Chapter Four: Debal

Other Point of View
Third Persons

"Have you heard? She's back on the seas!" A careful ear could overhear the nearby conversations, despite the boisterous noise of the rowdy bar. A quick word is mumbled to the two women posted under each of this man's arms, silencing them and calling over the set of sailors.

"Just who is this 'she' you speak of?" The handsome pirate orders the two men to speak, drinking deep in his mug. The exotic drink of this land had always been a favorite of the man's, and he indulged heavily every chance he could. He had been in this country for nearly a month now, exploring all the newest places he had yet to see, and some of his old favorites.

"The one they call the Pirate Queen, mate," one man explains, a wild grin across his face. "Heard me a good bit of rumors on the lass. She's supposedly a real spit-fire, both in and out of the sheets, if you get me meaning."

"Aye, and I heard she was sold on the slave trade all those years ago when she disappeared, but that she killed off her suitor and became a real queen, ruling over the mob outside of the Auroran sands," the other man recalls, tipping back his drink and treats himself heavily. "You know who I'm talking about, mate? The woman that sails the fastest ship on the seas? Ruthless lass, I've heard."

"Sounds like nothing more than a story that sailors tell to elicit excitement," the devil answers, ignoring the ladies on his arms. "I would have heard of such a woman. She's probably nothing more than a ship."

"Nay," the first sailor declines, ordering a round for all of them, save the two prostitutes. "My mate seen her with his own eyes. He says she's got hair the color of blood and eyes like the seas, with a temperament to match both the raging elements. A true woman, one that will bed ye and kill ye the next morning for not getting out of her chamber quick enough. Real fierce woman. I wonder what she really is like under them covers, eh?"

A rowdy laugh is shared between the two drunken sailors, the dark-haired demon ignoring their idiocy. Instead, he turns back to the two ladies at his sides, the men leaving once they realized they were not being listened to any longer. "Have you ever heard such rumors, kittens? A woman pirate captain! How silly!"

"I've heard of her," the woman to his left answers his, nibbling against his collarbone. Her accent was thick, her English rough but learned over the years of dealing with men that could not speak her native tongue. "Though I really doubt some rough pirate is as pretty as they say she is. Ruthless, I'm sure, but a pretty female pirate? That's laughable. Heard she was spotted heading here, towards Samarkand, and took down one of the heavily armed merchant ships not even a hundred miles off the shore."

His brow raises, but he does not listen to any more stories after this, instead allowing the women to lavish him with attention until it was time to attend to his quarters and engage in another nightly romp. If the rumors were true and such a woman would be on these shores, he would have to meet this supposedly amazing pirate and sum up just how splendid she was. Doubtful, but worth the laugh and the bullet on his part.

-:.:(To The Age of Ages):.:-

Alouette's Point of View
First Persons

"I have never been so happy to see land," Hale murmurs, leaning dangerously close behind me. I push backwards, meaning for him to step from my personal space. I thought of him merely as my first mate, and frequent partner if you know my meaning, but he was overstepping his boundaries with trying to get so intimate on deck in front of everyone. "Sorry, Capt'n. Can't control the urges round you, I'm afraid."

"Well get them in check," I growl. I was thoroughly exhausted, having been up for nearly two days by this point. It had taken a good month to get this close to the shores of Debal, and the last couple of days had given way to a monster of a storm. I had lost a dozen good men to the seas, mainly my newcomers, but The Contessa was in remarkable shape for weathering such a foul beating. I had been at the helm since the beginning of the storm two days ago, and had refused to let any steer my vessel when such fierce weather threatened my livelihood. "Hale, take the helm. I am in need of a few hours of rest and a hot bath. Put us at port and have some of the men bring the tub in, filled with warm waters so I can properly wash this stink from my hair."

"Aye, Capt'n!" Once his answer is given, I descend from the helm and into my massive chambers, peeling the soaked clothing from my figure and lying across my bed in the nude. I was asleep a few moments after that, face-first and drooling on my feather pillow and satin sheets.

Thankfully, I had hero-blood in me from my long lineage, and a few hours of rest had me back in tip-top shape. When I finally pulled my eyes open, I was lying halfway off the bed with the blanket over me. A tub of warm water was filled in the middle of the room, the size of a set of barrels lying on their sides and just a foot or two tall. I would find a place in town to bathe properly later, and for now sat in the short mass of water, using oils and soaps to clean my body and hair. The various parts of my body are shaved with a sharpened straight-razor, courtesy of a dead stylist, before I head towards my dresser.

Apparently, someone had thought to have my clothing washed, and I pull on the red and black pants, accented with gold, and the matching cropped corset and shirt combo. I follow this with my boots, hat, and multitudes of jewelry, showing my numerous spoils from raids. It would be warm in this climate, thus I leave off the cloak I had taken to wearing the last few weeks on the biting seas and make my way on deck.

The city of Debal was like nothing I had seen before, even though I had briefly been to Samarkand before. The homes were all made of rich woods with rice-paper, sliding doors and numerous gardens of both stone and flowers. The stalls were different from Bowerstone, though not by leagues, and I saw just how little the people of this town wore. The heat was bothersome, yes, and I figured this was the reason for such scantily clad men and women. With the multitudes of delectable, muscled figures roaming around shirtless, I was nowhere near upset with the situation.

"Ah, you're awake!" Hale calls excitedly, his eyes lighting up at the city. "It's like nothing I have ever seen before!" I laugh at his jubilance, reminded of a child in a store full of free toys. "Capt'n, I will say that you should probably be escorted into town. Seems like a numerous amount of thieves, gangs, and pick-pockets roam the streets. It would put the crew at ease if you agreed, that is."

I fiddle with the pistol at my side, an heirloom I had received from my mother before our falling-out. It was a rare piece and one that served me reliably during all my travels; a Dragonstomper .48, one hell of a gun and one hell of a bullet. The sword at my side was also legendary, though not nearly as rare as my gun, and was fully augmented, called The Wolfsbane.

"I doubt I need any bodyguards. I am more than capable of handling myself, but if it will make the crew feel more at ease in this strange land, I suppose I can take you and Charles along with me," I grumble, walking down the gangplank and towards the town. "I want everyone to repair this ship while I search over the town. Monte, you are in charge of restocking our supplies," I holler, throwing him a pouch of gold that would more than cover our expenses. "I want everything moving in five seconds, or I shoot someone. Got it?"

Once I am reassured that my crew is heavily repairing my vessel, not a single casualty, I walk between Charles and Hale into the exotic town. Immediately, I am mingled in with a monstrous amount of aromas, most of which were delightful. I partake in coated apples, battered meats, and all sorts of things I had never heard of before in my life. We did not have any problems in the town as we went along either, considering a jingling pouch dangled from my hip, closest to Hale.

"I have to say, I love this place already," Charles whispers in awe at all the strange buildings and goods. "Even if that lad isn't here, Captain, I certainly think it was worth the grueling trip over here, eh?" I nod in approval, finding a bathhouse and keeping its location stocked for later purposes. "What are we going to do now? We have toured the entire town already."

"What we do best," I chuckle, sending a messenger boy to my ship to retrieve my crew, shoving a gold piece in his grubby palm, "drink, pillage, and plunder. You know, make complete asses out of ourselves but shoot a few here and pay well there enough to where we are both feared and idolized. Savvy?"

"Aye, aye!" The cheer together, my arms going around both of their waists and leading them into a nearby pub, eagerly taking seats at a corner with plenty of room around us for the crew. It was still daylight, and thus there were not many clambering into the large area for drinks and whores just yet, but I had a feeling we would be neck-deep in parties very shortly.

My hopes come true not long after, for the majority of my crew join us in the pub, masses of whores flocking to the chiseled, wearied sailors, carrying pints of drinks and bottles for everyone. I was thoroughly satisfied, right in the middle of all the men with my legs crossed, my arms around the shoulders of two amazingly beautiful men, sporting rock-hard abs and a tan that made me jealous, despite the amber color of my skin.

I had noticed that about the people here, the differences in looks. Their skin held an amber gloss to it, dark but light at the same time, and many of them had eyes that were more narrowed than ours, along with darker hair colors. Despite this, most of the people were very pleasing to look at, and even though I do not go for women often, I found myself enthralled by some of the beauties of this land.

"Listen up, you dogs!" I holler, never standing from my comfortable seat as the two men at my sides eagerly give me more drink and pipe tobacco. "Tonight, the bill is on me! But, if any of you get out of line, and you know my boundaries, you'll be tied to the anchor and dropped to the bottom of the seas! Savvy?" The boisterous calls of happiness and understanding resound. "This is for all your hard work on my ship! Now drink, fuck, and for Avo's sake, get me another round!"

I laugh merrily as everyone hands me off what they can, cheering wildly for their amazing captain. The smirk on my face was legendary as I allowed the two men at my sides to caress, kiss, and touch my exposed skin, drinking heavily and dancing every now and again with members of my crew. All in all, we were having a marvelous time that would not end for a long time to come. Even if we did not find Reaver, I didn't plan on leaving Debal until I was sick of looking at it.

-:.:(To The Age of Ages):.:-

Other Point of View
First Persons

Again, a figure waltzed through the streets of Debal with two under my arms, members of my crew tailing behind for more drinking at the local pub. We would be departing from this city in a few days for another in Samarkand, but for now decided to continue with debauchery at The Paper Crane pub.

Just like every other night the boisterous members of this particular crew had come to this pub, it was packed, but a seat was made in one corner of the place for the rowdy regulars. Well, enough had learned just how many bullets I carried on me the first few encounters in this place. Once the center seat is taken and the man and woman under my arms make themselves comfortable, a set of eyes roam the place. New faces littered the people, but that was nothing out of the ordinary, but it was something else that caught this certain eye.

A ruby in the sea of filth was directly across the huge pub from me, though I was unsure if her looks were truly as appeasing up close as they were from this distance. Two chiseled fellows were under each of her arms, vying for her attention, and a scantily clad woman of remarkable looks sat upon one of the men's laps, facing the red-headed vixen and whispering things in her ear. The woman was grinning wildly, licking her lips as she tipped back the various bottles before her, hitting a pipe every once in a while when it came around. I had never seen smoke pour so erotically from a woman's lips before. . .

"My, my, just who is that little minx I wonder?" I call aloud, some of my crew catching sight of her and proceeding to edge closer. "Oh Franklin, go find out her name, would you? I might need to go and pay a visit to that luscious little harlot." Oh yes, I was positive this had to be a whore, but why did those obvious prostitutes flock to her as if she carried vast amounts of gold?

A smirk slithers onto my face as I analyze her from across the room, taking in how luscious and defined those curves were. Was it possible she was this Pirate Queen I had heard of over a week ago, or had I merely dreamed that entire conversation? Either were possible, but I highly doubted a woman that looked like, well, that could be a renowned sailor.

I watch as my crewmember approaches the round table, leaning dangerously close across the wood to her. She stops her laugh, the whores surrounding her halting to watch the display, and her arms make their way from the shoulders of the prostitutes. Franklin leans even closer, reaching forward and making to pull down her top and exact a proper feel, before something rather enthralling occurs. A gun is whipped out in the blink of an eye, the barrel shoved into his mouth, and I nearly laugh, knowing she would not pull the trigger.

Apparently, my assumption was wrong as a loud noise silences the pub, blood and brains scattering across the ground as he slumps on the table. No one screamed, fearful they would be next, and two of the men that were drinking near her take the body outside to be dumped on the street. She begins laughing, blowing the smoke from the pistol and shoving it back beneath the table, arms wrapping around her consorts once more.

"Now, someone clean this mess up and bring me a drink, by Avo!" Her voice was thick, rich with the speech of one of well-bred blood, a ladies blood, and hardened by the tides. Oh, so she was a sailor then?

"I'll need to pay that little fireball a visit before she leaves," I whisper, finally devoting my attention to the two sitting beside me. "Now, how about I tell you a story, my pets?"

-:.:(To The Age of Ages):.:-

Alouette's Point of View
First Persons

I was completely hammered, my speech slurred and my vision acting up ever-so-slightly. With hero-blood in me, it took a lot more to get drunk than one would imagine, and wore off far too quickly, but nonetheless I was going to enjoy it. I had passed the point where I could think clearly, but I knew that there were two men and a woman of this exotic land ready to walk with me back to my ship, which would prove a wild enough time.

"I think it's time I took my leave, my loves," I call to my crew, standing shakily and drunkenly crawling across some of my members. "Come, my darlings, we have things to do. Many, many things to do." The three follow eagerly behind, just as drunk- if not more- than I was, haphazardly joining into my arms and at my waist, leaving hastily.

Once we were in the fresh, chilling air of the cold nights of Debal, I realize how much the temperature was sobering me up. Thankfully, I had plenty of hard liquor in my chambers that I would be guzzling once we arrive, but for now an uncontrollable heat was coming from the core of my body just thinking about how delightful my night would be.

One of the two men grabs me up, pinning me to a wall in the opening of a wide alley, beginning to rub against me and biting roughly at my neck. A loud moan is ushered, but a loud gunshot breaks me from my trance. The man holding me drops to the ground, barely allowing me to land on my heels and glare in the general direction. Standing before me was one of the most handsome men I had ever laid eyes upon, and dressed in similar colors as I wore. He held a smoking gun, smirking devilishly in my direction.

The other two that were with me stared in horror at the man on the ground, but I quickly send them towards the ship with a kiss and a lusty growl. The woman giggles, promising to grab another fellow on the way as she walks away with the delicious man, staggering towards the docks and following a crew member that was heading back for the ship.

"And who might you be?" I purr, stepping over the fallen body of my last potential conquest. "Obviously someone who thinks he is important, from how well you carry yourself, pirate." I casually stride forward, running a hand down his chest and stopping above his belt.

"You seem like an interesting character, my dear," he drawls in a refined, gentlemanly voice that was drenched in a delicious edge that made me want to crawl all over him. I refrain myself as he backs me up against a wall, which I allowed, and my heavy breathing causes our chests to meet repeatedly, signifying how close we were. "And what is your name, hmm?"

"I believe that is unnecessary until I receive yours, my dear," I mock, my hand tracing against the shell of his ear, the nails caressing it nimbly, expertly. A pout pulls across my red-painted lips, "How dare you go and kill off the delightful strumpet I was carrying with me back to my bed. Tisk, tisk!"

"Oh, will you scold me now?" He was closing in, and I felt a bulge against the apex of my legs as his body met my own. "I say, you certainly are a delightful little thing, aren't you? Not nearly as intoxicating as I'm sure you find me, of course, but nonetheless."

I realize just how far I was into the void, realizing I could barely control myself as my hormones raged. I slip away from him, deciding he was far too conceited for my liking, and I could barely deal with the high standards I held myself in. If he wanted it bad enough, he would have to simply wait until I was done with the other three- hopefully they found another dashing young lad to take back in place of the dead fellow- that were headed to my cabin.

"Sorry, love, but you'll have to wait until I have free time. It seems I have a gaggle of people waiting in my bed at the moment. I would offer you a place, but there simply isn't room," I lean up whispering in his ear, "But if you can find me tomorrow, we might be able to strike an accord, then? Ah, good bye, stud!" With this, I hurry towards the docks, nearly running with the need I felt.

Behind me, the man casually runs his hands through his hair, debating on shooting a leg to keep me from running. The bulging erection was nearly uncontrollable, and as much as he loved the chase, he would need to satiate it before securing his answers tomorrow, thus he returned to the pub.

Meanwhile, I was on the deck of the ship, ripping off my boots and whatever clothing I could while still in the open air. The clothes lay scattered, and by the time I made it to my door, I was stark naked. Luckily, so were the rest of the people in my chambers, which I noticed had been cleaned of anything valuable by a crewmember before I came home. They did that every time, which was a blessing considering I did not want whores stealing my things.

"Oh, shall we then?" I growl seductively, throwing myself into the fray of sweating Samarkands and immediately creating a noise I was sure the mainland could hear.