Pirates: A new beginning

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Whilst keeping the surprise from his face, Arvin tried very hard not to choke on the water he was sipping. Eight ships!? Marius sure had ambition. He'll give the man that much. Keeping his anxiety buried deep, he rose from his chair once more, and slowly started to pace the room, as was his custom.

Turning to Marius, he looked the man in the eye. Putting on his most wicked smile, he kept his tone light.

"Eight ships... a pretty prize, and a difficult one to be sure. Yer ambition be grand, and it'll be yer downfall, if yer not careful. Taking this convoy... you realise the kind o' attention this will be bringin'?"

Turning to pace once more, he walked over to the window. "If there be only 3 escorts, then we match them in numbers. The merchant ships will be armed, but they'll not join the fight. Also, one escort will have to be stayin' near the convoy, so that only leaves two. Dependin' on what they be... it be possible. As fer needin' three? Well... ye could try it with two, and maybe succeed, but yer chances be much better with three, aye."

To keep up appearances, he put a wolfish grin on his face, and hid the troubled thoughts he was having.

"So... it seems ye be needin' me. Which means... me services be carryin' a price tag, besides that of a share in the take. I be wantin' some infermation, and something else on top. First... Why go the trouble o' settin' me up? Having Pete attack me ship, kill me crew? Ye have to realise that a large amount o' gold will be necessary to seal the wound? A pirate crew dont be forgivin' easily. Ye could have approached me in port. Ye didnt have to kill me MEN!"

Throwing his glass accross the room, he snarled as it shattered. "And fer that, the price tag be rich. And it be the head o' Pete himself. I'll not settle fer anything less. We take the convoy, and ye give me Pete and his crew, on top o' me share. "

Arvin then drew the dagger he had taken from Alexa's boot, and threw it so it stuck in the wall by Marius' head. "Take a look at the knife. Go on... I want to know everythin' 'bout the man it be belongin' to. This be a condition. The knife be distinctive enough, and something tells me ye be knowin a lot about Pete, his crew, and those men around him. Who is he? and more important... where is he?"

 

Diego allowed himself to be guided around the ship, making sure to keep close to Alexa. Diego also took great care trying to spot any weaknesses he could try and exploit, but he saw none, the ship was to big and to powerful for the Violet Marauder to even think about taking. Diego was shown the Gun deck, and stared in awe at the mass of guns lined up perfectly along the deck. As they wandered around the ship, Diego was wondering how the captain was getting on with Marius.

 

Alexa walked through the ship, following Halvn. She felt uncomfortable on this ship, especially since Arvin had taken her dagger. Though she could handle herself unarmed, she preferred fighting with a dagger, if it came down to a fight. She just hoped that Arvin would give it back soon.

Her eyes scanned the gun deck, looking for any weakness. There was no way the Marauder would be able to take on this ship and survive.

She let her glance rest on various members of the crew that they passed. She didn't recognise any of them. She wasn't sure if she should be glad or not. All Alexa wanted was for this to be over, her revenge achieved and her life to go on.

[ November 04, 2004, 21:22: Message edited by: Laiwethel ]

 

As Halvn lead the man and women around the ship, he made sure he kept the women close to him just in case. Halvn loosed his hidden knives in their seathes as he smirked at the looks on the faces of the two his was guiding as the viewed the Devastations gun deck.

He yearned for the death of Arvin's man and woman, but he knew Marius would have he head if he so much as stratched them.

Halvn overcame his urge and led them away from the gun deck down to the cabins.

[ November 05, 2004, 21:41: Message edited by: Blacky ]

 

Sol looked over to the Devastation once more. He had been returning to look out over it for what seemed like an age. He tore his look away. What was going on over there! He wanted news, just to see if the others were still alright.

Even as he looked away from the Devastation, he looked at Black Pete's ship. The bastard was probably loving this. He hoped to see the day when that whoreson lay dead.

It would only be a matter of time, he hoped, before that would happen.

 

Marius remained motionless while Arvin paced his way through his diatribe. He didn’t flinch when the knife slammed into the wall next to his ear. Only when its slight quiver was the only movement in the room did he speak.

“One. I did approach you in port, after a fashion. Captain Cuttiford was specifically instructed to hold his attack until most of your men were off the ship. Would I have gotten the same degree of your attention had I simply approached you in a tavern? I think not. You are correct in pointing out that another approach might have led to a more amicable result, but gaining your affection is not my goal. I believe that the Caliph’s fleet can fall to only three ships as long as they’re the right three ships. I will not yet tell you why I believe this to be so, but the gift that Mr. Mullin brought you can be taken as a sign of the strength of my information.

“Two. Your price is high, but I’m sure that even the most rapacious of pirates will be well satisfied with what we’ll take from the Caliph. As for Captain Cuttiford’s head…” Marius shrugged. “That isn’t mine to give. Like you might be, he is my business partner, not my slave. Once the venture has been completed I’ll do nothing to hinder your attempts to collect, but you should be aware that he has made a similar demand.

“Three.” Without turning, Marius reached back and plucked the dagger from the wall with an ease that belied how deeply the blade had bitten into the wood. He examined it briefly but thoroughly, then laid it on the table by Arvin’s cup. “While I’ve never seen this particular kife, I do recognize the crest as that of a family that was prominent in the Spanish court quite a few decades ago. They have since fallen into…misfortune, shall we say, and vanished. Claiming a tie to this family is a way to end one’s social career, not further it. There’s certainly no one on my crew who claims to be a scion of disgraced Spanish nobles.”

 

Lark paced the deck of the Marauder. It was already getting to him! He couldn't stand here, alone, and hope he didn't get caught! This wasn't the job for him. He was afraid! He had to blend in. Blend in. He saw Sol walking around the boat, looking out to the other ship. Pete's ship. Conversation. Conversation.

"Well, mate, ye be thinkin' we'll need a boarding crew no more?" Lark asked him, walking up beside Sol and looking out towards Black Pete's ship too.

What is Marius planning? It was all he could think about. Focus, Lark. Blend. Blend

 

Reeves did not like this... not in the least. The captain of the Marauder had taken his Little Flame along to meet Marius, and that did not bode well.

He was almost wisghing for a battle here and now, just to relieve the ache set deep in his bones that cvame from being denied what was rightfully his.

 

So... Marius didnt know who the dagger belonged to. Given it's distinctive markings, and that it was obviously part of a set, Alexa must be lying about the mans whereabouts... or Marius. Still... best not to give away any more.

"Well... if ye wont be stoppin' me from gettin' at Pete... after, I guess we be havin' a deal. Let's be gettin' down to specifics."

Arvin sat down, and went through where the convoy would be, and when. After, he stood up.

"Well... I'd best be gettin' back to me ship. I'll have to go over this, and make sure we be ready. I'll be sailin' along with ye, so dont be worryin' we be gettin' lost."

As he went to the door, he turned. "Gold be why I be in piratin' Marius, and yer plan will make a rich man o' me. That be a LOT of incentive."

As he walked outside, he looked around for Alexa, and Diego.

 

Sol turned to Lark, eyeing the huge man up and down. "Be prepared anyway. You may still have to fight before this business is done."

 

Alexa took one last look around the gun deck, then turned to Halvn.

"Thank you for the tour, but I believe we should return to the main deck, in case the captains have finished their discussion." Without waiting for an answer, she left the gun deck and emerged into the sunlight on the main deck.

She hid a wince as a wave of nausea overcame her. It wouldn't do for her to appear ill in front of this unknown crew.

 

Halvn gestured for the man to follow the woman, a bit more rudely then he should have, and went to find Marius.

 

Diego, followed Alexa up to the main deck and towards the Captains Cabin. He noticed the rudeness in the guides voice, and didnt appreciate it, he fingered his whip, secretly hoping for the chance to eventually have a good fight, but he waitied for the guide to make the first move, it wouldnt do for a guest to start the fight...

 

Seeing Diego and Alexa, Arvin supressed the troubled thoughts he had, and fixed a beaming smile on his face.

Walking over to where they were, he nodded to the guide. Halvn... Arvin thought Marius had called him.

"Me thanks fer showing them the ship Mr. Halvn. I hope they werent a bother."

Turning to Alexa and Diego, he smiled at them. "Marius is an interesting man, and had many an intersting thing to be sayin'. I hope yer tour was informative, fer we need to be headin' back. We be havin' some preperations to make, and a lucrative venture to be off on."

Walking over to the longboat, they got in, and slowly set off for the Marauder, each dwelling on their own thoughts.

 

Alexa gripped the side of the longboat tightly. She really needed to lie down soon, the nausea was becoming overwhelming, and the rocking of the longboat was not helping matters.

She took a deep breath, and focused her mind on what she had seen on the Devestation and hoped that she would be able to rest soon.

 

Halvn walked up to Marius. "So, what be happening now cap'n?"

 

Looking over at Alexa, Arvin grew concerned that she looked uncomfortable. Torn between keeping up appearances, and going over to her to offer support and comfort, he moved over to her.

"We be almost back now. Yer'll be fine lass. Sometimes a boat's rocking can take a while to get used to. Oh, here be yer dagger. It proved an interesting topic fer me chat."

As he stood to move back to his seat, he let the rocking knock him off balance. As he deliberately stumbled, he gave Alexa a quick kiss on the cheek, and whispered to her. "We be back soon, we be talkin' then."

Standing back up he snarled, "Damn... seems I should be takin' me own advice!"

Ignoring the chuckles of Marius' rowers, he resumed his seat.

 

Alexa shot a grateful look at Arvin as he handed her dagger back. She slipped it back into her boot and nodded at him.

"Thank you, captain. It is good to have this back." Her eyes sparkled in amusement as he righted himself and commented about taking his own advice.

She glanced back at the Devestation and wondered exactly what it was that Marius had wanted to discuss with Arvin.

 

When the lonboat reached the Marauder, Arvin, Alexa and Diego climbed up onto deck. Walking up to Mr.Mullen, Arvin fixed a beaming smile on his face.

"When ye be gettin' back to yer ship, give Captain Van de Grise me compliments, and tell him we be raisin' sail shortly. After which, we be sailin' with him to our destination."

After nodding to Arvin, Mr.Mullin headed for the longboat, and they set off back for the Devastation.

Looking around deck, he saw Sol standing with one of the new men, one he hadnt met before. Catching his eye, he nodded towards his cabin door. Also he gestured for Diego to head over there as well. Turning to Alexa, he rested his hand on her waist.

"Yer lookin' a bit ill... are ye ok? We be needin' to talk... about some things that came up with Marius. Also, the council need to be told a little of what be goin' on. Do ye think ye can be handlin' it? Wont be fer long... then ye can be restin'"

[ November 06, 2004, 02:11: Message edited by: Takara ]

 

Alexa's eyes flashed in annoyance. Yes, she felt off, but that did not mean that she was unable to handle a brief council meeting.

"As long as this does not take long, I will be fine, Arvin. I can handle this... discomfort." She winced as the nausea increased.

"I will be fine, but please, do not make this meeting last longer than it has to."