The greeting of the newcomers took its time, but I made sure that everyone had seen me and knew who I was. I had no grand speech prepared and only bid them welcome in Ravenport and assured them, that they would be safe and free. I had half a mind to join in the celebrations, but as soon as they learned that I was the Lord Protector, their old instincts kicked in and they kept their distance and just bowed in earnest gratitude.

We were elated, genuinely happy. I was because it was the confirmation of what we were doing here. Creating a refuge for the hunted and enslaved. The others were because it felt like a win. Well, it was a win, if an insubstantial one. We needed the ships and the sailors, of course, the others were more mouths to feed, for the time being.

We had a couple of new craftsmen and farmers, though, as I learned scanning the crowd with [Discern Subject]. They would be an important asset in the future, but not immediately helpful besides helping with the expansion of the Wreckage as a shelter and the construction of the stairwell.

I stopped myself there. Was that the ruler‘s curse? To think of the freed and saved as assets and mouths to feed? I had turned a genuine moment of joy and reunification into an assessment of strengths and problems to solve. That was not what I wanted to turn into.

The hunters brought some game, and we cut open some of the caught sea critters, which had been deemed edible, and soon the fires roared, the food sizzled and the smell of cooking meat wafted over the Wreckage, as laughter and somber crying filled the day, as news were shared of a home lost and a history gone by.

I ate with the Wounded Pride, which I now considered to be Higgins, Veneir, Thimotheus and Simue, who had led her group deep in the Wyld at the moment, of course, and was thus not present. Captain Locksley joined us after he had finished overseeing the securing of his ship and the others, while his crew mingled with the townsfolk.

”Both transport ships were easy to spot.“ Locksley explained the taking of his prizes. ”The sailors knew what they were doing, but the Wyldlings on board had disposed of any [Naval Officers]. The used the coastline to navigate, which would have brought them here, but they had cut off their own retreat after we had cornered them against the shore.“

”I wonder why that is.“ Thimotheus mused. ”I guess they saw no reason to keep an authority under guard.“

”If all you want to do is reach this place, hugging the coast is all you need.“ Locksley said. ”It was the smart thing to do, from their point of view. Both ships had far fewer Wyldlings on bord than crew or slaves in the hold. They did not expect a fight or a chase.“

”I wonder if it will happen again. They have to get suspicious after a while...or maybe one of them had the means of long-range communication.“ I shuffled closer to the fire, to cut myself a thick, juicy slice of meat from the rabbit, the gliding kind, turning over the flames.

”Or someone spotted us from the coast. I am not quite clear on how far the Wyld extends on land north and south, but we caught them in sight of the mountaintops of the Divide. And chases and fights on the ocean take a lot longer than you might expect. Chases can take days, even if this one only took half a day of maneuvering and a couple of broadsides into the rigging.“ Locksley leaned back and got out a little bag and a pipe. He smiled contently. ”They had a small barrel of longleaf on board.“

Thimotheus eyes lit up and they shared the pipe, as we told our side of the story, about the hunting of the Nightmares, the training of the [Hunters] in harsh environments, and the culling of the sea life we had attempted in the bay.

”The [Whaler] and the [Harpooneers] will be a godsend for us, I think.“ Locksley thought out loud. ”But whaling is a dangerous and arduous task, even if you are not in the Shattered Sea. I think it is high risk with mediocre rewards, and should not be attempted without the proper equipment, ship, and trained crew.“

”Speaking of risks and rewards.“ I said. ”I will have to meet with a freebooter of some renown...or infamy if you will.“ The others looked at me with frowns, until they remembered me being a Twice-Born. They still did not understand how I had made my connections or how I knew to meet someone, but they accepted that I was able to do things mortals could not.

”Why?“ Higgins asked incredulously.

”He originally gave me the quest to bring him the head of Barak Bloodbraid. Long before I came here. It was the reason I knew there to be a safe haven somewhere in the Shattered Sea and to keep looking for it.“

”Then I have to thank this freebooter for a lot.“ Thimotheus laughed.

”I would not be so hasty.“ Higgins scowled. ”Freebooters, or pirates if you will, are a godless lot. They pillage, they steal, they kill. Sometimes worse. I would be very sure where to meet a man like this if I were you.“

”I will speak to him in a way he cannot touch me, but to bring him the head, we must meet outside of the Shattered Sea, I fear. And we must, because he owes me a lot for completing his assignment. I kind of trust him, as much as is possible for a man in his line of work.“

”Well you shouldn‘t, my lord. One does not get to be the captain of a pirate ship by holding your word and playing fair.“

”Not just a ship.“ I said. ”He is Admiral of the Scarlet Tide, whatever that means.“

Higgins immediately spat out his drink in surprise, while Locksley‘s face distorted in a frown so hard it had to hurt.

”Captain Bones of the Hammerhead.“ Locksley said grimly. ”He was well known for a while and hunted with every vessel we had. But he slipped through our net and left for calmer waters, ten years back, give or take. I was a young man then, but even I understood the severity of our assignment.“

”He was a legend, well, monster under the bed of cadets and newbies in the navy.“ Higgins added. ”But I don‘t really know more than that. I know that he took a couple of merchants, and instead of running like most pirates would when a warship came for them, he sent them to the bottom of the ocean.“

”The Scarlet Tide is a group of pirate ships that have been seen working together. I hear they dye their sails red. They enjoy the chase and want their prey to know they are coming. But that could very well be nonsense.“ Locksley refilled his own pipe, taking his time to fish out a glimmering twig from the fire to get it going again. ”I would advise for utmost caution in conferring with this man, my lord.“

”I understand, Captain. And I share your concern. But there is much to gain, as well. And I do not think we have much to lose.“

”Unless the Scarlet Tide wants to add a battle-ready frigate to its numbers.“ Higgins' face clouded over.

”I will only force the matter on you if I have enough insurance that the meeting will be cordial. And I have reason to believe I can enforce at least that much. But that is not the only thing we should be talking about. We should be talking about what we can do for the pirate and what the pirate can do for us.“

”My lord!“ Higgins protested. ”You can not seriously...“

I held up a hand. ”Ifs, whens, and buts, dear Higgins. If I get the chance to negotiate, what can we offer? What do we want? I just aim to prepare as best as I am able to.“

The discussion turned lively after that, to say the least.

„What is this clown doing here?“ Bones broke the silence. We were at the Nectar and Necessities, in the common area of the Fulcrum, sitting around the same table we had been at before. Bones, the Moonlight Jester, and me. The Jester accompanied me according to his promise to do his best to sway Bones to my side and make him hold to his words.

I had found my way to Bones, who had been sitting there much like the first time, busy drinking nectar from the earthenware mugs, impassively scanning his surroundings.

”How dare you!“ The Jester cried in mock outrage. ”I will have you know that clowns are much more talented than jesters. Clowns have to entertain hundreds of people at once. Jesters not even one, most of the time.“

”I have asked him to come.“ I said.

”Why, by the rotten teats of the great whale below would you want that joke to be around you?“

Bones grinned through his salty beard, throwing a challenging look to the Jester.

”You love me, don‘t you pretend otherwise, you wet rag of a man.“ The Jester leaned back, putting his bell adorned high shoes on the empty chair to his side. ”I am here to listen and to make a jest or two. Don‘t mind me.“ He took out a deck of cards, idly playing with them, letting them run through his fingers in a way a layman might call magical by itself.

”To business then.“ Bones said as he had made sure the table was private. He shoved a mug over the table, which slid to a stop before me. ”You are alive. And you would not be here if you had failed.“

”I have not.“ I took the mug, smelling its contend. It was a lofty, fruity aroma. And the drink was so sweet I could smell that, too.

”Nectar!“ Bones laughed. ”The drink of the gods. The only drink, to be fair, and is that not just a shame.“ He toasted across the table, taking big chugs from his own mug.

I did as well. A whirlwind of tastes rushed through my mouth, earthy and sweet with hints of berries of the forest and fruits I never had tasted before. The sheer complexity astounded me, every moment I tasted something new, something exciting. It was not only a rush of the senses. A light buzz followed the liquid, lightening my head ever so slightly.

”Careful, lad.“ Bones grinned. ”You wouldn‘t be the first to get hooked on the juice of the divine.“

”Dead gods, I could get used to this.“ I said in wonder as I put down the mug.

”Nah, nothing like a stiff drink on a breezy day. Nectar is too much, most of the time. For me at least.“ Bones mused.

”Only because you have the gullet of an ox. You have destroyed every taste you might have had with buckets of salt, old friend.“ The Jester threw in.

”Talk to me about taste, will you? You wear a tablecloth and eat what falls off them.“

”Barak Bloodbraid is dead. I have his head.“ I cut through the jolly banter.

Bones raised his mug. ”A reason to celebrate, as any I have ever seen. I will have to see the head, of course. I do not peddle in promises.“

I exchanged a look with the Jester, who just shrugged.

”And how would I show it to you?“ I continued.

”Well I have a pretty good idea where you are now. Close by, that is. We will have to meet up somewhere, I reckon.“ I did not quite like the gleam in his eyes. Was he that eager to get his hands on the head I had promised him? Or was he excited for another reason?

”I do not say I will not do it. But I do want to talk to you first.“

”About what?“

”About working together on a few issues.“

This was the deciding moment. A moment a lot of the future of Ravenport hinged on. Even as Bones leaned forward, not as jolly as he had been, as if he suddenly had sobered up, the voice of the Jester came from the side, interrupting him.

”You know what I want? Truly want out of this life? The freedom to walk where I please, to do as I please, even in the darkest and most dangerous places. To challenge the mighty and walk away, laughing. What is it you want, Bones?“

”What...?“ He asked confused, turning to the Jester.

”Humor me, old shark.“ The Jester said.

”I do not know how that is any of your business, Jester. But it is no secret either, as you well know what drives me. To set course to where I want. The strength to take what I want and do what I want. The freedom to sail the Seven Seas with not a care in the world, to follow the winds and answer to no one.“

”Freedom, is it?“ The Jester smiled. His eyes found mine. ”Seems to me we are all wrought of the same stuff, Raven. Oh, don‘t look at me like that. I don‘t know everything and secrets don‘t jump into my lap to reveal themselves to me. I have been to your Demesne, remember? I know the hue of color the wisps of the Wanderer wear. We have a lot in common, we three. Now, go ahead and talk about that oh so important business you have with each other, I will be over here, gloating and trying to look smug.“

I met the glance of Bones, and the lines on his scruffy face softened ever so slightly.