Desperately Seeking Sally
Chapter FourI sighed, putting aside the question of how he got here, as I reached into my money pouch and dropped a gold coin inside Blind Mew's cup. "What can you tell us about the stolen shipment?"
"Earlier today, I was minding my own business when I could not help but hear noises rising from a nearby storm drain." Blind Mew began.
"I distinctly heard the sounds of a fight, followed by the creaking of wooden crates being carried away. They sounded quite heavy."
"The brigand leader spoke with a clear Valencian accent, and his footfalls clinked like steel horseshoes. Valencian steel, if I'm not mistaken. I must conclude the villain who stole this cargo was a Unicorn from Valencia."
"We should go. Thank you." I said before I walked away. We found Captain Corcoran along with two of his men drinking in a nearby tavern called the Hope and Anchor.
"What can you tell me about the contraband you delivered for Sullivan?" I asked as I put my hand on the table and stared him in the eye.
"Go tell Mr. Sullivan I delivered it as promised! It was late, true, but through no fault of mine." Captain Corcoran said as he tried to wave me off, but I wouldn't have any of it. "Your delivery was stolen, Captain Corcoran."
"Stolen? Well, that's unfortunate, but hardly my business. Well, I offer what help I can." Captain Corcoran said as he scratched the back of his head.
"We believe it's been stolen by a Unicorn from Valencia. Anyone come to mind?" I asked.
"I know who that must be." Captain Corcoran said as he sat up properly. "Iago's a Valencian rogue, as treacherous a Unicorn as ever sailed the skies. He works for Nick Deadeye, boss of the Wharf Rats in Scrimshaw."
"Deadeye must want Port Regal's black market. I can't stop him, but you can. Find Bill Bobstay in Scrimshaw – he'll put you on Deadeye's trail."
I nodded, and I and my trusted associates left for the Aquila. We sailed south to Scrimshaw in Tradewinds Skyway, where we found Bill Bobstay, a Dog pawnbroker, drinking in a tavern called the Hole in the Wall.
I sat across from him while the others took other tables, and he looked up at me, but didn't say anything. "What can you tell me about Nick Deadeye and Iago?"
"Nick Deadeye? Keep your voice down! Now, who's asking?" Bill Bobstay said suddenly as he leaned a little across the table, and gestured for me to do the same.
"Best not talk about Deadeye too loudly. His vile crew pretty well runs Scrimshaw. And they are not friendly."
"You're looking for the Valencian? Well, Nick Deadeye, he'd certainly know… but I doubt he'll be eager to tell you. You'll have to… persuade him."
"I can do that." I said as I cracked my knuckles.
"If you ask me, only a fool would walk into Deadeye's place looking for a fight, but I won't stop you." Bill Bobstay said. "Go to the Pequod, the shipwreck under the jaws of the whale. That's where they meet."
I nodded as I stood up and beckoned for my trusted associates to follow, and as we went outside, I told them what Bill Bobstay had said.
"I know where the Pequod is. Follow me." Rena said as she beckoned for me to follow her, and I followed her across the rooftops while the others took to the streets, led by Ratbeard.
The wreck of the Pequod sat in a large pool under the roof of the whale's mouth, and instead of barging in rudely with guns blazing; I casually opened the makeshift door leading inside.
"We let ourselves in. Hope you don't mind." I said to the Wharf Rats drinking at the tables all around the hold of the Pequod.
Their leader, a Rat wearing a black three-cornered hat and red bandana, and a black waistcoat over a white shirt, red trousers, and black shoes with a cutlass at his side, shook his head as he beckoned for me to sit down in front of him.
"What's this? Come into my parlor, little pup. If you knew where you were, you wouldn't have come. Now what can I do for you?" Nick Deadeye asked, pouring me a glass of Yum as I sat down.
"What can you tell me about Iago?" I asked as the others sat down amongst the Wharf Rats, who poured them Yum and treated them like guests.
"Iago… Now why'd you be looking for him?" Nick Deadeye asked as we tapped our glasses together, making a clinking noise.
"He's stolen some contraband that I want back." I answered as I sipped my Yum, which was pretty good quality stuff for Scrimshaw.
"Are you threatening a dear friend of mine?" Nick Deadeye asked as he rose from his chair. I too rose up from my chair, and said: "I have no quarrel with you, Deadeye. Tell me where Iago is, and I will leave you alone."
"Get them, me hearties! It's time to play!" Nick Deadeye shouted to his Wharf Rats, but we were faster. Shrugging inwardly while thinking "Oh well," I grabbed the bottle of Yum on the table and hurled it at a Wharf Rat about to take a cheap shot at Rena.
The edge of Nick Deadeye's cutlass slammed against the flat of one of my swords, and as another Wharf Rat came running towards me, I disengaged from Nick Deadeye and kicked the oncoming Wharf Rat in the stomach before knocking him out with the hilt of my sword.
Spinning around, I ducked down just in time to avoid my head being lopped off by Nick Deadeye's dagger, and I thrust my sword forward across the table, but Nick Deadeye simply leapt backwards to avoid the attack.
Knocking over the table, I lunged again at Nick Deadeye, and he ducked under my sword and slashed across my overcoat, tearing it.
Emmett tossed me an empty Yum bottle from behind the bar, while he used his other hand to smash another bottle onto the head of a Wharf Rat.
Nick managed to shatter the Yum bottle with his cutlass in midair before it could hit him, but he was left unprepared for a split second before Bonnie shot his sword hand with her Scaramanga musket.
Taking a chance to glance backwards for a brief moment, I saw Rena knocking out a Wharf Rat with the hilt of her sword, Emmett firing his pistol at point-blank range into the stomach of a Wharf Rat, and Jack choking a Wharf Rat.
Old Scratch threw a Yum bottle at a Wharf Rat's face, shattering the glass in midair, leaving the Wharf Rat temporarily blinded by the Yum, and Ratbeard threw a keg of it at another group of Wharf Rats, pinning them to the floor.
"Not so fast, Nick." I said as I pointed a pistol at him, and he looked around the room to see most of the Wharf Rats were either incapacitated or being held at gunpoint.
"Ah, blast and dash it all – I yield! Parlay! Spare me and my lads, I beg you." Nick Deadeye pleaded. I never took my eyes or pistol off him as I said: "Where is the stolen contraband?"
"As to that stolen contraband, it's not here – Iago hasn't delivered it yet. You can have it… if you can take it from Iago that is."
"There's a vortex hard by Port Regal. That's where he's hiding. So, good journey to you, pirates." Nick Deadeye said. Then, in a low, but audible undertone, he said: "I'd not come back this way if I were you."
I nodded as I and my trusted associates left the wreck of the Pequod. As we left the docks of Scrimshaw, Rena flipped through the atlas written by our friend and landlord, Nikolai Volkov. "It looks like the vortex Nick Deadeye was talking about is the Maelstrom of Malice."
She then noticed me glancing down at my favorite now-torn coat every so often, and she sighed. "Here, let me have that. I can't press without scorching, but I can do up a seam."
As Rena took the wheel, I removed my coat and gave it to her. She sat down and accepted a needle and a spool of thread from one of the men, and set to repairing the tear in my coat.
A few minutes later, she handed me back my coat, and I put it back on just as we were about to sail into Port Regal Skyway.
As we approached the Maelstrom of Malice, we tied ourselves down to the Aquila with rope as we entered the maelstrom.
In the eye of the storm was a Monquistan man-of-war with yellow and blue sails, and the brass letters on the man-of-war's bow read: "Golden Horn."
"Ah ha, this looks like a new challenge! Let us cross blades, my friends!" The only Unicorn aboard the deck shouted as he brandished his two knives at us.
Iago had gray hair and a golden mane, with a matching shirt underneath a black waistcoat and a bandolier, and black trousers held up by a brown leather belt.
Ours ships traded broadsides, and men on both sides ducked down as sparks and splinters were sent flying all over the place.
"Make ready, boys!" David Clutterbuck shouted to his men, who began loading their cannons with chain shot. As we made another pass at the Golden Horn, we fired upon her, ripping through the sails and toppling her main mast to the cheers of the men.
As we came about, the Aquila furled her sails and drew to a halt beside the Golden Horn's starboard side, and Rena drew her sword and pointed it at her. "Hook us in! Bring her close!"
David's brother, Richard tossed each of his men a musket as they ran across the deck to provide cover fire for David's men, who were throwing grappling hooks from across the decks and rigging onto the Golden Horn and pulling her closer for the boarding party.
"Man the swivels! Cover from the quarterdeck!" David shouted as he fired his pistol at a Frog about to shoot one of the men, stunning him.
"The ship is yours, Rena!" I shouted as I let go of the pilot's wheel. Drawing my two swords, I ran down the stairs to join the boarding party on the quarterdeck, and from there, we leapt onto the deck of the Golden Horn.
Dodging a mighty two-handed slash from a Crab thug, I covered my swords in blue energy to blunt them, and I delivered a two-sword strike that sent the Crab thug stumbling backwards.
I lunged at a Cutthroat about to slash one of my men in two, sending him off-balance and allowing me to sweep his feet out from under him and stun him with my pistol.
A rat brigand lunged at me, and I deflected his dagger with my right sword, sending him stumbling forward right under the hilt of my left sword, which I promptly slammed against his bandana-covered head, knocking him out.
Instinctively, I spun around and swung my swords, knocking away a Frog pirate about to shoot me from midair into the broken main mast.
I heard the sound of hooves clapping on the deck of the Golden Horn, and I spun around to see Iago running towards me with his swords.
As I reversed my grip on my swords, Iago slashed his two knives in front of him, and they clanged against my two swords. Iago delivered a sharp kick to my stomach with his hoof, and I felt the wind knocked out of me as I stumbled backwards.
I struggled to catch my breath, and I heard Iago running towards me. Quickly sheathing my swords and drawing two pistols, I fired twice at him, forcing him to hop backwards in order to avoid the bursts of electricity.
Suddenly, electrical bursts fired from the guns knocked our left swords out of our hands, embedding the tip of their blades into the deck behind us.
Without trying to retrieve our swords, Iago and I began running towards each other, and our blades clashed amidst the sounds of the fighting around us.