Gracia, several days after the storm, aboard the Derech Eretz.
"Where is he? He will not sleep through his shift another day!" Eldridge shouted, walking down into the crew's cabin. Beryl, Perry and Alvar stepped in his path, blocking it. They gazed at the Chief Mate with narrowed eyes, their arms folded across their chests. "Out of the way, dogs! This ship is not here to be that boy's pleasure cruise!"
"Tell me Eldridge, did I hear correctly that you told them to leave me when I fell overboard?" Beryl asked, lifting himself to his full height. Eldridge opened his mouth to speak, but then snapped it shut again as Beryl flexed one bulging arm. "The boy did more that day than anyone else on the ship combined; he gets to rest until his strength returns." Beryl growled. "Unless the Chief Mate has a problem with that?" Perry and Alvar leaned in close to Eldridge, their eyes narrowed into glares as well. Eldridge turned quickly and stalked out of the crew's cabin without a word and back up to the deck.
"Chief mate, a word if you will." Tillion called, drawing Eldridge's attention. "It's about Zaken, sir." He added. Eldridge paused and glanced at him, then slipped into the storage room from where Tillion called him from.
Back in the crew's cabin, Beryl, Alvar and Perry sat at the table speaking in low voices. "And where was the captain during that dilemma? Where was his son even, the self-proclaimed Cabin Boy of the ship? Sleeping! Can you believe that?" Alvar whispered angrily.
"We're out there practically drowning, and the captain is all snuggled under the covers getting his beauty sleep." Perry said bitterly, shaking his head. "I still don't believe that cargo was broken that day the Dark Elf noble girl came to the ship; the captain just didn't want to share!"
"Aye, but we got the better in the end." Alvar said, his eyes glazing over in memory.
"If you ask me…" Beryl began, leaning in close. "That boy on the hammock back there has been proving himself to be a much better leader than anyone else on the ship. We've been downright brutes to the boy, but he's come along and shown us how to do things with a comment here and there. I'd much rather be a mate on a ship he commands more than under those cowards." Alvar and Perry nodded in agreement.
"Unlike those other two kids that follow him around too, he's right out there doing a man's work. What is he, fourteen, fifteen? That takes balls for someone as spindly as him!" Perry complimented.
The men continued their talk, comparing Zaken's previously unnoticed actions against Eldridge, the Captain's and Mordecai's performance. Over on the hammock, Zaken slowly raised a hand to rub his face as he sighed deeply. Underneath his hand, it almost seemed that his expression was one of satisfaction…
Zaken emerged from the crew's cabin a few hours later to relieve himself. He froze right before the ladder as Eldridge's angry figure came into view leaning against it. Nodding slightly in mock respect, he stepped around him and reached for a rung, only to have a dagger embed itself scant inches from his hand in the wood of the ladder. Eyes large, Zaken slowly turned his head to stare at the Chief Mate, who openly seethed.
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to, boy." Eldridge began in a measured tone. "Gaining the men's favor like you've been doing…I know you're planning a mutiny!" Zaken said nothing, his face a mask that gave away no emotion. "Now you listen to me, I let you on this ship so you could avenge your family by killing Ranen, not to take over the ship yourself! I've earned the right to be captain, not a runt like you, who still stinks of breast milk! I'm going to be captain, me!" Eldridge thumped his chest to accentuate his words. He pushed Zaken roughly away from the ladder and climbed it. "You just watch yourself boy, or I might have to remind the captain that a certain little boy got away that night he attacked that lovely country mansion almost six years ago."
Later on that night, Eldridge stumbled across the deck with a drunken grin on his face. He had just taken dinner with the captain and Mordecai, and had more than his fair share of the wine. Pleased with his excellent work commanding the sailors, Ranen had bought him a nearly top-notch whore to accompany the top-notch whore he procured for his son and himself. Needless to say, Eldridge was in a good mood, and saw nothing but the stars in the sky and the moon shining down.
This would be unfortunate for him however, because if he had focused on the top deck he would've seen the shadowy figure seated there. He would've noticed the noose the figure held in his hand, and would've been able to react when said noose went around his neck.
"I'll get you for this boy!" he rasped as Zaken dragged him across the deck towards the railing. He choked and grabbed at the rope that bit tightly into his skin. They were docked at the harbor that evening, and everyone had gone to town for a leisurely night. No one saw as Zaken tied Eldridge's feet together and hooked a heavy weight onto it. He lifted the man up roughly by the rope around his neck, and brought his face close to his mouth.
"Thanks for all of your hard work." Zaken whispered to him. Eldridge's eyes bugged out of his head in horror at the emotionless smirk on Zaken's face. Without hesitation, Zaken tied the end of the noose to one of the posts that supported the railing, and hefted the larger man over the side. He fell like a rock into the water, and sunk far below the surface. Zaken watched as the rope shifted with Eldridge's struggles without expression, and then turned away as the movement ceased. He left the rope still tied to the ship, and went below deck into the crew's cabin.
In the shadows underneath the raised upper deck, Tillion stood, staring at the still tied noose rope in horror. He couldn't believe what he'd just seen, and how guiltless Zaken had been while carrying it out. Living as an orphan of war in the harsh land of Gracia, Tillion had killed a few times himself, once even his young sibling who couldn't defend themselves. Never though, never had he been able to sleep guilt-free after what he did. Never was he able to perform the deed as calmly as fulfilling his daily duties, like Zaken had just done. It was now that Tillion realized how foolish he was for tattling on Zaken, and how it would be wise to not cross him alone.
A few days later, Zaken stood on the deck of the ship, sitting on the railing as Perry pranced around in a circle, doing an imitation of a hunchback they'd seen while docked in the harbor that day. He laughed with the group he sat with as Perry finished, and continued mending the rope in his hands.
"Captain on deck!" Mordecai, now acting as Chief Mate, announced as he and his father stepped out of the captain's quarters. All of the sailors on deck stopped their duties and stood respectfully save Zaken, who continued to sit and mend the rope. Alvar at this time noticed a rope tied to one of the railing supports, and tilted his head at it curiously. The end dragged in the water as they sailed through the ocean, and Alvar could see a school of large fish swimming after it. Slipping behind Beryl, he knelt and tugged on it, his surprise continuing as he discovered something heavy was attached to the end. He tugged on Perry's tunic and motioned to the rope, and the two began to heft it up the side.
"It has come to my attention that there is a bit of sour feelings running amok through my crew." Ranen began, taking short, measured steps onto the deck as he addressed the crew. "This will not do, and I must apologize on my behalf if I am the one who has caused such emotions." He raised his eyebrow slightly as Alvar suddenly stood up straight and retched into an empty barrel normally used for carrying salt. Beryl turned around and crouched on the deck as Perry talked to him in a low voice.
"As if an apology will fix it." One of the crew mates whispered to Zaken. "He's been doting on that son of his all of this time while the rest of us starve."
"To amend this situation, I intend on treating all of you to the best food and whores at the next harbor we dock at! What do you say?" Ranen punched the air slightly, expecting a chorus of cheers. His smile dropped as silence was his response. Growing irritated, he turned his frustration at a lack of a response onto the trio that was slowly drawing a crowd. "What is going on over there?" he demanded angrily. Mordecai pushed his way through them, and glanced over the railing at whatever it was Perry was holding up on the rope. He emerged with a green face.
"Father, I think I've found Eldridge." He said, swallowing hard. Instantly interested, the rest of the crew forgot the formality of being attentive in the captain's presence and raced over to the railing. Groans of disgust rose from the crew, and several turned away to vomit into the same barrel Alvar had used.
"Who did this?" Ranen demanded, emerging from the crowd himself. "Which one of you murdered Eldridge? Speak now or justice of the sea be done!" The crew looked at him in silence, their faces blank masks. Ranen's gaze darted among them, until coming to rest on Zaken, who still sat on the railing mending the rope as if nothing was out of the ordinary. "You! You are the only one who could have done this! I knew Eldridge was being too kind when he saved a psychopath like you! Beryl, throw him into the brig, we shall hang him at sundown!" When no one moved, Ranen turned to face the large man angrily. "Beryl, throw him into the brig!" he snapped.
"I don't see any crimes worth a hanging here, Captain." Beryl answered. Ranen's mouth opened and closed in disbelief, and Mordecai stepped forward, drawing his sword.
"You dare go against the Captain's orders?" he shouted, holding the point underneath the large man's chin.
"Put that pig poker down son, you don't want me to get angry." Beryl responded, narrowing his eyes.
"Mutiny." Zaken said in a low voice. Ranen spun on his heel to face the teen again, who now stared at him with cold amusement.
"What did you say?" he hissed, his face turning red with rage.
"Mutiny." Zaken repeated as calmly as before.
"Mutiny!" Beryl shouted as well, and the rest of the crew began chanting the word. Ranen and Mordecai backed against each other as the crew circled around them, shouting "Mutiny!" Ranen looked back at Zaken, and his eyes widened as he finally recalled where he'd seen him before.
"You're that boy…Luke's son." He breathed. He realized karma had finally circled around in that moment, and shut his eyes. "I won't go down alone!" he shouted as he opened his eyes again. With a battle shout, he drew his sword and ran at Zaken. Deftly stepping aside, Zaken quickly snagged the sword from Mordecai's hand and thrust it through Ranen's back, the end emerging on the other side.
"It's no spear point, but I think the effect is the same." He stated coldly as Ranen fell to the deck.
"Father!" Mordecai shouted. "You bastard!" he ran at Zaken with fists raised, but was stopped dead in his tracks as Beryl landed a well-aimed punch in the boy's guts. He grinned at Zaken and cracked his knuckles loudly.
"I've wanted to hit this runt for a long time now." He said with a chuckle.
"I'll have your heads for this!" Mordecai shouted later. "This ship is registered under my father's name; they'll never let you dock at any harbors!" He and his father were tied back to back to a plank of wood, and dangled over the water from a pulley. The crew stood at the railing, jeering and throwing garbage at them. His father was still unconscious and barely alive from the stab wound, and bled openly into the water. Mordecai tried not to think if there were sharks swimming below them.
"We're not going to dock at any harbors." Zaken said simply with a smile.
"You're mad, you'll die without restocking!" Mordecai retorted. Zaken chuckled and put a foot up on the railing, leaning over it slightly as if to draw nearer to the teen.
"We're not going to dock legally that is." Zaken added with a grin. Mordecai's mouth fell open with realization, and he began to struggle.
"Everyone quiet!" Beryl shouted. He held a hand out to Zaken with a smile as the crew fell silent. "Your orders, Captain!" he grinned. Zaken smirked darkly and stepped up to the upper deck to survey the crew as they cheered. He held up a hand and they silenced immediately.
"Cut the rope." He said, and the crew began to jeer once more, all of them running for the rope that secured the pulley.
"No, don't!" Mordecai cried. "I won't ever forget this, Zaken! I'll find you one day and kill you!" he snarled. The rope was cut in mere moments, and Mordecai screamed as he and his father fell into the ocean. The crew watched for a few moments as they were sucked into the wake of the ship and propelled behind them, bobbing up and down in the water.
"Release Krantz!" Zaken then commanded, and two crew mates raced down into the brig to set the giant free. Tillion and Komugi paled, although only one could be seen.
"Oh no, you're not going to…" Komugi began as the giant emerged from below. "…please tell me you're not that mean, Zaken." She winced.
"What now, Captain?" Perry asked, grinning at the boy. Zaken thought for a moment, and then folded his arms over his chest in an authoritive manner.
"Tillion!" he barked, and the crowd parted to reveal a sick looking Tillion. Zaken motioned for the gangly teen to join him on the upper deck, and he shifted slightly in nervousness.
"Go on!" Beryl urged, shoving him roughly on his back. Tillion gave Krantz a fretful look and shuffled his feet as he made his way to the upper deck. Zaken gave him an evil grin, and put his hand on Tillion's shoulder.
"You see, it was Tillion who planted the idea into my head about the state of the ship, and to mutiny it." Zaken began, shaking Tillion's shoulder slightly. "So it is him to thank for your freedom from Ranen. However, he and I had a deal if I were to have a successful mutiny." He faced Tillion, his grin spreading, and Tillion's face blanched once more. Krantz took a few shy steps forward, and both Komugi and Kylon covered their faces. "However, I am so grateful to him that I'm going to forget the conditions of the deal and name him my Chief Mate!"
"What?" Tillion's voice came out tiny, and he stared at Zaken with large eyes. The crew began to cheer again, and a few shouted "Chief Mate Tillion! Captain Zaken!" as if testing the new titles out. An uncertain smile crossed Tillion's face, and he looked out at the crowd. The cheering silenced as Zaken held his hand up again.
"No more will Krantz be held in the brig unless he likes it down there, too. We'll need someone to force our will so that everyone will fear the crew of the Derech Eretz! I name Krantz as my Butcher!" Zaken said, but no cheers came from this, only uncertain whispering.
"But what if he kills us, Captain?" Alvar asked uncertainly. It was strange, Komugi noted at this moment, that no one had previously talked about what the fate of the ship would be from then on, but no one seemed to mind the prospect of becoming pirates.
"Krantz follow Zaken, only butcher what Zaken wants." Krantz said now. There were a few noises of approval, but everyone largely remained silent.
"Alright you scurvy dogs, to your posts! I think we should deliver this cargo that the former Captain put on board, but take our own share of payment!" Zaken barked. There was another cheer, and the crew separated back into their posts.
"Wait, what about me! What special post to I get?" Kylon spoke up. Zaken, who had begun to speak to Tillion, looked down at Kylon in surprise, as if he'd forgotten him.
"Oh." Zaken said, and then thought. "You get to be the comedy relief." He decided, and then turned away with his arm over Tillion's shoulders. Kylon stared at him, his jaw dropping open.
"Tough luck mate." Beryl said sympathetically. He patted Kylon's shoulders and then handed him a scrub brush. "Short guys just don't make very intimidating pirates I'm afraid, but I'm sure you'll excel at the comedy bit." Kylon let out a noise of frustration and threw the scrub brush to the deck.
"I'm not a midget!" he shouted angrily. Scattered laughter met his shout. "I'm serious!" he snapped, turning to face the men who had laughed. His response was more laughter. He let out a screeching noise and then stomped below to the crew's cabin.
Ryonai and Shizuka crept up to the bridge again and ducked behind a rock ledge as they watched the steward. Ryonai finally sighed bitterly and smacked the corsair hat from her head, as it towered comedically over the rock and gave away their position. Shizuka pouted and sniffled at him for a moment with watering eyes, but then returned to normal as Ryonai focused back on the steward.
"Alright, how shall we get past him? We could climb the ledge here, go down the other side, and cross the river to the Castle courtyard." He thought aloud.
"How about I get naked and lure him away?" Shizuka offered enthusiastically.
"Are you nuts? It's freezing out here!" Ryonai responded with a frown. "Besides, I don't want anyone else seeing that but me." He grumbled.
"Aww, Ryonai-Sama is so cute when he's jealous." Shizuka cooed, snuggling close to his back. Ryonai sighed and stood, trying to keep focus on the situation at hand. He was easily distracted by any attention Shizuka would give him, but now was not the time for it.
"Alright, screw a plan, let's just charge him and hope he doesn't have any magic powers." Ryonai muttered, drawing his sword.
"Alright!" she exclaimed, and pranced after him happily as he charged the steward with a shout. She paused as the steward noticed Ryonai and took up a fighting stance, and her face darkened. "Ni undume as le" she said in a voice darker than normal. Just before Ryonai's sword point reached him, the Steward suddenly let out a choked noise as a black fog erupted from the ground and surrounded him. Ryonai blinked in confusion as the Steward's skin suddenly turned gray, and he fell to the ground, unmoving.
"What just happened?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at Shizuka. She had her eyes wide in a look of shock, and covered her mouth with her hand.
"I don't know, that was scary!" she said in a tiny voice. Pursing his lips for a moment, Ryonai shrugged and sheathed his sword.
"Oh well, all the better. Let's go!" he stepped past the body of the steward and dashed over the bridge. Shizuka paused at the Stewards side and bent down to pat him lightly on the head.
"Tell mother hello for me, ok?" she asked brightly before prancing after Ryonai while humming.
The Gargoyle creature that had once been a Light Elf, stood unseen on a ledge. He'd just watched what had happened to the Queen's Steward, and stared at Shizuka's departing figure with shock.
"To the Abyss with you?" he repeated in English. An uneasy feeling crawled in his chest and he flapped off the ledge to retrieve the Stewards body. There was something odd about the Light Elf healer that accompanied the Paladin, and he wanted nothing to do with them, even if they did threaten the life of the Queen. Something about the Elves aura that spoke of her being more than what she appeared scared even him, and he hoped Freya would be smart enough to back down from a fight with her.