Serev's Story

Chapter 13

"So, the consensus is that the creature is gone?" Jondure asked the three of them.

"I believe so sir. I scoured the area under the tavern, and only found blood, a little ash and a few more legs of the creature. As wounded as it was, I don't think it could have gotten far before I was there," Serev replied. She just hoped she was correct.

"It was cut up and burned brother, so it most likely would been found if it had not burned," Vic added. Serev was grateful for the backing.

"Regardless, for the next moon or so, I'm putting guards on all the sewer entrances on that side of the river, and we'll try to run extra n patrols as well. If nothing shows up by then we can start to breathe easier."

"So, does that mean we're back with the Bishops?" Rek asked.

"It does. Take a couple of days off and then go see Gyrtek. He'll be happy that you're available. Drem and Lornk will be as well, they've been worked pretty hard."

"Ewalt and Nilva?" Vic asked, concern in her voice.

"They should be back soon. The poison took quite a toll on them though and they'll need to rehabilitate to get back to fighting strength," Jondure assured them.

"And what about me?" Serev asked, hoping to prover herself again. Working alongside Rek and Vik had given her a sense of purpose and she didn't want to lose that.

"I had thought to make you a mate on the flying ship. It needs a new crew. Unfortunately, Fehrys left the city, and it needs a captain as well. Do you think you're up to the task?"

Serev felt a surge of pride. Would they really entrust the ship to her? She could hardly contain the joy she felt! "Yes sir! It would be an honor!" she answered, her grin splitting her face so far it almost hurt. Vic and Rek both hugged her in celebration.

Serev stood with her eyes closed and her sword arm straight out to her side. Moving slowly but surely, she did her warmup routine, squeezing her eyes shut to make sure she didn't cheat. Ever since Jondure had asked her to be the captain of the flying ship, she had taken to visiting it for hours a day and was now practicing her fighting technique on the deck. If she was ever in a fight aboard the ship, she wanted to be intimately familiar with every inch of it. It may have been a converted merchant ship, but there was no doubt it could sail into harm's way based on it's past.

As she went, she slowly picked up speed, whirling around the deck and letting the sword guide her. She had paced off the ship multiple times when she had practiced with her eyes open, and now her memory of the deck's dimensions was paying off. She could hear approaching footsteps coming up the gangplank but didn't stop. If they were foolish enough to come near a whirling person with a sword and closed eyes, then they really deserved whatever outcome they got, right?

Finally, she finished the end of her drill, and had worked up a good sweat. Opening her eyes, she saw the visitors were Prince Jondure, who had a sly smile at the performance and a pair of strangers who staring at her with slack jawed wonder. "Prince Jondure, welcome aboard the Cloud Dancer," she greeted him.

"The Cloud Dancer? I didn't realize we were giving her a new name Captain Serev," Jondure asked with a chuckle.

"I'm not sailing on a ship with the name of a slaver. The name couldn't stay, it had to be changed," she said plainly, making sure he understood that it wasn't up for debate.

"I agree, and based on your performance there, I think that Cloud Dancer is a perfect name," he grunted. The two strangers murmured their agreement as well.

"So, what brings you down here to my ship?" she asked as she made her way to a barrel with an open top to collect rainwater and dunking her head to help cool herself off after the drill.

"Well, we've started to assemble a crew for the Raven... Sorry, Cloud Dancer, and these two fine gentlemen are going to be training them," he explained.

"You two have experience on ships?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am, errr, Captain," said the larger of the two, who had scars all over his arms that looked to be rope burns. "My name is Tinnoc, I was a navigator. Horrin here, he's a deckhand. We were aboard a merchanter out of Mosstop when we were beset upon pirates and taken prisoner and then sold as slaves."

"We have contacts in Newport, they have been looking for anyone with sailing experience that might be unhappy in their current positions, and we were able to purchase Tinnoc and Horrin and give them their freedom. In exchange for their expertise and time training the crew, you'll be taking them home on your first voyage." Jondure made it sound so easy to just fly across an ocean to a city she'd never heard of.

"I'm an ex-slave myself, so I know what you've been through. It may not be quick, but I'll do my best to see you safely home," she promised the two men. She didn't know them, but she trusted them more than people working just for gold.

"Thank you, Captain!" Horrin piped up in a squeaky voice that made her smile.

"So, when does the rest of the crew get here?" she asked Jondure.

"We have most of them already assembled and they'll be here tomorrow. The only one we're missing is a mage, but we have a few ideas," the prince stated, rubbing the back of his neck. It didn't look like they had much luck with the mages.

"Don't give me anyone from the guild, they're useless, give me a Sky Knight," she suggested.

"A Sky Knight? I hadn't even thought about that. Why?" he inquired.

"Because they have a mount, and that gives us more tactical flexibility. There is plenty of room on the deck for a nest. We could erect a shelter where the cage was. Not to mention, a Sky Knight is trained for battle, and I'd trust them more."

"I can't argue with that. Let me go talk to Kucey and see what he thinks. In the meantime, I'll leave these two gentlemen with you." The prince sauntered down the gangplank and headed back up towards the castle.

"Horrin, Tinnoc," she nodded to each in turn. "Let's get you settled in a cabin and give you the grand tour. If we get the crew here on time, we'll be off before the end of the season."

"Yes, Captain!" they said in unison.