Commando Part 22

This took Maurice by surprise more than it did Maphai. She did not appear very astonished that a pirate was coming over to them with an outstretched hand. Without hesitation the mercenary leader shook hands with the female pirate who then turned to Maurice Viyamor. She gave him an engrossed smile that sent signs of slight lust for the commando. He could almost feel her eyes wandering all over his body. She stopped to shake his hand as well introducing herself as Odelia ‘The Cold Bitch’ Scias.

      This Odelia and her colleagues were members of a three hundred or more pirate crew based near Kilscar Orvain and Oceanrest Var. Odelia told them her crew was known as the Sovereign Corsairs who were often at odds with the Caligari Syndicate, other city-states, and the Gantronese Empire at times. She introduced her colleagues for them who still tried calming the canine-badger humanoid down. The Orc was known as Monoghan Ghurs, her Drow-Dark elf’s name was Omareth Chaulsenn, and their Canine Humanoid friend was known as Trion. She welcomed them to the town of Kunmar and the Green Cat Lodge-Inn.

      After further introductions were made and the canine pirate Trion was calmed down the pirates, mercenaries and warriors went over to clean up the mess at the bar. Five corpses of the fallen sarcagosee colleagues were wrapped up in durable cloth once they stripped them of weapons and needed supplies. As for the deceased goons their corpses were carried to the back of the lodge inn where there was a back door and a trap door for waste. Each one was tossed into the swamp’s murky waters bellow the Green Cat Lodge Inn. Once new alliances were made the parties went to their rooms and slept as best they could after another fight.

      When dawn came Maurice awoke with Brittany cuddled up against him in the bed of a small room Maphai rented for them. He sat up waking Brittany who forced herself up since the night had ended and a new day had arrived. Commando and Red Heart got out of bed and dressed for the new day. Both of them went down to the common area for breakfast where they found Maphai, Cagan, Odelia, Taregan, Hilastes, and Omareth sitting at a table with hot beverages. Maurice ordered a maid to bring him two mugs of hot beverages and a plate of eggs for him and Brittany. Both of them sat down with their companions to discuss a series of matters and issues. According to Maphai they were no more than sixty miles away from the border limits of Tsubib Pajibe and another city called Khasungai. It would be best to stay in Kunmar for a few days which apparently answered to another city to the south of Khasungai known as Magesar.

      While they stayed in Kunmar the parties would go out in the swamps in search for any more signs of any lost Vestrisian soldiers gone missing in action. They would go to the settlements where Vestrisians were found. According to Odeliah another village had a few Vestrisians with the same dog tags Maurice was searching for. Maphai and Odeliah ensured the Sarcagosee that the pirates were with them. Hearing these words the commando relaxed in his chair knowing they had allies here in the swamps. Out of curiosity he tried getting information from the locals who did not want anything to do with him or his companions due to the brawl last night. He gave up after the rest of his party came down for breakfast. Maurice filled them in on what the agenda was for the next few days. Each one understood this, but appeared to be filled with the craving for revenge about last night.

      Once the plan for the next few days was set the parties of warriors and soldiers chose who would go and who would stay. Maurice chose Taregan and Hilastes to accompany him. The rest of his companions would stay behind to bury their dead. Odeliah and her crew would scout out ahead by dinghy while the mercenaries searched the surrounding area. Before setting out, Odeliah warned Maurice and his party that the Caligari Syndicate would send more after them in the future. She looked at them very curiously wondering if they had killed a few or more members of the Syndicate’s army of thugs, and goons. Without a word the three parties set out to their tasks for the day. Maurice, Taregan, Hilastes, and Ocareth went to the stables where the cat steeds lay waiting for something to happen or just slept. Both Uwaux, and Ranger stirred three of the cats from their slumber and laziness. A trio of Jumbo Cats exited the stable allowing the riders to prepare them for another journey down the road while the rest stayed under the care of the Ranger and Tuxir.

      As soon as they were mounted and ready with what they needed three Sarcagosee warriors rushed down the street onto the main road missing several pedestrians. Galloping on this wooded road they found there were more forks, and trails that branched off onto land and higher ground. Unsure of what route to take the three riders slowed their steeds down to a trot. All round them and the wooden roads the swamp’s trees towered over them showing signs of denseness. Maurice looked around as his steed wandered off the main road onto a path that went on land. Past the settlement behind them the swamps had a mixture of murky waters, rocks, plots of land that appeared more like islands with trees or just rocks. Knowing they had a few days of exploring the area the commando and his companions continued off the road towards the left. Taking a path off the main road the trio found themselves in a spot that had more vines, hanging moss, and drooping branches.

      Erie silence was all they heard save for a few noises in the waters, and scuffling in the branches. This path took them further on to land getting them off the planks that kept them above the murky waters below. Maurice dismounted setting his boot covered feet onto the soil that had thick pieces of wood in the ground marking the path. Where they were it was silent for a few minutes until they heard a battle cry up head on the path. Sounds of a struggle and a fight emerged down the path ahead. Hearing these sounds of fighting Maurice and his companions remounted and galloped over to the source of the sounds.

      The path turned left and right in a serpentine pattern passing large trees, thin ones, several with large holes in them. As they progressed towards the source shouting, fighting, and other noises could be heard. Maurice and his two companions came upon a large group of figures. Among this large group of figures were river swamp pirates, poachers and trappers surrounding a few monk pupils. Several figures lay on the ground motionless as the fight between the monks, these pirates and poachers continued. As they drew closer Maurice could tell there were just five female monk pupils in indigo and lapis uniforms similar to the monk’s back at the lodge. These girls continued to kick and punch until the pirates and poachers grabbed their arms and legs one by one. Each one was forced to drop her weapon and forced into submission despite their skills and strength. For among these pirates were orcs, and kuruks who were too powerful to bring down with bare firsts. Maurice gripped his reins noticing the weapons the pupils dropped, which included tonfas, detachable staff, kamas, and two pairs of knuckles. Both girls and weapons disappeared behind the crowd of pirates and poachers who started groping, and fondling these pupils.

      Maurice dismounted spotting a dead animal in the background that had stripes and orange fur. He signaled to his warrior companions who immediately sprang into action. Taregan leaned over on his mount with his weapon ready. Hilastes charged head on into one of the larger pirates who held his weapon lightly watching the rape occur. As the Unseen bear mauled the pirate with his mount Taregan charged past the group smashing his war club into the side of a poacher’s head cracking his skull open. Maurice threw his knife into the back of one of the river pirates. He counted twelve pirates and nine poachers still standing who immediately dropped the girls and turned to the trio of warriors asking for a fight. Out of rage one of the pirates armed with an iron War hammer charged straight for Maurice. The Commando unsheathed his pole arm sword as the pirate ran towards him. Using it like a spear Maurice thrust the pole arm sword forward letting the pirate run into the blade. This pirate impaled himself onto Maurice’s weapon dying instantly forced to drop the War hammer.

      Maurice twisted his weapon from the pirate’s corpse letting it fall forward ready for another attacker. A few of the pirates and poachers came to only to find themselves in another fight. This time they face two mounted warriors and a skilled fighter armed with a pole arm sword. Although they were surrounded by a trio of fighters and their Jumbo Cat Steeds the pirates and poachers were hesitant. Their hesitance allowed for Hilastes, Taregan and their steeds to attack again, which they refrained. From the dense trees around the path a score of rifles were fired rapidly simultaneously. Every standing pirates, and poacher fell on the road and surrounding ground. As for the monks the girls had ran back to the corpse during the confusion of the second fight. They kneeled down beside the dead creature mourning its loss. To the three warriors it became clear. This was their travelling companion the pirates and poachers had slain for its fur. Maurice and his companions rallied at the corpses choosing to leave the girls alone for the moment. Each one wanted to know who had massacred these pirates and poachers.

      Out of the branches, trees, and shadows of the swamps over a score of men armed with rifles emerged before the trio of Sarcagosee. When he saw these armed warriors Maurice’s heart jumped skipping a few beats. Before him and his companions stood six Vestrisians and fifteen other men whom appeared to be locals, Uxane, Eothians, and Condor tribesmen from the Condor Confederacies.