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	Slurk's flight. So tired was he.
	"My ship! Under a pirate's command!" Wailed Gossamer. "That's true, Captain Gossamer." Isar leaned back a little on his heels, his hands resting as they always did on his belt. Getty had struggled to tie the boy up, he was squirming even though he'd already been securely tied up. "How did you know to pursue us?" "I've a way with people in Jeilk. Word spreads fast, you just have to know how to listen." Gossamer glared at Isar. "So much bloodshed…" Isar tutted. "If you had just surrendered…" "Did you give me much of a choice?" Gossamer looked as if he wanted to spit on Isar. "Well, honestly? No." Isar smiled. He squinted at the sun, which was rapidly nearing the horizon. "Captain," Getty interrupted. "The boy is quick thinking and smart, fast on his feet. Could be useful." Isar regarded the lad. Thin, but would grow muscles in time - if he was pushed. Blue eyes, brown hair tied back into a sailor's ponytail, with a squarely set jaw. "You're right. Well done Getty. Can you make sure that Siltar knows we're sailing to Port Vor'Gra?" Isar let Gossamer hear on purpose. Siltar knew very well that they were sailing to Vor'Gra. "No!" The first mate protested. "You filthy disrespectful whoreson!" He knew what sailing to Port Vor'Gra meant for the ship. And possibly for himself. Getty's eyes widened, and shone with outrage. Isar turned sharply to the man as Getty pressed a blade to the man's throat. "Now now, don't make me hurt you." Isar said each word separately, levelly, and angrily. Getty poked him the rapier, which still had dried blood at its edges. A trickle of blood dripped down the mate's neck. He scowled, hating Isar. Captain isar presumed he was the kind of sailor that loved everything about the ship that he worked on. The ship was his world, his everything, and Isar had taken that from him. He laughed. "If you both love the 'Vindicta' so much, you could buy her back from me." Gossamer grunted. "You know very well that you have just taken all of value we had. Wait until Lord Hempt hears of this." "Because we're so afraid of Lord Hempt?" Isar sighed. "Give in, Gossamer. Give in now, and when we kill you, we'll make it merciful, if you like." "Ha!" He replied disdainfully. "Want something more interesting, do you? Well, what about we'll let you life if… you personally disembowel the boy whilst he hangs, fully conscious, from the rudder?" Isar surprised himself, he had never considered disembowelling anybody before. "You're a cruel man, Isar. I would never do that to him. Like a son he is." "Thank you, Cap'n." The boy murmured gratefully, grief choking his voice. Isar decided he would leave them there for the crew to taunt for a while, see what it does to their spirit. "Getty, make sure they are weapon less. Then take a rest." Getting was a good sailor. If Siltar wasn't already second mate, Getty probably would be. That was if Oswyn wouldn't be. "Oswyn!" Isar greeted the navigator who was sat in his usual seat at the table. "Captain! Victory is ours, it seems," "Aye, of course it is. We have much more to celebrate in Vor'Gra, now! A ship for the taking…" Isar grinned. "I think I'll take a good, warm bath first." As night drew nearer, Isar remained in his cabin, busying himself with his thoughts. Oswyn had wandered in and out as he pleased, muttering things Isar could make no sense of. Something out on the deck wasn't right. Isar walked over to the doors and carefully opened one. It swung open quietly. Isar stood in the shadows, watching silently what was happening. The first mate of 'Vindicta' was arguing with the boy in hushed tones. Crew members edged around then, either scowling or ignoring them. "Slurk, you mustn't!" The boy cried. "Quiet, Chip!" The first mate hissed. Gossamer jerked awake. "It's necessary," Slurk added gently, as if mourning something. "But the Captain, and me, the 'Vindicta'!" He replied sulkily. "That is why I must!" "You lying little coward!" "You see this as cowardice?!" Slurk laughed softly. Isar moved into the moonlight, feeling the ship swaying gently in the Sarok Sea. Isar couldn't see who was at the helm, but Getty was still up at the lookout. Few moved around on the deck, Isar supposed they were all exhausted. He did recognise Julk, the rigger and expert archer. Julk approached Slurk, eyes dark. "Quit your chin-wagging else Captain will be out here to put you in you place himself, there's nothing you can do in your position." The sailor taunted them. "Oh really? I beg to differ, pirate. Lowly, bilge-scraping rogue that you are!" Slurk spat each word. Julk leaned closer to his face, leaning closer as the ship swayed on the starboard side. "Watch your words, lubber, else you can watch your tongue! I'll pull it out myself." Isar smirked, stepping back into the shadows, eager to see how this turned out. "I'd like to see you try - doesn't your Captain need my tongue?" Slurk raised an eyebrow. Isar stepped forwards. "He does indeed. Julk, go get some rest, you deserve it. If not, get up in the rigging and do your duties. I'll handle the lubber." Julk started. "Sorry Cap'n." He was too slow to stop Chip wriggling about, grab Julk's dagger, toss that to Slurk, who then cut himself free. "Keep yourselves alive, no matter what the cost!" Slurk shrieked. Gossamer yelled for the first mate to calm down, but he could not see what was happening. He was on the other side of the mast. Julk tried to snatch his dagger back, but failed. Isar yelled for the deckhands to secure Slurk, whilst trying to grab the man himself, but 'The Remorseless' tilted toward the Port side, the direction Slurk was headed. Within moments, the first mate was over the edge. There was a splash, several gasps, and a cry from Julk. Isar, Julk and a deckhand or two leaned over the guardrail, searching the dark, rough waters for Slurk. "Fool!" Isar hissed, unsure whom he addressed. "He'll die before he gets anywhere near land anyway. Julk, get-to-the-rigging, NOW!" Julk jumped again. "Aye sir, right away sir!" He ran off. Isar marched over to Chip, and slapped the boy around the face. Chip inhaled sharply. "No one cheats my crew!" Isar hissed. "Cruel blighter!" Snapped Gossamer. Isar ignored it. Instead, he stormed back to his cabin. He hadn't been aware that Oswyn had joined him on the deck. "The moon is slowly waxing. It isn't, however, light enough yet to track Slurk. We sail away swiftly and 'Vindicta' is on our starboard side. They won't see and probably didn't hear anything of it. He's truly gone now, but Chip might speak. I heard what they were saying." Isar just looked at Oswyn, unable to hold back admiration for Oswyn's mind. "I'm tired. We'lll talk tomorrow. Kruk is injured, so you can stay on the decks, tell Getty to rest. Send a message to Siltar that we sail on, as swiftly as we can manage." He ordered listlessly. "Aye Captain." When the door clicked shut, Isar sighed, changed, then crawled gratefully into his bed. He was almost asleep before he hit the pillow, so tired was he.
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