A Mermaid's Cry

Chapter 41-A Mer and a Pirate Walk into a Bar

Point of view: Third Person

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Marvin Degal, had been the owner of the Salty Flagon for the last thirty years. Serving sailors, bilge rats, drunks, whores, and scoundrels looking to drown their sorrows in cheap liquor. Just as his father before him, when they arrived on Isla de las Oro when it was just a thrown together port and fortress.

In that time, Marvin had seen many a strange and sinful sight. Sailors with missing legs replaced with wood, angel like harlots who sang like cockerels. A woman supposedly blessed with the gift of farseeing sight, a child gone blind with a bat to guide his way. A man who carried his ear in a bag, a mute who taught his crow to speak, pirates that would come in with fresh blood on their clothes, women masquerading as men, and the continuous stream of young lads Marina Costa would send his way. Young men with skin that would be pale like sand dollars or dark as coal, but all were strong, curious, and suspicious.

Just like his other patrons, these lads came in all different personalities and bracing tempers. Some brash, others rowdy, but most seemed fascinated by everything the town had to offer. However, a few things were evident in all of them Marvin had noticed. They had no money, but payed with grueling labor that didn't seem to tire them. Most carried a single sack, and others had nothing but a single dagger on their belts. All riddled with the scent of salty seas, and pendants woven from sea rocks, or shark teeth. While tattoos of squid, rays, sharks, and whales, dotted their sun ravaged limbs. Then, there was the way they moved and the cold light in their eyes.

Their movements like stalking cats in the dead of night. Graceful and sure, while their eyes took in everything with sharp clear focus. Much like a
hawk, letting its gaze wander about for easy prey. A familiar gleam kindled in the eyes of the ever confidant lad, by the name of Zola Akdari, striding up to Marvin's bar with an arm tucked tightly in a bound sling.

Always a cocky young man, cracking jokes and flirting with every woman that passed him by. An unwelcome sight, to the sailors circled round the tables recovering from a long night stuck in the crowded barracks. Except this time, the men did not glare at the coiled haired lad, nor his ever present shadows. Green eyed Ares Silar, sharped jawed and imposing, and Arcus Tavlon, ever a lad of few words and threatening promises.

Noticing his patrons wide eyed gazes, and the few jealous glints in the eyes of the barmaids. Marvin follows their pointed stares, and finds another sight that if it could, would turn the salt and pepper hair on his head stark white. The three young women, in straw bonnets and lace shawls, assessed the room with the same predator like appraisal as the sea smelling lads.

All three beautiful beyond words, delicate faces, willowy frames, tall, with flowing hair, and for the men in the room, plenty of assets to spare. However, it was one of the women who drew the most profound attention, enough that her hands subtly shook at her sides. Not the one with hair like the finest white bread, nor the one with glowing skin like the darkest amber coal, but the one who's green flecked brown eyes that were twin to Arcus's own.

The maiden with hair of rich red blood, her lower arms defined with thin lithe muscle. Pale skin tinged pink by the sun. Defiance masking the fear brimming beneath the surface of a face crafted into calm undulating focus, that no other soul could ever bare. Except for one young man, of whom this strange and other worldly girl was without question, of his warrior blood.

Marvin stilled, bracing a hand on the wood of the bar. The old tavern keeper had been threatened with guns, swords, fire, and once his own hanging. However, they did not ignite the spike of fear that dug into his heart, his soul. Fear for the girl, fear for her friends, and regret for not making his brother in arms swear by blood oath, to never send another one of his people back to Port Valor.

As always he never listened, and neither did the lads that came after. Now he remembered that long ago fate that was laid upon him. By a priestess of the sea, claiming that he would play an important role in the decades to come. Well that day has come, and Elias was not wrong about his daughter. This girl that with one pointed look at the gawking patrons, had them going back to their mugs.

"As always, it is a pleasure to see you and your friends Zola," Marvin drawls, as the rest of the salt scented group prowl up next to the bar.

"A pleasure?" Zola chuckles, leaning his good elbow onto the bar top. "If I recall, the last time we were here you had other words to describe seeing us."

"Words that would not be appropriate in front of the new faces," Marvin adds, setting his sights on the blood haired woman with Ares now close at her side. "I'd say I was delighted to see you here, but that would be a lie."

Discreetly, Marvin signals them closer. Forcing the strange group flush against the bar, their bodies blocking the tavern owner's lips from view.

"You do not realize the danger you have walked into," Marvin whispers, so low that none could possibly here, except for the Mer in front of him.

"There are powerful forces working here that you six could not even be able to comprehend. Especially, the daughter of Elias Dorem with knowledge of your father's past that will barely scratch the surface of a history far ancient than anyone shall ever know."

"And why is that?" the Dorem girl growls, subtly showing off the points of the sharpened fangs in her mouth.

"Because Corintha," Marvin begins, bracing himself for the fuse of carnal fury that will be lit.
"I've been forced to do their bidding, and dragged so deep that my only sanity is this inn and the two people that I call family. A family so different than the one I share blood with. A blood family responsible for your misery, and that of your father."

"What?" the young woman gasps, turning white as a ghost and curling back into the tan arms of Ares.

"Do not hate me when I tell you this," Marvin whispers, urging his lips to move as the sound of familiar pounding boots emanates from beyond the tavern door. "But the man who took your brother, is my son."

No sooner did the sorrow filled words leave Marvin's mouth, the door banged open on squealing hinges. Allowing Captain Drake Norzem to walk on in, with a young red haired lad, bound in the clutches of his burly first mate.
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🍃Kind of cliche? Yes. Do I care? No, this will make the story so much fun, and show you the skills of each of the main characters. Besides them being bad asses and bloody thirsty.😅

More chapters will be coming soon, I've been distracted with enrolling in college and family drama.

Until next time!✨✨🦚