of building until disappearing in a slightly dilapidated river boat home on the far edge of the town. The dark shadow kneeled in front of a crystal before activating it with a combination of complex spells.

     “Master I have found it.” The dark robed figure spoke without looking at the crystal.

     “Very good bring me this healer and make sure they will work with us.” A low and gravelly voice echoed out of the crystal.

     “It will be done as you have said master.” The dark robed figure respond before the magic on the crystal finished and it shattered into thousands of fragments. The dark robed figure started a fire on the floor of the boat with some magic before disappearing back into the city as smoke started to rise from the large collection of boat homes.

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     So yeah my sister said the story is a little too long and drawn out in the technical department.  :( …… Anyway it's the way I write. I love details and tend to think that way so it is as it is. :)  If you all have any suggestions or thoughts I try to read all the comments. ;)  If the cryptogram from last chapter is a issue or you need more clues send me a message. I just thought it was a fun thing to toss in there that made me think of my younger childhood days. Hope you all have fun! 

Thanks,

Znomad