“Ahh, decisions, decisions!”

Azmar’s dark beady eyes peered from the darkness. Gunnar groaned with uncertainty as he re-read the prompt.

“A little help here?”

“I’m not allowed to offer guidance on this matter. By order of the Elysian Court.”

“But you said there’s a wrong decision?” he asked.

“There’s always a wrong decision, and you usually make it.”

“Shouldn’t you be watching the horizon?” Gunnar demanded.

“How quick do you think ships move?” Azmar asked condescendingly. “There was not a ship for thirty miles in all directions. And I just checked while you were taking forever to decide on your stat points. But I can say that if you screw up things in the next day or so, all roads will point back to what you decide now.”

“You think I should wait,” Gunnar said.

“I said no such thing.”

“Ugh…” Gunnar read the prompt again. “What are those specific items for my quest?”

“You’ll find out if you use the boon now. But I’m sure they’re pretty awesome.”

“Great, thanks. And if I ask for intervention?”

“It has to be specific. It can’t directly involve any other players. And it can’t directly involve anyone’s death. That’s usually where people go wrong. And that’s all I’m allowed to say.”

“It sounds pretty restricted.”

“Maybe,” Azmar said. “Or it could be the only thing that saves your ass. Depends on the wisdom of the player.”

“Have you ever had a ward who chose wrong?”

“Nymoria’s only given one other boon since I’ve served her. It didn’t save him from being an utter failure. Your friends are coming back, though, so you’d better get on with it.”

Gunnar agonized for a few more seconds before making his final decision. “I’m going to wait.”

“Bummer,” Azmar said.

“You don’t know what the right decision is, do you?”

“I can’t see the future impacts of your decision. I just assume you chose wrong. Alright, I’m going to go back to scanning the horizon now.”

Azmar took off, riding a sudden gust of wind that sent Gunnar’s boat tossing in the waves. After he stabilized, he stowed the orb of light in his Inventory, and waited for his companions.

Em and Niall stepped off the pirate dinghy a few minutes later. Without a word, the pirates paddled away into the night.

“Let’s go,” Niall said.

Gunnar’s Stamina debuff did not make the return journey any easier. He paddled slow and steady, trying not to let his energy go out between strokes.

“You find out anything from the merfolk?” Niall asked as they neared their ship.

“Nothing specific. They said the empire is watching what’s going on out here at the edge of civilization. They see the Nighthawks as a threat. They said to strike first, and watch our backs.”

“Good,” Niall said. “So long as the empire doesn’t know the extent of our alliances, then all is going according to plan.”

“Alliances,” Gunnar said, “as in pirates.”

“Among others,” Niall said.

“How is Black Heart involved?”

Em chimed in. “The empire has suspected we had connections with Black Heart for some time. But the chaos surrounding Benton’s assassination, and your beef with Sykes has muddied the waters. This may be our only shot at a coordinated attack before they realize how great a threat we really have become.”

“And we’re going to make it count,” Niall said.

“What exactly are we doing in Mavenport?” Gunnar asked.

“High-ranking officials from Thailen are naturally on edge since Benton died. The imperial governor of Thailen was tending to matters of business across the sea at the time, and he has inexplicably delayed his return, presumably since he heard the news of Dravingdel’s party. Several high Thailenite nobles have joined him, along with some high ranking imperial officers.”

“They’re planning an attack?”

“Not on one of their own cities. Not yet. The city is not the problem. The guilds are not the problem. But they know that there is an anti-imperial undercurrent in Thailen, and they will return with a plan.”

“Which is why we’re striking first,” Em said, a hint of glee in her voice.

“The governor is the face of the empire in Thailen,” Niall said. “We cannot allow him to return.”

Gunnar’s heart raced as he rowed the rest of the way in silence. When they returned to the ship, Gunnar made his way to ascend to the crow’s nest again, but Niall grabbed his shoulder.

“You’ve done enough today. Get some rest. I’ll have one of my men finish out your watch.”

“You sure?” Gunnar asked.

“Judging by how slowly you rowed, I think we’ll all be safer with someone more alert up there.”

Gunnar shook his head and chuckled. “Aye, aye, sir.”

He and Em walked together to the sleeping quarters belowdeck.

“I told you he’s not out to get you,” Em said.

Gunnar nodded. “Guess so.”

“You alright?”

“Just tired.”

“You sure?”

Gunnar wasn’t sure, but his mind was too foggy to say more. He still was annoyed that Em had disappeared during their heist. He resented how much better her crew was. And he was annoyed that Em and Niall were meeting with Black Heart without him. But he knew his annoyance was only worsened by how tired he was, so he decided to avoid anything more. There was enough to worry about already.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Gunnar climbed into his hammock. A notification inquired about whether he’d like to sleep in or out of game. He barely hit in-game before he lost consciousness.

***

The next afternoon, Gunnar met with his noob crew on deck, and they worked through some sparring sessions. Each of them took turns matching up against one another. Gunnar watched them first, and then, eventually traded blows himself.

Rorak the goblin was a pretty even match with sabers. Kid Killer worked his ass off, maniacally wielding twin daggers, but Gunnar still managed to disarm one of them with a flourish of his saber, and after that, it was over. Sauvage was incredibly quick at maneuvering, and managed to slash Gunnar good in the calf with his razor-like claws, but he had to get so damn close to land an attack, that he was easily put out of commission the next time he tried it.

On the one hand, Gunnar was glad to have demonstrated his superior abilities. All three were fuming after their defeats, and it pushed them even harder to prove themselves as they continued sparring with one another. But on the other hand, Gunnar feared all the more that his crew was severely lacking for what lay ahead.

When they were all panting and drenched in sweat, he had them climb to the crow’s nest and back repeatedly. The sailor on watch was not impressed, but Gunnar wanted to analyze their maneuvering abilities. And they did not disappoint. Rorak was once again passable, but not outstanding. But Kid Killer and Sauvage flew from ropes to supporting beams, and showed no hesitancy when Gunnar ordered them to traverse over to the second mast partway up.

All three showed an impressive amount of Stamina, which eased Gunnar’s mind a bit.

At the end of the work out, they all slumped on the deck and guzzled down water.

“You guys did good,” Gunnar said. “Rest up the next few hours. We’ve got a big night ahead.”

“Maybe,” Kid Killer said.

“It’s true,” Sauvage said. “We still don’t know what our assignment is.”

Rorak said nothing, but he too looked skeptical.

“Look,” Gunnar said. “You’re right. We’re the noobs on this quest. But every Nighthawk didn’t get chosen to come here. The Masters looked at our specific skills and sent us here. If it’s support, then it’s support. If it’s an assassination, then we’ll kill the shit out of whoever it is. We do our part, and let everyone else do theirs. The future of Thailen rides on all of us.”

Kid Killer nodded. “I just don’t see how any of this fits.”

“Perhaps you are looking in the wrong direction.”

The new voice made them all turn to find Niall towering over them.

“Er, sorry, sir,” Kid Killer muttered. “I didn’t mean to—”

“I think I caught your meaning,” Niall said. “You don’t trust the leadership. And if you want to know why you—a Novice—are serving under a New Recruit leader. Well, I think you’ve found your answer. You’ve shown promise, but like most youth, you don’t know your place. You’re full of yourself and over-estimate your own importance. You’re here despite that, so don’t squander it. Follow Captain Ashwood. ”

Gunnar didn’t mind the sound of that at all.

“He will follow my orders,” Niall went on. “And I will follow those of Mistress Leilani. The key to advancement is knowing your role at the present moment and—how would Ashwood phrase it?—killing the shit out of it.”

All four of them chuckled.

“Rest up,” Niall said. “We reach Mavenport in a few hours. You’ll receive your orders as we arrive, and you’ll see how you the fate of Thailen fits in. We’re one of half a dozen crews, each with their own roles. Each crew has their own mark. There are many moving pieces, and the plans won’t be set until we’re there. Hence, the delay in your quest. Even once we’re there, things will change. That is the nature of a quest of this scale. Be ready for anything.”