Raw Winter

Chapter 32: Bonding

Despite the defeat of the Gold Fetchers, Rawintr's crew were still pirates at heart, and though they had done no wrong since docking in this city, it wouldn't be long before being sent away just the same. Rawintr really didn't mind. The barkeep was more than accommodating in the meantime, and she was just about ready to get going, and so were the rest of the crew by the time the week was over and it was time to pick up the finished map.

She left to fetch it early in the morning on her own so it would be easy to leave by the time the latest of her crew awoke. They were good as far as pirates went about waking up early as it was. She knew it could be dangerous with the reputation she was picking up and already had after apparently killing Derevi. She didn't believe he was dead, but many people did.

She made it unscathed. The mapmaker grinned at her when she walked in. It was a relief the shop was open with how early it was. Walking there on her own was nice. She had spent so much time celebrating with her crew, and had grown closer for it, but she needed some time to herself.

The mapmaker said, "I'm surprised at you. If you would have revealed yourself for the pirate ship captain you are, I would have considered giving you more and a bit less heckling when you came in a week ago. To think that you killed two ship captains and don't show an inch of a scratch for it."

"We don't know Captain Derevi is dead," she replied. "He could have been patched up fine."

"Is that what you think?" The mapmaker laughed. "Well, suit yourself, but you better hope your wrong. If that man is alive, it's your life he's coming after for as long as he lives."

"I inherited Hades' crew and I ought to inherit his enemies too," she said and the mapmaker laughed louder.

"The fewer enemies of Hades you have the better, methinks, but maybe that's just me. I gave up sailing a while ago and I'm not much interested in figuring out what's what on the open seas anymore. I'll leave that to you, alright?" He led her to the backroom where he had the map he prepared on the table, spread out to look at and approve of as she saw fit.

Rawintr's finger ran over it curiously and stopped on a sea serpent he drew. "I'm not too worried. I only have one task I need to do, and then my legend is over."

"Are you so sure? I don't think so. I think a woman like you has a craving for blood, glory, and power. What do you think? There aren't many like you, leading ships and taking lives like this. There are already people who know your name and believe you're great."

Rawintr was shaking her head while rolling the map and depositing it in a silver-trimmed tube Kircan gave her for this. "There's nothing great about me. I'll die just like any other sea captain before me."

"Those captains were all great, and the ones we don't speak about weren't worth mentioning to begin with. I can see it in ye. You've got the potential. You've already killed two, and you can have the world if you'll just take it."

"I don't know about that." She turned and walked out, the mapmaker giving her a jaunty wave as she left. She said, her voice nearly a whisper, "I'll see what taste I have for it after I finish this."

She hadn't expected to miss the sea so much, but realized she felt so much more serene now that they were back out again. Her head had been vicious, but now all was calm.

Well, nearly. One thing was bothering her a lot—the fact she had not killed either Hades or Derevi. The bullet and arrow killed them. She didn't expect to kill them with her bare hands, but killing them with her sword would have been better. It was easier to believe Derevi was dead now that she was on the open waters and felt invincible. Maybe she was, but she wasn't in the mood to test it.