The Vengeful Tide Ch. 49

When I woke up the next morning, my mind was immediately filled by the events that Vanmirr subjected me to last night. As I leaned up, careful to not wake my lovers, I touched my forehead. Drops of my sweat soaked my palm until I swiped them away with a flick of my wrist.

“It wouldest be a benefit to thee to tread thine path lightly. Had my finger not been quick, the spell of thine adversary would hath trapped thee there as long as thine enemy wished it so,” An’raie said, surprising me for a moment. I’d grown rather used to her silence as she hadn’t spoken to me once in that month that I’d trudged my fingers through the rune sewing process.

“Aye, there be no rest for a scourge of D’orn’s mighty seas, especially not one settled in the intrigue of Liara Ilzahold. You have my gratitude, Wail. Though I know not how you contributed, I’ll offer my thanks nonetheless,” I responded.

There was silence from her for a moment. Then, she addressed me. “Savest thine appreciating flatteries, Eric Drakclaw. Thou thee knowest not this, but thine soul was close to being destroyed. Being pulled so far whilst I reside within thee did not thine body any favors. Had thee been destroyed, mine body would have been cursed back to the lands of the Betrayer. I shalt not have mine matters halted! Thee shalt keep thine word to me! …’Tis nothing more,” An’raie said.

She might have thought that I hadn’t noticed that hesitant pause. Indeed, I had, but for both our sakes I made no mention of it. It was true that my body felt rather stiff and my chest burned with only a few breaths.

“It be hard for you to receive praise, Lass. Take it where you might receive it,” I answered back as I glanced at Ellen and Aesteal sleeping peacefully. I smiled, brushing their hair and cheeks.

It only took me a few seconds after that to realize that An’raie had retreated back into her reclusive ways, desiring not to respond to me any further. I thought to call out to her but stayed my tongue and my thoughts. It had already become clear to me that our ways of dealing with each other had changed since our time in the Empire of Crystallized Ash.

After I managed to slip out of bed, I pulled the covers over Ellen and Aesteal. I wished not to wake them, and I felt they were owed a deserved rest for their massage. While my body felt sore, I still felt less tension rolling through my damned core than the day before. Truly, elven alchemy couldn’t be ignored.

I felt the chill of the dawn’s cold air. The sun had yet to rise over the horizon and the sounds of the sea flew through my ears. I’d also not forgotten Ellen’s warning of a storm set to come upon us. I felt it as well. The seas continued to grow restless and the temporary peace of the waves was becoming less and less obvious. No doubt that would prevent me from doing any lasting work.

Putting the matter to the side, I grabbed a shirt from my drawer and marched out of my quarters. The main deck was bare of any living thing. All seemed so quiet and still, save the tides gently rocking my ship this way and that.

I walked across the deck and into the crew’s quarters below. As expected, I passed more than a few rooms lined with snoring. A few others were still awake, either quietly laughing, playing cards, or sucking cunt and cock, I had no idea of which and I cared not to check.

I made it back to the room that housed The Root. Stepping inside, I quickly teleported myself into the dark, massive, and utterly confusing hallways of Liara’s shop. If there was anything I was annoyed with, it was the fact that every time I teleported here I was never in the same spot. It was always someplace different, and I wondered if this was another of Liara’s tasteless jests in which she liked to mess with me.

I was not standing in front of a massive tome surrounded by what seemed like a cylindrical library of scrolls, textbooks, and ancient tomes. The walls went up so damn high I couldn’t even begin to see the top even with my improved eyesight. The same could be said of the bottom as well. There was no end in sight to it, just like that fucking pit on the third island of Delverhold. At the very least, I prayed that this bottom had not a beast waiting to devour me and the rest of my crew. I had no illusions that such a creature might be behind one of her many doors, yet I wished it not so here.

I stepped away from the tome, aware of just how thin the bridge was leading to it. I knew not why Liara only made one entrance into this room, but I bothered not with questioning her design choices. Attempting to understand that was just as insane as attempting to understand Liara herself.

When I stepped out, I walked through various halls until I found myself in an open floor maze of bookshelves. Swiftly, I jumped over the ledge and floated myself down until I reached the bottom. Once I did, I pulsed my mana a few times. Luckily for me, there was a table along with a staircase leading up to the other areas. I then decided çeşme escort to wait for either Diane or Goron to arrive.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long as Goron appeared, his mighty frame making his steps thunder across the pristine floor as always. “The table has chairs for you to sit in,” he said, walking up to me.

“Consider it a bit of petty vengeance since the damned circle can’t seem to summon me in consistent spots. Why, I bet I be lucky I ain’t been summoned in the middle of the fucking air,” I answered, leaning back to put my hands on the table’s decadent stone.

“I believe that is more due to your skill rather than Lady Liara’s designs,” Goron retorted.

I wasn’t sure exactly when Goron suddenly started acting like a damned rat in front of me with his responses, yet I found myself not so oddly put off by them. “Then what say that of you since you aided me in making it?” I then asked.

“That I’m the reason you’re perhaps not being teleported in the middle of the air,” he replied.

How he kept a straight fucking face with that response I’ll never know. Either way, I somehow sensed the mirth in his voice though his stoic face seemed to suggest otherwise. “Where’s Diane?” I asked.

“Doing as your mother asked and training with her. They’re behind one of the doors to seek silence from anything else. However, I do think Diane can get a bit too excited. Ira’s returned a few times with…”

I held up a hand, pleading that Goron not speak further. If he did, I feared I’d grow too concerned of the matter and cease my mother’s growth. While pain was nice in a bit of play when we were alone, there was neither high sea nor low tide that I’d wish to harm my mother again after my first life. That I’d let her die alone was one of my greatest regrets.

“No need to tell me. My mother be a tough lass. She wouldn’t have survived for so many years on Draegnar if she weren’t. Diane can provide this for her, but I can’t. After all, there was a reason she went to Diane instead of to me. Let her have her own methods,” I said.

Goron’s eyes lay on me for a little while before he rid himself of the matter. I then took the time to jump off the table, my steps echoing through the halls. “Goron, aid me in preparing a letter. It seems Vanmirr wasn’t so keen on waiting until the night of his party for me to introduce myself,” I said, ushering Goron to follow me.

Before I passed him, I saw the man’s face tighten. Blood circulated through his body at a rapid pace while his heart increased in speed. “He contacted you?” Goron asked. I wasn’t entirely sure or not, but I swore I heard pieces of worry in his voice.

“Aye, ripped me right outta the Land of Dreams. Bastard also gave me a detailed view of his table and all its fancy wares. I ain’t gonna deny it, the smell of his table was fucking amazing. Best I’d ever smelled in all my years of walking on this dirtball. He ain’t one to be underestimated,” I said.

“…You didn’t partake of it, did you?” Goron asked.

“Do not think me an idiot, Goron. You’d know well my fate if I had even if it were under special circumstances as those. Gather for me some cedarwheat paper and a string of scaled frog’s tongue,” I said.

Even without turning around, I felt Goron’s eyes upon me as we found ourselves in another area of The Root. At first glance, it seemed just like another office that Liara might have used, but I knew this to be different. Her regular office was set on dealing with customers, this was an office related to settling disputes, or… creating them.

If Goron knew what I was up to, he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he watched me take a seat at the crescent table surrounded by even more bookshelves. However, unlike the other office, this one had numerous floating weapons, clothes, and other magical assortments floating next to each shelf. I assumed this to be Liara’s way of identifying which shelf belonged to which offended party. Of course, some were longer than others and a few scrolls were ruined by dried blood. Others looked old and worn from ages long before I’d been born.

Like a space all to itself, the window reveal a world outside that seemed to make no fucking sense. Floating island trees, upside-down waterfalls, the beauty of a sea of stars sailing just beneath the glowing trees on the ground, and the wild multi-colored flames which danced in the heavens above made me wonder if I was still even in a damn shop. I just had it not within me to fathom the true might of how Liara had built this place.

I stepped around the crescent table, grabbing a chair that was sitting there. When I sat down, I kicked my boot up and left it on the table. I tried not to smirk when I saw Goron’s disapproval. Nevertheless, he retrieved my items and I quickly pulled out a small blade. Cutting my forefinger with it, I took a quill and dipped it in my spilled blood. I then wrote the letter with the başakşehir escort blood as my ink while Goron observed from the side.

After some time, as the contents of my letter flowed out, he addressed me. “…Are you sure this is a path you wish to tread?” he asked.

I stopped writing for a moment and spared him a glance. “If Vanmirr wishes for guests, then I’ll make sure he’s awarded only the best of participants. Besides, these three have always wished to set their feet upon his golden floors. What better time than now for them to consider it?” I asked, grinning to myself while Goron touched his hand on the table. He leaned in next to me.

“It shall be an insult that Vanmirr shall never forget. He has the wolf’s blood in his veins. They do not forget insults so easily, and even harder is it to earn their forgiveness. Should you not best him, none aboard the ship shall be safe,” he said.

While I felt rather insulted by Goron’s questioning, I wondered if this warning was either out of concern for my crew or Liara’s expectations. Either way, I turned to him. “Tell me, Goron, dare you to think Liara would accept a slight?” I asked.

He didn’t answer me for a time. Instead, I answered him. “Goron, I made numerous boasts to Liara that I might be able to stand as her equal. I boasted that should she allow herself to finally fall beneath a banner and take a side that I’d be able to carry the weight of what that might entail. What would it say to the man she allies with to bury his damned head in the sand and cower at any foe? Even if that were not the case, I’d still do it within my means anyway. I lower my head to no one. Should Vanmirr wish to bring me to heel, then he’ll have to cut my fucking legs off first!” I answered.

Goron clenched his mighty fists. “He shall target the entire crew if you are not careful. The Higher Realms, it took the Alchemist of Delverhold many years to reach that plane. He has been there since before even Lady Liara’s time. Do not underestimate him,” Goron warned once again.

When I looked at him, I smiled. “Aye, ‘fret not, Goron. I be a man of many talents. Plus, Liara has apparently already put me in his eye. I couldn’t escape unless I took the most drastic measures possible. I have a handle on this so far,” I said as I finished writing the letter. I then wrote two more, healing my finger when I was done. I bound the letters in their strings and handed them to Goron.

When he took them, I grinned as the smell of the swirling magic in the room began to stick to the string. For those who knew Liara, there was no way they wouldn’t be able to distinguish this smell from all the others, especially not with the magic-laced blood kept by the scrolls.

Goron looked at me one more time. I bid him to move and he shrugged. He turned around and walked away, leaving me alone in this room where Liara dealt with feuds, disagreements, and squabbles.

I soon left, traversing the wide halls of The Root alone until I made my way back to the magic matrix to teleport me back aboard ship. Activating the seal, I appeared back on my ship. My ears picked up on more rowdy activity than was there prior. Though it pained me to consider, I knew that I’d have no time to swim with the rest of my crew in the sea and search for treasure. If I did, it’d have to be at another time we sailed this route.

I stepped outside the door, hearing the clamors of my crew as they discovered treasure left and right. Amused, though resigned to my fate, I walked through the creaking halls of my vessel.

“Ah! There you be, Captain! We been looking fer ya all day!” someone said. An arm wrapped around my shoulder and my nose was touched by the smell of rancid vinegar. I turned my head and noticed Daven Wolfkiss cackling at me.

“And what trouble have the lot of you gotten into that you would need to turn the ship upside down for me?” I asked.

“Gyahahahahahaaha! Now, Captain, you knows damn well it ain’t right fer no man t’ leave his bed while his lasses rest. Let this old shit tell ya a lesson, the lasses go where the warmth be. Ain’t no rim or reason to it. It’s taken every man nary a century to figure ’em out,” he said, his breath continuing to sting my nose.

“And yet they seem to stay far enough away from any warmth of yours,” I retort as he shuffled me through te corridors.

“Please, Captain, and no finer lass to a man than a fine bottle. Long throat, nice figure, and she never leaves you unsatisfied. Ain’t found better yet,” he replied.

Despite myself, I actually found myself laughing at his words as we arrived above deck.

“Ahoy, mateys! Take a gander at what I’ve found below the deck. ‘Tis a fine captain, and an even finer man that makes our pockets grow fat with the weight of gold and silver. Shall we have need of anything else but this?!” Daven asked.

“AYE, WE SAY NEVER!” the others hollered.

I spotted Ellen and küçükçekmece escort she walked over to me. “And where the hell have you been?” she asked.

How funny that Daven would take the time to abandon me now as he slithered his way back into the lower decks of the ship.

“Let’s just say the seas of my dreams could have been a little softer. Had they been, I would have enjoyed waking up to your sleeping faces,” I answered.

I noticed that the usual anger on Ellen’s face slowly shifted into embarrassing annoyance. There seemed to be a comment just on the tip of her tongue, but she must have fought the urge down. Instead, she glanced out into the sea, her hair blowing in the increasing breeze.

“The sea is getting rougher. What are you gonna do?” she asked.

Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I rubbed my eyes. “We’ll do as I promised. The crew’s got two days to scrounge around for whatever they need. I won’t have the time as I’ll still be busy. However, don’t let that stop you from granting me access to your tavern’s massaging services. It was a worthwhile experience,” I answered, laughing when she shoved me away.

“Nevermind. How about you go and disappear for all I care? It’d give me a moment’s peace with what I’ve had to put up with,” Ellen argued. She then shivered as I grabbed her shoulders.

“Dare you really mean that, Ellen? Have I not been good to you both as the sun rises and sets? I enjoy you like no other,” I replied.

Rather than answer, Sothshore just scowled. Yet, I felt the way she naturally leaned into my arms. Were it not for the crew staring, I imagined she wouldn’t have minded staying like this.

Finally, she pushed me back again and stomped off while I watched her go. I smiled, thoroughly enjoying my teasing of her until I saw Naala come over to me. “Ain’t it a bit early for you to be pissing off the Quartermaster?” my powder monkey inquired.

I faced her. “Rest assured that you’ll be sure to see the full weight of Ellen’s fury if she truly were as angry as she claimed. However, you be in luck. I have need of you,” I responded.

Immediately, Naala’s face contorted in worry. “W-Why? I’m not gonna be bargained with some powerful torturous spirit again, am I?” she inquired.

While I knew Naala was joking, I had not the heart to laugh. “No, and you shall never experience such a chance of fate again as long as I would have it. Now, come,” I urged.

Naala followed me back into my quarters. I noticed Aesteal was gone, but a brief check of her aura surprised me. She wasn’t on the ship, but rather deep below the sea, looking for anything that she could find. I knew not what she was looking for, but Aesteal was more than free to explore the seas at her heart’s content just like anyone else of my ship.

Once we stepped inside, Naala closed the door behind herself.

“The captain drags his female crew member into the bowels of his quarters. What can she do but silently acquiesce to his desires as the whole crew shudders with bated breath as her voice reaches the highest heavens and the lowest hells? What fate have you planned for me, Captain?” Naala joked, dramatically waving her arms over her chest like a C’ula theater performer.

I looked at her, finding myself amused by her antics. “No such fate to befall you this time, Naala. Though, if you somehow acquire pleasure from this method, then you be fully allowed to indulge yourself. No, I’ll be working on enchanting you and the others further. I know not when we’ll meet the likes of Alġnoth again. I wish you and everyone else to be prepared should anything come upon us,” I said.

I turned and saw Naala looking at me nervously. “And you chose me first? Surely, I’m not so important as to receive such an honor,” she returned, her words clearly revealing just how much confidence she had in me.

Though I found her lack of faith concerning, I decided to not worry her over it. I knew where her concerns lay. I walked over to my desk and pulled out a myriad of supplies. Silver grass, toothgrass, scarlet rock, painted lilies, root rice, aged sand, and so much more that I’d picked up from Delverhold.

“Naala, you once questioned me about whether I truly cared for you or not. You questioned what type of gun you might be wielding in standing at my side. You even granted me the chance to release you from my ship. Know that I would grant the same right to you as well. The sea be a treacherous place, and my path that much more than even the sea’s great distance. I once lost all that I had and my enemies would seek to take it from me again. Such a life I shall not let befall me. I shall not grant you the opportunity to dare think you might have made the wrong choice. Though I be a stubborn fool with a hard head, and an even harder mouth, I ain’t above seeing my ship laid to waste, and all those aboard it. Some more than others,” I replied slowly.

I heard no words from behind me. Instead, I heard Naala’s boots thump on the floor until she stood next to me. “Am I in that ‘others’ spot?” she asked, leaning next to me, her full lips brimming with a wide smile.

“Would I be undertaking this bullshit I’m about to endure were you not?” I asked back.

In response, Naala punched my arm until she took notice of the materials. “Alright, what do I gotta do?” she asked.