Pip is a navy officer mixed into a gang of pirates. A group searching for their redemption thought means of violence, and if Pip is lucky, he'll escape with his head.
Pip is the master at arms aboard the Royal Navy's Maiden. While on the seas they come across and ship flying a flag adorn with a skull and cross bones. What follows this fight is a story of trust, money, and freedom. Join him and his best friend in the fight for their lives.
The Royal Navy, a fleet made up of ships ranging from gunboats armed with 10 iron cannons all the way up to the newest addition, the Annihilator Dreadnought armed with over 20 powerful turrets, the pride of the navy. The navy also had over 565,200 men serving on roughly 16,000 ships, more than enough to overwhelm any land army for a short while. With all this behind it, each of those 565,200 men were still men, and men were once boys. Luckly for Pip, he's already done being a boy.
He stood on the quarterdeck of the Maiden with it's captain, one Salt Wheat from Cloudsdale. He wasn't Salt's first mate, but he trusted him as close as Mainmast. Mainmast was a tall tower-like stallion from Pony Port, a small port town on the ice coast. He was currently whittling away on of the many sticks he had brought with him on the trip.
"Pip, why did a land-pup like you join the Royal Navy, surely there was better pay back in, what was the name? Prancy Town?" Asked Mainmast has he eyed the stick, or what was left of it before his tossed it overboard. Mainmast was the First mate of the Maiden, he was also the tallest and by far the best built of the entire navy. He towered over most of the crew at nearly 3 meters tall. His uniform however was always sharp and never in disarray. His saber was also always scratching on a wet stone, being honed sharp enough to shave a spider's ass.
"I fell in love with the wrong mare, she didn't return my feelings, either out of fear or she just didn't like me. Either way, I left in shame." Replied Pip as he wrote down a few names on his clipboard, his left hand clenching the wheel of the Maiden.
"Shame? Colt, listen here. There ain't no shame in loving a pretty mare. Take pride in who you love. You ain't got a thousand years to think, just act while you can." Gruffed the captain as he took the wheel from Pip.
Salt was a pale stallion, his jacket was issued by the navy but it held an aura of personality to it. It was a deep blue as per royal standard but the sleeves were replace with a pair of armoured gauntlets. His chest was clad in a thick breast plate and the royal crest was adorn on the middle.
His face was hard and his eyes were endless. He was clean shaven and his hair was chopped down to a thin fuzz. He was the image of military perfection, and he was Pip's captain.
"Sir, yes sir." Was the quartermaster's only reply as he walked down the stairs to the gundeck. Salt looked out to sea and adjusted his grip on the Maiden's wheel. A storm was brewing to the west.
Pip closed the door behind him as he enter the map room, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he was talking to the captain. He removed his coat and tossed it onto his chair beside the captain's. Charts and maps were strewn about the walls, various daggers and wires were pinned to islands and landmasses, making forts, ports, and even a few wrecks. Before Pip could even sit down and write a letter to the Captain's board, the door opened and walked in Maple.
Maple was the day's helm's men and Pip's closest friend aboard the Maiden. He was a well built stallion but not imposing like Mainmast. His skin was a light tan, eyes a deep green and his hair golden. His locks were a bit longer than the navy allowed, but one cared to enforce that rule with anyone. He held up a pair of bottles in his right hand has he closed the door with his left.
"Brandy?" Was all he asked before tossing one Pip's way. He cracked the seal on his and walked over to the Port side map. "We sailing to Port Royale anytime soon?"
"Not unless you turn pirate." Replied Pip as he took a swig of the brandy.
"Hmm, damn. I hear good things about that place." Maple just shook his head and took another swig.
"All I hear is murder and thieving." Replied Pip as he placed the bottle down on the table.
"Good point, still. I'd love to see her, just once. To smell the air, walk the street, sample the products." Pip smiled at the last bit. They've been at sea for a few weeks now, and moral is shifting, the captain will soon need to make port and let the boys run loose for a bit.
"One day, except you'll have the whole navy at your back and a sword in your hand."
"And maybe even a few bullets in my chest at that point."
"That's if they pisswads can even shoot straight. Bloody drunks, bloody pirates."
"You're one to talk."
"Oh please, I can handle my drink."
"It's not about handling it, it's about drinking it."
"What you saying?"
"You already done, I've still got a bit more to go."
"You keep yapping!"
"So have you sir, just saying. You'd make a great pirate." Before Pip could retort, the door burst open and Archer was standing in the doorway out of breath.
"Pip, sir we have a problem down in the crew quarters sir!" Without even thinking, Pip jumped to his feet and followed Archer down to the crew quarter. Maple just chuckled and took a final swig of his brandy, looking one last time at the skull and crossbones marked on the map, and walked out. Pip jumped down the crew port and rushed through a crowd of sailors. He pushed his way past the group and yelled:
"What going on here!" His voice was harsh and rattled the wooden beams. In front of him were five men, the five richest men on the ship who were willing to give it all away if it meant a chance at more. "Hazard..." The room was dimly lit by golden light from the many candles surrounding the men.
"Aye sir, we got ourselves a small pot here, 35 reales. The role is a 9. You know the rules air. Win this and it's your's." Replied a salty looking crewmen by the name of Striker. Pip smiled and pulled out a small leather hardbox he had clipped to his belt.
"You want to play with fire Striker? Okay, I wager my diamond crest for those 35 reales." Striker just smiled and shook his head.
"So sorry sir, as much as I' love a brand new shiny, I have a different wager in mind." He glanced over to Rocky, and pegasus from Cloudsdale and veteran fighter.
"You lose, you are crowned Princess for tonight's session." Pip clenched the pendant in his hand, dropping in back into the box and pulling out a pair of onyx dice. He stuck his hand out and awaited a cup.
He tossed the dice into the cup and shock it up. Pip took a seat in the middle of the divided men. He locked eyes with Striker, smiling as he slammed the up into floor. He slowly pulled the cup awave from the floor, just stopping short of revealing the dice. Striker's grey eyes were locked on the cup.
"If it's a five and a four, you'll be princess." Pip quipped at Striker, who glanced up at him, then nodded, Pip smiled and pulled away the cup. The dice were both exactly what Pip called. A four was on Striker's side and a five on Pip's. Silence reigned.
"Cheater!" Boomed Striker as he lunged forward at Pip. The four other men grabbed him for he could even get close enough. They pulled Striker down who just sat there fuming.
"You know, that was a 1 in 6 chance to even land on a 9. But to land on five and four? I don’t even know." Was all Pip said before picking up the dice, and tossing them back onto the deck. A pair of snake eyes stared Striker down. "I am not cheater. Princess." With that the crew howled and grabbed Strike, carrying him to the back of the deck and towards the chest containing the costume. "Enjoy yourself your majesty!" Yelled Pip as he collect his earning in the leather belt box.
He returned to the map room and tossed the belt box on his workplace, it's contents spilling. He pulled the pendant from the pile of coin. It's silver still as shiny as the day he bought it. It was originally a gift for the love of his life, but she turned out to be a different sort. He kept it and has tried to get rid of it fairly for years now. Betting it and winning more and more with it. He never had the heart to toss it overboard, some small part of him told him it was best to loss it to another who could give it to another than the bottom of the ocean.
"Pip, get up here." The captain's voice had a way of cutting through the wood and allowing Pip to hear him perfectly. Pulling on his coat, he marched out the door and headed for the wheel. Whatever the captain had in store, it wasn't able to wait until morning it seemed.
The Maiden's sails dropped to full canvas, her 50 powerful guns were loaded, and she made a hard turn to port.
"For all you sea dogs who wanted to see Pirates up close, this is your lucky day!" Boomed Salt as he pulled out his pistol and readied it.
"Sir, the ship is making a run for it!" Roared one of the many men now crawling over the mast of the ship. Indeed, the gunboat had turn starboard and dropped it's sails. A skull had been sowen into them, making them on the now stormy back drop of the sea.
"Ah Ha! Let the sea bitch run! The royal navy is on her ass, she ain't going no where!" Boomedn Salt as he clenched the wheel, ready for a fight. The gunboat was barely a kilometer from the Maiden when they spotted it, now that gap was closing.
By the time the gunboat had anyone look back, the Maiden was ready to ram her. Gunshot were heard from the bow of the Maiden as the crew returned fire. The men of the gunboat looked weathered, they had been at sea for a very long time. The Maiden had them outmatched in everyway possible.
"Board her, secure the deck and then go below to see she they've been carrying." Boomed Salt's voice over the sound of the now very close lightning storm. As per his orders, the crew of the Maiden decended onto the deck of the Gunboat. Pip was the first to ready his sword.
Good thing too, he had little time to ready himself before a deadly cutless came slashing down, intent on removing his pretty little head. Smacking it aside with the flat of his blade, he ended the fight with a quick thrust.
Or so he tought, he only ended up hitting thin air, his target had anticipated the move and dodged to the right. Pip charged him, blade raised high. He slammed into the pirate with his shoulder, knocking him off balance. With much more speed this time, he thrusted at the downed pirate, stabbing him in the chest.
Blood pooled around the wound the darkened his blue shirt. Pip pulled his blade free to find a pair of pirates cutting the throat of one of his men. The man was on his knees, one of the pirates halnd him there with a blade deep in his shoulder, the other drew his jagged blade across his throat, ripping and cutting the flesh, releasing the blood onto the deck.
Pip raised his pistol and fired off a shot, the power gem in his pistol quickly overheating and redering the gun useless until it cooled. In the brief second that the pirate with his cutless stuck in the shoulder of the dead man, Pip had closed the gap and chopped his head off with a quick upward slash. The head landed in the sea out of sight, Pip turned to see the rest of the deck, only to find it covered in blood and dead men, of the Maiden and the gunboat. Most of the gunboat's crew were dead, leaving the rest the only choice of surrender.
Pip flicked his sword, most of the blood whipped onto the deck. He checked his pistol, the golden gem had cooled enough for him to touch it, ready to fire.
"Archer, get to men and follow me." Archer pointed at a pair of crew men, they drew their swords and followed Pip. The party made their way down to the sten hatch which lead to the hold of the gunboat. It was usually big enough to hold a few boxes and even allowed for a sword fight, and Pip was expecting trouble.
The hold was empty save for a few stand-up boxes. They had a single iron bar running though the both of them. Pip knew exactly what they were.
"Coast, tell the captain this is a slave carrier. Archer, you and Harp find the lock for this one here, I'll find it for that one." They quickly went to work. Pip walked along the boxes, looking into each of them, the first two were empty, but the last three weren't.
"Archer, we have a Griffin, looks about 16 or so. She's weak. And, and we have a Zebra, sweet Celestia he's built. I don't think he's awake." Just as Pip said that, the last box began shaking. Someone inside was kicking it. "I got an active one here." He walked up to the opening in the front of the box, only to duck to avoid a bolt of fire. "Woah! Woah! Calm down, we're here to help!"
"Lies! You're just more pirates, pirates attacking more pirates!" The dragoness' voice was harsh, she was still young, he voice shouldn't have sounded like that.
"Give us a chance. Trust us." Replied Pip as he put away his pistol. Looking around to form a plan, he noticed that the bow of the hold was covered in iron plating, perfect for ramming targets, or containg a dragoness.
"What good is there in trying to diswade you. Go on, I can't go on anymore, no more will, no more fire..." She trailed off, she voice still harsh. Pip got to his feet, and readied his pistol. He took aim, prayed to all above, and fired.
The shot hit it's mark, completely destroying it and leaving only the iron bar. Pip grabbed it, and gave it a shove, the bar slide along the rails in teh boxes, and shot out the other side. Three very audioable thuds were heard.
"Archer! You guys get over here." Before he could say another word, a gun shot rang out.
"In a minute sir, we got a full side here. I sent Harp to get a few more lads to help with this. Sure enough, Hapr returned with five more men in toe. A pair went down to help Pip while the other three helped with the other five with Archer and Harp.
"Sir, the captain had made acommanadations for the slaves, we're to take them back to port and the governer will help set them up with new lives." Pip eyed Striker for a moment before pulling the dragoness' arm behind him and lifting her legs. He noticed on her kneck was a ugly iron collar, it looked to be constricting her throat. She needed to get it off.
"Good, cause I have bigger problems."
"What do you mean?" On cue, cannon fire was heard. "Sir, we need to get going." Pip just gave Striker a look before running out the hold, the rest of the men and slaves following. The dragoness may have been a bit bigger than him, but the navy didn't train pushovers.
"Sir, we have a pair of Birgs inbound! They're flying pirate colours!" Yelled a crewmen up high in the crow's nest. Pip handed the Dragoness to one of the crew men returning to the Maiden.
"Mainmast! Sir, we should take this gunbaot and distract one for Brigs while the Maiden deals with the other!" Mainmast quickly nodded and barked a pair of orders, about six men stayed on the gunbaot while the rest returned to the Maiden. The away team was headed by Mainmast, Pip and Maple stayed onboard to deal with the rest of the of away team.
"Men, drop those coats, grab from the dead and ready up. We are going to wait until the Maiden engages the enemy, then we'll follow them, swing far to teh south, make it look like we're making a run for it, and once both of the Brigs commit to attacking the Maiden, we strike, catching the Brigs on their unloaded side. Then we unleash tartarus on their hides! Who's with me!" The deck erupted with voice, the crew was ready.
The change of clothes was quick and the crew began loading the cannons, they drew sails, and made their ploy. The Maiden had already crippled one of the Brigs, making the plan just a bit more difficult. The gunboat had to be made to look like it was running, Pip ran to the stern of the ship and began waving, trying to get the attention of the Brig, he did. One of the crew men appeared, then disappeared. A moment later a spyglass and a fluffy hat was seen, then a wave, a single cannon fired off into sea. Directing them to run.
The gunboat took this order and ran, for a bit.
Aboard the Maiden, the fight was going south. The gunbaot appeared to berunnign from the fight, the crippled Brig blocking Salt from sinking their traitorus hides to the bottom of the ocean. But the captain had bigger things to worry about. The Maiden was a war ship, it was built to take a pounding, but the combined fire of the Brigs were enough to rattle the ship.
"Sir, the guns on the port side are runnign low on ammuntion, the crew wants to use the starboard's!" Yelled one of the crew as the lul in the cannon fire offered him time. Salt nodded, knowing these pirates, they were doing the same, intent onl blowing them sky high.
More shots were fire, then returned. The battle needed to change or the Maiden was going down the bottom.
Mainmast order for all of the cannons from the port side to be moved to the starboard, doubling the fire power, but dooming the ship if they got on the wrong side.
"Pip, are you boys ready?" Mainmast's voice cut the storm that was now raging arounf the tiny gunboat, if they weren't quick, the storm would be their end and not he pirates.
"Aye sir, move us in, let's sink these scallywags!" A ripple of laughter was heard from the many guns of the ship, there were 10 sets and only 8 men ready to fire them, Mainmast was needed on the wheel.
The gunboat made a hard turn to port, facing the battle now a kilometer away. They had the wind at their back, and they were ready for a fight.
The wind pushed them forward, a wave forming under them.
"Ha! Would you look at that! Looks like even the sea gods favour us!" Laughed Maple as he sparked his whicks and readied them. The battle was closing in, but they were well over it. The wave was huge, easily over the deck of the Brigs and maybe even over the Maiden's.
The battle was just a few meters away. Guns at the ready, the wave and the gunboat both slammed into the side of the active Brig. The iron plating smashing the cheap wood the rails were made of. The entire battle stopped dead. The Brig insantly disabled. Even the thunder and rain stopped for a brief moment. Then, is the still of the world, a single sound was heard loud and clear by everyone is earshot:
"FIRE!" And in an instant, the silence and the Brig were destroyed by cannon fire. The heavy cannons of the gunboat ripped through the wood of the Brig. A single cannonball struck the Brig's amuntion cash, egniting it. The resulting explosion ripped the ship in half from bow to stern. The Maiden didn't miss a beat, teh second the first Brig blew up, the crippled one was fire upon. The cannons ripped though the now very weak hull of the ship, breaking off a large chunk.
Salt looked at the first Brig, it was a blazing inferno. The chances of his away team survivng, next to nothing. Tossing his pistol to the side, he barked an order.
"Ready the sails, were making for Port Royal. Don't let thseo men die invain, they gave their lives for these slaves, now let's finish the job."
"Sir, what if there are survivors?"
"An explosion like that? Not likely, and the fire would finish them if they did make it, now lets go before the waves bring some of the wreakage onboard and set the Maiden on fire. Sails up!"
Mainmast grabbed Pip by the rough of his kneck, tossed in on his back, and ran. Gunfire rang out. The Brig was going down. Looking up towards where the Maiden would be, Mainmast saw only a wall of flames, reaching to the sky.
"Maple! Buckel! You lads alive?!" Screamed Mainmast as he turn to look around. The Brig's forward mast was coming down, any second it would fall and split the ship in half.
"Mast! It's me! Maple! Follow my voice!" Mainmast heard his voice, but it was through smoke and flame, with nothing better being presented to him, he ran. The fire burned at his coat, setting it alite. "Down here, jump!" Mainmast looked down, Maple was in the water, holding onto a cupboard. With a single prayer, he lept from the crumbleing deck.
Smoke billowed from the still burning wreak of the Brigs, the storm had smashed them together. Their combined mass kept afloat and alite. The Sun was high in the sky when Pip came to, the water still cool. The smoke did little to block the heat of the sun's light.
"Maple..." Caughted Pip, his voice was horse and he need water.
"Don't say it." Replied Maple as he opened the door on the cupboard. A pair of fine coats floated out from underneth. They were rich red and gold. Worthless to the men now, but they would have cost a fourtune to the right man.
"You wanted... to see port Royale... Look there..." Pip pointed into the sky, the sun seemed to grow in size, getting even hotter.
"Mainmast was under water, he was looking through the cupboard. Should we join him?" Asked Maple as he drifted over to Pip's side of the box. Pip's eyes were closed, by a smile was plastered across his face, his teeth were turning yellow.
"Naaaaah." Repliedn Pip as he rolled over face first into the sea. Maple grabbed him and rolled him back over, he was out cold. With a sigh, Maple leaned against the cupboard. Mainmast surfaced, clad in a very fimilar coat.
"Is that...?" Asked Maple as he eyed the coat. It was deep blue with golden cuffs and collar. The arms had a few stripes of gold on them, by the main concern were the six shiny stars on the shoulders.
"An Admiral's jacket? Yep. I got a plan. Someone is bound so come a looking, see what they can steal or who they can save. If it's navy, yay. My plan can sink to the deep black. But." Mainmast pulled out a pair of pistols, their gems ruby red and filled with golden light. "If it's pirates, you boys will act the part, I'll make a scene."
"Scene?"
"Yes, if you worthless sea shits fail me. Princesses help me, I'll row the Dutchmen from the deep black all the way back up to find you. You got me boy?" Asked Mainmast as he grabbed Maple by the neck, a pistol in hand. Maple didn't say a word, he only nodded in understanding. Satisfied with the answer, Mainmast relaxed. He let go of Maple and floated next to the cupboard. With a sigh, he closed his eyes.
The sun raced across the sky, it made a streak in Pip's vision, he heard Mainmast's plan. He didn't like it, but it would work. If Pip could count, he would have done so. The days that went by were quick and hot. Abotu three days in, Mainmast had shoved a bottle into his mouth. Rum. Always had to be rum with pirates. But it was enough to keep them awake. By the fifth day, Pip was going mad. He need water and he was in the middle of the ocean.
"Cap'in! We got a bunchel o' live ones 'ere!" The voice was harsh. It was rough. It was knew. Knew meant he got here some how, they were in the ocean so got here meant ship. Ship meant people, people mant food and water. Food and water meant life!
Pip rolled over and looked around franticly. The sky was dark and filled with stars all around him, save for a giant blind spot. A first his blood boiled, had he imagened it?
"Pip... Pip... look... A ship!" Caughed Maple as he pull Pip closer. Suddenly a blinding light struck the group. Pip looked up to see, only for the light to burn his eyes. He raised a hand to block it, the figure of a ship began to come into focus. He was alive.
The crew pulled the water logged men aboard. One was in a funny coat. The other two were pirates, their ratty clothes game them away.
"Cap'in, look at that one over yonder! He's navy!" Long Eyes yelled from his roost high in the sky. The captain slowly walked down to the three men. The man in the coat got to his feet, he was huge. He stood three heads taller than the captain. His coat looked small on him, maybe it was made of fine silks that you weren't allowed ot get wet or they would shrink.
"Look here fine sir! You are the Captain of this ship?!" The man was yelling at the captain who was not a single pace in front of him. The captain simple looked up at the man and nodded.
"Yes sir, I am. I take it you're Royal Navy?" The captain's voice was smooth and calm.
"Yes, yes I am! I am Imperial Admiral Ship Master! And I order you in the name of the Princesses to kill these briggans!" The man was now nearly jumping at this point. He was pointing at the two men still laying on the deck, dying from the looks of it.
"May I ask why?" Replied the captain in a soothing tone. At this the man raged.
"AGH! IF YOU REFUSE I SHALL HAVE TO KILL YOU AND TAKE THIS SHIP! COME MEN! FOR THE PRINCESSES!" He drew his pistols and fired. He hit Micky and Dicky square in the head, killing the both of them before reaching for his sabers, which were missing. Bones and Thach drew their blade and slashed at the giant man's legs, dropping him to his knees. Captain calmly and slowly drew her sword.
"Sir, I'm a pirate." She thrusted the blade into his neck. The saber's blade easily cut through the think skin and poped the link between his head and his spin. Captain slowly pulled tha blade out, the dying light of teh moon coating the ship and revealing the blood on the blade. With a grunt, the man slumped over, dead. His blood pooling on the deck. "Bones, you and Thach was to clean this mess up, you two. I'm in need of a pair of good hands. Oh, Cross, deal with these boys." The captain barker her orders, and turned to leave. The men scrambled and did their duties.
Grace closed the door to her cabin, slumping down the door once it was closed. She let out a breath, looked around her cabin there were charts, loot, and a stack of papers all filed neatly and orderly. Sighing again, she got to her feet and walked over to the file. The thumbed through them until she got to a sheet she needed. She pulled the letter out and looking it over.
"Many "micky' Roads... bounty of 7,000 reales... wanted for piracy and murder of a navy officer... Wanted dead or alive... Micky you old bastard. It was a wild ride all these years." She tossed the paper to the floor and continued flipping through the stack.
"Desprate "Dicky" Diction... bounty of 1,000 reales... waned for piracy and assult of nobility... worthless shit. Good riddance!" Yelled Grace as she tossed the letter to the floor. She slammed the stack onto the desk and threw her sword at the door.
The blade flew true and quick, embedding it's self deep and poking through to the other side. She walked slowly across the room towards her bunk, and climbed in for the night.
The rocking of the ship woke Pip up. He was alive, and full of water if his stomach was any indication. He tried to sit up, only to smack his head inot the ceiling of the bunk above him. A corse laughter echoed throughout the hold. Pip looked to his left, there was a hall of sorts and on the other side were more bunks. He leaned out and looked down.
He was the third from the bottom, he glanced up to see how many more were above him. The only problem was a very bald, very happy looking man above him. He had a shrill smile.
"Boo." That was all that was needed to scare Pip out of his skin. He feel out fo bunk and landed on the deck with a thud. Once again the corse laughter rang out, even louder now. "Good job matey, I hadn't laughed like that since Dicky died!" Laughed the bald man above Pip's new bunk.
"Dicky?"
"Yeah! The dead guy who's bunk is your's now!" Pip just gave the man a quisical look. "Oh, and I hope you don't mind, but Dicky has a bunch of valuables in his bunk, might want to sell 'em for respect and such." Pip shook his head and got to his feet, looking back and forth, he righted himself and headed for the top decks.
The sun was high and the wind was strong, perfect for sailing in Pip's humble opinion. He got top side and was greeted with an sight he hadn't expected in a million years, pirates. Pirates who weren't ready to carve his skull into a cup and drink piss with.
Looking around, he spotted Maple talking to a very well dress pirate at the helm of the ship. Deciding that it was best to meet up with him before he does anything drastic, he walked up the stairs.
"Look who's awake, cap'in you got the second one awake." Called a horse voice from high up in the sails. Maple turned to meet Pip's gaze, a smile firmly planted on his mug.
"You're alive! I feared the worse." Said Maple as he grabbed Pip and gave him a hardy hug.
"Hay, I'm tougher than I look." Replied Pip as he returned the motion. Maple pulled away and turn to the pirate at the helm, a pirate Pip would need to get very close with.
"Captain O'Malley, this here was the first mate and finest fighter of the Mermaid!" Though not true, Maple seemed to be keeping close to the actual story.
"Pip was it? Maple here has been telling me lots of good things about you two, remind me, what was the name of your old captain?" Asked O'Malley as she shot Pip a queer look.
"Salt ma'am, ex navy and harder than most diamonds." O'Malley seemed to like this answer, looks like Maple did actually tell her his name.
"Good, so how is it that only the first mate and the man at arms of a pirate ship made it out alive while everyone else died. Or better yet, how did an Admiral get caught up in the scuffle?" Asked O'Malley as she eyed the both of them. Maple spoke up first.
"You have me ma'am, the wind and rain from the storm were fierce. I'd say lady luck has a fancy for me." Smiled Maple as he dusted off his shoulders. O'Malley laughed at this and looked back out to see.
"You're funny, still. Doesn't explain an Admiral in a Brig." Pip decied to answer this time.
"Beats me ma'am, maybe he wanted to glory for freeing some slaves. There was a gunboat, we boardered her and found a pile of slaves, then the navy came crashing in, we got the Brig but a Frigate got away with our hall." O'Malley stayed silent for a bit, before turing to the pair.
"My name's Grace." Maple turned to Pip, who just shrugged without an answer. "I need a new Firstmate, and I could use a master at arms, trust me, if any of these yahoos were capable of the job I'd already have them doing it. Pip, let's see if you can replace Micky. Maple, get to work and train these boy."
"Of course." Maple turned and walked down the stair, stopping short a looking back up. "Grace." with that he walked away. Pip watched him go, he could shake the feeling that Maple had made a huge mistake by playing along with these pirates, not that it made in difference now.
"Tell me boy, you know of any good ports a girl can let loose for a while and let the troubles of the world and sea sink into a fine bottle of cheap drink?" Asked Grace as she took hold of the wheel and motioned to one of the crewmen on the deck, a silent of order of sorts. Pip rolled his shoulder and took his new place at the side of the dashing captain.
"Royal?" Asked Pip as he crossed his arms and looking over the deck of sailors, a quite hum rising from below.
"Port Royal is at least 360 leagues to the West-northwest, it'll take us 5 days to get there." Just as she finished, a roar of voices broke the relative silence of a ship deck. Pip knew the song well, it was a favourite of the men of the Maiden.
"Were on our way to Nameless port, what the crew call Maui in honour of our old Cap'in Maui who grew up down there. Entrust in the crew and they trust you like me, now go on and meet the folk who you will be watching over. Mind Pointer, he's just a little shaken up over Dicky's death." Said Grace as the song ended and another began to grow in the throats of the crew. Pip smiled at his new captain and followed her suggestion, stepping down the stairs and onto the deck. Grace watched him, a lump growing her her throat like the men, but one not of song but one of fear. Grace steeled herself and looked to the horizon, it was going to be a long two days.
The crew of the ship was proving to be very different from the Maiden's crew, and not only on the account of it being a Pirate ship. Pip was currently trading blows with the very person Grace had warned him about. Pointer was a burly man, not huge but he still hit like a boxer from Pip short stay in Canterlot.
Maple had warned Pip about winning and losing this fight. If he wins, the crew would respect him, but win too quickly and they'll suspect something is different about the pair, but if he held back too much, Pointer would knock him clean out. And right now it was looking a tad bit bleak for this naval rook.
Pip wiped away yet more blood from his mouth, it's copper taste becoming all too familiar in past days. His breath was ragged, though that was only an act, he was royal navy for celestia's sake. With a slight shift of his foot, he was ready to end the fight. Pointer charged straight for him, he was only a few feet away but he would gain a lot of power if he struck, Pip needed to make sure that didn't happen. Pip blinked for only a moment and stuck first, hitting only thin air, by the time his eyes opened he was already reeling from the miss, while Pointer gave him a swift and powerful punch to the stomach, lifting Pip off his feet and knocking all the wind out of him.
Pip dropped to one knee and spit out more blood. He looked up at the smiling Pointer has he raised his fists back into a guard position.
"I would have warned you, but it's a hell of a lot funnier seeing you hit the deck. I was once part of the Navy, the royal Navy." Said Pointed has he back up from Pip, who only stared him down. He needed a plan, if Pointer was going to fight like a sailor then Pip knew exactly how to beat him.
Getting back to his feet, he charged Pointer. This failed, just as Pip had hoped. Pointer grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him to the deck, then hoisted himself on top of the sailor to begin beating his face in. Once Pointer was on Pip's chest he want to work, he slammed his knees into Pointer's back, catching the man off guard. He planted his feet onto the deck, and thrusted forward to the right, effectually sending Pointer onto his chest, removing the pint and allowing access to his already injured back. Pip clenched his fist and slammed it into the base of Pointer's spine, resulting in a satisfying popping noise and scream from Pointer.
Jumping to his feet, he back away from Pointer who rolled onto his back. The man had a look of pain across his face but confusion was deeply rooted in his eyes, and Pip knew it. Pip raised his fists into the same guard Pointer did earlier, he had to only used moves Pointer used. With the guise of copy-catting his opponent, he was going to win this fight.
Pointer got to one knee, one hand behind him holding his hurt back, the other wiping away drool that had from on his lip. He smiled and got to his feet, matching Pip's guard. The two men squared off for a few long seconds, gauging each other. Pointer was the first to strike, a blessing to the crew who had quickly grew tired of all the standing around. He fired off two quick but weak right jabs, a big mistake in Pip's book as he blocked both with ease.
Pips mirrored Pointer's attack, hitting him in the left cheek with his last throw. Time slowed, Pip watched as Pointer's eyes began to close from the pain and shock of the hit. Pip pooled all his strength and released it in one punch, he came down and up, intent on scoring a direct hit to Pointer's jaw and knocking him out. He swung, time slowly returned to it's normal pace for Pip, he fist was about to connect before it suddenly stopped. Pip froze and looked Pointer in the eyes. Pride filled them and a smile spread from cheek to cheek, Pip felt the pain of Pointer's grip on his wrist. With one motion, Pointer delivered a powerful left hook to Pip's cheek, sending out a power cracking sound as it connect, while he did this he pulled on Pip's arm towards the blow, further increasing the power.
Pip was left baffled as Pointer worked, he kept his grip on Pip's wrist and turned around, pulling Pip over him as he did so. He slammed into the deck with a mighty 'wack'. He lay there motionless for a mere second before he rolled to the right, just missing getting his face smashed in by Pointer's fist. With a quick jab, he dropped Pointer to one kneel and introduced him to his knee.
Pointer's head whipped back and his body fell limp on the deck, a line of blood trailing in the air has he fell. Pip pondered a moment about if he killed the man, before laughter broke his thoughts.
"Hehe.... he.. he... By gods boy. That was a good fight." Pointer pulled his head up and looked at Pip with a bloody smile. He offered his hand to the boy. Pip pulled him to his feet. "Aye, good fight. You're the first man to ever best me. I'll follow you, so long as you say what O'Malley says." With that the crew cheered. The best fighter on the ship had declared his loyalty to the First Mate, this was as good as any victory for Pip, he knew the crew would follow.
Maple was only clapping with a sideways smile on his face, Pip knew that face, he had something to say, and he was going to like it.
"Captain wants to see you sir, in her quarters in the mapping room." Pointer broke away with a scowl on his face, but it quickly disappeared as quickly as it came. He pointed his thumb toward the back of the ship, the way he was facing. Pip gave him a look before turning around. As he passed members of the crew, they had mixed reactions to him. Some who saw the fight smile and nodded to their First Mate, other gave him a long stare before returning to work.
Grace lean back in her chair, a smile across her face as she curled her locks around her finger, her eyes were closed, she was at peace. A with the clanking of iron, that peace was broken, she cracked one eye open to see if it was Pip entering her cabin, and it was. Pip was covered in blood and his left cheek looked to be puffing up. His stride was proud and he had swagger when he took his seat opposite to her.
With a smile she pulled her legs off the desk, which had fallen asleep from the position. She opened a draw on her right and pulled out an ink well and quill, placing them on the desk before pulling out a paper, placing it on the desk.
"Know why Pirates pirate?" Asked Grace as she wrote Pip's name down on the top of the paper and filled out the rest of the information she knew. Pip didn't respond for a few seconds, that got her worried.
"Gold." It wasn't a question, it was his answer. So he wanted gold, and he would get gold if he plated his dice right. Grace looked up and handed the quill to him.
"Mostly, on this ship. We search for a way to free ourselves. We all have a bounty on our heads for one reason or another. The gold we pillage is divided and when we have enough, we're sailing for home. On this ship we're not looking to get rich, only to buy the most expensive gift on Earth." Pip took the quill from her and jotted a few words down, she caught a few as he quickly wrote, the words slaves, murder, Admiral, and desertion were the most striking.
"And if a crewmen is in it to get rich?" He asked the same question that everyone asked.
"We toss them over board and they pray another ship comes by. We had no place for a idiot. Only politicians get rich, or the lucky. Not outlaws, we either get free or get dead. Simple as that." Pip handed her the quill and she placed it with the ink well in the draw before closing it.
"Ah, okay then." He answer was different from the rest, but not from Pointer, Maple or even Dicky's answer. That was concerning to her. She took the paper from him and strode over to the stack of paper on the other side of the room, placing his at the top.
"We'll be at Maui before long, much sooner than I'd had hoped. If you and Maple wish to leave, that would be the place to do it, the governor is a powerful... Man... He'll help you get a few jobs around the area, build a rep, even give you a ship if he likes you. Just don't fuck him, if it mean a few coins or bodies tossed in the ocean, it's worth it." Grace finished by looking Pip in the eye, an eye filled with salt of the sea, but nothing Grace could read. He imply got to his feet, dusted off his legs and walked out the door. Grace pull open the drawer holding her papers, ink and quill. Without even moving her eyes from the door, she pulled out her father's flask, and took a swig from the liquor inside. "This is it."
As dusk broke, so did the waves on Sansnom, or Nameless in the common language. It's epic mountain rising out of the sea, visible for hundreds of miles all around, giving false hope to those lost in Aegir's domain. To the crew of the Dead Stark, the island was home. Pip hung from the port side rattlin as he looked over the fast approaching island. The rig jerked to the side, he glanced down to see who was coming.
"Going to be a fine day. Well so say Dainty, look there on the far left." Thirst was a short and stocky man with a square nose and round face, his ragged beard was in patches. His eyes held fire, burning of a green gaze. He pulled himself to be at level with Pip, his breath smelt faintly of rum, or spiced wine.
"The bonfire on the beach?" asked Pip as he strained his eyes to see what Thirst meant, indeed there was a bonfire, sending sparks high into the morning sky. Pip glaced back at Thirst who had puckered his lips and nodded, rocking his whole body in doing so.
"Yep. He's a native to the island, like to keep sailors alive, be it yellow-bellies from Prance, flank-kissers from Equestria, or wrecks from the sea. He be a kind soul, well so long as you respect the man." Pip was about the ask if every person on the island was like that, but before he had the chance, Thirst was down the lines and making his way the the crew hatch, no doubt in search for the last of the drink on the ship.
The second the boats hit the shore, the men erupted from them. Kissing the sand and laughing in joy. It had been a long four months since they had seen their home, the isles of Old Maui. Pip stood on the back seat of his rowboat, his hand hooked into his belt and shoulders rolling. He followed the men, be it much more slowly and without the antics of the rest of the crew. Grace had landed first, taking her entire crew save for six, they were needed to guard the ship from pirates and Maple was among those who stayed back.
"Pip! Move you're arse and get over here!" Yelled Grace as she trudged up the beach, passing a few huts erected near the surf and disappearing from sight, Pip followed eagerly. Catching up to her, he eyed the path ahead of them. The town was growing around them, first were the small huts like that of the ones scattered about the beach, then came houses that were weathered, they had paint chipping off all over their husk-like appearance. After that there were a host of shops, signs advertising everything from soap to firearms.
Grace too eyed the area, but for a very different reason. While Pip looked to soak it all in, she was looking for a mark. "You much of a drinker Pip?" Asked Grace as she made a sharp right and descended a dark hatch, a tankard carved crudely above it's doors.
"Depends. Am I being challenged?" Asked Pip as he followed her, his hands moving to his weapons with each step.
"That remains to be seen, just follow my lead and you'll walk out that door that same way you came down, mostly alive." Replied Grace as she kicked over a sleeping patron from his seat, not even waking him or turning a head from the rest of the bar. Pip pulled out the chair from the opposite and sat down.
"So what are we doing?" Asked Pip as he leaned back, kicking his feet onto the table. Grace smiled and shook her head, napping her fingers twice. Pip eyed her for a second before spying a young girl walking towards them, a pair of tankards in her hands. The yellow-brown foam fizzing over the rims gave a clean indication of what was in them. "Marnich malts?" The girl placed the drinks down on the table, passing on to Grace and leaving the other in the middle of the table. Pip glanced at her before reaching out and grabbing the large cup. The girl made a gesture and walked away, Pip watched her go.
From the look of her, she either was in her late teens or very early twenties. Her skin was deep bronze from the sunlight, her raven hair passed her shoulders, tied into a cinched ponytail with locks of hair falling in front of her face. From the look he got of her face, her eyes were piercing green.
"I'd keep my eyes to myself if I were in your boots." Pip looked back to Grace who was slamming back the rest of her drink already, the foam of the beer covering the area around her mouth.
"Oh yeah, what if I like taking risks?" Asked Pip as he picked up his drink, smelling it before taking a sip. The rich taste of the brew filling his mouth, a much needed refresher to the stale taste of the water kept on board.
"If you're thinking of taking ricks that make money, I have a job for ya." Pip nearly spit his drink, but he managed to keep it in. Turning around to see the source of the voice, he was met with a set of belts and buckles. Attached to them were several pistols, above them were yet more belts with even more pistols clad to them. Pip cranked his neck to see the face of the man, his face was marred with scars, his beard was brown with small patches of white.
His blue eyes were cutting deep into Pip as he stared deep into them. The man grimly walked around the table and pull a seat from a neighboring table and sat down. "But if you're more of the type to rick you're skin to get with a man's daughter, I'll shoot you meself." Finished the man as he pulled yet another item from the neighboring table, this time a green bottle filled with princesses knew what. The man eyed Pip for a moment before slamming back the entire bottle.
"Tell me Thatch, what does an old sea hound like you got for me?" Asked Grace as she pick her empty tankard back up, only to put it back down with a loud thud.
"Well, depends. I have a list of items that need sinking, thievin', and drinking." Replied Thatch as he pulled out a small pearl coloured pipe, the image of an angle engraved on it.
"Sinking?" Asked Pip as he leaned forward, taking a long drink from his cup as he did so.
"Aye, got us a Royal Southern Kingdom Fleet of ships floatin about down near the Coltin pillars." Replied Thatch as the same girl brought more beer, this time three tankards and a coy smile for Pip.
"Numbers?" Asked Grace as she rolled her head around her shoulders, disinterested in the topic at hand.
"Only a wee fleet, only about 15,000 strong." Pip gagged and start choking on his drink. He slammed the cup onto the table and began coughing violently, Grace paid his little mind.
"15...*Cough* thousand strong? Are you bloody mad! The Royal Equestrian navy is only 16,000 and that's all her fleets. How fucken big is that Southern Kingdom?" Asked Pip as he hammered his chest with a balled fist. Thatch regarded him with nothing more than a small smile.
"So the thievin' job then?" Asked Thatch as he took a tiny sip of his beer, tasting it before taking a second taste this time in the corm of a huge swig.
"Aye, what is the mark?" Asked Grace as she finished yet another tankard of beer, show little of the effects Pip was starting to feel.
"Well, the mark is about 6 years old, wee lad with golden locks and a face of a babe." Replied Thatch as he drained the last of his beer and set the massive empty tankard. Grace leaned forward, her elbows set on the table and face plastered with a grin. Thatch smiled and pulled out a tiny note, about the size of one's palm and set it on the table. It was sealed closed with bright red wax, the likeness of three unicorns in the middle.
"House Spellcaster?" Asked Pip as he pick up the letter and looked at the seal more closely.
"Know of them?" Asked Grace as she extended her hand, gesturing for the return of the note.
"Yes, they were a major player a few hundred years ago, I take it we're going after the crown prince?" Asked Pip as he stood up, finished his tankard of beer. Thatch nodded slowly, eyeing another man across the bar, his hand brushing his sides.
"Aye, break into the stronghold, get the boy, get out, wait for money drop off, give the boy back, get out alive. Very simple." Replied Thatch as he got to his feet, his hand resting on his gun. "Well at the very least on paper." With that he walked away, leaving Pip and Grace to sit and ponder.
"That it then? If you'll excuse me ma'am, I'll go run and hide somewhere warm for the night, I'll be on board in the morning. This is going to be a hard target, but should be the only one we need." Grace nodded and took Pip's second tankard of beer.
"Good, I got a few things to turn in, get a few bounties filled out by the mayor." Replied Grace as she finished off Pip's drink and headed for the door. "Good luck." Replied Grace before jogging up the stairs towards the surface. Pip looked about the bar, spying the girl who had served them drinks. Tonight was going to be a hell of a night, one way or another.
Grace walked into the Third Bank, her pistol cocked and ready at a moment's notice. She wasn't going to rob the place, that was bad for business. No, she was simply getting ready for the next yahoo to jump out at her, set on robbing her. The man behind the counter was gruff, built like a tree.
He wore a ragged shirt and smelt faintly of gin, but he was in charge of the bank. He was mashing the keys of his typewriter, no doubt filling out a letter informing someone that they had defaulted.
"Grom, it's me." The man stopped his work, looking up with a mist of confusion. His eyes slowly panned up to meet Grace's own, filled with a lazy look of irritation. His mind licked into gear and he sat up, cracking a sad smile before standing. Grace grinned before holding up a small brown box, she tore the packaging and showed it to the bank clerk, the face of one of the Lost Dyarchs and below her crisp face were a few simple numbers: 99,9B. The clerk's smile grew and he threw his arms wide.
"... Oh! Shelia! Right, follow me." Grace groaned at the name but followed the man, her hands falling to her sides and away from her weapons. Grom pushed open a door off-set behind him, Grace ducking under the counter and popping up on the opposite side. GRom glanced back at her before actually going in.
"I take it you know exactly why I'm here?" Asked Grace as she followed the towering man, his shoulders nearly brushing against the walls lined with iron hatched boxes.
"Yes, yes. You're Iron Box. Kept 'er nice and safe for the pretty missy." Replied Grom as he stopped suddenly and bent down to the floor, peeling away a section of the warn rug laying on the floor. Grace tried to lean and peak at what he was doing but he stood back up and kept walking. Grace raised an eye brow, reaching for her pistol and clasping it's grip.
"That's right, you got the key?" Asked Grace as she slowed her pace, making sure not to lag behind.
"Aye, does you?" Asked Grom as he stopped and turned, leaning against the wall with a tiny bronze coloured key in his grasp. Grace pulled on the metal stump of her pistol, pulling it free of the wood and revealing the teeth of a key that was hidden within.
"Aye." Grom slowly jabbed the bronze key into the right slot, violently cranking it to the right, a thin clink sounding as he did so, Grace followed his lead, be it with much more grace. The turns for her needed to be done several times, pulling the iron lock through the door and into the wall. With a thunk, she was finished. The door creaked open as she let got of the key, revealing a near pitch coloured interior. A single golden locket sat on it's floor, a stark white gem shimmered from the little light that had come through the doors and the setting sun.
"Now that you have yer things, this box mine again?" Asked Grom as her crossed his arms and awaited her answer. Grace reached into the box and dropped the trinket down her shirt, turned away from Grom and striding out.
"Oh yes, I'll just leave this here a down payment for your service." Replied Grace as she walked out the door, ducking under the counter and leaving her payment on the candle lit desk. A small brown package, filled with Royal Stamps. Each were nearly a hundreds bits each, but worthless to someone who couldn't cash them. Grom shook his head closed the box, leaving it unlocked for the next buyer. Grace strode out of the Third Bank and turned to the west, the sun slowly sinking into the sea before her eyes, her ship The White Seahorse sat bobbing in the twilight, her heart leaping just as it did the first time she had seen it.
Grace sat in the tavern, a cup of ale in her grip as the sound of her merry crew enjoying the night and all the island had to offer. It was late and she was meeting one of her contacts. The locket she retrieved from the lockbox was in her grasp, the thin metal chain rubbing between her fingers and her thumb, the pendant handing lazily just above the table.
About half way through his fifth cup a large man, completely covered in tattoos and scars walked over to her table and sat down, hiking his boots onto the table and leaning back into his chair. Grace ignored the man for a time before finishing off her ale and looking lazily up at him.
"Captain Storms... What brings you to my table this... fine evening?" Asked Grace, motioning for a refill and another for Storms, she knew why he was there but they rarely talked since she got her captain's ship.
"Well, my little bird sang me a song. Once of the royal navy, of fire, and of a 'hole lot of loot. I've come for the second act of this show you've begun." Replied the gruff man, his violet eyes sharing with a fire behind them as he spoke, his grin wide and his sharpened canines bared. Grace remembered why she got her own ship, this was not a man you'd want angry.
Smirking, Grace tossed him the locket, he grabbed it without even looking, busying pulling the barmaid into his lap and the drink from her hand. He popped it open and looking inside, he made a face to the photo inside, closing it back up, tossing it on the table and took a drink of his ale.
"Recognize anyone?" Asked Grace as she picked up her cup and leaned back, taking a sip from her sixth cup and eyeing the girl on his lap.
"Yeah, that's the cut who gutted our old cap'in." Growled Storms as he ran his hands over the girl's body.
"Well yeah it is, but you know who the kid is? That's his son, and want to know something else? I've seen him! In public, just wandering around. See, no one but you and I and a handful of others even know he has a kid. Say we take a trip up north, make a little stop and grab the kid, sail back down south, send a letter to dear old dad letting him know his kid is safe for a measly some of... say 12 tons off silver and gold?" Asked Grace as she finished her cup, paying more attention to the girl on Storms rather than him.
Storms remained silent, seemingly have tuned Grace out in favour for the barmaid's attention. "6 tons is a lot for one cap'in... and say the cunt brings a small fleet? The Everfree is big but she ain't no Emperor class, she can't take on a fleet no bigger than 5 ships." Replied Storms as he pushed the barmaid off of him, whispering something into her ear before he pulled his feet down and turned to face Grace.
"Exactly, we need another man'o'war, but who do we trust who has one?" Asked Grace as she took another drink, her cup seemingly magically refilled.
"No one, we don't trust each other." Replied Storms right before he took a large swig of ale.
Grace smirked and replied without missing a beat. "Exactly, we're going for someone who's strong enough to watch our backs but weak enough to know, they're not gonna survive a fight." Storms eyes went wide as he looked down at the locket, a heavy sigh escaping him as he thought about who she could be talking about.
"McCoy?"
"McCoy."
Storms groaned and slumped into his chair, finishing off his ale and slamming it down onto the table. "Let me guess, he's right behind me and he's "so excited to be a part of this raid!"" Mocked Storms as he sat up, and as if on cue, footsteps loud enough to be heard over the sound of the tavern were heard, and felt.
"Grace! Storms! Great to see my old friends! I must say, glad to be apart of this raid!" As McCoy say down the amount of people in the tavern doubled as his crew joined in. McCoy was huge, towering over Storms by a few feet and easily as wide as Grace was tall. He wasn't the brightest captain in the seas but the thinking was down by his first mate. A dark skinned woman sat down beside McCoy and passed him a large cup of ale, forging on for herself.
"What dis I 'ear of a raid?" Her accent was think enough that ship cannons couldn't bust through. She wore her hair long and braided on one side and shaved down on the other. Her entire left aside was covered in tattoos from all over the globes, marks of the Royal navy and southern Empire adorn her arm.
"Stars, good to see you. Grace wants to raid a town in the very heart of the Royal waters and steal one sodden kid, she says we'll get a haul of 10 tons in silver and gold." Storms finished and took a drink of his ale, eyeing Grace for her reaction.
"Great! We leaving in the morning?" Asked McCoy as he placed them empty pitched of ale, his smirk having turned into a wide grin at the sound of all the silver.
"Woah! Woah, you what? Sail into the 'eart of royal waters and steal a kid? 'ho's kid? Why we stealing 'em?" Asked Stars as she placed her hands on the table and stood up, saking the table slightly.
"You remember the captain who bought and freed you?" Asked Grace as she swirled the ale in her cup, looking down at the locket on the table.
"Yes, how could I forget The Reaper, he is legend. What dis have to do wit' 'im?" Asked Stars as she looked at Grace.
"This kid is the son of the cunt who managed to best him in combat." Replied Storms as he picked up the locket and opened it to show Stars and McCoy.
Stars took the locket and one could feel the heat of the room rise as she looked into the eyes of the photo. Fire and hate danced behind her eyes, her muscle rippled with anticipation.
"So what's the plan? Full assault on the town and reduce the place to ash, hoping the kid isn't part of the piles?" Asked McCoy as he placed new cups of ale around the table.
"Close, I know where the kid's estate is. It's on the far northern peninsula of the island known as Port Iron, on the west side there is a wall of guns that'll reduce even an Emperor class ship to wood chips. To the east of the island is the jagged straights, no ship bigger than a Brig can sail though their without the will of the sea gods guiding it. That leaves the southern beaches, and he's the catch with those." Explained Grace, using the candle and cups to explain her plan.
"The fifth, eighth, and fourteenth fleets all dock there for three days and there is only one maybe two days where a few ships guard the island." Replied Storms as he looked down at the maskshift map.
"I 'ear that those few ships are always man'o'war and once I 'ear there was an Emperor class." Chimed in Stars as she rubbed her forehead, looking at the mess of cups and knives.
"Yes, but that's where we have them divide their forces, cutting them down on the island and sinking those man'o'wars and if there is an Emperor, have it chase one of us ships into the lines of sight of the west wall." Replied Grace as she leaned back and picked up a cup of ale.
The table remained silent, even Storms seemed to think this plan was not going to work. "If we come in from the north I doubt we they'll just let us sail in, what if they North is just as armed as the west and out ships get chewed up?"
"The cannons are set for large targets, big ship no smaller than man'o'wars. My fleet can get though, and if you pray really hard, yours might make it thought those rocks." Replied an unknown voice. The entire table, minus Grace, turn to face the voice.
It belonged to a man just as big as McCoy, he wore a helmet that covered the upper half of his head and his thick beard masked the lower half. He wore thick, dark pelts and small bits of metal could be seen beneath the fur. He was flanked by men who looked just like him, except their beards were of slightly different hues. At their sides were long straight swords, they looked heavy and thicker than the ones carried by officer of the navies. The man walked over and sat down, his men standing behind him, folding their arms and looking straight ahead, over Storm's head.
"My name is Jarl Ulv-Lahti, I'm a northman and these are my men. Bjorn and Asger. We will take a cut of the loot, plus all that we find on the island. You're men are to not step foot on the island, if we find them they will be cut down like weeds in a field of wheat. Am I clear?" Asked the man, his demands almost reasonable.
The table remained silent, focusing on Grace and trying to get an angle on what she was planning. The night took a while to die out as the near six hundred men and women Ulv-Lahti had brought with him. All the while, Grace's main concern was where Pip was.