CHAPTER 15 RETRIBUTION AND QUICKLY
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The Hunnigan''s Glory was bathed in flame. Thick plumes of black and grey smoke reached to the ever gleaming sun. The fire had caught the mast and was climbing, battling against the wet wood. The sails caught alight and quickly went up. From the shore-line, they watched as timbers began to splinter and heard as the mast sundered. Droplets of Hel rained down onto the deck, as the powerless crew looked on in despair. Artifae watched as his new home was taken from him, feeling a lonely sting of fear and pain, dreading to think what the captain must be feeling, when a realisation struck him in the ribs.
Taisha.
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“everything we have is still on there. We have to try.”
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“terrors out there and a buncha skulls. He got us into this mess, we should figure out a solution for it ourselves.”
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Ol'' Beauty around until he clasped it in both hands.
“Command?” He spat. “Who the Hel do you think you are, lad?”
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“stranded in a bloody inlet, and no way out, ''cept for heading towards those terror-tusks or whatever, or pirates. Now, we got no way offa this rock and he''s just bloody sittin'' there!”
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“boy.” Kutja snarled, jabbing Ban in their chest with a thick finger.
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“some food around there.”
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“monsters and mosquitoes.”
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“is her!” Misha said excitedly, as Artie saw the soot-clad, dishevelled hair of Taisha huddled up in the skiff.
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She''s so beautiful, even after escaping a fire.
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“Captain Wrongun Zip, in those books.”
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“good, I haven''t read them in years.” Misha said cheerfully.
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“cool.” Misha said, a little shocked.
“those again.” Artie said, annoyed.
“Rummin? Was it?” Taisha asked.
“Captain Wrongun.” Misha corrected. “Wrongun Zip.”
“The Ocean Star, he went around fighting monsters, sleeping with beautiful women...”
“mystery, and there was always a different villain in each story, and always a challenge, and he always beat it. There was never any bugs, or blood, really.”
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“really.”
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“corrupting to watch stuff like that.”
“did you do? Just read The Ture all day?”
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The Demeterios ships, they''ve come back for us!
Hunnigan''s Glory were all present, some trying to speak with the stoic and tall Demeterios guards, their golden armour gleaming above their golden skin.
Oh great, back to Promise Coast. So much for escaping it.
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“some loot at least to trade for passage. Maybe we can all still go together? We can ask Taisha when she''s up.”
“If she wants to come.” Artie said, looking back at the sleeping Eve, when a shadow appeared in front of him.
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“I should leave?” He hissed. “I remember you running away from that tusked thing back in the jungle, whimpering like a coward.”
Captain Zip would never trade the sails of a ship for a modern monstrosity like that. No wonder it''s all beat up He though, imagining himself once again hanging onto the mast of a great ship, long golden curls like Captain Zip and an elegant moustache, the envy of all men and the want of all women.
Looks like they didn''t need me after all, look how much better they''re doing when I''m away! He thought with a grim smirk.
“they?”
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“gold!”
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“starving. Hopefully they''ll have some actual meat here.”
Lucky. Bet they don''t have to wheel-barrow around rocks for a living, he thought as an Ogrin worker hauled off the marble stone to be taken to a craftsman.
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“sick about you!” He growled.
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“week! We''ve been goin'' into the jungle lookin'' for ya! Where the Hel you been?”
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“quit?” Deniz snarled, confused.
“yeah.”
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“much better off without me, and I''m off doing something better suited to my talents.”
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“am.” Artifae said tiredly. “I''m with a new crew now. We''re treasure hunters.”
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“sank.” Artie said, embarrassed.
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“not!” Artie said, a little angry now. “It was-”
The man with silver-hands.
“workin'' at it.”
“gotta see this.” Misha said excitedly.
“these?”
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“Priam Sejanus!” Misha said, taking the coin back and studying it herself.
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“west.” He said plainly. “The East-men are all pale and slimy.”
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“high price for this!”
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“more for an actual Montec bracelet then some old coin?” Artie asked.
“score!”
“fire.”
“Sylo Teht took it. I saw him wearing it as he fled the ship.”
“What?”
Still, this is surely where I''m meant to be, isn''t it?
anybody as he reached listening range.
“what am I to do?” The captain said with despair.
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“ship and no means to procure another one. My crew have disappeared and I am alone on this land.”
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“livelihoods?” Ban asked.
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“New Peridios.” He said gravely.
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“curse you bring upon me!”
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“lost.”
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“Sorry? I don''t want you to be sorry, I want retribution, and quickly.”
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Maybe they''re right. I think this place is where I''m supposed to be, but maybe not yet. I have to find a reason to be here, I suppose.
The Hunnigan''s Glory, Artie wandered the rapidly darkening outskirts of the jungle. He could still see golden flashes of light as the warriors from Demeterios were still here. They appeared to be looking for something. Artie disappeared past a large tree that had made its own clearing, and sat nearby, his mind busier than the denizens of Promise Coast as ideas continued to form and vanish. He kicked at a pile of dead leaves, our of spite, anger and sadness. He went to sink down, when a curious smell caught his attention.
once--a soldier of Demeterios, thrown into a seated position, his head rolled back. His mouth was wide open, and out of it, was a strange white material, poured out like a frozen waterfall, speckling his face and every part of his armour. It was coming out of his eyes, nostrils and ears, too. It had hints of colour, blue, red and green. Artie fought against the vomit battling his stomach, and crouched closer to see what it was. He hesitated a hand above it.
It looks like wax...