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Pirates Of The Decian Sea - Short Story From The Ki Kalendeen Chronicles
Storieshrankta
Yeoman â Lvl 10
Here's a short story I wrote that contains characters from Blood Of The Righteous:
Pirates Of The Decian Seas
By J. E Sandoval
Corwyn Fyke sat at the Officerâs Mess table waiting for Doc to bring dinner. Being First Mate of the Waverunner, he sat to the right of Captain Jaxom Karinga. Karinga was in his mid-thirties. He had long black hair, which he usually kept tied in a ponytail, and wore his facial hair in a neatly trimmed goatee. He wore his usual maroon jacket and a new black silk shirt. Corwyn had served with Jax since he first went to sea so long ago he couldnât even count the years. Jax was the finest captain he could ever hope to sail under, and through their time together, they had become the best of friends.
To Corwynâs left sat William Dunkirk, the shipâs boatswain. Sunken eyes, short trimmed brown hair, a hooked nose and a gaunt face echoed his no-nonsense approach to work and life in general. They picked him up six years ago after he had spent some time in prison for pulling a few heists. Fortunately, these days, he used his organizational and leadership skills for the good of the crew.
At the foot of the table was their large, muscular Master-At-Arms, Stockmore, or Edge, as he was called. Edge had been a Sergeant in the Elgannan army under General Brandvold. He boasted a large number of kills on the battlefield, but what was even more impressive was his skill as a trainer. Over the last three years, he had whipped the crew into shape and turned them into an efficient fighting force. Edge went with Captain Karinga anytime he went ashore, as he had since he joined the crew, five years ago.
Next to Edge was Quenton, the shipâs surgeon. He was bald and wore a fancy blue silk shirt. Nice fellow. Always willing to help with any task, and always ready with a hangover cure if one of the crew imbibed too much ale or whiskey. Quenton had been with the crew for over ten years, and he seemed perfectly content to stay.
The last person at the officerâs table was the blond haired blue eyed enigmatic David Tanner, the shipâs Yeoman. David had saved Corwyn and Jax three years before from some of the sea merchant guildâs piss-boys who thought they could make a quick score. Upon learning of his talents for reading, writing, and doing sums, Jax had hired him on when he was but 14 years old. It turned out to be the best decision Jax had ever made, as Tanner was such a skilled negotiator and tactician, he had made the crew very wealthy. Well, most of the crew. Some like Stockmore would burn through their gold faster than Tanner could earn it, which was no easy task. David was the son of a leather worker from Northpoint on the island nation of Decia. His father must have done incredibly well for himself with how educated David was. Truth be told, David didnât like to talk about his past, so no one pressed the issue.
âSo, Corwyn, which of Docâs many faces of hardtack do you think weâll be served tonight,â Karinga asked.
Corwyn shrugged. âDonât know and donât care. They are all delicious.â
The rest of the crew chuckled. Corwyn had grown up downwind from the Odourus Blanches in Gaul, the large garbage dump for the northern city of Bor De La Maer. He left when he was old enough to sail, but people joked that he had stayed too long and it had burnt out his sniffer.
âProbably Dandyfunk,â Tanner said. âHadnât had to choke that down in a while. Hey Corwyn, when we put in at Riverâs End tomorrow morning, after we make the drop-off, will you accompany me to the Royal Bank? I need to make a desposit.â
âOf course, lad,â Corwyn said.
âIf we see a guild ship in port, Iâll come too,â Edge offered.
David nodded. âGood idea. Afterwards, how about we stop at the Royalton for lunch, my treat.â
Corwyn perked up. The Royalton was the finest dining establishment the capital city of Elgannan had to offer. They also had the most beautiful serving staff, and they treated their patrons like nobility.
âIn fact, if anyone else wants to join us, feel free.â
âI think Iâll take you up on that, David,â Jax said.
âIâve got too much to do,â Dunkirk said. âBut thank you for the offer.â
âI need to stock up on my medical supplies,â Quenton said, âotherwise I would be in on that like maggots on a bloated rotting corpse.â
Tanner wrinkled his nose. âGee, thanks, Quenton! Just the image one needs before dinner.â
âSorry, Davey. My apologies.â
Doc opened the door to the cabin, carrying a large bowl.
âSo what is it tonight, Doc?â Fyke asked.
âDandyfunk! And lots of it!â
Corwyn caught David smirking.
âDig in!â Doc said before turning around and closing the door behind him.
âSo,â Jax said, digging his spoon into the brown mushy mixture, âwhat do you think weâll be able to get in Riverâs End, David?â
David smiled. âI think this next run is going to be our most profitable yet. The Royal Bank is looking for someone to transport half a million gold to their branch in Port Cauldwell, and they are offering a 4 percent payment for its delivery.â
Corwynâs jaw dropped. âDamn, thatâs a lot of gold!â
âAnd a lot of risk!â the captain said. âIf we fail to deliver, we would end up in indentured servitude until we could pay it back!â
David waved his hand dismissively. âWonât happen. Once the guild finds out we are on a run for the Royal Bank, they will leave us alone. If one of their ships attacked us and took the gold, the Bankers would seize all of their assets and put them out of business.â
âWhat about pirates?â Edge asked.
âAlways a danger, but the only one who has been able to keep out of the guildâs reach is Black Jack Mulligan, and no one has heard from him in four months.â David dropped a glob of Dandyfunk on to his plate.
âWhat about that Edward Blackheart fellow?â Quenton asked.
âDead. I heard he tried to raid a ship outside of Port Kolm and the Decian Navy captured him. He had a date with the gallows the next morning,â Tanner replied.
They ate in silence for a while, the captain considering his options.
âWhat else could we do?â he asked.
âLady Malceour is in the market for some weapons. We could fill a quarter of the hold and make a nice profit on it when we return to Port Cauldwell,â David offered. He ate a spoonful of Dandyfunk and frowned. âUgh. How could something so sweet taste so bland?â
âAnything else?â Karinga asked.
âDickonsonâs latest batch of whiskey should be ready. Those always fetch a good price in Decia,â David said. âPlus, cloth is always cheap this time of year. Iâm sure we could turn a decent profit with the Decian tailors guild. Not everyone can afford silk.â
Karinga gave half a smile and looked around the table. âI say we do all four!â
David smiled. Karinga was getting more and more bold. Trusting Davidâs instincts had become second nature to him. He even trusted it more than his own reasoning lately.
Corwyn weighed all of the pros and cons of the job as he started eating. First off, how to make sure the gold was secure in the hold. He would have to put three guards on it at all times. Second, the thought of indentured servitude scared the hell out of him. Third, being a relatively small ship, they only had a crew of 40. What if someone with a larger ship did try and attack them?
âSomething on your mind, Corwyn?â David asked.
âOh, sorry lad. I was just having some thoughts on the risks.â
âWell, lets hear them,â David said.
âHow do we make sure none of the crew gets into the gold? I mean, they are good lads, but the temptation would be awful big.â
David nodded. âTrue, which is why the guild will most likely put the gold in iron strongboxes with locks so complicated that I doubt even Dunkirk here could crack them. Not that you would, Will.â
âAbsolutely not. My thieving days are far behind me, I assure you,â Dunkirk said.
Corwyn shrugged. âI suppose you are right. What about another crew of say, a large independent ship, tried to take the gold?â
âAnyone with a large ship will be terrified of retribution from the bankers. The guild wonât dare touch us, and like I said, no one has heard from Mulligan in four months. Heâs probably retired, captured, or dead. And anyway, itâs not like we are sailing the Mediterranean waters.â
âIâm sorry, David, but indentured servitude scares the hell out of my. My brother, Cethwyn, is an indentured servant in New Paris. His life is a living hell.â
Tanner took a deep breath. âI ask you not to press me on the details, but know, that if we fail to deliver the gold, I have a rock solid plan that will allow us to walk free.â
Corwyn blinked. âUm, Davey, you canât just drop a doozey like that and expect to move on.â
David folded his arms. âIâm sorry, Corwyn, but I canât elaborate. I just ask that you trust me.â
âVery well, David,â Jax said. âCorwyn, please let it go.â
Fyke sighed. That was asking a lot, but David had never let them down in the past. âAlright, David. Iâll trust you.â
âGood,â Tanner said standing up. âNow, if you will excuse me, Iâm going down to the hold to see if we have any creamed whiskey left. I need something to wash away that gritty gruel taste.â
1472 XP
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Fantasy Author / Tech Wizard.
Raise a runkle to Lord Elrond and Radio Rivendell!!!
Panthalas
Distinguished Citizen â Lvl 9
A nice one ! A big one I should say but it was worth it!
1172 XP
hrankta
Yeoman â Lvl 10
Thank you!
1472 XP
Fantasy Author / Tech Wizard.
Raise a runkle to Lord Elrond and Radio Rivendell!!!