Kaleon wished he could've stayed asleep.

Just spend the rest of his days floating amongst the empty black. That all ended with a cannonball being dropped onto his stomach.

Kaleon shot up with an oof, "What's-Gumbo?" Gumbo squealed, and Kaleon had to push him back to keep him from licking his face.

"It's good to see you awake." Dashard knelt down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. His eyes were pained and forlorn, but he was steady.

Gumbo hopped out of Kaleons lap so he could sit up. He was lying on the floor of the ballroom. There were no pirates. Acolytes from the Medical Guild scrambled about the room, assisted by what remained of the Manor staff. Their attention was divided between helping the injured on one side of the ballroom and lining up the bodies of the dead on the other. Kaleon didn't know how many there were, but there was too much.

Kaleon noticed a sheet covering something lying beside him. He swallowed hard. "Is that?" Kaleon didn't wait for Dashard to answer, pulling the sheet away and wincing at the sight of Silverhands body.

"Those bullets were meant for me." Dashards voice was hollow and dejected, "You shouldn't have tried to get in front of me like that...he shouldn't have either."

Kaleon took a second to respond, replaying what he remembered last. He quickly looked around, "Where's Rynnelle? I just saw her. Is she alright?" He looked at Dashard, but his friend couldn't meet his eyes. Gumbo wined softly. "Dee," Kaleon asked again, a lump forming in his throat, "Where is she?"

Dashard hung his head, "I-"

"Dashard!" Lord Reinard rushed up to them, and following after him was Ehsan Telib, the Dicina in charge of the Teons Branch of the Medical Guild. "Dashard, we need to leave! Right now!"

"Lord Reinard, please hold on!" Ehsan was an exceedingly round man, the thinnest thing about him being the pencil mustache and beard on his face. Kaleon had always known him to be a jolly man with prominent laugh lines running down his face. Now, the man looked like he was about to have a stroke.

Lord Reinard stopped before Dashard, breathing heavily, "I want you and these other Captains to gather whatever officers are left standing so we can go after them."

Dashard gave the Lord a long, sad look, unsure how to respond. "Lord Reinard I-"

"No!" Lord Reinard yelled, lightning crackling through his hair. He jabbed a finger into Dashards chest, almost knocking him over, "Son, I don't want any of your excuses. Send some officers to put the word out. We need Cumulo-class ships. Admirals. Every Treasure your damned Guild has hoarded away! We are going out to find her. Do you understand me?"

"Lord Reinard," Dicina Ehsan said carefully, reaching to put a steadying hand on the Lord's shoulder and put himself between the two. "I understand that you're upset, but right now, we have more pressing things that we have to attend to before-"

"More pressing?!" Lord Reinard snapped, slapping Ehsan's hands away to wheel on him, "They killed Gaspar, and we're not even sure of how many else, then they took my daughter, Ehsan. Those bastards took my little girl!" Lord Reinard yelled so loud the idle chatter in the room grew quiet as everyone turned to him. "What could possibly be more pressing than getting her back safe!"

Kaleon had to keep himself from going into a spiral. Gaspar was gone. Why did he try to help fight the pirates? It was stupid for him to run in here like that. He should've just found another healer.

"Lord Reinard," Ehsan said in a firm voice that broke Kaleon and Lord Reinard's train of thought. He leaned in close, lowering his voice to a whisper. You know I loved Rynnelle as if she were my own, and I'm sure Dashard will do everything in his power to find her." Ehsan looked at Dashard, who nodded. "But right now, we have a lot of frightened people, and I need your help keeping calm."

Lord Reinard paused, opening his mouth but biting his lip to keep himself from talking. He nodded, then Dashard added, "Lord Reinard, you have my word that I'll do everything in my power to bring Rynnelle home safely. You have my word."

Lord Reinard looked at Dashard, nodded, and then his gaze slid right past Kaleon and Gumbo to Silverhand. What remained of the helpless frustration that he, and to some degree Kaleon himself, washed away. Kaleon had spent most of his adult life learning to read Lord Reinard's emotions. It was an important skill to have, especially when he already hated your guts and wanted an excuse to kick you out of his home. Kaleon knew this look, too, even though the Lord tried to hide it. It was fear. For what? Kaleon had no clue, but whatever political schemes Lord Reinard cooked up died with Silverhand.

"Are you hurt?" Ehsan asked.

Kaleon paused, waiting for someone to answer the Dicina, and then realized Ehsan was talking to him. "What? Oh, no, I'm fine." That was true enough. Kaleon wanted Ehsan and the Acolytes to spend time treating those needing real help. Ehsan nodded, accepting the response, but leaned over to study Kaleons face. "Or at least I feel fine?” Kaleon amended nervously, “Is something wrong?"

Ehsan kept his eyes on him for a moment longer, then settled them on Dashard, studying him for a moment as well before answering, "No...no, all things considering, you both seem well enough, but make sure you get checked by an Acolyte before leaving." Ehsan glanced at Silverhand, opened his mouth as if to say something, thought better of it, then stood back up. Ehsan turned to Lord Reinard, "Let's see if we can find the rest of the guests hiding within the Manor."

Gumbo whined as they watched Ehsan lead Lord Reinard away. "It doesn't make sense," Dashard growled and stood up. "Why would they take Rynnelle? As a hostage?" He ran a hand through his hair and panned his gaze around the ballroom, talking to himself more than Kaleon. Eventually, he looked down. With a conflicted smile, he offered Kaleon a hand, "You made a difference here today. This makes you a hero, believe it or not."

Kaleon‘s eyes widened, and he slapped Dashard's hand away. The reaction was so quick it took a second for both of them to register what he’d just done. Kaleon stared at his hand, slowly closing it into a fist, "I'm not."

His voice came out more bitter than he'd meant it. Dashard was trying to help, as any good friend would. But to call Kaleon a hero? He couldn’t allow that. Not after all these people died. Not after they took Rynnelle. Dashard was right. It didn’t make sense. Silverhand said the pirates wanted Kaleon and the lantern. They got the lantern, but why be satisfied with taking Rynnelle? And, more importantly, where would they go?

Gumbo nudged him, but Kaleon shook his head, gently nudging him away. Kaleon punched the ground as he got his feet under him. Dashard silently watched Kaleon kneel over Silverhand and look him over.

"I know this is far from stumbling on protection rackets and some theft rings, but you held your own here, Kal. Far more than anyone could have expected you to. I know..." Dashard hesitated, trying to think of the right words. "I know these last few years have been hard on you, and I'm a big part of that, but when people ran to hide, you came to help. You're a lot braver than you give yourself credit for."

Kaleon took a deep breath, biting his tongue, not trusting what he might say. He spoke anyway, "You've got it all wrong, Dashard. I'm not brave, and I'm definitely not a hero." Kaleon felt drained. He hadn't lied to Ehsan; physically, he was fine, but there was a weariness inside of him that was soul-deep. "This wouldn't have I wasn't here. Lord Reinard told me that I should leave, and he was right. There's no reason for me to be here anymore, and I doubt anyone would miss me when I'm gone."

Kaleon paused, knowing his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth. He glanced at Dashard out of the corner of his eye, seeing the hurt in his eyes even if he kept it off his face.

"I didn't mean that. I mean...I don't know what I mean." Kaleon ran his hand down his face.

Dashard was just trying to cheer him up, and Kaleon was making an already difficult night worse. But what could he say? Hey old pal, you know that box I was clinging for life to when you pulled me out of the Iega? Yeah, the lantern the pirates wanted was in that, and it’s me they wanted. So they took Rynnelle by accident, and everyone's deaths are my fault. Dashard would think he suffered some mental break and probably wouldn't be entirely wrong. No, the only person that could get them any answers was dead.

Kaleon looked at Silverhands body again, and his last words echoed through his mind, 'Just remember.' Remember what? Was he talking about his favor? Kaleon studied Silverhands robes, absently pulling at his wrists.

"What are you looking for?" Dashard asked after a few silent moments.

"Oh, It's nothing, really. I'm surprised you didn't put more cuffs on him, is all."

"I did." Dashard huffed and tapped the medal on his chest twice. Glowing glyphs shimmered into existence to cover the robe, "The robes are the cuffs. I had them enchanted to my personal badge so he couldn't break out of them easily," He stepped forward to stand beside Kaleon to look over the body. "I just don’t get it,” Dashard said under his breath.

Kaleon sensed that he was talking more to himself, but he asked anyway, “You don’t get what?”

“Why he didn’t run when he had the chance,” Dashard said quietly, his gaze fixed on Silverhand, "And why he’d risk his life to save us.”

“Oh,” Kaleon said, hearing the subtle inflection Dashard put on the word us, even if he wanted to me. He didn’t have to look at Dashard to tell how his friend felt. The pirate he’d been obsessed with for years came back and died all in the same evening. If that was confusing enough, he died saving your life. That was bound to make anyone feel mixed emotions. “I think he was a lot more complicated than anyone knew.” Kaleon offered, hoping that his sour mood didn’t infect Dashard.

The pair sat in silence for a long time. The Acolytes and Manor staff hurriedly moved about the ballroom, treating and excusing the guests who had suffered little injury compared to those who needed serious medical attention. A group of officers had even started to dispose of the bodies to make room for the surplus of injured guests. They almost tried to take Silverhands body but backed off after seeing the faces of Kaleon and Dashard.

The entire time, Kaleon couldn't help but think of the favor Silverhand had asked of him. It seemed small at the time, especially considering what was happening. Still, it felt more like Silverhand was setting him up for the punchline of a terrible joke. There was no telling what the angle had been. Even still, Kaleon wasn’t about to disrespect the last wishes of the dead.

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“Can you take it off? The enchantment, I mean.”

Dashard looked at him with a raised eyebrow, “I can, why?”

“He asked me to take his cuffs off if he…well, you know,” Kaleon said, feeling slightly embarrassed at the request, “He said it was something about it affecting his reputation. I’m not sure how that correlates, but it was the last thing he asked me to do.”

Dashard looked at him a little longer, and Kaleon could see the mountain of questions forming in the Captain's mind. Ones that Kaleon hoped he’d be able to answer, at least to some degree.

Instead of asking questions, Dashard tapped the medal on his chest thrice. The glyphs on Silverhand’s robes glowed brighter, then popped like overfilled balloons. Kaleon gingerly removed the robes covering Silverhands torso and paused, “Wow.”

Sounding genuinely surprised, Dashard said, “That’s…not something you see every day.”

Bulging black veins raced across Silverhands body, from twisting around his arms and neck to where they disappeared into his pants. Kaleon could partially make out scars, but it was too hard to tell underneath all the veins. What stood out to Kaleon, however, was the vibrant tattoo on Silverhands chest. Shifting clouds hid underneath the veins on Silverhands chest and upper arms. Kaleon moved him to his side, eyes widening as he made out the scope of the tattoo. Seven gaping holes and a network of black veins kept Kaleon from figuring out exactly what the piece was, even if he could tell it took up his entire back. The only thing Kaleon could immediately tell was that the tattoo was magical.

Magic tattoos were common, even in the farther reaches of the Iega where Teon was. As far as Kaleon knew, there were two kinds.

The first created a static image that could store a single spell. That allowed a lot more versatility and was the most common among the two types. Whatever spell was stored didn't cost any magic to cast but couldn't be used again until it recharged.

As for the second, which Kaleon strongly believed Silverhand to have had, they were complex and expensive masterworks of art and magic. Whatever the tattoos depicted moved as if real, only limited by the canvas of a person’s skin. Kaleon had seen a few experienced sailors and fishermen have them, usually depicting their loved ones or their biggest catches. Still, they never were larger than his thumb. Silverhands tattoo was on a scale Kaleon had never even heard of before.

From over his shoulder, Dashard asked, "Let me see those robes."

Kaleon sighed. He hoped Silverhand had one last trick up his sleeve, but he didn't know what he was expecting to happen. Kaleon stood up and handed the robes to Dashard, who started rifling through them. "What're you looking for?"

"He had a necklace I wanted to take a look at." Dashard turned the robes inside out and over again. Checking the pockets to make sure he wasn't missing anything. "Do you see his Chart?"

Kaleon shook his head, "No, I guess the tattoo covered it. Have you ever seen one that big before? It had to cost a fortune."

“Yeah, a stolen one,” Dashard said, a hitch of frustration in his voice as he rechecked the robes. “Where could he have put it? There’s no way he hid it around the Manor.”

“Why does the necklace matter?” Kaleon asked.

“It doesn’t,” Dashard huffed as he gave up his search. “But it had a pair of rings that I think were Silverhands favo’elares. I don’t know how, but those pirates knew him. It’s a stretch, but maybe if we find out who his family is, they could help point us to where they took Rynnelle.”

As the two talked, Gumbo sniffed around Silverhands body, tilting his head to either side. He raised his two forepaws and slapped them on Silverhands forehead.

Silverhand's body was as straight as a board, but it shot his feet.

The room froze as Kaleon and Gumbo screamed and jumped back into Dashard, preventing him from drawing his sword.

Silverhand turned to look at Kaleon and Dashard. Pinpricks of gold sat in a sea of black ichor that covered the eye.

Kaleon's mind raced to try to piece together what was happening. If this was a trick, it was a damn good one. This could’ve been some reanimating spell set to activate on his death. Or maybe that black ooze inside Silverhand was making him into some living dead like the shadow pirates.

Silverhand started to blink his eyes. Each time, a little bit of the black was cleared away until his eyes were clear. He looked around with a disoriented look on his face like he was trying to remember where he was.

“Silverhand?” Kaleon asked hesitantly.

A silver hand of wind appeared, holding up a single finger as if to say, ‘Hold on a moment.’ Silverhand turned on his heel to face away from them and threw up.

Gallons of that oily black liquid pooled on the marble floor. Smoke rose from the liquid as the pool evaporated, filling the air with that nauseating odor of death and decay.

Almost every eye in the ballroom watched in equal part disgust and fascination as Silverhand expelled the liquid shadows. On the other hand, Kaleon and Dashard starred at Silverhands back. The black veins that ran across his back started to recede, and the entry wounds from where the bullets struck began to close, leaving the tattoo unobstructed.

Now that it was clear of the holes and veins, the tattoo on Silverhands back had the same feeling as looking out a picture rather than a picture. Shifting violet, scarlet, orange, and gold clouds meandered through an open sky painted the same color by a brilliant sunrise on the horizon overlooking the crashing waves of an endless sea. The view was breathtaking. So real, Kaleon felt like he could stretch out his hand and touch the water. Kaleon squinted when he thought he spied pinpricks of flashing lights throughout the work, but it was hard to make out with everything going on in the piece.

Silverhand thumped a fist to his chest and loudly burped before saying, “Oh yeah, that’s top ten, maybe top five of the worst ways to go.” Silverhand said to no one in particular as he wiped his mouth with a silver cloud hand, “Top three of the worst things I’ve tasted, though. Didn’t think anything would beat Bwidode meat.”

Ignoring the growing crowd's wide-eyed and slackjawed stares around him, Silverhand walked to the middle of the quickly evaporating black liquid. “Gross gross gross ahh, here we go.”

He plucked a small lump from the middle of the pool, shaking it off to reveal a necklace with two rings and a feather. “Can’t leave without that. Now to get that ship.” Silverhand looked around as if finally noticing the people staring, “Hey, any of y’all seen Rynnelle?” No one responded, “Well, don’t all go and speak at once. C’mon people, real pretty, about this tall with green eyes and a bit of a mean streak. I know someone had to have seen where she went.”

When nobody spoke again, Silverhand sighed exasperatedly before looking around and locking eyes with Kaleon. “Seabreeze! My man, thanks for the save. I owe you one. Two if you help me find Rynnelle or a ship.”

Kaleon closed his eyes tight and shook his head in disbelief. Of all the crazy things to happen tonight, this was the most insane. This was a trick, and Kaleon wasn’t ashamed to say he had no idea how he was pulling it off. He looked too alive for it to have been a normal necromancy spell, and resurrection magic was so rare it might as well be exclusive to the Gods. It had to be an illusion. Yeah, that was the only answer that made sense.

Kaleon's eyes opened as Silverhand tapped him on the forehead, destroying his illusion theory. “Kinda need an answer sooner rather than later, Seabreeze. Everyone’s looking at me like they’ve seen a ghost.”

Kaleon jumped back away from Silverhands reach, “Because,” He gestured to Silverhands half-naked body as if that was the answer. "I mean, what?!"

"I know, right? It's like they've never seen a good-looking person before." Silverhand chuckled as Gumbo slowly crept forward. The familiar took an experimental sniff of his foot and scrambled back to hide behind Kaleon.

"I think what he means," Dashard took a step and drew his sword, pointing it at Silverhands throat. "Why aren't you dead."

Silverhand gave Dashard a withering look, "Because I missed your charming personality." To Kaleon, he said, "Seriously though, where's Rynnelle? No offense to you, Seabreeze, but I'm pretty sure I've overstayed my welcome."

The Acolytes tried to regain some semblance of order in the ballroom. A handful of Navy officers were present, but most suffered from one injury or another. They still treated the guests as fast as possible, but a bottleneck started forming as people kept eyeing Silverhand.

"She's gone. Taken by your friends." Dashard growled, the irritation in his voice slowly rising. He pressed the sword into Silverhands neck. "Now, if you think you're leaving before-"

"Let's get a few things straight here, Captain Chin," Silverhand interrupted, rolling his eyes to look at Dashard. He stepped forward, letting the sword tip sink into his neck. Dashard backed off, withdrawing his sword and splattering blood on the tile. Kaleon and Dashard watched as the wound closed.

Silverhand never took his eyes off Dashard. "What happened here was a tragedy, I mean that. I'll say a prayer for them, for what it's worth," His intense gaze softened. His voice showed genuine sincerity, but then the intensity snapped back into place.

"But I'm not here for that. I'm only here because Rynnelle promised I could get a ship without going through your lot. That would've been fun before, but now..." Silverhand made a show of looking around them, then leaned forward to whisper so only Dashard and Kaleon could hear, "It would feel like kicking a Kijazuri while it's down."

Dashards face was reserved, but his eyes glared cold fury at Silverhand. Silverhand grinned, winked at Kaleon, and locked his fingers behind his head. They quietly watched as he walked past them toward the door. The growing crowd gave him a wide birth.

"Here's what's going to happen." Silverhand spun on his heel to look back at them. We're going to get out of here so the Meds can do their job. You're going to take me to get my stuff," he said, indicating to Dashard, "And you're going to keep your daughter's end of our deal."

Silverhand looked into a random spot in the crowd of onlookers. They parted to reveal a wide-eyed Lord Reinard, who would’ve otherwise gone unnoticed if Silverhand pointed him out. The tiny Lord had the same expression as a kid caught red-handed in a cookie jar. An uneasy smile spread across his face, “Why, of course, I would-“

“Great.” Silverhand interrupted and put his eyes back on Dashard, arching a questioning eyebrow, “Now that that’s all settled, you coming? Or are we gonna have a problem?”

The ballroom was so quiet you could hear a feather drop. Kaleon frantically looked between Silverhand and Dashard. The only reason they hadn’t fought already was because of Rynnelle. Without her, it looked to Kaleon like the question of if they’d fight changed to when. Kaleon wanted to step in between them, but he felt like having their flares focused on him would make him spontaneously combust.

After what felt like an eternity, Dashard said, “Okay.”

Kaleon and Gumbo's mouths opened so wide he thought his jaw hit the floor, “Okay?!”

“Okay,” Dashard repeated and put his sword in its sheathe. He clasped his hands behind his back and strode over to Silverhand, who eyed him suspiciously, “If there’s one thing you’re right about, it’s that we need to let the Acolytes do their job. If you want your belongings, you’ll have to come with me to the Base.”

There was a pause as Silverhand considered that, and Kaleon could almost feel the tension calcify on his skin. The remaining officers had discreetly put themselves between Silverhand and the crowd. At the same time, the Acolytes worked as fast as they could to disperse the crowd in case things went south.

Silverhand shrugged, “Lead the way, officer.”

“Captain.” Dashard annoyingly corrected.

“Whatever.”

Instead of arguing, Dashard shook his head, and the pair headed for the door with everyone clearing out of their way.

Lord Reinard took his time following after them, even though he tried to make it look like the opposite. He panned his gaze across the ballroom, pain evident behind his eyes as he looked at each distraught face. When Lord Reinard's gaze found Kaleon, it took on a different expression. The pain was still there, but shame and aggravation were right behind it. Without saying a word, he went after Silverhand and Dashard.

Kaleon still stood apart from everyone else in the ballroom. Gumbo whined and looked up at him, but Kaleon focused on Silverhand and Dashard. It was no short of a miracle they hadn’t fought, especially since he was too timid to try to stop it from escalating.

As they’d come to terms, a question popped into Kaleons mind, even if he tried to ignore it. He’d done the favor, but what exactly was he supposed to do now? Wallow in self-pity? Tempting as that was, Kaleon refused to go down that route. It’s not like he had a lot of options. He wanted to stay and help in the relief efforts, but if the pirates figured out it was him they were after, that would lead them back here. Besides that, he could finally take Lord Reinard’s suggestion. Forget about Teon and find another place to call home, preferably with more than two people who could stand to be around him. It would’ve been the best and only real option Kaleon had. Except that would mean forgetting Dashard and abandoning Rynnelle.

Kaleon's eyes fell on the horizon at Silverhand's back. He could almost hear the whistling wind and crashing waves. As if the Iega itself was calling him. That same rough and leathery voice echoed out to Kaleon again, “Stay the course, boy,”

“Or,” Kaleon whispered under his breath as he started to walk after Silverhand, Dashard, and Lord Reinard, “I could take option three.”