The deck of the ship was more in line with Jaeger’s expectations. It was a simple, albeit dark, wooden and metal; the ice stopped at the outside of the railing. As he climbed onto the deck, he saw that the ice had to be at least a foot thick and was covering the wooden hull of the ship. Finding out the ship was not wholly made of ice but instead wore it as some form of magical armor raised more questions than if it had been a solid block of magical ice. Normally, he wouldn’t put much thought into it, but since he was going to be riding the ship for an extended period, he’d find the time to ask.

  “Ah, me hearties welcome aboard the Melodom, the finest ship to sail out of a Minoian shipyard and into more… capable hands.”

  Calling out to them was a man who seemed to be made of pure darkness. He was an almost impossible shade of black, as though he were woven from the night’s sky. His skin seemed to drink in the light of day. He stood leaning against the railing in front of the ship’s wheel and gave them a welcoming smile. It didn’t reach his eyes, their radiant yellow piercing through and scrutinizing Jaeger and Kaeleth.

  “Is that how you speak to passengers on your ship?” Kaeleth called out as she crossed her arms and glared at the captain.

  The man gave a booming laugh. He took off his hat, a fur-lined tricorn, and whipped his bald head before being joined by his crew. As the laughter died down, he set the hat back on his head, causing the shadows on his face to deepen, hiding his features and illuminating his eyes. With a jovial pep in his step, he walked to the stairs and came down them.

  “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Miss, but ya ain’t exactly on a passenger ship.” As he drew up on the pair, he leaned forward and whispered. “Rumors are this here is one of the deadliest pirate ships this side of the ILC.”

  Jaeger noted that the man’s hands were clawed and his arms were covered in battle scars. He idly wondered what the bounty on this crew was; probably enough to set him up for life, if the captain spoke true. Kaeleth wasn’t much impressed by the man’s subtle power.

  “Yes, and you’re speaking with one of the two most dangerous killers on this ship.” She then nodded at Jaeger. “The other is next to me.”

  For the second time, Jaeger felt the touch of the darkling captain’s eyes upon him. This time, though he felt something try to prod at him, with an almost unconscious effort, he rattled his chains and shattered the sensation. At that, the darkling’s eyes narrowed.

  “Well now.” He took a step back and brushed off his fur-lined great coat. “It seems we might have gotten off on the wrong foot. Captain Tiber Maluskin at your service.”

  Kaeleth huffed at him, so the captain turned his gaze to Jaeger.

  “She seems a right handful. How do you handle her?”

  “Carefully.”

  “No one handles me.”

  “Right-o then.” The captain about-faced and moved back up the stairs to the wheel. Jaeger moved to follow Kaeleth at his side. “So did Lemuria tell you where we’re going? Because all I got was a message calling in a certain debt of mine for passage and a bit of assistance.”

  We’ve two destinations. First one is Port Indice, we’ve got a flesh trader to meet.” Jaeger said.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The captain snorted.

  “Nasty sort flesh traders, I’ve yet to meet one I didn’t rob and kill.”

  “This one is not liable to be any different,” Kaeleth said before grinning. “Neither is our greeting.”

  “Break me ice, but you might just be my kind of crazy.” Captain Tiberus said. “Alright, we’ve got your first destination, what’s the second?”

  “Danse Macre.”

  “Oh? Where at?”

  “Duke Chevalia’s newest island residence. He’s holding a ball.”

  Tiber looked at the pair dubiously.

  “And you two’ve got an invite, have ya?”

  Kaeleth laughed, dark and mean.

  “Of course not. That’s why we’re going to the flesh trader.”

  Captain Tiberus joined in her laughter.

  “I was right, you are my kind of crazy. What say we spend a bit getting to know one another, eh?”

  Kaeleth whipped a dagger towards his back, which was caught by the darkling’s snake-like tail.

  “No, thank you.”

  “Ha, if that’s how you say no, you’re just making me want you more. Got any sisters?”

  Jaeger moved away from the duo, heading back towards the icy railing and taking a good look at Patterson’s docks. From the ship, he had a decent vantage point of the entire docks. The more he looked, the more he realized there were no blind spots between the ship and the entryway to the docks.

  “It’s a great view, ain’t it?” Captain Tiber said, moving beside him.

  Jaeger didn’t bother replying; instead, he grunted.

  “Ah, a man of few words,” Tiber said, flashing a gold-toothed smile. “You know I’ve got a friend just like you back home. I imagine you and I will end up the same way. In fact, I’d be willing to bet my ship on it, well, maybe not my ship, but something worth almost the same price. Like half my crew, or my collection of Republican Elf paraphernalia, or…”

  Jaeger’s eye twitched as he interrupted the darkling.

  “I was observing the docks and the lack of blind spots.”

  Captain Tiber’s mouth shut fast, and a serious expression crossed his face.

  “I see.” His hand tapped his chin in thought. “I guess Lemuria was right when she said she was sending her most experienced and trusted fixers. Granted, I thought the chaos elf would be the lead, but here you are, more dangerous and observant of the two.”

  Jaeger simply raised an eyebrow in response.

  Captain Tiber’s mouth twitched before breaking out into a grin and laughing.

  “By the Abyss. Did you buy any of that?”

  “No.” Jaeger paused before continuing. “So what did Lemuria tell you?”

  “Exactly what I said earlier, plus a warning about the two of you and you’re specific situation.” His eyes cut both ways before he spoke low. “A dark and sandy situation.”

  Jaeger nodded.

  “Well, no worries on that. All the darkness here is mine, and it’s a bit too wet and icy for any dirt to stay that dry.” Captain Tiber seemed ready to continue speaking when his eyes turned from Jaeger to the docks. “What in the merciful gloom is that?”

  Sprinting across the docks were five people dressed similarly to the rest of the Melodom’s crew: fur-lined vests or jackets, bandannas, and winter boots. These five were evidently being chased, because as they turned down the dockside, getting closer to the ship, something burst through the entryway. It was the first of its kind that Jaeger had seen in person, and like had happened a few times already, it was not the first he’d ever seen. Coming hot on the pirate’s heels was a minotaur.

  The minotaur was large, tall, and wide, muscled and strong; evident in how it crashed through part of the entryway’s stone edifice and didn’t stop. It was also richly dressed. Wearing robes made of something like silk or an equally shiny and luxurious material. Its horns were capped in a reddish gold metal, and it had a large jade-tipped nose ring. Its most eye-catching items were what it held in its hands. In one hand was a scepter of burnished gold topped with a ruby that, to Jaeger’s eyes, gave off heat waves. In its other hand was a brutal double-headed axe. As it charged down the dockside, it seemed to recognize the ship. For a brief moment, Jaeger hoped it was a positive reaction, but his hopes were dashed when it raised its scepter, now glowing like a beacon of hate-filled light, and shouted.

  “MALUSKIN! I SHALL HAVE YOUR HEAD! IN THE NAME OF THE HYPERION HORDE!”

  “Ah. Time to go.” Spinning around, Tiber moved like a blur, shouting orders as he did. “Raise anchor, wake the Aquarius Mages, ready the sails, and someone get a rope for our late comers! SHIFT FAST, YOU MANGY DOGS, WE’VE A SUN STRIDER ON THE DOCK!”

  With a frenzied motion, the crew moved as one. Some shot down into the ship, shouting for the mages, while four of them went to the anchor winch, others stood ready by the sails, and towards the back, three were getting heavy knotted ropes out.