“Stacey, what is this? Where did this come from?” I asked the girl mesmerized when I understood what just happened—by giving the ship a special name, Stacey had completely altered the history of the crew we’d hired. If before Lom was an ordinary, if a rather hale, person, now he was a Myrmidon—a modified Naga. And no one was one bit surprised by this beside me and Plinto—who hummed several times upon seeing the updated crew and shook his head. Barliona’s Imitators adjusted to the new histories of these thirty-five people very quickly, smoothly integrating it into this world.
“Nashlazar told it to me when she turned me into a Siren. It was long ago, but there wasn’t an occasion to use this little move. When I was in Phoenix, everything belonged to my dad. I couldn’t afford a castle, but this ship…Now I have some Myrmidons of my own!” Stacey said satisfied, looking almost loving at how the serpentine creatures slithered along the vessel.
“Yeah, Stace…” said Plinto, “it’s been a while since I’ve been this…let’s say…surprised, although a better word would do here. Sailing with beauties like this is a sheer pleasure…Shall we set out to sea?”
“Let’s do it,” Stacey nodded and yelled in my direction: “Captain! Weigh anchor and cast off! Vraanakush is setting out on her maiden voyage!”
* * *
“State the purpose of your visit to Cadis?” The customs inspector asked, jotting down our answers into a thin ledger. Calran had warned us that all new ships had to undergo a customs inspection—even if their owner was Grygz himself. Why this was done and who had thought of this, no one remembered, but the city Mayor dutifully sent his people to check, knowing full well that they wouldn’t find anything. Or rather, if they do find something, they’d be bribed—Calran even gave us the prices: 10 gold for a slave, 5 for tobacco, 100 for improperly filed papers. And of course the papers were always filed improperly, even if the inspectors themselves had filed them—such was tradition, and on the seas, tradition is a serious affair.
“To make an appearance, show off our fine new rigging and check out what’s going on,” I replied, placing my wallet on the table with a hundred gold in it.
“Showing off is a noble purpose,” the inspector said officiously, as the wallet vanished from the table. “In that case, we will write as follows: ‘tourism.’ You can dock the ship at that berth over there,” the customs inspector pointed to the side, but I didn’t even bother looking. I had Lom for that.
“Ahoy, vagabond!” the Three Squids bouncer greeted us when we entered his sight. He’d spent two hours driving us insane, barring us from entering as ordinary players, but as soon as we got our hands on a ship: ‘Ahoy!’ “Drop anchor in my gullet if it isn’t the scourge of the seas!”
“When I get my powers back,” Plinto muttered under his nose, “I’ll show you an ‘ahoy!’ And the fact that I can’t kill you won’t matter either.”
“Before I let you inside,” said the guard, as if he didn’t remember us at all, “there is one formality we must take care of. Please show your ship license and piracy patent, if you could be so kind!”
Plinto and Zlatan stayed outside—only captains were allowed to enter—and I could tell by looking at the Rogue’s face that he was going to come up with some way to erase this bouncer from Barliona’s history—Plinto never forgives so easily. Could the reference to the swallow have been about the ship and not him after all? Had I confused something?
The Three Squids was crammed full—about forty people, goblins, elves and various other races of Barliona were all crowded in an area of ten square meters. It was astonishing how they’d all fit into this hall, as well as that they were all happily chatting, drinking beer, arguing and yelling.
“Look, newbies!” yelled the pirate closest to us, regarding us with a drunken eye. “They’re Freemies to boot! Who let Freemies into our tavern?!”
As if at the wave of a magic wand, the clamor died and forty pair of eyes and eye-patches fixed on us. The silence was so oppressive that I found nothing better to say than:
“Ahoy, vagabonds! Did you not expect a Free Captain? We’re a new breed! Remember my name—I am Mahan, captain of Vraanakush! Drinks are on me—we need to celebrate our arrival to this port!”
“Drinks are on Mahan!” echoed approving cries, cautiously here and there. “I’ll have one too! Spare no expense—don’t you see the Earl is moneyed! A toast to the captain of Vraanakush!”
It took the tavern a minute to decide that if we’re willing to pay for the drinks, then we can stay. And since we can stay, then there’s no point in paying attention to us. Who cares why an Earl decided to become a pirate? It’s his personal business ultimately …
“Grgyz wishes to speak with you,” a voice sounded in my ear. I started but beside Evolett and Anastaria there was no one beside me.
“Catch, captain,” the voice sounded again and I realized that it was coming from above me. Looking up, I couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise—four Level 400 Assassins were hanging over our heads, wrapped from head to toe in a dark material. Their eyes, which even the ninjas leave unobstructed, were covered with blindfolds. Four dark figures were hanging upside down, like bats, and one of them was indicating three thick tow lines hanging from the ceiling. Grabbing one of these cables I felt the floor receded beneath me—in one sharp jerk I was lifted into the air without anyone wondering whether I had gotten a good grip or not.
The Three Squids turned out to be a tavern with a surprise. The main floor, accessible to any captain, was filled with a celebrating crowd of pirates who’d come to the tavern. But on the second floor, situated almost right under the roof and hidden from the rest by a magic screen and a fake ceiling, the mighty of the pirate world had gathered. I say ‘mighty’ because Grygz, who turned out to be a normal person despite his strange name, was at Level 500. Yet another Emperor, albeit of a unique Empire—that of the pirates.
“I heard you really stuck it to Narlak,” Grygz said in a low voice. In his appearance he didn’t look much different from Calran—he was large, muscle-bound, covered in scars and bare-chested as if the chief designer of these characters was a young lady with certain ideas of the male physique.
“Yes, I can’t say I’ve managed to become friends with the Nameless Council,” Evolett replied, since it was clear whom the pirate leader was addressing.
“Very good,” Grygz said slowly. “I also heard that you saved Calran from the noose.”
“No—from prison. We never even saw the noose,” I replied, since this time the pirate was speaking to me.
“And you plundered the Narlak treasure vault along your way,” Grygz said emphatically, as if this information wasn’t news to him.
“Narlak owed us for the time we’d spent in prison, and we couldn’t well ignore such a howling injustice…”
“Dan, try to be more serious. This doesn’t feel like a friendly meeting. They’re about to spring something on us.”
“Owed indeed,” smirked Grygz, propped his elbow against his chair’s armrest and began to think aloud:
“Several months ago we received a report that someone had earned Hatred status with Narlak. I became curious and decided I’d like to meet such a desperate band of people. Afterwards, I was told that there were now two groups from two different Empires, which interested me even more. A very strange coincidence. I have had quarrels with Narlak for a long time, and fresh blood could come in handy…”
Grygz fell silent as if gathering his thoughts and at this point, I realized what he was getting at. Understanding that I was taking a huge risk and that if I was wrong Anastaria and Evolett would have my hide, I said:
“And that is precisely why we’re here. I understand that you wish to maintain a neutral status with Geranika and that you periodically perform small errands for him. I’m sure you knew full well that Calran would not be harmed—Geranika would not hurt your right-hand man. Perhaps, he merely wished to scare him a bit to keep him away from his city. But if we don’t stop that mad Lord
of Shadow, in a month, Barliona will be plunged in utter darkness. And not the same kind that you find in Kartoss—no—an entirely other kind of darkness which is the enemy of all that lives. To use Shadows and to be a Shadow are two absolutely different things, and this is precisely why we are here. We’re not here to satisfy your curiosity. I have a ship and a crew, but it’s not enough. We need another dozen ships. No one sails into Shadow unassisted, right? I’m not asking you to act officially—I want to hire you as ordinary mercenaries and take all the responsibility myself.”
A silence followed as Grygz considered my words. At last came the reply:
“Geranika promised to make me and my people immortal for handing over you and your companions to him. Can you offer me anything better than that?”
Chapter Ten. The Secondary Power
“I HAVE something I can offer,” Anastaria spoke up, drawing Grygz’s attention to herself. “They say you like unique items. Here is a list. All this could be yours.”
The pirate leader glanced at the list offered to him and smirked:
“You wish to offer me some trifles in exchange for immortality? You, madam, must be as stupid as you are pretty.”
“Just take a look before you make your decision,” Stacey parried. “I’m not asking you to agree right away.”
“Agree to what?” Grygz asked surprised. “At the moment, I am looking at three captains of two vessels who thanks to Calran have acquired piracy patents and wish to hire me and my people as mercenaries. Meanwhile, Geranika’s offer is that I hand two of you over to him. What is there to agree to? And another thing…You know, Siren, your fame has reached even Cadis, so I can even name three of the items on that list without looking at it. Those would be the Horn of Priol, the Scroll of Razmuradji and the Lirenean Shade—all of these items were once located in Dungeons which I can tell by simply looking at your face you have completed. No doubt the list you are offering me contains another three items that would suffice for me and my officers, but you have made a mistake. It would be stupid to trade immortality for unique, but ultimately simple items. But, okay, I will take a look.” Grygz took the document, glanced at it and burst out laughing. “I see I should consider a career as an antiquarian!”
“Checkmate,” Anastaria’s thought occurred in my mind. “It seems that the info I have on this guy isn’t very good…Oops. Dan, you gotta save us.”
“Save you? What’s with the list? What did you offer him?”
“The stuff that my dad gave me after our raids. I’ll show you the items later. They’re in the bank. I offered him three Legendaries and three Uniques…”
“I believe that Anastaria began the conversation on the wrong foot.” Deciding that I’d talk to Stacey later, I redirected the pirates’ attention back on myself. “Geranika is offering immortality and it’s almost impossible to offer anything much more valuable. But only almost. Grygz, surely you understand better than most how it is the Lord of Shadow will make you ‘immortal.’ He’ll turn you into Shades and you will spend all eternity casting about the world doing his bidding. You’ll have neither freedom, nor free will. There will be nothing but Geranika’s bidding. If that suits you, then I don’t understand why he’s not here already, nor why we’re still talking. But since we are, I’d like to offer you something else, something similar to immortality. I offer you memory…The eternal remembrance of heroes that will live for many centuries.”
“Remembrance?” Grygz echoed with amusement. “I will already be remembered as the leader of the mightiest pirate fleet in all of history!”
“And then one day, one of your successors will assemble a larger fleet…No! I am offering you the chance to enter the pages of history as the vanquisher of the squidolphin!”
“What?” Grygz froze.
“What?” Anastaria asked simultaneously.
“I’m offering to help you kill the squidolphin. Even if Geranika makes you immortal while allowing you to hang onto your body, a sea monster like the squidolphin won’t leave you in peace. More so if you’re immortal—it’ll consume your ship and then you’ll spend the rest of eternity on the seabed or in its gullet recalling the good all days without even having the option of being properly digested. Some immortality that will be. Does languishing in stomach acids for thousands of years strike you as fun?”
Quest completed: ‘Pirate fraternity. Step 1: Getting acquainted.’ Rewards: ‘Pirate Fraternity. Step 2: Thar she blows!’ +1000 Reputation with the Pirates of the South Seas and Grygz’s ship for killing the squidolphin.
Quest available ‘Pirate fraternity. Step 2: Thar she blows!’
“Hmm…” I heard Evolett say, as the quest update notification flashed before his eyes. Once again, the reward and penalty varied and the quest came with the same clan restrictions—but at least we had made progress. All that was left was to catch the squidolphin and the pirates would be on our side.
“Your turn, Stacey. I need to know everything there is to know about this monster. It’s not possible that there’s no information to be had about it.”
“One doesn’t utter words like this in vain, Free Citizen,” Grygz said pensively, playing his role to a T. “You have three days to kill the beast. I will give you ten ships from my personal fleet and will come with you myself. Anyone willing can join our hunt and if we succeed, we will discuss a campaign against Armard. But no sooner…The countdown begins the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, I invite you and your spouse to our meeting. I will announce what you said there and then…Now go—I must think!”
“Grab the line,” said the voice from above me, but I was already ready for this means of conveyance. This was better than being sent to Geranika in a cage. I wonder if he could have come to take us or whether that would have constituted a violation of the players’ rights to free movement. Or perhaps in this scenario these rights would no longer apply? Damn it! What am I thinking about? I have a hunting expedition ahead of me!
“In that case, I’m headed back to training,” Plinto announced as soon as I told him what we had agreed to. “You can catch the fishy without me just fine. What about you, Stacey?”
“Thanks but no thanks—Nashlazar can wait! The name itself—squidolphin—makes me want to see it with my own eyes, and knowing Mahan, he’ll stumble on it for sure.”
“Shall we make bets?” quipped Plinto. “Let’s see who knows our boss better?”
“What?!” Anastaria exclaimed. “A bet?”
“Should I maybe step out or something?” I grinned, but no one paid attention to me.
“Let’s put it in writing!” said Plinto. “And we’ll let a third party hold onto the betting document—may as well be Mahan actually. We won’t even look to see what the other wrote. The result will speak for us.”
“What do you wager?” Anastaria asked. I never imagined that she had such a taste for gambling. She seemed unshakeable to me, but in the company of Plinto, the Iron Lady turned into some monster that didn’t resemble my Stacey.
“Me?” Plinto took his time thinking and then continued: “My swallow.”
“WHAT?!”
Besides Stacey and me, Evolett and Zlatan also exclaimed in astonishment.
“My swallow,” Plinto shrugged. “I’ve had plenty of time to study our boss, so I’m pretty confident about what he’ll do. In two days, you’ll see that I’m right…”
“If I lose the wager, you can have the Kalrinian tear,” Anastaria said enigmatically. Judging by Evolett’s and Zlatan’s stunned expressions, they understood exactly what she was talking about.
“Activated?” Plinto inquired.
“Of course not. How will we check to see who was more accurate?”
“We’ll sign a betting contract and load an Imitator. It’ll determine who was closer to the truth.”
“Guys have you lost your marbles?” I yelled when all of this had finally ceased to amuse me. It’s cool and all when people make bets about you—as long as it’s in jest. But Anastaria and Plinto were
going too far and this was no longer resembling a joke at all.
“Do you agree with my conditions?” asked Plinto, ignoring my objection. It looked like the Rogue had already sent Stacey the contract.
“In full!”
“Stacey, stop!” Realizing that no one was listening to me, I resorted to my other ‘channel.’
“Dan, it’s okay…This little know-it-all needs to be punished…I’ll send you all there is to know about that dolphin in two days! Don’t spoil my victory!”
“Stacey!”
“The question’s closed! Sorry Dan, but this argument goes back a long time for me. The chance to win Plinto’s phoenix comes around once in a lifetime. Don’t meddle and focus on the game.”
Utterly stunned, I watched Anastaria scribble on a piece of paper how she envisioned I would deal with the squidolphin. For the first time since our virtual wedding, Stacey was acting against me, placing her personal desires ahead of what was best for us. Perhaps she’d done it earlier too, but never so obviously…I don’t even know…This was an unpleasant feeling…
“Here, boss,” said Plinto, pulling me back to the game and handing me two folded papers. “Keep these safe like they were your birth certificates. And don’t look at them. We could have used another player, the mail, the Bank or a simple contract, but it’s cooler if you’re involved.”
“Uh-huh, we’ll see how you handle yourself,” Stacey smiled, as if she hadn’t put me in my place a moment ago.
“First of all, you can both go to hell,” I said through my teeth, taking the two notes and putting them in my bag. So they place bets on me and assume I’ll play along like a good boy? Thanks but no thanks. “Neither of you will get bonuses for the next three months. I realize it’s dumb to punish a player who bought a ship with her own money, but…Imitator, please record my words. Second of all, neither one of you will be a part of this quest. Stacey, your ship is moored at the wharf. Figure out how to sail it yourself. Remove me from its settings. Tomorrow at my meeting with Grygz, I’ll request that he exclude you from the hunting party. Plinto—I’m sorry that I distracted you from your training with the Patriarch, but you are free to return to him. I hope that Evolett will take me aboard his ship,” I glanced over at the man who’d grown serious in the meanwhile and received a supportive nod in response. Well that’s good at least! “Third of all—guys, I have a lot of respect for you as players, but as people, what you just did was very…Well, you’re simply insane!”
The Karmadont Chess Set (The Way of the Shaman: Book #5) LitRPG series Page 29