�By Yatara�s grave, I had hoped you would have forgotten that small part. Then again, milady, I should not be surprised.� Admiral Slyan smiled courtly, and emptied his wineglass.
�Stop the stallin, spit it out already,� she teasingly demanded as he poured himself another glass of the elven vintage. He took two small tastes of the white wine, and noted the icy glare given to him by Rhade.
The chestnut haired admiral smiled quickly, and lowered his glass to the small round tavern table. �I�ve always wondered where the elves grow the grapes to make these exquisite wines, living in such dense forest. However, it is quite delightful, yes?� the admiral pondered, rolling his clay colored eyes when Rhade unsheathed her main-gauche and began twirling it effortlessly between her callused fingers. �Lady Vorgrim, I implore you to learn patience.�
An eye-blink later, Rhade was standing over the table, scowling, with the main-gauche standing upright out of the polished wood. She growled, �I am a pirate, patience is not one of my stronger virtues. We�ve been fine friends since you arrested me �n I converted ya to piracy some nine winters ago, but yer pushin me.�
Slyan sat for a moment then opened his mouth as to speak, but swallowed his words. Finally he replied, �300,000 gold coins, 200,000 now, the rest when we hit port in Kalinar,� the ex-Kerothik admiral sat motionlessly for over a minute, waiting patiently for her response.
She blinked rapidly several times, then slowly sat in her chair. �Aight, that should work,� she stated unusually calm, with a gleam in her sea green eyes. She stood again, pulling the blade out of the table and sheathing it in her boot. The dark haired woman wrapped her azure cloak around her neck, covering her silk garments. Pulling a blue hood over her head, the buccaneer bid farewell, �We leave the morn after the morrow. I�ll see ye soon.� The pirate captain bent down and gently kissed Slyan on his scarred cheek, turned, and left the tavern into the damp spring rain.
Slyan sat in the old tavern, slowly sipping his wine and thinking, for over an hour. �Dear Rhade, I am truly sorry I am involving you with this. I can only hope you live through it�� he muttered to himself, then pulled himself out of his chair, laid two gold coins on the table with the two glasses and wine bottle, all empty, and departed towards the SS Saltreaver, his galley at the city port.
The foggy air was hovering over the docks of Val�Syra, the silhouette of the many ships blurry, but visible. Few gulls sang today, but three ships were loud with the ruckus of preparing for departure. Three figures, two tall and one unusually short, were standing on the docks near the three ships.
�Admiral Slyan,� Rhade introduced, �this is my co-commander, Alphiptith. He�s in charge of the catamaran over there, the Niar Su�aco, or the Water Wind in common tongue.� Rhade pointed to the gnome by her side, who had red hair and a slight goatee. His eyes were simple, dull brown, however, and his skin was the light brown of typical gnomes.
The gnome raised his stubby hands, covered with splinters, to the admiral. �You know me name, but ye can be calling me Ptith, me and me crew be scouting ahead for the Jivvin and the other ships we be hunting. I�ll report to Rhade be it we see anything,� he said in an unusually deep voice for a gnome, along with the stereotypical corsair accent. Admiral Slyan grasped Ptith�s hand, and firmly shook it twice.
Slyan said, looking down upon the gnome, who was just over two feet tall, �Glad to have you with me, Commander Ptith, I hope this is not our only meeting.� Slyan sourly smiled and turned to Rhade, �You are ready for departure, correct?�
Ptith replied first, �No worries, Admiral, the Niar Su�aco is one of the fastest ships on the water. And by the way, it be Ptith, no commander. I try to stay casual.� Slyan attempted another smile, but it would not come. Again, he turned back to Rhade.
�Aye, Slyan, we are prepared. As I said last night, in the morn,� Rhade stated calmly. �Slyan, ye need to be more relaxed, we�re pirates. Not nobles or generals, and try showing some optimism, eh?�
�Alright,� he nodded, �I shall try.�
The Sea Grin crawled out of the docks, heading towards the bright sun peaking over the extensive cerulean sea. The Niar Su�aco had departed hastily, but sleepily, over an hour ago to begin scouting. The sailing ship was very typical, with three large masts and a long body, with the word �Grin� painted white on the hull, although the paint was worn and crusting. On the bow was a large row of sharp teeth, smiling evilly. The masts were unpainted, making the ship appear somewhat less suspicious at a distance then a pirate symbol would. Rhade stood on the top deck, turning the wheel and giving some slight directions, but mostly enjoying the breeze and the sweet clean smell of the saltwater. Rhade laughed, and said to no one imparticular, �Love the sea, I do, none of those vile city smells!�
The SS Saltreaver, less then a mile behind the Sea Grin, was much bigger then Rhade�s ship. This was a war galley, stolen from the North Kerothik military; although adjusted to fit the life of pirates. The masts though, were painted black, with a wide vertical stripe of emerald green through the middle, the signature sign of Admiral Slyan.
The Niar Su�aco was roughly a league and a half away, sailing at full speed with Ptith searching in all directions with his spyglass. The twin hulls sped through the water, and many crewmembers were constantly shifting the sails to obtain maximum speed. The sails were simple and white, like the Sea Grin, although the whole of the boat was painted pitches black, and waterproofed.