The Price of Power

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Cassius Delafour, The Fury of the Seas, and captain of the Dastardly Starbright squinted up at the skies and frowned. They were a dubious grey. Glancing out across the water he sighed impatiently. The Bleakwash Channel was normally a busy trade route from Skidth to Evermath, and the perfect place for rich pickings. But the sea was curiously empty. With his piercing eyes he scanned the ocen for the tell-tale sail of a ship. 

There we go.

He smiled wolfishly. Then, peering through his telescope, a frown of puzzlement creased his brow. 

"Smiles! Oi, Smiles! Get over here."

Arthur Friendly hurried over to where his captain stood.

"Aye, cap'n?"

"Twenty degrees, starboard side. Boat with grey sails.  Seen anything like her before?"  Cassius tossed Smiles the telescope. Smiles held it to his eye as he squinted across the grey sea to the strange vessel not far from their own ship. The blood drained slowly from his face and he lowered the compass with shaking fingers.

"What is it?" Cassius demanded. "Smiles?" 

Arthur looked at him with apprehension and fear, his face the terrible colour of sour cream. "Why, cap'n, it's a...a Ghoster. Never seen one in all my days, but it's a Ghoster alright." His voice shook.

Noting his terrfied expression, Cassius knew he wouldn't get much more sense out of the man for some time. 

"Here, Innes. Take a look." 

Innes, a calm and steady man, indispensible to the Starbright and to Cassius, took a long look at the ship. Finally taking the telescope from his eye he turned to Cassius. 

"Smiles is right. That's a Ghoster."

"My old man used to tell me stories about them," whispered Smiles. "The vessels of the Grey-men. Vessels of the dead!"

Some of the crew stopped in their work, sensing Smiles' fear. 

"Awright you lot. No eavesdropping now. Any man not pullin' 'is weight aboard this ship gets extra watch duty tonight." Damien Shanks, first mate, joined Cassius at the rail.

"You be thinkin' of takin' 'er then?" he enquired.

"Ye'll be cursed!" Arthur wailed.

"Smiles, shut up and let me think. Go down to Doc and get some brandy to fix your nerves. Go on now." Cassius ordered. Arthur trudged miserably away and down into the doctor's cabin, still muttering about curses.

"Superstitious fool," Cassius said softly, but not unkindly. "The Grey-men - mercenaries, aren't they?" 

"The best," Innes nodded in agreement," or the worst, depending on whether you're the employer or the victim." 

"Fellows like them," joined in Damien, "are hell-born, the lot of them. Call themselves the Grey Brothers. Loyal only to those of the Grey, and then to the highest bidder. They ain't got no morals, nor any scruples." 

At this Cassius gave a shout of laughter. "Look at us, pirates, discussing morals. You must see the irony in that." 

"Who knows," Damien said darkly. "We may be pirates, but there isn't one among us wouldn't die for the rest of us. We're friends, that's what, and we have a cause. Those men out there, the only thing that means anything to them is money. All sorts have been said about that lot. Slaughtering of new-born babes without blinking an eyelid. Wouldn't mess wiv 'em if I was you, cap'n. There's mighty strange things surrounding the Grey-men." 

"So, they're mercenaries, assassins.. and you, Innes. What do you say?" 

Innes spoke calmly, in his usual fashion, as if he had all the time in the world. "Well cap'n, Ghoster she may be, but gunner she is not. If we attack them, they'll have no chance. They're out-gunned, for a start. The Grey-man on that ship probably never expected that he would ever run into trouble, due to his reputation. He is unprepared for any kind of assault."

Cassius stood for a minute, considering and weighing up in his mind the decision he was about to make. 

"Turn the Starbright about, Damien. It's dinner time." 

"But cap'n - "

"No, Damien. Give the orders." 

Damien strode off, grumbling, but soon enough the Starbright was busy with running men, all readying the cannons and unfurling the sails. 

"Cap'n," said Innes quietly, "these men, the Grey Brothers. They do not forgive easily. Nor do they forget." 

Cassius gave Innes a long, level look. "I am the Fury of the Seas. We are pirates, outcasts. What do we have to fear from cursed men? Besides, no organisation should go too long without being knocked down from it's high horse. They need reminding that they are mortal. Sounds to me like these "Grey Brothers" have been having the time of their lives - until now. " 

Cassius started to stride away and then turned back to Innes, still looking out across the water to the Ghoster. 

"Besides, Innes, we'll be going back to the Islands after this one. We'll be back home in four days. Why not bring back whatever goods that ship is carrying along with the rest of our cargo?"

And with one last savage grin, he strode away.