Baird Dungar strode through Chahbek Village, spear at the ready. He let a couple of minor Corsair slip him by. He wasn't interested in them. His focus was on one prey alone.

Captain Bennis.

In the distance he finally spotted what looked like his prey. A Corsair was sneaking onto shore not far from the Golden Dubloon. He looked like they'd taken a dip in the ocean.

What gave him away as Bennis was the clothing. The pirate's cloak was made of too fine a material to be an ordinary crewmember. Only someone important was going to wear a cloak like that. The stature was a little wrong, but he couldn't quite tell from this distance. Bennis' face was covered.

He hefted up his spear and aimed for good measure. Maybe not a deadly blow. Try for something disabling. Then even if it wasn't Bennis, he'd at least have a hostage to press for information.

The Corsair was doubled over, back towards him. He sighted, aimed, drew back his arm…

And let the spear soar.

It was a wonderful throw. Perhaps too wonderful. It looked like a killing throw. The spear sailed through the air. The wind whistled around its shaft like an innocent child… right before they pull the wings off a butterfly.

The Corsair straightened suddenly, as if tipped off by something changed in his surroundings. He turned slowly to see the spear.

"Savannah!" An urgent shout spilled out of nowhere and ran a ring around Baird as if it were made of pure energy itself. Another Corsair burst onto the scene. He must have caste some sort of haste spell, because his speed was unnatural. A middle aged pirate pelted across the grass as though Grenthe himself were at his heels.

It only took Baird a moment to anticipate what was going to happen.

The running Corsair threw himself in front of the other just at the last minute. The spear pierced his chest armor in a kill blow. The impact was so hard it shoved him back a step and he landed at the feet of his companion.

The pirate Baird had originally been aiming for stared down as Baird's spear embedded itself in his friend. The Corsair lifted his hands and flung back the hood of his cape.

Baird Dungar did a double take in surprise. The Corsair was a woman! Even more surprising, she was far from unattractive. She tossed back a head of wavy brown hair to stare at him. From this distance, he couldn't tell if the look was one of surprise, anger, fear or hatred.

Under the Corsair cloak, she was wearing white three quarter length pants with long slits down the side of the leg. Her shirt was also white with the odd frill spilling down the front. The outfit had a touch of wealthy Corsair to it, but it wasn't local. The shape she filled out in the male clothing made his blood boil.

The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. Baird was beginning to suspect he was the one more surprised. She turned… and bolted from the spot.

Shit! Baird sprinted forward pursuing her. She might be attractive but she was still a pirate. It was his responsibility to apprehend her. Or kill her. It had been drilled into Baird Dungar for as long as he could remember that a gentleman did not hurt a lady. He preferred capture over death.

He slowed as he reached the fallen Corsair and looked down. It was Captain Bennis, no question about it. He had struck down his quarry. Strange, but he didn't feel as relieved as he had expected.

Baird retrieved his spear from the body and returned to his pursuit. Something primal in his soul wouldn't let the pirate woman get away.

The woman was way too agile!