B6 Chapter 20: Planning Phase

(Sorry for the late upload. I'll spare the sob story, but we family member had to put a dog down today and we were dealing with that all day. I hope you enjoy the chapter and spot the weirdness with a specific character :P )

Various members of the crew dodged away from the flames that crashed around them. The braver ones pulled out weapons and began to ready skills. 

Ellena raised her hand, halting their movements. “Stand down! Attack and you’ll be dragged behind the ship till next sunrise!”

At her words, every member either threw their weapons to the floor or lowered them while looking away from the captain like scared mutts. She waited a beat, slowly taking her eyes off Zog to meet my eyes.

“I assure you, there is no need for trouble. We have shown no ill will, despite the misguided bravery of my men,” she said.

“Permission to board?” I asked.

She whistled and three of her crew scrambled into action. They hefted heavy silver chains off the side that crashed into the waves. On their own, they slithered toward the dinghy boat like serpents as they latched on and started to pull us upward. Sereza, Teldrin, and Khrem exited first before I grabbed Rigger’s collar and tossed him forward.

The man rolled forward, coming to a stop near Ellena’s boots. His eyes opened wide, but before he could say a word, a heavy chain snaked out from inside the ship and wrapped him tight. Like a bug in front of a spider, he dangled mercilessly bound shut.

“Rigger.”

To the man’s credit, he didn’t fight back. He hung limp and lowered his gaze. 

Ellena lifted his chin with a finger and leaned in close. “So foolishly misguided. You wanted to protect me, didn’t you?”

He nodded, releasing a strangled whimper. Ellena smiled and kissed him on the forehead, much to the grumbling of the crew. For a brief moment, Rigger looked ready to explode from joy. Then the chain around his body started to hiss as they began to squeeze. The elation on the man’s face morphed into horror as liquid began to leak from all ends.

“I remember giving you the speech. Showing you the mark,” she whispered, each word rising in volume until it was loud enough to hear across the ship. “I gave you my orders. Orders from your captain. Do you think your act was kind? Brave? If I ran away, I would have died all for the misguided, abysmal intellect of a second mate!”

“Mmmnggh!”

“Rel!” she snapped.

A thinner, lanky elf stomped his feet. “Yes, Captain!”

Five days in the hold. Keep him alive, but only just.”

“Yes, ma'am!”

With a snap, Rigger was dragged below deck in less than a second. Rel sprinted toward the hole, jumping down without hesitation as the rattle of chains creaked underneath.

Sereza whistled. “You run a tight ship.”

Ellena made a signal and the crew scattered like rats. The ship started moving away from the continent while the captain approached.

“I value my crew, but they were and still are criminals, and sailors. Disobedience spawns mutiny, and I’ll sink my ship to the bottom of the sea before I allow that.”

“Lead the way,” I ordered. 

Glares from the men around us were beaten back when Ellena started walking to the cabin of the ship. It wasn’t the largest vessel, but it was enough to comfortably house around forty crew while having private cabins for the sick, the captain and the mates. 

Granted, what memories I stole were at least a month outdated; I doubted Ellena had made that many changes. If she made any at all. I could sense around forty mana signatures, give or take, ranging from tier ones to tier twos. Nobody on the ship was below the ascendant threshold, well, except Teldrin.

I snuck a glance at the boy and found him looking around. It was with both wonder and awe, but there was more to it. He stayed in step with Sereza and stood perfectly between her and Zog. His eyes had a sparkle from seeing new things, but he also noted every individual we passed. If I had to guess, he was committing them to memory.

He may have only been freshly twelve, barely even a teenager, but he was trained. 

I clicked my fangs and entered the private cabin. It was spacious, but spartan, matching the scene from Rigger’s memories. A table was in the corner, lined with maps and other notes, while a simple and clean bed rested in the corner. 

It wasn’t hard to notice the chains lining the walls and ceiling. Like spiderwebs, the captain kept her quarters well guarded.

She led us to the map and pulled out chairs that were smartly folded underneath. There were only enough for four to sit, but Zog shrugged and plopped onto the floor. The damn lug was large enough to match my height sitting.

“I take we are to sail directly to Slaterhollow?” Ellena said as she sat down.

“Slaterhollow?” I asked. 

With a flick, a bottle of Viper’s Kiss landed on the table along with cups. Glancing at Teldrin, I sighed and pulled out the pitcher of lemonade. 

“It’s legal for ascended to have alcohol, you know,” Sereza whispered.

“I’m not giving a teen something this strong,” I scowled.

She playfully poked me with the side of her tail and reached for the bottle. “Oh, come on, lighten up. If he’s joining us, he’ll need to get used to the adventuring life. You never know when you’ll kick the wrong beast and end up–”

I flexed my mana, letting a sliver of grey radiate outward. “No. Let’s stick to business. We can handle the boy after.”

Sereza tisked and poured herself a glass while practically shoving the pitcher toward Teldrin.

Ellena’s expression remained neutral, only shifting as she poured and took a sip of the alcohol. “Genuine. That is surprising. I’ve always wanted to try some myself.”

“It’s pretty good,” I said after my own sip.

“I thank you for the friendliness. As I’ve stated, as long as my ship and my crew are unharmed and my life is still mine to keep, I’ll avail myself to you however you desire.”

I resisted the urge to spit. “Slaterhollow. That’s the island then?”

“Indeed. It’ll take us approximately a month of sailing to reach Rumblegrad. Provided we do not run afoul of any storms. Thankfully, my diviner is good at steering us away from the worst of them.” Ellena took another sip and shifted some of the papers around to point at a map showing a rough sketch of the world. “Rumblegrad is here at the southwest coastline. About a week’s travel to reach Slaterhollow.”

I studied the map and mentally dinged Galarion to pull up memories of the books Celenae made me study. The southern continent didn’t have a name; rather, it was named via the largest kingdom or faction in control. In this case, Terracka. Twice as large but less solidified as a nation, the land and surrounding waters were ruled by a central monarchy closer to a sultanate. Under them, merchant lords held the second-highest power to the point where rumors accused the monarch of being little more than a puppet. 

Their military was more vast, but most cities ran their own rules within reason, depending on the merchant pseudo-king in control.

“Is Slaterhollow a part of Lord Myltogen’s territory?” I asked.

Ellena raised a brow. “Indeed. It is most likely under his direct orders that the adventurer’s guild was overthrown.”

“He plays a dangerous game. They won’t be able to avoid the guild’s retaliation for much longer,” Khrem added.

“Possibly,” Ellena admitted. “I am not versed in adventurer politics, but Lord Myltogen’s is a gross overstep. He wouldn’t be able to get away with his actions unless he were crazy.

“Implying that other lords are backing him. Stupid, but it would make sense. Terracka is run by the merchants; if they can buy enough votes, they could overthrow the guilds,” Sereza said.

Ellena shuffled another paper around and placed one down showing red lines branching off the coast and surrounding multiple islands.

“This is the quarantine zone. While Slaterhollow is a week’s travel, if we want to avoid running against kingdom ships, we’ll have to chart a course between the red. I swear upon my honor as a captain that if you give me another month, I can safely sneak us through undetected.”

“Honor among sailing mercenaries is nonexistent,” Zog chuckled.

Ellena pursed her lips, but I shook my head and tapped the map of the island.

“That’s too long. Find a shorter route. If need be, we can ambush a ship or two.”

“I won’t risk my men,” Ellena stated firmly. 

I cocked my head and reached for the switch in my soul. With a mental flick, a rune on her chest blazed to life, drawing a pained wince. However, to her credit, the captain kept her stare.

“I’m not asking.” A chain rattled in the background, but I tapped the table again. “I’m not saying you need to throw your life and your ship into the jaws of the military. Find a safer but shorter route. If you don’t, then I’ll make you, and you won’t have the ability to save your men. You won’t protect them if I am forced to take over. Do you understand?”

“Acceptable.”

I squeezed down, conjuring a semi-corporeal chain between us that ghosted the air. The shirt over the brand’s marking started to smoke as the captain was forced to brace herself against the table.

“Do you understand, Captain Ellena?”

“I… Understand,” she bit off.

I released the tether, and the brand stopped glowing. The captain looked subdued, but I knew from Galarion that she was a raging inferno underneath. It was held at bay by a genuine fear of failure and of death.

“We’ll talk later. Have you prepared rooms in advance? My team is tired from the journey.”

“I only have two available. If that is not enough, I am willing to vacate my cabin. I only ask you not to damage the walls.”

“Two is fine. Sereza, you and Zog can take one room. While Khrem and I will take the other. Teldrin, you can room with us.”

Sereza frowned. “You’re going to make me share a room with him? Really?”

“Is that a problem?”

Sereza bit her lip. “No.”

I stood up and gestured to the captain. “That’s settled then. Lead the way. Tomorrow, I want to meet that diviner of yours. Pick a time after lunch. Until then, don’t disturb me unless it’s important.”

Ellena nodded andd finished her drink before standing up and leading the way. She glanced my way and paused. “Journey across the seas means risking the ire of sea beasts. We try our best to avoid them, but the ocean is not to be controlled so easily. Can I expect you and yours to help prevent the ship from sinking if we are attacked?”

“If you are incapable of handling it yourself, then so be it. Now is that all?”

Ellena nodded and stuck her head out and whistled. Within moments, two thinner crewmates appeared as if from nowhere as they saluted their captain.

“Come, let us show our guests their rooms.”

“Right away, Captain!”

“Yes, Captain!”

Ellena accompanied us as the two sprang ahead, sprinting with bursts of controlled air. By the time we reached them, they stood stiff next to two open doors.

“If you need anything, they will be yours to command. Within reason,” Ellena warned. “Inuk, Karre. Take their orders as if they were given by me. You have the right to refuse unwanted advances and physical harm, but aim to satisfy their needs.”

“Yes, Captain!” they shouted in unison.

Ellena bowed and left, leaving us with the elf and human duo. 

Karre was shorter with dark brown hair and stunning green eyes. With some more meat on his bones, his tanned skin and good facial features would have made him a model. In that, sad, Victorian young man way.

Inuk was a female elf with splashes of green in her hair, something more common to most elf heritage. Except I sensed wind within her, not nature. She kept her hair short and rough, in a messy pixie cut that helped frame a small face. She could have been beautiful as well, but her muscles were more toned than Karre's, and combined with her frankly small head, gave her a slightly disproportionate look.

I waved them off. “Leave us for now. We’ll call you if needed.”

“Yes, sir!”

The two sprinted down the ship while we piled into one room. When the door closed, Sereza pressed her back against the wall and matched my gaze.

“Well?” she asked, her voice neutral.

In response, I raised my tail over my shoulder and let my aura slip out, pulsing through the space and temporarily turning the world grey.