Among the Blessed

The past…

The ship was eerily quiet as Serpent’s flagship approached. Two gun skimmers circled the vessel, keeping weapons trained on it. They were ordered to fire on his signal, should anything go wrong. He didn’t take any chances. Not when communication from the vessel had stopped shortly after informing him they were heading to the rendezvous spot to hand over the skiridian prince.

As his ship neared the scene on the deck became clearer. Hanging from the side of the skimmer were a handful of severed heads and laying spread-eagle on the deck was the captain, stripped to the waist and pinned in place by daggers in his hands and feet. Serpent couldn’t tell if he were dead or alive. Probably alive. Hopefully alive. He wanted answers for this.

At the helm was a young man with brown hair and a pistol in one hand. He held it back at his shoulder, seemingly at ease. Serpent gestured and someone handed him his telescope. He unfolded it and peered at the man. There, on his jacket sleeve, was a coat of arms. Blue and white separated by a white lightning bolt. Stormrider.

“I want all hands on deck and ready to fight,” Serpent ordered, “Put my snipers on that man at the helm. I want him dead if he so much as looks at me or my bodyguard wrong.”

He snapped the telescope away and stalked down to where his bodyguard was waiting. The skimmer made no hostile move as he approached and the Stormrider at the helm remained passive as the gangplank was slid over and Serpent and his bodyguard made their way onto his ship. The pirate captain could see the living remainder of the crew watching him fearfully, crowding far away as they possibly could from the Stormrider and himself. Serpent frowned and walked towards the helm. As he passed the former captain he glanced down. The man was unconscious but still breathing.

“Good day to you, sir,” the Stormrider called as he approached.

“And what is the meaning of all this?” Serpent demanded.

The pirate managed to cut an imposing figure, despite his rather unimpressive height. Deeply tanned by the sun, his slight potbelly and layers of muscle was hid by the layers of fine embroidered silk that had come from the high elven ocean fortress. Two swords hung at his waist and a bandolier fitted with pistols and knives was across his chest. His gray hair was up in a topknot. It was a stark contrast to the skinny and tall Stormrider before him.

“Well, there was some difficulties,” the man replied, “I’m Deeah Stormrider, from Pinnacle.”

He left the helm and hopped down to the same level as Serpent, shoving the pistol back in his belt as he did so. The bodyguard didn’t relax. They knew Stormriders were crazy.

“I was hired by your man there,” and Deeah nodded at the captain pinned to the deck, “a few months ago. Had a mind to work my way up the ranks until I was taking orders from you, sir. Turns out I had to escalate my plans a bit.”

“If you want to work for me,” Serpent growled, “Then tell me where the prince is.”

“Dead. Got shot in the fighting. I was going to be the scapegoat, but well, that didn’t sit right with me. And so, seeing as the former captain was so incompetent as to botch a simple board and capture mission I decided to take possession of his vessel and deliver him to your hands myself.”

“You staged a mutiny.”

Deeah tilted his head and thought for a moment.

“Hrm. If you count a one-man mutiny as one, then yes.”

It was that moment that Serpent found a large amount of respect for the man. In his business, respect always sent of alarm bells. He’d have to watch this one. Make sure he didn’t get even more ambitious. After all, someone that was reckless enough to take on an entire crew and its captain, smart enough to pull it off, and brutal enough to ensure they followed him was someone that might try to dispose of Serpent someday.

“I knew the Stormriders were harsh,” Serpent mused, looking about the deck, “but I did not know it went this far.”

“I’m what happens when a Stormrider goes bad.” And Deeah grinned.

“Well, you took the ship, you keep the ship,” Serpent finally said, “Just don’t forget who it sails for.”

“I won’t.”

The Stormrider bowed and touched his brow in respect. This wasn’t so bad after all. He may have lost the prince and the ransom that would have gone with the winged brat but he may have just earned something that would be far more valuable in the long run. Serpent spun and yelled over orders to his own crew.

“Pry that wretch off the deck and drag him to the brig!” he cried, “I’ll have him dealt with later.” The last was in a low growl. Behind him, Deeah chuckled.

Modern day…

As soon as their agent had been seen and arrangements made to unload the cargo Langley’s one-track mind scattered. The capital of Skiridi was used to tourists and foreigners and so many portions of it catered to this clientele with shops boasting seemingly authentic souvenirs based on skiridian culture and restaurants with the skiridian cuisine toned down to the human palette. The genuine parts of the city were elsewhere, tucked away in nooks and crannies where the impressive buildings didn’t reside to draw sightseers. Of course, being Stormriders, Langley and Sabreur found themselves in these areas, drawn to them like a lamp draws moths.

“I think we’re lost,” Ajiin grumbled, around noon. His stomach grumbled as well, reminding him just what time it was.

“I think I smell food.” Langley stopped and sniffed the air.

“How can you not smell it?” Sabreur grumbled, “There’s enough spice in the air to strangle a person.”

Langley stopped in the middle of the street. The passersby just flowed around her, staring as they did. They were the only humans in the street, which to Ajiin seemed to be a bad sign. He much preferred to stay where tourists were welcome.

“I see chicken… and duck. Now, which shall it be?”

“You’ve been saying you want duck,” Sabreur offered.

“And chicken. She’s been saying chicken as well,” Ajiin added.

“Excellent idea you two!” she said, bouncing off towards the food stalls, “I’ll have both and we all can share!”

Ajiin’s stomach rumbled and he put one hand to it and moaned dramatically.

“If these spices kill me I’m going straight to Mihos and asking him for vengeance against your culinary psychopath of a sister,” he sighed.

It was close to sundown by the time the three finally started back towards the docks. By that time they had managed to visit every part of town where humans weren’t welcome and had managed to avoid one nasty incident only because Ajiin grabbed the two by the arm and forced them to take off running down the nearest side street. Sabreur had been reaching for his matchbook. That would have ended poorly.

But as it was, they were all safe and sound and heading home for the evening. Tomorrow Langley would see about getting a new job. That is, if they got home safe and sound.

Ajiin, being a mercenary for many years, had been hired as a bodyguard on multiple occasions. As such, he was used to noticing when he was being trailed and knew how to deal with it. The twins – did not. Langley was busy chewing on what appeared to be rat meat on a stick although she swore it was just pork and Sabreur – well – he was Sabreur.

“Langley,” Ajiin said in a very low voice, “We’re being followed.”

“Gyurgh?” she said around rat on stick.

“Eh.” And he tossed his head in the direction of the three skiridians behind them.

Langley swallowed. Dropped the stick on the ground as a pretense for redirecting her hand to the hilt of her rapier.

“Suggestions?” she whispered back.

“Probably just muggers. We’re getting close to a more populated area – we’ll be safe there. On my mark, run for it.”

“Run for it?” Sabreur whispered. Ajiin could tell he was having trouble not turning around to look. “But…”

“Just do it,” Ajiin said through gritted teeth. He was going to keep those two from making a scene today no matter what. Back home on Alannis they could get away with it by virtue of being Academy trained ‘mancers and Stormriders. But this was Skiridi. Things were different and the twins were too stubborn to admit that.

“Right. Ready. Mark.”

And the three bolted and ran. Behind them came the sound of voices and running. The muggers were pursuing them. Ajiin easily took the lead and rounded a corner, then down another street. He could see a main street up ahead with a rather large group of people moving along it. That would take them straight to the docks. As they approached the sound of pursuit fell away and Ajiin realized that the people on the street were not civilians, nor were they moving like individuals heading to their own destinations.

They were guards, armed and moving as a group towards the docks. Ajiin skidded to a stop and Langley attempted to as well. She failed. Slammed right into Ajiin and they both hit the ground. Ajiin grunted in pain as his back discovered just how bony Langley’s elbow really was. Sabreur added to the dog-pile when he tripped over them, flipping over top and landing on his back at the feet of the guards, who had stopped to watch.

“Well, well, well,” their captain said, nudging Sabreur’s foot with the butt of his spear, “Now this is convenient.”

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