“Who were those men?” he asked.
“He used to be on the Typhoon. I kicked him off my ship. Gets drunk and wants to prove a point or something.” She said almost too casually. Skree raised an eyebrow.
“Was he a friend?”
“That's one way of putting it. I grew up with him, was a decent bloke back then. When I took over the Typhoon, I invited him into my crew. We came across a sinking ship and weren’t willing to let them drown. So we threw the survivors in the hold. That night, he drank himself stupid, got aggressive with one of our guests, and she slapped him. He punched her so hard it broke her nose.” She studied the darkening sky, the sun quickly sinking behind the horizon. “I gave him five lashes, and a broken nose to match hers. I treat guests on my ship with respect. I will not allow them to be abused or punched in the face for turning down a drunken man's advances. That crap doesn’t fly with me. Buttface has been a little 'ambush' happy ever since, always popping up like some scorned ex-lover.”
Skree was suddenly glad he had received a good shot in the sack. “Sounds like a jerk.”
“He wasn’t so bad when we were kids, but now he's in love with the drink, and is an insufferable fool.” She said with a hint of regret.
They walked in silence until the Boarding House came into view.
“This is your stop.” Fenna said cheerfully, watching the kobolds gathering around them.
He smiled as he watched them waddle their small forms up the road. They were rather adorable. Then again, babies of most species are cute, a good evolutionary trait.
Hawkins extended his hand. “Tomorrow we will introduce you to the Admiral. You get settled in, maybe walk the streets and see Theseldora this evening.”
“Maybe I’ll just call it a night.” He said, glancing up the quickly darkening sky. “It will take a while to sort this out.”
“Nonsense!” Mills said, stepping forward. “Your very first night returned to civilization?” Mills looked to Priestess. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Priestess replied.
“There is no way we are letting you catch an early forty winks, ain’t that right Jury?” he asked, wrapping Skree with his arm and shaking him encouragingly.
“He is right, ya know. Ain’t meant to just sleep on your first night ashore. Just isn't done.” Jury said with mock concern.
“You should listen to him Skree? It Just. Isn’t. Done.” He said, punctuating each word with a wag of his finger. “So hurry and get settled, Jury and I will return for you later.”
Slow as molasses, his lips turned up into a smile. It had been a long time since he had a night out with the boys. And tonight was his first night back on solid ground. “All right. I supposed it would be wrong to break tradition. Come find me around ten?”
Chapter 16
“Let me tell you Skree, you will love this place.” Mills said, throwing an arm over his shoulder as the three of them walked toward the Tavern. “Peg Leg Pete’s is the best tavern in all of Theseldora.”
“What makes it the best tavern in all of Theseldora?” Skree asked.
“It’s the only Tavern in Theseldora!” Jury said, slapping him on the shoulder with a laugh. Skree rolled his eyes.
He realized he was excited to spend time amongst his own kind. The kobolds were his friends and his family now, but damn he missed human company. It had been weeks since he had a proper night of socializing. No sailing lessons, no watch schedule, just good old-fashioned drinking and carousing.
The sound of music and roars of laughter heralded their imminent arrival. Turning one last corner, Mills gestured to a well lit building just ahead of them. “There it is. Peg Leg Pete's tavern!” he said, grinning from ear to ear. They picked up the pace, stomped up the stairs and pushed into the tavern and the absolute pandemonium that greeted them stopped Skree dead in his tracks.
To his right, there was a stage where a group of five men played a lively tune. An accordion, a fiddle, a set of bongo type drums, a guitar, and a tambourine played an upbeat song, to which dozens of pirates, deckhands and ladies of the night danced with reckless abandon. Every table was full, some with grimy looking sailors, some with merchants in finer clothing, but the one thing all the groups had in common was that they were all having a great time.
Servers hustled through the crowd, trays covered in large tankards of ale, glasses of wine and food. He stared in fascination as they deftly maneuvered between the dancers, the flailing story tellers and gamblers without missing a step or spilling a drink. He wondered if server was a profession like the sailor, complete with skills and abilities. Jury and Mills told him that prostitute was a profession, so why not a server?
“You coming?” Mills asked, jerking his head toward the back of the tavern. “Captain should already have a table in the back.”
Skree snapped out of his overwhelmed stupor and stuttered, “Captain Lis is here?”
Jury and Mills exchanged a glance, and both laughed. “Does our fledgling pirate lord have a crush on the captain?” Mills asked, and Skree felt his face heat with embarrassment.
“No, I just wasn’t expecting her to be here is all.” Skree said more defensively than he intended.
Jury winked at him, “Don’t you worry Mister Skree, your secret is safe with us.”
Mills punched Jury in the shoulder playfully. “Hey now, don‘t go making promises I can’t keep. Who knows what I will say once I get a few tankards in me?”he said with a wink at Skree, whose face turned so red, Mills worried his head might catch fire.
“Oh, give the boy a break Mills, let him enjoy his first night in Theseldora.” Jury said.
“Fine, lets go find our crew.” Mills said, turning and pushing his way through the crowd. Skree and Jury followed close behind and more than once Skree had to duck to avoid flailing limbs and move quickly away from stumbling drunks with heavy mugs. Skree caught sight of the long table surrounded by the crew of the Typhoon, Fenna sitting at the head of the table with a dark-haired woman in her lap. Beside her, the ever stoic Hawkins sat quietly, his blue coat a splash of color amongst the dingy clothing and leather vests of the crew.
“Did you bastards miss me?” Mills shouted, holding out his arms in greeting. He ducked bits of bread and fruit thrown at him by half a dozen crewmen, all booing playfully. “Look what I brought!” he said, pulling Skree closer to the table. Everyone cheered, pounding fists against the table, knocking over several mugs in the process sending laughs and jeers alike as people scrambled to avoid the spilled liquid.
Fenna stood, holding out her tankard in salute. “Let's hear it for Skree, whose generous boarding fees are paying for this entire night of debauchery!” Everyone yipped, smashing wooden mugs together, sending sprays of liquid into the air.
“To Skree!” they all shouted, then pounded down their mugs. Jury snatched a few mugs from a passing server and handed them to Skree and Mills. They raised their mugs, and the three of them joined the crew in pounding back the cold, refreshing ale.
For the next hour, Skree drank mug after mug, and spoke with the crew, laughing at their jokes and having a great time. He got into an arm wrestling competition, played a few hands of cards and at one point, even danced with a woman who crewed on the ship. But throughout the night, no matter how wild things got, he found his gaze continually wandering to Fenna and her lady friend. He wasn‘t exactly jealous, but he was definitely feeling something for the Captain. Olive skin tanned by months at sea, dark hair falling about her face and shoulders, she was beautiful in all the right ways.
The scowling face of Jury abruptly interrupted one of his particular egregious staring sessions, who appeared in front of him without warning. Skree nearly fell onto his butt in surprise, but Jury steadied him.
“Skree,” he said with a nod. “Are you having a good time this evening?” Jury asked, his face bright red from the copious amounts of booze they had guzzled down.
“Jury!” he said, lunging forward and pulling the older man into a hu
g. “This is so much fun.” Skree said, leaning on the smiling man who graciously hugged him back. “Sorry, I’m a teeny, tinybitdrunk. What’s up?”
“Can I give you a word of advice?”
“Hell yeah, you are one of my best friends!”
He turned and stared at Fenna. “The captain is a pretty thing, and many a man have gone after her. But make no mistake, she would use you up and leave you heartbroken, just like Captain Delavega and we both saw how that turned out.”
Skree did his best to look shocked, but he knew Jury had found him out. “I know, she’s just so…”
“Beautiful?” Jury asked.
“It's more than that. She is confident, and skilled and a freaking pirate captain at her age.” His face scrunched up as he thought about something. “Wait, how old is she again?”
Jury shook his head, still smiling. “Twenty. And I understand why men are so attracted to her. She is brash and takes no crap from anyone, least of all me. But she isn‘t a girl you should pine after. She's left dozens of heart-broken lovers in her wake, often to disastrous results. If you were just looking for a tumble, it wouldn’t be so bad. But I see the way you look at her, a starry-eyed little boy in love for the first time.”
Skree frowned at what he perceived as an insult. “I am not a little boy Jury and I will pine after whoever I want.”
Jury held up his hands defensively. “Whoa Skree, I wasn’t trying to insult you. But she is wild, a creature who refuses to be tamed and I would hate for you to end up in a dark place after she chews you up and spits you out.”
“I‘m wild myself, and I have no desire to tame her.” Skree said, eyes drifting back to Fenna, the beautiful woman dancing to a jaunty tune atop her table. She spun and whirled to the clapping and cheering of the crew of the Typhoon. Even her lady friend was watching with lustful eyes, bouncing happily in her chair.
Jury watched Fenna, putting an arm around his friend. “You are not that wild. And she is just getting started. You don’t have to listen but as your friend, I urge you to temper your expectations.”
Skree sighed, knowing Jury was probably right. He was a man in a strange new world, with no understanding of how it all worked. He had no nothing to offer her, and she was a beautiful woman, with a ship and a crew, and a family that owned all of Theseldora. The heart wants what the heart wants, and even when trying to ignore it, he wanted to see if he could make it work, no matter the consequences. “I will consider your advice Jury. Now, can we get another drink? I’m dying of thirst!”
“That‘s a great idea, follow me!” Jury said, marching to the bar. He signaled to the barkeep who greeted him with a smile.
“Jury! How are the winds treating you?” The man asked, leaning against the counter top.
“Fair winds aplenty my friend. I would like you to meet Skree, a new arrival to Theseldora.” Jury replied, pulling Skree closer to the bar. The barkeep extended a hand in greeting.
“A pleasure to meet you Skree, the name’s Pete.” He said as they shook hands.
Skree, red-faced and wobbling slightly from his inebriation, steadied himself on the counter. “As in, Peg Leg Pete?”
Pete beamed at him. “The verysame. Welcome to my tavern, and welcome to Theseldora. What do you think of our home?”
“I love it. The salty breezes, the wonderful drinks,” he held up his nearly empty mug in salute and glanced around the room, taking in the lively crowds throughout the tavern, “And the people. This place is incredible. I can‘t wait to see more of it in the days to come.”
“Stick with Jury, he won't steer you wrong.” He smiled at the portlycook. “Heard about the dust up with Delavega.”
Jury shook his head and sighed. “Bad business that, though his ship should make quite the prize. I feel bad for the crew though, having lost their ship.”
“They joined his crew, knowing full well what kind of idiot he is. Don‘t feel too bad, there are plenty of captains looking for quality crew. Whoever snaps up the Rose will probably need a crew, and if they were smart, they would snatch up the Rose’s first mate in a hurry.”
“Elaina?” Skree asked, recalling the woman sailing the Rose back to port.
“Yes, sir. Woman knows how to run a ship and is as fiercely loyal as they come.” Pete said.
“She gave up the captain with little argument.” Skree said, eyeballing his empty mug. Pete took it from him and filled it.
Jury slapped a hand to the counter, startling him. “Boy, she saved the lives of the crew and the ship. She knew there was no way she could repel our boarding crew and made the choice Delavega should have. He would sacrifice them all because Captain Lis spurned him.” Jury met his eyes, and Skree saw the man‘s anger. “If you are ever the captain of a ship, be like Elaina. Save the lives of as many crewmen as you can. You can always get a new ship, but you can never return those lives.”
“Well said.” Pete said, depositing the full mug on the counter. “Onto brighter topics, have you heard who is performing tonight?”
Jury and Skree shook their heads. “You won't believe it. The Sisters of the Sea!” Pete said, clasping his hands together excitedly.
“Really?” Jury asked, his voice filled with wonder. “Thought they were in the CK, living in the Imperial Palace.”
“That is what I heard, but it turns out they were traveling to Knox Point and stopped in for provisions. I convinced them to perform though it cost me quite a few gold.” Pete explained.
“Who are the Sisters of the Sea?” Skree asked, excited at the prospect of hearing more music. The ensemble on stage was growing tiresome. There is only so much accordion music a man can take.
Pete looked at him aghast, jaw hanging open. Jury held up a hand. “Calm down Pete. We found Skree marooned on an Island with amnesia, poor bastard can‘t remember his own hometown.”
The expression on Pete’s face softened to one of gentle sadness. “So you are the one everyone has been talking about.”
“Everyone?” Skree asked. “I’ve only been in town a few hours.”
Jury and Pete exchanged a glance, before Pete explained, “Theseldora is a sea town, news spreads like wildfire the second your ship docks. Everyone is hungry for stories and rumors. Just the joys of a life at sea. And to answer your question my friend, The Sisters of the Sea are only the most famous and talented musicians in all of Raiya.”
“Wow, that sounds awesome!” Skree said. “When will they start?”
As if in response to his words, the music of the ensemble band stopped, and cheers filled the room. The group of players left the stage and took their instruments with them.
“Appears they are starting now.” Pete said, bowing. “Sorry lads, but I paid a great deal to see them and I won‘t be missing it. See you after the show.” He walked from behind the bar and took a seat next to the stage as the room settled into silence.
Two women strolled onto the stage, dressed in finely made gowns that were both refined, yet alluring. They were both older, perhaps nearing fifty years old, but the fine lines around their eyes gave them a kind face. Despite their age, they were still beautiful.
One of them was a blond woman, wearing a deep burgundy gown and carried a Violin. The other was a brunette, wearing a shimmering white gown that sparkled in the lamplight, lugging a heavy-looking lute with her. She sat down, settling the instrument onto her lap, and strummed a few notes, tuning it with expert hands.
The blond woman stepped to the edge of the stage, and the last of the murmurs died down. “Good evening Theseldora, We are the Sisters of the Sea and we would like to play for you tonight. Behind me is my sister, Becky and she will play the Lute.” At her pronouncement, Becky played a short melody that sounded awful, and she made a sour expression. The room chuckled as she tuned the Lute once more before playing a furiously fast string of notes that sent a shiver down Skree‘s back.
“She is good.” Skree whispered to Jury, who nodded.
“And my name is Sally, and I will play
the violin.” Her instrument came to rest on her shoulder and she played a small, sad tune that struck him in his chest. “We are the Sisters of the Sea and tonight, we play for you Theseldora!” she shouted and began to play a much livelier tune. Becky joined in, fingers dancing across the neck of the lute in perfect harmony with the violin.
“First, we wanted to open with something everyone should be familiar with, a song called The Pirate Who stole the Moon!” Becky shouted, her voice two octaves deeper than Sally’s, a rich melodious tone that matched her larger frame. The room erupted in cheers and they played the song, an up-tempo number that had the crowd clapping and stomping in rhythm as they sang the lyrics with the Sisters.
Skree listened to the words, nearly spitting his ale several times as they hit punch lines throughout the song, a funny number about a drunk pirate who caught the moon in a net and tried to seduce it into his bed. It was hilarious and Skree loved every minute. After that, they kept the tempo high, playing half dozen song perfect for dancing, which many of the attendees did with great enthusiasm.
Skree watched the crowds dancing a choreographed number to a song called Catch the Cat and beamed a smile when he watched Fenna join the group. She spun in and out of the arms of different partners with a dancer's grace as they twirled and wove in between each other. When she spun to the edge of the circle, she caught sight of Skree and beckoned for him to join her. He felt his stomach drop, and his already wobbling knees threatened to give out as fear and nervousness assaulted him in equal parts. He tried to say no, but she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him onto the floor.
She got him to bob his head to the beat, showed him the steps, and they were off, dancing with abandon. To his credit, Skree found his feet quickly, and was following the steps rather well. The song slowly changed into another and for the next fifteen minutes they spun, whirled, jumped and leapt, everyone grinning like idiots as the two sisters played beautifully. The song wound down, and Sally lowered the violin, stepping again to the edge of the stage. The dancers stopped moving, chests heaving, sweat dripping from their bodies.
Raiya- Early Game Page 12
