CHAPTER XI

Water rippled away from the hull of a ferry as it reached Limsa Lominsa. Maleko offered a hand to the crew in pulling the Ferry alongside the docks of the floating City State. Leaping across the short gap between ferry and land, he caught mooring lines and fastened them to bollards set along the docks.

It had not been very long since he had left this city on his way to the forest City-State of Gridania, and yet, here he was once more. He took in another long breath of the salty air and sighed. In the short time he had been gone; he had sorely missed the comfort found in a port town; that could only be truly appreciated by men of the Sea.

As he walked passed the Arcanist's guild, and down Hawker's alley, the familiar scents and sounds cascaded over him, like a warm blanket. The salty tang of the sea breeze, the cloying, acrid, smell of fresh tar coatings on the nearby ships. The gentle breaking of the tide against creaking hulls, and weathered docks, the steady hammering of Shipwrights at work, repairing and maintaining fishing boats and ships of war alike. The calling of gulls, and the hectic bartering of the nearby fish mongers and merchants.

This was where he belonged.

/

He made his way to the Bulwark Hall, where he took a lift to the Drowning Wench. Baderon greeted him warmly as he stepped out of the lift.

"Well if it ain't the littlest Sea Wolf." he grinned, as Maleko approached his bar. "Back so soon? What 'appened to the Lancer's guild and all that?"

"They said I smelled like fish, an' I were scarin' all the pretty landlubber lasses, so they sent me away." Maleko joked, taking a flagon of Ale offered to him by the friendly barkeep.

"Aye, with a mug like yers, I'm not surprised." Baderon laughed heartily, "Rumor has it, yer brother ain't doin' much better at the Coral Tower. Summin' or other about not playin' well with others."

Maleko rolled his eyes, and sighed. "Why am I not surprised…? Ya 'know where I might find the big lug?"

Baderon laughed once more, "I haven' seen much o' him lately. Head on over to the guild an' maybe they can point you in the right direction."

Thanking him, Maleko drained the last of his Ale, left a small stack of Gil on the bar, and made his way back into the city.

/

"Tha' phuckin' thavage bloodied my nofe, and beat me wiffin' an inch o' me life!" an angry Hyur yelled, spraying spit everywhere.

Maleko tried his best to keep a smile from his lips as he listened to the badly bruised Hyur.

Thrande's face was swollen to ridiculous proportions, only one angry black eye could be half seen, the other was swollen completely shut. His lip was split, and swollen, causing the fountain of Saliva as the Hyur sputtered to Maleko's inquisition on his brother's whereabouts.

"Stow it, Thrande. Mayhap if ya learned to hold yer' tongue, this all could have been avoided…" Axemaster Wyrnzoen interrupted him, before turning back to Maleko. "Although Graham was adamant in defendin' yer brother's actions, I had no choice but to dismiss him from the Guild. Tis' a shame, he showed great promise."

The Axemaster continued on to explain that Bhaldryss had mentioned enlisting at Maelstrom command, and suggested her look there. Upon arriving at the Maelstrom command however, they informed him that his brother been turned away, based on his dismissal from the Marauder's guild, and that they were unsure of where he had gone from there.

After wandering aimlessly around the town for a bit, Maleko made his way back to the Drowning Wench, where Baderon poured him another flagon of ale. "Where in the seven hells could that bastard have gone?" Maleko muttered.

After a flagon or two of ale, he heard a commotion from outside. He made his way outside, to find a crowd of people looking down at the docks on the Lower Decks, towards a ship known as the Astalicia. Several men filed out of the massive vessel and surrounded a lone figure.

With eyes long trained from many years on lookout duty at sea, Maleko could make out the lone figure to be none other than his brother, Bhaldryss. Sighing, amused, Maleko took off down the nearest ramp leading to the lower decks. Some things would never change.

/

The scuffle began just as Maleko's boots hit the dock that moored the Astalicia. Bhaldryss swung a heavy fist at the largest man, an angry Roegadyn with an eye patch, and tar stained deck clothes. The other men moved in to attack, but Maleko came barreling into the nearest of them, knocking him stumbling into another, and causing confusion amongst the group.

"I knew it wer' a mistake to leave you with these milk sop marauders, brother." Maleko called as he planted a boot into the chest of one of the angry crewman, sending him stumbling backwards off the dock with a splash.

Bhaldryss laughed, overjoyed as he grabbed another crewman, a Lalafell and tossed him into the water after his unfortunate companion. "I appreciate the help Broda, but why 'n the world are ya' here? Were the big bad forest folk, too rough for ya?"

Maleko ducked under a hooking punch thrown by a one eared Miqo'te and grabbed the man by the collar, closing the distance between him and the crewman, and sweeping his legs, slamming him heavily onto the deck with a sickening crunch. "They sent me away cause I kept steppin' on their pretty flowers! I heard the Marauder's guild hurt yer' feelins' and them Maelstrom folk wouldn' take ya cause yer' too bloody ug- oof!"

Seeing an opportunity, a Hyur crewman managed to land a heavy hit to Maleko's ribs, knocking the wind out of him in a rushing woosh. The tenacious lancer dropped low, tackling the assailant's legs, before slamming him backwards onto the deck. Regaining his breath, he postured up and began to rain vicious blows down on the Hyur's face until another crewman grabbed him off by the coat.

Bhaldryss and the tar stained Roegadyn circled each other slowly, waiting for the other to make the first move. With a sudden yell, the opponent charged Bhaldryss, tackling him and pushing him several ilms towards the water, aiming to toss him off the dock. Managing to regain his balance, Bhaldryss just barely avoided being tossed, using all his strength to shove the other man off. A dangerous red hue crept into his eyes as he stared angrily at the Roegadyn in front of him.

Maleko exchanged blows with the crewman who had grabbed him, but they both stopped in their tracks as Bhaldryss let out a powerful bellow. The remaining attackers began to slowly back away, as Bhaldryss began to thump his chest in a beastlike manner.

"C'mon then you bloody cowards! Face me if ya' gots 'alf the bloody balls ya claim!" the berserk Bhaldryss yelled at the men.

The opposing Roegadyn spat on the deck, in an attempt to save face, before following his men up the gangway back to the safety of their ship "I ain' gonna waste my time on you, boy. If ya kno' what's best fer ya, ye'd get out o' town, quick like!"

"Words be cheap mate! Yer' gonna 'ave to throw this wolf out yer' damned self if ya want 'im gone." Bhaldryss shouted after them.