CHAPTER XIV

Maleko grunted as he tossed a sack of sugar from the deck of a ship, to Bhaldryss down below on the docks. Working at a steady pace, the brothers helped other dock workers to unload the cargo hold of a merchant ship that had just returned from a successful voyage.

As the sun sunk low in the sky, they returned to the Drowning Wench, each, one hundred gil, richer from the back breaking work.

"Evenin' lads, another day o' unloadin' ships?" Baderon asked of them, as they took a seat at their favorite table.

"Aye, another Merchant wit' a grip on 'is purse strings as tight as a maiden on 'er weddin' day. A hundred gil a piece, fer' a whole days work." Maleko sighed, nodding in thanks as the Wench's waitress gave him a glass of ale. The young woman colored slightly, and smiled shyly at him, before setting another in front of his brother, and retreating hurriedly back to the bar.

Bhaldryss rolled his eyes, and took a long swig of the chilled ale. "Aye, the only job that's paid well was the escort duty we took for that Merchant ship that were scared o' them pirates."

A few months earlier, Maleko and Bhaldryss had signed on to escort a Merchant ship through the Strait of Merlthor on its voyage to Sharlayan.

A small Pirate crew, of maybe ten men, had been taking advantage of the dreaded season that forced ships to transit the Straits, to avoid risking being caught out to sea in one of the frequent storms. They prowled up and down the stretch of water, waylaying any unguarded ships that they could catch, "liberating" them of their cargo, and sending them on their way.

/

The deck of the ship swelled up and down, rolling through the choppy waters of the Straits. Rocky mountains towered over the ships starboard* side, and on the port side were the rocky shores of La Noscea.

Maleko took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the salty breeze of the open water.

"Now this is more like it, Broda." he cried, happily, standing in the bow of the ship, and scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. "It has been too long since I've felt the rise and fall of the sea beneath me feet."

"Aye, ye' can say that again! Any longer, an' I fear I mighta lost me sea legs, and turned into a blubberin' land lubber!" Bhaldryss shuddered in mock fear. "And the icin' on the cake is, there's a good chance we'll be getting' in a bit o' a rumble!"

The brothers laughed, and kept each other company as they took turns keeping watch, reminiscing about old times on the Und Braena, raiding the islands surrounding their home. A few bells passed, and Bhaldryss was on watch when the ships bell rang out, signaling noon, and calling the crew to chow.

"You go ahead" the Roegadyn clapped his brother on the shoulder.

Maleko nodded, and headed towards the galley to get his allotted rations. "I'll eat fast, and come relieve you so you can get yer' grub on. I know 'ow much ye' like to eat!"

Bhaldryss' deep booming laugher faded away as Maleko disappeared below decks.

/

Maleko chewed his crust of bread, and washed it down with a swig of ale. As he stood up, brushing crumbs off his tar stained coat, the ships bell began to ring frantically, signaling impending danger.

Maleko took off up the stairs, and burst out on deck, scanning the horizon, and quickly spotting the unmistakable figure of a ship surging towards them from the mouth of a river where it had hidden, the unmistakable flag of a Pirate bellowing in the wind.

He searched the deck and found his brother, axe at the ready, staring intently at the approaching ship, a viscous grin across his face.

Maleko smiled, and moved to his brother's side. "Calm yerself, Broda. I've an idea…"

The ship drew close, and a swaggering Elezen stepped forward to the railing, a squashed bicorne on his head, and a tattered coat, with a faded skull and cross bones on his back, presumably the Captain of the pirates.

"Where's the Cap'n of yer ship, eh' boys? We've come to… inspect yer' goods, on orders o' the highest sorts. A customs thing, understand? Just makin' sure ya' ain't smugglin' nothin' o' the… illegal sort." The man grinned wickedly.

The Captain of the merchant ship, a greying Roegadyn, stepped forward, his chest puffed out proudly. "A customs inspector? Where are your papers sanctioning you as such?" Although an older man, he was salty as any sea devil, and wasn't about to let this young green horn push him around.

"I seem to 'ave misplaced them, mate. Ye'll 'ave to take me good word for it!" the pirate mocked. "Tho' if ya prefer, we can do this the hard way."

"And the hard way would be?" The merchant Captain stared at the man, scratching his chin as if considering, but already knew the answer to his question.

With a cold grin, the Pirate drew his cutlass. "We come over on yer pretty lil' ship, slaughter you 'n yer crew, and take the cargo ourselves!"

"I was hoping ye'd say that…" The merchant said, grinning he nodded to Maleko and Bhaldryss, who had ducked below the rail, hidden from the view of the Pirates.

With a sudden, vicious, war cry, Maleko and Bhaldryss surged onto the railing, leaping across to the Pirate ship, weapons out.

"Let's get 'em Broda!" Bhaldryss bellowed, barreling into the Pirates gawking in surprise around the deck. The pirates of the small crew scattered like sheep before the hulking figure that hefted his axe easily, as if it was made of paper.

Livid with fury, the Pirate Captain tried to regain order, barking colorful words, cursing their cowardice, but was cut off as Maleko cornered the swaggering man, lance at the ready. "Yer' day has come mate. Should 'ave quit while ye' were ahead!"

The Pirate lunged forward, thrusting with his cutlass, and following with a quick slash as Maleko skipped to the side. The blade whiffed through the air, the Pirate's aim rushed by his anger. He continued on, pushing Maleko back with cut after vicious cut.

Soon, Maleko felt his back against the main mast. Slipping to the side at the last second, the Pirates cutlass struck the worm rotted wood, sticking. The lancer smirked mockingly, and booted the Pirate in the chest, knocking him stumbling, and began pushing him back towards the rail, his lance flashing in blinding cuts and thrusts.

It was all the poor Captain could do to back pedal quickly, trying to escape the relentless onslaught of the Hyur's attack.

Seeing the Captain draw near the railing, Maleko feinted forward, and then threw his shoulder into the pirate, closing the distance, and sending him over the rail.

/

For Bhaldryss, the fighting was quick and brutal. He made quick work of the Pirates, who had always turned tail and ran whenever they came across a guarded ship. The surprise attack had shaken them to the core, and it was only a matter of moments before they threw their weapons on the deck and surrendered.

The merchant Captain had the Pirates roped together, and locked away in the ship's hold. He sent the brothers, and a skeleton crew, to seize the ship and sail it to Sharlayan, where it was sold along with the loot the Pirates had amassed over the season.

From the bountiful gil earned in selling the ill be-gotten loot, and turning in the Pirates for their bounty, the merchant Captain was able to double their pay, and retire to a quiet life with his wife. He vowed that if the brothers ever needed help, that he was their man.