profitable one?”
“Winning favor from Lord Aurellia is always profitable,” Goleth said, and chuckled at the look of horror on the pirate’s face.
“L-l-lord Aurellia? But he’s gone, vanished from the world, that’s how all this chaos started. Seraka was burning the last time I visited…a mob had overthrown their rulers. Khael was tainted with a foul, somber mood. And my fellow captains returning from the west have told me grave stories of rioting and killing in Ishur, and a revolution in Ursula and Onair. The Jiserian Empire is crumbling from the inside, festering with maggots eating away at its organs. Only Carvina stands untarnished with the Emperor, the Stelan Knights, and the Order of the Dragons ruling strong.”
“Now do you understand my desire to return to the capitol?” Master Goleth sighed. “I’ve no desire to join the fray in Ishur. After traveling so far with Lord Aurellia, I merely want to reunite with my family in Carvina.”
Talis noticed the greed return to Captain Cridd’s eyes. “And what will you offer me in exchange for safe passage to the capitol?”
“I’ll allow your ship to stay afloat. I’m sure you’d hate to see all that silver ore plunge to the bottom of the sea. Is that payment enough for you?”
The Captain’s face darkened and he studied Talis and Mara, and once again returned his gaze to Master Goleth. He snapped his fingers and three hooded figures from the longboat suddenly stood and strode over to join him. Talis tensed as they aimed gnarled and burned fingers at them.
“You don’t go threatening Captain Cridd, I come prepared with my own wizards. Now unless you want to discover what manner of horrors these wizards can unleash, I suggest you reconsider your response to my question. What will you offer me? A ride on The Emperor’s Revenge doesn’t come for free.”
“What would you consider as acceptable payment?” Talis said, earning him a glare from Master Goleth and a grin from Captain Cridd.
“The boy speaks! And a reasonable bargainer’s voice, the voice of nobility. And whom might you be, young master?” The bearded man seemed perplexed staring back and forth between Talis and Mara.
“My name is Talis Storm, from Naru.”
“Can this be true?” The captain slapped his leg and released a friendly laugh. “A son of the famous Storm family lineage alive after the destruction of Naru? A family known across the world for their once prosperous trading empire? I have dealt with his people many times in the past.”
“You asked for news, Captain, and I am pleased to offer you some. Naru is rebuilt and her people restored from the plague of the undead. Saved from a spell cast from my own hand. I would be most grateful if you keep that news away from the Jiserian sorcerers and necromancers that have mauled my city. Perhaps we share a similar distaste?”
Captain Cridd nodded and huffed in response. “I’d sooner deal with the devil than parlay with those demons.”
“I thank you.” Talis gave the man a polite bow. “I have also asked Master Goleth to take young Mara and myself to the Royal Court of Carvina in the hopes of being granted an audience with the Emperor himself. We seek an alliance directly with Emperor Ghaalis.”
“A wise move, young master. While the vermin rage and gnaw on each other in Ishur, you may find a receptive ear in the Emperor.” The Captain cleared his throat a few times and tapped at his chest. “You asked me what I wanted in exchange for safe passage… And now I see the way open for our mutually beneficial partnership. I’ll allow you and your friend to travel with me to Carvina in exchange for your vow of granting me exclusive sea trading rights for the Storm family business and all goods from Naru. Last word I heard from my fellow captains was your father was still alive and running his business from a small village along the Ursulan Coast. I’m sure you are pleased to discover that last bit of
“Winning favor from Lord Aurellia is always profitable,” Goleth said, and chuckled at the look of horror on the pirate’s face.
“L-l-lord Aurellia? But he’s gone, vanished from the world, that’s how all this chaos started. Seraka was burning the last time I visited…a mob had overthrown their rulers. Khael was tainted with a foul, somber mood. And my fellow captains returning from the west have told me grave stories of rioting and killing in Ishur, and a revolution in Ursula and Onair. The Jiserian Empire is crumbling from the inside, festering with maggots eating away at its organs. Only Carvina stands untarnished with the Emperor, the Stelan Knights, and the Order of the Dragons ruling strong.”
“Now do you understand my desire to return to the capitol?” Master Goleth sighed. “I’ve no desire to join the fray in Ishur. After traveling so far with Lord Aurellia, I merely want to reunite with my family in Carvina.”
Talis noticed the greed return to Captain Cridd’s eyes. “And what will you offer me in exchange for safe passage to the capitol?”
“I’ll allow your ship to stay afloat. I’m sure you’d hate to see all that silver ore plunge to the bottom of the sea. Is that payment enough for you?”
The Captain’s face darkened and he studied Talis and Mara, and once again returned his gaze to Master Goleth. He snapped his fingers and three hooded figures from the longboat suddenly stood and strode over to join him. Talis tensed as they aimed gnarled and burned fingers at them.
“You don’t go threatening Captain Cridd, I come prepared with my own wizards. Now unless you want to discover what manner of horrors these wizards can unleash, I suggest you reconsider your response to my question. What will you offer me? A ride on The Emperor’s Revenge doesn’t come for free.”
“What would you consider as acceptable payment?” Talis said, earning him a glare from Master Goleth and a grin from Captain Cridd.
“The boy speaks! And a reasonable bargainer’s voice, the voice of nobility. And whom might you be, young master?” The bearded man seemed perplexed staring back and forth between Talis and Mara.
“My name is Talis Storm, from Naru.”
“Can this be true?” The captain slapped his leg and released a friendly laugh. “A son of the famous Storm family lineage alive after the destruction of Naru? A family known across the world for their once prosperous trading empire? I have dealt with his people many times in the past.”
“You asked for news, Captain, and I am pleased to offer you some. Naru is rebuilt and her people restored from the plague of the undead. Saved from a spell cast from my own hand. I would be most grateful if you keep that news away from the Jiserian sorcerers and necromancers that have mauled my city. Perhaps we share a similar distaste?”
Captain Cridd nodded and huffed in response. “I’d sooner deal with the devil than parlay with those demons.”
“I thank you.” Talis gave the man a polite bow. “I have also asked Master Goleth to take young Mara and myself to the Royal Court of Carvina in the hopes of being granted an audience with the Emperor himself. We seek an alliance directly with Emperor Ghaalis.”
“A wise move, young master. While the vermin rage and gnaw on each other in Ishur, you may find a receptive ear in the Emperor.” The Captain cleared his throat a few times and tapped at his chest. “You asked me what I wanted in exchange for safe passage… And now I see the way open for our mutually beneficial partnership. I’ll allow you and your friend to travel with me to Carvina in exchange for your vow of granting me exclusive sea trading rights for the Storm family business and all goods from Naru. Last word I heard from my fellow captains was your father was still alive and running his business from a small village along the Ursulan Coast. I’m sure you are pleased to discover that last bit of
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