”I don‘t like it. Not one bit.“ Locksley stared at me with some kind of stubborn disappointment, even going so far as to cross his arms in front of his chest as he leaned back.

”Well, Captain, it is happening. So find me a way to do it.“ I was just as headstrong, looking him square in the eyes.

We sat on my deck on top of the Wreckage around the dining table at dusk, with all the others around as well. Most of them looked at me with apprehension and even doubt. We had returned from our battle in the bay with ruffled feathers and dead to lay to rest, but right now we were talking about our immediate future. We had scoured the bay for hours after the battle, but he had not seen any signs of other Gyohin forces. We assumed the bay to be free once more, which meant we could send out the ships, including one that would carry me to Bones and the Hammerhead, to finally turn in my quest.

”Really, m‘lord.“ Higgins chimed in. ”You don‘t know pirates and freebooters like we do. You cannot trust them.“

”And I don’t intend to trust anything or anyone, Higgins. It is an offer benefitting both sides. In good faith.“

”I understand that they can offer a lot, Lord Protector.“ Locksley said. ”But what in the dead god‘s names brings you to think they would uphold their side of the bargain? They are known for their unsavory business and worse.“

”There are....precautions in place.“ I tried to deflect once more. Talking about the game of the gods, favors, and vows, was still uncomfortable to me. And was the involvement of the Moonlight Jester truly a deterrent for a man like Captain Bones of the Hammerhead and the Scarlet Tide?

”Either way,“ I continued, ”I am not giving them the keys to our kingdom, so to speak. I just want to meet with him and test the waters. I have reason to believe that we have mutual interests.“

”And what would those be?“ Locksley dug deeper.

I threw my hands in the air in vexation. The conversation circled around this topic ever since I had brought the pirates up. I just wanted to finish my godsdamned quest!

”As I have said before, Captain - And I do not understand why I have to repeat myself - I have reason to believe that the freebooter in question is as interested in the freeing of our enslaved countrymen as I am.“

There were a few more heated stares, but nobody said anything for a while.

”I guess it is an issue of security, then.“ Thimotheus finally said. He had listened for a good long while, not being part of the conversation, so he practically jumped at the chance to get us out of the loop of mistrust and stubbornness.

Locksley wanted to say something - I could see it coming from a mile away - so I interrupted him before he even opened his mouth. ”Let it drop, Captain. I am meeting with Captain Bones, come hell or high waters. The details of that meeting and what we want to ask for, and are willing to give in return, can wait.“

He finally sank back but nodded frostily. He was used to getting his way. He was king on his ship, with no one above him but a written missive on his desk. The ruler over life and death. Even he had to learn to change his ways, to adapt to a new life.

Higgins threw a cautious look to his Captain. He was of two minds as well, but he knew me better. I would consider us friends, nothing less. But to speak against his Captain was not in his nature. He coughed.

”The coordinates you gave me indicate a little nameless island between the city-states of Khondor and the coastline of the former empire. Nothing but open sea around, maybe a couple of rocks and tricky shallows. Nothing the Albatross can't handle.“ He said, trying for a business-like tone.

”There will be no security to speak of.“ Locksley said grimly. ”Only the speed of the Albatross. It is a warship, that much is true, and fitted to operate alone. But against a pirate armada, we might as well be waving flags at them.“

”Maybe you underestimate the power of words, Captain.“ Veneir‘s silent voice finally cut through the debate, a bit muffled from beyond his veil. ”If we do not have the better arguments of ballistae, bows and warships, we bring money and convenience. Pirates are men, just as much as anybody. And they very much are not military men.“

”Even so, what does that change?“ Lockley asked calmly. He obviously respected the analytical mind of Veneir a lot, and never had gotten cross with him, as far as I could tell.

”You think with the mind of a sworn man, beholden to his country, emperor and vows. Military men often see the world through a different lens than the rest of us, Captain. You think in black and white, in friends or foes. But between these two extremes are countless layers of grey, all of which can be traded and bartered with. We do not need to be friends with the pirates, Captain, nor will we be. But we need to trade with the city-states of Khondor in peace, to survive the winter, and if a perilous meeting with a pirate can get us a non-perilous journey with a slow swimming hulk...I’ll take the former, I say.“

Locksley‘s gaze turned thoughtful. He prided himself on being a calm and analytical man as well, so he took the rebuttal seriously, a chance of retrospection, of challenging his own flaws. And he did.

”There is merit there,“ he said, ”but the seas are bound to be in uproar after the fall of the empire. With the imperial navy in....disarray, neighboring countries could see the chance to secure the flotsam, so to speak, without fear of repercussions. honor-bound men doing the work of pirates, but with medals and titles as a reward, instead of the gallows. The Pirates may be the least of our concerns.“

”Even more reason to reduce the sharks lusting for our flesh by trading with a few of them.“ I said.

”Your mind seems to be made up, anyway.” Locksley gave in. ”And I do not question your authority.“ But there was something unspoken there, wasn’t it? Not yet. ”We should talk about what ships to take.”

”Right.“ I said, massaging the root of my nose. We had discussed this particular item so long, I had almost forgotten the rest. ”Well. Simue,“ I nodded to the silent girl to my left. ”Will take the two longboats to the Fallen Empire. That much I have promised.“ She nodded in acknowledgment.

”I shall take the hulk to the city-states for trade and talks.“ Veneir dipped his head.

”If I may?“ Thimotheus asked, leaning forward. ”I would like a ship to visit the White Tower. I have friends there I need to contact, which could help us with innumerable problems. The Wyld, the darkness, Dragonamber...not to speak about the practical side of having a few mages around that actually still have their spellbooks.“ A small apologetic smile spread on his face.

”I trust Higgins to run a ship.“ Locksley said, matter-of-factly. Higgins looked surprised, and somehow ashamedly happy. ”Even if I would hate to let him off my ship. And the longboats can navigate by keeping the coastline in view, at least if they just want to reach the Fallen Empire. But the White Tower and the Swan Bay? It would have to be the Albatross and me, running the gauntlet.“

I saw the writing on the wall. That was a whole lot of competence gone, and all of the higher leveled individuals. Not to speak of the protection the warship brought to Ravenport and the bay. But a frigate was no ship of the line. It was meant to sail, to explore, to be a courier, and a spy. And it needed to be out there to bring up more ships of the Wyldlings, free more of the enslaved sailors. It needed to be used.

I wanted to scream. My body was shaking in anticipation of finally leaving again, of seeing the world and...wander. It seemed so close. So many interesting destinations: The Fallen Empire, the city-states of Khondor or the famed White Tower. But...Someone had to stay. And all of them had very good reasons to leave Ravenport. All of them but me.

”Then circumstances have made the decisions for us.“ I sighed. ”We will travel to the unnamed island together and I will hold my meeting with the Captain of the Hammerhead. Veneir and Higgins take the hulk to the city-states of Khondor and Captain Locksley will bring me back to Ravenport, take Thimotheus on board, and sail for the Swan Bay.“

It hurt. More than I had thought possible. More than I felt was reasonable. What had the Wanderer changed in me? And what else was...different?

The rest of the meeting was the discussion of details. And the details of those details. Who would take what and whom with him...and such matters. I had an opinion, of course, but I knew when to defer to the more experienced men and women. And to be fair, I trusted all of them more than myself when it came to planning an expedition by ship.

A key point of the discussion was that Veneir would take a small pouch with Dragonamber with him, as would Thimotheus. It was our only export and a very valuable one, and we needed the monetary influx, but wanted to strictly limit how much we gave away. It was as much a secret as it was the key to reaching our shores. We had to give it to the right people only, on the risk of our exposure and...worse.

Thimotheus needed it to lure life-specialized mages to our side, as well as experts that could make something useful out of the material. And maybe he could trade for the most valuable thing of all. Knowledge.

Simue would, as we had agreed upon, try to contact the resistance groups she knew. We knew precious little about the circumstances of the people in the Fallen Empire. Knowledge was sorely needed, once again. She had three additional missives as well. Bring back people. Bring back resources. Hunt bearers of Dragonamber amulets.

We had pooled all the gold and silver we had and gave it to Veneir. It was mostly the coins from the chest of the golem maker, but Barak Bloodbraid had begun to collect gold as well, as he had learned of the value of the metal in the rest of the world. But it was less than the golem maker had hidden in his chest. It could be a substantial sum, depending on how pure the coins of the golem maker were, and how well a deal Veneir could strike while exchanging them for commonly used currency. The small chest of gems could be valuable as well, but that was dependent on the market. Under the right circumstances...no, the golem maker had been a very wealthy man, but it was not close to the coffers of a kingdom.

The most valuable resources we had would not be given out lightly. That meant the Dragonamber but also the unknown metal I had used to repair Zero with. Both Thimotheus and Khadon, the [Smith], had indicated that it could very well be beyond monetary compensation, but if it was that special, I should not lose it without good reason. At least not without trying to identify it first. I gave an ingot to both Veneir and Thimotheus, should they chance upon an expert they could ask for more information.

I soon lost my patience and left the gathered competence to their business, while I wandered the settlement, It was late, but the people were busy still. Busy always. Surviving was not a job you left at the door at nightfall.

Leaving the settlement was at the forefront of my mind. I needed to wander. And I would set sail soon, however short the journey would turn out to be. But for the long run there was just one cure for that particular ailment. Helping the fighters grind, so I could leave the protection of Ravenport in their hands, one day. One day that could not come soon enough for my taste.

I gathered the fighters and the [Harpooneers] to what now was routine. It still were 10 of the spear-throwing [Harpooneers], but not all of the fighters had survived the battle with the Gyohin. The others were stronger. Grim and determined. They needed no more talks to raise their morale. They very well knew what to do, by now.

They grew stronger.