Olverd's Business Chapter

“Beware of the reefs in these seas Captain Olverd.” Visdiar warned Olverd as he manned the helm of the Lessiiv. Five days passed since Ceinius was shunned silently by Levanna. Silan slept with Levanna and Senestra for protection. Visdiar became her new teacher while Adugar suffered Ceinius’ wrath verbally. As they continued on the course the Veeks chose some of the Crowsian and Veek vessels broke off from the convoy to their home colonies.

The number of ships that escorted them decreased down to ten ships. It was not easy getting to this continent called Emnos. According to the Veeks and Crowsians these seas were not safe enough to traverse alone. It was only the Angoths who dared voyage these waters alone. He had sailed around the continent of Auxmire to the most eastern ports of Anvadas and Earnosai. His ship and crew had to sail through Makool territories. He had forgotten about the Makool until he was on Kruskor Island. The Ipama were something entirely new to him unless they were cousins of the fury beasts in Gierno. Senestra did not care to listen to his stories, she seemed more interested in this Leothrad character.

Olverd expected her to go for someone more subtle and political, a noble from one of the independent states or the Civid Kingdoms. His mind returned to the task of following the Veeks who seemed to steer in a northward course.

“The Veeks will be entering the Polasian Reefs. They are islands and pillars of the sea that stretch a thousand leagues wide and long. Further north you’ll find Veek colonies or trading posts. If you go further west you will likely find Angoth outposts set up along the edges of the reefs. Somewhere deep within those reefs lurk pirates, and other foul creatures that will attack your vessels in the night. It would be wiser if we moved with the Veeks. Who knows what dangers lay waiting to the center and the south.” Visdiar finished as Jethaam joined them at the stern.

“What should we do besides follow the Veeks? How much further are we to the reefs?” Olverd asked turning to the wise Crone.

“It varies, depending on where you approach the cluster of reefs you may find yourself in the southern portion with out knowing it or closer to one of the Veek colonies. You’d know if you were getting closer to the Veeks.” She turned her head up looking at him. Visdiar’s eyes showed she had been here many times before.

Olverd was a man who usually questioned old people’s opinions and knowledge. But after experiencing what he experienced on that island changed that part of Captain Olverd. He looked at her in return then asked.

“When a ship approaches the reefs would it be wiser to moor some distance away from the reefs?” Olverd asked Visdiar.

“Yes and no, my reasoning would be from experience. As a child I traveled with Veek, Crowsian and Angoth scholars through the central part of the reefs. There we came across some nasty Goblin Pirates who attacked us in the night. A foolish Crowsian that Captain was, or was he from a colony? Does not matter, however the Pirates were pursued by Veek navies who were hunting the ones that boarded us. I guess you know what happened after that. Another time was when we stopped closer to the southern parts.” She rolled her eyes and cackled happily.

“The Captain was some Makool Hybrid trying to separate himself from other Makools. You will find more of that kind once we are through. Anyway the Captain had connections with the Pirates in the area and raised his own banner which held his trademark over the masts of his ship. He believed it would ward the pirates off if they knew it was him. The damned fool stopped very close to the reefs about several hundred leagues south from the outer reefs. Somehow the pirates spotted us and went straight after us. Ah that must be the part of the reefs I am telling you about now. Ceinius, tell the Captains to stop here now. We are getting near the Polasian Reefs.”

Ceinius raised a hand and twelve fiery birds sprouted out of his sleeves and went to the other ships. Two of the birds flew in separate directions, one went to the north west, the other went north east. It moments the ships stopped raising their sails and commanding the oars to cease. The Lessiiv stopped as well surrounded by ten Veek vessels as the day was becoming dusk once the sun dipped down in the west.

Olverd squinted as he looked past the ship in front of his and caught a glimpse of some land masses so far away. He nodded his head trusting the Crone’s judgment and experience. His loins ached as his gaze turned to Senestra who was staring in his direction expecting another bet she would lose this time around. A Veek swimmer climbed aboard with a message from the Captain. We must press on or well be caught in a storm that is brewing in the south. It read the message was not to Levanna’s or his liking.

“The storm is four days away! We’ll be at the nearest Veek trade-post by then!” proclaimed Levanna with a fury of four deities. Her eyes pierced the Veek who shrunk before her as she yelled at him.

“My lady…there are goblin pirates in these waters.” The Veek protested.

“That may be, but most pirates are too busy with lone trading cogs, or skiffs that venture towards the center!” Visdiar stated.

“We are near the center-“, he protested to the Angoth Crone.

“It is quite obvious, now go to your Captain and tell him we are staying here until dawn. Is that clear?” Levanna barked in the Veek’s face. Olverd sat in his chair in the map room of the cabins with Jethaam in the corner twitching his tail. The two women hollering the Veek’s ear off was enough to force Isseult fishermen to abandon ship. Why do ships venture towards the center? Is it easier than the longer routes they spoke of earlier? Olverd was curious about these waters and scratched his chin pondering the thought of getting goods here. Shipping from this world to his own would be tedious but, would offer enough profits and even new crew members to fill in gaps in his own crew. He looked over at Jethaam who seemed to study the behavior of these Angoths. They’re not what you must be used to my friend? He wanted to asked but stayed the question recalling what happened to many Angoth settlements before they were forced out of Auxmire.

Senestra walked past the room and glanced at Olverd catching his gaze. She seemed to want the Captain tonight. Feeling lustful are we Emissary? A smile crossed his face as she lingered for a moment making a summoning motion to the Captain. He wanted to follow her, but was afraid the Angoths would rip him apart with words. When they were finally done biting the Veek’s head off it was past the hour of the wolf. Olverd rose from his seat feeling the pain in his legs from sitting down for so long. Without a word the Angoths left for their quarters and the Jethaam looked at Olverd then gave him a nod before retiring to his bed in the lower decks.

The Veek was sent off to his own vessel and Olverd went out of the cabins to find Senestra at the bow of the Lessiiv. It was dark outside save for the lights from the stars and moon, which was full this night. The waters were strangely calm even with the full moon. This ocean world seemed like dream to him or some rancid nightmare he couldn’t wake up from. He walked up to the nearest mast a lit a lantern to bring some more light on the deck.

He watched her figure as she seemed to be looking out into the darkness of the night. The ships around the Lessiiv creaked and moaned as they rocked around. Even the Lessiiv made the same noises in the night.

“A beautiful night isn’t it?” he asked as he approached the next mast which was the main mast of the Lessiiv. He lit another lantern then moved on to the bow of the ship his eyes still focused on Senestra not waiting for an answer.

“Yes it is Captain she said it would be a perfect time for our business together.” She replied turning to him with part of her breast exposed to him as she moved a strap over her shoulder. It was a good night for their business. His only concerns were the laws of Etras. A woman could bed any man she wanted only the man she would marry was the one who fathered her children. If was far too young or from a poor family the child was sent off to another family with no children. She would have to work hard to get her child back while that family would provide her with daily rations as she worked.

He recalled Senestra had two children already, one was eight going on nine, another was a year old. Another one and she would lose her status as a noble in the hierarchy of Etras.

“How are they when you left them?” he asked approaching her with a hard manhood.

“One was sleeping gently, the other wanted to hit me, but stayed her little hand. I feel guilty about this already.” She snapped at him.

“Who did you bed? A Lord, and some fisherman?” he asked quietly unraveling his trousers.

“A Civid Knight, who wouldn’t marry me, because I wasn’t part of the Royal family. I have him to blame for the bratty one. The other was a Groviscian.” She answered bending over for him as he entered her. Her dress was pulled over her back when he dropped his trousers.

“So you managed to bed a Hoplite? Thought all of them were married at the age of fourteen?” He responded thrusting in her back side.

“No, it was a Groviscian Peltast who visited my chambers on the day he was to leave for the fronts in Morvan. There is no doubt he is fighting the Cren Order.” She replied as he continued to thrust. He felt himself deep in her as she gave out grunts of pleasure with each thrust. Olverd watched her hands grip the railing digging her nails no doubt biting her own lip. It felt as though he couldn’t stop the desires he had for her took over completely and he grabbed her buttocks and thrust more ferociously. Senestra let her cries of pleasure be heard for some time until he came in her.

His seed went in her bringing an end to their business. He remembered telling him the Civid Knight wouldn’t marry her for second reason. The fools obsession over a feud between his own family and another. It was some conflict that began generations ago, but was insignificant compared to their mission.

“By the way I won another bet this morning.” She turned her head and gave him an evil eye that spelled hatred for him.

“You fool! Are you really going to give her another child or are you going to let her clear out your dirty seed?” a voice fussed at him. He looked up to see the source of the voice. It was some woman holding onto the side of the ship as she leaned over the rail.

“Tell me you’re not a mermaid.” Both of them pleaded as the woman rested a fist under her chin.

“As a matter of fact, yes!” She grinned at the two of them. “An Emissary and a Captain and Smuggler. Hmm, quite an interesting match.” The mermaid said inclining her head at them.

“There are pirates headed your way thought you’d might want to know.” The mermaid turned to face the ship in the front. Olverd listened closely as he picked up his trousers and put them back on. He heard the sounds of blades being drawn and dozens of feet on the floorboards of the decks. Olverd looked over his left shoulder and saw shadows climbing aboard the ship next to theirs. He heard numerous things climbing aboard his ship in moments he glimpsed shadows stepping on the decks of the Lessiiv.

That was when a horn blew and he heard someone yell, “TO ARMS!” Every ship erupted with a clash of war cries and clash of weapons. Hoplites aboard every ship pounced on the Goblins save for two which became overwhelmed forcing the ones nearby to fire on them. One was set ablaze burning crew members and the enemy alive. Olverd heard a roar from behind him and two bodies thud on the deck. He saw more shadows move out of the cabins and attack the goblins that came aboard. One swung at him but he punched the goblin in the face. It fell back hitting another behind it. Its weapon clattered on the floor. Behind him he heard the mermaid scream for the Goblins to get off her.

“No, no , no, you get off me you filthy creature… OW no no no no. Don’t you dare-“ her voice was replaced with a grotesque sound of something being viciously humped and slammed into the wood repeatedly. More Goblins appeared on the other side as Senestra screamed and rushed towards the cabin the dark passing his crew and others coming out to fights. Realizing he was in a battle Olverd knocked another Goblin to the floor then groped for its weapon.

He swung it at the legs of a third goblin when three fire bolts collided with three goblins turning them to ashes. Three more fire bolts were thrown at the Goblins before they knew what or who was attacking them in response. Olverd struck down on his victim then cut another one down before he saw Jethaam and other Vah Shir cut the Goblins aboard his ship to pieces. It was difficult to see in the dark despite the stars and light from the lanterns. Gripping his new weapon Olverd felt it was an axe and struck down on a fifth kill embedding the axe head into the Goblin’s skull.

 “Are there more of them?” he yelled when he noticed his decks were clear of living Goblins. He no longer heard the slamming or grotesque sounds anymore instead he heard the sounds of battle and the crackle of fire aboard three of the Veek vessels. Everyone watched as two of the Lessiiv’s escorts sank to the bottom taking multiple enemies with them to a watery grave.