Bebo

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	Sceptics and cynics
	Isar winked at Sita, and turned to find himself face to face with Preena, who was wearing an orange dress made with Fur'lik silk. "Isar!" She smiled broadly. "Not tonight, Preena…" Isar answered distractedly. He couldn't deny how beautiful she looked, though. She blushed, and stepped aside. A group of men guffawed in the corner, Jugarl the tavern regular was on the floor again, choking. Isar grimaced at their foolishness as he stepped outside into the cool darkness. Oreena was at the threshold, her head cocked wistfully. "Something's bothering you," She observed. "Well aren't you clever?" Said Isar, dryly. "Shouldn't you be in there, dancing for those fools?" Preena blushed again. "I just want to make you feel better first." She whispered, and sighed. Isar stayed silent for a few moments. He saw someone coming closer to him through the shadows. The man paused when he reached Isar. "Captain," He noticed, and looked Preena up and down. "Kruk," Isar realised. Kruk returned his gaze to the Captain. "What do you have to report?" "Oh, aye - Siltar has Morok and the others getting the barrels of supplies aboard, they'll be finished soon. Julk is already up the rigging, and Getty is still on watch, determined to find something," "Ah, that's good. We'll sail as soon as they're done, because no doubt Hempt will find out, I'm surprised we even made it away from Jeilk, to be honest. And what do you mean, 'still on watch', he is the lookout, is he not? It's his job. Speaking of which, your job is to be supervising the men, go to the ship and make sure everyone will be there by the time I get there, I need a word with Sita first." Isar looked up at the starry sky. Kruk left swiftly with an 'aye Cap'n', and was soon out of sight. Kruk doubted very much that Sita was the one Isar wanted a word with. "You're leaving so soon? Isar, you've barely been here a -" Preena began. "No! Preena you're Sita's whore, you're wearing expensive, colourful silk and every man that sees you is overwhelmed with lust. I am Captain isar of 'The Remorseless', do NOT try and sway me to your wishes!" Snapped Isar, yet he couldn't avert his gaze. "I am sorry, Isar, but remember that I'm not a member of your crew. You can't tell me what to do if you're not paying me to do so!" She had barely breathed the words, she was as loud as a shadow most of the time - and yet, that gave it a somewhat more sinister tone when she was angry and hurt. Isar watched her retreat into the tavern. She said something quickly to Sita before dashing off. "Sita, I'm not going to be back for some time, important voyage. Here's your coin," Isar gave her a small pouch, making an effort to make his tone happy. "You don't have to be so heartless, Isar. Travel safely." Sita bade him farewell, without a smile. Isar had a feeling she hadn't been speaking about his tone. "Safely…" Isar chuckled to himself. "I do doubt that, Sita…" He whispered as he headed to the docks. Isar surveyed the working crew with a great sense of pride. They were so obedient, and all experienced, but most importantly, they were familiar with 'The Remorseless'. One at the helm, Isar smiled. A truly wonderful feeling, to be stood there under the cover of the night sky, with his crew working hard beneath him, and the feeling of acomplishment. Stowed away in his quarters were the charts that were going to lead him to the most important treasure he could ever have wished to get his hands on. "Oswyn, I'll take her out of here, we've got a fair wind blowing west, so let us take full advantage of that." Isar told the navigator. "Aye, Sir. I've been thinking about it, and well sir, you told Kelleen my name." Isar's face feel, realising what that meant. They suddenly had much less time. "Can you be sure?" "Sure as shells, Sir." "I see…then with haste, we sail, men!" Isar was shouting. "Oswyn, get to the charts, I'll get us North of Hort." "Of course. I'll be back soon enough. We've all eaten, so we're ready for some hard work. Tiagri did us a good meal. Have you eaten?" Isar shook his head, he didn't much care for food - if he was hungry, he'd eat. And he didn't want to neglect the wheel. 'The Remorseless' needed Isar's stable hands to go swiftly Northwest to Port Vor'Gra, the pirate's port, where honest sailors had no interest. A celebration was in order, acquiring charts from right under Lord Hempt's crooked nose was truly an honourable feat. Morning came and Isar had not moved from the wheel. He had a good, firm grip on the wood, he felt he sailed like a fish swam. Oswyn had not returned, Isar hadn't really expected him to. He knew the passage from hort to Vor'Gra well enough, anyway. He could see clearly the men on the deck, the riggers up and about on the ship, the few swabbies cleaning the starboard side of vomit - one of their doings, no doubt - and the wind still blew strong. Kruk approached the working men to demand they hurry up with the cleaning so they could get onto a more useful job. His gruff voice alone was enough to make them work quicker, let alone his height and intimidating stance. Sunlight shone on 'The Remorseless' warming the wood and turning many a face pink. The sails were full and true, the ocean was choppy -that was to be expected of the Sarok Sea - and Isar couldn't remember feeling so good about the rocking of the ship. It was unusual for the Sarok Sea to be so sunny, towards the West the sea got stormier, another reason honest sailors didn't like them, it was incredibly difficult to sail through. Nonetheless, the pirates did it anyway. Time drew on and Isar got tired, so he bade Siltar to take to the helm whilst he go to rest. "Keep us heading Northwest, we're making a stop at Vor'Gra before we go to the Lokli Sea," Isar explained casually, unaware of how pleased it made Siltar. "Aye-aye, Cap'n!" He grinned. "You handle 'The Remorseless' with an obvious natural talent, Sir." He added quickly, standing straight to grab hold of the spokes. Isar dismissed the compliment, sometimes Siltar could be so annoying. He went to the galley to get some food and found Tiagri there, cleaning. "Food 'ere for ye, Captain." "Thank-you." Isar took the chicken, and a bottle of rum. Oswyn was in Isar's cabin, at his table with the binnacle, the charts and a book scattered across it. "Funny. I don't remember permitting this." Isar pointed out, sourly. "Where am I to eat, now?" Oswyn started at his words. "Apologies, Captain, doing this here was far more private, and you had the book. I'll move, you could sit opposite me. I think you'll appreciate what I have to tell you." "Oh really, can I sit opposite you? Oh thank you, Oswyn." Isar placed the food on the table and looked at Oswyn. He laughed. "You look bloody awful." "Up all night…reading… I had to read all of Onyx's letters, King Onyx of the Zyvlok Empire, that is. He's Hempt's cousin." "You've been in here, reading all night?" Isar sighed, pouring himself a glass of rum, Oswyn one too. "Yes. Anyway, the treasure this chart shows, it should be the position of the broken hull of a ship, and somewhere in that ship, a chest. The chest you've wanted to have, Captain. From what Onyx has said, there's a stone or something with the preserved blood of a dragon in it. That sounds odd, I know, but if I understand the lore correctly, the stone promises the bearer longevity, strength and something else, something I cannot understand. It's all to do with it being dragon's blood. It's very, very valuable Captain." All the while, Isar had been eating. Oswyn seemed quite excited despite his fatigue. "This is interesting," Isar admitted. "Oswyn, you're normally quite sceptical." "And you so cynical." Oswyn saw fit to add before he had some rum. "It's my job to know, not to believe." "Yes, touché, well, we shall see if this stone is as you have read!" "I hope so." Oswyn smiled. It wasn't a warm, friendly smile, nor was it a sardonic smile. He just…smiled. Only Oswyn could do that. Isar finished his meal, which he had thoroughly enjoyed, as the two men raised their glasses. "To sceptics, and cynics." Oswyn smiled again. Isar chuckled.
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