The Ruin Witch cut her gaze towards Rueborn, the king's brother, from her fur clothed chair and leaned forward. Her creamy brown legs crossed as she thought of the information he offered her. There were many times when men came upon the shore of her isles requesting gifts from the gods for whispers amongst the lands of Eros. First it had been that round, stubby bastard who stole her daughter, and now, the king's brother. It was one thing after another with these mortals.

"You want me to help you get what again?" She asked, raking crimson painted nails across the purring cub stretching across her lap. Bone whisper, the woman who commanded beasts and wielded Magick beyond the realms of this world. She was exactly what they said she was, a blessing and a curse.

"I want her." Rueborn circled her chair, those ghostly grey eyes watching her every movement. He didn't fear death, for he was death, but he knew this woman to be skilled in hand to hand combat. Lethal with her hands.

"By her," She cocked her head left, feigning clueless. "You mean Ja'ule's daughter Ray'ven?"

Laughter rumbled out, though it sounded as though he were whispering next to her ear. "Yes. Don't pretend as though you know not what I speak of. We had a deal-"

"And!?" She spat out, honey gaze darting straightforwardly. "That was before my daughter was taken from my home. From my island by you greedy mortal men! If you want to speak of deals and trades, where were you when she was taken from me? Were you between Morrigan's legs? Or were you chasing after her daughter as you are now? Your woman ordered her to be taken away, and now I'll take everything like she's taken from me. I hope she lives to see it." Exhaling, her chest rose and fell. "I'll find her, and when I do, you'll return my daughter and bring me to the castle of Eblon. I wish to speak to the King of Eli'ak.

Rueborn smirked, an eerie grin stretching across his lips before he nodded. "I will make this happen. For her. Not for you. Don't betray me or you'll end up like a priestess."

 ***

James lifted the teacup against his lips, shifting the glass until the hot steam wafted across the rounded tip of his nose. After what had happened days ago, he needed something to calm his unsettling nerves. Oddly, he had a sense of duty to the woman's father. He died protecting her. Even when he'd taken his last breath, the words that left his mouth contradicted what his eyes said to James: protect her. This is all that I can ask of you.

He drowned out those thoughts as the waves lapped against the side of the scarlet Reaver, as the wind raked its gentle fingers across the black sails. Those brown eyes had already been haunted by the deaths of so many, and now by a woman who had caught his eye. James shook his head and took a sip of tea, the minty taste calming the brash denials. The heart will want and want what it cannot have. What made her so different than all the others his captain commanded for their lives to be taken?

Just like the rest, he convinced himself. Yet inside the back of his mind, he wondered whether the wound had gotten infected, whether she was fed well, slept well, whether she saw his face as a monster within her dreams who'd taken her father. Someone's hand clutched onto his shoulder, and by the skull ring with the crown atop its head, he knew Razmyr had come for him.

"They are spoils of war, James. Nothing more. Don't feel sorry for the smart-mouth brat. Did they feel sorrow for our brethren? Remember the stakes, our people nailed to them naked as they were beaten and burned, to watch their children be drowned in the rivers while they took their last breath. Remember your sister,"

James's jaw clenched at the mention of his sister.

"Do you remember?"

"I remember. But will you or will you not give them the cure? It's been two days." James squinted through the crimson moonlight. He had always wondered why the moon still made them squint even though the rays from the original sun were no longer. The darkened clouds swam over the reddened sky, covering the fragmented and mourning Goddess. The brine of the sea caught the wind's drift as James turned around. His captain's dark yet light gaze was on him. Calculating. They asked him if he had grown weak over the years. They asked him if some noble woman would break their dreams of building a new empire. He knew to upturn the government and the world meant to build it on the rich man's blood as they had done with slaves. People of low birth.

He remembered they weren't allowed caskets when they died. A woman to be pregnant by her master was often killed by the wife before they could become a mistress. Of course, it wasn't acceptable by law, but the law didn't have eyes or ears, and didn't listen to those who had no voices when it came to nobles. Justice wasn't a person. Justice had no place in this world. To accuse your master was a crime. A mortal sin. And they were to be hung. They had no name. They had no birthdays. They weren't human, they were beasts, dogs, soulless because they did what they needed if it meant they could live and eat, even if it meant betraying one another.

He remembered. Razmyr had once asked him, "Are you a human being or a beast?"

James hadn't responded. "Then why are you a dog who bites any hand including your family? Is there not anything that you won't do for your master? Why did you kill that girl for him?"

At the time he replied, "You too have become a beast. You're a slave now too. You'll learn this soon enough."

"No. I won't. Because one day I will turn this world upside down and pull it out from its roots."

That was the beginning of their brethren ship.

Razmyr finally nodded and slid his hand from James's shoulder, fingers uncurling as he plucked his third in command from the past. Two vials lay on his palm. "Go ahead and cure them. I also want them to have a bath, the men are complaining about their stench being worse than their own. We'll be docking soon for a tavern."

James nodded. "I will do that." He smiled and looked at the crystalline waters before heading across the deck for the prison below.

When James left, Pudge approached, awaiting his captain's orders. "Follow him. Watch him closely. I feel he'll cause me problems later although he is my brother."

Pudge licked his rotten teeth. "Ai Cap'n."