The Ninja was quite happy with the way this chapter turned out. The last few she struggled with, but this one flowed right onto the page. Hopefully you all are happy with it as much as she is. The next chapter will probably be the last one in the last one in The Golden Dubloon, which means we'll be moving forward!

Session 12: A Reunion

" You're a witch! " Garin scrambled to his feet and away from her. " You raised the dead! "

Hannah followed him with her eyes. " I am not a witch! " She said, glaring at him. " And keep your voice down! "

" You're the one yelling! "

Hannah was about to really start yelling, but the groan from the other amongst them made her stop. " K-Kanrik? " She asked, leaning in a little closer. " Are you ... " Couldn't ask if he was okay since he still looked to be in quite a lot of pain. He looked up at her and motioned with his hand for her to come closer.

" Hmm? " Hannah leaned in a little closer and Kanrik pushed himself up into her, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. Naturally she screamed, jerking back with her hands over her mouth. " W ... " She couldn't even begin to ask why!

" I ... was aiming for your cheek. " Rasped the gelert, his voice still soft from his weakness. " I felt the need to thank you, so I did. "

Blushing from embarrassment, Hannah turned her head away from him to stare at the ground. Thank her he for what? Angela was the one who pulled him out of the water. All she did was ... That light? Did he know what was happening? He couldn't have ...

Garin didn't take her reaction as light embarrassment. He walked over and reached down for Hannah, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. The swift motion nearly knocked her off balance, but he caught her with his other hand. " Why'd you have to go and do that, you bastard? " That feeling in the pit of his stomach ... He felt like he was going to explode!

Kanrik looked from Hannah to the pirate much calmer than Garin expected. " Weren't you listening? " He asked, pushing himself to sit on the hay. For a moment his teeth were bared to hold back a grunt of pain, but it passed. " I wanted to thank her for what she did. "

" You couldn't just say that? " Garin snapped, reaching into his vest. " I don't know who the hell you think you are, but we don't treat women like that around here. "

Hannah looked at Garin wide eyed. 'Since when?' she groaned mentally. What she didn't expect was for Garin to pull out a blade that looked remarkably like Kanrik's and attacked ...

Or at least tried to. He tried to swing the blade, but it gave off a spark of energy that forced him to drop it. Garin yelped, flexing his singed hand.

" So that's where it went. " Kanrik mused as he picked up his blade. Out the corner of his eye he noticed Hannah giving him a horrorified look. " He'll be fine. These blades here are enchanted so only I can use them ... right anyway. " He shrugged. That way no one knew how strong they really were until he used them against them.

Hannah nodded, then looked at Garin. " I'll get something to put on your hand in the meantime. " Kanrik might've thought it minor, but even with all of his fur she could see that he underestimated it. " And I suppose you'll need some pain killers too. "

" Just a shot of whatever house drink this place has. " Kanrik corrected her, inspecting his blade before looking towards Garin. " Where's the other two? "

" I'm not telling you. " He snapped, sounding much more snotty than before.

The thief shrugged his shoulders. " I'll just have to gut you and search your corpse, then. "

" Would you two stop it! " Hannah's voice made them jump. " I don't want you fighting! I'm so sick of the fighting! " Couldn't she have a moment's peace?

" Fine. " Kanrik leaned against the wall next to the cot. " I won't bother myself with an urchin who think's it's okay to threaten me. "

" Kanrik -- "

" And I won't bother myself with an arrogant jackass who thinks he can do whatever he wants! " Garin took the chair on the opposite side of the room, by the door.

Hannah bit her lip out of frustration, but didn't question either of them anymore. Instead she left the room to go down the hallway, wondering just why Garin behaved the way he did. He seemed perfectly fine until --

Just around the corner she saw a sight that made her shrink back against the wall. Sitting down at a table near the Dubloon's fireplace were Jeran and Lisha! Angela was already waiting their table, and The Black Pawkeet crew watched them anxiously from a distance. Jeran motioned for Angela to come a little closer in the middle of their order, and whispered in her ear. Hannah definitely couldn't hear what he said from the distance, but the shocked expression on her friend's face gave her a feeling of dread.

" You'll receive your order shortly. " Angela gave the typical barmaid response before crossing the room towards the kitchen. Jacques made a motion for her to come to their table, but she frantically shook her head. Hannah had a bit more luck calling her over. " You see? "

" How could I not? He's the only guy walking around in golden armor. " Hannah leaned against the inside of the hallway, her arms folded against her stomach. " He came looking for me. "

" It's not what you think. " Angela looked back into the tavern before stepping closer to her. " He came here with a warning. "

The usul tensed a bit. " A warning? "

" He didn't give me the details. Jeran said that if I knew where Hannah was hiding now to tell her to leave Krawk Island, immediately. He said that giving away the details would be treasonous, but King Skarl plans on doing something that even he frowns upon as a knight. "

" Damn it, Angie. " Hannah shook her head bitterly. " Just what do they want with me? I'm not important enough to disrupt life here. " She could only imagine what 'plans' they had in mind.

" That's not all. " Angela circled around in front of Hannah, then bent down so they were eye level. " Jeran confirmed that they did have Armin in their custody. He was not harmed, but he was made to tell some very important information about your curse. "

For the moment Hannah didn't care about that damned cursed. " Oh Armin. " She felt horrible dragging him into all of this. Running her hands over her eyes she brushed away the tears that would've fell otherwise. " Did they tell you where he was being held? "

" Not specifically. He just said that he's in the cellblock on one of the Meridell Flagships. "

Hannah took all the information and processed it slowly, but she didn't like the possibilities that lay ahead. " Don't tell him you saw me. " She didn't want him coming back here and ruining things even further between her slowly expanding group of outlaws. " And send Jacques back here, if you can. "

Taking the hint, Angela put a hand on Hannah's shoulder in reassurance. " I'll do what I can. " Heading back into the tavern, Angela knew she had to endure a few uncomfortable questions and accusations in the meantime.

Luckily, Hannah didn't need to cross into the tavern to get into the kitchen. She quickly moved to the other side of the doorway so prying eyes couldn't see her, and rushed down the hallway to the kitchen. There, she'd grab the first aid box reserved for the cooks and a pitcher to mix a drink in. Kanrik was the only one who asked for a drink, but by the faeries she could use one now!

" Do you need help, miss Hannah? "

The childish voice nearly made Hannah jump out of her fur. Whirling around she saw that yellow aisha standing there with a calm, all knowing, expression. It was one she became quite used to with Armin, but now it was just creeping her out. " What the hell? " She squeaked, pushing back against the counter. " How did you get back here? " And why didn't anyone stop her?

" Apparently your 'guards' are only trained to go after knights. " Lisha grinned smugly, adjusting her glasses. " Being as small as I am, I easily snuck pass those other pirates and that bar girl too. "

That's just great, Hannah placed her head in her palms, shaking it lightly in utter embarrassment. " So you found me. " She said in the most unimpressed way possible. " Are you going to tell Jeran so he could take me away? "

Lisha giggled in her own amusement. " There's no need for that; we're on your side! " Hannah snapped back to look at her, shocked. " I don't like what the King's doing to you or Armin anymore than you do, so I'm willing to help you get out of here. "

" You want me to leave? " Thinking back to what Angela told her, she frowned. " I can't leave Armin with them. "

" Don't worry about Armin. " Lisha reached out to put her hand on her forearm. " I'll make sure that nothing bad happens to him in the meantime, but there's nothing we can do about that now. Once I get back I'll tell Armin that you escaped safely, and that'll at least lighten his spirits. "

Hannah didn't know what about this girl made her feel like she's a trustworthy creature, but she felt a lot better venting. " Tell him that I'll come for him as soon as I can. I won't forget. "

Lisha nodded, then looked back towards the entrance of the kitchen. " We should get back. By now Skarl might notice that we're gone. " The aisha started towards the door, then looked over her shoulder. " Good luck, Hannah. "

" Thank you. "

Feeling a rush of relief come over her, Hannah hurriedly finished making the 'house special' for Kanrik. Taking the pitcher in one hand, a few mugs in the other, and the aide kit in her mouth she headed back towards the storage room. She could only hope that those who calmed down enough to have a reasonable conversation with by time she got there.