A/N: So for this chapter I'm going to give a bit of a warning. There is a fairly horribly injury in this chapter. Nothing too graphic is mentioned, mostly just blood, but it's definitely not a pretty injury.
They never should have returned to Klugetown.
Celaeno had known that it could be risky. The town was a dangerous place, and anyone who visits should take care to tread carefully. Especially if they were specifically there looking for something, whether it was information, or a trinket or creature that shouldn't be sold in the first place.
Celaeno had known all of this, but she thought that if they found the information that they were looking for, then it would be well worth any potential risk. She had thought that even if Verko would have wanted to make a move against someone in her crew, he would have waited for at least a little bit. Verko was a merciless guy, but he wasn't a careless one. He wouldn't risk losing everything just because he had gotten impatient and rushed a little bit.
Celaeno had been confident about this. So confident that she had let her guard down. She had taken precautions, but they hadn't been enough. She should have listened to Mullet, or at least planned things through a little better. If she had then maybe things wouldn't have gone horribly wrong.
When Celaeno had made a plan for how her crew should take on their tasks in Klugetown, she had given the orders to her crew with confidence. She knew that all of them, especially Mullet, were nervous about being in the town. If she let them know that she was just as anxious as they were, they would only feel worse. She needed her crew to be alert, which meant that she needed them to believe that she had more control over their situation than she really did.
What Celaeno didn't tell anyone in the crew, not even Mullet, was that from the second they had brought the ship into Klugetown's port, she had to fight the urge to turn around and take them somewhere else. Celaeno ignored the urge, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something horrible was going to happen. She had pushed those feelings to the back of her mind and convinced herself that it was just her nerves about being in the despised town again.
She should have trusted her instincts.
Even when Celaeno and Boyle had been walking along the streets, asking around for any information about their crew, she couldn't stop worrying. She began to doubt not just the decision to go to Klugetown in the first place, even though they really didn't have a choice, but also her decision to bring Boyle along with her. He was the best fighter on their crew, so he would be the best suited for defending the ship should something happen. And if Celaeno had brought Mullet with her, she could voice her doubts and hear his opinions about them. Mullet was her first mate. It was his job to bring clarity when she didn't know what to do.
Celaeno had briefly considering having Boyle stay on the ship and Mullet come into the town with her, but she had ultimately decided against it because she had been worried about her first mate. Mullet had fought with her about coming to Klugetown at all. He hated the place even more than she did, and she didn't blame him for that. She knew what had happened to him and his brothers. Mullet had been desperate to avoid the town because he was worried about Squabble. It wouldn't have felt right to bring Mullet with her into town, where he couldn't keep an eye on the brother he was so worried about.
Boyle didn't necessarily like Klugetown any more than Mullet did, but he had always been better at acting professional despite his personal feelings. Boyle was a sensitive guy, but he knew when it was appropriate to show his emotions. If she needed him to be threatening without stirring the waters, he would do so without question, no matter how he was feeling at the time. Celaeno admired how much Mullet cared about his brothers, but if he let his concern and nervousness show through in Klugetown, a city of liars and thieves, it would definitely backfire on them.
Celaeno had good reasons behind bringing Boyle and leaving Mullet, but she also had reason to believe that it should have been the other way around. It was like there was no right solution. Only two wrong solutions, and it was impossible to tell which, if any, was the better option.
Celaeno had made her decision though, and whether she liked it or not, she had to stand by it. They would just be wasting time if she went all the way back to the ship to switch out Boyle and Mullet. Celaeno knew that, at that moment, the best option was to keep on going as they were and hope that they would find some answers soon.
After Celaeno and Boyle had asked around for a while for information, someone finally approached them and said that he might have the knowledge that they were looking for, and he would be willing to give it to them for a fee. Celaeno didn't recognize the shark-like creature, but she had a guess that he was under Verko's employment. Half the citizens of Klugetown were under Verko's payroll. This meant that he would probably ask for more money in exchange for the information, but it also meant that his information was more likely to be clean. Verko may be a sneak and a rat, but he was honest in his dealings.
Celaeno was about to hear the shark out when a cry came from down the street. "Captain Celaeno!" She instantly recognized her first mate's voice, though she couldn't imagine what he was doing there. She had told him to stay on the ship with Capper and Squabble.
"What are you doing here?" Celaeno tried to make her voice fierce and commanding, but she was too concerned. Mullet may not have been happy that they had docked in Klugetown, but he wouldn't have gone against her orders like this. He must have had a good reason for leaving the ship, and Celaeno had the feeling that whatever the reason was, it wasn't good.
Mullet caught up to them, and Celaeno could tell that whatever had brought him here, not only was it not good, but it was something horrible. Mullet's feathers looked ruffled, which meant that he had either just barely been in a fight, or he was really shook up about something that had happened. Celaeno didn't know which option she dreaded more.
"We have a problem." Mullet said seriously. His tone was casual and all business, as it usually was, but the expression on his face betrayed just how concerned he was. "Verko has Capper."
"What?!" for a brief moment Celaeno felt like the world had frozen or was moving in slow motion. She was afraid that something like this would happen. There was a reason why she had wanted Capper to stay on the ship. "How could this have happened?"
Mullet grimaced and closed his eye tightly. He looked as though he was being tormented, and he probably was. "It's all my fault." Mullet said in a quiet voice. "I-I left them alone. You had been gone for so long, and I just…" Mullet groaned.
"It's all right." Celaeno put a talon on Mullet's shoulder. She knew that she should be angry. Mullet had disobeyed a direct order, and now one of their own might be in danger. She wasn't mad though, she was concerned. Once they found a way to resolve the situation Celaeno would have a few words with Mullet about what he had done, but that could wait until they were all safe. "We'll get him back."
"Where's Squabble?" Boyle asked nervously.
"He's back on the ship. Lix Spittle is keeping an eye on him." Mullet said. Boyle breathed a sigh of relief, and Celaeno felt like doing the same. At least things weren't as horrible as they could be. She was just glad that Lix Spittle had returned from her errands safely. "He's really upset though. I could barely understand a word he said."
Boyle frowned. "What's he so upset about?" Celaeno didn't understand the question. Squabble was protective of his friends. Couldn't he just be upset that Capper had been taken?
Mullet let out a broken laugh that sounded more like a short sob. "Those monsters were going to take both of them, but Capper talked them into just taking him."
"...Capper did that?" Celaeno didn't understand why he would. She knew that he was more kind-hearted than he gave himself credit for, but she hadn't realized that she had been underestimating just how much he cared as well. He had saved Squabble when he probably could have saved himself.
It was the kind of thing that the crew did for each other. Celaeno's crew was a family, and they treated each other as such. She had brought Capper onto their crew, but it was obvious that he was still cautious about trusting them, and she understood why. Celaeno knew that Capper was trying to trust them, but that he didn't truly believe that they would do anything that they could to help him if he was in trouble.
Despite this, Capper had done what he could to protect Squabble. Why would he do that if he didn't believe that any of them would do the same for him?
Well, if Capper didn't think they would come for him, he was wrong.
"Let's go." Celaeno said, her tone serious. Boyle and Mullet's concerned expressions almost immediately became looks of determination. She didn't even have to say where they were going. They both knew perfectly well that they were going to go and save their mate, whether he thought they would or not.
Celaeno hadn't been to Klugetown very often, and she didn't know the streets as well as others might, but she had a clear destination in mind. They needed to get to Verko's place, and that just so happened to be the one place in town that any of the locals would be willing to share directions to, free of charge. Most people who asked around about Verko did so because they had business with him, and the Klugetown civilians weren't crazy enough to get between Verko and a potential business opportunity.
Verko's place was on the other side of town, but with all of the back alley ways and shortcuts, it took them a much shorter time to get there than it seemed like it should have. Celaeno was tempted for a moment to leave Mullet and Boyle outside while she talked with Verko, but she ultimately decided against it. She usually spoke with Verko one on one, but this wasn't like every other time. Celaeno wanted Verko to know that she meant business, and she wanted Capper to recognize that the whole crew had his back.
Verko had bodyguards outside his front door. They were good at their job, which was to intimidate people, but they were easy to get past if somebody knew what they were doing.
"My name is Captain Celaeno" She said confidently, like she knew exactly what she was doing and they would be fools to question her. If they thought that she was there for a purpose, they were more likely to let her through. "Tell Verko that I'm here to make a deal." Verko wasn't the kind of creature who walked away from a potential deal. Especially if he knew that it was Celaeno was the one who wanted to see him. She was one of his few repeat customers, and he wouldn't want to jeopardize that.
The two guards looked at each other. They didn't look entirely convinced, but because they worked for Verko, they knew better than to get in the way of a deal. One of the bodyguards stayed outside with them, while the other went inside, probably to tell Verko that they were there.
As they waited Celaeno remembered something very important, and she cursed herself for letting it slip her mind. She had been so concerned about getting Capper back from Verko that she had forgotten about Mullet and Boyle's experience with him.
Celaeno turned around to see how her boys were doing, and she immediately felt guilty for having brought them. Boyle looked like he was going to be sick, and he wouldn't stop rubbing his hook. Mullet on the other hand looked absolutely furious, and Celaeno wouldn't be surprised if his first instinct when he saw Verko was to attack him, and that would probably be a mistake, considering what they were trying to accomplish.
"Uh, maybe you two should go back to the ship." Celaeno suggested. A part of her wanted to have Mullet and Boyle by her side, but if they weren't comfortable with seeing Verko again, she definitely didn't want to force them.
The brothers looked at each other, and Celaeno could tell by the look in their eyes that they both thought that the other should go back. Neither of them moved.
"You can stay if you want." Celaeno said reluctantly, though she was also grateful for their support. "But if there are going to be any problems-" Celaeno looked directly at Mullet.
"...There won't be." Her first mate said. He was clear that he was reluctant, and angry, but he would do his best to not cause a scene. Celaeno didn't know how much she trusted his restraint, because she didn't know exactly how upset he was. But she knew that if he lost his cool, then Boyle would be right there to pull him back.
A moment later the other bodyguard came back outside and gestured for them to enter the building. He was obviously a creature of few words. Celaeno sent Mullet a look that was both for concern, and to serve as a warning. Mullet took a deep breath and steeled his expression. He was trying to lock away his emotions. Celaeno normally didn't like it when her crew hid away what they were feeling, but in this particular case it was probably for the best.
The first thing that they saw when they entered the main room was Verko himself, sneering at them in a way that he probably thought was hospitable. It really wasn't. Celaeno quickly glanced in Mullet's direction, and she was relieved to see that he was completely calm. She didn't even see him flinch. Celaeno knew that he was probably feeling a lot of things at that moment, particularly hatred, anger, and fear, but he didn't let any of it show, and that was really smart of him. As far as Celaeno knew, if somebody was bothering you, the best way to get them to stop was by not letting them see that they bothered you at all.
"Celaeno." Verko smirked as he greeted her. "I had heard that you were in town." Verko had an annoying way of speaking that made it sound like he knew and owned everything in Klugetown. Though, to be fair, that wasn't an entirely untrue statement.
"Word travels fast around here." Celaeno said coldly. "Something that I heard was that you got your hands on an Abyssinian." There was no point in her hiding what she was there for.
Verko raised an eyebrow. "You on the lookout for more crew members?"
"We're a little short handed right now." Celaeno said plainly.
"I'm always happy to provide you with new cabin boys, Celaeno." Verko raised an eyebrow at her. "But why the Abyssinian?"
Celaeno was quiet for a moment, because she wasn't sure how to answer that. She should have thought that Verko would ask why they would want an Abyssinian. Fortunately for her, Mullet was a quick thinker.
"The crew has been getting sloppy." Mullet said in a quiet, even voice. "The captain was hoping that by bringing a cat on board, she could intimidate the crew into getting their act together." Celaeno could have breathed a sigh of relief.
Verko adjusted his hat and frowned at the three of them. "You know I'm always happy to make a deal with you, Captain, but I'm afraid that I'm rather fond of this particular speciman. I have other creatures available, if you are interested."
Celaeno shook her head sharply. "We're just here for the Abyssinian."
"You've always known just what you wanted." Verko chuckled slightly, though he didn't sound amused. "So tell me, what are you willing to give me in exchange for my new pet?" Mullet growled slightly at the demeaning term.
"We have treasure." Celaeno assured Verko, and they did. Of course, because they hadn't had any choice but to start from scratch, they didn't have as many valuables as they normally would, but it was still a fair amount. She just hoped that it was enough.
Boyle, who was the one who kept track of all of their treasure, told Verko the exact ammount. Boyle even went so far as to say how much of it was in gems, gold, bit, and other valuables. He was really organized when it came to their treasure.
Verko considered their offer while they waited with bated breath. Celaeno knew that if Verko agreed, he would be taking all of their treasure. It was a small price to pay if it meant getting Capper back. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Verko maked up his mind.
"I would normally expect more for a speciman like Capper." Verko said, and Celaeno's feathers bristled Verko shouldn't be allowed to talk about Capper as though he was familiar with him. "However, I know that you prefer your crew to be undamaged, so I may be willing to lower the price for you."
Celaeno felt her breath catch in her throat and she could feel Mullet and Boyle stiffen behind her. "He's damaged?"
"I had no choice." Verko spread his arms. " My pet thought that he would get away from me. I had to teach him a lesson, as well as insure that something like this shouldn't happen again." He said it so casually, it made Celaeno sick. What made her feel even worse was that she didn't even know what he had done to Capper. Had he broken his legs? Beaten him so badly that he couldn't walk? What had that monster done?
Celano clenched her talons. It took a lot of restraint to not take a hold of her sword and end Verko right where he stood. "I want to see him." She said stiffly.
"Of course." If Verko noticed how upset she and her boys were, he didn't comment on it. Verko just smirked and gestured for them to follow him, which they did so reluctantly. Verko led them to a hallway in the back, and something told Celaeno that the rooms back here were used as cells.
The further they walked, the more uncomfortable Celaeno felt, and she knew she wasn't the only one. Boyle let out a strange, choked sound and when Celaeno looked back to check on him he actually looked scared. Boyle wasn't a sensitive guy, and he didn't scare easily. And yet at this moment he was so bothered about being there that he had latched tightly to Mullet's arm with his hand, and he didn't look like he was planning on letting go any time soon. Mullet took one look at his brother and a dark look of realization came into his eyes. That was when Celaeno knew that this must be the place that the 'incident' had happened.
Her concern about Capper and what Verko might have done to him spiked to an extreme.
Celaeno was spared from having to deal with her overactive imagination when Verko stopped in front of a door that looked just like any other. Capper was in there, no doubt about that. There was a lock on the door, but Verko apparently hadn't bothered to use it. He was able to just turn the knob and push the door open. Whatever Verko had done to Capper, it was enough to make him feel so confident that he wouldn't escape that he hadn't even bothered to lock the door.
"Get up, Capper," Verko announced as he opened the door and walked right in. Celaeno heard a harsh, warning hiss. That was definitely Capper. Verko didn't heed the warning. He just made his way to the far corner of the room, where there was a figure curled up on the floor. "You have guests. Now, get over there and say hello." Verko's tone was sarcastic and degrading, as though he was mocking a child or a pet.
When Capper didn't move Verko snarled and harshly grabbed the scruff of his neck. Verko pulled Capper up, which caused him to yelp in pain. Celaeno couldn't see anything obviously wrong with Capper, but she knew there had to be something, or else he wouldn't have yelped like that. And once Verko had pulled Capper to his feet Celaeno could see that he was extremely unsteady, as though he could fall at any moment, and he probably would have if Capper hadn't put his paw against the wall to support him.
When Verko had said that he had made sure that Capper wouldn't try to run away from him again, Celaeno had assumed that he had done something that would make it difficult for him to walk. Now that she could see him for herself, Celaeno was horrified to realize that Verko hadn't just made it difficult for Capper to walk, he had made it difficult for him to stand.
What had that monster done to him?
"I told you to get over there!" Verko shouted as he gave Capper a push. It wasn't a particularly harsh one, but it was apparently enough to send Capper sprawling right back down to the ground.
Up until that point Capper had been facing towards Celaeno and the others, even if he hadn't looked up at them once. Even when he had been curled up on the ground he had still been facing them. Once Capper had fallen, Celaeno was able to get a clear look of his back, and just a single glance made her feel sick and horrified. His back and legs were all bloody. Celaeno could see the one and only injury bright as day, but even though it was bleeding a fair bit, that by itself wasn't what made it bad. What really disturbed Celaeno was what she couldn't see.
"You...You cut off his tail?!" Celaeno reached for her sword. She didn't draw it, but she was looking for any reason to do so. If Verko said just one more word that she didn't like, if he even looked at anyone in her crew in the wrong way, he would pay for it.
"An unfortunate necessity, Captain." Verko said easily. "If you still want him, I have no doubt that he'll fit in with the rest of your crew." Verko began laughing cruely. Of course he would find it funny that he was planning on selling Capper, who was now tailless, to a crew of pirates, all of whom had one body part or another missing. Celaeno didn't find the situation funny at all.
"We still want him." Celaeno growled. She nodded at Mullet and Boyle, who were all too eager to go get Capper. They took care to not irritate the area around Capper's new stub as they gently pulled him to his feet and supported him between the two of them. "The treasure's all back on our ship, so if we're done here-"
"Actually, I may have one more thing you may be interested in." Verko said, even though his sickeningly sly tone suggested that whatever he had to say, it was something that she would rather not hear. "A little birdie told me that you've lost some members of your crew and are looking for information about them."
News really did travel quickly in Klugetown. "And?" Celaeno was anxious to get out of there, but if Verko knew where she could find her crew…
"I mayhave some ideas of where you can begin looking." Verko said, his tone implying that he had more than just 'ideas'.
"How much do you want?" Celaeno asked cautiously. Something told her that she wouldn't like the answer.
"Not much." Verko assured her. "But I will say now that you wouldn't be able to afford it if you insist on buying the Abyssinian."
Celaeno felt like a black hole had opened up in her chest. Based Capper's sharp hitch of breath, she knew that he had realized the same thing that she had. Celaeno had a choice to make. She could get Capper back, or she could finally get answers on where the rest of her crew was. She couldn't have both.
This was why Celaeno hated Verko. Whatever choice she made, she would still lose something. The only thing she could do was decide which mattered more to her at that particular moment.
To Celaeno, it wasn't even a debate. The choice still hurt, but she didn't feel confliced about it. "We're taking Capper with us." Celaeno glared at Verko. She may have wanted to come to Klugetown for information, but Mullet had been right all along. They could still find their crew, even without Verko's help. Celaeno was still desperate to make sure that her crew was safe, but Capper was part of her crew as well. She wasn't going to choose one member of her crew over another.
"Very well." Verko sounded amused by her decision, though Celaeno suspected that he would have been amused no matter what she had said. "Now, about my money…"
"It's back on the ship." Celaeno repeated. She didn't want Verko anywhere near her ship or her crew, but the sooner she let him get his money, the sooner they would be able to get out of there. Celaeno had never cared for the city much in the first place, but after that day she never wanted to see the desert town again. The whole town, including all its citizens, and especially Verko, could rot in the deepest pits of Tartarus for all she cared.