by Brad C Baker
“You ssseek a fassst ssship, yesss?” He drawled.
“I do.” Wanda simply replied.
“Ssserpent’sss Tongue isss fassstessst sssloop on the ssseasss,” he sibilantly boasted.
“Sure.” She wasn’t sure if she unconsciously elongated her own ‘s’ with the sibilance of the reptileman’s own accent. She hoped not. “How soon and how much?”
“My name is Captain Ssstrathosss Wave-breaker. I can make ready as soon as required. The cost dependsss on three thingsss. One isss cargo, or passsengersss, or both. Two isss the danger involved – do my crew merely have to hide you, or are they expected to be marinesss? Three is the time of voyage. I value my twenty-eight hand crew. What sssay you?” Sarthos concluded by crossing his arms over his chest in an all-business gesture.
‘Wow, he is professional,’ Wanda thought. “What about women as passengers?”
The reptileman spat on the floor in front of the returning waitress who held Wanda’s water and lime. “That isss a mammillian sssupersssticion.”
“Thank you,” Wanda told the server and tipped them, taking her drink in turn. Then to Sarthos, she added. “Only passengers, unknown time of travel, and maybe, though I’d have to confer with my backers.”
Blue nostrils flared. “Thisss isss a hunt then. I would need an official letter of marque! I refussse to engage in piracy!” He rose abruptly, spun on his heel, then as his tail lashed, he looked back and added, “If you posess those documentsss, then you may bring them for inssspection at dock four, ssslip ten.” Then he strode off.
A letter of marque? Fat chance of that. She would have to talk to Crallick about that one. Too bad too, he seemed a good fit.
“Is this seat taken?” Sultry notes intoned over the singing and the crowd.
With a small shudder of revulsion about the inference, Wanda said, “No thanks, I’m not looking for a companion.”
“But I hear you’re looking for a fast ship,” the dulcet voice amended.
Wanda looked up from her drink to gaze into emerald eyes. Those were framed by copper skin, in turn framed by strikingly scarlet hair.
“That I am,” Wanda acquiesced. She gestured to the seat opposite her.
The woman languidly sat where indicated. She smiled, then roughly grabbed a passing server. “Rum, bring the bottle.”
Wanda looked at the fit, lean human. “I presume you are a captain…?” she let the thought linger in the air.
“Aye, I am. Captain Raquel Firebrand at your service.” She tipped her head in lieu of a bow or curtsy.
The rum arrived. Raquel tore the cork open with her teeth and swilled back a full swig before wiping her mouth with her sleeve then proffering the bottle to Wanda, “So who’m I drinking with?”
“I’m Wanda Swells.” Wanda began.
“Dancer?” Raquel interrupted.
“Sister of Flowwe.” Wanda patiently corrected.
“Good, ‘cause dancers don’t usually have the type of money for the type of voyage you seem to be trying to charter.”
“What makes you say that?” Wanda put out.
“Try this on for size. You need a fast ship, so you’re either running after or away from something. You have no cargo and probably number under half a dozen passengers. You don’t know how long the voyage would likely be so you either have no seaworthy experience, or you don’t know the location of your arrival, which means you are likely chasing something, not running.” Raquel took another draught of rum. “You’re probably evenly matched, or slightly under strength, so you may need my crew as marine protection. But you’re not sure. My brigantine is the fastest on the seas. No boast, no shite. Not the strongest, but damn fast. My crew is seasoned, as am I. But you’ll be paying for the quality. Gems, no minted coins. Also, no letters of marque required. We can leave on the moonlit tide if necessary. Whatever you need, I can provide,” she paused, half-lidded her eyes and breathed, “for a price.”
“I see,” Wanda shuffled in her seat. “You don’t have an issue with women aboard I see. So no premium for female passengers?”
Raquel barked a short laugh. “No, I won’t ding you for having a vagina.” She laughed again, “Some idiots, huh?”
Wanda laughed along with the crass woman, “Yeah, some idiots.” She took another pull of her lime and water and again spoke, “Let me tell you how you did. You have moxy and streetwise skills to case the prospective interview in order to get the rough details of the job. You are smart enough to use maybe some eavesdropping enchantments. You are smart enough to fill in the blanks. You aren’t as charming as you think, though. You confused lack of interest in male wiles as deviance, not devotion. You are crafty enough to present the opportunity for brazen greed to dictate your pitch, ensuring a top price. How is that?”
“Wow, you are cynical, sister,” Raquel mused. “What did you say you did before becoming a cleric?”
“I didn’t,” Wanda tritely stated.
“Well, anyways, after that fat lummox finished breathing over you, I figured that’d be enough to turn any woman gay.” Raquel smiled into her upturning bottle. Gulp. Gulp. “Ahhh. But yeah, you pretty much have the rest. So Are you chartering the Flamerunner, or not?”
“Depends on your price.”
“Two thousand crowns in gems, half up front, plus danger pay and incidentals,” Raquel said.
“That’s twice as much as anyone else would charge!” snarled Crallick, coming up on the booth.
“They’re not as good,” Raquel stated flatly. She squinted at the new arrival. “Have we met?”
“Doubt it,” Crallick growled, taking a seat beside Wanda. He smelt of whiskey.
Wanda rose her hand, palm up towards Crallick’s chin. “This is my backer, Ser Crallick Oakentree.”
“No shit, the butcher of Xod? The High Protector of the realm? I thought you were dead?” Raquel laughed. “Well, shit, if this is the royal coffers, let’s just triple the price right now.” She was positively beaming.
“I was drunk, not dead,” Crallick glared sullenly at Raquel. “I haven’t held or used titles for ten years now.”
“Oh.” Some of the opportunistic mirth left Raquel’s eyes. “Still, once you earn the titles, only the Queen can take them from you.”
“Yeah. I suppose that is true.” Crallick reached over, uninvited, and pulled a slug from the bottle of rum. It hit the tabletop a little harder than it should have. A spiderweb began to dampen the side of the bottle. “I’m trying to rescue my daughter and several other virginal girls who are to be sacrificed to some dark goddess or another. Cut us a fucking break, you greedy… huh?” His mounting tirade had been cut short by a gently placed hand on his arm.
“Hush, Cral. Let her think.”
Raquel glanced at the diminished hero and the caring priestess, and cursed her damnable luck for having a heart at all. She knew she was going to give them a deal. Damn. Damn. Damn. “Damn. Sister, you really know how to kill a girl’s mood. I’ll charge you a thousand up front, and a full fifty percent of the spoils. Not negotiable.”
Wanda grinned and extended her hand, “Great. Done. What time do we meet you at the docks?”
“Four hours from now, if you want to make the moon tide,” Raquel said. She rose, and scribbled a note. “That’s where I’m berthed. See you there.” Then she was gone.
Crallick gave a halfway grin. “Great job recruiting…. Now we just have to figure out how to track them.”
Wanda grimaced. “No Crallick, you need to figure out how to bathe before we set sail on a ship. She checked the note, “I have things to do. Tell Vlados and Hullaboo where we’re to meet.” She handed Crallick the note, patted his hand, shook her head, and then was gone.
Crallick figured he’d just have one more drink.
***
Wanda ran up to the central city fountain a full two hours after they were supposed to meet. Vlados was furious. He was a nice and even-tempered guy, but when you finally got to him, he became a force of rage. His
complexion was almost scarlet. Hullaboo, far more patient, was happily licking the salt out of the moist air and playing with his new spear. The head was steel and it was shod like that halfway down the haft.
“Where have you been!?” she breathily rasped. Sweat beaded her brow, and gave a sheen to her forearms as well. “You were supposed to be dockside an hour ago!”
“Well, so nice to tell us this!” Vlados roared. “Just where the hell have the two of you been!? I’m not some errand boy to be left hanging around!”
Wanda’s perplexed and hurt look took Vlados aback. “Wait, where is Crallick?” she asked.
“With you,” offered Hullaboo, not liking the yelling.
“No, I sent him to get you, then to get to the docks; dock three, slip seven.” Wanda’s eyes widened. “Where is he?”
“Where did you leave him?” Vlados asked. He was trying to reign in his anger by taking deep breaths.
“At The Porpoise’s Pleasure,” Wanda offered. “My goddess, you don’t think he got hurt, do you?”
“Crallick?” scoffed Vlados. “No, but he’s probably shit-faced by now. You left him in a bar. This man has been drinking himself under the table for ten years now.” Vlados sighed heavily, “Nothing to be done about it now but to go and collect his sorry arse.”
“My goddess, I’m so sorry,” Wanda looked distraught, worry sagging the corners of her eyes and mouth. “We found a ship. We were going to set sail on the moon tide. I was so excited to find out the possible destination for the ritual sites of Chessintra, I never stopped to think or even ask how Crallick had been these last years. I just assumed….”
Vlados shut her up. “Quit that. Act like a good priestess and focus on what you do right, and forgive what ends up as shite. Deal?”
Tears had begun to flow from Wanda’s eyes, “Deal.”
Raquel was waiting for them at her berth. A crew of about a score of hands bustled about, rigging and hauling supplies into the hold, and making things fast on the deck. She watched with grim curiosity as her passengers made their way up the dock towards her. A dwarf and a froggle suspended the ‘backer’, Crallick, between them. He was obviously in a drunken stupor. Before the shepherding Wanda could speak, Raquel had turned to her Nekomin first mate and in a hushed tone whispered, “Mr. Tritts, our guests are here. Make ready. Don’t let the crew note the state of that one.”
Mr. Tritts roared his reply, “Ma’am.” Then turned to bellow at any crew that were starting to lollygag at their duties to watch the approaching arrivals. These crewmen quickly bustled off to return their attention elsewhere.
Raquel approached and said, “Quickly, follow me. You can stow him in my cabin ‘til he rouses. Introductions and payment will have to wait until we are underway. We have no time to spare.”
Everyone, sensing her urgency, hustled up the gangway. Crallick was tossed on her cot.
“Release the mainstays!” Raquel hollered.
It was done.
“Gaff sticks and poles. Clear the slip!”
It was done.
“Run out the sweeps!”
The two banks of eight oars bristled out the sides of the ship.
“Clear the harbor, then raise the mains,” Raquel concluded. Then directly to Mr. Tritts, she added, “Come find me when we’re clear of the harbor, I’ll set you your bearing.”
“Aye ma’am,” came his crisp reply.
With that, Raquel turned from the receding lights of Marahaven to enter her cabin, to settle her business with her new passengers.
Chapter Six
“A wood Wyrm gouging miring balls os sticking sap
Stuck the Bannathyr troops fast in the eastern fields
Seaside cliffs were a water dragon's deadly trap
A third drake turned to ash, Bannathyr's mighty shields.”
Verse 7: Ballad of Ser Crallick Carnage-born.
Raquel surveyed the misfit group collected in her cabin. One drunk and passed out Vitani blood hero. One human, one dwarf, and one hulking froggle sitting around her cabin, looking nervous and concerned. Well, it was time to make their voyage feel as pleasant as possible, after business.
“Which of you has my fare?” she asked bluntly.
Wanda nodded towards the cot.
Of course it was. Raquel walked over to the man and, rather unceremoniously, began pawing through his clothes. Coin purse… felt a trifle light; probably travelling coins. Oilskin pouch for papers; upon inspection, she grunted, “So this drunken lummox really IS a knight-ranger of the realm. He even is a Ser, and all that.” Tossing the skin back in the tabard pouch, she continued her search and yielded a bodkin on his ankle. There was a leathery pouch of two… no, wrong type of stones. She grinned sadistically. Finally, hanging from the small of his back, at the crown of his arse, was a pouch of gems!
Pulling the pouch free, she upended it on her desk. She counted out three: a pair of emeralds, and a smaller ruby. She put the rest back in the pouch. Tossing the pouch to Wanda, she explained, “This will do for my fare. When he awakes, tell him we are underway and that his current debt is settled. Expenses accrued during the voyage shall be levied against him at the time of his debarkment.” Raquel nodded, “Agreed?”
“Agreed,” confirmed Wanda. “Our current destination is Fairaway Cove.”
“The southern Pirate Isles?” Raquel looked to confirm.
“Yes,” Wanda smirked. “As opposed to the northern ones?”
Raquel smiled wryly. “Yes, ma’am. There are two independent archipelagoes that are havens for Pirates. They are affectionately known as the northern and southern pirate islands.”
“Oh.”
“That notwithstanding, the southern islands shouldn’t be a problem. If you’ll accompany me,” she gestured at them all, “I’ll get you stowed at your berths.” She led her guests from her cabin and immediately to her left, she opened a plain wooden door. “This is yours,” she addressed Wanda. The door opened into a barely closet-sized room that held only a six-foot cot on one wall, and a fold-down table that allowed the bunk to cleverly be used as a bench as well. There was one shelf that could be used to store effects. A porthole and a hanging lantern provided two options for light.
“This’ll do well enough.” Wanda glanced over at Raquel, “As long as I don’t have to share it.”
Raquel laughed. “No, not at all.”
The cabin beside Wanda’s was twice the size but held four bunks, not one. “This is for the rest of your companions. The Dwarf…”
“Vlados,” he extended his hand by means of introduction. It was accompanied by a cheerful smile.
“And the froggle…” she shook the dwarf’s hand.
“Hullaboo!” he grinned widely, tongue lolling loosely to the top of his britches.
“Right,” Raquel headed up the steep stairs to the deck of the ship. When the others came topside she looked at Wanda while she addressed Mr. Tritts. “Mr. Tritts, please make for Port Fairaway under full sail.”
“Aye, Aye, ma’am.” Then bellowing at the top of his lungs, “Making bearing south, by south-west! Making all sails!”
Turning from her jumping crew, and feeling the sweet salty air moistly kissing her face, Raquel smiled, then walked over to join Wanda at the rails of the aftcastle of the Flamerunner.
“So what makes you figure these people you’re hunting are sailing to Fairaway? There are closer and safer ports of call to be found. How do you figure they’ll run so far south?”
Wanda looked up from the roiling waves. Her eyes twinkled in the silver light. “Well, I’m not all the way certain but I can’t afford to be wrong with this. I did a lot of communion with Flowwe. Also, there is mention in the Bone Diary of a port on a southern island chain that marked the direction to the sacred ziggurat, where the darkest rites could be performed with the most potent results. When you couple that with my suspicion that they’re in possession of the Malefecorum, then Port Fairaway seems to be the most likely destination.”
&n
bsp; “But why?” Raquel put to her. “Assuming they have the sacrifices that they need, why not just make a straight run to the ziggur-thingie? Unless the port is directly on the way?”
“I don’t know. And I figure they don’t either. It hasn’t been viewed by mortal eyes as far as I’m aware.”
Raquel laughed, “You mean to tell me that they’re chasing a faerie tale? Seas below, we’re chasing idiots chasing faerie tales. That’s rich.”
“Well, Raquel, whether you believe in the divine or not, faerie tales or not, there are those who do, and they have abducted thirteen maidens to sacrifice to Chessintra’s amusement. Rich or not, that is why we are hunting them. To save those lives if we can. That rich enough for you?” Wanda held onto the gunwale rail tightly.
“Hey, I meant no insult to the virtue of our mission. I just don’t understand how religious zealots can go off half-cocked without thinking things through. It makes no sense,” Raquel parried.
“What? Sailors don’t set sail for parts unknown for the sake of exploration?” Wanda countered.
“Not without a pretty good idea of a destination; even if you’ve never been before. You at least have a bearing that you keep to, and can return by. Jyslin made sure we can find our way, day or night,” Raquel said.
Wanda smiled in spite of her rising temper. “So you do believe in the divine?”
“Aye. As I said, I’m not pissing on our mission. Why else would I have taken such a lousy fare for such a risky mission?” Raquel feigned being put out.
Now Wanda had to try not to laugh. “I’m sorry, of course, you’re right. I suppose the trip seems quite mad, and very ill-conceived.”
“But noble enough to undertake.” Raquel then lowered her voice. It lost all the levity that it had once held. “But speaking of noble; what of the drunken ser in my cabin? What manner of aid, or hindrance, is he to be?” she somberly concluded.
“Crallick?” Wanda asked first, then heaved a great sigh, punctuated by a rolling wave that lifted the ship along with her unspoken prayer. What would he turn out to be? She would have been swift to answer once, but that was long ago. Now she was gravely uncertain. She looked into the emerald fire of Raquel’s earnest gaze and barely whispered, “I don’t know.”