1.Captain K leered at the polished steel plate passing for a dull mirror. It rocked a bit as the ship leaned starboard, the ship's tack changed with the currents towards land. With a scowl he scratched at his thin developing beard silently urging it into growing thicker and faster than his youth would allow.
He glanced over at his eye patch hanging next to the mirror and reminisced with a chuckle over the last adventure when the Ikonian Captain believed he had K at his mercy by tossing sand into his exposed eye rendering him blind. By flipping open his eye patch K wasn't blind at all. It was what Doc ordered to treat his mild case of 'Lazy eye'. Switching his cutlass to his left hand compensated for much of the advantage the Ikonian Captain had. "It still stung my eye!" As he recalled the feeling. Now with the artifact in safe hands and the next objective lay in their next destination in the pursuit of the legendary Skull of Hephaestus! Problem is, there was one clue to where it may be. A single clue. Thy vaults o' Ancient Gamelvs.
The knock on his cabin door was followed by the long familiar voice of a long-time friend, "Captain, the Crow's reporting we're now approaching land."
Without turning from the mirror K replied, “I’ll be out in a minute D."
Grasping the eye patch he took a quick gander at the map to refresh his bearings. The little silver ship on the map represented their expected position. They should be near the shores of the Atrean coast line and the capital city of Gamelon. Then there was the mysterious cryptic chart that appeared in Lady Ravenhill's writing table along with a package of familiar design. He rehashed what they determined as a part of the puzzle the gods set before them, perhaps a guide only at certain times of need and only then information can be manifest. Then he quickly slipped up and out onto the open sun drenched deck of the Dragon Fire.
1.Up top was like a fresh new day. The sea air felt good in his face. The crew worked with skill and precision relishing the thought of reaching dry land again in the sense of a new adventure.
"Top of the morning to you Captain, Goldy says we're on course westbound and about five leagues from around that point." K followed D's arm leading to a distant point of land on the horizon. The tiny flash at a well-known landmark that is the city of Gamelon the capital of the Compact of Atrea. With the spyglass he could discern their unique triple flame beacon that towering on that point, and around that light it drew and plied various ships and vessels that dotted the waters seeking fruitful commerce. The full splendor of the city came into view as the Dragon Fire adjusted course to safely navigate around the Rocky point. The Royal castle and it's great defensive battlements located center and at the highest point overlooking the City and sheltered harbor.
Gathered on the forecastle starboard rail are some of his closest compatriots of this grand adventure. They were like family bought together by fate and the same sense of adventure. His long-time friend and first mate D, leaning on the swivel gun NoName, the ship's watch officer and soft-spoken sharpshooter. Khaman is the ship's principal helmsman and expert of the Butterfly knives. Then there’s Doc the ship's physician and ship's terrible comic relief. Goldie the Navigator and Sir Bentley the team scout. To their left are Key Wee the Arch Mage a former student of Merlin, and the Elven mystic Tessaria of Ithrendale.
Stepping by the main hold he could hear Sir Cornelius of Doggshire the tinkerer and inventor busy again working on some mechanical project that he claimed as it could prove useful, if it worked. Nearby a wide berth on the deck is an iron plate that rested on stone blocks, Tarakona's dining spot outlined by the frequent charring of his meals. Absent were Slack-Tor the Dragon master and Lady Ravenhill the Night Walker. They were sent ahead to Gamelon to forward his invitational reply, a plan to the king, to avoid alarming the citizens to the presence of a Pirate ship and most of all to find the next piece of the Silver skull of Hephaestus.
At the royal palace of Gamelon, the ambassador for Tantamon stood shoulder to shoulder with King Atrea at the end of the King's Strategy Table and signed their Compact agreement before their advisors. The hall itself was spacious, lined with the numerous ornate palace guard. Romanesque columns that framed numerous seating galleries for select citizens of Gamelon to witness the King's proclamations. In a roar of applause and the blast of trumpets, a senior Tantamon officer finally places the Tantamon banner next to the four kingdoms of the Compact.
"Ambassador Xanas on behalf of king Festus of Tantamon has negotiated an alliance treaty with our Compact, my daughter Princess Amanda Chrysanthemum Atrea is marriage bound that will seal our kingdoms together." Tied in were land exchanges, resource sharing, commercial contracts, and of course personal favors yet to be collected.
On the surface the mutual agreement would give the Compact enough combined military and economic might to stave off encroachment by the Empire. 'Would' is the key word. And that depended on safe delivery of the Princess to King Festus by a neutral party. Considering the current political climate what can be more neutral than a Privateer? The gods sure have handpicked this one.
The reward was a chest of Atrean gold, twelve stone weights no less than an immense fortune but more important was access to the ancient Gamelon Treasury where the relic is rumored to be concealed in plain view. The Captain is given the choice to pick, until then they had a job to plan and execute.
In another fanfare, a resplendent young woman enters the hall with her personal escort of guards and hand maidens that are to accompany her on the voyage to the Tantamon capital of Cycus where the King awaits his bride. She approaches her king and kisses him on the cheek to emphasize her royal lineage. King Altair of Atrea holds his daughter's hand and begins to approach the K and his crew. His eyes met the Captain's.
"Ah, the legendary Captain K. You seem much younger than I thought as a very accomplished seafarer and have done well against the will of the Ikonian empire and testament of your stand against our common enemy. I introduce to you my daughter Amanda."
Captain k straightened his vest and removed his hat, "I am Captain K, in command of the Dragon Fire at your service ma'am."
"You may address me as, 'Your Highness.'", her tone was a bit cold, condescending, hither of her contempt of being delivered like cargo upon her preconception of a Privateer vessel rather than no less a Royal one.
"This young Princess Chrysanthemum is too young as her behavior seemed very much that of a self-entitled brat," Whispered Lady Ravenhill as she leaned over to Key Wee.
Key Wee replied under her breath, "The King's is too old to be like her father, I would think it would be for his son."
The Princess performed a barely acceptable curtsy to the Captain and then faced her king, "Father I do not wish to travel on a Privateer ship the Tantamon Ambassador's ship is much more suitable for me."
King Altair Atrea Pat's his daughter's hand and smiled, "Oh do not feel that way. It is to demonstrate humility on our part. King Festus is an honorable and fair man but I hear that you are already the talk of the Tantamon woman's social circles having established a special Pony stable...oh my clever girl that was supposed to be a surprise too, I must apologize to King Festus about it." With that the King lifted his arms and proclaimed, "Let us celebrate! Bring the Food and wine!
A step closer to their goal but it almost felt as far away as ever.
As the formalities concluded Captain K was more in deep thought than celebrating. Khaman already made his way to the Wine service but the order could wait a little longer as the crew should enjoy this time for themselves.
There would be no doubt the Empire would know of this agreement and will find ways to stop it. Their spies are everywhere. Glancing over to the Strategy table he could see some of the crew still engaged in serious discussion.
Lady Ravenhill crossed her arms, “I say we make way at dusk. Conceal our departure at night.”
Slak-Tor's fists rested on his hips and shook his head, "I best think that being bold will stay their hand, with Tarakona's at the fore they would never dare to attack in the open."
As Slak-Tor, Lady Ravenhill, and the Atrean council argued, Captain Ks thoughts bothered him as the political ramifications of this tenuous agreement barely held together. Too much could go wrong. The absence of King Festus by his standards did not give enough credence to the importance of this Compact alliance. King Festus would know the Atrean vessel would be stopped by Imperial ships and it wouldn't hurt anyone to have the Tantamon ship's Ambassador status convey the Daughter Atrea to the kingdom to make good the treaty. Damn, something's wrong. Imperial ships often leave Tantamon ships alone.
This kingdom was powerful enough that the Empire for now left them alone but not without some sway.
As far as King Festus is concerned as long as the Ikona empire leaves his kingdom alone keeping the status quo. He was clearly reluctant to pick sides yet the Empire is slowly undermining the economy and by hegemonic means instills hardship upon his kingdom leading to increasing internal strife.
1.It had to be some kind of test to see if this alliance was strong enough to join and be damned with the empire. If this venture failed he could easily claimed having been deceived by not only by his own political allies but can be grossly misled by a group representing their own interests. It wouldn't be too difficult to side with the victorious side long after the fact. At least a puppet with power yet under Ikona dictates.
As a show of unity, promised are six Atrean military ships and two support vessels. Joining them will be four Minoan warships along with another four of the Delrin kingdom by mutual protection treaty. If the combined four kingdoms could align together they would be more than a match to the Empire. Captain K could see role in the importance of this vital mission. The Ikonian emperor knows the old game of ‘Divide and Conquer.’ A giant bull’s eye may just as well be painted on the Dragon Fire's mainmast sail.
The eyes of his friends fell upon him.
D spoke up, "It's your call Captain, when do we depart?"
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“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”
